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Todd Gilliland cruises to a Truck Series win at Knoxville

By
Andrew Kim
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KNOXVILLE, IOWA - JUNE 18: Todd Gilliland, driver of the #17 Frontline Enterprises Ford, hoists the trophy after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Clean Harbors 150 at Knoxville Raceway on June 18, 2022 in Knoxville, Iowa. (Photo by Kyle Rivas/Getty Images).

Todd Gilliland made the most of his final off-weekend period from the NASCAR Cup Series and his one-race return to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series by winning the second annual Clean Harbors 150 at Knoxville Raceway on Saturday, June 18.

The 22-year-old Gilliland from Sherrills Ford, North Carolina, who competes as a full-time rookie in the NASCAR Cup Series, led 58 of 150-scheduled laps, including the final 11, as he muscled away from John Hunter Nemechek and the field during a four-lap shootout to claim his first NASCAR national touring series victory on dirt and his first series win in more than a season.

The starting lineup for the main event was determined through a formula that evaluated the results and number of positions each competitor gained through four heat events that occurred two hours prior to the main event. When the dust settled and the four heat events concluded, Derek Kraus, who finished second behind John Hunter Nemechek in the first heat event but earned 15 qualifying points, claimed the pole position for a second consecutive season at Knoxville. Joining him on the front row was Carson Hocevar, who won the second heat event and earned a total of 14 qualifying points. Braden Mitchell and Norm Benning were the two competitors who did not qualify for the main event.

Prior to the event, rookie Jack Wood and Spencer Boyd started at the rear of the field due to both missing driver’s introductions.

When the green flag waved and the race started, Hocevar battled with Kraus through the first two turns until he pulled ahead on the outside lane and went on to lead the first lap. Stewart Friesen challenged Kraus for the runner-up spot ahead of Ben Rhodes, Buddy Kofoid and John Hunter Nemechek as the field scrambled for early positions.

Four laps into the event, the first caution flew when Christian Eckes made contact and turned Dean Thompson in Turn 1 as Thompson limped back to pit road with a flat left-rear tire.

Another four laps later, the race proceeded under green. At the start, Hocevar retained the lead following a strong start on the outside lane while Rhodes muscled his way into the runner-up spot over Friesen.

At the Lap 10 mark, Hocevar was leading by nearly four-tenths of a second over Rhodes followed by Friesen, Nemechek and Ty Majeski while Todd Gilliland, Chandler Smith, Kraus, Buddy Kofoid and Grant Enfinger were in the top 10.

Ten laps later, Hocevar continued to lead by more than two seconds over both Rhodes and Stewart Friesen while John Hunter Nemechek and Gilliland were scored in the top five. Majeski slipped back to sixth ahead of Chandler Smith, Kraus, Enfinger and Kofoid while Tanner Gray, Brett Moffitt, Zane Smith, Matt DiBenedetto, Matt Crafton, Eckes, Hailie Deegan, Tyler Ankrum, Jessica Friesen and Kaz Grala were scored in the top 20.

Another 10 laps later, Hocevar remained as the leader by more than a second over Friesen while Nemechek, Gilliland and Kraus were in the top five. Meanwhile, Rhodes had fallen back to seventh behind teammate Majeski while Chandler Smith, Enfinger and Moffitt were in the top 10. 

Shortly after, the caution flew when Tanner Gray made contact with Kofoid’s No. 51 Mobil 1 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro on the inside lane and spun as he was hit by a sliding Spencer Boyd in Turn 3. During the caution period, Rhodes pitted from seventh place to have the front nose of his No. 99 Tenda Toyota Tundra TRD Pro repaired along with having an overheating issue addressed.

With one lap remaining in the first stage and as the field fanned out when the race restarted under green, Hocevar pulled ahead once again and went on to claim the first stage victory on Lap 40, which marked his second stage victory of the season. Todd Gilliland settled in second followed by Nemechek, Kraus, Ty Majeski, Enfinger, Chandler Smith, Moffitt, Matt DiBenedetto and Zane Smith. Meanwhile, Friesen, who was running in the top five, lost momentum entering Turn 3 after his No. 52 Halmar Toyota Tundra TRD Pro suffered a flat right-rear tire, though he remained on the lead lap.

Following a three-minute break period to allow the pit crew members to service their respective trucks, the second stage started under green on Lap 41 as Hocevar and Gilliland occupied the front row. At the start, Hocevar retained the lead while Kraus moved his No. 19 NAPA Chevrolet Silverado RST into the runner-up spot ahead of Gilliland while Enfinger and Moffitt were in the top five.

Through the first 50 laps of the event, Hocevar was leading by nearly four-tenths of a second over Kraus followed by Gilliland, Moffitt and Enfinger while Nemechek, Majeski, Zane Smith, Matt Crafton and Hailie Deegan were in the top 10. Chandler Smith and Eckes battled for 11th ahead of Stewart Friesen and DiBenedetto while Kofoid was in 15th ahead of Colby Howard, Kaz Grala, Tyler Ankrum, Tyler Carpenter and Jessica Friesen.

Seven laps later, the caution flew when Jessica Friesen flipped and got her No. 62 Halmar Toyota Tundra TRD Pro stuck on the inside burn curb in Turn 3. 

When the race restarted under green on Lap 65, Gilliland pulled a bold slid job on Hocevar to assume the lead. During the following lap, however, disaster struck for Hocevar, whose No. 42 Worldwide Express Chevrolet Silverado RST fell off the pace entering the fronstretch before he came to a stop towards the outside wall in Turn 1 and retired due to an engine failure as the caution returned. By then, his teammate Tyler Carpenter, a 30-year-old racer from Parkersburg, West Virginia, who earned a one-race ride with Niece Motorsports for Knoxville after winning the Gateway Dirt Nationals in December 2021, also retired due to a driveshaft issue.

“[The truck] done blown up,” Hocevar said. “That’s it. I thought Sonoma [Raceway] was gonna be the hardest one to watch and now, this one’s gonna be harder to watch. I’ll probably just sit and think about it for a while…Just sucks. It is what it is. We can’t control. We can’t do anything. It’s fitting this would be our luck.”

With the race restarting under green on Lap 72, Gilliland retained the lead followed by Kraus as Nemechek issued his challenge for the spot ahead of Moffitt and Zane Smith. As the race reached its halfway mark on Lap 75, Gilliland was leading by more than a second over Nemechek while Zane Smith, Kraus, Moffitt, Stewart Friesen, Enfinger, Grala, Eckes and Deegan were in the top 10.

By Laps 85, Gilliland continued to lead by more than four seconds over Zane Smith while Nemechek, Moffitt and Stewart Friesen were battling in the top five.

When the second stage concluded on Lap 90, Todd Gilliland captured his first stage victory in his first Truck start of the season. Zane Smith settled in second followed by Nemechek, Moffitt, Kraus, Enfinger, Grala, Stewart Friesen, Crafton and Tyler Ankrum.

Following a second three-minute break period to allow the pit crew members to service their respective trucks, the final stage started under green with 59 laps remaining. At the start, Moffitt, who was one of four competitors who remained on the track without pitting, rocketed with the lead in his No. 22 Concrete SupplyDestiny Homes Chevrolet Silverado RST on the outside lane while Enfinger and Kofoid battled for the runner-up spot ahead of Zane Smith and Gilliland. Soon after, Moffitt was black-flagged by NASCAR for a restart violation after NASCAR deemed that he jumped the initial restart. With Moffit serving his penalty by driving through pit road under green, Enfinger assumed the lead with 54 laps remaining followed by Gilliland, Zane Smith, Kofoid and Kraus.

With 50 laps remaining, Enfinger was leading by three-tenths of a second over Gilliland followed by Zane Smith, Nemechek and Kraus while Stewart Friesen, Kofoid, Eckes, Majeski and Crafton were in the top 10. Not long after, Gilliland reassumed the lead over Enfinger.

Ten laps later, Gilliland was leading by nearly a second over Nemechek while Enfinger settled back in third ahead of Zane Smith and Stewart Friesen. Another three laps later, the caution flew due to Bryson Mitchell falling off the pace and becoming slow on the track.

Down to the final 28 laps of the event, the race restarted under green. At the start, Nemechek moved his No. 4 Mobil 1 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro to the front ahead of Gilliland and the field. Three laps later, however, the caution returned for an incident involving Moffitt and Tanner Gray, both of whom made contact with one another in Turn 4, where Moffitt nearly flipped before both collided again in Turn 1, and sustained damage to their respective machines. At the same time, Grala and Colby Howard slid and collided against one another with Moffitt retiring in the garage.

With 18 laps remaining, the race restarted under green. At the start, Nemechek retained the lead while Stewart Friesen and Gilliland battled for the runner-up spot, with the former pulling ahead. Behind, Zane Smith and Kraus were in the top five ahead of Enfinger and the field.

A few laps later, Gilliland muscled his way back into the runner-up spot and Friesen was left battling with Kraus for third place while Nemechek continued to lead by a narrow margin.

Down to the final 10 laps of the event, Gilliland slid his No. 17 Frontline Enterprises Ford F-150 back into the lead while remaining in a tight battle with Nemechek for the lead while Kraus, Scored in the top 10 were Zane Smith and Friesen occupied the top five. Majeski, Enfinger, Kofoid, Crafton and Eckes.

Then with eight laps remaining, the caution flew when rookie Jack Wood spun in Turn 1. The caution stacked up the field for a late shootout to the finish.

With four laps remaining, the race proceeded under green and Gilliland managed to retain the lead while Nemechek and Zane Smith battled for the runner-up spot as the former retained the spot.

When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Gilliland was ahead by more than a second over Nemechek as the field jostled for late positions. Having a clear racetrack in front of him, Gilliland was able to slip, slide and cycle his way back to the frontstretch and claim the checkered flag by nearly a second over Nemechek for his first NASCAR victory of the 2022 season.

By winning the second annual Truck event at Knoxville, Gilliland claimed his third career victory in the Truck Series, his first while driving for David Gilliland Racing and his first since winning at Circuit of the Americas in May 2021. The victory was also the first for David Gilliland Racing since Ryan Preece won at Nashville Superspeedway a year ago.

“Just so amazing, man,” Gilliland said on FS1. “The Cup Series is tough. Just racing every single week, I’ve had like a million people ask me, ‘Is this really what you wanna do on your off weekend?’ Absolutely, man. Nothing beats racing. I tell everyone I’m young. I wish I could do this every single weekend of the year. Just so happy for [crew chief] Seth Smith, my whole team, David Gilliland Racing, Ford, especially…Really, really cool. Just so thankful. I love the Truck Series. I ran here forever, it felt like, so to be able to come back and to get one, man, it’s so special.” 

“I just had an amazing truck,” Gilliland added. “These [David Gilliland Racing] guys prepared me a really good one. We got fitted in the seat on Tuesday afternoon. Just an amazing truck. These guys work so hard. The No. 17 truck’s been really fast a lot this year, so finally to get it a win. I think they’re close to the owners’ Playoff deal, so hopefully, [the win] helped them a little bit and I’ll be anxiously watching the rest of the year now. I feel like a little part of me’s gonna stay on this truck.”

Nemechek settled in the runner-up spot for the second time of the season and for his fifth top-five result while Zane Smith, Ty Majeski and Stewart Friesen finished in the top five. Kraus, Crafton, Enfinger, Tyler Ankrum and Ben Rhodes completed the top 10.

There were six lead changes for four different leaders. The race featured nine cautions for 45 laps.

With three races remaining of the 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series regular-season stretch, John Hunter Nemechek leads the regular-season standings by five points over Zane Smith, 10 over Ben Rhodes, 14 over Chandler Smith, 43 over Ty Majeski and 49 over Stewart Friesen. 

Zane Smith, Ben Rhodes, John Hunter Nemechek, Chandler Smith and Stewart Friesen are tentatively locked into the 2022 Truck Playoffs based on winning at least once throughout the season while Ty Majeski, Christian Eckes, Carson Hocevar, Grant Enfinger and Matt Crafton are above the top-10 cutline based on points. Derek Kraus trails the top-10 cutline by 27 points, Matt DiBenedetto trails by 43, Tanner Gray trails by 50, Tyler Ankrum trails by 53 and Chase Purdy trails by 106.

Results.

1. Todd Gilliland, 58 laps led, Stage 2 winner

2. John Hunter Nemechek, 17 laps led

3. Zane Smith

4. Ty Majeski

5. Stewart Friesen

6. Derek Kraus

7. Matt Crafton

8. Grant Enfinger, 10 laps led

9. Tyler Ankrum

10. Ben Rhodes 

11. Buddy Kofoid

12. Christian Eckes

13. Chandler Smith

14. Matt DiBenedetto

15. Hailie Deegan

16. Colby Howard

17. Dylan Westbrook

18. Lawless Alan

19. Timmy Hill

20. Chase Purdy

21. Jack Wood, one lap down

22. Tanner Gray, one lap down

23. Dean Thompson, two laps down

24. Joey Gase, two laps down

25. Blaine Perkins, two laps down

26. Kaz Grala, two laps down

27. Brayton Laster, three laps down

28. Kris Wright, five laps down

29. Spencer Boyd, eight laps down

30. Devon Rouse, 10 laps down

31. Thad Moffitt, 11 laps down

32. Brett Moffitt – OUT, Accident

33. Bryson Mitchell – OUT, Throttle

34. Jessica Friesen – OUT, Brakes

35. Carson Hocevar – OUT, Engine, 65 laps led, Stage 1 winner

36. Tyler Carpenter – OUT, Driveshaft

Next on the 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule is Nashville Superspeedway for the second of three Triple Truck Challenge events, which will occur on Friday, June 24, at 8 p.m. ET on FS1.

Dirt Bike Tips for Women Riders: How to Conquer the Trails

By
SM
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Dirt biking is not just a man’s sport. More and more women are getting into dirt biking every year, and for good reason, it can be a lot of fun! However, if you’re new to the sport, it can be a little daunting at first. There are some things that you need to know in order to conquer the trails and have a good time.

In this blog post, we will discuss some tips for women riders that will help make your dirt biking experience a positive one.

If you’re a woman, you should take some extra precautions when dirt biking. Be sure to carry self-defense tools, take lessons from a professional, and use the right size bike. Just remember to have fun and ride safely. Also, you should be confident and not get discouraged if you don’t get it right away. Dirt biking takes time to master but with these tips, you’ll be on your way to becoming a pro.

Dirt Bike Tips For Women Riders

A lot of women don’t have the courage to get into dirt biking because they feel like it’s too dangerous. However, if you take the proper precautions and follow some simple tips, you’ll be just fine.

Here are some tips for women riders:

Clothing

One of the most important things to consider when dirt biking is your clothing. You want to make sure that you are wearing clothes that will protect you from the elements and from any injuries that you may suffer while riding. Pants and a long-sleeved shirt are a must, as well as gloves and boots that cover your ankles. A helmet is also essential, and you may want to consider investing in some body armor as well.

Helmet Shouldn’t Be Skipped!

Your helmet is one of the most important pieces of gear that you will wear while dirt biking. It is essential for protecting your head in the event of a crash. When choosing a helmet, make sure that it fits snugly and that you can see out of it clearly.

You should also choose a helmet that has good ventilation to keep your head cool while you’re riding.

Start Slow

If you’re new to dirt biking, it’s important to start slow and gradually increase your speed as you become more comfortable with the sport. There are a lot of different trails out there, and some of them can be pretty challenging. Take your time and don’t try to tackle a trail that’s beyond your skill level.

Also, be sure to ride with someone who is more experienced than you are so that they can help you if you run into any trouble. Start with some easier ones and gradually work your way up. This will help you build your confidence and skills.

Always Use A GPS Tracker

It’s really important to use a GPS tracker when you’re dirt biking. This way, if you get lost, someone will be able to find you. There are a lot of great tracking devices on the market, so be sure to do your research and find one that suits your needs.

A GPS Tracker can ensure you the highest security in case you’re riding to someplace you haven’t been before. That way you can easily find the ways to get back home or to the main roads.

Endurance

Dirt biking is a physically demanding sport, so it’s important to make sure that you’re in good shape before you hit the trails. If you’re not used to riding for long periods of time, start with some shorter rides and gradually work your way up.

It’s also important to stay hydrated while you’re riding. Be sure to bring plenty of water with you, and take breaks often to drink it. Also, eat a nutritious meal before you ride so that you have the energy you need to make it through.

Avoid Unsafe Routes

The world is full of beautiful trails, but not all of them are safe for dirt biking. Be sure to do your research before you ride so that you can avoid any routes that are known to be dangerous.

There are a lot of great resources out there that can help you find the best trails in your area. Once you find a few that look promising, be sure to check them out in person before you ride. This will help you make sure that they are safe and that they meet your skill level.

Carry Self Defense Tools

This is one of the most important dirt bike tips for women riders. You should always carry some self-defense tools with you when you ride, just in case you run into trouble. A whistle or pepper spray can be a lifesaver if you find yourself in a dangerous situation.

Another reason why it’s important to carry self-defense tools is because you never know when you might need them. If you’re riding in an area that’s known for wildlife, for example, it’s always a good idea to have some pepper spray on hand in case you run into a bear or other dangerous animal.

Be Patient

Dirt biking takes time to master. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t get it right away. It takes practice and patience to become a good rider. If you keep at it, you’ll eventually get the hang of it.

Also, you should be prepared for falls. It’s inevitable that you’re going to fall off your bike at some point, so it’s important to know how to fall correctly. This will help you avoid injuries.

Get Some Lessons

If you really want to get into dirt biking, it’s a good idea to take some lessons from a professional. They can teach you the proper techniques and help you build your skills.

It’s really important to learn how to properly ride a dirt bike before you hit the trails. There are a lot of things that can go wrong if you don’t know what you’re doing. A professional can help you avoid potential accidents and injuries.

Use The Right Size Bike

This is one of the most important dirt bike tips for women riders. You need to make sure that you’re using a bike that’s the right size for you. If you’re too small for the bike, it will be difficult to control.

And if you’re too big for the bike, it will be uncomfortable and you won’t be able to ride it for long periods of time. Be sure to try out a few different bikes before you purchase one so that you can find the perfect size for you.

You can also adjust the seat height to make the bike more comfortable. This is something that you’ll need to experiment with to find what works best for you. Although the best way is to get a dirt bike for women, which are made to be more comfortable for smaller riders.

Final Thoughts

Just like any sport, there is a learning curve when it comes to dirt biking. But if you follow these tips, you’ll be on your way to becoming a pro in no time. And once you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to enjoy the trails like never before. Just remember to always ride safely and have fun!

If you’re a woman who’s looking to get into dirt biking, these tips will help you get started on the right track. Dirt biking is a great way to get outdoors and enjoy the trails. Just be sure to follow these tips so that you can stay safe and have fun. Ride Safe!

What To Do If You Are In a Motorcycle Accident and Become Seriously Injured?

By
SM
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Photo by Sourav Mishra

If you are a motorcycle rider, you know accidents can happen. And if you are involved in a motorcycle accident that results in serious injuries, you need to know the steps to take for the best possible outcome. Use these tips from our law office in Philadelphia to protect your legal rights and get the compensation you deserve.

Seek Medical Attention Right Away

The only thing that matters now is getting the medical attention you need. Your health and well-being are the number one priority. Even if your injuries seem minor, it’s essential to be checked out by a doctor.

Some injuries, such as concussions, may not present symptoms immediately. And if you wait too long to seek medical treatment, the insurance company may try to use that against you, saying your injuries are not as severe as you claim.

Keep copies of all your medical records and bills related to the accident. This information can be significant evidence when it comes time to file an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.

Get the Other Driver’s Information

If there are witnesses to the accident, get their names and contact details. Get the other driver’s name, address, phone number, and insurance information. The witnesses can be challenging when you have a severe injury that requires immediate medical care.

When you work with an attorney, they conduct a thorough investigation and locate witnesses for you. This step is essential to file a police report and claim with the other driver’s insurance company.

File a Police Report

You should always file a police report after a motorcycle accident, even if the other driver leaves the scene. This statement gives you an official record of what happened and can be helpful if you need to file a lawsuit. You may also need to file a police report to make a claim with your insurance company.

Do Not Admit Fault

Never admit fault, even if you think you may have caused the accident. Wait until you have spoken to a lawyer before making any statements about what happened. The other driver’s insurance company can use anything you say against you.

An attorney can help draft a legal statement on your behalf to prevent incorrect admissions. This account of the collision and your injuries is vital for a favorable settlement. The wrong words can significantly reduce the amount of compensation you receive.

Do Not Accept a Settlement from the Insurance Company

You should never accept a settlement from the insurance company without first speaking to a lawyer. The insurance company will probably offer you a lowball settlement that does not cover all of your damages. An attorney can help you negotiate a fair settlement that covers your medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.

A motorcycle accident lawyer in Philadelphia can help you if you’ve been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident. Contact our office today for a free consultation. We can help you understand your legal rights and get the compensation you deserve.

OddsChecker to partner with SRX, Paul Tracy for 2022 season

By
Official Release
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OddsChecker is proud to announce that they have reached an agreement with SRX to sponsor a car for the 2022 season. That car will be driven by Paul Tracy.

Tracy is the only Canadian driver in the SRX this season. Like all the drivers in SRX, Tracy is a league champion, having won the 1990 American Racing Series and 2003 Champ Car World Series. The Thrill from West Hill is also known for his time as a commentator for NBC’s IndyCar coverage.

OddsChecker SVP Matt Mirman had this to say about the partnership, “OddsChecker is proud to partner with SRX for the upcoming 2022 season. We believe that this partnership will prove to be a strong investment as the SRX brand continues to grow and become a new destination for racing fans everywhere. That’s why we’re excited to watch as our driver, Paul Tracy, takes to the track and carries OddsChecker across the finish line each and every week on CBS and Paramount+.”

With legalized sports betting experiencing rapid growth in the United States, racing fans can use OddsChecker to guide their decision-making ahead of each race this season. Getting the best odds on a bet or even parlay can be the difference between fans winning hundreds of dollars, or thousands.

That begins with this weekend’s race where Tracy and the OddsChecker car are given +2000 odds, or an implied 4.8% chance of victory. That places Tracy 11th of the 12 drivers set to race. Meanwhile, founder and 2021 champion Tony Stewart is the favorite to win at +250, or an implied 28.6% chance to win.

The full odds can be found here: https://www.oddschecker.com/us/motorsport/srx-racing

For more on the partnership: https://www.oddschecker.com/us/insight/motorsport/20220617-oddschecker-to-partner-with-srx-paul-tracy-for-2022-season

Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing Looks to Extend Championship Lead

By
Official Release
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Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing Looks to Extend Championship Lead

Brownsburg, Ind. (June 17, 2022) — The Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing stable leads the 2022 Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Team Championship by a margin of two points heading into rounds five and six at Watkins Glen, taking place next weekend. Competing with four cars in three classes, Wayne Taylor Racing’s stable of talented drivers also lead in the PRO and PRO|AM classes.

The No. 1 Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing duo of Kyle Marcelli and Daniel Formal lead the PRO Driver Championship. After securing another win at the last round in New Orleans, they are determined to extend their advantage at the historic Upstate New York circuit.

Jordan Missig and Aidan Yoder, who fought hard in their No. 53 Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing LST at NOLA and showed that they have the pace to compete at the front of the PRO class, will look to continue their positive trajectory in their third weekend as teammates.

After increasing their lead atop the PRO|AM class standings last time out, Tom Long and Ashton Harrison, drivers of the No. 25 Harrison Contracting Company with Wayne Taylor Racing LST, will look to press their advantage further at the Glen.

Randy Sellari, driver of the No. 3 JG Wentworth with Wayne Taylor Racing LST, finished one spot shy of a podium in Race 2 at NOLA Motorsports Park. His eyes are set on achieving his second podium of the year at one of his favorite tracks.

Practice at Watkins Glen International begins next Thursday, June 23rd at 10:45 a.m. ET. Qualifying starts at 9:30 a.m. ET, Friday, with the first 50-minute race at 2:35 p.m. that same day. Race 2 begins at 12:10 p.m. Saturday, June 25th. Both races will stream live on IMSA.com/TVLive, with a weekend recap airing at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 3rd on USA Network.

Kyle Marcelli, No. 1 Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing LST (PRO)
“We’re excited and optimistic. It’s been a strong season so far in the No. 1 Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing Lamborghini. We’ve had wins and pole positions, but each weekend has not been perfect—it’s not been easy. There was adversity in Race 2 at Laguna Seca after getting turned around in the first corner. We finished second, but felt we left a win on the table there. In New Orleans we got caught out a bit with the weather and our tire choice and had a fifth place in Race 1. Again, we felt we left something on the table, but the wins and the pole positions at both races give us great confidence heading into Watkins Glen. We have unfinished business there, as a problem resulted in a DNF. It was no one’s fault—a tire issue that ended our weekend. We’re looking to rebound and the goals are simple. We want to qualify up front, stay out of trouble, and put that No. 1 Prestige Performance with WTR car in victory lane. Danny’s been checking all the boxes this year and so have our team and mechanics. The car has been reliable and flawless and from an engineering standpoint, the car has been rolling off the trailer in a good spot. We have to keep that momentum going and stay focused on the championship.”

Daniel Formal, No. 1 Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing LST (PRO)
“Heading into rounds five and six of the championship, we’re leading, which is fantastic. I’m super excited to get back to Watkins Glen. It’s kind of a redemption track for Kyle and myself. It’s my favorite track in the country and it’s extremely quick. The new Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2 is amazing—a great upgrade. Our baseline setup from Wayne Taylor Racing has been incredible. I can’t wait to arrive and start working through the practices and into qualifying in our No. 1 Prestige Performance race car. It’s going to be so good to see Kyle and the Wayne Taylor Racing family—they are part of my family. I miss them all and I couldn’t be more excited.”

Jordan Missig, No. 53 Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing (PRO)
“I’m super excited to be back with Wayne Taylor Racing at Watkins Glen. After a busy month of May that consisted of running two races on the Road to Indy here in Indianapolis and a round in NOLA with LST on three consecutive weekends, it’ll be nice to settle back into a rhythm in the month of June. This will be my first time back at Watkins Glen since my very first car race back in 2018, when I made the transition from go-karts. This is one of my favorite tracks to race on so getting to drive it in a Super Trofeo is the best of both worlds. Being back with Aidan is another opportunity to work together with my teammate and get better after we both made some huge gains in NOLA. As we keep working on our craft, communication and bond, we’re going to be a force to reckoned with when we get to the Glen next week.”

Aidan Yoder, No. 53 Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing (PRO)
“Watkins Glen is a track I’ve had at the top of my bucket list for a long time. I’m incredibly excited. Even though I’ve never driven it in real life, it’s one of my favorite tracks to run on the simulator. I’ve done several laps around there in many different cars. It’s very fast-paced and there are high-speed corners that require great levels of commitment. With all the different classes and championships running with us on this IMSA endurance weekend, there should be more rubber buildup than usual. This will help me build speed and gain confidence with a high grip surface. I’m curious to see how the new Pirelli compound effects the overall race product. From what I’ve heard, it’s a new tire that should hold up well in the heat of battle. WTR leads the team championship and I’m looking forward to extending the lead next weekend.”

Ashton Harrison, No. 25 Harrison Contracting with Wayne Taylor Racing LST (PRO|AM)
“I’m super excited for Watkins Glen. It’s one of my favorite tracks in the U.S. with so many technical, high-commitment corners. WTR has been strong this season and I’m looking forward to getting back in the car with Tom and continuing to extend our lead in the championship. Tom and I have been a strong pairing all season long, and we want to keep the momentum going as we cross into the second half of the LST North America season.”

Tom Long, No. 25 Harrison Contracting with Wayne Taylor Racing LST (PRO|AM)
“I’m really excited for Watkins Glen as it’s always been one of my favorite circuits on the calendar. Having a strong start to the season in our Wayne Taylor Racing Lamborghini has been fantastic for Ashton and I, and we’re looking to continue that during this coming weekend. Leading the championship always helps, but it’s still too early to focus on that. We just need to keep executing and improving in each session of every event. Wayne Taylor Racing has been providing amazing support and prep this season, and I’m hopeful we’ll continue the strong start we’ve had to year.”

Randy Sellari, No. 3 JG Wentworth with Wayne Taylor Racing LST (AM)
“Watkins Glen is easily one of the most nostalgic circuits in the US. Its timeless design and unforgiving nature creates unique challenges on both driver and machine. It happens to be one of my favorite tracks, yet a podium has eluded me in all of my races there. After a strong showing at NOLA and the amount of experience I have at the Glen, I feel there is a strong chance of leaving with some hardware for myself and WTR in the AM class.”

Franklin Road Takes Aim at Ohio Trans Am in Top Shape

By
Official Release
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Lexington, OHIO – June 17, 2022 – Franklin Road Apparel Showtime Motorsports supremo Ken Thwaits enjoyed a banner season in 2020, winning four of the eight races he contested to become the first-ever XtremeGT class Champion. It’s fair to say that it’s 2022 that has seen the Tennessee based team take a great leap forward in the principal muscle car competitions with four racecars across TA and TA2, more than making a presence felt. Now the team heads to the Mid Ohio Sportscar Course for Round 7 of the 2022 Trans Am presented by Pirelli Championship in their best position in the two Championships with sights set firmly on the podium once again.

Firstly, Ken himself has made a huge impression in the TA Class this year with four podium finishes out of six races putting him on 135 Championship points, level with former Champion Tomy Drissi. It’s a terrific achievement by the whole team with the cherry on the cake in the TA Class being Paul Menard’s imperious display at Charlotte where the team scored their first win in the top division.

In the TA2 Class, former Champion Cameron Lawrence currently sits in P4 out of 48 competitors with 115 points and is just three points behind third placed Tyler Kicera and nine behind second placed Thomas Merrill. Cameron himself has been on the podium twice, at Road Atlanta and last time out at Lime Rock. In the second TA2 car, former West Coast Champion Carl Rydquist has a top ten finish at Sonoma to his name.

While not everything has gone according to plan, the results are a strong vindication of Thwaits’ decision to scale up his Trans Am operation and the popular team boss was typically optimistic when we spoke to him ahead of the seven-hour drive northeast from his Tennessee HQ.

“If you’d told me at the beginning of the year that only Chris Dyson would have more points in the Championship than me when we set off for Ohio I’d have said you were dreaming, but here we are! It’s getting to the point where I’m disappointed if I don’t make the podium and that’s awesome. It’s a testament to the whole team and the hard work everyone has put in.”

He went on, “I think we’re getting tighter as a team and faster on the track as the season wears on. I’m more comfortable in my car than ever before and we’re doing everything we can to make the other guys competitive too. Cameron was on the podium again last time and that’s what we’re aiming for again here in Ohio. I’ve made Pole there before and l’d be delighted to do so again.”

Opened in 1962 by Les Griebling and several Mansfield-area businessmen as a location for weekend sports car racing, Mid Ohio originally had 16 turns, with a left turn in what is today known as “thunder valley,” but the turn was straightened after just one year of operation. Nevertheless, it’s still a particularly twisty and rural circuit, and while its picturesque views are enchanting, it presents a tremendous challenge to car and driver.

Ken gets his first opportunity on the circuit at 3:10 p.m. on Thursday, June 23 for testing with the all-important qualifying session at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, June 24. The green flag for the race program is set at 1:15 p.m. on Saturday, June 25. The TA2 Class race is at 10:55 a.m. on Sunday morning.

The Racing will be live on the Trans Am YouTube Channel and highlights will be shown on the CBS Sports Network after the event. Check local press for details.

Check out the Showtime Motorsports Facebook page here:
https://www.facebook.com/showtimemotorsp/

The YouTube channel is here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcjbSevxbVsrrUYz77QzNuA

Visit the team’s website for Showtime Motorsports, www.showtimemotorsports.net
and keep up to date with the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli at www.gotransam.com.

Learn more about the Showtime Motorsports team partner, Franklin Road Apparel, at www.franklinroad.com

About Showtime Motorsports:
The Showtime Motorsports brand includes Ken Thwaits’ racing team and racecars, and an outstanding classic Camaro collection. Showtime Motorsports brings together a dynamic staff who employ diverse talents and share a passion for cars, racing and caring for clients like they are our own family members.

Young’s Motorsports Knoxville Raceway June Truck Series Team Preview

By
Official Release
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Young’s Motorsports | NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Knoxville Raceway | Clean Harbors 150

Fast Facts
No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Team:
Driver: Kaz Grala
Primary Partner(s): Ruedebusch
Manufacturer: Chevrolet Silverado RST
Crew Chief: Steven Dawson
2022 Driver Points Position: 33rd

2022 Owner Points Position: 19th
Chassis Intel: YMS Chassis No. 101
Engine: Ilmor Racing Technologies

Notes of Interest:

Still Truckin’: This weekend at Knoxville Raceway, Young’s Motorsports welcomes Kaz Grala back as the driver of the No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado RST who returns to the organization for the fifth time during the 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

The former Truck Series winner has competed for Young’s Motorsports at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway, Circuit of the Americas (COTA), Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway Dirt Track and most recently at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway.

Sponsor Intel: For the 13th Truck Series race of 2022, Young’s Motorsports welcomes returning partner Ruedebusch as the primary marketing partner on Grala’s No. 02 Chevrolet Silverado RST for the 150-lap event this weekend.

Ruedebusch Development & Construction Inc. is a highly qualified, vertically integrated full-service commercial construction, and real estate development company located in Madison, Wisconsin which offers: Commercial Real Estate Development Design Build Construction Commercial Real Estate Brokerage Economic Development, Commercial Real Estate, and Facility Consulting.

The Lowdown: Earlier this year Young’s Motorsports confirmed that Grala who will race in all three of NASCAR’s national divisions throughout the 2022 season will pilot the No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado RST for 11 races throughout the season including Saturday night’s race at Knoxville Raceway.

In addition to Las Vegas, COTA, Bristol, Sonoma, and Knoxville, Grala will also compete at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, Richmond (Va.) Raceway, Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway and Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway.

2022: In his four Truck Series races this season as the pilot of the No. 02 Young’s Motorsports flagship entry, Grala has delivered a season-high 14th place finish twice in March at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) and in the inaugural Door Dash 250 at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway in June.

In his other events for the Mooresville, N.C.-based team, Grala has finished 30th (Las Vegas) and 26th (Bristol Dirt) respectively.

Kaz Grala Truck Series Knoxville Raceway Stats: Saturday night’s Clean Harbors 150 will mark Grala’s inaugural NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at the famed Iowa dirt track.

Kaz Grala Truck Series Dirt Track Stats: At NASCAR Camping World Truck Series tracks classified as a dirt track, Grala has made two starts throughout his career carrying an average finishing position of 28.5.

Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway | Door Dash 250 Race Recap: In the most recent NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway, Grala made his 40th career Truck Series start.

After starting the race, a respectable 20th aboard his No. 02 Young’s Building Systems | Randco Industries Inc. Chevrolet Silverado RST – Grala maintained his pace inside the top-20 for a majority of the event and persevered through road course race strategy to earn his second top-15 finish of the year with a 14th place run at the checkered flag.

Calling the Shots: Guiding Grala as crew chief of the No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado RST is crew chief Steven Dawson.

A long-time Young’s Motorsports employee, Dawson will serve as crew chief for just his 14th Truck Series race. The Clean Harbors 150 will be his first race as crew chief at the half-mile dirt track.

Dawson, 34, is a native of Concord, N.C.

Follow on Social Media: For more on Kaz Grala, please visit, kazgrala.com, like him on Facebook (Kaz Grala) and follow him on Twitter (@KazGrala).

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports) and follow on Instagram (@youngsmotorsports) and Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

Kaz Grala Pre-Race Quote:

On Knoxville Raceway: “I have absolutely no idea what to expect at Knoxville. If the race goes anything like last year’s did, I’m sure there will be carnage, so we’ll do everything we can to be there at the end.

“I did really well at Eldora a few years ago considering I don’t have any dirt in my background, however, Bristol this year was far from the weekend we wanted.

“I’m hoping Knoxville will correlate a bit more closely to Eldora than Bristol so we can put our Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado RST up front and have some fun.”

No. 12 Young’s Motorsports Team:
Driver: Spencer Boyd
Primary Partner(s): Freedom Warranty
Manufacturer: Chevrolet Silverado RST
Crew Chief: Ryan “Pickle” London
2022 Driver Points Position: 27th
2022 Owner Points Position: 30th
Chassis Intel: YMS Chassis No. 009
Engine: Ilmor Racing Technologies

Notes of Interest:

New Territory: Fan favorite Spencer Boyd invades Knoxville Raceway settled in aboard his new Truck number and leadership eyeing his first top-10 of the 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and second win of his Truck Series career.

No. 132: This weekend at Knoxville, Boyd will make his 132nd career NASCAR start. Boyd has three starts in the NASCAR Cup Series, 50 starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and will make his 79th start in Trucks when the green flag waves Saturday night.

The highlight of his NASCAR career is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in October 2019 driving for Young’s Motorsports.

Welcome Aboard: This weekend at Knoxville Raceway, Spencer Boyd and Young’s Motorsports welcome Freedom Warranty as the primary marketing partner for the 13th race of the 2022 Truck Series season.

Freedom Warranty is the fastest-growing vehicle service contract administrator in the nation, offering a variety of products sold exclusively through authorized auto dealers, certified repair facilities, established lenders, and accredited insurance agencies in 23 states and the District of Columbia.

Their goal is to provide a valuable service to automobile owners who want to protect their investment and shield them from unexpected repairs. By providing superior service to contract holders, they strive to provide dependable coverage with customer care that goes above and beyond.

Visit Freedom Warranty at freedomwarranty.com.

Spencer Boyd Truck Series Knoxville Raceway Stats: Saturday night’s Clean Harbors 150 will mark Boyd’s inaugural NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at the famed Iowa dirt track.

Spencer Boyd Truck Series Dirt Track Stats: At NASCAR Camping World Truck Series tracks classified as a dirt track, Boyd has two starts throughout his career carrying an average finishing position of 24.5.

Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway | Door Dash 250 Race Recap: In the most recent NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Sonoma Raceway, Boyd made his 78th career Truck Series start.

After starting 36th for the 75-lap race, Boyd maintained a solid pace in his No. 12 Grofully Chevrolet Silverado RST and continued to climb the running order throughout the race with a strong Stage 3 effort that produced a respectable 23rd place lead lap finish.

To The Point(s): Entering Knoxville, Boyd sits 27th in the championship standings.

26 points separate Boyd from 20th in the championship standings currently held by Corey Heim with 11 races remaining this season.

84 points separate Boyd from 15th in the championship standings occupied by Chase Purdy.

Young’s Motorsports’ No. 12 team secures 30th in the Truck Series owner standings.

Chasing That W: Boyd is eyeing his second career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory for himself and Young’s Motorsports.

In 2019 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, Boyd pulled an upset during the Truck Series Playoffs by winning the Sugarland Shines 250 at the 2.66-mile superspeedway edging Todd Gilliland by 0.027 seconds.

Truck Series Rundown: In five years of Truck Series competition, Boyd has 78 career Truck Series starts with one win, two top-five and three top-10 finishes, and a championship best of 17th in 2019 and carries an average finish of 23.0.

Calling the Shots: Guiding Boyd as crew chief of the No. 12 Freedom Warranty Chevrolet Silverado RST is veteran crew chief Ryan “Pickle” London.

He will crew chief his 58th NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Saturday afternoon. In his previous 57 races, he has one win, two top-five, and four top-10 finishes to his resume.

The Clean Harbors 150 will be his first race as crew chief at the half-mile dirt track.

Follow on Social Media: For more on Spencer Boyd, please like him on Facebook (Spencer Boyd Racing) and follow him on Instagram (SpencerBoydpr) and Twitter (@SpencerBoyd).

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports) and follow on Instagram (youngsmotorsports) and Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

Spencer Boyd Pre-Race Quote:

On Knoxville: “I’ve never been to Knoxville, but I am hoping what I learned on the Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt will be effective for Saturday night in our No. 12 Freedom Warranty Chevrolet Silverado RST.

“A strong finish is exactly what we need to get some momentum on our side ahead of Nashville next weekend.”

No. 20 Young’s Motorsports Team:

Driver: Thad Moffitt
Primary Partner(s): Clean Harbors
Manufacturer: Chevrolet Silverado RST
Crew Chief: Andrew Abbott
2022 Driver Points Position: 39th
2022 Owner Points Position: 33rd
Chassis Intel: YMS Chassis No. 008
Engine: Ilmor Racing Technologies

Notes of Interest:

Welcome!: This weekend at Knoxville Raceway, Young’s Motorsports welcomes Trinity, N.C.-native Thad Moffitt as the driver of the No. 20 Chevrolet Silverado RST.

Sponsor Intel: Moffitt will pilot the No. 20 Chevrolet Silverado RST with support from Clean Harbors.

Clean Harbors marketing director, Buddy Judy said “We are excited to have our name associated with the legendary Knoxville Raceway; it only makes sense to team with a legendary family like the Petty’s to represent us on the track. Thad has done a great job for our brand in recent years and we are looking forward to a great weekend with Young’s Motorsports and Thad!”

Clean Harbors is North America’s leading provider of environmental and industrial services. The Company serves a diverse customer base, including a majority of Fortune 500 companies. Its customer base spans a number of industries, including chemical, energy, and manufacturing, as well as numerous government agencies.

These customers rely on Clean Harbors to deliver a broad range of services such as end-to-end hazardous waste management, emergency spill response, industrial cleaning and maintenance, and recycling services.

Through its Safety-Kleen subsidiary, Clean Harbors also is North America’s largest re-refiner and recycler of used oil and a leading provider of parts washers and environmental services to commercial, industrial and automotive customers.

Founded in 1980 and based in Massachusetts, Clean Harbors operates in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and India.

To learn more about Clean Harbors, visit cleanharbors.com or its career site careers.cleanharbors.com.

Thad Moffitt Truck Series Knoxville Raceway Stats: Saturday night’s Clean Harbors 150 will mark Moffitt’s inaugural NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at the famed Iowa dirt track.

Thad Moffitt Truck Series Stats: Entering Knoxville, Moffitt has three Truck Series starts to his credit all occurring this season.

Moffitt, the grandson of seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and Hall of Famer Richard Petty earned a career-best 18th place in the season-opening race at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.

Thad Moffitt ARCA Menards Series Stats: Moffitt, 21, graduated to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series after a healthy stint in the ARCA Menards Series.

Between 2017 and 2022, Moffitt has 45 ARCA Menards Series starts to his credit with nine top-five and 26 top-10 finishes, including a career-best third, twice at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course respectively.

Earlier this year, Moffitt finished fourth at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway driving the No. 44 Clean Harbors Ford for team owner Jeff McClure.

Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway | Door Dash 250 Race Recap: In the most recent NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Sonoma Raceway, Austin Dillon made his 73rd career Truck Series start.

After starting 16th for the 75-lap race, Dillon maintained a solid pace in his No. 20 K&L Ready Mix Chevrolet Silverado RST and overcame a mechanical gremlin in Stage 3 to rally to a 17th place lead lap finish.

In two races for Young’s Motorsports this season, Dillon has maneuvered two top-20 finishes, including a season-best 14th on the Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway Dirt in April.

Calling the Shots: Guiding Moffitt as crew chief of the No. 20 Clean Harbors Chevrolet Silverado RST is veteran crew chief Andrew Abbott.

He will crew chief his 93rd NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Saturday night.

In his previous 92 races, he has one pole, two top-five and seven top-10 finishes

to his resume.

The Clean Harbors 150 will be his first race as crew chief at the half-mile dirt track.

Follow on Social Media: For more on Austin Dillon, please like him on Facebook (austindillon3) and follow him on Instagram (@austindillon3) and Twitter (@austindillon3).

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports) and follow on Instagram (youngsmotorsports) and Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

Thad Moffitt Pre-Race Quote:

On Knoxville Raceway: “I’m super excited about the opportunity to team up with Tyler and Youngs Motorsports for the Clean Harbors 150. Clean Harbors is a long-term partner of mine and I would love to give them the showing they deserve.

“I think with Tyler (Young) and the 20 team and I have that opportunity. I’m ready for the challenges of the dirt. It will be fun!”

Race Information:

The Clean Harbors 150 presented by Premier Chevy Dealers (150 laps | 75 miles) is the 12th of 23 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races on the 2022 schedule. Practice begins on Friday, June 17, 2022, from 6:05 p.m. – 6:55 p.m. Final practice is set from 8:02 p.m. – 8:27 p.m. Heat races will follow on race day, Saturday, June 18, 2022, beginning at 6:00 p.m. The 36-truck field will take the green flag later in the day shortly after 8:00 p.m. (9:00 p.m. ET) with live coverage on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), the Motor Racing Network (Radio), and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (CT).

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing into Africa to defend Safari crown

By
Official Release
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2022 GR YARIS Rally1

SAFARI RALLY KENYA: Preview

TOKYO, June 17, 2022 – (JCN Newswire) – The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team heads to Safari Rally Kenya on June 23-26 with the goal of defending its crown on the iconic African event.

The Safari made a long-awaited comeback to the FIA World Rally Championship calendar in 2021 when Sebastien Ogier led a one-two finish for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing. Ogier is making Kenya his third WRC appearance of the 2022 season as the team targets a 10th victory on the event for the Japanese marque.

The team’s first priority is to return to the podium after a challenging previous round in Sardinia, although Kalle Rovanpera still left the Italian island having increased his drivers’ championship lead to 55 points. Both Rovanpera and Elfyn Evans will be motivated for the trip to Kenya after experiencing its pitfalls on their debuts there last year. Takamoto Katsuta, on the other hand, travels back to the scene of his maiden podium finish (after finishing second to Ogier one year ago) as he looks to continue his 2022 scoring streak for TGR WRT Next Generation.

Having previously featured incredibly long stages on roads that were still open to the public, today’s Safari Rally runs to a format similar to other modern WRC rounds. Still, the drivers and cars face incredibly demanding gravel roads with some very rough and rocky sections, while the weather has the potential to dramatically change the conditions in a very short space of time.

Shakedown takes place on Wednesday before the rally begins on Thursday lunchtime from capital city Nairobi, with the nearby Kasarani super special kicking off the competitive action. The rest of the weekend is centred around the service park on the shores of Lake Naivasha, around 100 kilometres to the north-west. Friday’s repeated loop of three stages around the lake includes a brand new test, Geothermal, as well as the weekend’s longest: the 31.25 kilometres of Kedong. Saturday takes place further north close to Lake Elmenteita with two passes of three familiar stages from 2021, although Soysambu has been extended and Elmenteita itself will be run in the opposite direction to before. A trio of stages south of Naivasha are all run twice to form Sunday’s final day, including the new Narasha test and Hell’s Gate, which hosts the rally-ending Power Stage.

It’s worth mentioning that the rally takes place in the vicinity of stunning natural wonders, including the Ngorongoro Crater, which adds to the breathtaking scenery and challenging terrain of the event.

Quotes:

Jari-Matti Latvala (Team Principal)
“It was exciting to have the Safari Rally back on the calendar last year and even though the rally is very different to before, the spirit of the event is the same: it’s more about endurance than outright speed. At one stage it looked like it would be difficult for us to even be on the podium and in the end we finished one-two. So again this year we need to be prepared for anything to happen, and it will be another big test for the Rally1 cars. The conditions can look good during reconnaissance and then turn out to be very demanding in the rally. It’s not rough all of the time but you can get quite a lot of big ruts with many really soft and sandy places. But all four of our drivers can count on the experience they gained last year and have some idea of what to expect.”

Sebastien Ogier (Driver car 1)
“I’m looking forward to returning to Kenya. Last year we had a really nice welcome and a great atmosphere. It was something special and different to what we are used to. To win was the cherry on the cake and it will be great to try to repeat that this year with a bit of knowledge of what to expect from the stages. We saw that it can be a very tough rally; I think nearly everybody had an issue at some point and we came back from over two minutes down to win. So it’s definitely a rally where you have to never give up, and this year with the cars still being so new, we might have to be even more clever than before.”

Elfyn Evans (Driver car 33)
“Even though we have experience from last year, it’s always difficult to know exactly what we’re going to face on an event like the Safari Rally. There’s always an element of the unknown, and we saw last year that the conditions can change massively from one area to the next. Some sections can be very soft sand, some parts are much more hard-packed, and in other places it’s very rough. It’s a big challenge for the drivers, for the cars and for the engineers as well. I’ve had a good feeling with the GR YARIS Rally1 on gravel so far and the speed has been there. Safari requires something slightly different in terms of setup but hopefully that positive feeling will still carry forward.”

Kalle Rovanpera (Driver car 69)
“I think the Safari Rally will be another interesting weekend. Of course Sardinia was maybe not as strong a rally for us as we wanted it to be, but I’m hoping that in Kenya maybe we will not lose so much time opening the road and we can try to have a good weekend. Last year, it was a good rally for us overall, we were just a bit unlucky to get stuck when we did at the end of Friday. This year we will try to avoid things like that and tackle the event in a better way, because we see a lot of difficult conditions there and things we don’t normally see in modern rallies. So for sure it’s a special place and you need to approach it a bit differently too.”

Please visit www.wrc.com for the latest.

CHIARAMONTE MAKES THIRD MIDGET APPEARANCE SATURDAY AT MERCED

By
Official Release
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Braden Chiaramonte in the Matt Streeter midget at Bakersfield. Lance Jennings photo.

(El Cajon, CA June 16, 2022) For the third time in his young career, teenage racer Braden Chiaramonte will take on the best midget drivers west of the Mississippi in a USAC Western Midget Series race at the Merced Speedway this Saturday night, June 18th. The race will be the first time the talented driver has appeared on the racy 3/8 of a mile clay oval in California’s Central Valley.

For this week’s race at Merced, Chiaramonte, 15, will once again be driving the Matt Streeter 14JR. The first time the El Cajon, California teen showed up to drive the car at the Bakersfield Speedway on April 16th, those unfamiliar with him thought he was just another rookie driver. That started to change when he qualified ninth fastest in the 21-car field. Minutes later on the first lap of his heat race, he showed everyone that they needed to sit up and pay attention. He went from his fourth-place starting spot into the lead on the first lap. He then led the first six laps before the 2021 series champion finally chased him down and took the top spot. The impressive teen never gave up and ended up finishing second.

For the main that night, Chiaramonte started ninth and finished 10th in the 21-car field that was mostly comprised of veterans. His last name gave long-time race watchers fits as they tried to tell their friends about him the next day.

Five weeks after his initial foray in Streeter’s car, the duo teamed up again at the Ventura Raceway on May 24th. Chiaramonte’s appearance in that race drew a lot of attention from those wondering if his initial outing was a fluke. He put those notions to rest in qualifying. He turned in a lap at 12.486. That was third fastest in the 24-car field in only his second-ever appearance in a midget.

After a 6th place finish in his heat race he began the 30-lap main event inside the 5th row in 9th. Once again competing against seasoned veterans he had an impressive night moving forward to finish seventh.

Chiaramonte is not competing for points in the West Coast Midget Series, but he is in 18th in the standings despite only contesting two of the first six races on the schedule.

Last week Chiaramonte made his first-ever appearance at the Lemoore Jet Bowl. In addition to debuting at the track, he was in a car he had never driven before. He qualified sixth fastest of the 17 cars on hand and placed second in his heat race. He capped the night off with another top-five finish when he placed fourth in the Outlaw Wingless Micro main event.

For fans who may be in the Merced area on Saturday, the track is located at 900 Martin Luther King Jr Way in Merced (95341). Spectator gates will open at 5:00 p.m. with racing at 7:00. The track website is http://www.mercedspeedway.net/ and the office phone is (209) 600-8382.

If you are looking to enter the world of lightning sprint car racing, Chiaramonte’s #73 car is for sale. It is the same car that he drove to the 2021 “Minn-Kota Shootout” championship, 2021 POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series “Rookie of the Year” award, 2nd in the 2021 SWLS point standings and SWLS main event wins in 2021 and 2022. To get all the details, call Daniel Chiaramonte at (619) 988-7563 or send an email to mailto:dchiaramonte@rtltraffic.com.

Chiaramonte would like to thank the following marketing partners for making his 2022 racing season possible. RTL Traffic Control and Equipment Rentals, AM Ortega, Impact Racing, and AIM Sports Data. If you or your company would like to join forces with the fast-rising racing team, please contact Daniel Chiaramonte online at the following link mailto:dchiaramonte@rtltraffic.com or by calling (619) 988-7563.

Braden Chiaramonte 2022 Results

January 1          Tulsa Shootout               Stock Non Wings                                     9th A Main

March 5             Imperial Valley Raceway   POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprints             2nd A Main

March 6             Imperial Valley Raceway   POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprints             8th A Main

March 25           Bakersfield Speedway      California Lightning Sprints                       6th A Main

April 16             Bakersfield Speedway      USAC Western States Midgets                   9th A Main                      

April 23             Imperial Valley Raceway   POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprints            1st A Main

April 30             Barona Speedway           POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprints            2nd A Main

May 12              US 24 Raceway               All In Transportation A Wingless Clash        13th A Main

May 13              US 24 Raceway               All In Transportation A Wingless Clash        16th A Main

May 14              US 24 Raceway               All In Transportation A Wingless Clash        5th L.C.Q.

May 21              Ventura Raceway            USAC Western State Midgets                     7th A Main

June 2               US 24 Raceway               Performance Electronics Big Dance             12th A Main

June 3               US 24 Raceway               Performance Electronics Big Dance             14th A Main

June 4               US 24 Raceway               Performance Electronics Big Dance             8th Qualifier

June 11             Lemoore Jet Bowl            Non Wing Outlaw Micro                           4th A Main

US Legends Out of Time: Best Muscle Cars and Their Modern Descendants for Speed Lovers

By
SM
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Photo by Nathan Mendes on Unsplash

When it comes to cars rare on modern roads, it is impossible to talk about any objectivity. Even an attempt to tie your rating to the horsepower can give little. Until 1972 in the United States, engine power was indicated by automakers without attachments to regular intake and exhaust systems. The power of such motors was designated in bhp (Brake Horse Power), and it is rather difficult to compare it with the usual understanding of the horsepower amount under the hood. In addition, there was no strict control of the declared power of manufactured engines in the country, which often allowed concerns to overestimate the performance of the motor. However, the car gurus from Indy Auto Man have collected a rating of the best muscle cars for the times, taking into account engine power, design, the number of items produced, and sales statistics.

Iconic Muscle Car: Dodge Charger R/T

None of the muscle cars managed to earn the honor and respect that went to the Dodge Charger R / T. This car has become a symbol and personification of the era, the golden age of street racing. Created by designer Richard Seas in 1967, the Dodge Charger would become the prototype for many cars produced in the United States in later years. And the body, whose curves look like a Coca-Cola bottle, would later be called a classic. 

Cars that came with the R / T (Road / Track) index were equipped with the most powerful engines – 440 Magnum (standard) or 426 Hemi (option). Distinctive features of the top-end Chargers are the original grille that hides the headlights and the ability to rear up. You can easily do such a trick if you press both the gas and brake pedals simultaneously at the start. The engine power was also enough to show incredible results for its time: the car took only 6.5 seconds to accelerate to sixty, and the Charger also managed to become the first car to set an absolute record for maximum speed in NASCAR races – 200 mph.

The appearance of a notorious hooligan, who at the same time is very stylish, could not go unnoticed to this day. True connoisseurs of style and speed can come to the Indy Auto Man used car dealership and take one of the modern descendants of the Dodge Charger for a test drive.

Legendary Ford Mustang: Shelby GT500 Cobra

On the second line is the brainchild of the legendary racer Carroll Shelby – Mustang Shelby, which has become almost the personification of muscle cars for all times and people. At the same time, the model is produced to this day, although it makes no sense to compare the progenitor with its descendant: 50 years of evolution have left an indelible mark on the modern model of the Ford muscle car.

The classic 1968 Mustang became the real king of the road, and that is the message Ford designers set when the first Mustang Shelby GT500 Cobra hit the street. Equipped with a huge seven-liter 428 Cobra Jet engine (350-410 hp), the car was what the public was waiting for. 

Supernatural Chevrolet Impala SS

The next member of our rating hardly needs any introduction. After the shooting of the TV series Supernatural, the 1967 Chevrolet Impala SS is recognized by everyone.

The American fastback coupe with the SS (Super Sport) index was equipped with a 7-liter V8 engine with a maximum power output of 425 hp. By the way, this is one of the most expensive cars of its time – the price for them started at $5,000.

Buick GSX 

Many automotive experts love this Buick model, and some authoritative Western publications, such as Cars Magazine, even included it among their favorites. So, in 1984, the first-generation Buick GSX ranked third in the top 50 fastest muscle cars according to the Popular & Performance Car Review.

In addition to the power and impressive speed, the Buick GSX was an extremely comfortable car, unlike ordinary street racers like the Dodge Charger. The American company created one of the most balanced sports cars of the 1970s. Under the hood of the GSX was a 455 hp V8 with a torque of 690 Nm, which allowed a car of considerable weight to pick up speed easily. And due to the reduced weight of the engine and reinforced suspension, the GSX was distinguished by excellent handling, so it was not scary to drive fast not only in a straight line but also to entering turns.

Plymouth Hemi Superbird

Initially, the Plymouth brand conceived the release of the Superbird exclusively as a racing car. But in 1970, the model fell into small-scale production (only 1920 copies were produced), becoming a legend of its time. The Plymouth Hemi Superbird, driven by the famous racer Richard Petty, has repeatedly won confident victories in the NASCAR series. Although, it has not been able to get around its main competitor and relative – ​​the Dodge Daytona, on the basis of which it was built.

The sports coupe was offered in three different modifications, which differed only in engine power. The most impressive option was the V-shaped eight, which produced 425 hp. The data on the number of Hemi Superbirds items in the 425-horsepower version is somewhat different: someone claims that only 93 copies were produced, in other sources – 135. But in any case, many connoisseurs and fans of muscle cars would dream of having such a rare exhibit in their collection.

All these muscle cars are the legends of the past. But modern sports cars have everything you need to feel the power and passion of the speed racers while staying an ordinary driver. If you want to buy an affordable muscle or pony car, sports convertible, or coupe, you will find everything you need at Indy Auto Man.

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