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Toyota Racing – Weekly Preview – 08.24.22

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This Week in Motorsports: August 22-28, 2022

· NCS/NXS: Daytona International Speedway – August 26-27
· ARCA: Milwaukee Mile – August 28

PLANO, Texas (August 24, 2022) – It is the final race of the regular season for the NASCAR Cup Series as they and the NASCAR Xfinity Series take on Daytona International Speedway, while the ARCA Menards Series competes at the Milwaukee Mile.

NASCAR National Series – NCS | NXS

Wallace ready to earn first Daytona triumph… Bubba Wallace has been inches from victory in his NASCAR Cup Series career at Daytona. Wallace has three runner-up finishes at the track, including the last two events. Wallace is on a strong run recently as he has six top-15 finishes in the last seven events.

Bell adding to his top-10 tally… Christopher Bell added another strong run to his tally this season with a top-10 finish in Watkins Glen. Bell has now scored top-10 finishes in four of the last six events and has scored 14 this season. His 14 top-10 finishes are second-most this season in the Cup Series, trailing only the points leader.

Double for Gibbs… Ty Gibbs continues to fill-in for Kurt Busch in the No. 45 Toyota Camry TRD this weekend as he makes his first superspeedway start in the NASCAR Cup Series, while continuing to run for the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship in his No. 54 Toyota GR Supra. Gibbs made his track debut at Daytona in February, where he finished 11th.

Smith coming off strong run… Sammy Smith heads into his first superspeedway start after earning his first career stage win and top-five finish in the NASCAR Xfinity Series last weekend. Smith got past AJ Allmendinger on a late-stage restart to earn the stage win and went on to finish third. Smith will run at Daytona on Friday before competing in the ARCA Menards Series race at Milwaukee on Sunday.

Two Nemecheks… Sam Hunt Racing will run two Toyota GR Supras in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Friday. John Hunter Nemechek will return to the No. 26, while his dad, Joe Nemechek, will run the No. 24. It will be the first race the father-son duo will run as teammates since 2019. It is also the first of two consecutive starts for John Hunter in the No. 26 as he will also run for the team in Darlington.

NASCAR Regional Series – ARCA

Love looking for another win… Jesse Love earned his first win of the season on the Springfield dirt on Sunday in dominating fashion. Love won the pole and led every lap on Sunday to earn his second career ARCA win. He will look for another victory on Sunday as he closes in on the Sioux Chief Showdown championship lead.

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About Toyota

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

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

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

Want Clear, Colorful & Informative? New ‘LED’ Scoring Trilons to Enhance Fan Experience at Daytona International Speedway During This Weekend’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 & Wawa 250

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Official Release
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Three-Sided Leaderboards Will Broadcast Positions, Videos and Graphics in Over 281 Trillion Colors and Showcase the Fast-Moving Action on Iconic 2.5-Mile Tri-Oval in ‘Last Chance’ Race to Make NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 24, 2022) – Daytona International Speedway will unveil its two newly-updated, three-sided, LED trilon leaderboards, which will broadcast in over 281 trillion colors, during this weekend’s Wawa 250 Powered by Coca Cola and the Coke Zero Sugar 400.

The trilon leaderboards, which are located on opposite ends of the front stretch, have stood tall for years in the UNOH Fanzone near the NASCAR Cup Series garage and at pit road exit. Now featuring three crisp, colorful LED screens, they stand approximately 77-feet tall and 10-feet wide so fans in all sections of the venue can get a clear look at driver positions as they continuously swap throughout the races. With the ability to broadcast in more than 281 trillion colors, the newly skinned trilons will shine bright in the evening sky, as the sun sets throughout the two anticipated nighttime races (Aug 26 & Aug. 27).

Both scoring towers will now offer incredible and unique technological features, which include:

  • Each leaderboard panel has 737.28 square-feet of LEDs
  • Leaderboards will be integrated with live NASCAR Timing and Scoring feeds to allow for fans to track their favorite driver
  • Color Capacity is 281 trillion colors
  • Each leaderboard has a total of 2,211.84 square-feet of active LED
  • Each LED module measures 14.4 x 14.4 inches
  • Total number of LED modules for each side of the leaderboard is 512
  • Each three-sided leaderboard has a total of 1,536 total LED modules
  • LED Lifetime is 100,000 hours
  • 256 levels of dimming capabilities
  • Ability to play separate and/or different content on each side of any of the leaderboards simultaneously
  • Total weight of the LED Panels per leaderboard is 19,968 lbs.
  • Content can be displayed in static or motion formats

Connected to each of the scoring trilons is a jumbotron (26’ x 48’) where fans can catch additional replays of the most intense moments of the Wawa 250 and Coke Zero Sugar 400, as life-like as watching it in real time. The track has a total of four jumbotrons that line pit road, with two attached to the leaderboards and the others behind the middle sections of pit road. The two screens in that middle sector are larger in size (40’ x 80’), allowing fans to see the action LIVE from the mammoth grandstands, allowing fans to watch the video boards for even more content during the races on the iconic 2.5-mile tri-oval.

The giant video boards will also be used as a part of the #LightUpDAYTONA experience via the NASCAR Tracks App. Fans can download the app to become a part of the light show that will take place after the pre-race ceremonies on both Friday and Saturday, then again after the 2nd stage break in Saturday’s Coke Zero Sugar 400. When prompted, fans will open the app, face their cameras towards the track, and after clicking “light show”, their phone flashlights will light up the grandstands in tune with the vibrant video display reflected on those video boards.

These latest electronic additions are part of a host of new amenities designed to enhance the fan experience at Daytona International Speedway, along with UNOH Fanzone and Kid’s VIP Experiences, the various entertainment performances, and so many more race weekend festivities.

The leaderboards and jumbo screens will be alive during pre-race activities and during the action of the Wawa 250 Powered by Coca Cola on Friday at 7:30 p.m., then again during the battle that will ensue in the final race of the NASCAR Cup Series regular season – the Coke Zero Sugar 400 on Saturday at 7 p.m.

For information regarding ticket purchasing or further details about the upcoming race weekend at the World Center of Racing, visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com

Fans can also stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, as well as the all-new NASCAR Tracks App, for the latest speedway news.

About Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a state-of-the-art motorsports facility and was awarded the SportsBusiness Journal’s prestigious Sports Business Award for Sports Facility of the Year in 2016. Daytona International Speedway is the home of The Great American Race – the DAYTONA 500. Though the season-opening NASCAR Cup Series event garners most of the attention – as well as the largest audience in motorsports – the approximately 500-acre motorsports complex, also known as the World Center of Racing, boasts the most diverse schedule of racing on the globe. In addition to at least nine major event weekends, the Speedway grounds are also used extensively for events that include concerts, civic and social gatherings, car shows, photo shoots, production vehicle testing and police motorcycle training. The iconic venue was the site of a host of motorsports events early in 2022, beginning with AHRMA Classic Motofest and the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA in January, and the 64th DAYTONA 500, which debuted the first points race for NASCAR’s ‘Next Gen’ car as part of Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth, in February. The tradition-rich 81st Annual Bike Week At DAYTONA returned in March, featuring DAYTONA Supercross and the DAYTONA 200. May saw the “Welcome to Rockville” concert and the Heroes Honor Festival while during July 4th weekend, the track, in association with Torneos, hosted the first annual Daytona Soccer Fest. The NASCAR Cup Series returns for the final race of the regular season with the Coke Zero Sugar 400 on Aug. 27 while Saturday, Aug. 26 will see the Wawa 250 for the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

NASCAR Champion Joey Logano and Team Penske Agree to Contract Extension

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Official Release
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Veteran NASCAR Cup Series Driver to Continue Racing No. 22 Ford under Multi-Year Agreement

MOORESVILLE, NC (August 24, 2022) – Joey Logano, the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series Champion, and Team Penske have reached an agreement on a long-term contract extension that will keep the winning racer behind the wheel of the No. 22 Ford Mustang for years to come.

“Over the last 10 years Joey has become such an important part of Team Penske and we know he will continue to be a leader and a winner with the No. 22 Ford team well into the future,” said Roger Penske. “Joey is a great champion of our sport and we are proud of how he continues to produce for our team and represent all of our partners, including Shell, Pennzoil and Ford. He also brings veteran leadership to our program, serving as a great mentor and teammate to both Ryan (Blaney) and Austin (Cindric). With all he has achieved in his career, he still has a lot left to accomplish with Team Penske.”

Logano has emerged as one of the most consistent winners in the NASCAR Cup Series since he joined Team Penske prior to the start of the 2013 season. Over the course of his 10 years with the team, Logano has earned 27 Cup Series victories and produced many notable achievements, including winning the 2015 Daytona 500, the 2016 NASCAR All-Star race, the 2021 Bristol Dirt race and the first race in the Next Gen era – the 2022 Clash at the Coliseum.

He also delivered one of the most memorable championship performances in recent NASCAR history in 2018 when he won the final race of the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway, to bring home Team Penske’s second-ever NASCAR Cup Series Championship.

“Since taking over the No. 22 car at Team Penske, I’ve had the opportunity to accomplish so many of my dreams both on and off the track.” said Logano. “For the last 10 years, Roger has provided me the resources to be competitive, a team that stands behind me and leadership that is second to none. I’m excited to be continuing our relationship together so we can keep focusing on winning races, more championships and doing what we do for many years to come.”

Since he joined Team Penske, Logano has qualified for the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs in all but one season. Logano has also reached the Championship Four in the Playoffs four times while competing for the team.

This season, Logano is currently fourth in the Cup Series point standings, with two wins, seven top-five results and 12 top-10 finishes, along with one pole, in 2022. Entering this weekend’s race at Daytona International Speedway, Logano is seeded fourth for the upcoming NASCAR Playoffs.

About Team Penske
Team Penske is one of the most successful teams in the history of professional sports. Cars owned and prepared by Team Penske have produced more than 600 major race wins, over 660 pole positions and 41 championships across open-wheel, stock car and sports car racing competition. Over the course of its 56-year history, the team has also earned 18 Indianapolis 500 victories, three Daytona 500 Championships, a Formula 1 win, victories in the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring, along with a win in Australia’s legendary Bathurst 1000 race. In 2022, Team Penske competes in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, NASCAR Cup Series and the FIA World Endurance Championship. For more information about Team Penske, please visit www.teampenske.com.

Brickyard Icon Gordon To Race Labor Day Weekend Porsche Event at IMS

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Official Release
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Legendary Crew Chief Evernham To Work with Four-Time Cup Series Champion

INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022) – Four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon will briefly step out of retirement to race in the IMSA-sanctioned Porsche Carrera Cup North America Presented by the Cayman Islands on Sept. 2-4 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.

Highlighting the weekend for three-time Daytona 500 winner Gordon will be a reunion with longtime and storied crew chief Ray Evernham. It marks the first time the championship-winning combination has teamed together since 1999. Gordon joins an entry list of over 30 Porsche specialists all driving Porsche 911 GT3 Cup race cars in competition on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile, road course at the world’s most famous racetrack.

SEE: Porsche Sports Car Together Fest Tickets

“I’m looking forward to getting back in a race car and competing against a talented field of teams and drivers,” NASCAR Hall of Fame member Gordon said. “It’s always special when I get a chance to compete at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Ray and I have always talked about running another race together, and we felt like Indy was the perfect place. It’ll be a fun way to spend the holiday weekend and make some new memories.”

Gordon will drive the No. 24 entry in the Invitational class of the premier Porsche one-make race series in North America as part of the second-annual Porsche Sports Car Together Fest.

The 93-time NASCAR Cup race winner is no stranger to either road courses or IMS. Gordon spent his teenage years in nearby Pittsboro, Indiana, is a record five-time Brickyard 400 winner at IMS and holds the NASCAR Cup Series record for most road course victories (nine). In 2017, Gordon won the Rolex 24 At Daytona overall in his second attempt, becoming one of only four drivers to win both the Daytona 500 and the Daytona 24-hour race. In 2003, he had his first taste of the Indy road course in a famous “seat swap” with Formula One driver Juan Pablo Montoya.

Opening practice for the two 40-minute Carrera Cup races will take place Friday, Sept. 2, followed by qualifying and Race 1 on Saturday, Sept. 3 and Race 2 scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 4. Visit here for ticket information and to buy tickets.

Live timing and scoring of each session can be found at www.PorscheCarreraCup.us. The races will be broadcast live on the official series web site – www.porschecarreracup.us – as well as on IMSA.TV. IMSA Radio will provide play-by-play commentary.

FANS CAN RACE THE HIGH BANKS OF DAYTONA OR RIDE WITH A PRO THROUGH THE NASCAR RACING EXPERIENCE

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DRIVING 101 HEATS UP THE RACE WEEKEND AT DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY THIS AUGUST

FANS CAN RACE THE HIGH BANKS OR RIDE WITH A PRO THROUGH THE NASCAR RACING EXPERIENCE

CHARLOTTE (August 24, 2022) – The NASCAR season is in high gear and ready to head to the playoffs. Fans at Daytona International Speedway can join in the excitement and take laps at the famous racetrack from August 24 to 29, 2022, thanks to the NASCAR Racing Experience.

NASCAR fans who want to experience the driver’s seat just like the stars on Saturday night can don helmets and firesuits to take laps on the high banks where their heroes race. Those who want to ride with a pro can join in the fun with the ride-along experience.

The NASCAR Racing Experience at Daytona International Speedway is on sale with prices starting at just $339.99 to drive a NASCAR race car and $159.99 for NASCAR Ride Alongs. Visit www.NASCARRacingExperience.com to book your high-banked action.

“We’ve seen the excitement for the 2022 NASCAR season building since the start of the year,” said Robert Lutz, chief executive officer of Driving 101. “Fans are ready to see the stars of the sport battle for the championship over these next 10 weeks. That excitement transfers to fans wanting the racing experience first-hand. We’re excited to be able to offer fans the thrill of actually doing laps at Daytona International Speedway.”

Race fans also can drive the same tracks as their idols in other markets, including Atlanta Motor Speedway, Auto Club Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Dover Motor Speedway, Homestead Miami Speedway, Kansas Speedway, Kentucky Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Michigan International Raceway, Nashville Superspeedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Phoenix Raceway, Richmond Raceway, Talladega Superspeedway and Texas Motor Speedway.

The NASCAR Racing Experience makes the ideal gift for any race fan or thrill seeker. Reservations at the NASCAR Racing Experience are on sale with prices starting at just $249.99 to drive a NASCAR race car and $129.99 for NASCAR Ride Alongs. Advance reservations are encouraged as track times fill up quickly. Reservations can be booked at www.NASCARRacingExperience.com or 704-886-2400.

Driving 101 and its three trusted racing brands now run at 16 nationwide speedways for NASCAR Racing Experience as well as 14 nationwide speedways for Mario Andretti Racing Experience.

About Driving 101: Driving 101 and its three trusted racing brands now run the NASCAR Racing Experience at 16 speedways nationwide as well as running the Mario Andretti Racing Experience at 14 speedways nationwide. Both offer a vast array of corporate outings and motorsports-themed events. NASCAR Racing Experience is the leading experiential racing company in North America, offering the most realistic racing programs available to motorsports fans nationwide. For more information call 704-886-2400 or visit www.NASCARRacingExperience.com

JR Motorsports — NXS Daytona II Preview

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Official Release
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JR MOTORSPORTS TEAM PREVIEW:
TRACK: Daytona International Speedway
RACE: Wawa 250 Powered by Coca-Cola (100 laps / 250 miles)
DATE: Friday, Aug. 26, 2022

Broadcast Information – TV: 7:30 p.m. ET on USA / Radio: 7 p.m. ET on MRN and Sirius XM Ch. 90

Sam Mayer
No. 1 Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions Chevrolet
• Sam Mayer has two starts at the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway with a best finish of 12th coming in his first race at the speedway in 2021. Mayer also led his first career lap in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Daytona in that same race.
• In nine career starts on tracks 2 miles or more in the NXS, Mayer has two top-10 finishes, with the best being a sixthplace run at both Pocono Raceway and Auto Club Speedway this season.
• The Franklin, Wis. native battled back to a sixth-place finish last week at Watkins Glen International after being spun during Stage Two.

Josh Berry
No. 8 Tire Pros “Summer for Heroes” Chevrolet
• Josh Berry has two starts at Daytona with a best finish of 16th coming at the 2022 season opening race.
• In 10 starts on tracks measuring 2 or more miles in length, Berry has recorded three top fives and six top 10s.
• With only a Truck Series start at Watkins Glen, Berry raced inside of the top 10 for the majority of last week’s NXS race before finishing ninth, earning his 13th top-10 finish of the season.
• Berry has now finished inside of the top 10 in three of the last four NXS races dating back to Pocono Raceway. With 13 top-10 finishes this season, he also surpassed his previous career high of 12.

Noah Gragson
No. 9 Bass Pro Shops / TrueTimber / Black Rifle Coffee Chevrolet
• Noah Gragson holds a series-leading 12 top-five finishes this season in NXS competition.
• He has one NXS victory at Daytona, winning the season opener in 2020. It was the his first of eight NXS victories to date with JRM.
• On NASCAR’s superspeedways of Daytona and Talladega, Gragson has amassed two victories, five top-five and eight top-10 finishes in 14 starts. The Nevada native won at Talladega in the spring.
• Gragson has completed 97.7 percent of the total laps and earned three wins so far in 2022. He’s also led 472 laps, second only to Justin Allgaier among JRM drivers.

Justin Allgaier
No. 7 hellowater Chevrolet
• In 23 NXS starts at “The World Center of Racing,” Justin Allgaier has earned six top fives, 10 top 10s and has earned a best finish of second (twice – July 2016, Feb. 2019).
• Through two superspeedway starts this season, Allgaier has scored a best finish of fifth, coming in the season-opening event at Daytona.
• Overall, Allgaier has recorded 10 top fives and 17 top 10s in a combined 37 starts in the NXS at Daytona and Talladega Superspeedway.
• Allgaier is tied for the second-highest number of top fives this season with 10. He currently sits third in the NXS standings with four races remaining in the regular season.

Driver Quotes

“Taylor (Moyer, crew chief) and this entire Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions team have put together really fast cars the last few weeks and especially at these speedway races. We’ve run towards the front in almost all of them and if we can stay out of the mess this weekend, there’s no reason we can’t fight for the first win of the season for this team. I can’t wait to see what this No. 1 can do.” – Sam Mayer

“JR Motorsports has always brought extremely strong Chevrolets to the superspeedways of Daytona and Talladega and I see no reason why that won’t be the case again this weekend. Last week Watkins Glen didn’t go how we hoped it would, so I can’t think of a better place to go to than Daytona with our hellowater Camaro to get that momentum back in the right direction, especially as the playoffs get closer. Hopefully we can keep our car in one piece all night long and work well with our JRM teammates to be in contention for the win. We’re ready to go.” – Justin Allgaier

“Daytona is the track we go to where we know all four of these JRM cars are going to have a lot of speed. I know Bummy (Mike Bumgarner, crew chief) and the team have been working really hard to make sure we have that same speed this weekend and I know that we will when we qualify Friday afternoon. Hopefully we can stay clean and be contending for the win at the end of the day with this Tire Pros team.” – Josh Berry

“We have been really consistent this season, and have had really good runs at both Daytona and Talladega. I’m really looking forward to getting back to Daytona. We led the race in the spring and were in contention all day long. That’s what it’s going to take for this Bass Pro Shops/TrueTimber® Camo/Black Rifle Coffee Chevrolet to get back in Victory Lane. Luke (Lambert, crew chief) and this team have been building great cars all season long.” – Noah Gragson

JRM Team Updates:

• JR Motorsports at Daytona: JR Motorsports has competed at “The World Center of Racing” a combined 96 times in the NXS. Over the course of these 96 starts at the 2.5-mile historic facility, JRM has tallied seven wins, 27 top fives and 41 top 10s. JRM’s most recent win came during the 2020 season when Noah Gragson drove the No. 9 to Victory Lane to secure his first career NXS victory. Daytona also ranks as the winningest track for the organization.
• Benefitting the Gary Sinise Foundation: During the Summer for Heroes Giving Campaign, a company-wide initiative that supports American troops, veterans, first responders and their families through unique programs designed to make a difference in the lives of everyday heroes across the country, Tire Pros customers can donate an amount of their choice on the designated Gary Sinise Foundation donation page. Their goal is to raise $1.5 million from June 1 – Aug. 31 to support our nation’s heroes. Donate now!
• Fall Hunting Classic: Bass Pro Shops Fall Hunting Classic is here now through Sept. 7. The biggest hunting sale of the year. Shop now in store or online.
• Ice Cream Lovers: Unilever is reaching ice cream lovers anytime, anywhere: Fulfilling a craving for ice cream used to require being in store or near an ice cream van. Unilever’s Ice Cream Now (ICNOW) teams are working to change that. Whether you’re online, in transit, in a virtual world or exploring earth’s atmosphere, they’ll find a way to deliver. In the US, ICNOW is working with Robomart to offer consumers the chance to hail a virtual ice cream store as easily as an Uber. Learn more here.

Championship Battles Intensify for Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing at VIRginia International Raceway for the Final Domestic Rounds of 2022

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August 4-7, 2022. Lamborghini Super Trofeo Road America, 1 Kyle Marcelli, Danny Formal, Wayne Taylor Racing WTR , Prestige Performance, Lamborghini Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo Evo2

Brownsburg, Ind. (August 23, 2022) — The Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing Lamborghini Super Trofeo (LST) stable enters the final domestic rounds of the 2022 LST season at VIRginia International Raceway and continues to lead the PRO and PRO|AM points championships. Kyle Marcelli and Daniel Formal lead by 26 points in the PRO class in their No. 1 Prestige Performance Huracán, while the No. 25 Harrison Contracting Company with WTR LST of Tom Long and Ashton Harrison leads the PRO|AM class by 2 points.

Daniel Formal and Kyle Marcelli came away from VIR with a single third-place podium in last year’s double header. The championship-leading duo have shown consistent form and pace in their blue and black No. 1 Prestige Performance with WTR LST throughout 2022 and are confident in their ability to improve in this year’s outing.

Ashton Harrison and Tom Long have one goal in mind for the upcoming ninth and tenth rounds of the season, and that is to win. The teammates continued their perfect streak of podiums at Road America, but they are both keen to take their red No. 25 Harrison Contracting Company machine to victory lane and extend their PRO|AM points lead.

Jordan Missig and Aidan Yoder resumed their upward trajectory at Road America, securing a season-best finish of fourth place in the PRO class for the No. 53 Prestige Performance with WTR LST. Missig had a pair of fourth place class finishes at VIR as a solo pilot last year, and together with teammate Yoder, they’ll be seeking a maiden PRO class podium this weekend.

Randy Sellari added to his collection of podiums in the AM class and grabbed a pair of top-five results for the No. 3 JG Wentworth with WTR LST last time out at Road America. The 2020 LB Cup champion will be eyeing more hardware and a chance to climb from his current position of fourth in the AM class points standings this weekend.

Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Race 1 at VIR goes green at 2:05 p.m. ET on August 27th, followed by Race 2 at 11:35 a.m. ET of August 28th. Watch live on IMSA.TV or Peacock.

Kyle Marcelli, No. 1 Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing LST (PRO)
“I’m always looking forward to any race week. Last year at VIR, we struggled with our Lamborghini Super Trofeo program. Road America came after VIR last year, and that was the turning point in our season for the better. Thankfully, we’ve continued that momentum thus far in 2022. This year’s approach to VIR is different than last year’s. I’m looking forward to it for that reason. Our setups are a little bit different and our procedures are a little bit different and so far it’s been quite successful. That said, we cannot relax. This championship is still anybody’s and there are a couple of cars in the hunt. One small mistake and that lead can evaporate. As we saw at NOLA and Road America, unusual races without green to checkered running can get in the way. We’re hoping for normalcy and our goals remain simple—to execute as best as we can and avoid mistakes. Qualifying is important. We need to qualify up front and stay up front in the race. It’s possible to clinch the championship at VIR, but for now, we’ll take it one session at a time. We’ll see how the points shake out. Poles and wins—that’s the name of the game.”

Daniel Formal, No. 1 Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing LST (PRO)
“Going into the final rounds in the United States of the 2022 Lamborghini Super Trofeo season, we’re leading the championship. It was definitely not the best nor the worst weekend at Road America. We got two pole positions and extended the championship lead. We gave up some points that were out of our control. A broken front right shock in Race 2 made it quite difficult to drive, but I’m super excited to improve at VIR. It’s one of my favorite tracks in the country, second only to Watkins Glen. We didn’t perform at our best there last year, but this year I’m thrilled and our setup that Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing and all the engineers have put together is just incredible. We roll out of the trailer super quick. I can’t wait for VIR and I’m grateful for the team, for Prestige Performance, Lamborghini Paramus, and everyone at Wayne Taylor Racing. We’re ready to attack.”

Jordan Missig, No. 53 Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing (PRO)
“Road America threw about every circumstance it could at us, but that didn’t stop Aidan and I from marching through the field. The weekend didn’t go our way initially, but we made up for it by passing about 15 cars in Race 1. Then, in Race 2, it started to rain just after the pitstop and I had to do what I could with the tires. We came home with a season-best result of fourth in class and fifth overall. So, going into the VIR, we feel that we can tackle almost everything. VIR is a beautiful race track that typically isn’t one of my favorites, but for some reason I seem to have a lot of success there. It’s a very rhythmic, flowing track and it’s a place that requires precision and accuracy to get right. Last year, we struggled a bit, but I have total confidence that the Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing crew has given us cars, like they have all year, that will be towards the front and in contention for podiums and race wins!”

Aidan Yoder, No. 53 Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing (PRO)
“VIR is going to be a tricky and technical weekend for a multitude of reasons. The last time I was there was in 2020 in a Formula 4 car. To arrive at a track that’s as twisty and technical as VIR in a car that has four times the horsepower and three times the weight that I’m used to, is something that I’ll have to relearn and adapt to early on. With the added variable of rain in the forecast it’s going to be unpredictable. I’m excited to see how we progress through the week. That said, we’re coming off of our best weekend of the season at Road America where we scored our first overall top five and PRO class fourth place. Those are two achievements that I’m really proud to have accomplished in my first season with this team. I’m really proud of everyone in the Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing team, especially my teammate Jordan Missig, for keeping the car safe and working to build the setup faster and faster. We continued our learning process with a test the week following the last race, cut down our lap time by big chunks and got more comfortable on the limit of what our Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2 is capable of. Our confidence is soaring, the team’s momentum is high and I’m really looking forward to the final North American race of the season.”

Ashton Harrison, No. 25 Harrison Contracting Company with Wayne Taylor Racing LST (PRO|AM)
“VIR is an epic circuit and one that all drivers get excited about. Tom and I still lead the championship in PRO|AM, and although we’re proud of our season-long podium streak, the goal is to stand on the top step this weekend and add to our win total. I had a class podium at VIR last year, and with the improvements we’ve made and the fast setup that Wayne Taylor Racing provides Tom and I with at every race, I’m confident that we have the pace and experience needed to succeed.”

Tom Long, No. 25 Harrison Contracting Company with Wayne Taylor Racing LST (PRO|AM)
“I’m looking forward to VIR very much, as I consider VIR my ‘home track,’ having grown up driving and racing there through the years. The history around this circuit, being such an iconic ‘old school’ type design, makes it so unique for car setup and driving style. Ashton and I are pleased to have had a very consistent season so far to date, but we are gunning for more wins to cap the season as the championship fight grows closer. Wayne Taylor Racing and their engineering staff continue to provide us with stellar equipment to compete for podium results and we are ready for more success!”

ABOUT WTR’S LAMBORGHINI SUPER TROFEO DRIVER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, Wayne Taylor Racing is a leader in sportscar racing, recognized worldwide for fielding championship winning racing efforts since 2007. In addition to their DPi winning team, the team, under the Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing umbrella, has run a stable of championship winning cars and drivers in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America series for over half a decade, forming the basis of their Driver Development Program. Since its inception in 2015, the Prestige Performance with WTR team has clinched seven North American PRO Driver, Team and Dealer Championship titles, fielded the first woman World Finals race winner and became the overall 2017 Champions at the World Finals in Imola, Italy. Their Driver Development program has grown into interim classes like IMSA GTD, as it evolves to encompass a greater variety of skill and experience levels. For more information on Wayne Taylor Racing’s Driver Development Program and how to get involved, contact Travis Houge at info@waynetaylorracing.com.

KENNINGTON READY FOR ACTION AT ICAR

By
Official Release
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DJ Kennington racing the #17 Castrol Edge Dodge at the Grand Prix of Trois-Rivieres. Photo Credit: Matthew Manor

August 24, 2022. DJ Kennington and the #17 Castrol Edge Dodge team will return to Quebec for round number 11 of the 2022 NASCAR Pinty’s Series this Saturday August 27th. The #17 team will race on the unique layout on the site of the former Mirabel airport at Circuit ICAR in Mirabel, Quebec.

In eight previous races on the circuit Kennington has finished in the top-ten on six occasions and the #17 Castrol Edge Dodge team will be focused on more success this weekend as the championship chase is on with only three races, including this event, remaining in the 2022 season.

During the most recent road race at the Grand Prix of Trois-Rivieres, Kennington hustled the #17 Castrol Edge Dodge to a second-place finish. The layout at Circuit ICAR is similar with no elevation changes and a variety of concrete and asphalt surfaces which bodes well for the team.

Here’s what you need to know.

Race Event Preview
Saturday August 27th Green Flag approximately 5:45PM ET
General Tire 125
Race 11 of 13 in 2022
This is the eighth NASCAR Pinty’s Series race at Circuit ICAR

The Track: 1.8km road course (70-laps)

Best finish: Fourth in 2016

Career Victories: 24

Most Recent Win: Saskatoon, 2022

DJ Quote: “We want to close out the season strong. The whole Castrol Edge team is really dialed in and on their game. We made the right call at the last road race making a pit stop for fresh tires and it worked out for us. We’re going to keep pushing as hard as we can right to the end of the season for more results”.

TV & Live Streaming
All races will be streamed live on TSN.ca and the TSN app in Canada and through FloRacing in the United States. The General Tire 125 will be broadcast live on RDS2 and on TSN at a date TBD.

Race fans can follow DJ Kennington and the #17 Castrol Edge Dodge team on their official social media platforms:

Twitter www.twitter.com/@djkracing
Instagram www.instagram.com/djkracing
Website www.djkracing.ca
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DJKenningtonRacing/

JR Motorsports and Director of Competition Ryan Pemberton Part Ways

By
Official Release
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MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Aug. 24, 2022) – Effective today, JR Motorsports and its director of competition, Ryan Pemberton, announced the decision to amicably part ways.

Pemberton has been with JRM since 2012, overseeing car research and development and managing competition and personnel for JRM’s four NASCAR Xfinity Series teams. Under his guidance the team has won three NXS championships (2014, 2017 and 2018) and 58 races, bringing the organization’s tally to 67 victories to date.

“Ryan has been essential to JRM’s success over the past decade,” said L.W. Miller, JRM’s director of motorsports. “We asked a lot of him when he came here in 2012, and he not only embraced the challenge, but he helped us right the ship. In the process, he laid the groundwork for a winning culture. Ryan’s given this organization a tremendous amount and I can’t thank him enough.”

In the 2014 season, Pemberton took on the additional responsibility of crew chief for JRM’s No. 7 team. He led then-driver Regan Smith to a season-opening win at Daytona International Speedway en route to a runner-up finish in the championship point standings.

“There are so many talented people at JR Motorsports and I’m fortunate to have been part of it,” said Pemberton. “We won a lot of races and a few championships, but more importantly we had fun doing it. I’m grateful to Dale, Kelley and L.W. for everything and so very proud of what we were able to accomplish together. I’m looking forward to spending some much-needed time with my family while I decide what the next chapter holds.”

In addition to his role as director of motorsports, Miller will serve as interim director of competition for the remainder of 2022.

ABOUT JR MOTORSPORTS:
JR Motorsports is the racing operation co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Fame member and 15-time Most Popular Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kelley Earnhardt Miller and NASCAR Hall of Famer Rick Hendrick. Now in its 21st year of overall competition, JR Motorsports competes in multiple divisions, including the NASCAR Xfinity Series where it currently fields four full-time teams and earned championships in 2014, 2017 and 2018. The company also races in Late Model competition and owns four championships in regional Late Model divisions and added a prized national title in 2020. To learn more about the organization, its drivers and its sponsorship opportunities, visit www.jrmracing.com.

Reddick to make 100th Cup career start at Daytona

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Adam Lovelace for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Competing in his third full-time season in the NASCAR Cup Series, Tyler Reddick is primed to achieve a milestone start. By competing in this weekend’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway, the driver of the No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 will fulfill 100 career starts in NASCAR’s premier series.

A native of Corning, California, Reddick made his Cup Series debut in the 61st running of the Daytona 500 in February 2019. By then, he was coming off his first NASCAR Xfinity Series championship while driving for JR Motorsports and was set in competing in his first season with Richard Childress Racing both in the Xfinity and Cup circuit. Driving the No. 31 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for RCR, Reddick started 39th and finished 27th in his Cup debut after being involved in three separate incidents. Three months later, he made his second Cup career start at Kansas Speedway in May, Reddick, who started 21st, had a strong run occurring, even appearing in the top three, before settling in ninth place.

After achieving his second consecutive Xfinity title in 2019, Reddick moved up to the NASCAR Cup Series as a full-time competitor in the No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, where he replaced Daniel Hemric. He commenced his rookie Cup season with a 28th-place result in the Daytona 500 after being involved in a late multi-car wreck. After finishing 18th and 11th during the following two races, Reddick had a strong top-10 run established at Phoenix Raceway in March before he wrecked under the final 60 laps and ended up in 33rd place.

When NASCAR returned to on-track competition at Darlington Raceway in May amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Reddick notched a strong seventh-place result. He went on to finish eighth in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May and fourth at Homestead-Miami Speedway in June. Six races later, Reddick utilized a late pit strategy to grab a career-best second-place result behind teammate Austin Dillon at Texas Motor Speedway in July. Despite earning two top-five results and seven top-10 results throughout the 26-race regular-season stretch, Reddick failed to make the 2020 Cup Playoffs. He went on to finish fourth at Bristol Motor Speedway in September and seventh at Talladega Superspeedway in October before capping off his rookie Cup season in 19th place in the final standings.

Remaining at RCR for the 2021 Cup season, Reddick rebounded from finishing outside of the top 25 through the first two scheduled races at Daytona by earning a strong runner-up result at Homestead in late February. He then went on to record a pole at the Circuit of the Americas, an additional top-five result and a total of 12 top-10 results before making the Playoffs for the first time in his career. Reddick’s title hopes, however, came to an end after finishing 18th, 15th and 12th respectively in the Round of 16, which prevented him from advancing to the Round of 12 by two points. For the remaining seven scheduled events, he recorded two additional top-10 results before settling in 13th place in the final standings. By then, he nearly doubled his recorded top-10 results in a season to 16 and earned an average-finishing result of 15.0.

Reddick commenced the 2022 Cup season with a 35th-place result after triggering a late multi-car wreck. During the following event at Auto Club Speedway, he led a race-high 90 of 200-scheduled laps and placed himself in prime position to win until he blew a left-rear tire while leading with 49 laps remaining. While trying to limp his No. 8 Chevrolet around the circuit, he was sideswiped by William Byron at full speed, which dropped him out of contention and in 24th place in the final running order. After rallying by finishing in the top 10 during the next three of six-scheduled events, Reddick placed himself in another opportunity to notch his first Cup victory at the Bristol Motor Speedway Road Course. Having led a race-high 99 of 250-scheduled laps, he was leading by a narrow margin over Chase Briscoe during the final lap when Briscoe slipped and made contact with Reddick entering Turn 3 as both spun below the apron. Reddick managed to proceed forward following the spin, but he was edged by Kyle Busch at the finish line by 0.330 seconds, thus leaving Reddick with his fourth runner-up result.

Then nine races later, where he earned another runner-up result at Darlington Raceway in May, Reddick achieved his long-awaited first career triumph in NASCAR’s premier series after overtaking Chase Elliott and leading the final 16 laps. The victory made Reddick the fifth first-time winner of the 2022 Cup season, the 203rd competitor overall to win in NASCAR’s premier series and the 41st to win across NASCAR’s top three national touring series (Camping World Truck, Xfinity and Cup). Reddick double-downed on his win column another four races later after grabbing a dominant victory at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course in late July. Reddick’s second Cup career victory was also one that solidified his chances of earning a spot for the 2022 Cup Series Playoffs with multiple victories throughout the regular-season stretch.

Through 99 previous Cup starts, Reddick has achieved two victories, two poles, 13 top-five results, 36 top-10 results, 391 laps led and an average-finishing result of 16.5. To go along with his two victories and a total of 10 top-10 results through the first 25-scheduled events of this season, Reddick is ranked in 13th place in the regular-season standings as he prepares to embark in his quest for his first Cup Series championship.

Reddick is scheduled to make his 100th Cup Series career start at Daytona International Speedway for the Coke Zero 400, the 2022 regular season finale event, on Saturday, August 27. The event’s coverage is scheduled to occur at 7 p.m. ET on NBC.

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