Home Blog Page 1861

eNASCAR College iRacing Series Back in Session with Four-Race Fall Schedule

By
Official Release
-

Xfinity joins series as presenting partner with Xfinity Series race cars hitting the virtual tracks

Daytona Beach, FL (July 20, 2022) – NASCAR continues to expand into the fast-growing world of college esports, announcing the fall season of its eNASCAR College iRacing Series. The four-race schedule kicks off at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Tuesday, September 20 with students eligible to qualify for the season-opener through a 10-day time attack window.

“Expanding our presence in the college esports arena is important as we continue to reach new demographics and introduce them to the sport of NASCAR,” said Ray Smith, Director of Gaming and Esports at NASCAR. “We’re looking forward to building on a successful spring semester and having more students explore the many opportunities NASCAR and our partners can offer them in their college years and beyond.”

Earlier this year, NASCAR and NACE Starleague, the largest collegiate esports league in North America, launched the eNASCAR College iRacing Series, bringing competitive sim racing to colleges and universities nationwide. Students representing more than 250 universities across the United States participated in this spring’s three-race schedule.

New this fall, Xfinity joins Coca-Cola, Logitech, Playseat and Southern Computer Warehouse as a presenting sponsor of the series. Competitors will now race NASCAR Xfinity Series cars, replicating the look and feel of the real-life series that’s produced stars like Chase Elliott, Daniel Suarez and Tyler Reddick.

“Our work with NASCAR has always been in the spirit of inspiring and giving back to communities,” said Matt Lederer, Comcast’s Vice President, Brand Partnerships and Amplification. “Joining the eNASCAR College iRacing Series as a presenting partner gives Xfinity the opportunity to reach a younger generation of NASCAR fans while providing new avenues to education for college students and encouraging them to explore new opportunities.”

Through the support of its partners, the eNASCAR Scholarship Fund also returns, awarding the highest finishers a combined $60,000 in scholarships.

More than 13,000 students are eligible to compete in the series through NACE Starleague, which was established in 2021 as a strategic partnership between the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) and Playfly Esports. Each time attack is open to all eligible students with the top 40 students who post the fastest qualifying times advancing to the race.

Competition will once again be led via iRacing.com, the official simulation partner of NASCAR, which provides one of the top online racing simulation portals and features officially-sanctioned, laser-scanned replicas of race tracks around the world.

For more information or to register, visit https://www.enascar.com or http://playflyesports.com/.

2022 eNASCAR College iRacing Series Schedule*

Fall

·       Homestead-Miami Speedway

Qualifying: September 6 – 15

Race (80 Laps): September 20 at 8 p.m. ET

·        Auto Club Speedway

Qualifying: September 30 – October 13

Race (60 Laps): October 18 at 8 p.m. ET

·        Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course

Qualifying: October 21 – November 3

Race (35 Laps): November 8 at 8 p.m. ET

·        Nashville Superspeedway

Qualifying: November 11 – 25

Race (80 Laps): November 29 at 8 p.m. ET

*Tentative and subject to change

###

About NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 16 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR consists of three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series™), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series™, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour™), one local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series™) and three international series (NASCAR Pinty’s Series™, NASCAR Mexico Series™, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series™). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’).

About Playfly Esports

Playfly Esports connects brands to the gaming community with a focus on building industry-leading consumer activations and providing trusted go-to-market strategies for businesses looking to develop larger footprints in a rapidly evolving sector.  Additionally, Playfly Esports oversees operations, marketing, and business development for NACE Starleague, North America’s largest collegiate league with nearly 700 colleges and over 13,000 students, as it advances the competitive experience for student-athletes and provides them with an ideal place to showcase their skills. Playfly Esports works with scholastic partners at all levels including colleges & universities, state and local high school districts, athletic and activities associations, departments of education, and parks & recreation in this new endeavor.

Chandler Smith – No. 18 Charge Me Tundra TRD Pro Camping World Trucks Pocono Preview

By
Official Release
-

Chandler Smith: Driver, No. 18 Charge Me Toyota

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Overview:
Event: CRC Brakleen 150, Race 16 of 23, 60 Laps – 15/15/30; 150 Miles
Location: Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa. (2.5-mile, tri-oval)
Date/Broadcast: July 23, 2022, at noon ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR 90

Chandler Chatter:
Chandler Smith and the No. 18 Charge Me team head to Pocono Raceway for Saturday’s CRC Brakleen 150. Entering the final event of the regular season, Smith is tied for second in the point standings with his KBM teammate John Hunter Nemechek, 58 points behind Zane Smith. The 20-year old driver is locked into the playoffs via his win earlier this season at Las Vegs (Nev.) Motor Speedway.

In last year’s Truck Series race at Pocono, Smith moved from his 11th starting position to finish fifth in Stage One but had a series of setbacks in the second half of the race that relegated him to a 25th-place finish. In addition to his Truck Series start, the racing prodigy has an average finish of 7.3 across three ARCA Menards Series starts at the Pennsylvania track, including a runner-up finish in 2020.

Through the first 15 events of the season Smith ranks first among Truck Series regulars in laps completed (1952) and quality passes (540), second in average finish (9.3), third in average running position (9.628) and fourth in driver rating (98.0). He has produced one win, 96 laps led, six top-five and 10 top-10 finishes in his sophomore campaign. With eight races remaining this season, Smith has already matched the number of top-five and eclipsed the number of top-10 finishes he had in 2021.

The Georgia driver earned NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year honors in 2021 and finished eighth in the championship standings after producing two victories, one pole, 213 laps led, six top-five and nine top-10 finishes in his first full-time season. He earned his first career Truck Series victory at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway in September and in the series finale at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway earned his first career pole and swept all three stages en route to his second victory.

Across 53 career Truck Series starts, the Toyota Racing Development driver had recorded three wins, one pole, 402 laps led, 20 top-five and 28 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 13.3.

In addition to his Truck Series schedule in 2022, Smith is competing in a three-race schedule with Sam Hunt Racing (SHR). Smith finished 38th in his series debut at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway after a mid-race wreck and finished 21st at Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway. His final race with SHR will come Oct. 22 at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway.

Veteran crew chief Danny Stockman will once again call the shots for Smith and the No. 18 team in 2022. Stockman’s drivers have produced six victories at KBM across his first two seasons, including two with Smith behind the wheel in 2021. The veteran crew chief captured a Truck Series championship with Austin Dillon in 2011 and also won an Xfinity Series championship with Dillon in 2013. Stockman’s drivers have collected one win, two top-five and three top-10 finishes in Truck Series action at Pocono. Stockman was atop the pit box at Pocono for Brandon Jones’ first career Truck Series victory in 2020.

Charge Me will be the primary sponsor on Smith’s No. 18 Tundra TRD Pro Saturday at Pocono. Charge Me was founded on the principle that the electric vehicle (EV) revolution will require robust infrastructure support at all levels. Safelite, the nation’s largest provider of vehicle glass repair, replacement and recalibration services will serve as an associate sponsor on the bedtop of Smith’s Toyota this week and for 16 races as a primary sponsor throughout the 2022 season, including next week’s event at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, Ind.

Chandler Smith, Driver Q&A:
You are tied for second in the regular season standings heading into Saturday. Do you race for stage points in an effort to finish second in the points or do you go for a strategy to race for the win?
“We just have to maximize our day overall and keep the bigger picture in clear sight. Our strategy will depend on where we are running near the end of the two stages and if we think we have a truck capable of winning. Ideally, you’d like to win the race and finish second in the regular season standings at the same time and maximize the amount of playoff points you earn heading into next week.”

What is the trickiest part at “The Tricky Triangle?”
“The trickiest part is probably the tunnel turn. You have to set yourself up well on entry to have a good exit and then that determines the overall speed that you carry all the way to Turn 3, which is a lot of lap time.”

How important is it to have a strong run on Saturday and have momentum heading into the start of the playoffs?
“Have a strong run Saturday as we get ready to start the playoffs will be huge. We had a solid run at Mid-Ohio and if we can have another one at Pocono then that momentum will be good for our team, and everyone will enter the playoffs with a positive attitude.”

Chandler Smith Career Highlights:

  • Across 53 career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts has recorded three wins, 402 laps led, 20 top-five and 28 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 13.3.
  • Earned NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year honors in 2021 and finished eighth in the championship standings after producing two victories, one pole, 213 laps led, six top-five and nine top-10 finishes in his first full-time season. He earned his first career Truck Series victory at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway in September and in the series finale at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway earned his first career pole and swept all three stages en route to his second victory.
  • Has posted an average finish of 29.5 across two NASCAR Xfinity Series starts in 2022, with a best result of 22nd coming at Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway.
  • Has collected nine wins, 10 poles, 1783 laps led, 22 top-five and 29 top-10 finishes en route to an average finish of 5.4 across 34 career ARCA Menards Series starts.

Chandler Smith’s No. 18 Charge Me Tundra:

KBM-75: The No. 18 Safelite team will unload KBM-75, a brand new Tundra TRD Pro for Saturday’s race at Pocono.

KBM Notes of Interest:

  • Across 29 starts at Pocono Raceway, KBM drivers have earned six wins, two poles, 276 laps led, 14 top-five and 22 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 8.6 and an average finish of 9.1.
  • John Hunter Nemechek picked up the win in last year’s event. Brandon Jones picked up his first career Truck Series victory in 2021, Kyle Busch won in 2015 and 2018, William Byron was victorious in 2016, and Christopher Bell brought home the hardware in 2017.
  • KBM holds the Camping World Truck Series records for most career wins (95) and most wins in a single season (14 in 2014). With his victory at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway, Corey Heim became the 18th different driver to win a Truck Series event for KBM. In addition to collecting a series-record seven Owner’s Championships, the organization has produced two championship-winning drivers: Erik Jones (2015) and Christopher Bell (2017).
  • The No. 18, the number which was on the first Tundra that went to victory lane for KBM in 2010, has 24 career victories.

Ford Performance NASCAR: Pocono Advance

By
Official Release
-

FORD PERFORMANCE NASCAR: POCONO ADVANCE

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will crown a regular season champion this weekend at Pocono Raceway while drivers in the NASCAR XFINITY and NASCAR Cup Series continue their march to the playoffs with races on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Here’s a look at where Ford stands in each series going into this weekend.

This Week’s Schedule:

Saturday, July 23 – NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, 12 Noon ET (FOX)
Saturday, July 23 – NASCAR XFINITY Series, 5 ET (USA)
Sunday, July 24 – NASCAR Cup Series, 3 p.m. ET (USA)

FORD IN THE NASCAR CUP SERIES AT POCONO

· Ford has 24 all-time series wins at Pocono.
· Chris Buescher (2016), Ryan Blaney (2017) and Kevin Harvick (2020) have Ford wins at Pocono.
· Bill Elliott got Ford’s first series win at Pocono in 1985 (season sweep).

FORD IN THE NASCAR XFINITY SERIES AT POCONO

· Ford is the first manufacturer with multiple Pocono wins in the series.
· Ford has 4 victories in 6 all-time series starts.
· Brad Keselowski (2017), Cole Custer (2019), Chase Briscoe (2020) and Austin Cindric (2021) have track wins.

FORD IN THE NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES AT POCONO

· Ford has one series win at Pocono (Ryan Blaney, 2013).
· This will mark the 13th series race at the track.
· Zane Smith finished 8th in this event a year ago.

SMITH CLOSING IN ON NCWTS REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP

As the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series prepares for its final race of the regular season this weekend at Pocono Raceway, Zane Smith is focused on adding those 15 bonus points that come with finishing first in the point standings. Smith goes into the event with a 58-point advantage and needs only two points to clinch the championship. He has been on a hot streak of late, which includes four straight finishes of third or better and 12 top-10 finishes in the last 13 races.

BLANEY GETS FIRST CUP VICTORY

Ryan Blaney earned his first NASCAR Cup Series four years ago at Pocono Raceway, giving the Wood Brothers their 99th all-time series win. Blaney held off Kevin Harvick over the final seven laps to win the Pocono 400 after overcoming a loose wheel only 19 laps into the event. He found himself in position to win after the caution came out with 19 laps to go. Kyle Busch opted to stay out while all of the other contenders behind him pitted, including Blaney who got four fresh tires and restarted fourth. A major battle between Busch and Blaney resulted, but the newer tires proved to be too much as Blaney eventually got by with nine laps to go. He couldn’t breathe easily, however, as Harvick started to reel him in, but could never pull alongside to challenge.

BUESCHER JOINS FIRST-TIME WINNERS CLUB AT POCONO

Chris Buescher is another Ford driver who posted his first NASCAR Cup Series win at Pocono when he won the rain-shortened Pennsylvania 400 in 2016. Buescher led the final 12 laps and qualified for the playoffs as the scheduled 160-lap race was called after 138 circuits. It represented the second series win and first playoff qualification for Front Row Motorsports, which Buescher drove for in 2016 after the organization entered into an alliance with Roush Fenway Racing.

ELLIOTT SWEEPS IN 1985

Ford reached victory lane at Pocono Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series for the first time on June 9, 1985 when Bill Elliott beat Harry Gant to win the Van Scoy Diamond Mine 500. Elliott was able to pass Gant with 11 laps remaining, shortly after a restart, to claim Ford’s first win at the facility. Elliott, who also started on the pole, was helped by four cautions over the final 25 laps and won for the sixth time as he led 32 of the 200 circuits. It marked the front end of what would eventually be a season sweep for Elliott at Pocono as he won a few weeks later on July 21.

KULWICKI’S FINAL WIN

When Alan Kulwicki won the Champion Spark Plug 500 on June 14, 1992 it marked the final victory of his NASCAR Hall of Fame career. Kulwicki, who was voted into the Hall in 2019, passed Bill Elliott with 11 laps remaining to cap a day that saw 15 cars drop out before the checkered flag flew, including 11 engine failures. In a precursor to what happened a few months later at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Kulwicki and Elliott battled down the stretch as they exchanged the lead multiple times over the final 25 laps. Kulwicki passed Elliott for the top spot on lap 181, but traffic slowed him down to the point that five laps later the two swapped positions. Mark Martin made it a three-way battle, but Kulwicki ultimately prevailed as he got by both drivers on lap 190 and never looked back. Kulwicki, who won five series races overall, went on to win the championship later that year over fellow Ford drivers Elliott and Davey Allison.

FORD NASCAR CUP SERIES WINNERS AT POCONO

1985 – Bill Elliott (Sweep)

1988 – Bill Elliott (2)

1989 – Terry Labonte and Bill Elliott

1990 – Geoffrey Bodine (2)

1992 – Alan Kulwicki (1)

1994 – Rusty Wallace and Geoffrey Bodine

1995 – Dale Jarrett (2)

1996 – Rusty Wallace (2)

1997 – Dale Jarrett (2)

1998 – Jeremy Mayfield (1)

2000 – Jeremy Mayfield and Rusty Wallace

2001 – Ricky Rudd (1)

2002 – Dale Jarrett (1)

2005 – Carl Edwards and Kurt Busch

2008 – Carl Edwards (2)

2010 – Greg Biffle (2)

2016 – Chris Buescher (2)

2017 – Ryan Blaney (1)

2020 – Kevin Harvick (1)

FORD NASCAR XFINITY SERIES WINNERS AT POCONO

2017 – Brad Keselowski

2019 – Cole Custer

2020 – Chase Briscoe

2021 – Austin Cindric

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES WINNERS AT POCONO

2013 – Ryan Blaney

The MB Market Announces Live Online Auction of the “Hammer” – the “Mythical” 1988 Mercedes-Benz 6.0L AMG Coupe

By
Barry Albert
-
The “Mythical” 1988 Mercedes-Benz 6.0L AMG Coupe. (Image courtesy of The MB Market)

NEW YORK (July 20, 2022) – The MB Market, the world’s first and only online auction platform dedicated exclusively to Mercedes-Benz, has announced that the auction of a rare 1988 Mercedes-Benz 6.0L AMG “Hammer” Coupe is now live online at https://thembmarket.com/1988-mercedes-benz-6-0-amg-hammer-coupe. The auction will end on August 4, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. EST.

This “Pre-Merger” AMG Hammer coupe is one of only 13 Hammers built by AMG in the United States and one of an estimated five Hammer coupes built for the U.S. market.

“We at The MB Market are privileged to offer this previously undiscovered AMG Hammer coupe, which has not been offered for sale publicly for over 25 years and has remained under the care of the current owner for nearly two decades,” said Blakley Leonard, co-founder of The MB Market.

“Experiencing the car firsthand was a special event given the historical significance of the Hammer and the car is even more impressive in person.”

This is the first time an AMG Hammer is being offered for sale via a U.S.-based auction or any online auction platform worldwide.

“The MB Market is proud to be the first in this arena and further solidify our position as the premier outlet for buying or selling Pre-Merger AMG and all Mercedes-Benz vehicles,” said Leonard.

At the time this car was built, AMG was still an independent tuning company separate from Mercedes-Benz. It was built by AMG North America in Westmont, Illinois, during an era when, notoriously, “the only limitation on what could be done to your Mercedes-Benz was the size of your bank account,” added Leonard.

It’s estimated that approximately 30 AMG Hammers were produced worldwide, with only 13 of those built for the North American market and less than five in the desirable coupe variant. It is from the Hammer that the lineage for all modern “luxury performance” cars can be directly traced.

“This is the car that started it all: the mythical AMG Hammer,” Leonard offered.

After the car was built in Illinois by AMG, Andy Cohen of Beverly Hills (Calif.) Motoring reportedly sold the car to a gentleman who drove the car from Beverly Hills to Las Vegas on his first day of ownership. Upon arriving in Las Vegas, he was pulled over for speeding and the car was subsequently seized by the D.E.A. after some illegal substances were found in the car.

The car was then purchased from a state auction by Rob Deer, former MLB pro baseball player. Deer owned the car for two years before trading it to Symbolic International where it was then sourced by the current seller on behalf of the next owner. It was then reacquired by the seller in 2006 and stored until last year.

“This is more than a car,” continued Leonard. “This is an opportunity to own a piece of automotive history. The car that set the standard for the high-performance luxury sedan as we know it today, and the car that permanently affixed AMG among the all-time greats.

“Without the insane experiment undertaken by AMG to stuff a nearly 400hp, hand-built V8 into a mid-sized luxury sedan, an entire segment of the modern automotive marketplace might not even exist.

“The condition, rarity and performance of this example pair perfectly with a sinister color combination that should only increase the car’s overall desirability in the future.”

About The MB Market:
The MB Market is the world’s first and only online auction platform dedicated exclusively to Mercedes-Benz. Founded in 2019, The MB Market has quickly established itself as one of the premier automotive auction platforms by providing insight and analysis on the individual vehicles listed as well as the Mercedes-Benz collector marketplace as a whole. This expertise is derived by the fact that The MB Market is owned and operated by three life-long Mercedes-Benz collectors and enthusiasts who understand the cars and their market trajectory better than any other online auction platform. Technology, as well as recent resource/inventory shortages, have changed the way consumers buy and sell vehicles today. The automotive sales market has shifted away from both brick and mortar dealerships and even traditional “live” auction houses when buying and selling enthusiast cars. Online auction platforms are quickly becoming the first choice for savvy, informed car buyers and sellers due to the wealth of information provided on each car listed, the ability to interact and ask questions to sellers directly, and the presence of a shared community of other users/commenters to help identify key points about the vehicle(s) being represented. Unlike on The MB Market’s marque-specific auction platform, Mercedes-Benz vehicle listings on other, non-specialized auction sites https://www.facebook.com/thembmarket to overlook details specific to these vehicles that are only rote to informed Mercedes-Benz owners and enthusiasts. In addition, many otherwise strong vehicle listings risk getting “lost in the shuffle” when hundreds of other cars are being sold each day on “bulk” automotive auction sites; thus negatively affecting the final sale value. The MB Market is able to combat some of these negative aspects of the burgeoning online auction space by staying laser focused on its area of expertise and committing all resources to best representing the Mercedes-Benz marque. thembmarket.com, https://www.facebook.com/thembmarket, https://www.instagram.com/thembmarket

Pato O’Ward to reach 50 IndyCar career starts at Iowa

By
Andrew Kim
-
Photo by Joe Skibinski (Penske Entertainment).

Competing in his third full-time season in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, Patricio “Pato” O’Ward is primed for a milestone start. By competing in this weekend’s doubleheader feature at Iowa Speedway, the driver of the No. 5 Arrow McLaren SP Dallara-Chevrolet will achieve 50 career starts in the IndyCar circuit. 

A native of Monterrey, Mexico, O’Ward made his IndyCar debut at Sonoma Raceway in September 2018, which marked the final race of the season. By then, he had achieved the 2018 Indy Lights championship title for Andretti Autosport. Driving the No. 8 Dallara-Chevrolet for Harding Racing, O’Ward started fifth and finished ninth in his debut.

The following season, O’Ward, who departed Harding Steinbrenner Racing due to sponsorship issues that prevented him from competing with the team on a full-time basis, joined Carlin on a part-time basis in the No. 31 Dallara-Chevrolet. During his first start of the season at the Circuit of the Americas in March, he started and finished a season-best eighth. O’Ward returned for the next five of six events of the schedule, where he finished 12th at California’s Long Beach Street Circuit in April and 11th at The Raceway at Bell Isle, Michigan during a doubleheader feature in June. The low point for O’Ward during this span was failing to qualify for the 103rd running of the Indianapolis 500 in May. His seventh and final start of the season was at Road America in June, where he started 13th and finished 17th.

For the 2020 IndyCar season, O’Ward joined Arrow McLaren SP as driver of the No. 5 Dallara-Chevrolet. Commencing the season with a 12th-place result at Texas Motor Speedway in June and two consecutive eighth-place results during the following two events, O’Ward came within striking distance of claiming his maiden IndyCar victory in the second of a Road America doubleheader feature in July. Starting on pole position for the first time in his career, he led a race-high 43 of 55 laps but was overtaken by future teammate Felix Rosenqvist on the penultimate lap as he settled in a career-best second place.

Three races later, O’Ward notched a strong sixth-place result in the 104th running of the Indianapolis 500 in August, where he was named the Indy 500 Rookie-of-the-Year recipient. The following weekend during a doubleheader feature at Gateway Motorsports Park, he notched two consecutive podium results and was up in fourth place in the standings. When the season concluded at the Streets of St. Petersburg in October, O’Ward, who notched his third runner-up result, capped off his first full-time campaign in IndyCar competition in fourth place in the final standings along with a pole and four podiums.

Remaining at Arrow McLaren SP in 2021, O’Ward started the season on a strong note by starting on pole and finishing in fourth place at Barber Motorsports Park in April. Three races later and during the second of a doubleheader feature at Texas Motor Speedway, O’Ward scored his maiden IndyCar victory following a late battle with Josef Newgarden. As a result, O’Ward became the first Mexican competitor to win in the IndyCar Series since Adrian Fernandez won at California Speedway in October 2004. He also recorded the first victory for the team that was once Schmidt Peterson Motorsports since James Hinchcliffe won at Iowa Speedway in July 2018. By winning at Texas, O’Ward fulfilled a deal made with McLaren CEO Zak Brown prior to the 2021 season, where the rising Mexican star would receive a McLaren F1 test at season’s end if he recorded a victory in the IndyCar circuit.

Four races following his maiden IndyCar victory, O’Ward achieved his second career victory in the second of a Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix doubleheader feature at the Belle Isle Street Circuit in June following another late battle against Newgarden. By then, he emerged with a one-point advantage in the drivers’ standings.

As the 2021 IndyCar season progressed, O’Ward remained in the cusp of a close championship battle against Alex Palou, Josef Newgarden and Scott Dixon. After finishing second at Gateway’s World Wide Technology Raceway in August, O’Ward was leading the standings by 10 points over Palou. During the following two events, however, Palou, who won at Portland during this span while O’Ward managed a fifth-place result at Laguna Seca, reassumed the championship lead and led O’Ward by 35 points entering the season-finale event at the Streets of Long Beach. During the finale, however, O’Ward was involved in an early incident with Ed Jones, where Jones spun O’Ward. Despite continuing, the Mexican eventually retired due to a broken driveshaft originating from his spin. The end result saw O’Ward conclude his sophomore season in a career-best third place in the 2021 final standings along with two victories, five podiums, three poles and an average-finishing result of 8.3.

This season, O’Ward notched his third IndyCar career victory at Barber Motorsports Park in May following a late battle against Palou and Rinus VeeKay. To go along with a strong runner-up result in this year’s 106th running of the Indianapolis 500, a pole at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course during the Fourth of July weekend and an average-finishing result of 12.0, he currently sits in sixth place in the drivers’ standings and trails points leader Marcus Ericsson by 75 points.

Through 48 previous IndyCar starts, O’Ward has achieved three victories, five poles, 11 podiums, 411 laps led and an average-finishing result of 9.7.

O’Ward is scheduled to make his 49th career start in the NTT INDYCAR Series in the Hy-VeeDeals.com 250 at Iowa Speedway on Saturday, July 23, at 4 p.m. ET on NBC before achieving his 50th series start in the Salute to Farmers 300 at Iowa on Sunday, July 24, at 3 p.m. ET on NBC

Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team Ready for Pocono’s Unique Challenges

By
Official Release
-

No two race tracks are alike, but many have similarities. The 2.5-mile Pocono Raceway, with its three different turns, is certainly distinctive, but the layouts of the three turns are familiar.

Turn One is patterned after the old Trenton Speedway. Turn Two is based on Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and Turn Three is like the Milwaukee Mile.

Brian Wilson, crew chief of the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang driven by Harrison Burton, respects Pocono and enjoys trying to take advantage of the opportunities the track offers.

“Pocono has always presented a unique challenge in the schedule,” Wilson said. “It’s deserving of the ‘Tricky Triangle’ nickname.

“Trying to get each corner to handle in a similar manner, along with ride quality through the bumps and trying to keep drag out of the car, are all points of discussion any time you prepare to race there.”

Wilson predicts the new cars that debuted in the Cup Series this year will race differently at Pocono than the earlier versions.

“We expect that the draft on the frontstretch will come into play with the new car, which should lend itself to some exciting moments heading into Turn One,” he said. “I also look forward to the strategy aspect any time we head to Pocono. You can really call the race like a road course which opens up the options.”

Wilson said the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team also will try to build on the successes they had in recent weeks.

“Lately we’ve been able to get the No. 21 Mustang up front to lead laps on strategy,” he said “We’ll try to do the same this weekend to get a great result.”

While Burton has not raced at Pocono in the Cup Series, he has experience there in ARCA, the Xfinity Series and the Camping World Truck Series. He won an ARCA race there in 2018, and finished third in a truck race in 2019.

Practice for the M&Ms Fan Appreciation 400 is set to start at 2:35 p.m. on Saturday followed by qualifying at 3:20.

Sunday’s 160-lap race is scheduled to get the green flag just after 3 p.m. Stage breaks are set for Laps 30 and 95.

USA Network will carry the TV coverage on Saturday and Sunday.

About Motorcraft
Motorcraft offers a complete line of replacement parts that are recommended by Ford Motor Company. From routine maintenance to underhood repairs, Motorcraft parts offer value with high quality and the right fit at competitive prices. Motorcraft parts are available nationwide at Ford and Lincoln Dealers, independent distributors and automotive-parts retailers, and are backed by the Service Parts Limited Warranty* of Ford Motor Company. For more information, visit www.motorcraft.com.

About Omnicraft
Omnicraft is part of the Ford lineup of parts brands: Ford Parts, Motorcraft and Omnicraft. Omnicraft is the exclusive non-Ford/Lincoln parts brand of premium aftermarket parts. With over a century of parts heritage to build upon, Omnicraft provides excellent quality and fit and is a preferred choice of professional automotive technicians. To find out more about Omnicraft, visit www.omnicraftautoparts.com or contact your local Ford or Lincoln Dealership.

About Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center
Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center offers extraordinary service for routine maintenance, serving all vehicle makes and models. Quick Lane provides a full menu of automotive services, including tires, oil change & maintenance, brakes, batteries, alternator & electrical system, air conditioning system, cooling system, transmission service, suspension & steering, wheel alignment, belts & hoses, lamps & bulbs, wiper blades plus a thorough vehicle checkup report. Service is performed by expert technicians while you wait at any of nearly 800 locations in the U.S., with evening and weekend hours available and no appointment necessary. For more information about Quick Lane, please visit www.quicklane.com.

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs, electrified vehicles and Lincoln luxury vehicles, provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification; mobility solutions, including self-driving services; and connected services. Ford employs approximately 187,000 people worldwide. For more information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company, please visit corporate.ford.com.

*See seller for limited-warranty details.

Wood Brothers Racing

Wood Brothers Racing was formed in 1950 in Stuart, Va., by Hall of Famer Glenn Wood. Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team and one of the winningest teams in NASCAR history. Since its founding, the team won 99 races (including at least one race in every decade for the last seven decades) and 120 poles in NASCAR’s top-tier series. Fielding only Ford products for its entire history, the Wood Brothers own the longest association of any motorsports team with a single manufacturer. Glenn’s brother, Leonard, is known for inventing the modern pit stop. The team currently runs the Ford Mustang driven by Harrison Burton in the famous No. 21 racer.

Suarez to make 200th Cup career start at Pocono

By
Andrew Kim
-
Photo by Bruce Nuttleman for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Competing in his sixth full-time season in the NASCAR Cup Series, Daniel Suarez is scheduled to achieve a milestone start. By taking the green flag in this weekend’s event at Pocono Raceway, the driver of the No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 will achieve 200 career starts in NASCAR’s premier series.

A native of Monterrey, Mexico, Suarez made his Cup Series debut in the 59th running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in February 2017. By then, he was the reigning Xfinity Series champion, where he became the first Latin American champion in NASCAR’s top three national touring series, and was promoted to the Cup circuit to pilot the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry for the new season when veteran Carl Edwards announced his sudden departure from the sport. 

Suarez’s rookie Cup season kicked off with a 29th-place result in the Daytona 500 after he was involved in a multi-car wreck midway into the event. He rebounded three races later by finishing seventh at Phoenix Raceway in March, which marked his first top-10 result in the Cup circuit. He then posted another seventh-place finish at Auto Club Speedway. 

Throughout the 26-race regular-season stretch, Suarez notched a strong third-place result at Watkins Glen International in August along with a total of nine top-10 results. He, however, did not make the 2017 Cup Playoffs, but he went on to post three top-10 results throughout the 10-race Playoff stretch. When the 2017 season concluded, Suarez capped off his rookie Cup season in 20th place in the final standings and behind Erik Jones for the Rookie-of-the-Year title.

Like his rookie season, Suarez’s sophomore Cup season started off with a wreck in the Daytona 500. Recording his first top-10 result of the season at Phoenix in March, Suarez earned a total of three top-five results and six top-10 results throughout the 26-race regular-season stretch. Among his highlights included a third-place result at Dover International Speedway in May, a runner-up result in the non-point All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway behind Kevin Harvick and a runner-up result at Pocono Raceway in August behind teammate Kyle Busch. By then, Suarez also achieved his first career pole at Pocono. While he did not make the Playoffs for a second consecutive season, he posted three top-10 results throughout the 10-race Playoff stretch before finishing 21st in the final standings.

Following two seasons with Joe Gibbs Racing, Suarez was replaced by Martin Truex Jr. for the 2019 Cup season. Suarez, though, announced a month prior to the new season that he will be joining forces with Stewart-Haas Racing to pilot the No. 41 Ford Mustang on a full-time basis. Despite finishing 33rd in the season-opening Daytona 500 in February due to a late multi-car wreck, Suarez achieved his first top-10 result with the team during the following weekend’s event at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Five races later, Suarez achieved a strong third-place result at Texas Motor Speedway in April followed by an eighth-place run at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Throughout the 26-race regular-season stretch, Suarez notched a pole, three top-five results and nine top-10 results, which kept him in contention to make the 2019 Cup Playoffs. He, however, failed to make the Playoffs by four points over veteran Ryan Newman when the regular-season stretch capped off at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in September. Suarez went on to earn a ninth-place result at Richmond Raceway in September and a strong third-place run at Texas Motor Speedway in November before settling in 17th place in the final standings. By then, he surpassed 100 career starts in NASCAR’s premier series.

Despite a decent performance with SHR, Suarez was replaced by rookie Cole Custer for the 2020 season. Suarez, though, was able to secure a full-time ride with Gaunt Brothers Racing for the upcoming Cup season. His season, however, did not start off on a bright note after he wrecked in the first of two Daytona Duel events and failed to qualify for the 2020 Daytona 500. Suarez managed to qualify for the following Cup event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in February, but finished 30th following mechanical issues at the start of the race. Overall, Suarez earned three top-20 results before concluding the season in 31st place in the final standings.

Prior to the 2021 Cup season, Suarez joined forces with the newly formed Trackhouse Racing Team owned by former racer Justin Marks and rapper Pitbull as the team received technical support from Richard Childress Racing and a guaranteed charter to compete in all scheduled races. Driving the No. 99 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE for the new team, Suarez was involved in an early multi-car wreck in the season-opening Daytona 500 and finished 36th. 

After finishing no higher than 15th during the following five races, Suarez rebounded at the Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt Course by leading 58 of 253 laps and finishing in fourth place, thus achieving his first top-five result since 2019 and the first for Trackhouse Racing. Suarez, however, finished in the top 10 twice during the remaining 19 regular season events and was involved in a multi-car wreck on the final lap at Daytona while contending for the victory. The inconsistent stretch for Suarez prevented him from making the 2021 Cup Playoffs. For the remaining 10 scheduled events, he managed to finish as high as 10th at Texas in October before finishing in 25th place in the final standings. 

Suarez remained at Trackhouse Racing that expanded to field two cars in this year’s Cup season with Ross Chastain joining the organization. After earning four top-10 results and finishing no higher than fourth twice during the first 15 scheduled events, Suarez achieved his first victory in NASCAR’s premier series after claiming a dominant victory at Sonoma Raceway in June. In doing so, he became the fifth foreign-born competitor and the first from Mexico to win in the Cup Series.

Through 199 previous Cup starts, Suarez has achieved one victory, two poles, 13 top-five results, 44 top-10 results, 538 laps led and an average-finishing result of 19.2. He currently sits in 15th place in the regular season standings and is one of 14 current competitors to possess a spot in the 2022 Cup Series Playoffs based on winning once throughout the regular season stretch.

Suarez is primed to make his 200th Cup Series career start at Pocono Raceway on Sunday, July 24, with coverage to start at 3 p.m. ET on USA Network.

CATHCART READY TO HEAD WEST

By
Official Release
-
Bryan Cathcart in the #71 Dodge at the Toronto Indy

(July 20, 2022) Bryan Cathcart and the #71 Cathcart Racing team have embarked on the journey to western Canada for the next three rounds of the 2022 NASCAR Pinty’s Series. This will be the first trip west of Ontario for the series since 2019 due to travel restrictions and everyone involved is excited for the return to the prairies.

First stop will be the tight oval of Edmonton International Raceway in Wetaskiwin, Alberta for 300-laps of action Saturday July 23rd followed by twin 125-lap races at Sutherland Automotive Speedway on Wednesday July 27th.

The compact schedule presents quite a challenge to the #71 Cathcart Racing team, but everyone has pitched in to have the car prepared and ready to race.

Fan excitement in the west is also growing too with special events planned to include a driver meet & greet at the Wetaskiwin Mall on Friday and a hauler parade to the track Saturday morning before the race.

Quote:
“It’s great to have the series traveling out west again, there’s a lot of fans that have missed it. A couple of new tracks for us to learn, but I think we’ll be competitive at both places. I’m used to tight tracks like Edmonton, and we ran really well at Sunset earlier and some of that translates to Saskatoon. All the guys have done a great job preparing for this trip and we’re looking forward to having some fun and doing well”. -Bryan Cathcart, Driver #71 Dodge

Race Event Preview
Friday July 15th Green Flag 7:30PM MT
Bayer 300
Race six of 13 in 2022
This is the seventh NASCAR Pinty’s Series race Edmonton International Raceway

The Track: 1/4-mile paved oval

Best finish: First event at EIR

Race Event Preview
Wednesday July 27th Green Flag 6:05PM & 8:15PM MT
Leland Industries Twin 125’s
Races seven & eight of 13 in 2022
This will be the 15th & 16th NASCAR Pinty’s Series races at Sutherland Automotive Speedway

The Track: 3/8-mile paved oval

Best finish: First event at Sutherland Automotive Speedway

TV & Live Streaming
All races will be streamed live on TSN.ca and the TSN app in Canada and through FloRacing in the United States. Each of the three races in Western Canada will also be broadcast on TSN and RDS2, date & time TBD.

The 2022 NASCAR Pinty’s Series will consist of 13 total races in five provinces with a mixture of oval tracks, road and street courses.

KENNINGTON AND CASTROL EDGE TEAM HEADED TO WESTERN CANADA

By
Official Release
-

July 20, 2022. DJ Kennington and the #17 Castrol Edge Dodge team are touching down in the west for the next three rounds of the 2022 NASCAR Pinty’s campaign. With travel restrictions no longer a concern, the series makes its return to western Canada and first stop is Edmonton International Raceway on Saturday July 23rd.

It’s a tight, ¼-mile track where Kennington has never finished outside the top-ten in six previous trips to the oval in Wetaskiwin, Alberta. Following 300-laps of action in Alberta, the #17 Castrol Edge Dodge team will unload at Sutherland Automotive Speedway in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on Wednesday July 27th for twin 125-lap features. Kennington is a two-time winner at this facility.

Currently sixth in a tight championship battle, the three races in quick succession is the perfect opportunity for Kennington to use his talents and move his way up toward the top of the mountain.

Here’s what you need to know.

Race Event Preview
Friday July 15th Green Flag 7:30PM MT
Bayer 300
Race six of 13 in 2022
This is the seventh NASCAR Pinty’s Series race Edmonton International Raceway

The Track: 1/4-mile paved oval

Best finish: 5th, 2014 & 2018

Race Event Preview
Wednesday July 27th Green Flag 6:05PM & 8:15PM MT
Leland Industries Twin 125’s
Races seven & eight of 13 in 2022
This will be the 15th & 16th NASCAR Pinty’s Series races at Sutherland Automotive Speedway

The Track: 3/8-mile paved oval

Best finish: 1st in 2010 & 2012

Career Victories: 23

Most Recent Win: Delaware Speedway 2022

DJ Quote: “It’s going to be super exciting to get back to a couple of places that we’ve had success in the Castrol Edge Dodge. Some memorable wins and a lot of good finishes, it’s a real opportunity for us to pick up some ground. Everyone is looking forward to getting out west to race in front of all those fans too, we’ve missed them. It’s a lot of hard work to make this trip so we try and find a day to have some fun in between the races, but make no mistake, we’re all business at the track”.

TV & Live Streaming
All races will be streamed live on TSN.ca and the TSN app in Canada and through FloRacing in the United States. Each of the three races in Western Canada will also be broadcast on TSN and RDS2. Check guide for date and time.

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

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

Vera, Canipe Cruise to Victory at Cook Out Summer Shootout Cruise-In Night Presented by Hagerty and Streetside Classics

By
Official Release
-
Lucas Vera held off a hard-charging field in an action-packed VP Racing Fuel Semi-Pro battle to take the checkered flag at Round 7 of the Cook Out Summer Shootout presented by Hagerty and Streetside Classics at Charlotte Motor Speedway. (CMS photo)
  • Jeffrey Beck (Beginner Bandolero), Kaeden Ballos (Outlaws), Joshua Dickens (Young Lions), Jensen Jorgensen (Boston Reid & Co. Pro) and Robbie Woodall (Masters), also victorious in Round 7
  • The action continues next week with back-to-back nights of Legend Car and Bandolero racing, featuring Christmas in July Night on Monday and Faster Pastor school bus racing on Tuesday in Rounds 8 and 9 at Charlotte Motor Speedway

CONCORD, NC (July 19, 2022) – The cars were the stars of the show on Tuesday night at Cook Out Summer Shootout’s Cruise-In Night presented by Hagerty and Streetside Classics, but when the dust settled on Round 7, Lucas Vera (VP Racing Fuel Semi-Pro) and Hudson Canipe (Bandits) were among the big winners.

Vera was the star of the show in the VP Racing Fuel Semi-Pro race, charging to the front and taking the lead from polesitter Jayden Daniels on Lap 4 of the 25-lap feature. Holding the lead, however, tested every bit of the Charlotte driver’s ability as he held off a talented field. Through three aggressive restarts, Vera found clean air and maintained a slim lead. When the checkered flag finally fell, Vera beat Ladyga Racing driver Byron Daley by a 1.386-second margin. Andres Perez, Carson Brown and Trevor Westor rounded out the Top 5.

Battle of the Bandits

Canipe was the class of the field early, pulling away from Ben Morabito and Beckham Malone in the early stages of the Bandolero Bandits seventh round action, but a couple of late cautions bunched up the field. A final-lap spin brought out the final caution of the night and ushered in a side-by-side, quarter-mile showdown to the checkered flag.

In the end, Canipe – driving a Hudson the Hornet-inspired paint scheme that was appropriate on Cruise-In Night – narrowly escaped with the victory. Darren Krantz Jr. finished second, with Morabito rounding out the podium.

Classic Car Showcase

In addition to a tremendous night of racing, fans enjoyed Cruise-In Night presented by Hagerty and Streetside Classics. The evening included a cruise-in parade of vehicles circling the frontstretch quarter-mile and fan votes for both Best Modern-Era vehicle and Best Pre-1972 Classic. Fans voted Nick Kearns 1981 Corvette as Best in Show for modern-era cars, while Darren Crocker’s 1932 Ford Coupe took the top prize for the classic division.

Christmas Comes Early, Bus Racing Returns

Cook Out Summer Shootout continues next week with back-to-back nights of Legend Car and Bandolero racing. In addition, Monday will feature a Christmas in July theme, while Tuesday will welcome the return of school bus racing on Faster Pastor night. On Tuesday, anyone named Mathew, Mark, Luke or John gets in for just $5 as part of Faster Pastor Night.

Top 10 in each division of Tuesday’s races (unofficial results):

Beginner Bandoleros: 1. Jeffrey Beck; 2. Jack Smith; 3. Bryson Murphy; 4. Mason Roberts; 5. Hendrick Case; 6. Kendall Stevens; 7. Ava Grace Tobias; 8. Addison Martinez; 9. Camden Truett; 10. Aidan Zschiedrich

Bandolero Bandits: 1. Hudson Canipe; 2. Darren Krantz Jr.; 3. Ben Morabito; 4. Beckham Malone; 5. Colt Johnson; 6. LaQuan McCoy; 7. Bryson Brinkley; 8. Carson Cauble; 9. Rodney Dowless; 10. Owen Zacharias

Bandolero Outlaws: 1. Kaeden Ballos; 2. Olivia Murray; 3. Killian McMann; 4. Hunter Jordan; 5. Bobby Gossett; 6. Atley Wiese; 7. Gracie Crocker; 8. Carson Smith; 9. Alison Johnson; 10. Randy Phillips

Young Lions: 1. Joshua Dickens; 2. Carson Haislip; 3. George Phillips; 4. Sean McElearney; 5. Joel Smith; 6. Trevor Cline; 7. Taylor Corum; 8. Ryan Zima; 9. London McKenzie; 10. Ethan Nascimento

VP Racing Semi-Pro: 1. Lucas Vera; 2. Byron Daley; 3. Andres Perez; 4. Carson Brown; 5. Trevor Westor; 6. Jayden Daniels; 7. Jack Baldwin; 8. Farron Laney; 9. Parker Traves; 10. Preston Wrisley

Boston Reid & Co. Pro: 1. Jensen Jorgensen; 2. Jordan Black; 3. Landen Lewis; 4. Alex McCollum; 5. Ethan Norfleet; 6. Justice Calabro; 7. Gavin Graham; 8. Jake Bollamn; 9. Sam Cornman; 10. Cameron Bolin

Masters: 1. Robbie Woodall; 2. Kevin Foisy; 3. Carl Cormier; 4. Dwayne Holder; 5. Brandon McKenzie; 6. Mark Green; 7. Robby Faggart; 8. Lee Jordan; 9. Brandin Wrisley; 10. Chris Lawrence

TICKETS:

CookOut Summer Shootout continues with a doubleheader next week, Monday, July 25 and Tuesday, July 26. Entry is $10 for adults and kids 12 and under are FREE. Tickets can be purchased at the gate, by calling 800-455-FANS or online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/tickets.

KEEP TRACK:

Follow all the thrilling CookOut Summer Shootout action using the hashtag #WeCreateLegends. Connect with Charlotte Motor Speedway on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

1...1,8601,8611,862...6,651Page 1,861 of 6,651