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NASCAR All-Star Race Moves to Historic North Wilkesboro Speedway for 2023

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Official Release
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  • Headlining NASCAR’s 75th anniversary season, the sport’s biggest stars will return to one of the original venues for stock car racing as part of a three-day weekend of motorsports entertainment, May 19-21, 2023
  • Tickets for the 39th running of the NASCAR All-Star Race weekend will go on sale later this fall; Fans can reserve their spot on a priority-to-buy list with a $25 donation to Speedway Children’s Charities starting Friday at Noon;
  • Visit northwilkesborospeedway.com for complete details

RALEIGH, N.C. (SEPT. 8, 2022) – Speedway Motorsports and NASCAR announced today that, as part of NASCAR’s 75th anniversary season, the NASCAR All-Star Race will be held at historic North Wilkesboro Speedway in 2023, capping off a three-day event weekend at one of stock car racing’s most storied venues, May 19-21, 2023.

“The NASCAR All-Star Race has always been the fans’ race, and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the fans during NASCAR’s 75th anniversary than returning to North Wilkesboro Speedway,” said Speedway Motorsports President and CEO Marcus Smith. “We couldn’t have made this happen without tremendous support from so many people including Gov. Cooper, our state legislature, NASCAR, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and of course, the people of Wilkes County. We’ve got a lot of work to do, but we’ve got the will to create something special alongside a community and hard-working staff that will get it done.”

The announcement was made outside of the North Carolina Museum of History, with North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. and NASCAR Chief Operating Officer Steve O’Donnell joining Smith for the program.

“Motorsports are critical to North Carolina’s history, culture and economy, and our investments have helped to get the engines running again in places that needed revival,” said Gov. Roy Cooper. “North Wilkesboro Speedway is back and better than ever, and the All-Star Race will take it to new heights.”

In November of last year, an $18M allocation from federal American Rescue Plan funds was designated for infrastructure improvements at North Wilkesboro Speedway through the North Carolina state budget. Earlier this week, Wilkes County awarded construction contracts for the forthcoming work. The General Assembly has agreed in principal to provide a $4M economic grant next year toward additional facility improvements to host the 2023 NASCAR All-Star Race and future special events.

“For decades, North Wilkesboro Speedway was at the heart of racing and tourism in Western North Carolina,” Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) and House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) said. “We look forward to seeing the renaissance of this track as it transforms into a premier venue for races and events in Wilkes County.”

North Wilkesboro, then a dirt track, hosted its first race in May of 1947. Over the next five decades, the 0.625-mile circuit hosted 93 NASCAR Cup Series races – its list of winners a variable who’s who of NASCAR royalty, including Richard Petty, Darrell Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt, Cale Yarborough and hometown hero Benny Parsons. Next year, the 39th running of the NASCAR All-Star Race will mark the first Cup Series event at North Wilkesboro Speedway since 1996.

NASCAR Hall of Famer and noted motorsports historian Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been a passionate supporter of the revitalization of North Wilkesboro Speedway.

“Some of my best memories as a little boy were going to North Wilkesboro,” said Earnhardt. “And it got even better when I raced there as a teenager. I never thought I’d see that place full again, and then I got to race there this summer in a late model before a full house. There’s just something special about it. I know the track, the fans, and the community will put on a show when we’re back with the Cup cars for the All-Star race.”

“North Wilkesboro Speedway boasts a winners list that features the true giants of our sport, and next year, another great will be added as the NASCAR Cup Series stars once again race at this historic facility,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR’s chief operating officer. “As part of our 75th anniversary season, we’re are excited to return to the roots of the sport for the NASCAR All-Star Race. This will be a can’t-miss event as we honor our past and look forward to the future.”

Complete schedules for on-track competition and fan entertainment will be announced at a later date, as will the 2023 NASCAR All-Star Race format. Register for the “Join the Movement” email list and follow North Wilkesboro Speedway social channels to stay up-to-date on all the latest information. The NASCAR All-Star Race will be broadcast on FS1, the Motor Racing Network and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.

TICKETS:

Three-day NASCAR All-Star Race weekend ticket packages will go on sale later this year. Fans can make a $25 donation to Speedway Children’s Charities starting Friday at noon to reserve a spot on the priority-to-buy list. All proceeds from the SCC Reserve List will serve children in need in Wilkes County. For more information or to “Join the Movement” e-mail list for the latest updates surrounding the 2023 NASCAR All-Star Race, fans can visit www.northwilkesborospeedway.com.

FOLLOW ALONG:

For the latest news, schedules and ticket information, visit www.northwilkesborospeedway.com.

Burton, Menards Team Looking for Strong Run at Kansas

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Official Release
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Harrison Burton and the No. 21 Menards/Masterforce team are headed to Kansas Speedway hoping to build on a steady performance when the Cup Series visited the Kansas track back in May. In that race, Burton qualified 26th but moved into the top 15 midway through the second Stage and ran there for much of the remainder of the race before dropping to 21st at the checkered flag.

Crew chief Brian Wilson said that gives him a dose of optimism headed into this weekend’s 22nd running of the Hollywood Casino 400 on the 1.5-mile track.

“Any return trip to a track is welcomed when you’re a team that’s building a notebook,” Wilson said. “Kansas is especially welcomed by everyone on the Menard’s Ford since we raced in the top 15 for most of the first race there.

“During that race weekend there were multiple tire failures for other teams. This weekend Goodyear has brought a new tire combination. With the added durability there’s also a stagger change.

“This change is the biggest source of conversation and concern as we study the notes from the first race.”

Wilson said he believes the Menards/Masterforce team can adapt to the changes.

“I’m confident that through our simulation work, previous notes on stagger changes as well as the simulator time provided by Ford that we’ll unload with all the necessary adjustments,” he said, adding that the team also will be focusing on Saturday’s qualifying session. “We know that a great starting position also comes with a great pit stall.

“All of that would give our pit crew a huge advantage. Our guys have been doing a tremendous job lately, and we want to help them capitalize on that.”

Practice for the Hollywood Casino 400 is set for Saturday at 11:05 a.m. (12:05 p.m. Eastern Time) to be immediately followed by qualifying.

Sunday’s 400-mile, 267-lap race is scheduled to start just after 2 p.m. (3 p.m. Eastern) with TV coverage on USA Network. Stage breaks are planned for Laps 80 and 165.

Wood Brothers Racing

Wood Brothers Racing was formed in 1950 in Stuart, Va., by Hall of Famer Glenn Wood. Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team and one of the winningest teams in NASCAR history. Since its founding, the team won 99 races (including at least one race in every decade for the last seven decades) and 120 poles in NASCAR’s top-tier series. Fielding only Ford products for its entire history, the WoodBrothers own the longest association of any motorsports team with a single manufacturer. Glenn’s brother, Leonard, is known for inventing the modern pit stop. The team currently runs the Ford Mustang driven by Harrison Burton in the famous No. 21 racer.

Christian Rose Eyes Top-10 Finish in ARCA Kansas Speedway Debut

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Official Release
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KANSAS CITY, Kan: The hard work paid off.

Using a conservative approach to his most recent ARCA Menards Series race at The Milwaukee (Wisc.) Mile, rookie Christian Rose impressed with a solid and hard-fought top-15 finish in the combined ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series East Sprecher 150 last month.

Having the past two weeks to reflect on the effort of his Cook Racing Technologies (CRT) team in the heart of Wisconsin, Rose returns to the ARCA Menards Series tour eyeing a top-10 finish in Saturday night’s Kansas ARCA 150.

Sticking by the motivational slogan of “Never Give Up” – Rose was able to find some light at the end of the tunnel where a frustrating rookie season that has showcased speed and finesse has been compounded with a pile of bad luck and priceless learning experience.

Returning to the high banks of an intermediate race track, Rose looks to repeat the speed he showcased at the larger tracks earlier this year at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway and Pocono (Pa.) Raceway where Rose muscled his No. 42 West Virginia Tourism race car into the top-10 on both occasions before falling victim to mechanical woes.

This weekend, Rose is hoping for another quiet and conservative weekend and to build on his career-best premier ARCA Menards Series finish achieved at The Milwaukee Mile.

“I was confident that our bad luck string was coming to an end and we would have a solid performance where our notebook would expand and make us stronger for our remaining races this season,” said Rose.

“I can’t thank everyone enough on our Cook Racing Technologies team for their endless efforts to work on our No. 42 West Virginia Tourism Toyota not only at Milwaukee but for Kansas this weekend and the rest of our remaining races in the ARCA homestretch.

“We wanted to be better at Milwaukee, but as a team, I believe we know what we need to do to improve our performance on the flatter tracks and we’ll take all of those notes into consideration as we continue to build for the future.”

Having the opportunity to reflect and cling to the positives of Milwaukee, Rose is starting to shift his attention to Kansas where he hopes to impress and build even more confidence even though the 2022 ARCA Menards Series season is winding down.

“I’m upbeat about Kansas Speedway this weekend,” sounded Rose. “I think our Cook Racing Technologies has showcased throughout the season to have a lot of speed on the bigger tracks and I don’t expect Kansas to be any different.

“I know that Kansas has similar characteristics to Charlotte, but no two tracks are exactly the same. For me, it’s just about making strides with our No. 42 West Virginia Tourism Toyota. Bettering our lap times from practice to qualifying and doing what we can to stay on the lead lap and contend for a top-10 finish at the end of Saturday night.

“If we can do that, the weekend will be a huge success and give us, even more, welcomed confidence heading into our handful of races remaining this season.”

This season, Rose who will compete in all three of ARCA’s national platforms, the ARCA Menards Series, the ARCA Menards Series East and the ARCA Menards Series West will continue to strengthen a relationship with the West Virginia Department of Tourism.

The West Virginia Department of Tourism promotes West Virginia as a leading four-season travel destination and a top state to live, work and retire.

Known as the Mountain State, West Virginia is one of the most scenic states in the United States and home to thousands of acres of parks and public lands, including America’s newest national park and 45 state parks and forests.

In addition to its majestic mountains and rolling hills, West Virginia is full of rich historic sites, enchanting art galleries, charming towns and an immense sense of belonging found only in its heaven-like landscapes.

In West Virginia, let country roads lead you far away from everything. And a little closer to heaven.

“My relationship with the West Virginia Department of Tourism is everything to me,” added Rose.

“Without them, I would not be able to race at Kansas Speedway. It is my goal throughout the year to spread the mission of everything the West Virginia Department of Tourism means.

“It goes without saying that we have had a lot of speed with our West Virginia Department of Tourism race cars this year and I’m hopeful we can climb that ladder of consistency during the end of this summer stretch and into the fall.

“We are seeing a great amount of response from the fans about their experience in West Virginia and that’s part of why we are building this program. On the heels of some appearances in West Virginia over the last couple of weeks, it’s been wonderful to receive all the positive feedback about our West Virginia Department of Tourism Racing program.

“We are just getting started.”

Following Kansas Speedway, Rose and CRT plan to compete in the ARCA Menards Series Bush’s Beans 200 | Sioux Chief Showdown at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway on Thurs., Sept. 15.

For more on Christian Rose, please like him on Facebook (Christian Rose Racing) or follow him on Instagram (@christianroseracing) and Twitter (@CRoseRacing).

The Kansas ARCA 150 (100 laps | 150 miles) is the 17th of 20 races on the 2022 ARCA Menards Series schedule. Practice begins on Saturday, September 10, 2022, from 9:15 a.m. to 9:50 a.m. General Tire pole group qualifying kicks off at 10:00 a.m. The event will be televised live on MAVTV and FloRacing beginning at 6:00 p.m. CT | 7:00 p.m. ET. ARCARacing.com will also stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire weekend festivities. All times are local (CT).

About The West Virginia Department of Tourism:

The West Virginia Department of Tourism promotes West Virginia as a leading four-season travel destination and top state to live, work and retire.

Known as the Mountain State, West Virginia is one of the most scenic states in the United States and home to thousands of acres of parks and public lands, including America’s newest national park and 45 state parks and forests.

In addition to its majestic mountains and rolling hills, West Virginia is full of rich historic sites, enchanting art galleries, charming towns and an immense sense of belonging found only in its heaven-like landscapes.

NASCAR REVS UP RACE-DAY VIEWING EXPERIENCE WITH LIVE IN-CAR CAMERA FEEDS FOR FULL NASCAR CUP SERIES FIELD

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Official Release
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Free NASCAR Drive digital product brings fans inside every car for the first time ever

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (September 8, 2022) – For the first time, NASCAR fans can view every lap of NASCAR Cup Series races from inside the cockpit of any car they choose. Live in-car camera streams for the entire NASCAR Cup Series field are available for free as part of NASCAR Drive, the sanctioning body’s hub for live race-day video and real-time stats and information hosted on NASCAR.com and within the NASCAR Mobile App.

Fans can choose any driver’s in-car camera feed beginning with this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, Sept. 11, at 3 p.m. ET. The full-field in-car camera streams will remain a free, ad-supported offering for the remainder of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs and beyond.

“Our goal is to deliver an immersive experience for the most passionate fans in all of sports, no matter where they are,” said Tim Clark, NASCAR senior vice president and chief digital officer. “We know the significant role second screens play in the overall viewing experience, so to provide live video from inside every car and alongside leaderboards, performance data, pit stats, live betting odds, and more is something we’re excited about.”

For several years, NASCAR has offered live in-car streams for a select number of drivers each week across NASCAR Drive, Mobile App, and its social media platforms. Now, fans will have complete control over their full-field viewing experience with the ability to toggle between up to four streams at once. With a subscription to NASCAR’s Scanner product, fans can also listen to live audio from driver and team radio communications as well as the weekly radio broadcast.

“We’re fortunate to have tremendous people and partners who enable us to deliver this next-gen video experience to NASCAR fans all over the world,” said Steve Stum, NASCAR vice president of operations and technical production. “It’s no small feat to introduce something as ambitious as 40 live-streaming cameras inside these cars as they race side by side at speeds upward of 200 miles per hour.”

The expanded streaming offer is possible in part because of NASCAR’s new Next Gen race car, which was introduced at the start of the 2022 season. The Next Gen car design equipped every Cup Series car to accommodate a standard camera mount near the rearview mirror. The current system relies on a 1080p HD camera pointed forward out the front windshield, courtesy of NEP Group/Broadcast Sports International (BSI), that feeds live footage across Amazon Web Services (AWS) and directly into NASCAR Drive.

For more information or to tap into the action on race days, fans can visit nascar.com/drive.

About NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 16 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR consists of three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series™), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series™, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour™), one local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series™) and three international series (NASCAR Pinty’s Series™, NASCAR Mexico Series™, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series™). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’).

Dean Thompson – Kansas Lottery 200 Race Advance

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Official Release
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Race Advance – Kansas Lottery 200 | Kansas Speedway (134 Laps / 201 Miles)
Friday, September 9 | Kansas City, Kan. | 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: FS1 | Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN), Sirius XM Ch. 90
Team: No. 40 Worldwide Express/GlobalTranz/Unishippers Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Dean Thompson (Anaheim, Calif.) | Crew Chief: Ryan Salomon
Follow the Team: @NieceMotorsport; @deanthompsonr

Thompson on returning to Kansas Speedway: “Our No. 40 Worldwide Express team is looking forward to getting back on-track following a three-week layoff. I learned a lot in the spring race and track position is going to be key Friday night, so we’re focused on putting a solid qualifying effort together. We’re confident in the Chevrolet Silverado that we’re bringing and we’ll continue to add to the notebook on these intermediate tracks.”

Thompson at Kansas Speedway: Thompson makes his second career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start at Kansas Speedway in Friday night’s Kansas Lottery 200. He ran to a 22nd-place finish in his Kansas debut in May.

Thompson produced an eighth-place finish after starting 12th in last October’s ARCA Menards Series race at Kansas.

On the Truck: Thompson will pilot the No. 40 Worldwide Express/GlobalTranz/Unishippers Chevrolet Silverado Friday night at Kansas.

Honor a Cancer Hero: In coordination with the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation and NASCAR Foundation, the third-annual Honor a Cancer Hero has raised over $106,000 this year. Dean Thompson will honor Peggy L. Grigsby of Cincinnati, Ohio on the name rail of his No. 40 Worldwide Express Chevrolet Silverado Friday night in Kansas.

Last Time Out – Worldwide Express 250 at Richmond (Start: 29th / Finish: 35th): “We had a solid Worldwide Express Chevrolet Silverado tonight, unfortunately an alternator belt issue kept us from making a push for a top-20 finish. I wish we could have had a better result for Worldwide Express and all of its carrier partners on board with us and we’ll look to shake off this stretch of bad luck at Kansas.”

About Niece Motorsports:

Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2022, Niece Motorsports enters its seventh season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as Twitter @NieceMotorsport.

Media Inquiries: media@niecemotorsports.com www.niecemotorsports.com

About Worldwide Express

Worldwide Express, LLC, is a full-service, non-asset-based logistics provider offering access to industry-leading small package, truckload and less-than-truckload shipping solutions and managed transportation services. The family of brands, comprised of Worldwide Express, GlobalTranz and Unishippers, serve more than 115,000 customers spanning from small and mid-size businesses to larger enterprises, with unmatched carrier options and strategic guidance for their supply chains.

With an annual systemwide revenue approaching $5 billion, the company is the second-largest privately held freight brokerage and largest non-retail UPS® Authorized Reseller in the country. Through a selective portfolio of 65+ LTL and tens of thousands of truckload carriers, and powered by proprietary technology, clients benefit from an award-winning, relationship-backed approach to solving their shipping needs. To learn more about the brands, visit wwexracing.com.

Follow Dean Thompson on Instagram and on the web: @deankthompson / deanthompsonr.com

Carson Hocevar – Kansas Lottery 200 Race Advance

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Official Release
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Race Advance – Kansas Lottery 200 | Kansas Speedway (134 Laps / 201 Miles)
Friday, September 9 | Kansas City, Kan. | 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: FS1 | Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN), Sirius XM Ch. 90
Team: No. 42 Worldwide Express Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Carson Hocevar (Portage, Mich.) | Crew Chief: Phil Gould
Follow the Team: @NieceMotorsport; @CarsonHocevar

Hocevar on the final Round of 10 race Friday night at Kansas: “Our No. 42 Worldwide Express team knows what we have to do to keep our championship hopes alive this week in Kansas. We showed solid speed to fight from the back in the spring and we think the mile-and-a-half program at Niece Motorsports is our strong suit. Friday night will be all about execution and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”

Hocevar at Kansas Speedway: Hocevar makes his third career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start Friday night at Kansas Speedway. He ran to a 16th-place finish in May and placed 11th in his debut at the 1.5-mile oval in 2021.

Friday night’s race in Kansas marks Hocevar’s 50th career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start.

On the Truck: Hocevar will pilot the No. 42 Worldwide Express Chevrolet Silverado Friday night at Kansas Speedway.

Honor a Cancer Hero: In coordination with the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation and NASCAR Foundation, the third-annual Honor a Cancer Hero has raised over $106,000 this year. Carson Hocevar will honor Alissa Cherry of Long Island, N.Y. on the name rail of his No. 42 Worldwide Express Silverado Friday night in Kansas.

Last Time Out – Worldwide Express 250 at Richmond (Start 12th / Finish 10th): “Our No. 42 team wanted to come out and have a good run for Worldwide Express and all of its carrier partners tonight, but we missed the setup a bit. We were struggling at times and had no grip after 20 laps into the run. I’m excited to go back to a mile-and-a-half [track] which seems to be more of our bread and butter. We’ll move on and get ourselves ready for Kansas.”

About Niece Motorsports:

Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2022, Niece Motorsports enters its seventh season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as Twitter @NieceMotorsport.

Media Inquiries: media@niecemotorsports.com www.niecemotorsports.com

About Worldwide Express:

Worldwide Express, LLC, is a full-service, non-asset-based logistics provider offering access to industry-leading small package, truckload and less-than-truckload shipping solutions and managed transportation services. The family of brands, comprised of Worldwide Express, GlobalTranz and Unishippers, serve more than 115,000 customers spanning from small and mid-size businesses to larger enterprises, with unmatched carrier options and strategic guidance for their supply chains.

With an annual systemwide revenue approaching $5 billion, the company is the second-largest privately held freight brokerage and largest non-retail UPS® Authorized Reseller in the country. Through a selective portfolio of 65+ LTL and tens of thousands of truckload carriers, and powered by proprietary technology, clients benefit from an award-winning, relationship-backed approach to solving their shipping needs. To learn more about the brands, visit wwexracing.com.

Follow Carson Hocevar on Instagram and on the web: @CarsonHocevar / CarsonHocevar.com

Bayley Currey – Kansas Lottery 200 Race Advance

By
Official Release
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Race Advance – Kansas Lottery 200 | Kansas Speedway (134 Laps / 201 Miles)
Friday, September 9 | Kansas City, Kan. | 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: FS1 | Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN), Sirius XM Ch. 90
Team: No. 44 Niece Equipment Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Bayley Currey (Driftwood, Texas) | Crew Chief: Wally Rogers
Follow the Team: @NieceMotorsport; @BayleyCurrey

Currey on his return to the Truck Series Friday night at Kansas: “I’m super thankful to be working with Niece Motorsports again. We brought a lot of speed last year together at Kansas and I’m looking forward to trying to recapture that Friday night in our No. 44 Niece Equipment Chevrolet Silverado.”

Currey at Kansas Speedway: Currey makes his ninth NASCAR National Series start at Kansas Speedway Friday night and his fourth Truck Series start at the 1.5-mile oval. He has one Cup Series start (2019), four Xfinity Series starts, and three Truck Series starts over the past four seasons.

Currey makes his 31st NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start and 12th start with Niece Motorsports Friday night. He ran to a career-best 12th-place finish at Kansas in 2021 in the No. 45 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet after starting 26th.

In his 30 career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts, Currey owns an average finish of 23.2 with a pair of top-10 finishes coming at Phoenix (2017) and Michigan (2019).

On the Truck: Currey will pilot the No. 44 Niece Equipment Chevrolet Silverado Friday night at Kansas Speedway.

About Niece Motorsports

Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2022, Niece Motorsports enters its seventh season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as Twitter @NieceMotorsport.

www.niecemotorsports.com

Lawless Alan – Kansas Lottery 200 Race Advance

By
Official Release
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Race Advance – Kansas Lottery 200 | Kansas Speedway (134 Laps / 201 Miles)
Friday, September 9 | Kansas City, Kan. | 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: FS1 | Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN), Sirius XM Ch. 90
Team: No. 45 AUTOParkit Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Lawless Alan (Los Angeles, Calif.) | Crew Chief: Joe Lax
Follow the Team: @NieceMotorsport; @lawlessalan25

Alan on Friday night’s race at Kansas: “We’re looking forward to getting back to Kansas and building on our top-20 finish back in the spring. Our No. 45 AUTOParkit team has made a lot of progress on our intermediate package and we’re looking forward to getting our Chevrolet Silverado on track to see where we stack up on Friday.”

Alan at Kansas Speedway: Alan makes his second career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start at Kansas Speedway Friday night. Alan turned in a 19th-place finish in his debut at the 1.5-mile oval in May after starting 25th.

On the Truck: Alan will pilot the No. 45 AUTOParkit Chevrolet Silverado Friday night at Kansas.

Honor a Cancer Hero: In coordination with the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation and NASCAR Foundation, the third-annual Honor a Cancer Hero has raised over $106,000 this year. Lawless Alan will honor Bobby Fitzpatrick of Yonkers, N.Y. on the name rail of his No. 45 AUTOParkit Chevrolet Silverado Friday night in Kansas.

Last Time Out – Worldwide Express 250 at Richmond (Start: 27th / Finish: 24th): “Our No. 45 team worked hard all night to find the right balance on our AUTOChargit Chevrolet and we started to hit on it in the late stages of the race. We thought we were one more adjustment away, but all-in-all it was a good learning experience in my debut at Richmond.”

About Niece Motorsports:

Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2022, Niece Motorsports enters its seventh season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as Twitter @NieceMotorsport.

Media Inquiries: media@niecemotorsports.com www.niecemotorsports.com

About AUTOParkit:

AUTOParkit™ designs, manufactures, and constructs fully automated parking systems for new and existing buildings. AUTOParkit system structural steel and modular design can provide double the capacity of a traditional parking garage, providing up to 17 LEED points and drastically reducing construction time. AUTOParkit automated systems are 40 percent less expensive to operate, safer for the user and reduces carbon emissions associated with parking by more than 80 percent. AUTOParkit’s charging pallets provided by AUTOChargit, are a fast and convenient way of charging EVs and Hybrids. AUTOChargit’s patented technology allows for shuffling charged vehicles cutting infrastructure costs by up to 80 percent.

For more information on AUTOParkit, visit www.autoparkit.com

Follow Lawless Alan on Instagram and on the web: @lawless_alan / www.lawlessalanracing.com

SpeedTour Returns to Watkins Glen, Celebrates Milestone Anniversary During Action-Packed Weekend

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Official Release
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SVRA Celebrates the 10-Year Anniversary of Tony Parella at The Helm

SOUTHLAKE, Texas (September 8, 2022) – SpeedTour returns to Watkins Glen International for an action-packed weekend with the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA), the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli and International GT. However, the excitement surrounding the weekend goes beyond the 400-plus cars that are expected to participate in the festivities, and extends to a special anniversary being celebrated by SVRA and the series’ CEO and President, Tony Parella.

Exactly 10 years ago today, on September 8, 2012, Parella signed the paperwork to purchase SVRA and begin his business venture in motorsports. Since then, Parella has taken sole ownership of the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli, and added the exclusive financial rights for the U.S. market to Formula Regional Americas Championship Powered by Honda, Formula 4 United States Championship Powered by Honda and SCCA Pro Racing to his portfolio.

“I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished, but I feel like we’re just getting started,” said Parella.

A racer first and foremost, Parella’s passion for the sport is what drew him to become involved on a business level. After starting to race with SVRA in 2011, Parella was moved to act when he got to race on the same track where he attended his first racing event as a child—Watkins Glen International.

“Watkins Glen is where I attended my first race as a kid,” Parella continued. “I saw the Trans Am Series race here in 1969; I was 10 years old. The first time I got to race at The Glen was June 2011, and I found myself emotional being on the race track where my father took me so many years earlier. That experience made me realize the potential that SVRA had in racing at these tracks. I met with the owner at the time, Peter McLaughlin, and we worked out a deal.”

When Parella took ownership of SVRA in 2012, the series raced at three tracks—Watkins Glen International, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and Sebring International Raceway.

In 2023, the series is slated to compete at 22 tracks across the country. Meanwhile, Parella Motorsports Holdings—SVRA’s parent company—will be involved in 25 events nationwide with its various race series.

“Ten years later, and I still feel like we’re just getting started—there’s endless potential and possibility. The best is yet to come,” Parella said with a smile.

SVRA joins the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli and International GT for the Watkins Glen SpeedTour this weekend at Watkins Glen International. Spectator gates are open Thursday through Sunday, September 8-11, with tickets available at TheGlen.com. Several of Saturday and Sunday’s races will also be available for streaming on SpeedTour TV’s YouTube Channel (YouTube.com/SpeedTourTV).

About SpeedTour: SpeedTour hosts motorsports festivals encompassing America’s top road racing series at the most prestigious race tracks across the country. Competition ranges from the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli (Trans Am), Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA), Formula Regional Americas powered by Honda (FR Americas), Formula 4 United States Championship powered by Honda (F4 U.S.), to International GT (IGT) and more. Trans Am, FR Americas and F4 U.S. are all sanctioned by SCCA Pro Racing, which is also related to the SpeedTour through a long-term agreement to the commercial rights to brand and operate SCCA Pro Racing. With 21 events on the 2022 schedule, SpeedTour will exceed 5,500 entries. Between racing, concerts and car shows, SpeedTour events often attract more than 25,000 spectators. Additional marketing and promotional opportunities for the SpeedTour are available through SpeedTour Quarterly, a quarterly magazine delivered in both print and digital formats and SpeedTour TV, a live streaming platform. Several marquee SpeedTour events will be live streamed at SpeedTour.TV.

Toyota Racing – Weekly Preview – 09.07.22

By
Official Release
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This Week in Motorsports: September 6-12, 2022

· NCS/NXS/NCWTS/ARCA: Kansas Speedway – September 9-11

PLANO, Texas (September 7, 2022) – It’s a big weekend at Kansas Speedway as four series compete at the track in three days.

NASCAR National Series – NCS | NXS | NCWTS

Hamlin plans to expand points cushion… Denny Hamlin moved up the Cup Series leaderboard with a runner-up finish in Darlington as the Virginia-native sits third overall. Hamlin has been consistently good at Kansas Speedway during his career, scoring Toyota’s first victory at the track and adding additional wins in 2019 and 2020.

Bell is 100… Christopher Bell will make his 100th career NASCAR Cup Series start at a special track this weekend. Bell earned his first Xfinity Series win at Kansas Speedway in 2017. Bell, who comes into this race in fourth place in points, won the pole, led 37 laps (of 267) and came home with a top-five finish in the spring at Kansas.

Jones good at Kansas… Brandon Jones will always have fond memories at Kansas Speedway as the Georgia-native scored his first career win at the track in 2019, before scoring another win there in 2020.

Smith, Griffith return… Sammy Smith and Derek Griffith are both back behind the wheel of Toyota GR Supras this weekend in Kansas. It begins two straight races for Smith aboard the No. 18 Toyota GR Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing as he will also run in Bristol, while Griffith will make his fourth of five scheduled starts for Sam Hunt Racing in the No. 26, before returning to the team in Talladega next month.

Smith is secure… Chandler Smith is breathing easy coming into Kansas Speedway as he has clinched his spot in the round of 8 with a dominating performance at Richmond Raceway – the last time the Truck Series was on track. Smith had a strong top-five finish at Kansas in the spring.

Looking to clinch… Several Toyota Truck Series drivers are looking to clinch their round of 8 spot this weekend and join Smith in the next round. John Hunter Nemechek, Ty Majeski, Stewart Friesen and Ben Rhodes are all more than 20 points to the good, with multi-time champion Matt Crafton and Christian Eckes looking to secure the final spots.

Double for Heim… Rookie of the Year leader, Corey Heim, will run double duty this weekend as he competes in Friday night’s Truck Series event for Kyle Busch Motorsports and Saturday’s ARCA Menards Series race for Venturini Motorsports in his final scheduled ARCA race of the season. Heim scored his first ARCA win – and Toyota’s 100th – in October 2020.

NASCAR Regional Series – ARCA

Smith closes in on two titles… With another top-five finish over the weekend, Sammy Smith is closing in on two ARCA titles, but his focus is back on the national ARCA tour this weekend. Smith has made 12 starts on the national ARCA tour this season – 11 of them ending in top-five finishes.

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About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs more than 48,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 43 million cars and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With the more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, more than a quarter of the company’s 2021 North American sales were electrified.

Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

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