NASCAR CUP SERIES
TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
NASCAR ALL-STAR RACE
TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
MAY 20, 2022

WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 Liberty University Camaro ZL1, met with the media in advance of this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Texas Motor Speedway. Press Conference Transcript:

YOU HAD THE TIRE ISSUE LAST WEEK AT KANSAS. WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU LEARNED THIS WEEK ABOUT WHAT OCCURRED; AND IS THERE ANY CONCERN THIS WEEK WITH ANOTHER 1.5-MILE TRACK AND THE SAME LEFT SIDE TIRE?

“Yeah, that’s a good point about the tire being the same. I leave it up to the engineers. There’s nothing that I could do different. That was definitely the cleanest run that we had; probably the fastest pace that we had, being in the lead and running up front. But I don’t know if any of that really contributed to it. I think it’s just one of those things that everyone seemed to go through last weekend at some point in time.

Just fortunate that I could drive it back to pit road and not have any body damage, but we certainly had a lot of underbody damage that caused a loss of speed over the race. That was unfortunate. We didn’t do a great job keeping up with the track after we had our issues there with the left rear because it definitely took away a lot of downforce.”

NEXT WEEKEND IS THE COCA-COLA 600. IS THERE EVER A POINT IN THAT RACE WHERE YOU’RE LIKE ‘I WISH THIS RACE WAS OVER’ WHEN YOU’RE BEHIND THE WHEEL; AND HOW DO YOU HANDLE THAT AND STAY FOCUSED IN THE RACE?

“Honestly, not last year. I felt like last year was a game of runs. Obviously the No. 5 (Kyle Larson) was great all night and I felt like we were inching up on him each run; inching up and then we did take the lead at one point in Stage Three. So at that point, I thought the race was going pretty fast because I felt like we were constantly just trying to get a little bit better as the race went on. As soon as we took the lead, it was like ‘alright, we’ve got control of the race’. So, you’re trying to think about all of those things.

To answer your question, it goes by faster when you’re running well. If you’re not running well in that race, it’s definitely a really long race.”

THE CUP SERIES IS GOING TO GO TO GATEWAY. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE CUP CARS BEING THERE AND IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN TAKE AWAY FROM WAY BACK WHEN?

“There’s really not a ton I can take from when I race there because they repaved the track. The engine package for us is obviously going to be a lot different than what I raced there in the trucks. I feel like for me, it’s going to be all kind of a clean slate. I look towards a Martinsville (Speedway) or a Phoenix (Raceway) to kind of understand how the track is going to drive in these Next Gen cars. Probably more so Phoenix, but with longer straightaways. So, it might be like Martinsville on corner entry, at least into turn one.

I’m excited for it. I think our short track program has been really good this year. That’s not a short track, but it definitely kind of races like one.”

DO YOU ROLL IN HERE WITH KIND OF A DIFFERENT FEELING BECAUSE IT’S BIG MONEY AND NO POINTS ON THE LINE? DO YOU GUYS FEEL THE WAY FANS LOOK AT THIS RACE?

“Yeah, it definitely is a little weirder preparation for the week. It’s probably the least that I know about this race of any race every week. I feel like you get in a rhythm when you go to certain race tracks. You know how the stages are going to play out. You know how long the race is and you kind of plan all that in your head of what’s important. And then you’re also kind of worried about getting a good finish. I think at this race, you’re not as worried about getting a solid finish. You’re kind of just worried about winning it. That definitely brings a different preparation leading up to the week, just to think about what’s it going to take to win, instead of what’s it going to take to get myself in a position to win. You’re really just thinking about the qualifying format; you’re thinking about how do I maximize that to get on the pole.”

HAVING THE ALL-STAR RACE HERE AND HAVING A RACE HERE LATER THIS YEAR THAT IS PART OF THE PLAYOFFS – I KNOW A LOT CHANGES, BUT FROM A SIMULATION STANDPOINT AND FROM A DATA STANDPOINT, HOW MUCH WILL TEAMS AND MANUFACTURERS USE THIS WEEKEND AS PREPARATION FOR FUTURE RACES HERE?

“Yeah, it depends a lot on the weather when we come back in the fall – is it going to be 45 degrees? I think that alters your simulation quite a bit. I feel like you can get a baseline for travels and get a baseline for what the track content is and things like that. But really nothing really simulates the change in weather. I feel like that’s the biggest variable in a lot of this – figuring out if it’s going to be similar weather. Luckily, Sunday is kind of cooler and that might simulate more of what the fall is going to be like.”

YOU’RE RUNNING YOUR FIRST XFINITY SERIES RACES TOMORROW SINCE YOUR CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2017. HOW DID THAT ALL COME TOGETHER WITH YOUR HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS TEAMMATES AND WHY NOW AFTER FIVE YEARS?

“That’s a good question. It really came together just through Mr. Hendrick, Jeff (Gordon) and Chad (Knaus), and everyone at HendrickCars.com. They wanted to do this is and it was something that they saw was a benefit to us. They asked us who wanted to race and I was really adamant that I wanted to do as many as possible. I can only do five, but I’m going to do three as far as I know.

I think it’s good to get a feel for this place. I haven’t been here in awhile in a Xfinity car, like you said, and I feel like the Xfinity car is probably closer to the Cup car this year with the low downforce. So, maybe I can learn some things there; and ultimately just have some fun and try to go win a race. It’s going to be a scorcher, so hopefully I stay hydrated and don’t fall out of the seat.”

Team Chevy high-resolution racing photos are available for editorial use.

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 79 countries with more than 3.2 million cars and trucks sold in 2020. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

Ty Dillon, No. 42 Ferris Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

• Wide Open Spaces: Ty Dillon will attempt to qualify for his first NASCAR All-Star Race by competing in the All-Star Open on Sunday evening. The qualifying race will run immediately prior to the main feature and will include three stages (20 laps, 20 laps, 10 laps). The winner of each stage will earn a spot in the All-Star Race, along with the Fan Vote recipient.

Dillon has competed in four previous All-Star Open events – three at Charlotte Motor Speedway and one at Bristol Motor Speedway. In his two most recent races (2019 and 2020), the 30-year-old captured second and fifth-place results respectively.

• Dillon at Texas Motor Speedway: Dillon has competed in nine NASCAR Cup Series events at Texas Motor Speedway, posting four top-20 results and only finishing worse than 24th-place once. Running a limited schedule in 2021, the North Carolina native did not participate in any NASCAR event at the 1.5-mile oval last season. Dillon has also raced in 10 NASCAR Xfinity Series races at the Fort Worth intermediate, earning one top-five and three top-10 finishes. In five NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events, Dillon collected one win (2013), four top-five results and never finished outside of the seventh position.
• Mow Tyme: Ferris will serve as primary partner on Dillon’s Chevrolet Camaro for Sunday’s race at Texas Motor Speedway. Ferris, a brand of Briggs & Stratton, is a leading commercial and industrial turf care equipment provider. The red and black colors will adorn the No. 42 for a total of three races in the 2022 season: All-Star Open at Texas Motor Speedway on May 22, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course on July 31, and Michigan International Speedway on August 7.

As an industry leader, Ferris has built a reputation for accomplishing more work with ease, through innovation, uncompromising performance, and quality features. Ferris makes extremely durable equipment with patented full suspension systems and ergonomic controls and backs them up through world-class dealers.

- About Briggs & Stratton: Briggs & Stratton, headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is focused on providing power to get work done and make people’s lives better. Briggs & Stratton is the world’s largest producer of gasoline engines for outdoor power equipment, and is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of commercial lithium-ion batteries, power generation, pressure washer, lawn and garden, turf care and job site products through its Briggs & Stratton®, Simplicity®, Snapper®, Ferris®, Vanguard®, Allmand®, Billy Goat®, Murray®, Branco® and Victa® brands. Briggs & Stratton products are designed, manufactured, marketed, and serviced in over 100 countries on six continents. For additional information, please visit www.basco.com and www.briggsandstratton.com.

• From the Drivers Seat: Prior to Covid, Cup Series teams would have two or three hours of practice in one weekend. Does simulator time now play a factor in getting communication down with your crew chief and engineers?

“Yeah, absolutely. It gives you time to get the verbiage down with each other. Building the real relationship matters so much between driver and crew chief and engineers. It’s not always easy with everyone have their own personality, but you have to know where you fit, when to push, and when not to push. We don’t get that time in the physical, real action very often. The new practice format is such a grind in the moment – 15 minutes and then you turn over to qualifying. I’m studying SMT data, they are studying everything they see on the car, and it’s a super quick grind. When we get those precious moments and hours now in the simulator, they are so valuable and helping our team grow so much. When I can sit there and tell them what the car is doing and why I feel uncomfortable or comfortable with doing this motion, so they understand the background and my driving style, it grows our team. We have to use those sessions as much as we can and while it’s not the exact real thing, it’s the best we can do with what we have and we have to make the most of it.”

Erik Jones, No. 43 FOCUSfactor Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

• Ready for an All-Star Night: Since joining the NASCAR Cup Series full time in 2017, Erik Jones has made five attempts at competing in the All-Star Race. In 2019 and 2020, Jones competed in the All-Star race following wins in the previous season. His best finish came in 2020 with an 11th-place finish. In 2017, 2018 and 2021, Jones raced in the Open event, but came up short of making the big show. His best finish in an Open was second in 2018 when he narrowly missed qualifying for the All-Star event.
• Jones at Texas Motor Speedway: In the Cup Series, Jones has 10-career starts at Texas Motor Speedway with his best finish being fourth on three occasions (April 2018, November 2018, March 2019). He has six top-10 finishes and has led 112 laps.

In addition to the Cup Series, Jones has six starts in the Xfinity Series at Texas with three wins and all six finishes in the top four. He has two poles and has led 368 laps. On April 10, 2015, in just his ninth career start in the Xfinity Series, Jones earned the pole starting position and led 79 of 200 laps on the way to his first-career Xfinity Series victory. In the Truck Series, Jones has three starts with one win and 185 laps led.

• Focused on Winning: FOCUSfactor will serve as the primary partner on Jones’s Chevrolet Camaro for Sunday’s All-Star race at Texas Motor Speedway. - About FOCUSfactor: FOCUSfactor is sold at America’s leading retailers such as Costco, Wal-Mart, Walgreens, CVS, The Vitamin Shoppe and Amazon.com. FOCUSfactor, America’s leading brain health supplement, is a nutritional supplement that includes a proprietary blend of brain supporting vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other nutrients. In December 2012, the United States Patent and Trademark Office issued US Patent 8,329,227 covering FOCUSfactor’s proprietary formulation “for enhanced mental function”. The issuance of the patent marked one of the few times a patent has been issued for a nationally branded nutritional supplement. FOCUSfactor is clinically tested with results demonstrating improvements in focus, concentration and memory in healthy adults.
• From the Drivers Seat: What are your thoughts on racing at Texas Motor Speedway and your chance for this weekend’s All-Star Race?

“I’m looking forward to the All-Star race. Texas has been a good place to me in general over the last four or five years. I hope to race our way in through the Open and if not, fallback hopefully on the fan vote. The goal obviously is to be in the All-Star race on Sunday night and be racing for that million. Looking forward to getting down there. I always have fun going to Texas and being in that area. I can’t wait to get there and have a chance on Sunday.”

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.

Richard Childress Racing at the All-Star Race and Texas Motor Speedway … Richard Childress Racing has four wins in the NASCAR All-Star Race, three by Dale Earnhardt (1987, 1990 and 1993) plus Kevin Harvick’s victory in 2007. Jeff Burton (2007) and Austin Dillon (2020) have wins at Texas Motor Speedway in events where points were awarded. The Welcome, N.C., organization has earned five NASCAR Xfinity Series wins with Kevin Harvick (2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2012) and two NASCAR Truck Series wins with Jay Sauter (1999) and Ty Dillon (2013).

All-Star Race Rules and Regulations:

The race will consist of four stages, with the first three 25 laps in length and the fourth and final being 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.

• 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 second, Stage 3 winner third and pit stop competition winner fourth. If a “natural” caution occurs between laps 15-25 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 the Stage 4 earns $1 million.

Introducing the Next Gen … NASCAR’s Next Gen Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, which officially debuted in 2022, is a collaboration of the brightest engineering minds in racing. With technology at the forefront, Richard Childress Racing has played a unique and critical role in helping to bring this new on-track identity to life, working closely with OEMs, other teams and NASCAR to build and test the initial prototype.

Catch the Action … The Texas 250 at Texas Motor Speedway will be televised live on Saturday, May 21 beginning at 1:30 p.m. ET on FS1 and will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Follow Sunday’s Action at Texas … The NASCAR All-Star Open preludes the NASCAR All-Star Race and will be televised live on FS1 Sunday, May 22 beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET, followed by the NASCAR All-Star Race at 8 p.m. ET on FS1. Both races will also be broadcast live on PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

This Week’s Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Off Road Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Texas Motor Speedway … Dillon, who has made three previous All-Star race starts, is racing his way into this year’s All-Star event via the NASCAR Open, which will be comprised of three segments of 20, 20, and 10 laps. The winners of each Stage will advance to the All-Star race, as will the winner of a Fan Vote. Dillon is an accomplished racer at Texas Motor Speedway, with one Cup win at the track in 2020.

Tracker Off Road … Dillon’s No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 prominently features TRACKER ATVs, a game-changing new line of all-terrain vehicles and side-by-sides offering breakthrough performance, service and value in the off-road industry. TRACKER OFF ROAD was born out of a powerhouse partnership formed between Bass Pro Shops and TRACKER founder Johnny Morris and Textron Specialized Vehicles, bringing together the undisputed world leader in boating with a global leader in innovation and technology.

Bass Pro Shops … Bass Pro Shops is North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company. Founded in 1972 when avid young angler Johnny Morris began selling tackle out of his father’s liquor store in Springfield, Missouri, today the company provides customers with unmatched offerings spanning premier destination retail, outdoor equipment manufacturing, world-class resort destinations and more. In 2017 Bass Pro Shops acquired Cabela’s to create a “best-of-the-best” experience with superior products, dynamic locations and outstanding customer service. Bass Pro Shops also operates White River Marine Group, offering an unsurpassed collection of industry-leading boat brands, and Big Cedar Lodge, America’s Premier Wilderness Resort. Under the visionary conservation leadership of Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops is a national leader in protecting habitat and introducing families to the outdoors and has been named by Forbes as “one of America’s Best Employers.” Bass Pro Shops has a long relationship with NASCAR, dating back to 1998. For more information, visit http://www.basspro.com/.

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:

Do you look forward to the All-Star race since Texas Motor Speedway is the track you earned your last win at?

“I do. I think it’s pretty cool to be able to run the All-Star race at Texas Motor Speedway. I’m really hoping that I can race my way in and have a chance at winning because Texas has always been a strong track for me. I think as the surface wears out, Texas could become a better race. It just needs to lose some more grip in order to make the racing more exciting.”

This Week’s Guaranteed Rate Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Texas Motor Speedway … Last season’s All-Star Race marked the first that Tyler Reddick competed in. As the Stage 2 winner in the All-Star Open, Reddick made his way into the main show, starting 19th and finishing 16th. Reddick led 18 of 20 laps in the first stage of the Open. In total, Reddick has made three NASCAR Cup Series career starts at Texas Motor Speedway, not including the All-Star Race. In 2020, he made his first start from 24th and got a career-best finish at the track of second. Last season, he started ninth and finished ninth.

All-Star Race Fan Vote … Every year for the All-Star Race, fans have the opportunity to vote for their favorite driver to make it into the race based on the “fan vote.” Tyler Reddick is currently ranked in the top four in the fan vote. Entries are open until Noon ET on Friday, May 20. You can vote once per day for Tyler at https://www.nascar.com/fanvote. If Reddick wins a stage in the Open race before the All-Star Race, he will be locked into the field and not eligible to win the fan vote. A driver must finish the Open with a car in raceable condition at the time called as determined by NASCAR to win the fan vote.

Numbers Don’t Lie … The 2022 season has been a roller coaster for Tyler Reddick and the No. 8 team so far this season. Thirteen races in and Reddick has accumulated four top fives and five top-10 finishes. Reddick has led a career-high 230 laps in 13 races. In previous seasons, he had not led more than 43 laps all season. In the last five races, Reddick has two runner-up finishes. Currently, he has an average start of 11.0 and an average start of 18.1.

About Guaranteed Rate … Guaranteed Rate is a leader in mortgage lending and digital financial services. Headquartered in Chicago, the company has more than 8,000 employees in 500 offices across the U.S., and is licensed in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Since its launch in 2000, Guaranteed Rate has helped hundreds of thousands of homeowners with home purchase loans and refinances, funding more than $95 billion in total loan volume in 2021 alone. Powered by its belief in positivity, the company has become one of the largest retail lenders in the nation. Guaranteed Rate delivers innovative technology, including the world’s first Digital Mortgage, low rates and unparalleled customer service. Visit https://www.rate.com/mortgage-rates for more information.

TYLER REDDICK QUOTES:

Are you looking forward to the All-Star Race this weekend?

“The All-Star Race is always a really fun and competitive way for our sport to do something a little bit different during the season. Our season is really long, and every weekend is so important so it’s fun to put a different spin on things this weekend. The fact that it’s a non-points-paying race doesn’t make any of the drivers want it any less. We’re competing for a lot of money and bragging rights, so who wouldn’t want to win. Our team has had a really up and down few weeks and finishing 30th at Kansas isn’t a reflection of the results we deserve. Our pit crew is crazy good and my crew works so hard every single day at the shop to bring fast cars that can run up front and compete for wins. I hope we get to showcase that this weekend, win some money and use that as even more momentum to get out there and win at Charlotte, too.”

Do you prepare any different for this weekend knowing that you have to compete in the Open to get in?

“There’s a fine line between being overly competitive and playing it safe and being overly competitive and ruining your day and someone else’s. Last year in the Open, we ran really hard but also made it a goal to stay out of trouble and we won Stage 2. If you wreck your car in the Open, then you’ve got nothing to compete for in the All-Star Race. Every driver in the Open will likely have that same mindset, you want to make it in and do everything you can, but you don’t want to take yourself out in the process. The stages are much shorter, and we’ve got a little bit of practice time to see how our car is running.”

You’re currently in the top four in the NASCAR All-Star Race Fan Vote, how does that feel?

“When I found that out, I was pleasantly surprised. It’s a really cool thing to know people are out there voting for you and that there have been enough votes to put me on the top of the list with other really talented drivers. I’ve got the best fans; I see them out there every single weekend supporting me. It’s special. I’d love to race my way in but to win the Fan Vote is something I’d be truly honored by.”

This Week’s Whelen Engineering Chevrolet Camaro SS at Texas Motor Speedway … Sheldon Creed will be making his first Texas Motor Speedway start in the NASCAR Xfinity Series on Saturday afternoon, but he’s no stranger to success at the 1.5-mile speedway. He scored one of his most dominating wins in the NASCAR Truck Series in the 2020 fall event. Creed led 131 of 152 laps (86.18 percent) and passed current RCR teammate Austin Hill with two laps to go to secure the win. His average running position in the race was sizzling 1.18. Creed has five top-10 finishes in 11 NASCAR Xfinity Series races entering this weekend at Texas and is 15th in the Xfinity Series drivers standings, 84 points outside of the top 10.

About Whelen … Whelen Engineering is a family-owned company with a pioneering spirit and a passion to protect the lives of those who protect and serve others. The company mission is to provide industry-defining safety solutions around the world, while creating a community of problem-solvers who are inspired to push boundaries and continue our legacy of delivering ground-breaking innovation. As a global leader in the emergency warning industry, Whelen has been trusted to perform since 1952, when George Whelen III invented the first rotating aviation beacon. Whelen now encompasses two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Connecticut and New Hampshire with over 750,000 square feet of engineering and manufacturing space and the largest design staff in the industry. Every part of every Whelen product is proudly designed and manufactured in America. We embrace quality as our foundation, we celebrate innovative engineering in every product we produce.

Special Paint for Whelen … The No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet will be running a special paint scheme at Texas to honor the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund following National Police Week. The No. 2 paint scheme will feature a unique design to represent an active police vehicle with light graphics as well as the brand marks for the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund. The primary objective for this paint scheme collaboration is to raise awareness for their organization, and honor those fallen during National Police Week. The car will also carry 619 names of fallen heroes, including 472 who were killed in the line of duty, to honor their bravery and sacrifice.

SHELDON CREED QUOTES:

What’s the mindset heading to Texas this weekend?

“I’ve always like Texas and I’ve had a lot of speed there. It’s super-easy to overdrive just because of the banking in Turns 1 and 2 and it falls away really fast. The spray (resin) can be really dangerous early on. You got to kind of take what it gives you and be smooth. It can be tough to pass at times there so you’ve got to time your runs well. We’re just hoping for a good, smooth, problem-free day.”

How big of factor will the heat be there this weekend?

“I think practice day is going to be hot and the track is going to be greasy. It’s supposed to cool down by race time so I think that will help the track grip up a little bit and hopefully help the handling of the cars.”

Do you think track conditions will stay fairly consistent?

“The middle of the day is nice because it’s consistent and I like racing at that time just for that reason. The track will take rubber at some point and I think that will open up the opportunity for passing.”

Preview_AH_Global.png
This Week’s Global Industrial Chevrolet Camaro SS at Texas Motor Speedway … Austin Hill will be making his third Texas Motor Speedway start in NASCAR Xfinity Series competition on Saturday afternoon. The Winston, Ga., native has 10 Truck Series starts at Texas, highlighted by a second-place finish in the 2020 fall event, plus four top-10 finishes. He enters the Texas event 10th in the drivers standings. With his victory in the season-opening event at Daytona, Hill has clinched a spot in the 2022 NASCAR Playoffs. Hill scored a ninth-place finish in the most recent Xfinity Series event at Darlington, his fifth top 10 finish in 11 races this season.

Global Industrial Appreciation Event … Global Industrial will host an employee appreciation event at its DeSoto, Texas distribution center on Friday. The event will include the official unveiling of the RCR Chevrolet No. 21 hood with every associate name, a meet and greet with driver Austin Hill, and a special race-themed raffle. The hood will feature 1,500 associate names, ranging from Global Industrial’s DeSoto, Texas distribution center to the Port Washington, N.Y. headquarters and will be featured in Saturday’s race.

About Global Industrial Company … Global Industrial Company (NYSE:GIC), through its operating subsidiaries, is a value-added industrial distributor. For more than 70 years, Global Industrial has gone the extra mile for its customers and offers more than a million industrial and MRO products, including its own Global Industrial exclusive brands. With extensive product knowledge and a solutions-based approach, Global Industrial helps customers solve problems and be more successful. At Global Industrial, “We can supply that®.”

A First for Global Industrial … The 2022 season marks the Company’s first year as a recurring NASCAR sponsor. For the second time this season, they will be the primary sponsor on the No. 21 Chevrolet driven by Austin Hill. Global Industrial offers customers more than a million products spanning from material handling to packaging and supplies, including its own Global Industrial exclusive brands. With extensive product knowledge and a solutions-based approach, the Company continues to lead the charge, helping customers solve problems and providing the tools needed to run their businesses and facilities.

AUSTIN HILL QUOTES:

What’s the mindset heading to Texas this weekend?

“It seems like the two racetracks that I’ve gotten around really well are Las Vegas and Texas. We ran really well at Las Vegas earlier this year and I honestly expect the same thing to happen at Texas. I think we can lead laps and run up front all day and contend for the win. I felt like I should have won two races in the Truck series at Texas so maybe we can get the job done this weekend in the Xfinity Series.”

As we enter the summer months, how important is it to stay fit?

“When you look at the weather forecast for the weekend and it’s going to be hot, you have to mentally prepare yourself for that. Earlier this week my weather app was showing 105 degrees on Friday. I think it’s going to cool off a little bit going into Saturday so that won’t be too bad. My hydration process starts on Monday and for me that’s drinking over a gallon of water a day. We’re going to be doing a lot of workout stuff with my athletic trainer with cardio in the heat elements outside to prepare for that.”

What is the key to running well at Texas?

“I’m sure they’re going to put the resin down and that’s one of those things throughout the race you have to figure out if your car likes it or if it doesn’t. Once it comes in and activates, you’re going to have to be up there to be fast. I feel like the driver who gets through Turns 1 and 2 really well and back to the throttle before everybody else is the one who is going to win the race. Everybody at RCR has been working really hard to make our cars better and faster.”