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Chevrolet sweeps top seeds for Countdown

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Official Release
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CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
DODGE POWER BROKERS NHRU.S. NATIONALS
LUCAS OIL INDIANAPOLIS RACEWAY PARK IN BROWNSBURG, INDIANA
SEPT. 5, 2022

Chevrolet drivers deliver epic U.S. Nationals performances

• Five-time Pro Stock champion Greg Anderson reaches 100-win milestone
• No. 1 Top Fuel qualifier Brittany Force finishes as runner-up for second year in a row
• Robert Hight advances to Funny Car final round for ninth time in 16 races
• Team Chevy drivers sweep the top seeds for the Countdown to the Championship
• David Barton prevails in all-COPO Camaro final of Factory Stock Showdown

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 5, 2022) – The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) U.S. Nationals always produces riveting storylines involving Chevrolet teams and drivers, and the 68th edition of the “Big Go” delivered another epic race day at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.

  • Greg Anderson became the second driver in NHRA professional categories to reach 100 career victories as the five-time Pro Stock champion drove the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro SS to his seventh U.S. Nationals win.

“I kept asking myself what do I have to do to win? It just wasn’t meant to be. It was meant to be in Indy,” said Anderson, who delivered the 360th win for Chevrolet in the class since 1970. “When you can win here at Indy and to get the 100th here, I couldn’t ask for anything better. It means everything to me.”

Sixteen-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force, driver of the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS, leads all drivers with 155 career wins. Sportsman racers Frank Manzo (105), Dan Fletcher (105), and David Rampy (100) — have also reached the century mark in victories.

Said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet vice president of Performance and Motorsports: “Congratulations to Greg and his Camaro SS team on this incredible milestone victory. The 100 wins are the result of Greg’s skill as a racer combined with a great team that has prepared his race car over the years. This is also a very special tribute to his mother, late father and family who have always supported his passion for drag racing and the NHRA. We are extremely proud of Greg’s 100 wins – all with Chevrolet/GM.”

  • Team Chevy drivers Brittany Force (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Erica Enders (Pro Stock) – past NHRA champions with Chevrolet – sewed up top seeds in their respective professional classes for the six-race Countdown to the Championship that begins Sept. 16-18 at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pennsylvania.

“We’re going into the Countdown and you’re seeing the competition really come alive, really pick up,” said Force, who was the No. 1 qualifier in the 2021 Countdown opener at Maple Grove Raceway. “That just makes it tough. It puts more pressure on our team, all of John Force Racing. But it’s going to be good, it’s going to be tight and it’s going to be close, and this Countdown is going to be fun.”

  • No. 1 Top Fuel qualifier Brittany Force, who reset her own track elapsed time and speed records a day earlier in qualifying in the Monster Energy/Flav-R-Pac Chevrolet dragster, finished runner-up for the second year in a row. She also finished second in the special Pep Boys All-Star Top Fuel Callout.

Force, who has four wins, added to her point total with her second final-round appearance in 16 races this season.

Force will look to 2023 to join her father John, a five-time winner, and sister Ashley, who’s won three times, as a U.S. Nationals champion. No Indy-winning parent has had two offspring also win the U.S. Nationals.

  • No. 2 Funny Car qualifier Hight, driving the Automobile Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS, advanced to his ninth final round in 16 races.

Anderson also surpassed 900 career round wins – second only to John Force’s 1,412 in NHRA history. Anderson defeated Fernando Cuadra Jr. in one semifinal, while Glenn ended Enders’ U.S. Nationals round winning streak at 10.

“The best win ever. I can’t thank the (team owners) Black family enough for this opportunity; 100 wins together. They’ve made me live me dream all these years. Rick Hendrick, you have another cool trophy coming to your collection.”

John Force’s quest for his sixth U.S. Nationals Funny Car victory came to an end in the semifinals. Force, the No. 4 qualifier in the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS, has advanced to at least the semifinals in nine of the 16 regular-season races and will prepare to chase his 17th Funny Car world title in the Countdown.

Austin Prock, the No. 14 qualifier in the Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist Chevrolet dragster, fell in the first round.

In an all-COPO Camaro final of the Constant Aviation Factory Stock Showdown, David Barton of Reading, Pennsylvania, took the points lead through six of the eight events in the season-long series with a victory over No. 1 qualifier Aaron Stanfield of Bossier, Louisiana.

“There’s really stiff competition out here, so you have to take it one round at a time,” Barton said. “We tried to stay focused and here we are in the winner’s circle. Two to go and we’re going to try to hold onto the points lead the best we can.”

An interview with Pro Stock winner GREG ANDERSON, KB RACING, HENDRICKCARS.COM CHEVROLET CAMARO SS:

HOW MEANINGFUL IS THE MILESTONE?

“It’s incredible. I kept asking myself what do I have to do to win? It just wasn’t meant to be. It was meant to be in Indy. I’ve made no bones about telling everybody all my career how special Indy is to me. It’s an out-of-body experience when you can win here at Indy and to get the 100th here I couldn’t ask for anything better. It means everything to me.”

YOU’VE COME A LONG WAY AS A DRIVER. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR WORK ETHIC?

“I had a good, basic skill set when I came to Warren (Johnson). There’s no question that Warren opened my vision to a lot of different things and educated me on a lot of things. I learned that northern Minnesota work ethic that has followed me all my career. I tell people every day that I’ve never met anyone in my life that has failed by working hard. I’m not a brain surgeon. I’m not the smartest whip out there, but I work hard. That’s a valuable lesson.”

YOUR THOUGHTS ON BEING IN THAT EXCLUSIVE CLUB?

“It’s incredible. About three years ago when I was trying to chase down Warren with 97 (wins), I tried not to think about it. I was having too much fun racing, still thinking I could race forever. I don’t think I’m done by any means but I’m definitely closer to the end of my career. It’s hard to come out and compete with these kids so I know my days may be numbered but I’m not done. I think I’ll get a few more and I plan on doing this until I can’t win anymore. Sometimes, it’s good to have a few of us crusty old veterans out here. I used to win Indy fairly often. We won six times between 2001 and 2011 and I thought I’d have 10 of them at some point. I’m not going to get there but I think this is the most special one of all.”

YOU WOULDN’T HAVE 100 WITHOUT WINNING INDY SEVEN TIMES.

“It’s fantastic. I remember back in the day when we were winning quite often; it’s been since 2011 that I’ve won the U.S. Nationals. It’s been a long time, but from 2001 to 2011 we won six times. When you haven’t won here in so long, you can really appreciate it.”

YOU GOT TO TELL RICK HENDRICK THAT YOU GOT THE BIG ONE AT THE U.S. NATIONALS.

“Pretty incredible. He oozes cool. He loves to win. He doesn’t do this just for fun. He does it because he loves to win, he wants to win. When you call him or he calls you when you’ve won, he’s over the moon. It’s always a wonderful phone call.”

STARTING TO PEAK AT THE RIGHT TIME WITH THE COUNTDOWN NEXT?

“We just weren’t quite up to par, and we were getting outrun by (Elite Motorsports), basically. We have done a lot of work over the last three months, and it is starting to pay off. We are starting to climb that ladder back up with a car that can win again.”

CHEVROLET FROM THE COCKPIT

TOP FUEL

BRITTANY FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, FLAV-R-PAC/MONSTER ENERGY CHEVROLET DRAGSTER: “Overall, not a bad weekend for this Monster Energy/Flav-R-Pac team. We can’t complain. We qualified No. 1, ran for the Pep Boys Callout money, got beat in the final. Race day, Monday, had another final round appearance. So, it’s positive all around,. Our biggest objective coming in was leaving with the points lead and we did just that. Everything resets in the Countdown but we’re in the position we want to be in, and we head to Reading, Pennsylvania next.”

AUSTIN PROCK, JOHN FORCE RACING, MONTANA BRAND/ROCKY MOUNTAIN TWIST CHEVROLET DRAGSTER: “I thought this Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist dragster had a little more out there to get around the champ. When you go up and duke it out with (Steve) Torrence there’s always some extra motivation and a little extra competition at the line. I left on him so I did my job but it’s a team sport, win as a team, lose as a team, it can go both ways. We made a full pull, which we struggled to do through qualifying, so hopefully that’s something we can consistently do and gain some power heading into the Countdown. We get a charity spot but hopefully we can hurt some feelings during the last six races.”

FUNNY CAR

JOHN FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, PEAK ANTIFREEZE AND COOLANT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS: “Well, we went some rounds, had some good runs in this PEAK Chevrolet. We were able to find some consistency. That’s good, especially heading into the Countdown in two weeks. We’re fifth in points, which means after the reset, only 50 points out of the lead. Things can change quickly but we’re in it, we have a chance and that’s what we’re going after. Huge thank you to all the fans out here. You’re who we do this for, you bring us motivation.”

ROBERT HIGHT, JOHN FORCE RACING, AUTO CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHEVROLET CAMARO SS: “Not a bad day for this Auto Club team. Granted, not the way we wanted this afternoon to go, but we’re not putting our heads down. The Auto Club guys have been working hard all weekend, it’s a marathon here at the U.S. Nationals. We made some really good passes, went some rounds and we’re going into the Countdown in that number one spot. Now the real work starts, only ahead 20 points with the standings resetting for the Countdown, just have to take it one weekend at a time, one run at a time. I’ve said it before, it’s going to take another two or three wins to get that championship, that’s what we’re looking for.”

About Chevrolet

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in nearly 80 countries with nearly 2.7 million cars and trucks sold in 2021. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

VIR Victories for Round 3 Racing after up and down weekend

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Official Release
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ALTON, Va. (5 September 2022) – Round 3 Racing went into round eight of the World Racing League powered by Hagerty event at VIRginia International Raceway looking for redemption on last year’s run of bad luck. All four cars endured lengthy red flags during the races, with the crew and drivers contending with both heavy rain and Virginia’s warm summer temperatures. Despite some setbacks, the team earned that redemption–and some new hardware– with five podiums throughout the weekend.
No. 401 TEAM HAGERTY MOTORSPORTS BMW M4 GT4 (GTO)

The Hagerty Motorsports team got off to a fast start, scoring their fifth pole award of the season on Friday. Cole Loftsgard set the quick time once again for the GTO field. Loftsgard started in the car for Saturday’s race, battling a vibration caused by a piece of debris. He then passed the controls to the Hagerty-liveried BMW GT4 to Brad McCall in second place three hours into the race. McCall worked his way up to first place when a caution rang out due to a car in the wall. Just as the double yellow was called, the BMW spun and was hit head-on, forcing the car to retire for the weekend.

“It was a great weekend for the team overall,” said Loftsgard. “It was awesome to see the phenomenal results for all our teammates. The 401 will be back strong as ever at Sebring. Next time, we’ll see if we can put all four cars on the podium.”

No. 609 TEAM SENTINEL BMW M4 GT4 (GTO)

Starting the weekend with a qualifying run that didn’t fully show the kind of car the No. 609 team had, Ron Hugate, James Candelaria, and Brian Ghidinelli were determined to show forward progress come race time.

Hugate started the race from behind the wheel, quickly charging forward several spots. Two hours into the race, Candelaria took over the BMW GT4 entry. Shortly after getting behind the wheel, he was forced into the grass to avoid contact with another car, causing a spin into the wall. Candelaria came down pit lane so the team could check for significant damage; luckily, the car was able to continue. With just under three hours remaining in Saturday’s race, the Round 3 Racing squad made the strategic call to park the BMW for the day in preparation for Sunday’s race.

Ghidinelli started Sunday’s 8 hour enduro from behind the wheel with a grid placement of nineteenth; within the first twenty minutes of the race, he had worked his way up to sit ninth and was soon fighting for the eighth position. After a red flag and pit rotations, Ghidinelli passed the BMW off to Hugate in the lead. Hugate came out of pit lane in fourth during the green flag stop. Hugate maintained the fourth position while handing it off to Candelaria for the remainder of the race. Candelaria drove to the front of the field, keeping his position to bring home their second podium of the season.

“What a great way to end the weekend,” Candelaria said. “Coming into VIR, we knew we had the car and the drivers to run up front. Excellent driving by brian and Ron put us in a position to challenge for the win. Despite not being able to hold off Choice Racing, I’m proud of our performance. Next stop SEBRING!”

No. 701 TEAM COOPER TIRES PORSCHE CAYMAN (GP1)

The No. 701 Cooper Tires team began Saturday’s race with Zack Ping in the seventh position behind the wheel. Ping drove the car up to fifth place before handing it over to Ayla Agren in fifth. Agren battled for position, making up for lost laps and handing it over to Loni Unser in fourth place. Unser faced two long red flags but pushed to second place once the action resumed to take the checkered flag in podium position.

The team started Sunday’s race from sixth with Agren behind the wheel. Agren quickly jumped to fifth as a caution rang out within the first five minutes of the start. After almost three hours in the car, she handed it over to Unser in second place. Unser maintained the top three during her stint, passing the Porsche to Ping in second. Ping passed for the lead and protected the position through two lengthy red flags and many cautions to race to a hard-fought class victory.

“It was a great weekend for the 701 team with Loni, Ayla, and myself,” Ping said. “We were able to stay consistent and, for the most part, clean. Having a second-place finish on Saturday and a win on Sunday helps us in the championship. Huge shoutout to Aaron, our car chief, Brad, and Buz McCall for letting me be a part of the great team and trusting me to drive their car. Sunday was just simply lovely; all Round 3 Racing entries for Sunday’s race finished on the podium! I’m looking forward to the next race!”

No. 605 TEAM HAGERTY DRIVERS CLUB PORSCHE BOXSTER (GP3)

During Saturday’s race, Hannah Grisham, Buz McCall, and Carter Pease shared the driving duties on board the Hagerty Drivers Club Porsche. Pease took the opening stanza of the race, fighting for over three hours before handing the car over to McCall. A penalty pushed the team back to fourth, but Grisham battled forward to third, where she brought the Boxster home after undergoing a couple of red flag stops in the final hours of the race.

First up in the car on Sunday was Grisham, who started from third. After battling back and forth, Grisham brought the Boxster to Pease in the first place. Pease maintained the first position when handing the car over to Dennis Neel in the rain. Neel faced two red flags and heavy rain with keeping the two-lap lead in the GP3 class; Neel brought the Boxster across the start/finish line in the first place.

“Overall, the No. 605 team had a great weekend,” said Grisham. “We battled hard for the third place finish during Saturday’s race after some misfortune came our way. On Sunday, I started in the car and was able to drive it from third to first, where we held our position throughout the race. Thank you, Hagerty, Brad, and Buz, for making this all possible!”

The Round 3 Racing crew will have to wait nearly two months to return to race action, heading to Sebring International Raceway, October 28-30, for another doubleheader weekend. The Sebring event will mark the penultimate race of the weekend as the 2022 championship heads to a finale in December.

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TPC Racing Takes Title Fight to Texas Finale after Clean and Competitive Porsche Sprint Challenge North America Weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

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Official Release
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  • Season-High Five TPC Racing Entries Leave Wet and Wild Porsche Sports Car Together Fest Weekend at “The Brickyard” Unscathed and with Solid Results
  • David Williams (992) and Michael Levitas (991) Advance in the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America Championship Top-Three Heading into the Season Finale in Two Weeks at Circuit of The Americas (COTA)

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (September 5, 2022) – TPC Racing and its season-high five entries in the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama powered through a wet-and-wild Labor Day Weekend at the Porsche Sports Car Together Fest at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), leaving the “Racing Capital of the World” unscathed and with a string of solid race results across three different series championships.

The second-annual all-Porsche festival and doubleheader race weekend on the 2.439-mile IMS road course within the famous “Brickyard” oval were the next-to-last rounds on the 2022 schedule prior to the season-ending races at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) in two weeks. Two of TPC’s three full-season entries came into the holiday race weekend in top-three title contention in their respective championships and left in even better points positions after securing top finishes in both weekend races.

David Williams scored TPC Racing’s best results at Indy with a pair of fourth-place finishes on Saturday and Sunday in the top-tier Porsche 992 class. Williams put together typically consistent and competitive showings in his No. 37 Mission BBQ Porsche 911 GT3 Cup and has provisionally moved up to second from third in the 992 championship standings.

Williams, returning to competition with TPC Racing this year for the first time since 2015, was making his debut at Indianapolis where he nearly reached a third-place podium finish in Saturday’s race. The COTA weekend marks his competition debut on the Austin, Texas Formula 1 circuit.

Williams has moved to second in the 992 championship rankings with 511 points, 53 points out of first place and 47 points ahead of the third-place competitor.

Another TPC Racing championship contender provisionally jumped from third to second in the Porsche Sprint Challenge 991 class for slightly older GT3 Cup models. Michael Levitas ran in the lead pack in both weekend races at Indy, backing up a top-five finish in Saturday’s first race with a sixth-place run in Sunday’s final round in his No. 36 Erin Levitas Foundation/TPC Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.

Fifth in the 991 point standings prior to Road America just two races ago, Levitas heads into the season finale at COTA second in the championship just 43 points shy of the leader and 16 points ahead of the third-place competitor.

The third full-season TPC Racing entry competing at Indy was Rob Lorndale in his No. 6 TPC Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup in the 991 class. Lorndale was the only TPC competitor that participated in last year’s inaugural Porsche Sports Car Together event at IMS and put that experience to good use as he continues developing his race craft in the competitive Porsche Sprint Challenge arena.

Improving three spots from his qualifying session in each sprint, Lorndale cracked the top-15 in the stacked 991 field in both races. His Saturday race finish of 14th was backed up by a 15th place run in Sunday’s finale.

Canadian driver Shaun McKaigue overcame on-track issues to record some decent 991 results of his own in his first race at Indianapolis in the No. 34 TPC Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. His weekend-best run was 12th on Saturday but he also shook off a contact incident in Sunday’s final race for a top-20 finish. McKaigue returns to TPC in the No. 34 for the season-ending race at COTA.

TPC made its return to the Porsche Sprint Challenge Cayman class at Indy with debuting team driver Rhamses Carazo in the No. 711 TPC Racing Porsche Cayman. After surviving a rain-drenched first race Saturday, Carazo went on a tear in Sunday’s finale, improving nine positions for a 15th place finish in his first full race weekend in five years. Carazo returns to the TPC No. 711 Cayman for the COTA finale.

A three-day weekend event, the Porsche Sprint Challenge season-finale at COTA begins with practice on Friday, September 16. Qualifying Saturday morning sets the stage for the first of two weekend races for both the GT3 and Cayman divisions later that day. Sunday’s final rounds – all races are 35 minutes plus one additional lap – close out the weekend.

Harris Levitas, TPC Racing Director of Race Operations: “It was a real clean weekend. The TPC Racing team did an incredible job all week long. The Porsche Sports Car Together Fest event was really cool, and it was awesome to be out here at Indy for strictly a Porsche-centered event. Everything from GT3 cars to pretty much all of the race cars, it was an amazing sight. All of the TPC Racing cars performed flawlessly. David Williams had his best showing of the year with two solid fourth-place finishes, and his closest ever finish to almost having a podium. He is there, a win is in sight, and he earned solid points to stay well within the top three in the 992 championship. Michael Levitas nearly pulled off a pair of top-five finishes and that was enough for him to advance in the 991 championship. We need to work on his focus on restarts, but he still finished ahead of the car he needed to stay in front of to gain title points. Good for him on that. Rob Lorndale had two solid finishes and just nice clean races, and Shaun McKaigue did the same thing. Unfortunately, in race two Shaun had side-by-side contact and had to pit to inspect the front suspension, but we sent him back out and he still had a pretty solid finish. In the Cayman category, Rhamses Carazo did an amazing job. He hadn’t been racing in five years and was just fantastic behind the wheel. In race one in the pouring rain, he made up some positions at the start, but the race ended under yellow. On Sunday, we had more yellows, but on every start and restart, Rhamses was on it and in total he passed nine cars. Super proud of him, super proud of the entire team and we are just going to take this solid momentum into the season finale at COTA.”

Rhamses Carazo, Driver – No. 711 TPC Racing Porsche Cayman: “The first race was pretty fun. I got stuck in traffic behind two slower cars, so when I finally passed them, I was already behind the pace of the other guys. I pushed my car the most I could, but the race ended with a yellow flag and that was it. I only gained a few positions, but it was a good race. We did very good Sunday from the green flag and gained three or four positions right at the start of the race. I am getting more comfortable in the car. I feel much better in the car now after five years out of it. My pace was pretty good and as planned we finished in the middle of the pack. I think at COTA we can do something a little bit better. I have been there before in another car when I raced in FARA.”

David Williams, Driver – No. 37 Mission BBQ Porsche 911 GT3 Cup: “It was my first time at Indy and it is just a fantastic place. I actually really like the race track. It is a beautiful blend of kind of some high-speed hairy sections and then some low-speed rhythm stuff. On Saturday I had a fantastic car, we just nailed the setup, and I had a really, really good car. I had third-place for a while and lost it there on the next to last lap, but it was still a good day. We had to start on rain tires, and I don’t have a lot of time on wets, so it was good experience for me. On Sunday it was not quite as fulfilling. Still finished fourth in class, but not quite the race I wanted. I just need to keep working on my race craft, but certainly the team did an awesome job supporting me through the whole weekend. I have only been to COTA once, I think it was roughly around 2014 in GT3 Cup with TPC. I am excited to get back to COTA. It’s a big, interesting place and I recall it having its difficult spots. We have a couple of test days going on, which I will value, and Billy Johnson has been doing a great job supporting me and coaching me, so I am looking forward to working with him down there and trying to get up to speed.”

Shaun McKaigue, Driver – No. 34 TPC Racing Porsche 911 GT3: “Great weekend. TPC Racing put a good car on the road for me, the crew did a great job giving me support, and I can’t thank everybody there enough. They all did a great job of helping me out and coaching me, so that was a real bonus, and we really brought our times down in practice and qualified well. Was really happy with that part of it, but race one was a bit of an unusual race, and I had an unfortunate incident – a bit of a spin – but I managed to still place decently. In race two, I had an unfortunate incident again, but great racing and everyone at TPC was wonderful. We recovered and I just kept running my own race. That was the best I could do with that, but it was a little unusual Saturday running rain tires on a drying track. It made it very interesting but just a great experience. I learned a lot and I am really looking forward to COTA with all of the experience now that I have gained. I have to say, the Indianapolis facility itself is so spectacular, it’s pristine, so clean and run so well. The track itself is a lot of fun, quite challenging, but especially for an infield track, it’s a lot of fun.”

Rob Lorndale, Driver – No. 6 TPC Racing Porsche 911 GT3: “I am feeling very good about the races at Indy, especially the second race. I was in the thick of it and put together my best laps of the weekend in the race. I was able to pull off some nice passes which is something our coach Billy Johnson and I have been talking through, being able to pass more effectively and more efficiently during races. It was a positive from that standpoint. It certainly helped that I had been at Indy before. It was not as difficult to pick up the track as it might have been if it were new to me. What I found is that from practice session one the track felt familiar, and I was able to build from there. Comparing how I felt last year at Indy to this year, there was vast improvement. I was much faster, and that is always a good feeling.”

About TPC Racing: TPC Racing is the Mid-Atlantic’s premier maintenance, service, tuning and modification center dedicated solely to Porsche sportscars. TPC Racing specializes in R&D and sales of high-performance modifications for Porsche sports cars and race cars, offering a wide range of vehicle upgrades. Best known for a line of forced induction solutions for the Porsche 911, Cayman and Boxster, a long-time focus on only one make, Porsche, has enabled TPC Racing to become experts in Porsche service, tuning, and racing. In 2000, TPC Racing began entering races under its own banner, scoring an SGS-class Championship in 2004 in the Grand-American Rolex Series and was a class winner in the 2006 Rolex 24 At Daytona, and captured the 2013 and 2016 IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA Gold Cup Championships. More information can be found at www.TPCRacing.com.

Reasons To Regularly Service Your Car

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SM
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Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash

Your car’s performance relies on routine maintenance. When you give your automobile the tender loving care it deserves via routine car maintenance and servicing, you enjoy several advantages. You also get to experience a smooth drive at the same time. Although regular maintenance on a car may appear accessible at times, it is necessary to prevent expensive repairs and maximize efficiency.

Why Is Routine Car Service Essential?

Optimize Performance And Avoid Malfunctions

Regular car service generally includes fluid inspections, tyre pressure testing, brake checks, and, if necessary, an oil change. In addition, the alternator, starter, and battery are all parts of the electrical system, typically subjected to diagnostic tests by the mechanics. Maintaining your car’s performance, lowering malfunctions, and keeping it in good condition all depend on routine maintenance. You can discuss any issues with your car with the mechanic at the routine maintenance appointment at Car Servicing Stockport. 

It Keeps The Warranty In Effect

Manufacturers need this under their auto maintenance recommendations as one of the most crucial justifications for routine service work performed by a licensed technician. Failure to do so might void your Warranty, forcing you to pay for repairs that would have been reimbursed by the manufacturer otherwise. As a result, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the components that will need to be replaced and the time when your car has to be repaired again.

It Ensures Your Safety

When a car is serviced, technicians can see any safety-related issues and let you know. This can include damage to other safety-related elements that may not be obvious before a closer inspection and brake or suspension-related components that are evaluated at all service intervals. If you identify parts that will fail in advance, you may replace them before they become a problem.

It Is Very Cost-Effective

A false savings strategy is to avoid having your car regularly serviced to reduce maintenance expenditures. You could eventually have to cope with costly and significant repairs. For instance, engine oil lubricates and shields all of the moving parts of an engine. Without routine oil changes, the engine’s parts may cease functioning, requiring you to fix or replace the entire machine.

Regular maintenance will ensure you are not concerned about your car’s fuel or diesel use. Your engine will run smoothly and efficiently with new air and oil filters installed, saving you money on fuel. Additionally, properly inflated tyres minimize rolling resistance, which enhances fuel efficiency.

To further optimize your car’s performance and economy, click here for mid range tyres that strike a balance between cost and quality, providing you with both reliability and value for your investment. Investing in quality tires not only improves fuel efficiency and safety but also contributes to a smoother and more comfortable driving experience, making it a worthwhile investment for both short-term savings and long-term enjoyment.

It Keeps Your Car Running Smoothly

Regularly maintained cars operate more efficiently, getting better mileage and using less oil. In addition, by replacing worn-out components like spark plugs and oil filters, you can stop debris from accumulating and causing long-term mechanical engine problems. In other words, a car in good working condition will provide the most affordable and hassle-free method of automobile ownership while maintaining the engine’s lifetime.

How Frequently Should A Car Be Serviced?

Details are accessible in your vehicle’s manual and entirely depend on the car, engine, and manufacturer. In addition, the time and distance between services are considered, says Pharaohs Luxury Transportation, which offers the best private car service in Milwaukee County.

According to popular wisdom, you should get your automobile serviced at least once a year. We advise looking over your vehicle’s manual because it will define the service plan for your specific model and engine; however, some cars and vans only require maintenance every two years.

What Maintenance Does Your Car Require?

Cars commonly have delayed service intervals where some expensive parts, such as spark plugs, are replaced less regularly.

To find out which fluids have been changed in the past for your car, we advise looking at its service record. If you’re unsure, we suggest asking Pharaohs Luxury Transportation for advice. They would be pleased to help.

5-Time F1 Champion Featured on Netflix in New Documentary

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SM
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Netflix, the biggest streaming service in the world by subscriber numbers, is known for producing amazing original shows, movies, and documentaries. The streaming service has produced many documentaries in the sports category, like Pele, Late Life: The Chien-ming Wang Story, Generation Iron 3, and Schumacher.

After the success of the Formula 1 documentary about one of the best drivers of all time, Michael Schumacher, Netflix is back at it again. This time, Netflix is highlighting another one of the F1 greats, who set records, overcame adversity, and produced astounding performances.

That name is none other than five-time Formula One champion Juan Manuel Fangio. This documentary will take a closer look at his rise to the top of Formula One and the adversities he overcame to cement his place in F1 history.

This will be one of the best movies to watch on US Netflix because of the work done by the streaming service to get the facts right.

The documentary is titled ‘A Life of Speed: The Juan Manuel Fangio Story’ and is a must-watch for Formula One fanatics. It details his past life in Argentina, his involvement in motor sports racing in Balcarce, Argentina, and his rise to the top of Formula One.

The Back Story

Juan Manuel Fangio won his last title at 46, and most of his competitors were half his age. However, his opponents had one thing in common; they came from a privileged background, which we cannot say about Fangio.

His parents moved from Italy to Argentina, settling in a town known as Balcarce. They were hardworking Christians who raised their children to be responsible adults. Most importantly, they taught their children to work hard to achieve their goals.

Juan Manuel Fangio gave credit to his parents for teaching him values of integrity, honor, respect, and self-discipline, which played a crucial role in his success.

Fangio was born on June 24, 1911, and was already fixing cars at eleven years old. He spent four years as a mechanic and participated in grueling South American long-distance racing events likened to today’s Dakar Rally. These races covered thousands of kilometers and prepared him for better things.

He went to Europe to race at 38 years, but he was way ahead of his peers in terms of race craft, competitiveness, and deep mechanical understanding. Even though Formula One racing was different from what he was accustomed to in South America, he saw it as an opportunity to improve his racing skills.

Juan Manuel Fangio already had stamina and brute strength because of the grueling races he participated in but adapted effortlessly to Formula One. He was incredible to watch, mainly how he drifted and spectacularly negotiated the corners.

It’s also important to note that Formula One cars back in the day were heavy and tricky to handle, and racers had to go at it for three hours. However, Fangio showed high levels of concentration, competitiveness, tolerance, and determination, giving him an edge over his competitors.

He was a skilled and careful driver on the Formula One race track, and his only severe accident resulted from fatigue. Juan Manuel Fangio entered the race after participating in a  racing event through the Alps in Monza the entire night.

Fanfo was driving a Maserati in the F1 race, but he lost control, crashed heavily on the barriers, broke his neck, and suffered a permanent stiff on his upper body.

Juan Manuel Fangio’s Achievements

Juan Manuel Fangio stepped onto the podium for the last time as a Formula One champion in 1957 at 46 years old. He is considered one of the greatest drivers of all time.

Fangio was a determined and resilient F1 racer in seven Formula One seasons, winning five times with four teams and runner-up twice. The four different manufacturers Fangio won the title with are Maserati, Mercedes-Benz (twice), Ferrari, and Alfa Romeo.

He missed one season while recovering from a near-fatal injury. Juan Manuel Fangio took part in 51 championship Grand Prix, starting from the front row 48 times. Twenty-nine were from pole position, setting 23 fastest race laps and attaining an astonishing 35 podium finishes and 24 victories.

Juan Manuel Fangio dazzled with his skills and style on the tracks while demonstrating a high sense of honor never seen before.

His strengths included professionalism, being a team player, and demonstrating leadership qualities. Fangio performed even when his team let him down, like his race in the German Grand Prix, 1957, at the Nurburgring.

He lost almost a minute during a botched Maserati pit stop to two British youngsters driving Ferraris but showed his skills to win the race and smash the track record. This memorable drive was his last victory and was etched into Formula One history.

Juan Manuel Fangio retired a few months later, winning 5 Formula One championships. However, he was an unhappy man after losing over 30 peers during his driving career.

His winning percentage is incomparable to any other driver with five titles with four different manufacturers. The documentary is incredible and features interviews with the greats like Prost, Stewart, and other legends. 

There’s also a short interview with Ayrton Senna, who term Juan Manuel Fangio as one of the best Formula One racers of all time.

Wrapping Up

El Chueco, as he was nicknamed, was a gentleman of the Formula One sport and proved that nice guys don’t always finish last. This documentary is a must-watch for anyone who loves sports, especially Formula One enthusiasts. Unlike other documentaries, A Life of Speed: The Juan Manuel Fangio documentary is not overly-dramatized and tells the real story.

What is the minimum sentence for drink driving in the UK?

By
SM
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Photo by Vladyslav Tobolenko on Unsplash

Drink driving is a serious criminal offense in the UK, with severe penalties if you are found guilty. 

Drink driving sentencing guidelines state that if a person drives or attempts to drive a vehicle whilst under the influence of alcohol, they will receive:

  • Up to 6 months in prison
  • An unlimited fine
  • A driving ban for at least 12 months (or 3 years if they are convicted twice within a period of 10 years)

There are several factors that influence a magistrate’s decision on the severity of a drink driving sentence. Aggravating factors can lead to a harsher sentence, whereas mitigating factors can reduce it.

Aggravating factors considered in drink driving sentencing

One of the main aggravating factors considered by magistrates when deciding on the length and type of sentence in drink driving cases is the amount of alcohol present in the person’s system. A higher level of alcohol usually means more prison time, a larger fine, and a longer driving ban.

There are other aggravating factors that can also lead to more severe penalties. These include:

  • Any previous offenses of drink driving
  • If you were involved in an accident whilst under the influence of alcohol
  • Whether you had passengers in your vehicle at the time
  • If you were driving in poor weather conditions

Mitigating factors considered in drink driving sentencing 

Occasionally, mitigating factors can lessen the severity of a drink driving sentence. These factors include:

  • Not knowing your drink had been spiked
  • Certain emergency situations
  • Driving an extremely short distance, or not actually driving at all (for instance if your keys were in the ignition but you were still parked

It’s important to note that it’s somewhat rare for mitigating factors to be considered, as the UK courts take drink driving offenses extremely seriously.

What should I do if I’ve been charged with drink driving?

If you’ve been charged with a drink driving offense, the best thing you can do is to get in touch with an experienced motoring defense solicitor as soon as possible.

MAJ Law are specialist drink driving solicitors, with impressive success rates. For free initial legal advice, get in touch with their expert team today.

Toyota Gazoo Racing North America NHRA Indianapolis Post-Race Report – 09.05.22

By
Official Release
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TOYOTA SWEEPS U.S. NATIONALS WEEKEND
Capps, Brown win first U.S. Nationals trophies as team owners

INDIANAPOLIS (September 5, 2022) – Antron Brown and Ron Capps scored their first U.S. Nationals wins as team owners in NHRA on Monday. Capps scored his elusive first U.S. Nationals Wally, while Brown earned his fourth.

Their wins helped secure a Toyota weekend sweep after Steve Torrence and Capps won the Top Fuel and Funny Car all-star Callouts earlier in the weekend. A Toyota driver has now gone to the winner’s circle in three consecutive NHRA events.

Toyota Post-Race Recap
NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series
Indianapolis Raceway Park
Race 16 of 22

TOYOTA TOP FUEL FINISHING POSITIONS 

NameCarFinal ResultRound-by-Round
Antron BrownMatco Tools Toyota Top Fuel DragsterWinnerW. 3.720 v. 3.737(Tatum) W. 3.736 v. 6.419(S. Torrence) W. 3.698 v. 3.714(Ashley) W. 3.706 v. 3.714(B. Force)
Justin AshleyPhillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel DragsterSemi-FinalsW. 3.690 v. 3.788(Langdon) W. 3.697 v. 3.751(B. Torrence) L. 3.714 v. 3.698(Brown)
Doug KalittaMac Tools Toyota Top Fuel DragsterSemi-FinalsW. 3.713 v. 3.727(Millican) W. 3.802 v. 3.989(Salinas) L. 6.518 v. 3.676(B. Force)
Steve TorrenceCapco Contractors Toyota Top Fuel DragsterSecond RoundW. 3.693 v. 3.774(Prock) L. 6.419 v. 3.736(Brown)
Billy TorrenceCapco Contractors Toyota Top Fuel DragsterSecond RoundW. 3.740 v. 5.129(Pruett) L. 3.751 v. 3.697(Ashley)
Shawn LangdonDHL Toyota Top Fuel DragsterFirst RoundL. 3.788 v. 3.690(Ashley)

TOYOTA FUNNY CAR FINISHING POSITIONS 

NameCarFinal ResultRound-by-Round
Ron CappsNAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota GR Supra Funny CarWinnerW. 3.886 v. 3.982(Creasy Jr.) W. 3.883 v. 4.458(Todd) W. 3.887 v. 8.995(J. Force) W. 3.913 v. 7.649(Hight)
J.R. ToddDHL Toyota GR Supra Funny CarSecond RoundW. 3.856 v. 7.086(Pedregon) L. 4.458 v. 3.883(Capps)
Alexis DeJoriaBandero Tequila Toyota GR Supra Funny CarFirst RoundL. Foul – Red Light v. 3.881

TOYOTA QUOTES

ANTRON BROWN, Matco Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, AB Motorsports

Final Result: Winner

How surreal is this moment for you?

“It’s unbelievable. Thank the God above. All of the prayers, all of the hard work in this Matco Tools, Lucas Oil, Toyota, SiriusXM, Hangsterfer’s Dragster. We are making it happen. We have been working so hard for this. To be in Indy, hometown – I live eight miles from the track. I’m super proud of my team. They did an incredible job. Tough matchup against Brittany (Force), really tough one in the semifinals against Justin (Ashley) and the Phillips Connect team. We did it. We brought it home.”

RON CAPPS, NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota GR Supra Funny Car, Ron Capps Motorsports

Final Result: Winner

What does this mean to you?

“There are so many neat things that have happened in my life this year. Look across our car, the littlest, smallest logo – people wanted to be a part of this team, part of what you are doing. NAPA Auto Parts, this week of NAPA Auto Care. Toyota, Paul Doleshal, Slugger (Labbe) – they took a chance on what I’m doing. I’m living a dream. I have my own small business and to have all of these people. We have been trying to win this. My wife (Shelly) has been through – I’ve tried to win this a long time with her here. She’s adamant about everyone sitting in the same seat, the same place. It’s going to be a large one tonight, but all of those NAPA Auto Care people across the country – this is who that is for. Kids don’t stop dreaming. Everything is possible if you put your mind to it.”

JUSTIN ASHLEY, Phillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, Davis Motorsports

Final Result: Semi-Finals

How was your race?

“I thought we had a great weekend. This was my first US Nationals in full force with five qualifying sessions and racing on Monday. It was a long weekend with a lot happening on and off the track, the most important moment this weekend was the announcement of our extension with Phillips Connect. I am so grateful we have an opportunity to keep working with them. The Phillips Connect Toyota Vita C Energy racecar ran great and we just came up a little short in a really close drag race in the semifinals. I am really proud of this team. Throughout the whole weekend they worked extraordinarily hard. Mike Green and Tommy DeLago were awesome. Heading into the Countdown we have a really good race car.”

# # #

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.

NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Darlington

By
Jeffrey Boswell
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Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Chase Elliott: Elliott lost control with two laps to go in Stage 1, hitting the wall and bouncing into the path of Chase Briscoe. The damage was severe, and his team failed to repair it in the allotted 10 minutes, forcing Elliott’s retirement, in last place.

“This is the last thing we needed to happen,” Elliott said. “You might as well call it the ‘Worst Chase Scenario.’ I hear down at the Dawsonville Pool Hall, they’re saying I put myself behind the 8-ball.'”

2. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin started strong in the Playoffs, finishing second in the Cook Out Southern 500.

“It’s important to get off to a good start,” Hamlin said. “You can’t win the championship in the first round of the Playoffs, but you sure can lose it. You can also lose the championship in the last round of the Playoffs.”

3. Joey Logano: Logano started from the pole at Darlington and finished fourth.

“I issued a warning before the race to William Byron,” Logano said. “I said, ‘You don’t want to mess with me’ in regards to our issue at the Darlington spring race. Don’t discount me, I can make a threat, even though I look like the least-threatening driver in all of motorsports.”

4. Ryan Blaney: Blaney came home 13th at Darlington.

“How about Erik Jones winning in the No. 43 car?” Blaney said. “That car number was made famous by the legendary Richard Petty. Petty is the ‘King,’ and he would like everyone to ‘ST(o)P‘ with the silly comparisons.”

5. Christopher Bell: Bell finished fifth at Darlington.

“Considering the attrition in the race,” Bell said, “I’m just glad I finished. A lot of other drivers, well, they’re just finished.”

6. Kyle Larson: Larson suffered engine issues at Darlington and fell three laps down, but diligently worked his way back to the lead lap and finished a remarkable 12th.

“I’m quite experienced at digging myself out of holes I created,” Larson said. “And that other time, I certainly didn’t get a ‘free pass.’

“I was a little discouraged when I began to have trouble early in the race. But then I thought, ‘I’ve salvaged a career; it should be easy to salvage a day.”

7. William Byron: Byron won Stage 1 at Darlington, but couldn’t capitalize the rest of the way and finished eighth.

“The ‘Track Too Tough To Tame’ really lived up to its name,” Byron said. “And if you ask Kevin Harvick, he’ll tell you the Cook Out Southern 500 did as well, especially the ‘Cook Out’ part.”

8. Kyle Busch: Busch won Stage 2 at Darlington, and was leading under caution when his engine blew with 23 laps remaining. “This racetrack really did a number on me and other playoff drivers,” Busch said. “And that number is the ‘No. 2.’

“It would be amazing if I could win a championship before I sign a new contract. That would give my value a good chance to catch up to my ego.”

9. Kevin Harvick: Harvick saw a solid effort at Darlington come to an end when his rocker panel ignited, causing a fiery end to his night on Lap 276.

“Luckily,” Harvick said, “I was able to stop the car safely and get out, despite the cockpit being full of smoke. If that would have happened in Tyler Reddick’s 3CHI-sponsored car, then that’s the ultimate ‘hot box.'”

10 (tie). Martin Truex Jr.: Truex was leading late at Darlington, but a dramatic engine failure ended his day on Lap 333.

“Just because I’m ineligible to win the championship,” Truex said, “doesn’t mean I’m going to roll over to the drivers who are. I may be out of the Playoffs, but I’m not out of the way.”

10 (tie). Ross Chastain: Chastain finished 20th at Darlington when a tire issue in Stage 2 set him back in the field.

“Of course it’s not the start to the postseason I wanted,” Chastain said. “But I’m just happy to be in the Playoffs. At the beginning of the year, most people thought I couldn’t make the Playoffs. Well, guess what? I crashed the Playoffs, and with apologies to Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex, Jr., and others, it most likely won’t be the last thing I crash.”

Buescher Finishes 26th in Darlington

By
Official Release
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Kansas up Next on NASCAR Schedule

DARLINGTON, S.C. (Sept. 4, 2022) – In a long 500-mile race at Darlington Raceway Sunday night, Chris Buescher drove to a 26th-place finish in the Fifth Third Bank Ford.

The Texas native rolled off from the 25th position after qualifying on Saturday. He would finish 30th in the opening stage after light rain fell at the wave of the green flag. From there, the No. 17 fell multiple laps down as ill handling and poorly-timed yellow flags dominated the middle of Buescher’s race.

He finished 25th in stage two, and was able to take the wave around to get back to one lap down. From there, he was never able to get back on the lead lap, and crossed the line 26th.

Kansas Speedway hosts race No. 2 in the NASCAR Playoffs next Sunday at 3 p.m. ET. Race coverage will air on USA Network, and on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Keselowski Battles for P7 Finish at Darlington

By
Official Release
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Pit Strategy Goes in Favor of Kohler Generators Team in Event-Filled Darlington Race

DARLINGTON, S.C. (Sept. 4, 2022) – Brad Keselowski and the No. 6 Kohler Generators team tamed the Lady in Black Sunday night at Darlington, using varying pit strategy late to finish seventh in one of NASCAR’s longest and toughest races of the season.

Keselowski, the 2018 winner at Darlington, had ground to make up from the start after a qualifying effort of 27th, but did so patiently throughout the 500-mile event, the first in the NASCAR Playoffs.

He worked his way inside the top-20 by the end of stage one to finish 17th. The No. 6 pit crew gained him three spots in the stage break – one of many instances in which they gained ground on pit lane – as he fired off 14th for stage two.

Green flag stops were the talk of much of the evening, with a cycle playing out about 40 laps into stage two. Crew chief Matt McCall kept the No. 6 on track to long pit, and the strategy worked as Keselowski ultimately pitted from third after leading 11 laps. A yellow flag was displayed at lap 178 in which Keselowski took the wave around, resetting his position for the final 45 laps of the segment.

The Michigan native drove to a 17th-place finish in stage two, and would restart 18th in stage three. He was up to 15th with 100 to go, and again was on a long pit strategy when the caution came out again with 92 to go. At the time, less than 10 cars were on the lead lap with Keselowski in seventh. That strategy ultimately played huge favors in the remainder of the race, as Keselowski hit pit road for his final stop under green with 47 to go, then fended off a final caution with 27 to go to ultimately finish seventh.

Kansas Speedway hosts race No. 2 in the NASCAR Playoffs next Sunday at 3 p.m. ET. Race coverage will air on USA Network, and on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

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