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McDowell Close at Talladega and Comes into Charlotte Roval as Contender

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Official Release
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Love’s Travel Stops and Delo Return to the No. 34 Ford Mustang

 MOORESVILLE, N.C. (October 4, 2022) – Michael McDowell has continued his career-best season in 2022 with now 12 top-10 and two top-five finishes after Sunday’s race at the Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway where he finished third. McDowell and his crew, led by crew chief Blake Harris, are eager to break into victory lane with the return of Delo aboard the No. 34 Love’s Travel Stops Ford Mustang.

“We have run well at the road courses this season,” said McDowell. “The success we have had this season, we feel that we should contend for a win this Sunday. Sonoma, Indianapolis, Road America, and Watkins Glen- we had a shot to win all of them and raced up front. We know our program has elevated to the next level, to what we consider the best it has ever been. That development gives us the confidence going into the weekend.”

The No. 34 Love’s Travel Stops/Delo team has one top-five, and four top-10 finishes on road courses this season. The momentum from Talladega will boost the team going into the weekend.

“We’ve stayed consistently fast this year. A couple of 11th-place finishes that easily could have been top-10’s and we are ranked the best outside the drivers in the playoffs. The cars we have been bringing to the track have been great.

“We all feel that the Roval is a track where we can race up front and finally get that win. It is a tough race and a tough track. A lot of things happen in this race, but I think we’ll be in position to get our Love’s Travel Stop/Delo Ford Mustang in victory lane.”

McDowell and the Love’s Travel Stops/Delo Ford Mustang will race at the Roval this 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.

Ty Dillon & Petty GMS Look to Get Fresh & Go Fast With QuickChek at the Charlotte ROVAL

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Official Release
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STATESVILLE, North Carolina (Oct. 4, 2022) – Petty GMS is proud to partner with QuickChek to promote the “Best Damn Sandwich in Town” along with NASCAR Cup Series driver, Ty Dillon, at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL.

Always known for their quick service as a fresh convenience market chain, the partnership will bring a whole new meaning to “Fresh to Go”. The Whitehouse Station, NJ chain was named the National Convenience Store Chain of the Year and its overall food quality has been named best in America in numerous national consumer surveys.

QuickChek has become a local favorite among New York & New Jersey residents, boasting 161 store locations throughout the region. Sunday’s race in Charlotte will be the first time that the convenience store brand has ever paired up with a NASCAR team, so it’s a special opportunity for everyone involved.

“This is an exciting new way for us to enhance our customer experience and connections with thousands of NASCAR fans,” said QuickChek Divisional Vice President Don Leech. “Our partnership with Petty GMS enables us to really drive home we have the best damn sandwich in town with the best damn racing team.”

Racing in Charlotte is always marked on Dillon’s calendar, as he grew up in nearby Lewisville, NC. The veteran looks forward to debuting the QuickChek Chevrolet, saying this ahead of the announcement –

“Bringing new partners into our industry is always exciting, but when we have the chance to do so in our backyard, it’s even cooler. I’m proud to represent all of the employees, customers, and partners of QuickChek as we race on the ‘ROVAL’ this weekend. NASCAR fans have proven to be some of the most brand-loyal fans in all of sports, so hopefully they will see this partnership as a reason to stop in a QuickChek store next time they head north. I can’t wait to meet some of their team members and show them what our sport is all about in Charlotte!”

Since its inception in 2018, the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL has become one of the highest-anticipated races of the year. With its unique layout combining the best of both worlds in oval and road course racing, the track is adored by fans and drivers alike.

Those fans will have the No. 42 QuickChek Chevrolet to cheer for in Sunday’s Bank of America ROVAL 400 at 2:00 PM ET on NBC. For more news, coverage, and behind-the-scenes content, follow Petty GMS across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.

About QuickChek:

A wholly-owned subsidiary of Murphy USA, QuickChek stores provide local one-stop shopping, offering a wide variety of freshly prepared food and beverages for immediate consumption including made-to-order subs, as well as grocery and household items, through 161 store locations throughout New Jersey, New York’s Hudson Valley and Long Island (www.quickchek.com).

Murphy USA is one of the largest independent convenience store chains in the country, with more than 1,650 locations in 27 states across the Southwest, Southeast, Midwest and Northeast United States.

ABOUT PETTY GMS:

Petty GMS competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, operating the No. 42 Chevrolet for Ty Dillon and the No. 43 Chevrolet for Erik Jones. Founded in December 2021, Maury Gallagher, championship team owner of GMS Racing, purchased a majority interest of Richard Petty Motorsports. Inaugural NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty, known as “The King,” remains a key stakeholder of the organization. For more information, please visit www.pettygms.com.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

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

M&M’S Racing: Kyle Busch Charlotte Roval Advance

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Official Release
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KYLE BUSCH
Up for the Challenge

HUNTERSVILLE, North Carolina (Oct. 4, 2022) – This weekend’s Bank of America Roval 400 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway road course just so happens to be the sixth and final road course race of the season for the NASCAR Cup Series.

Not long ago, there were just two road-course stops in NASCAR’s top series, but the challenge of road-course racing swelled from a couple of weekends where the series competitors honed their skills of turning left and right to a much more significant portion of the 36-race, points paying schedule.

Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 18 M&M’S Toyota Camry TRD for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), has learned that the road-course-racing discipline is an even more important part of success over the course of the season, and he’s certainly up for the challenge this weekend on what is considered the trickiest road-course addition to the schedule in recent years. After a challenging first three seasons on the Charlotte Roval, Busch broke through a year ago this weekend to lead 22 laps and score his first top-five finish there in his fourth start on the 2.28-mile, 17-turn road course.

Busch is hoping he can up the ante this weekend from last year’s strong finish and equal the feat he accomplished in the May 2018 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte, albeit on the oval, when he brought home his first career points-paying win at the track in one of the crown jewels of NASCAR’s top series.

While this weekend’s Charlotte Roval event always presents a somewhat unknown element, Busch has established himself as one of the top road-course racers in the Cup Series. If the two-time Cup Series champion was to grab another checkered flag in Sunday’s Bank of America Roval 400, he could join some elite company as a road-racing ace in NASCAR’s top series.

In terms of overall road-course proficiency, Busch’s four Cup Series road-course victories ties him with David Pearson, Tim Richmond, and Martin Truex Jr., on the all-time road-course wins list. That’s some pretty good company, already. A fifth road-course win would tie him with Darrell Waltrip, Bobby Allison and Dan Gurney. The top three in all-time road-course wins in the Cup Series shows Chase Elliott in third place with seven wins, Tony Stewart second with eight, and Jeff Gordon atop the leaderboard with nine wins.

So as Busch heads to the Charlotte Roval this weekend, he will hope to be up to the challenge of another trip to the tricky Roval circuit while chasing its unique layout to his extensive winning resume, which includes a majority of the tracks on the Cup Series schedule.

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

What is the most difficult part of the Roval to figure out?

“I think the hardest part is just trying to understand the different dynamics between the slow sections in the infield portion of the track versus the high-speed and high-banked portion of the oval track. You are slipping in every corner, there’s not a corner where you are necessarily feeling really good about it. It’s going to be a technical challenge all the way around yet again this year.”

How do you look at this weekend as far as the race being a crapshoot?

“It’s just a different challenge. It’s alright. There are a whole lot of differences there than a typical road course. There have been spots on the track where I could make up time and a lot of other spots where I would lose time, and now those spots where I could gain time are gone. We’ve worked on getting better there and hope we can show that this weekend.”

Is road-course racing something that comes naturally to you, or is it something you had to work on?

“It’s definitely something you have to work on. With rule changes and tire changes, it’s something you work on every year. There’s always change that you have to work on to be competitive. When I was a kid back in Las Vegas in Legends cars, that’s where I was able to learn about shifting and turning left and turning right. I had the natural instincts for it and won a couple of championships in the winter series we had out there. We actually went out to Sonoma back then and ran the national championship races two years in a row and finished third both times, so I had a little bit of experience on road courses as I came up through the ranks. Certainly the game has changed as far as road-course racing in recent years with several more than we used to have, so you have to adapt and adjust. We’ve run well at the majority of the road courses so far this year and I’m hoping we can keep it going this weekend in our M&M’S Camry.”

What is it that you like about racing on the road courses?

“Just enjoy road racing. You used to only have two a year and you kind of treated them like an off weekend – come in, have fun and try to run hard and what not. Now, there’s four, five, six of them or whatever it is so there’s a bit more work involved, but I still feel as though it’s fun. I’ve always been fast most times on the natural road courses. It’s nice when you have a shot to come up to a track that you know you can get up into the top-three or four and go shoot for a race win.”

Event Overview:

● Event: Bank of America Roval 400 (Round 32 of 36)

● Time/Date: 2 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Oct. 9

● Location: Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval

● Layout: 2.28-mile, 17-turn road course

● Laps/Miles: 109 laps, 252.88 miles

● Format: Stage 1: 25 laps / Stage 2: 25 laps / Final Stage: 59 laps

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

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

Primary Team Members:

Driver: Kyle Busch
Hometown: Las Vegas

Crew Chief: Ben Beshore
Hometown: York, Pennsylvania

Car Chief: Nate Bellows
Hometown: Fairfax, Vermont

Spotter: Tony Hirschman
Hometown: Northampton, Pennsylvania

Race Engineer: Seth Chavka
Hometown: Soldotna, Alaska

Race Engineer: Jaik Halpainy
Hometown: Blockville, New York

Over-The-Wall Crew Members:

Gas Man: Justin White
Hometown: Lynnville, Tennessee

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

Jackman: Derrell Edwards
Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland

Tire Carrier: Jake Holmes
Hometown: Westborough, Massachusetts

Rear Tire Changer: Mike Hicks
Hometown: Providence, Rhode Island

Road Crew Members:

Engine Tuner: Dan Bajek
Hometown: Camden, New York

Truck Driver: Chris Miko
Hometown: Bronx, New York

Truck Driver: Eloy Trevino
Hometown: Adrian, Michigan

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

Mechanic: Scott Eldridge
Hometown: Warsaw, Indiana

Mechanic: Tony Hamm
Hometown: Walla, Walla, Washington

Notes of Interest:

● All in the Stats:Busch has one top-five finish and one top-10 and has led a total of 25 laps in four career Cup Series starts at the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval. Busch’s average Roval finish is 25.8.

● Road-Course Ringer: Busch scored his fourth career Cup Series road-course win in June 2015 at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway, and enters the weekend with 15 top-five finishes and 24-top-10s in 46 combined starts at Sonoma, Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International, the Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway road course, Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, the Charlotte Roval, and the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

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

CONSISTENCY LIFTS SCOTT PHILLIPS TO 2022 SOUTH BOSTON SPEEDWAY PURE STOCK DIVISION TITLE

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Official Release
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Scott Phillips of Halifax, Virginia won the 2022 South Boston Speedway Southside Disposal Pure Stock Division championship, earning his first career division championship. Photo Courtesy Joe Chandler/South Boston Speedway

By Joe Chandler
Director, Public Relations
South Boston Speedway

SOUTH BOSTON, VA….Call Scott Phillips “Mr. Consistency.”

The Halifax, Virginia resident did not win a race this season, but his high level of consistency allowed him to win the 2022 South Boston Speedway Southside Disposal Pure Stock Division championship and capture his first career stock car racing division title.

“It takes consistency to win championships, and I guess I’m proof of that,” Phillips remarked with a smile.

“I didn’t win a race and won the championship. I’m lucky it (the championship) just fell in my direction. We had been consistent with our finishes. I’m not going to say it was a whole lot of skill. It was just that I had my equipment in a lot better shape this year and drove my race.”

Winning the 2022 South Boston Speedway Southside Disposal Pure Stock Division championship means a lot to Phillips who has been racing for many years.

“I cannot tell you in words how much this means to me,” Phillips said.

“After racing all these years to get up there, having run up front, having finished third, fourth, and fifth a bunch of times when we had car counts of 20 cars or better, and having built back up after having started racing again a few years back it means a lot.”

“This is special,” Phillips continued.

“This is my first championship. When I used to race on dirt in Danville, Virginia back in the 1990s, I had some third places in the championship standings. Around 2002, 2003 or 2004 here at South Boston Speedway I finished third, fourth and fifth for the year a few times. I had some (race) wins on-and-off. This was my best year of finishing off a season.”

The statistics Phillips posted in his championship run leave no doubt as to how important his consistency was in producing the championship. Phillips logged 11 top-five finishes and never finished outside of the top 10 in his 12 starts this season. Notably, Phillips scored six second-place finishes in his 12 starts with all six of his runner-up finishes coming in the season’s first nine races.

That was a major turnaround from the previous season when a pair of third-place finishes were his best finishes in the 10 races he started. He started only 10 of the division’s 13 races in 2021and finished seventh in the division point standings.

“I wasn’t really trying anything much different with the car, just trying a few changes,” explained Phillips.

“I was driving the car as hard as I could most of the time. A few times I pushed it too hard, and it bit me. I just had some good engines, some good help, and some good luck this year.”

Phillips attributed solid qualifying runs as being one of the key parts to his success this season.
“Qualifying in the top three every race gave me good track position,” Phillips pointed out.

“If you fall behind here it is hard to catch back up. We had the top few cars in the division within thousandths of a second of each other in qualifying most of the time. If you mess up and start in the back you’ve got a challenge on your hands.”

There was good competition in the Southside Disposal Pure Stock Division this season, something that brought a nice sense of satisfaction to Phillips.

“We had some new guys showing up this season,” Phillips noted.

“B.J. Reaves, when he first started racing, he was asking advice from people. I gave him some advice and he finished in front of me a couple of times and won a race. A bunch of good guys are starting to race in the division now, and we’ve got people that were asking questions about next year. I believe we will have three or four more new cars next year, and that will make it more interesting. The guys who started racing this year were learning and getting faster every race.”

While Phillips enjoys the satisfaction that has come with winning his first career division championship, he knows he cannot rest on his laurels when the 2023 season starts in early March.

“It’s very satisfying to win the Pure Stock Division championship, and also a little nerve-wracking because I know I’ve got to do even better next year,” explained Phillips.

“I’ve got to come out next year and do the same thing or better. I already know the other guys are going to be doing what they can to get their cars better and improve. I already know if Johnny Layne races and if Nathan Crews races, they have the consistency and speed to win races where I just have the consistency to run up front. I know I’ve got to get a little better next year.”

Mobil 1 Racing: Kevin Harvick Charlotte Roval Advance

By
Official Release
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KEVIN HARVICK
Charlotte Roval Advance
No. 4 Mobil 1 Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview

● Event: Bank of America Roval 400 (Round 32 of 36)
● Time/Date: 2 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Oct. 9
● Location: Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval
● Layout: 2.28-mile, 17-turn road course
● Laps/Miles: 109 laps/252.88 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 25 laps / Stage 2: 25 laps / Final Stage: 59 laps
● TV/Radio: NBC / PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● There are more than 4 million miles of road in the United States, but none embody the love of driving more than famed Route 66. Yet the small businesses that are the lifeblood of the Mother Road need help. Mobil 1 aims to inspire a journey on the open road, specifically by exploring the small businesses of Route 66 and meeting people along its 2,400-mile path from the shores of Lake Michigan to Los Angeles, right on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. Route 66 crosses the country, connecting not only east and west, but past and present. Mobil 1 aims to Keep Route 66 Kickin’ with its recently debuted Mobil 1 Muffler Man – an homage to the larger-than-life Muffler Men that dot Route 66. Molded in fiberglass and polyester resin on steel frames that stand 14- to 25-feet tall, Muffler Men became icons of the Route 66 landscape – square-jawed men with arms outstretched promoting the business on which they stood. Now, Mobil 1 is taking its Muffler Man to promote the small businesses of Route 66. His journey began on Aug. 25 at California’s Santa Monica Pier before he visited Seligman, Arizona, on Sept. 10 to sample Delgadillo’s Snow Cap Drive-In – home to a Guinness World Record 266 milkshake flavors. He then traveled to Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Oct. 1 to stand tall at Clowndog Hot Dog Parlor and oversee a corndog eating competition involving competitive eaters. The journey continues with a stop in Litchfield, Illinois, on Oct. 15 to witness the most dogs attending a film screening at Litchfield Skyview Drive-In before the Mobil 1 Muffler Man turns around and stops in at the Hi-Way Café in Vinita, Oklahoma. Kevin Harvick and Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) are helping Mobil 1 highlight its Keep Route 66 Kickin’ campaign with logos of each of these small businesses on the sides of Harvick’s No. 4 Mobil 1 Ford Mustang in Sunday’s Bank of America Roval 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval.

● The Bank of America Roval 400 serves as the sixth and final road-course race of the 2022 season. The series’ first road-course race came March 27 at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, where Harvick finished 11th. The second road-course race was June 12 at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway and Harvick finished fourth. Next up was Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, on July 3, where Harvick secured a 10th-place result. Then in the series’ road-course race July 31 on the layout inside Indianapolis Motor Speedway, an accident relegated Harvick to a 33rd-place finish. Harvick rebounded in the penultimate road-course race of the season Aug. 21 at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International with a 12th-place drive.

● Harvick, driver of the No. 4 Mobil 1 Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing, has made a total of 54 NASCAR Cup Series starts on road courses. He has 21 starts at Sonoma, 21 at Watkins Glen, four at the Charlotte Roval and two apiece at COTA, Road America, Indianapolis and the road course at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. He has scored two road-course wins – Watkins Glen in 2006 and Sonoma in 2017 – along with 11 top-fives and 26 top-10s with 195 laps led.

● When Harvick scored his first road-course victory at Watkins Glen in 2006, he had to beat his current team owner to do it. Tony Stewart – the “Stewart” in Stewart-Haas Racing – had won the previous two NASCAR Cup Series races at The Glen and was poised to capture a third straight win as he was leading Harvick with four laps to go in the 90-lap race. But Harvick, who had already led once for 24 laps, passed Stewart on lap 87 as the two drag-raced down the frontstretch and into turn one. Harvick held onto the lead despite Stewart in his rearview mirror, earning a margin of victory of .892 of a second.

● Harvick’s second career road-course win also had a connection to Stewart. When Harvick won at Sonoma in 2017, he gave Stewart-Haas Racing its second straight victory at the 1.99-mile, 10-turn road course. The winner in 2016? None other than Stewart. It ended up being his 49th and final NASCAR Cup Series victory as Stewart retired from NASCAR racing at the conclusion of the season.

● Harvick’s last road-course win was his first in a Ford. When Harvick won at Sonoma in 2017, he became the 83rd different driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series race behind the wheel of a Ford. Harvick has now won 25 Cup Series races with Ford, which makes him one of only 13 drivers to win 20 or more races with the manufacturer. He stands 10th on Ford’s all-time win list and is now only one win away from tying Brad Keselowski, Junior Johnson and Fred Lorenzen for ninth. Harvick has won more races driving a Mustang (15) than any other driver since the iconic muscle car became Ford’s flagship model in 2019.

● Harvick has four road-course wins outside of the NASCAR Cup Series. Two came in the NASCAR Xfinity Series – Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in 2007 and Watkins Glen in 2007 – and two were in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West – Sonoma in 1998 and Sonoma in 2017. Harvick’s K&N Pro Series win at Sonoma in 1998 was three years before his Cup Series debut on Feb. 26, 2001 at North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham.

● Turning left and right. Going up and down through the gears. Hitting the apex of corners and, sometimes, riding the curb with such force that it puts the car on two wheels. It’s all a part of road-course racing, and it demands maximum performance from every part and piece on the racecar. Harvick has an added advantage with Mobil 1. Not only is the world’s leading synthetic motor oil brand the primary sponsor of his No. 4 Ford Mustang at the Roval, Mobil 1 products are used throughout his racecar and they extend beyond just engine oil. Power steering fluid, transmission fluid, gear oil and driveline lubricants from Mobil 1 give Harvick a technical advantage over his counterparts by reducing friction, heat and rolling resistance. Mobil 1 is a sponsor whose technology makes Harvick’s No. 4 Mobil 1 Ford Mustang faster.

Kevin Harvick, Driver of the No. 4 Mobil 1 Ford Mustang

Whether it’s a road course or a short track or any kind of track, you have an added advantage with Mobil 1 as a sponsor and technology partner. How advantageous has this relationship been?

“The oil in the engine, the oil in the transmission, the oil in the rear gear and the things Mobil 1 provides us from a lubricant standpoint, it all adds up in the form of quicker lap times. On an oval, we can pick up a tenth-and-a-half or two-tenths of a second. On a road course, Mobil 1 helps with preservation, because we beat the heck out of our racecars – hitting curbs and shifting all the time. The level of technology and commitment to the things that go in our car, every piece of it adds up to a pretty big chunk of speed and an incredible amount of reliability.”

When it comes to all the different road courses on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule, where does the Roval stack up for you?

“The Roval’s been really good for us, and the road courses, in general, have been surprisingly good, as long as they’re dry. Joey Hand has played a huge part in helping us kind of guide the road-racing program. It’s helped me tremendously. I’ve been a lot better under braking, and a lot of that comes from confidence in the car, and that’s really been my weak point at the high-braking racetracks. The Roval’s not really one of those places, it’s more like Sonoma, so it’s been a really good place and I’m looking forward to going back there and continuing that trend.”

What do you like about the Roval?

“The Roval has really evolved into being one of our better racetracks. It’s very similar to Sonoma with a lot of partial throttle and light braking and a place that we’ve always been able to run really well at. I think the Roval isn’t a typical, well-laid-out racetrack. It’s more of a parking lot. It’s not as much of a parking lot as Indy, as it does have a lot of elevation changes and things like that, but it’s got some unique corners that aren’t your typical, free-flowing, nicely laid-out, natural road-course-type corners. I think the Roval has been intense and exciting over the last several years, and I think this car is going to be a little bit different just because it’s more of a road-course-style vehicle than we’ve driven there in the past. The Roval is aggressive with some of those tough, aggressive passes into some of those braking zones and some of those odd corners. It’s another of those racetracks that has its own characteristics.”

When it comes to road-course racing, do you feel that more of the race is in your hands?

“You do have more in your hands, for sure, especially when it comes to shifting and all the different things that could happen. But strategy and track position are a big part of that element too. It’s just like anything else, you’ve got to have the whole piece of the puzzle to put it all together.”

How do you approach road-course weekends?

“There’s just a lot more time that goes into a road-race week. You have to spend a lot of time in the simulator. You have to spend a lot of time with your previous notes and make sure you have the shift points and all the things that you remember as far as curbs you need to hit and things you don’t need to hit, where you need to be on the racetrack, tire falloff. You have to have everything memorized before you get there so that the first few laps are valuable because you’re still going to be learning the real-life tolerances of the grip level. And you’re going to have to blend that into also trying to do it in a short amount of time and get something out of those practices to give some feedback about the cars. It’s a different preparation week for the road courses than it is for anything else.”

A race weekend at Charlotte allows the industry to work close to home. You’re taking advantage of that by having a golf tournament on Monday that benefits your foundation. What does the Kevin Harvick Foundation do?

“The Kevin Harvick Foundation does a wide variety of things. We’ve gone in and rebuilt fields and areas behind Boys and Girls Clubs and high schools. The most recent project we’ve worked on is with the Charlotte Police Athletic League near our home in North Carolina. We’ve gone in and put a room with some racing simulators, and have helped them try to progress their basketball program. It’s a number of things we do like that throughout the year, and our charity golf tournament in Charlotte is one of our fundraisers.”

How satisfying is it to see success like that off the racetrack?

“There’s nothing better than helping kids, and I enjoy the kids who come to the racetrack. You can see the real enthusiasm for being at the race and how intrigued they are with everything that’s going on. Being able to give kids an opportunity that they otherwise wouldn’t have had is always something that we strive to do but, in the end, it’s the ones who take advantage of it to change the direction of what they want to do. Being able to have a platform to do that is very rewarding.”

No. 4 Mobil 1 Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Kevin Harvick
Hometown: Bakersfield, California

Crew Chief: Rodney Childers
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Car Chief: Robert “Cheddar” Smith
Hometown: Whitewater, Wisconsin

Engineer: Dax Gerringer
Hometown: Gibsonville, North Carolina

Engineer: Stephen Doran
Hometown: Butler, Pennsylvania

Spotter: Tim Fedewa
Hometown: Holt, Michigan

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Daniel Coffey
Hometown: Granite Falls, North Carolina

Rear Tire Changer: Daniel Smith
Hometown: Concord, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Jeremy Howard
Hometown: Delhart, Texas

Jack Man: Brandon Banks
Hometown: High Point, North Carolina

Fuel Man: Evan Marchal
Hometown: Westfield, Indiana

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Richie Bean
Hometown: Bradford, Vermont

Mechanic: Nick DeFazio
Hometown: Orange, California

Tire Specialist: Jamie Turski
Hometown: Trumbull, Connecticut

Engine Tuner: Robert Brandt
Hometown: Mobile, Alabama

Transporter Co-Driver: Rick Hodges
Hometown: Raleigh, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Stephen Mitchell
Hometown: Woodville, Ohio

Flying Lizard Concludes Porsche Season with Four Championship Titles

By
Official Release
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SONOMA, Cali., (October 4, 2022) – The 2022 season for the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama concluded last weekend at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, and professional sports car racing team Flying Lizard Motorsports finished the year proudly adding two more driver and two more team championship titles to the team’s illustrious resume. Drivers Mike Gaulke and Chris Bellomo defended their 2021 titles in their one-make series, earning back-to-back championships in their respective classes.

This has been amazing to not only run the full season in the Porsche Sprint Challenge but to also have so much success with all our cars and drivers. As expected, we had our share of ups downs throughout the year but all 4 drivers drove extremely well, the crew performed at a top level, and we had a lot of success this year. We not only obtained multiple podiums and wins but we secured Drivers Championships and also clinched two Team Championships. I am extremely proud of what we accomplished this season.

After racing with the Lizards in the Yokohama Drivers Cup in 2021 and clinching the Platinum class title, Chris Bellomo stepped into the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America to seek new challenges. Racing in the Porsche Sprint West Championship, in a 992 GT3 Cup car. Bellomo again emerged as the champion, earning nine wins, one second-place, and two third-place finishes. His personal highlight of the season came after finishing fourth overall and second in class in both races at the season finale, closing out another successful Porsche race season.

“After a challenging race two at Indy, the team really rallied behind me and had the car in perfect running condition the entire weekend,” said Bellomo. “Dieter Beuhler’s work on the car was amazing and Johannes van Overbeek had me well prepared before, during and after each race. The entire Flying Lizard Motorsports team has been amazing! I have been surrounded by patient, supportive and talented people for two years. I am thankful and fortunate for my opportunity to race with the Lizards!”

Closing out the 2021 season as the Yokohama Drivers Cup champion in the Silver class, Mike Gaulke also sought new ground to climb with the Lizards for the 2022 season. He succeeded, earning an impressive nine wins in his 12-race championship fight.

“Having started the season with the objective of winning the championship, it is very satisfying to have been able to achieve that goal,” said Gaulke. “But this is not a one-person accomplishment. It was a team effort and credits go to my coach Thomas Merrill, my crew chief Cris Webber, and to the Flying Lizard organization for the great support they all provided we throughout the season.”

Paul Nemschoff kicked off his first season with Flying Lizard Motorsports in a victorious fashion, winning in the first weekend of the year at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. With a total of three wins, five second-place finishes and three top-three results, he came in second place in the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America West 991 championship.

“It was an exciting year racing the Dragon’s Milk Porsche with Flying Lizard,” said Nemschoff. “Second place in the National Championship is a solid result and foundation for future success. Special thanks to Flying Lizard and Marc Miller for preparing me to excel.”

Racing in the Cayman West Championship alongside Gaulke, Paul Bonderson and his Porsche came in second place in the final championship standings, are his pair of second place finishes at Sonoma Raceway and Circuit of the Americas. He celebrated three wins between VIRginia International Raceway and the fan-favorite of Road America.

“This was a great year of learning and having tons of fun,” said Bonderson. “I improved every time I hit the track. One of my best times was racing teammate Mike Gualke at Sonoma. I tried to pass him about three times but never made it. One of the other highlights was my first race in the rain. It was at IMS, heavy rain, and after two or three laps it was a lot of fun. I’m glad I participated in all of the events, National and the West.”

The Lizards also concluded the year as the Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West team champions in the Cayman and GT3 Cup 992 categories. In total, the Lizards closed out the season with 24 class wins and an additional 27 podium finishes. Plans for the team’s future race programs will be announced at a later date.

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.

Six memorable moments from the 60 years of the Mexican Grand Prix

By
Official Release
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Mexico City. 4 October 2022 – In the past six decades, the Mexican Grand Prix has produced some of the most exciting moments in the history of Formula 1. Whether they have been world championship showdowns, classic overtaking moves or controversial clashes, the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez has consistently thrilled fans across 60 years of epic racing.

The first-ever F1 race was a non-championship event that took place in November 1962, that led to Mexico City getting official championship status from 1963 onwards. The Mexican Grand Prix took a break of 16 years until it returned to the schedule in 1986 for a further seven events.

With a significant redevelopment of the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, the Mexico City Grand Prix is today one of the most popular races on the calendar having returned full-time in 2015. This year’s race in October will mark 60 years of the first Formula 1 race to be held at the famous circuit. Prior to this historic occasion, here are some classic memories of the past six decades…

  1. Title decided on the last lap (1964)

There have only been a handful of occasions when the Formula 1 world championship has been decided on the very last lap of the season. And one of the first was at the Mexican Grand Prix in 1964.

Three drivers arrived in Mexico with a chance of winning the title. As the showdown began, Graham Hill’s chances faded when the elastic on his goggles broke and then John Surtees suffered a misfire — so race leader Jim Clark had his best chance to take the crown.

Hill moved into P3 — the position he needed to be champion. But behind the British driver the Ferrari of Lorenzo Bandini was putting pressure on the BRM. On lap 31 he dived down the inside at the hairpin to try and snatch third and the pair made contact. Hill was able to continue after his spin, but resumed with damaged exhausts.

With Surtees now fourth it wasn’t enough to take the title if Clark was to win the race. It looked as if the title was the Scotsman’s… but with seven laps to go his Lotus began to leak oil. On the final lap his engine seized and Clark was out. Gurney inherited the win and on the final lap, Bandini (who had earlier passed Surtees) surrendered second place to his team-mate to ensure Surtees became the first motorbike champion to win on four wheels as well as two.

  1. Race returns to offer a shock win (1986)

The Italian clothing store Benetton had taken over the ownership of the small Toleman team, but no one was expecting them to take a win anytime soon. When the Mexican Grand Prix returned to the calendar in 1986, many of the teams were caught out by the hot temperatures and bumpy track surface.

Nigel Mansell could have won the 1986 championship at this race, but he stalled at the start to scupper his chances. With one of the front-runners out of the way, the Benetton team — led by Austrian Gerhard Berger — believed they could go the distance on their Pirelli tyres. Meanwhile the other teams were suffering with blisters on their Goodyears.

The gamble paid off and by not pitting for tyres, Berger found himself in a surprise lead and scored his, Benetton’s and Pirelli’s first-ever Formula 1 victories…

  1. Brilliant overtaking move in the final stages (1990)

The old final, banked Peraltada was one of the most notorious corners in Formula 1. In the past incidents at the high-speed turn led to races being red-flagged and even the great Ayrton Senna flipped his McLaren at the corner in practice for the 1991 race.

But as one of the bravest Grand Prix drivers of his time, Nigel Mansell wasn’t going to be deterred by the daunting right-hander. In the 1990 edition of the Mexican Grand Prix, the slow-starting Ferraris of Mansell and Alain Prost were starting to make progress through the field.

After qualifying a lowly 13th, Prost had passed Senna for the lead nine laps from the end of the race. Senna then slowed with a puncture and McLaren team-mate Berger inherited second. But Mansell in his Ferrari was on a charge. On the penultimate lap he feigned a move and flew around the outside of the McLaren to steal second place into the fearsome Peraltada. It was one of the bravest overtaking moves in F1 history and Mansell achieved legendary status to give Ferrari a 1-2 finish. Today the part of the corner that remains has been named in his honour.

  1. Michael Schumacher scores his first-ever F1 podium (1992)

Michael Schumacher broke all the records on his way to becoming a legend of Formula 1 and a seven-time world champion. Among his great statistics are 155 podium places and his very first came exactly 30 years ago when he took third place in his Benetton at the 1992 Mexican Grand Prix.

This was the year that Williams dominated F1 and the cars of Nigel Mansell and Riccardo Patrese finished 1-2 in qualifying and in the race, with Mansell ahead of the Italian.

Championship rival Ayrton Senna had a difficult time, crashing his McLaren at the Esses on Friday and suffering bruises to his legs. Come race day, Senna retired on lap 12 with transmission failure so Michael Schumacher inherited third to take his historic first of 155 podiums. Another future world champion was also in the points as Mika Häkkinen finished sixth in his Lotus.

  1. Confusion over who had finished third (2016)

Lewis Hamilton won the 2016 Mexican Grand Prix to close the championship points gap to his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg, who finished eight seconds behind him. But the question was who had finished third? As the drivers went to the cool down room the Mercedes duo were joined by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen — the man who had taken the flag in third place.

But he was informed he had been given a five-second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage. He was asked by the FIA to leave the proceedings. Outside Ferrari was ushering Sebastian Vettel towards the podium. He had to barge through the crowds to join in the celebrations. But after the podium presentations were made he too was given a time penalty and fell to fifth in the classification, promoting Daniel Ricciardo to third…

  1. Home hero is first Mexican to score a podium in home race (2021)

In total six Mexican drivers have competed in Formula 1 since the beginning of the world championship in 1950. The most famous were the Rodriguez brothers, but sadly, younger brother Ricardo suffered a fatal crash in practice for the first Mexican Grand Prix in 1962.

Pedro came very close to scoring a podium four years later, but was forced to retire his Lotus on lap 49 of 65 with a broken differential. Moisés Solana, Hector Rebaque and Esteban Gutiérrez all raced in F1 across Mexico City’s three different eras but the first driver to score a podium at their home race in Mexico came last year.

After securing a drive with Red Bull, Sergio Perez led six laps of the 2021 Mexico City Grand Prix before eventually finishing third behind race winner Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. The crowd were ecstatic with his achievement, so just imagine the response of the fans if he goes onto win this year…

For further information on FORMULA 1 MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX Presented by Heineken, visit: http://www.mexicogp.mx/

Follow us at:
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About the FORMULA 1® MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX presented by Heineken

Recognized with the award “F1’s Best Event” for the five past editions, the FORMULA 1® MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX presented by Heineken has proven to be much more than a sporting competition to become an unparalleled promotional platform to share with the world Mexico City’s rich cultural heritage and tourist attractions.

About Formula 1®

The history of Formula 1® began in 1950 and is the most prestigious motorsport competition in the world, as well as the most popular annual sports series in the world. Formula One World Championship Limited is part of Formula 1 and holds the exclusive commercial rights to the FIA Formula One World Championship™.

Formula 1 is a subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation (NASDAQ: LSXMA, LSXMB, LSXMK, BATRA, BATRK, FWONA, FWONK) attributed to the shares of the Formula One Group.

The logo of F1 FORMULA 1, FORMULA 1, F1, FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, GRAND PRIX, PADDOCK CLUB and related brands are registered trademarks of Formula One Licensing BV, a Formula 1 company. All rights reserved.

For further information about Formula 1®, visit: www.formula1.com

About CIE:

Corporación Interamericana de Entretenimiento, S.A.B de C. V. www.cie.com.mx

Established in 1990, Corporación Interamericana de Entretenimiento (“CIE”) (BMV: CIE) is an outstanding participant in the out-of-home entertainment industry in Latin America. It promotes and produces concerts, music festivals, theater shows, and sporting, family and cultural events. CIE operates Centro Citibanamex, which is a venue for expositions and conventions in Mexico City, and the amusement park El Salitre Mágico in Colombia. The Company also produces corporate events and events for the public sector. CIE promotes and markets the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Mexico City.

Corporación Interamericana de Entretenimiento is a publicly traded company whose shares have been listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange since 1995 under the ticker symbol “CIE.”

Eric Lindstrom Utah on Sports Stars Who Topped the Charts

By
SM
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Photo by Sandro Schuh on Unsplash

The United States has been the hub of talent in all fields, and sports are no different. Americans have made an indelible impact on sports history over the past century, with several elite athletes making their mark both on their sport and in American pop culture as well. 

These athletes have competed at the highest levels of their sport and have consistently placed near the top of world rankings, or set records that stand the test of time and will never be broken by another American athlete. 

According to Eric Lindstrom, Utah has had its share of sports stars too, but the greatest of them overall include the following.

Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth was a professional baseball player from 1914 to 1935. He began his career with the Boston Red Sox as an outfielder. 

His skill at hitting earned him a spot in the lineup, and he became one of the best-known sports icons of the 1920s. 

Ruth’s home run hitting prowess led to two terms as head of Major League Baseball, first as commissioner and then as president. His accomplishments on and off the field made him one of America’s greatest sports heroes.

Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali is one of the most famous sports figures in history, largely for his boxing prowess. He was born Cassius Clay and became a world champion when he won gold at the 1960 Olympics. A few years later he changed his name to Muhammad Ali and converted to Islam. 

He went on to become one of the most iconic figures in boxing, with a record of 56 wins out of 60 professional fights, including 37 knockouts. 

In 1970, he was sentenced to five years in prison (he never served time). The sentence stripped him of his title and license and barred him from fighting until it was overturned by US Supreme Court four years later.

Michael Jordan

Jordan is considered by many to be one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships, and in his first three years as a professional, he averaged a triple-double – meaning he averaged more than 10 points per game, 10 rebounds per game, and 10 assists per game. 

Jordan was also a dominant baseball player, playing nine seasons with the Chicago White Sox and hitting .202 with 3 home runs. 

In 1993, Jordan retired from basketball to pursue his dream of becoming a Major League Baseball player but returned to play for the Bulls after three seasons. Jordan would go on to win six NBA titles before finally retiring for good in 2003.

Tiger Woods

At age 18, Tiger Woods became the youngest golfer to win a major championship. Woods holds countless records and has won an unprecedented 12 majors by age 32. 

He is one of only five golfers to have won more than 200 tournaments on tour, with 82 PGA Tour victories. 

In 2008, he was named Sports Illustrated Athlete of the Decade. Woods was ranked as the world’s highest-paid athlete for a record nine straight years from 2002 to 2010.

Conclusion

Eric Lindstrom, Jr believes that some of the greatest American athletes have come and gone, but these are a few who not only revolutionized their sport but also made their mark on society. 

They have been inducted into sports halls of fame, won prestigious awards, and left legacies that will be remembered for decades to come.

Seize the Opportunity within the NASCAR 2022 Cup Series

By
SM
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The 2022 NASCAR Cup Series continues to be full of drama and excitement for fans and is moving to Concord, North Carolina this weekend for the Bank of America ROVAL 400. This race will be the fifth time in history the Charlotte Motor Speedway is used for the NASCAR Cup Series continuing its unique contribution to the track roster.

This weekend’s race will undoubtedly echo the brilliance of last weekend’s race at Talladega Superspeedway. With the series coming to a close soon, it’s time to take your motorsports knowledge and use it for your gain.

A popular method of maximizing the thrill and excitement for any given race weekend is motorsports bets. Many fans use their knowledge and experience to place secure bets on aspects like driver matchups, leaderboard positions, race outcomes, and more. The vast number of options available for each race makes the NASCAR Cup Series one of the most rewarding sportsbook outlets.

Opportunities are plentiful during a NASCAR Cup Series, bettors can wager on weekend race statistics, playoff positions, or the entire cup champion. Get involved with all the excitement over at ggonline.bet/en to start placing your bets on next weekend’s event and more today.

Important Insights

When making predictions for who and what to wager on, it’s great to know which statistics make the most secure bet. Below is a list of our most important statistics to keep an eye out for:

  • Driver History (Recent and Annual)
  • Track History and Previous Winners
  • Leaderboard Standings
  • Playoff Standings
  • Qualifying Times
  • Starting Position

Using last weekend’s race as an example, Chase Elliot was a great bet because he supports many of our key insights. He has shown he is proficient at winning many races this year and checks off many boxes with his recent driver history, leaderboard, and playoff standings. The downside of Elliot being such a standout driver this year is that the payouts are lower, but it still makes him an easy choice for a secure bet.

Looking toward next weekend’s race at Charlotte, bettors can see that Denny Hamlin won here earlier this year and is one of the top 5 in the standings (Track History, Previous Winner, and Standing). Another name that checks off the same insights as Hamlin is Kyle Larson making him another safe choice. It is also worth mentioning you can find betting odds to reinforce your conclusions a few days before any given race event online.

Finalizing Opportunity

Sportsbooks for the NASCAR Cup Series are a great way to become more involved in the NASCAR scene, and even newcomers can stand to win big with proper preparation. Even a little prep work can go a long way, and by using our list of insights, you can potentially find great success. Only five more races are happening this year for the series, and now is the best time to start looking at who has the best chance to take the championship trophy and bet accordingly. Make the 2022 NASCAR Cup series one to remember, but please do so responsibly!

NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Talladega

By
Jeffrey Boswell
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Photo by Chad Wells for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Chase Elliott: Elliott passed Ryan Blaney on the final lap to win the YellaWood 500 at Talladega, advancing to the Round Of 8.

“That final lap pass will be immortalized in that famous bar in my hometown of Dawsonville, Georgia,” Elliott said. “It will be a poster on the wall titled ‘The Dawsonville Pool Haul.'”

2. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin finished fifth at Talladega in a fairly uneventful YellaWood 500.

“Not a lot happened in the race,” Hamlin said. “It’s a huge surprise when nothing ‘goes down’ in a NASCAR race, especially tires.”

3. Ryan Blaney: Blaney led with a lap to go at Talladega, but was passed by Chase Elliott, who crossed the line .046 of a second ahead of Blaney.

“That’s a very slim margin,” Blaney said. “But it’s exactly the type of finish you’d expect from Chase and me because we’re ‘very close.'”

4. Ross Chastain: Chastain finished fourth at Talladega.

“My No. 1 car sported the ‘Jockey’ underwear paint scheme,” Chastain said. “It goes without saying that I always appreciate their support.”

5. Joey Logano: Logano struggled to a 27th-place finish at Talladega.

“Luckily,” Logano said, “I’m still fifth in the playoff standings. That means I don’t necessarily have to go to Charlotte’s roval with the intention of winning. In other words, I have ‘cushion for not pushin.””

6. William Byron: Byron finished 12th at Talladega and is 10th in the playoff standings, 11 points below the Round Of 8 cut line.

“I was docked 25 points for spinning Denny Hamlin at Texas,” Byron said. “I guess, much like Denny, I was asking for it.”

7. Christopher Bell: Bell struggled at Talladega and finished 17th, failing to collect a single stage point.

“I think everyone’s in agreement that the ‘Next Gen’ car is garbage,” Bell said. “But what is NASCAR doing about it? Nothing, it appears. I think their attitude is: ‘We’ll let the next generation deal with it.”

8. Daniel Suarez: Suarez finished eighth at Talladega and is seventh in the playoff standings.

“Oddly enough,” Suarez said, “there was no ‘Big One’ at Talladega. There wasn’t even a ‘Big 1,’ which is what happens when Ross Chastain causes a wreck.”

9. Kyle Larson: Larson started second and finished 18th at Talladega.

“I’m sixth in the playoff standings,” Larson said. “If the standings were based on the level of excitement of your car’s paint scheme, I would finish last every week.”

10. (tie) Erik Jones: Jones finished sixth in the YellaWood 500, and was responsible for giving Chase Elliott the push that allowed Elliott to pass Ryan Blaney for the win.

“This may be the closest the No. 43 car will come to making a championship impact,” Jones said, “since Richard Petty’s last championship in 1979.”

10. (tie) Chase Briscoe: Briscoe finished 10th at Talladega, posting his sixth top 10 of the season.

“I’m currently eighth in the playoff standings,” Briscoe said. “I’m getting advice from my car owner Tony Stewart, and he tells me I’ve got to ‘stay hungry.’ Coming from Tony, I know that’s good advice, because I know he’s lived it.”

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