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Lundgaard inks multi-year extension with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

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

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing has retained rookie Christian Lundgaard on a new multi-year contract extension, beginning in the 2023 NTT IndyCar Series season.

The 21-year-old Lundgaard from Hedensted, Denmark, is currently embarking in his maiden season in the IndyCar circuit, where he achieved his maiden podium after finishing in second place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course in late July. He also achieved his maiden start in the top three after posting the third-fastest qualifying time during the previous IndyCar event at Nashville Street Circuit in early August.

To go along with a total of six top-10 results through the first 14-scheduled events and despite being ranked in 15th place in the drivers’ standings, he currently leads the IndyCar Rookie-of-the-Year standings with 272 points, where he is 41 points ahead of David Malukas and 91 ahead of Callum Ilott.

“I have to say a big thanks to [team co-owners] Bobby [Rahal], David [Letterman] and Mike [Lanigan] for giving me this opportunity to extend my time with the team,” Lundgaard said. “We’ve had some good results lately, and I’m sure this has also helped their decision. First of all, I’m just happy and super excited that they gave me this opportunity. A year ago at the [Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course], we qualified well [fourth] and they decided that they wanted me for a full season [in 2022]. We’ve made the most of the opportunity so far. I’m sure there are times when we could have performed better but now we have the opportunity to continue this progress.”

“We’ve been to a lot of tracks so far and have come back to some and finished on the podium, which I hope to continue,” Lundgaard added. “Qualifying third in Nashville was a big milestone for me. Making the Fast Six – and not being at the end of the Fast Six but actually having a shot at competing for the pole – was a great experience for me. We didn’t quite finish where we wanted [eighth] but it was good to have that experience and now everyone is making the most of it. I’m happy for everyone at the team, my family and the sponsors and investors, everyone that has made this possible. I’m looking forward to continuing to build momentum.”

Prior to this season, Lundgaard made his IndyCar debut at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course in August 2021, where he qualified fourth and finished 12th while competing for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. His transition to full-time IndyCar competition occurred following an extensive racing background that commenced with karting before winning the 2017 SMP F4 and F4 Spanish Championships. He went on to compete in Formula 3 in 2019 before spending the following two seasons in Formula 2 for ART Grand Prix, where he accumulated two victories and a best points result of seventh place in 2020.

“I am so pleased with Christian’s progress with the team and within the series,” Bobby Rahal said. “He has shown that he can be a force to be reckoned with in these races. He works well within the team, and we are pleased that we are continuing for the next several years because I believe he will continue to improve and be a potential winner in the very near future.”

“Christian has done a great job acclimatizing to the variety of challenges and new experiences this season,” Mike Lanigan added. “His approach and professionalism continues to impress us and his performance, especially in the second half of the season, speaks volumes about his potential. We are very happy to have him as part of the team for the years ahead.”

With his plans for next season set, Lundgaard’s quest to capture the 2022 IndyCar Rookie-of-the-Year title continues through the final three events of the season, beginning this upcoming weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois, for the Bommarito Automotive Group 500. The event is scheduled to occur on Saturday, August 20, at 6 p.m. ET on USA Network.

Supercharged 2021 F150 | ‘The Haul’ Video

By
Official Release
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AmericanTrucks Releases Stage 1 of Build

PAOLI, Pa. (August 15th, 2022) – Aftermarket parts authority, AmericanTrucks (AT) has released a new episode in its YouTube series, titled ‘The Haul.’ The video features a 2021 F-150 Lariat owned by AT host, Justin Dugan. Justin brings the community along for the first stage of his build, adding a Corsa Sport Exhaust System and Whipple Supercharger kit. Tuned to add a total of 250HP, Justin heads to the track to see what the truck can do at the quarter mile. With the release of this episode, AT hopes to fuel its truck-loving community with ideas and inspiration for their own ride at home.

Justin’s 2021 F-150 Lariat is a replacement for his 2017 Raptor – an off-road build documented on AT’s channel with over 1 million views to date. This time around, the build will be more “street inspired, with a whole lot of horsepower,” says Justin. With the addition of a Corsa Sport Exhaust System and Whipple’s all-new 3.0L Supercharger kit, the goal for stage 1 is to double the power and then head to the Maple Grove Raceway to test out the results.

With horsepower and sound checked off the list, Justin is ready to “throw a whole ton of modifications” at his rig. Truck-enthusiasts can follow along to see how they can take on their own project with confidence. AT invites viewers to subscribe to its YouTube channel to stay up to date on all things F150, including much anticipated stage 2 of Justin’s build.

View it Here: https://www.americantrucks.com/thehaul-2021-f150-track.html

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About AmericanTrucks

AmericanTrucks is regarded as one of the best, most reliable online aftermarket retailers supplying 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.

Brad Keselowski – Watkins Glen Advance

By
Official Release
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Team: No. 6 Violet Defense Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Matt McCall
Twitter: @RFK6Team, @RFKRacing and @keselowski

Race Format: 220.5 miles, 90 laps, Stages: 20-20-50

NASCAR Cup Race at Watkins Glen – Sunday, Aug. 21 at 3 p.m. ET on USA, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Weekend Format

· The traditional weekend format is on tap this weekend with practice split into two groups Saturday afternoon, immediately followed by group qualifying.

Keselowski at Watkins Glen

· Despite not having a win to his credit at Watkins Glen, the New York track stands as Keselowski’s best road course statistically with a 13.4 average finish in 11 starts.

· He has six top-10 finishes, including four inside the top five, with three career runner-up results. He first finished second back in 2011, and followed that with two more P2 results in 2012 and 2013. He also has a third-place finish in 2016, and most recently ran ninth in 2019.

· Keselowski also carries an average starting position of 11.3 with six starts inside the top-10, including a P1 start last season when qualifying metrics during COVID determined starting lineups.

· Keselowski also has 10 starts in Xfinity at WGI with one win (2013) and nine top-10s.

Matt McCall at Watkins Glen

· McCall will be atop the box for his seventh Cup race at The Glen where he has three top-10s and an average finish of 15.3.

· He’s finished 14th or better in all but one race, and has a career-best P7 finish in 2018. Most recently he finished 13th (2021) and 10th (2019) with Kurt Busch.

QUOTE WORTHY
Keselowski on racing at Watkins Glen:
“Watkins Glen is a place I’ve felt really good at over the years, but have just missed out on a win there a handful of times. Our road course program has seen significant improvements and we’re again excited to show that off this weekend, and also have a great notebook from a test Chris did earlier this year. We know what we’re up against, just have to go execute this weekend.”

Last Time Out

Keselowski finished 15th in Richmond last Sunday after finishing fourth in stage one.

On the Car

Violet Defense returns to Keselowski’s No. 6 this weekend for its fifth appearance with the No. 6 team in 2022.

About Violet Defense

Violet Defense uses UV disinfection to protect everyday spaces from harmful pathogens by killing up to 99.9% of E. coli, Salmonella, MRSA, C. diff., Norovirus, C. auris, and coronavirus. Violet Defense’s technology is the only known Pulsed Xenon solution that can be installed into a room full-time, creating a continuous way to address disinfection needs of all types of settings. For more information, visit www.violetdefense.com or follow us on Facebook or LinkedIn (@violetdefense).

Christopher Buescher – Watkins Glen Advance

By
Official Release
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Team: No. 17 Fastenal Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Twitter: @RFK17Team, @RFKRacing and @Chris_Buescher
Race Format: 220.5 miles, 90 laps, Stages: 20-20-50

NASCAR Cup Race at Watkins Glen – Sunday, Aug. 21 at 3 p.m. ET on USA, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Weekend Format

· The traditional weekend format is on tap this weekend with practice split into two groups Saturday afternoon, immediately followed by group qualifying.

Buescher at Watkins Glen

· Buescher lines up for his seventh Cup start from The Glen this weekend where he has a best finish of 11th (2017). Last season he finished 17th.

· He has a best qualifying effort of 16th which came in 2019, and overall has a 22.3 average starting position.

· Buescher also made two Xfinity Series starts there in 2014-15, earning a third-place finish in 2015 after starting fifth for Jack Roush.

Scott Graves at Watkins Glen

· Graves has two career top five finishes in Cup at The Glen with a third-place finish in 2017, and a fourth-place finish in 2018 – both of which came with Daniel Suarez. He most recently finished 25th with Ryan Newman the last two seasons.

· In his first-ever NASCAR National series race at The Glen back in 2012, Graves led Carl Edwards to a win, and followed that with a third-place run with Buescher in 2015, and a fourth-place finish in 2016.

QUOTE WORTHY
Buescher on racing at Watkins Glen:
“I’m excited. I’m ready for the win.”

Last Time Out
Buescher had one of the best drives of his career Sunday at Richmond, finishing third after a strong showing in the Fastenal Ford.

On the Car

Fastenal, in its 12th season with RFK in 2022, makes its 14th appearance with the No. 17 this weekend. In its early days with RFK, Fastenal originally was a partner with the No. 99 team before moving over to the No. 17 team since. They were also the primary partner on the No. 60 Xfinity Series entry that captured the owner’s championship in 2011.

Fastenal will feature top suppliers Georgia Pacific, DeWalt, Klever Innovation and ACS Motorola on Buescher’s Mustang as he competes this weekend. For more information on these suppliers, visit Fastenal.com, and stay up-do-date on social @FastenalCompany.

About Fastenal
Fastenal [Nasdaq: FAST] is North America’s largest fastener distributor and a ‘one-stop’ source for hundreds of thousands of OEM, MRO and Construction products. With more than 2,600 stores worldwide, the company supports B2B customers with tailored local inventory and dedicated personnel, who visit regularly, quickly respond to emergency needs, and provide efficient inventory management solutions. Fastenal’s service-oriented business network includes the world’s largest industrial vending program, 14 regional distribution centers, 8 custom manufacturing facilities, thousands of delivery vehicles, and industry-leading sourcing, quality and engineering resources.

Flying Lizard Hopes to Build on Recent Success at Road America

By
Official Release
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ELKHART LAKE, Wis,. (August 16, 2022) – Following a productive double-podium weekend at Watkins Glen International, the drivers and team members of Flying Lizard Motorsport journey to Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin for the next two rounds of the GT America powered by AWS and Pirelli GT4 America championships. Racing a pair of Aston Martin Vantage GT4 cars with race car drivers Elias Sabo and Andy Lee, the team will be closing out their third event at Road America in four weeks after their Porsche Sprint Challenge and Lamborghini Super Trofeo efforts previously raced on the fan-favorite road course.

“I’m really looking forward to this upcoming weekend,” said Program Manager Darren Law. “Road America is one of the greatest tracks in the United States not only to race on, but the entire atmosphere during the race weekend is amazing. Moving into the second half of the season, the point battle is close, the Aston Martin Vantage GT4 is really working well. Elias, Andy, and the entire team have been on such a great run since the start of the year, and we have a lot of momentum coming into this weekend.

The weekend will begin with the annual Fanatec GT World Challenge Parade and Welcome Party in downtown Elkhart Lake. Featuring a race car parade from the circuit to Siebkens Resort, live music, an autograph, and race cars on display, beginning at 5:00 PM Eastern.

GT America powered by AWS

Though he put in one of his best race performances all year, while racing for podium positions the previous two rounds of the GT America series at Watkins Glen, did not go as expected for Sabo. After contact from other cars set back the No. 8 Aston Martin to finish further down the charts, Sabo will be fired up, ready to rebound this weekend at Road America. Twenty-seven competitors will participate in the weekend in the SRO3, GT2, and GT4 classes. The Bronze-only series holds two races per weekend, each running for 40 minutes. Race one will begin on Saturday, August 20 at 12:15 PM CT, and the series will conclude the weekend with race two on Sunday, August 21 at 9:00 AM CT. Both races will air live on YouTube.com/GTWorld.

Pirelli GT4 America powered by AWS

In Pirelli GT4 America, Sabo and Lee share the No. 8 Aston Martin Vantage in a pair of 60-minute races, each driver competing in half of the race while his co-driver completes the other half. Sabo and Lee make a formidable duo, celebrating three podium finishes in eight races. Still hunting that first win, the Flying Lizard pair have momentum on their side, riding into the weekend on a streak of three consecutive podiums. Both Sabo and Lee had their best qualifying sessions in the previous rounds at Watkins Glen International, with Sabo starting the first race in fifth and Lee from third. The team’s continued success brings them up to fifth in the Pro/Am class team standings, just three points away from fourth place. Thirty-five cars will compete in this weekend’s set of races, with race one beginning on Saturday, August 20 at 4:05 PM CT, followed by race two on Sunday, August 21 at 11:10 AM CT. Both races will air live on YouTube.com/GTWorld.

EVENT SCHEDULE | All Times Central

Thursday, August 18

5:00 PM – 8:00 PM Welcome Party at Siebkens Resort

Friday, August 19

8:00 AM – 8:30 AM GT America / Pirelli GT4 America Paid Bronze Test

8:30 AM – 9:00 AM GT America Practice 1

12:00 PM – 12:45 PM Pirelli GT4 America Practice 1

1:45 PM – 2:15 PM GT America Practice 2

5:15 PM – 6:00 PM Pirelli GT4 America Practice 2

Saturday, August 20

3:00 PM – 3:30 PM GT4 Autograph Session

8:00 AM – 8:15 AM 15 GT America Qualify

10:40 AM – 10:55 AM Pirelli GT4 America Qualify Driver 1

11:00 AM – 11:15 AM Pirelli GT4 America Qualify Driver 2

12:15 PM – 12:55 PM GT America Race 1 (YouTube.com/GTWorld)

4:05 PM – 5:05 PM Pirelli GT4 America Race 1 (YouTube.com/GTWorld)

Sunday, August 21

11:00 AM – 11:30 AM GTA Autograph Session

9:00 AM – 9:40 AM GT America Race 2 (YouTube.com/GTWorld)

11:10 AM – 12:10 PM Pirelli GT4 America Race 2 (YouTube.com/GTWorld)

DRIVER QUOTES

Elias Sabo

No. 8 Aston Martin Vantage GT4

We are looking forward to the upcoming races at Road America. We had great success at Watkins Glen with a double podium weekend. Flying Lizard continues to give us an exceptional car to drive.

Andy Lee

No. 8 Aston Martin Vantage GT4

We’ve been riding a wave of podiums and it feels like we’re gaining serious momentum heading into the Road America weekend. Despite our recent success Elias and I know we have to work harder than ever to continue our progress. Thankfully for us we have the best team in the paddock!

#

About Flying Lizard Motorsports
Based out of Sonoma, California, Flying Lizard Motorsports is one of the most iconic sports car teams in motorsports, having celebrated ten driver and team championships, as well as competed internationally at the 24 Hours of Le Mans eight times.

The Lizards burst on the American Le Mans Series scene in 2004, competing in the GT class until 2012. In 2013, the team moved to the GTC class, still competing in legendary events such as the 12 Hours of Sebring and 24 Hours of Daytona. In 2014, the team expanded its program to include running two Audi R8 LMS in the TUDOR Championship, and in 2015, again expanded the program to include two Porsches in Porsche Club racing. Flying Lizard closed out the season with a dominating win at the 25 Hours of Thunderhill with Toyo Tires, a win they repeated in 2016, 2017, and 2018. The 2020 season proved the team’s most successful to date, earning four titles in the GT4 America championship. Flying Lizard Motorsports has proven to be a championship contender no matter the race series or race car. For more information, visit lizardms.com.

About 5.11
With offices around the globe, 5.11 ABR Corp. and its subsidiaries, including 5.11, Inc., work with end users to create purpose-built apparel, footwear and gear designed specifically to enhance the safety, accuracy, speed, and performance of tactical professionals and technical enthusiasts worldwide. 5.11 products exceed rigorous standards, which have allowed the brand to establish a reputation for innovation and authenticity, and become the premier choice for those who always have to be ready. 5.11 products can be purchased online, through authorized dealers and retailers, as well as at 5.11 company-owned retail stores.

Learn more about 5.11’s best-selling gear and accessories at www.511tactical.com. Find a full list of 5.11 company-owned retail stores at https://www.511tactical.com/locations/. Connect with 5.11 on Facebook, Twitter @511Tactical and on Instagram @511Tactical and #511tactical

5.11 ABR Corp. is a subsidiary of Compass Diversified (NYSE: CODI).

5.11, 5.11 Tactical and Always Be Ready are registered trademarks of 5.11, Inc. All rights reserved.

Amber Balcaen; Rette Jones Racing Optimistic Ahead of ARCA Doubleheader

By
Official Release
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WATKINS GLEN, N.Y.: Taking a much-welcomed off-week to reset, ARCA Menards Series rookie Amber Balcaen and Rette Jones Racing trek into an ARCA doubleheader weekend with an optimistic approach beginning with Friday night’s General Tire Delivers 100 at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International.

Watkins Glen marks the second and final road course race of the season. Two days later, Balcaen and her Mark Rette-led team thunder to the Illinois State Fairgrounds (Springfield) for the first of two ARCA Menards Series races on the one-mile dirt in the Atlas 100 on Sunday, August 21.

While Balcaen will have zero laps turned at both race tracks, she is still approaching the unknown with a positive attitude in hopes that her mental approach will finally be the key to ending a frustrating summer for the driver of the No. 30 ICON Direct Ford Fusion.

“I’m happy to get another shot at a road course and hope Watkins Glen will be a good race for our Rette Jones Racing team,” said Balcaen.

“I think Watkins Glen will fit my driving style a lot better than Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course did and hopefully I’ll be able to showcase that from practice to the checkered flag on Friday night.

“Hoping the rain stays away so we can get a fair crack at getting a top-10 finish with our No. 30 ICON Direct Ford Fusion.”

Soaring past the halfway point of the ARCA Menards Series season, Balcaen and her Mooresville, N.C.-based team hope to stop a challenging six-race stretch that has resulted in an average finish of 17.1 for the freshman ARCA driver.

While Balcaen has continuously been able to showcase speed with her No. 30 ICON Direct Ford Fusion at tracks like Berlin (Mich.) Raceway, Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, Michigan International Speedway and Pocono (Pa.) Raceway to name a few – getting to the end of the race has proven to be tough as issues have prevented Balcaen from delivering her fourth top-10 finish of the year.

The popular ARCA driver and team know that there is light at the end of the tunnel and with a recent reboot approach to the season – Balcaen is remaining confident as she knows there have been plenty of positives hidden behind the negative.

“We just have to continue to focus on the positives,” explained Balcaen. “There has been a lot of bad luck and a lot that has happened outside of our control. But we showed speed at Pocono, and we showed up with speed again in the most recent race at Michigan International Speedway.

“So, we know we are capable of running consistently in the top-10, it’s just a matter of our luck turning around and hopefully the races at Watkins Glen and Springfield provide the opportunities for us to get back on track.”

While the former Late Model driver has experience on a road course last month, Sunday’s 100-laps on the dirt will be a different task even with her background and success racing on the dirt in her previous racing endeavors.

“I think this weekend will be a lot of fun,” sounded Balcaen. “My background is dirt track racing so I am excited to be on the dirt on Sunday. It will be a busy weekend but as long as everything flows smoothly it should be a really fun one as well.”

Hopeful for two additional top-10 scores on Friday night and Sunday respectively, Balcaen is focused on getting a solid pace that would put her No. 30 Rette Jones Racing team in a positive spotlight with just six races remaining after Sunday.

“Dirt racing is my background so I feel confident about the dirt race, and as far as the road course race, I know I am a lot more capable than what I showed at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course,” spoke Balcaen.

“I am just looking for big improvement turning left and right and letting our car slide perfectly on Sunday afternoon. From there, we can look ahead to The Milwaukee Mile next weekend.”

For crew chief and co-team owner Mark Rette, he is confident that his rookie driver’s positive outlook will soon pay dividends.

“Amber is not going to give up and when our luck turns for the better, she is going to deliver the finishes I know we are capable of,” offered Rette. “Everything that has happened over the last several races has been a learning experience and will help the program for the long term.

“We’ll take our battle wounds and press on. She did a great job at Michigan and we experienced a parts failure. Hopefully, a double dose of racing gives us the shot in the arm that we need to turn our season around and focus ahead on the upcoming stretch drive.”

Amber Balcaen 05.09.22a.jpg

ICON Direct will continue to adorn the primary positions on Balcaen’s race car in their 13th and 14th of 20 races this season.

ICON Direct is a manufacturer of high-quality plastic component parts for the RV industry, located in Manitoba, Canada. ICON aftermarket replacement parts are available through RV Dealers and Distributors across North America and directly through their website IconDirect.com.

The Winnipeger’s new endeavor at Rette Jones Racing will also be supported by Glenn McLeod and Sons – cementing a full Canadian roster of partners for her ARCA Menards Series rookie season.

Longtime RJR partners Ford Performance, Goodridge Fluid Transfer Systems, Jones Group Demolition and Abatement and JRi Shocks will continue their relationship with the team in 2022 and serve as associate partners on Balcaen’s No. 30 ICON Direct Ford Fusion.

RJR is co-owned by Canadian entrepreneur and former race car driver Terry Jones.

Entering Watkins Glen, Balcaen sits sixth in the ARCA Menards Series championship standings, 36 points out of fourth and 120 markers in the arrears to championship leader Nick Sanchez.

For more on Amber Balcaen, please visit amberbalcaenracing.com, like her on Facebook (AmberBalcaenRacing) and follow her on Instagram (@amberbalcaen10) and Twitter (@amberbalcaen10).

For more on Rette Jones Racing, please visit RetteJonesRacing.com, like them on Facebook (Rette Jones Racing) or follow them on Instagram (@RetteJones30) and Twitter (@RetteJones30).

The General Tire Delivers 100 (41 laps | 100.45 miles) is the 13th of 20 races on the 2022 ARCA Menards Series schedule. Practice begins on Friday, August 19, 2022, from 3:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. General Tire pole qualifying kicks off at 4:25 p.m. The event will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 and the Motor Racing Network beginning at 6:00 p.m. ARCARacing.com will also stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire weekend festivities. All times are local (ET).

The Atlas 100 (100 laps | 100 miles) is the 14th of 20 races on the 2022 ARCA Menards Series schedule. Practice begins on Sunday, August 21, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. General Tire pole qualifying kicks off at 11:15 a.m. The event will be televised live on MAVTV and FloRacing beginning at 1:00 p.m. ARCARacing.com will also stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire weekend festivities. All times are local (CT).

About Rette Jones Racing:

Headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, Rette Jones Racing (RJR) was founded in 2015 with the intent of building a successful racing operation built around the fundamentals of hard work and a never-give-up attitude.

Owned by racers Terry Jones and Mark Rette, RJR plan to field a full-time entry in 2022 in the ARCA Menards Series, while also planning to field vehicles in the ARCA Menards Series East and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) respectively.

The winning ARCA team also offers technical and setup intel as part of its technical alliance partnership program.

Must Win! Seven – Yes Seven – Former DAYTONA Champions Need Historic Coke Zero Sugar 400 Victory to Have Shot at NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs

By
Official Release
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Even though he is currently second in the points standings, defending Coke Zero Sugar 400 Champion Ryan Blaney isn’t guaranteed a spot in the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, and could be in a “Must-Win” situation in the Aug. 27 Coke Zero Sugar 400, like seven other former Daytona Champions.

Coke Zero Sugar 400 Will be the Premier Series’ Final Race of the Regular Season; Defending Coke Zero Sugar 400 Champion Ryan Blaney, Second in Points Standings, May Also Need to Repeat Victory to Advance

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (August 16, 2022) – With the NASCAR Cup Series’ regular season finale Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway less than two weeks away, seven – yes seven – former DAYTONA Champions are in a “must-win” situation if they want to have a chance to make the 2022 NASCAR Playoffs.

After this weekend’s upcoming Go Bowling at The Glen, the Coke Zero Sugar 400 will serve as the last-chance race for drivers to make the 16-playoff grid for the third consecutive year. For every driver who enters the Coke Zero Sugar 400 outside of the top 16, going to Ruoff Mortgage Victory Lane will be their only option in order to make the championship battle.

There have been 15 drivers to win thus far in 2022, which leaves just one spot available in the drive for the title. On the outside looking in are the ’lucky seven,’ former winners at the iconic “World Center of Racing.” They include:

Brad Keselowski (No. 6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford), the 2016 Coke Zero Sugar 400 Champion. His resume is stellar at DIS with three top-five efforts and six top-10s in 26 starts.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., (No. 47 JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet), the 2017 Coke Zero Sugar 400 Champion. In addition, he has a pair of top-five results. His other career triumph came at Talladega Superspeedway.

Erik Jones (No. 43 Petty GMS Motorsports Chevrolet), the 2018 Coke Zero Sugar 400 Champion and 2021 Busch Clash at Daytona Champion. He has another top-five result, along with three top 10s. Jones also captured the 2021 Busch Clash at Daytona.

Aric Almirola (No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford), the 2014 Coke Zero Sugar 400 Champion. In 21 races, he also has three top-five and four top-10 efforts.

Justin Haley (No. 31 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet), the 2019 Coke Zero Sugar 400 Champion. In just four races, he has a pair of top-10 results.

Austin Dillon (No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet), the 2018 DAYTONA 500 Champion. In 18 races at DIS, he has one win and three top-five finishes.

Michael McDowell (No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford), the 2021 DAYTONA 500 Champion. He has three top-five efforts at Daytona, as well as eight top-10 results.
And let’s not forget the two drivers who are second and fourth in the standings – Ryan Blaney and Martin Truex, Jr. respectively – who have yet to win, as well as the Bubba Wallace, who has been one of the hottest drivers over the last five races.

Blaney, the defending Coke Zero Sugar 400 Champion, currently is the 16th seed, and if a ’22 non-winning driver wins one of the next two races, he will be eliminated from playoff contention. A victory erases any doubt of making the playoffs.

Truex, who has a pair of runnerup finishes at Daytona in the DAYTONA 500 and Coke Zero Sugar 400, is the first driver on the outside looking in, and needs a triumph to advance.

Wallace also has second-place finishes in both the DAYTONA 500 and Coke Zero Sugar 400. While searching for his first victory of 2022, he has results of third, eighth, fifth, second and 13th over the last handful of premier series events.
Fans can catch this exciting conclusion to the regular season by purchasing tickets starting at $49 for adults and $10 for kids 12 and under. Fans who purchase tickets to the race can also purchase access to the UNOH Fanzone for $60 (plus grandstand ticket). Here, fans can participate in events before the race that includes the Coke Zero Sugar 400 Pre-Race Concert featuring Better Than Ezra, pre-race ceremonies, driver introductions, access to the large grass ballfield, and signing the start/finish line through the middle of the 18-degree, banked trioval. Also scheduled is LIVE entertainment on the main UNOH Fanzone Stage, including NASCAR Personalities Fan Q&A.

Tickets to the Xfinity Series Wawa 250 Powered by Coca-Cola are also available, starting at $35 for adults and FREE for kids 12 and under. The Wawa 250 takes place the day before the Coke Zero Sugar 400 on Friday, Aug. 26, and access to the UNOH Fanzone will be available before this race as well! A Two-Day Pass is available which includes access to the Coke Zero Sugar 400 on Saturday, and the Wawa 250 on Friday.

Tickets for the Coke Zero Sugar 400 and the Wawa 250 Powered by Coca-Cola can be purchased online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.

Fans can 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.

Ford Performance NASCAR: Ford and Driver Kevin Harvick Going For Third Straight Cup Win This Weekend

By
Official Release
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FORD PERFORMANCE NASCAR: WATKINS GLEN

Kevin Harvick will be going for his third straight NASCAR Cup Series win when the circuit stops at Watkins Glen International for Sunday’s Go Bowling at The Glen. That race will be preceded by the NASCAR Xfinity event on Saturday.

This Week’s Schedule:

Saturday, August 20 – NASCAR XFINITY Series, 3 p.m. (USA)
Sunday, August 21 – NASCAR Cup Series, 3 p.m. (USA)

FORD IN THE MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES AT WATKINS GLEN

· Ford has 8 all-time series wins at Watkins Glen.
· Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick have series victories at Watkins Glen.
· Mark Martin and Marcos Ambrose are the only Ford drivers to win this race more than once.

FORD IN THE NASCAR XFINITY SERIES AT WATKINS GLEN

· Ford has 9 series victories at Watkins Glen.
· Ford has won 7 of the last 9 series races held at Watkins Glen.
· Team Penske won this event 4 of the last 6 years it fielded an entry.

FORD DRIVERS CURRENTLY IN THE PLAYOFF HUNT

Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick have clinched spots in the 16-driver playoff field for the NASCAR Cup Series thanks to a pair of victories each, but Ford’s three other drivers currently in the field will have to wait before officially celebrating. Chase Briscoe and Austin Cindric have one win apiece while Ryan Blaney sits on the bubble as the top driver currently in on points. Should one of the 15 drivers who have already won a race this season take the checkered flag first on Sunday, that will lock in Cindric and Briscoe.

BLANEY ON THE BUBBLE

As noted above, Ryan Blaney is firmly on the bubble as the highest positioned driver in the point standings without a win this season. Blaney currently holds a 26-point advantage over Martin Truex Jr., but the only thing that would guarantee him a spot in the postseason with two races to go would be a victory. Blaney goes into Sunday’s race at Watkins Glen with a pair of top 10 finishes in five career starts with his best effort being a fifth-place run in 2019.

HARVICK NOW 10TH ON ALL-TIME FORD CUP WIN LIST

Kevin Harvick’s second straight NASCAR Cup Series win enabled him to break a tie with Matt Kenseth for 10th on the all-time Ford win list with 25. Harvick, who has won more Cup races in Mustang (15) than any other driver, is now only one victory away from tying Brad Keselowski, Junior Johnson and Fred Lorenzen. Here is a look at Ford’s all-time winningest drivers.

  1. Ned Jarrett…………….. 43
  2. Bill Elliott………………. 40
  3. Mark Martin…………… 35
  4. Dale Jarrett……………. 30
  5. David Pearson………… 29
  6. Joey Logano…………… 27
  7. Fred Lorenzen………… 26 Junior Johnson........... 26 Brad Keselowski......... 26
  8. Kevin Harvick…………. 25

GURNEY IS FORD’S ALL-TIME ROAD COURSE WINNER

NASCAR has competed on 16 different road courses during its history and Ford has had 21 drivers win 33 times overall. Dan Gurney leads the way with five, which included four straight wins at Riverside International Raceway from 1963-66 while driving for the Wood Brothers. Mark Martin, on the strength of three straight triumphs at Watkins Glen International from 1993-95, is second.

FORD’S ALL-TIME CUP ROAD COURSE WINNERS

5 – Dan Gurney

4 – Mark Martin

2 – Fireball Roberts, Marvin Panch, Parnelli Jones, Ricky Rudd, Marcos Ambrose

1 – Chuck Stevenson, Eddie Gray, Richard Petty, A.J. Foyt, Bobby Allison, Bill Elliott, Davey Allison, Geoffrey Bodine, Ernie Irvan, Rusty Wallace, Carl Edwards, Joey Logano, Kevin Harvick, Ryan Blaney.

FORD’S ACTIVE WINNERS

There are three current drivers who have won a NASCAR Cup Series race on a road course with Ford. The most recent winner was Ryan Blaney, who captured the inaugural event at the Charlotte Roval in 2018. Kevin Harvick, who goes into this weekend with 25 career Ford victories in just over five years, got his first with the Blue Oval in 2017 when he won at Sonoma. Joey Logano scored his Cup victory at Watkins Glen International in 2015, which completed a weekend sweep after he won the NASCAR XFINITY Series race one day earlier.

OTHER FORD WINNERS

Besides the drivers mentioned above, Ford has five other competitors who have won on a road course in either the NASCAR Cup or NASCAR XFINITY Series. Brad Keselowski (Watkins Glen NXS with Ford, 2013); Chris Buescher (Mid-Ohio NXS with Ford, 2014); Michael McDowell (Road America NXS, 2016); Chase Briscoe (Charlotte Roval, 2018 and Indianapolis, 2020); and Austin Cindric (Road America NXS, 2020).

66-FOR-66

The first time Ford won a NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International was when Marvin Panch drove the Wood Brothers to victory on July 18, 1965. There were only 19 cars in the field that day and it proved to be a Ford show as all 66 laps were led by three drivers sporting the Blue Oval. Ned Jarrett, who finished second, led the first lap before Junior Johnson passed him on lap 2. Johnson led the pack for 12 circuits until his engine blew, which enabled Panch to inherit a lead he never gave up, going the final 53 laps and making it first to the checkered flag. The win was Panch’s fourth of the season and next-to-last in his career, which ended with 17 victories.

THREE STRAIGHT

Mark Martin became the first driver to win three straight NASCAR Cup Series races at Watkins Glen International, and he capped that streak on Aug. 13, 1995 after passing Wally Dallenbach, Jr. on lap 84 of the 90-lap event. Martin, who led a race-high 61 circuits overall, held off the road racing specialist to win by one second. That victory completed a three-year run that saw him not only sit on the pole every time but lead 183-of-270 laps (68%).

FINAL VICTORY

When Chemung, NY, native Geoffrey Bodine took the checkered flag in the No. 7 QVC Ford Thunderbird on Aug. 11, 1996 he established a strategy that hadn’t been used to that point. He, along with crew chief Paul Andrews, employed an “only stop when you have to” strategy and that resulted in making only two stops in the 90-lap event, compared to three for everyone else. Bodine passed Ken Schrader with eight laps to go and then held off Terry Labonte over the final laps to win. That marked the 18th and final victory of his NASCAR Cup Series career, and it came in front of his hometown fans.

CLASSIC FINISH

One of the all-time classic finishes at Watkins Glen International came when Marcos Ambrose went slip sliding away on the final lap, but still resulted in him winning the NASCAR Cup Series race for the second straight time on August 12, 2012. In a race that had more twists and turns over the final three laps than many can remember in recent years, Ambrose was the one who survived a massive streak of oil that had been laid down on the track, allowing him to pass Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski for Ford’s third win of the season. Busch appeared to be headed toward victory, but as he came into turn one on the final lap, he slipped in some oil and got loose. Keselowski came up from behind and hit Busch, sending him spinning off the track. A battle between Ambrose and Keselowski ensued from that point with both drivers trying to avoid the slickness that had covered the course. Ambrose followed Keselowski through the grass at one point, but was able to get by in the treacherous carousel when Keselowski slid one final time.

HISTORIC SWEEP

Joey Logano became the first driver to sweep a NASCAR XFINITY/Cup weekend at Watkins Glen International when he did it in 2015. Fuel mileage ended up deciding the Cup race as leader Kevin Harvick ran out on the last turn, which allowed Logano to pass him and make it to the finish line first. The win was Logano’s first on a road course and also marked the first series triumph for car owner Roger Penske at the historic track.

FORD NASCAR CUP SERIES WINNERS AT WATKINS GLEN

1965 – Marvin Panch

1993 – Mark Martin

1994 – Mark Martin

1995 – Mark Martin

1996 – Geoffrey Bodine

2011 – Marcos Ambrose

2012 – Marcos Ambrose

2015 – Joey Logano

FORD NASCAR XFINITY SERIES WINNERS AT WATKINS GLEN

1993 – Bill Elliott

2008 – Marcos Ambrose

2012 – Carl Edwards

2013 – Brad Keselowski

2014 – Marcos Ambrose

2015 – Joey Logano

2016 – Joey Logano

2018 – Joey Logano

2019 – Austin Cindric

MSR Looking for Strong Showing in Bommarito 500

By
Official Release
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#60: Simon Pagenaud, Meyer Shank Racing Honda

Madison, Ill. (16 August 2022) – Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) will be looking for a strong finish to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES as the season enters the homestretch with Saturday evening’s running of the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway (6:00pm ET, USA/Peacock, SiriusXM Ch. 160).

Simon Pagenaud and Helio Castroneves will drive the two MSR Honda-powered entries for the 260-lap race on the tight 1.25-mile egg-shaped oval located in the St. Louis suburbs.

Following Saturday’s race, only the events at Portland (Sept. 4) and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (Sept. 11) remain on the 2022 schedule.

Both Pagenaud and Castroneves are coming off a short weekend off following a rough and tumble race on the streets of Nashville which saw Pagenaud race to ninth – while racing with a broken damper – and Castroneves to 13th.

MSR is now prepping for the fourth and final oval race of the season set for this weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway.

Pagenaud is going into the weekend with a strong record at WWTR with the Frenchman racing six times at the circuit originally known as Gateway International Raceway. He led 14 laps, with his best finish third in his debut race in 2017. Pagenaud also finished fourth in 2018 and fifth in 2019. Last year, he started fourth and finished eighth, finishing on the lead lap.

Similarly Castroneves has had several strong finishes at WWTR and is a former winner at Gateway. After placing second in his 2002 IndyCar debut, he won the 2003 race from the pole. His lone race since then was in 2017, when he started third and finished fourth. He completed a perfect 648 laps in the three races, leading 233 of them. Castroneves also ran in three Champ Car events at the circuit, finishing second after starting third in 1999.

MSR made it’s debut at WWTR in 2020 for a double-header race weekend. The team brought home 11th and 13th place finishes in 2020. Last year’s outing saw the team race to a top ten finish.

Saturday’s Bommarito Automotive Group 500 will be broadcast live on USA and Peacock starting at 6:00pm ET. SiriusXM will also host live IndyCar Radio coverage on XM Ch. 160.

Driver Quotes:

Simon Pagenaud:
“World Wide technology Raceway in St. Louis is a really interesting event because it’s a short oval, very fast and it’s the only event that we run at night. It’s very enjoyable, great racing and it’s always very tight and it’s a street fight I like to say. I’ve had some good races there – and also some not so good race there. I’m looking forward to going there with Meyer Shank Racing and try to push as far as we can and execute. We’ve improved so much every weekend, I’m very hopeful for this one.”

Helio Castroneves:

“Wow, I’m so excited to head back to Gateway. My first race there was actually in 1999 and I finished second. I lost to Michael Andretti and that was such a cool race. I love the track – it’s fun, it’s difficult. I can’t wait to go back after so many years [4 years], we are going to have a great time.”

Women In Motorsports North America Announces “WOMEN WITH DRIVE II” Driven By Mobil 1™

By
Official Release
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Tickets are on Sale now

  • INDYCAR Racer Lyn St James and CEO of GSEvents Cindy Sisson to Co-Chair Women With Drive II
  • 2-Day Summit, Oct 5-6, benefits Women in Motorsports North America and is hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway
  • Invited Keynotes and Panelists include racers, team owners, executives, industry leaders

Concord, NC (August 16, 2022) Ladies, and gentlemen, start your engines for the second annual Women With Drive II Summit (WWD II). The motorsport industry event will bring together the most successful and influential people in motorsports to discuss the current issues and needs to advance opportunities for a more diverse and inclusive environment to help grow the motorsports industry. The WWD II – Driven by Mobil 1 Summit takes place on October 5-6 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, N.C.

“WIMNA has invited an outstanding lineup of women and men in motorsports who share our brand’s passion for inclusion and a love of driving,” said Michelle Hassinger, North American OEM Marketing Manager for ExxonMobil, manufacturer of Mobil 1 – the world’s leading synthetic motor oil brand. “By ‘driving’ WWD II, our goal at Mobil 1 is to engage and energize the motorsports community that gathers to network at this world-class event.”

“We are thrilled to host the Women with Drive II – Driven by Mobil 1 Summit at Charlotte Motor Speedway and our The Speedway Club”, said Jessica Fickenscher, Chief Experience Officer of Speedway Motorsports. “We are honored to be part of an event that places importance on diversity and inclusion in motorsports as this continues to be a high priority for all of our premier entertainment facilities underneath the Speedway Motorsports umbrella.”

“I’m excited to gather successful people in motorsports who are passionate and care not only about their careers but also how they can help and welcome future generations to look at motorsports as a career,” said WWD II Co-Chair Lyn St. James. “Whether it’s encouraging STEM education or understanding how they’ve transferred their experience and skills to careers in motorsports, these women and men are in the trenches and willing to share how it happened for them and how it can happen for others.”

“WWD II – Driven by Mobil 1 includes networking, inspiring presentations from women and men in the motorsports industry, a ‘friend-raiser’ reception, a private tour of the Hendrick Heritage Center, and more, said WWD II Co-Chair Cindy Sisson. “The Keynotes and Panelist discussion will highlight stories that will explore, encourage, celebrate, and engage expanded opportunities for women and other diverse communities to become involved in motorsports.”

Schedule

WEDNESDAY, October 5th
10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.: Private tour of the Hendrick Heritage Museum
2:00-5:30 p.m. – Keynotes and Panelists – Charlotte Motor Speedway
6:00-8:00 p.m. – ‘Friend-Raiser’ Reception, Charlotte Motor Speedway

THURSDAY, October 6th
8:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m. – Keynotes and Panelists – Charlotte Motor Speedway
5:45-7:00 p.m. – Closing reception

WWD II – Driven by Mobil 1 promises to be a “must-be-there” event for women and men in the automotive and motorsports industry, educators, students, and anyone interested in learning more about career opportunities in motorsports. Seating is limited, and registration is open Click here.

About Mobil 1
Mobil 1, the world’s leading synthetic motor oil brand, is a brand that has been trusted for more vehicle miles than any one of us sees in our lifetime. Designed to empower our love of driving, Mobil 1 advanced synthetic motor oil features anti-wear technology that provides performance beyond our conventional motor oils – that means more time behind the wheel than under the hood. This technology allows Mobil 1 advanced synthetic motor oil to meet or exceed the toughest standards of vehicle manufacturers and tuning shops, all while providing exceptional protection against engine wear under normal or even some of the most extreme conditions. Not that you’d ever put your car through any extremes. Join us. For the love of driving.

About Charlotte Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway sets the standard in motorsports entertainment for fans of all ages as the only race vacation destination where fans can immerse themselves in the heart of NASCAR country. Visitors can attend one-of-a-kind race spectacles like the Coca-Cola 600 and Bank of America ROVAL™ 400; take behind-the-scenes speedway and team shop tours; explore the NASCAR Hall of Fame and drive a 700-horsepower stock car. Charlotte Motor Speedway puts FANS FIRST with a never-ending commitment to enhance the guest experience with unmatched value through affordable tickets, unparalleled pre-race entertainment and more opportunities for fans to see their favorite drivers.

About WIMNA
WIMNA is a US 501(c)3 charitable organization founded by motorsports icons Lyn St. James and Beth Paretta. WIMNA is a community of motorsports professionals devoted to supporting opportunities for women across all motorsport disciplines by creating an inclusive, resourceful environment to foster mentorship, advocacy, education, and growth, thereby ensuring the continued strength and successful future of our sport.” More information is available at https://womeninmotorsportsna.com

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