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Alex Palou set to join McLaren Racing in 2023

Photo by James Black (Penske Entertainment).

McLaren Racing announced the addition of reigning NTT IndyCar Series Alex Palou to its driver roster for the 2023 season in the wake of an earlier announcement from Chip Ganassi Racing that contradicted the Spaniard’s accurate plans for the upcoming racing season.

Earlier on Tuesday, July 12, Chip Ganassi Racing issued a statement that the team had exercised its option to retain Palou for the 2023 IndyCar season. Not long after the news was released to the public, however, Palou took to social media to deny the announcement.

“I have recently learned from the media that this afternoon, without my approval, Chip Ganassi Racing issued a press release announcing that I would be driving with CGR in 2023,” Palou tweeted. “Even more surprising was that CGR’s release included a “quote” which did not come from me. I did not approve that press release, and I did not author or approve that quote. As I have recently informed CGR, for personal reasons, I do not intend to continue with the team after 2022. This evening’s unfortunate events aside, I have great respect for the CGR team, and look forward to finishing this season strongly together.”

Palou then unveiled the news through social media that he will be joining the McLaren Racing family for the upcoming racing season. The series which Palou will compete for with McLaren (IndyCar, Formula One and Formula E) is yet to determined, but he will be joining the organization’s F1 Testing of Previous Cars program.

“I’m extremely excited to join the driver roster for such an iconic team as McLaren,” Palou said in a released statement. “I’m excited to be able to show what I can do behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car and looking at what doors that may open. I want to thank everyone at Chip Ganassi Racing for everything they have done for me.”

Palou is currently campaigning in his third full-time season in the IndyCar Series, where he is ranked in fourth place in the drivers’ standings on a strength of four podiums through nine of the 17-race schedule. He trails teammate and points leader Marcus Ericsson by 35 points.

Palou joined Chip Ganassi Racing for the 2021 IndyCar season after spending his inaugural season in 2020 with Dale Coyne Racing with Team Goh. In his first event with CGR, he achieved his maiden victory at Barber Motorsports Park in April. He went on to achieve victories at Road America in June and at Portland International Raceway in September while engaged in a season-long championship battle against Josef Newgarden and Pato O’Ward. When the season concluded at the Streets of Long Beach in September, Palou achieved his maiden IndyCar Series title and became the first Spaniard to win an IndyCar championship.

“We have always said that we want the best talent at McLaren, and it’s exciting to be able to include Alex on that list,” Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, said. “I’m also looking forward to seeing him get behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car as part of our Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) programme alongside Pato O’Ward and Colton Herta as we continue to build our driver talent. Alex is an incredibly talented driver who has won in every series he has raced in, and I’m happy to welcome him to the McLaren family.”

The addition of Palou is among a series of additions and re-signings made by McLaren Racing throughout this season, among which include Lando Norris, Colton Herta, Pato O’Ward, Alexander Rossi and Felix Rosenqvist. Norris is currently campaigning in his fourth full-time Formula One season while Herta, who currently competes for Andretti Autosport in the IndyCar Series in spite of having a McLaren contract, is coming off a two-day McLaren F1 testing session at Portugal’s Portimão Circuit. O’Ward, who is currently embarking in his third full-time season at Arrow McLaren SP in IndyCar, inked a three-year contract extension with the team in May while Rossi, who currently competes for Andretti, is set to join McLaren as the team’s second IndyCar competitor in 2023. Rosenqvist, who is campaigning in his second season at AMSP, signed a multi-year extension to remain at McLaren, though the name of his racing series for next season is yet to be determined.

McLaren Racing will unveil its full driver lineup across all motorsports regions at a later date.

With his plans for next season set, Palou continues his pursuit to defend his IndyCar title by competing in the upcoming Honda Indy Toronto at the Exhibition Place in Toronto, Canada. The event is scheduled to occur on Sunday, July 17, at 3 p.m. ET on NBC Peacock.

Spencer Boyd Helps Honor Veterans with Record Rack’s ‘Bucks for the Brave’

#20: Spencer Boyd, Young's Motorsports, Chevrolet Silverado Record Rack

Mooresville, NC (July 12, 2022) – NASCAR Driver, Spencer Boyd is continuing his efforts to support the men and women who have served in the line of duty. Veterans (no longer serving) and retired First Responders (Law Enforcement, Firefighters, EMTs) can win the hunting experience of a lifetime thanks to long-time Boyd partner, Record Rack® premium wildlife feed (brand owned by Cargill, Inc.) Nominations for heroes are now open to submit for the annual Bucks for the Brave charitable event.

“I so look forward to this event every year,” said Boyd. “It’s hard to put into words the impact that these heroes’ stories have had on me. I’m proud to bring light to Record Rack’s efforts in the Veteran and First Responder community. We have been partners for five seasons now so it’s almost like a family reunion when we get together. I love it.”

Bucks for the Brave is an all-expense paid trip that will take place in early November. The event will be hosted at Trinity Oaks’ Thumbtack Ranch in Batesville, TX, which is the only nationally recognized Purple Heart Ranch in the United States. One winner from each of our eight categories will be chosen: Army Veteran, Marine Corps Veteran, Navy Veteran, Air Force Veteran, Coast Guard Veteran, Retired Firefighter, Retired Law Enforcement and Retired EMT.

“It’s not just about honoring the winners that get to make the trip,” said Wildlife Marketing Lead, Jodi Cornelison. “It’s about all the humbling stories of people that serve others. I encourage everyone to read all the accounts of these heroes’ lives on our website for some further perspective. At Cargill, we believe spending time in the outdoors can be restorative and are proud to offer Sportman’s Choice® & Record Rack that help people enjoy the outdoors even more.”

“This truck honors a group of people, but there is one individual that I will have riding along with me,” said Boyd. “Jodi unexpectedly lost her husband, Bobby Cornelison, this past winter. Bobby was a Veteran, retired police officer and a volunteer at Trinity Oaks. He was a good friend to me and much more to so many more. Bobby Cornelison’s name will be on my passenger door to join his spirit that rides in my heart every day.”

The No. 12 Buck’s for the Brave Silverado will also highlight Wrangler National Patriot, Trinity Oaks, and Hire Heroes USA for the work they do for service men and women.

Young’s Motorsports will bring this special truck to Pocono Raceway on Saturday, July 23 for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race. It is the series’ only race on Fox this season with the green flag waving at 12 Noon ET.

About Cargill:
Cargill’s 160,000 employees across 70 countries work relentlessly to achieve our purpose of nourishing the world in a safe, responsible and sustainable way. Every day, we connect farmers with markets, customers with ingredients, and people and animals with the food they need to thrive.
We combine 155 years of experience with new technologies and insights to serve as a trusted partner for food, agriculture, financial and industrial customers in more than 125 countries. Side-by-side, we are building a stronger, sustainable future for agriculture.

Mahindra Tractors Racing: Chase Briscoe New Hampshire Advance

CHASE BRISCOE
New Hampshire Advance
No. 14 Mahindra Tractors Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview

● Event: Ambetter 301 (Round 20 of 36)
● Time/Date: 3 p.m. EDT on Sunday, July 17
● Location: New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon
● Layout: 1.058-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 301 laps / 318.46 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 70 laps / Stage 2: 115 laps / Final Stage: 116 laps
● TV/Radio: USA / PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Chase Briscoe, driver of the No. 14 Mahindra Tractors Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), finished 16th in last weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. He ran in the top-five before sustaining damage early in the event. Though the series now heads to the shorter, flatter New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, the No. 14 has shown speed throughout the year at similar tracks, including Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway and Phoenix Raceway, the site of Briscoe’s first Cup Series win.

● Briscoe is 18th in the driver standings with seven races remaining in the regular season. He currently holds a spot in the 16-driver playoff field by virtue of his March 13 win at Phoenix Raceway.

● In last year’s 301-lap event at New Hampshire, Briscoe started 19th and finished 27th in his first start at “The Magic Mile” in nearly two years.

● Briscoe made one NASCAR Xfinity Series start at New Hampshire in 2019, in which he started fifth and finished sixth. He also has one NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start at the 1.058-mile oval, which resulted in an 11th-place finish.

● Crew chief Johnny Klausmeier earned a third-place finish at New Hampshire with Aric Almirola in 2018, his best result in four races there atop the pit box.

Chase Briscoe, Driver of the No. 14 Mahindra Tractors Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing:

You said Phoenix was one of your worst tracks and then you won there in March. You’ve said the same about New Hampshire, so is there any chance you’re a driver to beat this weekend?

“No, none. New Hampshire is my worst racetrack by a lot. So yeah, we were in the sim there the other day, and it was a struggle. So don’t take anything from the Phoenix turnaround. I feel like everything I do as a driver never really works at New Hampshire. It’s a weird racetrack for me. It just doesn’t suit what I do, so we definitely need to figure it out. But I don’t have a lot of confidence going in there. But I didn’t have a lot of confidence going in Phoenix, either, and it worked out. So hopefully, we can go to New Hampshire and leave happy.”

We saw some aggression on the flatter, shorter tracks like Gateway. Is that what we’ll see at New Hampshire?

“For sure. I feel like on the short tracks, this car’s been kind of harder to pass with. And I think guys know that now, especially now that we’ve run a couple of them. So I think you’re definitely going to see more aggression. And I think New Hampshire is going to be a handful, just from how rough the racetrack is in this car, getting on the limiters and things like that.”

Because New Hampshire is a rougher track, if you’re going into the corner, trying to get on the brakes, trying to downshift, all while racing someone for position, is there a point where it can get to be a little bit too much, or upset the car?

“I mean, that’s kind of what happened to me in Nashville, and I just went inside the 42 and I was trying to downshift. Trying to do it earlier to help me slow down, and I ended up over-revving and spinning out underneath him. New Hampshire, with how rough it is, I think it’s going to be even harder than Nashville or some of the previous tracks we’ve gone to because of how rough it is on corner entry. You’re going to be going into fourth gear, sometimes maybe third gear, and if you’re racing underneath somebody, it’s definitely not going to be easy. I think it’ll be a race of attrition to a certain extent just because of that. Hopefully we’re one of the guys who can figure it out.”

No. 14 Mahindra Tractors 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

Spotter: Joey Campbell
Hometown: Berlin, Connecticut

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Shayne Pipala
Hometown: Frankfort Square, Illinois

Rear Tire Changer: Dakota Ratcliff
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee

Tire Carrier: Jon Bernal
Hometown: Shelby, North Carolina

Jack Man: Matthew Schlytter
Hometown: Ponte Vedra, Florida

Fuel Man: Corey Coppola
Hometown: Bluefield, West Virginia

Road Crew Members

Underneath Mechanic: Stephen Gonzalez
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Interior Mechanic: Trevor Adams
Hometown: Naples, Florida

Tire Specialist: Keith Eads
Hometown: Arlington, Virginia

Shock Specialist: Brian Holshouser
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina

Engine Tuner: Jon Phillips
Hometown: Jefferson City, Missouri

Transporter Co-Driver: Todd Cable
Hometown: Shelby, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Rob Fink
Hometown: Mocksville, North Carolina

Gilliland Ready for Cup Debut at New Hampshire with Chicago Pneumatic


Leans on Experience from Past Success at Track

 MOORESVILLE, N.C. (July 12, 2022) – Todd Gilliland is ready to make his return to a track where he has had success, the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Although this weekend’s 301-mile event will be Gilliland’s first Cup start at the one-mile, flat oval, he has accumulated a win in the NASCAR K&N East Series and a third-place finish in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

Gilliland returns to the “Magic Mile” with partner Chicago Pneumatic and the No. 38 CP Compressors scheme and colors. It is the second race of the season for the air compressors brand and Gilliland is confident of a strong race on Sunday.

“New Hampshire is a racetrack that I have looked forward to all year,” said Gilliland. “It is great to come to a racetrack where I have had success in the past. As a Cup rookie some tracks have been completely new, and others I have raced at, but New Hampshire is a favorite of mine. I enjoy the challenge of the flat tracks which make you really work hard to turn the car and keep your momentum. I’m looking forward to Sunday.”

“It is great to see the red and black CP Compressors Ford back on the race track this weekend,” continued Gilliland. “They are a great partner both on and off the track and a tremendous help at Front Row Motorsports. Hopefully, we can deliver a great run for them in New Hampshire.”

Gilliland and the No. 38 CP Compressors Ford Mustang team will race at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway this Sunday at 3:00 PM ET on the USA Network.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Camping World Truck Series and the 2021 Daytona 500 champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 34 and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 38 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team– from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

HaasTooling.com Racing: Cole Custer New Hampshire Advance

COLE CUSTER
New Hampshire Advance
No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview

● Event: Ambetter 301 (Round 20 of 36)
● Time/Date: 3 p.m. EDT on Sunday, July 17
● Location: New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon
● Layout: 1.058-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 301 laps/318.46 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 70 laps / Stage 2: 115 laps / Final Stage: 116 laps
● TV/Radio: USA / PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Cole Custer and the No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang team for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) head to The Granite State for Sunday’s Ambetter 301 NASCAR Cup Series race coming off their best finish of the season last Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Their ninth-place run on the 1.54-mile Atlanta oval marked the first top-10 of 2022 for the No. 41 team. This weekend they head to the track where Custer has been victorious in both the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East.

● Sunday’s race on the flat, 1.058-mile New Hampshire Motor Speedway oval will be Custer’s 95th career NASCAR Cup Series start and his third at New Hampshire. He started 14th and finished eighth in his first start there during his 2020 Cup Series Rookie of the Year campaign. He started 21st and finished 14th there last July.

● In his three New Hampshire starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series from 2017 through 2019, Custer finished in the top-10 in all three, his best resulting in a runner-up finish from the pole in his most recent outing. His first two appearances resulted in ninth-place finishes. All three outings came behind the wheel of the No. 00 SHR Ford.

● Custer’s September 2014 Truck Series win at “The Magic Mile” came behind the wheel of the No. 00 Haas Automation entry. It was a dominating run from the pole position, during which he led a race-high 148 of 175 laps and crossed the finish line 1.148 seconds ahead of runner-up Bubba Wallace. It was the first of two career Truck Series wins for Custer and, at the age of 16 years, seven months and 28 days, made him the youngest winner in series history. Custer drove to a sixth-place finish in the 2016 Truck Series race at New Hampshire, driving the No. 00 for JR Motorsports.

● The September 2013 K&N Series win at New Hampshire also came from the pole position. Driving the No. 00 entry for owner Ken Schrader, Custer led a race-high 60 of 105 race laps and beat runner-up Daniel Suárez by .743 of a second.

● 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

New Hampshire has treated you well over the years. A win in the Truck Series, a win in the K&N Series, a few top-10s in the Xfinity Series, and finishes of eighth and 14th in your first two Cup Series starts there. Is this a chance for the No. 41 team to build some momentum, especially coming off your best finish of the season?

“I think so. When we raced there the first time my rookie year, I had to take some time and figure out how the Cup car raced there. We came out with a top-10 and that definitely showed we were on the right track, so to speak, with our preparation and our setup. I think the NextGen car will do well there and I’m excited to go there after a pretty solid run last weekend at Atlanta. You always hope you’ll come out of every race with good momentum, and this weekend is as good a place as any for us to really show the work that’s being put in and try to keep the momentum going.”

After 19 races in the NextGen car, are you feeling more and more confident that you have it figured out?

“Everybody’s learned that the NextGen car is extremely edgy, especially when we go to one of those high-speed tracks like Atlanta. You’re on the edge of your seat every single lap. It’s close to out of control, and the second you get the car stepped out sideways, you’re hanging on for dear life. It’s a handful, for sure, but it’s made it challenging for the drivers. It’s done well on the road courses, and that makes me feel it should be well-suited to a flat, mile oval like New Hampshire.”

What do you think it will take to enable you and the team to run up front on a more consistent basis?

“It’s just the little things with this brand new car. There’s been a lot of learning this year trying to figure out what these cars really want, setup-wise, to run up front. I think we’re starting to dial that in a little bit more and more, and I think execution from there, if we can do that, we’ll be where we need to be.”

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

Shock Specialist: Aaron Kuehn
Hometown: Kensington, Connecticut

Engine Tuner: Jimmy Fife
Hometown: Orange County, California

Tire Specialist: Austin Greco
Hometown: Harrisburg, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: David Rodrigues
Hometown: Santa Clarita, California

Transporter Co-Driver: Charlie Schleyer
Hometown: Youngsville, Pennsylvania

23XI Racing Signs Tyler Reddick for 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Season

23XI Continues to Build with Addition of Reddick

Mooresville, N.C. (Jul. 12, 2022) —23XI Racing announced today that Tyler Reddick will join the team in 2024. Reddick, a two-time NASCAR Xfinity Series champion, is currently in his third full-time season in the NASCAR Cup Series.

The signing of Reddick for the 2024 season highlights 23XI’s continued commitment to building a championship-caliber organization. Founded in 2021 with Bubba Wallace as the lone driver, this move follows the expansion of the team to two cars in the 2022 season.

“Tyler is one of the most sought-after young drivers and has been competitive in everything he’s raced,” said Team Co-Owner, Denny Hamlin. “His work on the track speaks for itself and he will make a fantastic addition to our lineup in 2024. The team has seen a lot of growth since our first race and signing Tyler is a great next step for us to remain competitive for years to come.”

“Announcing a driver over a year before he will be racing with 23XI is a little unprecedented, but Tyler was the driver we wanted and we did not want to miss the opportunity to bring him to our team,” said 23XI Team President, Steve Lauletta. “In making the announcement now the team has ample time to prepare for 2024 on the business side as we expect interest from potential partners and continue to see strong engagement from our current partners.”

“I’m thrilled to have the chance to join this team and look forward to how I can contribute to the organization,” said Tyler Reddick. “23XI has accomplished a lot in the less than two full seasons they’ve been in the garage, and I can’t wait to be a part of that continued success. Until then, my focus remains on my current team, winning races and being competitive.”

About 23XI Racing

23XI Racing – pronounced twenty-three eleven – was founded by NBA legend Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin in 2020. With rising NASCAR star Bubba Wallace selected to drive the No. 23 Toyota Camry TRD, the team made its NASCAR Cup Series debut in the 2021 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Wallace made history on October 4, 2021, when he captured his first career Cup Series win, becoming just the second African American to win in the Cup Series, and earning 23XI Racing its first-ever victory. 23XI Racing expanded to a two-car organization in 2022 with Cup Series Champion Kurt Busch driving the No. 45 Toyota Camry TRD.

Brad Keselowski – Loudon Advance

Team: No. 6 Kohler Generators Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Matt McCall
Twitter: @RFK6Team, @RFKRacing and @keselowski
Race Format: 318.4 miles, 301 laps, Stages: 70-115-116

NASCAR Cup Race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway – Sunday, July 17 at 3 p.m. ET on USA, PRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Weekend Format

· The traditional weekend format returns this weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, with group practice set for Saturday morning, immediately followed by qualifying.

Keselowski at New Hampshire Motor Speedway

· Keselowski makes his 22nd start in Loudon in the Cup Series, a track that stands as one of his best all-time with a 10.1 average finish. The Michigan native has two wins at NHMS – the first in 2014, and again in 2020 – with 14 top-10s overall, nine of which were inside the top five.

· Keselowski most recently won the race there during the COVID season in 2020, and last year finished third in a race shortened by a few laps due to limited daylight.

· He has led 598 laps overall at NHMS, overall one of his best numbers of any track, and has led laps in 15 of his 21 Cup starts at the track that spans just over a mile in distance.

· Dating back seven starts, Keselowski has six top-10s in that stretch, and has finished outside of the top-15 only four times.

· He also has four poles at NHMS, the first coming in 2010, then others in 2013, 2014 and 2019, contributing to his 10.3 overall average starting position.

· The 2012 Cup Champion also has two wins in the Xfinity Series in Loudon, winning back-to-back races in 2012 and 2014. He earned the pole in five of his 10 NXS starts, including four-straight from 2010-14. Overall, he finished top-10 in every Xfinity race he ever ran at NHMS with an average finish of 3.8.

Matt McCall at New Hampshire Motor Speedway

· McCall will be on the box for his 11th Cup start in Loudon this weekend. He has one career top-10 there, a P6 finish with Jamie McMurray, in 2016. He has been consistent as of late with finishes of 16th (2021), 17th (2020) and 18th (2019, 2018), with an overall 16.7 average result.

· McCall has led his drivers to an 11.4 average starting spot with five starts inside the top-10, including three-straight with a P4 starting spot with Kurt Busch last year.

QUOTE WORTHY
Keselowski on racing at Loudon:
“It’s a good track for me. I really like going to New Hampshire and it has some unique challenges as to how you drive the race track. I’ve had some really good cars there over the years and wish we had practice, for sure. It’s a big wild card and there’s big questions on what to expect, but we’re looking forward to a good weekend up in New England.”

Last Time Out

Keselowski finished third in stage two last Sunday at Atlanta, but was ultimately caught up in two separate incidents and finished 20th.

On the Car

Kohler returns for its eighth primary race this season. Kohler is the anchor partner for the No. 6 team throughout the 2022 campaign, and will be the primary in 14 races after initially joining the RFK partner family in 2021 with eight events on the No. 6 team.

About Kohler Co.
Founded in 1873 and headquartered in Kohler, Wisconsin, Kohler Co. is one of America’s oldest and largest privately held companies comprised of more than 40,000 associates. Kohler is a global leader in the manufacture of kitchen and bath products; engines and power systems; premier cabinetry, tile and lighting; and owner/operator of two of the world’s finest five-star hospitality and golf resort destinations in Kohler, Wisconsin, and St. Andrews, Scotland.

A global force in power solutions since 1920, Kohler manufactures engines and complete power systems, including generators (portable, marine, residential, commercial and industrial), automatic transfer switches, switchgear, monitoring controls, and accessories for emergency, prime power and energy-management applications all around the world. The business is committed to reliable, leading edge power-generation products, clean energy solutions, as well as comprehensive after-sale support. Visit KohlerGenerators.com, facebook.com/KOHLERPower, and on Twitter at @KOHLERPower.

Ford Performance NASCAR: Ford Going For Fifth Straight Cup Series Win at New Hampshire

FORD PERFORMANCE NASCAR: NEW HAMPSHIRE ADVANCE

The summer stretch for NASCAR continues this weekend as the NASCAR Cup and NASCAR XFINITY Series make their only visit to New Hampshire Motor Speedway, where Ford has won the last four Cup events after Aric Almirola took the checkered flag last season. Here’s a look at how Ford has done at the Magic Mile through the years.

This Week’s Schedule:

Saturday, July 16 – NASCAR XFINITY Series, 2:30 p.m. (USA)
Sunday, July 17 – NASCAR Cup Series, 3 p.m. (USA)

FORD IN THE NASCAR CUP SERIES AT NEW HAMPSHIRE

· Ford has 17 all-time series wins at New Hampshire
· Ford is going for its fifth straight series win at New Hampshire
· Ford’s all-time winningest NCS driver at New Hampshire is Jeff Burton (4 wins)

FORD IN THE NASCAR XFINITY SERIES AT NEW HAMPSHIRE

· Ford has 8 series wins by 8 different drivers at New Hampshire.
· The last Ford winner was Brad Keselowski in 2014.
· Ford has 3 MENCS/NXS season sweeps at NHMS (1994, 2004 and 2014).

BLUE OVAL GOING FOR FIFTH STRAIGHT CUP WIN AT NHMS

Ford comes into this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway looking to run its win streak to five after Aric Almirola went to victory lane last season. Keselowski led a race-high 184 laps and won the last two stages as he and Denny Hamlin waged a one-on-one battle for most of the afternoon. Almirola’s win came on the heels of back-to-back-to-back wins by Brad Keselowski (2020) and Kevin Harvick (2018-19).

WEEKEND SWEEP

Brad Keselowski had a weekend to remember as he became the first driver to sweep a NASCAR XFINITY and NASCAR Cup Series race weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, achieving the feat on July 12-13, 2014. Keselowski led 138 of 305 laps, including the final two under a green-white-checkered finish, to beat Kyle Busch to the finish line. The win was Ford’s fourth straight series win, marking the first time that had happened since 2001.

300-FOR-300

Jeff Burton is the last driver to lead every lap of a NASCAR Cup Series race when he did it on Sept. 17, 2000 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Bobby Labonte started from the pole, but Burton grabbed the lead after starting on the outside of the front row. Even though Labonte and Dale Earnhardt challenged him throughout the day, Burton never gave up the lead, becoming the first driver to lead every lap of a series race since Cale Yarborough did it in the Music City USA 420 at Nashville Speedway on June 3, 1978. The race, which was run with the use of restrictor plates, ended under caution after Sterling Marlin was involved in an accident with three laps remaining. It was Burton’s fourth win at the speedway and concluded a stretch that saw him win four consecutive seasons at the Magic Mile.

OWNER/DRIVER FIRST

Ford’s first NASCAR Cup Series win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway came in the track’s second year of hosting events in 1994. That’s when Ricky Rudd outdueled Dale Earnhardt in the closing laps to post his 15th career win. Rudd led 55 laps on the day, but won it after a memorable side-by-side battle with seven laps to go in which he passed Earnhardt on the inside, only to see the black No. 3 crossover and pull alongside for the next lap. Rudd eventually pulled in front and held on to take the Slick 50 300 on July 10, 1994. Rudd went on to post 23 NSCS wins in his career and had at least one victory in 16 consecutive seasons (1983-98), but none may have been as satisfying as this one because it marked his first triumph as an owner/driver.

FORD NASCAR CUP SERIES WINNERS AT NHMS

1994 – Ricky Rudd

1996 – Ernie Irvan

1997 – Jeff Burton (1)

1998 – Jeff Burton (1)

1999 – Jeff Burton (1)

2000 – Jeff Burton (2)

2001 – Dale Jarrett (1)

2002 – Ryan Newman (2)

2004 – Kurt Busch (Sweep)

2008 – Greg Biffle (2)

2014 – Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano

2018 – Kevin Harvick

2019 – Kevin Harvick

2020 – Brad Keselowski

2021 – Aric Almirola

FORD NASCAR XFINITY SERIES WINNERS AT NHMS

1994 – Derrike Cope

1995 – Chad Little

1999 – Elton Sawyer

2001 – Jason Keller

2002 – Bobby Hamilton Jr.

2004 – Matt Kenseth

2006 – Carl Edwards

2014 – Brad Keselowski

Chris Buescher – Loudon Advance

Team: No. 17 Fastenal Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Travis Peterson
Twitter: @RFK17Team, @RFKRacing and @Chris_Buescher
Race Format: 318.4 miles, 301 laps, Stages: 70-115-116

NASCAR Cup Race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway – Sunday, July 17 at 3 p.m. ET on USA, PRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Weekend Format

· The traditional weekend format returns this weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, with group practice set for Saturday morning, immediately followed by qualifying.

Buescher at New Hampshire Motor Speedway

· Buescher makes his ninth Cup start at NHMS this weekend. In eight prior races he has a 24.3 average finish with a best result of 15th in 2019.

· He also made two NXS starts there with a best finish of fifth in 2014.

Travis Peterson at New Hampshire Motor Speedway

· Peterson will be on the box for his second race as crew chief for Buescher.

QUOTE WORTHY
Buescher on racing in Loudon:
“Loudon is one of those places I’ve still been working hard at to figure out, but feel like we’ve slowly made some gains over the last couple years. It’s just so unique compared to all the other tracks on our schedule, and can be a challenge in many ways. We’re excited to get up to New England in the back yard of our friends at Fenway, and look forward to a bounce-back weekend in the Fastenal Ford.”

Last Time Out
Buescher had speed last Sunday in Atlanta, but was caught up in someone else’s incident midway through the race, which ultimately caused a mechanical failure ending his day early.

On the Car

Fastenal, in its 12th season with RFK in 2022, makes its 11th appearance with the No. 17 this weekend. In its early days with RFK, Fastenal originally was a partner with the No. 99 team before moving over to the No. 17 team since. They were also the primary partner on the No. 60 Xfinity Series entry that captured the owner’s championship in 2011.

Fastenal will feature top suppliers CRC Industries, Walter USA, Ingersoll Rand Co., Superior Glove Works USA, and Surewerx USA on Buescher’s Mustang as he competes this weekend. For more information on these suppliers, visit Fastenal.com, and stay up-do-date on social @FastenalCompany.

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

Howie DiSavino III Returns to Xfinity Series Competition at New Hampshire Motor Speedway

LOUDON, N.H.: NASCAR Xfinity Series rookie Howie DiSavino III has been waiting more than three months to seek redemption as he returns to competition with Alpha Prime Racing for Saturday afternoon’s Crayon 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

In his Xfinity Series debut at the tough and demanding Martinsville (Va.) Speedway in April, DiSavino III impressed the competition with a stout qualifying performance but was hindered during the Call 811 Before You Dig 250 by a mechanical failure.

Knowing he had the potential to contend for a top-10 finish with his Mooresville, N.C.-based team, he returns to the track aboard his No. 44 Chevrolet Camaro determined to finish what he started more than 90 days ago.

“I have been patiently waiting for my turn to get back behind the wheel,” offered DiSavino III.

“When you don’t compete full-time and you are as hungry as I am to showcase my potential, those days that you wait sometimes feel like years.

“However, the time to get back on track with my Alpha Prime Racing team is almost here and we are ready to finish what we started at Martinsville.”

DiSavino III, 21, has never been to New Hampshire’s “Magic Mile” but he has spent the last couple of months doing what he can to make sure when he climbs aboard his race car for practice on Friday afternoon, he’ll quickly fall in line with the rest of the field.

“Nothing beats actual seat time but taking the time to really improve your craft on iRacing has been important for me and my career,” he said. “I have spent a lot of time on iRacing, spent time watching old races, talking to other drivers, and even looking at photos of the track.

“I don’t want to do anything that is going to put us behind this weekend, so it’s super important to use the short practice to our benefit. If we have a good baseline from practice that should propel us forward for qualifying and the rest of the weekend.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been more ready to get back to the track and prove myself not only to my team but the partners that keep me on the race track.”

ClearCryptos will serve as the primary marketing partner of DiSavino III’s No. 44 Chevrolet Camaro for his second career Xfinity Series start.

ClearCryptos’ goal is to create clarify, accountability, and success to the Crypto marketplace with their unique relationships in technology, government and law enforcement.

In addition to ClearCryptos, Bangor Truck Equipment, Bryson’s 4-Wheel Auto Repair, Coop’s LLC., and The Inside Groove will serve as associate marketing partners on DiSavino’s No. 44 Chevrolet Camaro.

When it comes to the race on Saturday, DiSavino III knows patience will be his best friend, but also knows he has to push it when it comes to getting the best finish possible.

“Of course, there is some pressure on the line for myself on Saturday,” sounded DiSavino III. I want to do well not only for myself, but for the people that support me and my team, but I’m going to remember that I can’t push the envelope too far at New Hampshire because the corners are so flat.

“If our No. 44 ClearCryptos Chevrolet Camaro isn’t the best at the start of the race, I just have to be patient until we can make an adjustment. If I want to contend for a strong finish, I need to be around for the end of the race. If we can avoid any chaos and run a clean race, I think contending for a top-15 finish is certainly achievable and would feel like a win.”

Veteran Cup spotter Clayton Hughes will guide DiSavino from above this weekend as his spotter.

Following New Hampshire, the Chesterfield, Va. native will return to Alpha Prime Racing at Kansas Speedway on Sat., Sept. 10, 2022, followed by Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway on Oct. 1, 2022, and the penultimate Xfinity Series race of the season at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway on Oct. 29, 2022.

For more on Howie DiSavino III, please visit howiedisavino.com, like him on Facebook (Howie DiSavino III Racing), follow him on Instagram (HowieDiSavino), TikTok (@howiedisavino3) and Twitter (@hdisavino).

The Crayon 200 (250 laps | 131.5 miles) is the 18th of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2022 schedule. Practice begins on Friday, July 15 from 5:05 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Qualifying follows shortly after 5:35 p.m. The 38-car field will take the green flag on Saturday, July 16 shortly after 2:30 p.m. with live coverage on the USA Network, the Performance Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (ET).

About ClearCryptos:

Headquartered in San Juan, Puerto Rico, with all personnel globally positioned; ClearCryptos is a distributed company with unique relationships in technology, government, and law enforcement. The company is ushering in a new wave of clarity, accountability, and success to the emerging Crypto marketplace through innovation and reinvestment to benefit local and regional economies.

About Alpha Prime Racing:

Alpha Prime Racing is a NASCAR Xfinity Series team owned by Craig and Tommy Joe Martins as well as Alpha Prime Sports Founder and CEO Caesar Bacarella. The team was originally founded in 2009 under the name Martins Racing.

The team announced in 2022 that they will run the No. 44 and No. 45 Camaro’s full-time, with multiple drivers splitting driving duties including Martins, Bacarella, Josh Bilicki, Rajah Caruth, Howie DiSavino III, Ryan Ellis, Kaz Grala, Sage Karam, Andy Lally, Julia Landauer and others.