Home Blog Page 1942

DGR NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Advance: World Wide Technology Raceway

By
Official Release
-

Saturday, June 4
Track: World Wide Technology Raceway, 1.25-mile oval
Race: 11 of 23
Event: Toyota 200 (160 laps, 200 miles)

Schedule
Friday, June 3
Practice: 6:05 p.m. ET
Qualifying: 6:35 p.m. ET
Saturday, June 4
Race: 1:30 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 1)

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

  • The Toyota 200 will mark Hailie Deegan’s second career start at World Wide Technology Raceway, her 34th NCWTS appearance.
  • Deegan recorded her best career finish at Gateway, finishing 9th in last year’s contest — up 12 spots from her starting position.
  • The 20-year-old’s debut at Gateway was historic, scoring the best finish for a woman at a non-superspeedway race in the NCWTS.
  • World Wide Technology Raceway is statistically one of Crew Chief Mike Hillman Jr’s best tracks, averaging a finish of 7.9 while netting one career win, four top-fives and nine top-10’s in 11 total appearances.

Tanner Gray, No. 15 Ford Performance F-150

  • Tanner Gray will make his 11th NCWTS start of the 2022 season and third career start at World Wide Technology Raceway on Saturday afternoon.
  • In his previous two appearances at the 1.25-mile oval referred to as Gateway, Gray has finishes of 10th and 19th.
  • Last Friday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the 23-year-old took advantage of fresher tires on a late race restart to drive from 14th to sixth and earn his first top-10 since Atlanta Motor Speedway.
  • Jerry Baxter has found considerable success at Gateway throughout his career, coming away victorious in NCWTS competition on two occasions — 2014 with Bubba Wallace and 2016 with Christopher Bell. In total between the Truck and Xfinity Series’, Baxter has two wins, five top-fives and six top-10s.

Taylor Gray, No. 17 Ford Performance F-150

  • Taylor Gray will climb behind the wheel of the No. 17 F-150 at World Wide Technology Raceway for his third start of the NCWTS season.
  • Last season at Gateway, Gray started 26th and finished 12th to earn the second best finish of his Truck Series career.
  • In two starts this season, the 17-year-old driver has been mired with bad luck and relegated to two 26th-place finishes at both Circuit of the Americas and Martinsville.
  • Saturday’s race will be the second career appearance at Gateway for both crew chief Chad Johnston and Gray as they look to get a handle on the 1.25-mile racetrack.

CORVETTE RACING AT LE MANS: “Winning is the Goal”

By
Official Release
-

Two Corvette C8.Rs entered in GTE Pro category in search of ninth class win

· Return to June date, open fan events among highlights of French classic
· Milner, Tandy welcome back Sims in WEC championship chase
· Garcia, Taylor, Catsburg back in GTE-spec Corvette

DETROIT (May 31, 2022) – The Corvette Racing band is back together for the first time in three months with the team channeling all its efforts into another shot at a class victory at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Two of the familiar yellow Corvettes are part of a seven-car entry in the GTE Pro category for factory and factory-supported teams. This will be the second time at Le Mans for the mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette C8.R after a runner-up class finish in its debut last August. The program is going for its ninth class victory at the French endurance classic.

This year’s race is back in its traditional June spot with the race set for June 11-12. The biggest change from last year’s event is that all public-facing events are back including scrutineering in downtown Le Mans, pit walks and autograph sessions and the Friday drivers’ parade.

Before practice and qualifying gets under way, though, first comes eight hours of track time Sunday during the annual Le Mans Test Day. It’s the one opportunity for the 62 cars entered in the race to get much-needed track time ahead of Wednesday’s first practice and qualifying sessions. Time is critical given the unique nature of the circuit – 8.47 miles of asphalt featuring a mix of permanent racetrack and public roads through the French countryside.

The Corvette Racing lineup in each of the two C8.Rs remains the same as a year ago. Antonio Garcia, Jordan Taylor and Nicky Catsburg – primarily competing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship – will team in the No. 63 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Corvette and hope to improve on their second-place showing from a year ago. Already, the trio has a blue-riband victory together in at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in a GT Daytona (GTD) PRO version of the C8.R.

On the other side of the garage is the No. 64 Mobil 1/SiriusXM C8.R of Tommy Milner, Nick Tandy and Alexander Sims. Their entry is a full-time one in the FIA World Endurance Championship – a first for Corvette Racing. It’s already been a successful run for Milner and Tandy with a runner-up finish in the Sebring 1,000 Miles.

The duo stand third in the GTE Drivers World Championship with Le Mans being a double-points race. That makes it even more important for the No. 64 Corvette to show well at Le Mans… and keep the other manufacturers off the top step of the podium as well.

The plan of having a Corvette full-time in WEC was focused around optimizing the team’s chances at Le Mans. Corvette Racing’s last win at Le Mans came in 2015, although the team has been agonizingly close to getting its ninth win there since with a second- and third-place showing in the years since.

The WEC Corvette has given the entire Corvette Racing team much-needed insight and data on a wide variety of items that will be key at Le Mans. Things like pit stop procedures, tire selection and performance, and racing rules in a variety of scenarios make this the most prepared that Corvette Racing has been for Le Mans in what will be its 22nd appearance in the race.

One of the most key benefits is that the No. 64 Corvette can focus more on race setup and development on the Test Day while the three No. 63 drivers can get used to the GTE version of the Corvette, which features more power, no ABS system and Michelin tires specifically designed for the C8.R. In IMSA, the GTD PRO Corvette runs on a common Michelin tire that is available to all teams.

Corvette Racing will contest the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 11-12 with the green flag set for 4 p.m. CET and 10 a.m. ET. MotorTrend TV will air the race live with the MotorTrend App adding coverage of official practices and qualifying on June 8-9. Live audio coverage will be available from Radio Le Mans starting with Sunday’s Test Day.

ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 63 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: “Le Mans shouldn’t be too different this year. It would be way different if we were running the GTD PRO spec. We are going back to our regular GTE setup in the C8.R, and I’m looking forward to that. Part of it won’t be ideal as Jordan, Nicky and myself will need to readapt to that car a little bit. Having the 64 car in the WEC will help the whole team, though. We will need to get up to speed at the start and maybe the 64 car will start some development early on. We’ve done this race so many times and have raced the GTE spec so many years that it won’t take much to get on the pace. To be honest, it is more difficult to drive the IMSA car compared to what we have driven for the last 15 years!

“It’s been too long since I have won Le Mans. We’ve been on the podium several times and could have won all those. That also tells you that you’re one of the most angry people because coming in P2 or P3 is not ideal, especially if you have a chance to win. In these races, only one car can win. If you give it everything you had and you didn’t win, then someone did it just a tiny bit better than you. Last year, I think we had everything lined up. The pace was great but we didn’t have enough to gain those 20, 30 and 40 seconds to get ahead. It seems like very little over a race distance but we know that’s how Le Mans works. Every second you lose is very difficult and gaining that back in GTE Pro is a tough task. We need to be the ones leading and let the rest catch us. I think that is what works best at Le Mans.”

JORDAN TAYLOR, NO. 63 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: “I got to do some tire testing with Nick (Tandy) a couple of days after Sebring in the GTE car. But I still think it’s going to be a big adjustment for us going back to that, especially with it being such a tight schedule on the race week. There is such limited time to get three guys through the car with such a long lap and adding in the car development we want to do. Hopefully we can hit the ground running and get comfortable right off the bat to get into development. So it will be a little bit more of a challenge but having the 64 guys over there all year in WEC takes away some development time, so hopefully that will help us when we get there.

“It’s frustrating to look back at last year to know we did nothing majorly wrong, didn’t make any mistakes and still came up short. That part is frustrating but I think we can rely on the fact that we did a perfect race. We can have that confidence going back this time. We’ve developed the car further than where it was last year for the first time with the C8.R. We did miss a lot of practice on the 63 side throughout the beginning of the week so I think we were behind the eight-ball a little bit compared to the other car once the race started. So we maybe were missing a little bit of performance on our own. But going into this year with what we learned last year and the confidence of a good race we had, we know we are going back with a stronger car and good position.”

NICKY CATSBURG, NO. 63 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: “Having now done Le Mans with Corvette Racing, I can go into the weekend a little more relaxed. I know how the team operates and even the most basic things – where I stay and where I sleep, how processes work. From that point of view, I will be a little more relaxed going into the event. In terms of race prep and how we are going to execute, I don’t think there is anything different than the previous year other than the fact that everyone has a little more experience with the C8.R at Le Mans and in the WEC. I feel we should be pretty well prepared.

“There is some mojo from our win at Sebring. The car felt really good last year at Le Mans. Maybe Ferrari had a little bit of the upper hand, but I feel like this year we should be in a better position. The only downside is the 63 car guys have driven the car less in GTE spec. The last time I drove a car without ABS was Petit Le Mans in the Corvette. That’s a bit of a handicap but we’re all more than capable to make that adjustment and be ready for it. I’ve always been going back and forth between GTE and GT3 whenever I would come race in the States last year. You’d always have to take some time to adjust to the car. Really the biggest difference is the ABS, and I honestly prefer a car without ABS. We’re all in the same boat and we can all do this, for sure. Le Mans is one of my favorite events of the year. The track obviously is fantastic and abnormal in that way. I really, really can’t wait!”

TOMMY MILNER, NO. 64 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: “Winning obviously is the goal. I feel like every time we’ve been to Le Mans, we’ve done all our due diligence beforehand in testing to show up as competitive as we can be. Having some experience this year in WEC and data running on this tire will be helpful for the entire team. From that perspective, this will prove to be very helpful. We’re going to be as prepared for Le Mans as we can be. We saw last year that the car already was fast and competitive. Hopefully with the potential for more data for the ACO and FIA to compare our cars, the balance is as good as it can be for a good GTE Pro race for 24 hours. Based on the pace we’ve show in the WEC and last year at Le Mans, I think we have a great Corvette.

“Running WEC doesn’t change anything for me in terms of preparation. No matter what, we finish the race and we finish as strongly as we can. It hasn’t been in the past where if we can’t win then we park it. It’s not our mantra at Corvette Racing. We race hard to the end no matter what our position is. Now that we have some concerns for points in the full WEC championship, we’ll race with that in mind. But it doesn’t change the fact that winning Le Mans would be the crown jewel for this season. This is how we’ve always raced and it won’t change. It just means that the points at the end of the weekend will mean a little bit more.”

NICK TANDY, NO. 64 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: “Le Mans is Le Mans. It’s always been its own event. Now it’s a part of our championship and a double-points one at that. So it takes on extra significance now for us this year, at least on the 64 side. One of the reasons we entered the WEC is that it gives us more preparation, information and experience of the series’ rules and regulations. It’s things like pit stop sequences, maximizing strategy information and bits and pieces that are different from series to series. We have more information about what we can do better going into Le Mans. We’re coming into Le Mans with the best level of preparation that Corvette Racing has ever had.

“Certainly from the crew and engineering side, everyone on our side is ready to go with what we’ve been working on for the last six months effectively. When the track goes green for the Test Day, we’ll be ready to go and crack on with our performance work. When we’ve been there before as a single event, it does take a little bit of time to get into the differences – where the guys are running the car being on the pit wall, people worried about making regulation errors in the pitlane or things like this that we aren’t used to. From that point of view, this is one of the key points of running the full championship. The more experience you have, the better it is. Past that, everyone on the 63 side have all been here and done this many times. It’ll be the first time that we’ll run the low-drag aero kit so the car will be a little different than what we were used to at Spa. The other good thing is that we have last year’s experience and data to look back on. We’re not coming into this with a brand new car.”

ALEXANDER SIMS, NO. 64 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: “The fact that this will be a bit more familiar to me will be a nice thing. The biggest factor me is the length of time that it’s been since I was last in the car at Petit Le Mans. That likely will be the biggest challenge to get on top off… just to get back in the swing of things. I’m fortunate that I am doing some GT racing at the Nürburgring this year, so I’ll have driven a GT car but not the Corvette. That’s really the main thing – getting back into the swing of driving the C8.R. To be fair, the last time at Le Mans and by the time the race came around, I felt fully in tune and that’s the aim again this year.

“There is plenty of track time available but I need to make sure I do my homework and work very hard to get up to the required level that I expect from myself and that the team deserves from me. That will be the main point of focus for me early in the week. I go back there with reference points from the car from last year in terms of my driving. I kind of know what to expect in terms of how the car should feel, driving lines and all of those things that I don’t have to learn again. It’s a slightly more manageable task than last year.”

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.

LOUIS-PHILIPPE DUMOULIN AND WEATHERTECH CANADA EXTEND PARTNERSHIP FOR THREE MORE YEARS

By
Official Release
-

Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (CMHF)

Trois-Rivieres (Quebec, Canada), May 31, 2022 – In 2012, Dumoulin Competition and its new partner in the NASCAR Canada Series at the time, WeatherTech Canada, decided to work together at an integrated level in terms of well understood goals and strategies by both parties. After 10 years of success using this evolved partnership program at the sporting and marketing levels, both partners are proud to announce that the agreement has been extended for three more years (2022 to 2024 inclusive).

A partnership lasting 13 years is rare in the world of motorsports in Quebec and Canada. The business relationship consolidated over the years and the common passion for motor racing allow Dumoulin Competition and Louis-Philippe Dumoulin to optimize their creative talents and deliver superior performances in all their on-track activities (three championships in 2014, 2018 and 2021) as well as in marketing activities across the country, always in cooperation with WeatherTech Canada, an undisputed leader in the automotive accessories market.

“From earning his third Canadian NASCAR championship title to being inducted into the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame, L.P. and the Dumoulin Competition team continue to raise the standard of excellence in Canadian motorsports. Their confidence, ambition and professionalism are displayed both on and off the track, and it’s something we truly value at WeatherTech. We’ve grown together over the last ten years and are proud to have L.P as a corporate partner, brand ambassador and close friend. We look forward to another three years of growth and continued success,” explain Tony Page and Joe Magri, co-owners of the company.

“At first, we used outside specialists to prepare our cars, then WeatherTech Canada supported us in our dream of starting our own race shop,” recalls Louis-Philippe Dumoulin. “We have now accumulated three championships together, including two with our own preparation business, Dumoulin Competition. I consider WeatherTech Canada a part of my family, just like Groupe Bellemare, which has been with us since the beginning of our careers.

“Every time I think about what we have accomplished, it makes me so proud and emotional. We’ve been through a lot of ups and downs over the last 10 years, and we’ve always come back stronger. We’re still going strong. We are not sitting on our laurels, and I realize how lucky I am to be in racing and to have strong business partners. I am very aware of the privilege and luck I have to be there, and I will continue to give back to them in performance and visibility.”

CANADIAN MOTORSPORT HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY (CMHF)

“In front of all these people, I felt like a little giant among the big ones, the real ones!”

On May 28, Louis-Philippe Dumoulin and WeatherTech Canada participated in the driver’s induction ceremony (2020 Cohort) into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame (CMHF), which was postponed from the previous two years due to the health situation. “

“I waited for my induction ceremony into the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame for two years, due to Covid. Then when it happened last Saturday, I felt that it was well worth the wait. I found myself immersed in the world of the great, the people I admired and inspired me when I was young and then in my now 29-year career. I felt the full range of emotions: humility at being included in such a group, pride at seeing what I have been able to accomplish. To be recognized in the motorsport world and being able to share it with all those who have been with me since the beginning, I would not have achieved it without you all! And especially my parents, who always helped me to believe in the greatness of life, and who convinced me that everything was possible.”

ABOUT PARTNERS

WeatherTech is committed to designing, engineering and manufacturing the finest products possible for your vehicle, home and your pet. From the industry leading FloorLiner to the 100% non-toxic Pet Feeding System, WeatherTech has dedicated itself to exceed customer expectations of quality, craftsmanship and environmental sustainability for over 30 years. To see the full line of automotive, home and pet products that are guaranteed for life, visit weathertech.ca.

Groupe Bellemare is a 3rd generation family business that has been serving clients since 1959. Today, the company has more than 500 employees and provides them with an innovative work environment facilitating work-family balance and a healthy and safe quality of life. With over a half century of experience and its sustained R&D efforts, the Company offers high-quality products and services in areas as diverse as concrete, abrasives and minerals, dimensional load transportation, and recycling. Groupe Bellemare is also very involved in its industry and attaches great importance to its social and environmental role as a member of the business community. Groupe Bellemare makes a positive contribution to the quality of life of citizens in the communities it serves by supporting numerous social causes and promoting local purchasing through its responsible procurement practices.

groupebellemare.com

Dumoulin Competition. Jean-François and Louis-Philippe Dumoulin founded the Dumoulin Competition Race Team in 2009. Working with financial, marketing, logistics and sports management experts, they built up a solid business structure. Dumoulin Competition prepares its own race cars in-house since 2016. Their motto: “Passion – Performance – Partnerships” expresses their will to perform on the track and offer their partners maximum visibility and profitability in return for their commitment. Their vision: To become Canada’s leader in motorsports through on-track performance, an entrepreneurial spirit and human values. dumoulincompetition.com

Feeding America® / Wow Wow Classic Waffles Racing: Cole Custer St. Louis Advance

By
Official Release
-

COLE CUSTER
St. Louis Advance
No. 41 Feeding America®/Wow Wow Classic Waffles Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview

● Event: Enjoy Illinois 300 presented by TicketSmarter (Round 15 of 36)
● Time/Date: 3:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 5
● Location: Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Illinois, near St. Louis
● Layout: 1.25-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 240 laps/300 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 45 laps / Stage 2: 95 laps / Final Stage: 100 laps
● TV/Radio: FS1 / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Cole Custer and his fellow NASCAR Cup Series competitors will be making history this weekend when the series takes to the 1.25-mile oval at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Illinois, near St. Louis, for the first time during Sunday’s Enjoy Illinois 300.

● The driver of the No. 41 Feeding America®/Wow Wow Classic Waffles Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) had a solid three-year run at Gateway in three NASCAR Camping World Truck Series appearances from 2014 through 2016, all in the No. 00 Haas Automation entry. He qualified on the pole and finished sixth in his first outing in June 2014. He followed that up with his second of two career Truck Series wins in June 2015, when he started second and led 19 laps along the way, beating runner-up Spencer Gallagher to the checkered flag by .871 of a second. In June 2016, his most recent outing, he started eighth and finished 15th.

● Riding along with Custer for the second time this season will be SHR partner Wow Wow Classic Waffles, and Feeding America®, the largest hunger relief organization in the United States with a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs.

● In leadup to this weekend’s race, Custer will be working with the St. Louis organization Dream Builders 4 Equity, which is tackling the vacant home epidemic plaguing the area by hiring youth ages 16 to 24 and pairing them with minority contractors to complete rehabs of currently vacant homes and buildings to be sold to first-time homeowners. The youth are employed at $15 an hour to participate in these rehabs and community development work, in addition to receiving workshops on entrepreneurship, real estate, and personal development skills. They also gain equity in the properties, which means every time a home is sold, portions of the sale go directly to the youth in scholarship form. They also are required to journal during their time participating in the organization’s Summer Academy and Apprentice Programs. The journals are then published in book form in which the youth have 100-percent ownership.

● SHR, Wow Wow Classic Waffles and Feeding America® are also asking fans to continue to do their part in helping to end hunger in America by visiting the Feeding America® donation page via the Feeding America® website. Each $1 donated helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America® on behalf of local member food banks.

● On April 20, Custer participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Second Harvest Food Bank location in Salisbury, North Carolina. Custer frequently volunteers his time at the Second Harvest location in Charlotte with his No. 41 team members occasionally offering their time to help the community. The Second Harvest organization recently honored Custer, SHR and the Gene Haas Foundation with its New Partner Award for their work over the past 18 months.

● Sunday afternoon’s 300-mile race will be Custer’s 90th Cup Series start.

● Custer arrives at Gateway 27th in the driver standings after his late-race bid for a top-five finish in Sunday night’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway was foiled when he was collected in a multicar accident during the first of two overtimes.

Cole Custer, Driver of the No. 41 Feeding America®/Wow Wow Classic Waffles Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

You’re heading to Gateway as the Cup Series competes there for the first time. It’s a track where you’ve had success in the past. What are your expectations in the Cup Series car?

“A lot of shifting. With the two different ends, you’re probably going to be shifting twice, I would think, especially in (turns) one and two with how much slower it is. I haven’t run there since they repaved it. The last time I ran there was in 2016 with the Truck Series, so it’s going to be a lot different than when I was last there. It’s going to be interesting just seeing how everybody can work the two different ends. It’s always a balance with these (NextGen Cup Series) cars because they’re so on edge. I don’t know if they’re going to put the resin down, but I think it’ll be a good race.”

Is it exciting to bring Cup Series racing to another new market?

“I think it’s really cool. (The Cup Series) has never been to St. Louis. I think everybody is super pumped and I think, a track like Gateway, it’s a racey place, the two different ends, so we’ll probably be able to beat and bang a little bit. I think it’ll put on a good race and hopefully there will be a packed crowd there.”

There’s talk about rotating the schedule more to bring in more new markets. Would you agree?

“It’d be really cool, being able to go to the Pacific Northwest and places like that, just being able to mix the schedule up. I think we go to some good tracks, but it’d be nice to put some variety in there.”

We’re headed into the summer stretch of the schedule. How would you describe where you and the No. 41 team are right now?

“I think we’ve shown we have speed, at times. At Martinsville we ran really well, at the road courses we’ve been fast. I think we’ve had potential at times, but we’ve definitely just struggled at the mile-and-a-halves, although Sunday at Charlotte all four SHR cars worked their way into contention at the end of the race. Before Charlotte, for whatever reason – aero or mechanical or whatever it is – we’ve just gone down the wrong path a little bit. The car’s been driveable, so I’m happy with that. It’s just going to be a process of trial and error without much practice to be able to really get to where we need to be on a consistent basis. You only get so many chances to get it right going into the weekend.”

No. 41 Feeding America®/Wow Wow Classic Waffles Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Cole Custer
Hometown: Ladera Ranch, California

Crew Chief: Mike Shiplett
Hometown: Amherst, Ohio

Car Chief: Tony Cardamone
Hometown: Bristol, Virginia

Engineer: Lee Deese
Hometown: Rockingham, North Carolina

Engineer: Scott Bingham
Hometown: Lawrenceville, Georgia

Spotter: Andy Houston
Hometown: Hickory, North Carolina

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Josh Leslie
Hometown: Mount Clemens, Michigan

Rear Tire Changer: Coleman Dollarhide
Hometown: Hickory, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Chad Emmons
Hometown: Tyler, Texas

Jack Man: Matthew Schlytter
Hometown: Ponte Vedra, Florida

Fuel Man: Dewayne Moore
Hometown: Griffin, Georgia

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Joe Zanolini
Hometown: Sybertsville, Pennsylvania

Shock Specialist: Aaron Kuehn
Hometown: Kensington, Connecticut

Engine Tuner: Jimmy Fife
Hometown: Orange County, California

Tire Specialist: Austin Greco
Hometown: Harrisburg, North Carolina

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

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

Ford Performance NASCAR: World Wide Technology Raceway and Portland International Raceway

By
Official Release
-

FORD PERFORMANCE NASCAR: WWTR/PORTLAND ADVANCE

NASCAR’s top three series will be split between two facilities this weekend as the Cup and Camping World Truck Series compete at World Wide Technology Raceway and the NASCAR XFINITY drivers run the road course at Portland International Raceway. This is the first time the Cup Series will compete at WWTR and is also the inaugural NXS event at PIR.

This Week’s Schedule:

Saturday, June 4 – NASCAR Camping World Truck Series @ WWTR, 1:30 p.m. ET (FS1)

Saturday, June 4 – NASCAR XFINITY Series @ PIR, 4:30 p.m. ET (FS1)

Sunday, June 5 – NASCAR Cup Series @ WWTR, 3:30 p.m. ET (FS1)

NASCAR CUP SERIES MAKING DEBUT AT WWTR

This will mark the first time the NASCAR Cup Series will compete at World Wide Technology Raceway, marking the sixth different track the circuit has run on in the past two years. Circuit of the Americas, Road America, Nashville Superspeedway and the Indianapolis Road Course all debuted in 2021 while this season kicked off with the non-points Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

FORD DRIVERS WITH WWTR EXPERIENCE IN NCWTS

Aric Almirola (2006, ’09-10): 3 starts, 3 top-10 finishes

Ryan Blaney (2014): 1 start, 7th-place finish

Chase Briscoe (2017): 1 start, 1 pole, 2nd-place finish

Harrison Burton (2019): 1 start, 16th-place finish

Austin Cindric (2017): 1 start, 11th-place finish

Cole Custer (2014-16): 3 starts, 1 win, 2 top-10 finishes

Todd Gilliland (2017-21): 5 starts, 2 top-5 finishes

Kevin Harvick (1998-99, 2010): 3 starts, 1 win

Brad Keselowski (2004-05,’10), 3 starts, 2nd-place finish

FORD DRIVERS WITH WWTR EXPERIENCE IN NXS

Kevin Harvick (2000,’01,’06,’09-10): 5 starts, 2 wins

Brad Keselowski (2007-10): 5 starts, 1 win, 1 pole, 3 top-10 finishes

Joey Logano (2008): 1 start, 2nd-place finish

Michael McDowell (2009-10): 2 starts

PORTLAND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY TO HOST NASCAR XFINITY SERIES

The NASCAR XFINITY drivers will also be racing at a new venue this weekend as the road course at Portland International Raceway plays host to that series for the first time. But the track isn’t a complete stranger to NASCAR as the Camping World Truck Series ran there twice more than 20 years ago. Former Ford driver Greg Biffle won the inaugural event in 1999 with owner Jack Roush while Andy Houston claimed the 2000 race.

TRUCK SERIES OPENS DOUBLEHEADER WEEKEND AT WWTR

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will kick off the weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway with a Saturday afternoon race as Ford looks for its first win at the track since 2002. Greg Biffle captured Ford’s first win at the facility in 1999 while Terry Cook followed that up three years later. The series has run at WWTR every year since 1998, except for a three-year period from 2011-2013.

CURRENT FORD DRIVER RESULTS AT WWTR

Haile Deegan registered a career-best seventh-place finish in last year’s race at WWTR, which is the best finish for a female at a track other than Daytona International Speedway in series history. Her David Gilliland Racing teammate, Tanner Gray, has started each of the last two seasons the circuit has run at the track with his best effort being 10th in 2020. Zane Smith, who leads the series with three wins this year, will be making his Ford debut at WWTR but has made three career starts overall and has a pair of top-10 finishes.

FORD NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES WINNERS AT WWTR

1999 – Greg Biffle

2002 – Terry Cook

Perez inks two-year contract extension with Red Bull Racing

By
Andrew Kim
-
Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images.

Two days after winning the biggest event of his Formula One career, Sergio “Checo” Perez has another two reasons to celebrate after signing a two-year contract extension to remain with Oracle Red Bull Racing, a new deal that will launch in 2023.

The 32-year-old Perez from Guadalajara, Mexico, is currently in his second full-time campaign with Oracle Red Bull Racing, where he is coming off his first victory of the 2022 Formula One season at Circuit de Monaco for the Monaco Grand Prix. To go along with Monaco victory, he has achieved three runner-up results and is currently in third place in the drivers’ championship standings, where he trails teammate Max Verstappen by 15 points.

“For me, this has been an incredible week, winning the Monaco Grand Prix is a dream for any driver and then to follow that with announcing I will continue with the Team until 2024 just makes me extremely happy,” Perez said. “I am so proud to be a member of this Team and I feel completely at home here now. We are working very well together and my relationship with Max, on and off the track, is definitely helping drive us forward even more. We have built tremendous momentum as a Team and this season is showing that, I am excited to see where that can take us all in the future.”

Perez joined Red Bull Racing in 2021 following a seven-year run with Racing Point that was renamed from Force India during the midway point of the 2018 F1 season. Six races with his new team, he notched his first victory of the season and the second of his F1 career at the Baku City Circuit for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix following a two-lap shootout. He went on to achieve four additional podium results, all third-place finishes, and a total of 16 top-10 points-paying results throughout the 22-race schedule before finishing in a career-best fourth place in the 2021 drivers’ championship standings.

The 2022 season marks Perez’s 12th season in F1 competition in a career highlighted with previous starts with Sauber, McLaren and Racing Point. Making his F1 debut in 2011 with Sauber, he achieved his maiden podium result during the 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit after finishing in second place behind Fernando Alonso. Eight year later, he rallied from an opening lap collision that dropped him to last place to score his maiden F1 victory at Bahrain International Circuit for the Sakhir Grand Prix. By then, he became the first Mexican competitor to win in F1 since Pedro Rodriguez won the 1970 Belgian Grand Prix and he recorded the first victory for Racing Point that has been rebranded as the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team.

Through May 2022, Perez has achieved three career victories, one pole, 19 podium results, 165 laps led, an average-finishing result of 9.7 and 1,006 points in 220 career starts in Formula One. His three victories make him the most successful Mexican competitor in F1 competition.

“Since joining Oracle Red Bull Racing, Checo has done a fantastic job,” Christian Horner, Team Principal of Red Bull Racing, said. “Time and again he has proved himself to not only be a magnificent team player but as his level of comfort has grown he has become a real force to be reckoned with at the sharp end of the grid. This year he has taken another step and the gap to World Champion Max has closed significantly, evidenced by his superb pole position in Jeddah earlier this year and by his wonderful win in Monaco just last weekend. For us, holding onto his pace, race craft and experience was a no-brainer and we are delighted that Checo will continue to race for the team until 2024. In partnership with Max we believe we have a driver pairing that can bring us the biggest prizes in F1.”

Perez’s extension with Red Bull Racing finalizes the team’s driver lineup for the next few seasons, with Verstappen, the reigning Formula One champion, inking a five-year contract extension in March to remain with Red Bull through 2028.

With their futures set, both Perez and Verstappen set their focus for the next scheduled Formula One event at the Baku City Circuit for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which will occur on June 12.

EVENT PREVIEW: Wright Motorsports Reaches Halfway Point of IMSA Season at Detroit Grand Prix

By
Official Release
-

BATAVIA, Ohio. (May 31, 2022) — The Motor City will host the sixth round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship this weekend on the temporary street circuit of the Raceway on Belle Isle, an island situated on the Detroit River between Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario. The conclusion of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix Presented By Lear will mark the halfway point of the 2022 season, which started with Porsche customer racing team Wright Motorsports winning the Rolex 24 At Daytona. The No. 16 1st Phorm Porsche 911 GT3 R of drivers Ryan Hardwick and Jan Heylen will be one of 16 entries competing in the 100-minute sports car racing event on Saturday, June 4.

“Detroit is a special city with such a strong history in the automotive industry,” said Team Owner John Wright. “We’re proud to be racing in the final event at Belle Isle and hope to reach the halfway point in the season by returning to where we started: at the top step of the podium and with the points lead. We kicked the season off strong and are looking strong in the championship hunt.”

With exciting wins at the Rolex 24 At Daytona and the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Wright Motorsports stands second in the GTD class team standings, with Hardwick and Heylen also holding second place in the driver standings.

Saturday’s race will be a 100-minute sprint, the shortest race length on the 2022 IMSA WeatherTech schedule. Qualifying position and flawless pit stop execution will be vital for a desirable finish in the Grand Prix, as the right 2.30 mile, 14-turn track can make passing difficult and the concrete walls on both sides of the circuit unforgiving of errors. The 2022 Detroit Grand Prix will be the final running of the circuit’s two-decade run, for in 2023, the event will return to the streets of downtown Detroit, where it first began in 1982.

With the exclusion of the GTD Pro class in the weekend’s activities, the Wright Motorsports Porsche will again be the sole entry for the German manufacturer, proudly representing the marquee the team has raced for the last two decades.

The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix Presented By Lear begins on Saturday, June 4 at 3:00 PM Eastern, airing live on the USA network, and also streaming live on Peacock. Fans outside the United States can stream live on imsa.tv, or visit the IMSA International Coverage page. Race fans can also watch the race live in its entirety from the Wright Motorsports Porsche via two onboard cameras on www.imsa.com/tvlive.

DRIVER QUOTES

Ryan Hardwick
I’m excited to be racing back in Detroit. I really enjoyed this street circuit back in 2019 when I first competed here. I love the 100-minute format because it puts a lot of emphasis on strategy and the pit lane, which are two areas where our Wright Motorsports team excels. Looking forward to the challenge.

Jan Heylen
It’s been a few years since I’ve been to Detroit. I love the street course, so I’m looking forward to being back to a tight course, which should suit the Porsche well. It’s a race that Ryan is looking forward to since he has prior experience in a GT3 car there. I think we’re setting up for a good weekend and I can’t wait.

#

1st Phorm
1st Phorm is a sports nutrition company based in St. Louis, MO. In 2009, CEO Andy Frisella and his business partner Chris Klein started the brand, and since then, it has become the fastest growing supplement company in the world. 1st Phorm has set the standards in the industry for quality and helping people reach their goals. This new racing partnership is not their first time in the exotic car scene either. 1st Phorm has been the title sponsor for the Gold Rush Rally for six years running. With over a million followers across social media, 1st Phorm has amassed a huge cult-like following known as, “The Legion of Boom.” They stand for a movement in the fitness world. To turn it back to what it was meant to be. Helping others improve their lives, to be a good human… and to drop the excuses and do the work. 1st Phorm is a winning brand and they don’t expect anything less when it comes to their race team. For additional info: www.1stphorm.com

Mountain Motorsports
Mountain Motorsports is a group of motorcycle and powersports dealerships with multiple locations in the southeastern United States. The company was founded by lifelong friends Ryan Hardwick and Justin Price when they opened their first location as a single-line Honda dealership in Sevierville, Tennessee in 1999. The company has since grown into one of the largest retailers of motorcycle and powersports vehicles in the nation, spanning nine dealership locations representing eleven of the industry’s most well-known brands. For additional info: www.mountainmotorsports.com

Una Vida Tequila
Una Vida translates to One Life. That is how this brand started. By people who want to live their “One Life” to the absolute fullest and to their highest potential. A group of guys from the Midwest who love great quality tequila, and want their One Life to have meaning and impact others.

One Life, One Tequila is our CORE BELIEF. We’re building the only tequila brand you will ever need to drink. Una Vida is bigger than just tequila we’re also building a culture of people who want to live their life to their utmost potential.

Our story begins and continues to grow bottle by bottle. It’s a life mission for us to create a community of people who all raise a glass knowing they’re living their ONE LIFE! For more information, visit unavidatequila.com

Wright Motorsports
Wright Motorsports is the premier Porsche race engineering facility in Ohio and a multi-series and international racing team known for superb car preparation, expert race strategy, and driver development. Located in Batavia, Ohio, it is owned and directed by John Wright, a certified Porsche factory-trained technician. As a crew chief John Wright has played a key role in winning eight driver and seven team championships in World Challenge, IMSA (ALMS) and the Grand-Am Rolex Series. Wright Motorsports won the team championship in Porsche GT3 Cup USA in 2012, 2013, and 2015, and went on to win the Pirelli World Challenge Overall, Sprint, Team, and Manufacturer’s titles in 2017. In 2020, the team captured the GT World Challenge America Am championship. In 2021, Wright Motorsports had a wildly successful season, capturing nine championships across their five racing efforts.

MSR Heads to Detroit Belle Isle with IndyCar, IMSA doubleheader

By
Official Release
-
#06: Helio Castroneves, Meyer Shank Racing Honda

Detroit, Mich. (31 May 2022) – Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) will be making a final double-duty visit to Belle Isle Park on June 3-5 for the Detroit Grand Prix, a combined NTT INDYCAR SERIES and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship weekend.

This will be the final event at the 14-turn, 2.3-mile temporary track, located on an island in the Detroit River between the U.S. and Canada. The venue has hosted competition since 1992, when it replaced a downtown track that debuted with a Formula 1 race in 1982. For 2023, both series will race on a new course as competition returns to downtown Motor City.

Meyer Shank Racing’s Castroneves, Pagenaud Both Winners at Detroit

Driver Lineup:

Helio Castroneves: No. 06 AutoNation / SiriusXM Honda

Simon Pagenaud: No. 60 AutoNation / SiriusXM Honda;

Tune in:

Saturday, June 5, USA/Peacock (3:00pm ET)

SiriusXM Ch. 205

Only one week following the Indianapolis 500 which saw MSR finished seventh and eighth, the team will take to the streets in Sunday’s Detroit Grand Prix.

Both Meyer Shank Racing drivers have enjoyed success in the past at the venue. Castroneves competed in 17 races in Detroit between his time in IndyCar and Champ Car. Castroneves claimed his first-ever IndyCar victory at Belle Isle in 2000. Castroneves also originated the fence climb victory celebration following his 2000 Detroit win.

Castroneves went on to win in 2001 and 2014 as well as collecting poles in 2007 and 2014. His last appearance was 2017, when he finished seventh and ninth in the double-header IndyCar weekend.

Pagenaud raced at Belle Isle 17 times from 2012 through 2021 and won his very first INDYCAR race at Belle Isle in 2013. In addition, he has four podium finishes in Detroit. He also captured poles for both of the 2016 races.

MSR ran its No. 60 AutoNation / SiriusXM Honda in the 2021 Detroit Grand Prix. Jack Harvey finished 16th in the opening race, but lost time with punctures after being hit by opponents in the Sunday round, finishing 23rd.

Driver Quotes:

Helio Castroneves:

“Detroit brings me a lot of memories, that’s where the fence climb started. I raced for so many years with Roger (Penske) and made friends as well. It’ll be great to do the last race on Belle Isle before we move to racing downtown next year. I’m looking forward to going back and hopefully climbing the fence again.”

Simon Pagenaud:

“I’m getting ready for Detroit, which is a very important place to me. It’s where I won my first INDYCAR race in the past. We’re going with Meyer Shank Racing and for the last year at Belle Isle as we go next year to the streets of downtown Detroit. Meanwhile, the goal is to go and win that race. We have an awesome race car for the street course, so we’re hoping we can go and get that top spot for the last one at Belle Isle.”

Meyer Shank Racing takes back-to-back second-place finishes to Belle Isle

Driver Lineup:

Tom Blomqvist and Oliver Jarvis: No. 60 AutoNation / SiriusXM Acura ARX-05 DPi

Tune In:
Saturday, June 4, 2022 on USA Network and Peacock (3:00 p.m. ET)

SiriusXM Ch. 202

MSR remains in the thick of the battle for the IMSA DPi championship, trailing the leaders by only 32 points on the strength of back-to-back second-place finishes at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and Mid-Ohio. The team opened the season by winning the 60th Rolex 24 At Daytona, joined by Castroneves and Pagenaud. The team placed fifth in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, and then saw a potential podium finish slip away in the final two minutes with a fourth-place finish at Long Beach.

MSR is a two-time winner at Belle Isle, taking GTD honors in 2017 and 2018. The 2017 win was the very first victory for the Acura NSX GT3 in North America.

Jarvis raced in three WeatherTech Championship events at Belle Isle from 2018-2021, finishing fourth in last year’s event. The Detroit weekend will be Blomqvist’s first race in Detroit – and is the only venue on the IMSA calendar that he has not raced at.

Driver Quotes:

Oliver Jarvis:

“We’re coming off the back of some pretty strong results, but we know Detroit is a track that probably favors the Cadillacs a bit more. But we were strong in Long Beach so we know we have a solid car on street courses. If we can work it out between now and then, hopefully we can close that gap in the championship. It’s important to maximize our points and close that gap to the 10 car.”

Tom Blomqvist:

“Detroit is another street track, another set of challenges compared to the last two events. I think we need to look back at how we performed at Long Beach. It will be a bit of a tough weekend for us as Detroit is a track that is more suited to the Cadillacs. But nonetheless we showed a lot of promise in Long Beach and hopefully we can carry that direction into Detroit. I’m looking forward to it – it’s actually the only track on the calendar that I don’t know. So I’ll need to get my bearings and get up to speed a bit more quickly, and it’s not an easy track, it’s actually quite challenging. But I know we’ll go into the weekend as we always do and hopefully we’ll have another good result.”

Nitro Rallycross Announces Sweden On Sale Details

By
Official Release
-

2-DAY WEEKEND EVENT COMING TO
STRANGNAS MOTORSTADION JULY 30-31;
TICKETS AVAILABLE STARTING THIS FRIDAY, JUNE 3rd

(Los Angeles – Tuesday, May 31, 2022) Nitro Rallycross has announced on sale details for the Sweden stop of its inaugural global series. The disruptive new force in motorsports is coming to Strangnas Motorstadion on July 30-31 for an action-packed weekend of racing that will be biggest Swedish event of the summer.

Motorsport icon Travis Pastrana will aim to take the checkered flag in Group E, Nitro RX’s new top class, featuring the most powerful vehicle in rallycross: the electrifying FC1-X. To top the podium, Pastrana will have to face off against the world’s best drivers on Nitro RX’s tough tracks, which push competitors’ limits with huge jumps, banked turns and steep berms. To date, Nitro RX Sweden’s stacked lineup includes Sweden’s Robin Larsson (DRR JC) and Norway’s Andreas Bakkerud (DRR JC), with more driver announcements coming soon.

Nitro Rallycross Sweden will also feature more high-impact racing action, including the iconic Supercar class, the development NRX Next division – which will feature female Swedish motorsport star Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky (JC Raceteknik) – and more.

Pastrana said, ““We are so excited to bring Nitro Rallycross to Sweden. The fans are super passionate about motorsport and it is home to some of rallycross’ biggest names. Touring the world with Nitro Circus, the crew always looked forward to the energy the Swedish fans brought to the arena. I’m not sure there is a better fit for the high-adrenaline thrills and door-to-door racing of Nitro Rallycross.”

Tickets go on sale this Friday – June 3rd – and will be available at nitrorallycross.com. Both general admission weekend tickets and premium VIP access through Club Nitro RX passes will be available. More information on Club Nitro RX’s premium amenities is detailed below.

Nitro RX Sweden will be the second of ten rounds staged in six countries, following the series kickoff at the U.K.’s legendary Lydden Hill on 18-19 June. Additional stops include sites in the United States, Finland, Canada and Saudi Arabia, all building to the first global Nitro RX series championship.

Sweden fans will see the competition debut of the FC1-X. This revolutionary vehicle delivers the electric equivalent of 1,070 peak horsepower (800 kW) and accelerates from 0-60 in just 1.4 seconds, launching faster off the line than an F1 car. Nitro RX competitors got their first taste of the FC1-X’s game-changing capabilities during pre-season testing last month and came away impressed. This summer, with series points and championship standings on the line, look for drivers to take the gloves off.

The all-new, all electric FC1-X during pre-season testing

The FC1-X will flex its muscles in Nitro RX’s new top Group E division. Just as the legendary Group B cars set the motorsport world ablaze in the 1980s, Nitro RX’s new Group E class is set to make another quantum leap. That inspiration, supercharged by Nitro Circus’ limit-pushing DNA, will show the massive performance potential of electric vehicles unleashed by the fastest rallycross cars ever seen.

In addition to the competition debuts of the FC1-X and Group E, Nitro RX 2022-23 will feature an expanded offering of high-impact racing. Internal combustion Supercars will return, giving fans a double dose of elite rallycross competition while NRX Next is back as well, providing a pathway for the next generation of drivers. Nitro RX Sweden will also include a special CrossCar competition, offering fans even more wide-open action.

This season, fans can enjoy enhanced experiential elements at each Nitro RX stop, including the opportunity to get fully immersed in the event with the all-new Club Nitro RX. Highlighted by a private trackside viewing location and a brand-new Club Nitro RX area, passholders will enjoy all-inclusive food and beverage, a private lounge, on-site entertainment and a chance to meet Nitro RX drivers. This new premium experience puts fans in the center of the action all weekend long.

ABOUT NITRO RALLYCROSS

Launched in 2018 by motorsports icon Travis Pastrana and the innovators of Nitro Circus, Nitro Rallycross has revolutionized motorsport. With innovative purpose-built courses, banked turns inspired by the wide-open action of Supercross and short-form, head-to-head competition, Nitro RX creates high-impact, thrill-packed racing. Nitro RX’s custom-built tracks – featuring the biggest jumps seen in motorsports – create unrivalled racing excitement. The full-throttle competition is now set to go global with Nitro Rallycross’ expansion into a full standalone championship series. Nitro RX is also adding Group E, an electric circuit featuring the all-new FC1-X, the most powerful Rallycross vehicle ever built. For more information, visit NitroRallycross.com.

Nitro Rallycross is part of Thrill One Sports & Entertainment. Thrill One is a next-generation content company that lives at the nexus of sports, entertainment and lifestyle, combining the resources of Nitro Circus, Street League Skateboarding, Nitro Rallycross and Thrill One Media. A multi-media platform founded in 2020, Thrill One is dedicated to creating mind-blowing action sports events and original content, fuelled by the most daring athletes, talent and brands in thrill-based entertainment. It also boasts one of the largest aggregate social audiences in action sports, with more than 40 million followers across its multiple brand pages and channels. Visit ThrillOne.com for additional information.

No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang to Celebrate 100 Years of Ford Supporting Disabled American Veterans in St. Louis

By
Official Release
-
  • Ford has donated 247 vehicles to DAV Transportation Network since 1996 to assist with transporting disabled veterans to medical appointments.
  • DAV has more than 1 million members across the U.S. to help veterans coordinate benefits and medical care. In a typical year, DAV provides more than 500,000 rides per year to appointments.

Dearborn, Mich. (May 31) – The No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang will celebrate the 100-year relationship between Ford and DAV (Disabled American Veterans) with a unique paint scheme at the NASCAR Cup Series race in St. Louis on June 5.

In 1922, Henry Ford provided 50 Model T Ford vehicles to help disabled World War I veterans attend DAV’s second national convention. DAV, which was established following World War I, helps more than a million veterans each year to access the healthcare and benefits they earned through military service.

“All of us at Ford are incredibly proud of our 100-year relationship with DAV,” said Joe Avila, Community Development Manager, Ford Motor Company Fund. “It is an honor to continue growing our relationship, which began by providing vehicles to veterans, and has expanded over the years to ensure that even more veterans have access to reliable transportation to reach their healthcare and medical appointments.”

DAV created its transportation network in 1987. Since 1996, Ford has donated 247 vehicles. DAV members and their families have purchased more than 30,000 Ford vehicles through the Ford X-Plan Partner Recognition Program. Ford Transits and Explorers are among those provided and some include mobility solutions to meet the needs of disabled veterans. Each Ford DAV vehicle has a uniform, exterior graphics package. For the St. Louis race, the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang will have a paint scheme emblematic of those graphics.

“We are thrilled to be highlighting 100 years of cooperation between DAV and Ford in this manner,” said DAV National Adjutant & CEO Marc Burgess. “We provide more than 500,000 rides for veterans each year and that wouldn’t be possible without Ford providing us with vehicles. Of course, we also need drivers for those cars and the volunteers at DAV are amazing. The DAV St. Louis chapter is outstanding, so it’s very meaningful to have this special paint scheme on display in their community.”

Ford’s involvement with the veteran community also extends to the job market. The company employs approximately 6,000 veterans. Since 2019, the Ford-Lincoln Veteran Careers Program has been part of New Ford Tech, which attracts and trains the next generation of Ford service technicians.

“The Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing Team is very pleased to celebrate Ford’s and DAV’s shared effort to support veterans,” said Gina Scappaticci, Marketing Manager for Ford Customer Service Division (FCSD). “One of our FCSD objectives is to attract new technicians. In just a few years our Veteran Careers Program-enrolled dealerships have hired hundreds of veterans through this 24-month GI Bill-approved apprenticeship. These veterans are highly skilled and experienced, which immediately benefits our service departments.”

May is Military Appreciation Month, which NASCAR and Wood Brothers Racing recognize each season. Among those honored for their service each spring is Leonard Wood, one of the patriarchs of Wood Brothers Racing, who applied his engineering acumen while serving in the Army as a mechanic.

“Our family has had the great fortune of being supported by Ford for more than 70 years, so we’re proud to commemorate this 100th year of Ford and DAV partnering to help veterans,” said Eddie Wood, co-owner of Wood Brothers Racing. “Caring for our service men and women, especially those who suffered injuries, is a duty we all share as Americans.”

The NASCAR Cup Series race in St. Louis on June 5 will be televised on FS1 and begin at 3:30 p.m. ET.

About Motorcraft
Motorcraft offers a complete line of replacement parts that are recommended by Ford Motor Company. From routine maintenance to under hood 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.
Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing Media Contact: Matt Trevor, mtrevor@campbellmarketing.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.

About Ford’s Veterans Network Group
Ford Motor Company employs approximately 6,000 veterans. Our newest employee resource group, the Veteran’s Network Group, seeks to raise awareness within the company about our veterans, their issues and corporate contributions. The Veteran’s Network Group also strives to create sales opportunities within active military and veteran communities, as well as for their families and friends. In addition, the Veteran’s Network Group assists the Ford Volunteer Corps in supporting community events and local fundraisers to benefit needy veterans, also promoting opportunities to support overseas troops.

About 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.

1...1,9411,9421,943...6,652Page 1,942 of 6,652