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No. 10 Smithfield Ford Racing: Martinsville Race Advance

ARIC ALMIROLA
Martinsville Race Advance
No. 10 Smithfield Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview

● Event: Xfinity 500 (Round 35 of 36)

● Time/Date: 2 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Oct. 30

● Location: Martinsville (Va.) Speedway

● Layout: .526-mile oval

● Laps/Miles: 500 laps / 263 miles

● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 130 laps / Stage 2: 130 laps / Final Stage: 240 laps

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

Notes of Interest

● History at Martinsville: In 27 starts, Almirola has earned seven top-10 finishes, two top-fives and has led 75 laps on the .526-mile, paperclip-shaped Martinsville (Va.) Speedway oval. Almirola qualified second and finished eighth in this year’s first race there April 9.

● 2022 Season: Through 34 races, Almirola has earned two top-five finishes, seven top-10s and has led 81 laps. He also qualified on the pole for the first time this season at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway in September. His average finish of 17.8 and seven top-10s this season have bettered his totals for all 36 points-paying races in 2021.

● Driver Points: Almirola arrives at Martinsville 19th in the driver standings with 720 points.

● Almirola’s career: In 422 NASCAR Cup Series starts, Almirola has earned three wins, 28 top-five finishes, 91 top-10s, four poles, and has led 974 laps.

● Smithfield Foods is an American food company with agricultural roots and a global reach. Its 63,000 team members are dedicated to producing “Good food. Responsibly.®” Smithfield is one of the world’s leading vertically integrated protein companies. The company has pioneered sustainability standards for more than two decades, including its industry-leading commitments to become carbon negative in U.S. company-owned operations and reduce GHG emissions 30 percent across its entire U.S. value chain by 2030. Smithfield believes in the power of protein to end food insecurity and has donated hundreds of millions of food servings to local communities. Smithfield boasts a portfolio of high-quality iconic brands, such as Smithfield®, Eckrich® and Nathan’s Famous®, among many others. For more information, visit www.SmithfieldFoods.com, and connect on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

● Ever wanted to be behind the wheel of the No. 10 Smithfield Ford Mustang? Well now it’s possible – virtually, that is. Fans can head over to www.Smithfieldraceface.com to explore the augmented reality app where fans can wear Almirola’s helmet and firesuit. Snap a photo and tag @Aric_Almirola on social media for a chance to be featured.

● Back for More: Earlier this year, Almirola announced that he would step down from fulltime racing following the 2022 season.Through the course of the year, Almirola has discovered a new balance between his passion for racing and dedication to his family. His wife Janice, and kids Alex and Abby, join him on most race weekends, oftentimes enjoying once-in-a-lifetime experiences together as they travel the country. His rapport with crew chief Drew Blickensderfer has flourished, and the intense pressure he had put on himself was replaced with the joy of simply being present. Not only did Almirola see a new perspective on the sport, but so did anchor partner Smithfield Foods, who broached the subject of Almirola returning to fulltime racing in 2023. On Aug. 26, Almirola, Stewart-Haas Racing, and Smithfield Foods announced his return with a multi-year agreement and the largest allotment of races since joining the team in 2018.

● Beyond the 10 YouTube Series: In 2022, Almirola is once again sharing his life beyond the No. 10 Smithfield Ford with season three of his award-winning YouTube series. Fans and media can subscribe on YouTube to see Almirola’s personality on and off the track. Episodes have already featured life as a dad, a husband and an athlete, and it gives fans a unique perspective on what goes on in the life of a professional NASCAR driver. Fans can also follow Almirola’s social media channels: @Aric_Almirola on Twitter and Instagram, and @AricAlmirola on Facebook.

● Almirola was the only NASCAR Cup Series driver to finish in the top-10 in this year’s opening three races. He finished fifth in the season-opening Daytona 500 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, sixth at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, and sixth at Las Vegas. Almirola’s top-10 streak ended with a 12th-place finish at Phoenix Raceway despite running inside the top-10 throughout the race.

Aric Almirola, Driver of the No. 10 Smithfield Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing:

With two races left in the season, what are your expectations and what do you want to accomplish?

“With the last two races being Martinsville and Phoenix, I think we have a really good opportunity to close out the year strong. We had a good car at Martinsville and Phoenix earlier this year and I think we have learned a lot, especially at the shorter tracks. I couldn’t ask for two better tracks to try and finish strong at. We’re still hunting that win, but shooting for the top-five in both races is very realistic.”

How important is it to close out the season on a high note?

“Closing out the season strong is so important because it’s the last thing you do on track for three months, so for the guys back at the shop and, me personally, you want to go into the offseason with your head up knowing you ran well before the next season. It’s a confidence boost for everyone, which is why we’re really working hard to have a clean race and finish top-10 or top-five in both. If we’re capable of that, we’re capable of being in a position to win.”

What is it about short-track racing that drivers love?

“Short-track racing is where we all came from. It’s where our sport began. You get to put the racing back in the driver’s hands and there’s a lot of beating and banging involved. You can’t pass much, so you have to stay mentally and physically focused the entire time. It’s close-quarter racing at its finest.”

No. 10 Smithfield Ford Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Aric Almirola
Hometown: Tampa, Florida

Crew Chief: Drew Blickensderfer
Hometown: Decatur, Illinois

Car Chief: Jerry Cook
Hometown: Toledo, Ohio

Engineer: Davin Restivo
Hometown: Asheboro, North Carolina

Engineer: James Kimbrough
Hometown: Pensacola, Florida

Spotter: Joel Edmonds
Hometown: Dobson, North Carolina

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Ryan Mulder
Hometown: Sioux Center, Iowa

Rear Tire Changer: Trevor White
Hometown: Arlington, Texas

Tire Carrier: Tyler Bullard
Hometown: King, North Carolina

Jack Man: Sean Cotton
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Fuel Man: James “Ace” Keener
Hometown: Fortuna, California

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Chris Trickett
Hometown: Grafton, West Virginia

Mechanic: Robbie Fairweather
Hometown: Westbrookville, New York

Engine Tuner: Matt Moeller
Hometown: Monroe, New York

Tire Specialist: Rusty Davidson
Hometown: Mount Juliet, Tennessee

Transporter Co-Driver: Steven Casper
Hometown: Salisbury, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Matt Murphy
Hometown: Augusta, Georgia

Daniel Dye Signed to Compete Full-Time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for GMS Racing in 2023

Dye will compete for Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors driving the No. 43 Chevrolet

DAYTONA BEACH, FL (Oct. 25, 2022) – This afternoon at Daytona International Speedway, GMS Racing officials announced a new addition to the team’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver lineup for the 2023 racing season. There will be a familiar face in a new place, as the two-time series championship winning team promotes Daniel Dye to drive the new No. 43 Chevrolet Silverado RST entry for a full-time effort next year.

Dye, who joined GMS Racing in 2021 initially for a part-time ARCA Menards Series East and National schedule, made the transition to a full-time campaign in 2022, where he competed for the championship in his rookie year. In 20 starts, Dye earned one pole, a series-high 13 top-fives and 17 top-10 results; and finished second in the drivers’ points standings.

Additionally, Daniel won the ARCA CGS Imaging Four Crown championship, and secured the Bounty Rookie of the Year award by virtue of being one of the most consistent drivers on the tour. Dye has one ARCA Menards Series win on his resumé, conquering Berlin Raceway with the GMS Racing team in 2021.

Off the track, the eighteen-year-old showcases his philanthropic character by working closely with the family-formed Race to Stop Suicide non-profit. Race to Stop Suicide works to normalize the conversation and stigma surrounding mental health, as well as providing resources and education to professionals in the Daytona Beach community and across the country in regions in which Daniel and the GMS Racing team compete.

The rookie looks forward to next season, noting “I am really thankful for the opportunity to drive the No. 43 Chevrolet Silverado RST for GMS Racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2023. GMS Racing, their partners and staff, are the best in the business, and to drive their Chevy trucks next season is something that I’ve dreamed of for a long time. I’m counting down the days to coming back here at Daytona to race under the lights.”

Team President, Mike Beam, echoed Dye’s remarks ahead of the announcement, stating “It has truly been a pleasure watching Daniel progress so far in his relatively short time spent with the team. Since we signed him to our program, his dedication to learning the ins and outs of the sport has been top-notch. Early on, it was made clear to everyone that he has the talent to move up to the next level of competition. Now, with a full year of ARCA racing under his belt, the time has come to make that move. We are excited to be a part of his journey along with our partners at GM and Chevrolet, and look forward to seeing what he can do during his rookie year competing in the Craftsman Truck Series.”

A young, up-and-coming prospect of Chevrolet, Dye will continue to play an integral role in the Drivers Edge Development program, which was formed in a joint effort between GMS Racing and JR Motorsports in 2019. The Drivers Edge Development program aims at bolstering young talent’s careers by providing competition & marketing resources from the winningest OEM in NASCAR history.

“We look forward to seeing Daniel take his driving talent full-time to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2023,” said Dayne Pierantoni, GM Racing Program Manager for the NASCAR Truck Series. “In only his second year in the Drivers Edge Development program, Daniel’s dedication to putting in the work on and off the track made him a championship contender in his ARCA Menards Series rookie season. We are excited to see him continue his growth behind the wheel with GMS Racing at the NASCAR national level.”

Further announcements, including partners and key personnel on Dye’s No. 43 team, will be made at a later date. Additional driver announcements are also forthcoming, as the team plans to expand upon its Craftsman Truck Series program moving forward. Partnership opportunities for Dye’s rookie campaign are still available; more information can be found by contacting sara@gmsracing.net.

The newly rebranded NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will once again kick off the 2023 season on the high banks of Daytona International Speedway on Friday, February 17th. Stay up-to-date with GMS Racing by following the team on social media with the official handle, @GMSRacingLLC. Follow the new driver of the No. 43 Silverado RST on social media with his official handle, @DanielDye43.

ABOUT GMS RACING:

GMS Racing competes full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series operating the No. 23 and the No. 24 Chevrolet Silverado RSTs, as well as the ARCA Menards Series with the No. 43 Chevrolet SS. Since the team was formed in 2012, GMS Racing has won five titles across multiple series, including the 2016 and 2020 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship, the 2015 ARCA Menards Series championship, as well as the 2019 & 2020 ARCA Menards Series East championships. GMS has grown to occupy several buildings located in Statesville, N.C. including operations for GMS Fabrication. The GMS Racing campus also houses operations for Petty GMS, a two car full-time NASCAR Cup Series team formed in 2021.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, follow GMS Racing on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Kaulig Racing Weekly Advance | Martinsville Speedway

Xfinity 500
Martinsville Speedway

NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Sunday, October 30 at 2 p.m. ET on NBC

  • In the 2022 NCS season, Kaulig Racing has earned six top fives, 13 top-10 finishes and has led 73 laps

AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Pardon My Cheesesteak Camaro ZL1

  • AJ Allmendinger has made 22 starts at Martinsville Speedway in the NCS
  • He has earned two top five, seven top-10 finishes and has led 50 laps
  • In the 2022 NCS season, Allmendinger has earned one runner-up finish, three top fives, eight top-10 finishes, and has led 29 laps across 16 starts

“I love racing at Martinsville. It’s one of my favorite oval tracks. It’s so much fun and physically demanding with how small it is. This cup program has made so many gains lately, I’m really excited to get back in our No. 16 Camaro ZL1 with Pardon My Cheesesteak on board this week.” – AJ Allmendinger on Martinsville Speedway

Justin Haley, No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Camaro ZL1

  • Justin Haley has made three starts at Martinsville Speedway in the NCS
  • He has earned three top five, four top 10s, 14 top-15 finishes and has led 44 laps in the 2022 season

“I’m ready to head to Martinsville, another short track. We’ve had some ups and downs this year but have been steady making improvements at each type of track. Hopefully that translates over to this weekend as well.” – Justin Haley on Martinsville Speedway  

Dead On Tools 250
Martinsville Speedway
NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS)
Saturday, October 29 at 3 p.m. ET on NBC

For the second year in-a-row, AJ Allmendinger and Kaulig Racing have won the NXS regular season championship
Kaulig Racing has earned five wins, 23 top five and 48 top-10 finishes in the 2022 NXS season
The team has led 437 laps in the 2022 NXS season so far
Allmendinger: 348 laps
Hemric: 66 laps
Cassill: 23 Laps

Landon Cassill, No. 10 StormX Chevrolet

Landon Cassill has made three starts at Martinsville Speedway in the NXS and earned a runner-up finish there earlier this season
Cassill has earned four top five and 11 top-10 finishes in the 2022 NXS season
He has led 23 laps so far in the 2022 NXS season

“I’m looking forward to another short track this weekend, especially Martinsville where we really had a shot to win the last time we were there. With the gains we’ve been making as a team, I think we have a great opportunity to contend if we can minimize mistakes and control what we can control.” – Landon Cassill on Martinsville Speedway

Daniel Hemric, No. 11 AG1 Chevrolet

  • Daniel Hemric has made three starts at Martinsville Speedway and has earned two top-five finishes and led 46 laps
  • Hemric has earned three top fives, 12 top-10 finishes and has led 66 laps in the 2022 NXS season

“We didn’t have the best finish the last time we were at Martinsville in the spring, but we’ve been making lots of little improvements at Kaulig Racing. I think we had a good idea on what we needed to work on from the previous race there, so I’m optimistic that we will have a good weekend in our No. 11 AG1 Chevy.”

  • Daniel Hemric on Martinsville Speedway

AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Action Industries Chevrolet

  • AJ Allmendinger has made three starts at Martinsville Speedway and has earned one top-five finish
  • He has led 68 laps at Martinsville Speedway
  • Allmendinger has earned the NXS regular season championship for Kaulig Racing for the second year in-a-row
  • He has earned a win for Kaulig Racing in four-straight NXS seasons
  • In 2022, Allmendinger has led 348 laps, recorded five wins, 16 top five and 27 top-10 finishes
  • Allmendinger currently has the most top-10 finishes of any driver in the 2022 NXS season

“On the Xfinity side, we need to focus on making the least amount of mistakes as possible and just have a solid race in all aspects. There are a few of us vying for the last spot in the championship race at Phoenix, and I think we have a very good shot at securing that final spot as long as we can maximize the day.” – AJ Allmendinger on Martinsville Speedway  

About Kaulig Racing™

Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time multi-car NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, owned by award winning entrepreneur, Matt Kaulig. Established in 2016, Kaulig Racing™ has made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started and made the Championship 4 round in both the 2020 and 2021 seasons. They will continue fielding three, full-time NXS entries; the No. 10 Chevrolet driven by Landon Cassill, the No. 11 Chevrolet driven by Daniel Hemric, and the No. 16 Chevrolet driven by AJ Allmendinger. With multiple wins, Kaulig Racing has come to be one of the top competitors on track each weekend. The team made multiple starts in the NCS in 2021 and won in its seventh-ever start with AJ Allmendinger’s victory at “The Brickyard” for the Verizon 200 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The young team has acquired two charters for the 2022 NCS season, with Justin Haley competing as its first, full-time driver in the series. The team’s second entry will be shared by part-time teammates AJ Allmendinger, Daniel Hemric and Noah Gragson. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

Moji Sushi Partners with Front Row Motorsports

New Partner for Todd Gilliland’s No. 38 Team in Martinsville

 MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Oct. 25, 2022) – Moji Sushi, ready-to-eat sushi rolls made with Louis Kemp Surimi Seafood, will partner with Front Row Motorsports (FRM) and Todd Gilliland for the first time this weekend at Martinsville (VA) Speedway.

“This car will really stand out on Sunday in Martinsville,” Gilliland said. “I am very thankful to Moji Sushi for coming on board this weekend. Hopefully, we can put this bright pink No. 38 up towards the front and deliver a sold run for them.”

Both Todd and Moji Sushi have speed in their DNA, making NASCAR the perfect platform to promote the convenience and quality of Moji Sushi rolls.

“I started Moji Sushi with the passion to help make school lunches healthier”, Moji Sushi owner and Founder, Philip Sinz, said. “I rolled sushi early each morning and delivered to as many schools as possible before the lunch bell rang, driving my car as fast as I could. I wish I partnered with Todd in the beginning, because I could have delivered a lot more sushi. I’m looking forward to seeing Todd take Moji Sushi to a whole new level!”

Gilliland returns to Martinsville, the site of the first top-10 qualifying run of his rookie campaign, with hopes of improving on his finish from the spring.

“I really like racing at Martinsville,” continued Gilliland. “We had a lot of speed the last time we ran here and were able to qualify well. We lost the handling of the car as the sun went down and just never seemed to get it back. I am looking forward to getting there this weekend and ready to get a better result.”

Gilliland and the Moji Sushi No. 38 Ford race at Martinsville on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. ET on NBC.

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.

Brad Keselowski – Martinsville II Advance

Team: No. 6 Kohler Generators Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Matt McCall

Twitter: @RFK6Team, @RFKRacing and @keselowski

Race Format: 263 miles, 500 laps, Stages: 130-130-240

NASCAR Cup Race at Martinsville – Sunday, Oct. 30 at 2 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Weekend Format

Group practice and qualifying sessions return for this weekend’s schedule at Martinsville.

Keselowski at Martinsville

  • Keselowski, a two-time winner at Martinsville, is set for his 26th Cup start at the .526-mile track. It ranks as his third-best track statistically with an 11.1 average finish (behind only Loudon and Pocono). He finished 17th there this spring.
  • He has finished top-10 in 17 of his 25 starts at ‘The Paperclip,’ good enough for 68 percent of his outings. Of those 17 top-10s, 12 finishes have been inside the top five. Keselowski earned his first Martinsville win back in 2017 in the spring race, and won that same race again two years later.
  • Keselowski has finished fifth or better in 11 of his last 15 Martinsville races, and of those finished runner-up twice, as well as third three times.
  • His average starting position at Martinsville is 11.3 with one career pole, the fall race in 2020, with 14 starts inside the top-10 all time. He earned a P9 starting position there this spring.
  • Keselowski also made four Truck Series starts from 2004-07.

Matt McCall at Martinsville

  • McCall will call his 15th Cup race from Martinsville this weekend where he has seven top-10s and a 15.1 average finish.
  • After just three top-10s in his first nine races, McCall has since finished ninth or better in four of the last five races. He and Kurt Busch ran seventh together last fall, one of four top-10s the duo had together in the No. 1 car. His best finish overall is second (Jamie McMurray – 2015).
  • McCall’s average starting position stands as 14.7 with five starts inside the top-10.

QUOTE WORTHY
Keselowski on racing at Martinsville:
“I feel good about where we’re at headed into the weekend. We had a really great test here a few weeks back, and both our cars unloaded with speed in the spring in what felt like a long time ago compared to how far we’ve come in the summer months. Sunday is yet another great opportunity for our team and we’re excited to get it going in the Kohler Generators Mustang.”

Last Time Out
Keselowski finished top-10 in each of the stages Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway and finished fifth in the Violet Defense Ford, his first top five and best finish of the season.

On the Car

Kohler returns for its 13th primary race this season. Kohler is the anchor partner for the No. 6 team throughout the 2022 campaign, and will be the primary in 14 races after initially joining the RFK partner family in 2021 with eight events on the No. 6 team.

About Kohler Co.
Founded in 1873 and headquartered in Kohler, Wisconsin, Kohler Co. is one of America’s oldest and largest privately held companies comprised of more than 40,000 associates. Kohler is a global leader in the manufacture of kitchen and bath products; engines and power systems; premier cabinetry, tile and lighting; and owner/operator of two of the world’s finest five-star hospitality and golf resort destinations in Kohler, Wisconsin, and St. Andrews, Scotland.

A global force in power solutions since 1920, Kohler manufactures engines and complete power systems, including generators (portable, marine, residential, commercial and industrial), automatic transfer switches, switchgear, monitoring controls, and accessories for emergency, prime power and energy-management applications all around the world. The business is committed to reliable, leading edge power-generation products, clean energy solutions, as well as comprehensive after-sale support. Visit KohlerGenerators.com, facebook.com/KOHLERPower, and on Twitter at @KOHLERPower.

Chris Buescher – Martinsville II Advance

Team: No. 17 Fifth Third Bank Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Scott Graves

Twitter: @RFK17Team, @RFKRacing and @Chris_Buescher
Race Format: 263 miles, 500 laps, Stages: 130-130-240

NASCAR Cup Race at Martinsville – Sunday, Oct. 30 at 2 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Weekend Format

· Group practice and qualifying sessions return for this weekend’s schedule at Martinsville.

Buescher at Martinsville

· Buescher is set for his 15th Cup start at Martinsville this weekend, where he has one top-10 (P9), which came in last fall’s race. In that event he drove from the 15th starting spot to his career-best Martinsville finish.

· Prior to last fall, he had five other top-15 results, including a P13 finish in each of the last two spring races.

· Buescher is coming off a career qualifying effort of fourth at Martinsville this spring, improving his average starting position to 22.5. He started 15th in each of last season’s events.

Scott Graves at Martinsville

· Graves will call his 13th Cup race from Martinsville on Sunday where he has two career top-10s, including a best finish of ninth, which came last fall with Buescher.

· Graves has a string of five-straight top-20s, including a P10 finish with Ryan Newman back in 2019, and a 12th-place run the following spring. He and Buescher ran 15th this spring.

· He led Buescher to the P4 starting spot this spring and overall has an 18.0 average starting position.

QUOTE WORTHY
Buescher on racing at Martinsville:
“Martinsville is another track where the tables have turned a bit for us lately, in a good way, so we’re ready to get back up there. Both of our RFK cars had speed there this spring, and we both had great qualifying runs inside the top-10. Finishing strong is what we’re going for this season, and this is another great chance to do so in a really cool scheme recognizing Matt Kenseth and our longtime partner Fifth Third Bank.”

Last Time Out
Buescher and the Fastenal team rebounded for a 13th-place finish at Homestead-Miami this past weekend.

On the Car

Fifth Third makes a unique appearance on the No. 17 this weekend, honoring Matt Kenseth and his upcoming induction into the NASCR Hall of Fame with a special paint scheme. Kenseth, who scored Jack Roush’s first Cup Championship in 2003, originally piloted the No. 17 Fifth Third Bank Ford in 2012 and this weekend’s scheme for Buescher will be a nod to that original livery.

About Fifth Third Bank
Fifth Third Bancorp is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio and the indirect parent company of Fifth Third Bank, National Association, a federally chartered institution. As of June 30, 2020, Fifth Third had $203 billion in assets and operated 1,122 full-service banking centers and 2,456 ATMs with Fifth Third branding in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Tennessee, West Virginia, Georgia and North Carolina. In total, Fifth Third provides its customers with access to approximately 53,000 fee-free ATMs across the United States. Fifth Third operates four main businesses: Commercial Banking, Branch Banking, Consumer Lending and Wealth & Asset Management. Fifth Third is among the largest money managers in the Midwest and, as of June 30, 2020, had $405 billion in assets under care, of which it managed $49 billion for individuals, corporations and not-for-profit organizations through its Trust and Registered Investment Advisory businesses. Investor information and press releases can be viewed at www.53.com. Fifth Third’s common stock is traded on the Nasdaq® Global Select Market under the symbol “FITB.” Fifth Third Bank was established in 1858. Deposit and Credit products are offered by Fifth Third Bank, National Association. Member FDIC.

RFK Racing and Fifth Third Bank to Honor Matt Kenseth at Martinsville

No. 17 Ford to feature 2012 Tribute Scheme in honor of Hall of Fame Induction

CONDORD, N.C. (Oct. 25, 2022) – RFK Racing and Fifth Third Bank will honor Matt Kenseth and his upcoming induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame with a special paint scheme on Chris Buescher’s No. 17 Ford at the upcoming NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway. Kenseth, who scored Jack Roush’s first Cup championship in 2003, originally piloted the No. 17 Fifth Third Bank Ford in 2012 and this weekend’s scheme will be a nod to that originally livery.

“Matt is really one of the guys that helped to put us on the map,” said Hall of Fame team owner Jack Roush. “Mark (Martin) brought to my attention early on and was adamant that we needed to sign Matt and put him in a car.

“He ended up being one of the most talented and productive drivers in the sport’s history and we are very proud to see him be honored and inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.”

Kenseth piloted the No. 17 Ford from 2000-12, accruing one of the most successful tenures in the sport’s history. He was named the Cup Series rookie of the year in 2000, before becoming RFK’s first Cup champion in 2003. A perennial championship contender in the No. 17, Kenseth went on to win 24 races for Roush, including a pair of Daytona 500 Championships in 2009 and 2012. The latter marked the team’s historic 300th NASCAR victory.

Kenseth returned to RFK in 2018, piloting the famed No. 6 Ford in 15 events, while closing out his tenure with the team with a pair of top-seven finishes at Phoenix and Homestead. He will join Roush and Martin in the NASCAR Hall of Fame, when he is officially inducted in January.

RFK Racing also ran tribute schemes to both Martin and Kenseth earlier this year at Darlington’s famed throwback race weekend event.

The throwback Fifth Third Ford will be on track first this Saturday at 12 p.m. ET, followed by qualifying at 12:45 p.m. Race coverage Sunday is set for 2 p.m. ET on NBC, with radio coverage set for MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Buescher is coming off a 15th-place run at Martinsville this spring where he qualified fourth, and last fall finished ninth in this race for his first top-10 at ‘The Paperclip.’

Herta inks four-year contract extension with Andretti Autosport

Photo by Simon Scoggins for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Colton Herta has renewed his contract with Andretti Autosport to remain as a full-time NTT IndyCar Series competitor for the organization along with sponsor Gainbridge, a Group 1001 company, through the 2027 season.

The contract extension will keep the 22-year-old second-generation competitor from Valencia, Santa Clarita, California, as the driver of the No. 26 Andretti Autosport Dallara-Honda sponsored by Gainbridge for a third full-time season and beyond, beginning in 2023. He is coming off his fourth full-time season in the IndyCar circuit, where he recorded his lone victory of the 2022 campaign in the GMR Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course in May. Coupled with an additional podium at the Exhibition Place in Toronto, Canada, in July along with a total of seven top-10 results throughout the 17-race schedule, Herta concluded the 2022 season in 10th place in the final driver’s standings.

“I’m super happy and grateful for everything the entire Andretti and Gainbridge teams have done for me,” Herta said. “This is a huge step for me professionally, and I’m so glad it can be with a top team like Andretti Autosport. We have big goals and a lot of work ahead of us, but I can’t be happier to do it with this team and represent Gainbridge.”

After making his inaugural presence in the IndyCar circuit at Sonoma Raceway with Harding Racing in September 2018, Herta embarked in his first full-time campaign in the series during the following season for Harding Steinbrenner Racing. He claimed his maiden IndyCar victory at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, in March before proceeding to win the season-finale event at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Herta then joined Andretti Autosport for the 2020 season, where he has since notched five victories, nine podiums, six poles and 620 laps led. His best points result to this date is third place, which occurred in 2020.

Through a total of 65 career starts in the IndyCar Series, Herta has achieved seven victories, 11 podiums, nine poles, 764 laps led and an average-finishing result of 11.0.

“We’re really pleased to confirm that Colton and Gainbridge will remain with Andretti Autosport for years to come,” Michael Andretti, Chairman and CEO of Andretti Autosport, said. “Colton is a true talent in a race car and has natural determination that makes him want to win. He’s a strong competitor and a good teammate. I’m looking forward to seeing what Colton and Andretti can continue to achieve together. We’ve been really proud to represent Gainbridge, and to have given them their first racing victory with Colton in 2020 — and four more since,” added Andretti. “On and off the track we share a commitment to compete at the top level and look forward to seeing Colton return to victory lane in the yellow and black Gainbridge colors.”

The 2023 season will also mark the fifth year of sponsorship for Gainbridge with Herta and the sixth overall for the Group 1001 company in IndyCar, which first joined forces with Andretti Autosport in 2018 with a mission to inspire STEM learning and career explorations through its presence in the IndyCar Series.

“Gainbridge is proud to continue its successful relationship with Andretti through this new contract extension with Colton,” Dan Towriss, CEO and President of Group 1001, the parent company of Gainbridge, added. “We have high hopes for both Colton and Gainbridge and believe they’re destined to become household names. With his natural talent and winning spirit, Colton won’t stop until he changes the landscape of racing. He’s the perfect representative for Gainbridge, who is changing the landscape of financial services. With his natural talent and winning spirit, Colton won’t stop until he changes the landscape of racing. He’s the perfect representative for Gainbridge, who is changing the landscape of financial services.”

For the 2023 season, Herta will be one of four full-time competitors representing Andretti Autosport in the IndyCar grid along with Romain Grosjean, Devlin DeFrancesco and newcomer Kyle Kirkwood. Marco Andretti is scheduled to pilot a fifth Andretti Autosport entry in the 107th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May.

With his plans for the future set, Herta’s 2023 IndyCar season is scheduled to commence at the Streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, for the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 5. The event’s coverage will occur at noon ET on NBC.

Rush Truck Centers/Cummins Racing: Chase Briscoe Martinsville Advance

CHASE BRISCOE
Martinsville Advance
No. 14 Rush Truck Centers/Cummins Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview

● Event: Xfinity 500 (Round 35 of 36)

● Time/Date: 2 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Oct. 30

● Location: Martinsville (Va.) Speedway

● Layout: .526-mile oval

● Laps/Miles: 500 laps/263 miles

● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 130 laps / Stage 2: 130 laps / Final Stage: 240 laps

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

Notes of Interest

● Chase Briscoe’s approach to the penultimate NASCAR Cup Series race of the 2022 season, the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, has shifted drastically since the season’s first visit to the Virginia short track in March. Briscoe enters Sunday’s race in a must-win position, eighth in the playoff standings and 44 points below the cutoff line to advance to the following weekend’s Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway. Should Briscoe take home the victory, he will leave with the ornate grandfather clock traditionally awarded to the Martinsville race winner and, more importantly, lock himself into the chance to compete for his first Cup Series championship in just his second season.

● Though the Mitchell, Indiana, native struggled to find his footing on short tracks in the Cup Series during his 2021 rookie season, the switch to the NextGen racecar in 2022 brought about a change in Briscoe’s performance. In the first race of the season Feb. 6, the non-points Busch Light Clash on a purpose-built, quarter-mile paved oval inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Briscoe was consistently one of the best on track through practice, qualifying and the opening laps of the feature race. Five weekends later, he went on to earn his first career Cup Series victory on the mile oval at Phoenix, then four weeks after that walked away from Martinsville with a ninth-place finish, his best result in three starts at the half-mile, paperclip-shaped oval.

● In the fall of 2020, when the NASCAR Xfinity Series returned to Martinsville after a 13-year hiatus, Briscoe drove to a seventh-place finish. The 27-year-old racer also owns two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts at Martinsville. His best result came in April 2017, when he started eighth and finished 11th. He returned that October to start on the pole and lead the first 39 laps before a late-race accident relegated him to a 19th-place finish.

● Including his maiden Cup Series victory at Phoenix on March 13, Briscoe has driven to top-15 finishes at all but two of this year’s races on tracks one mile or shorter – a 22nd-place finish April 17 in the dirt race at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, where he led 59 laps but spun on the final lap while attempting a pass for the win, and a 23rd place finish at Richmond (Va.) Raceway on Aug. 14, when his No. 14 Ford Mustang caught fire while he was running top-five. Last year, Briscoe’s best finish on the shorter tracks on the Cup Series schedule was a 13th-place result earned in the fall at Bristol.

● Rush Truck Centers is proud to employ 2,500 talented service technicians throughout the largest network of commercial truck and bus dealerships in North America, operating in 23 states and Ontario, Canada. At Rush Truck Centers, service technicians are the heartbeat of its dealerships, and the company is always looking to add the best and brightest technicians to its team. Service technicians interested in looking for the next step in their careers can find additional information and listings of open positions on the Rush Enterprises Technician Careers page.

● All of the SHR racecars travel from race to race in haulers from Rush Truck Centers, the premier service solutions provider to the commercial vehicle industry. And this month, SHR haulers have sported unique mudflaps in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month. Rush Truck Centers has been proud to offer limited-edition pink Breast Cancer Awareness mudflaps through the month of October. For every mudflap sold, $4 has been donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation by Rush Truck Centers and mudflap manufacturer Roechling Industrial Gastonia.

● Indiana-based Cummins, from car owner Tony Stewart’s hometown of Columbus, is a corporation of complementary business segments that design, manufacture, distribute and service a broad portfolio of power solutions. It is best known for its diesel truck engines. Since its founding in 1919, Cummins has grown to employ approximately 61,600 people and serves customers in about 190 countries and territories through a network of some 8,000 wholly owned and independent dealer and distributor locations.

Chase Briscoe, Driver of the No. 14 Rush Truck Centers/Cummins Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing:

Teams have always had to adapt and change things with some of these tracks that we visit twice in a season. How much are you having to do that between visits with the NextGen?

“The car drives fairly similar each time around, but from a team strategy standpoint, the setups are totally different. I mean, they couldn’t even get more different than what they are just with the rule changes and how much more knowledge we have now about this car. It has really changed the game. You also have a better sense the second time around of how the racetrack races. Looking back at the first race at Martinsville, who would have thought going into the first race that it was going to be really hard to pass? We’re now going into the second race knowing that, so we’ll change our strategy to go along with that.”

Martinsville is one of those wild-card races where anything can happen and anyone can be the guy celebrating at the end. Does that make it the perfect race to host the cutoff leading into Championship Weekend?

“Yeah, it is kind of the perfect cutoff race. We go to some of these tracks and, especially on the short tracks, you can run out of patience pretty easily. You want to bump a guy and mess them up getting into a corner and you can’t even get to them. But at Martinsville, you have every opportunity to do that. When you add in the parity we’ve seen all year with the new car, it creates an opportunity for a lot more guys to be battling up front now for the win. Guys who aren’t normally up front trying to get their best run of the year are mixing it up with playoff guys, and the playoff guys are obviously racing for their chance to go to the championship. There’s just a lot of chaos that can ensue at the end of these cutoff races and then, when you put all of that on a track like Martinsville, it makes for a really unique race.”

What makes Martinsville so chaotic?

“Well, to make some of those moves guys typically want to make on a short track, whether that’s giving a little bump to mess up another driver, or even just going for the dive bomb, you have to have the opportunity. You need to be able to get right on their bumper. You can’t do that at a lot of these places, but at Martinsville you have to slow down so much for the corner. You can just drive in deeper and get right to their bumper or, if you can get to their inside or outside, you can take away the space they need to make that turn. If you want to get to a guy and move him up out of the groove, you’re going to get the chance to do it. You just hope you’re not the guy that someone is trying to move because it’s impossible to get away from and sometimes impossible to come back from.”

No. 14 Rush Truck Centers/Cummins Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Chase Briscoe
Hometown: Mitchell, Indiana

Crew Chief: John Klausmeier
Hometown: Perry Hall, Maryland

Car Chief: J.D. Frey
Hometown: Ferndale, California

Engineer: Mike Cook
Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland

Engineer: Marc Hendricksen
Hometown: Clinton, New Jersey

Spotter: Joey Campbell
Hometown: Berlin, Connecticut

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Shayne Pipala
Hometown: Frankfort Square, Illinois

Rear Tire Changer: Dakota Ratcliff
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee

Tire Carrier: Jon Bernal
Hometown: Shelby, North Carolina

Jack Man: Dylan Moser
Hometown: Monroe, North Carolina

Fuel Man: Corey Coppola
Hometown: Bluefield, West Virginia

Road Crew Members

Underneath Mechanic: Stephen Gonzalez
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Interior Mechanic: Trevor Adams
Hometown: Naples, Florida

Tire Specialist: Keith Eads
Hometown: Arlington, Virginia

Shock Specialist: Brian Holshouser
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina

Engine Tuner: Jon Phillips
Hometown: Jefferson City, Missouri

Transporter Co-Driver: Todd Cable
Hometown: Shelby, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Rob Fink
Hometown: Mocksville, North Carolina

Lizards to Celebrate World Finals with Giveaway: Kids’ Pink Unicorn Lamborghini Electric Car

SONOMA, Calif, (October 25, 2022) – In honor of the Lamborghini World Finals next week, Flying Lizard Motorsports and driver Slade Stewart will be giving away a kids’ electric car: a 12V pink Lamborghini, wrapped in the special livery of Stewart’s No. 14 Lamborghini Super Trofeo car known as Sparklefarts.

The pink unicorn Lamborghini has been a fan favorite of all ages this year in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America championship, bringing a record number of fans to the Lizard garage at every race event. Next week, the No. 14 pink unicorn Lamborghini will be one of two Lizard entries headed to Portugal for the World Finals, with Stewart currently leading the championship in the LB Cup class.

To celebrate the final race event in what has been a successful year for the colorful Lamborghini, Stewart has obtained an electric Lamborghini and has dressed her up to match the No. 14.

We want fans to get creative and show your love for the Lizards and our favorite pink unicorn!

How to Enter:

1) Whether it’s a photo of unicorn swag, a poem, pictures of fans cheering Sparklefarts on, a drawing, rendering, or whatever, we want to see it! Upload your entry to Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram with the hashtag #SparklefartsGiveaway and tag both Flying Lizard and Slade Stewart.

Facebook: FlyingLizardMotorsports & Sparklefarts14

Twitter: FlyingLizard_MS & SladeStewart2

Instagram: FlyingLizard_MS & Sparklefarts14

2) That’s it! We’ll keep track of all the entries and enter every single one into a drawing. On our final day on track in Portugal, Slade Stewart will pick the winner!

Rules:

1) All entries must be submitted (uploaded to Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram) by 7:00 AM ET on Sunday, November 6.

2) Due to international shipping, the winner of the car will be limited to the United States. Second and third place will receive a stuffed unicorn and a signed Flying Lizard hero card, which will ship worldwide.

Good luck!

Car Details from the manufacturer:

· Speed: 1.9-3 mph

· Motor: 30W X 2

· Dimensions: 24.41” x 42.52” x 15.75”

· Recommended height and maximum weight of drivers: 47” and 55 lbs.

· This 12V official-licensed upgraded kids ride on roadster with swing-up scissor doors and brilliant LED front/rear lights is a realistic model of a Lamborghini Sain car, which will be an attractive Christmas/birthday gift for your kids.

· Kids manual operation and parent remote control. The sports racer for one kid only can be moved forward and backward with the in-car control by the pedal and steering wheel, or be operated by parents through the 2.4G RC with 3 speeds.

· Made from reinforced eco-friendly plastic (passed ASTM F963 and CPSIA), the motorized vehicle working on 4 wear-proof plastic wheels with comfortable spring suspension system is sturdy and stable for boys and girls within 55 lbs to explore the outdoors.

· a single seat with a 3-point safety belt, soft start/stop, limited speed (up to 3.1 mph), and remote priority function, the 12V toddler super car is safe to play with parental supervision.

· The battery-powered car comes with start-up engine sounds, functional horn sounds, and brilliant LED front/rear lights, allowing your boys and girls to showcase a cool cruise.

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

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

About Lamborghini Newport Beach

Lamborghini Newport Beach is the authorized sales & service franchise for Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. serving Orange County, California.

Representing Lamborghini since 2010, Lamborghini Newport Beach is continuously one of the top US retailers year after year. With many years of combined experience, their team of professionals has all the knowledge and expertise necessary to assist you with purchasing the Lamborghini of your dreams, or properly maintaining the one in your garage. All Lamborghini Newport Beach technicians are fully factory certified, and all sales staff holds master certifications. Their newly opened state of the art facilities are now located at 44 Auto Center Drive, inside the Irvine Auto Center.