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Hardpoint Headed For Home Race During IMSA’s VIR Weekend

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Official Release
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The No. 99 GridRival Porsche 911 GT3 R Returns to Action at Virginia International Raceway In the WeatherTech Championship while No. 22 Racing to End Alzheimer’s Porsche Cayman Continues its Michelin Pilot Challenge Season

DANVILLE, Virginia (August 26, 2022) – Hardpoint takes on a rare milestone this weekend at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) with a rare “home game” during IMSA’s Michelin GT Challenge, running the No. 99 GridRival Porsche 911 GT3 R in the WeatherTech Championship GT class and the No. 22 Racing to End Alzheimer’s Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport in the GS Class of Michelin Pilot Challenge. Hardpoint’s headquarters and race shop is located just steps from the main gate of VIR, on the campus of the Virginia Motorsports Technology complex.

Nick Galante and Sean McAlister will drive the No. 22 Racing to End Alzheimer’s Porsche Cayman against the rest of the Michelin Pilot Challenge field in a two hour race on Saturday afternoon, beginning at 4:40 p.m. EDT and streamed live on Peacock, NBC’s streaming platform. Team owner Rob Ferriol and Katherine Legge will share driving duties in the No. 99 GridRival Porsche 911 GT3 R on Sunday afternoon in the two-hour, 45-minute WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race. That race is live on CNBC and streaming on Peacock beginning at 2 p.m. EDT.

Hardpoint Pre-Race News and Notes

This weekend marks the return to the IMSA WeatherTech Championship for Hardpoint’s No. 99 GridRival Porsche 911 GT3 R for the first time since the six-hour race at Watkins Glen, and the first sprint race since WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca back in April.

Ferriol’s start as a racer came at VIR, first as a fan and then in a track day behind the wheel of his street Porsche 911. That progressed quickly to Porsche Club of America racing, then IMSA’s then-Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge North America. Ferriol went from fan to Porsche racing team owner in less than five years.

The VIR round of the WeatherTech Championship features only the GTD and GTD Pro classes on the entry list, eliminating the traffic of the Prototype-class cars that are typically sprinkled in to the mix. Both classes run in identical cars, with only the driver line-ups separating the class.

Hardpoint’s No. 22 Racing to End Alzheimer’s Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport is coming off its best finish of the season at Road America, where they finished ninth in the GS class. The team continues to carry the names and hometowns of race fans’ loved ones who suffer or have suffered from Alzheimer’s.

Galante and McAlister will share driving duties again this weekend after being joined by John Capestro-Dubets for the four-hour race at Road America. Galante will qualify and start the race, with McAlister finishing the stint.

As it’s home race, the team has a number of off-track activities and guests this weekend. In the midway, the Hardpoint by Delta Sport simulator, including Asetek pedals and chassis from Advance SimRacing, will allow fans to drive a virtual lap around VIR in the Porsche 911 GT3 R. A number of guests and partners are in attendance this weekend, including friends and family. The team is hosting an open house at the Hardpoint headquarters on Saturday evening for industry insiders. Ferriol and Legge are both participating in the track’s Fan Forum on Saturday afternoon.

Hardpoint Quote Board

Rob Ferriol, Driver, No. 99 Porsche 911 GT3 R: “The pressure is always high when the IMSA calendar flips to August. The VIR round is simultaneously the hardest and easiest round on the schedule. With friends, family, and VIPs in attendance, it feels very much like a backyard BBQ to mark the end of Summer, but that also means the expectation is high when we roll out of the garage and onto our favorite American road course. The Full Course at VIR throws everything at you, and by extension, throws everything at your engineering team. You need a nimble car down at the bottom of the track, and you need a fast, slippery car at the top. It means walking and chewing gum at the same time, and it means accepting compromises on both sides to ensure you’ve got a well-balanced car that can carve its way around Turns 1 and 4, but stay planted as you go flat up the esses in sixth gear.”

Katherine Legge, Driver, No. 99 Porsche 911 GT3 R: “We’re ready to get to VIR, but really we’re just ready to get back into the No. 99 Porsche. It’s been a challenging year and we’ve handled it well, but I’m at my most relaxed in the car. The home race here at VIR brings some additional excitement with extra activities, but our job will be to focus behind the wheel and see if we can bring home a result for the team and the home fans.”

Nick Galante, Driver, No. 22 Porsche Cayman: “I love coming to VIR anyway, but to be here at Hardpoint’s home track adds even more fun to the weekend. We made a lot of progress at Road America with the car, so the challenge will be to bring that momentum to a new track. I still get the extra motivation from carrying the Racing to End Alzheimer’s names around with us every lap, so it would be a dream to combine both of those into a podium this weekend.”

Sean McAlister, Driver, No. 22 Porsche Cayman: “We’re going to take what we learned at Road America with the car and work to try to make it even better at VIR. There’s a bit more pressure to perform well for the team at the home track, but as the home track of the team they’ve all seen this track more often than others so we can use a lot of that knowledge from each individual to make this an even more successful weekend. VIR, in my opinion, is one of the more difficult tracks on the schedule but I think that challenge makes it more fun and satisfying to get right. There are some very technical sections that can yield a lot of lap time if you can get through them right and the esses are always a lot of fun to get right.”

About Hardpoint:

Hardpoint was founded by Rob Ferriol in 2018 with the vision of combining his experience as a successful entrepreneur with his passion for racing. Headquartered at VIRginia International Raceway, the team captured the 2021 Porsche Carrera Cup North America Pro-Am championship in its inaugural season and competes full-time in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship in the No. 99 GridRival Porsche 911 GT3 R with co-drivers Ferriol and Katherine Legge, joined by Stefan Wilson for Michelin Endurance Cup races. In 2022, Hardpoint has added the No. 22 Racing To End Alzheimer’s Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport driven by Nick Galante and Sean McAllister in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Grand Sport (GS), as well as the No. 428 TradeCentric Porsche 911 GT3 Cup driven by Brady Behrman in International GT. More information on Hardpoint can be found at www.hardpoint.com or through its strong social media presence on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Rebel Rock Racing optimistic heading into home race at VIR

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Official Release
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SRO VIR 2022

DANVILLE, VA (25 August 2022) – Rebel Rock Racing will be looking to bounce back when it returns to its home track – Virginia International Raceway – for Saturday’s Virginia is for Racing Lovers Grand Prix, the penultimate round of the 2022 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season.

After Frank DePew and Robin Liddell scored a victory at Lime Rock Park in the No. 71 Urban Grid Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R in July, the team was looking to keep that momentum going at Road America earlier this month. Unfortunately, a promising qualifying effort didn’t translate into another run to victory at the Wisconsin circuit for the team, as a cut tire on the parade lap and off-track excursion early in the race resulted in a 25th-place finish.

“That race was three weeks ago, and after the craziness of June and July, for me personally that felt like an off season,” Liddell said. “But from the team point of view, a lot of work has gone on since the Camaro after the incident at Road America. It went to Irish Mike’s for repairs. They got the car back last Monday, and it was ready to go after a week of hard work.”

The victory at Lime Rock followed fourth-place finishes at Watkins Glen International and Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, with the team currently fifth in the Grand Sport standings.

“I’m enthusiastic about our chances at VIR,” Liddell said. “We had a hiccup at Road America, but I think in some respects, that will get the team more focused for the last two races. I think we’ve got a reasonable shot. I think the car will be strong – we finished fourth there last year. The goal is to get everything back on track and finish on the podium.”

VIR was the site for the team’s first outing with the Camaro GT4.R back in 2018. A year ago, DePew led the first laps of his career at VIR, with the team finishing a competitive fourth. Liddell took the checkered flag only 4.661-seconds behind the winner.

“I’m very excited and looking forward to getting back to VIR,” DePew said. “Obviously, it’s one of my favorite tracks, and hopefully, we can have a mistake-free race and do well. Hopefully, I’ll be a little quicker than last year. VIR is super-fun to drive and it’s exciting – that’s why I love going there.”

“We enjoy going to VIR,” said Liddell, a two-time Rolex Series GT winner at VIR, in 2008 and 2009. “It’s Frank’s home track, and he will have family and friends there. It’s a lot of fun to drive that track, and the Camaro works well around much of it, especially the uphill esses, the fast sections, and whenever you’re running close to the curbs. Overall, I think it will be competitive.”

Following Saturday’s two-hour race, the lone event on the 2022 schedule will be the Fox Factory 120, a two-hour race on Sept. 30 during the Motul Petit Le Mans weekend at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

Sheehan Revved Up for Return to The Glen

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Official Release
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Bow, NEW HAMPSHIRE – August 26, 2022 – New Hampshire’s own Ironman, TA2 driver Tom Sheehan, left Watkins Glen in P7 in the Driver Championship last year after finishing in P11 and P10 in the two races at the iconic venue. The popular wheelman will be hoping for a similar or better result when the Trans Am Championship returns to the historic road course in New York state September 7 – 11.

We’ll never know what would have happened the last day at Nashville had Tom’s bid in the Music City Grand Prix not been ended on the first lap by circumstances entirely beyond his control. Suffice to say that onlookers were expecting perhaps Tom’s best result of the season but what’s done is done and it’s always best to look forward.

The Series moves on to Round 10 of the 2022 Trans Am presented by Pirelli Championship season and Tom is looking ahead as he and the LTK Insulation Technologies Damon Racing Ford Mustang team prepare for the seven-hour drive from their New Hampshire HQ to upstate New York.

“Watkins Glen is my favorite place to race. The team is working hard to make the weekend a success. It’s always a new day, every day, when you show up. I am ready to leave it all out there, rain or shine, the team has earned some good luck. I believe it’s there, at the Glen, it’s going to be a special day.”

Frequently dubbed America’s greatest circuit and known as the mecca of North American road racing, Watkins Glen began life when public roads in the upstate Finger Lakes were used for the motor race course. In 1956 a permanent circuit was built and 1968 saw the first six-hour race, the legendary 6 Hours of Watkins Glen. While the older of those chicanes has since been removed, the circuit’s current layout has more or less been the same since 1971, with minor modifications after the fatal crashes of François Cevert in 1973 and J.D. McDuffie in 1991. Formerly the home of the United States Grand Prix, the circuit is a very popular venue among fans and drivers and the facility is currently owned by NASCAR.

Since the inaugural Trans Am event at the track in 1968, Trans Am has raced 33 times at ‘The Glen’ and this year Tom gets his first sight of the track at 12:05pm ET on Thursday, September 8 for the first of two optional testing sessions. The second session is at 5:15pm that afternoon. Official practice is at 11:45am on Friday, September 9 with qualifying in two groups from 5:25pm that afternoon.

Saturday’s TA2 feature race is sponsored by Trans Am Apparel creators Franklin Road Apparel and is billed as The Franklin Road Apparel Classic. The green flag for the big event at 11:10am ET which runs over 30 laps of the circuit.

Details of the CBS Sports Network highlights coverage have yet to be announced but the race will also be streamed live on the Trans Am and SVRA YouTube channels.

Keep up with Trans Am driver Tom Sheehan on social media – Facebook page is Damon Racing; Instagram is TomSheehanTA97 and Twitter give us a follow @TomTA2_97.

For more information on LTK Insulation Technologies please visit the website online at https://ltkinsulationtechnologies.com/

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Petty GMS Race Preview: Daytona International Speedway II

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Official Release
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Ty Dillon, No. 42 Thorntons Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Dillon at Daytona International Speedway: Historically, Daytona is a track that Ty Dillon has been pretty successful at. The veteran has eleven previous NASCAR Cup Series starts at “The World Center Of Racing”, where he has earned three top-10s and one top-five finish, posting a best of fourth place in 2019.

In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Dillon made ten starts, posting two top-10s, one top-five, and one pole in 2016, with a best race result of third place. In three NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts, Dillon posted two top-10 finishes as well as one pole driving for GMS Racing in 2015, securing the organization’s first ever pole. Dillon also has one ARCA Menards Series start to his credit in 2011, where he earned the pole in that race as well.

  • Refreshing With Thorntons: Ty Dillon and the No. 42 Petty GMS team will be sporting a new look in Saturday’s Coke Zero Sugar 400, as Thorntons makes their NASCAR partnership debut on the high banks at Daytona International Speedway. Thorntons has has over 200 convenience store locations spanning across six states, including Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee. - Momentum On His Side: The past three NASCAR Cup Series races have been great to Dillon, as he earned three top-20 finishes in a row in three completely different disciplines at Michigan, Richmond, and Watkins Glen. On Sunday, Ty was able to secure points in both stages, proving to be a threat throughout the entire race. Dillon looks to carry this recent momentum into the regular season finale this weekend.
  • From the Drivers Seat: You’ve had some very competitive showings at Daytona and Talladega this season, what is it about super speedway racing that fits your wheelhouse?

“I’m excited to go to Daytona this week with our Allegiant Camaro ZL1. Super speedway racing is always exciting, you never know what the result can be, and you’ve got to put yourself in a good position to be at the end of the race. I’ve done well at that in the past, so it is a great opportunity to get ourselves into the playoffs.”

Erik Jones, No. 43 FOCUSfactor Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

-Jones at Daytona International Speedway: For the final race of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series regular season, teams return to Daytona International Speedway for the Coke Zero Sugar 400 where Erik Jones will make his 12 Cup Series start at the historical 2.5-mile superspeedway. A place Jones has adapted well to in his young career, Daytona will always be a special place to Jones as the location of his first Cup Series win in 2018. Battling back from laps down with a damaged car from an early race accident, Jones was able to lead the most important lap of the race, the final lap, and hold off Martin Truex, Jr. to earn his first-career Cup Series win. Jones earned a second win at the track in the 2020 season opener exhibition race, The Busch Clash, where he again only led the final lap.

With 11 Cup Series starts at the track, Jones has one win, two top-five finishes, three top-10 finishes with 39 laps led. In addition to his Cup starts at the track, Jones has six starts in the Xfinity Series with a best finish of eighth in 2015. In the Truck Series, Jones has one start in 2015 where he finished second.

-Erik Jones Appearances: Fans attending Saturday’s race at Daytona International Speedway will have several chances to see Erik Jones before the race:

RV Retailer Display: Jones will be at the RV Retailer display in the Midway from 3:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, August 27.
Track Q & A at UNOH Stage: Following his appearance at the RV Retailer display, Jones will make his way inside the track to the UNOH stage in the infield Fan Zone area for a Q & A from 4:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. ET.
-Focused on Winning: FOCUSfactor will serve as the primary partner on Jones’s Chevrolet Camaro for Saturday’s race at Daytona International Speedway.

  • About FOCUSfactor: FOCUSfactor is sold at America’s leading retailers such as Costco, Wal-Mart, Walgreens, CVS, The Vitamin Shoppe and Amazon.com. FOCUSfactor, America’s leading brain health supplement, is a nutritional supplement that includes a proprietary blend of brain supporting vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other nutrients. In December 2012, the United States Patent and Trademark Office issued US Patent 8,329,227 covering FOCUSfactor’s proprietary formulation “for enhanced mental function”. The issuance of the patent marked one of the few times a patent has been issued for a nationally branded nutritional supplement. FOCUSfactor is clinically tested with results demonstrating improvements in focus, concentration and memory in healthy adults.
  • From the Driver’s Seat:

You are in a must win situation heading into this weekend’s race at Daytona. How do you feel about your chances?

“We’re focused on Daytona. We’ve been putting a lot of work into our Daytona car to get it better, get it ready and prepped the way we want too. I feel like our superspeedway stuff has been good, we just need to take advantage of it. We’re definitely focused on winning and making our way into the Playoffs.”

How do you approach a race at Daytona where there can be a lot of chaos to be there at the end with a chance to win?

“Earlier this season at Talladega, we kind of just pushed hard all day and we were up front and had a shot to win. I hope to have a similar race like that. Just be up front and avoid the chaos for the most part. We’ll see. It’s different every week, every race on the superspeedways. You have to be mindful of how everyone’s running and judge it from that.”

You’ve won at Daytona and have run well at Talladega, so that has to be good for your confidence. What is the mindset heading into the race this weekend?

“It’s confident. I know we can go do it, I know we can run well there, and I know we can have a shot to win. We just have to execute and hope we’re staying out of trouble and avoid a lot of the chaos and be up there and have a shot. We’ll see. It’s going to be tough for sure to just be there at the end to have a chance, but I feel good about our speed we’re going to have for sure.”

Do you think you will be able to find friends to push you or help you throughout the race?

“I think we’ll have a fast car for sure, so I think there’s going to be people who will want to work with us just because of that. I think speedway’s get a little separated from the other races of the year because of who’s fast and who has a chance. If we’ve got a fast car, I think we’ll find some friends throughout the race.”

ABOUT PETTY GMS:

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

SOCIAL MEDIA:

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

RCR Event Preview – Daytona International Speedway

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Official Release
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Richard Childress Racing’s history at Daytona International Speedway … Dating back to 1976, Richard Childress Racing has won 11 poles and collected six points-paying victories at the most-storied racetrack on the NASCAR Cup Series circuit. RCR owns three DAYTONA 500 wins (Dale Earnhardt – 1998, Kevin Harvick – 2007, Austin Dillon – 2018), three Coke Zero Sugar 400 trophies (Earnhardt – 1990, 1993 and Harvick – 2010) and 15 qualifying races, including Austin Dillon’s victory in 2021 plus a record 10-consecutive victories with Earnhardt (1990 – 1999).

RCR in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Daytona … In addition to RCR’s NASCAR Cup Series success at Daytona International Speedway, the organization has five NASCAR Xfinity Series victories most recently with Austin Hill in 2022. NASCAR Hall of Fame members Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2002) and Tony Stewart (2013) have won with RCR at Daytona, plus Kevin Harvick (2007), and Austin Dillon (2015 fall race). RCR has won the pole position in six of the last seven NASCAR Xfinity Series races at Daytona where qualifying was held. The impressive streak began with Ty Dillon’s pole-winning run in 2016. Other drivers who have kept the streak alive: Brandon Jones (2017), Daniel Hemric (2018), Tyler Reddick (2019), and Myatt Snider (2020).

Introducing the Carolina Cowboys … Driven by the same passion for performance that guides his race team, Richard Childress’ latest endeavor brings Professional Bull Riding to the Carolinas. The Carolina Cowboys represent Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in the PBR Team Series, an elite new league featuring the world’s top bull riders in games that began in July 2022. The team is operated by Richard Childress Racing with 2018 Daytona 500 Champion Austin Dillon serving as General Manager. The fifth game of the inaugural PBR Team Series season is scheduled for this weekend, August 26-28, in Austin, Texas.

Don’t miss the Carolina Cowboys inaugural “Cowboy Days” Home Stand September 9-11 at Wake Forest’s Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Friends of RCR have the opportunity to save 15% on tickets by entering code RCR15. To purchase tickets, click here: https://www.ticketmaster.com/pbr-professional-bull-riders-tickets/artist/2859854?venueId=369555

Catch Friday’s Action Under the Lights … The NASCAR Xfinity Series Wawa 250 powered by Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway will be televised live Friday, August 26, beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET on USA Network. The race will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Follow Saturday’s Action at Daytona … The NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway will be televised live on Saturday, August 27 beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC. The race will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

This Week’s BREZTRI AEROSPHERE® (budesonide, glycopyrrolate, and formoterol fumarate) Inhalation Aerosol Camaro ZL1 at Daytona International Speedway … In 18 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Daytona International Speedway, Dillon earned his best finish at the 2.5-mile track in February 2018 when he won the Daytona 500. His best starting position at Daytona International Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series is first in 2014, winning the Daytona 500 pole in only his second attempt at the race. Dillon has one win and seven top-five finishes in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and he has two starts in the NASCAR Truck Series.

BREZTRI AEROSPHERE™ (budesonide, glycopyrrolate, and formoterol fumarate) Sponsors the No. 3 at Daytona … BREZTRI is an AstraZeneca product and the sponsor of No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Daytona International Speedway with Austin Dillon. You can learn more at breztri.com. AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide.

Meet Austin Dillon in Daytona … Dillon is scheduled to make an appearance at McDonald’s (2994 US 92, Daytona Beach, Florida) on behalf of Coca-Cola on Saturday, August 27 at 11 a.m. ET.

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:

You’ve had success at Daytona International Speedway. How do you negotiate staying out of the wrecks throughout the race so that you can be in contention at the end?

“It’s tough. It’s a game of putting yourself in position. I call it high-speed chess because you know at some point in time you’re going to be vulnerable. You hope that someone doesn’t take advantage of that too much and cause a big wreck. It’s one of those things where you are constantly moving and trying to guess the flow of the pack. I think the best place to be is in the front most of the time, but it’s impossible now with the way we race to keep yourself up there for the entire race. You see guys do it for long periods of time. Denny Hamlin has been pretty amazing at putting himself in the right position as of late. I’m going to do my best this time around to put ourselves in position.”

This Week’s Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Daytona International Speedway … Tyler Reddick will be making his seventh NASCAR Cup Series start at Daytona International Speedway in the Coke Zero 400 on Saturday night. Reddick’s best finish in six previous Cup starts at Daytona is sixth-place in the 2021 summer race. The driver of the Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen Chevrolet enters the Cup Series regular season finale as the seventh seed in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs and ranks 13th in the Cup Series regular season standings.

Did You Know? … Reddick will be making his 100th career Cup Series start this weekend at Daytona.

The Flying Croissants Are Back! … Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen is the primary for Tyler Reddick and the No. 8 Chevrolet this weekend at Daytona International Speedway.

About Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen … Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen is the homestyle casual dining restaurant where guests always Get a lot. For not a lot™. The restaurant offers a variety of scratch-made meals and generous portions served up in a warm, welcoming atmosphere – all at an unbelievable price. After being welcomed with a signature Honey Butter Croissant on the house, guests can enjoy signature entrées like hand-breaded Chicken Tenders, Homemade Chicken Pot Pie and Fall-off-the-Plate Baby Back Ribs. Cheddar’s operates more than 170 restaurants in 28 states and employs more than 15,000 friendly and passionate team members. For more information or to locate the nearest restaurant, visit Cheddars.com. Fans can like or follow Cheddar’s on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

When Tyler Wins, You Win Tenders! … When Reddick crosses the finish line first in the Cup Series and grabs the checkered flag, all NASCAR fans will win a FREE No. 8 Special Chicken Tender Platter at Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen the Monday following the race with the purchase of an adult entree. Offer is valid both dine-in and To Go. See cheddars.com/offer/race-day for full details.

Infield Takeover with Tyler at Daytona! … Tyler Reddick will be participating in an infield takeover on Friday afternoon at Daytona International Speedway from 2-3 p.m. ET, so don’t be surprised if Reddick visits your campsite.

TYLER REDDICK QUOTES:

What is your mindset heading into this weekend’s race at Daytona?

“I look at how Austin has run at Daytona and Talladega and I feel really good about what our cars have. The thing that has unfortunately worked against me is just how Daytona and Talladega went for us this year. At Daytona we didn’t have a very good handling race car and at Talladega we had a very uncommon failure early. I don’t have a lot of experience on these true superspeedway races so I’ve got a lot of learning to do and there’s going to be a lot of drivers out there with nothing to lose. You’re going to have to be smart, survive to the end and try to learn what I can and can’t do with my Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen Chevrolet.”

This Week’s Whelen Engineering Chevrolet Camaro SS at Daytona International Speedway … Sheldon Creed will make his third NASCAR Xfinity Series start at The World Center of Racing on Friday night. His first Xfinity Series start was in 2019 and most recently, the 2022 season kicked off at Daytona in Creed’s debut with Richard Childress Racing and the No. 2 Chevrolet. In the season-opener, he started fourth and finished in sixth.

Playoff Picture … Including this weekend’s race at Daytona, there are four more races until the Playoffs and Creed is not yet locked into the post-season. Creed is sitting in 13th in the standings, the first driver below the cutline. His solid run last weekend at Watkins Glen International gave him a decent number of points and shrunk the gap, but he is still 39 points out of the Playoffs.

Whelen Celebrates 70 Years … From a small garage workshop in Connecticut in 1952 to a worldwide leader in emergency warning equipment today, Whelen Engineering continues to push the boundaries of innovation. As we mark our 70th anniversary, we’re proud to continue our founder’s mission of making it safer for those who serve and protect. Whelen has been manufacturing in America for 70 years—we never left, and we’re here to stay.

About Whelen … Whelen Engineering is a family-owned company with a pioneering spirit and a passion to protect the lives of those who protect and serve others. The company mission is to provide industry-defining safety solutions around the world, while creating a community of problem-solvers who are inspired to push boundaries and continue our legacy of delivering ground-breaking innovation. As a global leader in the emergency warning industry, Whelen has been trusted to perform since 1952, when George Whelen III invented the first rotating aviation beacon. Whelen now encompasses two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Connecticut and New Hampshire with over 750,000 square feet of engineering and manufacturing space and the largest design staff in the industry. Every part of every Whelen product is proudly designed and manufactured in America. We embrace quality as our foundation, we celebrate innovative engineering in every product we produce.

SHELDON CREED QUOTE:

We’re heading back to Daytona for the second time this season. You had a strong run in February and the Playoffs are approaching, how do you feel heading into Friday’s race?

“I’m feeling good heading into Friday’s race. My team and I have been working so hard and we’ve gotten better every single week. A lot of the results we’ve seen haven’t been a true reflection of the cars we’ve put on the track and how strong our cars are. We’ve been watching a lot of film, talking about strategy and I’ve been spending a lot of time in the simulator working to get right for the race. Qualifying will be really important on Friday since we don’t have practice. We won’t really know what our car feels like until we get to put down a lap. I’m confident in my team and what we bring to the track each weekend and I hope we can capitalize on the finish we had here in February and finish a few spots better. The Playoff pressure is definitely on right now but we’re not letting it get to us. We know what we have to do.”

This Week’s United Rentals Chevrolet Camaro SS at Daytona International Speedway … Austin Hill returns to the track that he got his first NASCAR Xfinity Series career win earlier this season, Daytona International Speedway, on Friday night under the lights. Hill opened his 2022 rookie season for Richard Childress Racing with a victory at The World Center of Racing. He started second and led 23 laps en route to the victory. The race marked his first-ever with RCR and his first with crew chief Andy Street. Hill had made one prior start at Daytona in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2020, when he started 28th and finished 35th after being involved in a crash.

Playoff Bound … Hill has two wins so far this season (Daytona, Atlanta-2) and is looking for his third trophy this weekend. Hill has put up really strong numbers this season with nine top fives and 14 top-10 finishes. He’s currently locked into the Playoffs with his two wins and is sixth in the driver standings.

About United Rentals … United Rentals, Inc. is the largest equipment rental company in the world. The company has an integrated network of 1,278 rental locations in North America, 11 in Europe, 28 in Australia and 18 in New Zealand. In North America, the company operates in 49 states and every Canadian province. The company’s approximately 20,100 employees serve construction and industrial customers, utilities, municipalities, homeowners, and others. The company offers approximately 4,300 classes of equipment for rent with a total original cost of $15.72 billion. United Rentals is a member of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, the Barron’s 400 Index and the Russell 3000 Index® and is headquartered in Stamford, Conn. Additional information about United Rentals is available at www.unitedrentals.com.

AUSTIN HILL QUOTE:

You opened the season at Daytona with a victory and we’re heading back this weekend for the second time. What’s the mindset like?

“I’m just looking forward to the race on Friday night. Daytona is such a special place and I’ve got even more momentum on my side after opening the season there with a win. We’ve had really good racecars on the superspeedways and we’ve been super fast so it wont be any different this weekend. Without practice, we’ll have to go out there and put down a really good qualifying lap so we have good track position heading into the race. I know everyone always says it but staying out of trouble at Daytona is one of the most important things. We’re planning to run up front the entire race and stay out of any messes behind us so we can bring home another checkered flag. We didn’t have a good result last weekend at Watkins Glen either so I’m looking forward to putting that in the rearview mirror and getting back to the results this team deserves.”

9 Things To Keep In Mind When Selling Your Vehicle To Cash For Cars Companies

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SM
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Cars are great when they’re new and well-functioning, but when they’re no longer in good condition, you can sell scrap cars for cash. But with time and use, they can age and become problematic. Therefore, it’s only a matter of time before you decide to get rid of your vehicle. The good news is that you have various options if you no longer need your car, including selling it for cash. 

If you want to sell your car to a cash for cars company, here are nine things to keep in mind:

  1. Find A Trusted Dealer

It’s always important to work with a trusted dealer. Established dealers understand the business of buying and selling cars, so you’ll be sure to get a smooth transaction. Dealing with a credible company increases your chance of getting a good service. Additionally, a reputable company could save you some time and money.

Meanwhile, you can do a simple online search to look for a reputable company. For example, if you’re in New Zealand, you can search for Cash For Cars Taupo online and check out some reviews. You can also enquire from friends and family who may have dealt with the company. The bottom line is to stay away from companies with bad ratings.

  1. Compare Offers

Cash for cars companies will typically make you an offer upon assessing your car. So, it would be prudent if you didn’t settle for the first offer you received. Instead, compare several offers and pick the best. The more cash offers you get, the better your chances of getting a great deal.

  1. Watch Out For Scammers

If you post your vehicle online, you’re at risk of grabbing the attention of scammers. Therefore, you should watch out for any deals that seem too good to be true. Also, look for any red flags, including requests for any upfront fee. 

It’s advisable to avoid online negotiations or sharing any personal information before doing a proper background check of the potential buyer. Normally, legitimate companies like Cash For Cars Te Awamutu and others won’t charge fees. On the other hand, be careful of buyers wanting to renegotiate the terms and conditions at the last minute.

  1. Ensure Full Ownership

Before you sell your car, be sure to have full title and ownership. If you purchased the vehicle with a loan, ensure you have permission to sell it. Otherwise, you could face legal action later if you haven’t cleared such loans. Therefore, to avoid unnecessary headaches, ensure you have all the legal documents supporting your right to sell the car.

  1. Negotiate 

Sometimes vehicle cash buyers aren’t concerned about the condition of your vehicle. They’ll make an offer based on the fact that your car is old and disposable. To negotiate for the best price, you have to convince them using information such as the service records, logbooks, and other nudges. 

  1. Get Your Paperwork In Order

When you’ve made a deal, make sure you sign two copies of the sales agreement. Keep one copy and let the buyer have the other. Significantly, avoid transactions with no backing documents. You must also read every document carefully to avoid missing any hidden clauses. As a rule of thumb, you should get paid as soon as you sign the sales agreement. 

  1. Organize For Pickup

When you’ve picked the best offer and selected your buyer, you have to organize for the vehicle to be picked up. The buyer usually handles the vehicle collection, so you don’t have to worry about towing fees. However, one of the things you have to bear in mind is to have a fast and efficient vehicle pickup.

Hence, you must give the buyer the correct address from which to pick up the vehicle. In addition, you have to clear your driveway, so the vehicle isn’t blocked when the buyer comes. Also, fix a time and go the extra mile of checking the weather forecast so that the car is picked up on a day with suitable weather conditions. 

  1. Remove Your Personal Belongings

When you’ve sold your car, you should remove all your personal belongings before the pickup. One way you can do this is to start by emptying the glove compartment, removing the mats, and then sifting through everything. Trash what you don’t need and keep anything valuable. Avoid doing this after the tow truck comes. 

  1. Update Insurance Records

As soon as you sell your car, notify your local transport department as well as the insurance company so that they can update their records. Failure to inform the insurance company could result in you paying for a premium you no longer need.

In A Nut ShellYou must deal with a reputable company when selling your car. Furthermore, you should also negotiate for the best price, organize for pick up, and remember to take out all your belongings. Perhaps most importantly, you must ensure that all the paperwork is in order. Good luck.

Ford Raptor vs Ford Lightning | ‘The Haul’

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Official Release
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AmericanTrucks Compares New F-150s

PAOLI, Pa. (August 25nd, 2022) – AmericanTrucks (AT) has released a new episode in its YouTube series, ‘The Haul.’ The video compares the 2021 F-150 Ford Raptor with the all-electric 2022 F-150 Ford Lightning. AT host, Justin Dugan provides an overview of each truck before heading out for a test drive on and off the road. The video gives F-150 enthusiasts a closer look at the ins-and-outs of each truck in a format that’s fun and informative.

“We’re going to take a closer look at Ford’s two newest and most exciting products, compare and contrast them a little bit, and ultimately, answer which one might be better suited for you and why,” says Justin. He begins by discussing the more aggressive stance of the Gen 3 versus the ‘Clark Kent’ version of the Lightning. Moving on to the interior, Justin touches on the screen size, the steering wheel, and seating before moving on to what’s under the hood. Will the Lightings’ speed and fuel savings win out over the familiar face (and sound) of the twin-turbo 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6?

Truck enthusiasts can tune in to AT’s new episode of ‘The Haul’ to find out which F-150 is the winning choice for them. At the end of the day, Ford’s Raptor and Lighting are both described as “awesome feats of engineering” that are “fun to spend any amount of time in.” AT invites the community to share their preference in the comments section on YouTube, where they can also subscribe to be first in line for all things F-150.

View it Here: https://www.americantrucks.com/thehaul-raptor-vs-lightning-2022.html

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About AmericanTrucks

AmericanTrucks is regarded as one of the best, most reliable online aftermarket retailers providing parts and accessories for F150, F250, Ranger, Silverado, Sierra, and RAM. Catering to the needs and demands of late-model truck owners and enthusiasts, AmericanTrucks provides the best parts with support from genuine truck experts. Located just outside of Philadelphia, AmericanTrucks is dedicated to offering the truck community with the highest quality of parts and customer service. Please visit https://www.americantrucks.com for more information.

TPC Racing Heads to its “Backyard Track” at VIRginia International Raceway for IMSA Lamborghini Super Trofeo Doubleheader

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Official Release
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TPC Racing Drivers Wesley Slimp, Tyler Hoffman and Billy Johnson Look to Close North American IMSA Super Trofeo Season with a Pair of Podium Performances

DANVILLE, Virginia (August 25, 2022) – TPC Racing and a pair of its Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2 teams head to VIRginia International Raceway (VIR) this weekend for a Saturday and Sunday doubleheader that the team and its drivers consider a “Home Game” on a familiar and favorite 3.27-mile circuit in Southern Virginia.

Although Maryland-based TPC Racing is headquartered several hours away from VIR, the relatively close location to the first-class facility makes it a favorite testing and development track for not only TPC’s Lamborghini teams but its wide variety of other sports car road racing and high-performance street-car programs.

The main order of business this weekend is the twin Saturday and Sunday 50-minute sprint races that will bring the North American portion of the IMSA Super Trofeo season to a close. The VIR doubleheader will be the final U.S. race of the championship before the season-ending event in Portimão in Southern Portugal, November 3 – 6, where both the Super Trofeo North America final rounds and the 2022 World Finals will be held.

Both the No. 9 HNTB Companies Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2, co-driven by Wesley Slimp and Tyler Hoffman, and the Pro-class No. 71 DSC Sport/Erin Levitas Foundation Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2 of Billy Johnson are scheduled to go to Portugal. A pair of podium showings this weekend by both teams would be the perfect launch pad to Portimão, and some recent on-track runs by both the No. 9 and No. 71 TPC entries bode well for a visit or two to victory lane at VIR.

Slimp and Hoffman gave TPC its first Super Trofeo victory in 2022’s season-opening event at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in late April. That win in the LB Cup-class promptly saw race officials elevate the HNTB No. 9 to the Am-class in which Slimp and Hoffman have been on the brink of another victory all summer.

The duo’s most recent top showing was a third-place finish in the Saturday sprint one race weekend ago at Road America. The podium showing followed another third-place finish at NOLA Motorsports Park in May, and Slimp and Hoffman come to VIR in a tight battle for a top-three finish in the season-long Am-class championship. While the championship is realistically out of reach, a strong finish to the season could elevate the No. 9 drivers and team to third and maybe even second in the final season point standings.

Johnson and the No. 71 team have been knocking on the door of their first race win in the top-tier Pro class all summer. Road America was their most competitive race of the season with Johnson starting from the outside front row and leading the first six race laps in Sunday’s final sprint. The race was run in mixed wet-and-dry conditions that produced a string of yellow flags and even a red-flag pause that saw the field switch to rain tires.

The slow-downs and stoppages ultimately didn’t work with TPC’s and Johnson’s strategy but the season-best pace, and gains from a test last week at VIR, have everyone on the No. 71 squad optimistic for a pair of good results this weekend at VIR.

Noticeably absent from VIR will be winning team driver Scott Schmidt who made the tough decision after Road America to end his 2022 racing season early to attend to his successful business away from the track. The unplanned move puts the brakes on a successful season Schmidt had put together in the No. 38 DSC Sport/Erin Levitas Foundation Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo EVO2. In the span of the last five races, Schmidt produced a solid record of four podium finishes, including his first Super Trofeo victory in late June at Watkins Glen International. Schmidt has already shifted focus to a return to competition with TPC in the near future.

A full three-day weekend event, Super Trofeo action begins Friday with two practice sessions and qualifying first thing Saturday morning. The first 50-minute race starts at 2:05 p.m. EST on Saturday with the second scheduled to go green at 11:35 a.m. EST Sunday. Both races can be viewed live on IMSA.com/TVLive.

Harris Levitas, TPC Racing Director of Race Operations: “With VIR, it is kind of our backyard track, and we always seem to have very competitive cars there. We had a very successful test there last week with both the No. 71 and No. 9 cars, and we found quite a bit in both cars. I think we have made really good progress in having even better front-running cars. All of the drivers did a great job, and the team has been doing a great job prepping the cars and giving us front-running cars. I think we can show more pace at VIR and hopefully close out the U.S. rounds with podium finishes – or even better – standing on the top step of the podium. We are going to miss Scott Schmidt, who has done a fantastic job and is one of those racing success stories. Coming from little to no background to actually being a front-running and winning driver really shows his commitment. He has really done that and put forward the effort. With the multiple cars that he races, and the different programs we have put together with him and his coaching staff, Scott has really come a long way. It’s unfortunate he can’t make the last two races of the year. He has to step away to take care of his business, but he will be back sooner rather than later.”

Tyler Hoffman, Driver – No. 9 HNTB Companies Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2: “To pay my respects, I recently quoted the great Paul Newman as he originally called VIR heaven on earth. I have to agree. The VIR circuit is a truly rewarding combination of high-speed, high-downforce sectors rolling straight into great passing opportunities while demanding precision the entire time. Virginia International is our home track on the Lamborghini Super Trofeo calendar, and it would be great to get a win there. The points championship is a bit of a stretch this year, but a win would be great to lead us into the World Finals in Portugal.”

Billy Johnson, Driver – No. 71 DSC Sport/Erin Levitas Foundation Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2: “I am really looking forward to racing the Lamborghini at VIR. It’s an iconic American track with elevation, no run-off, and it is just a real fun place to race. We tested there last week and found some things in the car, so every week and every weekend the TPC guys are just doing an amazing job making the car better and faster. I am very optimistic after what we found and the position the car will be in going into the VIR race this weekend. We have definitely had things that have held us back all year long due to delayed parts and availability. That’s been out of our hands, but I am very thankful to have this opportunity to race in the Super Trofeo series and driver for TPC. They are such a great organization. At Road America, we had the best car that we have ever had. Now, after what we have found between then and now that the car will be even better. Hopefully we will get a result this weekend the team definitely deserves.”

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.

Joe Gibbs Racing Fan Fest, Hauler Parade Kicks Off Action-Packed Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 Weekend

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Official Release
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  • Three days of Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 music, motorsports and fun kick off Friday, Oct. 7, with a Joe Gibbs Racing Fan Fest, hauler parade and Bret Michaels concert in the Fan Zone
  • Any Saturday or Sunday race ticket gets fans access to the Fan Zone all weekend. To purchase tickets, camping and upgrades for the Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 weekend, visit charlottemotorspeedway.com or call 800-455-FANS (3267)

CONCORD, N.C. (Aug. 25, 2022) – Before the action heats up on track and NASCAR’s best battle in a pivotal Playoff clash at the Bank of America ROVAL™ 400, fans at Charlotte Motor Speedway will be treated to an entertaining weekend of music, motorsports and fun in the Fan Zone. Driver appearances, fan Q&As and concerts kick off Friday, Oct. 7, with a Joe Gibbs Racing Fan Fest and NASCAR hauler parade. Following the parade, rock legend and Poison frontman Bret Michaels will bring his “Parti-Gras” to the fans with a hit-filled concert of rock, country and pop tunes to crank up the weekend fun.

“The Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 has become one of the most anticipated events of the NASCAR season,” said Greg Walter, executive vice president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway. “When we started planning, we realized that we just couldn’t squeeze all the fun and excitement into two days, so we’re going to kick things off a day early and Rock the ROVAL starting Friday afternoon.”

Joe Gibbs Racing Fan Fest

Joe Gibbs Racing will bring out its star-studded driver lineup to kick off the weekend on Friday, Oct. 7, with the first-ever JGR Fan Fest at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The fan-friendly event will feature driver appearances with Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr. and Christopher Bell at the Fan Stage and an autograph session with all four Cup Series drivers, plus Xfinity Series stars Ty Gibbs and Brandon Jones at the Toyota Racing display.

Fan Fest opens at 4:30 p.m. with a bevy of entertainment, including a Twinstunts motorcycle stunt show, free Ferris Wheel rides, discounted merchandise at select souvenir haulers, fun race-themed concessions, a DJ and more. The first 100 fans to pick up a wristband from the information tent at the Avenue of Flags starting at 4:00 p.m. on Oct. 7 will get access to an exclusive autograph session with all participating drivers. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver autograph session is scheduled for 5:00 p.m., followed by driver stage appearances at 6:30 p.m.

Fan Fest is free in the Charlotte Motor Speedway Fan Zone, until 7:00 p.m.

NASCAR Hauler Parade

Following the Fan Fest, Charlotte Motor Speedway will keep the party going as NASCAR’s Cup Series haulers parade into the infield – driving right through the Fan Zone – in preparation for Sunday’s Bank of America ROVAL™ 400. The high-energy parade will be emceed by Trackside Live host Jose Castillo and will feature “drive-up” songs personally selected by each hauler driver. Fans can line the parade route near the Fan Zone and grab a photo with their favorite hauler before it settles into the infield for a fun-filled weekend of white-knuckled racing.

Bret Michaels to Rock the ROVAL™

Poison frontman Bret Michaels will cap off Night 1 of the Rock the ROVAL fun, stepping out from his record-breaking Stadium Tour to bring his Parti-Gras to race fans kicking off the weekend with unrivaled fan fun. With more than 100 million records and streams sold worldwide, the son of a veteran, music icon, TV star, creative entrepreneur and lifelong philanthropist will crank up the party with hit after hit from his three decade music career during a 90-minute set. The concert is free for any fan with a race ticket for either the Drive for the Cure 250 presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina or the Bank of America ROVAL™ 400. Single-day concert tickets will also be available for just $30.

In addition to driver, appearances and A-list music acts on the Rock the ROVAL™ stage, the 10-acre Fan Zone will provide a bevy of interactive games and displays, food trucks, partner activations and more throughout the three-day event.

TICKETS:

The Fan Zone will be open each day to fans with a ticket to any of the weekend’s NASCAR events Oct. 8-9, including Saturday’s Drive for the Cure 250 presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina Xfinity Series race or Sunday’s pivotal Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 showdown. Adult tickets for Saturday’s Drive for the Cure 250 presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina start at just $25. Kids 12 and under get in free with an adult. Tickets to the Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 start at just $49 for adults. Kids 12 and under get in for just $10 with an adult. For tickets, visit www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/tickets. Fans can also purchase a single-day Fan Zone pass to take in all the fun outside of the speedway for just $30.

FOLLOW US:

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

Monster Energy Racing: Riley Herbst Daytona NXS Advance

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Official Release
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RILEY HERBST
Daytona NASCAR Xfinity Series Advance
No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

NASCAR Xfinity Series Overview

• Event: Wawa 250 (Round 23 of 33)
• Date: Friday, Aug. 26
• Location: Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway
• Layout: 2.5-mile oval
• Time/TV/Radio: 7:30 p.m. EDT on USA/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Riley Herbst Notes of Interest

• Back to the beginning. Riley Herbst and the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang team for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) return to where their strong 2022 season began for Friday night’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Wawa 250 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. After a solid recovery in last Saturday’s race at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International, where Herbst rallied for his 15th top-10 finish of the season, the Las Vegas native hopes to score his first career Xfinity Series victory this weekend on the iconic 2.5-mile superspeedway oval, where he kicked off the season with a fourth-place finish. Since then, he’s had a career year in the series, highlighted by a pair of third-place finishes – May 7 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, and June 25 at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway, where he also earned his second career pole.

• Herbst ran in the top-10 for a majority of the Feb. 19 season opener at Daytona and collected valuable bonus points with his finishes of third and 10th in the opening two stages, respectively. He successfully avoided several accidents en route to his fourth-place finish, which equaled his career-best superspeedway finish first earned at Daytona in August 2020. Herbst and the No. 98 Monster Energy team have had three other strong superspeedway-style outings in 2022. On March 19 at the repaved and newly reconfigured Atlanta Motor Speedway, where racing is now more akin to that of a superspeedway than an intermediate track, the No. 98 team persevered despite overheating problems that put Herbst a lap down early in the race and earned another fourth-place finish. On April 23 at Daytona’s sister track, Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, Herbst brought home a solid seventh-place finish. Herbst claimed another top-10 at Atlanta with a ninth-place result on July 9.

• The Wawa 250 will mark Herbst’s 99th career Xfinity Series start and his seventh on the Daytona oval. In total, Herbst has two top-fives and three top-10s in his six prior starts at Daytona, leading 25 laps along the way.

• Herbst’s “Monster” season, his third fulltime Xfinity Series campaign, has seen the 23-year-old racer equal or better his best finishes at 10 tracks on the schedule. He has already matched his career-best tally of five top-five finishes, first set in 2021. He is also only two top-10s shy of matching his career best of 17 top-10s, which he first earned in 2020. In total, Herbst has 14 top-fives and 49 top-10s dating back to his first career Xfinity Series start on June 17, 2018, at Iowa Speedway in Newton, where he finished an impressive sixth as a 19-year-old.

• Herbst has five starts on the Daytona oval outside of the Xfinity Series – three in the ARCA Menards Series and two in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series – with a best finish of seventh in the ARCA Menards Series season opener in February 2020.

• With four races remaining before the playoffs begin Sept. 24 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Herbst is solidly among the 12-driver playoff field. With his seventh-place finish at Watkins Glen, Herbst passed Sam Mayer for eighth in the driver standings with 613 points, a solid 129 points above the cutoff line. He is the top driver in the standings among those without a win this season. A win at Daytona would lock Herbst into the playoffs, but he can also secure his position by pointing his way into the postseason with continued top-10 consistency through the regular-season finale Sept. 16 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.

Riley Herbst, Driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang

You’ve been solid on superspeedways this year, earning top-10 finishes in all of them. Does that boost your confidence as you head to Daytona?

“It does, but we also understand the reality of superspeedway races. Anything can happen. Anyone can win. I think we’ve done a good job of pulling together some strong races. Daytona and Talladega are tracks where we’ve run up front and led laps, so we know we can be a contender for the win this weekend. I think we just have to put it all together.”

Watkins Glen was a roller coaster of a race for the No. 98 Monster Energy team. But you were able to recover from a spin to collect your 15th top-10 finish of the season. Talk about the solid runs and speed you’ve had as a team this season.

“Watkins Glen was frustrating, but ultimately we proved that we were a team to compete with, just like at Indianapolis. We’re not lacking in speed, and I think we’re all confident in each other. This season has been a complete turnaround from last year and I’m proud of how much we’ve grown. People are taking notice. Our win is coming.”

What’s the strategy for Daytona?

“Our goal is to win and lock ourselves into the playoffs. Daytona is unpredictable though. You can be running your best race and get caught up in somebody else’s mess. Our points cushion gives us the ability to go to Daytona and be more aggressive though. We have to put a strong race together with a good qualifying run, speed in the racecar, and fast pit stops. We’ll see how the race unfolds, but hopefully we can run up front and park our No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang in victory lane Friday night.”

No. 98 Monster Energy Team Roster

Primary Team Members:

Driver: Riley Herbst
Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada

Crew Chief: Richard Boswell
Hometown: Friendship, Maryland

Car Chief: Matt Noyce
Hometown: Oregon, Wisconsin

Engineer: DJ VanderLey
Hometown: Mobile, Alabama

Spotter: Tim Fedewa
Hometown: Holt, Michigan

Over-The-Wall Crew:

Front Tire Changer: Kevin Teaf
Hometown: Tallahassee, Florida

Rear Tire Changer: Trevor White
Hometown: Arlington, Texas

Tire Carrier: Davis Sampere
Hometown: Raleigh, North Carolina

Fueler: Corey Coppola
Hometown: Bluefield, West Virginia

Jackman: Kapil Fletcher
Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Road Crew Members:

Truck Driver: Steve Wood
Hometown: Eatontown, New Jersey

Engine Tuner: Willie Pelotte
Hometown: Oakland, Maine

Tire Specialist: Austin Quick
Hometown: Flagstaff, Arizona

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