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Toyota Racing – NCS Dover Quotes – Martin Truex Jr. – 04.30.22

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Official Release
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Toyota Racing – Martin Truex Jr.
NASCAR Cup Series Quotes

DOVER, Del. (April 30, 2022) – Joe Gibbs Racing driver Martin Truex Jr. was made available to media prior to the Dover Motor Speedway race this Saturday:

MARTIN TRUEX JR., No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry TRD, Joe Gibbs Racing

With your previous success, can you take anything from that to this new car?
“I don’t know yet. I think probably not a whole lot. I think it’s going to come down to who can make their car work the best around here. I think it’s going to be a big challenge. Having experience around this track brings confidence to know what you might want is important, but we only have 20 minutes to figure that out – figure out how to get that in the car and not a lot of ability to change big things. I think most of our speed was found between Monday and yesterday.”

In a couple weeks, you will make your 600th career Cup start. Is that surreal to you?

“It’s a lot of races, but pretty cool though to be around as long as we have. My career has not been easy. We have had a lot of tough years – been through a lot of stuff and to still be here battling, fighting for wins is pretty cool.”

What criteria makes you a Hall of Famer and do you think you have achieved that?

“I don’t know. I can’t really answer that. I see guys in the Hall of Fame and what they have done, and stat-wise it’s there, but I don’t know. I’ve not really given it much thought.”

Have you enjoyed the challenge of the new car?

“I’ve enjoyed it. I love racing. I love working with my team. Working with my guys has always been the most satisfying part of this job. Working with a group to try to be successful together, that’s been a lot of fun. It’s not different now. I don’t think too much about what I like better or worse about the car. It is what it is, and you’ve got to deal with it. I just try to focus on working with the team and doing the best job I can do for them. So far it has been fine. Hopefully, we can win soon. It’s been a decent year so far. We’ve been okay. We’ve had a couple tough races, but that is to be expected with this. We’ve got some good tracks coming up, so if we can do our jobs well, hopefully we can put ourselves in a good position. I don’t know that we’re the fastest car out there right now, but maybe we can find some stuff.”

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About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs more than 48,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 43 million cars and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With the more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, more than a quarter of the company’s 2021 North American sales were electrified.

Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

CHEVY NCS AT DOVER: Alex Bowman Press Conference Transcript

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Official Release
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NASCAR CUP SERIES
DOVER MOTOR SPEEDWAY
DURAMAX DRYDENE 400
PRESENTED BY RELADYNE
TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
APRIL 30, 2022

ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1, met with the media in advance of the NASCAR Cup Series practice and qualifying session at Dover Motor Speedway. Press Conference Transcript:

ONE OF THE CRITICISMS TOWARDS YOUR TEAM IN PAST YEARS HAS BEEN THE LACK OF CONSISTENCY. BUT IN THESE LAST FEW WEEKS, YOU’VE BEEN ABLE TO STRING TOGETHER A PRETTY CONSISTENT RUN OF GOOD FINISHES. WHAT ARE YOU FEELING WITH THIS NO. 48 TEAM THIS YEAR AND HOW HAS THE TEAM ADAPTED TO THIS NEXT GEN CAR?
“I feel like that’s been a knock on us; but at times, we’ve been really consistent. Like the end of 2020, we were really, really strong. Last year, we were definitely less consistent than we wanted to be. I feel like we’ve been good so far this year. We’ve had some races – like Martinsville, we struggled, and that’s probably the worst we’ve been. Other than that, we’ve just had some things that were out of our control at a couple.

But yeah, I think we’ve done a good job of adapting to the Next Gen car. We’re in a good place right now. It’s really interesting coming to a lot of these race tracks not really knowing what to expect. The setups are almost a guess. It’s completely based off of simulation and hoping that we get it right; and you really can’t change much once you’re here. It’ll be interesting to see how we are today, but I think we’re in a good place. My guys have been doing a really good job with the Next Gen car.”

ARE THERE SPECIFIC THINGS THAT YOU’RE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT HERE AT DOVER MOTOR SPEEDWAY, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE CHALLENGES OF THIS RACE TRACK?
“I just feel like the loads are really high. Entry and exit is never comfortable here, just with falling down into the corner. And then as you unload the car up off the corner, typically you’re really, really, really loose in both situations. With this car, you can be a little loose; but if you’re really loose, you really can’t catch it and you kind of just don’t have the feel and end up backwards most of the time. Hopefully we can avoid that.

I don’t really know how the race is going to play out. I keep getting asked how it’s going to play out all week and I don’t know. I think a lot of it is going to be dependent on the tire. But I think this Next Gen car – it might drive better than the old car did here and it might drive worse, but we won’t know for the next hour and a half or so.”

IS IT A LITTLE UNNERVING WHEN YOU, YOUR CREW CHIEF AND ENGINEERS ARE USED TO BEING ABLE TO PREDICT STUFF; AND YOU COME HERE AND IT IS SO HARD TO PREDICT AND HAVE SO LITTLE TIME?
“A little bit. Just finding the grip level the first couple of laps is probably the biggest part. Dover (Motor Speedway) is pretty high commitment. Like once your off into the corner, you have to drive in pretty far; and if it doesn’t stick that first time, it’s going to be a bad time. So, just trying to figure out how committed to be the first couple of laps and trying to get up to speed quickly, but also smartly, is probably the hardest part.”

I TALKED TO SOME XFINITY DRIVERS YESTERDAY AROUND THE QUALIFYING EFFORT AND THEY WERE ACTUALLY GETTING STOMACH ACHES AS THEY GOT READY TO TAKE THAT DROP. IS IT THAT WAY FOR YOU TOO?
“Yeah, that’s kind of typical Dover (Motor Speedway). The first couple of laps here feels like a rollercoaster more than anything. But I think as you’ve ran here for 10 years or whatever, it feels normal. But I remember my first couple of times here, it’s really aggressive and I’m sure for a couple of laps today it’ll feel that way, as well.”

THE 1-2-3-4 FINISH FOR HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS – A YEAR LATER. REFLECT ON THAT MOMENT, THE CELEBRATION AFTERWARD AND THE PICTURE THAT’S STILL ON THE COVER OF HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES.
“Yeah, it was really cool. I’m glad I was on the right side of it; got some bragging rights there. I don’t have many bragging rights over guys like Kyle Larson, but I’ll take that one. It was a really special day, for sure. Pretty unbelievable that Hendrick Motorsports had never done that before. So, to be a small part of that was really cool. It was a good celebration, for sure. Definitely was the only guy in sunglasses there the next day to take that picture for a reason (laughs).

But it was fun. Really enjoyed celebrating that with my team. This is a race track that I really wanted to win at, so it’s really cool.”

THE NO. 48 HAS A LOT OF HISTORY HERE AND COMING BACK HERE AS THE DEFENDING WINNER, IS THERE ANY ADDED PRESSURE IN THAT REGARD?
“I don’t think so. It’s hard to have a ton of pressure when you don’t know what to expect. I don’t know how the car is going to drive. There are so many unknowns and I’m just trying to figure those things out. So the pressure to run well is there, but I don’t think there is any added pressure coming back as the previous winner or driving the No. 48.”

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

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

SCHUCHART AND DAVENPORT SCORE VICTORIES FRIDAY NIGHT AT WORLD OF OUTLAWS BRISTOL BASH

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Official Release
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Logan Schuchart led wire to wire to win the $25,000 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series victory Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway.

BRISTOL, Tenn. (April 29, 2022)– Logan Schuchart dominated the NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series feature and Jonathan Davenport held off hard-charging Kyle Larson to score the victory in the CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series race Friday night during the World of Outlaws Bristol Bash.

Schuchart broke a winless drought with a dominating performance, leading every lap of the 25-lap Sprint Car feature to claim his 31st career victory and first ever at Bristol Motor Speedway.

“It couldn’t have felt any better from qualifying on,” Schuchart said. “Just an awesome race car, phenomenal. Really want to thank all the guys who helped out and worked hard including my Grandpa. It was a great team effort. It’s awesome to be on a big stage like this and get this car back into Victory Lane.”

It was a bit of redemption for Schuchart, who led 23 laps here last year in the final feature of the weekend and appeared to be on his way to victory before his engine broke with two laps to go, opening the door for David Gravel to take the win.

“It’s nice to be back in Victory Late, let alone in a facility like this,” Schuchart said. “The car seemed like it almost couldn’t miss. Really felt good all night. I felt like I could go anywhere I needed to go on the race track. I raced with Aaron early in the night and he was very fast. When we were able to race together I knew we were pretty good.”

This season Schuchart has posted a bunch of top fives and top 10s, but he was thrilled to put another W in his victory column.

“We’ve had some good runs and been fast, but have been to some new places this year and trying to figure this car out,” Schuchart said. “We are gaining some momentum. There’s just so many good cars in this series you can’t afford to have any little slip up. If you don’t qualify well you have to start in the back and it’s hard to work your way to the front. It’s easy to over think things and second-guess yourself. That’s what I was doing a month ago and now I’m finding a way to make myself comfortable. I can’t thank everyone who is a part of this team for sticking behind us and working hard.”

Aaron Reutzel finished second and was followed by Kraig Kinser, Carson Macedo and Gravel in the top five. Sheldon Haudenschild was sixth, Larson finished seventh and was followed by Spencer Bayston, Brock Zearfoss and Brad Sweet in the top 10.

In the 30-lap Late Model race, Davenport took the checkered flag but the moonlighting NASCAR Cup Series champ put on quite a show for the fans Saturday night at the World of Outlaws Bristol Bash.

Davenport passed race leader Ricky Weiss with four laps to go and managed to hold off a hard-charging Larson, who had to start at the rear of the field for being late getting to the staging area.

Just as Davenport caught a glimpse of the hood on Larson’s No. 6 machine, Larson’s car got loose and tagged the wall in turn two on the final lap.

“I’m glad I didn’t have a spotter or a mirror because I guess he was coming pretty hard behind us up top,” Davenport said. “It’s great for our team we finally got that gorilla off our back. Just got to thank this whole team. It’s a pretty awesome deal to win at Bristol.”

Larson thrilled the fans with his march to the front. He started 21st and had passed half the cars in the first two laps of the race. He used the top side of the track to slide through and get strong runs down the front and backstretch. After the race Larson, who is pulling double duty, wasn’t pleased with the penalty. He ultimately finished eighth.

“I want to thank the fans for their support, and I’m glad I was able to give you all a show tonight,” a steamed Larson said, who was supposed to start on the front row. “It would’ve been a lot easier if I could have started up front, but I had a lot of (stuff) to do running in both classes.”

Weiss held on to post a second-place finish and was followed by Kyle Bronson, Scott Bloomquist and Chris Madden in the top five. Newport’s Jimmy Owens finished sixth.

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars and the CASE Late Models will return to action Saturday night with hot laps, qualifying, and heat races. There will be a 25-lap main feature race with a $25,000 prize to the winner for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars. The World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models will race in a 30-lap main feature, also with a $25,000 payout to the winner.

Fans can purchase their tickets today for the Bristol Bash at www.bristolmotorspeedway.com. Reserved grandstand ticket prices start at $45 each. Kids (12 and under) tickets are $10. VIP Parking is available in for $10 per day.

World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Results – 25 laps

  1. Logan Schuchart
  2. Aaron Reutzel
  3. Kraig Kinser
  4. Carson Macedo
  5. David Gravel
  6. Sheldon Haudenschild
  7. Kyle Larson
  8. Spencer Bayston
  9. Brock Zearfoss
  10. Brad Sweet
  11. Kerry Madsen
  12. James McFadden
  13. Anthony Macri
  14. Rico Abreu
  15. Donny Schatz
  16. Jacob Allen
  17. Noah Gass
  18. Bill Rose
  19. John Carney
  20. Jason Sides
  21. Landon Myers
  22. Matt Frisbie
  23. Brian Paulus
  24. Jake Spoon

World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series Results – 30 laps

  1. Jonathan Davenport
  2. Ricky Weiss
  3. Kyle Bronson
  4. Scott Bloomquist
  5. Chris Madden
  6. Jimmy Owens
  7. Kyle Hammer
  8. Kyle Larson
  9. Ryan Gustin
  10. Tyler Bruening
  11. Ross Bailes
  12. Tanner English
  13. Dennis Erb Jr.
  14. Josh Richards
  15. Boom Briggs
  16. Gordy Gundaker
  17. Max Blair
  18. Tim Lance
  19. Tim Vance
  20. Brent Larson
  21. Kyle Strickler
  22. Don Hammer

Force Shatters zMAX Dragway Record Book On Opening Night Of Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals

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Official Release
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Night Of Force
Force Shatters zMAX Dragway Record Book On Opening Night Of
Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals

  • John Force set a new zMAX Dragway record across all classes in speed and a Funny Car record in elapsed time during a scintillating Night of Fire in Friday’s opening rounds of Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals qualifying at zMAX Dragway; Justin Ashley (Top Fuel) and Steve Johnson (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also claimed provisional No. 1 qualifier status ahead of Saturday’s final round of time trials
  • Fans can buy tickets to the Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals by visiting http://www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/

CONCORD, N.C. (April 29, 2022) – John Force’s bid to outshine his victory in last year’s Funny Car portion of the Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals got off to a great start on Friday. The 16-time World Champion’s second qualifying run scorched zMAX Dragway’s pavement to the tune of 334.24 miles per hour in 3.850 seconds – both track records.

Force’s speed, which came in the second round of qualifying, shattered a zMAX record across all Nitro classes, while his elapsed time eclipsed daughter Courtney’s 2017 Funny Car run by 0.001 seconds.

“It was straight as an arrow,” said Force, whose speed topped Jack Beckman’s 2019 run by 0.17 mph. “I thought it might get loose on me, but it stuck. That Chevrolet has some really good aerodynamics. It was like I had power steering, the way it drove for me. I talked to my son-in-law, (crew chief) Daniel Hood, and told him we needed to dial this thing back a bit. He said he dialed it back a bit, but the cool air tuned it up.

“It was a good night for my team. I’m driving it right down the groove. I’ve got my stuff together. (Saturday) is a new day. (Faster speeds) are out there. (Ron) Capps, Robert Hight, those guys are going to chase it. But it’s exciting for me. Just to be in the hunt is exciting.”

Justin Ashley bested Brittany Force’s hopes of a Force-dominated Friday in the night’s final four-wide Top Fuel run. Ashley’s 3.669-second, 331.77-mph pass gave the third-year driver the inside line on his first No. 1 qualifier.

“That would be great,” Ashley said. “We’ve been fortunate to accomplish a lot in a short period of time, but one thing we’ve not had yet was to get a No. 1 qualifier and now, we’ve got a shot at that. We’re going to keep our foot to the floor and keep at it.

“This was smooth, this was straight. It felt good. A night like that, I can’t wait to go back and look at the video. To see that No. 1 spot was a really good feeling not only for me, but for the guys who work on this car. They deserve it.”

Steve Johnson paced Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying on Friday with a 6.767-second, 198.70-mph pass.

“The bike was good, but if I’d have ridden it better it’d have gone even faster,” Johnson said. “Our bikes nowadays are very, very challenging to ride now, but I think we’re in a new realm (of speed and elapsed time). There is a lot of stuff going on in six-and-a-half seconds: shifting, moving your body, going through the bumps. It’s a lot of work to ride it perfectly.”

The Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals continue on Saturday, setting the stage for white-knuckled, edge-of-your-seat eliminations on Sunday. Every ticket is a pit pass, giving fans unmatched access to the drivers and crews who tame the 11,000-horsepower machines and push them to their limits after the tree illuminates.

TICKETS:
Tickets, camping and upgrades to the Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals can be purchased at the gate, by calling 800-455-FANS or online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/tickets. Any fan who brings a Polar Pop cup from Circle K to the dragway will receive $7 off tickets purchased at the gate. Kids 12 and under get in free all weekend long.

KEEP TRACK:
Connect with Charlotte Motor Speedway on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or get all the latest news and information with the Charlotte Motor Speedway mobile app.

St. Clair County Transit District and Madison County Transit to provide free shuttles to and from World Wide Technology Raceway’s Enjoy Illinois 300

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Official Release
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April 29, 2022, ST. LOUIS — World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois, will present its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series Weekend on June 3-5. Madison County Transit and the St. Clair County Transit District will offer NASCAR fans a convenient and money-saving option. St. Clair and Madison will offer four free shuttle bus lines to and from the speedway. The four free SCCTD and MCT shuttles will operate for more than 11 hours each day on Saturday, June 4, and Sunday, June 5.

“One of the reasons NASCAR chose World Wide Technology Raceway to host the Enjoy Illinois 300 was because of the tremendous community support of local, county and state governments with our venue.  Having two first-class transportation districts working together to accommodate race fans with free service to the event illustrates our region welcomes the opportunity to host great events,” said WWTR Executive Vice President and General Manager Chris Blair  “When race fans come to our track for these magical days in June, they will be treated to a level of hospitality like no other in racing and this is another perfect example of our community rallying together.”

“The Enjoy Illinois 300 NASCAR race is a win for Southwestern Illinois and our residents,” said Herb Simmons, Chair of the St. Clair County Transit District Board. “We look forward to showcasing the invaluable transit service St. Clair County Transit District provides as an option for residents and visitors alike to access the event.”

“On behalf of the Madison County Transit Board of Trustees, and our hard-working staff, we’re proud to provide Madison County residents and visitors a fast and convenient way to access the Enjoy Illinois 300,” said MCT Managing Director SJ Morrison. “This event will have a significant financial impact on the communities in Madison County and MCT is pleased to be part of its success.”

SCCTD shuttles:

Saturday, June 4 – 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sunday, June 5 – 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

SCCTD Red Line shuttle pickup location: Marcus St. Clair Value Cinema parking lot, 50 Ludwig Drive, Fairview Heights, Illinois.

SCCTD Blue Line shuttle pickup location: Emerson Park MetroLink Station, 929 North 15th Street, East St. Louis, Illinois.

MCT shuttles:

Saturday, June 4 – 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sunday, June 5 – 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

MCT Green Line shuttle pickup locations:

  • MCT Eastgate Park & Ride, 527 Lewis & Clark Boulevard, East Alton, Illinois
  • Granite City Crossroads Plaza, 3995 Nameoki Road, Granite City, Illinois

MCT Yellow Line shuttle pickup locations:

  • Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Lot P7 & P9, 1 Hairpin Drive, Edwardsville, Illinois
  • MCT Gateway Convention Center Park & Ride, 60 Gateway Drive, Collinsville, Illinois

The Enjoy Illinois 300 Presented By TicketSmarter entries are the stars and cars of the Daytona 500 and will include defending NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson. This will be the region’s first look at NASCAR’s new Next Gen cars.

The 240-lap, 300-mile Cup race is scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m. Central on June 5. Leading up to the main event will be a NASCAR hauler parade through downtown St. Louis and the Ballpark Village Fan Fest presented by Enterprise on Thursday, Richard Petty Day presented by Bommarito Automotive Group on June 3, the #CupTimeSTL Short Track Classic presented by Ranken Technical College at Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Illinois, and the June 4 Toyota 200 for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

Fans are invited to enjoy the pre-race pageantry and concerts, the Enterprise Infield Fan Zone Experience, the Rumble Before the Road pre-race party and the new GEICO campgrounds.

For tickets and additional information, please call (618) 215-8888 or visit WWTRaceway.com. Follow WWTR on social media (@wwtraceway).

2022 WWTR NASCAR WEEKEND FAN SCHEDULE

Tuesday, May 31

4-6 p.m. – Special beer release at Annheuser-Busch Biergarten (1127 Pestalozzi Street, St. Louis).

6:45 p.m. – St. Louis Cardinals racing-themed evening (Busch Stadium, downtown St. Louis).

Wednesday, June 1

Noon-8 p.m. – GEICO Campground open.

Thursday, June 2

Noon-8 p.m. – GEICO Campground open.

4-8 p.m. – WWTR Ballpark Village Fan Fest presented by Enterprise (601 Clark Ave., across from Busch Stadium, downtown St. Louis).

6 p.m. – NASCAR haulers depart WWTR staging lot.

6:30 p.m. – NASCAR hauler parade passes Ballpark Village Fan Fest presented by Enterprise and Busch Stadium.

7 p.m. – Haulers return to WWTR for parking in garage area.

Friday, June 3 — Richard Petty Day presented by Bommarito Automotive Group

6:30 a.m. – Parking lots open.

10 a.m. – Spectator gates, Enterprise Infield Fan Zone Experience and midway open.

Noon – Recommended arrival for best race day experience.

1 p.m. – NASCAR Speediatrics.

2:10 p.m. – Richard Petty Q&A on midway stage.

3:30 p.m. – Ribbon-cutting ceremony on start-finish line.

3:45 p.m. – Ceremonial first NASCAR Cup Series car laps by Richard Petty.

4 p.m. – Inaugural NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 practice.

5 p.m. – NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Toyota 200 practice.

5:30 p.m. – NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Toyota 200 qualifying.

6:30 p.m. – WWTR track dog Gateway Stanley’s Paw Party, doggie meet-up for campers.

7 p.m. – NASCAR garages and Infield Fan Experience closed.

7:30 p.m. – #CupTimeSTL Short Track Classic Presented By Ranken Technical College at Tri-City Speedway (5100 Nameoki Road, Granite City, IL) featuring World of Outlaws Late Models, MOWA Sprint Cars and NASCAR drivers in competition.

Saturday, June 4 — NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 3—qualifying, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Toyota 200, music festival
6:30 a.m. – Parking lots open.

7 a.m. – Spectator gates, Enterprise Fan Zone and midway open.

8 a.m. – Recommended arrival time for best race day experience.

10 a.m. – NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 qualifying.

12:30 p.m. – NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Toyota 200 (160 laps, 200 miles).

2-4 p.m. – No inbound traffic permitted during this period.

2:30 p.m. – WWTR SpeedFreaks Live!

3 p.m. – Thrills & Throttles presented by Holman Motorcars (featuring St. Louis’ hottest 100 cars). Starts after the conclusion of the Toyota 200.

4-9 p.m. – Saturday Twi-Night Concerts (Turn 1 stage, free with Truck race admission).

Sunday, June 5 – Inaugural NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 presented by TicketSmarter

6:30 a.m. – Parking lots open.

7 a.m. – Spectator gates, Enterprise Fan Zone, midway open.

8:30 a.m. – Midway Music Stage opens.

8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Rumble Before The Roar pre-race party.

9:30 a.m. – Recommended arrival time for maximum race day experience.

9:30 a.m. – WWTR Race Day Live! with Kenny Wallace (Midway Stage).

10:30 a.m. – Fans’ track walk, concert stage access begins (must have Enterprise Fan Zone and driver intro passes).

2 p.m. – NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 driver introductions.

2:30 p.m. – Inaugural NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 presented by TicketSmarter (240 laps, 300 miles).

All fans invited onto the track after the race.

Post-race track walk and scavenger hunt.

Schedule subject to change.

About World Wide Technology Raceway

World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR) is the home of NASCAR, INDYCAR, and NHRA racing in the St. Louis region. Located just five minutes from downtown St. Louis and covering more than 600 acres, WWTR is the largest outdoor entertainment facility in the area. WWTR’s facilities include a 1.25-mile superspeedway, ¼-mile drag strip, 2.0-mile road course, the Gateway Kartplex (a state-of-the-art karting facility), and the adjacent Gateway National Golf Links. WWTR and owner Curtis Francois have been recognized with several awards, including: 2021 Comcast Community Champion of the Year; 2021 Jack Buck Award; 2020 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Track Award; 2018 Innovator Award from the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission; 2017 Outstanding Facility of the Year Award from the Race Track Business Conference; and the 2017 Spirit of St. Louis Award from the St. Louis Attractions Association.

Our Mission

We are committed to making a difference in our community, while providing first-class entertainment and memories that last a lifetime.

Herta Sets Pace as Andretti Autosport Hurries to Head of Barber Practice

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Official Release
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Friday, April 29, 2022) – Andretti Autosport was on the pace Friday at Barber Motorsports Park as Colton Herta led opening practice for the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama presented by AmFirst with a best lap of 1 minute, 6.5149 seconds in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda.

Defending race winner and reigning NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou followed closely behind in second at 1:06.5657 in the No. 10 The American Legion Honda, just .05 of a second behind Herta’s quick lap.

“I was really happy with how the car was,” Herta said. “We were one of the lucky ones that got to test here (recently), so we did a lot of stuff on that day to help us prepare for this weekend, and it showed. We came in here and rolled off the truck, and the car was really nice right away.”

Herta’s Andretti Autosport teammates followed closely behind as Alexander Rossi placed his No. 27 NAPA AUTO PARTS/AutoNation Honda third at 1:06.6657 and Romain Grosjean put the No. 28 Enevate/DHL Honda fourth with a best lap of 1:06.7046.

The Andretti Autosport trio’s rookie teammate also proved strong on the 17-turn, 2.3-mile road course. Devlin DeFrancesco spent time fastest in the practice session before ending the session in a solid 14th at 1:07.3817 in the No. 29 PowerTap Honda.

Scott McLaughlin, who won the season opener at St. Petersburg, rounded out the top five as the fastest Chevrolet driver in the No. 3 Sonsio Team Penske Chevrolet with a best lap of 1:06.8705. Callum Ilott was the fastest rookie of the day, putting down a best lap of 1:07.0861 in the No. 77 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet early in the session, good for eighth overall.

Less than a second separated the top 17 drivers in the 26-competitor field.

Missing from the top half of the practice sheets were former Barber Motorsports Park winners Josef Newgarden (2015, ’17, ’18), Simon Pagenaud (2016) and Takuma Sato (2019). Newgarden was 18th quickest at 1:07.5505 in the No. 2 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet, while Pagenaud was 21st at 1:07.6916 in the No. 60 AutoNation/SiriusXM Honda and Sato was 22nd at 1:07.7473 in the No. 51 Nurtec ODT Honda.

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is back in action Saturday with practice at 10 a.m. (ET), followed by NTT P1 Award qualifying at 1 p.m. and final practice at 5:20 p.m. All sessions will be live on Peacock Premium and the INDYCAR Radio Network.

Frost Heats Up Barber by Leading Lights Practice

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Official Release
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Friday, April 29, 2022) – Danial Frost started the Indy Lights Grand Prix of Alabama race weekend hot by pacing Friday’s sole Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires practice session.

Frost turned a best lap of 1 minute, 12.6511 seconds in the No. 68 HMD Motorsports with Dale Coyne Racing car around Barber Motorsports Park after being the first driver to dip below the 1:13 mark.

Frost, from Singapore, showed his strength throughout practice, besting his top lap of the session multiple times in the 45-minute practice around the 17-turn, 2.3-mile road course.

“We’re just kind of getting in the rhythm of things and starting off the weekend pretty well,” Frost said. “It’s always about momentum, so we’ve got a good start. I think it’s going to be pretty good for the rest of the weekend right now.”

Last year’s Indy Pro 2000 champion Christian Rasmussen was second fastest in the No. 28 Road to Indy/Stellrecht car at 1:12.6684, with 2021 Barber-1 winner Linus Lundqvist third at 1:12.8248 in the No. 26 HMD Motorsports with Dale Coyne Racing car and Benjamin Pedersen fourth at 1:12.8544 in the No. 24 Global Racing Group with HMD car.

Hunter McElrea rounded out the top five at 1:13.0577 in the No. 27 Andretti Autosport car.

So far this weekend in Birmingham, Alabama, the Indy Lights field appears to be incredibly close on the time sheet. The top 10 drivers are separated by less than a second, as Jacob Abel produced the 10th-best time at 1:13.4244 in the No. 51 Abel Speedwagon, just .7733 of a second behind Frost’s quick time.

“Now we have to keep digging in and looking for more time, because these guys are going to be doing the exact same thing,” Frost said. “Fourteen cars behind me looking for the same spot as I am. I have to do the actual work and now look for where I can find a little bit more.”

Abel was at the center of the most noteworthy incident to come out of practice. As time was running out in the session, he exited Turn 4 side-by-side with Kyffin Simpson in the No. 21 TJ Speed Motorsports car. Abel dipped his right-side tires off track and did a 360-degree spin, but he sustained no damage to the car and continued.

Indy Lights will be back in action Saturday for practice at noon (ET), followed by qualifying at 3:35 p.m. The INDYCAR Live! streaming platform and the INDYCAR Radio Network will provide live coverage of both sessions.

About Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires

Celebrating 35 years, Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires develops drivers and teams to compete in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. Past champions include INDYCAR SERIES champions Tony Kanaan, Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden, Paul Tracy and Cristiano da Matta. In 2021, 20 drivers in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES were Indy Lights graduates, including rising stars and race winners Colton Herta, Pato O’Ward and Rinus VeeKay. The 2022 season consists of 14 races in the United States. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES, Indy Lights, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IMS Productions are owned by Penske Corporation, a global transportation, automotive and motorsports leader. For more information on Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires, please visit www.indylights.com. For more information on INDYCAR and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, please visit www.indycar.com.

About Cooper Tire

Cooper Tire, a subsidiary of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NASDAQ: GT), specializes in the design, manufacture, marketing and sale of passenger car, light truck, medium truck, motorcycle and racing tires. Cooper is headquartered in Findlay, Ohio, with manufacturing, sales, distribution, technical and design operations located in more than one dozen countries around the world. For more information on Cooper, visit www.coopertire.com, www.facebook.com/coopertire or www.twitter.com/coopertire.

About Goodyear

Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tire companies. It employs about 72,000 people and manufactures its products in 55 facilities in 23 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio, and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg, strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate.

Taylor Gray earns big victory in General Tire 125 ARCA Menards Series East race at Dover Motor Speedway

By
SM Staff
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DOVER, Del. (April 29, 2022) – Taylor Gray grabbed the momentum his race team was seeking in a commanding way Friday at Dover Motor Speedway.

And his reward is a new Monster Trophy to display.

Gray led 115 of 125 laps and cruised to his first victory at the Monster Mile with a win in the General Tire 125 ARCA Menards Series East race.

It was the first ARCA Menards Series East victory of the year for Gray, 17, a New Mexico native, who has also made two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts this year.

Gray has top-three finishes in all three AMSE races so far this season but Friday marked his first trip to Victory Lane.

“Hard work has paid off finally,” Gray said. “We’ll take this momentum and go to Nashville [next race in series is May 7 at the Fairgrounds] and see what we can do.

“We’ve been working hard and making gains.”

Gray, driving the No. 17 Ford for David Gilliland Racing, topped second-place Jesse Love by 1.456 seconds at the checkered flag, with Conner Jones in third and Rajah Caruth in fourth.

Sammy Smith, who entered Friday as the ARCA Menards Series points leader after winning the season’s first two races, finished fifth.

Gray earned the pole position with a track record lap of 160.915 mph earlier on Friday.

And after capping a long day at Dover with a big win, Gray already has a place in mind to keep his newly-won Monster Trophy.

“It’s a super cool trophy – probably one of my favorite trophies on the circuit,” Gray said. “It’s probably going to go right in my living room.”

The NASCAR tripleheader weekend race weekend schedule also includes:

SUNDAY, MAY 1: DuraMAX Drydene 400 presented by RelaDyne NASCAR Cup Series race (3 p.m., FS1).
SATURDAY, APRIL 30: A-GAME 200 NASCAR Xfinity Series Dash 4 Cash race (1:30 p.m., FS1)
The DuraMAX Drydene 400 presented by RelaDyne is the 104th NASCAR Cup Series race at Dover, one of only 10 venues in the country to host 100 or more Cup Series events.

TICKETS:
Kids 12 and under get in FREE with a paying adult to Saturday’s race and start at just $10 on Sunday. For tickets to all of Dover Motor Speedway’s events, visit https://www.DoverMotorSpeedway.com or call 800-441-RACE.

FOLLOW US:

Keep track of all of Dover Motor Speedway’s events by following on Twitter and Instagram or become a Facebook fan. Be sure to use #DuraMAXDrydene400 and #AGame200 in your posts.

How To Find Much Needed Spring Upgrades For Your Tundra

By
SM
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Photo by Jakob Rosen on Unsplash

Your Toyota Tundra is a beast. No other vehicle in its class can match its displacement engine, and its horsepower and torque readily beat the competition, too. Despite these strengths, there’s always room for improvement, and you can take your Tundra to the next level by investing in some cool new accessories. This is especially true as spring sets in and you no longer need to worry about harsh winter weather. Spring brings its own issues, though, as you’ll likely find bugs adorning your windshield and pollen dispersed across your truck. A 2006 Tundra bug deflector is one of the best tools in the fight against bug guts, and it’s simple to install.

Utilize a VIN Decoder

One of the easiest ways to find accessories is by using a VIN decoder to learn more about your truck. A VIN decoder unlocks a wealth of valuable data, including its trim level, engine type, and whether it’s front- or all-wheel drive. This information can help you select the best accessories by revealing what kind of OEM parts your truck is compatible with. If you’re shopping for a 2006 Tundra bug deflector, for example, you need to ensure that the model you choose will fit your truck. Looking up your VIN with a decoder tool can ensure that you get the right part.

There are plenty of other benefits to using a VIN decoder, too. In addition to eliminating guesswork when shopping for accessories, it can reveal any open recalls that may affect you. Many people drive a vehicle with an open recall and don’t even realize it. Obviously, this can put you at risk, so it’s important to periodically check for any such issues. If you do find that a recall has been issued on your vehicle, you should contact a dealership to let them know and find a solution. Dealers are required by law to fix or replace the recalled part to the best of their ability.

Suit Your Exterior for Unexpected

You’re concerned about safety, but you also care about style. Your Tundra is an attractive truck, and you want to ensure that it looks as good as it can. To achieve this, you should suit its exterior in preparation for unexpected weather. Spring might be sunnier than winter, but it’s still unpredictable, and you might be hit with a sudden storm seemingly out of the blue. To shield your Tundra from surprising weather, you can invest in a cover that offers defense against moisture. Waterproof truck coverings provide security while ensuring your truck’s exterior is protected.

A cover that encompasses your entire truck can be beneficial, but you may also opt for a tonneau cover that only covers your flat bed. Many tonneau covers are waterproof and ensure that rain will never accumulate in the bed of your truck. Although most flat beds feature channels that facilitate drainage, it’s best to prevent water from gathering in the first place, and a bed cover can do exactly that while protecting your Tundra.

Hardpoint Goes West For IMSA WeatherTech, Michelin Pilot Races at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

By
Official Release
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Ferriol and Legge Co-Drive the No. 99 GridRival Porsche 911 GT3 R While Galante and McAlister Ready For Home Race in No. 22 Racing to End Alzheimer’s Porsche Cayman at Iconic West Coast Venue

MONTEREY, California (April 29, 2022) – Hardpoint returns to action this weekend for a pair of IMSA sprint races in two separate Porsche models at the iconic WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, April 29 through May 1, highlighted by Sunday’s WeatherTech Championship race live on the NBC network. Rob Ferriol and Katherine Legge resume their IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season in the No. 99 GridRival Porsche 911 GT3 R in the GTD class of the Championship, with Nick Galante and Sean McAlister co-driving the team’s No. 22 Racing to End Alzheimer’s Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport in IMSA’s Michelin Pilot Challenge Championship Grand Sport (GS) class.

Saturday’s two-hour Michelin Pilot Challenge race can be seen live from the 2.238-mile racetrack streaming on Peacock beginning at 7 p.m. EDT (4 p.m. local PDT). Sunday’s two-hour, 45-minute WeatherTech race is live over the air on NBC at 3 p.m. EDT (Noon local PDT) and streaming commercial free on Peacock.

No. 99 GridRival Porsche 911 GT3 R Pre-Event Notes

  • Ferriol and Legge combined for an eighth-place finish last season at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
  • Ferriol finished fourth in Michelin Pilot Challenge competition in 2019 at the track, the same season he earned a pair of runner-up finishes in Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge in Monterey.
  • Legge has had success at Laguna Seca as well. She won the GTD class race from pole in 2018 for Meyer Shank Racing, that program’s first GTD-class win.
  • Ferriol and Legge enter the race tied for ninth in the GTD Driver’s Championship, with Hardpoint eighth in the Team Championship

No. 22 Racing to End Alzheimer’s Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport Pre-Event Notes

  • The Laguna Seca race is a hometown race for Nick Galante. Galante moved to the Monterey Peninsula 22 years ago to chase a pair of dreams – golf and motorsports.
  • The golf portion came first, as Galante quickly became a caddy at Pebble Beach and then a driving instructor at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca before stepping into professional driving.
  • Galante’s foray into professional racing began in earnest when he caddied for racing enthusiast Philip Frengs. Frengs’ company, Legistics, Inc., and eventually his charity Racing to End Alzheimer’s, has been a partner of Galante’s for six seasons.
  • Galante was the ST class winner in 2018 driving a BMW.
  • As the hometown favorite, Galante has participated in a number of event-related media activities in the lead-up to the race.
  • This weekend is the closest thing to a home race on the Pilot Challenge schedule for Sean McAlister.
  • McAlister has not raced at Laguna Seca since a fourth and a fifth-place finish in Porsche GT3 Cup in 2019.
  • While the 25-year-old McAlister’s father is a fixture at the race track, McAlister’s mother will be attending this weekend’s race for the first time in his career – and just a week before Mother’s Day.
  • Racing to End Alzheimer’s allows those who have been touched by the Alzheimer’s disease to add a loved one’s name and hometown to the race car for the season via a $250 donation through the R2EndAlz.org website. Through just two events this season, the No. 22 will carry 85 names on the car – including Galante’s late grandmother and his aunt.

Hardpoint Quote Board

Rob Ferriol, Owner and Driver, No. 99 Porsche 911 GT3 R: “WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is one of my favorite stops on the IMSA schedule; it has so much character and such a rich history. The anticipation as you climb up the hill out of Turn Six and into the world-famous Corkscrew is unlike anything else on the calendar. Tire management this weekend is going to be huge. We did a really good job last year of producing a fast car late in the stint, but still struggled to get the tires turned on early. It’s going to be an even bigger challenge this year with the new tire pressure mandates, but I’m confident the Hardpoint crew, engineers, and drivers are up to the task!”

Sean McAlister, Driver, No. 22 Porsche Cayman: “It’s been a little while since I’ve been to Laguna Seca, but it’s always great to see it on the schedule. I love the track and it’s always a nice bonus that we can drive up instead of having to get on a flight. One of the reason’s it’s a favorite to go to for me is of course the location, but it’s also always an enjoyable experience. There’s a lot of great fans that come out to the event and the facility provides a great fan viewing experience and then the track is just awesome, high speed and one of the most iconic corners in motorsport with the Corkscrew. I don’t think that this being so close to home puts any added pressure on me, I just enjoy that it isn’t a long trip to the other side of the country. There are some extra guests coming this weekend, my mom will be attending and it’s the first race she’s going to be at ever since I started so that’s exciting and a few people from her town in Leona Valley are tagging along with her to come experience the races as well. If there was any added pressure it would be to perform well for them!”

Nick Galante, Driver, No. 22 Porsche Cayman: “This track has its own special mystique, because of the history here and because it’s where I got my start, and it was the track that drew me to motorsports to begin with. Everything I’ve been through at this place, and the fact that it’s my home track, combines to make it so special to me. I raced the Corkscrew in the video games I played for years, and when I finally drove down it, it didn’t disappoint. The turns preceding the straightaways are so important to get right to get a good lap. I’m really looking forward to being “home” here with Hardpoint and with Sean and think we can make some noise this week.”

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

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