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TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Fighting for Fifth Le Mans Crown

By
Official Release
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TOKYO, June 2, 2022 – (JCN Newswire) – TOYOTA GAZOO Racing puts its long unbeaten run on the line when it aims for a fifth consecutive Le Mans 24 Hours victory in the 90th running of the legendary French endurance race on 11-12 June.

Since winning the team’s first Le Mans crown in 2018, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing has won every subsequent race at La Sarthe, making history in the process by adding a new fastest race lap to its existing qualifying record, as well as becoming the inaugural Hypercar winners last year with the GR010 HYBRID.

Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Jose Maria Lopez aim to defend their Le Mans crown in the #7 GR010 HYBRID, following an emotional first victory last year. They arrive in France fresh from a first win of the 2022 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) season in a dramatic 6 Hours of Spa in early May.

In the #8 GR010 HYBRID, Sebastien Buemi and Brendon Hartley are multiple Le Mans winners, with three and two wins respectively. For 2022 they race alongside Ryo Hirakawa, who has competed twice in the LMP2 class at Le Mans but is making his debut in the top class.

This year’s Le Mans represents the first for Kazuki Nakajima in his new role as Vice Chairman of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Europe. The three-time Le Mans winner and 2018-2019 World Champion plays a vital part in team management on and off the track, strengthening operations and fostering a professional family atmosphere following the spirit of Team Founder Akio Toyoda.

As the third round of the 2022 WEC season, Le Mans offers double points and a chance for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing to jump to the front of the manufacturers’ and drivers’ standings following a close start to the year in the Hypercar class against strong competition from Alpine and Glickenhaus.

This year’s race marks a significant milestone for Toyota’s involvement in endurance racing; the team’s first hybrid LMP1 car, the TS030 HYBRID, made its WEC debut at Le Mans in 2012. Over the subsequent decade, the team has participated in 72 WEC races, won eight World Championships (four manufacturers’ and four drivers’), 36 races and earned 31 pole positions.

Toyota’s heritage at Le Mans dates back to 1985 and that history will be celebrated when Kazuki Nakajima gets behind the wheel of the TOYOTA TOM’s 85C Group C car to bring the winners’ trophy on to the starting grid as part of the pre-race ceremonies. Kazuki’s father Satoru drove the car to 12th place 37 years ago.

Before that, the team faces an intense week of preparation, which starts with the official test day on Sunday 5 June. That is the only opportunity all year for competitors to test their cars on the 13.626km Circuit de la Sarthe, which is a unique mix of public roads and permanent circuit.

Lessons learned from test day will guide the team as they rebuild and refine the cars for five hours of practice and a 60-minute qualifying session on Wednesday. Thursday sees a further five hours of practice, either side of the 30-minute Hyperpole session at 8pm CEST, when TOYOTA GAZOO Racing will challenge for a sixth consecutive pole position.

The 90th Le Mans 24 Hours will begin at 4pm CEST on Saturday, when 62 cars and 186 drivers participate in the highlight of the endurance racing calendar.

Kamui Kobayashi (Team Principal and driver, car #7):

“Le Mans is the big target for the whole team and we have prepared intensively to be ready for the challenge. Even though we have won the race for the past four years, there are always difficulties, and situations when we need to solve problems. That happened in the race last year but, thanks to the efforts of the team and drivers, we found a solution and finally the #7 car won the race. Mike, Jose, me and the whole #7 crew had waited a long time for that moment, so it was very special, particularly because the #8 crew made it a one-two. This season we have also had some difficulties and it was a pity for the #8 to retire in Spa. The engineers have looked in detail at the issue and we believe it will not happen again. So I am sure we are ready for Le Mans; we go there with confidence and optimism. I am sure we will be part of an exciting race for the fans.”

Mike Conway (Driver, car #7):

“I will never forget the feeling last year when our #7 car won Le Mans. Kamui, Jose and me had been fighting for such a long time to achieve that, always pushing and preparing ourselves for the big race. It’s an incredible emotion to stand on the top step of the podium for the first time but when you’ve experienced that once, you want to be back there again. It will be harder than ever because the competition is very close this year in Hypercar, but I know how strong this team is and I am sure we can fight for victory again.”

Jose Maria Lopez (Driver, car #7):

“The team has worked intensely since the chequered flag in Le Mans last year to be strong for this year’s race. Thanks to everyone in Cologne and Higashi-Fuji who are pushing so hard to make sure we are prepared and ready to fight for the win. Anything can happen at Le Mans so it’s impossible to be confident; we just have to do our job without mistakes, execute a clean race and see where we are at the chequered flag. It should be an exciting fight with Alpine and Glickenhaus, so I’m sure it will be a great occasion for the fans.”

Sebastien Buemi (Driver, car #8):

“I always look forward to Le Mans because it is the highlight of the season; we work so hard all year for this race. It’s a privilege to have won the race three times already but that doesn’t change my motivation or emotions; every year I go there with a big determination to win. It’s such a challenging race and so many things are out of a driver’s control; the weather, safety cars, full course yellows and lapped traffic all have an influence. But we know the whole team has to be focused, without any mistakes, and this will give us the chance to challenge at the front.”

Brendon Hartley (Driver, car #8):

“Le Mans is such a special race, with so much history and a really unique atmosphere. I fell in love with this race the first time I raced at Le Mans in 2012 and I’ve had some incredible memories since then. In many ways it is a brutal event for the whole team because the days before the race are long and hard, then a 24-hour race is always a unique challenge. Just to get to the end of such a race is a credit to every team and driver who manages, but of course we are aiming for more than that. We all aim to extend TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s winning run in Le Mans.”

Ryo Hirakawa (Driver, car #8):

“I am really looking forward to my first Le Mans as part of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing. When I first raced at Le Mans, in 2016 I was so impressed by the atmosphere and the number of fans; it is a really special event and it’s an honour to be part of it. Spa was a difficult race for our car, and disappointing for me that I didn’t have the chance to do any laps in the race. Everyone in the team has worked hard to address that issue and make sure we are well prepared for Le Mans, so I hope for a strong race and a close fight at the front.”

Chevrolet teams seek to continue successful first half of season

By
Official Release
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CHEVROLET AT NEW HAMPSHIRE

What: NHRA New England Nationals
When: Friday, June 3-Sunday, June 5
Where: New England Dragway in Epping, New Hampshire
TV: FS1 will telecast eliminations at 7 p.m. ET June 5

Chevrolet teams seek to continue successful first half of season
Pro Stock rejoins the schedule; John Force Racing building momentum

DETROIT (June 1, 2022) – Following her “Wow!” weekend in Houston, Camrie Caruso immediately wanted to get behind the wheel of the Sand Haulers of America Chevrolet Camaro SS.

The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Camping World Drag Racing Series Pro Stock schedule curbed those plans – but not her desire to succeed – for six long weeks.

Caruso’s coming out party April 24, highlighted by her inaugural No. 1 qualifier honor and fender-close runner-up finish to four-time Pro Stock champion Erica Enders in a similar Camaro SS, garnered nationwide attention and further fueled the 24-year-old, third-generation driver’s aspirations in the technically challenging and ultra-competitive class.

“I want to be racing every weekend possible. But we have a simulator at the shop that I’ve been in and we have been out testing, so we try to stay on top of things and stay on top of the progress that we have made to make sure that we are going into Epping with our full potential and we leave nothing on the table,” she said. “We are pleased with testing and excited to see what Epping brings.

“Houston was an amazing race, but we want more success.”

Though the NHRA New England Nationals this weekend in Epping, New Hampshire, will be Caruso’s sixth Pro Stock event, her talent and fierce persona behind the wheel are partly drawn from years of competition experience in junior dragster, Super Comp, Top Dragster, Top Alcohol Dragster and even Pro Outlaw 632.

Augmenting the pursuit of her dream has been Caruso’s family, which has expanded this year with Jim Yates coming on board as her crew chief.

“The family support is awesome; I wouldn’t be able to do it without it and I wouldn’t really want to either to be honest. It’s always been a family thing, and Tony (Wilson) and Jim have made themselves part of the family as well. We’re lucky to have them and have the team that we do all around.”

Entering the NHRA New England Nationals seventh in the Pro Stock standings, Caruso has short- and long-term goals.

“I’m excited to go back; we’ve always had good luck at Epping so we’ll see how it goes,” Caruso said. “We have to make sure we’re on our A game every single run, make sure you’re not making any mistakes.”

As for the remainder of the season: “We are going after the championship. That is our main goal. We want to get wins and have more No. 1 qualifiers – we want all of that, but a championship is what we want to accomplish, and I don’t see why we wouldn’t be able to.”

The John Force Racing contingent, which has recorded seven victories across Top Fuel (Brittany Force with three) and Funny Car (Robert Hight with three and John Force with one), is looking to continue its consistency of solid runs. Brittany Force, driver of the Monster Energy/Flav-R-Pac Chevrolet dragster, and Hight, who drives the Automobile Club of Southern California Camaro SS, both visited the winner’s stage at the last stop on tour.

Force paces the Top Fuel standings, while Hight is second in Funny Car points. John Force, who turned the top qualifier honor in the four-wide event at Charlotte into victory in the PEAK BlueDEF Platinum Camaro SS, is fourth in the standings. He won at Epping in 2021. Austin Prock, a semifinalist at Virginia two weeks ago in the Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist Chevrolet dragster, is fifth in the Top Fuel standings.

Hight’s win May 15 at Virginia was the 150th for Chevrolet in Funny Car competition.

CHEVROLET FROM THE COCKPIT

TOP FUEL

BRITTANY FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, MONSTER ENERGY/FLAV-R-PAC CHEVROLET DRAGSTER (three-time winner this season; first in points; won the 2017 New England Nationals): “Our Monster Energy / Flav-R-Pac team heads to Epping coming off a win in Virginia. We’re ahead of ourselves this season with three wins under our belt already. We’re hoping for another New England win,” Force said. “We’re all on the same page and really pulling together as a team and it’s showing on the race track. Our momentum is good, our energy is in the right place, and we’re pumped to get to the track this weekend.”

AUSTIN PROCK, JOHN FORCE RACING, MONTANA BRAND/ROCKY MOUNTAIN TWIST CHEVROLET DRAGSTER (runner-up at Pomona opener): “I’m excited to get this weekend kicked off. The two-week break has seemed like an eternity. New England Dragway has a lot of history so I’m amped up to be back in the seat of my Montana Brand / RMT dragster and working with my guys. We’re really starting to hit our strides. I think our package will have a good shot at winning the New England Nationals. Last year I went to the final as a crew guy, so maybe we can better that by one as a driver.”

FUNNY CAR

JOHN FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, PEAK BLUEDEF PLATINUM CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 1 qualifier and Charlotte four-wide winner; 2021 winner at Epping): “Love being in New Hampshire. It’s a great place to race. Epping has been good to me in the past. Winning there last year in front of those great fans, they really do come from all over to see us, it was a great feeling. I’m excited to be going back to New England Dragway, to be back in the seat of my PEAK Chevy. Two weeks off has been painful, time to go to work and get this BlueDEF Camaro in another winner’s circle.”

ROBERT HIGHT, JOHN FORCE RACING, AUTO CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (three-time winner this season; second in points; holds both ends of the track Funny Car records, set in 2017): “It’s been a long two weeks since winning in Virginia. I’m glad we got to spend the time celebrating but I’m ready to get back into my AAA Chevy. When you’re on a roll, you want to carry that momentum over and just keep going. I’m hoping we can do that heading to Epping. I’ve never won there so I’d like to check that off my list. With two weeks away from a race track, I know this AAA team is ready to get back to it.”

PRO STOCK

DALLAS GLENN, KB RACING, RAD TORQUE SYSTEMS CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (winner at Gainesville): “To say I’m ready to get back on track would be the understatement of the year so far for our Rad Torque Systems / KB Racing Chevrolet Camaro team. That five-week hiatus from the NHRA schedule allowed me to bracket race, which keeps me sharp, but I miss being behind the wheel of my Pro Stocker. After two races with weird bad luck things happening with our car, I’m ready for a big rebound in Epping this weekend.”

GREG ANDERSON, KB RACING, HENDRICKCARS.COM CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (reigning Pro Stock champion; seeking to become second pro driver with 100 wins): “It’s been a long break; it almost feels like a second offseason, but I think that was good for us. We needed time to work on our stuff, and we feel we’ve used our time wisely. We’ll be a better race team when we show up at Epping.”

KYLE KORETSKY, KB RACING, LUCAS OIL CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 1 qualifier at Phoenix; runner-up at Gainesville): “I am super excited to get back in the Pro Stocker. It’s been the longest five weeks of my life. We’re ready. The team did a bunch of improvements engine-wise. I’m ready to go race.”

TROY COUGHLIN JR., ELITE MOTORSPORTS, JEGS.COM CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (runner-up at Phoenix): “It was a long break but we put it to good use. We switched to this new RJ Race Cars Chevrolet earlier in the season and it just takes time to get all the parts and pieces to work together. These cars are all handmade one at a time and they each have their own personalities. Obviously, the more runs you can make, the more data you gain. We mostly focused on the clutch system and matching it to the power the guys in the engine shop have been building for us. Pro Stock is so competitive so every thousandth of a second you find is huge.”

CAMRIE CARUSO, CARUSO FAMILY RACING, SAND HAULERS OF AMERICA CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (first season in Pro Stock; No. 1 qualifier and runner-up at Houston): “Houston was a great weekend for the Sand Haulers of America team and I was really going for that win light in the final. Our whole team has a lot of confidence and our Titan Racing Engines have shown we can race with anyone. My crew chief Jim Yates has been very helpful and the support I get from my family is a big help too.”

About Chevrolet

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in nearly 80 countries with nearly 2.7 million cars and trucks sold in 2021. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

Gray Gaulding Returns with JT Marine at Portland Road Course

By
Official Release
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Fort Worth, TX. (June 2, 2022) – Standout Management Group (SMG) and NASCAR driver Gray Gaulding are excited to announce the return of sponsor JT Marine headquartered in Vancouver, Washington. Gray will be partnering with JD Motorsports for the June 4th “Pacific Office Automation 147” event at Portland International Raceway competing in the #6 JT Marine Chevrolet Camaro.

Gaulding, who will be competing in only his second race of 2022 is returning to the Xfinity Series after a 21st place finish at Talladega Superspeedway on April 23rd. Since 2014, Gaulding has a combined 141 starts across NASCAR’s top three series.

“I cannot wait to climb back in the car at Portland especially with our longtime partner JT Marine on board. Timo and his team connected with us back in 2019 to sponsor races at Las Vegas, Kansas, and Phoenix. When the 2022 schedule was announced and included PIR, we knew that a reunion had to happen” says Gaulding. “I am super pumped to be running the newest road course on the Xfinity schedule along with the highly competitive team owned by Johnny Davis to see what we can make happen!”

Timo Toristoja, president of JT Marine, states, “With more than 80 years of combined shipbuilding, marine shipyard services, and repair experience JT Marine Inc. offers the ideal, complete service location for major retrofits, new construction, and vessel repair. Located on the Columbia River in Vancouver, WA, and Rainier, OR., JT Marine offers ample shipyard options from our (3) dry docks ranging from 600 T-1800 T to our covered fabrication bays and marine ways, and multiple assembly locations. Thus, ensuring that we are equipped to handle whatever job you need, big or small. We are honored to serve our customers all over the Northwest and participate with Gray this weekend. NASCAR has always upheld the values that we have built our company on, and we are thrilled to see Gray carrying on that tradition. We are thankful that we have been able to be a part of Gray’s team.”

Associate sponsor Kuykendall Hearing Aid Centers will also be along for the ride. Make sure to catch all the race action on FS1 starting at 4:30 PM Eastern Time Saturday, June 4th.

About JT Marine
JT Marine Inc is a full-service shipyard with (2) locations in the Portland/Vancouver/Longview region. Family owned and operated since 2007, JT Marine Inc. has been providing quality new construction, steel fabrication, vessel retrofits and ship repair services to the marine community. We offer a wide range of shipyard options and marine services for your vessel repair, construction, and design needs. For more information, visit JTMarineInc.com

About Kuykendall Hearing Aid Centers
We are a full-service hearing health care clinic. We provide comprehensive hearing evaluations, full-service hearing aid services, custom ear plugs for noise and water protection, cerumen (ear wax) removal and more. We understand the impact that losing your hearing can have on your enjoyment of daily activities as well as relationships. We treat each patient uniquely by offering personalized hearing care that includes diagnostic evaluations, education, and rehabilitation tools to ensure the right hearing solutions are provided. For more information visit http:\www.kuykendallhearing.com.

About SMG
Standout Management Group is a sports and entertainment talent management and activation agency headquartered at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. SMG is considered as an “outside the box” agency that works with brand partners and celebrities to help brands “stand out” from the rest by leveraging motorsports, music, and other professional sports platforms. Additionally, SMG uses advanced technology solutions and data capture methods to maximize activation results. For more information, visit http://www.standoutmg.com/.

Busch Light named the official beer of the Pacific Office Automation 147

By
Official Release
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PORTLAND, Ore. (June 1, 2022) – Busch Light has been named the official beer of the Pacific Office Automation 147, the upcoming NASCAR Xfinity Series event at Portland International Raceway (PIR) on June 3-4, 2022.

The partnership between the inaugural NASCAR Xfinity Series race in Portland and Busch Light is a natural fit as Busch Light currently serves as the official beer of NASCAR. The light beer will be available to patrons at PIR during the race weekend, which marks the first NASCAR national series event in the Pacific Northwest in 22 years.

“As a local Portland operation, we are proud to be a part of this historic event,” said Robbie Maletis Jr., general manager of sales for Maletis Beverage, the local beverage distributor of Busch Light at the event. “It’s an exciting weekend ahead for us all as NASCAR racing returns to the Pacific Northwest. I look forward to seeing all the fans at PIR for some great stock car racing action.”

Busch Beer has a long history as a valued NASCAR partner. Highlights of the relationship that has extended over four decades include the introduction of the Busch Pole Award in 1978 and the creation of the Busch Light Clash in 1979. More recently, in February of 2022, the beverage company announced the launch of the Busch Light Accelerate Her program, a sponsorship initiative that takes aim at the inequity of resources available to women drivers in NASCAR.

“We are very excited to showcase an official partner of NASCAR like Busch Light at our event as we bring a NASCAR national series back to Portland,” said Jerry Jensen, general manager of Green Savoree Portland, which owns and operates the event at PIR. “Busch Light will be another great offering for race fans at a great racing weekend in the Pacific Northwest.”

The NASCAR Xfinity Series and ARCA Menards Series West will take to PIR the weekend of June 3-4. The Xfinity Series will get on track twice on Friday, June 3, for a late morning practice session and then qualifying happening late afternoon during “happy hour” to set the next day’s starting grid. On Saturday, June 4, the Pacific Office Automation 147, a 75-lap race covering 147.75 miles, will get underway at 1:30 p.m. PDT, followed by an ARCA Menards Series West 57-lap feature to cap off the two-day event.

Tickets to the 2022 Pacific Office Automation 147 are on sale now at nascarportland.com. Friday general admission is just $20, and Saturday’s price is $45. A 2-Day General Admission for both days provides the best value at $55. Children 12 and under are admitted free with a ticketed adult. Single Day Grandstand seats are also available at three different price levels securing the best vantage points at PIR.

For overnight visitors to the area, Travel Portland has organized a variety of local hotel accommodations and packages at special rates incorporating some of the most well known brands to unique boutique properties. The official host hotel of the weekend is the recently updated Holiday Inn Portland-Columbia Riverfront sitting in close proximity to PIR along the scenic Columbia River. Visit the “Travel Options” page of nascarportland.com to find out more on the accommodations and offers available.

Race fans are encouraged to discover all the natural wonders and events Portland has to offer by checking out TravelPortland.com. This NASCAR Xfinity Series weekend featuring the Pacific Office Automation 147 also happens during the renowned annual Portland Rose Festival featuring an array of civic events.

Stay up to speed on NASCAR’s visit to Portland on social media all year long by following #NASCARPortland or by signing up for the E-Club on the website.

About Anheuser-Busch:

For more than 160 years, Anheuser-Busch has carried on a legacy of brewing great-tasting, high-quality beers that have satisfied beer drinkers for generations. Today, we own and operate more than 120 facilities, including breweries, wholesaler distribution centers, agricultural facilities and packaging plants, and have more than 19,000 colleagues across the United States. We are home to several of America’s most recognizable beer brands, including Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob ULTRA and Stella Artois, as well as a number of regional brands that provide beer drinkers with a choice of the best-tasting craft beers in the industry. From responsible drinking programs and emergency drinking water donations to industry-leading sustainability efforts, we are guided by our unwavering commitment to supporting the communities we call home. For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com or follow Anheuser-Busch on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

About NASCAR:

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

About Green Savoree Racing Promotions:

Green Savoree Racing Promotions (GSRP) is an Indianapolis-based motorsports event ownership and management company whose subsidiaries own, operate and promote race properties in Lexington, Ohio, home of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and The Mid-Ohio School, Portland, Ore., St. Petersburg, Fla., and Toronto, Ontario. These events provide a festival experience and showcase some of the most exciting racing series in the world including the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, the Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires open-wheel development series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, ARCA Menards Series and more. In working together since 1993, co-owners Kim Green and Kevin Savoree have won four INDYCAR championships, three Indianapolis 500 races and the 12 Hours of Sebring as team principals, and established the first INDYCAR street race in 2004. More information about the company, its subsidiaries, and these events is available on the event websites at gpstpete.com, hondaindy.com, midohio.com and portlandgp.com.

Weekend schedule for Gateway and Portland

By
Angie Campbell
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John H. Nemechek leads the field during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Toyota 200 on August 20, 2021 in Madison, Illinois. (Photo by Jeff Curry/Getty Images)

This weekend the NASCAR Cup Series will make its debut at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway before a sold-out crowd. The Camping World Truck Series will join them for the series’ 22nd race at the 1.25-mile paved oval.

There are only five open spots available for the 2022 Cup Series Playoffs. Denny Hamlin, William Byron and Ross Chastain are the only drivers with multiple wins in the series, with two victories each.

The Xfinity Series will travel to Portland International Raceway, a 1.97-mile paved road course, for the first time, and NASCAR has instituted new caution and pit road procedures for this race as seen below.*

There have been 19 different Truck Series race winners at Gateway. But only one former winner, John Hunter Nemechek (2017), is entered in Saturday’s Toyota 200.

All times are Eastern.

Friday, June 3
Portland:
1:05 p.m.: Xfinity Series Practice – All Entries – No TV
8:05 p.m.: Xfinity Series Qualifying (Impound) (Groups A & B) (Multi-Vehicle, Two Rounds) FS1
Gateway:
5:05 p.m.: Cup Series Practice – Gateway – FS1/MRN/SiriusXM
6:05 p.m.: Truck Series Practice – Gateway – FS1
6:35 p.m.: Truck Series Qualifying – Gateway – FS1
Saturday, June 4
Gateway:
11 a.m.: Cup Series Qualifying (Impound) (Groups A & B) (Single Vehicle, 1 Lap, 2 Rounds) FS1/MRN/SiriusXM
1:30 p.m.: Truck Series ‘Toyota 200’ race
Stages end on 35/70/160 (160 Laps=200 Miles)
FS1/MRN/SiriusXM
The Purse: $696,198
Portland:
2:30 p.m.: ARCA Menards Series West Practice/Qualifying – No TV
4:30 p.m.: Xfinity Series ‘Pacific Office Automation 147’ race
Stages end on 25/50/75 (75 Laps = 147.75 Miles)
The Purse: $1,258,443
FS1/MRN/SiriusXM
7:30 p.m.: ARCA Menards Series West Portland 100 (57 Laps, 112.29 Miles) FloRacing/MRN

Sunday, June 5
Gateway:
3:30 p.m. Cup Series ‘Enjoy Illinois 300 Presented by TicketSmarter’ race
Stages end on 45/140/240 (240 Laps = 300 Miles)
The Purse: $7,013,085
FS1/MRN/SiriusXM

*General Procedure Rules for Xfinity Series at Portland

  • The field will be frozen at the time of caution
  • All caution periods will be Quickie Yellows (when Pit Road has opened, ALL cars may pit)
  • Fuel may only be added during the stage breaks
  • Tires may be changed at any time during the event

Stage Break Pit Stops

  • Stage breaks will consist of a THREE-minute break
    • NASCAR Officials will announce the start of the THREE-minute break after the last vehicle has stopped in their pit stall
    • No crew members on pit road until all cars are stopped and NASCAR has announced the start of the break
  • Fuel may not be added and tires may not be changed at the same time
    • Tires must be changed first, then fuel may be added
  • The lap in which pit road is open during the stage breaks will not count
  • Teams that elect not to pit will stop behind the caution vehicle until the conclusion of the break

Green Flag Pit Stop

  • Green flag pit stops, where tires are changed, must not be completed faster than the minimum time allotted from yellow line to yellow line:  60 seconds minimum
  • In the event of flat tire(s) under green flag:  If the tire(s) are visually flat when the vehicle enters pit road, the team may elect to change the flat tire(s) only and not be subject to the minimum time on pit road

Restart Lineup (During stage breaks and all caution periods)

  • Lead lap Cars that did not pit (Using Freeze the Field at Time of Caution)
  • Lead lap Cars that pitted (Using Freeze the Field at Time of Caution)
  • Lap(s) down Cars that did not pit (Using Freeze the Field at Time of Caution)
  • Lap(s) down Cars that pitted (Using Freeze the Field at Time of Caution)
  • Free Pass, Wave Around, and Penalty Cars (Using Freeze the Field at Time of Caution)

Pit Stop Penalties

  • Restart Tail End:
  • Servicing the vehicle before the THREE-minute break has started
  • Servicing the vehicle after the THREE-minute break has ended
  • Vehicles not in the correct restart position when the one to go is given at Turn 8
  • Pass-Through:
    • Not meeting the green flag minimum time limit on pit road

Pit Crew/Pit Equipment

  • The Pit Crew Members will consist of:
    • Road crew roster positions
    • Five (5) Crew Members to service and fuel the vehicle (excluding the stage breaks)
    • One (1) Driver Assist Crew Member to clean the windshield and assist the driver
  • All pit crew safety equipment is required during any pit stops (excluding the stage breaks)
  • Any compressed air-driven pneumatic pit gun or battery-operated electric pit gun may be used.

Monster Energy Racing: Riley Herbst Portland NXS Advance

By
Official Release
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RILEY HERBST
Portland NASCAR Xfinity Series Advance
No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

NASCAR Xfinity Series Overview

• Event: Pacific Office Automation 147 (Round 14 of 33)
• Date: Saturday, June 4
• Location: Portland (Ore.) International Raceway
• Layout: 1.967-mile, 12-turn road course
• Time/TV/Radio: 4:30 p.m. EDT on FS1/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Riley Herbst Notes of Interest

• Riley Herbst and his fellow NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers head to the Pacific Northwest this weekend for the inaugural Pacific Office Automation 147 at Portland (Ore.) International Raceway. The 75-lap race on Saturday around the 1.967-mile, 12-turn road course marks the first NASCAR national touring series race at Portland since the Camping World Truck Series competed there in 1999-2000. While the track hosts the Xfinity Series for the first time, it serves as the second of six road-course races on the 2022 schedule. In late March, the Xfinity Series made its first road-course stop of the year, competing at the 3.426-mile, 20-turn Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas. Herbst finished 26th in that race, one of only four finishes outside of the top-10 for him this season.

• In the Xfinity Series’ last race at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway, Herbst saw his run of top-10 finishes come to an end. Prior to Charlotte, the driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing had tallied six straight top-10s, a run highlighted by a season-high third-place finish May 7 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway. Herbst appeared to be heading to increase his streak of top-10s to seven at Charlotte until a cut tire on lap 104 sent him into the turn three wall. Forced to pit for repairs, Herbst went four laps down. Nonetheless, he was able to return to the track and finish the race, coming home 25th and avoiding a dreaded DNF (Did Not Finish).

• The Pacific Office Automation 147 will be Herbst’s milestone 90th career Xfinity Series start and his 13th on a road course. In his 12 previous road-course starts, Herbst has finished among the top-10 three times. His best result is seventh, earned twice – August 2020 on the Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway road course and July 2021 at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.

• In his entire Xfinity Series career, Herbst has earned 13 top-fives and 42 top-10s. His best career finish is second, earned twice – in February 2020 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, and July 2020 at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta.

Riley Herbst, Driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang

A new week, a new track. Charlotte didn’t turn out how you would’ve liked, but you were still able to avoid a DNF. How do you bounce back after a tough race weekend?

“You have to learn what you can from the past weekend and move on, to be honest. There’s no use in dwelling on what went wrong and you just have to keep moving forward. There’s still a lot of racing left in the 2022 season and you can’t get caught up on one bad race. That’s been the biggest lesson I’ve had to learn. We’ve been performing well so far and we can continue to do so. You have good days and bad. It’s all about how you learn from it.”

We’re heading to Portland, a new track for the Xfinity Series. What are your thoughts heading into the race weekend?

“I’m excited to head to Portland. It’s a brand new track for the Xfinity Series and road courses are always fun. While I struggled at COTA (Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas) earlier this year, I’ve been in the simulator and working with my Monster Energy team on how I can get better. I scored some top-10 finishes last season on road courses, so I know this team can get the job done.”

While your top-10 streak ended, this season has been a big improvement from your first two seasons in the series. Talk about your season so far.

“We’re improving and we’re finishing races. That’s the most important thing. We want to win, but there’s also the points battle that we have to keep our eye on. If we can have another run like we had before the incident at Charlotte, we can keep climbing in the point standings and compete for wins. We have some things to work on, but I have confidence in this team.”

GMS Racing NCWTS Race Preview: World Wide Technology Raceway

By
Official Release
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Grant Enfinger, No. 23 Champion Power Equipment Chevrolet Silverado RST

World Wide Technology Raceway Career Stats

  • NCWTS Starts: 5, Poles: 1 (2018), Best finish: 5th (2017), Top 5s: 1, Top 10s: 3, Laps led: 88

2022 NCWTS Season Stats

  • Starts: 10, Best start: 3rd, Best finish: 2nd (Charlotte), Top 5s: 3, Top 10s: 6, Laps led: 15, Current points position: 9th
  • About Champion Power Equipment: Since 2003 Champion Power Equipment has earned a reputation for designing and producing the market’s finest power equipment. From our original headquarters in Santa Fe Springs, California, Champion has expanded its North American footprint to include facilities in Jackson, Tennessee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Toronto Canada. Today, Champion’s product line has expanded to include portable generators, home standby generators, inverter generators, engines, winches and log splitters. With over 2.5 million generators sold in North America, Champion is a market leader in the power equipment field. Visit ChampionPowerEquipment.com for more information.
  • Chassis History/Info: Grant Enfinger will race with GMS Racing chassis no. 325 in St. Louis. This chassis was last raced by Grant at Kansas Speedway where it finished in third place just a few races ago, and was driven to victory lane at Martinsville Speedway in 2021 with Zane Smith.
  • Flexing Some Muscle: With three top-five finishes in the bank so far in 2022, Grant Enfinger, Charles Denike, and the No. 23 team are hungry for more. A strong second place run at Charlotte Motor Speedway served as a huge morale boost for the organization, and heading to a track where GMS Racing has three wins at in the past, their first victory of the season just might be on the horizon.
  • Playoffs Outlook: Entering this weekend’s event at World Wide Technology Raceway, there remains only six races left to run until the start of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series playoffs. Grant Enfinger currently sits in ninth position in the points standings, wielding a 42 point gap to the cutoff line. The No. 23 Champion Power Equipment Chevy currently holds down the tenth position in the owners’ points standings, with a 14 point gap to the nearest truck.
  • Driver Appearances: Grant Enfinger will participate in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver autograph session on Saturday morning in the infield fan zone at Gateway. Fans are encouraged to attend to meet their favorite NCWTS drivers from 9:15 AM to 10:00 AM local time. - GE Quote: “I am heading into this weekend’s race at World Wide Technology Raceway with a lot of confidence. Charles and all of GMS Racing team have been putting in so much effort, and I feel like it’s starting to pay off. Gateway is a track that falls right in my wheelhouse, and knowing the team’s successful history here, I am ready to capitalize on a great race. We have been showing some signs of great improvement over the past few weeks, and I feel that we should be able to contend for the win this weekend.”

Jack Wood, No. 24 Two Friends Golf Chevrolet Silverado RST

World Wide Technology Raceway Career Stats

  • NCWTS Starts: 1, Best start: 21st, Best finish: 10th (2021), Top 10s: 1

2022 NCWTS Season Stats

  • Starts: 10, Best start: 11th, Best finish: 13th (Atlanta), Current points position: 23rd
  • About Two Friends Golf: Founded in 2020 by two friends who enjoyed playing golf and having an even better time while doing it, the clothing brand sought to revolutionize the golf apparel world. Two Friends Golf burst onto the scene promoting wild, bold polo designs, instantly becoming popular with college aged men and women. Now, as the brand becomes more popular than ever, they have branched out to produce other products such as swim trunks, custom golfing gloves, hats, and more.
  • Chassis History/Info: Jack Wood will compete with GMS Racing chassis no. 337 in this week’s race at World Wide Technology Raceway. In its debut race, this chassis was driven to a dominant win at Gateway in 2021 by Sheldon Creed, where he led 142 of 163 laps at the 1.25-mile track. Wood has one start in this Silverado RST, coming at Kansas Speedway in May where he finished 26th.
  • Looking To Repeat: World Wide Technology Raceway is the site of Jack Wood’s first top-10 finish in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, which came in last year’s running of the Toyota 200. Wood is still chasing after his first top-10 finish of the season, but believes that this race might just be his best shot at achieving that goal.
  • Sunoco ROTY Update: A 23rd place finish in the series’ most recent event at Charlotte Motor Speedway bumped Jack Wood up to second in the Sunoco Rookie Of The Year points standings. Wood is now only 14 points behind Lawless Alan in their battle for ROTY.
  • Driver Appearances: Jack Wood will participate in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver autograph session on Saturday morning in the infield fan zone at Gateway. Fans are encouraged to attend to meet their favorite NCWTS drivers from 9:15 AM to 10:00 AM local time.
  • JW Quote: “I’m really looking forward to going back to Gateway, I earned my first top-10 finish there last year, so there’s definitely some high hopes to go back there and have a solid run. It’s going to be nice to go back to somewhat a short track, which is similar to what I grew up racing on. We are still waiting to find that race to turn our season around, but there is a lot of confidence in this No. 24 team, so we are going to put our heads down and give it all we’ve got with our Two Friends Golf Chevy.”

ABOUT GMS RACING:

GMS Racing competes full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series operating the No. 23 and the No. 24 Chevrolet Silverado RSTs, as well as the ARCA Menards Series with the No. 43 Chevrolet SS. Since the team was formed in 2012, GMS Racing has won five titles across multiple series, including the 2016 and 2020 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship, the 2015 ARCA Menards Series championship, as well as the 2019 & 2020 ARCA Menards Series East championships. GMS has grown to occupy several buildings located in Statesville, N.C. including operations for GMS Fabrication. The GMS Racing campus also houses operations for Petty GMS, a two car full-time NASCAR Cup Series team formed in 2021.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, follow GMS Racing on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Hendrick Motorsports Media Advance: St. Louis

By
Official Release
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WWT Raceway
Sunday, June 5, 2022
1.25-Mile Oval
3:30 PM ET
Location: Madison, Illinois
TV: Fox
Event: NASCAR Cup Series (15 of 36)
Radio: SiriusXM, PRN

5 KYLE LARSON
Age: 29 (July 31, 1992)
Hometown: Elk Grove, California
Resides: Mooresville, North Carolina
Crew Chief: Cliff Daniels
Standings: 9th

No. 5 Valvoline Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Valvoline Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, will be available in the WWTR media center on Friday, June 3, at 1:30 p.m. local time.

600 TO REMEMBER: Last Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Kyle Larson and the No. 5 team overcame myriad issues to battle for victory late in the race. Larson, who started at the rear of the field following an incident during Saturday’s practice session, made contact with the wall, restarted from the rear of the field three times and spun off turn four – all before halfway in the race scheduled for 400 laps. No. 5 crew chief Cliff Daniels delivered an impassioned speech during the stage two break, and the team battled back with Larson taking the lead at lap 354. A caution on the penultimate lap bunched the field for the first attempt at a green-white-checkered flag finish, and the reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion was collected in a multi-car incident off turn four. After stopping for new tires, Larson battled back in the second overtime to post a ninth-place finish.

NEWFOUND SUCCESS: Sunday’s race at WWTR marks the first Cup race at the 1.25-mile track. Last year during Larson’s championship season, five new events appeared on the Cup Series schedule including the inaugural event at Nashville Superspeedway. From the fifth starting position, the Elk Grove, California, native led 264 of the 300 laps on the Tennessee track en route to a third consecutive win. Larson scored two other top-five finishes in inaugural events last year: a runner-up finish to Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott at Circuit of The Americas and a third-place result on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course. Larson accumulated the most points (186) in the five inaugural events, 17 more than any other competitor.

SECOND THAT: In his last Cup Series start in Illinois prior to this weekend’s race at the Madison, Illinois, venue, Larson finished runner-up to now Hendrick Motorsports teammate Alex Bowman at Chicagoland Speedway in 2019. At the time, Larson was driving for Chip Ganassi Racing.

SECOND IN COMMAND: Larson ranks second this season in top-five finishes with six, trailing only Ross Chastain who has seven. Larson has a victory at Auto Club Speedway, runner-up finishes at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway, fourth-place finishes at Bristol Motor Speedway (dirt) and Talladega Superspeedway and a fifth-place finish at Richmond Raceway.

ACTIVELY OUT FRONT: In his last six races, Larson has led at least one lap – tied for the longest active streak in NASCAR’s top division with Kyle Busch. In addition, the driver of the No. 5 Valvoline Chevrolet has paced the field in 11 races, tied for the second-most with teammate William Byron this season and only trailing Ryan Blaney (12).

SEEING RED: Valvoline will make its second of three appearances as the primary sponsor of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 this weekend. Valvoline Inc. (NYSE: VVV) is a leading worldwide marketer and supplier of premium branded lubricants and automotive services, with sales in more than 140 countries. Established in 1866, the company’s heritage spans more than 150 years, during which time it has developed powerful brand recognition across multiple product and service channels. Valvoline ranks as the No. 3 passenger car motor oil brand in the DIY market by volume. To learn more, visit www.valvoline.com.

9 CHASE ELLIOTT
Age: 26 (Nov. 28, 1995)
Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia
Resides: Dawsonville, Georgia
Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson
Standings: 1st

No. 9 Hooters Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

NEW TRACK SUCCESS: Chase Elliott has quite the knack for success in races on new tracks added to the NASCAR Cup Series schedule and this Sunday’s race at WWTR is the latest new addition to the slate. He’s been the first one to visit victory lane at the Daytona Road Course (2020), Circuit of The Americas (2021) and most recently at Road America last July. Those victories make up three of his 14 Cup Series wins.

SIMILAR TRACK STATS: While Elliott has never raced at the 1.25-mile track in the St. Louis area, he has plenty of experience on tracks similar in length. In 45 starts on tracks measuring 1 to 1.37 miles in length, the 26-year-old driver has three wins, including a victory at Dover Motor Speedway earlier this season. Accompanying those victories are 18 top-five finishes, 24 top-10s and 1,190 laps led.

NO. 9 IS TOPS: Despite a tough result at Charlotte Motor Speedway for Elliott and the No. 9 team, the Dawsonville, Georgia, native continues to hold the Cup Series points lead by 34 markers over Ross Chastain. Elliott has been atop the standings for 10 consecutive weeks and now has eight playoff points with the help of his stage one win last weekend.

LEADING LAPS: Elliott has spent a lot of time at the front of the field in 2022. Through 14 races, he’s led 445 circuits, a career-high mark for the driver of the No. 9 at this point in the season. Those laps are second to his Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron, who’s led 570 on the season.

PIT ROAD PROWESS: The No. 9 team currently owns the best average time for four-tire pit stops at 11.644 seconds. The team is comprised of jackman T.J. Semke, gasman John Gianninoto, tire carrier Jared Erspamer and tire changers Chad Avrit and Nick O’Dell.

HOOTERS IS BACK: Hooters joins the No. 9 team as the primary partner for the first of three races in 2022 on Sunday at WWTR. At the end of 2021, it was announced that Hooters had extended its primary sponsorship of Elliott and the No. 9 team through 2024. Hooters will also be on Elliott’s Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 later this season at Bristol Motor Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway during the Cup Series playoffs. Get a look at all of the angles of the 2022 Hooters paint scheme here.

WHEN CHASE WINS, YOU WIN: Fans can visit Hooters on Mondays after Cup Series races this season and ask their server for free fried pickles with any drink purchase when Elliott finishes in the top 10. If he wins, customers receive free boneless wings with any 10-wing purchase. Get more details at hooters.com/racing.

24 WILLIAM BYRON
Age: 24 (Nov. 29, 1997)
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina
Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle
Standings: 7th

No. 24 RaptorTough.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

2022 SO FAR: So far in the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season, William Byron has scored two wins, four top-five finishes, with 570 laps led across 11 of the 14 races, three stage wins and 13 playoff points accumulated. He is currently seventh in the driver point standings and is locked into the Cup Series playoffs for a fourth consecutive season.

LEADING THE FIELD: With 14 races complete in 2022, Byron has led laps in 11 of them – tied for the second-most with Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson. His 570 laps led is the most by a driver this season and he is currently on a streak of three consecutive races with at least one lap led – tied for the fourth-longest active streak. He also continues to spend the most laps running in the top-10 (2,516) as well as the most laps running within the top-five (1,687).

SIMILAR IN STYLE: This Sunday’s race at WWTR will mark Byron’s 31st start on tracks 1 to 1.37 miles in length (Dover Motor Speedway, Darlington Raceway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Nashville Superspeedway and Phoenix Raceway). In his previous 30 starts, the 24-year-old driver has collected one pole award, five top-five finishes, 10 top-10s with 82 laps led.

GOING TO GATEWAY: While this weekend’s race will mark the first time that the Cup Series has raced at the track located just outside St. Louis, it will not be the first time that Byron has visited the Illinois-based facility. In 2016, Byron competed at this track in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. During that race, he started third and led 47 of the 160 laps before being collected in a late race on-track incident that resulted in a 17th-place finish.

THE RUDY RUNDOWN: While many in the Cup Series will be experiencing the venue for the first time, crew chief Rudy Fugle is one of a few that has prior experience at the 1.25-mile oval. The Livonia, New York, native has eight prior starts at the track, with six coming in the Truck Series and two in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. His drivers have collected two top-10 finishes – with a best finish of sixth – all while leading 258 laps. One of those six starts was with Byron, where the duo led almost one-third of the race before settling for a 17th-place finish from an on-track incident.

RAPTOR® TOUGH: Returning for this weekend, Byron will race the No. 24 RaptorTough.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Sunday’s event. RAPTOR® is a durable protective coating and bed liner that is designed to tolerate the toughest climatic conditions and can be applied to a wide range of substrates from steel, wood, concrete and plaster to plastics and composites. Resistant to common fuels, U.V., scratches and stains, RAPTOR® is available at local paint distributors, auto parts stores and can also be purchased from online retailers like Amazon.

48 Alex Bowman
Age: 29 (April 25, 1993)
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Resides: Concord, North Carolina
Crew Chief: Greg Ives
Standings: 8th

No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

CONQUERING CHARLOTTE: Last Sunday, Alex Bowman crossed the finish line at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 10th after evading several on-track incidents, including one on the first green-white-checkered attempt. His top-10 result marked his ninth front-running finish this season. Through 14 races, Bowman is eighth in regular season points, 74 markers behind leader and teammate Chase Elliott.

BACK TO WHERE IT BEGAN: The NASCAR Cup Series returns to Illinois this weekend as the field takes on WWTR for the first time. Last time Bowman was in the Prairie State, he took home his first Cup Series win at Chicagoland Speedway in June 2019 in the No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro. Since then, the Tucson, Arizona, native has tallied six more wins, including primary sponsor Ally’s first Cup Series win at Richmond Raceway in April 2021.

FRONT RUNNER: Bowman continues to be a model for consistency this season. The 29-year-old driver has nine top-10s in the 2022 Cup Series season – more than any other year in his Cup career through 14 races. In his career-best season of 2021, he tallied his ninth top-10 in the 18th race of the season at Pocono Raceway. The driver of the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is also tied with 2021 Cup Series champion and teammate Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, and Kyle Busch for the most top-10 results in the last six events with five.

THERE AT THE END: With a mark of 11.71, Bowman still holds the second-best average finish in the Cup Series. Only Kyle Busch has a better average result at 11.21. The winner of the spring race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway also follows Busch in most top-10 finishes in the Cup Series, garnering nine and 10 placements, respectively.

SLINGING DIRT: This Friday at Tri-City Speedway, Bowman will make another start for Alex Bowman Racing with the World of Outlaws. Fielding and driving the No. 55 Ally sprint car in Illinois for his own team, he continues to refine his racing skillset this season.

NEARING 100,000: Hendrick Motorsports needs to lead just 98 miles in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race to cross 100,000 miles led in the sport’s top series. This would be achieved by leading 79 laps at WWTR this weekend. The four-car team has led 1,445.43 miles in the 14 points-paying races held thus far in 2022.

INAUGURAL TRIUMPHS: Sunday’s race marks the first Cup Series race at the 1.25-mile track. In the last six races on new tracks for the Cup Series, Hendrick Motorsports has won four times. Three of those wins came last year with victories for Chase Elliott at Road America and Circuit of The Americas and Kyle Larson grabbing the win at Nashville Superspeedway.

VARIETY PACK: Hendrick Motorsports has gone to victory lane at more racetracks than any other active team. Its series-best 285 Cup wins have been spread across 31 different venues.

PRAIRIE STATE LOOK BACK: Prior to Sunday’s race at the Madison, Illinois, track, the Cup Series has raced 21 times in the state of Illinois with 19 of those starts coming at Chicagoland Speedway. Hendrick Motorsports won at that 1.5-mile track three times with Alex Bowman winning in the last event held there in 2019.

OUT FRONT: Through the first 14 races in 2022, Hendrick Motorsports has led the most laps in the Cup Series with 1,280 circuits out front. The second- and third-place teams just eclipse that mark when combined. This is the first time in eight seasons that the 14-time Cup champions have led over 1,200 laps at this point in the season.

WHERE THE WINS STAND: With 12 races left in the regular season, Hendrick Motorsports has five wins in 2022 – the most in the series. The organization is the fastest to have its entire four-car lineup win in one season as it achieved that in the first 11 races of the season. William Byron’s two wins lead the way for the squad.

FINISHING TOUCHES: Hendrick Motorsports has the most top fives (16) and top 10s (30) in the 2022 Cup Series season. Larson has a team-best six top-fives, while Elliott and Bowman are tied for the team lead with nine top-10 finishes.

QUOTABLE /

Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on preparing for the inaugural WWTR race: “I’ll watch some (NASCAR Camping World) Truck Series races on YouTube – probably the most recent truck races and maybe some old Xfinity races. It looks like a cool track and I’m sure Cliff (Daniels, crew chief of No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1) and the team have been using every tool and resource possible to ensure we have a good package when we unload there.”

Cliff Daniels, crew chief of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on preparing for the first race at the Madison, Illinois, track: “The trucks just raced there last year or the year before, and I have been watching that race today. We also have data from a wheel-force tire test a few weeks ago, so we have data and in-car cameras from that – all OEM’s do. That data is super valuable just to help understand our simulation tools and how those match up to what we saw on the track data. Then we try to understand the nuance of the track and compare it to similar tracks we’ve been to with a Next Gen car, which would probably be Phoenix (Raceway). Fortunately, we do have the 50-minute practice on Friday to really tune on the car. It’s not a lot of time, but it’s enough to get a good feel for things.”

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on heading to the 1.25-mile oval for the first time: “I think anytime you head to a new track it’s tough. You can do everything to try to prepare, but you’re not really going to know until you make those first laps in practice. We’re getting a little more track time than we do at most tracks so that will help give us an opportunity to try to figure some things out ahead of Sunday. There are a lot of unknowns, but I’m looking forward to heading there and seeing what we can do.”

Alan Gustafson, crew chief of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 on racing at the St. Louis-area track: “We’re just going to have to be prepared to adapt. We’ve been looking at our notes from Phoenix (Raceway) and Richmond (Raceway) and trying to put them together as we’ve been anticipating what to expect. I don’t really think anybody is going to be able to hit it right off the truck, so that’s where you’re going to have to be able to adapt and adjust. Whoever does a good job of that is going to be fast. Chase always does great at providing feedback and telling us what he needs out of the car, so hopefully we’ll be in a good position heading into Sunday.”

William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on his thoughts for this weekend: “I don’t know what to expect this weekend really. I think Gateway will race similar to how Phoenix (Raceway) does. We had some speed there earlier this year so I think we have a good starting point, plus we have a full 50-minute practice this Friday to really feel things out. It’s been a few years since I’ve raced there, and when I did, we had a good race going and led a bunch of laps. The last few weeks we haven’t gotten the results we’ve wanted despite leading laps and running up front. This weekend is a good chance for us to turn that around heading into the summer stretch of the season.”

Rudy Fugle, crew chief of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on what he thinks it will take to win on Sunday: “Gateway may be a mile-and-a-quarter long but it races more like a short track with long straightaways. So far this season with the Next Gen car, we have been fast on those style tracks so that gives us confidence heading into this weekend. It’s a unique track that’s tough to figure out and those are the challenges I enjoy as a crew chief. I think it’s safe to say that track position is going to be a major factor this weekend and that pit stops are going to be a major key to that. We’ve really improved on pit road the last few weeks, so that gives me confidence as well. You always go to the race track wanting to win, but with this being the first Cup Series race there, everyone wants to be able to say that they were the winner of a inaugural event.”

Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on his consistency this season: “I am happy that we have been able to finish in the top 10 as much as we have, but I think we are capable of more. Our goal was to be more consistent this year and we are achieving that – now we need to stay consistent and move our aim to higher finishes. We have been close to the front at the end of races and have been able to make a few passes when it counts. Just need to find a way to be in the front of the pack and contend for more wins. I am proud of the effort every week from our guys, and we will continue to work hard and try to knock off a few more wins this year.”

Greg Ives, crew chief of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on how he is preparing for the race at the Illinois-based track: “Our short track package is pretty good – we have run well at Richmond (Raceway) and Martinsville (Speedway). We will lean on our notes from those tracks and what I have learned from conversations with Rudy (Fugle, crew chief of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1). He has run there in the (NASCAR Camping World) Truck Series and though they aren’t Cup cars, it helps us with how the track will progress through the race and what to expect the racing to look like as the day goes on.”

Inaugural Cup Race at Gateway up Next for No. 21 Team

By
Official Release
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Harrison Burton and the No. 21 Ford/Disabled American Veterans team are headed this weekend to a new venue for NASCAR’s Cup Series, but one that Burton and his crew chief Brian Wilson are familiar with.

Burton has raced in both NASCAR’s Camping World Truck Series and the ARCA Menards Series at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, the 1.25-mile track located in the St. Louis suburb of Madison, Ill.

And crew chief Brian Wilson competed there back in 2010 as a race engineer for Brad Keselowski in the series now known as Xfinity. That team came away a winner in the fall race at Gateway that year.

Wilson said he’s looking forward to this weekend’s inaugural Enjoy Illinois 300 at Gateway.

“It’s really exciting to be going to the St. Louis market this weekend,” Wilson said. “Personally I always enjoy the challenge of going to a new track for the Cup series.

“This weekend I’m especially interested in the extended practice format that we’ll have. We get extra time and will be able to make more changes to the setup than on a normal weekend.”

Wilson said he, Burton and the No. 21 Ford/DAV team are hoping to continue down the technological path they’ve taken at recent races.

“The past few weeks we’ve been working on a new direction that showed some potential at Charlotte in qualifying,” he said. “We’ll continue on that path and try to utilize the extra practice time to maximize the potential.”

And Wilson said his No. 21 team showed Sunday in a marathon Coca-Cola 600 that even when things looked discouraging in the early laps, each member continued to put forth a maximum effort.

“I feel like last week’s race shows the fight in this team, which resulted in a great 11th-place finish,” he said. “With that fighting mentality we’ll continue to push to learn and improve on our speed.”

For this weekend’s race, the No. 21 Mustang will carry a special paint scheme celebrating the 100-year relationship between Ford and the Disabled American Veterans.

That relationship began in 1922 when Ford provided 50 Model Ts for veterans of the first World War to attend the second national DAV convention. In the years since, Ford has worked to ensure that veterans have access to reliable transportation to reach their healthcare and medical appointments.

Ford’s efforts on behalf of veterans are also evident in the company’s employment of approximately 6,000 veterans. Since 2019, the Ford-Lincoln Veteran Careers Program has been a part of New Ford Tech, a program that hires and trains Ford service technicians.

A 50-minute practice session at Gateway is scheduled to start at 4:05 p.m. (5:05 Eastern Time) Friday, and qualifying is set for Saturday at 10 a.m. (11 Eastern).

Sunday’s 240-lap, 300-mile race is planned for 2:30 p.m. (3:30 Eastern Time) with TV coverage on FOX Sports 1.

Stage breaks are set for Laps 45 and 140.

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

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

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

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

*See seller for limited-warranty details.

Wood Brothers Racing

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

About DAV
DAV empowers veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity. It is dedicated to a single purpose: keeping our promise to America’s veterans. DAV does this by ensuring that veterans and their families can access the full range of benefits available to them, fighting for the interests of America’s injured heroes on Capitol Hill, providing employment resources to veterans and their families, and educating the public about the great sacrifices and needs of veterans transitioning back to civilian life. DAV, a nonprofit organization with more than 1 million members, was founded in 1920 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1932. Learn more at DAV.org.

Gilliland Returns to World Wide Technology Raceway

By
Official Release
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Feels Confident Heading into a Familiar Track with First Phase

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (June 1, 2022) – For the NASCAR Cup Series, this weekend’s race at the World Wide Technology Raceway will be a first. For Cup Series rookie, Todd Gilliland, it will and it will not. It will be his fifth year in a row returning to the St. Louis track, but first in the Cup car. Gilliland looks to bring four years of NASCAR Camping World Truck Series experience to the table and hopes to have a solid result.

“World Wide Technology Raceway is a tight track with long straightaways,” said Gilliland. “I like the layout and have run well there in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. I have two second-place finishes and have always felt comfortable racing on what can be a tricky track at times. Hopefully, we can turn that into a good run in the Cup car.”

“I have said at the beginning of the year that I do not believe this car drives much different than what I have driven in the past. But it is still an adjustment, and the completion level is high. Coming out of the 600 at Charlotte, we had a good run and back near the top-15. We just need more of those races under our belt and this weekend is a great opportunity at another track I like.”

Returning to the No. 38 this weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway is First Phase. The new credit card from CURO Credit, LLC, issued by The Bank of Missouri, a staple partner for Todd Gilliland and Front Row Motorsports.

“First Phase has been a huge supporter in my first year in the NASCAR Cup Series,” continued Gilliland. “Getting to know everyone throughout this year has been amazing and they have really jumped in and have become a part of this No. 38 team.”

Gilliland and the First Phase Ford Mustang will hit the track at the World Wide Technology Raceway on June 5 at 3:30 PM ET on FS1.

ABOUT CURO

CURO Group Holdings Corp. (NYSE: CURO) is a full-spectrum consumer credit provider across the U.S. and Canada. The Company was founded in 1997 by three childhood friends in Kansas to meet the growing consumer need for short-term loans. Today, CURO operates a robust, omni-channel platform providing comprehensive credit solutions to help customers achieve their financial goals. CURO’s decades of experience with alternative data power the underwriting and scoring engine, mitigating risk across the full spectrum of credit products. CURO operates under a number of brands including Speedy Cash®, Rapid Cash®, Cash Money®, LendDirect®, Flexiti®, Avío Credit®, Opt+®, Revolve Finance®, Heights Finance, Southern Finance, Covington Credit, Quick Credit and First Phase. Our diversified product channels allows us to meet the changing needs and preferences of our customers.

ABOUT FIRST PHASE

First Phase is a new credit card issued by The Bank of Missouri that provides pathways to financial freedom for people with unestablished or imperfect credit. It’s a powerful tool that can provide flexibility and help fuel the next chapter of their financial future. First Phase is the doing business assumed name of CURO Credit, LLC, whose ultimate parent company is CURO Group Holdings Corp (NYSE: CURO).

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.

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