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JR Motorsports — NXS Darlington Preview

By
Official Release
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JR MOTORSPORTS TEAM PREVIEW:
TRACK: Darlington Raceway
RACE: Mahindra ROXOR 200 (147 laps / 200.1 miles)
DATE: Saturday, May 7, 2022

Broadcast Information – TV: 1:30 p.m. ET on FS1 / Radio: 1 p.m. ET on MRN and Sirius XM Ch. 90

Sam Mayer
No. 1 Accelerate Pros Throwback Chevrolet
• Sam Mayer heads to Darlington Raceway this weekend after finishing in the top five in four of the last five NASCAR Xfinity Series races this season.
• Mayer led 18 laps last weekend at Dover Motor Speedway en route to his third fifth-place finish of the 2022 season.
• The 18-year-old Franklin, Wis. native led the NXS in green flag passes (51) and quality passes (24) last weekend in Dover. Mayer leads the overall statistics for being the fastest on restarts this season with a ranking of 11.5.

Josh Berry
No. 8 Tire Pros Throwback Chevrolet
• Josh Berry heads to Darlington after securing his first win of the season last weekend at Dover.
• In this race last year, Berry led eight laps en route to a second-place finish behind teammate Allgaier.
• Berry’s Tire Pros Chevrolet throws back to team owner and NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s 2002 Gossamer Looney Toons Chevrolet that he took to Victory Lane at Richmond Raceway.
• The 31-year-old currently sits fourth in the championship standings, only 88 markers behind the series leader.

Noah Gragson
No. 9 Bass Pro Shops / TrueTimber / Black Rifle Coffee Chevrolet
• Noah Gragson returns to Darlington as the most recent winner on the historic 1.366-mile oval after winning the fall race in 2021.
• In addition to his third-place finish last week at Dover, Gragson left Delaware $100,000 richer after claiming the final Xfinity Dash 4 Cash bonus of 2022. That gives him five for his career, most in JRM team history and breaking a tie with Allgaier in that category.
• Gragson has earned 22 top-five finishes at tracks measuring 1 to 2 miles in length.

Justin Allgaier
No. 7 Hellmann’s Throwback Chevrolet
• Justin Allgaier returns to Darlington as the defending winner of the throwback event.
• In 13 starts at “The Lady in Black,” Allgaier has scored one win, four top fives and nine top 10s.
• According to NASCAR’s loop data statistics, Allgaier ranks first in quality passes (239), green flag passes (299), laps run inside the top 15 (1,646) and fastest laps run (66) at Darlington.
• In his NXS career on tracks between 1 and 2 miles in length, Allgaier has earned eight wins, 62 top fives and 124 top 10s.

Chase Elliott
No. 88 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet
• 2014 NXS champion Chase Elliott returns to JRM this week in the team’s No. 88 Chevrolet with HendrickCars.com. It will be his first NXS start of the season.
• Elliott owns a Darlington NXS victory, leading 52 laps in the 2014 race there, helping propel him to JRM’s first NXS championship. All told, Elliott has earned five NXS victories for JRM, the last one coming in 2016 at the season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway in the No. 88.
• Elliott, fresh off his first NASCAR Cup Series victory of 2022 earlier this week at Dover, kicks off a series of five races for JRM with Hendrick Motorsports drivers.

Driver Quotes

“It’s going to be different this weekend without Taylor (Moyer, crew chief) in my ear but he’s done a great job of making sure this team is ready. As tough as it’s going to be, he’s surrounded himself with the right people that are capable of leading this No. 1 Accelerate Pros team to victory. Hopefully we can make Rick Mast proud and put this car where it belongs.” – Sam Mayer

“I can’t wait to get to Darlington this weekend. We have an awesome throwback design for our Hellmann’s Chevrolet and hopefully we can replicate the same kind of success we had last year and get back into Victory Lane. I know this team is capable of doing it and I’m ready to get down there and make it happen.” – Justin Allgaier

“Getting a win last weekend in Dover was huge and this Tire Pros team deserved every bit of it, but we still have work to do. Darlington is a track I really enjoy because of the surface and how the tires wear out pretty quickly. The car we are throwing back to was in Victory Lane back in 2002 with Dale Jr., so hopefully we can do the same this weekend.” – Josh Berry

“Darlington has been a track that this Bass Pro Shops/TrueTimber/Black Rifle Coffee team has been really fast at in the past and we proved that last year with the win. Luke (Lambert) and this entire team are working hard to make sure we unload with that same speed and hopefully we can be there battling for the win at the end of the day.” – Noah Gragson

“I’m excited to get back behind the wheel of a JRM Chevy this weekend. It’s been fun to continue running races for them over the years after having so much success there during my Xfinity Series career. We actually won Darlington during my rookie season at JRM, so it would be pretty cool to get back to victory lane on Saturday.” – Chase Elliott

JRM Team Updates:

• JR Motorsports at Darlington: JR Motorsports has competed at Darlington Raceway a combined 51 times in the NXS. Over the course of those starts at the historic 1.366-mile facility, the organization has tallied four wins, 14 top fives and 31 top 10s. The track labeled as “Too Tough To Tame” was no match for JRM as the organization swept both races last season with Justin Allgaier in the spring and Noah Gragson in the fall.
• Fridge Night: Your Fridge Night mission is simple. For one month, Hellmann’s will help you with two key simple steps: GRAB your spare veggies and fruit and USE UP in a simple, real, delicious meal. That’s what we call a Fridge Night: One night a week where you use up all the left-behind food sitting in your kitchen. Download the FREE Fridge Night app for the full experience including full Flexipes library, points, prizes and a buzzing Fridge Night community. For every Fridge Night challenge you complete, Hellmann’s will help to donate an additional meal to someone in need; all via their existing donation program with our friends at Feeding America®, now through Dec. 31, 2022.
• Fight Hunger. Spark Change: For 2022, Walmart and Sam’s Club are once again coming together in support of the Feeding America® network through the Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign. Now in its ninth year, the campaign has been a way for Walmart and Sam’s Club to partner with suppliers, customers and members – including our partner, Unilever, to help provide food to people in need. For more information on the Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign and for ways to donate, please visit www.FeedingAmerica.org/Walmart or
www.FeedingAmerica.org/SamsClub.

Petty GMS Throws Back to 1959 Daytona 500, Honors Lee and Richard Petty at Darlington Raceway

By
Official Release
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STATESVILLE, N.C. (May 4, 2022) – As the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) embarks on its traditional Throwback Weekend at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, Petty GMS will pay tribute to Lee and Richard Petty by throwing back to the inaugural Daytona 500 in 1959. Ty Dillon will honor the patriarch of the Petty family, Lee, by sporting the No. 42 design that captured the victory in the maiden event, while Erik Jones will showcase Richard’s iconic Petty blue scheme on the No. 43 entry.

While stock cars have been racing on the Daytona Beach shores since the 1930s, NASCAR’s first 500-mile race at the closed oval, now known as Daytona International Speedway, was held on Sunday, February 22, 1959. The event featured entries from both the Grand National (today known as the Cup Series) and Convertible Division. The Petty father-son duo would sport one of each, with Lee driving the No. 42 hardtop and Richard piloting the No. 43 convertible.

Lee Petty, who began his driving career at the age of 35, battled with John Beauchamp in the closing 30 laps. Coming side-by-side at the white flag as the only two cars on the lead lap, both caught Joe Weatherly on the backstretch, creating a three-wide spectacle. After a close finish, Lee and Beauchamp together drove to Victory Lane before NASCAR named Beauchamp the winner. Lee immediately protested the result and after three days of review and photo evidence, the No. 42 was declared the official victor.

A member of the 2011 NASCAR Hall of Fame class, Lee Petty won a total of 54 races, including 11 in 1959, and three championships. The inaugural Daytona 500 win marked Lee’s only victory in “The Great American Race.”

“It’s such an honor to not only drive the No. 42 each week but run Lee’s inaugural Daytona 500 victory scheme this weekend at Darlington,” said Dillon. “I don’t know if people realize the No. 42 was originally made famous by Lee, Richard’s father. He was the originator of the Petty name and very successful from day one in NASCAR as we know it. I hope to bring honor to his name and number with a modern twist and bring it back to Victory Lane.”

Despite being one of 20 qualifiers who entered in a convertible, Richard Petty qualified in the sixth position. Driving the No. 43 for the first time in competition, the 21-year-old experienced an engine failure just eight laps into the race, cutting his Daytona debut short. During the 1959 season, Richard went on to earn NASCAR Rookie of the Year honors after garnering six top-five and nine top-10 finishes.

Richard Petty, named “The King” for good reason, captured a record-setting total of seven Daytona 500 victories between 1964 and 1981. Throughout his legendary driving career, the inaugural member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame racked up the most wins (200), most poles (123), tied for most championships (seven), most wins in a season (27), most consecutive wins (10), and most starts (1,185).

“When you look at the history of NASCAR and the No. 43, everybody knows who Richard Petty is whether they are a race fan or not,” said Jones. “Having a chance to spend time with him is pretty cool, just talking to him and hearing the stories that he and Dale (Inman) share. I’m a really big fan of the history of our sport and to hear some of the stories first-hand is a neat experience. The ultimate goal for this year is get a win though and return the No. 43 back in Victory Lane. To share that moment with “The King” would be a pretty cool moment for me.”

The Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway will be broadcast live on FS1 on Sunday, May 8 at 3:30 p.m. (ET). It will also broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

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 over 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.

Andrew Overstreet to Crew Chief for Sam Mayer in Darlington

By
Official Release
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MOORESVILLE, N.C. (May 4, 2022) – JR Motorsports today named lead engineer Andrew Overstreet as the fill-in crew chief for Sam Mayer and the No. 1 Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions Chevrolet beginning in this weekend’s NASCAR Xfinity Series event at Darlington Raceway.

The 38-year-old Overstreet steps into the role for crew chief Taylor Moyer, who is serving a mandatory four-race suspension for a wheel infraction incurred last weekend at Dover Motor Speedway.

Overstreet, a native of Concord, N.C., has been with JRM since 2020 and previously held positions at Team Penske and Red Horse Racing.

Moyer, who has led the No. 1 team to four top-five and five top-10 finishes this season, will reassume crew chief duties at Nashville Superspeedway on June 25.

ABOUT JR MOTORSPORTS:
JR Motorsports is the racing operation co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Fame member and 15-time Most Popular Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kelley Earnhardt Miller and NASCAR Hall of Famer Rick Hendrick. Now in its 20th year of overall competition, JR Motorsports competes in multiple divisions, including the NASCAR Xfinity Series where it currently fields four full-time teams and earned championships in 2014, 2017 and 2018. The company also races in Late Model competition and owns four championships in regional Late Model divisions and added a prized national title in 2020. To learn more about the organization, its drivers and its sponsorship opportunities, visit www.jrmracing.com.

KRIS WRIGHT HONORS RON HORNADAY JR. AND VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS WITH THROWBACK SCHEME FOR DARLINGTON

By
Official Release
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Mooresville, N.C. (May 4, 2022)—Kris Wright pays tribute to Ron Hornaday Jr. with a throwback paint scheme that will appear on the Niece Motorsports No. 44 Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Chevrolet Silverado in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) Dead On Tools 200 at the Darlington (S.C.) Raceway on Friday, May 6.

For the Official Throwback Weekend of NASCAR, Wright will honor the four-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion and 2018 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee. In 2022 Wright joined Team Hornaday Development, mentored by Hornaday, as a member of the driver development program.

The Niece Motorsports No. 44 VFW Chevrolet Silverado will feature the iconic red, white, and blue of the Kevin Harvick, Inc., (KHI) No. 33 VFW Chevrolet Silverado in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Representing the 2008 and 2009 seasons, the VFW paint scheme boasted victories at the Texas Motor Speedway (2008) and at the Lucas Oil Indianapolis (Ind.) Raceway Park.

In 2009, Hornaday won five straight NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races, a feat matched only three other times in NASCAR national series history. Hornaday’s fourth win came at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park on Friday, July 24, 2009, in the No. 33 VFW Chevrolet Silverado.

Wright sought the approval from former team owners Kevin and DeLana Harvick and the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States for the paint scheme.

“The VFW is honored to be represented on the No. 44 Chevrolet Silverado as part of NASCAR’s ‘Throwback Weekend,’” Kevin Jones, adjutant general of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, said. “We fondly remember our marks emblazoned on KHI’s No. 33 Chevrolet Silverado driven by champion driver Ron Hornaday Jr., and while we recall the many wins and broken records, we were most grateful for the opportunity to keep the service and sacrifice of veterans at the forefront of America’s minds.”

Jones is one of the original developers of the VFW NASCAR program.

In the month of May, the entire NASCAR community unites for a collective expression of reverence, respect, and gratitude for those who served and continue to defend the country through NASCAR Salutes Together with Coca-Cola. Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece, a Vietnam War veteran. Wright Automotive is a supporter of various military support groups through dealership programs in Pennsylvania.

For more information on the VFW, visit www.vfw.org.

About the VFW

The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is the nation’s largest and oldest major war veterans organization. Founded in 1899, the congressionally chartered VFW is comprised entirely of eligible veterans and military service members from the active, Guard and Reserve forces. With more than 1.5 million VFW and Auxiliary members located in nearly 6,000 Posts worldwide, the nonprofit veterans service organization is proud to proclaim “NO ONE DOES MORE FOR VETERANS” than the VFW, which is dedicated to veterans’ service, legislative advocacy, and military and community service programs. For more information, or to join, visit our website at vfw.org.

KRIS WRIGHT
No. 44 Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Chevrolet Silverado
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series News and Notes
Event: Dead On Tools 200
Date: Friday, May 6, 2022
Venue: Darlington (S.C.) Raceway
Track Description: 1.366 mile(s)
Race: 147 laps / 200.8 miles

Darlington Raceway Best in Show Throwback Paint Scheme Fan Vote … Fans can make their voices heard by casting their votes to determine the ‘Best in Show’ throwback paint scheme at the Darlington Raceway in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Fans are able to cast their votes via https://www.darlingtonraceway.com/ncwtsthrowbackfanvote/ until 5:00 p.m. (ET) on May 5, and the winner will be announced during the pre-race ceremonies of the Dead On Tools 200 on Friday, May 6.

The Track Too Tough to Tame Statistics … This weekend marks Kris Wright’s third NASCAR Camping World Truck Series appearance at the Darlington Raceway, one of the oldest and most historic racetracks. The Wexford, Pa., – native has two starts at the Darlington Raceway, collecting an average finish of 33.5 with a career-best finish of 28th-place (September 2021). Wright made his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series track debut at the Darlington Raceway on May 7, 2021.

Speedway Stats: Kris Wright has 12 combined NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts on speedways (tracks 1 to 2- miles in length).

KRIS WRIGHT DARLINGTON RACEWAY PERFORMANCE PROFILE
Date Event Start Finish Laps Status Led
May 7, 2021 Liftkits4Less.com 200 30 39 25/147 DNF 0
September 5, 2021 In It To Win It 200 23 28 144/147 Running 0

KRIS WRIGHT STATISTICS

QUOTE WORTHY
Kris Wright, driver of the No. 44 Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Chevrolet Silverado for Niece Motorsports

On the Darlington Raceway:

“I am really excited to get back to Darlington (Raceway), especially with the Ron Hornaday Jr. VFW throwback paint scheme. This is one of my favorite tracks and events on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule. “It will be interesting to see how the race progresses and how aggressive the racing will be, with the schedule starting to pick-up with back-to-back weekends for the next two months.”

Kris Wright on Social Media … To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, visit KrisWrightMotorsports.com or connect with Kris Wright on Facebook (/KrisWrightRacing), Twitter (@KrisOnNASCAR) or Instagram (@krisonnascar).

Niece Motorsports’ NASCAR Camping World Truck Series History … Since entering the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) in 2016, the Mooresville, N.C., -based organization has logged 305 starts with 40 drivers, including NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) drivers Trevor Bayne, Ross Chastain, and Kyle Larson. Niece Motorsports has collected three victories (Ross Chastain, 2019: Kansas, Gateway, and Pocono), 20 top-five finishes and 57 top-10 finishes and has logged an average starting position of 19.6 and an average finishing position of 19.1.

NIECE MOTORSPORTS STATISTICS

Niece Motorsports’ NASCAR Camping World Truck Series History at the Darlington Raceway … The organization posted a team best third-place finish at the track on May 7, 2021, with driver Carson Hocevar. The 10 previous starts at the Darlington Raceway, nicknamed ‘The Lady in Black’, have earned Niece Motorsports one top-five finish and one top-10 finish with an overall average starting position of 21.4 and an average finish of 17.5.

Catch the Action … The Dead On Tools 200 at the Darlington Raceway will be broadcast live on FS1 on Friday, May 6, starting with NASCAR RaceDay: NCWTS at Darlington at 6:30 p.m. (ET). It will also broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio at 7:00 p.m. (ET). Qualifying for the seventh event of the 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule will air on Friday at 3:00 p.m. (ET) on FS1.

Almirola to make 400th Cup career start at Darlington

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Kirk Schroll for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Embarking in his 11th and final full-time season in the NASCAR Cup Series, Aric Almirola is primed to achieve a milestone start. By competing in this weekend’s Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway, the driver of the No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Mustang will achieve career start No. 400 in NASCAR’s premier series.

A native of Tampa, Florida, Almirola made his inaugural presence in the Cup Series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March 2007. By then, he had made 10 career starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and 29 starts in the Truck Series as he was competing on a part-time schedule with Joe Gibbs Racing. Driving the No. 80 Chevrolet Monte Carlo for JGR, Almirola started 31st and finished 41st in his Cup debut after being involved in an early accident.

Later in the 2007 season, Almirola transitioned from Joe Gibbs Racing to Dale Earnhardt Inc. as he piloted the No. 01 Chevrolet in five of the remaining 13 Cup races to the schedule. His best result during his span was a 30th-place finish at Talladega Superspeedway in October.

In 2008, Almirola served as a co-primary driver of the No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet Impala alongside NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin. His first start of the season occurred at Bristol Motor Speedway in March, where he achieved his first top-10 career finish in eighth place. He then made 11 additional starts throughout the 2008 Cup season, where he collected two 13th-place results (Bristol Motor Speedway in August and Talladega Superspeedway in October). He also led 53 laps at Martinsville Speedway in October before falling back to 20th place. When the final checkered flag of the 2008 season flew, Almirola capped off his part-time Cup campaign by finishing in 35th place in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November following an early spin.

Almirola commenced the 2009 Cup Series season as a full-time competitor in DEI’s No. 8 Chevrolet Impala. He finished 30th in the 51st running of the Daytona 500 after being involved in two separate incidents, but rallied three races later by finishing 21st at Atlanta Motor Speedway in March. Following the first seven races of the season, however, Almirola’s full-time Cup ride with DEI was cut short due to sponsorship issues. Returning to compete in four Xfinity and 16 Truck Series races for the remainder of the 2009 season, he also made an additional Cup start at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in September, where he drove the No. 09 Phoenix Racing Chevrolet Impala to a 29th-place result.

Almirola entered the 2010 season with plans of competing with Phoenix Racing on a full-time basis in the Cup Series while also racing in the Camping World Truck Series for Billy Ballew Motorsports. His Cup plans with Phoenix Raceway, however, came to an early end after he failed to qualify in three of the first seven scheduled events and finished no higher than 39th, which was sat Bristol in March. He then set his main focus towards vying for the 2010 Truck title with Billy Ballew Motorsports, where he went on to win his first two Truck career races and finish in second place in the final standings. He also competed in eight Xfinity races with JR Motorsports. A month prior to the 2010 Cup season’s conclusion, however, Almirola drove the No. 9 Ford Fusion for Richard Petty Motorsports at Martinsville as an interim competitor in place of veteran Kasey Kahne, who left RPM for Red Bull Racing. Finishing 21st at Martinsville, Almirola ended up competing in the final four Cup races of the season with RPM. During this short span, he notched his first career top-five result in the Cup Series after finishing fourth in the season finale at Homestead in November.

After spending the 2011 season in the Xfinity Series with JR Motorsports, where he earned 18 top-10 results and finished in fourth place in the final standings, Almirola was signed by Richard Petty Motorsports to drive the iconic No. 43 Ford Fusion for the 2012 Cup season. Almirola started the season by finishing in 33rd place in the 54th running of the Daytona 500 after being involved in a late multi-car accident. He managed to finish 12th at Phoenix Raceway, but fell back to 24th at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March. During the first nine events of the season, he had one top-10 result logged in, which was an eighth-place result at Martinsville in April. After finishing 12th at Talladega and 19th at Darlington Raceway in May, Almirola captured his first Cup career pole at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600. Despite finishing in 16th place in the Coke 600, Almirola rebounded the following week at Dover International Speedway by finishing in sixth place. From Pocono Raceway in June through Richmond Raceway in September, Almirola finished no higher than 17th place on the track, which were enough to prevent him from qualifying for the 2012 Cup Playoffs. At Kansas Speedway in October, he led 69 laps but was involved in three separate incidents that dropped him to 29th place in the final running order. He rallied during the following event at Martinsville by finishing fourth. He then capped off the season with a seventh-place result at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November and a 20th-place result in the final standings. 

Remaining at Richard Petty Motorsports for the 2013 Cup season, Almirola finished 13th in the 55th running of the Daytona 500 and 15th during the following race at Phoenix. Following the first 10 Cup races of the season, he was coming off four consecutive top-10 results and was in eighth place in the regular-season standings. The early consistency for Almirola and the No. 43 team, however, did not last for the remainder of the 26-race regular-season stretch as he achieved only one top-five result, which was a season-best fifth place at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in July, and failed to make the Playoffs. He went on to conclude the 2013 season in 18th place in the final standings along with six top-10 results and a career-best average result of 18.8. Following the 2013 season, Almirola surpassed 100 career starts in NASCAR’s premier series. 

After inking a three-year extension to remain at Richard Petty Motorsports, Almirola commenced the 2014 season with a 39th-place result in the Daytona 500 after being involved in a late multi-car accident. Three races later, he captured his first top-three result in the Cup circuit after finishing in third place at Bristol Motor Speedway behind Roush Fenway Racing’s Carl Edwards and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 

When NASCAR returned to Daytona in July, which marked the halfway point of the season, Almirola had achieved one top-five result and three top-10 results, but came into Daytona with an opportunity to grab a victory and race his way into the 2014 Cup Playoffs. During the race, Almirola dodged two multi-car accidents and outlasted the field, including late challenges from Brian Vickers, Kurt Busch and Casey Mears, to retain the lead when the race was red-flagged and deemed official on Lap 112 of 160 due to heavy precipitation. The call handed Almirola his first Cup career victory in his 125th series start as he snapped five-year winless drought for Richard Petty Motorsports. Almirola’s first Cup victory marked the first win for the No. 43 since 1999, which was last made by the late John Andretti at Martinsville Speedway. It also occurred 30 years to the day where Richard Petty recorded his unprecedented 200th and final NASCAR win at Daytona. With his victory, Almirola clinched a spot for the 2014 Cup Playoffs.

Following the breakthrough victory at Daytona, Almirola recorded two top-10 results for the remaining eight regular-season races before entering the Playoffs as one of 16 competitors vying for the 2014 Cup championship. He, however, was one of four competitors who was eliminated from title contention following the Round of 16 despite finishing as high as sixth place at New Hampshire in September. Despite his early exit from title contention, Almirola went on to finish the season in a career-best 16th place in the final standings and with a career-high seven top-10 results.

Following a breakthrough 2014 season, Almirola started the 2015 season with a 15th-place result in the 57th running of the Daytona 500 followed by an 11th-place run at Atlanta. Throughout the 26-race regular-season stretch, he achieved two top-five results and 14 top-15 results. During the regular-season finale at Richmond in September, Almirola, who was within striking distance of the lead, recorded a strong fourth-place result, which would mark his season-best result, but he missed the Playoffs by 17 points. He went on to notch one additional top-five run and four top-10 results for the remaining 10 Playoff races before finishing in 17th place, best of the non-Playoff competitors, in the final standings. In light of missing the Playoffs, he achieved a career-best average-finishing result of 17.9, compared to his average result of 21.4 in 2014 when he won a race and made the Playoffs.

Remaining at Richard Petty Motorsports for a fifth consecutive season, Almirola’s 2016 season started with a 12th-place result in the 58th running of the Daytona 500. He then finished in 15th place during the following race at Atlanta despite being involved in a four-car wreck during an overtime shootout to the finish. Compared to his previous two seasons, the 2016 season was a disappointing season for Almirola, who achieved only one top-10 result, which was a season-best eighth-place result at Talladega in October, and an average result of 23.3 before falling back to 26th place in the final standings. Following the 2016 season, Almirola surpassed 200 career starts in the Cup Series.

Returning for a sixth full-time Cup season with RPM in 2017, Almirola commenced the season on a high note by finishing in fourth place in the 59th running of the Daytona 500. During the first 10 scheduled races, he achieved three top-10 results, including another fourth-place result at Talladega despite being penalized 35 points for a post-race infraction. 

Then during the following race at Kansas Speedway in May, Almirola was involved in a late horrific accident, where he collided into Joey Logano and Danica Patrick’s cars at full speed in Turn 1 as both competitors wrecked in front of Almirola seconds prior to his involvement. The impact launched the back of Almirola’s car off the ground amid a shower of flames and sparks before his No. 43 Ford came to rest against the outside wall. Following the incident, Almirola had to be extricated from his car and placed on a stretcher, where he was airlifted to the University of Kansas Hospital. It was later determined that he had suffered a compression fracture of his T5 vertebrae. While Almirola spent time recovering from his injuries, he was absent for eight races, including the All-Star Open/Race weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. During his absence, Regan Smith, Bubba Wallace and Billy Johnson each took turns piloting the No. 43 Ford Fusion.

In July at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Almirola, who received medical clearance to return to race, finished in 24th place. Given seven races to try to win and position himself into the top-30 in the standings to make the Playoffs through an injury waiver, he finished no higher than 12th place and was unable to compete for the 2017 title. Nonetheless, he collected three top-10 results, including a fifth-place result at Talladega in October, as he finished in 29th place in the final standings. He also recorded an average-finishing result of 18.8, which matched his result from 2013.

A week and a half prior to the 2017 Cup season’s conclusion in November, Almirola announced a new partnership with Stewart-Haas Racing to drive the No. 10 Ford team for the 2018 Cup Series season, where he replaced Danica Patrick. Three months later, Almirola made his first Cup start with SHR in the 60th running of the Daytona 500. During the event, he was leading on the final lap when Austin Dillon made contact and turned Almirola into the outside wall in Turn 3, which spoiled Almirola’s opportunity in winning the Daytona 500 for the first time as he ended up in 11th place and with a wrecked race car. 

During the first 16 Cup races of the new season, Almirola recorded seven top-10 results and 14 top-15 results. By then, he was ranked in 10th place in the regular-season standings. He went on to record three additional top-10 results and secure a spot in the 2018 Playoffs based on points and following a strong consistent regular-season stretch despite having no victories under his belt. 

Returning to the Playoffs for a second time and following a three-year absence, Almirola commenced his title run in September by finishing sixth at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and fifth at Richmond Raceway. Despite finishing in 19th place at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course in September, he transferred to the Playoff’s Round of 12 in a three-way tie-breaker that included Kyle Larson and saw seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson eliminated from title contention.

After leading 64 laps and finishing 13th at Dover in October due to being involved in a late multi-car incident, Almirola, who was still within reach of transferring from the Round of 12 to 8, came into the following race at Talladega Superspeedway with an opportunity to fulfill his first victory as a Stewart-Haas Racing competitor. After spending the majority of the race running towards the front with his Stewart-Haas Racing teammates, he capitalized on a late two-lap restart and with teammate Kurt Busch running out of fuel on the final lap to hold off teammate Clint Bowyer entering the tri-oval and capture his first elusive victory of the season along with his second Cup career victory. The victory earned Almirola and his No. 10 SHR Ford team a one-way ticket into the Playoff’s Round of 8.

After finishing 10th the following week at Kansas, Almirola finished 11th, eighth and fourth respectively in the Round of 8. Despite the results, he failed to advance to the Championship 4 round at Homestead-Miami Speedway, where he capped off the season in ninth place on the track. While he did not emerge as a Cup champion, the 2018 season stands as Almirola’s productive season to date that includes a win, a career-high four top-five result, a career-high 17 top-10 results, a career-high 181 laps led, a career-best average-finishing result of 12.8 and a career-best points result of fifth place.

With the 2018 season in the record books, Almirola entered the 2019 Cup season with high aspirations of repeating his on-track success from the previous season, beginning with the 61st running of the Daytona 500. His season, however, started off on a low note when he was involved in a late multi-car accident and was scored in 29th place. He rebounded the following six weeks by finishing in the top 10 in all of them. Throughout the 26-race regular-season stretch, Almirola and his No. 10 SHR team achieved 10 top-10 results, as Almirola qualified for his third Cup Playoffs. After finishing 13th, 16th and 14th respectively during the Round of 16, however, he was eliminated from title contention. With his 2019 title hopes coming to an early end, he went on to capture two top-five results, including a season-best second place behind teammate Kevin Harvick at Texas Motor Speedway in November, and conclude the season in 14th place in the final standings. Overall, he recorded a pole, three top-five results and 12 top-10 results despite logging in zero victories. In addition, Almirola surpassed 300 Cup career starts.

The 2020 Cup Series season, which marked Almirola’s third full-time campaign with Stewart-Haas Racing, started off with the Floridian wrecking out of the season-opening Daytona 500. Two weeks later, he finished eighth at Auto Club Speedway, which he backed up with another eighth-place result at Phoenix in March. When NASCAR returned to on-track competition for a Darlington Raceway doubleheader feature in May amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Almirola finished 12th and seventh respectively. From a pair of Charlotte Motor Speedway events in May to Martinsville Speedway in June, he finished no higher than 15th. Then, beginning at Homestead in June through New Hampshire in July, he recorded nine consecutive finishes inside the top five or top 10. During this streak, he also started on pole position three times through a random draw. To go along with two additional top-10 results during the final six regular-season events, Almirola clinched a spot to the 2020 Playoffs for the fourth time in his career and third in a row in recent years. Three consecutive top-10 results during the Round of 16 transferred the driver of the No. 10 SHR Ford into the Round of 12, but his title hopes came to an end following finishes of 17th, 37th and 16th respectively. Despite settling in 15th place in the final standings, he achieved a career-high six top-five results and 18 top-10 results. His total laps led of 305 throughout the season was also his personal best. 

The 2021 Cup season marked a difficult start for Almirola, who won the first Bluegreen Vacations Duel at Daytona in February but ended up in 34th place in the 63rd running of the Daytona 500 after being involved in an early multi-car wreck. Through the first 16 scheduled events, his best result was sixth at Richmond in April while he finished outside of the top 20 10 times. He then rallied at Nashville Superspeedway in June, where he started on pole and finished fourth, but finished no higher than 14th place during the following four events.

Then at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Almirola persevered through his difficult start to 2021 by leading twice for 25 laps, including the final 20, to win over Christopher Bell and claim his third NASCAR Cup career victory. The victory, which was Almirola’s first since winning at Talladega in 2018, sent the driver and his No. 10 SHR team into the 2021 Cup Playoffs. During the Playoff’s Round of 16, however, he missed the cutline to the Round of 12 by two points despite logging in three consecutive top-20 results. Capping off the season with back-to-back sixth-place results on the track, Almirola capped off his 10th full-time season in the Cup Series in 15th place in the final standings.

In January 2022, Almirola announced his intentions to retire from full-time NASCAR competition at the conclusion of the season. He commenced his final full-time season with a fifth-place run during the 64th running of the Daytona 500 in February followed by back-to-back top-10 results before finishing no higher than eighth place during the next eight events. He is currently ranked in 11th place in the drivers’ standings.

Through 399 previous Cup starts, Almirola has achieved three victories, three poles, 27 top-five results, 88 top-10 results, 899 laps led and an average-finishing result of 19.0.

Almirola is set to make his 400th Cup Series career start in the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway on Sunday, May 8, with the event’s coverage to occur at 3:30 p.m. ET on FS1.

RETRO RUNDOWN: DARLINGTON RACEWAY THROWBACK PAINT SCHEME TO HONOR CREW CHIEF DOUG GEORGE

By
Official Release
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Mooresville, N.C. (May 4, 2022)—Blaine Perkins will honor Doug George, crew chief of the CR7 Motorsports No. 9 Raceline Chevrolet Silverado, with a throwback paint scheme in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) Dead On Tools 200 at the Darlington (S.C.) Raceway on Friday, May 6.

Earlier this month, Perkins set up a surprise for George. After hours at the CR7 Motorsports shop, located in Statesville, N.C., the Bakersfield, Calif., -native gifted George a paint scheme rendering of the throwback scheme for the Official Throwback Weekend of NASCAR. The yellow-colored Chevrolet Silverado scheme pays tribute to George’s racing career in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

This year is Perkins’ first full-time season with any of NASCAR’s top-tier series. The 1996 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season was George’s first full year as well. George, who piloted the No. 21 Ortho entry, is credited with one top-five finish and 10 top-10 finishes in 56 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts.

George joined CR7 Motorsports in 2019. As a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series 18-year veteran crew chief, George is credited with two victories (2009, Kyle Busch), 35 top-five finishes, 79 top-ten finishes, and five pole awards. George has previously manned the helm for drivers Aric Almirola, John Andretti, Kyle Busch, Ricky Carmichael, Denny Hamlin, Ron Hornaday, Jr., Mark Martin, and Mike Skinner. As a crew chief he has also earned experience in the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS).

Perkins’ and George are both California natives. George, hailing from Atwater, drove for another California native, Jim Venable, a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series pioneer.

BLAINE PERKINS
No. 9 Raceline Chevrolet Silverado
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series News and Notes
Event: Dead On Tools 200
Date: Friday, May 6, 2022
Venue: Darlington (S.C.) Raceway
Track Description: 1.366 mile(s)
Race: 147 laps / 200.8 miles

Darlington Raceway Best in Show Throwback Paint Scheme Fan Vote … Fans can make their voices heard by casting their votes to determine the ‘Best in Show’ throwback paint scheme at the Darlington Raceway in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Fans are able to cast their votes via https://www.darlingtonraceway.com/ncwtsthrowbackfanvote/ until 5:00 p.m. (ET) on May 5, and the winner will be announced during the pre-race ceremonies of the Dead On Tools 200 on
Friday, May 6.

The Lady in Black Facts … This week will mark Blaine Perkins’ track debut with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at the Darlington Raceway.

Speedway Stats: The Bakersfield, Calif., -native has two combined NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts on
speedways (tracks 1 to 2-miles in length).

BLAINE PERKINS STATISTICS

QUOTE WORTHY
Blaine Perkins, driver of the No. 9 Raceline Chevrolet Silverado for CR7 Motorsports

On the Darlington Raceway:
“I am looking forward to getting to the Darlington Raceway this weekend. It will be my first time at the Darlington Raceway, as well as my first time being a part of NASCAR throwback weekend. It will be a special and a fun weekend running my crew chief Doug George’s paint scheme.

“We are anticipating having a strong run in our No. 9 Raceline Chevrolet Silverado.”

CR7 Motorsports’ NASCAR Camping World Truck Series History … Since entering the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) in 2018, the Statesville, N.C.,-based organization has logged 53 starts with three drivers, Grant Enfinger, Colby Howard, and Codie Rohrbaugh. CR7 Motorsports has collected three top-five finishes (Daytona, Talladega, Austin) and eight top-10 finishes, and has logged an average starting position of 23.8 and an average finishing position of 22.8.

CR7 MOTORSPORTS STATISTICS

CR7 Motorsports’ NASCAR Camping World Truck Series History at the Darlington Raceway … This weekend will mark CR7 Motorsports’ fourth NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start at the 1.366-mile egg-shaped oval track. The organization posted a team best 13th-place finish at the track on September 5, 2021 with driver Colby Howard. The three previous starts at the Darlington Raceway have earned CR7 Motorsports an average starting position of 29.0 and an average finish of 25.3.

Catch the Action … The Dead On Tools 200 at the Darlington Raceway will be broadcast live on FS1 on Friday, May 6, starting with NASCAR RaceDay: NCWTS at Darlington at 6:30 p.m. (ET). It will also broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio at 7:00 p.m. (ET). Qualifying for the seventh event of the 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule will air on Friday at 3:00 p.m. (ET) on FS1.

Follow CR7 Motorsports’ on Social Media … To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, visit CR7 Motorsports’ Twitter page – @CR7_Motorsports, and on Instagram at @cr7motorsports. “Like” CR7 Motorsports on the official Facebook page at facebook.com/CR7-Motorsports.

For additional information, news and the latest updates, please visit www.BlainePerkins.com or connect with Blaine Perkins on Facebook (OfficialBlainePerkins), Twitter (@BlainePerkins21) or Instagram (@blaineperkins21).

Turn 3 Motorsport Collects Top-Ten Finishes in Indy Pro 2000 at Barber Doubleheader

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Official Release
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Josh Green and Jonathan Browne exit pit lane at Barber Motorsports Park

Green Earns a Pair of Sixth Place Finishes, Browne Breaks into Top-Ten Spots

Leeds, Ala. (May 3, 2022) – Turn 3 Motorsport drivers Josh Green and Jonathan Browne had a solid weekend at Barber Motorsports Park during Rounds 3 and 4 of the Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires, each collecting top ten finishes in both races and earning valuable championship points ahead of the next event.

After ending up P1 in the final session of the pre-event test day, Green qualified the #3 car sixth for Saturday’s Race 1 with less than .3 seconds separating the top six cars. A clean start put Green on the tail of the #90 car of Louis Foster from the get-go where he looked for opportunities to pass on the 2.38-mile circuit known for being difficult to overtake on. Green got the job done on Lap 14, moving up to P5 and fighting a good battle in the final laps with Foster and Braden Eves, eventually crossing the finish line in sixth.

Green qualified on the fourth row in Qualifying 2, setting himself up for another fight in Race 2. By the end of Lap 1, Green was up to P7, and by the end of Lap 3, he had progressed to P6. The field then began to settle into a rhythm as they completed 30 total laps, resulting in another sixth place finish for Green and a solid points gain in the championship.

3 Josh Green // Indy Pro 2000
SessionGuardian / Zimperium / Lionfish Tech Advisors / Mark Green / JHG Investments

“Barber Motorsports Park wasn’t the nicest to us per se, but I have a feeling we left the weekend much stronger than we were when we arrived,” said Green. “With it being a tough weekend, a pair of sixth place finishes is pretty solid and a good points haul in what will be a tight championship fight. I’m really proud of how everyone in the team handled the adversity and continue to be amazed by the connection everyone under the Turn 3 Motorsport tent shares. I hope to see everyone at IMS in two weeks!”

Green currently lies sixth in the overall driver’s championship with 72 total points.

Teammate Jonathan Browne had a successful weekend overall, earning two top-ten finishes and building momentum in his rookie campaign. Browne rounded out the pre-event test day fifth in the final session before heading into practice and Qualifying 1 the next day where he qualified the #2 car 11th for Race 1. Browne drove a great race, improving to tenth in the green-to-checkers contest and claiming his first top-ten finish of the season.

Browne qualified on row six for Race 2 and steadied for another push through the field. He did just that, making his way up to tenth by Lap 2 and then up to ninth by Lap 6. After 30 laps of competitive driving, Browne crossed the finish line in P9, marking his best finish of the season thus far.

2 Jonathan Browne // Indy Pro 2000
Human Centred Movement / CRPS Awareness

“Walking away with a P10 and P9 after a really competitive weekend is okay for us,” said Browne. “We showed really good pace in both races, so I’m happy with that. These still aren’t the positions where I want to be, but it’s a stepping stone to moving further up the grid. A big thanks to all of the team for their hard work this weekend. On to Indy GP!”

“It was an extremely competitive weekend at Barber,” said Team Owner Peter Dempsey. “There was so little between the top eight guys; if you hook up the lap, it’s P1, and if you miss it by the smallest margin, you can be P8. Unfortunately, we never got that special lap to put up us front in either of the qualifying sessions. Barber is hard to pass on after the first few laps, and we found ourselves stuck in the pack with the pace to be at the front. Josh and Jonathan are working well together, and we have to just stick at it and it will come. Looking forward to Indy GP in a couple of weeks now.”

The Indy Pro 2000 series is back on track for the first tripleheader event of the season at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course circuit from May 12-14.

To stay up to date on Turn 3 Motorsport, follow the team on social media using the handle @turn3motorsport.

About Turn 3 Motorsport: Turn 3 Motorsport is a full-service operation specializing in racecar preparation, engineering, and driver development. Founded and managed by racecar driver and coach Peter Dempsey, T3M is focused on professional service, team member growth, and high-level performance across multiple racing series.

In 2019, the team secured the Blue Marble Cocktails Radical Cup North America championship titles in the 1340cc, 1500cc, and overall classes. Later that year, Peter and Turn 3 Motorsport achieved a record-breaking win at the NASA 25 Hours of Thunderhill endurance race, piloting the #10 Eastern Racing / Turn 3 Motorsport Radical SR3 RSX 1340 to a dominating win, leading 638 out of 672 laps, and becoming the first car under two liters to achieve the overall win.

In the team’s rookie season, Turn 3 Motorsport attracted attention out of the gate by winning the season opener of the 2020 Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires in a sweeping performance with Singaporean driver Danial Frost. Frost and the team went on to achieve a pole position, six podium finishes, and third overall in the championship in 2020.

In 2021, T3M expanded its presence in the Road to Indy by introducing a two-car program into the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship alongside its Indy Pro 2000 Championship campaign. In its debut USF2000 season, the team found victory at the season finale with American driver Josh Green as well as earning an additional podium and fifth overall in the championship. The team earned further accolades in the Indy Pro 2000 series with a race win at the season finale by Irish driver James Roe as well as a pole position at World Wide Technology Raceway and seventh overall in the championship.

Alex Yontz to call 100th Xfinity event as crew chief at Darlington

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Ted Seminara for SpeedwayMedia.com.

A significant milestone start is in the making for Alex Yontz, crew chief for Daniel Hemric and the No. 11 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet Camaro team in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. By participating in this weekend’s event at Darlington Raceway, Yontz will call his 100th career event in the Xfinity circuit.

A native of Walnut Cove, North Carolina, Yontz, who grew up competing in go-karts and made starts in legend cars, late models, the ASA National Series, the ARCA Menards and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, made his debut as a NASCAR crew chief for the 2019 Xfinity Series season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway. Serving as a crew chief for Kaulig Racing’s part-time entry, the No. 10 Chevrolet Camaro, that was first piloted by Ross Chastain, Yontz led Chastain to a stage victory and a 13th-place result to commence the season. 

Through the first 15 events of the season, Yontz and Kaulig Racing’s No. 10 Chevrolet team appeared in seven. The North Carolina native also appeared as a crew chief for Justin Haley and the No. 11 Chevrolet team at Michigan International Speedway in June. During the eight-race span, Yontz’s best performances were a fourth-place run with Austin Dillon at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March and an eighth-place result with Chastain at Chicagoland Speedway in June. 

When NASCAR returned at Daytona in July, Kaulig Racing expanded to a three-car effort as Yontz served as crew chief for the team’s newly formed No. 16 Chevrolet Camaro entry piloted by Chastain. During the event, Chastain led teammates Justin Haley and AJ Allmendinger to a 1-2-3 finish (though Allmendinger was later disqualified for failing post-race inspection) as both Yontz and Kaulig Racing achieved their first victories in NASCAR while Chastain earned his second Xfinity victory. 

In late July at Iowa Speedway, Yontz expanded his crew chief responsibilities by working atop the Kaulig Racing’s No. 11 Chevrolet team piloted by Haley after veteran Nick Harrison, who started the season as Haley’s crew chief, died unexpectedly a week earlier. Transitioning between Kaulig Racing’s Nos. 10 and 11 teams for the final 15 events of the season, Yontz’s best on-track results were a third-place result with Allmendinger at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in August, a fifth-place result with Haley at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in September and a fourth-place result with Haley at Dover International Speedway in October during the Playoffs. Yontz also served as Haley’s crew chief during Haley’s contention in the 2019 Xfinity Playoffs, where he was eliminated from title contention following the Round of 12 and finished in 12th place in the final standings.

In 2020, Yontz took over as a full-time crew chief for Kaulig Racing’s No. 11 Chevrolet Camaro team piloted by Haley. Through the first 10 scheduled events, Haley and Yontz earned six results inside the top 10. Then at Talladega Superspeedway in June, Yontz achieved his second career victory in NASCAR after Haley received drafting help from teammates Chastain and Allmendinger to beat Jeb Burton and claim his first Xfinity Series career victory. Eleven races later, Haley and Yontz achieved a second victory of 2020 at Daytona after dodging a final lap incident involving teammates Chastain and Allmendinger. Entering the 2020 Xfinity Playoffs as a dark horse candidate, Haley and Yontz achieved their third victory of the season at Talladega in October and transferred from the Round of 12 to 8. The combo were able to reach the Championship Round at Phoenix Raceway in November after earning three consecutive top-12 finishes during the Round of 8. During the finale, however, Haley finished eighth on the track and in third place in the final standings. Nonetheless, the third-place result marked Kaulig Racing’s best points result in the team’s history.

Remaining as Haley’s crew chief in 2021, Yontz led the No. 11 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet team to 14 top-10 results during the first 22 scheduled events. At Dover International Speedway in May, Yontz worked with Zane Smith, a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series competitor for GMS Racing who filled in for Haley after Haley entered COVID-19 protocols. Following an up-and-down stretch throughout the regular season, Haley and Yontz achieved their first victories of the season at Daytona in August after Haley edged teammate Allmendinger in a photo finish. The Daytona victory guaranteed the No. 11 team a spot in the 2021 Xfinity Playoffs. After capping off the regular season stretch with three consecutive top-10 results, Haley and Yontz posted another trio of top-10 results to advance to the Playoff’s Round of 8. Despite finishing seventh at Texas Motor Speedway and fourth at Kansas Speedway in October, their hopes of reaching the Championship Round for a second consecutive season evaporated due to brake issues at Martinsville Speedway in October. Ultimately, they concluded the season in sixth place in the final standings.

Yontz remained as a crew chief for Kaulig Racing’s No. 11 Chevrolet Camaro team for the 2022 Xfinity Series season. While Haley graduated to the NASCAR Cup Series, Yontz was paired with Daniel Hemric, who was coming off the 2021 Xfinity Series title with Joe Gibbs Racing. Through the first 10 Xfinity events of the season, Yontz and Hemric have achieved three results in the top 10 with their best result being third place at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March. They are ranked in 12th place in the drivers’ standings.

Through 99 previous starts, Yontz has achieved five victories, two poles, 24 top-five results and 58 top-10 results while working with six different competitors.

Yontz is scheduled to call his 100th Xfinity Series event as a crew chief at Darlington Raceway on Saturday, May 7, with the event’s coverage to start at 1:30 p.m. ET on FS1.

US RaceTronics Clinches Pro Victory and 4 Podium Finishes at Lamborghini Super Trofeo Opening Weekend

By
Official Release
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*Photo Courtesy of Jamey Price

Piscopo / Kujala Take an Early Lead in Pro Championship with Victory in Sunday’s Race

Monrovia, California (Wednesday, May 4, 2022) – The tenth season of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America series at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca delivered a race victory and 4 podium finishes for US RaceTronics / O’Gara Motorsport / Change Racing.

Saturday’s race began with the team’s Pro driver Patrick Kujala leading the 31-car field to the start in the Arrow-sponsored No. 50 Lamborghini of Beverly Hills entry. Kujala was passed by Danny Formal in car No. 1 going into the famous corkscrew, dropping the pole sitter back to second place. Despite not regaining the lead, Kujala and co-driver Edoardo Piscopo drove an exceptional 50-minute race, earning a second-place overall finish in the first race of the season. Kujala also turned the fastest lap of the race with a time of 1:23:745. Piscopo, just back from a 3-year hiatus from racing, had never driven this particular car, but much work was done to ensure that it suited his style and preferences. “[Senior Race Engineer] Peter Jacobs is very talented at bringing the best out of a car and driver,” says Piscopo. One of Jacobs’s focuses is minimizing the tire degradation that tends to plague this particular track.

Also notable was John Hennessy who, thanks to his standout results in practice, was bumped up from LB Cup to Am class. Hennessy, driving his Arrow-sponsored No. 33 Lamborghini of Charlotte car, finished second in his first foray in the more competitive class.

LB Cup drivers Ofir Levy and Jon Hirschberg took third place in their Mexiwood/Dakine-sponsored No. 13 Lamborghini of Rancho Mirage car. ProAm driver Damon Ockey, after a spectacular start, got hit and spun out at the top of the corkscrew, putting him 14 spots back. Unfazed, he charged back up the pack. Together with co-driver Patrick Liddy, the pair made up 18 spots, despite being tagged by another car at one point, ending up in fourth position in the No. 8 VF Engineering Lamborghini of Westlake entry.

Sunday was another successful day for USRT, with the team earning the overall win along with a podium finish in LB Cup. The second race began with ProAm driver Patrick Liddy on pole in the No. 8 VF Engineering-sponsored Lamborghini of Westlake car. Liddy drove a phenomenal first stint before handing the car off to co-driver Damon Ockey who drove a strong second-half of the race against some of the best drivers in the series.

Edoardo Piscopo, who started in seventh position driving the Arrow-sponsored No. 50 Lamborghini of Beverly Hills entry, moved up two places on the first lap. A yellow flag on Lap 7 kept him from advancing until mid-race. After a well-executed pit stop strategy and some fast in-and-out laps by both drivers, the car moved to second place overall once the mandatory pitstops were cycled through. Patrick Kujala made the big move on lap 24, slipping into the lead and holding it to the checkered flag, edging out Wayne Taylor Racing’s Danny Formal by a margin of 0.441 seconds for the win.

On Sunday tire degradation was worse, with dust and warm temperatures causing problems for drivers. Despite track issues, US RaceTronics / O’Gara Motorsport / Change Racing gained not just the Pro title but a second-place finish in LB Cup with drivers Jon Hirschberg and Ofir Levy. “It was a calm, no-stress race,” says Hirschberg. “Sometimes things can get a little frantic, but thankfully our team’s communication was seamless from start to finish.”

With the successful opening weekend under their belt, the US RaceTronics / O’Gara Motorsport / Change Racing team is now in first place in the Super Trofeo Pro Championship. The series will resume May 20-22 at NOLA Motorsports Park in Avondale, Louisiana.

Quotes

Patrick Kujala – Co-driver of No. 50 Arrow Electronics / O’Gara Motorsport / Change Racing / US RaceTronics Lamborghini of Beverly Hills: “What a great start for the USRT team! All our drivers were in the hunt all race long. It’s a long season, and we plan on capitalizing on the momentum we’ve achieved here. That includes everyone on this world-class team. We want to thank our title sponsor, Arrow Electronics. I am proud to be part of the team.”

Edoardo Piscopo – Co-driver of No. 50 Arrow Electronics / O’Gara Motorsport / Change Racing / US RaceTronics Lamborghini of Beverly Hills: “After being out of racing for three years, it’s exhilarating to be back racing at this level. Having the support of a team like Arrow O’Gara/Change Racing/US RaceTronics makes it easy to concentrate on getting the job done. My thanks go out to Lamborghini Beverly Hills as well.”

John Hennessy – Driver of No. 33 Arrow Electronics / O’Gara Motorsport / Change Racing / US RaceTronics Lamborghini of Charlotte: “We had a couple of good, clean races. Fortunately, I narrowly avoided two accidents and had a great pit stop in the first race. There was good competition but limited drama for such a large field of cars, with no serious incidents. It was a fun weekend!”

Shane Seneviratne – US RaceTronics Team Owner: “This is a great start to our 2022 season. Apart from our drivers, much of the credit goes to our crew, who keep the cars running no matter what the circumstances. If they hadn’t been so well prepared, we could never have achieved these results. Our guys worked long days and got all the details dialed in with the new cars, which made our drivers more efficient on the track.”

“We wouldn’t have had had such a spectacular start to the season without the brilliant collaboration with Tom O’Gara of O’Gara Motorsport and Eddie Littlefield of Change Racing. I’m excited about growing our partnership in the coming seasons. I also want to thank Arrow Electronics for sponsoring the cars of John Hennessy, Patrick Kujala, and Eduardo Piscopo. VF Engineering and MexiWood are also vital parts of our team, and we’re grateful to them for their part in our success.”

Patrick Liddy – Co-driver of No. 8 VF Engineering US RaceTronics / O’Gara Motorsport / Change Racing Lamborghini of Westlake: “Despite some unwanted drama in race 1, we kept our heads down and stayed calm. Even if incidents kept us from getting where we want, it was a good race. If we can keep this level of preparation and execution for the rest of the season, our team will do very well this year. A shout-out to Lamborghini Westlake for the indispensable part they play on the team.”

Damon Ockey – Co-driver of No. 8 VF Engineering US RaceTronics / O’Gara Motorsport / Change Racing Lamborghini of Westlake: “You can’t control every factor during a race, and we were struggling to get where we felt we should have been. But the whole team is in a great position to make for that next time. It was a great weekend for the team!”

Ofir Levy – Co-driver of No. 13 MexiWood/Dakine US RaceTronics / O’Gara Motorsport / Change Racing Lamborghini of Rancho Mirage: “This is a weekend I’m not going to forget soon. It was great teaming up with John Hirschberg for my first professional podium finish. I’m also elated that we could make the podium despite such a very competitive field of cars. I want to thank the team and the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Series for the incredible racing we saw. Our generous sponsors Mexiwood and Dakine also deserve credit for the vital part they played in getting us the trophy. We’re definitely stoked for the rest of the season.”

Jon Hirschberg – Co-driver of No. 13 MexiWood/Dakine US RaceTronics / O’Gara Motorsport / Change Racing Lamborghini of Rancho Mirage: “We’ve been working hard for a long time, so it’s a thrill seeing it all pay off this weekend. It was a last-minute decision to co-drive with Ofir Levy, and I’m delighted that he gave me the opportunity to share in the victory. Even though I didn’t get a chance to do the pre-season test at Laguna, the team did an amazing job supporting us and bringing me up to speed. I want to thank the pit crew for executing a super-fast pit stop, which gave us a crucial advantage.”

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.

How Would Online Casinos Change in the Future?

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SM
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What has made iGaming rapidly evolve is not just the prospect of massive payouts with a $1 deposit casino on https://newcasinos-ca.com/casinos/1-dollar-deposit/. It is also not just about enticing bonuses and promos to lure potential customers. The ability of the industry to adapt has made online casino gambling popular today. Virtual casino gaming is a receptive, adaptive, and flexible industry.

The gambling industry has efficiently utilized technology to provide customers with a highly convenient user interface, faster gameplay, advanced gaming security, and versatility in payment options, amongst many others.

Technology has always been key to evolving the online casino gambling world. The advancements in the industry from the ’90s to date are clear for everyone to see. Online casino games today have much better quality. They are crisp, fast, and much more enjoyable.

Today, casino games have been able to attract traditional punters and also people with no prior casino gambling experience. And this can be attributed to the way casinos have used the available technology to their benefit.

The correlation between technology and the gambling industry is robust. So it goes without saying that technological improvements will always have a direct bearing on the future pathway of online casinos.

This post highlights how conventional technology impacts and indicates the future course of the casino industry. Check also the best slot machines with the respin feature to win more.

What Do Customers Expect From Online Casinos in the Future?

The future of online casinos from the point of view of the end-user is quite simple. Every customer or prospective punter would want their casinos to provide them with certain vital benefits, and these include:

  • Fun Gaming: No punter on the face of this earth likes dull, drab casino games. Most gamers play casino games the same way as any other video game. Ultimately, the whole point of playing games of any kind is to have fun. So playing slots at สล็อต will never be boring.

While many online casinos are already providing accessible, quick gaming to their customers, in the future, punters would expect that even more emphasis would be placed on both the playability and gameplay of casino games.

  • Convenience: This is another benefit that should drive the future of virtual casino gaming. Today, punters can access their favorite gaming platforms and play online casino games from their mobile phones.

It is convenient to either download the mobile app of a casino provider; or play casino games on the mobile browser directly from the casino site while on the go. Today, casino games can be played on even smaller mobile devices like an Apple wristwatch.

In the future, punters would expect even more convenient gaming on smart devices available at that time.

  • Security: Security has always been a significant concern for most gamers. Online casinos have always been a step ahead with innovative firewall systems to their credit.

Many casinos use 128-bit Secure Socket Language (SSL) encryption technology to protect their customers’ private data from possible cyber-threat.

As cyber-criminals up their game in the future, punters also expect the iGaming industry to be quick off the mark to counter the illicit activities of these criminals.

  • Payment: Another expectation of gamblers is to improve the availability, accessibility, and speed of payment options. Many casinos offer a variety of payment methods to meet the peculiar needs of gamers.

Casino sites offer customers the option of depositing or withdrawing funds either in fiat or crypto. The expectation for most customers would be that these options are improved upon by way of quicker/instantaneous withdrawals.

  • Improved Gaming Experience: Many online casinos offer a vast array of slot, card, and table games. Many more offer live casino gaming action to their customers to give them the feel of a real-life Las Vegas-style casino.

Punters would crave more of these types of gaming in the future. The burden is on the gambling industry to use the technology available now to enhance the gaming experience of their customers.

Online Casinos and Mobile Compatibility

The future of online casinos lies in mobile compatibility. But mobile compatibility is currently two-fold. First, the gaming platform needs to offer customers the option of downloading their mobile app (preferably for free), which not all online casinos offer as of now. It could be due to game compatibility and other issues.

Secondly, online casinos need to enable punters to play casino games on the gaming site using a mobile browser. Online casinos now have to ensure that their sites offer a mobile-compatible user interface that allows punters to easily access site features regardless of the screen size of their mobile device.

Some casinos are already partnering with mobile network providers to help provide gamers with a convenient deposit and payout withdrawal option via their chosen mobile network. Watch also Casino drama – a tale of greed, deception, money, power, and murder.

Improved Virtual Reality Technology

Online casinos are already using virtual reality in their live casino gaming options. However, it is expected that this technology will continue to improve in the future.

Top software developers are expected to use this technology to provide even more realistic visuals and sound experiences. Only those online casinos with upgraded software will capitalize on this technology and provide their customers with ultra-realistic casino gaming. The casinos which do not adapt to the changing expectations of the customers might fail the test of time due to rapid technological innovations in the field.

More Games Using Augmented Reality

Augmented reality (AR) is the opposite of virtual reality. Augmented reality brings virtual objects alive in the real world and looks like the future of the gambling industry. A few online casinos are already using this technology, but it is expected that AR will be a common technology in the not-too-distant future.

Gamblers would be able to create their avatars, casino halls, tables, dealers, and so on. AR would take online casino gambling to another level that has never been seen before with unlimited possibilities. And so you can expect more games offered with Augmented reality soon.

Improved Payment Methods

Many online casinos offer various payment options, including bank transfers, debit or credit cards, e-payment, and cryptocurrencies. As the world continues to embrace digital currencies in the future, online casinos are already well-positioned in a cashless society.

Today we have so-called “Bitcoin Casinos”, named after the most popular and widely used digital currency – Bitcoin. This trend is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.

Better Security Measures

There are many benefits of technology, but there are also some drawbacks. The main issue lies in the area of security. Casinos in the future will apply better security measures that will limit the operations of cyber-criminals and hackers.

Casinos already have sophisticated firewalls and SSL encryption technology to combat cyber threats. However, as these criminals use technology to their advantage, the industry will adapt to their threat with technologically innovative security solutions. Without that, online casinos won’t be able to convince professional gamblers to stick to them.

In Conclusion

The future is indeed very bright for the iGaming industry, with a considerable possibility of growth. The improvements and products offered in the industry rely heavily on the way technology will be used in the future. These would mainly revolve around usability, security, gameplay, payments, compatibility, and overall convenience.

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