JR MOTORSPORTS TEAM PREVIEW: TRACK: Michigan International Speedway RACE: New Holland 250 (125 laps / 250 miles) DATE: Saturday, Aug. 6, 2022
Broadcast Information – TV: 3:30 p.m. ET on USA / Radio: 3 p.m. ET on MRN and Sirius XM Ch. 90
Sam Mayer No. 1 BUSDX Chevrolet • Sam Mayer has one start at Michigan International Speedway in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Mayer started 16th and raced inside of the top 10 before being involved in a multi-car incident on lap 114. • Mayer welcomes BUSDX aboard the No. 1 this weekend. BUSDX is a digital staking and rewards token built on the BNB Chain. • In 17 starts at tracks measuring between 1-2 miles in length in the NXS, Mayer has five top fives and seven top 10s, with a best finish of third at Charlotte and Texas earlier this season. • The No. 1 team battled to a seventh-place finish last week to earn their 11th top-10 finish this season.
Josh Berry No. 8 HarrisonsUSA.com Chevrolet • Josh Berry has one start at Michigan as a fill-in driver for the injured Michael Annett last season. Berry started 17th, led 24 laps and finished fourth. • The No. 8 team won their sixth stage of the season by virtue of a Stage Two win at Indianapolis last week and ran inside the top five for most of the day before finishing 14th after being spun out on the final lap. • In 26 starts on tracks measuring between 1-2 miles in length, Berry has recorded three wins (Charlotte, Dover, Las Vegas), nine top fives and 13 top 10s while leading the field for 312 laps.
Noah Gragson No. 9 Bass Pro Shops / TrueTimber / Black Rifle Coffee Chevrolet • Noah Gragson has made two starts at Michigan with finishes of second and third to post an average result of 2.5. • Over his career on 2-mile ovals in the NXS, Gragson has five starts at MIS and Auto Club Speedway, with a pair of runnerup finishes and a third on his ledger. • Gragson continues to run at the front of the field, winning a stage last week at Indianapolis to improve his series-best total in that category to eight. • Through 20 races, Gragson has compiled three wins, 10 topfive and 14 top-10 finishes. Gragson has also led the thirdPR Manager: Kristen Bauer most laps in the series this season.
Justin Allgaier No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet • In 10 previous starts in the NXS in the Irish Hills, Justin Allgaier has scored a best finish of fourth, coming in 2010. • In this event last year, Allgaier led for nine laps before coming home with a sixth-place finish. • Overall, the Illinois native has earned two top fives and six top 10s, including three in a row, at Michigan. • Through 73 starts in his NXS career on tracks 2 miles or greater, Allgaier has amassed one win (Indianapolis – 2018), 18 top fives and 37 top 10s. • With six races remaining in the regular season, Allgaier currently sits second in the NXS Playoff Grid, just 17 points off of the series lead.
Driver Quotes
“Last year at Michigan it was my first time on a track like this, so it was a huge learning curve for me. We ran inside of the top 10 for a good bit and then got caught up in a wreck that ended our day. It’ll be nice to have practice and qualifying to get a little more seat time but I know this BUSDX team is ready to go. We have been fast off the trailer lately and I know this weekend won’t be any different.” – Sam Mayer
“Michigan is going to be a fun challenge this weekend. We had a really good car here last year and I see no reason why that won’t be the case again this weekend with our BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet. Hopefully we can have a good, solid day and execute the way we have been all summer long and contend for the win at the end. I’m ready to go.” – Justin Allgaier
“Michigan is the one that really got away from us last year. We had a fast car and were able to race up into the lead with the speed we had but a late caution got us. We’re going back with the same team and I know we are going to have a fast Harrison’s USA Chevrolet this weekend. Hopefully we can go out and have that same speed and get it done this year.” – Josh Berry
“Michigan is a track that suits this Bass Pro Shops/TrueTimber/Black Rifle Coffee team. It’s wide and fast and I like that. We’ve had a couple of great runs there, second and third, and we are in the thick of the playoff battle, so a good performance is what we need. Our whole team is performing well every week and I’m looking forward to getting to MIS.” – Noah Gragson
JRM Team Updates:
• JR Motorsports at Michigan: JR Motorsports has competed in the Irish Hills a combined 39 times in the NXS. Over the course of these 39 starts at the 2-mile facility, JRM has tallied two wins (Brad Keselowski and Regan Smith), 15 top fives and 27 top 10s. The average finish for JRM at Michigan is 9.6 which ranks as the best single-track average for the organization. • BUSDX: BUSDX is a rewards token that was created on the BNB Chain, and is owned and operated by a registered United States business entity. BUSDX has a built in (X = 10%) mechanism that distributes 10% rewards in BUSD to holders automatically, while also distributing a 10% APY in BUSDX dividends when tokens are staked. Learn more here. • Chevrolet Stage: JRM drivers Noah Gragson, Justin Allgaier, Sam Mayer and Josh Berry will be at the Team Chevy display in the Michigan International Speedway fan zone on Saturday, Aug. 6. Gragson will start at 11:15 a.m. local time, followed by Allgaier at 1:15 p.m., and ending with Mayer and Berry at 1:30 p.m. • Souvenir Rig: JRM driver Justin Allgaier will be at the JR Motorsports/Hendrick Motorsports souvenir rig on Saturday, Aug. 6 from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. local time.
· NCS/NXS/ARCA: Michigan International Speedway – August 6-7
PLANO, Texas (August 3, 2022) – It’s time for the return to Motor City as the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and ARCA Menards Series compete at Michigan International Speedway this weekend.
NASCAR National Series – NCS | NXS
Bell adding to the stat book… Christopher Bell added another Playoff point in Indianapolis as the Oklahoma-native won the second stage and led 17 laps overall. In just his third season in the Cup Series, Bell is strong in several NASCAR statistical categories, including being tied for the series lead with three poles. He’s also scored the third-most top-10 finishes as his 12 top-10 finishes just trail Ross Chastain and Chase Elliott. Bell had a strong run going at Michigan last season with a second-place finish in the second stage and three laps led, before he was involved in a late-race incident. He battled back for a 13th-place finish.
Wallace on a career-best run… Bubba Wallace moved back inside the top-20 in the Cup Series point standings with his third straight top-10 finish, which is a career-best. Wallace’s fifth-place finish at Indianapolis was also a career-best road course finish. Wallace has had many strong runs at Michigan, including a Truck Series win at the track in 2017.
Gibbs plans to score another Michigan win… Ty Gibbs looks to add another Michigan trophy to his growing trophy case. The 19-year-old finished 13th in his Xfinity Series debut at the track one season ago but won in dominating fashion in the ARCA Menards Series ranks – by winning the pole and leading 99 of 100 laps.
Double duty for Smith… Sammy Smith will get to run 225 laps at Michigan International Speedway as the Toyota development driver will run both the NASCAR Xfinity Series and ARCA Menards Series events on Saturday. Smith is making just his third career Xfinity Series start but has had a very strong performance in ARCA competition with six podium finishes in seven starts this season.
Nemechek returns to SHR… For the fifth time this season, John Hunter Nemechek will be aboard the No. 26 Toyota GR Supra for Sam Hunt Racing (SHR). Nemechek has had strong runs in each event – including scoring two top-five finishes, a fourth-place run at Darlington and a fifth-place finish in Phoenix.
NASCAR Regional Series – ARCA
Heim back with Venturini… Venturini Motorsports (VMS) will see the return of Truck Series rookie leader Corey Heim as the 20-year-old is back behind the wheel of the No. 20 Toyota Camry. The eight-time ARCA winner is looking for his first Michigan triumph after finishing second one season ago.
facebook.com/ToyotaRacing Camera With Flash on Apple iOS 11.3 ToyotaRacingMedia.com
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.
Across Classes, Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing Rolls into Road America On-Form
Brownsburg, Ind. (August 3, 2022) — The Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing team heads to Road America leading the championship in the top two Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America classes, PRO and PRO|AM, while holding fifth position in the AM field. All seven drivers across four cars and three classes are looking to extend their run of good form into the second half of the season.
After sweeping Road America with a pair of wins in 2021, including their first win as teammates, Kyle Marcelli and Daniel Formal are looking to replicate that result in 2022. The dynamic No. 1 Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing drivers are sailing into Wisconsin on the winds of their first proper grand-slam, having scored both PRO poles and wins at Watkins Glen last month. With a 17-point advantage, the overall championship leaders won’t settle for anything less than success.
Aidan Yoder and Jordan Missig, drivers of the bright blue No. 53 Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing machine, tied their best result to-date at Watkins Glen with a sixth-place finish. At Road America, a track where WTR is strong, they’ll be focused on securing their first PRO class hardware.
Leading the championship in the PRO|AM class by four points, Ashton Harrison and Tom Long enter the weekend aiming for their seventh and eighth consecutive podiums. Winners of the opening race of the season, they own a perfect record of podiums since. They’ll look to continue their run of remarkable consistency and secure another victory in the red No. 25 Harrison Contracting Company with Wayne Taylor Racing LST this weekend.
Like his six teammates, Randy Sellari is riding a high entering the fourth round of the season. He achieved his second podium of the season last time out in the No. 3 JG Wentworth with Wayne Taylor Racing LST and is currently among the top-five points-scorers in the AM class.
LST Practice at legendary Road America, ‘America’s National Park of Speed,’ begins on August 4th at 3:15 p.m. ET. Green flag for Race 1 waves at 10:50 a.m. ET on Saturday, August 6th, and Race 2 starts at 2:55 p.m. ET on Sunday the 7th. Catch both halves of the double header live on IMSA.TV.
Kyle Marcelli, No. 1 Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing LST (PRO) “I’ve been very much looking forward to Road America. The venue represents the start of the second half of the championship—six rounds in with six rounds to go. It’s been a good season so far, with four pole positions, four race wins and five podiums. We’ve got a 17-point advantage right now as we lead the championship. There’s still no room to breathe. We’re still very much heads down, focused and motivated to win. Last year, Road America represented a turning point for us in the No. 1 car. We made some wholesale changes in the setup direction and really found our groove—individually and as a team. I’m so excited to return to Wisconsin for that reason. The goals remain the same as they’ve been all year. We’re taking this one event at a time with the mindset of pole positions and wins. Long term, we are trying to win this championship for the No. 1 Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing team.”
Daniel Formal, No. 1 Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing LST (PRO) “We’re back at Road America! This was our first double win. For Kyle and I, it was actually our first win of the year last year. It’s an amazing track. There was very limited track time last year and it was my first time there. I started on pole based on the practice times. Lap 1, Race 1, from pole, was my fourth lap ever on the circuit, and we went on to secure both wins. Wayne Taylor Racing has a fantastic setup for this racetrack. This year, coming off back-to-back wins at WGI and three wins in a row, we have great momentum going. Kyle and I spent some quality time together after the Glen. I went up to Canada and we got even closer. I’m super excited for Road America and I hope we can go back-to-back once again. The team has been preparing the cars and I’m super grateful for Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing—all the engineers and mechanics—I can’t wait to keep it going.”
Jordan Missig, No. 53 Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing (PRO)
“I’m super excited to be back with Wayne Taylor Racing at Road America this weekend. We had great success last year and very strong cars and we’re looking forward to competing for the same results as last year and get a couple of wins or podiums to our record. Road America has been a very strong track from me personally. It’s my home track, and I have a pretty good history of results there so I’m going in with the same mentality and mindset that I had last year. I have more confidence after my recent results are at Toronto GP and I’m hoping to continue the momentum this weekend with Wayne Taylor Racing in the Super Trofeo Series.”
Aidan Yoder, No. 53 Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing (PRO) “After seeing the success that Wayne Taylor Racing had at Road America last season in Lamborghini Super Trofeo, I am incredibly excited to hit the ground running with them this season. All my teammates agree, across the board, that this is going to be one of our best weekends because we’re heading in with a solid baseline setup. I’m looking forward to continuing to build and develop on our existing knowledge throughout the weekend. My teammate Jordan Missig is coming off a few great weekends in Indy Pro 2000 and we are making great strides as of late. I know that is going to translate directly into our Lamborghini and I’m excited to learn and develop my driving skills. My outlook on Road America is positive because it’s one of my favorite tracks to hit on the simulator and I feel like it’s such a big and diverse circuit—over four miles that offer a lot of variance for drivers to tackle. It is by no means an easy circuit and so I trust that the Wayne Taylor team will provide us with the resources needed to succeed this weekend and I’m really looking to it.”
Ashton Harrison, No. 25 Harrison Contracting Company with Wayne Taylor Racing LST (PRO|AM) “I’m super pumped to be heading back to my favorite track in the U.S. where we had good success last year as a team. I’m hoping to continue our run and extend Tom and my championship lead as we are halfway through the season. We’ve had a consistent string of podiums, and we want to climb back onto the top step! I feel that our team is quite capable of producing top results at Road America, so it’s now a matter of focusing and getting the job done.”
Tom Long, No. 25 Harrison Contracting Company with Wayne Taylor Racing LST (PRO|AM) “I’ve been so pleased with the momentum our Harrison Contracting WTR team has been building on this season. We continue to improve not only with on track results, but our continuity off track as a team to keep delivering the best car ready for the track. This process is vital in any run for the championship, and so far so good. It’s still anyone’s title, and it’ll be important to keep our head down staying focused on each step to build a strong result each race. I can’t wait to get to Road America to keep the fight alive!”
Randy Sellari, No. 3 JG Wentworth with Wayne Taylor Racing LST (AM) “The Super Trofeo is well-suited for racing at Road America. The long straights and high-speed kink are some of the best spots on the calendar for showcasing the car’s ability. Now, with the new braking package in the EVO2, it will be that much more capable around the lap. The depth of the AM field is arguably the best the series has ever seen. We are halfway through the season, and I believe that consistency and patience will give me the edge I need to continue my climb up the championship standings. WTR has very strong setups and lots of success at Road America, so it’s up to me to capitalize on that.”
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.
Spartanburg, SC – Jeremy Clements Racing is excited to step back in time with Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet in a Dale Earnhardt inspired Pink #51 machine at Watkins Glen on Saturday, August 20th. It will be the second consecutive year Kevin Whitaker Chevy will be the primary sponsor for JCR at The Glen and 10th season overall that Whitaker has supported JCR. Additionally, Circle B Diecast will make their 2nd appearance in 2022 as associate sponsor. Plus, The Runner’s Roost out of Orchard Park, NY, will make their XFINITY Series debut as associate sponsor as well.
“How cool is this car! Our partners have really brought it with the paint schemes this year. Kevin and Ryan Whitaker just added another historic one to the mix with Earnhardt’s first race car!” Clements said. “It’s always great to have Whitaker on board. They have been a tremendous supporter of ours over the years and I can’t thank them enough for their partnership” Clements finished saying.
Joining Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet as associate sponsors will be: Circle B Diecast, The Runner’s Roost, Whitetail Smokeless, Chalew, ELITE Towing & Recovery LLC, Upstate Body and Detail, Mechanix Wear, Wix Filters, Carolina Driveline, Dynamic Paint Paintware, Cometic, E3 Spark Plugs and ZMAX.
RACE PREVIEW
Track: Watkins Glen International Date: Saturday, August 20th, 2022 Broadcast Information: TV: 3:00 pm EST on USA
FAST FACTS:
Best Start 11th – 2019 Best Finish 11th – 2019 11th career start at Watkins Glen
JCR TEAM
Team: No. 51 Crew Chief: Mark Setzer Manufacturer: Chevrolet Engine: Clements Racing Engines Twitter: @JClement51 @JCR_Clements51 Instagram: @jclements51 @jeremyclementsracing Facebook: Jeremy Clements Racing
ABOUT KEVIN WHITAKER CHEVROLET
Chevrolet has an all-American image that’s helped them earn their way to the top of the totem pole of vehicle manufacturers. Fostering a diverse vehicle lineup including compact cars, mid-size cars, sports cars, trucks, and SUVs, Chevrolet is a name drivers trust when they’ve set high expectations in their vehicle.
Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet carries an extensive selection of new and pre-owned cars, trucks, vans, crossovers, and SUVs in Greenville, SC. No matter what vehicle you might have in mind, they have the perfect fit for you. If you’re looking to lease your next vehicle, at Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet in Greenville, SC, they have competitive lease specials on new Chevrolet vehicles. Their staff will make sure that your car-buying experience is pleasant and hassle-free. Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet in Greenville, SC also has an extensive collection of quality pre-owned and certified vehicles at affordable prices. Browse their online showroom at www.kevinwhitaker.net.
ABOUT RUNNER’S ROOST
For more than 4 decades, Runner’s Roost has prided themselves on outstanding customer service and a well-known reputation throughout Western New York. Whether you need a new pair of running shoes or want to check out a pair of UGGs for that special someone in your life (or even yourself), be sure to stop into Runner’s Roost for our vast selection of footwear for the entire family! Visit www.therunnersroost.com for more information.
MOORESVILLE, N.C- (August 3rd, 2022) – Tom and TJ Keen of Keen Parts (CorvetteParts.net) are proud to announce that they will run a special Autism Awareness paint scheme in this Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series New Holland 250 at Michigan International Speedway with driver Ryan Ellis and Alpha Prime Racing. The scheme was designed by the children of former NHL Player and Stanley Cup Champion Chris Thorburn and his wife Sara. Their three children, Bennett, Mary, and Oscar created the hand-drawn colorful scheme aimed at raising autism awareness.
Bennett, the Thorburn’s oldest child, is a 12-year-old avid-NASCAR fan and was diagnosed with autism at the age of four. Earlier in life, he learned number recognition and counting using toy race cars. Since seeing the effect that racecars had on him, the Thorburn family has been attending NASCAR races at Michigan International Speedway every year. Mary (5) and Oscar (2), as always, were by Bennett’s side, assisting him with the coloring of the scheme – adding, “Be a Friend”, words that will be represented on the lower quarter panel and bumper of the No.44 Keen Parts Chevy.
“We want to sincerely thank Tom and TJ Keen of Keen Parts, Alpha Prime Racing, and NASCAR Driver and friend, Ryan Ellis for this amazing opportunity. NASCAR has been a big part of our family’s life ever since we realized that Bennett was using diecast cars to recognize, learn and count numbers. We were very fortunate years ago to get introduced to the NASCAR family and have been huge fans ever since. The people throughout the sport are so caring, understanding, and willing to help no matter the cause. It truly has a family feel to it. We visited MIS 4 years ago and, with the help of Chris Biby, we were introduced to Ryan Ellis. This guy is the epitome of what we feel NASCAR is. Not only is he a great driver but he is so caring, loving, and giving. We can not thank him enough for the opportunity he and his team afforded our family. Not only was it a fun family project, but the kids will see the car that they designed run the race and hopefully bring some smiles to the families that can relate to our situation but also raise awareness for the Autism community,” said Sara and Chris Thorburn.
CorvetteParts.net, the primary sponsor of the No.44 Chevy, is a business owned by Tom and TJ Keen, sells parts and accessories for Corvette owners of all generations. They have used their sponsorship for many charitable causes and have been loyal NASCAR sponsors for over 10 years. The Keen’s graciously elected to donate much of their sponsorship space to raise awareness and support great causes. “We’re very proud to be able to support such a great cause,” said TJ Keen of Keen Parts. “Bennett, Mary, and Oscar did such a great job designing this scheme, and Tom and I are very excited to be able to have CorvetteParts.net / Keen Parts represented on their design! We’re really looking forward to seeing it on track this Saturday and we hope that the whole family is able to enjoy this weekend and hope that this assists with Autism awareness.”
“I’m so proud to be running this scheme and so thankful that Tom and TJ Keen made this a reality for the Thorburn family. They have done so much with their sponsorships to do far more than promote their company. They’ve truly used it as a platform to help other people and put smiles on people’s faces. I met the Thorburn’s a few years back at Michigan International Speedway while I was working for Go Fas Racing, ironically on a Keen-sponsored race weekend. The Thorburns could not be nicer people – you meet them and immediately feel like you’ve known them for years and we feel so lucky to just be able to do something for Bennett and their family and hope that this brings some awareness to autism. My wife [Allison] works in the mental health space and this does mean a ton to our family as well,” said Ellis, driver of the No. 44 Keen Parts Chevy.
Tune In Information:
The CorvetteParts.net / Keen Parts No. 44 Chevy Camaro will make its on-track debut at 9:00 am ET Saturday, August 5th, for a 30-minute practice session. Single-lap qualifying will take place just after practice on Saturday morning, and coverage of Saturday’s New Holland 250 will begin at 3:30 pm ET on the USA Network.
About Keen Parts:
Keen Parts is a leading manufacturer and retailer of Corvette parts and accessories. We have over thirty years of happy customers all over the world and look forward to helping you with your Corvette needs. We are not an anonymous Corvette website. Our retail shop and warehouses are located in Cleves, Ohio just north of Cincinnati. We are right off Interstate Highway I-74 and only six minutes from Cincinnati. We stock parts available for Corvettes from 1953 to the present. If you own a Corvette, we have the Corvette parts and accessories that you need! Visit www.CorvetteParts.net or call 1-800-757-KEEN (5336).
CHASE BRISCOE Michigan Advance No. 14 Rush Truck Centers/Cummins Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing
Event Overview
● Event: FireKeepers Casino 400 (Round 23 of 36) ● Time/Date: 3 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Aug. 7 ● Location: Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn ● Layout: 2-mile oval ● Laps/Miles: 200 laps/400 miles ● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 45 laps / Stage 2: 75 laps / Final Stage: 80 laps ● TV/Radio: USA Network / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Notes of Interest
● Chase Briscoe and the No. 14 Rush Truck Centers/Cummins Ford Mustang team for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) head to Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn for Briscoe’s second Cup Series start and his fourth overall NASCAR national series start on the 2-mile oval.
● In the 2021 edition of the FireKeepers 400, Briscoe’s Cup Series debut at Michigan, he started 21st and was riding comfortably inside the top-10 with just three laps to go before contact with Kurt Busch caused damage to the nose of the No. 14 Ford Mustang. While the injured car became a handful for Briscoe in the closing laps, he held on for an 11th-place finish.
● Prior to last year, Briscoe never finished outside of the top-10 in his three previous starts there, each in a different series. In his lone NASCAR Xfinity Series start in 2019, he started 14th and finished seventh. He finished ninth in his only NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start there in 2017, and second in the 2016 ARCA Menards Racing Series event.
● With 22 races complete and four remaining before the playoff field is set, Briscoe sits 15th in the driver standings with one win, earned in March at Phoenix Raceway. The win earned Briscoe a chance to make the Cup Series playoffs for the first time, provided there are no more than 16 different race winners following the Aug. 27 regular season finale at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.
● All of the SHR cars travel from race to race in haulers from Rush Truck Centers, the premier service solutions provider to the commercial vehicle industry. And those haulers are supported by the RushCare team of parts and service experts, who also provide concierge-level service and maintenance, technical support, schedule mobile service, dispatch roadside assistance, help locate the nearest dealer, and more. Rush Truck Centers is the largest network of commercial vehicle dealerships in the United States with 139 locations, and takes pride in its integrated approach to customer needs – from vehicle sales to aftermarket parts, service and body shop operations, plus financing, insurance, leasing and rental, as well as alternate fuel systems and other vehicle technologies.
● Rush Truck Centers is also a leader in all-makes parts for the commercial vehicle industry, and has released its third All-Makes Parts Catalog. The catalog features 16,000 parts from more than 125 manufacturers, the most common parts needed for commercial vehicles. No matter what brand of truck you drive, you’ll find what you need in this catalog. It also is filled with product and technical tips to help keep you up and running. Contact a local Rush Truck Centers location to pick up a copy today.
● Indiana-based Cummins, from car owner Tony Stewart’s hometown of Columbus, is a corporation of complementary business segments that design, manufacture, distribute and service a broad portfolio of power solutions. It is best known for its diesel truck engines. Since its founding in 1919, Cummins now employs approximately 61,600 people and serves customers in about 190 countries and territories through a network of some 8,000 wholly owned and independent dealer and distributor locations.
Chase Briscoe, Driver of the No. 14 Rush Truck Centers/Cummins Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing:
In the last four races, you’ve raced on the 1.5-mile Atlanta superspeedway oval, the flat, 1-mile New Hampshire oval, the Pocono triangle, and the Indianapolis road course. Does the diversity of the 2022 schedule make it tough for teams to find a rhythm?
“It’s definitely tough. You go to a road course and then you have a short track and then you’re racing in a pack and drafting. The consistency just isn’t there. I feel like, my first year, there were a lot of mile-and-a-half tracks in a row, and it was kind of easy to get in a rhythm. We haven’t had a true mile-and-a-half since the Coca-Cola 600 in May. I don’t think you can really put Atlanta in that category now, which really changes things. So, that part makes it a little tougher because the schedule is so back and forth, a lot of different racetracks. But to be fair, it should be hard to get into a rhythm. The diverse schedule makes it interesting. We’re supposed to be some of the best drivers in the world. I like how tough the schedule is but, yes, it is hard to get in a rhythm.”
Do you feel like you have a good understanding of the NextGen car and what to expect from it each week?
“I think we’re still trying to understand this new car and what it’s going to do at each racetrack. I know some people think we should know by now, but something it did at the last short track or road course may not apply when you get to the next one. The way the car reacts to things changes week to week and it’s tough to anticipate what you’re going to get. There are still tracks we’re just now getting to for the first time with this car, so there’s still a lot we need to learn about it.”
No. 14 Rush Truck Centers/Cummins Team Roster
Primary Team Members
Driver: Chase Briscoe Hometown: Mitchell, Indiana
Crew Chief: John Klausmeier Hometown: Perry Hall, Maryland
Car Chief: J.D. Frey Hometown: Ferndale, California
Engineer: Mike Cook Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland
Engineer: Marc Hendricksen Hometown: Clinton, New Jersey
KEVIN HARVICK Michigan Advance No. 4 Busch Light Apple #BuschelOfBusch Ford Mustang
Event Overview
● Event: FireKeepers Casino 400 (Round 23 of 36) ● Time/Date: 3 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Aug. 7 ● Location: Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn ● Layout: 2-mile oval ● Laps/Miles: 200 laps / 400 miles ● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 45 laps / Stage 2: 75 laps / Final Stage: 80 laps ● TV/Radio: USA / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Notes of Interest
● Where’s Kevin? At Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, of course. The 2-mile oval is the site of Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400 NASCAR Cup Series race, and Busch Light Apple is taking a “Where’s Waldo?” approach to the live broadcast starting at 3 p.m. EDT on USA. Hidden items are scattered throughout the paint scheme of Kevin Harvick’s No. 4 Busch Light Apple #BuschelOfBusch Ford Mustang, and Busch Beer is asking fans to find the secluded imagery, with the degree of difficulty increasing during each stage of the 200-lap race. Fans who find all the art can win some cool swag from Busch. To enter, just follow @BuschBeer, turn on notifications, and tweet #BuschelOfBusch and #Sweepstakes, along with the answer to each question, to win some loud-and-proud prizes.
● The FireKeepers Casino 400 will mark Harvick’s 42nd career NASCAR Cup Series start at Michigan, the most among active drivers. Since making his first start at the track on June 10, 2001, Harvick has scored five wins, 15 top-five and 21 top-10 finishes while leading 699 laps, all of which are series bests. Harvick’s five wins are two more than Kurt Busch, Kyle Larson and Joey Logano, all of whom are tied with three wins apiece. Harvick’s 15 top-fives are five more than next best Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. (10 top-fives apiece). Harvick’s 21 top-10s are four more than nearest pursuers Busch and Logano (17 top-10s each), as are his 699 laps led, which is 109 more laps than Logano (590 laps led).
● Harvick’s first NASCAR Cup Series win at Michigan came on Aug. 15, 2010. Fifteen races passed before Harvick’s second win on Aug. 12, 2018, but in that span he finished second six times, including a run of four straight runner-up finishes (2013-2014).
● The victory on Aug. 12, 2018 might have been one of the most satisfying of Harvick’s career. Upon climbing from his car on the start/finish line, Harvick waved his son, Keelan, over to grab the checkered flag. Then after Harvick completed his TV interview, a then 6-year-old Keelan rode with his dad around the racetrack and on to victory lane. It was a tradition that continued a year later when Harvick successfully defended his win at Michigan. This time, Keelan joined his dad on pit road and rode in the car en route to the frontstretch, riding shotgun as Harvick performed an epic burnout on the way to the start/finish line to pick up another checkered flag.
● That batch of second-place finishes in 2013-2014 served as a prelude to Harvick scoring a batch of wins. From August 2019 through all of 2020, Harvick won every NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan. The three-win streak began with a victory on Aug. 11, 2019 and then culminated with a sweep of the 2020 doubleheader. In taking back-to-back checkered flags Aug. 8-9, 2020 at Michigan, Harvick became the first driver to win two Cup Series races on consecutive days since Richard Petty in 1971 when Petty won July 14 at Albany-Saratoga Speedway in Malta, New York, and July 15 at Islip (N.Y.) Speedway. Harvick’s sweep of the 2020 Michigan doubleheader earned him an accolade no other driver had ever achieved – the first NASCAR Cup Series driver in history to win on back-to-back days at the same track.
● Harvick was a eyeing a record-tying fourth straight Michigan victory when he rolled into the 2-mile oval for last year’s FireKeepers Casino 400. Ultimately, it proved not to be as Harvick finished 14th, leaving Bill Elliott as the sole record holder for most consecutive NASCAR Cup Series wins at Michigan with four, as the NASCAR Hall of Famer swept the track’s slate of races in 1985 and 1986. Nonetheless, Harvick is one of just 10 drivers who have earned consecutive wins at Michigan, joining Bobby Allison (1971 sweep), David Pearson (1972 sweep-1973 and 1974-1975), Cale Yarborough (1983 sweep), Elliott (1985 sweep-1986 sweep), Bobby Labonte (1995 sweep), Mark Martin (1997-1998), Ryan Newman (2003-2004), Greg Biffle (2004-2005 and 2012-2013) and Kyle Larson (2016-2017 sweep).
● Harvick hasn’t finished outside the top-15 at Michigan since a 29th-place result in June 2015. To provide some context to the length of this streak, here are some pop-culture anecdotes from seven years ago…
● Gas was $2.08 a gallon.
● The No. 1 song was “See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth.
● The No. 1 movie was “Jurassic World”, which earned $1.67 billion at the box office.
● CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory” and “NCIS”, in their ninth and 13th seasons respectively, were the most-watched comedy and drama on TV.
● The Golden State Warriors won its first NBA championship in 40 years, defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in six games. The Warriors have gone on to win three more NBA titles, including this year’s championship.
● Harvick has flexed his muscles outside of the NASCAR Cup Series at Michigan. In 11 career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at the track, Harvick has a win (August 2003), four top-fives and nine top-10s. And in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Harvick has a win (August 2011) and two top-fives and four top-11s.
● All of these statistics and anecdotes make Harvick the apple of one’s eye at Michigan, which is fitting since the 2014 NASCAR Cup Series champion will race the No. 4 Busch Light Apple Ford Mustang at the 2-mile oval. Busch Light Apple is a crisp, refreshing, apple-flavored lager with a touch of sweet on the front end and a clear, beer finish on the back end. It is available for a limited time only NATIONWIDE for its LAST YEAR EVER in 12-, 24- and 30-packs at a store near you.
Kevin Harvick, Driver of the No. 4 Busch Light Apple #BuschelOfBusch Ford Mustang
Michigan marks a return to a high-speed intermediate track after running a variety of tracks through the summer. Can the knowledge learned early in the year at Fontana and Las Vegas be applied to Michigan, or were those races so long ago that it’s no longer applicable?
“I think it’s going to make it a bit irrelevant just because of the fact that California is so rough, and I think a lot of those things – you’ll be able to run the car a lot lower, a lot closer to the stops, things that you can’t do at California. I think it’ll be more aerodynamically sound than probably what it was at California because you can be more aggressive on the shock stops.”
We’ve heard the adage of, “Slow down to go fast,” and that seems to be used a lot at Michigan. What does that mean and how does it apply to Michigan?
“Michigan is one of those places where you don’t want to miss the center of the corner. You want to be on the throttle at the center of the corner and get that good exit speed to make the straightaway as long as you can. So the less you can touch the brake pedal and the more time you can spend on the throttle to make those straightaways as long as possible, the better speed you’re going to make. And Michigan in the past has been pretty line-sensitive, so you’ve just got to be careful about where you are on the racetrack. And if you miss that on the entry, it just screws the whole corner up.”
You’ve enjoyed a lot of success at Michigan. Does that experience have any bearing when you return there with the NextGen car?
“Maybe. You can have a baseline interpretation, but it seems to have migrated in a number of different directions at different racetracks and different scenarios this year just because of the different characteristics that come with the car. Places that we haven’t been, you just don’t really know where it’s going to go. You go to some of these places, I think Darlington is a good example, where California, Darlington, places that have been super rough, have been really difficult to navigate in traffic, and even by yourself sometimes, because of the way that the cars bounce around.”
Your son, Keelan, has helped you celebrate victories at Michigan. Describe those moments and how it all came together.
“Honestly, that was something we had talked about beforehand. That was what he wanted to do. He wanted to get into the car and ride around after we won. He likes going to Michigan because they have a great ice cream shop and he can go to the golf course and drive a golf cart. That was after he had stuffed a golf cart into the big pine tree in the morning, and then during the day he told me, ‘Dad, if you win today, can I come out on pit road and ride in the car?’ My biggest concern right there was making sure he didn’t burn his butt because those cars and bars and everything are hot. So he had to sit over there and ride along. But what a cool experience. During pre-COVID races and things that we were doing, he was not racing and he was traveling with me, and a lot of times it was just he and I and we found all these spots at different places. But Michigan became one of his favorite places because that’s where he drove his quarter midget and we got to go to the go-kart track and go to the golf course, and the ice cream shop is always the biggest hit. And, obviously, that was his creation, riding in the car.”
Looking back, was it more special for him or for you?
“For me, those moments are really cool just because of the fact that they don’t stay that small very long. I look at how small he was in the videos from that race and, as you look through those old videos, it seems like it was forever ago because now I look at him and he’s twice the size as he was then. So those are just things you will have forever, and to be able to experience that was pretty neat.”
What kind of an influence do moments like that have on his affinity for racing?
“That’s really hard to tell. At that particular point, he drove the quarter midget at the little oval in Michigan for the first time. We had raced a little bit a year-and-a-half or so after that but, up until that point, his love of racing was really just going to the racetrack and being around the things that we could do before they kick all the kids off the pit box. He loves sitting on the pit box and being in the garage and being around all the guys and, still to this day, every time he’s there he helps Turkey (Jamie Turski, tire specialist) sets the air pressures on the car, so he just likes being around it. And you watch him race now, you realize how much he’s been around racing because he does things that you don’t tell him about or to do. And you say, ‘Why did you do that?’ And he’ll say, ‘Well, I saw this happen or that happen.’ He’s been around racing, really, since he’s been born and been at the racetrack because that’s just what we did. We took him to the racetrack and we went and raced and those experiences that we’ve gathered over the years are something that he’s just watched happen. His love of racing is really just his life of racing. We’re just a family who grew up around racing as kids, and now our kids are growing up around racing in a sport that’s just a generational sport, where you go from one generation to the next, and the kids just learn about it.”
No. 4 Busch Light Apple #BuschelOfBusch Team Roster
Primary Team Members
Driver: Kevin Harvick Hometown: Bakersfield, California
Crew Chief: Rodney Childers Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina
Car Chief: Robert “Cheddar” Smith Hometown: Whitewater, Wisconsin
Engineer: Dax Gerringer Hometown: Gibsonville, North Carolina
Engineer: Stephen Doran Hometown: Butler, Pennsylvania
Spotter: Tim Fedewa Hometown: Holt, Michigan
Over-The-Wall Members
Front Tire Changer: Daniel Coffey Hometown: Granite Falls, North Carolina
Rear Tire Changer: Daniel Smith Hometown: Concord, North Carolina
Tire Carrier: Jeremy Howard Hometown: Delhart, Texas
Jack Man: Brandon Banks Hometown: High Point, North Carolina
Garcia, Taylor looking to build on team’s eight previous Road America wins
DETROIT (Aug. 3, 2022) – Corvette Racing is going from the shortest track on the IMSA schedule to the longest when the team and the rest of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship return to spacious Road America for the IMSA Fastlane SportsCar Weekend.
The 4.048-mile, 14-turn road course is one of the most revered on the IMSA calendar with high speeds, big braking zones and heavy g-loads under cornering. It also is one of Corvette Racing’s most successful venues with eight victories for the program and 14 IMSA wins for Chevrolet as a manufacturer.
In the two-hour, 40-minute race, Antonio Garcia and Jordan Taylor will continue their push for their third straight IMSA Drivers Championship in the No. 3 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C8.R.
After seven races, the pairing have one win on the season – at Sebring – and sit second in the Drivers Championship in the new GT Daytona (GTD) PRO category.
Garcia and Taylor were GT Le Mans (GTLM) winners at the circuit in 2020 – the first year of the C8.R. With the class discontinued for 2022, this is the first time for Corvette Racing in GTD PRO at Road America. There are a number of differences – more weight and less power, for example – but the biggest change will be the GTD-spec tire from Michelin on the Corvette instead of the “confidential” Michelins that were designed specifically for the C8.R over the course of two-plus years.Road America is usually notorious for eating up tires with high levels of degradation. Despite a lack of overall pace throughout the season, the No. 3 Corvette has remained in championship contention due in large part to its tire management, engineering strategy and crew execution. Road America and the Corvette brand have a lengthy history dating back nearly 60 years. Chevrolet routinely used the track to test and validate the performance of early-generation Corvettes with that tradition continuing into the present day. Road America was the site of the first on-track running of the Corvette C8.R in 2018, and the mid-engine Corvette continues to write new chapters each weekend. Chevrolet Motorsports Display On-Site at Road AmericaIn addition to the many series and events on the racetrack at Road America, fans will have plenty to see and experience from Chevrolet. The Chevrolet Motorsports Display will be full of Chevy vehicles that spectators can learn more about throughout the weekend. The Chevrolet Motorsports Display opens at 8 a.m. Friday and Saturday plus 7:30 a.m. Sunday and is located in the Fan Midway in the Road America main paddock. Numerous Chevrolet vehicles and other highlights include: • The 2023 Corvette Z06 convertible• Additional Chevrolet products such as Blazer RS, Silverado ZR2, TrailBlazer Activ, Camaro 2SS and Colorado ZR2 • A Corvette Racing C8.R showcar• An opportunity to receive a 2022 Corvette Racing t-shirt The IMSA Fastlane SportsCar Weekend from Road America is scheduled for 10:40 a.m. CT on Sunday, August 7. The race will stream live on Peacock and air same-day beginning at noon ET on USA. IMSA Radio will broadcast all on-track sessions beginning with Friday afternoon’s practice at IMSA.com. The race call Saturday also will be available on XM 207 and SiriusXM Online 992.
Garcia and Taylor were GT Le Mans (GTLM) winners at the circuit in 2020 – the first year of the C8.R. With the class discontinued for 2022, this is the first time for Corvette Racing in GTD PRO at Road America. There are a number of differences – more weight and less power, for example – but the biggest change will be the GTD-spec tire from Michelin on the Corvette instead of the “confidential” Michelins that were designed specifically for the C8.R over the course of two-plus years.
Road America is usually notorious for eating up tires with high levels of degradation. Despite a lack of overall pace throughout the season, the No. 3 Corvette has remained in championship contention due in large part to its tire management, engineering strategy and crew execution.
Road America and the Corvette brand have a lengthy history dating back nearly 60 years. Chevrolet routinely used the track to test and validate the performance of early-generation Corvettes with that tradition continuing into the present day. Road America was the site of the first on-track running of the Corvette C8.R in 2018, and the mid-engine Corvette continues to write new chapters each weekend.
Chevrolet Motorsports Display On-Site at Road America
In addition to the many series and events on the racetrack at Road America, fans will have plenty to see and experience from Chevrolet. The Chevrolet Motorsports Display will be full of Chevy vehicles that spectators can learn more about throughout the weekend.
The Chevrolet Motorsports Display opens at 8 a.m. Friday and Saturday plus 7:30 a.m. Sunday and is located in the Fan Midway in the Road America main paddock. Numerous Chevrolet vehicles and other highlights include:
• The 2023 Corvette Z06 convertible
• Additional Chevrolet products such as Blazer RS, Silverado ZR2, TrailBlazer Activ, Camaro 2SS and Colorado ZR2
• A Corvette Racing C8.R showcar
• An opportunity to receive a 2022 Corvette Racing t-shirt
The IMSA Fastlane SportsCar Weekend from Road America is scheduled for 10:40 a.m. CT on Sunday, August 7. The race will stream live on Peacock and air same-day beginning at noon ET on USA. IMSA Radio will broadcast all on-track sessions beginning with Friday afternoon’s practice at IMSA.com. The race call Saturday also will be available on XM 207 and SiriusXM Online 992.
ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: “This will be a little different Road America than we’re used to with the GTD Corvette and the cars are racing now – both GTD and GTD PRO. You have to think about attacking the track in different ways given weight, power and other differences that are part of the GTD configuration versus GTLM. We also don’t know about tire degradation, which was quite severe there in past years. We don’t know how it will be this year on this tire but it can open up several different strategies for the race and can play a big role in the outcome. So we’ll see. One thing that hasn’t changed is how enjoyable it is to drive around Road America and in the area. It’s a highlight visit every year, but hopefully this year that includes a good result or win for us.”
JORDAN TAYLOR, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: “Road America will be an interesting one for us. Knowing where our car’s strengths and weaknesses are, this could be a tricky one for us from a pace point of view. From a tire degradation point of view, that has been our strength this season. Hopefully that will suit us. We have some ideas in the works for car development for that race, so I think we’ll go there with a little bit of a stronger package and hopefully be contending up front. We’ve been to simulator since Lime Rock, so we’ve done some running with some big swings of changes to see what comes alive. That’s been the tough thing this season with just one car on track each weekend. You don’t have the opportunities to take big risks on setups. That’s where the simulator has brought big value to us.”
2022 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship – GTD PRO (After seven of 11 Events)
Driver Standings
Mathieu Jaminet/Matt Campbell – 2,441
Antonio Garcia/Jordan Taylor – 2,226
Ben Barnicoat – 2,181
Alex Riberas/Ross Gunn – 2,170
Connor De Phillippi/John Edwards – 1,946
Team Standings
No. 9 Pfaff Motorsports – 2.441
No. 3 Corvette Racing – 2,226
No. 14 VasserSullivan – 2,181
No. 23 Heart of Racing Team – 2,170
No. 25 BMW Team RLL – 1,946
Manufacturer Standings
Porsche – 2,441
Aston Martin – 2,240
Chevrolet – 2,236
Lexus – 2,211
BMW – 2,031
CORVETTE RACING AT ROAD AMERICA: By the Numbers
• 1: As in one team, one manufacturer and one model of car for 23 years: Corvette Racing, Chevrolet and the Chevrolet Corvette.
• 4: Generations of Corvette Racing entries at Road America since 2002 – Corvette C5-R (2002-2004), Corvette C6.R (2005-13), Corvette C7.R (2016-19) and Corvette C8.R (2020-21). This year’s race is the first at the track for the GTD-spec, mid-engine racing Corvette.
• 4: Number of cars Tommy Milner passed in the final 15 minutes of the 2016 Road America race. He and Oliver Gavin went on to win in class and capture the GTLM Drivers Championship.
• 8: Number of victories at Road America for Corvette Racing, the most of any entrant in IMSA.
• 8: Pole positions at Road America for Corvette Racing by four different drivers.
• 10: Number of drivers who have won races at Road America for Corvette Racing – Gavin (four); Olivier Beretta (three); Johnny O’Connell (two); and Kelly Collins, Ron Fellows, Antonio Garcia, Jan Magnussen, Milner, Andy Pilgrim and Jordan Taylor (one each).
• 12: Fastest race laps for Corvette Racing drivers at Road America. That includes the last three seasons: Tommy Milner (2019 and 2021) and Antonio Garcia (2020)
• 14: Manufacturer Championships for Chevrolet and Corvette Racing since 2001
• 14: Number of IMSA victories at Road America for Chevrolet, the second-most of any manufacturer in IMSA
• 21: Number of Road America events for Corvette Racing counting this year’s IMSA race.
• 26: Tracks at which Corvette Racing has won races – Baltimore, Charlotte Motor Speedway, COTA, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park/Mosport, Daytona, Detroit, Houston, Laguna Seca, Le Mans, Lime Rock, Long Beach, Miami, Mid-Ohio, Monza, Portland, Road America, Road Atlanta, Sebring, Sonoma, St. Petersburg, Texas, Trois Rivieres, Utah, VIR, Washington DC and Watkins Glen
• 32: Number of drivers for Corvette Racing since 1999
• 122: Victories worldwide for Corvette Racing – 113 in North America, eight at Le Mans and one in the FIA WEC
• 261: Event starts by Corvette Racing since 1999
• 12,148.10: Number of racing miles completed by Corvette Racing in its 20 previous trips to Road America. That represents 2,993 laps or more than 102 trips across Lake Michigan.
• 345,914.02: Total number of racing miles completed by Corvette Racing since its inception. To put that in perspective, Corvette Racing is more than halfway to the distance traveled by Apollo 13 – the longest manned spaceflight in history: 622,268 miles. That means Corvette Racing has raced to the moon and more than halfway back!
Corvette Racing at Road America (wins in bold)
2002
No. 3 Corvette C5-R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell/Oliver Gavin – 2nd in GTS (Fellows pole; Gavin fastest race lap)
No. 4 Corvette C5-R: Andy Pilgrim/Kelly Collins – 1st in GTS
2003
No. 3 Corvette C5-R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell – 2nd in GTS
No. 4 Corvette C5-R: Oliver Gavin/Kelly Collins – 5th in GTS (Gavin pole, fastest race lap)
2004
No. 3 Corvette C5-R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell – 2nd in GTS
No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Oliver Gavin/Jan Magnussen – 5th in GT
2012
No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia – 6th in GT
No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 4th in GT
2013
No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia – 2nd in GT
No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 3rd in GT
2014
No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia – 6th in GTLM
No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 7th in GTLM
2015
No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia – 4th in GTLM
No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 7th in GTLM
2016
No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia – 6th in GTLM
No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 1st in GTLM (5th to 1st in final 15 minutes)
2017
No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia – 4th in GTLM
No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 5th in GTLM
2018
No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia – 3rd in GTLM (Garcia fastest race lap)
No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 2nd in GTLM
2019
No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia – 4th in GTLM
No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 6th in GTLM (Gavin pole, Milner fastest race lap)
2020
No. 3 Corvette C8.R: Antonio Garcia/Jordan Taylor – 1st in GTLM (Garcia fastest race lap)
No. 4 Corvette C8.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 2nd in GTLM
2021
No. 3 Corvette C8.R: Antonio Garcia/Jordan Taylor – 2nd in GTLM (Taylor pole)
No. 4 Corvette C8.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 3rd in GTLM (Milner fastest race lap)
Team Chevy high-resolution racing photos are available for editorial use.
About Chevrolet Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 80 countries with more than 3.2 million cars and trucks sold in 2020. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.
COLE CUSTER Michigan Advance No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing
Event Overview
● Event: FireKeepers Casino 400 (Round 23 of 36) ● Time/Date: 3 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Aug. 7 ● Location: Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn ● Layout: 2-mile oval ● Laps/Miles: 200 laps/400 miles ● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 45 laps / Stage 2: 75 laps / Final Stage: 80 laps ● TV/Radio: USA Network / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Notes of Interest
● After equaling his season-best finish of ninth during last Sunday on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Cole Custer and his No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang team for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) head to the Irish Hills for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn.
● Sunday’s 200-lap race will be Custer’s 98th career Cup Series start and his fourth on the 2-mile Michigan oval. In a Saturday-Sunday doubleheader weekend during his 2020 Rookie of the Year season, he posted finishes of 34th and 25th, respectively. Custer bettered those results during last year’s return to the Irish Hills with a 23rd-place finish.
● In three NASCAR Xfinity Series appearances at Michigan from 2017 through 2019, all in the No. 00 SHR Ford, Custer never finished outside the top-12 or qualified worse than seventh. His best outing was a third-place finish from the fourth starting position in 2018. He finished 10th from seventh on the grid in 2017, and finished 12th from sixth on the grid in 2019.
● Custer led 18 laps in his lone NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Michigan in August 2016, when he was behind the wheel of the No. 00 Haas Automation-sponsored entry for JR Motorsports. But an accident 17 laps from the finish foiled his victory bid.
● Riding along with Custer and his SHR Mustang is team co-owner Gene Haas’ newest holding, Haas Tooling, which was launched as a way for CNC machinists to purchase high-quality cutting tools at great prices. Haas cutting tools are sold exclusively online at HaasTooling.com and shipped directly to end users. HaasTooling.com products became available nationally in July 2020. Haas Automation, founded by Haas in 1983, is America’s leading builder of CNC machine tools. The company manufactures a complete line of vertical and horizontal machining centers, turning centers and rotary tables and indexers. All Haas products are constructed in the company’s 1.1-million-square-foot manufacturing facility in Oxnard, California, and distributed through a worldwide network of Haas Factory Outlets.
Cole Custer, Driver of the No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing
You’re headed to Michigan after a solid, top-10 run, your second of the season. You came just one spot short of another top-10 earlier this season on Michigan’s sister track, Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. Are you feeling like you have some momentum heading into the weekend?
“I’m looking forward to getting to Michigan after the weekend we had in Fontana back in February. It was just the second race with this new NextGen car and I was really happy with the progress our team made. We made really good adjustments all day and got our car better. We got a little off there at the end and I wish I did a few things different on the restarts but, overall, it was a solid day and we got some stage points. Hoping we can go to Michigan and improve on that this weekend. It’s one of those tracks where it’s tough to get everything right, but we’ve definitely got notes to go from and a little momentum on our side. We’re getting down to these final races of the regular season and guys are all fighting for those last spots in the playoffs, so things can get crazy pretty quickly.”
With the regular season winding down, what can you look back on as some of the positives so far this year?
“We’ve shown speed at times. We went to Bristol and sat on the pole. That was really cool for my first Cup pole. I’m not a dirt guy, so it was pretty surprising to me. But it was cool to have that. It was fun to go to Fontana and win the Xfinity race. And also the road courses, we’ve been pretty fast, ran top-10 at all of them but just didn’t have the finishes. Martinsville, we were good. It’s just a matter of having it all come together.”
No. 41 HaasTooling.com Team Roster
Primary Team Members
Driver: Cole Custer Hometown: Ladera Ranch, California
Crew Chief: Mike Shiplett Hometown: Amherst, Ohio
Car Chief: Tony Cardamone Hometown: Bristol, Virginia
Engineer: Lee Deese Hometown: Rockingham, North Carolina
Engineer: Scott Bingham Hometown: Lawrenceville, Georgia
Spotter: Andy Houston Hometown: Hickory, North Carolina
Over-The-Wall Members
Front Tire Changer: Josh Leslie Hometown: Mount Clemens, Michigan
Rear Tire Changer: Chris Jackson
Hometown: Rock Hill, South Carolina
Tire Carrier: Chad Emmons Hometown: Tyler, Texas
Jack Man: Kapil Fletcher Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fuel Man: Dewayne Moore Hometown: Griffin, Georgia
Road Crew Members
Mechanic: Joe Zanolini Hometown: Sybertsville, Pennsylvania
Mooresville, NC (August 3, 2022) – Spencer Boyd’s ability to attract and retain sponsors in the sport of NASCAR has shown itself again with WML Demolition & Contracting returning for a second season as a primary sponsor. The blaze orange paint scheme highlighted with a chrome number 12 will make its debut as the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series heads to Richmond Raceway on August 13, 2022.
WML Demolition & Contracting is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) offering full-service demolition services for commercial customers, government and military contracts, homeowners, and residential builders. Headquartered in Sterling, VA, WML services jobs all over the Mid-Atlantic region.
If you need a reliable demolition contractor in Southeast Queensland, consider Demolition Sunshine Coast with over 16 years of industry experience.
“The new paint on this year’s WML truck is sick!” exclaimed Spencer Boyd. “They wanted something that would stand out, scream demolition, and I think we have delivered. Richmond is my favorite track, and promoting Veteran-owned businesses is something I’m passionate about, so we have a great combination for this race and partnership.”
WML is named for the founder’s grandfather, a police officer, a volunteer firefighter, a businessman, and father of four. Corey Lockhart, Founder of WML, commented on the relationship with Spencer, “He’s one of us. He busts his ass day in and day out just like us. When I call him, he picks up the phone. That is the kind of person we want representing our brand.”
WML Demolition & Contracting was the primary sponsor of Boyd’s No. 20 Silverado in last season’s Richmond race.
Lockhart elaborated on his company’s involvement in NASCAR, “We love the access! I get to entertain people at the track and get so close to the action. In my business, relationships are key, and this is a great way to show appreciation to people that have helped WML along the way.”
Also at Sellcon, they ensure a safe and efficient process from start to finish and specialise in residential demolition sunshine coast for complete or partial home demolitions, strip-outs, and professional asbestos removal.
To commemorate the sponsorship, limited-edition WML t-shirts are available on www.spencerboyd.net for purchase prior to the race.
