This Week in Motorsports: May 23-29, 2022

· NCS/NXS/NCWTS: Charlotte Motor Speedway – May 27-29

PLANO, Texas (May 25, 2022) – NASCAR’s top three series and the ARCA Menards Series return home this weekend to compete at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

NASCAR National Series – NCS | NXS | NCWTS

Truex stellar for 600 miles… Martin Truex Jr. has a stellar run of success in the annual 600-mile event at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Truex was historically dominant in his 2016 victory – leading 392 of 400 laps. He added a second victory in NASCAR’s longest race of the season in 2019.

Toyota looks to continue to clinch Playoff berths… Kurt Busch won the Cup series most recent points event at Kansas Speedway, becoming the third Toyota driver to win this season and is on-track for a Playoff berth along with Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch. Truex and Christopher Bell are also currently in Playoff spots based on points position as we head into the second half of the regular season.

Gibbs reigning race winner… Ty Gibbs scored his first oval win in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway last May. Gibbs came on strong late in the event – leading the final 20 laps – on his way to his second career win. Gibbs leads the NASCAR Xfinity Series with three victories this season.

Bayne returns… Trevor Bayne returns to the No. 18 Toyota GR Supra for his fourth start this season for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR). He started his run with JGR with back-to-back top-five finishes at Auto Club Speedway and Phoenix Raceway earlier this year.

Friesen wants to add another victory… Stewart Friesen scored his first win aboard a Toyota Tundra last weekend at Texas Motor Speedway after leading a season-best 60 (of 149) laps. The Canadian driver was strong in the Truck Series race at Charlotte one season ago as he came home in fourth.

Nemechek back in the points lead… After his sixth consecutive top-10 finish, John Hunter Nemechek has taken over the Truck Series points lead for the first time this season. Nemechek is also the defending winner of the Charlotte Truck Series race. He led 71 laps (of 134) a season ago to earn the victory.

Majeski strives to continue strong performance… Ty Majeski continues to impress in his first full-time season with ThorSport Racing. After a fifth-place finish in Texas, Majeski is on a streak of three consecutive top-five finishes in the Truck Series. Majeski competed at Charlotte in his limited starts last season and scored a top-10 finish.

NASCAR Regional Series – ARCA

Jones returns to ARCA… Full-time Toyota Xfinity Series driver Brandon Jones will compete in his first ARCA Menards Series race of the season this weekend at Charlotte. Jones competed in two road course events last season, scoring top-five finishes in both. He also won at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the ARCA Menards Series in 2018.

Heim looks to be one spot better… Corey Heim is back behind the wheel of the No. 20 Toyota Camry for Venturini Motorsports. Heim finished second to fellow Toyota driver Ty Gibbs one season ago.

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.

Will Serve as a Primary Partner on the No. 43 for Inaugural Cup Series Event at St. Louis

STATESVILLE, N.C. (May 25, 2022) – Bommarito Automotive Group, Missouri’s No. 1 automotive dealer, and Petty GMS today announced a partnership for the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series event at World Wide Technology Raceway on June 5. Bommarito Automotive Group will serve as primary partner of Erik Jones, with the No. 43 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 showcasing the iconic Petty blue color with the Bommarito red and black hues in a unique design.

For over 50 years, Bommarito Automotive Group has been a staple in the St. Louis marketplace. Led by President John Bommarito, Vice President Chuck Wallis, and over 900 dedicated team members, the Bommarito Automotive Group currently operates 20 automotive franchises throughout every St. Louis neighborhood. With a mission of having “one Bommarito vehicle in every driveway,” the Bommarito Automotive Group continues to experience unprecedented growth.

“We are honored to be a part of bringing NASCAR to the St. Louis region and thanks to the support of race fans across the country, we’ve demonstrated that when you win on Sunday it generates sales on Monday”, said John Bommarito, President of the Bommarito Automotive Group. “As an iconic brand here in the St. Louis and Midwest marketplace, the Bommarito Automotive Group could not be prouder to adorn the legendary Petty GMS No. 43 Chevy for the inaugural NASCAR Cup Race right here in St. Louis. Bommarito and The King, together making history.”

“I’ve been a dedicated race fan for decades and to have the opportunity to partner with Richard Petty and Petty GMS has been an opportunity of a lifetime,” said Chuck Wallis, Vice President and General Manager of the Bommarito Automotive Group. “To be able to be involved in the motorsports industry at the level Bommarito has dedicated to it is an absolute dream come true. How great is it that we now get to incorporate Petty blue – the most iconic brand in motorsports – with ours. Great partners and friends.”

To kickstart weekend activities, Richard Petty Day presented by the Bommarito Automotive Group will be held on Friday, June 3. As previously announced by World Wide Technology Raceway, the Governors of Illinois and Missouri will proclaim June 3 as Richard Petty Day. The proclamations will be followed by ‘The King’ making ceremonial first laps on the track in a replica of his 1981 Daytona 500 winning car prior to Cup Series practice.

Fans obtaining an oil change or service at Bommarito Service Centers during the month of May will receive two free tickets to attend Richard Petty Day festivities on June 3.

Jones and the No. 43 Bommarito Automotive Group Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 will take to World Wide Technology Raceway for the NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, June 5, beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET. FS1 will carry live television coverage, while Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will carry the live radio broadcast.

About Bommarito Automotive Group

What Frank Bommarito started almost 50 years ago, as a single point Oldsmobile dealer, has now successfully grown into a privately-held Missouri’s No. 1 automotive group and ranked top 50 in the nation. With over 1,000 employees, 20 locations and offering 20 brands, Bommarito Automotive Group continues to grow its brand while also growing its involvement in motorsports.

Bommarito began its motorsports involvement in 2015 with Jordan Anderson Racing and since has evolved into Jordan Anderson Racing with Bommarito Autosport and are owners of the No. 31 NASCAR Xfinity team with driver Myatt Snyder and the No. 3 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series entry. Bommarito also holds the title sponsorship for the Bommarito 500 NTT INDYCAR SERIES race at WWTR since 2017. In addition, Bommarito now is involved with the sponsorship of the Vasser Sullivan IMSA team which recently Has earned podium finishes in consecutive races. Our vision was to have a vehicle in our portfolio for every type of buyer. We now can drive home our mission: One Bommarito vehicle in every driveway. Once a vision, today a reality.

ABOUT PETTY GMS:

Petty GMS competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, operating the No. 42 Chevrolet for Ty Dillon and the No. 43 Chevrolet for Erik Jones. The newly formed team brought together two storied organizations in December 2021. Over the last decade, owner Maury Gallagher built a victorious team, capturing two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championships, one ARCA Menards Series title, and two ARCA Menards Series East championships, as well as 65 wins and 235 top-five finishes across six series. Richard Petty, a member of the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2010, serves as Chairman of Petty GMS. Petty, known as “The King,” accumulated 200 wins and was the first of three drivers to win seven championships in the Cup Series. For more information, visit www.pettygms.com.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

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

KYLE BUSCH
A Weekend to Remember

HUNTERSVILLE, North Carolina (May 25, 2022) – Memorial Day in the United States is a time to remember and honor the soldiers who lost their lives while serving in the U.S. military.

With that, Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway takes on a special meaning for those in the NASCAR community. It will feature the annual “600 Miles of Remembrance,” during which each car in the field will carry the name of a fallen soldier on the windshield.

Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 18 M&M’S Red, White & Blue Toyota, has the honor of displaying the name of U.S. Army Sgt. William R. Thiem on his windshield during NASCAR’s longest event. Sgt. Thiem takes on even more meaningful significance to M&M’S and Mars Wrigley as he was nominated by Mars associate Roger Smith, who is Thiem’s cousin. Smith and his wife Becky were able to visit with Busch at the May 15 race weekend at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, about an hour’s drive east on I-70 from their home in Topeka. This weekend, Busch and the M&M’S Red, White, and Blue team will thank Thiem for his service as his legacy rides along with them at Charlotte.

As it pays tribute to the fallen soldier, the No. 18 Toyota will feature a patriotic paint scheme that celebrates M&M’S Red, White & Blue bags that are available in stores for fans to show their patriotic spirit throughout the summer. M&M’S has been supporting the men and women of the U.S. military since 1941, when the first M&M’S were created as a military ration during World War II, and it’s proud to display Red, White and Blue in their honor on the No. 18 Toyota Camry TRD.

As for the 1.5-mile Charlotte oval he’ll be racing on, Busch has managed to enjoy plenty of success there with 15 top-five finishes and 20 top-10s in his 33 previous Cup Series starts over the past 17-plus seasons. In addition to solid Cup Series finishes, Busch has captured nine NASCAR Xfinity Series wins at Charlotte – May 2004, 2005, 2008 and 2010, October 2008 and 2009, both May and October 2013, and May 2020. He also has eight NASCAR Camping World Truck Series wins at the track – 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2019.

While he had gone to victory lane early and often in the Xfinity and Truck Series, Busch only recently broke through in the Cup Series at Charlotte. His 2017 win in the non-points NASCAR All-Star Race was his first Cup Series win of any kind at Charlotte. The following year, in 2018, Busch was able to win there again, this time bringing home his first points-paying Cup Series win at the track and adding another crown jewel to his already impressive resume. Even more special, another fallen soldier’s name was able to help Busch on his ride to victory lane. Sgt. Eric Toth, who lost his life in Iraq in March 2005, adorned his windshield that day.

So, this Memorial Day weekend, Busch will look to bring home his second crown jewel win at Charlotte and, at the same time, honor Sgt. Thiem and all troops who have made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as those who continue to serve America and the Red, White & Blue.

KYLE BUSCH, Driver of the No. 18 M&M’S Red, White, and Blue Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing:

Do you take pride in the way NASCAR handles honoring the military and the national anthem before races?

“Absolutely. We all are patriotic in our own way. NASCAR seems to do it probably the best with the NASCAR Salutes program that we’ve had over the course of the last several years with having the ability to have the fallen soldiers on our racecars for Memorial Day weekend. Back in 2018, I was fortunate enough to take my soldier’s family to victory lane – the Toth Family with Sgt. Toth. This year, I get the opportunity to carry around the name of Sgt. Thiem, so I’m really looking forward to that. There’s a special connection this year with one of the Mars associates who we get to give an opportunity to honor their family member. They were able to come visit with us at Kansas a few weeks ago, so that was really cool. I’m also honored to be able to have them as part of our night, and it makes it most special when you’re able to take them to victory lane. So, hopefully, we can do that with our M&M’S Red, White, and Blue Camry. With what we all do on Memorial Day weekend, I feel like we do it the best as a sport. ”

How is your momentum going into the 600 with your good runs on mile-and-a-half tracks?

“I mean, the mile-and-a-half stuff has kind of been our bread and butter a little bit this year, I guess you’d say. You know, at California we were OK. I thought we were quick, but we got behind early, but then Vegas and Kansas were really good. We were fast there. So being another mile-and-a-half here, hopefully that bodes well.”

Does Sunday’s 600-mile race feel different than other events?

“It depends on what kind of car you have. I’ve been in races in the 600-mile race where it’s felt really easy and short, and I’ve been in races where it’s been a long, drawn-out, knock ’em, sock ’em kind of day. Hopefully, Ben Beshore (crew chief) and the guys can bring a really good M&M’S Red, White & Blue Camry for me this weekend and it will be a smooth race for us. I like running the 600 miles. I think it brings a different aspect to our sport – its longevity. People will say, ‘It’s too long. It’s boring. Whatever.’ Well, you know, it’s a part of the product and the history that we’ve had on Memorial Day weekend for a long time that you run that extra hundred miles. And car preparation goes into that. Will your car make it? Will your engine last? Are the drivers able to be competitive throughout the whole race? You’ll have fatigue, sometimes, even at a 500-mile race. So, if you don’t show signs of weakness, you should be pretty good.”

You’ve always said that Charlotte is one of your favorite tracks. Is there any particular reason why?

“Just growing up watching races on TV, I loved watching the All-Star Race under the lights and the 600 with all the sparks flying and all the guys going after hard-fought, hard-racing wins. The Xfinity Series has been good to me there. The Truck Series has been pretty good to me there, too. In Cup, we finally got to win the All-Star Race there and then the 600, but would like to be a multi-time 600 winner, too. That’s what we’ll shoot for this weekend.”

If you’re saving your car for the end of the race, is it a struggle for you not to pass during the earlier stages of the long, 600-mile event?

“Yeah, you want to race those guys who are around you all of the time. You think to yourself, ‘There’s a car in front of me. I want to pass that guy.’ That’s what’s in your blood to do. Sometimes, you’ve just got to back off a little bit and kind of let the race play out. You’ve got to get to the end of the final pit stop. Once you get to the final pit stop, then the race is on.”

Event Overview:

● Event: Coca-Cola 600 (Round 14 of 36)
● Time/Date: 6 p.m. EDT on Sunday, May 29
● Location: Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway
● Layout: 1.5-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 400 laps/600 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 100 laps / Stage 2: 100 laps / Stage 3: 100 /Final Stage: 100 laps
● TV/Radio: FOX / PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Meet the No. 18 M&M’S Red, White, and Blue / 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 one win, 15 top-five finishes and 20 top-10s and has led a total of 1,450 laps in 33 career Cup Series starts on the Charlotte oval. Busch’s average Charlotte oval finish is 14.3.

● 2018 Dominance: Busch brought home his first Coca-Cola 600 victory in 2018, a day when Busch dominated NASCAR’s longest race. The Las Vegas native led a whopping 377 of the 400 laps to bring home another crown jewel victory during his impressive career.

● Finally: Busch’s combined record in NASCAR Xfinity Series and Truck Series races is quite impressive at Charlotte, where the Las Vegas native has eight wins apiece on the 1.5-mile oval for a total of 16 victories. While he found victory lane early and often at Charlotte in those series, Busch was unable to find similar success in NASCAR’s top series. That all changed starting in 2017, when he brought home the win in the NASCAR All-Star Race, the first Cup Series win of his career at Charlotte, albeit a non-points event. But a little more than a year later, in 2018, Busch was able to bring home his first Cup Series points paying win at Charlotte with his aforementioned dominance in the 2018 Coca-Cola 600 en route to the crown jewel win.

● To the Lead:While Busch has one Coca-Cola 600 win to his credit, he leads all active drivers in laps led in Cup Series competition with 1,450 laps led on the Charlotte oval. The next-best on the lap-leader list among active drivers is JGR teammate Martin Truex Jr., with 1,059, and third-most is Kyle’s brother Kurt Busch with 626 laps led at Charlotte in his career.

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

KEVIN HARVICK
Charlotte Advance
No. 4 Mobil 1 Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview

● Event: Coca-Cola 600 (Round 14 of 36)
● Time/Date: 6 p.m. EDT on Sunday, May 29
● Location: Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway
● Layout: 1.5-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 400 laps/600 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 100 laps / Stage 2: 100 laps / Stage 3: 100 laps / Final Stage: 100 laps
● TV/Radio: FOX / PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Kevin Harvick is a two-time winner of the Coca-Cola 600. He took the trophy in 2011 and 2013. Harvick beat David Ragan by .703 of a second in 2011 and he beat Kasey Kahne by 1.490 seconds in 2013. Harvick led only two laps in 2011 and just 28 laps in 2013, but each of those tallies contained the only lap that mattered most – the last one.

● Harvick has three wins at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway’s 1.5-mile oval. In addition to his two Coca-Cola 600 triumphs, Harvick won the 2014 Bank of America 500 in the NASCAR Cup Series’ return to the track that October. Harvick dominated by leading a race-high 162 laps to beat four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon by .571 of a second.

● Harvick has earned two poles at Charlotte. The first came in the 2016 Bank of America 500 (27.547 seconds at 196.029 mph) and the second came in the 2017 Coca-Cola 600 (27.918 seconds at 193.424 mph).

● This year’s Coca-Cola 600 will mark Harvick’s 40th career NASCAR Cup Series start at Charlotte. The Bakersfield, California-native has nine top-fives and 20 top-10s in a career dating back to the 2001 Coca-Cola 600, which was Harvick’s first points-paying race at Charlotte. In that 4-hour and 20-minute affair, Harvick finished second to Jeff Burton and ahead of third-place Tony Stewart, the car owner of the No. 4 Mobil 1 team at Stewart-Haas Racing.

● Harvick has finished in the top-10 in his last four races at Charlotte and 13 times in the last 15 races at the track. DNFs (Did Not Finish) thwarted Harvick in the 2016 Bank of America 500 (engine) and the 2018 Coca-Cola 600 (accident).

● Harvick has shown strength at Charlotte outside of the NASCAR Cup Series. He has made 28 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at the 1.5-mile oval, finishing among the top-10 18 times, with a best result of second, earned twice (October 2012 and May 2017). Harvick has also made three NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts at Charlotte, finishing among the top-five twice with a best result of fourth in May 2004.

● As part of #NASCARSalutes and the 600 Miles of Remembrance initiative during the Coca-Cola 600, the No. 4 Mobil 1 team is honoring Lance Corporal Phillip G. West of the United States Marines Corps. West was based out of Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, California, where he served in the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force. The American Canyon, California-native served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and he was the first Napa County resident to die in the Iraq War, succumbing to injuries on Nov. 19, 2004 in Fallouja. That day, West was doing one of the many building sweeps in Al Anbar Province that he had done with precision and accuracy hundreds of times before. But upon entering a building, he was ambushed; shot several times and hit with two hand grenades. He crawled for cover and continued to fire his SAW machine gun despite suffering severe injuries to his legs, arms, chest and spine. After continuing to fire until his weapon was empty, his last act was to throw a grenade into the insurgents in an effort to try and save his fellow Marines who were advancing behind him. He died at a nearby hospital later that day. West was buried with full military honors, including a Purple Heart. In his hometown of American Canyon, the swimming complex where West worked as a lifeguard was named in his honor – the Phillip West Aquatic Center. West was deeply committed to his military service, often telling family and friends, “If we don’t do it, who’s going to do it?” West joined the Marine Corps delayed-entry program in August 2002 and after graduating from high school, he shipped off to boot camp in San Diego. He graduated from boot camp, then infantry school, and deployed to Iraq in June 2004. Once in Iraq, West achieved the rank of Lance Corporal.

● The Mobil 1 branding on Harvick’s No. 4 Ford Mustang goes more than skin deep as the world’s leading synthetic motor oil brand gives Harvick an added advantage. Mobil 1 products are used throughout his racecar and they extend beyond just engine oil. Power steering fluid, transmission fluid, gear oil and driveline lubricants from Mobil 1 give Harvick a technical advantage over his counterparts by reducing friction, heat and rolling resistance.Mobil 1 is a sponsor whose technology makes Harvick’s No. 4 Mobil 1 Ford Mustang faster.

Kevin Harvick, Driver of the No. 4 Mobil 1 Ford Mustang

Much is made about the Coca-Cola 600 being the series’ longest race. Because the race is so long, can it be a good thing where if you’re not where you want to be, you have time to make things right? Or is the other side of the coin being that it’s too long of a race to not be good?

“There’s just not a lot of room for error because somebody’s going to be good and you’ve got to put yourself in a position to stay on the lead lap. There are so many different areas of transition that you go through in that race because of the fact that the sun goes down after it starts hot and slick. Then as you transition into the night, you have to have something completely different in your car compared to what you had at the beginning of the race. So there’s a sacrifice you have to make at the beginning of the race to just basically try to keep yourself in a good position. Don’t make any mistakes, stay on the lead lap, and try and put yourself in a good position for the night because that’s when it really counts.”

The Coca-Cola 600 used to be about pushing drivers and their cars to the limit, as attrition was once a key factor. But today, drivers are fitter than ever and cars seem to be built better than ever before. Is that extra 100 miles noticeable anymore, be it from your perspective behind the wheel or from your team’s when it comes to building your racecar?

“I don’t think from a physical standpoint it’s noticeable anymore. I think the biggest thing about the Coke 600 is your mental state. When they tell you halfway, it’s like, ‘Oh, my God, that’s only halfway?’ That’s 200 laps, and it feels like you’ve run a whole race and you have the other half of the race still to run. So I think from a mental standpoint, it’s hard to wrap your arms around the lap count and all the things that come with a race being that long.”

The Coca-Cola 600 is considered one of NASCAR’s crown jewels because it is the only 600-mile race on the schedule. But in this short-attention span era, is a 600-mile race still needed?

“You can debate it. Looking at the 600, it’s a pretty historic race and, listening to people who’ve watched the race, they think it’s too long. But I think from the sport’s standpoint, you have to have different tests, and I think 600 miles still represents a test that you can relate to the past, and it just adds a different level of preparation.”

You’re a two-time winner of the Coca-Cola 600 (2011 and 2013). Forget the folks who say a four-plus hour race is too long. Do you take special satisfaction in each of those wins because it is a big deal to not only run 600 miles at Charlotte, but do it better than anyone else – twice?

“I don’t that that one sticks out any more than any of the rest of them as far as the marquee, crown-jewel races go, just because of the fact that those four races (Coca-Cola 600, Daytona 500, Southern 500 and Brickyard 400) are pretty unique, and having the opportunity to win any of those is pretty special. And I think winning at Charlotte, no matter what it is, whether it’s the 600 or at the end of the year, whatever it is – the All-Star Race used to be there – it’s definitely different because of all the people you have from the shop, and family and friends, and anything you can win at Charlotte is just special.”

You’ve got to be passionate to race at a high level. What made you want to race at this level, and what drives you to stay competitive at this level?

“I didn’t really know that I wanted to race at this level until I was probably 17 or 18 years old. In fact, I don’t think you’re actually qualified to know what you really want because of the fact that you don’t even really know how to live prior to that point. So for me, it’s the competitive side of it and being able to work with the guys that I have on my team in order to achieve something, and try and make our car faster than anybody else’s. To work as a group to do that is something I enjoy. I enjoy that as much as I do anything. I think being able to drive the car and do the things that you do inside it is just kind of a part of what you do anymore. But I enjoy that satisfaction of working with a group of guys toward a common goal.”

What does it mean to honor and remember a military member on your No. 4 Mobil 1 Ford this Memorial Day weekend?

“There isn’t any sport that honors the military any better than NASCAR. I know a lot of sports do a lot of things for our military, but when you roll into this particular weekend with the Coke 600 and you’re a part of the celebration and remembrance for all the things that have happened with our military, to see the support that NASCAR and everybody in our garage gives the military, especially on this particular weekend, is something that gives you goosebumps.”

No. 4 Mobil 1 Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Kevin Harvick
Hometown: Bakersfield, California

Crew Chief: Rodney Childers
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Car Chief: Robert “Cheddar” Smith
Hometown: Whitewater, Wisconsin

Engineer: Dax Gerringer
Hometown: Gibsonville, North Carolina

Engineer: Stephen Doran
Hometown: Butler, Pennsylvania

Spotter: Tim Fedewa
Hometown: Holt, Michigan

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Shayne Pipala
Hometown: Frankfort Square, Illinois

Rear Tire Changer: Daniel Smith
Hometown: Concord, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Jeremy Howard
Hometown: Delhart, Texas

Jack Man: Stan Doolittle
Hometown: Ninety Six, South Carolina

Fuel Man: Evan Marchal
Hometown: Westfield, Indiana

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Richie Bean
Hometown: Bradford, Vermont

Mechanic: Nick DeFazio
Hometown: Orange, California

Tire Specialist: Jamie Turski
Hometown: Trumbull, Connecticut

Engine Tuner: Robert Brandt
Hometown: Mobile, Alabama

Transporter Co-Driver: Rick Hodges
Hometown: Raleigh, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Stephen Mitchell
Hometown: Woodville, Ohio

Team: No. 17 Fifth Third Bank Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Twitter: @RFK17Team, @RFKRacing and @Chris_Buescher
Race Format: 600 miles, 400 laps, Stages: 100-100-100-100
Coca-Cola 600 – Sunday, May 29 at 6 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Weekend Format

· Group practice and single-car qualifying returns this weekend ahead of the Coke 600, as teams will practice for 15 minutes Saturday evening, immediately followed by qualifying, set for 7:45 p.m. ET from CMS.

Buescher at Charlotte Motor Speedway

· Buescher will run his 10th Cup race from Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend and seventh Coca-Cola 600.

· He has three top-10s at CMS with a best finish of sixth in the 2019 Coke 600. He’s run top-10 in the two 600 mile races since with a P10 finish in 2020 and an eighth-place run last spring.

· Buescher’s best starting position stands as 11th (2020 spring race) with a 21.7 average starting position.

· He also made five Xfinity Series starts at CMS with three top-10s and a best finish of sixth (2014).

Scott Graves at Charlotte Motor Speedway

· Graves will be atop the box for his 11th Charlotte Cup race, and seventh Coke 600. His best result at CMS came with Daniel Suarez in 2017 (sixth).

· Graves also made six Xfinity starts at CMS with four top-10s and a best finish of third (2016).

QUOTE WORTHY
Buescher on the Coke 600:
“This weekend is obviously a big one with everything that takes place during Coke 600 weekend. This sport does a really good job of pausing to remember why we celebrate Memorial Day each year, and the fanfare around that and the race on Sunday is unmatched. This race is one we’ve really found some speed at over the years, and we’re confident heading into a long, 600-mile event Sunday in our Fifth Third Mustang.”

Last Time Out
Buescher raced his way into the All-Star Race Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway by winning the second stage, then went on to finish eighth in the Fastenal Ford.

On the Car

Fifth Third makes its second appearance as the primary on the No. 17 this weekend. Fresh off celebrating its 10th season as a partner with RFK in 2021, Fifth Third returns this season for five races in total, while serving as an associate in all events for the No. 17 team.

600 Miles of Remembrance

In what has become an annual tradition within the NASCAR industry, the sport will once again come together to honor and remember the brave men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces who made the ultimate sacrifice defending our freedom. Each car in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 will display a fallen service member name on the windshield header of the car.

Buescher will carry the name of and honor 1st Lt. James Zimmerman, a member of the United States Marines, who lost his life on Nov. 2, 2010 at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan. A native of Aroostook, Maine, Zimmerman was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment of Camp Lejeune, N.C., at the time of his death.

He was a graduate of Greater Houlton Christian Academy, class of 2003, and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on March 21, 2003, the first day of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He attended boot camp at Paris Island, S.C., and later attended the University of Maine, Orono, where he graduated in 2008 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marines. While at Orono he met his bride-to-be, Lynel Winters, whom he later married June 21, 2008.

Zimmerman attended The Basic School and the Infantry Officer Course in Quantico, Va., after which he was assigned as platoon commander for the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment of Camp Lejeune, N.C. In May 2010, he was promoted to first lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was deployed June 13, 2010, to Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Throughout his military career, he aspired to lead by example and loved his men, who in return loved him and respected his leadership and example. His lifelong ambition was to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps and dedicate his life to his country. He loved bonfires, drawing, carving, outdoors, his backyard where he grew up, sailing and his horse, Chico. James never tired of giving his mother a hug. Buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, Zimmerman dearly loved his family, his God and his country. He was 25.

About Fifth Third Bank
Fifth Third Bancorp is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio and the indirect parent company of Fifth Third Bank, National Association, a federally chartered institution. As of June 30, 2020, Fifth Third had $203 billion in assets and operated 1,122 full-service banking centers and 2,456 ATMs with Fifth Third branding in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Tennessee, West Virginia, Georgia and North Carolina. In total, Fifth Third provides its customers with access to approximately 53,000 fee-free ATMs across the United States. Fifth Third operates four main businesses: Commercial Banking, Branch Banking, Consumer Lending and Wealth & Asset Management. Fifth Third is among the largest money managers in the Midwest and, as of June 30, 2020, had $405 billion in assets under care, of which it managed $49 billion for individuals, corporations and not-for-profit organizations through its Trust and Registered Investment Advisory businesses. Investor information and press releases can be viewed at www.53.com. Fifth Third’s common stock is traded on the Nasdaq® Global Select Market under the symbol “FITB.” Fifth Third Bank was established in 1858. Deposit and Credit products are offered by Fifth Third Bank, National Association. Member FDIC.

Team: No. 6 Kohler Generators Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Matt McCall
Twitter: @RFK6Team, @RFKRacing and @keselowski
Race Format: 600 miles, 400 laps, Stages: 100-100-100-100
Coca-Cola 600 – Sunday, May 29 at 6 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Weekend Format

· Group practice and single-car qualifying returns this weekend ahead of the Coke 600, as teams will practice for 15 minutes Saturday evening, immediately followed by qualifying, set for 7:45 p.m. ET from CMS.

Keselowski at Charlotte Motor Speedway

· Keselowski makes his 13th Coca-Cola 600 start and 23rd overall at Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend. He has 10 top-10 finishes – five inside the top five – with two wins overall and a 13.5 average finish.

· Keselowski is the 2020 winner of the sport’s longest race, leading 21 laps after starting ninth. He also won on the oval back in 2013. In total he’s led 13 different Charlotte oval events for a total of 322.

· Most recently, Keselowski finished 11th in the 2021 running of the Coke 600.

· Keselowski has an average 15.3 starting position at CMS with one pole, which came in the 2011 Coke 600. Otherwise, he has eight starts inside the top-10 at Charlotte.

· He also made a combined 25 additional starts in the Xfinity and Truck Series at CMS with a combined four wins – all Xfinity – in 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2018.

Matt McCall at Charlotte Motor Speedway

· McCall will be on the box for his 12th Cup race from Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend, and eighth Coca-Cola 600.

· He has five top-10s at CMS with two results of fifth – the first of which came with Jamie McMurray in 2017, then another with Kurt Busch in 2020.

· He and Busch ran seventh together in the 2020 Coke 600 for McCall’s best finish to date in the marquee event.

QUOTE WORTHY
Keselowski on the Coke 600:
“No other sport stops and recognizes Memorial Day the way our sport does each year, which makes me even more proud to be part of it. We’re honored to carry the name of Bert Hoyer on our Ford Mustang this weekend, and look forward to representing his family and friends in an honorable fashion. Our team is poised for a good run this weekend in what is our longest day of the year.”

Last Time Out

Keselowski finished ninth in the All-Star Race last weekend at Texas Motor Speedway.

On the Car

Kohler Generators returns to the No. 6 car for its fifth primary race of the season. They will serve as the anchor partner for the No. 6 team in 2022 and be the primary in 14 races. Kohler initially joined the RFK family in 2021 as a partner in eight events with the No. 6 team.

600 Miles of Remembrance

In what has become an annual tradition within the NASCAR community, the sport will come together to honor and remember the brave men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces who made the ultimate sacrifice defending our freedom. Each car in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 will display a fallen service member name on the windshield header of the car.

Keselowski and the No. 6 team will carry the name of Spc. Bert Hoyer, a member of the Army Reserve who lost his life on March 10, 2004, while serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom. A native of Ellsworth, Wisconsin, Hoyer was killed when an improvised explosive device hit his convoy in Baqubah, Iraq. He was 23.

Hoyer was a member of the 652nd Engineer Company, a position he held for more than two years. A 1999 graduate of Ellsworth High School, Hoyer is a recipient of both the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

About Kohler Co.
Founded in 1873 and headquartered in Kohler, Wisconsin, Kohler Co. is one of America’s oldest and largest privately held companies comprised of more than 40,000 associates. Kohler is a global leader in the manufacture of kitchen and bath products; engines and power systems; premier cabinetry, tile and lighting; and owner/operator of two of the world’s finest five-star hospitality and golf resort destinations in Kohler, Wisconsin, and St. Andrews, Scotland.

A global force in power solutions since 1920, Kohler manufactures engines and complete power systems, including generators (portable, marine, residential, commercial and industrial), automatic transfer switches, switchgear, monitoring controls, and accessories for emergency, prime power and energy-management applications all around the world. The business is committed to reliable, leading edge power-generation products, clean energy solutions, as well as comprehensive after-sale support. Visit KohlerGenerators.com, facebook.com/KOHLERPower, and on Twitter at @KOHLERPower.