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CHEVY NCS AT KANSAS: Austin Dillon Teleconference Transcript

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Official Release
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NASCAR CUP SERIES
KANSAS SPEEDWAY
ADVENTHEALTH 400
TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
MAY 12, 2022

AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 BASS PRO SHOPS / TRACKER OFF ROAD CAMARO ZL1, met with the media via teleconference in advance of this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway. Press Conference Transcript:

LOOKING AHEAD TO THE ALL-STAR RACE NEXT WEEK, DO YOU LOOK FORWARD TO IT WITH IT AT TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY SINCE THAT WAS THE PLACE WHERE YOU LAST WON? ALSO, DO YOU WANT TO SEE THE ALL-STAR RACE MOVE AROUND SOME; OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IT FIND A PERMANENT HOME?

“Yeah, I think it’s good to move it around. It’s not bad also to give it a permanent home. It was pretty awesome when we had it at Charlotte (Motor Speedway) for so many years because you knew where you were going to be.

I like it when it was at Charlotte because it was close to home; you knew what it was. Texas (Motor Speedway), it’s cool going there for one year. I think you should move it around a couple of times. Plus, Texas hasn’t provided the best of racing yet. So, I would be voting for another track, possibly. But you never know. I think as the surface wears out, Texas could be a better race for the All-Star race. It just needs to lose some more grip and then maybe that will create more of an exciting All-Star race.”

HAVE YOU LOOKED AT THE FORMAT AT ALL; OR IS THAT SOMETHING YOU START PAYING ATTENTION TO THE DAY OR TWO BEFORE?

“The week of, probably. I’m focused on Kansas (Speedway) this week. I’ve been in the simulator a lot. Hopefully we get through Kansas and get a win so that we’re locked into the All-Star race. Then, I’ll really focus on the format. Other than that, I know we have to race our way in or get voted in. Right now, I’m focused on Kansas.”

LOOKING AHEAD TO THE COCA-COLA 600, YOU’VE HAD THREE TOP-10 FINISHES THERE IN THE LAST THREE COCA-COLA 600’S. IS THAT A TRACK THAT YOU GUYS ARE CIRCLING THIS YEAR AS ONE OF YOUR POTENTIALLY BEST RACES WHERE YOU CAN LOCK-IN A WIN? WHAT HAS MADE THE NO. 3 TEAM SO STRONG THERE?

“I don’t know what it is about Charlotte (Motor Speedway). I’ve always had really good success there. I enjoy the track. I understand what it takes to be fast there in a race car and I have a feel for it. Obviously, I won my first Cup race at Charlotte, so I definitely circle it every year as a place where we go and compete well at. Last year, we were really fast. One of our pit crew members went down leading into that race, so we kind of struggled on pit road that week.

I’m really excited about it and taking the Next Gen car there. We did get one test there this off season when it was really cold. I’m always excited to go to Charlotte. It’s a good place for me.”

LOOKING BEYOND THE RACING AND THE EVENT OF THAT WEEKEND, THERE’S BEEN SO MUCH CHANGE IN THE CUP SCHEDULE AND SO MUCH INNOVATION. WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE BENEFIT OF KEEPING SOMETHING LIKE THE COCA-COLA 600 A CROWN JEWEL EVENT ON THE NASCAR SCHEDULE? DO THEY TAKE IT OFF THE SCHEDULE AT SOME POINT?

“I hope not. To me, it’s an iconic weekend – being Memorial Day weekend and seeing all the different military branches; the men and women that protect our country out there. I always get excited for that race – the national anthem, the show that goes on before and really paying homage to all of those that have fought for this country. To me, I hope it doesn’t change. It is a crown jewel. Being 600-miles, your preparation changes a little bit because you know you’re going to be in the race car for such a long period of time. I think it’s a very special race and I hope it never goes away.”

I THINK THERE IS A FEELING THAT THE ORGANIZATION THIS YEAR IS STRONGER AT THIS POINT OF THE SEASON. BUT LOOKING AT WHAT YOU DID LAST YEAR COMPARED TO THIS YEAR AT THIS TIME, LAST YEAR YOU HAD SIX TOP-10’S AND YOU WERE A LITTLE HIGHER IN POINTS. FIVE TOP-10’S THIS SEASON AND SOME RUNNER-UP FINISHES. HAS MUCH REALLY CHANGED? ARE YOU GUYS REALLY THAT MUCH STRONGER?

“We were pretty strong last year and we kind of got overlooked because we didn’t make the Playoffs. We were a consistent team all of last year. This year, I do feel like we’ve had way more opportunities to win races. I think the disappointing part is that we’ve had more bigger catastrophes at the race track, like getting wrecked at Phoenix (Raceway) and finishing 21st in that race; getting wrecked at Atlanta (Motor Speedway) coming to a stage end for a possibility of top-three points there; and blowing up at Daytona (International Speedway) and Bristol (Motor Speedway).

We didn’t have those types of bad days at this point last year. We had a couple more average days, but we’ve also had some bigger days with two second-place finishes (Auto Club Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway) and a third (Martinsville Speedway). We’ve definitely had more opportunities to win than last year. My teammate (Tyler Reddick) has two or three second-place finishes, as well. If you look at the total of it, we’ve done a good job and should be in victory lane at this point. That’s the disappointing part – I feel like we’ve had some really close calls and not been able to capitalize. That’s why you see us where we’re at in points. I feel confident that we can go to victory lane this year and I think it will happen.”

THREE OF THE LAST SIX RACES, THERE HAS BEEN SOME SORT OF CONTACT AT THE END OF THE RACE AMONG THE LEADERS. WE SAW IT LAST WEEKEND AT DARLINGTON RACEWAY. WITH AS TIGHT AS THE COMPETITION IS AND WITH WHAT WINNING MEANS, ARE BIGGER TRACKS MORE IN-PLAY NOW FOR SOME SORT OF CONTACT; OR IS DARLINGTON A UNIQUE CASE?

“I think at Darlington (Raceway), you’re constantly fighting tire wear and you see guys come and go. So, the ability to make a run is a bit easier. But you’re asking about 1.5-mile tracks and the contact part of it – if you get a run and you can get a guy up the track, you’d probably do it. But it’s much tougher at a 1.5-mile track to not take yourself out of the race, as well. I feel like there’s usually plenty of room at a 1.5-mile. You’ve seen some slide jobs go wrong at 1.5-mile tracks. Those types of opportunities are kind of the only way to make something happen, when it comes to a last lap moving a guy for a win. I think that’s what NASCAR has put together with this Playoff system, that wins mean so much and you do what it takes when it comes down to it to go to victory lane. I think everybody’s organizations would be upset if they didn’t.”

WILL THERE EVER BE A POINT WHERE YOU WIN A RACE AND FEEL BAD ABOUT IT THEN?

“I don’t know – I guess that’s for everybody else to worry about. I’m under the opinion that, there’s 36 to 40 of us out there every weekend – if you have the opportunity to make it happen, you probably will. I didn’t think Chase Briscoe had a shot to win at Bristol (Motor Speedway) and he took out (Tyler) Reddick and himself. If you’re going to do it, you better win. That was a boneheaded move, if you ask me, and it didn’t work out. But he was trying to make something happen. I don’t think he ever had a shot of making it happen, that’s the part that sucks about that kind of a deal. When you’re within range and you’ve got an opportunity with the way it is to pass and what wins mean, you’ve got to do it. It just sucks when it doesn’t work out. It’s part of the game and how much importance has been put on winning races. Yeah, some might feel bad if it comes down to that. But if you take home a trophy to your organization and all the guys that put in hours on hours on hours of time into these race cars, they’ll probably have your back in the end.”

I KNOW IT’S STILL EARLY IN THE SEASON, BUT HOW MUCH DO YOU WORRY ABOUT THE PLAYOFFS AT THIS POINT IN TIME OF THE YEAR?

“I think it’s on your mind no matter what. It stays there because that’s kind of the measuring stick when it comes to your end of the season. You can have a good season and not make the Playoffs. I did that last year. I felt like I had a decent season, but it didn’t matter because I didn’t make the Playoffs. The Playoffs are what starts clicking off those bonuses and contracts. It changes your end of the year for your entire organization. So, to me, the Playoffs is everything. It’s always on your mind. No matter how much you try to conceal it, it’s what determines a solid season, a good season. Getting a win, getting in the Playoffs and making progress.”

IS THAT SOMETHING YOU PAY ATTENTION TO MORE THIS YEAR BECAUSE YOU MISSED THE PLAYOFFS LAST YEAR?

“No – every year I pay attention to it, really push for it and want to be in it. I’ve been able to make it to the next round of the Playoffs a couple of times. Every year it’s on your mind. I definitely know where we are in the points situation, but I truly think that the way this year has gone, you’re going to need a win. I think there could be 16 winners. I feel like it’s important to win.

From a points standpoint, once you get in the Playoffs, I think things change a little bit. Winning always stays important, but points-racing in the Playoffs is more important, I feel like, than right now in the regular season because I do feel like in the regular season, we’re going to have right at 16 winners.”

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.”

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.

Parker Thompson set for Sean Creech Motorsport Driving Debut

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Official Release
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The Porsche Carrera Cup North America championship contender, who spotted for the team at its victorious Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, joins Lance Willsey in the IMSA Prototype Challenge race this weekend at Mid-Ohio

MANSFIELD, Ohio (12 May 2022) – Sean Creech Motorsport will contest the IMSA Prototype Challenge series this weekend at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, with Parker Thompson joining Lance Willsey behind the wheel of the No. 14 SCM Exelixis/Focal One/Alta Equipment Ligier JS P320. The 90-minute race takes the green flag live on PeacockTV Sunday at 9:20 a.m. Eastern.

Thompson has worked with the team at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring for the past two years, acting as race spotter. Willsey and the team had been looking to get Thompson in a car at some point in the season and the opportunity presented itself this weekend, as Willsey and the team look to get more track time at the challenging 2.4-mile road course.

Thompson has a great deal of experience as a race spotter and driver coach, but the 24-year-old Red Deer, Alberta native is now focused on his own racing career. With extensive experience in the open-wheel Road to Indy (where he twice finished second in the USF2000 Championship), Thompson made the move to sports car racing and competed in the IPC series at the 2020 season finale at Road Atlanta. Shifting to the Porsche Carrera Cup North America last year, Thompson finished third in the final standings and has returned to the JDX Racing Porsche 992 this season with unfinished business. He swept both races at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca two weeks ago, which put him second in points – and got everyone’s attention.

“I can’t thank Sean Creech and Lance Willsey enough for the opportunity,” said Thompson. “That was how I accepted the job last year at Sebring: they needed a spotter at the last minute and I told them that I was stepping away from doing too much spotting because I don’t want people to get the wrong idea – I’m in this sport to make a career as a driver. They said they’d give me a test, and now it’s turned into a race opportunity and I couldn’t be more thrilled.”

“Parker has been a valued member of the team, helping us out the past two years at Sebring, said Willsey. “I had the opportunity to watch his most recent races at Laguna Seca in Carrera Cup, and I was very impressed with his race craft and tire management while taking two victories. Mid-Ohio provides an ideal opportunity for him to gain further experience with the LMP3 car.”

“We’ve gotten to know Parker over the last two years,” said Creech. “He stepped in at the last minute in 2021 – we originally spoke with Jonatan Jorge about handling spotting duties at Sebring, since JJ coaches Lance, but he had a conflict and he suggested Parker. He agreed to come back this year, though we know that this isn’t his focus in racing right now. He did great at both races – it’s a balance between information and the amount that the spotters talk on the radio, and Parker did a really good job with that. When Lance decided to do the IPC race, we gave him a list of possible co-drivers, and when we got to Parker, Lance immediately said, “let’s go with Parker.”

The team conducted several tests at Mid-Ohio over the past month, but with little cooperation from mother nature: most of the tests were in cold and rainy conditions. With the forecast for this weekend calling for temperatures in the 80s and (mostly) dry, every bit of knowledge that can be gleaned along the way will be valuable. The team has confidence with their pace, and will look to fine tune between both the IPC and the WeatherTech Ligier entries, since they are virtually identical (“as close as we can get them” said Creech) – and the IPC sessions provide more track time for Willsey on the very tricky Mid-Ohio road course.

“We were here testing both cars several weeks ago and one morning was 27 degrees and never got above 50!” said Creech. “It’s going to be warm this weekend, nearly double that we had in testing, so the additional track time helps. We know Parker’s performance level and we certainly know his work ethic, so we’re glad to give him the opportunity to get in the car. We’re asking a lot of him, to get up to speed quickly, but we know he can handle it.”

“I’m just looking forward to working with the team – I’ve gotten to know most of them, they’ve heard me talking on the radio for 24 hours over the past two years!” said Thompson. “But it will be good to work with them on this level, to get to know Sean and Lance better, and to help the team get more track time. They’re leading the LMP3 points and they want to stay there, so that’s the bigger picture. I just want to have fun and bring the car home in a good spot.”

The IMSA Prototype Challenge race takes the green flag Sunday at 9:20 a.m., with flag-to-flag coverage on PeacockTV. International viewers can watch via IMSA.tv, with IMSA Radio also available at IMSA.com. A race replay will air on USA Network Saturday, May 21 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern.

About SCM
Team leader Sean Creech has competed in a multitude of sports car series from 1990 until the present day, includingGroup C, IMSA GTP, WSC, Grand-Am, SRO World Challenge, and IMSA. SCM will contest the full WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2022 with João Barbosa and Lance Willsey. http://seancreechmotorsport.com/

About Alta Equipment
An industry-leading material handling and construction equipment company, Alta Equipment is an innovator of solutions, delivering diverse products and unrivaled support centered on building lasting customer relationships. Alta Equipment began in 1984 with a single location in Detroit and has grown to 57 locations throughout the Midwest, Northeast, and Florida.
https://www.altaequipment.com/

About Focal One
One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime in the United States. The Focal One® HIFU Prostate treatment offers patients a non-invasive outpatient procedure to target prostate tissue while avoiding the common side effects such as loss of urinary continence and sexual function. The Focal One treatment uses high performance, high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to precisely target and ablate the prostate, allowing patients to quickly return to normal activities.
http://www.focalone.com/

CHEVROLET RACING IN NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Team Chevy Takes Momentum to Indy for Month of May

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Official Release
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Team Chevy Takes Momentum to Indy for Month of May
Victory at GMR Grand Prix would be 100th in INDYCAR for Chevy since 2012

DETROIT (May 12, 2022) – Chevrolet continues its roll in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES as the calendar has turned to the month of May and the countdown to the Indianapolis 500.

First up is Saturday’s GMR Grand Prix, the fifth round of this year’s championship. Momentum is clearly on the side of Team Chevy with victories in the season’s first four events. It’s the first time since 2016 that the Bowtie Brand has started 5-0 and opens the door for the 100th Chevrolet victory since rejoining INDYCAR in 2012.

There couldn’t a much better venue to continue the streak than Indianapolis Motor Speedway… particularly the 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course layout. Chevrolet is unbeaten in May at the Indy Road Course since 2015 and enters Indianapolis leading the series’ Engine Manufacturer Championship.

“The month of May takes on more importance year after year,” said Rob Buckner, Chevrolet Program Manager for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. “We feel that way this season with the phenomenal start our Chevrolet-powered teams have experienced. The GMR Grand Prix is beneficial to ease our teams into what is a very significant month coming up. Another victory this weekend would be a great start to our month in Indianapolis.

“While there isn’t much direct correlation between our road-course and speedway packages, there are little things we can pick up such as surface conditions and degree of tire degradation that can help us prepare for the Indy 500 later this month,” Buckner added.

Three different drivers have won using the 2.2L, V6 twin-turbo Chevrolet engine including Team Penske’s Will Power three times (2015, 2017, 2018) and Ed Carpenter Racing’s Rinus VeeKay in 2021.

VeeKay was the pole-winner in the last INDYCAR race at Barber Motorsports Park in mid-April, a race where Arrow McLaren SP’s Pato O’Ward claimed victory. He joined Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin (St. Petersburg) and Josef Newgarden (Texas and Long Beach) in Victory Lane this year.

In addition to an unbeaten start and attempt at its 100thh win, Chevrolet can watch one of its drivers – Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden – take the PeopleReady Force for Good Challenge, which rewards the first driver to win on an oval, street circuit and road course in the same season.

That driver will share $500,000 with his or her team and donate $500,000 to that driver and team’s chosen charity.

On the way to the green flag, the field for the GMR Grand Prix will follow a red Corvette Stingray, which will serve as Official Pace Car.

While at the GMR Grand Prix, Team Chevy fans can enjoy all that the Chevrolet display, located near the Pagoda plaza, has to offer. Included in the display activities will be two Q & A sessions with some of the star Chevrolet drivers.

Friday

· 12:00-12:15 p.m.: Team Penske – Josef Newgarden, Scott McLaughlin and Will Power

· 2:15-2:30 p.m.: Ed Carpenter Racing – Rinus Veekay and Conor Daly

· 2:30-2:45 p.m.: AJ Foyt Racing – Dalton Kellet, Kyle Kirkwood, Tatiana Calderon

· 3:00-3:15 p.m.: Arrow McLaren SP – Pato O’Ward, Felix Rosenqvist and Juan Pablo Montoya

Saturday

· 12:00-12:15 p.m.: Juncos Hollinger Racing – Callum Illott

The Chevrolet Motorsports Display opens at 7:30 a.m. Friday and 8 a.m. Saturday. Numerous Chevrolet vehicles and other highlights include:

• The Corvette Stingray R concept

• Additional Chevrolet products such as Blazer, Silverado, Trailblazer, Traverse, Tahoe, Camaro and Bolt

• A cutaway chassis of the 2023 Corvette Z06 and IndyCar showcar

• An opportunity to receive a 2022 Chevrolet Racing t-shirt

Chevrolet and the NTT INDYCAR Series continue the 2022 season at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 14 from the Indianapolis Road Course. The race will air live on NBC, the Peacock streaming service and SiriusXM IndyCar Nation (Channel 160). Live timing and scoring will be available at racecontrol.indycar.com.

TEAM CHEVY QUOTES

JOSEF NEWGARDEN, NO. 2 HITACHI CHEVROLET, TEAM PENSKE: “We’re trying to keep our eye on the ball and make sure we are staying concentrated on the next race. We can have a good run at the Indy GP. We’ve had good cars there the last couple of years. May is the biggest thing for us, and for the 500 specifically. We’ve worked really hard as a team and with Chevrolet to maximize this year. I hope that comes true.”

CONOR DALY, NO. 20 BITNILE CHEVROLET, ED CARPENTER RACING: “The GMR Grand Prix of one of my favorite events in the schedule. I love getting into the Month of May and starting it off on the road course. We were obviously very, very fast there this time last year. We made it into the Fast 6 so we definitely want to do that again, but not be taken out in the first corner this time! I can’t wait to get May started off right, we already had a strong oval test a few weeks ago. All signs point to us being able to have a great weekend and start the Month of May strong!”

RINUS VEEKAY, NO. 21 ALZAMEND NEURO CHEVROLET, ED CARPENTER RACING: “Going back to the Racing Capital of the World is always awesome and starting the Month of May is always a very exciting time. I have a very good feeling! The Indy road course a place where I have had a lot of success. I had my first pole position, first-ever podium and eventually first-ever NTT INDYCAR SERIES win! I am very happy with how the season is progressing, we are only improving and we’re heading into the Indy GP stronger than ever. ECR has been putting in a lot of work and it’s really paying off. It makes me even more eager to defend my race win in the GMR Grand Prix!”

CALLUM ILOTT, NO. 77 DYNAMIC EDGE CHEVROLET, JUNCOS HOLLINGER RACING: “I’m excited to start my month of May her in Indy for the GMR GP. I have a bit of experience of the road course as I conducted my first NTT INDYCAR SERIES test here towards the end of last year. Also coming off of the improvements we made last time in Barber, I’m excited to show what we can do with the Chevy Juncos Hollinger car.”

BY THE NUMBERS: CHEVROLET IN INDYCAR

· 1: Chevrolet’s position in the INDYCAR Engine Manufacturer standings after three races

· 3: Career GMR Grand Prix wins for Will Power in the month of May. All have been in Chevrolet-powered entries

· 4: Consecutive victories by Chevrolet to open the 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin won the pole and race at St. Petersburg. Penske teammate Josef Newgarden won at Texas and Long Beach, and Pato O’Ward was victorious at Barber Motorsport Park for Arrow McLaren SP.

· 5: Wins and pole positions for Will Power on the Indianapolis Road Course since 2015, including races in the spring, summer and fall.

· 6: Wins for Chevrolet IndyCar teams in May at the Indianapolis Road Course – all consecutively dating back to 2015.

· 6: Different Chevrolet drivers to win races dating back to the start of 2020. Scott McLaughlin was the most recent at St. Petersburg

· 6: Number of Manufacturer Championships in the NTT INDYCAR Series since 2012

· 6: Number of Team Chevy Driver/Entrant championships since 2012

· 8: Wins by Team Penske on the Indianapolis Road Course – all with Chevrolet power.

· 9: Wins from pole by Will Power with Chevrolet power since 2012, most by any driver

· 13: Consecutive seasons with at least one win by Will Power, including past 10 with Chevrolet

· 25: Wins by Will Power since 2012. All have come with Chevrolet, giving him the most of any driver with same manufacturer

· 39: Pole starts by Will Power since 2012 in a Chevrolet-powered car, most of any driver

· 99: Chevrolet victories in NTT INDYCAR SERIES since 2012

· 110: Earned poles by Chevrolet since 2012

· 169: NTT INDYCAR SERIES races as V6 engine supplier since 2012 return to INDYCAR

About Chevrolet

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 80 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.

Petty GMS Event Preview: Kansas Speedway

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Ty Dillon, No. 42 ChevyLiners.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Dillon at Kansas Speedway: Dillon has raced in nine NASCAR Cup Series events at Kansas Speedway, posting three top-16 and six top-25 finishes. Running a limited schedule in 2021, the North Carolina native did not participate in any Cup Series event at the 1.5-mile tri-oval last season. Dillon has also competed in four NASCAR Xfinity Series races at the Kansas City intermediate, earning one pole, two top-five and three top-10 results and never finishing outside of twelfth-place. In two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events, Dillon collected two top-10 finishes. Kansas Speedway is also the site of Dillon’s first ARCA Menards Series victory in 2010.
  • Run with the Best: ChevyLiners.com will serve as primary partner on Dillon’s Chevrolet Camaro for Sunday’s race at Kansas Speedway, marking the fifth event this season that the grey and mustard colors of Chevrolet Accessories have adorned the No. 42 machine. – About ChevyLiners.com: When it comes to floor protection for your Chevrolet, be sure to run with the best. 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.
  • From the Drivers Seat: What does it take to get around Kansas Speedway? What are your feelings about the track?
  • Dillon at Kansas Speedway: Dillon has raced in nine NASCAR Cup Series events at Kansas Speedway, posting three top-16 and six top-25 finishes. Running a limited schedule in 2021, the North Carolina native did not participate in any Cup Series event at the 1.5-mile tri-oval last season. Dillon has also competed in four NASCAR Xfinity Series races at the Kansas City intermediate, earning one pole, two top-five and three top-10 results and never finishing outside of twelfth-place. In two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events, Dillon collected two top-10 finishes. Kansas Speedway is also the site of Dillon’s first ARCA Menards Series victory in 2010.
  • Run with the Best: ChevyLiners.com will serve as primary partner on Dillon’s Chevrolet Camaro for Sunday’s race at Kansas Speedway, marking the fifth event this season that the grey and mustard colors of Chevrolet Accessories have adorned the No. 42 machine. – About ChevyLiners.com: When it comes to floor protection for your Chevrolet, be sure to run with the best. 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.
  • From the Drivers Seat: 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 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Jones at Kansas Speedway: In the NASCAR Cup Series, Jones has 12 starts at the 1.5-mile Kansas Speedway with a career-best finish of third in 2019. A special place to 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.

In addition to his Cup Series starts, Jones has two starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series where he started both races from second and led a combined 197 laps before finishing 15th in both races. In the Truck Series, Jones has one start where he led the field to the green and for 151 of 167 laps before fuel milage dropped him to an 11th-place finish late in the race.

  • Focused on Winning: FOCUSfactor will serve as the primary partner on Jones’s Chevrolet Camaro for Sunday’s race at Kansas Speedway. As this season’s primary partner on the No. 43 Camaro, FOCUSfactor’s blue and green colors have been on display for 10 races in 2022. - 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 do you expect at Kansas Speedway 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.

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.

Lexus Grand Prix launches 61st season of racing at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

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Lexus takes on title sponsorship role and looks to continue run of success in IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s GTD class

LEXINGTON, Ohio (May 12, 2022) – The 61st season of racing begins at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course this weekend (May 13-15) with a premier sports car racing event under new title sponsor Lexus. The world-class IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship returns to the 2.258-mile, 13-turn permanent road course in Lexington, Ohio as the Lexus Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio.

The luxury performance automotive company takes on title sponsorship duties for the first time at an IMSA event at a track that holds great significance to the brand. Competing in the GT Daytona (GTD) category, Lexus won three consecutive races from 2018 to 2020 at Mid-Ohio and placed second in class last year. This weekend the Lexus Vasser Sullivan team will enter two cars into the GTD class with a stable of past Mid-Ohio champions behind the wheel. The Vasser Sullivan No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3 will be co-driven by Aaron Telitz and Frankie Montecalvo while the No. 14 machine will be guided by Jack Hawksworth and Richard Heistand. Hawksworth is a two-time victor at Mid-Ohio in the GTD class, winning with Heistand in 2019 and alongside Telitz in 2020. Telitz has also earned two GTD pole positions at Mid-Ohio in 2020 and 2021.

“I couldn’t be more excited to get to Mid-Ohio,” Telitz said. “It’s one of my favorite tracks and has been very strong for our Lexus RC F GT3 car. Vasser Sullivan and Lexus have won three of the previous four races there, and the Vasser Sullivan team has been on pole three years in a row. To make the weekend even better, Lexus is now the official sponsor of the Lexus Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio race. I can’t wait to see all the Lexus supporters at the track as we take it to the competition.”

Five races will take the green flag during the race weekend. The weekend’s headliner is the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship on Sunday (May 15) at 2:10 p.m. ET, a two-hour, 40-minute sprint race. Lexus will attempt to continue its dominance in the GTD class while three other classes of sportscars compete simultaneously – the Daytona Prototype International (DPi), Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) and Le Mans Prototype 3 (LMP3). In the top-tier DPi division, Meyer Shank Racing, based out of nearby Pataskala, Ohio, will compete for the overall victory after beginning the IMSA season with an endurance race win in the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Team owner Mike Shank is hopeful drivers Oliver Jarvis and Tom Blomqvist can deliver the team’s first victory at their home track.

“I think it’s extremely important,” Jarvis said. “It’s Mike’s home race, the team’s home race, and I believe they’ve never won there. We’d love to put that right – Tom and myself and the team. It would be amazing to win at the home track.”

Saturday’s feature is the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge at 4:05 p.m. ET in a two-hour timed race. Also, in store for race fans is a doubleheader for the Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup and an IMSA Prototype Challenge race on Sunday morning.

For fans in attendance, Lexus will have racing simulators available for fans to try at the Lexus Racing Experience in Manufacturer’s Midway. The simulators will be open all weekend and the fastest performers will be invited back on Sunday to compete in a championship round.

Additional, fan activities include autograph sessions with Mazda MX-5 Cup drivers on Saturday (May 14) from 2:30 – 3:00 p.m. ET and IMSA WeatherTech drivers on Sunday (May 15) from 11:00 – 11:30 a.m. ET, respectively. Fans will also have two chances to walk the track – the first on Saturday (May 14) prior to the Michelin Pilot Challenge and the second on Sunday (May 15) before the start of the Lexus Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio.

Tickets are sold in advance and available at the gate to the Lexus Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio. Children 12 and under receive free general admission when accompanied by a ticketed adult. All the ticket options and pricing are posted online at midohio.com.

About Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course:

A comprehensive motorsports facility in Lexington, Ohio, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course sits on 380 acres and features a permanent road-racing circuit with two primary race track configurations: 2.4-mile, 15-turn or 2.258-mile, 13-turn layout. Located 60 miles north of Columbus and 75 miles south of Cleveland near Mansfield, the natural terrain road course is commonly referred to as the “Most Competitive in the U.S.” and annually hosts a diversity of locally, regionally and nationally sanctioned race events for amateur, club and professional drivers and riders. It is also home to The Mid-Ohio School, featuring over 20 driving and riding courses, for teenagers to professional racers using Honda vehicles. Opened in 1962, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course has been owned and operated by Green Savoree Mid-Ohio, LLC since 2011, just the raceway’s third private ownership group in its history.

For more information, visit midohio.com, ‘like’ its Facebook page @MidOhioSportsCarCourse or follow updates on Twitter @Mid_Ohio and Instagram @officialmidohio.

Chevrolet seeks to carry momentum to Virginia track

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CHEVROLET AT VIRGINIA

What: Virginia NHRA Nationals
When: Friday, May 13-Sunday, May 15
Where: Virginia Motorsports Park in North Dinwiddie, Virginia
TV: FS1 will telecast eliminations at 6:30 p.m. ET May 15

Chevrolet seeks to carry momentum to Virginia track
John Force Racing has recorded five victories in six Top Fuel and Funny Car events

DETROIT (May 12, 2022) – John Force doesn’t plan to slow down.

When the 16-time National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Funny Car champion can crack a .05-of-a-second light, blast off to a 335.07 mph run in the 11,000 horsepower PEAK BlueDEF Platinum Chevrolet Camaro SS and keep winning, why should he? Even at age 73.

Force enters the Virginia NHRA Nationals this weekend with renewed confidence after winning the four-wide race May 1 at zMAX Dragway in Concord, North Carolina, adding to his amazing career. The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series returns to Virginia Motorsports Park for the first time since 2019.

“I’m excited to go to Richmond, but I’m going with a little different attitude. My race car has found consistency,” said Force, a four-time winner at the track.

Driver and Camaro were consistently at peak performance at zMAX Dragway, where Force won in the four-wide format for the second year in a row. He qualified No. 1 for the 164th time with a track-record run of 3.850-seconds, set the track speed record with the 335.07 mph pass and went on to post his 155th career win.

“Things just seem to happen where you’re destined to win,” Force said. “It was amazing. On some days, magical things just happen. Things went right and we were able to win the race. It was like it was destiny and it was a great weekend for my team. To finally get a win this year gives me a lot of confidence.”

The next Funny Car victory by Force or teammate Robert Hight, driver of the Auto Club of Southern California Camaro SS who sits second in championship points entering the seventh of 22 events, will be the 150th for Chevrolet since 1967. The Camaro has been to the winner’s circle 69 times.

John Force Racing owns both ends of the Funny Car records at Virginia Motorsports Park — 3.899 seconds by Force and 326.32 mph by Hight – both in May 2019.

The four JFR drivers have recorded five victories in the six races – two by Hight to start the season, two in a row by Brittany Force in the Flav-R-Pac/Monster Energy Chevrolet dragster and one by her father. Austin Prock, driver of the Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist Chevrolet dragster, was runner-up at Pomona and shown promise as he returns to full-season competition for the first time since 2019 when he was voted NHRA rookie of the year.

Hight was runner-up in the four-wide final at zMAX Dragway, and Brittany Force enters the race weekend as the Top Fuel points leader.

The event will also feature the third round of the Constant Aviation Factory Stock Showdown. Len Lottig won the opener at Gainesville in his Chevrolet COPO Camaro and former series champion David Barton was runner-up in his COPO Camaro in the four-wide event two weeks ago at zMAX Dragway.

FS1 will telecast eliminations at 6:30 p.m. ET Sunday, May 15.

Pro Stock competitors return to NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series competition June 3-5 at New England Dragway in New Hampshire. Erica Enders, a three-time winner this season in the Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro SS, tops the standings.

CHEVROLET FROM THE COCKPIT

TOP FUEL

BRITTANY FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, FLAV-R-PAC/MONSTER ENERGY CHEVROLET DRAGSTER (winner at Las Vegas and Houston; first in points): “Richmond is next on the list and after a couple of years away, our Flav-R-Pac / Monster Energy team is excited to return. We head into the Virginia Motorsports Park in the points lead after back-to-back wins and are looking to leave in the same position. Our goals are to qualify in the top three, make three consistent qualifying runs and have a long race day so we can grow that points lead.”

AUSTIN PROCK, JOHN FORCE RACING, MONTANA BRAND/ROCKY MOUNTAIN TWIST CHEVROLET DRAGSTER (runner-up at Pomona opener): “It was a good weekend off celebrating Mother’s Day, always nice to spend time with family and friends, but this Montana Brand team is excited to get back to business. We’ve been getting this car back into winning form and can’t wait to see what our performance looks like this weekend. Hoping the weather holds off, and we can put on a showing for our awesome NHRA fans. We haven’t been back to Richmond since my rookie season, so it’ll be great to be back.”

FUNNY CAR

JOHN FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, PEAK BLUEDEF PLATINUM CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (four-time winner at track; five-time No. 1 qualifier; holds track Funny Car elapsed time record, set in 2019): “We’ll be really trying to put on a show, maybe set some more records. I’m feeling good coming off a win. The credit really goes to Danny Hood and Tim Fabrisi who run the PEAK BlueDEF Chevy. I know drivers always get all the credit, but it really is those guys and the whole team that help get the job done, couldn’t do it without them.”

ROBERT HIGHT, JOHN FORCE RACING, AUTO CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (two-time winner this season; second in points; holds track Funny Car speed record, set in 2019): “It’s been a decent start to the season for this Auto Club team. We’ve had some consistency which is what we lacked last year. We just need to keep it going. There’s room for improvement, there’s always room for improvement and I think this team has high expectations. Jimmy Prock and Christ Cunningham are two of the best, so it’s hard not to be confident with them on your side. I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do in Richmond. Really glad to be heading back after a couple years. Hopefully, we can pull out a win and get this Auto Club Chevy in the winner’s circle and back in the points lead.”

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 79 countries. 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.

Greg Van Alst Returns To Kansas Speedway Hoping for First ARCA Top-10 of 2022

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KANSAS CITY, Kan: Greg Van Alst needs some luck in the ARCA Menards Series and Kansas Speedway might be exactly what the doctor ordered.

Van Alst and his Greg Van Alst Motorsports team trek to Kansas Speedway, the site of his first career top-10 finish last year hoping to rekindle the magic and put his 2022 ARCA Menards Series season back on track.

In the series’ most recent race at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, Van Alst once again proved how fast his No. 35 CB Fabricating Chevrolet SS was drafting from his mid-pack starting position based on 2021 car owner points to inside the top-five.

Unfortunately, Van Alst got shuffled late in the race and with the event cut short due to time constraints, he ran out of laps to climb back through the field and settled for a season-best 11th place finish.

With the path steered in the right direction, Van Alst eyes Saturday afternoon’s Dutch Boy 150 as the primary opportunity to not only capture a top-10 finish but earn some much-needed ARCA Menards Series championship points.

“We are feeling really good about this weekend’s race at Kansas Speedway,” said Van Alst. “I feel like this is a track that our experience will benefit our team on Saturday afternoon. We’ve learned a lot about our intermediate program over the past year and I’m eager to get on the track to get a good gauge on where we stand.”

Scoring the first of three top-10 finishes at Kansas Speedway last May, Van Alst says returning to the site of what was then the best effort of his ARCA career gives his all-volunteer team some much-welcomed momentum in the fourth ARCA race of the 2022 season.

“It is huge for us to return to Kansas Speedway,” added Van Alst. “The race last fall didn’t go our way, but we had a mechanical issue that hindered our performance. In the spring, we were competitive and I feel like it showed the other competitors and teams that we can bring speed to any type of race track.

“Reflecting on last year gives us the confidence to shoot for a good day.”

With an average finish of 23rd after three races this season, Van Alst has made the climb to 13th in the championship standings and just six points outside the top-10.

Another good run at the Kansas City, Kansas facility would continue a steady uphill climb as Van Alst hopes to challenge for the series championship. Entering Kansas, Van Alst is 49 points behind championship leader Rajah Caruth.

“We are disappointed with the results we have had so far,” explained Van Alst. “We have had two finishes out of our control that has set us back but not out. We are going to continue to grind to work ourselves back into contention for the season championship.”

As for his goals for Saturday afternoon’s 100-lap contest, Van Alst would like to improve on his sixth-place finish from last year and post his second career top-five ARCA Menards Series run.

“We are hoping for a top-five finish on Saturday,” sounded Van Alst. “We are taking the car we took there in the fall and have found the issues that caused us to struggle at that race.

“We hope these things allow us to be fast right off the trailer. With practice and qualifying being combined on Saturday morning, it’s important for us to make the most of that track time so we can get a good starting position from there.

“From there, it’s just running our race and staying out of trouble and hoping that when push comes to shove, we’re in a position to capitalize on exactly what we’re going to Kansas to do.”

Chris Barkdull’s CB Fabricating, a longtime partner with Greg Van Alst Motorsports has boosted its commitment to the team and will continue its role as the primary marketing partner of Van Alst’s No. 35 Ford Fusion.

Headquartered in Anderson, Ind., CB Fabricating offers a complete list of fabricating from design, laser cutting, CNC punching, forming, welding, powder coating, and assembly.

Their 26,000-square-foot facility allows them to service the needs of many different industries. Everything from the Automotive, agricultural, aquatic, medical, transportation, electrical enclosures, and much more.

“Kansas was special last year for a lot of reasons and it was great to carry CB Fabricating to its first top-10 in ARCA competition with our team,” recalled Van Alst. “Like Talladega, Kansas can prove to be a pinnacle race for our small team and I’m thankful to have the support of Chris and CB Fabricating.”

In addition to CB Fabricating, Top Choice Fence, Norton Transport, KRJ Race Products and Lintz Creative will serve as associate marketing partners for Van Alst’s 15th career ARCA start.

For more on Greg Van Alst and Greg Van Alst Motorsports, please visit GregVanAlst.com, like them on Facebook (Van Alst Motorsports) and follow him on Twitter (@GregVanAlst35).

For more on CB Fabricating, please visit CBFabricating.com and like them on Facebook (CB Fabricating).

The Dutch Boy 150 (100 laps | 150 miles) is the fourth of 20 races on the 2022 ARCA Menards Series schedule. A combined practice and qualifying session begins on Saturday, May 14, 2022, from 9:45 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The event will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with the Motor Racing Network (MRN) managing the radio waves beginning at 1:00 p.m. ARCARacing.com will also stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire weekend festivities. All times are local (CT).

O’Gara Motorsport / Change Racing / US RaceTronics Heads to Mid-Ohio Sportscar Course for Round 2 of IMSA Prototype Challenge Second in Points

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Photo courtesy of Jeanine Wells

Monrovia, California (Thursday, May 12, 2022) – After a strong debut to the 2022 IMSA Prototype Challenge season at the ROAR Before the 24 in Daytona back in January, the No. 77 Thienes Engineering O’Gara Motorsport / Change Racing / USRT Ligier LMP3 will be back in action this weekend at the Mid-Ohio Sportscar Course.

American driver Brian Thienes will be making his fifth IPC start having joined the series mid-season in 2021. Thienes has raced both open-wheel and sportscars with success in both disciplines. With a fifth-place finish in just his second start in the Ligier LMP3 and his second-place finish at the Roar Before the 24, Thienes is confident that the new car is the perfect vehicle for continued racing success.

“I am looking forward to round 2 of the IMSA Prototype Challenge,” Thienes said. “US RaceTronics did a good job with the test at mid-Ohio. Patrick and I are well prepared for this race. We look forward to good results this weekend.”

Patrick Kujala (FIN), who celebrates his 26th birthday on race day, has had major successes throughout his 17-year racing career, winning at every level he’s competed in. His first championship, at the age of 9 in the Andalucian Karting Championship series, was just the start. Kujala won the 2012 Juniors championship in Formula Renault, the Lamborghini Super Trofeo World and European Championships in 2015, and the Lamborghini Super Trofeo European Pro-Am Championship in 2016 before moving into GT3 cars where he scored multiple wins including the 24 Hours at SPA in 2018. Kujala made his IMSA Prototype Challenge debut with an impressive second-place finish at the ROAR Before the 24 in Daytona in January and is looking forward to getting back into the car this weekend.

“After a good start at Daytona we want to carry that momentum coming to Mid-Ohio,” Kujala said. “The test wasn’t optimal because of the bad weather but on the positive side as a driver we got to drive in all different conditions which is always good.”

Race engineer Peter Jacobs has worked with Thienes and Kujala for many years in both Lamborghini Super Trofeo and now the IMSA Prototype Challenge Series is also looking forward to this weekend’s event at Mid-Ohio Sportscar Course. Jacobs expects the duo to be competitive after a good performance at a test earlier this month at the iconic track.

“Over the past two years, Brian Thienes has made huge strides in his driving under the guidance of US RaceTronics,” Jacobs said. “The Ligier 320 is an outstanding race car that suits Brian well; it gives him a great deal of confidence. Patrick Kujala, was an excellent choice as our second driver. Patrick is a very articulate, mature driver with an outstanding understanding of what the car is doing, and what it needs. This makes setting up the car much easier. Our Mid-Ohio test was for the most part under wet conditions, so we weren’t able to explore different options with regards to set up. I still believe, Brian and Patrick will be very competitive on race day.”

If you’re in the Mid-Ohio area make sure to come out and catch all the excitement live. The team will qualify on Saturday, May 14, 2022 at 2:40 p.m. and race Sunday morning May 15, 2022 at 9:25 a.m. local time.

About US RaceTronics

US RaceTronics (USRT) was founded by Shane Seneviratne in 2005 to compete in the Atlantic Championship, a formula race car series. The team finished 5th in points its first year and continued its success during the succeeding years, ultimately amassing a total of 21 podiums, 7 poles, 5 race wins and finishing 3rd in the 2009 Atlantic Championship. USRT was put on hold after series officials announced the Atlantic Series was put on hiatus.

Seneviratne fully returned to racing in 2015 after receiving an invitation to manage the O’Gara Motorsport entries in the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North American (LBSTNA) Series. The team won the Team Championship, Dealership Championship, Pro Championship and Amateur Championship that season.

The success of 2015 reignited Seneviratne’s passion for racing and he relaunched US RaceTronics to compete in the 2016 LBSTNA Series. The team has won multiple North American and World Championships and expects to add to their success as they enter their seventh season in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North American Series.

For more information on how to become a driver with US RaceTronics, learn more about the Series, or attend a race, visit www.usracetronics.com.

About O’Gara Motorsport

O’Gara Motorsport was founded in 2014 by owner Tom O’Gara and celebrated winning the 2015 North American Lamborghini Super Trofeo driver and team Championships. The team goal is to achieve victories in the Series as well as showcasing the brands of their sponsors both on and off the track. With a vertically integrated platform that starts at the dealership and accelerates to the top levels of professional sports car racing, everyone at O’Gara is dedicated to providing a comprehensive program for anyone, from the casually curious to the dedicated racer.

About Change Racing

Founded by Lamborghini Charlotte CEO and long time real estate developer, John E. Littlefield, Change Racing is the premier championship winning team. Claiming 18 titles in various classes; Change Racing has competed in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Series since its inception in 2013.

Most recently claiming the 2021 Amateur World Championship in Misano, Italy. Change Racing also claimed all SIX 2020 North American Championships, including the Pro, Pro-Am, Am and LB Cup class championships as well as the Team and Owner championships.

John Hunter Nemechek – No. 4 Mobil 1 Tundra TRD Pro Camping World Trucks Kansas Preview

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John Hunter Nemechek: Driver, No. 4 Mobil 1 Toyota

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Overview:
Event: Heart of America 200, Race 8 of 23, 134 Laps – 30/30/74; 201 Miles
Location: Kansas Speedway in Kansas City (1.5-mile tri-oval)
Date/Broadcast: May 14, 2022, at 8 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR 90

Nemechek #Back4More in 2022:

John Hunter Nemechek and the No. 4 Mobil 1 team head to Kansas Speedway with momentum on their side coming off their first win of the season at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway last weekend. Nemechek has now strung together four straight top-five finishes dating back to Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Tex. on March 19. With the win, Nemechek jumped three spots in the Camping World Truck Series standings up to second, just 30 points behind Ben Rhodes in first. After seven races, Nemechek leads all drivers in average starting position (7.1) and average running position (7.058), is second in laps led (154) and fastest laps run (49) and ranks third in driver rating (104.2).

The second-generation driver will be making his fifth start at Kansas in the Camping World Truck Series. Throughout his first four starts, he has tallied 16 laps led, three top-five and three top-10 finishes with an average finish of 10.0. While he hasn’t reached victory lane in a truck at Kansas yet, he picked up his first career NASCAR Xfinity Series victory at the 1.5-mile venue in October of 2018 for Chip Ganassi Racing. He also finished eighth in the Xfinity Series event at Kansas in 2019. In two NASCAR Cup Series starts at Kansas, Nemechek has an average finish of 18.0 and earned a best finish of 17th in the 2020 fall event.

The Toyota Racing driver made his fifth NASCAR Xfinity Series start of the season last weekend at Darlington, piloting the No. 26 GR Supra for Sam Hunt Racing. Nemechek earned the organization’s second career top-five finish, taking the checkered flag in fourth.

The world’s leading synthetic motor oil, Mobil 1, will be the primary sponsor onboard Nemechek’s No. 4 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro Saturday night in Kansas. Mobil 1 will return to the hood of Nemechek’s Toyota for five more races in 2022 starting at Worldwide Technology Raceway at Gateway on June 4.

Nemechek is a 12-time winner in Camping World Truck Series action, winning at least one race each season from 2015 to 2018 for his family-owned team, NEMCO Motorsports, and returning to victory lane the last two seasons with KBM. Across 131 career starts in NASCAR’s third division, he has compiled four poles, 1,335 laps led, 44 top-five and 70 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 12.5.

Eric Phillips returned to lead the No. 4 team in 2022. His 42 career Truck Series victories make him the winningest crew chief in Truck Series history, with 33 of those coming while at KBM including five last year. Phillips led the No. 18 team at KBM in its debut season in 2010 and helped build the organization into one of the premier teams in all of NASCAR before departing at the end of the 2014 season. Under his guidance, the No. 18 team won eight races in its inaugural campaign and became the first team in Truck Series history to capture an owner’s championship in its first season of competition. In 2014, the Illinois native led the No. 51 team to an owner’s championship and his team’s 10 wins spearheaded KBM to a single-season Truck Series record of 14 wins. Phillip’s has been calling the shots for 11 starts at Kansas. In those 11 starts, his drivers have tallied two wins one pole, 198 laps led, four top-five, and five top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 10.7. He was victorious with Mike Skinner in 2009 and with KBM owner-driver Kyle Busch in 2014. Phillips also has one NASCAR Xfinity Series victory at Kansas, he was atop the pit box for Christopher Bell’s first series victory in 2017.

John Hunter Nemechek, Driver Q&A:
After a tough start to the season, was there more relief or excitement winning at Darlington?
“Relief, there is definitely some excitement there, but more relief after the finishes we had to start the season. It didn’t seem like we were the team that we were last year. We’ve been fast, we were leading laps, we were winning stages, but we weren’t finishing where we needed to. I feel like we finally turned the ship the right way at Darlington and hopefully we can keep the momentum going throughout this eight-race stretch.”

You’ve won at three of the next four tracks that the Truck Series goes to. How much confidence does that give you going into this eight-race stretch?
“I think its huge to get a win to start off an eight-week stretch like this. To be able to win a race and have momentum on your side is huge. I don’t have to have Kyle (Busch, owner) asking me when we are going to win a race — I don’t have to hear that anymore, so that’s nice. We just have to keep on with it. We’ve been really fast all year, we’ve won stages, we’ve led laps, we’ve been in contention all year, we just haven’t been able to finish races. I couldn’t get past two to go there for a while earlier in the year, but luckily, we were able to do that at Darlington and the last few races. Momentum is huge in this sport; I’m looking forward to carrying it through the summer months and having some really good runs. That’s what it is going to take to continue to accumulate some points to go after the regular season championship and try and win some more races. All of our focus is really on the playoffs. Last year I felt like we peaked too early in the season and had a slump through the playoffs and this year we started off kind of slow. Yes, it sucks to start off slow, but hopefully that’s a good omen for the rest of the year.”

John Hunter Nemechek Career Highlights:

  • Twelve-time winner in Camping World Truck Series action, winning at least one race each season from 2015 to 2018 for his family-owned team, NEMCO Motorsports. Across 131 career starts in NASCAR’s third division, has compiled four poles, 1,335 laps led, 44 top-five and 70 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 12.5. Registered a career-high and series-leading five victories in 2021 and earned the NCWTS Regular Season championship and third in the final standings after qualifying for the Championship Four for the first time in his career.
  • Produced three top-10 finishes and an average result of 22.4 while competing for rookie of the year honors in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2020. He recorded a career-best eighth-place finish twice, both coming at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.
  • Across 61 career XFINITY Series starts, has totaled two wins, one pole, 510 laps led, 17 top-five and 36 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 11.8.

John Hunter Nemechek’s No. 4 Mobil 1 Tundra TRD Pro:

KBM-38: The No. 4 Mobil 1 team will unload KBM-38 for Saturday’s race at Kansas. Nemechek piloted “38 special” twice in 2021, including his win at Texas Motor Speedway last June where he led 67 laps. Overall, KBM-38 has collected seven wins across 22 career starts. Three with Christopher Bell and one each with Kyle Busch, William Byron, Noah Gragson, and John Hunter Nemechek.

KBM-38 Performance Profile

KBM Notes of Interest:

  • KBM drivers have collected five wins, four poles, 696 laps led, 15 top-five and 24 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 9.6 across 37 starts at Kansas Speedway.
  • Owner-driver Kyle Busch has collected three wins at Kansas (2014, 2017 and 2021). Noah Gragson led a race-high 128 laps and swept all three stages in the 2018 event and William Byron earned his first career Camping World Trucks victory there in 2016.
  • KBM holds the Camping World Truck Series records for most career wins (93) and most wins in a single season (14 in 2014). With his victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 19, Corey Heim became the 18th different driver to win a Truck Series event for KBM. In addition to collecting a series-record seven Owner’s Championships, the organization has produced two championship-winning drivers: Erik Jones (2015) and Christopher Bell (2017).
  • The No. 4 has 17 career victories at KBM and was the number for both of the organization’s driver championships.

Amber Balcaen Takes Talladega Momentum to Kansas Speedway ARCA Debut

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KANSAS CITY, Kan: Fresh off her career-best finish in the premier ARCA Menards Series, rookie Amber Balcaen looks to deliver her Rette Jones Racing team a strong top-10 finish in Saturday afternoon’s Dutch Boys 150 at Kansas Speedway.

After finishing a respectable 16th in the season-opening race at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, Balcaen set a goal to improve on her first superspeedway race. Mission accomplished.

A competitive No. 30 ICON Direct Ford Fusion kept Balcaen hovering inside the top-15 for a majority of the race. A late-race surge vaulted her to inside the top-10, but an untimely caution that ultimately froze the field, left Balcaen and her Mark Rette-led team with a season-high 12th place finish at the demanding 2.66-mile superspeedway.

Reflecting on her Talladega finish, Balcaen said it is important to continue to improve behind the wheel of her No. 30 ICON Direct Ford Fusion

“It’s really important for me as a rookie to keep progressing forward each race,” explained Balcaen.

“Seeing my improvement from Daytona to Talladega helps increase my confidence and builds positive momentum going into Kansas.

“The goal is always to be better and better every race, and if we can keep doing that then we will be on the right path to success.”

With a strong finish in the books and the superspeedway program completed for the season, Balcaen and her Mooresville, N.C. team look ahead to Saturday’s first intermediate race of the ARCA Menards Series season hoping the momentum continues in the fourth race of the year.

“I am really excited for Kansas,” said Balcaen. “It will be my first time on a mile and a half-track but I am ready for it.”

Set to embrace her first of several mile-and-a-half tracks of the 2022 ARCA season, Balcaen has been taking a calculated approach over the past two weeks to make sure she can execute at Kansas beginning with a combined practice and qualifying session on Saturday morning.

“I’ve been preparing for Kansas but watching videos of past ARCA races, studying in-car camera videos, practicing on iRacing and staying consistent in the gym,” she explained. “All of these elements are important for my debut in Kansas to be as seamless as possible.

“We have just forty-five minutes of track time on Saturday before the race starts, so it’s important for me to take advantage of that track time and apply it and give my team good feedback so we can post a fast lap and start as close to the front as possible.”

Kansas will also be the site of a new partner aboard her No. 30 Rette Jones Racing Ford Fusion. 1st Phorm headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri is a high-performance supplement and nutrition that has been a long-time partner of Balcaen’s, however, this weekend, 1st Phorm will increase its commitment and serve as an associate marketing partner for the 100-lap race.

“1st Phorm and I have been partnered for the last eight years but this is the first time they will be on my race car in a larger way. Their brand and core values really align with mine, so it’s the perfect fit. I am a big advocate for fitness and health, so I am excited to have them on the car this weekend.”

As far as the race, Balcaen believes her Rette Jones Racing No. 30 ICON Direct Ford Fusion can contend for a top-10 finish or better.

“A good goal for our team on Saturday is a top-10 finish, but I would be really happy with a top-five,” she said. “I want to have fun like I did at Talladega and keep progressing forward as a driver.”

For crew chief and co-team owner Rette, he is confident that his rookie driver will adapt and find her groove and continue a solid pace in her ARCA Menards Series quest.

“Amber did a terrific job at Talladega,” added Rette. “I am excited to see what she can do on some of these cookie-cutters tracks on the ARCA Menards Series schedule. Kansas is a good placemat to get us ready for Charlotte at the end of the month.

“She’d like a top-10 on Saturday and that would be a good booster for our Rette Jones Racing team and give us even more momentum for the upcoming races.”

Amber Balcaen 05.09.22a.jpg

ICON Direct will continue to adorn the primary positions on Balcaen’s race car in their fourth of 20 races this season.

ICON Direct is a manufacturer of high-quality plastic component parts for the RV industry, located in Manitoba, Canada. ICON aftermarket replacement parts are available through RV Dealers and Distributors across North America and directly through their website IconDirect.com.

The Winnipeger’s new endeavor at Rette Jones Racing will also be supported by Glenn McLeod and Sons – cementing a full Canadian roster of partners for her ARCA Menards Series rookie season.

Longtime RJR partners Ford Performance, Goodridge Fluid Transfer Systems, Jones Group Demolition and Abatement and JRi Shocks will continue their relationship with the team in 2022 and serve as associate partners on Balcaen’s No. 30 ICON Direct Ford Fusion.

RJR is co-owned by Canadian entrepreneur and former race car driver Terry Jones. 2022 and serve as associate partners on Balcaen’s No. 30 ICON Direct Ford Fusion.

RJR is co-owned by Canadian entrepreneur and former race car driver Terry Jones.

For more on Amber Balcaen, please visit amberbalcaenracing.com, like her on Facebook (AmberBalcaenRacing) and follow her on Instagram (@amberbalcaen10) and Twitter (@amberbalcaen10).

For more on Rette Jones Racing, please visit RetteJonesRacing.com, like them on Facebook (Rette Jones Racing) or follow them on Instagram (@RetteJones30) and Twitter (@RetteJones30).

The Dutch Boy 150 (100 laps | 150 miles) is the fourth of 20 races on the 2022 ARCA Menards Series schedule. A combined practice and qualifying session begins on Saturday, May 14, 2022, from 9:45 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The event will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with the Motor Racing Network (MRN) managing the radio waves beginning at 1:00 p.m. ARCARacing.com will also stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire weekend festivities. All times are local (CT).

About Rette Jones Racing:

Headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, Rette Jones Racing (RJR) was founded in 2015 with the intent of building a successful racing operation built around the fundamentals of hard work and a never-give-up attitude.

Owned by racers Terry Jones and Mark Rette, RJR plan to field a full-time entry in 2022 in the ARCA Menards Series, while also planning to field vehicles in the ARCA Menards Series East and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) respectively.

The winning ARCA team also offers technical and setup intel as part of its technical alliance partnership program.

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