Home Blog Page 1975

Power Takes NTT P1 Award for GMR Grand Prix in Last Seconds

By
Official Release
-

INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, May 13, 2022) – Will Power won the NTT P1 Award for the GMR Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, earning his 64th career INDYCAR SERIES pole on his final qualifying lap Friday afternoon.

Power’s best lap was 1 minute, 9.7664 seconds in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course. Australian Power is just three poles shy of tying the all-time INDYCAR SERIES pole record of 67 set by Mario Andretti.

“This series, it’s so tight,” Power said. “So, to get a pole these days, you know you’ve done a really good job. And the team has done a great job. I’m super-stoked. It’s been a long time since we’ve had a pole on a road course. I worked hard on that one.

“I feel so privileged to be so close to him (Andretti). To be up there with names like Mario Andretti and A.J. Foyt is something I wouldn’t have imagined when I started my career.”

This was Power’s first road or street course pole since the 2020 season finale at St. Petersburg, Florida, and he became the fifth different pole winner in five NTT INDYCAR SERIES races this season.

Live coverage of the 85-lap GMR Grand Prix starts at 3 p.m. (ET) Saturday on NBC and the INDYCAR Radio Network.

Reigning series champion and current points leader Alex Palou will share the front row with Power after his best lap of 1:09.8090 in the No. 10 The American Legion Honda.

Power’s teammate, two-time series champion Josef Newgarden, will start third after a lap of 1:09.8343 in the No. 2 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet. Conor Daly earned his best starting spot of the season by qualifying fourth at 1:09.9063 in the No. 20 BitNile Chevrolet.

Pato O’Ward, who led the afternoon practice, will start fifth after a best lap of 1:10.0546 in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet, with his teammate Felix Rosenqvist rounding out the Firestone Fast Six at 1:10.0605 in the No. 7 Vuse Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet.

Callum Ilott continued his impressive season with the one-car Juncos Hollinger Racing, qualifying seventh in the team’s No. 77 Chevrolet as the top rookie in the field.

The list of drivers who failed to advance from the first round of qualifying could form a wing of an INDYCAR SERIES Hall of Fame as some teams and drivers were flummoxed by air temperatures in the high 80s and track temperatures tickling 130 degrees.

Indianapolis 500 winners Takuma Sato (13th), Alexander Rossi (16th), Helio Castroneves (19th), Simon Pagenaud (20th), Scott Dixon (21st) and Juan Pablo Montoya (23rd) all didn’t make the second round. NTT INDYCAR SERIES race winners Colton Herta (14th), Rinus VeeKay (15th) and Marcus Ericsson (18th) also didn’t advance from Round One.

Weekend schedule for Kansas 

By
Angie Campbell
-
Photo by Simon Scoggins for SpeedwayMedia.com.

The NASCAR Cup Series and the Camping World Truck Series head to Kansas Speedway this weekend while the Xfinity Series enjoys a week off from competition.

Saturday afternoon the ARCA Menards Series will kick things off with the Dutch Boy 150 at 2 p.m. followed by the Truck Series Heart of America 200 at 8 p.m. The Cup Series will close out the racing activities Sunday at 3 p.m. with the AdventHealth 400.

Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano lead all active Cup Series drivers with three wins each at Kansas.

Crafton is the only active driver in the Truck Series this weekend that has been to victory lane at Kansas. And if the past is any indication, it’s almost anyone’s race to win. In 23 races, there have been 19 different race winners.

You can tune in to Press Pass for additional live coverage including post-race and driver interviews throughout the weekend.

Saturday, May 14

10:45 ARCA Practice/Qualifying – ARCA Race Center
Noon: Truck Series Practice – FS1
12:30 p.m.: Truck Series Qualifying – FS1
2 p.m.: ARCA Dutch Boy 150 – FS1/MRN
5 p.m.: Cup Series Practice – FS1/MRN/SiriusXM
5:35 p.m.: Cup Series Qualifying– FS2/MRN/SiriusXM

8 p.m.: Truck Series Heart of America 200
Distance: 201 miles (134 Laps)
Stage 1 ends on Lap 30, Stage 2 ends on Lap 60, Final Stage ends on Lap 134
FS1/MRN/SiriusXM
The Purse: $716,932

Sunday, May 15

3 p.m.: Cup Series AdventHealth 400
Distance: 400.5 miles (267 laps)
Stage 1 ends on Lap 80, Stage 2 ends on Lap 165, Final Stage ends on Lap 267
FS1/MRN/SiriusXM
The Purse: $7,117,591

Thomas Merrill Joins Jr III Racing At Mid-Ohio

By
Official Release
-

Lexington, Ohio (11 May 2022) – Thomas Merrill will make his first start with Jr III Racing this weekend as the Trans Am talent has signed to join the team’s IMSA Prototype Challenge (IPC) effort during the Lexus Mid-Ohio Sports Car Championship on Sunday, May 15.

Thomas Merrill will join Ari Balogh in the No. 30 Airbnb Ligier JS P320 for the second round of the 2022 IMSA Prototype Challenge.

Merrill is no stranger to the 2.258-mile course, having he raced to a podium finish in the 2019 Trans Am TA2 Championship and then went one better with a victory in the 2020 Trans Am TA2 class. Most recently, Merrill earned a pole position paired with a podium finish during the Sonoma Trans Am weekend at the end of April.

With 16 years of experience, Merrill has competed in both the WeatherTech Championship and Prototype Challenge in the past, earning an IPC podium in 2020 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

Having also netted IMSA podiums in LMP2 competition including a win at Watkins Glen and a third place finish at Road Atlanta, Merrill is looking forward to another competitive outing this weekend. Merrill had plans to jump in the No. 30 at Daytona International Speedway in January, which ultimately became a solo drive for the No. 30 in the Bronze Cup. Merrill is looking forward to jumping back into an LMP3 after a few years away from the prototype.

“I mean, I love Mid-Ohio,” said Merrill. “If this is there was a race track that I needed to jump in and do well at, it’s definitely Mid-Ohio. I’ve had good results there in the past, and with the way the Jr III guys put together a great car, I am really looking forward to racing in the LMP3 Ligier at this track.”

The IPC effort is part of a dual-championship campaign for Jr III Racing, which will also contest the WeatherTech event on Sunday with Straus and Garett Grist.

“This is a big team effort, but we are ready to go and are pleased to have Thomas join us for Sunday’s IPC race,” said team co-owner Billy Glavin. “He’s got a lot of speed and should fit right in with the team so hopefully we can come home with a good result.”

Round two of the IMSA Prototype Challenge goes green at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Sunday at 9:25am ET streaming on Peacock TV.

Hardpoint Brings Racing To End Alzheimer’s Porsche Cayman To Mid-Ohio With Galante, McAlister for IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge

By
Official Release
-

Nick Galante and Sean McAlister Will Carry the Names of 93 Loved Ones and Family Members Touched by Alzheimer’s at Mid-Ohio

LEXINGTON, Ohio (May 12, 2022) – Hardpoint’s No. 22 Racing To End Alzheimer’s Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport returns to action this weekend at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, running in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Grand Sport (GS) class for Saturday’s two-hour race. Nick Galante and Sean McAlister resume co-driving duties at the 2.258-mile circuit.

The race can be streamed live, commercial free on Peacock, NBC’s official streaming service, at 4 p.m. EDT on Saturday, May 14. It will be rebroadcast one week later on USA Network, at 3 p.m. EDT on Saturday, May 21.

Mid-Ohio Pre-Race Notebook

Of Hardpoint’s two drivers, Galante has the most experience at Mid-Ohio. The Pilot Challenge championship veteran has raced at Mid-Ohio in the former ST Class, in TCR and in GS. His best finish at the track is a podium, with a third-place finish during his ST Championship year of 2018.

McAlister has raced at Mid-Ohio twice before in IMSA competition, in 2019 and 2020 in Porsche GT3 Cup North America. McAlister earned two podium finishes at Mid-Ohio during the 2020 tripleheader.

The No. 22 Racing To End Alzheimer’s Porsche Cayman carries 93 names and hometowns of loved ones who are either currently fighting Alzheimer’s or have passed away from the disease. Names are added to the car for the entirety of the IMSA season through a donation at www.r2endalz.org. Included on that list are Mimi Frengs, wife of Racing To End Alzheimer’s founder and champion Philip Frengs; Maureen Galante, grandmother of the team’s co-driver; Jim Nantz, Jr., late father of the sports broadcaster; and Eleanor Jannetti, grandmother of mechanic and tire changer Jason Jannetti, who lost her battle with Alzheimer’s just three weeks ago.

Hardpoint’s No. 99 GridRival Porsche 911 GT3 R is not on the entry list for this weekend’s event at Mid-Ohio, with owner and co-driver Rob Ferriol electing to take a small and temporary step back from his personal racing program to focus on Hardpoint business opportunities within motorsports. The team will return during the 2022 IMSA WeatherTech Championship season, including for all Michelin Endurance Cup races with Ferriol, Katherine Legge and Stefan Wilson behind the wheel.

Hardpoint Quote Board

Nick Galante, Driver, No. 22 Porsche Cayman: “I’m looking forward to getting back to Mid-Ohio. It’s been a couple of years since my podium there, and this Hardpoint team and Sean have made progress every week. That hasn’t shown up in the results yet, but we can feel it and it gives us a chance to surprise some people. Those podiums are hard to earn, but they get extra special knowing that we’re racing for all of these people fighting against Alzheimer’s with us on the Racing to End Alzheimer’s Porsche Cayman.”

Sean McAlister, Driver, No. 22 Porsche Cayman: “Mid-Ohio is not a track that I’ve necessarily enjoyed much in the past, but I’m hoping this time out will maybe change that opinion. It’s a fun track to run on, but it’s very, very important to get a good qualifying position because there are limited opportunities to pass there. I’m looking forward to getting back into the car, getting everything dialed in and figure some things out to extract some more speed from our No. 22 Racing to End Alzheimer’s Porsche Cayman.”

Rob Ferriol, Owner, Hardpoint: “Our full attention at Hardpoint is on the Racing to End Alzheimer’s Porsche in Michelin Pilot Challenge this weekend. We’ve made the decision that sitting out Mid-Ohio with the GTD car is the best move for Hardpoint as a business. The plan has always been to use my racing to provide the beacon. If we’re going to attract the kind of customers we want, we need to have something to inspire them. That’s what the WeatherTech program is for. Obviously I’ve gotten a personal benefit for that, but it’s a demonstrative effort to attract all of those others to what we do. If that means I take a knee from my personal driving to help the business side, so be it. That’s where my focus is, making sure our customers receive the experience I expected to see when I was in their shoes. This doesn’t mean the GTD program is shutting down – quite the opposite. We’ll continue to showcase our top level, but we want to move the needle as a business. The name of the game is getting more people into racing. That’s part of our mission statement and business focus, and we want to be sure we’re keeping our eye on that ball.”
About Hardpoint:

Hardpoint was founded by Rob Ferriol in 2018 with the vision of combining his experience as a successful entrepreneur with his passion for racing. Headquartered at VIRginia International Raceway, the team captured the 2021 Porsche Carrera Cup North America Pro-Am championship in its inaugural season and competes full-time in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship in the No. 99 GridRival Porsche 911 GT3 R with co-drivers Ferriol and Katherine Legge, joined by Stefan Wilson for Michelin Endurance Cup races. In 2022, Hardpoint has added the No. 22 Racing To End Alzheimer’s Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport driven by Nick Galante and Sean McAllister in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Grand Sport (GS). More information on Hardpoint can be found at www.hardpoint.com or through its strong social media presence on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

GMS Racing NCWTS Kansas I Race Preview

By
Official Release
-

Grant Enfinger, No. 23 Champion Power Equipment Chevrolet Silverado RST
Kansas Speedway Career Stats

  • NCWTS Starts: 7, Best start: 4th, Best finish: 3rd (twice), Top 5s: 3, Top 10s: 5, Laps led: 62
  • ARCA Starts: 7, Best start: 2nd, Best finish: 3rd (four times), Top 5s: 4, Top 10s: 4, Laps led: 28

2022 NCWTS Season Stats

  • Starts: 7, Best start: 3rd, Best finish: 3rd (Darlington), Top 5s: 1 Top 10s: 4, Laps led: 15, Current points position: 9th
  • About Champion Power Equipment: Since 2003 Champion Power Equipment has earned a reputation for designing and producing the market’s finest power equipment. From our original headquarters in Santa Fe Springs, California, Champion has expanded its North American footprint to include facilities in Jackson, Tennessee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Toronto Canada. Today, Champion’s product line has expanded to include portable generators, home standby generators, inverter generators, engines, winches and log splitters. With over 2.5 million generators sold in North America, Champion is a market leader in the power equipment field. Visit ChampionPowerEquipment.com for more information.
  • Chassis History/Info: Grant Enfinger will drive GMS Racing chassis no. 325 at Kansas Speedway. This chassis made its on track debut in 2020, and the last time it was raced, it went to victory lane at Martinsville Speedway with Zane Smith last October. Enfinger will race this Silverado RST for the first time in 2022, but the truck has a solid record at Kansas, posting two top-10 finishes at the intermediate. - Building Momentum: You can say he’s on a roll! Enfinger undoubtedly had his best performance of the 2022 season in the most recent race at Darlington, where he started in third, finished fourth in both stages, and crossed the line in third at the checkered flag. The result continues the team’s streak of top-10 runs, now up to four in a row, and more importantly, catapulted the pride of Fairhope, Alabama up to ninth in the points standings, fifteen markers ahead of the cut line. - GE Quote: “I think our No. 23 Champion Power Equipment Chevy has a great shot to contend this weekend at Kansas. We showed a lot of progress last week, and I believe what we learned at Las Vegas will help our mile-and-a-half tracks this year. I’m looking forward to seeing what we make of all the effort that has been put in by my GMS Racing guys.”

Jack Wood, No. 24 ChevyLiners.com Chevrolet Silverado RST
Kansas Speedway Career Stats

  • Jack Wood will make his first NCWTS start at Kansas on Saturday
  • ARCA Starts: 1, Best start: 4th, Best finish: 4th (2021), Top 5s: 1, Top 10s: 1

2022 NCWTS Season Stats

  • Starts: 7, Best start: 11th, Best finish: 13th (Atlanta), Current points position: 27th
  • About ChevyLiners.com: For ultimate interior protection, Premium All-Weather Floor Liners by Chevrolet Accessories are the solution. Offering precision coverage around interior trim, driver pedals, seat tracks, and door sills, they’re constructed of quality materials that provide optimum carpet and interior trim protection, isolating debris and moisture while remaining removable for cleaning. Visit www.ChevyLiners.com to order yours today.
  • Chassis History/Info: Jack Wood will take GMS Racing chassis no. 337 under the lights on Saturday night. This Chevrolet was built last season, winning on its debut race at World Wide Technology Raceway with Sheldon Creed. Most recently, Creed raced this truck at Phoenix Raceway, finishing in 4th. The chassis, along with Wood, will both make their first start at Kansas Speedway this weekend.
  • Sunoco ROTY Update: Wood was the second highest finishing rookie last race at Darlington Raceway, where he finished in the 17th position. Entering Kansas, Jack currently sits third in the Sunoco Rookie Of The Year points standings, twenty points behind leader Lawless Alan and five points back from Dean Thompson in second place.
  • Driver Appearances: Fans attending the Heart Of America 200 on Saturday will have a chance to meet Jack Wood at the NASCAR Live stage in the Kansas Speedway fan zone from 3:15 – 3:30 PM local time. Jack will be participating in a Q&A, followed up by an autograph session for all fans in attendance.
  • JW Quote: “I’m looking forward to going back to Kansas, the site of my first ever mile-and-a-half race that I ran with the ARCA Menards Series. I really like the track, and we were able to put together a good finish there last year, so hopefully we can take what I learned during that race and build off of that with my No. 24 team. I believe that GMS Racing has brought a very solid package to Kansas in the past, so I hope to have a good run this weekend.”

ABOUT GMS RACING:

GMS Racing competes full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series operating the No. 23 and the No. 24 Chevrolet Silverado RSTs, as well as the ARCA Menards Series with the No. 43 Chevrolet SS. Since the team was formed in 2012, GMS Racing has won five titles across multiple series, including the 2016 and 2020 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship, the 2015 ARCA Menards Series championship, as well as the 2019 & 2020 ARCA Menards Series East championships. GMS has grown to occupy several buildings located in Statesville, N.C. including operations for GMS Fabrication. The GMS Racing campus also houses operations for Petty GMS, a two car full-time NASCAR Cup Series team formed in 2021.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

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

KENNINGTON SET TO UNVEIL NEW LOOK CASTROL EDGE DODGE

By
Official Release
-

May 12, 2022. DJ Kennington and the #17 Castrol Edge Dodge team have put countless hours into racecar preparations for the start of the 2022 NASCAR Pinty’s Series competition this weekend at Sunset Speedway in Innisfil, ON.

The Pinty’s Series Ironman will make his 177th consecutive start this weekend as the new year of competition begins. Kennington along with Crew Chief Rick Verberne and the rest of the team are feeling both determined and confident as they return to a more conventional schedule with races in Western Canada returning to the calendar, along with a new race at Eastbound International Speedway in Newfoundland.

Kennington scored two victories at the end of last season and finished third in the overall standings. He and the #17 Castrol Edge Dodge team and focused and poised for even more success in 2022. The team will be debuting a spectacular new look to the Castrol Edge Dodge at the season opening event at Sunset Speedway.

Here’s what you need to know.

Weekend Race Event Preview:
Saturday May 14th
NTN Ultimate Bearing Experience 250
Race one of 13 in 2022
This is the seventh NASCAR Pinty’s Series race at Sunset Speedway

The Track: .333-mile, paved, semi-banked oval

Best finish: Second, race two in 2021

Career Victories: 23

Most Recent Win: Delaware Speedway 2022

DJ Quote: “We are determined to carry over the momentum we finished with last season. We won two of the last three races, could have won all three if not for some bad luck. We’re hungry, and we’re ready. We’ve also got a fresh new look for the Castrol Edge Dodge that I think fans are really going to like”.

TV & Live Streaming
The races will be streamed live on TSN.ca and the TSN app in Canada and through FloRacing in the United States. The live stream begins at 7PM Eastern. Race broadcasts will also air on TSN Sunday May 22 at 4PM Eastern and on RDS2 Saturday June 4th at 7PM Eastern.

Race fans can follow DJ Kennington and the #17 Castrol Edge Dodge team on their official social media platforms:

Twitter www.twitter.com/@djkracing
Instagram www.instagram.com/djkracing
Website www.djkracing.ca
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DJKenningtonRacing/

Who will win at Kansas?

By
SM Staff
-

The NASCAR Cup Series ventures to Kansas Speedway for the 33rd time this weekend for the AdventHealth 400 which takes place this Sunday, May 15th. The race will cover 400.5 miles over 267 laps split into three stages. Stage 1 will end after lap 80, stage 2 after lap 165, and the final stage being the longest, ends on lap 267.

With Joey Logano’s controversial win last week at Darlington which secured his position in the playoffs; the question looking forward is who will take a win in the upcoming race this weekend? Will it be a returning winner, or will the 2022 NASCAR Cup see its 11th unique winner this season?

Stakes are high this weekend because this will be one of the last chances for a driver to win entry into the 2022 All-Star Race at Texas Speedway.

In the previous 2021 NASCAR Cup Series, fans saw Kyle Busch take his second first place at Kansas Speedway, which also had Chase Elliot taking a top 5 position. The competition this year at Adventhealth 400 will be stiff as many strong contenders have won at Kansas Speedway in the past:

  • Denny Hamlin – 3 Wins (2020, 2019, 2012)
  • Joey Logano – 3 Wins (2020, 2015, 2014)
  • Kyle Larson – 1 Win (2021)
  • Chase Elliott – 1 Win (2018)

The odds continue to favor last year’s cup winner Kyle Larson, with a significant chance of him returning to the front of the pack following his 36th place at Darlington. Whilst being the most favored to win, the first quarter of this season has placed Larson 9th in the overall standings. It appears that the odds continue to favor him frequently, but he simply hasn’t delivered results this season.

Last week’s winner Joey Logano isn’t favored kindly as most odds place him poorly by comparison. Fans are sure to be curious about the upcoming electric matchup between Logano and Byron following last week’s events. Though he is not favored, Larson has shown that he is willing to take the necessary risks to secure a win for himself and his team.

Chase Elliot is the 2022 NASCAR cup current leader with 453 points and he is expected to perform well at Kansas Speedway. Elliot saw his first 2022 season win less than two weeks ago at the Dover Motor Speedway alongside multiple top 5 positions throughout previous races.

With the upcoming race being exceedingly cutthroat, fans of both NASCAR and betting will be pleased to know that the legislation is progressing in 2022, and legalizing online sports betting in the United States without bet restrictions has been successful in 15 states so far.

The 2022 NASCAR season has already seen many thrills and the entertainment will continue for the Adventhealth 400 on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET. As the margins of victory continue to grow slimmer in modern NASCAR, anyone can take the victory, here is a list of key drivers to look out for during the Adventhealth 400:

  • Kyle Larson 12.5% (+700)
  • Chase Elliot 11.1% (+800)
  • Denny Hamlin 10% (+900)
  • Kyle Busch 10% (+900)
  • William Byron 9.1 (+1000)
  • Joey Logano 7.7% (+1200)

CHEVY NCS AT KANSAS: Team Chevy Advance

By
Official Release
-

TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE
ADVENTHEALTH 400
KANSAS SPEEDWAY
KANSAS CITY, KS
MAY 15, 2022

RACE #13 – KANSAS SPEEDWAY

NASCAR heads to the heartland this weekend to Kansas Speedway, where the 1.5-mile tri-oval will host the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) for the first trip to the Midwest in 2022. Kansas Speedway holds two spots on the NASCAR schedule, with the return trip in September making the venue one of the 10 tracks to hold a Playoff race for all three NASCAR touring series.

Chevrolet looks to become back-to-back winners at Kansas Speedway in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series AdventHealth 400. The series’ last appearance at the Kansas venue in October 2021 saw Kyle Larson capture his ninth win of the season. The victory also marked the second time in the 2021 season that Larson won three-consecutive races; a feat that hadn’t been accomplished since Dale Earnhardt set the record in 1987. Of the 32 NCS races held at Kansas Speedway, Chevrolet has recorded a manufacturer-leading 13 wins, including the track’s inaugural NCS race, a win that was captured by career-Chevrolet driver Jeff Gordon (September 2001).

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) kicks off the doubleheader race weekend under the lights with the Heart of America 200 on Saturday night. The Silverado RST is coming off of a strong runner-up finish at Darlington, with eyes set on its first victory of the season. Kansas Speedway has held 23 NCWTS races since the venue was built in 2001, with Chevrolet visiting victory lane eight times in the series. Those triumphs include the series’ first race at the track, captured by Ricky Hendrick in a Chevrolet-powered machine for Hendrick Motorsports, which also marked his first-career NASCAR win.

THREE IN-A-ROW FOR CAMARO SS

At the track where he captured his most recent win one year ago, Justin Allgaier returned to victory lane at Darlington Raceway, driving his No. 7 JR Motorsports Camaro SS to his 17th-career NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) win and a spot into the NXS Playoff field. After being forced to start at the rear of the field due to a battery change during the pace laps, strong pitstops throughout the day put the Chevrolet driver in position to contend for the lead. With a fresh set of tires on a two-lap dash to the finish, Allgaier powered to the lead on the final restart to give Chevrolet its sixth NXS win of 2022, extending its season win count lead over all manufacturers. The feat also marks JR Motorsports third-consecutive race win, with all three captured by different drivers (Noah Gragson at Talladega; Josh Berry at Dover; Justin Allgaier at Darlington).

With its now six wins in 11 races for 2022, Justin Allgaier is the fifth Chevrolet driver to secure his spot into the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff field and his chance at battling for the championship title. The other Chevrolet drivers already locked into the Playoffs by virtue of a win includes NXS rookie, Austin Hill; Kaulig Racing’s AJ Allmendinger; and Allgaier’s two JR Motorsports teammates, Noah Gragson and Josh Berry.

Entering into the NASCAR Xfinity Series off-weekend, Chevrolet continues to lead in both the driver and manufacturer points standings. Atop the NXS driver standings is AJ Allmendinger, who continues to hold onto the lead by 25-points over second place. Allmendinger’s eighth-place finish at Darlington continued his record as the only driver in the series to have placed in the top-10 of every race thus far this season. Joining Allmendinger in the top-10 is all four of the JR Motorsports drivers (Noah Gragson – second; Justin Allgaier – fourth; Josh Berry – fifth; Sam Mayer – sixth) and NXS season opener winner, Austin Hill, in tenth to give the bowtie brigade four of the top-five and six of the top-10 in the driver standings.

Also extending its lead in the NXS manufacturer standings, Chevrolet now sits at a 43-point advantage over second. With six wins, 37 top-five’s and 73 top-10’s, the bowtie brand is continuing in the right direction in pursuit of its 24th NXS manufacturer championship title. The series will be back in action at Texas Motor Speedway with the Texas 250 on Saturday, May 21, at 1:30 p.m. ET.

CLOSING IN ON HALFWAY

The trip to Kansas Speedway marks the 13th points-paying race of the season for the NASCAR Cup Series, also indicating the halfway point of the regular season. Chevrolet has taken the debut season of the Next Gen car by storm, sitting at seven victories for a winning percentage of over 50 percent for the Camaro ZL1. Chevrolet also continues to lead all manufacturers in top-five’s (35), top-10’s (59), laps led (1,789) and stage wins (12).

With eyes set on defending its NASCAR Cup Series driver and manufacturer championship titles, Chevrolet continues to lead in both the driver and manufacturer points standings. Chevrolet’s most recent NCS winner, Chase Elliott, extended his points lead to 65-points following a top-five finish at Darlington; his ninth top-10 finish in 2022. Five of the top-10 of the driver standings are occupied by Chevrolet drivers, including Elliott’s Hendrick Motorsports teammates (William Byron – second; Alex Bowman – eighth; Kyle Larson – ninth) and Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain in fifth, all of which have recorded at least one victory in 2022 to secure a spot in the 16-driver NCS Playoff field.

Falling just one spot short of another victory at Darlington Raceway, the bowtie brand made a strong showing in the final running order of the Goodyear 400 last weekend. The Camaro ZL1 placed three in the top-five and six in the top-10 finishing positions, with five different Chevrolet teams contributing to those finishes:

2nd Tyler Reddick (Richard Childress Racing)

3rd Justin Haley (Kaulig Racing): season-best finish

5th Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports)

8th Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (JTG Daugherty Racing): second-consecutive top-10 finish

9th Austin Dillon (Richard Childress Racing)

10th Daniel Suarez (Trackhouse Racing)

This marks the seventh race this season that Chevrolet has placed six Camaro ZL1’s in the top-10, with at least three different Chevrolet teams represented in each. Looking to keep that momentum going, Chevrolet enters the Kansas race weekend atop the NCS manufacturer standings, building its lead to a 40-point advantage over second.

BOWTIE BULLETS

· Victories by active Chevrolet drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas Speedway include:

Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1 (2021)

Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1 (2018)

· In addition to its 13 manufacturer-leading NASCAR Cup Series wins at Kansas Speedway, Chevrolet has also recorded 11 pole wins – the most of all manufacturers – as well as 64 top-five’s and 137 top-10’s. Chevrolet drivers have also led 3,011 laps at the 1.5-mile Kansas venue.

· With 12 NASCAR Cup Series races complete in the 2022 season, Chevrolet continues to lead all manufacturers in NCS wins (7), top-five’s (35), top-10’s (59), laps led (1,789) and stage wins (12). Chevrolet’s NCS wins, top-five’s, laps led and stage wins count are more than double its manufacturer competitors.

· In seven of the 12 NASCAR Cup Series races in 2022, Chevrolet has placed six Camaro ZL1’s in the top-10, with at least three different Chevrolet teams represented in each.

· The title of the youngest NASCAR Cup Series winner at Kansas Speedway belongs to Chase Elliott, who took the win in the October 2018 event at the age of 22 years, 10 months, 23 days.

· Career Chevrolet drivers, Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon, are among five drivers tied for the most NASCAR Cup Series wins (3) at Kansas Speedway.

· Only four drivers in NASCAR Cup Series history have captured consecutive wins at Kansas Speedway, one of which being career Chevrolet driver Jeff Gordon. The NASCAR Hall of Famer also recorded the win in the inaugural race at Kansas Speedway in 2001, behind the wheel of a Chevrolet-powered machine.

· Justin Haley recorded a season-high third-place finish at Darlington Raceway, also marking a career-best finish since moving to full-time NASCAR Cup series competition with Kaulig Racing this season.

· Following a runner-up finish at Dover Motor Speedway, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. powered his No. 47 JTG Daugherty Camaro ZL1 to an eighth-place finish at Darlington Raceway for a second-consecutive top-10 finish.

· A special place to Erik Jones, Kansas Speedway is the site of his first-career Cup Series start where he filled in for an injured Kyle Busch on May 9, 2015. Jones started the race from the 12th position and ran in the top-10 most of the day, leading one lap. Unfortunately, a rookie mistake late in the race cost Jones a solid finish after he made contact with the outside wall and was credited with a 40th-place finish.

· Seven Team Chevy drivers have combined 12 NASCAR Cup Series stage wins:

Tyler Reddick 2 – (Fontanax2)

Alex Bowman 1 – (Las Vegas)

Ross Chastain 2 – (Las Vegas), (Darlington)

William Byron 3 – (Phoenix), (Atlanta), (Talladega)

Daniel Suarez 1 – (COTA)

Chase Elliott 2 – (Martinsvillex2)

Kyle Larson 1 – (Bristol)

· Chevrolet leads in the driver points standing in both the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Chase Elliott remains in the top position in the NCS standings with a 65-point advantage over second place; and AJ Allmendinger continues to lead the NXS standings by 25-points. Chevrolet remains atop both the NCS and NXS manufacturer points standings.

· With its 40 NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer Championships; 33 NASCAR Cup Series Driver Championships; and 821 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title of winningest brand in NASCAR.

TUNE IN

The NASCAR Cup Series AdventHealth 400 will air on FS1 on Sunday, May 15, at 3 p.m. ET. FS1 will broadcast the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Heart of America 200 on Saturday, May 14, at 8 p.m. ET. Live coverage of both events can also be found on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

QUOTABLE QUOTES

ROSS CHASTAIN, NO. 1 ADVENT HEALTH CAMARO ZL1

HOW IMPORTANT IS KANSAS TO YOUR CAREER?

“Kansas brings back so many memories. I think back to my Truck Series win there in 2019 and winning is the ultimate goal. I think that win saved my career, honestly. Everything went away with my Xfinity Series ride and Chip Ganassi kept me on as a reserve driver and just to be nice is what it basically came down to. Doug Duchardt told me to just race whatever I could and we would figure it out. When things got serious about the No. 42 car going into the 2021 season, Doug brought up the fact that even though they didn’t have anything for me to drive and Niece gave me the opportunity to drive their truck and we were able to win, Doug said it told him more about me than anything else, and I put a lot of stock in what Doug says. If I didn’t go win those races with Niece, I don’t know if I am in the Cup car where I am today.”

WHAT DO YOU FIND CHALLENGING ABOUT RACING AT KANSAS SPEEDWAY?

“It’s wild because it is a mile-and-a-half and it has some of the same bones that most mile-and-a-half tracks have but there are intricacies at each intermediate track. The progressive banking at Kansas really rewards running higher on the track. It’s windy at Kansas and when you run up high you’re almost hidden from the wind a little bit and blocked from some of the cross winds.”

NOW THAT YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF WINS UNDER YOUR BELT AND YOU’VE CHECKED OFF GETTING THAT FIRST CAREER WIN, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR SEASON SO FAR?

“This year has been incredible. I feel grateful, but I also realize that we deserve to be where we are at. We’ve put in the effort and this car has been the greatest reset this sport has ever seen. Never before have you been able to take a car raced at a road course and change some suspension parts, run the same chassis and same body, and some of the same suspension, and pass tech and compete for wins.”

AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 BASS PRO SHOPS / TRACKER OFF ROAD CAMARO ZL1

WHAT IS IT ABOUT KANSAS SPEEDWAY THAT YOU’RE FOCUSING ON TO GET TO VICTORY LANE THIS WEEKEND?

“I think it’s running the top. Everybody is going to be up there running right against the fence and ripping the wall this weekend. From what I heard at the test, the rubber really laid down up there and there was a big difference in speed from the top to the bottom. I feel like I’ve just been focused on making my car in the simulator handle up by the wall. I think the next thing that’s on my mind is where to make a pass; where to attempt to make a pass. When you pull out of line, you have to get yourself clear and then back in line. It will be important to do a good job of making your car have the ability to run against the wall, but also when you need to make a move to slide someone, that it can happen.”

KYLE LARSON, NO. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM CAMARO ZL1

LARSON ON THE RACING GROOVE AT KANSAS SPEEDWAY:

“At Fontana, we were able to run really close to the wall, so I would imagine it’s pretty easy to run next to the wall at Kansas. I love Kansas – it’s definitely one of my favorite tracks. It does have multiple lanes, typically. If that top lane gets going really fast, it does make it hard to pass. I hope we can run the bottom, middle and top.”

CLIFF DANIELS, CREW CHIEF, NO. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM CAMARO ZL1

DANIELS ON IF 2021 SUCCESS TRANSLATES TO THIS YEAR:

“We had success there last year, but this weekend is another track we are visiting for the first time with the Next Gen car so there is still a lot to learn. Kansas is just one of those tracks where you have to respect the track because it can draw you into thinking it’s pretty straightforward, but the lanes can change a lot throughout the race. Everybody thinks you can run up top, then everybody does and it’ll fall off, so you have to be good enough to move down the track. And right as you think the strategy will be simple, a caution will come out and change everything you’re doing. You really have to be on your game in the moment and respect the track and the race. Past success always gives you confidence, but it’s still the new car at a track we haven’t competed on with it yet.”

TYLER REDDICK, NO. 8 BETMGM CAMARO ZL1

DO YOU THINK THIS WEEKEND’S RACE AT KANSAS WILL BE LIKE THE RACE WE SAW EARLIER THIS SEASON AT ATLANTA?

“I think this weekend’s race at Kansas Speedway is going to be a lot like the races we’ve seen at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The race will be a very unforgiving one. There will be a lot of running the wall with little to no room for error. The margin of error is so small and if you make one mistake, you could take yourself and others out of the race. It’s going to be a lot of strategy and deciding when the right time is to take a risk. Certainly, with my driving style, running the wall is going to be a huge part of my race but it’s also important to listen to my crew chief and spotter and weight the risk versus reward. You don’t want to get out there in the first stage and dive into the wall and end up finishing 38th.”

WE’RE A HANDFUL OF RACES INTO THE SEASON. HOW CAN YOU BEST DESCRIBE THE NEXT GEN CAR AT THIS TIME?

“The Next Gen car is super fun to drive but is also extremely challenging. We’ve seen how much it’s leveled the field for all the drivers. The tracks are so different with the new car, and you’re pretty much using all the practice and qualifying time to take notes and let your team know how the car is running. The practice sessions aren’t very long so you want to use all that time to feel the car and the track out. Our team has gotten out on the track and the car has been completely wrong and then you have to go back to the drawing board and decide what you can and cannot fix. The racing is so competitive and there’s still so much to learn, it makes every weekend even more crucial and also exciting. I think every race is giving the fans a great show.”

CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 UNIFIRST CAMARO ZL1

ELLIOTT ON RACING AT KANSAS:

“We’ve had some pretty good finishes at Kansas in recent years and had built up a solid playbook, but I feel like a lot of that is out the window with this new car. We weren’t that great at Vegas earlier this year, but we were pretty decent in Atlanta. I think we’ve learned a lot more about the car in general since those races and the changes that we can make to get the most out of it. Each track presents its own set of challenges, but I think our team as a whole has done a good job of adapting and I don’t think that will be any different this weekend.”

ALAN GUSTAFSON, CREW CHIEF, NO. 9 UNIFIRST CAMARO ZL1

GUSTAFSON ON THE CHALLENGE OF THE NEXT GEN CAR AS TEAMS CONTINUE TO HEAD TO TRACKS FOR THE FIRST TIME:

“It’s a big challenge. Probably a bigger challenge than what’s conveyed, just watching the races and what the fans would see at home. There’s a huge amount of unknowns and there’s a lot of pressure and focus for us to get the car right off the truck, because with just 15 minutes of practice there’s really few things you can do. And then I think for the drivers too, there’s a lot of pressure.”

WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 RAPTORTOUGH.COM CAMARO ZL1

BYRON ON WHAT HE EXPECTS THIS WEEKEND AT KANSAS:

“While most of these tracks this year we’ve had to re-learn because of the Next Gen car, I think I’m a bit more confident on what to expect heading to Kansas this weekend. Not all mile-and-a-half tracks are the same but I feel like Kansas and Las Vegas are the most similar to each other. We raced at Vegas earlier this year and ran really well. The only real difference is I feel like Kansas is a more temperature sensitive racetrack and has less grip. We’ve ran well at Kansas over the past couple years, so I think with the notebook we’ve built so far and our past experiences there, we should have a good shot at the win this weekend.”

RUDY FUGLE, CREW CHIEF, NO. 24 RAPTORTOUGH.COM CAMARO ZL1

FUGLE ON PREPARING FOR KANSAS:

“We’re continuing to build on our intermediate package as the season goes with the Next Gen car. Since the second Charlotte test, we’ve raced at Las Vegas and Atlanta and been able to add those notes in. I think we can really use some of our notes from Vegas for this weekend especially since we will be using the same right side tire we ran there. I also think some of our notes from the fall race at Kansas last season will correlate as well. With its progressive banking and with how sensitive it is to temperature, we’ll have to keep up with the track not only throughout the weekend but throughout the race on Sunday to be in contention at the end.”

TY DILLON, NO. 42 CHEVYLINERS.COM CAMARO ZL1

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET AROUND KANSAS SPEEDWAY? WHAT ARE YOUR FEELINGS ABOUT THE TRACK?

“For me personally, in the early years of my Cup career, I really wished they would have turned Kansas into a parking lot. It honestly has been one of my biggest struggles as a track. What’s frustrating is that to me it’s not that hard of a track to get around and it’s very simple, but it takes minor, finite details to be strong there. My focus this week has been putting in a lot of time in the simulator on running right against the wall and getting myself comfortable in that line. I want to have that line down pat so I can use it to my advantage all day on Sunday. That’s my go to. Hopefully, we turn it around and I’ll have a different opinion about the racetrack when we leave. Going to Kansas with a new organization and a new car has given me new life and new blood for going out there and making the most of it.”

ERIK JONES, NO. 43 FOCUSFACTOR CAMARO ZL1

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT AT KANSAS WITH THE NEXT GEN CAR?

“I think it’s going to be a great race. I want to compare it to Vegas, but there is something about it that doesn’t sit right with me that it’s going to be like that. It’s going to be interesting to see how it races. I think it’s going to race well. Kansas is always fun with as wide as it gets and where you can run. This car I think will be challenging there. I think back to the low-down force package with the old Cup car and it was easy to make mistakes and I think it will be pretty similar with this car.”

DO YOU THINK IT WILL BE A RACE OF “RIM RIDING”?

“I think so. Between the gear ratios we’ve had, they’ve been a little low I feel like, and you have to kind of keep these cars wound up. They’re just “draggy,” you have to keep the momentum going. If you really have to slow them down and get on the bottom, it hurts your speed a lot, so just keeping them wound up has been the name of the game.”

RICKY STENHOUSE JR., NO. 47 DILLONS / LOUISIANA HOT SAUCE CAMARO ZL1

“Kansas always has been a good track for me. I’ve won there in the Xfinity Series. We’ve ran really well there in the Cup car. I felt like 2013, I was going to get a win there and a caution came out at the wrong time. All in all, I enjoy Kansas and I feel we’ve learned a lot over the past couple of weeks that we will hopefully have a fast car like we’ve been having. You can move all around at Kanas. I assume we’ll run the top of the race track a lot, but with downshifting and things like that different lines come into play. It should be a good race and we’re definitely looking forward to getting there with our No. 47 Dillons/Louisiana Hot Sauce Camaro.”

ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1

BOWMAN ON HEADING TO ONE OF HIS FAVORITE TRACKS:

“Kansas Speedway has always been a place I feel like I run well at. Getting the win at Las Vegas this season helps our confidence at a similar track. We have to stay focused and take it one race at a time and this week, it is a place that I enjoy racing at.”

GREG IVES, CREW CHIEF, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1

IVES ON RESETTING HIS FOCUS FOR KANSAS:

“We had a tough weekend in Darlington and didn’t get it right when it came time to adjust the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, but that stays at Darlington. We have a brand new weekend ahead of us at a track that Alex (Bowman) really likes. We will go back to what works for us and get the car in a place that we think will give Bowman the best chance to be competitive and work on it during practice to get the little details right.”

DANIEL SUAREZ, NO. 99 COMMSCOPE CAMARO ZL1

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON KANSAS AND THE ADVENTHEALTH 400?

“Darlington (10th) and Dover (13th) finishes have both come despite us having lots of issues we had to overcome. Air guns jamming, things like that. So our car has been fast. If we can get by those issues, we have a fast enough car to do really well. I hope that happens Sunday in Kansas.”

Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series Statistics

Manufacturers Championships:

Total (1949-2021): 40

First title for Chevrolet: 1958

Highest number of consecutive titles: 13 (2003-15)

Years Won: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021

Drivers Championships:

Total (1949-2021): 33

First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)

Highest number of consecutive titles: 7 (2005-11)

Most Recent: Kyle Larson (2021)

Years Won: 1957, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2021

Event Victories:

Record for total race wins in single season: 26 (2007)

2022 STATISTICS:

Wins: 7

Poles: 2

Laps Led: 1,789

Top-five finishes: 35

Top-10 finishes: 59

Stage wins: 12

Tyler Reddick (Fontanax2)
Alex Bowman (Las Vegas)
Ross Chastain (Las Vegas), (Darlington)
William Byron (Phoenix), (Atlanta), (Talladega)
Daniel Suarez (COTA)
Chase Elliott (Martinsvillex2)
Kyle Larson (Bristol Dirt)

CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:

Total Chevrolet race wins: 821 (1949 to date)

Poles won to date: 725

Laps led to date: 243,125

Top-five finishes to date: 4,173

Top-10 finishes to date: 8,614

Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:

       General Motors: 1,155

       Chevrolet: 821

       Pontiac: 154

       Oldsmobile: 115

       Buick: 65



       Ford: 814                                                         

       Ford: 714

       Mercury: 96

       Lincoln: 4



       Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467

       Dodge: 217

       Plymouth: 191

       Chrysler: 59



       Toyota: 164

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.

JACKSON READY TO OPEN SEASON AT SUNSET

By
Official Release
-

(May 12, 2022) Larry Jackson and his #84 O’Neil Electric racing team have been hard at work preparing for the 2022 NASCAR Pinty’s Series. The team, led by crew chief Howie Scannell Jr. will compete in each of the 13 races this season as Canada’s national series returns to a coast-to-coast schedule.

After several part time seasons and working in various capacities with other teams, Jackson joined forces with O’Neil Electric Supply last season to mount a full time return to the NASCAR Pinty’s Series. The partnership was a great success, Jackson scored top-ten results in both ends of the doubleheader of races at Sunset last season.

Weekend Race Event Preview
Saturday May 14th
NTN Ultimate Bearing Experience 250
Race one of 13 in 2022
This is the seventh NASCAR Pinty’s Series race at Sunset Speedway

The Track:
.333-mile, paved, semi-banked oval

Best finish: Third in 2016

Quote:
“Super excited to get the #84 O’Neil Electric Dodge out on track. All the guys have been working really hard to prepare the car for this first race. I really like the layout at Sunset, we ran well last year and finished on the podium there a few years ago. If we do our homework again, we can be up there at the front fighting with the front runners”. -Larry Jackson, Driver #84 O’Neil Electric Dodge

TV & Live Streaming
All races will be streamed live on TSN.ca and the TSN app in Canada and through FloRacing in the United States. Race broadcasts will also air on TSN Sunday May 22 at 4PM Eastern and on RDS2 Saturday June 4th at 7PM Eastern.

The 2022 NASCAR Pinty’s Series will consist of 13 total races in five provinces with a mixture of oval tracks, road and street courses.

Race fans can get the latest information about Larry Jackson and the #84 O’Neil Electric team on these social channels

Twitter: @larryjacksonvrm
Instagram: @larryjackson84

About O’Neil Electric Supply
Serving the electrical and construction industry since 1965, O’Neil Electric Supply is a proud Canadian owned, independent wholesale supplier of premium electrical products in the GTA and across Ontario. O’Neil Electric is also open to the public and supplies all premium brands from major manufacturers, in a complete range of electrical products in lighting, controls, power distribution equipment, conduit, wire, boxes, devices, heating & ventilation, tools and safety equipment and is well known as one of the largest stocking distributors in the GTA.
Learn more about O’Neil Electric Supply http://www.oneilelectric.com/about-us-2-about-us

Aidan Fassnacht Brings Sword Performance Mazda MX-5 to Mid-Ohio For IMSA Doubleheader

By
Official Release
-

This Weekend’s Races are Rounds Five and Six of the Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires for the 19-year-old Rookie Driver

LEXINGTON, Ohio (May 12, 2022) – With four Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires races and a recent test under his belt, 19-year-old rookie Aidan Fassnacht heads to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for the IMSA-sanctioned doubleheader, May 13-15, in the No. 15 Sword Performance Mazda MX-5 C.

Both 45-minute races from Mid-Ohio can be seen live through streams on both IMSA.com and RACER.com. Race One on Saturday, May 14, is set for 12:10 p.m. EDT. Sunday’s race will go green at 11:15 a.m. EDT.

Fassnacht is making his first visit to the highly technical Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, putting him at a disadvantage to many of his more experienced competitors. The 2.258-mile track has been on the Mazda MX-5 schedule since the series debut in 2006. It’s also the first true permanent road course on the 2022 schedule, following stops at Daytona’s unique layout that utilizing much of the oval as well as the infield road course, and the temporary street circuit in St. Petersburg, Florida.

“Mid-Ohio definitely seems to be more of a rhythm track, especially in the second and third sectors,” Fassnacht said. “I think that this will play into my strengths particularly well. Rhythm tracks are usually places where I feel my skill set is at its best, as the flow at tracks like Road Atlanta and Laguna get me in the zone. Mid-Ohio will demand precision and consistency in order to finish well, as the draft won’t be nearly as big of a factor as it was at Daytona. Mistakes will be costly. I feel as though it will be my biggest test yet, but a test that I couldn’t feel more ready to take on.”

This weekend’s race coincides with the Boston College freshman’s spring semester final exams, adding a degree of difficulty to the focus of the race weekend. In addition, the college setup has taken away from his typical approach to a new track, forcing him to go “old school” in his preparation.

“Unfortunately, living in a traditional dorm at Boston College doesn’t afford me the space to bring my massive simulator rig to get track time prior to the weekend, so I have to prepare the old-fashioned way: a lot of video,” Fassnacht said. “From what I have heard, Mid-Ohio is a track with a lot of quirks that make it a tough circuit to master, but hopefully I’ll be able to get up to speed quickly with the help of what we learned at our test at VIR. The track looks so well suited to MX-5 racing, and I can’t wait to get out on what is the last new track of the year for me.”

Fassnacht’s appearance at Mid-Ohio coincides with a new product launch from partner Sword Performance, The Leader In Healthy Hydration. SHIELD Zero is a revolutionary all-natural zero sugar, zero artificial sweetener electrolyte hydration drink, that tastes light and refreshing without the junk. Packed with the same balanced electrolyte profile and natural ingredients found in SHIELD, the real fruit flavors of SHIELD Zero satisfy and help prevent hydration all day long without creating digestive issues. Fans of the No. 15 Sword Performance Mazda MX-5 can get a 20 percent discount on Shield Zero, and all Sword Performance products, through www.DrinkSword.com by using the code RACE20 at checkout.

“I continue to be thankful to have such a great partner in Sword Performance and am looking forward to staying hydrated with the zero-sugar line this weekend at Mid-Ohio,” Fassnacht said. “The products were popular with my McAleer McCumbee Motorsports crew guys during the hot, humid Florida races and they’re already looking forward to more at Mid-Ohio this weekend!”

The race weekend gets underway on lucky Friday, May 13, with the first of two Friday practices at 11:50 a.m. EDT. Qualifying is the first session on track on Saturday morning at 8:10 a.m. EDT, followed by Saturday’s 12:10 p.m. EDT and Sunday’s 11:10 a.m. EDT races.
About Sword Performance:

Sword Performance, Inc. is an American manufacturer of performance hydration beverages, built around a system of proprietary electrolyte replacement products and heat stress subject expertise. Sword Performance Inc. was founded with a purpose: to provide great-tasting, effective hydration to hard-working men and women everywhere. From stadium lights to job sites, Sword Performance hydration products are designed to work with the body to battle dehydration and fatigue. More information can be found at www.DrinkSword.com.

About Aidan Fassnacht:

A second-generation professional racecar driver, 19-year-old Aidan Fassnacht is conducting the 2022 Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup for McCumbee McAleer Racing (MMR) in the No. 15 Sword Performance Mazda MX-5 Cup. Fassnacht, a student at Boston College, raced a Spec Miata in Regional and National Sports Car Club of America events for two seasons before taking on the Spec MX-5 Challenge in 2021, earning a slot in the prestigious Mazda Shootout before signing with MMR for his 2022 rookie campaign.

1...1,9741,9751,976...6,655Page 1,975 of 6,655