Home Blog Page 1946

Open Eyes Racing: Connor Mosack Ready for NXS Debut at Portland

By
Official Release
-

CONNOR MOSACK
Portland NASCAR Xfinity Series Advance
No. 18 OpenEyes.net Toyota GR Supra for Joe Gibbs 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

Connor Mosack Notes of Interest

• “Hello, My Name Is…”: Connor Mosack will make his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut in the Pacific Office Automation 147 Saturday at Portland (Ore.) International Raceway. The 23-year-old racer from Charlotte, North Carolina, comes to the Xfinity Series from the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli where he competes in the TA2 division. Mosack has made 22 starts in “America’s Road-Racing Series” and is currently in his second fulltime TA2 season. As a rookie in 2021, Mosack scored four podium finishes in his final eight races, including a breakthrough win Sept. 12 at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International to secure third in the championship standings. It was an impressive drive considering that all but two of the series’ 10 tracks were new to Mosack. In the six races run thus far in 2022, Mosack has scored two poles and earned a best finish of second March 19 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval. Mosack’s next TA2 race is June 26 at the Mid-Ohio Sportscar Course in Lexington, Ohio, site of his first career TA2 podium.

• How It All Started: Mosack played football and lacrosse in middle school and high school, and it wasn’t until he was 18 that his racing career began. He started in Legends cars and after winning five championships, he transitioned to Late Model stock cars in 2019. He ran the full Solid Rock Carriers CARS Tour in 2020, winning the rookie-of-the-year title. Mosack augmented his Late Model schedule with four TA2 races in late 2020 before committing to TA2 fulltime in 2021 while also competing in select ARCA Menards Series races. “For me, seat time is really the most important thing, and experience in just about any car is really helpful,” Mosack said. “Knowing you can be fast in the Trans Am Series gives you the confidence that you can drive fast and be competitive in other series. That’s my biggest takeaway as I get ready for my Xfinity Series debut at Portland.”

• Oh, the Places You’ll Go!: Mosack balanced a burgeoning racing career with a college education. On May 8, 2021, Mosack walked across the stage at High Point (N.C.) University and accepted his diploma. In his four years at High Point, Mosack was very much like the athletes at his school, but instead of competing on a hardcourt or field of green like the High Point Panthers, Mosack made his mark on asphalt. With his degree in business entrepreneurship in one hand and his helmet in the other, Mosack continues to put his education to use, working at Interstate Foam & Supply, focusing on the company’s business development. “I had several very good professors at High Point, and lot of it for me was business advice that can be applied to racing, not really behind the wheel, per se, but as a driver trying to find sponsors or talking with teams,” Mosack said. “I think there were definitely helpful moments there. I feel that’s been the biggest help about going to a good university like High Point, understanding that side of the sport more. I think that will help me find and support sponsorships for later in my career and always be with good teams. It’s important to work well with them in addition to just being their driver.”

• Eyes Wide Open: Serving as the primary sponsor of Mosack’s No. 18 Toyota GR Supra is OpenEyes.net. Open Eyes is a global impact ministry co-founded by Frank Harrison, Chairman and CEO of Coca-Cola Consolidated, and his son James Harrison, who passed away while serving in Kenya in 2010. James’ mission to serve others selflessly continues today through the Open Eyes Mobile Messengers program and its relief and development efforts around the world, including Ukraine and the Middle East. Mosack has firsthand knowledge of Open Eyes’ mission, as he volunteered with the group in Africa during the summer of 2017, visiting Rwanda and Uganda. “The time I spent with Open Eyes in Africa was probably one of the most impactful moments of my life,” Mosack said. “Its name speaks for itself because it did open my eyes to how people live in other areas of the world and how having purpose, along with someone they can lean on for strength and support, can make a difference in their everyday lives.”

• The Art of Racing in the Rain: This 2008 novel by American author Gart Stein sat on the New York Times’ bestseller list for 156 weeks, and its film adaptation was released in 2019 with Kevin Costner providing the voice of Enzo. Beyond the title, racing in the rain is a real thing when it comes to road-course racing, and a very likely thing when it comes to racing on the 1.967-mile, 12-turn road course that is Portland International Raceway. The flat, clockwise circuit is located in the Pacific Northwest, an area prone to rain. On average, Portland sees rain 156 days a year, and that average will seemingly get bolstered this weekend during the Pacific Office Automation 147. Rain is in the forecast for Saturday’s inaugural Xfinity Series race, and the likelihood that rain tires and windshield wipers will be used is high. That’s no problem for Mosack, who has driven in the wet before. In fact, in Mosack’s first TA2 outing at Virginia International Raceway near Alton in September 2020, he qualified in the rain, earning an impressive fifth-place starting spot. And in last year’s Memorial Day weekend event at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Connecticut, Mosack again qualified in the rain, earning a third-place grid position. Most importantly, Mosack has recent experience at Portland in the rain. Three weeks ago, albeit in a much different kind of racecar – a “Late Model stock-type car” as Mosack described, but still a racecar – Mosack turned approximately 30 laps on a wet Portland layout. While Mosack will be making his first Xfinity Series start this weekend, it will not be his first time racing in the rain if that 97 percent chance of precipitation on Saturday holds true.

• “Let’s Play Two!”: Baseball great Ernie Banks would definitely be a Connor Mosack fan. The affable Hall of Famer who played for the Chicago Cubs is credited with the saying, “Let’s play two,” as he enjoyed the game so much that his serial belief was why play one game when you could play two? Mosack is of the same mindset. In addition to competing in the Xfinity Series race at Portland, Mosack is also competing in the ARCA Menards Series West race. It will be Mosack’s fourth ARCA race of the season and the seventh of his career between the West and East divisions. However, it will be his first ARCA race on a road course. Mosack has finished among the top-10 in all of his ARCA races this year, and among the top-five in his last two ARCA starts, the most recent of which came May 27 at the 1.5-mile Charlotte Motor Speedway oval where he finished a career-best fourth.

• Racing Rewind: Last weekend proved to be a busy one for Mosack. He competed in the ARCA race Friday night at Charlotte and after finishing fourth, jetted up to Lime Rock Saturday morning for the TA2 race. Competing in the two races meant that Mosack had to forgo practice and qualifying his TA2 car at Lime Rock to practice, qualify and race his ARCA car at Charlotte. As such, Mosack had to start last in the 32-car field Saturday at Lime Rock. With no prior seat time, Mosack picked off 17 cars to finish 15th in the 68-lap race around the 1.478-mile,seven-turn road course.

Connor Mosack, Driver of the No. 18 OpenEyes.net Toyota GR Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing

Portland seems like the ideal place to make your Xfinity Series debut – it’s a road course and it plays to your background in Trans Am; there aren’t any pit stops, so one less thing to learn on the fly; and it’s a standalone event so no NASCAR Cup Series drivers will be in the field. Were those the factors that led to Portland serving as your first Xfinity Series start?

“For sure. All those things were things we thought about going into it, but it ended up being the only one schedule-wise that I could do. I think it worked out well and it turned out probably being the best one I could’ve done.”

Have you competed at Portland at any point in your career?

“I got to run a Late Model stock-type car around there, obviously set up for a road course, but it rained the whole time I was there. We had some old rain tires, but it was really slick. Still, I got to see the place in-person, and if it rains while we’re out there for the Xfinity race, I feel like I’ll have a little bit of an advantage.”

As a TA2 rookie in 2021, all but two of the series’ 10 tracks were new to you. What did you do to learn those tracks before you arrived for the race?

“I think simulator time is really important going to a new road course. Learning the corners and at least knowing the place 80 to 90 percent of the way before you get there really helps speed up the learning curve. I feel like if you’re seeing it for the first time, you really waste the first session you’re out there because you don’t get to work on any speed, you’re just trying to find where to put the car. So you know that going in and, watching some in-car videos, even if it’s another kind of car from there – I’ve been able to watch some of the TA2 races there and I think it’s really helpful knowing the best lines and that sort of thing. I did the simulator with JGR and did some setup stuff so I feel like I’m pretty prepared going into it.”

While the Xfinity Series car is new to you, does the car itself feel somewhat familiar because of its similarities to a TA2 car and the ARCA Menards Series cars you’ve driven?

“At the end of the day, you’ve still got the steering wheel and the pedals and the shifter at your controls. You just have to apply those tools a little bit differently. Adapting to a new car and a new track is something I’m used to doing.”

Beyond the obvious fact that Trans Am is a series based on road courses, what are some of the key experiences you’ve picked up in Trans Am that you feel will benefit you at Portland?

“I think the most helpful things I’ve gotten from Trans Am, aside from laps on road courses, is just that the top guys in that series are really strong and have years of road-racing experience. They’ve schooled me a couple of times over the last few races and I’ve been able to learn from each of those things and learn to not repeat those mistakes. It’s made me a much better racer around those guys, and I think that will correlate going against guys who are really experienced in the Xfinity Series.”

You’ve been mentored in Trans Am by the father-and-son duo of Scott Lagasse Sr. and Scott Lagasse Jr. What is some of the best advice they’ve given you and is there anything specific they’ve told you about Portland?

“Both Scotty and Scott Sr., have been very helpful to me. I definitely wouldn’t be the road-course racer that I am without the two of them. They both have their own ways and their own experiences that they’ve been able to apply to me, and I think just overall, they’ve really helped me understand how to put a whole race together, a whole race weekend together. Even certain scenarios in the race, they’ve taught me how to approach them and be able to see these situations coming before they actually happen so I’m ready for them. Kind of when to be aggressive, when to let them go, those are things that I’ve made mistakes on in the past. So whenever stuff like that happens, they’ll sit down with me and be like, ‘Hey, this is what you did wrong, this is what you should do,’ and it makes it really easy to understand and apply going forward.”

Joe Gibbs Racing is one of the powerhouse teams in NASCAR with plenty of wins and championships in its more than 30-year history. Talk about the opportunity to make your Xfinity Series debut with this team and the resources that are available to you.

“It’s one of the best road-course cars in the field, so I know the speed will be there and the car will be there. That makes it easier to work on me and not have to worry about what I’m driving. I can just go out there and get up to speed at my pace knowing the car will be there and not worry about having to get every ounce of speed out of it right away.”

Jason Ratcliff is a very experienced crew chief, both in terms of preparing winning cars and calling winning race strategies, but also in developing young drivers. How helpful is it to have that experience in your ear now and throughout the Portland race weekend?

“Jason does a great job and he has a ton of experience, so I’ve been able to learn from him already, before we even go to the track. Even in the simulator, we’ve made some great changes, so I’m just really looking forward to working with him and the rest of those guys.”

You’ve only been racing for six years now, but you’ve accomplished a lot in those six years. Did the 18-year-old you think you’d ever be driving an Xfinity Series car for Joe Gibbs Racing?

“Absolutely not. The first year I ever drove something was really just a blur and I really didn’t know much of anything. Year two, we started to kind of get the hang of things and understand where we could go and what it would take. We’ve been kind of building on that ever since.”

You seem to constantly challenge and push yourself – Legends cars to Late Models to TA2 cars to ARCA and now, the Xfinity Series. Where does this drive come from?

“Growing up, I’ve always been into cars – racecars, street cars – but I never really thought racing was something realistic for me. I didn’t know anybody in the sport, and nobody in my family had ever raced. I didn’t know that anybody could just show up at a local racetrack and rent somebody’s car, or buy their own racecar and go out there and run it. So when that was introduced to me, I thought it was really cool, and I got to get a little taste of it, and that’s when I really fell in love with it. Once we kind of knew that was an option, we decided to pursue it to see where it could go.”

Portland will mean balancing your competiveness with your desire to learn. What do you want to get out of the race weekend, and what would you consider a successful outing?

“With it being my first race, I think success would be to run all the laps and be in the top-10 for most of the race. But I think the primary goal is to keep the car on the track and don’t do anything that’s too aggressive or try to overdrive the car, especially in my first race just getting up to speed. I think the plan is to stay in the race until the end, and if we have a shot, we’ll go for it.”

Kyle Kirkwood joins Andretti Autosport for 2023 IndyCar season

By
Andrew Kim
-
Photo by Chris Owens (Penske Entertainment).

Andretti Autosport announced the addition of Kyle Kirkwood to its driver lineup for the 2023 NTT IndyCar Series season, where he will be piloting the No. 27 Dallara-Honda with full sponsorship support by AutoNation.

The 23-year-old Kirkwood from Jupiter, Florida, whose racing career commenced with karting, is currently campaigning in his first full-time season in the IndyCar Series as the driver of the No. 14 Dallara-Chevrolet for AJ Foyt Enterprises. Through the first six scheduled events of 2022, his best on-track result is a 10th-place result at the Streets of Long Beach, California, in April.

Having won the Indy Lights title a year ago, Kirkwood is the lone competitor to achieve a championship in every Road to Indy program, a program that provides a scholarship-funded path for aspiring competitors to compete in IndyCar and the Indianapolis 500, after winning the US F2000 National Championship in 2018, the Indy Pro 2000 Championship in 2019 and the Indy Lights Championship in 2021. He also achieved the 2017 F4 United States Championship.

“I couldn’t be more excited to return to Andretti Autosport next year and represent AutoNation,” Kirkwood said. “Andretti Autosport is a place I’ve called home for years past, and I have truly felt like family. I have a ton of loyalty to the team, and it means a lot to have Michael and the Andretti team offer me this opportunity. AutoNation has been doing great work in raising awareness and funding for cancer research. I’m honored to Drive Pink [DRVPNK] next season.”

“I have worked extremely hard this season and will continue to work harder every day for the A.J. Foyt team,” Kirkwood added. “I want to thank the entire team at AJ Foyt Racing for giving me the opportunity to compete in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. The group on the No. 14 car have been incredible and I am beyond grateful to them for all the amazing experiences we have been able to share together so far this season.”

The announcement of Kirkwood’s addition to Andretti Autosport for the 2023 IndyCar season will mark a reunion for the team and Kirkwood, who drove for Andretti when he achieved the 2021 Indy Lights title on the strength of 10 victories and 14 podiums in 20 starts.

“We really enjoyed having Kyle as part of our Indy Lights team, and he’s off to a strong start in INDYCAR,” Michael Andretti, Chairman and CEO of Andretti Autosport, said. “I think he’ll bring a fresh perspective and will be competitive. We are looking forward to helping him continue his career growth. AutoNation first joined the team eight years ago, and we’ve been thrilled to see how their support has continued to grow over the years. We’ve seen a lot of successes both on and off the track and are excited to see what Kyle and AutoNation can do together for the DRVPNK campaign.”

“We are excited to welcome Kyle to the team and for the passion and commitment he will bring to our mission to drive out cancer, through DRVPNK,” Marc Cannon, XCO and EVP of AutoNation, added. “We would also like to wish Alexander all the best and thank him for his endless efforts to support AutoNation’s mission to drive out cancer over the years.”

Kirkwood’s addition means that Alexander Rossi, who currently pilots the No. 27 Andretti Autosport entry, will not be remaining as an Andretti competitor for the upcoming season. Rossi, who joined Andretti Autosport in 2016, is currently campaigning in his seventh full-time season with the organization in a career highlighted with seven victories, including the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 in 2016, six poles, 25 podiums, 814 laps led, an average-finishing result of 9.7 and a best points result of second place in 2018. Rossi’s plans for 2023 will be announced at a later date.

“Alexander has been a great contender for us, and we’ve enjoyed having him as part of the team for seven seasons,” Andretti said. “He’s won races and become a leader in the team, but all careers and all teams evolve, and we’ve mutually decided it’s time for each of us to move on. I have no doubt he’ll have a continued, successful INDYCAR career and we wish him the best. In the meantime, we are all working hard to finish the 2022 season strong.”

With his future plans for next season set, Kirkwood sets his focus for the upcoming NTT IndyCar Series event with AJ Foyt Enterprises at Belle Isle Street Circuit for the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix that will occur on Sunday, June 5, at 3 p.m. ET on USA Network.

SNICKERS Racing: Kyle Busch St. Louis Advance

By
Official Release
-

KYLE BUSCH
Picking Up Where We Left Off

HUNTERSVILLE, North Carolina (June 1, 2022) – The last time Kyle Busch competed at World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis, he found himself in victory lane at the end of the night.

While the victory was 13 years ago in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Busch, driver of the No. 18 SNICKERS Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), hopes to pick up where he left off back in 2009 as the NASCAR Cup Series will make it’s much anticipated debut just across the Mississippi River from downtown St. Louis during Sunday’s inaugural Enjoy Illinois 300.

As Busch heads to St. Louis this weekend for the first race there in NASCAR’s top series, he hopes to keep up his recent form after a solid runner-up finish in Sunday night’s Coca-Cola 600. The Las Vegas native has brought home four top-five finishes and seven top-10s in his last eight points-paying Cup Series starts and has back-to-back top five finishes at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City and Charlotte.

Busch’s win in April at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway all but locked him into this year’s playoffs. But, as usual, he’s always looking for more. The two-time Cup Series champion currently sits third in the standings, 37 points behind leader Chase Elliott, and Busch hopes to keep gaining on the lead and accumulate as many playoff points as possible with 12 races left in the regular season.

As far as Busch’s record at St. Louis goes, he has made three Xfinity Series starts there with two top-five finishes, which includes the win from 2009. Busch will hope to glean information from his Kyle Busch Motorsports team, as the Camping World Truck Series in which it competes fulltime has raced at the 1.25-mile World Wide Technology Raceway oval for the past eight years.

So as the series heads to St. Louis for the inaugural Cup Series race at St. Louis, Busch hopes to pick up where he left off and get his SNICKERS Toyota Camry TRD back to victory lane there, a place he has been before.

KYLE BUSCH, Driver of the No. SNICKERS Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing:

What do you think about the Cup Series’ first race at Gateway?

“Gateway is very tight, very narrow. It can be slick, too, from what I understand talking with my KBM (Kyle Busch Motorsports) Truck Series guys. The long back straightaway getting into turns three and four, which is a huge, wide, sweeping turn, and a completely different way of driving both of those corners. Hoping we can have a good practice on Friday afternoon and get our SNICKERS Camry where it needs to be in the race to compete for the win.”

Do you know what you will need at Gateway with your prior experience there?

“I would say that just being able to run there before and knowing the racetrack itself would give you a little more than somebody who has never been there before. But honestly, having a normal practice weekend, everything will kind of shake out pretty evenly at the end of the day. I’m looking forward to getting back there. It’s been a long time.”

What do you think of the changes in the racing schedule for the Cup Series over the last couple of years?

“I think just being able to have some diversity in the schedule, being able to go to different places and have different tracks is a good thing. Maybe getting some new fans out to the track, or turning on the TV with some of the new places and new markets, is definitely a positive for our sport.”

With Lennix’s recent birth, how has it been going at home, getting used to your new addition to the family?

“It’s been great. It’s been really exciting and, having a chance to welcome a newborn into the world, it’s been fun. Obviously, she’s a baby, so certain things are expected – crying, getting up in the middle of the night for some feedings, nothing different than what I recall from the time that Brexton was that small. Just taking care of her – thankfully, Mom is helping out a lot, especially on race nights, taking care of the duties. I get to help with that during the week, so it’s all good. Brexton is being an awesome big brother. He’s been a part of this journey since the very beginning – wanting a baby sister, praying for a baby sister. Now that she’s here, that seems to be complete and all is healthy, so all is good.”

Event Overview:

● Event: Enjoy Illinois 300 (Round 15 of 36)

● Time/Date: 3:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, June 5

● Location: World Wide Technology Raceway 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

Meet the No. 18 SNICKERS / Joe Gibbs Racing Team

Primary Team Members:

Driver: Kyle Busch
Hometown: Las Vegas

Crew Chief: Ben Beshore
Hometown: York, Pennsylvania

Car Chief: Nate Bellows
Hometown: Fairfax, Vermont

Spotter: Tony Hirschman
Hometown: Northampton, Pennsylvania

Race Engineer: Seth Chavka
Hometown: Soldotna, Alaska

Race Engineer: Jaik Halpainy
Hometown: Blockville, New York

Over-The-Wall Crew Members:

Gas Man: Matt Tyrrell
Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Front Tire Changer: Thomas Hatcher
Hometown: Middleburg, Florida

Jackman: Kellen Mills
Hometown: Mesa, Arizona

Tire Carrier: CJ Bailey
Hometown: Outer Banks, North Carolina

Rear Tire Changer: Lee Cunningham
Hometown: Leaf River, Illinois

Road Crew Members:

Engine Tuner: Dan Bajek
Hometown: Camden, New York

Truck Driver: Chris Miko
Hometown: Bronx, New York

Truck Driver: Eloy Trevino
Hometown: Adrian, Michigan

Mechanic/Tire Specialist: Justin Peiffer
Hometown: Lebanon, Pennsylvania

Mechanic: Scott Eldridge
Hometown: Warsaw, Indiana

Mechanic: Tony Hamm
Hometown: Walla, Walla, Washington

Notes of Interest:

● All in the Stats: Busch has three NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at World Wide Technology Raceway, with the first coming back in 2004 when he raced in the series fulltime for Hendrick Motorsports. Busch has finished in the top-10 in all three Xfinity Series starts and brought home the victory for JGR in the 2009 race after leading 90 laps.

● 223 and Counting: Busch will be aiming to add to his record 223 overall wins among NASCAR’s top three series this weekend at St. Louis. In addition to his 60 Cup Series wins and 102 in the Xfinity Series, Busch has 61 wins in the Camping World Truck Series.

Rajah Caruth to Make NCWTS Debut for Spire Motorsports This Weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway

By
Official Release
-

CONCORD, N.C. (June 1, 2022) – Spire Motorsports announced today ARCA Menards Series standout Rajah Caruth will make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) debut aboard the team’s No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado in Saturday’s Toyota 200 presented by CK Power at World Wide Technology Raceway.

Caruth, 19, has logged five ARCA Menards Series starts in 2022. The Washington D.C., native has earned three top-five and four top-10 finishes over those five races, including a career-best second-place finish two weeks ago at Kansas Speedway. He is currently the division’s championship points leader a quarter of the way through the season.

“I’m thrilled to make my NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut this weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway with Spire Motorsports and Chevrolet. To drive the Confluence Music Festival Chevrolet Silverado and represent the Steward family and World Wide Technology is truly an honor. I’m grateful to represent them on and off the racetrack. This is the big break I’ve been striving for and I’m going to make it count.”

“Confluence Festival: Crossroads of Concert & Community” – a showcase of innovation, talent and live entertainment – will be featured as the team’s primary sponsor.

The Confluence Festival will encompass the entire weekend and kicks off at Ballpark Village Fan Fest on June 2. The event shifts into high gear June 3-5 at World Wide Technology Raceway featuring live entertainment from a diverse lineup of musical acts including Old Dominion, Nelly, Cole Swindell, Kameron Marlowe and numerous other artist and performers.

“Raj Caruth is a rising star in the world of motor racing, and the Steward Family and World Wide Technology are thrilled to sponsor Raj in his St. Louis debut, June 4, in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series,” said David L. Steward, Founder and Chairman of World Wide Technology, the largest Black-owned company in the United States. “St. Louis is also making its debut with the NASCAR Cup Race on Sunday, and we have a wonderful package of top-tier racing, music and science, engineering, technology and math activities for students. Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be a celebration of all that is possible in racing, music and community.”

Spire Motorsports has fielded an entry in four NCWTS races in 2022 with an All-Star driver lineup including Austin Hill (Daytona), Alex Bowman (Austin), William Byron (Martinsville) and Chase Elliott (Bristol), earning one win (Byron) and a pair of top 10s.

The team is led by championship-winning industry veterans Mike Greci and Kevin “Bono” Manion.

“Rajah Caruth is a rising star and we’re thrilled the help him take the next logical step in his career this weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway,” said Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson. “Rajah has a tremendous upside and he’s proven that on multiple occasions in the ARCA Menards Series. He has the kind of talent Spire Motorsports looks for and this type of opportunity is exactly what my partner T.J. Puchyr and I had in mind when we decided to field a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team. We’re grateful to our friends with the Confluence Festival and World Wide Technology for helping us pull it all together so Rajah can make his first Truck Series start this weekend.”

The Toyota 200 presented by CK Power from World Wide Technology Raceway will be televised live on FS1 Saturday, June 4 beginning at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The 11th of 23 races on 2022 NCWTS schedule will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

About Spire Motorsports …
Spire Motorsports was established in 2018 and is co-owned by Jeff Dickerson and Thaddeus “T.J.” Puchyr. In 2022, Spire Motorsports will field two full-time NASCAR Cup Series entries. Corey LaJoie will drive the team’s No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in NASCAR’s premier series for the entire 2022 campaign while Josh Bilicki and Landon Cassill will split time in the team’s No. 77 entry. The team also fields a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team in select events.

Spire Motorsports earned an upset victory for the ages in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 7, 2019.

Safelite AutoGlass to sponsor All Pro Limited Late Model Series race at Southern National

By
Official Release
-

Timmonsville, S.C. (Jun. 1, 2022) – Safelite AutoGlass, a provider of vehicle glass repair, replacement and calibration services, has been named the title sponsor of the All Pro Limited Late Model Series race scheduled for June 11 at Southern National Motorsports Park in Lucama, N.C.

The All Pro Limited Late Model Series is a new regional touring series for limited late models owned by Steve Zacharias, the co-owner of Florence Motor Speedway in Timmonsville, S.C.

Zacharias is excited to have a national business such as Safelite involved with his series, which debuted on March 12 at Southern National and features a diverse schedule that includes events at Anderson Motor Speedway, Greenville-Pickens Speedway, Dillon Motor Speedway and Florence Motor Speedway.

“I’m really thrilled to have Safelite involved as part of the inaugural All Pro Limited Late Model Series season,” Zacharias said. “Having a national brand like Safelite involved in our inaugural season really lends some credibility to what we’re building. I have to thank Tonya McCallister and her team at MPM Marketing for helping us put this deal together. I’m excited to grow this relationship and see where it goes from here.”

Founded in Wichita, Kansas in 1947, Safelite has grown to become the largest auto glass specialist company in the United States with more than 850 locations nationwide. Eric Coomes, the North and South Carolina district manager for Safelite, is looking forward to working with the All Pro Limited Late Model Series.

“It was a pleasure to speak with Steve and Tonya and we’re excited to begin this relationship with the All Pro Limited Late Model Series,” said Coomes. “The racing industry is a big market for us, so it made a lot of sense for the Safelite brand to be involved at the grassroots level of motorsports. Our entire team at Safelite is excited and looking forward to the race on June 11.”

MPM Marketing serves as the official marketing company of the All Pro Limited Late Model Series. McCallister believes it is important to have nationwide brands such as Safelite involved in racing at the local level.

“Safelite obviously has a large racing presence already, specifically in NASCAR. To have them involved with the All Pro Limited Late Model Series is extremely important for both brands,” said McCallister. “After talking with Eric and Steve about this potential partnership it seemed like a match made in Heaven, so we’re thrilled that both parties were able to make this deal happen. June 11 can’t get here soon enough.”

For additional information about Safelite, visit www.safelite.com.

Keep up with all the latest news and results from the All Pro Limited Late Model Series by visiting www.allprolimitedlatemodelseries.com

—————

About McCallister Precision Marketing

McCallister Precision Marketing (MPM) focuses on assisting up-and-coming race car drivers with career advancement and promotion. McCallister Precision Marketing helps drivers build confidence in front of and behind the camera, giving them the tools they need to advance to the next level. The company also provides companies with a strategic plan for their sales, marketing and promotional needs. We believe in building positive relationships with our clients so that we may provide them with the most professional, yet personal guidance they need, in order to achieve their racing goals. Our clients include race car drivers, race team owners, companies and racing series’. We also work closely with charities and charity events. For more information on McCallister Precision Marketing, visit www.MarketWithMPM.com, email TonyaMac44@MarketWithMPM.com or call 803-361-6199.

No. 10 Built Ford Proud Racing: St. Louis Race Advance

By
Official Release
-

ARIC ALMIROLA
St. Louis Advance
No. 10 Built Ford Proud Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview

● Event: Enjoy Illinois 300 presented by TicketSmarter (Round 15 of 36)
● Time/Date: 3:30 p.m. EDT 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

● After 14 races this season, Almirola is the only driver in the NASCAR Cup Series without a DNF (Did Not Finish). He has completed 3,990 of the 3,995 laps run this year – a 99.9 percent completion rate.

● This weekend marks the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Illinois, across the Mississippi River from downtown St. Louis. While Cup series racing at Gateway will be new to Almirola, his three NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts there give him plenty of confidence heading to the 1.25-mile oval. In the 2006 Truck Series race, Almirola started 22nd and finished 10th, in 2009 he started 15th and earned a solid fourth-place finish, and in 2010 he started 16th before leading 16 laps and finishing eighth.

● Almirola is no stranger to performing well at inaugural Cup Series events. Last year, the Cup Series for the first time visited Nashville Superspeedway, a 1.33-mile oval similar in size to Gateway. After a string of bad luck leading into that weekend, Almirola and the No. 10 Ford team earned the pole, led a lap and finished fourth.

● #FordfortheBuilders: Calling all builders! This weekend, Ford will adorn the No. 10 Mustang at Gateway with a special campaign and paint scheme that celebrates builders as part of its “Built Ford Proud” program. Ford wants to celebrate not only those who build Ford vehicles, but also those who put in the hard work and take pride in building something special. With 182,000 employees globally, Ford believes that hard work is what builds the future. Their names may not be known, but these builders wake up every day working together to move everyone forward. This weekend at Gateway, their names will be made known. Included on Almirola’s car design will be the names of the builders of the No. 10 Ford Mustang and the names of builders at the Ford assembly and stamping plants located in Chicago. Above the driver-side window, Stewart-Haas Racing will highlight a special “Builder of the Week” named Keith Brady. Brady, who has worked in the industry for more than 30 years, is the lead car shop technician for the No. 10 team and has played a key role in the transition and assembly of the NextGen racecar. Opposite Brady’s name above the passenger-side window will be another Ford “Builder of the Week,” Phil Pryor. Pryor is a predelivery team member at Ford’s Chicago assembly plant and has been a proud Ford builder for 57 years.

● Points: Almirola arrives at Gateway 14th in the driver standings with 342 points, 147 out of first.

● Almirola’s career: In 402 NASCAR Cup Series starts, Almirola has earned three wins, 27 top-five finishes, 88 top-10s, three poles, and has led 899 laps.

● One More Time: On Jan. 10, Almirola released a video on his YouTube channel announcing his retirement from fulltime NASCAR Cup Series racing after the 2022 season to spend more time with his family. His opening remarks were attributed to his grandfather’s mentorship. This year marks Almirola’s 11th fulltime Cup Series season. The official press release can be viewed here.

● Beyond the 10 YouTube Series: In 2022, Almirola is once again sharing his life beyond the No. 10 Smithfield Ford with season three of his award-winning YouTube series. Fans and media can subscribe on YouTube to see Almirola’s personality on and off the track. Episodes have already featured life as a dad, a husband and an athlete, and it gives fans a unique perspective on what goes on in the life of a professional NASCAR driver. Fans can also follow Almirola’s social media channels: @Aric_Almirola on Twitter and Instagram, and @AricAlmirola on Facebook.

● Almirola was the only NASCAR Cup Series driver to finish in the top-10 in this year’s opening three races. He finished fifth in the season-opening Daytona 500 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, sixth at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, and sixth at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Almirola’s top-10 streak ended with a 12th-place finish at Phoenix Raceway despite running inside the top-10 throughout the race.

Aric Almirola, Driver of the No. 10 Built Ford Proud Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing:

What are your thoughts heading to the inaugural Cup Series race at St. Louis?

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been there in a truck. Since then the track has been repaved and has had a lot of upgrades, so it’s going to be new to me, but also new to everyone. Getting 50 minutes of practice will be helpful. I’m looking forward to it. We went to Nashville in the Cup cars last year for the first time and we qualified on the pole and ran in the top-five all day. I hope to do something very similar for our first time at Gateway. We’ve had to adapt to new scenarios all year and I know this 10 team can do it.”

Why is it so important to celebrate Ford builders?

“Ford is known for its hard-working builders and so is our race team. Any time we get to celebrate the men and women behind the scenes who build our future and make our racecars faster is great. I’ve never been a fan of promoting myself, so being able to shine a light on the people at Ford and Stewart-Haas Racing who make us better each and every day means a lot. We wouldn’t be where we are today if not for their hard work and passion for growth.”

No. 10 Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Aric Almirola
Hometown: Tampa, Florida

Crew Chief: Drew Blickensderfer
Hometown: Decatur, Illinois

Car Chief: Jerry Cook
Hometown: Toledo, Ohio

Engineer: Davin Restivo
Hometown: Asheboro, North Carolina

Engineer: James Kimbrough
Hometown: Pensacola, Florida

Spotter: Joel Edmonds
Hometown: Dobson, North Carolina

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Ryan Mulder
Hometown: Sioux Center, Iowa

Rear Tire Changer: Trevor White
Hometown: Arlington, Texas

Tire Carrier: Tyler Bullard
Hometown: King, North Carolina

Jack Man: Sean Cotton
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Fuel Man: James “Ace” Keener
Hometown: Fortuna, California

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Chris Trickett
Hometown: Grafton, West Virginia

Mechanic: Robbie Fairweather
Hometown: Westbrookville, New York

Engine Tuner: Matt Moeller
Hometown: Monroe, New York

Tire Specialist: Rusty Davidson
Hometown: Mount Juliet, Tennessee

Transporter Co-Driver: Steven Casper
Hometown: Salisbury, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Matt Murphy
Hometown: Augusta, Georgia

Toyota Racing – Weekly Preview – 06.01.22

By
Official Release
-

This Week in Motorsports: May 30-June 5, 2022

· NCS/NCWTS: World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway – June 4-5
· NXS: Portland International Raceway – June 4
· NHRA: New England Dragway – June 5

PLANO, Texas (June 1, 2022) – This weekend features some first-time events as the NASCAR Cup Series runs at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, where they are joined by the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series who will compete in the Toyota 200. The NASCAR Xfinity Series will be road course racing for the first time at Portland International Raceway, and the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series is back on track at New England Dragway.

NASCAR National Series – NCS | NXS | NCWTS

Toyota drivers have experience at Gateway… Although this is the first Cup Series race at Gateway, several Toyota drivers are already victors at the track. Kyle Busch won at Gateway in 2009 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, while both Bubba Wallace (2014) and Christopher Bell (2016) were victorious at the track in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

Hamlin closes in on Playoff points lead… With his first 600-mile win at Charlotte, Denny Hamlin continues to add to his career milestones. It was Hamlin’s second victory of the season, which moves him to 12 Playoff points, just one point behind current leaders William Bryon and Ross Chastain.

Busch leads Cup Series in multiple metrics… Kyle Busch continues to have an impressive season. Busch scored his series-best 10th top-10 finish in Charlotte. The Las Vegas-native also leads all drivers with an 11.2 average finish through 14 events.

Bell continues to impress… Christopher Bell added another impressive Cup Series finish as he battled much adversity to finish fifth in Charlotte. Bell has now scored four consecutive top-six finishes with seven top-10 results in the last nine events.

Mosack, Chase ready for strong runs in Portland… Connor Mosack will make his Xfinity Series debut aboard the No. 18 Toyota GR Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing, while Parker Chase will make his second Xfinity Series start in the No. 26 Toyota GR Supra for Sam Hunt Racing. Both Mosack and Chase have prior experience at Portland International Raceway.

Nemechek continues to lead… With six races to go in the regular season, John Hunter Nemechek continues to lead the overall Truck Series point standings after his seventh consecutive top-10 finish at Charlotte this past weekend. Nemechek won at Gateway in 2017.

Sauter is back… Johnny Sauter is back with ThorSport Racing this weekend in the No. 13 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro. Sauter finished second at Martinsville Raceway in his first start for the team this season, and finished fifth in Gateway a season ago.

NHRA – Top Fuel | Funny Car

Torrence Racing plans to continue to lock down Epping… Torrence Racing has had the winner circle in Epping locked down recently. At the three most recent events at the track, Torrence Racing has walked away with the last three Wallys. Steve Torrence won in 2018 and 2019, with his father, Billy winning last season.

Reigning Funny Car champion looking for another Epping victory… Reigning Funny Car Champion Ron Capps is looking to add another Epping victory to his resume – and his first since joining Toyota earlier this season. Capps was the Funny Car victor at New England Dragway in 2016.

Stay Connected

https://www.toyota.com/racing @ToyotaRacing.com @ToyotaRacing

facebook.com/ToyotaRacing Camera With Flash on Apple iOS 11.3 ToyotaRacingMedia.com

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs more than 48,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 43 million cars and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With the more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, more than a quarter of the company’s 2021 North American sales were electrified.

Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

WISE-EV and McDowell Ready To Charge to the Top-10 in St. Louis

By
Official Release
-

No. 34 Team Looks to Add a Sixth Top-10 to the Season

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (June 1, 2022) – Michael McDowell and WISE-EV started their partnership strong, running well and finishing in the top-15 in the Texas All-Star race. This weekend in St. Louis, McDowell and the WISE-EV Charging team are looking to continue their run of top-10 finishes, after their eighth place finish in Charlotte this past weekend.

“We have put together great finishes, and it really shows in the growth of our program. To have had great runs recently speaks volumes to the work and dedication everyone at the shop puts in day in and day out. Four top-10 finishes in the last six weeks is something to be proud of, and we’re all excited to do the same this weekend in our WISE-EV Ford Mustang” says McDowell.

“While this is the first time the new car and the Cup Series will be in St. Louis, I know for myself and some other drivers, we have raced at the track before in the other divisions of NASCAR. It’s going to be important this week more so than others to maximize practice time because of the many unknowns,” Michael continues.

“The track profile is very different than others we visit, so expect to see a lot of shifting, and a lot of line searching throughout the weekend. For us and the WISE-EV Charging team, we need to keep doing what we have been to keep our momentum going.”

McDowell and his WISE-EV Ford Mustang team will take to the World Wide Technology Raceway for practice on Friday and then a qualifying session on Saturday. The race will go green on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET with live coverage on FS1.

ABOUT WISE-EV

WISE Power is changing the way the world uses energy through innovative storage and fast EV charging technology. The Las Vegas-based company provides solutions for home, business, industry and utility-scale applications with forward-thinking system design and comprehensive support infrastructure. For more information visit getwisepower.com and wise-ev.com.

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.

JR Motorsports — NXS Portland Preview

By
Official Release
-

JR MOTORSPORTS TEAM PREVIEW:
TRACK: Portland International Raceway
RACE: Pacific Office Automation 147 (75 laps / 147.52 miles)
DATE: Saturday, June 4, 2022

Broadcast Information – TV: 4:30 p.m. ET on FS1 / Radio: 4 p.m. ET on MRN and Sirius XM Ch. 90

Sam Mayer
No. 1 Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions Chevrolet
• Sam Mayer will make his sixth start on a road course in the NASCAR Xfinity Series this weekend at Portland International Raceway. Mayer’s best finish of fifth on a road course came earlier this year at Circuit of the Americas.
• Mayer’s third-place finish last week at Charlotte Motor Speedway has extended the 18-year-old’s streak of top-five finishes to four in a row, dating back to Dover Motor Speedway.
• In Mayer’s last eight starts in the NXS, he has finished in the top five seven times and holds an average finish of 7.1 in those starts.

Josh Berry
No. 8 Tire Pros Chevrolet
• Josh Berry has made two starts in the NXS at road-course facilities with a best finish of eighth coming at Mid-Ohio last season.
• Berry paced the field for a race-high 89 laps last week in Charlotte en route to his second victory of the season. The 31-year-old’s margin of victory was a whopping 18 seconds over second-place.
• The Hendersonville, Tenn. native sits comfortably in fifth in the championship standings and has closed the gap to only 60 markers from the leader. Berry also holds the third-most playoff points with 14.

Noah Gragson
No. 9 Bass Pro Shops / TrueTimber / Black Rifle Coffee Chevrolet
• In 16 career NXS starts on road courses, Noah Gragson has eight top-five and 13 top-10 finishes, with a best result of second at the Charlotte Roval in 2020.
• Gragson ranks second in series points following a fourthplace run last week at Charlotte. With two victories so far this season, he is solidly in the NXS Playoffs.
• Gragson has been a winner on road courses in his NASCAR career, earning victories in three NASCAR K&N Pro Series West races.
• In the lone road-course start this season, Gragson earned a fourth-place result at COTA in March.

Justin Allgaier
No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet
• Justin Allgaier has made 40 career NXS starts on roadcourses heading into this weekend’s inaugural event at Portland.
• In those 40 starts, Allgaier has amassed three wins, 11 top fives, 24 top 10s and an average finish of 12.9.
• Two of Allgaier’s three road-course victories came with JRM during the 2018 season at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and Road America. The other came at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal in 2012.
• Allgaier enters this weekend on the strength of four consecutive top 10s, a victory at Darlington Raceway and a combined 239 laps led dating back to Dover in April.

Driver Quotes

“We’ve been putting together some really strong runs the last couple months and hopefully we can continue that this weekend in Portland. I really enjoy road course racing and have a lot of experience at these style of tracks with the TA2 car I ran for a few years, so hopefully I can use what I have learned and try to snag the first win for this Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions team.” – Sam Mayer

“Portland is going to be a unique challenge this weekend. Hopefully, our past experiences on the road courses will work out to our advantage when we unload for practice on Friday. I’m confident that we will have another fast BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet and if we can just avoid any potential trouble and keep the car on the track all day long, I feel like we will be up front and in contention for the win on Saturday.” – Justin Allgaier

“Road course races are ones that I have had circled on my calendar just because I have very little experience at these types of races and it’ll help show what I have learned in these cars. A few of us came out to Portland a few weeks ago to check out the track and to get familiar with the layout, so hopefully the little extra work will help in these Xfinity cars. I’m definitely excited for it.” – Josh Berry

“I’m excited to get to Portland and see what we can do with the Bass Pro Shops/TrueTimber/Black Rifle Coffee Chevrolet. I love racing on road courses and have had good success, so adding Portland to the schedule is another opportunity to earn points and maybe a victory. We’ve been on kind of a roll lately, and going someplace new like Portland means everyone will start from the same place. I’m looking forward to it.” – Noah Gragson

JRM Team Update

• JR Motorsports at Portland: The NASCAR Xfinity Series heads to Portland International Raceway for the inaugural event at the 1.98- mile facility located in the Pacific Northwest. JRM has made a total of 162 combined starts at road courses in the NXS and has earned four wins, 39 top fives and 84 top 10s. JRM’s most recent road course win came with Justin Allgaier wheeling the No. 7 to Victory Lane at Road America in 2018.
• Spicy Mayo: Hellmann’s Spicy Mayonnaise Dressing is proudly made with real, simple ingredients like real chili peppers, cage-free eggs, oil and vinegar. This spicy mayo is the ideal condiment for spicing up wraps, adding flavor to sandwiches, grilling juicy burgers, mixing creamy dips, and preparing fresh salads. Deliciously Spicy, 100% Hellmann’s. Try a new recipe today.
• Tire Pros: How Do You Know When You Need New Tires? For those with the DIY spirit, here is what you need to know. Prefer to leave the tire evaluations to the experts? Stop into any Tire Pros location for a free tire condition consultation.
• Vote Now: A passion of Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris, Big Cedar Lodge, America’s premier wilderness resort located in the heart of Missouri’s Ozark Mountains, is thrilled to once again be included in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards. Vote now for your favorite travel experiences and be entered to win the trip of a lifetime.

Cadillac Racing seeks to close Belle Isle era with victory

By
Official Release
-
Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix

Cadillac DPi-V.R teams and drivers aiming for second street circuit win of 2022 season

DETROIT (June 1, 2022) – Cadillac Racing teams and drivers will aim to close out the Belle Isle era of motorsports with a victory June 4 in the Chevrolet Sports Car Classic – the sixth round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season.

A Cadillac DPi has won three of the four races at Belle Isle since the inception of the class in 2017. No race was held in 2020 because of the COVD-19 pandemic. Last year, Renger van der Zande teamed with Kevin Magnussen to drive the pole-winning No. 01 Cadillac DPi-V.R to lead 64 of 66 laps and go on to a refreshing splash in the James Scott Memorial Fountain.

Van der Zande returns to co-drive the No. 01 V-Performance Academy Cadillac DPi-V.R with first-year teammate Sebastien Bourdais, who is a two-time INDYCAR winner at Belle Isle. The duo won in April at Long Beach — the other 100-minute race on a street circuit — from the pole.

The 100-minute race on the 2.35-mile, 14-turn temporary street circuit presents numerous challenges to drivers — from hard braking zones with concrete barriers on both sides to speedy straights to tire degradation on the bumpy surface. Plus, execution is key during the sprint race.

“It’s high intensity and concentration,” said van der Zande, who also has IMSA Prototype Challenge wins in 2015 and ’16 at Belle Isle. “It’s an interesting track – and street tracks are interesting by themselves. Little mistakes are big mistakes. So, it’s a whole different philosophy on how you drive the car around. Driving wall to wall is the way to go fast, and the closer you get to the wall the more lap time comes out, so that’s the tricky part.

“That track has a lot of bumps and a lot of tarmac changes, which with the Cadillac it suits it very well. You need to be very creative and adaptive. Street tracks evolve quickly in terms of grips, so every lap of every session the whole field is going over it and it becomes quicker, which again you have to be creative to get that little bit of extra grip and take it.

“It is one of those intense street tracks where you don’t have any time to rest. There is a bit of backstraight, but it never stops. I am happy it is a short race there this weekend.”

Added Tristan Vautier, driver of the No. 5 Mustang Sampling Cadillac DPi-V.R: “It is one of the most challenging tracks of the year. As a driver, I really enjoy racing there because you have to be very precise with your line as well as getting around traffic. The 100-minute format makes it tricky. There is zero opportunity to make up for mistakes on the track or in the pits. You really have to go for it, maybe take some chances. When you have a passing opportunity, you have to take it as it maybe your only one.”

The No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R, which has finished third the past two races, has been runner-up the past two visits at Belle Isle. Reigning IMSA DPi champion Pipo Derani will share the seat with Olivier Pla, who will be making his debut in the Cadillac.

“I’ve been racing against them for many years, and I know how good they are on the track,” said Pla, who will also be a teammate of Derani at Le Mans this month. “What they’ve achieved by winning so many races and championships speaks for itself. It will be a big challenge to arrive mid-season but I’m ready to take on this challenge. The Cadillac DPi-V.R is a fantastic car and I can’t wait to race it. And of course, extremely happy and proud to join such a great driver and friend Pipo Derani.”

IMSA has increased the weight of the four Cadillac DPi entries by 15 kg to 960 kg – the heaviest they have been this season – under the Balance of Performance (BoP) table. The two Acura entries remain at 920 kg.

Two practice sessions June 3 precede early evening qualifications, with the race scheduled to take the green flag at 3:10 p.m. ET June 4. USA Network will telecast the race live at 3 p.m., while IMSA Radio will broadcast all sessions at IMSA.com along with XM 207 and SiriusXM Online 992.

A Corvette C8 Stingray will lead the field to the green flag.

See the Cadillac lineup

Spectators have the opportunity to view an array of Cadillac vehicles, including the exciting CT5-V Blackwing, CT4-V Blackwing and the 2023 Escalade-V, at the Cadillac display near the main entrance to the racetrack. Hours are 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The 2023 Escalade-V — the industry’s most powerful full-size SUV that goes on sale late this summer – expands the V-Series lineup. Now in its fourth generation, Cadillac’s V-Series represents ultimate performance, the epitome of Cadillac’s engineering capability, with unrivaled sophistication and comfort for everyday driving. In adding Escalade-V to the lineup, the V-Series family continues to expand, while consistently combining power, luxury, thoughtful technology and athletic refinement for the discerning enthusiast.

Cadillac DPi roster for Chevrolet Sports Car Classic

No. 01 V-Performance Academy Cadillac DPi-V.R (Cadillac Racing)

Renger van der Zande, Sebastien Bourdais

Van der Zande and Bourdais co-drove the No. 01 Cadillac DPi-V.R to the victory on the streets of Long Beach on April 9 after starting from the pole. … It was the 16th IMSA victory for van der Zande and eighth for Bourdais. … Bourdais set the qualifying lap record time in the event. He set the lap record time in earning the pole for the March 19 Twelve Hours of Sebring. … Bourdais earned the pole for the May 15 Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio. … van der Zande, in addition to claiming the 2021 overall victory at Detroit, co-drove to Prototype Challenge class wins in 2015 and ’16 at Belle Isle. … … Bourdais is a four-time INDYCAR champion and two-time winner at Belle Isle in INDYCAR competition. … Bourdais and van der Zande are on the entry list for the 24 Hours of Le Mans this month.

Car chief-Phil Binks

Lead engineer-John Hennek

Race strategist-Peter Baron

No. 02 Cadillac Accessories Cadillac DPi-V.R (Cadillac Racing)

Earl Bamber, Alex Lynn

First-year entry in expanded Cadillac Racing DPi program. … Bamber and Lynn co-drove to a runner-up finish on the streets of Long Beach on April 9 after starting second. … They, along with Neel Jani, co-drove to victory March 19 in the Twelve Hours of Sebring. … Bamber salutes his home country with a silver fern design on the sides of his helmet — a quasi-national emblem used for various official New Zealand symbols. … Lynn is on the entry list for the 24 Hours of Le Mans this month.

Car chief-Jamie Coates

Lead engineer-Danielle Shephard

Race strategist-Michael Harvey

No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R (Action Express Racing)

Pipo Derani, Olivier Pla

Pla will make his debut in the No. 31 Cadillac at Detroit. … Derani and Felipe Nasr were runners-up in 2021 and 2019 at Detroit. … Derani and Tristan Nunez co-drove to third place on the Laguna Seca road course after starting sixth. They followed with a third-place finish May 15 at Mid-Ohio. … Derani and Nunez, joined by Mike Conway, started second and finished third in the March 19 Twelve Hours of Sebring. … The three-driver team started seventh and finished fourth in the Rolex 24 At Daytona to open the season. … Derani and Felipe Nasr were the 2021 IMSA DPi Driver Champions and Whelen Engineering/Action Express Racing was the Team Champion. … Derani and Pla are teammates for the second consecutive year for the 24 Hours of Le Mans this month.

Car chief-Bill Keuler

Technical director/lead engineer-Iain Watt

Race strategist-Tim Keene

No. 5 Mustang Sampling Cadillac DPi-V.R (JDC-Miller MotorSports)

Tristan Vautier, Richard Westbrook

Vautier and Westbrook co-drove to third place on the streets of Long Beach on April 9 after starting fifth. Vautier and Westbrook, joined by Loic Duval, drove to second place in the March 19 Twelve Hours of Sebring and opened the ’22 season by starting second and finishing third at the Rolex 24 At Daytona. … Westbrook is a London-trained chef. … Vautier and Westbrook are on the entry list for the 24 Hours of Le Mans this month.

Car chief-Josh Kerrigan

Lead engineer-Rick Cameron

Race strategist-John Church

Cadillac Racing DPi-V.R Belle Isle results 2021-2017

2021: First (No. 01 Cadillac DPi-V.R) start first – Renger van der Zande, Kevin Magnussen

     Second (No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R) start third -- Pipo Derani, Felipe Nasr

     Fifth (No. 5 Mustang Sampling Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R) start fifth – Tristan Vautier, Loic Duval

2020: No race

2019: Second (No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R) start fourth – Pipo Derani, Felipe Nasr

    Fourth (No. 84 JDC-Miller MotorSports Cadillac DPi-V.R) start eighth – Stephen Simpson, Simon Trummer

    Fifth (No. 85 JDC-Miller MotorSports Cadillac DPi-V.R) start 10th – Tristan Vautier, Misha Goikhberg       

   Sixth (No. 5 Mustang Sampling Cadillac DPi-V.R) start fifth – Felipe Albuquerque, Joao Barbosa

   Eighth (No. 50 Juncos Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R) start ninth – Kyle Kaiser, Will Owen

   Ninth (No. 10 Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R) start sixth – Renger van der Zande, Jordan Taylor

2018: First (No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R) start sixth – Felipe Nasr, Eric Curran

    Fifth (No. 10 Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R) start seventh – Renger van der Zande, Jordan Taylor

    Sixth (No. 5 Mustang Sampling Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R) start fourth -- Felipe Albuquerque, Joao Barbosa

2017: First (No. 10 Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R) start 12th – Ricky Taylor, Jordan Taylor

    Second (No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R) start second – Dane Cameron, Eric Curran

    Fourth (No. 5 Mustang Sampling Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R) start first – Christian Fittipladi, Joao Barbosa

About Cadillac

A leading luxury auto brand since 1902, Cadillac is growing globally, driven by an expanding product portfolio that features distinctive design and technology. More information on Cadillac appears at www.cadillac.com.

1...1,9451,9461,947...6,659Page 1,946 of 6,659