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

*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?

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.

Top List Weird Ways to Win at Gambling

Gambling has always been a part of human culture. The ancient Greeks believed they had a direct link to the gods through their gambling habits. Today, gamblers continue to enjoy themselves as well as win big prizes in new online casino.

Gamblers spend billions of dollars every year playing games of chance. They play slot machines, poker, blackjack, roulette, bingo, scratch cards, lottery tickets, sports betting, etc. Even online casinos have become the new way of gambling where the gamblers have an opportunity for wagering or betting from anywhere which gives them an idea of how to operate online casinos

There are many ways to gamble, from playing card games to video games. Some people prefer to bet on horses or dogs, while others like to bet on the stock market. There are also a variety of online casinos where players can place bets on sports events, horse races, and other activities. There is no doubt that gambling is fun for some people. However, there are many different types of gambling. It is essential to know what type of gambling you are doing before placing your bets.  Here are 10 top-list weird ways to win at gambling.

Playing Card Games and Scratch Cards

Playing card games such as baccarat, blackjack, and rummy are popular compared to card games. These games require skill and strategy to win. It would help if you had a higher hand value to win the game. These are also known as showdown or vying games. 

Scratch cards are a continuous form of gambling where the players have an opportunity to win prizes and cash after completing each round of games, just like the rockstars that release that Diamond Heist. It is very low-cost gambling that allows you to win instantly. 

Lottery Tickets

The United States government runs a national lottery called Powerball. Millions of people buy tickets each week, hoping to win millions of dollars. In this game, a player competes against the other player. The lottery prize fund is declared in advance. The Lottery operator never participates in the game. Each player also plays against the gambling operation. 

It is in the best interest of the gambling operator to win against the players. Remember, lottery winning odds will not go in your favour with frequent lottery playing. You should buy more tickets for the same lottery to increase your chances of winning that lottery game. 

Roulette and BingoLotto

Roulette is another favorite pastime among casino patrons. Roulette wheels contain 37 numbers. A single spin of the wheel reveals a number between 1 and 36. The game’s goal is to predict which number will come up next. If you correctly guess the number, you win.

It is a hybrid bingo-lottery-style gameshow influenced by the Swedish show Bingolotto. There are five proven ways to win in any Bingo game. Viewers with a valid game card have a chance to win each week with a probability of 1 in 9.5 chance. 

Horse Racing

Horse racing is enjoyed worldwide. Large crowds gather around racetracks to watch the race. Some people bet on the race’s outcome, while others attend to support friends and family. The three common ways for Horse Race betting are to show, win, and place. A win bet gets you the winning money when you place a bet on a specific horse, and it comes in the first place. 

A place bet is a bet on the horse either finishing at first or second place. A show bet is the betting on the horse for first, second, and third place. The winning money is based on which position the horse bagged and how exactly your bet is for the position. 

Online Casinos

Online casinos offer convenience and entertainment to a gambler. Many gamblers enjoy playing slots and other casino games online such as canada slots online. To play online, you must download software to your computer. Online Casinos are the profile form of online gaming where you can expect a higher amount of payback percentages and bonuses from the various slot games. The idea of receiving the lucrative signup bonus from Online Casinos is enthralling.

Sports Betting

Sports betting is becoming increasingly popular. It is about putting your money on an outcome of your choice, and if the outcome is achieved, you are paid ‘X’ times your betting amount. Betting on a specific game or race shows your loyalty to a particular sports team and reveals your knowledge about that sport. 

Rugby, Soccer, and Australian rules football is the primary form of widespread sports betting. Ice hockey, boxing, cricket, baseball, and basketball also involve heavy wagering. 

Dog Racing

Dog racing is similar to horse racing, but dog owners use their pets instead of horses. The first thing you must consider while betting on a dog is its age. Never bet on dogs under two years of age, and the best deal will be a three years dog. Their age reveals a lot about their performance. Choose the greyhounds with consistent performance rather than those with inconsistent racing patterns. Studying the performance of your greyhound has been crucial in the past days to make an informed bet. 

Keno

Keno originated in China during the 14th century. Today it is played in over 100 countries around the world. It is played with the balls that are imprinted with the numbers. All of them are in a transparent jar and spin till 20 balls are drawn. Once the players pick their number, the software calls for random 20 numbers declared as winners. You get different payout structures and different betting styles on varied platforms. 

The numbers that are not withdrawn are called cold numbers. Some people prefer to bet on these numbers hoping for a win. Other people bet on the ‘hot numbers’ often drawn out. However, In Keno, the sequence of numbers is random, and there is no influence from players on the game outcome. 

Conclusion

There are many ways to gamble. It all depends on what you like and what suits you. However, it is always exciting to try out new ways of gambling. You never know in which game your luck will strike to get you millions. 

Brad Keselowski – Darlington I Advance

Team: No. 6 Socios Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Matt McCall
Twitter: @RFK6Team, @RFKRacing and @keselowski
Race Format: 400.2 miles, 293 laps, Stages: 90-95-108
NCS Race at Darlington – Sunday, May 8 at 3:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Weekend Format

· The weekend at Darlington features a practice session followed by group qualifying, where the top-10 fastest cars in group one will transfer to the final round and run for the pole.

Keselowski at Darlington Raceway

· Keselowski makes his 17th Cup start at Darlington on Sunday where he has eight top-10s and one win with an 11.1 average finish.

· Keselowski won the fall race back in 2018, one of his five top fives overall at the track Too Tough to Tame. He’s coming off a P7 finish last fall, and finished 24th in the spring.

· Keselowski does have three poles at Darlington – 2015, 2020, 2021 – with a 9.4 average starting position and 11 starts inside the top 10.

· He also made seven Xfinity Series starts with one win (2018) and three top-10s.

Matt McCall at Darlington Raceway

· McCall is set for his 11th Cup race from Darlington on Sunday where he has a 12.2 average finish with six top-10s.

· He and Kurt Busch teamed up for four top-10s in the last six races, including a P6 finish last fall. His best finish of third came with Kurt in 2020 in the spring.

QUOTE WORTHY
Keselowski on racing at Darlington:
“Darlington is such a special place, not only the race track itself, but the history of it and everything they do for our sport. The throwback weekend is really cool and we’re glad to be part of it and honor a legend in our sport in Mark Martin. Darlington has been good to me before, and this team has had this race circled for a while now so we’re looking forward to the weekend.”

Last Time Out

Keselowski earned a stage point early at Dover last weekend and showed speed early before going on to finish 20th in the Kohler Generators Ford.

On the Car

Socios – the leading blockchain platform for the global sports and entertainment industry – returns as a primary partner for RFK in 2022 on both Ford Mustangs this weekend in Darlington. The company initially joined RFK in 2021 as the primary partner on both cars at Watkins Glen.

This season, Socios owned content centered around the annual Darlington Throwback weekend and allowed fans to vote on their favorite gear and appearance for this weekend’s teams in South Carolina. Keselowski and the No. 6 team will throw back to the iconic blue and white Mark Martin scheme from 2004.

About Socios
Transitioning passive fans into active fans is essential to the future of sport. Our vision is for an extensive network of the world’s leading sporting organizations to achieve this through Fan Tokens and transactional fan engagement on Socios.com. Fan Tokens, collectible, digital assets minted on the Chiliz blockchain, and the Socios.com fan engagement platform enable the world’s biggest sporting properties to plug into a fan influence and fan reward ecosystem. Socios.com has already generated $120M in revenues for sports teams in 2021. To date, 29 major sporting organizations, including UFC® , FC Barcelona, Juventus, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City have partnered with Socios.com. Leading esports organizations Team Heretics, NAVI, OG and Alliance have all launched Fan Tokens on the platform. For more information please visit www.socios.com.

Chris Buescher – Darlington I Advance

Team: No. 17 Socios Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Twitter: @RFK17Team, @RFKRacing and @Chris_Buescher
Race Format: 400.2 miles, 293 laps, Stages: 90-95-108

NCS Race at Darlington – Sunday, May 8 at 3:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Weekend Format

· The weekend at Darlington features a practice session followed by group qualifying, where the top-10 fastest cars in group one will transfer to the final round and run for the pole.

Buescher at Darlington Raceway

· Buescher is set for his 10th Cup start from Darlington where he is coming off two-straight top-10 runs. He ran ninth in both of last season’s events improving his average finish overall to 17.6.

· Prior to last season, Buescher’s top finish stood as 12th (2019 fall race).

· He carries a 23.3 average starting position with a best starting spot of 11th which came in last season’s spring race.

· Buescher also made four Xfinity starts at Darlington with a fifth-place run in 2015.

Scott Graves at Darlington Raceway

· Graves will be on the box for his 10th Cup event from Darlington where he carries a 19.6 average finish with one top-10.

· Graves led Ryan Newman to a P10 finish in last season’s spring race after starting 20th, and otherwise has five-straight finishes inside the top-15.

· Graves also called three Xfinity events – two with Buescher – with a career-best third-place finish in 2016 with Daniel Suarez.

QUOTE WORTHY
Buescher on racing at Darlington:
“Darlington is a very fun track, and the whole weekend itself is really special to be a part of with all the throwback stuff going on. We’ve got a really cool throwback ourselves to our friend Matt Kenseth, and we feel really good about where we’re at heading into the weekend. Dover was a blast for us – although we’re not content – and we know we have more in the tank to keep this thing rolling and keep improving.”

Last Time Out
Buescher finished eighth at Dover on Monday, his best career finish at the Monster Mile and third top-10 of 2022 after leading the field to green on Sunday, his first career NASCAR pole.

On the Car

Socios – the leading blockchain platform for the global sports and entertainment industry – returns as a primary partner for RFK in 2022 on both Ford Mustangs this weekend in Darlington. The company initially joined RFK in 2021 as the primary partner on both cars at Watkins Glen.

This season, Socios owned content centered around the annual Darlington Throwback weekend and allowed fans to vote on their favorite gear and appearance for this weekend’s teams in South Carolina. Buescher and the No. 17 team will throw back to the iconic Dewalt scheme Matt Kenseth ran in 2004.

About Socios
Transitioning passive fans into active fans is essential to the future of sport. Our vision is for an extensive network of the world’s leading sporting organizations to achieve this through Fan Tokens and transactional fan engagement on Socios.com. Fan Tokens, collectible, digital assets minted on the Chiliz blockchain, and the Socios.com fan engagement platform enable the world’s biggest sporting properties to plug into a fan influence and fan reward ecosystem. Socios.com has already generated $120M in revenues for sports teams in 2021. To date, 29 major sporting organizations, including UFC® , FC Barcelona, Juventus, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City have partnered with Socios.com. Leading esports organizations Team Heretics, NAVI, OG and Alliance have all launched Fan Tokens on the platform. For more information please visit www.socios.com.

Corey Heim – No. 51 JBL Tundra TRD Pro Camping World Trucks Darlington Preview

Corey Heim: Driver, No. 51 JBL® Toyota

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Overview:
Event: Dead on Tools 200, Race 7 of 23, 147 Laps –45/45/57; 200.1 Miles
Location: Darlington (S.C.) Raceway (1.336-mile egg-shaped oval)
Date/Broadcast: May 6, 2022, at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR 90

The Story on Corey:
Over a month after winning his first career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, Corey Heim makes his long-awaited return to the No. 51 JBL Tundra TRD Pro Friday night at Darlington Raceway. Heim’s win was extra special as the Georgia driver executed a last-lap pass on his Kyle Busch Motorsports teammate Chandler Smith at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the same venue he cut his racing teeth on the quarter-mile-track located on the frontstretch, to pick up his first Truck Series triumph in just his firth series start. While he hasn’t raced since his win at Atlanta Motor Speedway in March, Heim has traveled with the No. 51 to all three races on the schedule since then to observe and learn.

Heim made three NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts in 2021, with a best result of 11th coming at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. Heim had an impressive Truck Series debut at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway last May, where he led two laps, finished Stage Two in the runner-up position and was running second when he got turned from behind on a restart with just under 30 laps remaining. The incident forced him to the garage and ended his night with a disappointing 23rd-place finish.

Despite not being slated for a full-time schedule this year, Heim is competing for the 2022 Sunoco Rookie of the Year award. Despite competing in only two of six events this season, he sits fourth in the standings, 32 points behind Lawless Alan. Heim will look to join three other KBM drivers that have won the award, reigning winner Chandler Smith, William Byron (2016) and Erik Jones (2015).

In addition to his part-time Camping World Truck Series schedule, the 19-year-old driver is running six-race schedule in the ARCA Menards Series for Venturini Motorsports. Heim led 74 of 90 laps en route to the victory at Daytona in February to pick up his eighth career ARCA Menards Series victory. Across 38 career ARCA Menards Series starts has 588 laps led, 28 top-five and 37 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 4.1. Heim finished second to Ty Gibbs in the 2021 ARCA Menards Series championship standings. The Toyota Racing Development product collected six wins, three poles, 406 laps led, 16 top-five and 20 top-10 finishes and produced an average finish of 3.1 across 20 starts.

Mardy Lindley returns to KBM for his second season atop the pit box of the No. 51 team. In addition to this year’s with Heim, the No. 51 team produced three victories in Lindley’s first season as a crew chief at KBM, two with owner-driver Kyle Busch and one with Martin Truex Jr. Before arriving at KBM, Lindley guided his drivers to 32 wins and four ARCA Menards Series East championships since 2013, including back-to-back titles with Sam Mayer the last two seasons. Additionally, he earned the ARCA Menards Series Sioux Chief Showdown championship with Mayer in 2020. Behind the wheel, the second-generation driver won 11 races on the Pro Cup Series from 2000 to 2006 and was crowned the series champion in 2001. Lindley’s best result across two starts calling the shots at Darlington was Heim’s 23rd-place result last May.

JBL, the authority in engineering superior sound, returns to KBM for an eighth season and will be the primary sponsor on Heim’s Toyota for 10 races this season including Friday’s race at Darlington. Crescent Tools, a premier hand tool brand from Apex Tool Group, will serve as a primary sponsor for four of Heim’s races, beginning July 29 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis (Ind.) Raceway Park.

Corey Heim, Driver Q&A:
Now that you have had time to digest it, how does it feel to be a winner in the Camping World Truck Series?
“It feels so surreal. Ever since I was a kid, I had dreamed of racing in the Truck Series, and to win at my home track with KBM and Toyota was so special. Aside from that, it takes some pressure off of me, although the goal to win races remains the same.”

That win in Atlanta was the last time you’ve been behind the wheel of a truck. How hard has it been to go over a month without racing in the Truck Series?
“It’s definitely tough to sit on the sidelines while other drivers rotate in and out of the No. 51 Tundra TRD Pro but being able to go to all of the races so far this year and be a part of the team has taught me a lot about what goes into a successful race team.”

You showed a lot of speed last year at Darlington in your Truck Series debut but got taken out in an accident. Is this a race you’ve had circled on your calendar since your schedule for this year was announced?
“Darlington is certainly a race I’ve had circled on my calendar. With the experience I’ve gained since my debut there last year, I’m excited to go back and put everything I’ve learned to the test.”

Corey Heim Career Highlights:

  • Picked up first career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway March 19, 2022 in just his fifth start. Across five career starts has one win, 22 laps led, one top-five and one top-10 finish resulting in an average finish of 17.0.
  • Made three Truck Series starts in 2021 with a best result of 11th coming at Martinsville Speedway in October.
  • Finished runner-up in the ARCA Menards Series championship standings in 2021 after collecting six wins, three poles, 406 laps led, 16 top-five and 20 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 3.1 across 20 starts.
  • Across 38 career ARCA Menards Series starts has eight wins, 588 laps led, 28 top-five and 37 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 4.1. Picked up his first career ARCA Menards Series victory at Kansas Speedway Oct. 16, 2020.

Corey Heim’s No. 51 JBL Tundra TRD Pro:
KBM-69: The No. 51 JBL team will unload KBM-69 for Friday’s 147-lap event at Darlington. This is the same Tundra TRD Pro that Heim drove in his Truck Series debut last year at Darlington when he led two laps and ran inside the top five for the majority of the first two stages before being relegated to a 23rd-place finish after getting caught up in a wreck in the Final Stage. Kyle Busch earned a runner-up finish with this Toyota at Las Vegas in March in its lone start in 2022.
Click here to see KBM-69 Performance Profile

KBM Notes of Interest:

  • KBM drivers have collected one win, 95 laps led, three top-five and six top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 14.0 across 11 starts at Darlington. Kasey Kahne led a race-high 95 laps en route to victory in the 2011 event.
  • KBM holds the Camping World Truck Series records for most career wins (92) and most wins in a single season (14 in 2014). With his victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway 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).
  • With 38 victories, the No. 51 is the winningest number in KBM’s Truck Series fleet.

NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Dover

Chase Elliott celebrates with a burnout as he crew cheer from the wall after winning the NASCAR Cup Series DuraMAX Drydene 400 at Dover Motor Speedway on May 02, 2022. Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images.

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Chase Elliott: Elliott led the final 53 laps at Dover and captured the win in the DuraMAX Drydene 400, his first victory of the season.

“Now,” Elliott said, “all four Hendrick Motorsports drivers have a win. I’m just sad that I was last to the parity.”

2. Ross Chastain: Chastain led 86 laps and came home third at Dover.

“I tangled with Martin Truex Jr. on the final lap,” Chastain said. “Martin came out on the losing end of that when he spun out. Martin then gave me a piece of his mind, which was good, because I actually enjoy ‘picking the brain’ of my older, more experienced competitors.”

3. Kyle Busch: Busch, while leading, pitted under green on lap 322. Unfortunately, a caution flew seconds later, costing Busch the lead and track position. He recovered to finish seventh.

“There’s nothing I can do about that,” Busch said, “except continue to live by the good old Kyle Busch motto: ‘When the going gets tough, Kyle Busch starts complaining.'”

4. Ryan Blaney: Blaney finished 26th at Dover, only his second result outside the top 20 this season.

“Bill Elliott, Bobby Labonte, and Richard Petty will be in the Fox Sports booth next week at Darlington,” Blaney said. “That’s NASCAR royalty right there. Now, they won’t all be in the booth at the same time, mind you. That would make the booth ‘royally skewed.'”

5. Alex Bowman: Bowman finished fifth at Dover, posting his third top-five of the season.

“Denny Hamlin is really struggling this season,” Bowman said. “But we all know Denny as one of the most determined drivers in the game. He’ll do whatever it takes to make a comeback. I mean, he’ll drive the wheels off his car if he has to.”

6. Joey Logano: Logano finished 29th at Dover, four laps down.

“It was just an overall bad day for Penske Racing,” Logano said. “I was four laps down. Ryan Blaney was three laps down, and Austin Cindric was 309 laps down. So basically, lead-lap cars ran circles around us all day.”

7. William Byron: After wrecking in Saturday’s practice, Byron was forced to go to a backup car and struggled to a 22nd at Dover.

“It’s always hard to get a backup car up to speed,” Byron said. “In fact, we put the ‘back’ in ‘backup.'”

8. Kyle Larson: Larson blew two tires on Lap 156 and fell a lap down, but came back strong to post a sixth at Dover.

“And speaking of ‘unexpected releases of air,'” Larson said, “Dover’s Monster Beef And Cheddar Sandwich is really gastro-intestinally infamous.

“And speaking of ‘unexpected releases of liquid,’ the ‘DuraMAX Drudene 400’ sounds like a description of a bulk value package of super-absorbent adult diapers.”

9. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex finished 12th at Dover, falling down the order when his battle for third with Ross Chastain sent Truex spinning.

“I had words with Chastain after the race,” Truex said. “Actually, just two words. And there were seven letters total in those two words. It’s not what you think. Those two words were ‘re’ and ‘venge.'”

10. Kevin Harvick: Harvick finished ninth in the DuraMAX Drydene 400 at Dover.

“Hunt Brothers Pizza was my primary sponsor for the Dover race,” Harvick said. “I’ve had a long-standing relationship with them. ‘They’ve been with me for years,’ which is something you can also say about the actual Hunt Brothers Pizza once you’ve eaten it.”

DGR – NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Advance: Darlington Raceway

Friday, May 6
Track: Darlington Raceway, 1.36-mile oval
Race: 7 of 23
Event: Dead On Tools 200 (147 laps, 200 miles)

Schedule
Friday, May 6
First Practice: 3:00 p.m. ET
Qualifying: 3:30 p.m. ET
Race: 7:30 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 1)

Hailie Deegan, No. 1 Wastequip Ford F-150

  • Hailie Deegan will line up for her 30th career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start as the No.1 Wastequip F-150 gears up for Friday’s contest at Darlington (S.C) Raceway.
  • The 20-year-old makes her second career start at the famous “Lady in Black.” Deegan found herself running 14th in last year’s contest before a wreck on the final lap mired her to a 29th place finish.
  • Deegan and the No.1 team are in the midst of a positive momentum swing, netting back-to-back top-20 finishes after solid runs at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway and Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.
  • 16-year NCWTS Crew Chief Mike Hillman has sat atop the box five times at Darlington Raceway, totaling one career win, two top-fives, and three top-10s.
  • Deegan’s throwback scheme will honor NASCAR Hall of Famer and founding member of the iconic Alabama Gang, Bobby Allison.

Tanner Gray, No. 15 Dead On Tools Ford F-150

  • Tanner Gray rolls into Darlington Raceway on Friday evening for the 55th NCWTS start of his career and seventh of the 2022 season.
  • While the No. 15 F-150 won’t adorn a throwback paint scheme, the team welcomes a new partner in Dead On Tools. The precision tool and work gear manufacturer will also serve as the race entitlement sponsor for Friday evening.
  • Through the opening six races, Gray has two top-fives and three top-10s. He sits eighth in the series standings as he pursues his first career playoff berth.
  • Crew Chief Jerry Baxter has called a combined 12 races between the Cup and Xfinity Series at Darlington with one top-five and 2 top-10s.

Ryan Preece, No. 17 United Rentals Ford F-150

  • Ryan Preece and United Rentals return to the No. 17 for their third race together of the 2022 season.
  • Preece will pay tribute to modified legend Reggie Ruggiero with a blue-and-white scheme that throws back to the No. 44 Mario Fiore-owned modified driven by Ruggiero in the late 1980s and early 1990s
  • In his two Truck Series starts this season, the Connecticut driver has finishes of fourth and seventh at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Atlanta Motor Speedway respectively.
  • Veteran DGR employee Seth Smith will be atop the pit box this week. He has called 15 previous NCWTS races with 10 of those coming last season with David Gilliland, Riley Herbst, Kevin Harvick, Bill Lester and Tanner Gray.

Reddick joins Big Machine Racing for two-race Xfinity deal

Photo by Brad Keppel for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Big Machine Racing announced that Tyler Reddick will be piloting the team’s No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro for the upcoming NASCAR Xfinity Series events at Darlington Raceway and at Texas Motor Speedway in the month of May.

Reddick, a two-time Xfinity Series champion with nine victories who currently competes on a full-time basis in the NASCAR Cup Series for Richard Childress Racing, will be making his return to the series since competing on a part-time basis during the previous season between RSS Racing, Our Motorsports and Jordan Anderson Racing. Campaigning in seven Xfinity events in 2021, his best on-track result was a fifth-place run at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May. He initially earned a runner-up result at Homestead-Miami Speedway in February, but the Corning, California, native was disqualified due to his car failing post-race inspection.

For his first scheduled start with Big Machine Racing this upcoming weekend at Darlington on May 7, Reddick, who last competed as a full-time Xfinity competitor in 2019 when he achieved his second consecutive series title, will be sporting a special gold, red and white scheme that pays homage to NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison and the Coca-Cola Monte Carlo scheme Allison drove to his 1972 Southern 500 victory as part of NASCAR’s throwback theme. Following an off-weekend period, Reddick will return for his second scheduled Xfinity event at Texas Motor Speedway on May 21. The two events will tally Reddick’s career starts in the Xfinity circuit to 93.

“I’m really excited to get back in an Xfinity Series car and it’s even cooler that I get to do it for Darlington Throwback Weekend,” Reddick said. “I’ve always loved that weekend because it honors our sport’s legends, like Bobby Allison. Big Machine Racing put together a really awesome looking car, and Bobby Allison is not only a NASCAR Hall of Famer but a NASCAR icon. I hope we can get this hot rod in Victory Lane on the 50th anniversary of his Southern 500 win. Thanks to Big Machine Racing’s alliance with Richard Childress Racing, our Chevy will certainly be fast and I’m hoping we can get that No. 48 up front. Thank you so much to Big Machine Racing for letting me get behind the wheel of the car. I’m really looking forward to it and to running other races in the future.”

Reddick’s addition to Big Machine Racing means that he will become the fourth overall competitor to campaign in at least one event for the team that initially began the season with Jade Buford as their full-time competitor. During the previous two Xfinity events at Talladega Superspeedway and at Dover Motor Speedway, however, Kaz Grala replaced Buford in Big Machine Racing’s No. 48 entry as part of the team’s goal for on-track success.

“We are honored to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Bobby Allison’s 1972 Southern 500 win,” Scott Borchetta, team owner of Big Machine Racing, said. “The design has always been a fan favorite and we’re thrilled to have former Xfinity Series champ Tyler Reddick behind the wheel. The Big Machine Vodka SPIKED Coolers team badly wants this design back in Victory Lane.”

Additional announcements regarding the remainder of Big Machine Racing’s driver lineup are yet to be determined.

Reddick is set to pilot the No. 48 Big Machine Racing Chevrolet Camaro for the upcoming Xfinity Series event at Darlington Raceway on Saturday, May 7. The event’s coverage is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. ET on FS1.

Worldwide Express Expands Partnership with Niece Motorsports, Ross Chastain

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (May 3, 2022) – Niece Motorsports and two-time NASCAR Cup Series winner Ross Chastain have announced a partnership, with Worldwide Express, joining the No. 41 Chevrolet Silverado entry for four NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) races during the 2022 season beginning at Darlington Raceway for the Dead On Tools 200 on Friday, May 6.

“I’m very excited to be a part of Worldwide Express’ growing commitment to NASCAR both in the Cup Series and Truck Series,” Chastain said. “It’s an honor to represent a first-class organization like Worldwide Express both on and off the track and I’m always looking forward to getting behind the wheel of a Niece Motorsports Chevrolet.”

“It’s a great opportunity for both sides and thanks to Trackhouse Racing for allowing me the opportunity to compete in the Truck Series with Niece and Worldwide Express.”

Worldwide Express, along with its sister brands of GlobalTranz and Unishippers, currently serve as the full-season, primary partners of Niece Motorsports’ No. 40 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender Dean Thompson.

Worldwide Express and Trackhouse Racing recently announced a multi-year partnership that spans 21 NASCAR Cup Series races during the 2022 and 2023 seasons for Chastain’s No. 1 Chevrolet and Daniel Suárez’s No. 99 Chevrolet.

The Dallas-based Worldwide Express, GlobalTranz and Unishippers teams bring together three bands offering marketing-leading solutions for parcel, less-than-truckload (LTL), truckload and managed transportation services all delivered through proprietary technology. Their unique data assets and business intelligence capabilities provide customers with visibility and analytics to deliver a competitive advantage.

“Our WWEX Racing program has grown quickly, and that’s due in no small part to the Niece Motorsports team, who approach this sport with the same mindset we do for our business: that of precision and continuous improvement,” said Worldwide Express president Rob Rose.

“We’re excited to watch Ross compete alongside and mentor Dean and his fellow drivers, and are particularly grateful to Trackhouse Racing for sharing this commitment to teamwork.”

In addition to Darlington, Chastain will pilot the No. 41 Worldwide Express Chevrolet Silverado at Texas Motor Speedway (May 20), Charlotte Motor Speedway (May 27), and Sonoma Raceway (June 11).

“We’re excited to see Worldwide Express continue to grow their involvement in our team and NASCAR overall,” Niece Motorsports General Manager, Cody Efaw, remarked. “We certainly don’t take their commitment to the sport and our organization for granted and are going to work hard to make them proud on and off the track. We’re honored to be aligned with such a first class company – both on Dean Thompson’s truck and now Ross’ as well.”

“It’s really incredible to see how this organization has grown over the last handful of years, and Ross has certainly been instrumental in that,” team owner Al Niece said. “We are excited to have him come back for some more races this year, and thrilled to have Worldwide Express come on board for more races with our team. We’re thankful for the commitment they’ve made to our organization and are looking forward to Darlington.”

The debut of the No. 41 Worldwide Express Silverado will be Chastain’s 97th career start in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, a career that includes three wins (Kansas 2019, Gateway 2019, Pocono 2019), 17 top-fives, and 42 top-10s. It also marks Chastain’s second NCWTS event of the 2022 season.

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About Worldwide Express
Worldwide Express, LLC, is a full-service, non-asset-based logistics provider offering access to industry-leading small package, truckload and less-than-truckload shipping solutions and managed transportation services. The family of brands, comprised of Worldwide Express, GlobalTranz and Unishippers, serve more than 120,000 customers spanning from small and mid-size businesses to larger enterprises, with unmatched carrier options and strategic guidance for their supply chains. With an annual systemwide revenue approaching $4 billion, the company is the second-largest privately held freight brokerage and largest non-retail UPS® Authorized Reseller in the country. Through a selective portfolio of 65+ LTL and tens of thousands of truckload carriers, and powered by proprietary technology, clients benefit from an award-winning, relationship-backed approach to solving their shipping needs. To learn more about the brands, visit wwexracing.com.

About Niece Motorsports
Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2022, Niece Motorsports enters its seventh season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as Twitter @NieceMotorsport.