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NASCAR suspends crew chief Cliff Daniels for four Cup races for loose wheel infraction at Sonoma

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by David Myers for SpeedwayMedia.com.

NASCAR issued a major penalty to the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 entry piloted by the reigning Cup Series champion Kyle Larson and led by the reigning championship-winning crew chief Cliff Daniels for a loose wheel infraction at Sonoma Raceway that occurred this past weekend on June 12.

The incident occurred during the final 28 laps at Sonoma, where Larson had just exited pit road following a green flag pit stop and was making his way through Turns 1 and 2 when the right-front wheel came off of the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. Despite going off course through Turns 3 and 3A, Larson managed to limp his car back to pit road and went on to finish 15th of the 36-car field in an event where he started on pole position, leading the first 26 of 110 laps and won the first stage.

The loose wheel penalty that occurred on the course, however, was enough for Daniels along with crew members Brandon Johnson and Donnie Tasser to be suspended for the following four Cup events, beginning at Nashville Superspeedway on June 26 followed by Road America on July 3, Atlanta Motor Speedway on July 10 and New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 17. Following the penalty report, Hendrick Motorsports has elected to not appeal the penalty and will announce Larson’s interim crew chief for the following four events at a later date.

This marks the 10th time through the first 16 scheduled events where a Cup Series team was penalized with a four-race suspension of a crew chief and select pit crew members due to a lost wheel coming off of a car during an event. The most recent incident of a lost wheel occurred at Kansas Speedway in May when Kaulig Racing crew chief Trent Owens along with rear-tire changer Jonpatrick Kealey and Jackman Marshall McFadden were suspended for four events, including the All-Star Race at Texas Motor Speedway in May and this past weekend at Sonoma, due to a wheel that detached off of driver Justin Haley’s No. 31 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 that was exiting the pit stall. Currently, Haley’s team remains the only one that has been penalized twice for a lost wheel. Their first incident occurred during this year’s 64th running of the Daytona 500, where Owens, McFadden and front tire changer Jacob Nelson were all suspended for the following four events. Owens is scheduled to make his return atop the pit box at Nashville.

Other driver-team duos that have been penalized for a loose wheel infraction include Kaz Grala for The Money Team Racing during the 64th running of the Daytona 500 in February, rookie Todd Gilliland for Front Row Motorsports at Auto Club Speedway in February, Corey LaJoie for Spire Motorsports at Phoenix Raceway in March, Bubba Wallace for 23XI Racing at Circuit of the Americas in March, BJ McLeod for Live Fast Motorsports at Talladega Superspeedway in April, Denny Hamlin for Joe Gibbs Racing at Dover Motor Speedway in May and AJ Allmendinger for Kaulig Racing that also occurred at Dover.

Another team that was issued a penalty following last weekend’s event at Sonoma was the No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Ford Mustang team that was piloted by Cody Ware. The team was penalized 20 Cup driver and owner points following four pre-qualifying inspection failures, which sent Ware to the rear of the field and resulted with him serving a mandatory pass-through penalty through pit road following the start of the event. The team’s engineer Steve Gray was also suspended for the duration of the Sonoma weekend. Ware went on to finish 32nd and a lap down behind the leaders.

The 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season enters a one-week break period before returning to action at Nashville Superspeedway on June 26. Coverage for the event is scheduled to commence at 5 p.m. ET on NBC.

DGR NCWTS Advance: Knoxville Raceway

By
Official Release
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Saturday, June 18
Track: Knoxville Raceway, .5-mile dirt oval
Race: 13 of 23
Event: Clean Harbors 150 (150 laps, 75 miles)

Schedule
Friday, June 17
First Practice: 7:05 p.m. ET
Final Practice: 9:00 p.m. ET
Saturday, June 18
Qualifying Races: 7:00 p.m. ET
Race: 9:00 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 1)

Hailie Deegan, No. 1 Monster Energy Ford F-150 

  • The Clean Harbors 150 marks Hailie Deegan’s second appearance at Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway — her 36th career start in the NCWTS.
  • Deegan scored her second-best qualifying result of the season last Saturday, lining up in ninth place at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway.
  • Deegan is known for her dirt prowess, climbing the ranks of off-road competition before transitioning to stock car racing. In addition, she regularly makes appearances at Millbridge Speedway, competing in her dirt micro sprint car.
  • In her previous NCWTS outing at Knoxville Raceway, Deegan qualified in fourth position en route to a 21st place finish. She also had a runner-up performance behind Tony Stewart when the Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) series ran at the historic venue in 2021.

Tanner Gray, No. 15 Ford Performance F-150

  • Tanner Gray will make his 13th NCWTS start of the 2022 season in his second career appearance at Knoxville Raceway.
  • Last time out at Sonoma Raceway, the Ford driver marched from a 27th place qualifying effort to record a 13th place finish.
  • In three Truck Series starts on dirt, Gray has an average finish of 19.6, with a best result of 13th coming at the 2021 Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.
  • Veteran Crew Chief Jerry Baxter will be making his 10th career dirt appearance in the NASCAR ranks, having scored a 2014 NCWTS win at Eldora Speedway with Bubba Wallace.

Todd Gilliland, No. 17 Frontline Enterprises Ford F-150

  • Todd Gilliland is set to make his first career appearance for David Gilliland Racing in the NCWTS this Saturday at Knoxville Raceway.
  • The 22-year-old has recorded victories with the organization in both K&N and ARCA competition, securing wins at Bristol Motor Speedway, New Smyrna Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway.
  • The Cup Series Rookie of the Year candidate has four career NCWTS starts on dirt, recording a best finish of fourth at both Bristol Motor Speedway and Knoxville Raceway last season.
  • Crew Chief Seth Smith will be making his first start atop the box at Knoxville Raceway. Smith has guided an array of DGR drivers to an average finish of 10.3 in his three crew chief appearances this season.

John Hunter Nemechek – No. 4 Mobil 1 Tundra TRD Pro Camping World Trucks Knoxville Raceway Preview

By
Official Release
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John Hunter Nemechek: Driver, No. 4 Mobil 1 Toyota

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Overview:
Event: Clean Harbors 150, Race 13 of 23, 150 Laps – 40/50/60; 75 Miles
Location: Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway (Half-mile dirt-oval)
Date/Broadcast: June 18, 2022, at 9 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR 90

Neme’chek’ the Facts:

After an eighth-place finish at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway last Saturday, John Hunter Nemechek and the No. 4 Mobil 1 team return to action Saturday night for the second running of the Clean Harbors 150 at Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway. In last year’s inaugural event, Nemechek was forced to start at the rear of the field and drove to an 11th-place finish.

With four races remaining in the regular season, Nemechek currently sits fourth in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series standings, just 14 points back of ThorSport Racing driver Ben Rhodes in first. Nemechek leads the NASCAR Truck Series regulars in poles (four), average starting position (6.7), and average running position (8.431). He is also second in driver rating (102.7) and third in laps led (171) and fastest laps run (81).

The 25-year-old driver will be making his ninth career start on a dirt track in Camping World Truck Series action. Nemechek has previously made five starts at Eldora (Ohio) Speedway, two at Bristol Dirt, and one at Knoxville. In his first eight starts, he has tallied 12 laps led, two top-five and five top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 12.8. His best result on dirt recently came in the Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt at Bristol where he secured a third-place finish.

Nemechek is a 12-time winner in Camping World Truck Series action, winning at least one race each season from 2015 to 2018 for his family-owned team, NEMCO Motorsports, and returning to victory lane in 2021 and 2022 with KBM. Across 136 career starts in NASCAR’s third division, he has compiled six poles, 1,352 laps led, 45 top-five and 74 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 12.5.

Eric Phillips returned to lead the No. 4 team in 2022. His 42 career Truck Series victories make him the winningest crew chief in Truck Series history, with 33 of those coming while at KBM including five last year. Phillips led the No. 18 team at KBM in its debut season in 2010 and helped build the organization into one of the premier teams in all of NASCAR before departing at the end of the 2014 season. Under his guidance, the No. 18 team won eight races in its inaugural campaign and became the first team in Truck Series history to capture an owner’s championship in its first season of competition. In 2014, the Illinois native led the No. 51 team to an owner’s championship and his team’s 10 wins spearheaded KBM to a single-season Truck Series record of 14 wins. Phillips has been atop the box for just four starts at dirt tracks in Camping World Truck Series action. In those four starts, his drivers have tallied one pole, 24 laps led, one top-five and one top-10 finish resulting in an average finish of 20.5. His best result was Nemechek’s third-place finish earlier this year on the dirt at Bristol.

The world’s leading synthetic motor oil, Mobil 1, will adorn the hood of the No. 4 Tundra TRD Pro this Saturday at Knoxville Raceway. Mobil 1 returns as the primary sponsor of Nemechek’s Toyota for three more races in 2022; June 24 at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway, July 9 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, and Oct. 1 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

John Hunter Nemechek, Driver Q&A:
John Hunter Nemechek | Knoxville Raceway Preview
How different is it racing at Knoxville compared to Bristol Dirt?
“It is, Knoxville being flat and not having a lot of banking. Bristol, they did a very good job with the track prep. You were able to run the bottom, the middle, all the way up to the fence. I’m not sure how Knoxville will play out, last year it was one lane right around the bottom and if you were on the outside, it wasn’t good. Hopefully we do a little bit better with the track prep this year and can run multiple lanes, I know the World of Outlaws ran there this past weekend and they put on a good show being able to run the bottom all the way up to the fence. So, we’ll see what happens, looking forward to getting back dirt racing and chasing another victory.”

Do you feel with how the track races that it will be another super aggressive race this weekend?
“Yeah, I feel like Knoxville is definitely going to be a super aggressive race. I feel like the biggest thing for us is just trying to stay in the right mindset and not get flustered. It’s not if you’re going to get run into, it’s when, so just trying to keep that mindset, not get flustered in the moment and take yourself out of contention by trying to make a move too early or whatever it may be. So, just have to be smart, race our race and salvage the best finish that we can.”

Does having Buddy Kofoid as a teammate this weekend help at all with going to race a dirt track?
“I think having Buddy the Dirt Driver with us this weekend is definitely going to be good to just have a different perspective. Having Brian Brown there last year, he doesn’t have a lot of stock car experience, kind of like Buddy, but you can pick their brain about the dirt, how the track is going to change, and what the track is going to do in terms of rubbering up or staying wet and tacky. We have two practice sessions on Friday so definitely going to be interested to see how the track changes. It changed a lot last year in those two practices and was completely different when we went back on Saturday for the race, so just have to stay on top of it and know what to do and how to make adjustments inside the race car with my hands and feet and pedals and everything else to try and get the truck to turn or not break rear traction depending on the conditions of the racetrack. Being able to lean a lot on those guys for that information is very important.”

John Hunter Nemechek Career Highlights:

  • Twelve-time winner in Camping World Truck Series action, winning at least one race each season from 2015 to 2018 for his family-owned team, NEMCO Motorsports. Across 136 career starts in NASCAR’s third division, has compiled six poles, 1,352 laps led, 45 top-five and 74 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 12.5. Registered a career-high and series-leading five victories in 2021, earned the NCWTS Regular Season championship and finished third in the final standings after qualifying for the Championship Four for the first time in his career.
  • Produced three top-10 finishes and an average result of 22.4 while competing for rookie of the year honors in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2020. He recorded a career-best eighth-place finish twice, both coming at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.
  • Across 61 career XFINITY Series starts, has totaled two wins, one pole, 510 laps led, 17 top-five and 36 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 11.8.

John Hunter Nemechek’s No. 4 Mobil 1 Tundra TRD Pro:

KBM-35: The No. 4 Mobil 1 team will unload KBM-35 for the Saturday night race at Knoxville. Nemechek raced this Tundra once earlier this season at the Bristol Dirt race where he finished third. Prior to that, KBM-35 had not raced since October of 2020 and has one career win in 18 starts, coming with Daniel Suarez at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway in 2016.
KBM-35 Performance Profile

KBM Notes of Interest:

  • KBM drivers have recorded three wins, one pole, 478 laps led, nine top-five and 16 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 13.1 across 29 starts on dirt tracks.
  • Martin Truex Jr. picked up the organization’s most recent victory on a dirt track in the inaugural Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt at Bristol Motor Speedway (2021). Bubba Wallace (2014) and Christopher Bell (2015) each picked up a win at Eldora Speedway.
  • KBM holds the Camping World Truck Series records for most career wins (95) and most wins in a single season (14 in 2014). With his victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 19, Corey Heim became the 18th different driver to win a Truck Series event for KBM. In addition to collecting a series-record seven Owner’s Championships, the organization has produced two championship-winning drivers: Erik Jones (2015) and Christopher Bell (2017).
  • The No. 4 has 17 career victories at KBM and was the number for both of the organization’s driver championships.

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

By
Official Release
-

Chandler Smith: Driver, No. 18 Charge Me Toyota

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Overview:
Event: Clean Harbors 150, Race 13 of 23, 75 Laps – 40/50/60; 75 Miles
Location: Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway (half-mile dirt oval)
Date/Broadcast: June 18, 2022, at 9 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR 90

Chandler Chatter:

Chandler Smith and the No. 18 Charge Me team head to Knoxville Raceway for Saturday’s Clean Harbors 150 looking to continue their charge to the top of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series regular season point standings. With his fifth-place finish at Sonoma Raceway, the talented teenager closed the gap on reigning Truck Series champion Ben Rhodes to just five points with four races remaining before the regular season champion is crowned. After a 21st-place finish at Darlington, Smith was 32 points behind Rhodes, but over the last five races Smith has narrowed the margin by posting an average finish of 5.6 compared to Rhodes average finish of 14.6 during that span.

Through the first 12 events of the season Smith ranks first among Truck Series regulars in average finish (8.8) and quality passes (509), third in driver rating (101.0), average starting position (7.8) and average running position (9.007) and fourth in fastest laps run (70). He has produced one win, 96 laps led, six top-five and nine top-10 finishes in his sophomore campaign. With 11 races remaining this season, Smith has already matched the number of top-five and top-10 finishes he had in 2021.

In last year’s inaugural race at Knoxville, Smith was out front for 71 laps and managed to hold off the ultra-aggressive field for the first two NASCAR overtime periods, but when a quick caution slowed the field during the third overtime period, NASCAR ruled that Austin Hill had narrowly edged past Smith giving Hill the preferred lane choice for the fourth and final overtime. Smith got knocked back two spots on the ensuing restart but made a three-wide pass coming the white flag to get back into the runner up spot, where he would end the event.

Last week’s race at Sonoma was the 19-year-old drivers 50th career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start. Across his first 25 starts he posted and average finish of 15.24 with no wins, nine top-five and 11 top-10 finishes. Across his last 25 starts the talented wheelman has posted an average finish of 11.6 with three wins, 11 top-five and 16 top-10 finishes.

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

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

Veteran crew chief Danny Stockman will once again call the shots for Smith and the No. 18 team in 2022. Stockman’s drivers have produced six victories at KBM across his first two seasons, including two with Smith behind the wheel in 2021. The veteran crew chief captured a Truck Series championship with Austin Dillon in 2011 and also won an Xfinity Series championship with Dillon in 2013. Stockman’s drivers have an average finish of 15.0 across four starts on dirt tracks with Smith’s runner-up finish at Knoxville last year being the best result.

Charge Me will serve as the primary sponsor on the No. 18 Tundra TRD Pro Saturday. Charge Me was founded on the principle that the electric vehicle (EV) revolution will require robust infrastructure support at all levels. Charge Me will return as the primary sponsor for two more races this season: (June 18), Pocono (Pa.) Raceway (July 23) and Richmond (Va.) Raceway (Aug. 13). Safelite, the nation’s largest provider of vehicle glass repair, replacement and recalibration services will serve as an associate sponsor on the bedtop of Smith’s Toyota Saturday and for 16 races as a primary sponsor in 2022.

Chandler Smith, Driver Q&A:
After being so close to winning at Knoxville last year is this one you’ve had circled on your calendar this year?
“For sure, I was really emotional after that race and felt like I got that one stolen from me, so that’s one that has been circled on my list to go back there and get some redemption. They had a really cool trophy last year and I wanted it pretty bad, so hopefully they have the same trophy this year. Really looking forward to slinging some mud this weekend in my Charge Me Tundra TRD Pro.”

Do you feel like the race will be as aggressive as it was last year?
“Unfortunately, I’m thinking it’s going to be a lot worse than last year and last year was really bad. We’re bigger picture racing this year, the regular season championship is our main priority right now. We don’t want to put ourselves in any bad situations where we end up losing a bunch of points.”

You had a really strong race at Knoxville last year, how were you able to have such a fast Tundra?
“I think it was a combination of Danny (Stockman, crew chief) and the guys on the No. 18 team preparing a really fast truck and that it seemed to really fit my driving style. Especially, after it slicked off, it drove a lot like a Friday night Super Late Model race on a short track somewhere in America. That’s kind of my background and that’s where I’m from, so it definitely swung my way a little bit. Also, the tire strategy we did at the very end where after the track rubbered up, we stayed out and our tires started slicking off and helped our speed. On the short run and especially on restarts it was really hard to take off because we didn’t have any traction on the dirt. If I could get clear from everybody, I was able to take off, so that’s something that me and my crew chief Danny Stockman has talked about already heading into this year’s race.”
Chandler Smith Career Highlights:

  • Across 50 career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts has recorded three wins, 402 laps led, 20 top-five and 27 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 13.4.
  • Earned NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year honors in 2021 and finished eighth in the championship standings after producing two victories, one pole, 213 laps led, six top-five and nine top-10 finishes in his first full-time season. He earned his first career Truck Series victory at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway in September and in the series finale at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway earned his first career pole and swept all three stages en route to his second victory.
  • Has posted an average finish of 29.5 across two NASCAR Xfinity Series starts in 2022, with a best result of 22nd coming at Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway.
  • Has collected nine wins, 10 poles, 1783 laps led, 22 top-five and 29 top-10 finishes en route to an average finish of 5.4 across 34 career ARCA Menards Series starts.

Chandler Smith’s No. 18 Charge Me Tundra:

KBM-52: The No. 18 Charge Me team will unload KBM-52 for Saturday’s race at the Knoxville. It is the same Toyota that Smith picked up his first career Truck Series victory with last September on the concrete track at Bristol. In its most recent outing, Smith finished 19th with KBM-52 in the Bristol Dirt Race in April.

KBM-52 Performance Profile
KBM Notes of Interest:

  • In last year’s inaugural race at Knoxville, KBM’s three trucks combined for an average finish of 7.0 with Smith producing a team-best runner-up finish. Brian Brown finished eighth in his Truck Series debut.
  • KBM drivers have won three times on dirt tracks. Martin Truex Jr. won the inaugural race on the dirt at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2021, while Bubba Wallace (2014) and Christopher Bell (2015) each scored victories at Eldora Speedway.
  • KBM holds the Camping World Truck Series records for most career wins (95) and most wins in a single season (14 in 2014). With his victory at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway, Corey Heim became the 18th different driver to win a Truck Series event for KBM. In addition to collecting a series-record seven Owner’s Championships, the organization has produced two championship-winning drivers: Erik Jones (2015) and Christopher Bell (2017).
  • The No. 18, the number which was on the first Tundra that went to victory lane for KBM in 2010, has 24 career victories.

Zane Smith Ready to Kick Up Dirt with Boot Barn

By
Official Release
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Looking to Add Fourth Win in 2022

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (June 14, 2022) – Zane Smith heads into the Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway leading the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series playoff standings with only four races left in the 2022 regular season.

This weekend Smith will welcome partner, Boot Barn, for their first of three primary races with Smith and the Front Row Motorsports (FRM) truck program. Boot Barn will also adorn the truck on the road course at Mid-Ohio and the famed Indianapolis Raceway Park in July.

As the largest western and work wear retailer in the nation, Boot Barn offers the largest assortment of cowboy boots, work boots, western wear, work wear, western-inspired fashion, and outdoor gear in the nation. Smith has already been active with Boot Barn, displaying the western and work wear lifestyle on social media.

“It’s been fun working with Boot Barn,” said Smith. “We are seeing fans at store events, and it is cool to have that interaction with the fans. Winning for Boot Barn is what I want to do. That will be cool to do with them and all their customers.”

This weekend at Knoxville will be Smith’s second time racing at the dirt track facility. With a 14th-place finish in last year’s event and two top-10 finishes on the dirt at Bristol, Smith feels confident the No. 38 team is prepared for the challenge.

“Last year at Knoxville was a steep learning curve for every team,” Smith stated. “This No. 38 team has always been strong on the dirt and came away with a top-five finish last year. I feel confident that my guys are prepared for whatever comes our way this weekend and hopefully we can park it in Victory Lane for our first dirt win.”

The Boot Barn team hits the dirt at Knoxville Raceway on Saturday at 9:00 PM. ET on FS1

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.

DXDT Readies to Defend Win on Home Turf at VIRginia International Raceway

By
Official Release
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STATESVILLE, N.C., (June 14, 2022) – After enduring a blistering hot weekend last month in New Orleans, the competitors of the Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS head northeast this weekend for rounds five and six of the championship, to be hosted at VIRginia International Raceway (VIR). The No. 63 and No. 08 DXDT Racing Mercedes AMG GT3 cars seek to defend the team’s 2021 win and double-podium weekend June 17-19.

The field will again be faced with hot temperatures, as current weather predictions for the four days on track look to hit the high 80s and 90s in Alton, Virginia. After the heated previous rounds, the team will be well prepared and warmed up, and ready for action. The hot and humid weather will be no surprise for the DXDT Racing squad, as the team is headquartered in Statesville, North Carolina, about 130 miles southwest of the circuit, located near Alton, Virginia. The circuit sits less than half a mile from the North Carolina/Virginia state border, and boasts 17 turns across 3.27 exciting, flowing miles. With iconic turns such as the Climbing Esses, Oak Tree, and South Bend, VIR never fails to deliver exciting racing activity when the competitive GT World Challenge series visits.

Twenty entries are slated to participate in the weekend’s two headlining races, with the DXDT Racing driver pairings of David Askew and Dirk Muller and Scott Smithson and Bryan Sellers competing against twelve other cars in the class. Most competitors will load into the event early, looking to take advantage of private track days before the event officially begins with a pair of practice sessions on Friday, June 17.

The Am-rated drivers will qualify for race one Saturday morning at 9:00 AM ET, followed by the Pro-ranked drivers qualifying to set the starting positions for race two at 9:20 AM. Race one will begin Saturday afternoon at 2:15 PM, followed by race two at 1:15 PM on Sunday afternoon. All qualifying and race sessions for GT World Challenge America will air live on YouTube.com/GTWorld.

DRIVER QUOTES

David Askew | No. 63 USALCO Mercedes AMG GT3

Now we are into the long stretch of summer racing and VIR in June can be hot and muggy. After the heat and humidity of New Orleans, DXDT will be ready! I’ve never had too much problem with heat, meaning I’ve never paid much attention to its effect on performance – until NOLA. My goodness, it was all I could to keep focused as the seemingly never-ending stint wore on. All the drivers complained so we’ve upgraded things in the “driver comfort” area. Personally, I’m looking forward to VIR; it’s one of the prettiest tracks we visit. Very old school and very demanding. A fan favorite and always a big turn-out. The only place where cars go faster on the grass than on the track!

Dirk Müller | No. 63 USALCO Mercedes AMG GT3

I’m really looking forward to VIR. It’s definitely close to being one of my favorite tracks in North America, which is obviously Road America. On the No. 63, we had a rough weekend in NOLA, and we want to keep everything behind us. All in all, we showed a good performance over the weekend, and the No. 08 car was close to the first podium of the season. That’s going to be the big goal for this round in VIR. David and I want to be on the podium. We will be working hard. I’m super proud of everyone on the team, working on our two cars together, and getting the maximum out of it. I’m looking forward to it. We have two test days coming up, and I hope we can have a good start into the weekend.

Scott Smithson | No. 08 Qelo Mercedes AMG GT3

I’m looking forward to coming back to VIR. It’s the first familiar track of the season for me. This year has been a big learning experience for me, and we’ve have had some struggles due to my inexperience, but we are figuring it all out. I believe Bryan and I will be fighting for a podium this weekend. The car is getting better every weekend, and I am starting to feel comfortable with the Mercedes AMG GT3.

Bryan Sellers | No. 08 Qelo Mercedes AMG GT3

VIR is a special track/facility. One of the things that separates VIR from most other circuits are the people and their constant commitment to improvement. Whether that’s related to track items or constant improvement of the community around them. I love being able to race there in front of a great and knowledgeable crowd. We showed a lot of improvement from Sonoma to NOLA, VIR would be a great place for the team to get their first podiums of the season.

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ABOUT DXDT RACING
DXDT Racing is a high-performance sports car racing team founded in 2014 by team principal David Askew and located in Statesville, N.C. The Team’s primary focus is GT3 and Touring Car racing in North America. DXDT is a provider of turnkey racing support and delivers customized racing solutions for its clients and sponsors. DXDT is a performance-driven team comprised of highly experienced racing professionals capable of delivering wins and championships, including ten wins in GT World Challenge and a Rookie of the Year in 2020 alone. Follow the team on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook for race season updates.

About USALCO
USALCO is the premier manufacturer of Aluminum based chemicals for industrial and municipal markets. USALCO® is the leader in potable as well as industrial water and wastewater treatment chemistry. We are well-known for high quality and low cost alumina chemical applications, such as products for the manufacture of catalysts, titanium dioxide and molecular sieves. With over 60 years of experience in manufacturing coagulants, USALCO’s extensive product line includes our industry leading brands DelPAC®, AlcoPAC®, and Delta-Floc®. USALCO has 27 manufacturing locations, as well as its own dedicated fleet of trucks, ready to service needs anywhere in North America.

About Qelo
Qelo is a seasoned land development firm, founded and managed by experienced partners who hold over 50 years combined experience in real estate investment and capital management. The firm’s varied projects range from land development, vertical construction, and land banking. Qelo focuses on a portfolio of diversified projects throughout the ever-expanding Utah market and across the Intermountain West – this focus allows the firm to strategically select high-quality short-term and long-term projects to take advantage of a rapidly expanding economy within the region.

For more information, visit www.qelocapital.com.

Loni Unser Set for Pikes Peak Debut

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Official Release
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Looking to add to family legacy in the 100th “Race to the Clouds”

Colorado Springs, Colo. (14 June 2022) – With 156 turns in 12.42-miles, nearly 5,000 feet of elevation gain, a range of different surfaces, and a high-intensity one at a time format, there is nothing in motorsport like the challenge of the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC). This month, young Loni Unser will look to add to her famous family’s outstanding record in the annal event as she is set to contest the 100th running of the “Race to the Clouds” June 26.

Unser, who raced to victory in World Racing League (WRL) on board the No. 701 Hagerty Porsche Cayman in March, will move to a different Porsche platform as she climbs on board the No. 92 Hagerty/Yokohama/Mobil 1/Pep Boys Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport to compete in the Porsche Pikes Peak Trophy division.

Her debut will mark the 4th generation of Unser to compete on the mountain that includes sections like “Devil’s Playground” and “Bottomless Pit”

The Unser name is nearly synonymous with the Pikes Peak event, with the family having first competing in 1926 with Louis and Joe Unser. Louis set a course record in 1934, and the Unsers added more success as Al Sr., Robert W. (Bobby), Al Jr, and Robb Unser all took to the challenge.

An Unser claimed victory every year from 1958 to 1962, with Bobby setting new records before setting a fast time of 13:19:100 in an Arciero Bros Racing Lotus 23 in 1964.

In 1997 both Louis and Bobby were inducted into the Pikes Peak Hall of Fame, and most recently, Al Sr. joined them in 2020. While Unser is the only female in her division this year, she’s not the first female Unser to take on Pikes Peak. Jeri Unser—daughter of Bobby and his wife Norma, taking rookie of the year in 1998 before winning the electric car division in 2003.

“Pikes Peak is a completely different race than anything I’ve ever done and I could not be more excited to make the most of this opportunity,” said Unser, who regularly races in WRL competition with Round 3 Racing. “Of course it is a really special place for our family, and I am really grateful to have the chance to compete there this month. I know I will be learning so much in a short period of time, but I hope all the preparation and tips from my family pay off!”

PPIHC will begin practice and qualifying on Tuesday, 21 June, leading up to the race on Sunday, 26 June.

The green flag will drop at the 100th running of the race at 7:30 am (MDT). Tune in on Pike Peak Live, powered by Mobil 1 on Mobil 1’s Facebook; coverage starts at 7 am (MDT) to watch Unser make her way to the clouds. You can also listen live on PPIHC Race Day Radio on KRDO; 1240AM, 105.5, or 92.5FM (https://krdo.com/radio/). Live timing is available at PPIHC.org.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PPIHC
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pikespeakhillclimb/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pikespeakhillclimb

Nolan Siegel Joins Jr III Racing for Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen

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Official Release
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Mooresville, NC (14 June 2022) – Jr III Racing has completed its roster for the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen, round three of the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup with the addition of rising Road to Indy star Nolan Siegel. The driver duo of Garett Grist and Ari Balogh will be joined by Siegel in the No. 30 Airbnb Ligier JS P320 on June 26 for the annual six hour classic.

The up-and-coming open-wheel driver made his IMSA WeatherTech debut earlier this year in the renowned Rolex 24 At Daytona where he raced to a sixth place finish in the LMP3 category.

Last season Siegel competed in four IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge races in the GS category which saw the young racer take a best finish of sixth at Lime Rock Park as well as getting his first run at Watkins Glen International.

Siegel will continue to add to his racing resume having already clinched the 2018 SimRaceway F3 championship. The 18 year old racer currently competes in the Indy Pro 2000 Championship where he has claimed two wins, two poles and two additional podium finishes so far in the 2022 season.

Before joining the Indy Pro 2000 ranks, Siegel began in karting and worked his way through the USF2000 Championship from 2019 to 2021 which saw him score his first victory at the New Jersey Motorsports Park last season.

The Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen will be Siegel’s second race at Watkins Glen International as he looks forward to returning to an LMP3 car in the midst of his Indy Pro 2000 season.

“I’m really excited to start with Jr III at Watkins Glen,” said Siegel. “It will be my first race with the team and we had a successful test there. I’m really thankful Ari and Billy (Glavin, Jr III Team Owner) have given me the opportunity to drive with the team, and it will be a pleasure working with them this weekend.”

Jr III Racing has continued to grow its program to maintain campaigns in both the IMSA Prototype Challenge series as well as the championship-leading IMSA WeatherTech program.

“I’m really excited to bring Nolan on,” said Glavin. “He did great at Daytona in the Mühlner car, and he knows Garett (Grist) from his open wheel days. Obviously with him winning at St. Pete and at Barber this year, it showed that he’s definitely got the pace we need. He has IMSA experience in the LMP3 as well as Watkins Glen experience in GT4, so we thought it’d be a good fit. We tested with him last week, and he fit right in with the team, had a great attitude and was comfortable in the car. Good pace, and we’re looking forward to seeing what he can do.”

The Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen will be the second endurance event for Jr III Racing in the 2022 IMSA WeatherTech season. Having skipped out on the first endurance round at Daytona, Jr III Racing came back strong at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring which saw the team score a second place finish.

Siegel will team up with Jr III Racing for the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen on Sunday, June 26 which is set for a green flag start at 10:40am ET.

Entenmann’s® Donuts Promotes Dads of Glory with JTG Daugherty Racing at Nashville

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Official Release
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Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s No. 47 Camaro features Entenmann’s Donuts promotion with an in-car camera and in-race billboard on NBC as $50,000 and free donuts are on the line.

Harrisburg, N.C. (June 14, 2022) – – Entenmann’s Donuts cleverly created an ultimate way to celebrate Dads and Father Figures with “Dads of Glory: A Father Figure Showcase” at DadsofGlory.com. The contest is being showcased on Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s No. 47 Camaro ZL1 at Nashville Superspeedway on June 26th and $50,000 is up for grabs along with free donuts.

“We can’t think of a sweeter way to celebrate Father’s Day than by helping our fans honor the dads and father figures, regardless of gender, that have helped inspire them,” said Jason Amar, Director of Marketing at Entenmann’s. “We are so excited to have Ricky’s support to promote this program and help us recognize all father figures that have made a positive impact in our fans’ lives.”

Stenhouse Jr. recently mentioned how easy it is for consumers to enter the contest. Simply share a video clip at DadsofGlory.com to showcase why your dad or father figure is a Dad of Glory across one of five Dad-egories that include: Dad Humor, Dad Feats, Dad Engineering, Dad Fashion and Dad Love.

“This is a simple and fun way to honor your father or father figure in your life,” said Stenhouse Jr. “This promotion makes me think of all the times my dad worked so hard to give me and family the opportunity to live a good life and get me to a place to where I was able to be successful at racing. It’s special to look back at all the hard work he put into my racing career. Because of him, I put the same work ethic into my craft.”

The DadsofGlory.com contest has really stirred up some good memories that Stenhouse Jr. and his father have shared through the years.

“He’s someone I look up to and I remember all the times riding dirt bikes together every Sunday after church,” said Stenhouse Jr. “I remember him getting my first go-kart right in the foyer for Christmas and us going to the racetrack and basically saying I was six years old so I could race when I was actually five. I almost messed it up because I would be at the counter telling them I wasn’t six.

“I remember when I won my first stock car race in ARCA (2008) and we climbed the fence to meet each other at the top of it,” continued Stenhouse Jr. “For my first Sprint car win, he jumped on the side of the race car and we did a victory lap together. There are a lot of cool moments we’ve shared, but just getting to spend time together is the best.”

Speaking of spending time together, Entenmann’s is making sure fans have an opportunity to meet Stenhouse Jr. On Friday, June 24th the Olive Branch, Mississippi native is appearing at the Kroger store located at 1418 West Main Street, Lebanon, Tennessee kicking off at 11 AM Central for a meet and greet/autograph session.

“Entenmann’s is fully engaged with the race team using their racing assets to its full potential,” Stenhouse Jr. said. “It’s makes me happy to see their excitement and engagement with the team and our fans like they do. I’m looking forward to seeing our fans.”

Live coverage of the Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway on Sunday, June 26th begins at 4 PM Central/5 PM Eastern on NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

About Entenmann’s® Bakery

Entenmann’s history dates back more than 120 years to 1898 when William Entenmann opened his first bakery in Brooklyn, New York. By the 1960s the company was selling delicious donuts throughout the New York metropolitan area; by the 1970s it began selling nationwide. Today, Entenmann’s markets over 100 different baked goods in the U.S., producing more than one billion donuts annually – one of which is the #1-best-selling classic Entenmann’s Rich Frosted Donut introduced in 1973.

About Bimbo Bakeries USA

Bimbo Bakeries USA (BBU) is a leader in the baking industry, known for its category leading brands, innovative products, freshness and quality. Our team of 20,000+ U.S. associates operates more than 50 manufacturing locations in the United States. Over 11,000 distribution routes deliver our leading brands such as Arnold®, Artesano™, Ball Park®, Bimbo®, Boboli®, Brownberry®, Entenmann’s®, Little Bites®, Marinela®, Mrs Baird’s®, Oroweat®, Sara Lee®, Stroehmann® and Thomas’®. BBU is owned by Mexico’s Grupo Bimbo, S.A.B de C.V., the world’s largest baking company with operations in 33 countries.

Tony Stewart Racing: Bristol NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Advance

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Official Release
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Leah Pruett & Matt Hagan
Top Fuel | Funny Car
NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals
June 17-19 | Bristol, Tennessee

Event Overview

Friday, June 17 (Nitro Qualifying, streamed live on NHRA.TV)

● Nitro qualifying session (Q1): 8:00 p.m. EDT

Saturday, June 18 (Nitro Qualifying, streamed live on NHRA.TV)

● Nitro qualifying session (Q2): 2:30 p.m. EDT
● Nitro qualifying session (Q3): 5:30 p.m. EDT

Sunday, June 19 (Nitro Eliminations, streamed live on NHRA.TV)

● Round 1: 12 p.m. EDT
● Round 2: 2 p.m. EDT
● Semi-Finals: 3:30 p.m. EDT
● Finals: 5 p.m. EDT

TV coverage

● Friday, June 17: Qualifying show (8 p.m. EDT on FS1)
● Saturday, June 18: Qualifying show (11 p.m. EDT on FS1)
● Sunday, June 19: Finals show (3 p.m. EDT on FOX)

Notes of Interest

● The NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol (Tenn.) Dragway hosts the ninth event on the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series’ 22-race calendar. Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) brings its two fulltime entries – one in Top Fuel for nine-time event winner Leah Pruett and one in Funny Car for three-time Funny Car champion Matt Hagan.

● Pruett and Hagan come into Bristol representing Mobil 1 and TruHarvest Farms, respectively. Pruett’s Top Fuel dragster carries the colors of Mobil 1, the world’s leading synthetic motor oil brand. Meanwhile, Hagan’s Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car is emblazoned with TruHarvest Farms, Southwest Virginia’s largest producer of hemp-based products. TruHarvest Farms was founded in 2019 by Hagan. Sourced from its Christiansburg, Virginia location, TruHarvest Harms offers a comprehensive line of high-quality, hemp-derived CBD products that promote general health and wellness for individuals seeking an alternative to medications and supplements.

● The NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals will mark Pruett’s 180th career Top Fuel start and her ninth at Bristol. For Hagan, the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals will be his 302nd career Funny Car start and his 13th at Bristol.

● Pruett is looking for her first victory at the Thunder Valley Nationals. She has advanced to the finals once at Bristol in 2017, where her 3.881 ET at 307.09 mph run was bested by Clay Millican (3.825 ET at 316.38 mph). Pruett is seeking her first No. 1 qualifier at Bristol.

● Hagan enters Bristol as Funny Car’s most recent winner. The Christiansburg, Virginia-native scored his 42nd career win June 5 in the NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway in Epping, New Hampshire. The victory was Hagan’s fourth win in the last five NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series events at Epping (2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022).

● Hagan’s win at Epping expanded his lead in the Funny Car championship standing to 41 points over his nearest pursuer, Robert Hight.

● Hagan has one career win at Bristol in 2015 (4.164 ET at 303.23 mph) when he defeated Ron Capps (4.186 ET at 307.02 mph). He also advanced to the finals in 2016, but his 4.030 ET at 317.57 mph run fell short of the one from Tommy Johnson Jr. (4.038 ET at 313.22 mph). Hagan is seeking his first No. 1 qualifier at the event.

● Hagan is the current track record holder at Bristol for speed with a run of 330.34 mph, a mark he set on Oct. 16, 2021.

● DYK? Bristol Dragway is a 30,000 capacity drag racing facility located next to Bristol Motor Speedway. It was originally built in 1965, making 2022 its 57th anniversary. It is often called “Thunder Valley” due to the acoustics created by its location between two mountains. This season marks the first time all four NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series classes – Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle – have appeared together at Thunder Valley during the same weekend.

Leah Pruett, Driver of the Mobil 1 Top Fuel Dragster

With Bristol Dragway being located between two mountains, is that what makes the track so special?

“Experiencing a nitro race at Bristol is like none other. It might be a two-wide track, but it sounds and feels like a four-wide track with how intense the sounds of our Dodge HEMIs are firing off in the valley, echoing off the mountains. The pro pits are very close to the entire length of the track, with the main grandstands on the opposite side, so there’s not a time where you’re not feeling and hearing the action as if you’re on the line.”

How critical is lane choice at Bristol Dragway?

“Lane choice has been crucial in the past, for different reasons in different classes. A problematic area in one lane may give challenges to fuel cars, where pro stock sees challenges elsewhere. We know there have been some recent, great efforts to supply us with the smoothest surface possible, and I feel good about what we have to work with.”

How does Bristol’s unique environment affect the car’s tuning and setup?

“It’s no secret Bristol Dragway has some unique racing surface characteristics, which makes this even more of a tuner’s race when it comes to navigating where and when power is added in regard to the conditions.”

Matt Hagan, Driver of the TruHarvest Farms Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car

With Bristol Dragway being located between two mountains, is that what makes the track so special?

“Rolling into Bristol is always a special weekend for me because it’s usually on Father’s Day weekend. A lot of family and friends come out to the track, so when you can win there, it’s a big race. The last time I won it, it was probably one of my most emotional races. I had my kids and my dad there for Father’s Day. I’d love to be able to do that again. It’s close to home, so I grew up with a lot of the same people watching at local drag strips. You want to be able to put on a show for everyone. I’m excited to get to Bristol. It’s only two hours away from my house, so hopefully we can keep the momentum going and get those win lights turned on again.”

How critical is lane choice at Bristol Dragway?

“Lane choice is very critical at Bristol Dragway. In the past, each lane has performed a little different from the other, so being able to run the faster time and pick your lane is important.”

How does Bristol’s unique environment affect the car’s tuning and setup?

“We’re at a little bit of altitude at Bristol with the elevation being almost 1,500 feet. It’s not near the altitude conditions that we’ll see soon in Denver. There will be a little more compression, but I don’t see the Bristol altitude being an issue. The biggest factor we’ve had there is hot temperatures, so when it gets really warm, those are the conditions we struggle with.”

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