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DXDT Racing Aims for Pro Class Win at Indianapolis 8 Hour

By
Official Release
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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., (October 5, 2022) – The final fight for top honors in the Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS takes place this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and though not in the championship fight, DXDT Racing will contest for the overall and am-class wins with a pair of revised lineups. The No. 08 and No. 63 Mercedes AMG GT3 will participate in the eight-hour endurance event, racing against 24 other entries in four classes.

As previously announced, DXDT Racing has chosen to change up the driver lineups, moving from two Pro/Am entries to a full Pro car with Dirk Muller, Bryan Sellers, and Patrick Assenheimer in the No. 63 Mercedes AMG GT3, and an all-Am entry with David Askew, Scott Smithson, and Valentin Pierburg in the No. 08. Each car will be competing in a separate class for a win, with the No. 63 Pro car seeking to claim the overall win in the season finale.

With three podiums and 10 top-five finishes, DXDT Racing remains hungry for the first win of the 2022 race season. In 2021, David Askew, Ryan Dalziel, and Scott Smithson led the team charge at the checker flag, finishing fourth in the GT3 Pro-Am class.

This season, the competitors will again run on the road course layout of the iconic circuit, boasting 14 turns in its 2.44-mile Grand Prix Road Course. The only endurance event on the 2022 calendar, the eight-hour race time is a big switch from the pair of 90-minute races the competitors face each weekend. This year’s Indianapolis 8 Hour will also have a new factor, with the race starting at noon Eastern, and ending roughly an hour after sunset. The 60 minutes of night racing will be new endeavor for many of the competitors, as this will be the first night racing event for the GT World Challenge America series.

The qualifying format will differ from the usual 15-minute session, as well. On the afternoon of Friday, October 8, each of the three drivers will have 15 minutes to set a fast lap time. the average of the three laps will be the entry’s official lap time, measured up against the rest of the field. The top-ten fastest cars will then be competing in the Pole Shootout: another 15-minute qualifying session that will set the grid for the top-ten starting positions in Saturday’s race.

The 2022 Indianapolis 8 Hour will begin on Saturday, October 9 at 12:00 PM ET, airing live on YouTube.com/GTWorld.

DRIVER QUOTES

David Askew | No. 08 Qelo Mercedes AMG GT3

It’s great to be back at Indianapolis. We’re doing something different this year with the cars running an all-Pro team and an all-Am team. I’m super excited to see how the Pro team runs. This is the first time in DXDT’s team history that we’ve fielded an all-Pro effort. I’m looking forward to having a top-five. That’s our goal, and we’ll be happy if we can achieve that in this super competitive field. On the am side, we’re running Valentin Pierburg, who is a real bronze ace from Europe. He’s always wanted to run at Indy, and he’s happy to be here. We’re happy to provide a platform for him, Scott Smithson, and me to go out and compete in the Am class. Honestly, our real goal, since we’ve been running as Pro/Am team all year is to beat as many Pro/Am teams as we possibly can.

Scott Smithson | No. 08 Qelo Mercedes AMG GT3

This season has been a big learning year for me, and unfortunately, we aren’t in the championship hunt. I’m excited to run the Indianapolis 8 Hour with Dave and Valentin this weekend. Indy is such a cool place with so much history. We hope to have a good weekend.

Valentin Pierburg | No. 08 Qelo Mercedes AMG GT3

I am very much looking forward to racing in the US and with DXDT. This will be my first time but deafly not the last. Can’t wait to get my foot on to the throttle and experience this amazing Indy circuit.

Dirk Müller | No. 63 USALCO Mercedes AMG GT3

I’m very excited for the Indianapolis 8 Hour. We have a little bit of a shuffle with our lineups for this race. We have a pro car with Bryan, Patrick, and me. Together with our Am car of David, Scott, and Valentin, we have two strong lineups. It’s a long race, but we all know what we need to do. We didn’t have the results last round at Sebring which is disappointing because we were super-fast and everyone was doing a great job. But we know why, and now we’re looking ahead to the Indianapolis podium.

Bryan Sellers | No. 63 USALCO Mercedes AMG GT3

I’m very excited for the final round. Indy is such an iconic track and the ability to drive with Dirk and Patrick for the overall win is very special. There are a lot of good cars and drivers so we will have our work cut out for us, but I think we are up for the challenge.

Patrick Assenheimer | No. 08 Qelo Mercedes AMG GT3

I’m very happy to join the DXDT Team for ICGT 8h Indianapolis. It’s a new team and new track for me but I know the Mercedes AMG GT3 very well and I hope that my performance and experience in endurance races will help the team for a good result.

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ABOUT DXDT RACING
DXDT Racing is a high-performance sports car racing team founded in 2014 by team principal David Askew and located in Statesville, N.C. The Team’s primary focus is GT3 and Touring Car racing in North America. DXDT is a provider of turnkey racing support and delivers customized racing solutions for its clients and sponsors. DXDT is a performance-driven team comprised of highly experienced racing professionals capable of delivering wins and championships, including ten wins in GT World Challenge and a Rookie of the Year in 2020 alone. Follow the team on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook for race season updates.

About USALCO
USALCO is the premier manufacturer of Aluminum based chemicals for industrial and municipal markets. USALCO® is the leader in potable as well as industrial water and wastewater treatment chemistry. We are well-known for high quality and low cost alumina chemical applications, such as products for the manufacture of catalysts, titanium dioxide and molecular sieves. With over 60 years of experience in manufacturing coagulants, USALCO’s extensive product line includes our industry leading brands DelPAC®, AlcoPAC®, and Delta-Floc®. USALCO has 27 manufacturing locations, as well as its own dedicated fleet of trucks, ready to service needs anywhere in North America.

About Qelo
Qelo is a seasoned land development firm, founded and managed by experienced partners who hold over 50 years combined experience in real estate investment and capital management. The firm’s varied projects range from land development, vertical construction, and land banking. Qelo focuses on a portfolio of diversified projects throughout the ever-expanding Utah market and across the Intermountain West – this focus allows the firm to strategically select high-quality short-term and long-term projects to take advantage of a rapidly expanding economy within the region.

For more information, visit www.qelocapital.com.

Choosing Quality Toyota 86 Mods and Aftermarket Upgrades

By
SM
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When it comes to modding your Toyota 86, you’re going to want the best performance parts available. Fortunately, there are a lot of aftermarket options out there, thanks to the Internet and the performance parts stores that are available across the globe. As the Toyota 86 mods continue to get better, so does the popularity of the car. 

The good news is that you won’t have to look far for the mods and performance upgrades that you want, and you’ll find a whole community of fans and owners that can help you along the way. 

Did you know…?

The Toyota 86 and the Subaru BRZ are essentially re-branded versions of each other, with the 86 costing about $2,000 less for the same model. Formerly branded as the Scion FR-S, this is no longer just an “affordable alternative” for those who want a premium sports car without the cost. 

The 86 is in the sports car segment, and it continues to be a fan favorite to this day. There have been several versions and variations over the years, but in 2016, the Scion brand was discontinued and the FR-S was renamed the Toyota 86, with the 2017 release marking a special date in history. 

How to choose the best mods

Toyota 86 mods are plentiful. You can find exhaust upgrades, premium performance suspension parts, engine upgrades, and so much more. You’ll want to think about what you’re intending to use the car for, of course, if you want to choose the right mods for your needs. 

What’s your primary use of the car going to be? Do you want tons of power and performance? Perhaps you’re looking for style and substance without breaking the bank. Maybe you just want the most stylish exhaust so that everyone notices your beauty sailing down the road. 

Think about these things and then decide. 

Choose a quality supplier

Once you’re more familiar with what you want, you’ll be able to figure out which performance parts store you should use. There are several to choose from these days, so be sure to check out reputations, pricing, availability, and other factors to make sure that you get all your parts from the right place. 

Whether you want to upgrade your Boxer-Four engine or increase that 134 MPH top speed, there’s a performance part that can help you get the job done. And when you work with a reputable parts supplier, you’ll also get assistance in selecting the parts that are best for your needs. If you really want to make sure that your 86 stands out, you’ll want to work up a performance package that hits all the right marks. With the assistance of a dedicated performance parts supplier, that will be a lot simpler than you think. With a vehicle this stylish and this in-demand, it makes sense that you’d want to treat her like the queen she is, including the best Toyota 86 mods and performance parts.

What You Need to Know

By
SM
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Photo by Romain Dancre on Unsplash

Warranties can be one of the most complicated and confusing things you will buy. When you are buying a warranty or buying something that comes with a warranty, it can be hard to know what coverage you are getting, how to use it, and whether it’s worth the money.

Car Warranties

What is it? Manufacturers’ warranties on cars are complicated and detailed, and with good reason. A car is a very complex thing, and with so many different moving parts, electronic components, and computers involved, there’s a lot that can go wrong.

What does it cover? because cars are so complex, warranties have different coverage for different systems. Nearly all warranties have an initial coverage period that protects your whole car. 3 years or 36,000 miles is a common coverage period for this type of warranty. After the whole-car warranty expires, you will usually have a longer warranty that still covers the drive train. This includes the engine, transmission, and a few other select components.

How does it work? Because we are now driving our cars more than the industry standard of 12,000 miles a year, your coverage will probably end due to the mileage limit rather than the time limit, so pay more attention to that.

Make sure you understand how your warranty works. In many cases, you will have to have repairs done at a dealership. You will also void your warranty if you use your car for non-typical uses, such as off-roading or if you tow more than the recommended weight. In addition, beware of using generic or off-brand parts in your vehicle, which could also void the warranty on that system. Even small modifications that aren’t recommended by the manufacturers, such as getting a lift kit, can change how your warranty works.

Extended Car Warranties

What is it? An extended car warranty is designed to pay for repairs and replacements that are needed after your initial warranty period expires.

What does it cover? Extended warranty plans can vary in coverage. Powertrain plans are cheaper and cover your engine, transmission, and other similar parts. These can be the most expensive repairs on a vehicle. Other plans are more comprehensive, and of course, more expensive. Many people find they are grateful to have a warranty and the peace of mind it brings. Other people pay for them for years and never use them. The average car on the road today is 12 years old, so vehicles last a long time

Be cautious when purchasing an extended car warranty, and never purchase from a phone call. Extended car warranty phone calls are now the most common scam in the country. Always buy from a reputable source. Many used car sales lots offer their own warranty, as do manufacturers. For example, the Buick extended warranty offers several different options and levels of coverage. These may or may not be a better deal than other reputable warranty companies.

How does it work? When you first purchase an extended car warranty, you may pay an up-front cost that could be in the thousands of dollars range. Or you could pay a smaller monthly amount that allows you to remain under coverage. In addition, at the time of any claims, you will also pay a service fee or deductible before your warranty kicks in and pays the rest.

Home Warranties

What is it? A home warranty is a contract that you purchase to help ease the burden of repairs on your home. They are often purchased by sellers before selling a house or by new home buyers, but they can be purchased at other times.

A home warranty charges you a small amount each month, sometimes under $50, and covers your home’s systems, appliances, or both. Home systems include things like your electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and septic or sewer lines. Appliances cover all your kitchen appliances plus things like garage door openers.

What does it cover? The warranty repairs or replaces covered items as long as the damage was caused by wear and tear or failure due to the normal lifespan of the item. It doesn’t cover things like storm damage or misuse, and it doesn’t cover anything already covered by a manufacturer’s warranty.

When you purchase a new home, it is usually covered by a manufacturer’s warranty by the builder, which may last a year or two or more. This should render a home warranty unneeded for that length of time. Brand-new appliances should also be covered for a set period of time.

How does it work? When you have a home warranty and need something repaired, you will call your warranty company first, and they will contact a contractor. You will pay a service fee to the warranty company, usually around $100 or so, and the rest of the covered repair will be paid by the warranty company. When you are using a home warranty you usually cannot choose your own repair person or contractor.

Product Warranties

Products such as computers, tablets, phones, and other devices will come with a manufacturer’s warranty, which will cover the product for a limited amount of time. In addition, you can purchase an extended product warranty. These are usually sold by the manufacturer or the seller. For example, if you buy a product from a chain store, that store will usually offer an extended warranty from a third-party company. For most people and products, these warranties are not a benefit and you will never use them. For a few expensive products that are at greater risk of damage or cost more to repair, such as laptop computers, a warranty can be a wise purchase.

What to Know When Going for Your First NASCAR Track Side Event

By
SM
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If you are a NASCAR fan and you have only been watching the sport on TV, you’re missing out on a lot of fun. The trackside experience is a lot more exhilarating. Once you have your first live event, you might never want to catch it on the screen again. You will need to make a few preparations before heading for the race. Here are a few tips you need to know if you want to have the most enjoyable time when you finally visit the track.

Bring Your Drinks and Food
You might need to do some research on what the track allows. But if there are no rules against it, it is best to carry your food and drinks. The prices might be a bit high. And besides that, you do not want to stand in long lines or have trouble getting back to your seat.

Carry Earplugs
When watching NASCAR on your TV, it might not seem as loud. At the live event, you must deal with the screaming of all the fans rooting for their favorite racers. You will need earplugs or a good set of noise-canceling headphones. That way, you do not have to worry about migraines or ringing ears.

Arrive Early
Arriving at the track before everyone else is another pro tip. If you drive to the event, you will need to find parking in the best spots. Also, you can expect to see many people at such an event. The best way to avoid the crowds at the gates is to ensure you arrive 3 hours before time. During this time, you can check out the NASCAR hauls and see how the car shipping happens. You can also use your head start to soak up the sounds and the site around the track. That way, you are not overwhelmed by the sudden burst of activities.

Keep a Safe Distance
If you happen to have passes allowing you near the garage area and the pit road, you need to be careful. Here, you will see pitch crew members working and moving tires all over the place. Always be mindful enough to step aside to avoid getting in their way. Fans can view the pre-race and race activities from the garage and the pit areas. But you always need to pay attention. If you are with friends or family, make sure you stay together. While watching the action from a close range, it is easy to lose focus. And it is easy to get lost while soaking everything in.

Don’t be Shy
NASCAR tracks are always busy. And people are constantly moving from one place to the next. That means if you have a chance to talk to a driver or ask for a photograph, you need to act quickly. Many drivers have no issue with fans asking for a quick selfie or an autograph. But do your best not to get in their way because they might be hurrying to make an appearance somewhere.

Try to Leave Early
After such an action-packed event, you do not want a hassle driving out of state. Most racers never have to deal with the hassle of traffic. After all, auto transport services cater to their vehicles. But for fans, you must consider your journey back home. It is okay to stay for the whole event if you live around the track area. However, if you are driving to the event from out of state, it is best to leave early. That way, you do not have to deal with the horrible traffic.

Wrapping Up
The whole experience might sound like it is hectic. But it is a fun experience you will remember for years. And who knows? You might end up frequenting the tracks each time you get the chance. 

Video slot Nascar

By
SM
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Surely each of you has at least once heard about car racing Nascar. This is an exciting competition in which professional racers in specially equipped cars are trying to drive laps as fast as possible in an indoor stadium. The race is broadcasted live to millions of fans, and several thousand spectators are present at the stadium.

Also, these races are usually easily recognized by the abundance of ads on billboards, cars, and even the equipment of the drivers themselves.

The history of racing Nascar began in 1947 when Bill France Senior began to create his own race cars and then participate in the competition. However, in those days, many organizers cheated athletes, hiding from the race track until the end of the race, and taking all the money with them.

To prevent this from happening to professional athletes, Bill created the National Association of Stock Car Racing, under which competitions began to be held. This sport quickly gained popularity, which has remained to this day.

Bully Technologies – a popular developer of gambling games for online casinos – even created a slot machine called Nascar. In the game, users can try their luck by watching the reels spinning with images of popular racers such as Clint Boyer, Jeff Gordon, and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

The slot machine works correctly on both computers and mobile devices. Smartphone owners can also get a mobile no deposit bonus at one of the verified casinos to play Nascar without risking their own money.

In addition to the classic winnings for making combinations, users can also fight for the bonus rounds. There are three in total: the Burnout free spins, the U-Race bonus, and the Pit Stop bonus. Each of them can help increase the odds of winning and the amount of winnings itself.

Since the video slot was created in 2013, its graphics currently look quite dated. Despite this, with pleasure and comfort to play, the game will appeal to all kinds of players, not just fans of motorsports. Let’s just say, for an interesting pastime, one does not need to know all the drivers in person or be aware of the latest developments in Nascar.

Nascar slot can be found in most popular online casinos, which have software by Bully Technologies in their arsenal. The video slot offers both free game mode and real money mode (after making a deposit). The main thing to remember is to behave responsibly and not spend more on bets than planned. It is also not recommended to bet with credit cards and money borrowed. All this can lead to gambling addiction and ruin your life within a few years.

Former NASCAR driver sues Virginia governor

By
SM
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Hermie Sadler, formerly a famous NASCAR racer, has initiated a lawsuit with the governor of Virginia over a pending gambling ban. The fact is that the former pilot owns several truck stops in the state, as well as a dozen restaurants. And each of these locations has slot machines, in which customers actively spend their time.

According to Hermie’s claims, he would lose more than $750,000 if the ban went into effect.

Sadler also finds it illogical that everything in the state is moving toward legalizing gambling, but the machines of the type placed in his parking lots, the state is preparing to ban. The state is even expected to legalize online casinos. For now, only unlicensed gambling sites that attract customers through no deposit casino bonuses are available to Virginia residents who do not pay taxes to the treasury.

Sadler doesn’t forget to mention that during the pandemic, it was small and medium-sized businesses that helped the country with the taxes that proved so important in sustaining the United States through difficult times. And now the government wants to take most of the revenue away from small businesses.

Note that slot machines in parking lots, gas stations, and roadside restaurants are a common theme in the United States. And until recently, their location was not regulated in any way by the state. Last year, the governor of Virginia drafted a bill under which such machines must now be licensed and thus be taxed. This law was in effect for one year to help small businesses get back on their feet and not shut down during tough pandemic times.

But soon, that period will expire, and therefore the machines will become illegal, and their owners will have to remove them from public places.

Sadler, on the other hand, believes that the government must allow small businesses to make money in any way they can; otherwise, they simply will not survive.

As a reminder, gambling was legalized in Virginia in 2020, but only in five cities. Gambling is prohibited in the rest of the state.

Weekend schedule for Charlotte playoff race

By
Angie Campbell
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Photo by Ted Seminara for SpeedwayMedia.com.

The NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series head to Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend for the elimination races in the Round of 12.

When all is said and done, four competitors will be eliminated from championship contention, leaving eight eligible drivers as the Cup Series Playoffs continue. Chase Elliott’s win at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday guaranteed him a spot in the next round as the field is cut from 12 drivers to 8.

Noah Gragson and AJ Allmendinger, by virtue of wins, have clinched a spot in the Xfinity Series Round of 8 as the remaining 10 drivers compete to advance to the next round.

The Camping World Truck Series is off for the next two weeks.

Press Pass Live will be available after each race.

All times are Eastern.

Saturday, October 8

10 a.m.: Xfinity Series Practice – All Entries – NBC Sports Streaming App
10:30 a.m.: Xfinity Series Qualifying (Impound) (Group A & B/ Multi-Vehicle/Two Rounds – NBC Sports Streaming App
12 noon.: Cup Series Practice (Group A & B) – USA coverage begins at 12:30, NBC Sports Streaming App
1 p.m.: Cup Series Qualifying (Impound) Group A & B/Multi-Vehicle/Two Rounds – USA/NBC Sports Streaming App

3 p.m.: Xfinity Series Drive for the Cure 250 presented by BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina
Distance: 155.44 miles (67 Laps)
Stages 20/40/67 Laps
NBC/Peacock/PRN/SiriusXM
The Purse: $1,319,119

Sunday, October 9

2 p.m.: Cup Series Bank of America Roval 400
Distance: 252.88 miles (109 Laps)
Stages 25/50/109 Laps
NBC/PRN/SiriusXM/NBC Sports Streaming App
The Purse: $7,262,080

Hendrick Motorsports Media Advance: Charlotte ROVAL

By
Official Release
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Charlotte ROVAL
Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022
2.32-Mile Road Course
2:00 PM ET
Location: Concord, North Carolina
TV: Fox
Event: NASCAR Cup Series (32 of 36)
Radio: SiriusXM logo PRN logo

5 KYLE LARSON

Age: 30 (July 31, 1992)

Hometown: Elk Grove, California

Resides: Mooresville, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Cliff Daniels

Standings: 6th

No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

HISTORIC PERFORMANCE: In October 2021, Kyle Larson entered the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL event 22 points ahead of the cutoff position heading into the final race of the Round of 12 of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. The Elk Grove, California, native and the No. 5 HendrickCars.com team overcame an alternator issue to lead the final eight laps en route to victory on the serpentine layout. Along with his wins at Sonoma Raceway and Watkins Glen International last year, Larson became the first driver in Cup Series history to win three road course races in one season.

ONE TO GO: Last Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway, Larson started second and finished 18th in the final superspeedway event of 2022. The reigning Cup Series champion sits sixth in the point standings, 18 markers above the cut line heading into the final race of the Round of 12.

TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT: In 2018, Larson entered the Round of 16 elimination race at the Charlotte ROVAL 17 points ahead of the cutline. He won stage one and led a race-high 47 laps that day but was involved in a multi-car accident on a restart while running second with six laps to go. Driving a car with heavy suspension damage, Larson was able to bounce off the wall in the final turn to grab one final position and finish 25th. The result landed him in a three-way tie for the final playoff position and the 2014 Cup Series rookie of the year advanced to the next round with the tiebreaker advantage.

STILL ACTIVE: With his win at Watkins Glen International in August, Larson now has four career road course victories and trails only Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott (seven) among active drivers. The driver of the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 has five stage wins on road courses, which is also second to Elliott’s seven stage victories on that track type. Larson’s two stage wins at the Charlotte ROVAL are tied for the most in the Cup Series.

FIVE FOR FIVE: Since 2020, there have been 25 playoff races with Larson victorious in five of them – one more than Elliott who sits second in that statistical category – while competing in only 15 of them. Last year, the driver of the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet won half of the 10 playoff races including the finale at Phoenix Raceway to capture the 2021 Cup Series championship.

5 MORE: Larson has won 12 times since joining Hendrick Motorsports at the beginning of last year. Second and third during that span are Hendrick Motorsports teammates Alex Bowman and Elliott with five and seven wins to their credit.

HOME TEAM: This weekend, Larson and the No. 5 HendrickCars.com team will wear their “home” white uniforms at the Charlotte ROVAL. Home races occur in markets where there are Hendrick Automotive Group dealerships nearby, and the Charlotte area is home to 23 of them. Be sure to follow Hendrick Automotive Group’s social media channels and visit HendrickCars.com to view the complete home and away schedule.

9 CHASE ELLIOTT

Age: 26 (Nov. 28, 1995)

Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia

Resides: Dawsonville, Georgia

Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson

Standings: 1st

No. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

LOCKED IN: With his win last weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, Chase Elliott is locked into the Round of 8 of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs with one race remaining in the Round of 12. This is the sixth consecutive season the driver of the No. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 has advanced to the Round of 8. The previous two seasons he moved on to the Championship 4, earning his first career Cup Series title in 2020 after capturing the victory at Phoenix Raceway. Elliott’s Talladega win was the first victory for a playoff driver in the 2022 postseason. As of now, he has earned 46 playoff points that will carry into the next round when the points reset.

ROVAL READY: The Dawsonville, Georgia, native has an impressive résumé at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL with two wins in four Cup Series starts on the serpentine track. Elliott scored back-to-back victories there in 2019 and 2020. He’s led a total of 64 laps on the Charlotte ROVAL – second-most behind teammate William Byron – and his average finish of 5.0 leads the series. Last season, Elliott started the race in the eighth position, won the first stage, finished second in stage two and came back from an on-track incident to take the checkered flag in the 12th position to advance to the Round of 8.

LEFTS AND RIGHTS: Elliott has three top-five finishes and four top-10s out of five road course races this season, both marks are tied for the most in the series. The 2020 Cup Series champion drove to a fourth-place result at Circuit of The Americas, scored an eighth-place result at Sonoma Raceway, finished runner-up at Road America and fourth at Watkins Glen International. He also has a series-high two poles on tracks that turn left and right this year, leading the field to green at Road America and Watkins Glen. His average finish of 6.8 on road courses, 91 laps led and 178 points earned are also bests in the series on that track type this season.

WHERE IT STARTED: Elliott’s first career Cup Series victory came on a road course. He led 52 of 90 laps en route to victory in 2018 at Watkins Glen. The 2022 regular-season champion earned another win at that same track the very next year. It was his fifth career Cup Series victory and second road course win.

GETTING IT DONE: The 26-year-old leads all active drivers with seven wins on road courses. He’s also third on the overall list of drivers with road course victories, trailing only NASCAR Hall of Famers Jeff Gordon (nine) and Tony Stewart (eight). Elliott has victories across five different road courses, the most in series history. In 24 Cup Series starts on road courses, Elliott has an average finish of 7.67, which is not only the best among active drivers, but ranks second all-time among drivers (five or more starts) behind NASCAR legend Fireball Roberts (2.78 average finish in nine starts).

GUSTAFSON THE GREAT: No. 9 crew chief Alan Gustafson will call his fifth Charlotte ROVAL Cup Series race from atop the pit box this Sunday. In four races on the serpentine track – all with Elliott – the Ormond Beach, Florida, native has two victories and three top-10s with 64 laps led. Gustafson leads all active crew chiefs with seven road course victories in 45 races. All seven of his road course wins have come with his current driver. In all, the 2020 Cup Series championship-winning crew chief has 17 top-five finishes and 24 top-10s on road courses with 490 laps led.

WINNING WAYS: Following his win at Talladega last weekend, Gustafson has moved closer to the top spot for victories by active crew chiefs. His 38 career Cup Series wins are second to only Rodney Childers (40). Gustafson now has 13 playoff victories to his name, most among active crew chiefs.

24 WILLIAM BYRON

Age: 24 (Nov. 29, 1997)

Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina

Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle

Standings: 10th

No. 24 Valvoline Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

GAME TIME: The second race in the Round of 12 of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs took place at Talladega Superspeedway last weekend. Following a 12th-place finish, William Byron is ranked 10th, 11 points below the cutoff line. However, an appeal is set to be heard this week regarding the 25-point penalty assessed to Byron last Tuesday following the race at Texas Motor Speedway.

PLAYOFF POWER: In the first five races of the Cup Series playoffs, Byron has an average finish of 7.2 – second-best to Denny Hamlin (5.6). He has finished eighth at Darlington Raceway, sixth at Kansas Speedway, third at Bristol Motor Speedway, seventh at Texas and 12th at Talladega.

UP FRONT: Byron continues to hold the statistic of leading the second-most laps so far this season with 714 – behind Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott, who has led 773. Those 714 laps led by Byron are his most in a single Cup Series season. In fact, in the playoffs alone so far, the 24-year-old driver has led 102 laps – seventh-most in the Cup Series field in that time span.

ROAD RINGER?: With four previous starts at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL, Byron is prepared for his fifth start at the 17-turn course. His strong runs there include the pole position in 2019 and two sixth-place finishes in 2019 and 2020. In fact, Byron has led a total of 80 laps at his hometown road course – the most among the Cup Series field. He also has collected 116 points in his starts at the Charlotte ROVAL – tied for seventh-most among all drivers.

FUGLE FILES: This Sunday’s race will mark crew chief Rudy Fugle’s second start on this layout. In his first showing at the venue, Fugle and the No. 24 team qualified 11th and led 30 laps before an untimely caution late in the race shuffled the running order, leaving them with an 11th-place finish. As a crew chief on road courses, Fugle has 12 Cup Series starts, three starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and seven in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. In those seven Truck Series starts, the Livonia, New York, native has one win (Erik Jones, 2015), three top-five finishes, and five top-10s. One of those seven truck starts was also with Byron where the duo raced to a 10th-place finish at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in 2016.

HOME SWEET HOME: Cutting his teeth in the racing world in Charlotte, North Carolina, Byron is one of only a handful of drivers who was born and raised in the “home of NASCAR.” After visiting U.S. Legend Cars International headquarters in Harrisburg, North Carolina with his father in 2012, Byron found himself behind the wheel for the first time the next year competing in the Young Lion Division. Winning 33 of the 69 legend car events he ran across the United States in 2013, Byron went on to lock up the U.S. Legend Young Lions National championship and the Thursday Thunder Young Lion championship at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Progressing to the Legend Car Pro Division the next season, Byron also signed with JR Motorsports’ developmental program at the same time. From that point on, Byron hasn’t slowed down any as he climbed the racing ranks before ultimately making it to the top level of NASCAR as a Cup Series rookie in 2018.

HOME TRACK FEEL: In addition to Charlotte Motor Speedway being the home track of Byron, three other members of the No. 24 team also claim this as their home track. Mechanic Jacob Bowman (from Pilot Mountain), fueler Landon Walker (from North Wilkesboro) and jackman Spencer Bishop (from Pinehurst) are all from North Carolina.

VALVOLINE RETURNS: Valvoline will be the primary sponsor of Byron’s No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at the Charlotte ROVAL this weekend. This will be the final race that the Valvoline colors will be onboard Byron’s No. 24 in the 2022 season. Valvoline Inc. (NYSE: VVV) is a leading worldwide marketer and supplier of premium branded lubricants and automotive services, with sales in more than 140 countries. Established in 1866, the company’s heritage spans more than 150 years, during which time it has developed powerful brand recognition across multiple product and service channels. Valvoline ranks as the No. 3 passenger car motor oil brand in the DIY market by volume. To learn more, visit www.valvoline.com.

48 Noah Gragson

Age: 24 (July 15, 1998)

Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada

Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Greg Ives

Standings: Alex Bowman – 12th

No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

NO. 48: Noah Gragson became the 48th driver to start for Hendrick Motorsports last Sunday when he filled in for Alex Bowman at Talladega Superspeedway. Bowman was unable to compete due to concussion-like symptoms sustained in a single-vehicle incident at Texas Motor Speedway on Sept. 25. Gragson will make his 15th start in the NASCAR Cup Series this Sunday at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL – his first on a road course in the series.

WINNER, WINNER: Gragson leads all drivers in the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series season with seven wins. The No. 9 JR Motorsports driver won four straight races in September, which tied the record for consecutive wins in the Xfinity Series set by Sam Ard in 1983.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN: In Xfinity Series races where Gragson turned left and right, the Las Vegas native has placed inside the top 10 in 17 of his 20 appearances. In fact, he has finished in every position in the top 10 except for first.

ROVAL RINGER: Gragson has finished inside the top 10 in all three of his Xfinity Series starts at the Charlotte ROVAL, including a runner-up finish in 2020.

ATOP THE BOX: In four starts as a crew chief at the Charlotte ROVAL, Greg Ives has never finished outside the top 10. At the serpentine layout, Ives and Bowman combined for an average finish of 6.0 on the 17-turn layout. His best result was a runner-up finish in the 2019 race.

ALL PAWS ON DECK: Each week of the 2022 Cup Series schedule, Bowman and Ally team up to donate $4,800 to a Best Friends Animal Society network partner in each race market they visit, accompanied with a decal that bears the name of the recipient of the donation. This weekend, the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 will have two network partners on the decklid to raise awareness for the partner’s that are receiving the donation. The Lake Norman Humane Society and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department’s Animal Care and Control division will bookend the Ally Racing logo on the No. 48 decklid. Bowman and Ally have upped their donation efforts with $4,800 going to the Lake Norman Humane Society and $9,600 going to the CMPD Animal Care and Control.

LEADING THE WAY: With 10 wins through the 31 NASCAR Cup Series races in 2022, Hendrick Motorsports has earned the most victories so far this season. This is the organization’s 12th 10-win season – the most among all Cup Series teams. The four-car team is the only one to see all of its drivers win a race this season as well as the only one to have multiple drivers with at least two wins – Chase Elliott (five), Kyle Larson (two) and William Byron (two). On top of that, Elliott and Byron rank 1-2 in laps led this year.

WINDOW OF HOPE: Each of the four Hendrick Motorsports drivers in Sunday’s race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL will participate in the Window of Hope pink window net program started by Kurt Busch. The program shows support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Following the race, each participating driver will sign their window net and it will be auctioned off through The NASCAR Foundation with proceeds benefiting Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute’s Project PINK.

RULERS OF THE ROAD: At 26 wins, Hendrick Motorsports has the most all-time triumphs on road courses in Cup Series history. The two closest teams in this statistic have combined for only 21 wins. Since their inaugural season in 1984, the organization has won 29% of road course events (26 wins in 90 races).

COUNTING ‘EM UP: Seven different drivers have accounted for the 26 road course wins in team history and those seven winners are the most for a Cup Series team on road courses. Jeff Gordon leads the way for the team with nine victories (which are also the most among all drivers) followed by Elliott with seven and Larson has four. Tim Richmond had three wins followed by Jimmie Johnson, Geoff Bodine and Ricky Rudd with one victory apiece.

STUDYING THE TRENDS: In the last 19 road course races, the Concord, North Carolina-based organization has won 11 times. Only one team has more all-time wins on road courses (13) than the number of wins Hendrick Motorsports has scored in the last 19 races on serpentine layouts.

ON A ROLL AT THE ROVAL: Hendrick Motorsports has won the last three races at the Charlotte ROVAL. Elliott won back-to-back races at the 17-turn layout in 2019 and 2020 and Larson earned the victory in 2021. In fact, the last two race winners have gone on to win the Cup Series championship after their triumphs at the North Carolina venue.

SWEEP SENSATIONS: In the era of stage racing, there have been two times – both by Hendrick Motorsports – when one driver swept every road course stage and won the race. Elliott was the first to do so in his 2019 win at Watkins Glen International. Larson also accomplished this with his victory in 2021 at Sonoma Raceway.

ELIMINATION DOMINATION: In the last eight cutoff races in the NASCAR playoffs, Hendrick Motorsports has won seven times. The team has won at least one elimination race in the last four postseasons (not counting this season).

MR. OCTOBER: The Rick Hendrick-owned organization has won the last five October races dating back to last season. The team’s 38 career wins in October stand as the second-most in one month – June is the company’s winningest month with 39 victories. Ten drivers have won in the month – the most of all teams with three of the team’s four active drivers posting wins.

RECORD SETTERS: Hendrick Motorsports has posted a series-best 54 wins in the playoffs – 21 more than the next closest organization. Johnson has the most wins with 29. Among the current driver lineup, Elliott tops the board with seven wins, followed by Larson with five and Alex Bowman has one. Nine different drivers have won a playoff race for the team, which is the most in the Cup Series ranks. Entering this year’s playoffs, the company has won a race in the postseason in 18 seasons and that mark is also the most among all Cup Series teams.

QUOTABLE /

Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on if he races differently since he is above the cutoff line: “I don’t think so – well, maybe a little bit. You may look at a situation and think risk versus reward and maybe hold back on a move early in the race. Our road course program has been really good and I hope it carries over to this weekend. I’ve been above the cut line several times before here and have had some crazy races and results.”

Cliff Daniels, crew chief of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the uniqueness of the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL: “The (Charlotte) ROVAL is substantially different compared to the other road courses on the circuit because you have the addition of the banking. There are a lot of different suspension components that we have to look at differently with this car. There were maybe a lot of similarities to a ROVAL setup last year compared to a Sonoma (Raceway) setup. It’s a much different look now for this weekend – it’s almost not a road course setup. I was joking earlier that it’s almost dune-buggy style – you have the banking, you have big elevation changes. There is a lot more happening with the suspension geometry and the travel of the car that we have not encountered anywhere else this year.”

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on what the win Talladega Superspeedway does for the team heading into the Charlotte ROVAL: “At Talladega (Superspeedway), we really just wanted to have a solid day and try to get as many points as we could. Honestly after that second stage, I was super happy with our day. Regardless of what happened from there, I thought we had done a really good job. We had gained some good stage points and that was going to keep us in a position, we had hedged our bet to have a pretty solid points day regardless of how the finish ended up. To have the win on top of that was just icing on the cake. Now we can try to have a good weekend here at the (Charlotte) ROVAL. Gives us an opportunity to short those stages and not have to go for stage points and hopefully we have enough pace to fight for the win.”

Alan Gustafson, crew chief of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on how the win at Talladega affects how the team approaches the Charlotte ROVAL: “We always try to win. That just goes without saying. For us, it’s just about bonus points. It’s the biggest thing that we can do to put ourselves in a better position going into the next round. Our road course program has not been exactly where we’ve wanted it to be. We’ve been good, we’ve had shots to win and we haven’t been able to win. So focusing on trying to improve that, continuing to learn there, trying to get some bonus points and solidifying our position moving forward.”

William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on his approach to the playoffs so far: “Rudy (Fugle) and I have been taking it one week at a time in the playoffs. We’re not worrying about races past the one that comes up next. I think it’s been working pretty well so far since we have the second-best average finish in the playoffs right now. I think when you start worrying too far in advance, that’s when mistakes happen. We’ve done a good job of showing up, having speed and executing a good race while minimizing any mistakes. Would we like to be in a better position heading into a cutoff race? Yeah, of course. We can’t worry about the what ifs. We just need to go out and do our jobs the best we can.”

Rudy Fugle, crew chief of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on what he expects at the Charlotte ROVAL: “Even though we tested at the (Charlotte) ROVAL in the Next Gen car, I’m not sure there’s much that’s going to translate from that test since it was so long ago and we’ve made so many changes to the car since then. I think the biggest unknown will be in regard to tires. We’ll be running road course tires for the race. With part of the track being on the oval, we don’t know what to expect from tire fall off and grip levels in that part of the track. Same with our set up, the infield and the oval have such different characteristics and need such different things, you almost have to pick and choose which portion you think is most important. If anything, we can pull notes from the Indianapolis (Motor Speedway) road course race earlier this year, but that’s about the closest we have right now before we get on track Saturday.”

Greg Ives, crew chief of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on having Noah Gragson as his driver at the Charlotte ROVAL: “The whole team wants to continue our playoff run with Alex (Bowman) behind the wheel, but that will not happen. Despite that, our goal remains the same from an owner’s championship – we will show up to give our all to win. Noah (Gragson) did a great job filling in for Alex last weekend at Talladega Superspeedway and we will prepare him to do the same at the (Charlotte) ROVAL.”

Ives, on Bowman’s recovery: “Our main priority is to make sure Alex is back to 100% before he gets back in the No. 48 Ally Chevy. We are committed to his long-term health and trust the process. There is no doubt he is working hard and doing everything he can to return when the time is right.”

RFK Weekly Advance | ROVAL

By
Official Release
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Roush Fenway Keselowski Weekly Advance | ROVAL

The ROVAL at Charlotte Motor Speedway is on tap on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule this weekend where Chris Buescher is coming off a third-place finish last fall. He has four-straight top-10s on road courses, while RFK has five Cup wins all-time on road courses.

NASCAR Cup Series Race at ROVAL
Sunday, Oct. 9 | 2 p.m. ET
NBC, PRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Castrol Ford Mustang
Chris Buescher, No. 17 Fastenal Ford Mustang

Road Course Racing

Overall, RFK has 242 starts on road courses in the Cup Series with five wins, 84 top-10s and 40 top five finishes. RFK Cup drivers have a 17.5 average finish with 585 laps led.

Buescher’s Road Course Success
A year ago in this race Buescher ran inside the top-10 for much of the final stage and picked off five positions in the closing 20 laps to finish third, his now third top five on a road course. He has four-straight top-10s on road courses with finishes of ninth (Watkins Glen), 10th (Indy), sixth (Road America) and second (Sonoma).

In total, Buescher has a 15.4 average finish in road course action in the Cup Series in 25 starts with six overall top-10s.

Victories on the Road

Former RFK driver Carl Edwards was the last Jack Roush driver to go to victory lane on a road course, earning the win at Sonoma in 2014. Mark Martin, winner of the other four road course races in NCS action, also won at Sonoma in 1997, and went to victory lane at Watkins Glen in three straight races from 1993-95. On the Xfinity side, Edwards is responsible for three of the four victories, all in the 60 car, crossing the line first at Watkins Glen (2012), Road America (2010) and Montreal (2009). Chris Buescher also went to victory lane in the 60 in 2014 at Mid-Ohio.

By the Numbers at the ROVAL

Race Win T5 T10 Pole Laps Led AvSt AvFn Miles

               8              0              1              1              0              767         3              20.0        26.8        1748.7

                2              0              0              0              0              104         0              11.5        22.5        237.1

10 0 1 1 0 871 3 19.0 26.0 1985.8

Chandler Smith to Drive Full-Time for Kaulig Racing in 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series Season

By
Official Release
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Smith to Compete for NASCAR Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year

 LEXINGTON, N.C. (October 5, 2022) – Following the team’s announcement of AJ Allmendinger returning to full-time NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) competition, Kaulig Racing is excited to announce the addition of Chandler Smith to its 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) roster.

The 20-year-old, Georgia native has signed a multi-year deal with Kaulig Racing and plans to compete for Rookie of the Year honors during the 2023 NXS season, as he drives the No. 16 Chevrolet.

“I’m really excited to have an opportunity like this for my rookie year in the NASCAR Xfinity Series,” said Smith. “Kaulig Racing has grown from a small team to a multi-series, powerhouse team in just a few short years. I’m honored to take over the No. 16 car that has had so much success these last couple of years.

Currently in his second, full-time season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS), Smith has recorded five wins, one pole award, 22 top fives, 32 top-10 finishes and has led 746 laps. Smith currently sits second in the NCWTS playoff standings.

“Chandler Smith is a kid who we see a ton of potential in at Kaulig Racing,” said Chris Rice, president of Kaulig Racing. “We take pride in giving kids like Chandler an opportunity to compete for wins and be a steppingstone in their career. It’s been exciting to see what Chandler has done in the truck series over two seasons, and we think competing for Kaulig Racing is the perfect next step for both Chandler and our team.”

Since the team’s inception in 2016, Kaulig Racing has recorded 18 wins, 95 top fives, 214 top-10 finishes and has led 2106 laps. Smith will take over the No. 16 Chevrolet currently fielded by the two-time, regular-season champion, AJ Allmendinger.

“Getting to know Chandler has been great, and we are excited to bring more young, talented drivers to Kaulig Racing to help build our program,” said team owner, Matt Kaulig. “We are excited to win many trophies together over the next couple of years!”

Smith will continue to compete for the 2022 NCWTS championship before beginning his rookie season in the NXS with Kaulig Racing beginning with the 2023 season opener at Daytona International Speedway on February 18. 2023 Partner information will be announced at a later date.
 
 
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.

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