Team: No. 17 Fastenal Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Twitter: @RFK17Team, @RFKRacing and @Chris_Buescher
Race Format: Explained Below
NASCAR All-Star Open – Sunday, May 22 at 5:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Weekend Format

· Buescher is one of 16 drivers who will compete in the All-Star Open on Sunday. Prior to that race, single-lap qualifying will take place Saturday in reverse order of 2022 owner points. The Open race format will break down into three stages – 20 laps, 20 laps, 10 laps. The winner of each stage will advance to the All-Star Race, along with the winner of the Fan Vote.

· For the 125-lap main event, there will be four stages — three 25-lap stages and one 50-lap stage. The winner of stage 1 will start on pole in the final stage as long as they finish 15th or better in stage 2 and stage 3. The winner of stage 2 will start second in the final stage as long as they finish 15th or better in stage 3. The winner of stage 3 will start third in the final stage.

· There will be a special stage break at the conclusion of stage 2 where all teams must pit and perform a four-tire stop. The driver and team with the shortest time on pit road (pit in to pit out) will win the pit-crew award and start fourth in the final stage as long as they finish 15th or better in stage 3.

· Another added feature will be unique to the final stage. If a natural caution does not occur between lap 15 and lap 25, NASCAR officials will throw an “All-Star” competition caution.

Buescher in the All-Star

· Buescher will be in his sixth All-Star preliminary race on Sunday. He made one All-Star Race start (2017).

· Overall at Texas Motor Speedway, Buescher has a best finish of 15th (2018).

Scott Graves in the All-Star

· Graves has three All-Star Race starts all-time – all of which came with Ryan Newman in the No. 6.

· Overall at Texas, Graves has a best finish of 11th (2019 – Newman).

QUOTE WORTHY
Buescher on the All-Star Race:
“Our goal is to obviously put our Fastenal Mustang into the All-Star race by winning a stage or the Open race itself. We were close last year, and despite our poor result in Kansas, we were strong in terms of speed. For me, it’s always great to get back home and I can’t wait to see family and friends ahead of what should be a fun Sunday in Fort Worth.”

Last Time Out
Buescher finished 27th at Kansas after overheating issues put him on pit road under green-flag conditions, ultimately losing multiple laps to the leaders.

On the Car

Fastenal, in its 12th season with RFK in 2022, makes its ninth appearance with the No. 17 this weekend. In its early days with RFK, Fastenal originally was a partner with the No. 99 team before moving over to the No. 17 team since. They were also the primary partner on the No. 60 Xfinity Series entry that captured the owner’s championship in 2011.

Fastenal will feature top suppliers Klever, ARC and Brady on Buescher’s Mustang as he competes this weekend. For more information on these suppliers, visit Fastenal.com, and stay up-do-date on social @FastenalCompany.

About Fastenal
Fastenal [Nasdaq: FAST] is North America’s largest fastener distributor and a ‘one-stop’ source for hundreds of thousands of OEM, MRO and Construction products. With more than 2,600 stores worldwide, the company supports B2B customers with tailored local inventory and dedicated personnel, who visit regularly, quickly respond to emergency needs, and provide efficient inventory management solutions. Fastenal’s service-oriented business network includes the world’s largest industrial vending program, 14 regional distribution centers, 8 custom manufacturing facilities, thousands of delivery vehicles, and industry-leading sourcing, quality and engineering resources.

Team: No. 6 Kohler Generators Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Matt McCall
Twitter: @RFK6Team, @RFKRacing and @keselowski
Race Format: Explained Below
NASCAR All-Star Race – Sunday, May 22 at 8 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Weekend Format

· This year’s running of the All-Star Race will feature a new qualifying format for drivers already locked into the All-Star Race. Qualifying will consist of two rounds. The first round will see a single lap in reverse order of the current 2022 owner points. The top-eight qualifiers in the first round will transfer to a head-to-head elimination bracket.

· The eight-car elimination bracket will put a heavy emphasis on pit crews, allowing their talents to shine to better their drivers’ qualifying position. It will feature two cars staged in temporary side-by-side pit stalls near the end of pit road. At the sound of an alert, each pit crew will perform a four-tire stop, and at the drop of the jack, drivers will exit their pit stalls onto the track with no speed limit on pit road. The first car back to the start-finish line will advance to the next round.

· The final pairing will compete for the pole. Drivers eliminated in the Round of 8 will start in positions 5-8 based on their one-lap speeds from the first round of qualifying. Drivers eliminated in the Round of 4 will start in positions 3 and 4 based on their one-lap speeds.

Keselowski in the All-Star Race

· Keselowski makes his 14th start in the All-Star Race. He has three second-place finishes all time, first in 2012, then in 2016, and most recently last season (2021).

· Overall he’s finished top-10 eight different times in the annual exhibition event, four of which were inside the top five.

· Keselowski has 26 starts to his credit in the Cup Series at Texas Motor Speedway with a best finish of second (twice – 2012, 2015). He’s finished top-10 11 times, and last season finished fourth in the No. 2 machine.

Matt McCall in the All-Star Race

· McCall will call his eighth All-Star Race on Sunday with his third different driver. He and Jamie McMurray ran fifth together back in 2017 for his best finish to date, while last season he led Kurt Busch to a P10 finish.

· Overall at Texas McCall has eight top-10s in 13 starts.

QUOTE WORTHY
Keselowski on racing in the All-Star Race:
“The All-Star Race each year is one of the highlights of our sport, no matter where it is. Despite the format changes from year to year, it’s an action-packed short sprint for bragging rights and a boost in morale to be able to go out and beat the best of the best. We’ve been close there over the years, and can’t wait to see what we’ve got in the Kohler Generators Ford come Sunday.”

Last Time Out

Keselowski finished 14th last weekend at Kansas in the King’s Hawaiian Ford, his sixth top-15 of the season.

On the Car

Kohler Generators returns to the No. 6 car for its fourth 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.

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.

FORD PERFORMANCE NASCAR: ALL-STAR RACE NOTES

The annual NASCAR All-Star race headlines this weekend’s activity as Texas Motor Speedway hosts the event for the second straight year. In addition, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series will be featured at the 1.5-mile facility with each competing separately on Friday and Saturday, respectively.

This Week’s Schedule:

Friday, May 20 – NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, 8:30 p.m. ET (FS1)
Saturday, May 21 – NASCAR XFINITY Series, 1:30 p.m. ET (FS1)
Sunday, May 22 – NASCAR Cup Series, All-Star Open, 5:30 p.m. ET (FS1)
Sunday, May 22 – NASCAR Cup Series, All-Star Race, 8 p.m. ET (FS1)

FORD IN THE NASCAR ALL-STAR RACE

· Ford has won the All-Star Race 12 times.
· NASCAR Hall of Famers Davey Allison and Mark Martin each won it twice.
· Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick have All-Star wins with Ford.

FORD IN THE NASCAR XFINITY SERIES AT TEXAS

· Ford is second for the most series wins at Texas with 14.
· Mark Martin has the most series wins with Ford at Texas (3).
· Austin Cindric is the last Ford winner at the track (2020).

FORD IN THE NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES AT TEXAS

· Ford has three series wins at Texas.
· Ford won the first two series races at Texas with Kenny Irwin Jr. and Tony Raines.
· Greg Biffle won at Texas in his championship season of 2000.

FORD’S ALL-STAR LINEUP

There are eight Ford drivers guaranteed a place in the All-Star field with additional spots available through the preliminary Open qualifying race and fan vote. Currently, all three drivers from Team Penske — Joey Logano, Austin Cindric and Ryan Blaney — are in the race while Stewart-Haas will be represented by Kevin Harvick, Aric Almirola and Chase Briscoe. Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing has co-owner Brad Keselowski in the field while Michael McDowell of Front Row Motorsports makes his second straight appearance.

TWO FIRST-TIME FORD ALL-STARS

This will mark the first All-Star Race appearance for Austin Cindric and Chase Briscoe after each of them posted their initial NASCAR Cup Series victory earlier this year. Cindric, of course, won the season-opening Daytona 500 while Briscoe took his checkered flag a few weeks later at Phoenix Raceway. Only three drivers have won the All-Star Race in their first appearance. Darrell Waltrip won the inaugural event in 1985 while Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2000) and Ryan Newman (2002) are the only rookies to ever take the checkered flag first.

ZANE SMITH OFF TO FAST TRUCK START

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series has conducted eight races so far in 2022 and Ford F-150 driver Zane Smith is serving notice that he’s a championship contender. Smith won for the third time when he took the checkered flag last weekend at Kansas Speedway, doubling his career total heading into the season. Smith, the only multiple winner on the circuit this year, is the first Ford F-150 driver to win more than once in the same season since Grant Enfinger did it four times with ThorSport in 2020.

HERBST AND SIEG GATHERING VALUABLE XFINITY POINTS

There have been eight different winners in the first 11 NASCAR Xfinity Series races (seven full-time NXS drivers) and while Ford’s Riley Herbst and Ryan Sieg are still looking to join that group, they’ve consistently scored enough points to keep them firmly in the hunt for one of the 12 playoff berths. Herbst and Sieg go into this weekend’s race eighth and ninth, respectively in the standings, but they’re second and third among drivers who have not won a race in 2022.

FORD ALL-STAR RACE HIGHLIGHTS

ELLIOTT WINS ALL-STAR RACE IN FRONT OF HOMETOWN FANS

The first time Ford won the All-Star Race was in 1986 when Bill Elliott drove his Thunderbird to Victory Lane, but that race is remembered for another trivial fact as well. That marked the only time, prior to this year, that the event has been run at a track other than Charlotte Motor Speedway. Elliott’s home track of Atlanta Motor Speedway served as host on Mother’s Day that year, a date NASCAR traditionally does not race. With only 10 cars making up the field, Elliott darted to the lead from his outside front row starting position and never gave it up as he led all 83 laps en route to a popular victory with the fans.

WALTRIP-WOOD FIRST-TIME WINNERS

Michael Waltrip’s win in 1996 marked his first victory in NASCAR’s top division and was the first in the event for Wood Brothers Racing. Waltrip almost didn’t get into the big show because he had to battle it out in the preliminary Winston Open, where he grabbed the final transfer spot by holding off Johnny Benson to finish fifth. That meant he started last in the 20-car main event, which was called the Winston Select. After the first two 30-lap segments had been completed, Waltrip found himself fourth for the final 10-lap shootout. He passed Rusty Wallace for third after an aborted restart, and then was riding behind Dale Earnhardt and Terry Labonte, who were battling side-by-side. As the two entered turn one with eight laps to go, they made contact which slowed them down enough to allow Waltrip to dart to the inside and pass both of them for the lead. He held on the rest of the way to post his first win of any kind in NASCAR’s top division.

ONE HOT NIGHT

Davey Allison had won the 1991 version of the All-Star Race, but when he and the other competitors came back the following year it was a totally different experience. Why? The 1992 Winston at Charlotte Motor Speedway was the first NASCAR superspeedway race run under the lights. Billed as “One Hot Night” it lived up to that billing as the final 10-lap shootout featured a battle between Dale Earnhardt and Kyle Petty, who were racing for the win on the final lap. Earnhardt was in the lead coming down the backstretch, but as they entered turn three Petty appeared to tap the familiar No. 3, which sent Earnhardt sliding toward the outside wall. That enabled Allison to get to Petty’s rear bumper coming off turn four and then go to the inside as they entered the tri-oval. As the two hit the finish line, Petty and Allison made contact sending the No. 28 Texaco Havoline Ford into the outside wall. Allison ended up winning by half-a-car-length, but didn’t get to experience Victory Lane as he had to be cut out of the car and removed through the roof before being placed on a stretch and airlifted to an area hospital with a concussion and bruised lung.

EDWARDS WINS IN 2011

Carl Edwards took home the $1 million prize for winning the main event in 2011, capturing three of the four segments, while Roush Fenway teammate David Ragan won the preliminary Sprint Showdown. The race came down to a mandatory four-tire pit stop to begin the fourth and final 10-lap dash to the checkered flag. The 99 crew got Edwards out first and he was never threatened over the last 15 miles as he beat Kyle Busch to the finish line. It marked the third time in history Ford swept the Showdown and All-Star Race. The other two occasions came in 1996 with Jimmy Spencer (Showdown) and Michael Waltrip (All-Star), and 1998 with Jeremy Mayfield (Showdown) and Mark Martin (All-Star). The win was the fourth for car owner Jack Roush, who also won with Matt Kenseth (2004) and Mark Martin (1998 and 2005).

LOGANO AND KESELOWSKI FINISH 1-2

Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski made All-Star history as they became the first teammates to sweep the top two spots in the All-Star Race when they did it in 2016. Logano came out on top of a side-by-side battle with Kyle Larson in the final two laps, getting clear with just over one lap to go after Larson hit the outside wall coming off turn two. That enabled Keselowski to get the runner-up spot and successfully commemorate the 50th Anniversary of car owner Roger Penske’s career in motorsports. It marked Ford’s 11th All-Star Race win and first in five years since Edwards won in 2011.

HARVICK DOMINATES

Kevin Harvick used a push from Ford teammate Joey Logano down the stretch to win the 2018 All-Star Race, a race that featured a new aerodynamic package that utilized restrictor plates for the first time on a 1.5-mile track. In addition, a larger spoiler designed to keep the cars packed together and create passing through the night was used and resulted in 38 lead changes. Harvick was the dominant driver as he won Stage 1 and Stage 3 before leading all 10 laps of the final segment. Daniel Suarez finished second with Logano third.

FORD NASCAR CUP SERIES ALL-STAR RACE WINNERS

1986 – Bill Elliott

1991 – Davey Allison

1992 – Davey Allison

1994 – Geoffrey Bodine

1996 – Michael Waltrip

1998 – Mark Martin

2002 – Ryan Newman

2004 – Matt Kenseth

2005 – Mark Martin

2011 – Carl Edwards

2016 – Joey Logano

2018 – Kevin Harvick

FORD NASCAR XFINITY SERIES RACE WINNERS AT TEXAS

1997 – Mark Martin

1999 – Mark Martin

2000 – Mark Martin

2004 – Matt Kenseth

2007 – Matt Kenseth (1)

2010 – Carl Edwards (2)

2011 – Carl Edwards (1) and Trevor Bayne (2)

2012 – Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (1)

2013 – Brad Keselowski (2)

2015 – Brad Keselowski (2)

2018 – Ryan Blaney (1) and Cole Custer (2)

2020 – Austin Cindric (1)

FORD NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES RACE WINNERS AT TEXAS

1997 – Kenny Irwin

1998 – Tony Raines

2000 – Greg Biffle (1)

ARIC ALMIROLA
Texas All-Star Race Advance
No. 10 Smithfield #BuschBacon Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview

● Event: NASCAR All-Star Race (Non-Points Race)
● Time/Date: 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 22
● Location: Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth
● Layout: 1.5-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 100 laps/150 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 25 laps / Stage 2: 25 laps / Stage 3: 25 laps / Final Stage: 50 laps
● TV/Radio: FS1 / PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● History at Texas: In 21 NASCAR Cup Series starts on the 1.5-mile Texas Motor Speedway oval, Almirola has one top-five, five top-10s, and has led 101 laps.

● All-Star Race History: In four NASCAR All-Star Race starts, Almirola has only finished outside of the top-10 once. In seven All-Star Open or Sprint Showdown exhibition races, he has one win, which came last year at Texas, and has only finished outside of the top-10 once.

● All-Star Race format: The non-points race is comprised of 100 laps, broken into four stages. The new 2022 NASCAR All-Star Race format has provided a major incentive to win any of the opening three stages or the pit stop competition during the break between Stages 2 and 3.

Stage 1 (25 laps): Stage 1 winner will start on the pole in the final stage as long as he finishes 15th or better in Stages 2 and 3.
Stage 2 (25 laps): Stage 2 winner starts second in final stage as long as he finishes 15th or better in Stage 3.
Special Stage Break (Pit Stop Competition): Each team must pit and perform a four-tire stop. The team with the shortest time on pit road (pit in to pit out) wins the pit crew award and the driver will start fourth in the final stage as long as he finishes 15th or better in Stage 3.
Stage 3 (25 laps): Stage 3 winner starts third in final stage.
Final Stage (50 laps): Stage 1 winner starts first, Stage 2 winner second, Stage 3 winner ​third and pit stop competition winner fourth. If no “natural” caution occurs between laps 15 and 25, NASCAR will call an “All-Star” competition caution. Winner of the final stage earns $1 million.
● #BuschBacon: Does winning and Bacon for life ring a bell? In 2018, Almirola won the fall race at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, which catapulted him into the next round of the playoffs, all while announcing that one lucky fan would win Bacon for life. This weekend, Busch and Smithfield have upped the ante. The Stewart-Haas Racing driver has joined his teammate Kevin Harvick to deliver a lifetime supply of Busch Beer and Smithfield Bacon to the luckiest fan in the history of sponsor promotions. All fans need to do is tune in to FS1’s broadcast of the All-Star Race beginning at 8 p.m. EDT Sunday and follow @BuschBeer. Then, during the fourth lap and the 10th lap of each stage of the All-Star Race, tweet #BuschBacon for a chance to win the most coveted prize mankind has ever known – Busch Beer and Smithfield Bacon for life.

● Points: Almirola sits 12th in the driver standings with 322 points, 153 out of first heading into Sunday night’s non-points event.

● Almirola’s career: In 401 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.

● Smithfield Foods, Inc., headquartered in Smithfield, Virginia, since 1936, is an American food company with agricultural roots and a global reach. Its 63,000 team members are dedicated to producing “Good food. Responsibly.®” Smithfield is one of the world’s leading vertically integrated protein companies. The company has pioneered sustainability standards for more than two decades, including its industry-leading commitments to become carbon negative in U.S. company-owned operations and reduce GHG emissions 30 percent across its entire U.S. value chain by 2030. Smithfield believes in the power of protein to end food insecurity and has donated hundreds of millions of food servings to local communities. Smithfield boasts a portfolio of high-quality iconic brands, such as Smithfield®, Eckrich® and Nathan’s Famous®, among many others.

Aric Almirola, Driver of the No. 10 Smithfield #BuschBacon Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing:

What do you think about this weekend’s #BuschBacon promotion?

“Any time we get a chance to give our fans something to root for and something to win is always a cool opportunity. To have partners like Smithfield and Busch who invest in our fan base really helps the entire sport and gives our fans something to engage with during the races. I’m pretty familiar with giving away bacon for life so, hopefully, this collaboration brings us some good luck.”

What do you think of the new format and how does it feel to not have to race your way into the All-Star Race this year?

“The All-Star Race is just a must-see event. It’s a break in the season where the best of the best get to battle it out for a million-dollar check and no consequences. You see drivers give everything they have and truly race for nothing less than a win. The new format rewards you in each stage, too, so not only do we have to race for the win, but we have to race for the win in each stage to give ourselves a shot at the end. In the past, we have had to race our way in, and we were successful at that last year. That is not a fun position to be in, though – knowing that you may go all that way to miss the race. Thankfully, our win in New Hampshire last year has us secured in the big show and I have found a lot of good speed at Texas in the past. I’m really looking forward to getting out there and putting on a show.”

No. 10 Smithfield #BuschBacon Ford 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

KEVIN HARVICK
All-Star Advance
No. 4 #BuschBacon Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview

● Event: NASCAR All-Star Race (non-points race)
● Time/Date: 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 22
● Location: Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth
● Layout: 1.5-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 125 laps/187.5 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 25 laps / Stage 2: 25 laps / Stage 3: 25 laps / Final Stage: 50 laps
● TV/Radio: FS1 / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● While Kevin Harvick is racing for some cold, hard cash on Sunday night in the $1 million-to-win NASCAR All-Star Race, fans can tweet for something even better – beer and bacon for life. The Stewart-Haas Racing driver has joined his teammate, Aric Almirola, to deliver a lifetime supply of Busch Beer and Smithfield Bacon to the luckiest fan in the history of sponsor promotions. All fans need to do is tune into FS1’s broadcast of the All-Star Race beginning at 8 p.m. EDT on Sunday and follow @BuschBeer. Then, during the fourth lap and the 10th lap of every stage of the All-Star Race, tweet #BuschBacon for a chance to win the most coveted prize mankind has ever known – Busch Beer and Smithfield Bacon for life. Throughout the All-Star Race, Harvick’s No. 4 #BuschBacon Ford Mustang and Almirola’s No. 10 Smithfield #BuschBacon Ford Mustang will drive home the point that crispy Smithfield Bacon is best paired with a crisp Busch Light.

● Harvick has always been an all-star. Since his 2001 NASCAR Cup Series debut, Harvick has been a part of every NASCAR All-Star Race – the only active driver to do so. The driver of the No. 4 #BuschBacon Ford Mustang first earned entry into the All-Star Race by winning in just his third career Cup Series start on March 11, 2001 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth marks the 38th anniversary of the All-Star Race and it will be Harvick’s 22nd straight appearance in the race – the most of any active driver.

● Harvick is a two-time winner of the All-Star Race. He won the specialty non-points race for the first time in 2007 by leading the final 20 laps and crossing the stripe .141 of a second ahead of second-place Jimmie Johnson. Harvick scored his second All-Star win in 2019 when he led twice for 36 laps, including the last 11, to take the victory by .325 of a second over Daniel Suárez. Both victories came at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

● Charlotte hosted the first All-Star Race and 34 in total. The All-Star Race debuted on May 25, 1985 at Charlotte’s 1.5-mile oval and it was won by Darrell Waltrip. Atlanta hosted the All-Star Race in 1986 before returning to Charlotte for a 33-race run. The 2020 All-Star Race was held at the .533-mile Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, the first and only time the All-Star Race wasn’t held at a 1.5-mile oval. The All-Star Race returned to a 1.5-mile oval last June when Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth began hosting the All-Star Race.

● Harvick has seven top-five and 13 top-10 finishes in his 21 career All-Star Races. Harvick finished 15th in last year’s All-Star Race at Texas, ending a streak of three straight top-threes and four consecutive top-10s in the All-Star Race. Prior to last year’s All-Star Race, Harvick had finished third or better in five of the previous seven All-Star Races, including the 2020 All-Star Race at Bristol when he finished third.

● This year’s All-Star Race at Texas will be 125 laps and broken into four stages with the starting lineup being determined by a four-round qualifying format featuring head-to-head elimination rounds that highlight the speed and efficiency of each team’s pit crew. Here’s how qualifying will work:

●  Opening round is the traditional single-car, one-lap format in reverse order of the current 2022 owner points.

●  Fastest eight qualifiers transfer to a three-round, head-to-head elimination bracket.

●  Elimination bracket will feature two cars staged in adjacent pit stalls near the end of pit road.

●  At the sound of an alert, each pit crew will perform a four-tire stop and, at the drop of the jack, drivers will exit their respective pit stalls and return to the track, with no pit road speed limit.

●  First car back to the start/finish line advances to the next round.

●  Final pairing competes for the pole.

● Once the starting field is set, the 38th edition of the All-Star Race will consist of four stages, with the first three stages 25 laps in length and the fourth and final stage being a 50-lap shootout for the $1 million prize.

●  Stage 1 (25 laps): Stage 1 winner will start on the pole in the final stage as long as he finishes 15th or better in Stages 2 and 3.

●  Stage 2 (25 laps): Stage 2 winner starts second in final stage as long as he finishes 15th or better in Stage 3.

●  Special Stage Break (Pit Stop Competition): Each team must pit and perform a four-tire stop.The team with the shortest time on pit road (pit in/pit out) wins the pit crew award, and the driver will start fourth in the final stage as long as he finishes 15th or better in Stage 3.

●  Stage 3 (25 laps): Stage 3 winner starts third in final stage.

●  Stage 4 (50 laps): Stage 1 winner starts first, Stage 2 winner starts second, Stage 3 winner starts third, and pit stop competition winner starts fourth.If a caution for an on-track incident or debris happens between laps 15-25 of the final stage, standard race procedures will be in effect. If there is no caution during that time, NASCAR will call a competition caution. Winner of Stage 4 earns $1 million.

Kevin Harvick, Driver of the No. 4 #BuschBacon Ford Mustang

In this era of constant development with the NextGen car, is the All-Star Race a useful test session, both in terms of what you can learn now and what you can apply to Texas when you return there in late September for a regular, points-paying race?

“You can definitely try some stuff, and you definitely have to approach the All-Star Race like it’s for the end of the year. Obviously, you want to put yourself in position to win the All-Star Race because that’s cool. But in the end, you want to have the right notes and things for the end of the year.”

The 38th All-Star Race takes place Sunday at Texas. There has seemingly been 38 different sets of rules and formats for the All-Star Race. When do you attempt to figure out the rules and what you need to do during the race?

“I’ve just gotten to the point where I don’t even pay attention to the rules and I just let them tell me the rules when we get there. It’s just too much to take in until the week of the race. I have Rodney (Childers, crew chief) give me an explanation before we go race because it’s up to them as far as what the strategy needs to be and how many sets of tires you have.”

The one thing that has stayed the same over the years is the $1 million payout. How much of that do you get and what do you get to do with it?

“I would say that each driver probably has a little bit different of a deal. Usually that percentage kind of varies between drivers, but you definitely don’t get it all.”

This is your 22nd season in the NASCAR Cup Series and you’ll be making your 22nd straight appearance in the All-Star Race. You’re the only active driver who has been in the All-Star Race every single year of their NASCAR career. We’d call that a testament to your consistency. What would you call it?

“I was fortunate to win the first year and qualify for the All-Star Race and, after that, we were able to win the All-Star Race a couple of times, so we make sure we stay in it every year. Obviously, winning a championship doesn’t hurt with your qualification for that, either. For me, I think as you look at the All-Star Race, it’s fun to be a part of. It’s unique and it’s different and all those things combined, so it’s always been an interesting race.”

No. 4 #BuschBacon 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

KYLE BUSCH
Hey Now, You’re An All-Star

HUNTERSVILLE, North Carolina (May 17, 2022) – With 13 NASCAR Cup Series points-paying races in the books and just 13 races to go before the playoffs start, it’s time for the annual NASCAR All-Star Race. Sunday’s All-Star Race will be the 37th edition of the event and for the second consecutive year it will be held at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.

The inaugural All-Star Race was held at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway in 1985. It moved to Atlanta Motor Speedway in 1986, then back to Charlotte in 1987, where it was held for the next 33 seasons before moving to Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway in 2020. Texas became the fourth All-Star Race venue last season and only the second that has hosted more than once, joining Charlotte.

With his extensive winning resume, Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 18 M&M’S Crunchy Cookie Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), is an all-star in every sense. Busch locked in his spot for Sunday night’s main event – comprised primarily of 2021 and 2022 Cup Series race winners, plus past All-Star Race winners and past series champions – via his two 2021 wins, as well as his win last month at Bristol. The Las Vegas native is certainly worthy to carry the title of all-star, having recorded 223 career wins in NASCAR’s top three divisions and sitting alone in ninth place on the all-time Cup Series wins list with 60. The two-time Cup Series champion brought home his first All-Star Race victory in 2017 at Charlotte and hopes to add another at Texas this weekend.

This year’s All-Star Race will consist of four stages, with the first three 25 laps in length and the fourth a 50-lap shootout for the $1 million prize. The new format has provided a major incentive to win any of the opening three stages or the pit stop competition during the break between Stages 2 and 3. Below is a breakdown how each stage will work:

● Stage 1 (25 laps): Stage 1 winner will start on the pole in the final stage as long as he finishes 15th or better in Stages 2 and 3.

● Stage 2 (25 laps): Stage 2 winner starts second in final stage as long as he finishes 15th or better in Stage 3.

● Special Stage Break (Pit Stop Competition): Each team must pit and perform a four-tire stop. The team with the shortest time on pit road (pit in to pit out) wins the pit crew award and the driver will start fourth in the final stage as long as he finishes 15th or better in Stage 3.

● Stage 3 (25 laps): Stage 3 winner starts third in final stage.

● Stage 4 (50 laps): Stage 1 winner starts first, Stage 2 winner second, Stage 3 winner third and pit stop competition winner fourth. If a “natural” caution occurs between laps 15 and 25 of the final stage, standard race procedures will be in effect. If no “natural” caution occurs during that time, NASCAR will call an “All Star” competition caution. Winner of Stage 4 earns $1 million.

M&M’S Crunchy Cookie will once again be adorning Busch’s No. 18 Toyota in Sunday night’s All Star event. M&M’S Crunchy Cookie combines two favorite treats – M&M’S and chocolate chip cookies – and is now available nationwide. It’s bound to give race fans a fun, nostalgic snack to enjoy during this weekend’s race.

So as Busch heads back to Texas for the second-ever All-Star Race in the Lone Star State, he’ll look to bring home his second All-Star Race victory, along with the traditional Texas victory lane cowboy hat, in Texas-style All-Star fashion.

KYLE BUSCH, Driver of the No. 18 M&M’S Crunchy Cookie Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing:

What about the All-Star Race makes it so special for you?

“I think it’s just all about the money on the line. There’s a completely different set of how the race is going to unfold and things like that, but you essentially still have your stages, but they are mostly shorter. Other than that, it’s just about trying to go out there and win that million dollars and bring home a check or bring home a steering wheel, I guess, with our M&M’S Crunchy Cookie Camry.”

What does it mean to be a part of the All-Star Race in this sport?

“It matters, especially with who your fellow competitors are. For us, being an all-star and being in the All-Star Race is one of the most fun things we get to do each year. I’d say the Clash is another one of those and, with the All-Star Race, they are certainly two fun races where we get a chance to go after just a win and bring home the checkers or end up on the wrecker. It’s an exciting night and there’s a lot of energy there. It gives you the opportunity to run that many qualifying laps in a row. That’s all you’re doing – you’re giving it all you’ve got every single lap. You’re definitely up on top of the wheel and your guys do the best they can to give you a good car and to make it as lightweight as possible and throw away the air conditioning unit and keep all the front fans away from you – no radiator fan. All that stuff, just try to lighten that baby up and make it fast.”

What driving style does it take to succeed in the All-Star Race?

“I think just being aggressive and knowing when to be aggressive and how to be aggressive is the biggest thing. It’s a race where you have to get to the front and you have to get out there and get yourself, more importantly, in clean air in order to keep yourself out front and on your own.”

What drivers do you think are best suited for the All-Star Race?

“You look at the guys who historically are better in qualifying. I think qualifying well can always lend itself to racing the All-Star Race well because you’re running however many laps that segment is, which is usually short, and you’re running that many qualifying laps in a row. You’re just trying to get the most you can out of your car there. It’s sometimes hard to pass because the guy in front of you is trying to get the most out of his car and so are you, so you just can’t get there.”

Event Overview:

● Event: NASCAR All-Star Race (Non-Points Event)
● Time/Date: 8 p.m. EDT on Sunday, May 22
● Location: Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth
● Layout: 1.5-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 125 laps
● Stage Lengths: Rounds 1-3: 25 laps / Round 4: 50 laps
● TV/Radio: FS1 / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Meet the No. 18 M&M’S Crunchy Cookie / 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:

● 17 and Counting: The NASCAR All-Star Race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth will mark Kyle Busch’s 17th appearance in the non-points event.

● ‘Bring Home the Steering Wheel or the Trophy:’ Busch has led 236 laps in his 16 previous All-Star Race starts and brought home his first win in his 12th start in the non-points event in 2017 with a three-wide move on the final restart.

● Texas Stats: Busch has four wins, 14 top-five finishes and 18 top-10s and has led a total of 1,069 laps in 31 career Cup Series starts at Texas. Busch’s average Texas finish is 10.9.

● 223 and Counting: While the All-Star Race is a non-points event, and a win won’t add to his tally, Busch currently sits at 223 overall wins among NASCAR’s top three series. In addition to his 60 Cup Series wins and 102 in the Xfinity Series, Busch has 61 wins in the Camping World Truck Series. Busch has five total Cup Series non-points wins, which include two Clash wins, one All-Star Race victory, and two wins in the Duel qualifying races for the Daytona 500 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.