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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/

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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.”

Era Motorsport Suffers Heartbreak at Halfway Point in Season Finale

By
Official Release
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BRASELTON, Ga., (October 3, 2022) – Era Motorsport entered the season finale event of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with high hopes and a strong chance to win the 2022 LMP2 championship class title at Petit Le Mans. Sadly, a suspension failure just five hours into the 10-hour endurance race ultimately ended the team’s championship hopes leading to an early retirement for the No. 18 Oreca of Dwight Merriman, Ryan Dalziel, and Christian Rasmussen.

“I’m gutted,” said Team Owner Kyle Tilley. “The guys and girls all deserved so much more. We were on the lead lap and both the car and drivers had fantastic pace. This one will sting for a while, given that it’s not only the race we have lost, but the championship.”

Era Motorsport had a character-building start in the minutes leading up to the green flag. The team opted to make some final performance adjustments and join the grid late, knowing it would result in a drive-through penalty in the opening laps. Dwight Merriman followed the protocol and joined the race, masterfully working his way through the slower GTD and GTD Pro classes in less than 30 minutes, building a good momentum. In the first full-course caution at 30 minutes running, the strategists at Era kept Merriman out as the rest of the field pitted, gaining a lap back for the No. 18 Oreca Prototype. The team pitted Merriman under another caution, conducting a full-service stop with Christian Rasmussen taking over the driving duties, one lap down.

Rasmussen waited out the lengthy caution, coming in to pit just before the race resumed in order to top off with fuel. He took his first green laps from sixth place, on the lead lap. The young driver set the fastest lap of the race on his first green lap, determined to catch the No. 20 of Dennis Anderson, over 40 seconds ahead. He quickly passed Anderson, telling the team the car felt lively. He wasted no time in shrinking the 10-second gap to Ben Keating to just 0.5 seconds in a matter of a few laps. He made the pass with 7.5 hours remaining, focusing on the 14-second gap to Steven Thomas in the No. 11 car. A full course caution closed the gap with just under three hours running. The team pitted under the lengthy caution, putting Merriman back in the No. 18 Oreca.

Able to enjoy some extended time racing under the green flag, Merriman continued to maintain fourth position, keep the car safe from the various classes of traffic around Road Atlanta. He gave the Oreca back to Ryan Dalziel, concluding his racing in the event as the field completed four hours of racing.

Dalziel joined the field with a new rear wing, a full tank of fuel, and a fresh set of tires, and kicked his stint into gear. He took third place, and a full course caution brought the field together and positioned him to fight for second place. Sadly, misfortune came to the team just past the halfway point. A right front suspension failure brought the team into pit lane, and eventually to the garage in the paddock to undergo repairs.

The No. 18 returned to the race, repaired and ready to go, sadly 18 laps down from the leaders. Rasmussen commanded the Oreca next, immediately setting the fastest race lap for the LMP2 class. Despite the young racer’s strong speeds, the No. 18 Oreca was not able to finish the race. With five hours of racing complete and five remaining. The Era Motorsport machine retired early.

Though the “DNF” is a sad way to end the season, the team still can take pride in a season well done. At the grueling Twelve Hours of Sebring, the team celebrated a third-place finish with Merriman, Dalziel, and Tilley. At WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Merriman and Dalziel celebrated a second-place finish and climbed a spot yet again at Road America. The duo celebrated their singular victory of the season at Road America, defending the team’s 2021 win at the Wisconsin circuit. The Indianapolis-based team showed incredible speed and consistency at this year’s 25th Annual Petit Le Mans, closing out the year with another strong performance.

Plans for the team’s future racing programs will be announced at a later date. For more information and latest news, visit eramotorsport.com.

DRIVER QUOTES

Dwight Merriman

We really had all the speed heading into Saturday’s race. We made the most of every practice session and really had the car dialed in. It was an honor and a feat in itself to bring the championship title contest to the final race event, and I wish we had the chance to be there to fight in the end.

Ryan Dalziel

This was obviously not the result that we wanted. A brand-new part failed on the car, and unfortunately, we didn’t feel that continuing was the safe thing to do. I’m so proud of Era and what we accomplished this year, but we just came up short at the end. We have lots of postitives to take into the off-season and get ready for a championship attack in 2023.

Christian Rasmussen

This was not the way we wanted to finish this race. Despite a great car and good speed, we had to retire the car. I’m excited to have had my first IMSA start, and I hope this will be the first of many, because one thing is for sure: I have not had enough.

About Era Motorsport
Era Motorsport was formed in 2018 with the idea of providing unmatched excellence in historic racing. Just two years later, the team expanded to the world of professional sports car racing, fielding an Oreca 07 in the prolific IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 2021, the team went on to win at the iconic Rolex 24 At Daytona, in what was their second attempt competing in the event. Motorsport isn’t just a hobby, it is a way of life: a passion that is in the team’s blood. Whether you find us in the IMSA WeatherTech paddock with modern prototypes or chasing down lap records in our fully restored classic sports cars, or even globetrotting to experience historic F1 at some of the world’s most iconic circuits, Era Motorsport has something for everyone. In 2021, the team secured a prestigious victory at the Rolex 24 At Daytona, and also became class champions in the Asian Le Mans Series.

McDowell and Gilliland Finish Top-10; Smith Keeps Playoff Hopes Alive with 17th-place Finish

By
Official Release
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Front Row Motorsports (FRM) went superspeedway racing this past weekend at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway as Zane Smith, Todd Gilliland, and Michael McDowell all saw high-speed action.

Zane Smith and the No. 38 Love’s Travel Stops, PEAK Performance Ford F-150 rebounded to a 17th-place finish after blowing a right-rear tire at the end of Stage Two, leaving Talladega 18 points above the playoff cutline.

Todd Gilliland’s Georgia Peanuts No. 38 team grabbed their second top-10 of his rookie season with a seventh-place finish after running inside the top-10 for a majority of Sunday’s race.

Michael McDowell in the No. 34 Love’s Travel Stops, PEAK Performance Ford Mustang came up just short of the victory with a close third-place finish, his career-best 12th top-10 of the season.

Zane Smith entered Saturday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series playoff race with a 21-point advantage on the cutline, hoping to maintain that gap at the wildcard track, Talladega Superspeedway.

After a good qualifying effort on Friday, Smith started from the fourth position and was able to maintain track position throughout stage one, finishing that stage in the second position and gaining valuable stage points.

On the final lap of the second stage, the No. 38 Love’s/PEAK Performance Ford would suffer a flat tire, still finishing that stage in the ninth position. The team would lose track position under the stage break making repairs from the damage caused by the tire, and with a couple of late cautions, Smith was unable to make up ground.

Finishing the race in 17th, Smith exited Talladega with an 18-point buffer on the cutline entering a two-week break for the Truck Series.

“Honestly, I am really happy that we finished this race,” said Smith. “It was really close there at the end with that big wreck, but we were able to cross the line and keep a decent points advantage on the cutline heading into Homestead. I’m thankful to Love’s and PEAK for coming on board this weekend, and I’m proud of my guys for never giving up after that tire went down, on to Homestead.”

Todd Gilliland and the No. 38 Georgia Peanuts team grabbed their second top-10 of 2022 at Talladega with a seventh-place finish after Gilliland ran up front for the majority of the 500-mile event.

Starting from the 34th position, Gilliland and the crew worked fast, and by the end of stage one, found themselves in 12th. The No. 38 team’s goal was to keep track position all race, and they accomplished just that.

Gilliland put the No. 38 in position to challenge for the win in the closing laps, but with a late race caution with five laps to go, the momentum was lost on the restart, and the No. 38 finished in the seventh position.

“It is great to be disappointed with a seventh-place finish,” said Gilliland. “The No. 38 Georgia Peanuts Ford handled really well in the draft and we were able to make some great moves to get us up front. My guys did a great job on pit road all day to keep us in line with the lead pack. We’ve had some speed these past few weeks without the results to show for it, so it is great to come away with a top-10.”

The Peak Performance, Love’s Travel Stops Ford team of Michael McDowell had a slow start to the weekend. Qualifying toward the lower end of the field, the team expected to qualify where they did, having a car well prepared for the draft.

Through the first two stages of the race, McDowell and his team wanted to play it safe, and conserve their car until it was time to go. With handling issues in the end of the first stage needing multiple long stops, the team took the cautions as opportunities to make their car the best it could be later in the race. After losing the draft to end the second stage, would mean the team could use the chance to top off the car with fuel, so stops in stage three could be as short as needed.

With the strategy developing the way the Love’s, Peak Performance team expected, with some help by cautions, the team would take fuel only on the final stop to gain track position from the mid-teens, up into the top-five running positions. Defending well and working with other Ford drivers, McDowell would be the second car on the bottom line with ten laps remaining. Unfortunately, a timely run by another competitor would hurt the ability for McDowell to force his way up a lane into the tri-oval, giving the Love’s, Peak Performance team a third place finish as they crossed the line.

“It was a fun day, but disappointing to up at the end just short. We had a great Love’s Travel Stops, Peak Performance Ford Mustang. I thought we were in the right place at the end, but didn’t get it done when it counted. We didn’t get to victory lane, but everyone on the team did a great job, and we will head to the Roval knowing we have another shot at it.”

Next, FRM will stay home in North Carolina for NASCAR Cup Series action at Charlotte Motor Speedway on the ROVAL.

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.

Wayne Taylor Racing Announces Driver Lineup for 2023 Rolex 24 at Daytona and IMSA Michelin Endurance Championship

By
Official Release
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Brownsburg, Ind. (Oct. 3, 2022) — During the first official IMSA sanctioned GTP test at Road Atlanta today, Wayne Taylor Racing announced the drivers who will compete at the 2023 ROLEX 24 At Daytona, an event which will mark an influx of new manufacturers, teams, and drivers into IMSA’s top class for the first race of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTP era.

Ricky Taylor and Filipe Albuquerque return to full season driving duties in the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 and will be assisted at the 24-hour endurance battle by Brendon Hartley, who put in a fast and crucial triple stint in the exciting Petit Le Mans season finale. Two-time 2022 IMSA LMP2 race winner, Louis Delétraz, will bring his talents to the team’s three longest endurance races of the year—Daytona, Sebring, and Road Atlanta. Delétraz is coming off a fantastic winning drive at Petit just two days ago. The four pilots will compete behind the wheel of the all-new, electrified ARX-06 with the aim of achieving a record-tying sixth overall victory for Wayne Taylor Racing in the Rolex 24.

Team owner Wayne Taylor is excited to have an impressive lineup for the Rolex 24 at DAYTONA with Ricky Taylor, Filipe Albuquerque, Brendon Hartley and Louis Delétraz.

“We signed up our third driver, Louis Delétraz who will be doing all of our long-distance races, including Daytona,” said team owner Wayne Taylor. “We are also announcing that we’ll run Brendon Hartley again. As far as Daytona’s concerned, I cannot imagine a better lineup than what we have. It’s going to be a hard race. One of those races where you have to make it to the checkered flag to win the race. We’ve won a few of these races—it’s what my team does best, and I just need to make sure that they have all the tools. I couldn’t be happier than having Brendon back and I’ve been watching Louis for a while. He’s got experience. He’s young, but he’s very, very mature and he understands what is needed to be that third driver.

As championship contenders this year, Ricky Taylor and Filipe Albuquerque will be carrying momentum into their third consecutive Rolex 24 as teammates. Dubbed the “best teammates on the grid,” by owner Wayne Taylor, the pair’s chemistry and on-track performance over the past two full seasons will be a boost in their first race with a new Acura chassis.

“I think personalities are so important,” said Ricky Taylor, two-time IMSA champion. “At this level of motorsport, there are more than a handful of drivers who can perform at the highest level, but it seems that meshing compatible drivers together to extract the most out of the entire group seems to be the most important element in endurance racing. We were lucky to find Filipe, as he is an incredible teammate. Brendon is coming off a pole and win at Le Mans, and a stellar performance in our team at Petit Le Mans. As a driver and team member, he’s world class. The same can be said for Louis, who has already gelled with the team amazingly well. Aside from his obvious results and speed, he will be a valuable addition to the crew.

“It is so exciting to see the talent joining the championship for 2023”, Taylor continued. “We must make sure we are fully prepared because it will truly be a test against the best in the world come Daytona. The new LMDh cars are a massive evolution from the current DPi cars. We have no idea how they will race together on track. But, technically, these cars are incredibly well thought out. We have made huge strides and the ARX-06 is a pleasure to drive, but there is a lot of work to be done and hopefully Daytona will prove it to be a winner in race scenarios as well.”

Multiple race-winner, two-time Michelin Endurance Cup champion, and IMSA prototype ace Filipe Albuquerque shares his thoughts as well.

“I’m really happy being teammates with Ricky,” said Filipe Albuquerque. “He’s just a star. Such a complete driver and human being. He is so quick behind the wheel and has won a lot. We’ve been fighting closely for the championship each year, and the partnership is working. It is good to have Brendon as my teammate and with Louis on board for the endurance races, we couldn’t be stronger.“

“It’s an exciting moment in the endurance world” continued Albuquerque. “So many great manufacturers and drivers are incoming and it’s so exciting to watch. Going into this era with more diverse competition means that I’m a lucky guy to be involved with developing a new car with a top manufacturer like Acura and HPD. Merging two series with the possibility of a team bringing a car from IMSA to Le Mans and vice versa, it’s going to be interesting to see the different mentalities on track. Everyone wants to be involved somehow. It’s good for the sport.”

Louis Delétraz, the newest addition to the team come January, is a 25-year-old Swiss open-wheel star and sports car champion. Winner of the 2021 European Le Mans Series title, he is currently competing in the World Endurance Championship, taking home second place honors in the LMP2 class at Le Mans in 2022. His LMP2 resume also includes IMSA experience, with an impressive win at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca this year and a dominant win to end the year at Petit Le Mans. Delétraz is ready to bring his talents to the GTP class in his second consecutive year competing at the Rolex 24.

“This lineup is fantastic,” said Louis Delétraz. “I’m really excited to share the car with such talented drivers. Filipe and Ricky welcomed me to the WTR family straight away and already got me up to speed with everything that’s new ahead of 2023. We get along really well, and they want to win as much as I do. I love that mentality! It’s an honor for me to join WTR and Acura in the pinnacle class of sport cars. After successful years in LMP2 in IMSA and Europe it was my target to be here and I’m very thankful for the opportunity. Joining a team with so much history and success makes the expectations high. I can’t wait to get started.”

Hailing from New Zealand, Brendon Hartley, who is already integrated with the team this weekend, is a three-time overall Le Mans winner, two-time World Endurance Championship title winner and former full-time Formula 1 driver with Scuderia Torro Rosso. He has multiple IMSA podiums on his resume, including an endurance win.

“I have really enjoy working with Filipe and Ricky” said Brendon Hartley. “I know Louis from around the paddock and I know he’s fast but also a good guy. I think we have a strong lineup and a team that knows how to win Daytona! The Rolex is always competitive and it’s a race that I respect a lot. It’s not a race that has been kind to me over the years. It’s going to see all the GTP machinery line up on the grid for the first time and I fully expect that we will be fighting for a good result. The electrified Acura ARX-06 has been put through its paces in testing and I think we have all the ingredients to give ourselves a shot at the victory.”

Long-time partner of Wayne Taylor Racing and the IMSA WeatherTech series, Konica Minolta has been a part of the team’s successful run at Daytona International Speedway for many years and is looking forward to the excitement that the new season brings.

The 2023 Rolex 24 at DAYTONA takes place January 26th-29th at Daytona International Speedway. The qualifying race to set the grid, the Roar Before the Rolex 24, runs on January 22nd. Stay tuned to IMSA and Wayne Taylor Racing’s official social channels for updates on start times, TV viewing and streaming details.
ABOUT KONICA MINOLTA

Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. is reshaping and revolutionizing the Workplace of the Future. The company guides and supports its clients’ digital transformation through its expansive office technology portfolio, including IT Services (All Covered), intelligent information management, managed print services and industrial and commercial print solutions. Konica Minolta has been included on CRN’s MSP 500 list nine times and The World Technology Awards recently named the company a finalist in the IT Software category. Konica Minolta has been recognized as the #1 Brand for Customer Loyalty in the MFP Office Copier Market by Brand Keys for fourteen consecutive years, and received Keypoint Intelligence’s BLI 2021 A3 Line of The Year Award and BLI 2021-2023 Most Color Consistent A3 Brand Award for its bizhub i-Series. Konica Minolta, Inc. has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for nine consecutive years and has spent four years on the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World list. Konica Minolta partners with its clients to give shape to ideas and works to bring value to our society. For more information, please visit us online and follow Konica Minolta on Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn and Twitter. The No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 effort and Wayne Taylor Racing is supported by an outstanding lineup of partners including Harrison Contracting, Acura Motorsports, Hammer Nutrition and CIT.

NTE/SSR Petit Le Mans Bid Ends with Pit Stop Purgatory

By
Official Release
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BRASELTON, Ga., (October 3, 2022) – NTE/SSR’s promising run at the 25th Annual Petit Le Mans ended on a disheartening note on Saturday evening, as the sports car racing team closed out the 2022 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The Lamborghini team showed strong potential all weekend long leading up to the season finale race, but in the end, a pitstop error from a neighboring team ended the effort’s hopes of a top-five or podium finish.

“It’s hard to put the words together after all of the time and effort this group has put in all year,” said Team Owner Paul Mata. “Our alternate strategy for Saturday’s race was playing into our hands, but another team’s actions prevented us from seeing it through. That’s just racing, but that doesn’t make it any easier. I’m disappointed for everyone on our team, but still proud of the effort each and every one of them put in.”

The No. 42 NTE/SSR Lamborghini kicked off race week for the Motul Petit Le Mans on strong footing, placing second in the GTD class in the opening practice session. The team made the most of the three practice sessions, cycling drivers Don Yount, Jaden Conwright, and Marco Holzer through to ensure each athlete felt comfortable with the car as the team worked to dial the setup and balance in for the 10 hours of racing ahead.

Inaugural IMSA Diversity Scholarship winner Jaden Conwright produced another impressive qualifying session in the highly competitive GTD field, setting the team up to start from third place on Saturday afternoon. Starting behind the No. 1 BMW of Madison Snow and the No. 39 of Robert Megennis, Conwright had a clean opening lap, taking second place, setting sights on Snow several cars ahead. The first full course caution came in the opening hour, after about 40 minutes of running. Conwright pitted the Lamborghini for a full-service stop, and Don Yount got in the car, taking over the driving duties for the early portion of the race. Under caution, the team again pitted the Lamborghini for a splash of fuel, also giving Yount clean air to race in.

The No. 1 BMW of Snow also had breathing room over the field and was eventually able to catch the Lamborghini to attempt a pass to lap the car. The No. 42 NTE/SSR received some unexpected TV time when the No. 18 Era Motorsport LMP2 car pulled alongside Yount while the Lamborghini held off a pass from the class leader. The prototype spun on its own accord and went off into the gravel trap, bringing out a full-course caution and leading the majority of the GTD class.

Yount stayed out on track while a group of GTD cars pitted under a lengthy caution, beginning hour six from eighth place. The NTE team continued with their unique strategy to pit off-sequence, bringing Yount in just before the field went back to green. The No. 42 Lamborghini had a driver change and took on German Marco Holzer to take the green flag with just under eight hours remaining. Holzer restarted in 11th, behind the No. 27 of Ian James. He made the pass on James and Ryan Hardwick in the No. 16, taking eighth place before another lengthy full-course caution.

Yount and Holzer continued to share turns driving the car over the next several hours, bringing the Lamborghini up from 11th place to sixth. Hour six had a bit of excitement when Holzer came into pit lane to pit for tires and fuel, when he was forced to go off-road to avoid a spun prototype bocking pit lane. He brought the car safely into the box, taking tires and fuel before rejoining.

The team’s alternate strategy began to pay off, and hour by hour, the No. 42 Lamborghini climbed up the charts. With less than two hours to go in the race, the team’s luck once again changed. A last-minute call called for several cars to come into pit lane, including the NTE/SSR Lamborghini and it’s neighboring AWA LMP2 team. AWA pitted unexpectedly and first, mistakenly putting a tire too close on the ground to the NTE/SSR pit box. When Holzer came in to pit the Lamborghini, he had to come in at a different angle and farther away, making the team’s fuel hose unable to reach the car. The team was able to change the tires and pull the car back, fully in the box after the AWA car left, taking additional time to refuel once Conwright returned to the driver’s seat. The move cost the team precious time, effectively putting the squad two laps down.

From there, the team had little chance to climb back up in the time remaining, but still ran, hopeful to capitalize on any late-race cautions or attrition for other cars. In the end, the NTE/SSR Lamborghini finished in ninth place, ending a challenging season with results that failed to reflect the team’s pace and efforts.

“Our program grew exponentially this year, requiring a lot from everyone on our team,” concluded Mata. “Each person stepped up to the plate and rolled with all of the punches. We can still take pride in the fact that we faced many challenges this year and never gave up. It was a great first season racing Lamborghini machinery in WeatherTech and Super Trofeo, and I’m looking forward to what next season brings.”

The team will announce 2023 plans in the coming months.

DRIVER QUOTES

Don Yount

The Lamborghini was good off the trailer when we started this weekend. Ninth place in GTD for Petit Le Mans is a tough result to swallow after such a promising start. We were running clean and had a good pace all race, but an errant pit stop with a prototype in the stall next to us cost us about 60 seconds of time. That far into the race, it knocked us from a top five and possible podium result. Great drives and hard work from the crew for a solid 10 hours of racing and a great effort all season long. Everyone knows the team’s potential and the strong outing this weekend proved it again.

Jaden Conwright

As sad as it sounds, it was nice to finally finish an endurance race without any mechanical issues or penalties. As a team, we’re still working on things, but we’ve made some really great strides as a group this year. We were on a different strategy than the other teams and it was slowly playing into our hands before that pit stop that shook everything up. We just got caught out in a racing mishap that was out of our control. Speed-wise, we were right there with the top three in our class, even faster than some of the GTD PRO class cars. This event showed that we’re fast and have what it takes to compete in such a competitive field. Sadly in racing, it’s not just about speed. But our team has grown and gelled together so well this year under the leadership of Paul Mata. If we can continue to build on what we’ve established this year, we’ll be off to a good start and on stronger footing than where we started this year.

This year’s program would not be possible without the IMSA Diversity Scholarship and I want to thank John Doonan and IMSA for creating this program,. It’s no secret that it’s card to break into professional sports car racing and being the first recipient to receive the honor has not been lost on me. This scholarship aided NTE/SSR in covering entry fees and getting this program on track. Without the scholarship, my season in IMSA would likely have not been possible. I’m thankful for the opportunity to be able to build on my career and compete at such a top level. I can’t wait to be back.

Marco Holzer

Saturday was a disappointing end to the season and hard to swallow. We were looking good at fifth place with two hours to go until that fatal pit stop. We couldn’t park right because there was a tire from a different car in the way, so we couldn’t refuel in a timely manner either. We lost precious seconds and track time that put us back to fighting for a top-ten finish. Without that incident, a podium spot would have been possible. Thanks to the team for the whole year, and to our partners, Lamborghini Dallas, Southwest Funding, and Group A. This team is small but mighty and I hope to be back next year with them. Daytona is coming soon.

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

About Star Spangled Racing
Based in Jacksonville, Florida, Star Spangled Racing is a newer sports car racing team, established in 2020 by first-generation immigrant Tiger Tari from Turkey. Tari is an accomplished businessman, race car driver, and philanthropist with big motorsport ambitions. Star Spangled Racing provides driving opportunities in the USA and Europe. Follow on Instagram here.

About Southwest Funding
Southwest Funding began operations in 1993 under the name Dallas Residential Mortgage. We enjoyed great success early on and before long we were serving the entire state of Texas. This growth caused us to change our name to Texas Residential Mortgage.

As we continued to grow and thrive in the industry, Texas Residential Mortgage was changed to Southwest Funding to better accommodate our growing business in other states.
Today we’re still thriving, thanks in part to happy customers who have spread the word about what our company is doing to help borrowers get a home loan that fits their situation in an enjoyable and timely way. www.southwestfunding.com

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

Group A Apparel

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

Website: www.GroupAapparel.com

Instagram: @GroupAapparel

Hubert Davis Named Grand Marshal For Sunday’s Bank of America ROVAL™ 400

By
Official Release
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University of North Carolina head basketball coach Hubert Davis has been named Grand Marshal for Sunday's Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. (Photo courtesy of Maggie Hobson, UNC Athletics)
  • University of North Carolina men’s basketball coach to give command to fire engines
  • Platinum-selling country music artist Lauren Alaina to wave the green flag
  • GRAMMY-nominated recording artist Cassadee Pope to perform the national anthem

CONCORD, N.C. (Oct. 3, 2022) – America’s Home for Racing will host a star-studded list of dignitaries for the annual Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 on Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway, including a bevy of familiar names from the worlds of sports and entertainment.

The University of North Carolina head basketball coach, Hubert Davis, will kick off the most anticipated race in the NASCAR Playoffs when he gives the command for drivers to fire up their engines ahead of Sunday’s Bank of America ROVAL™ 400.

A native of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Davis was named the 20th head coach for the legendary Tar Heels in 2021. He is the first African-American head coach in the history of Carolina basketball. Davis led the team to the NCAA East Regional championship and beat Duke in the Final Four to advance to the national championship game.

A graduate of UNC, Davis played for legendary coach Dean Smith before being selected by the New York Knicks with the 20th overall pick in the 1992 NBA draft. After 12 seasons in the NBA, Davis spent seven years as an analyst for ESPN before returning to Chapel Hill as an assistant coach to Hall of Famer Roy Williams in 2012.

Additional dignitaries for Sunday’s Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 include:

  • Honorary Starter: Lauren Alaina, platinum-selling country music star
  • Presentation of Colors: Burlington Fire Department Honor Guard
  • Invocation: Paula Faris, former anchor of Good Morning America and co-host of The View, author, podcast host and founder of CARRY Media
  • National Anthem: Cassadee Pope, GRAMMY-nominated recording artist

Dignitaries for Saturday’s Drive for the Cure 250:

  • Honorary Starter: E. Reese, Blue Cross NC
  • Presentation of Colors: Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office
  • National Anthem: Temecula Road, Warner Nashville recording artists
  • Grand Marshals: Mary Justice and Robin Miller, Blue Cross NC

A full weekend of fun kicks off with Fan Friday, featuring an autograph session and driver appearances by Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Christopher Bell, Ty Gibbs and Brandon Jones. Fans will also be treated to a unique hauler parade through the fan zone before legendary rocker and Poison frontman Bret Michaels takes the stage. Saturday, NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers will battle it out for victory in the Drive for the Cure 250 presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. Following the race, fans will be treated to a concert by Tim Dugger in the Fan Zone before 3 Doors Down rocks the ROVAL. Rap superstar Nelly will open the final day with a pre-race infield performance that will get everyone hyped as the NASCAR Cup Series will face off in the pivotal Bank of America ROVAL™ 400.

TICKETS:
To purchase Drive for the Cure 250 and Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 race tickets, fans can shop online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or call 1-800-455-FANS (3267). Kids 12 and under get in all weekend for just $10. Tickets also include access to any of three nights of A-list music acts, including concerts by Poison frontman Bret Michaels on Friday, Oct. 7; rock band 3 Doors Down on Saturday, Oct. 8; and an infield pre-race concert with rap superstar Nelly prior to Sunday’s Bank of America ROVAL™ 400.

FOLLOW US:

Keep track of all of Charlotte Motor Speedways attractions and events by following on Twitter and Instagram or become a Facebook fan. Keep up with all the latest news and information with the Charlotte Motor Speedway mobile app.

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