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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.

SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt | Joe Graf Jr. Dover Motor Speedway April Event Preview

By
Official Release
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SS Greenlight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt | NASCAR Xfinity Series
Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway | A-Game 200

Fast Facts
No. 07 SS GreenLight Racing Team:
Driver: Joe Graf Jr. (@JoeGrafJr)
Primary Partner(s): Bucked Up Gym N’ Juice Energy Drink
Manufacturer: Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Joe Williams
Spotter: TJ Bell

2022 Driver Points Position: 24th | 2022 Owner Points Position: 19th

Engine: Roush Yates Engines (RYE)

Notes of Interest:

Full of Energy: Bucked Up Energy Drink and its sister products will continue their role as the primary partner of Graf’s No. 07 Ford Mustang this weekend.

Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway is the eighth race of 2022 but is the 39th race overall in a multi-year, multi-race deal with the former ARCA Menards Series winner.

For the second time this year, the team will promote Bucked Up Energy’s Gym N’ Juice flavor.

With Gym n’ Juice, Bucked Up Energy Drink pays homage to those classic west coast vibes. This citrusy, smooth flavor drives you to early-coastal ‘90s.

Even if you weren’t there for the greats — The Chronic, California Love, It Was a Good Day.

Embrace your life — not someone else’s — and dive in. Take it from the generation that taught us, no matter where you come from, from the hills to the hoods, you better bring your A-Game with Gym N’ Juice.

About Bucked Up Energy: Bucked Up started in 2013 when twin brothers Ryan and Jeff Gardner started marketing a product called Deer Antler Spray. After selling thousands of bottles to GNCs nationwide, the company morphed into what is now Bucked Up, a full-fledged vitamins and supplements manufacturer.

The company has gone from its humble beginnings to becoming the No. 1 best-selling pre-workout brand that’s available in over 10,000 stores worldwide.

Plenty Of Other Bucked Up Energy Drinks Options Available Too: Bucked Up Energy now offers more than 10 quenching options, but two of their popular flavors, Pink Lemonade and Mango Tango now include low-stim options.

Low-stim has the same innovative ingredients that make their OG formula so powerful for focus, mood, motivation and energy. Bucked Up made just one small change and they have been surprised by the resulting epicness.

Boasting a modest of 100mg of caffeine, Bucked Up Low-Stim delivers the same energy, focus, mood, motivation – while reducing the common side effects that come from too much caffeine, jitters, sleeplessness and anxiety.

Thanks For Your Support: With 30 percent of the 2022 Xfinity Series season complete, Joe Graf Jr. and SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt would like to thank their associate marketing partners AVOID, Bass Reaper Bait Company, CoverSeal, EAT SLEEP RACE Apparel, fgrACCEL, G-Coin, Gtechniq, HazHeart, Model Electronics and ShopRite for their continued support.

Throwback Alert: Joe Graf Jr. and the SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt team announced earlier this week their Xfinity Series throwback paint scheme for next Saturday afternoon’s Mahindra ROXOR 200 at the coveted Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.

Graf Jr. and his team will dial back to the 2001 Xfinity Series and showcase a livery that Buckshot Jones, one of the sport’s most popular drivers competed within both the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series with Georgia Pacific backing.

Graf Jr.’s red, white and blue Ford Mustang will promote a new Bucked Up product for the 147-lap contest.

Be sure to cast your vote for Joe Graf Jr. as your favorite throwback Xfinity scheme at darlingtonraceway.com/nxsthrowbackfanvote from now until Thursday, May 5th.

Settling In: Dover marks the 10th race that the SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt (SSGLRwJL) team embraces their manufacturer switch from Chevrolet to Ford while incorporating its technical alliance with Stewart-Haas Racing.

SHR will supply the organization with race cars while Roush Yates Engines will provide the legendary Ford horsepower. In addition to providing race cars to SSGLRwJL, SHR will also provide technical support for the entire 33-race season.

Additionally, Graf will have NASCAR Cup Series and Stewart-Haas Racing drivers Cole Custer and Chase Briscoe as teammates for select events throughout the 2022 season.

Don’t Forget The New Partner Too: SS GreenLight Racing has added Jeff Lefcourt as a new co-owner of the Mooresville, N.C.-based team, as well as director of business development for the organization.

Lefcourt, a native of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. joins SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt (SSGLRwJL) with a long history of racing endeavors including owning Bethel (N.Y.) Motor Speedway in upstate New York, a current-NASCAR sanctioned race track.

The noted philanthropist, entrepreneur and real estate developer has deep ties to grassroots racing and was instrumental in helping secure the Stewart-Haas Racing alliance with SSGLRwJL in 2022.

Joe Graf Jr. Xfinity Series Dover Motor Speedway Starts: Joe Graf Jr. will make his fourth career start at the “Monster Mile” in Saturday afternoon’s race.

Last year, Graf Jr. aboard the No. 07 Z Grills race car was headed towards his second top-20 finish at the “Monster Mile” but a loose wheel in Stage 3 forced Graf to make an unscheduled pit stop under green and hindered the team’s finish.

In the doubleheader Xfinity Series weekend in 2020, Graf finished 18th and 21st respectively.

He has completed 589 of the 600 laps for a 98.2 percent lap completion.

Joe Graf Jr. Xfinity Series Career Intermediate Nuggets: At tracks 1.0-mile or greater in size, Graf has competed in 36 NASCAR Xfinity Series races. He holds an average starting position of 26.4 and an average result of 25.4.

Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway | Ag-Pro 300 Race Recap: In the most recent NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, Graf and the SSGLRwJL team showcased the No. 07 Bucked Up Strawberry Kiwi Energy Ford Mustang for the third (Daytona, Atlanta and Talladega) superspeedway race of the 2022 season.

After successfully qualifying for the race on their time trials speed, Graf stayed out of trouble for a majority of the race before executing his move on a late-race restart in overtime to draft to a career-best eighth-place finish.

Talladega delivered Graf’s second career Xfinity Series top-10 finish. Last October, he earned his first career top-10 finish with a 10th-place run in the No. 07 G-Coin automobile.

School In Session: While juggling a full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule with SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt, college life has resumed for Joe Graf Jr.

With the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Graf Jr. has resorted to online classes at the University of New York, where he is pursuing a degree in business, media and sports management.

Sneaker Mania: Along with the adrenaline of the Motorsports competition, Joe Graf Jr. also has a vogue for hype sneakers. In his current collection, he owns and wears at least 90 limited edition sneakers – and his collection continues to grow every month.

The current estimated value of his collection tops $100,000.

From the Pit Box: Industry veteran Joe Williams is Joe Graf Jr.’s crew chief.

He will crew chief his 75th NASCAR Xfinity Series race as crew chief on Saturday afternoon and his fourth at the iconic one-mile concrete oval.

In his previous 74 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, he has collected one win (Auto Club Speedway | February 2022), six top-five and 18 top-10 finishes.

Hello From The Other Side: Graf Jr. has a teammate at SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt. Veteran David Starr will drive the No. 08 Children’s National | TicketSmarter Ford Mustang on Saturday afternoon for his fifth start of the 2022 season.

Starr is set to make his 239th career NASCAR Xfinity Series start and 13th at Dover. His best Xfinity track finish occurred in the 2015 Buckle Up 200 presented by Click It or Ticket, where he finished 13th after starting 24th for TriStar Motorsports.

Follow on Social Media: For more on Joe Graf Jr. visit JoeGrafRacing.com, like him on Facebook (Joe Graf Jr.), follow him on TikTok (@JoeGrafJr), Twitter (@JoeGrafJr) and Instagram (@joegrafjr).

For more on SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt, please like them on Facebook (SS GreenLight Racing) and follow them on Instagram (@ssgreenlightracing) and Twitter (@SSGLR0708).

Joe Graf Jr. Pre-Race Quotes:

On Dover Motor Speedway: “I like Dover. It is a very challenging track which makes the race very demanding and can even be very exhausting depending on the race conditions and weather.

“I spent a lot of time in the simulator this week to get ready for this race. Our game plan is to unload with a looser setup and then tweak our No. 07 Bucked up Energy Gym ‘N’ Juice Ford Mustang from there.

“Things happen in a hurry at Dover, but I hope we are able to tame the Monster Mile with another strong finish that will propel us to Darlington Raceway next weekend!”

On 2022 Season: “It was great to capture our first top-10 finish of the season last weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. I cannot thank every single person on this SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt team enough for their tireless efforts to bring a fast superspeedway car to the race track.

“Our No. 07 Bucked Up Strawberry Kiwi Energy Drink Ford Mustang was fast and we capitalized on that final restart with a career-best finish together. We can’t stop there though. The Talladega finish is motivation for us to keep working hard, and I hope that is the first of many top-10s to come in 2022.”

Race Information:

The A-Game 200 (200 laps | 200 miles) is the 10th of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2022 schedule. Practice begins on Friday, April 29 from 3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Qualifying follows shortly after at 3:30 p.m. The 38-car field will take the green flag on Saturday afternoon, April 30 shortly after 1:30 p.m. with live coverage on FOX Sports 1, the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (ET).

About SS Green Light Racing with Jeff Lefcourt:

As one of the most tenured teams in all of NASCAR, SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt led by team owner and former driver Bobby Dotter and new partner Jeff Lefcourt has been a mainstay entry in the sport fielding entries in either the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series or Xfinity Series competition since 2001.

SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt will continue with a two-car program in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2022.

RDS Automotive Group Partners With Forty7 Motorsports in Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Series

By
Official Release
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PHILADELPHIA, April 29, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — RDS Automotive Group and Forty7 Motorsports announce a new partnership to compete in the International Motor Sports Association’s (IMSA) Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Series. This will be Forty7 Motorsports’ first venture into the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Series, where they will be running two cars provided by Lamborghini Greenwich and Lamborghini Philadelphia.

Forty7 Motorsports has been competing in various series within IMSA since 2016, including Porsche GT3 Cup, Prototype Challenge, IMSA Pilot Challenge, and their current ongoing efforts in the flagship WeatherTech LMP3 Series. As a team, Forty7 Motorsports has been watching the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Series closely for several years. 2022 will finally see them on the grid with two cars initially and an expansion to four cars mid-season.

“In testing, we have seen a noticeable improvement in the new cars through driver feedback as well as quicker lap times. Many of the parts to complete the upgrades have been subjected to the global delays in shipping, which has pushed a lot of work to these final three weeks, but the team came together and got the job done. Squadra Corse has built an incredible series on and off the track for the teams and its dealer partners. Forty7 Motorsports and RDS were a natural fit, not only from a geographical perspective, but also because we both have a shared understanding of the value motorsports bring to a high-profile brand like Lamborghini,” said Garrett Kletjian, team principal of Forty7 Motorsports. He added “Forty7 Motorsports had previously been supporting RDS customers on the racetrack in other brands. This allowed us to showcase our special skillset, while building a relationship with Michael Romano, who oversees Motorsport for RDS.”

RDS Automotive Group is consistently focused on the motorsports heritage associated with its brands, and will continue expanding into exciting new ventures such as the Super Trofeo Series. “We are pleased to join Forty7 Motorsports for the 2022 Lamborghini Super Trofeo season and are confident they will represent us well. We expect Wyatt Schwab and Nick Parmelee to finish with a podium spot this season,” said Robert DiStanislao, president of RDS Automotive Group. Michael Romano, Director of Motorsport for RDS Automotive Group added, “Having a presence in pro racing, specifically the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Series, is proof of just how committed we are to the brands we sell, our partners and our clients. Being in the high-end luxury super car business, many of our clients want to move from enjoying their cars on the road to experiencing them at their peak, on iconic racetracks around the world.”

For the opening event of the season, the team will head to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca with cars representing Lamborghini Philadelphia and Lamborghini Greenwich. Drivers for the Philadelphia car are Wyatt Schwab and Nick Parmelee. Wyatt has been with Forty7 Motorsports since 2019, when at the age of 17 drove in their LMP3 program. Wyatt brings his speed and experience to the program as he accepts the new challenges of driving the Lamborghini Super Trofeo EVO2 car. Nick Parmelee has been racing and coaching in Arizona and Nevada for several years. He has experience driving the previous generation Lamborghini Super Trofeo cars and welcomes the opportunity to compete with the new EVO2 car in official series competition. The Lamborghini Greenwich car will be a piloted by a single driver, Jake Walker. Jake is a 16 year old from Valley Forge, PA that is no stranger to Forty7 Motorsports. He has been part of the Forty7 family since competing for the Forty7 Karting team at age 10 and went on to become the United States Champion in Rotax Kart competition. Jake has made a smooth transition to these 670hp Lamborghini Super Trofeo cars and has impressed in testing.

The tenth edition of the Super Trofeo North America will get underway in Laguna Seca on the weekend of April 29 through May 1, and will culminate with the final round at Virginia International Raceway, Aug. 26 through the 28. The continent’s champions will be crowned in Portimão, on Nov. 2 through the 4th. For series and schedule information, visit IMSA.com.

HISTORIC DIRT TRACK TO GO CLEAN: JUNE TRUCKS RACE IN KNOXVILLE, IOWA, OFFICIALLY NAMED CLEAN HARBORS 150

By
Official Release
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KNOXVILLE, Iowa (April 29, 2022) – The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will be back in Knoxville, Iowa, for the second straight season but the famed half-mile dirt track will seem much cleaner this year with Clean Harbors as the race sponsor.

The Clean Harbors 150 will be run on June 18 as NASCAR and Knoxville Raceway continue to showcase the legendary history of dirt racing across America.

Delivering a broad range of recycling services, hazardous waste management, emergency spill response and industrial cleaning, Clean Harbors boasts one of the 20 largest private motor carrier fleets in North America.

“Given this legendary dirt track, this is shaping up to be one of the most exciting truck races on the schedule,” said Clean Harbors Chief Operating Officer Eric Gerstenberg. “We are dedicating this race to the thousands of Clean Harbors truck drivers out on the road every day in the United States and Canada helping to keep the environment clean and make the world a better place. We simply couldn’t do it without them.”

Founded in 1980 with hundreds of service locations across the country, Clean Harbors is North America’s leader in environmental and industrial services. As the largest COVID-19 decontaminator in the county, Clean Harbors helped NASCAR return to racing early in the pandemic and subsequently deep cleaned all tracks. Along with decontamination efforts around Ground Zero following 9/11, the company is noted for aiding in the Deepwater Horizon and other major oil spills.

Through its subsidiary Safety-Kleen, Clean Harbors has been a decades-long partner of NASCAR. As the official environmental services supplier and green partner of NASCAR, Safety-Kleen collects all used oil, lubricants and liquid waste at the tracks, and then recycles, responsibly disposes of or re-refines those fluids. As the largest oil recycler in North America, the company is also the official environmental company of all the tracks where the NASCAR Cup Series competes.

“Across the country, Safety-Kleen has been keeping NASCAR tracks clean and maximizing recycling of waste oil and other fluids for decades. We’re the sustainability solution for more than 300,000 customers with NASCAR among our most visible. By sponsoring this race, we intend to bring sustainability to the forefront even more,” said Gerstenberg.

NASCAR announced in October the Camping World Truck Series would return to the “Sprint Car Capital of the World” for a second year as the American motorsports’ icon harkens back to its formidable years of racing on dirt ovals across America.

Winston, Ga.’s Austin Hill won the inaugural event, which was extended by 29 extra laps from its originally scheduled 150-lap distance, to complete a green-white-checkered flag finish, giving the Knoxville faithful both a spectacular and historic conclusion.

The event will be promoted in cooperation with North Carolina-based Spire Holdings.

“Clean Harbors is a great partner to the most prestigious dirt track in the world,” said Spire Holdings VP of Strategic Initiatives Joey Dennewitz. “Knoxville Raceway and the entire town of Knoxville are thrilled to host Clean Harbors and their truck drivers for the excitement and fun the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is best known for.”

Tickets are now available to purchase online or by calling the ticket office at 641-842-5431. Practice Night information will be released at a later date. Camping and parking information can be found via the track’s website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram platforms as it becomes available. To receive up-to-date information about the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Knoxville Raceway, visit our website.

The Clean Harbors 150 from Knoxville Raceway will be televised live on FS1 Saturday, June 18 beginning at 9 p.m. EDT. The race will also be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

About Clean Harbors …
Clean Harbors (NYSE: CLH) is North America’s leading provider of environmental and industrial services. The Company serves a diverse customer base, including a majority of Fortune 500 companies. Its customer base spans a number of industries, including chemical, energy and manufacturing, as well as numerous government agencies. These customers rely on Clean Harbors to deliver a broad range of services such as end-to-end hazardous waste management, emergency spill response, industrial cleaning and maintenance, and recycling services. Through its Safety-Kleen subsidiary, Clean Harbors also is North America’s largest re-refiner and recycler of used oil and a leading provider of parts washers and environmental services to commercial, industrial and automotive customers. Founded in 1980 and based in Massachusetts, Clean Harbors operates in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and India. For more information, visit www.cleanharbors.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

About Knoxville Raceway…
Located on the Marion County Fairgrounds in Knoxville, Iowa, Knoxville Raceway is a 1/2-mile dirt track that hosts winged CT525, 360 and 410 winged sprint car racing nearly every Saturday night from April to September. The “Sprint Car Capital of the World” also hosts the Knoxville Nationals, sprint car racing’s most prestigious event, every August, as well as the Late Model Knoxville Nationals, 360 Knoxville Nationals and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Knoxville Raceway is the third-largest outdoor stadium in Iowa with 20,377 seats and 33 luxury suites.

Gallagher, Penske Entertainment Announce Multiyear Partnership

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Official Release
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Agreement Includes INDYCAR Primary Sponsorship, Race Entitlement, IMS Branding

INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, April 29, 2022) – Gallagher, a global insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting services firm, today announced a new, multiyear partnership with Penske Entertainment, which will span across various assets within the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and branding within the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The partnership includes entitlement sponsorship of the Gallagher Grand Prix NTT INDYCAR SERIES event on Saturday, July 30, part of the historic Brickyard tripleheader road racing weekend on NBC that includes races for the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series. In addition, Gallagher will sponsor a Team Penske entry at two upcoming NTT INDYCAR SERIES events.

“It is exciting that a global brand like Gallagher recognizes the opportunities to grow as a partner with the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Team Penske, aligning with our goals and our vision,” said Roger Penske. “We know that Gallagher shares many of the core values that are important across our Penske Entertainment and Team Penske motorsports properties. Gallagher plans to take full advantage of our partnership to not only showcase their brand, but provide a special, one-of-a-kind experience through motorsports.”

Gallagher also will become the branded partner of the all-new Gallagher Pavilion in Pagoda Plaza at IMS, which hosts countless hospitality events throughout the year, including during the action-packed Month of May. Gallagher also will have additional signage at the track during the Indianapolis 500 and other IMS race events.

“In partnering with Penske Entertainment and Team Penske, we are able to do what we do best – provide solutions that every business needs – insurance, risk management and consulting – while also having an exciting opportunity to forge new relationships with an outstanding brand,” said Christopher Mead, Gallagher chief marketing officer. “We are thrilled to be aligning with a partner who reflects The Gallagher Way values of ethics and community service and who can provide unique experiences for our clients, prospects, employees and partners.”

The partnership also includes primary partnership by Gallagher on the Team Penske No. 3 Gallagher Chevrolet driven by NTT INDYCAR SERIES Rookie of the Year and 2022 race winner Scott McLaughlin for two events – the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear on June 5 and the Gallagher Grand Prix.

Gallagher is one of the world’s largest insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting firms. As a community insurance broker and trusted local consultant, Gallagher helps people and businesses move forward with confidence. With more than 39,000 people working around the globe, the company is connected to the places where it does business and to every community it calls home. Managing risk with customized solutions and a full spectrum of services, helping customers foster a thriving workforce and always holding itself to the highest standards of ethics to help customers face every challenge—that’s The Gallagher Way.

NASCAR Community Unites to Pay Tribute to U.S. Armed Forces through NASCAR Salutes Together with Coca-Cola

By
Official Release
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NASCAR Salutes Wall of Honor to debut at each race track in May

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 29, 2022) – This Military Appreciation Month, the NASCAR Community comes together to honor and recognize the United States Armed Forces through the annual NASCAR Salutes Together with Coca-Cola program.

NASCAR Salutes Together with Coca-Cola returns for its eighth season, celebrating the service and sacrifice of U.S. service members and their families. Tributes will take place beginning this weekend at Dover Motor Speedway and will conclude with the 600 Miles of Remembrance during the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Memorial Day weekend. Fans can follow and engage on social media using #NASCARSalutes.

“In partnership with NASCAR, Coca-Cola is proud to honor our nation’s Armed Forces during The Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend,” said Sue Lynne Cha, Vice President of Integrated Marketing Experiences for Coca-Cola North America. “The Coca-Cola 600 brings racing fans together to recognize the service and sacrifices made by our U.S. military members and their families.”

Unique to the program this year, the NASCAR Salutes Wall of Honor will make its debut at each NASCAR race weekend in May. The mural wall will be located in track midways and allow fans to write messages to the military on individual magnets. Each magnet will then be added to the mural to create a giant mosaic unique to each track that will later be donated to a military base.

“It’s always incredible to see the NASCAR industry and our fans unite to celebrate our military service members and their families through NASCAR Salutes Together with Coca-Cola,” said Michelle Byron, Vice President of Partnership Marketing, NASCAR. “Through the support of Coca-Cola, the month of May has become a time when together as an industry, we can reflect on our nation’s heroes and honor the sacrifices they make every day to keep our country and its communities safe.”

To conclude NASCAR Salutes Together with Coca-Cola, NASCAR and Coca-Cola will again host Gold Star Families during Memorial Day weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway with all 40 NASCAR Cup Series cars featuring the name of a fallen service member on the windshield during the Coca-Cola 600.

In addition, several other NASCAR Salutes activities will take place, including:

  • During the GEICO 500 at Talladega on FOX, NASCAR premiered this year’s NASCAR Salutes brand spot. The creative runs through May and showcases the unique ties that NASCAR and Coca-Cola have with the military.
  • Discounted grandstand tickets are available to military members throughout NASCAR Salutes and all season long with NASCAR MILTIX Presented by GEICO Military. Active military and veterans can verify their status through SheerID and purchase tickets by visiting NASCAR.com/miltix. 
  • At each NASCAR event during the month of May, service members from local bases will have access to complimentary grandstand tickets and unique VIP experiences made possible by Vet Tix and the NASCAR Troops to the Track Program.
  • Charlotte Motor Speedway continues its annual Mission 600, pairing the Coca-Cola Racing Family and other drivers with military bases to educate the NASCAR community about the day-to-day lives of the men and women who serve.
  • Xfinity, a Proud Premier Partner, will display red, white and blue Xfinity windshield headers on their race cars during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Alsco Uniforms 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway to showcase their company’s commitment to hiring 21,000 veterans, National Guard and reserve service members, and military spouses who bring unique skills and experiences to Comcast NBCUniversal.
  • Camping World will celebrate with red, white and blue windshield decals on all trucks racing in the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Camping World is a strong supporter of all military branches and proudly displays 3,200 square foot American flags at its nationwide retail locations.
  • AMR, the “Official Emergency Medical Services Partner of NASCAR,” will feature the NASCAR Salutes Together with Coca-Cola branding on its NASCAR safety trucks and safety team helmets throughout the program.
  • For a fifth season, Mack Trucks, the “Official Hauler of NASCAR”, will wrap one of its NASCAR haulers in support of NASCAR Salutes leading into Memorial Day weekend. The final design was selected by fan votes with the voting period closing this week.
  • Continuing its tradition, Goodyear will replace its iconic “Eagle” sidewall design with “Honor and Remember” during the Coca-Cola 600 in recognition of the organization working closely with the industry to honor gold star families who have lost family members as a result of serving.
  • During the broadcast of the Coca-Cola 600, FOX will display the name of every U.S. Armed Forces member who lost his or her life since last year’s Memorial Day weekend race as part of a special tribute titled “FOX Sports Remembers,” an initiative begun in 2009. FOX’s scroll will begin running during its pre-race show at 5 p.m. ET.
  • The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, with the help of JDV Productions and Operation Vet Now Inc., will feature roof decals on all race cars honoring fallen service members during the Jennerstown Salutes 150 at Jennerstown Speedway on May 28.

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About NASCAR 

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 16 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR consists of three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series™), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series™, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour™), one local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series™) and three international series (NASCAR Pinty’s Series™, NASCAR Mexico Series™, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series™). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’). 

About The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is a total beverage company with products sold in more than 200 countries and territories. Our company’s purpose is to refresh the world and make a difference. We sell multiple billion-dollar brands across several beverage categories worldwide. Our portfolio of sparkling soft drink brands includes Coca-Cola, Sprite and Fanta. Our hydration, sports, coffee and tea brands include Dasani, smartwater, vitaminwater, Topo Chico, BODYARMOR, Powerade, Costa, Georgia, Gold Peak, Honest and Ayataka. Our nutrition, juice, dairy and plant-based beverage brands include Minute Maid, Simply, innocent, Del Valle, fairlife and AdeS. We’re constantly transforming our portfolio, from reducing sugar in our drinks to bringing innovative new products to market. We seek to positively impact people’s lives, communities and the planet through water replenishment, packaging recycling, sustainable sourcing practices and carbon emissions reductions across our value chain. Together with our bottling partners, we employ more than 700,000 people, helping bring economic opportunity to local communities worldwide. Learn more at www.coca-colacompany.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

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