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NTE Sport Enters Lamborghini Super Trofeo at Laguna Seca with Jeff Courtney

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Official Release
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DALLAS, Tex., (April 25, 2022) – This week, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and its affiliated series race in Monterey, California, and in addition to a GTD entry in the WeatherTech series, NTE Sport will field an entry in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America series with driver Jeff Courtney.

“We’re looking forward to having Jeff join us this weekend at WeatherTech Raceway,” said NTE Sport owner Paul Mata. “He’s a very experienced driver and we know he’ll do great in what will be a very competitive field. I’ve been working on an NTE program in Super Trofeo for some time, and I’m looking forward to getting this season started. We’re proud to have Lamborghini Dallas on board and are looking forward to fighting for some wins!”

Courtney will make his debut in the No. 42 Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo Evo2 in the Am class. Though he has yet to acquire any seat time in the Super Trofeo car, Courtney has almost 20 years of motorsport experience under his belt. His sports car racing experience ranges from the Panoz Racing Series to Speed World Challenge and the GRAND-AM Koni Challenge in the early 2000s. In recent years, he has continued to race in IMSA-sanctioned series, and in 2018 became the Pirelli World Challenge GTS Sprint Champion. He’ll join the series this weekend, making his Lamborghini Super Trofeo debut with longtime sponsors Kenda and RecStuff.com.

“I am looking forward to joining Paul and the entire NTE Team at Laguna Seca,” said Courtney. “This was a very last-minute deal for me, but I am confident the NTE squad will get me up to speed quickly. I am excited to drive in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Series! I have driven a lot of race cars over the years but I have never even sat in the Lamborghini so I expect my learning curve to be steep in a really competitive field. I am really looking forward to the challenge and driving this cool race car. To add to that, I have not been to this great racetrack in a very long time so it will be fun to get reacquainted with the circuit as well.”

The 2022 Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America season consists of six events, with the first five taking place at some of North America’s best road courses, starting with WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca April 29-May 1. The season will conclude with the Lamborghini World Finals at the Algarve International Circuit, in Portugal. In its tenth year, the single-make series will host two practice sessions, two qualifying sessions, and two 50-minute races each weekend. Each entry can run one or two drivers per car, with a required pit stop to take place in each race. Race one at Laguna Seca will air on IMSA.com/tv on Saturday, April 30, at 1:50 PM PT, followed by race two on Sunday, May 1 at 9:40 AM PT.

In the meantime, NTE Sport hopes to have future announcements regarding their 2022 Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America season at a later date.

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About NTE Sport
NTE Sport is based in Dallas, Texas, and first raced in 2020. Owner Paul Mata has been in the industry for over 20 years before starting his own team and has always focused on bringing together a diverse group of individuals to provide new opportunities and bring new people into the sport. Past female drivers include Sheena Monk and Ashley Freiberg, and drivers from diverse racial backgrounds include Ryan Nash, Jaden Conwright, and Kerong Li. Dedicated to bringing highly skilled individuals from various backgrounds, NTE Sport aims to continue to make North American sports car racing a fun, welcoming, supportive environment while participating in the most competitive series in North America.

Lamborghini Dallas
Lamborghini Dallas has earned the Highest Rated Lamborghini Dealer in the United States award by DealerRater 10 years in a row. With a state-of-the-art showroom, factory-certified service facility, parts depot, and a team of master technicians, Lamborghini Dallas is dedicated to the legacy of the famed raging bull. As a member of Boardwalk Auto Group, we cultivate a focus on top-flight performance. It’s the driving force behind every nameplate we represent, every car we maintain, and every customer we have the privilege to serve. Performance. It’s what we do.

Rebel Rock Racing Looking to Change Luck at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

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Official Release
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MONTEREY, CA (25 April 2022) – Rebel Rock Racing will be looking to change its fortunes in Saturday’s WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca 120, Round 3 of the 2022 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge. Frank DePew and Robin Liddell will co-drive the No. 71 Urban Grid Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R, which finished 15th in the most recent event at Sebring International Raceway.

The Rebel Rock duo first raced at Laguna Seca in 2019, with DePew – visiting the track for the first time – finished 10th with Liddell. But in the 2020 visit to the Monterey circuit, the team’s day ended early after being taken out by an early incident.

In 2021, Rebel Rock Racing elected to sit out the September visit to Laguna Seca to regroup after damaging the Camaro and instead focused on a strong run in the final stages of the season.

“We’re looking forward to going back there,” said Liddell, who teamed with Andrew Davis to win the 2015 event in the Stevenson Motorsports Camaro Z-28.R. “We always enjoy going there. It’s in a nice part of the world, and it’s a popular event. But we’re coming into a couple of events where historically we haven’t done very well with any Camaro although we got that one win thanks to great strategy.”

IMSA recently released the Balance of Performance for the race, which will give the Camaro a slight increase in the size of the restrictor.

“We typically struggle a bit with handling at this track,” Liddell said. “Hopefully, the BOP change will bring us back into the window a little bit. I don’t expect to set the world alight either at Laguna or Mid-Ohio – those are both events where we’ve struggled a bit. But I think we’ll have a reasonable performance and I think we can finish in the top six if we can have a straightforward race.”

This will be DePew’s third visit to the circuit.

“I think Laguna Seca is a lot of fun,” said DePew. “I don’t have a ton of experience there, but I love the track. I think if we can stay clean and out of trouble, we have a shot at a good result there. We hated skipping Laguna last year, but that paid big dividends with a strong finish at VIR and a win at Sebring.”

The team was able to get back to the track with a short one-day test at Sebring recently, and is geared up to build momentum with a solid run out West this weekend.

“Frank drove well the two times he was here previously,” Liddell said. “It’s not a track he knows particularly well yet, but he enjoys driving at Laguna and if he keeps his head down and stays out of trouble, I think we can get a reasonable result. It was disappointing not to make the race here last year, although I think we made the right call that led to a reasonable finish to the season.”

Friday’s schedule includes a pair of one-hour practice sessions beginning at 10:25 a.m. and 2:20 p.m. (all times PT). Saturday includes GS qualifying at 11:20 a.m. The two-hour race is set to begin at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Additional updates via:
http://rebelrockracing.co
https://twitter.com/rebelrockracing
https://www.instagram.com/rebelrockracing/

Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix Participating Restaurants and Partners bring a taste of South Florida to the track

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Official Release
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  • Miami’s best restaurants will showcase their culinary delights to attendees of the inaugural race
  • Popular local establishments Seaspice, Michael’s Genuine, Harry’s Pizza, Groot Hospitality, Casa Tua, and ZZ’s Club are among the many that will offer menus with produce sourced from the South Florida region
  • The Miami Campus will also include local, minority-owned activations, locally-inspired dishes from Chef Dayanny De La Cruz, Sodexo Live! Executive Chef of Hard Rock Stadium and a plethora of experiential beverage activations
  • Race Weekend guests will have the opportunity to explore unique bar experiences throughout the campus with Hendricks, Herradura, Glenfiddich, Cincoro, Flor de Cana, Organika, Whistle Pig and more

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla., South Florida Motorsports (SFM) is bringing the very best food and beverage offerings to the Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix this coming May 6-8, 2022. The South Florida region is famous for its bar and restaurant culture and over the course of the race weekend, attendees to the track will get the opportunity to sample some of the best culinary delights the city has to offer.

With over a dozen local Participating Restaurants offering a range of amazing flavours, the promoters of the Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix are delighted to be able to bring the cuisine of South Florida to the guests of the race to enjoy. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience Michelin-starred offerings as well as the flavors of Miami Gardens through the food and drink offerings of local minority-owned businesses.

Over the course of the race weekend, over 34 different participating restaurants will be responsible for the menus throughout the Miami Campus and the Miami International Autodrome. From the fan areas to the premium hospitality locations, such as the suites and MSC Cruises Yacht Club, the menus will feature a distinct Miami feel, combining the culinary expertise and produce of the area.

An expansive range of iconic local restaurant concepts emblematic of South Florida will be featured across the Miami Campus. They include eateries such as…

Seaspice

Seaspice has brought a vision unlike any other to the Miami River where locals and tourists flock to get a taste of the signature wood-fired casseroles and specialty-crafted cocktails, all while taking in the breathtaking scenery of the Miami River and downtown skyline.

Michael’s Genuine Cafe

This is place to sample Miami’s own James Beard Award Winning Chef Michael Schwartz’s Burgers and Fried Chicken Sandwiches. ‘Food & Wine’ said this burger was one of the best in the country — you must try with house smoked bacon or a Black Truffle Crema.

Harry’s Pizzeria

Chef Michael Schwartz’s Harry’s Pizzeria will have their brick pizza ovens making fresh-baked Pizzas, including Short Rib, Truffle Mushroom, Pepperoni and Classic Cheese, fired to order all day.

Groot Hospitality

Groot Hospitality is a Miami-based collective of top restaurants, nightclubs and hotels. Officially formed in 2018 by entrepreneur, David Grutman, the company is a forerunner in its field, creating unique atmospheres of upscale dining, luxe decor, marquee entertainment and highly shareable moments. Groot Hospitality will create a bespoke experience for the 72 Club in the Miami International Autodrome Campus, and will serve a selection of signature items from its restaurants Komodo, Swan, Papi Steak, SFC, Strawberry Moon and The Key Club, such as Chips & Caviar, Peking Duck, A5 Rolls, Wagyu Pastrami and more.

Casa Tua

Created to evoke the feeling of ‘your home’ as the name suggests, Casa Tua at Miami International Autodrome is a soulful, boutique hospitality space offering invited guests access to a trackside private members club. Located inside Paddock East, the pinnacle of Formula 1 hospitality, Casa Tua will create an atmosphere that combines fine Italian fare with welcoming service and a trackside view of the action, making it one of the most desirable areas of the circuit.

ZZ’s

ZZ’s Club is a restaurant and private membership club from Major Food Group located in the heart of the Miami Design District, designed for individuals who appreciate the highest caliber of dining and service, unlike anywhere else in Miami. The Palm Club X ZZ’s Club will showcase a variety of exceptional Japanese dishes and cocktails in a luxurious setting to dine and watch the race.

Michelle Bernstein

James Beard Award-winning Chef Michelle Bernstein, a Miami native of Jewish and Latin descent, has dazzled diners and critics alike with her sublime cuisine and personality as bright and vibrant as the Florida sun. Attendees will be treated to several of Bernstein’s acclaimed South Florida concepts throughout the campus, including an exclusive preview of Sra. Martinez, Bernstein’s forthcoming dining and entertainment experience set to open later this year in downtown Coral Gables. Sra. Martinez will offer an eclectic menu of Old-World Spanish and America favorites with innovative, contemporary twists, all infused with Bernstein’s eye for great product and her signature knack for vibrant, deceptively simple, yet layered flavors. In addition, her eponymous catering company, Michelle Bernstein Catering, will serve her award-winning cuisine for the Yacht Club area; while Sweet Liberty, ranked one of the world’s top 100 bars, will provide vibrant cocktails and innovative mixology, as well as their famous Cauliflower Nachos.

COTE Miami

COTE, the Michelin-starred and James Beard Award-nominated KOREAN STEAKHOUSE™ and vision of proprietor Simon Kim was unveiled in Miami’s Design District this Winter. Emulating its flagship, the high-energy New York City-based locale is synonymous with marrying the fun and fire of Korean barbeque with the hallmarks of a classic, regal American steakhouse. The result is a unique and convivial atmosphere infusing a fine dining experience with world-class ingredients and service complemented with a show-stopping beverage program.

Other restaurant examples include the Peruvian Sushi bar SuViche, popular bistro Novecento, the colorful CHICA and Capri. In addition to the indulgent dishes at Yardbird (known for its heady bourbon cocktails), Menchie’s, the famous fried chicken eatery Fuku by David Chang, Japanese delights of OMAKAI Sushi, Sushi Maki, Pubbelly Sushi and Kosushi and the legendary Havana 1957 which allows you to relive the glory and glamour of Cuba in the 1950s.

“From general concourse areas to the premium hospitality spaces, we have been preparing the dining experience for Formula 1® fans for more than a year,” said Richard Cregan, CEO of the Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix.

“I know fans from across the world will love these unique offerings celebrating our diverse food culture, especially those from local and minority-owned restaurateurs. The culinary team will help deliver a local-authentic winning approach to food, beverage and hospitality at what will be a spectacular global event.”

Further options include Brad Kilgore, Bodega Taqueria y Tequila, Kiki on the River, Spring Chicken, WET Miami, Casa Florida, Dos Croquetas Benihana plus chef Jimmy Dean BBQ, Global Eats, Garden of Soul Food, Coldstone Creamery, La Nostra, Santo Dulce, El Orgullo, Monster Burger, Ms. Cheezious, Forno Italiano Pizzeria, La Vela Coffee Roasters, Cilantro 27Twin Dragon Hibachi, Angie’s Epicurean and many more.

Over the course of the race weekend, Chef Dayanny De La Cruz, Sodexo Live! Executive Chef of the Hard Rock Stadium will be responsible for the menus across the fan areas and premium hospitality locations such as the suites and MSC Cruises Yacht Club, where the menus will feature a distinct Miami feel, combining the culinary expertise and the produce of the area.

The executive chef will be supported by more than 2,500 employees, 75 temporary kitchens and more than 30 additional culinary staff. Examples of the locally-inspired food include Rock Shrimp Ceviche, Filet Mignon Bites, Beef Wagyu Satay, Key West Pink Shrimp Cocktail and more

The Miami Campus will also boast unique experiential beverage activations with Herradura, Hendricks, Glenfiddich, Cincoro, Whistle Pig, Organika and Flor de Cana to name a few. Herradura will create the signature MIA cocktail for this year which will be a refreshing MIA Skinny Margarita while Hendricks will create a unique 3-story bar located in the East Campus that is open for all guests to experience.

Glenfiddich also have a branded bar located in the MSC Cruises Yacht Club where they are customizing the fan experience to provide an unforgettable race weekend and VIP experience for all race attendees and Formula 1 Global Partner, Ferrari Trento will also activate a custom Sparkling Wine bar in the North Campus International Piazza.

In addition, 14 local minority-owned restaurants will have a presence at this year’s inaugural event in and around the Campus for the duration of the race weekend:

Adams Catering: BBQ staple in the community

Drinks on Me 305: Food truck offering American cuisine in the local Miami area

Fryhead: Gourmet seafood and chicken mobile bistro

La Vela Coffee: High-quality, freshly roasted coffee

Lovely’s On The Go: Healthy lifestyle cuisine

Miami Rice: Delicious hibachi meals

Miami Slush: Flavorful slush with unique flavors

Misfit Cupcakes: Dessert/pastry shop specializing in cupcakes, cakes, and sweets

Nola Bites: Cajun and seafood

Reggae Beats: Delectable vegan menu and healthy Jerk Chicken

SEED: Sustainable food truck offering custom menus

Shuckin’ and Jivin’: Cajun themed featuring shrimp, fish and southern homecooked classics

Soulfly Kitchen: Soul food

The other highlight of the dining experience for the Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix include a best-in-class wine program, created in close collaboration with Carlton McCoy, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. Named a Master Sommelier in 2013 at just 28 years old, McCoy was one of the youngest people and the second African American to earn this prestigious title.

At the conclusion of the event, Hard Rock Stadium and Chef Dayanny De La Cruz, Sodexo Live! Chef of the Hard Rock Stadium will work to donate prepared but unused food items to the Miami chapter of Food Rescue US, to directly benefit local missions and shelters around South Florida. The group regularly rescues food from Hard Rock Stadium and has kept three million pounds of food out of landfills since its inception in 2018.

Follow us at:

Facebook – F1 Miami Grand Prix

Twitter – @F1Miami

Instagram – @F1MIA

LinkedIn – F1 Miami Grand Prix

About the Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix

Scheduled to make its debut on 6-8 May, 2022, the Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix is the sport’s newest race on the Formula 1® calendar. Located in Miami Gardens, Florida, the world’s top drivers are set to compete on a brand-new circuit located within the complex of the Hard Rock Stadium, the home of the legendary Miami Dolphins NFL team. The 5.41km Miami International Autodrome features 19 corners, three straights and has an estimated top speed of 320km/h.

The race will also provide an additional tourist boost and economic impact to local businesses in the greater Miami region. Formula 1® and South Florida Motorsports are working closely with the local community to provide an allotment of discounted tickets for the residents of Miami Gardens, ensuring they have the opportunity to experience the thrill of the sport. Additionally, South Florida Motorsports have launched a programme to support both local businesses and the community to ensure they get the full benefits of the race being held in Miami Gardens. This includes a STEM education programme through F1 in Schools, as well as the opportunity for local restaurants to be part of the race weekend. For more information visit: f1miamigp.com

About Sodexo Live!

Sodexo Live! manages prestigious conference, cultural, and sporting venues and major events all over the world. With 40,000 employees and 500 sites, we are strategic and responsible partners, committed to unlocking our customers’ full potential while favoring local communities. Sodexo Live! contributes to the success of prestigious events such as Royal Ascot, the Tour de France, the Rugby World Cup and soon the Paris 2024 Games, and showcases exceptional venues such as the Eiffel Tower Restaurants, the Hard Rock Stadium, Bateaux Parisiens, Yachts de Paris, the Royal Academy of Arts in London, the Prado Museum in Madrid and the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.

About Formula 1®

The FIA Formula 1® World ChampionshipTM was inaugurated in 1950, unifying the sport of Grand Prix motor racing as the world’s most prestigious motorsport competition. Through more than 70 years it has grown to become the world’s most popular annual sporting series. In 2016 it was watched by 400 million unique television viewers from over 200 territories. The 2021 season will run from March to December and spans 23 races in 21 countries. Formula 1® is a subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation (NASDAQ: LSXMA, LSXMB, LSXMK, BATRA, BATRK, FWONA, FWONK) attributed to the Formula One Group tracking stock. For more information on Formula 1® visit: formula1.com

Hunt Brothers Pizza Racing: Kevin Harvick Dover Advance

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Official Release
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KEVIN HARVICK
Dover Advance
No. 4 Hunt Brothers® Pizza Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview

● Event: Dover 400 (Round 11 of 36)
● Time/Date: 3 p.m. EDT on Sunday, May 1
● Location: Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway
● Layout: 1-mile, concrete oval
● Laps/Miles: 400 laps/400 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 120 laps / Stage 2: 130 laps / Final Stage: 150 laps
● TV/Radio: FS1 / PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Kevin Harvick, driver of the No. 4 Hunt Brothers Pizza Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), has an impressive streak of top-10 finishes at Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway, site of Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race. Harvick hasn’t finished outside the top-10 at Dover since a 17th-place result in October 2017. That’s a run of seven straight races, kicked off by a win in May 2018 and punctuated by another victory on Aug. 23, 2020. During this stretch, Harvick’s worst finish is sixth, earned twice – October 2018 and May 2021.

● Harvick has three NASCAR Cup Series wins at Dover. In addition to the aforementioned victories in May 2018 and August 2020, Harvick won his first Dover race in October 2015. Harvick provided a prelude to that win by finishing second when the series raced at the 1-mile, concrete oval five months earlier for the FedEx 400.

● Harvick will make his 42nd career NASCAR Cup Series start at Dover when he takes the green flag on Sunday. The only active driver with more Cup Series starts at Dover is Kurt Busch, who made his Cup Series debut at Dover on Sept. 24, 2000, giving him one more Dover start than Harvick. The all-time leader in Cup Series starts at Dover is Ricky Rudd with 56. Rudd made his Cup debut at Dover on May 16, 1976, and his last start at the track came on June 4, 2007, a span of 31 years.

● No active driver has led more laps at Dover than Harvick. His 1,666 laps led are 453 more laps than next best Kyle Busch. That difference is more than an entire race distance at Dover. After Harvick and Busch, no other active driver has cracked the 1,000 laps-led mark at Dover. However, the all-time lap leader at Dover is seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson with a staggering 3,113 laps led.

● Dover’s nickname is the Monster Mile, due to its propensity to chew up and spit out even the most seasoned veteran, yet Harvick has seemingly tamed the Monster. Beyond his three wins, 10 top-fives, 22 top-10s and 1,666 laps led, Harvick has only one DNF (Did Not Finish) at Dover – and it wasn’t even a crash. It was an engine failure in the 2006 Dover 400.

● Harvick has also racked up miles at Dover outside of the NASCAR Cup Series. The Bakersfield, California-native has made 17 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Dover, finishing among the top-10 10 times, with a best result of third – earned three times (June 2001, September 2006 and September 2013). Harvick has also made two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts at Dover, finishing among the top-five both times with a best result of third in June 2012.

● The 2022 season marks the 13th year of partnership between Harvick and Hunt Brothers Pizza. The nation’s largest brand of made-to-order pizza in the convenience store industry has sponsored Harvick for years in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Hunt Brothers Pizza joined Harvick fulltime in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2019 and has been a mainstay in NASCAR’s premier division ever since. With more than 8,000 locations in 30 states, Hunt Brothers Pizza offers original and thin-crust pizzas available as a grab-and-go Hunk A Pizza®, perfect for today’s on-the-go lifestyle, or as a customizable whole pizza that is an exceptional value with All Toppings No Extra Charge®. Hunt Brothers Pizza is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, and is family owned and operated. For additional information, visit www.HuntBrothersPizza.com or download the app.

● Said Harvick about his more than decade-long partnership with Hunt Brothers Pizza: “Our fans are pretty loyal to the brands that are on our cars. Many of my pictures come from the standees in the store. People take selfies next to them. There are a number of reasons you have sponsorships – you want that brand recognition, the brand integration. Hunt Brothers Pizza is a very family-oriented company and we’re a very family-oriented group. Those relationships you build through the years with brands that recognize and reflect what you believe in are few and far between. We’ve grown with the Hunt Brothers Pizza brand. They’ve grown with us and have been very loyal to us, and I think our fans are very loyal to Hunt Brothers Pizza. It’s fun to see that brand recognition and that understanding of loyalty and partnership. You realize how many Hunt Brothers Pizza stores there are as you drive to racetracks.”

Kevin Harvick, Driver of the No. 4 Hunt Brothers Pizza Ford Mustang

So far this season, we’ve raced on every style of track NASCAR has to offer, with the exception of Dover – a high-banked, high-speed, 1-mile concrete oval. What are the challenges that you’ll face at Dover?

“Dover is just a unique animal of its own just because of the fact it has those elevation changes and it has a lot of speed. Dover is going to be one of the most difficult places we go to in order to just say, ‘OK, this is what we’ve got to do from a driving standpoint to really be up to speed.’ The corners are really long, you have a huge compression when you go down the hill and the car sets, then you get back on the throttle and it shoots you back up out of the hill. It’s a physically demanding racetrack and it’s a racetrack where you definitely get the biggest sensation of speed of anywhere we go because of the way it compresses you down into the banking and tosses you up out of it.”

When you roll onto the track at Dover, can you attack it the same way you always have, or do you need to creep up on it to better understand what its limits are on those high banks?

“We’ve been pretty methodical in our approach after California, where we backed the thing into the fence on the first lap. Ever since that race, we’ve been pretty methodical in, let’s dot our I’s and cross our T’s and make sure that we understand what we have and make the right changes and be ready for the race, instead of working on the car all night and trying to fix it. I think that kind of set the tone and it’s been a steady progression from there.”

Has the new 18-inch tire changed the way the car feels? More specifically, with less sidewall, is there lees feedback as to when the car is on the edge of spinning out, and is that especially noticeable at a place like Dover?

“I haven’t really felt that, and I think the car in general gives you a little less feedback, especially at the braking tracks. You don’t feel the car as much through the pedal as you used to with the old car. But it definitely does not give you as much feedback, whether that’s the tire or the stiffness of the suspension and everything being much stiffer than we used to race, I don’t know. There’s less feedback given to me through my feet and my hands than there was before. From a feel standpoint, you still feel the same things from your butt and that side of things, but it’s a different type of sensation than it used to be.”

We’re only at Dover once this year. Do you see that as a good thing, as it makes that race more of a must-see event and helps diversify the entire schedule even more by allowing for new venues to come on the scene?

“For me, it’s kind of both ways. Obviously, the schedule is good now. We have a mixture of different racetracks in different places and you have to keep the schedule mixed up. But, unfortunately, it took a lot of the places where we run really well away, too.”

You have three NASCAR Cup Series wins at Dover and 22 top-10s. Is there something specific about Dover that augments your driving style?

“Dover is a racetrack that everything about it is unique. The concrete, itself, all the way around the racetrack, is unique. Dover is a racetrack where you can get away with being aggressive every single lap. You have to drive the car as hard as it will go every single lap, and that’s hard to do there because there are all the little bumps that come with the concrete, the change of elevation as you go in and off the corners, and all the banking in the corners – it’s just a really, really fast racetrack. It’s also a very physical racetrack just because of all the G’s and the bouncing and everything that comes with driving around Dover. It’s a racetrack where you have to have your hands gripping on the steering wheel and gritting your teeth all at the same time in order to go fast every single lap. When your car’s off, there’s just nowhere to hide there. You wind up going a lap down, probably two laps down, because you pit early and then the caution comes out. It’s a beast of a racetrack and there’s a reason they call it the Monster Mile because you can get yourself in trouble really quick.”

Dover has a very unique trophy. It’s the track mascot, Miles the Monster, and he’s got the winning car held in the air. Is it one of the sport’s best trophies?

“My kids love Miles. There are so many racetracks that have terrible trophies – the plastic trophies – I feel like they smash up and I’ll take them home and Keelan will be like, ‘Man, Dad, that’s a terrible trophy.’ That is not the case at Dover. They have a very unique trophy that is easily known as to what racetrack it came from and that’s what every racetrack needs.”

No. 4 Hunt Brothers Pizza Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Kevin Harvick
Hometown: Bakersfield, California

Crew Chief: Rodney Childers
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Car Chief: Robert “Cheddar” Smith
Hometown: Whitewater, Wisconsin

Engineer: Dax Gerringer
Hometown: Gibsonville, North Carolina

Engineer: Stephen Doran
Hometown: Butler, Pennsylvania

Spotter: Tim Fedewa
Hometown: Holt, Michigan

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Shayne Pipala
Hometown: Frankfort Square, Illinois

Rear Tire Changer: Daniel Smith
Hometown: Concord, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Jeremy Howard
Hometown: Delhart, Texas

Jack Man: Stan Doolittle
Hometown: Ninety Six, South Carolina

Fuel Man: Evan Marchal
Hometown: Westfield, Indiana

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Richie Bean
Hometown: Bradford, Vermont

Mechanic: Nick DeFazio
Hometown: Orange, California

Tire Specialist: Jamie Turski
Hometown: Trumbull, Connecticut

Engine Tuner: Robert Brandt
|Hometown: Mobile, Alabama

Transporter Co-Driver: Rick Hodges
Hometown: Raleigh, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Stephen Mitchell
Hometown: Woodville, Ohio

Dover Motor Speedway-themed NFTs kick off Monster Mile’s April 29-May 1 NASCAR tripleheader weekend

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Official Release
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  • Dover’s 2022 NFT collection begins to drop Monday, April 25.
  • Offerings include Stadium Series, virtual die-casts, commemorative tickets and more.
  • Visit DoverMotorSpeedway.com for more details.

Dover Motor Speedway fans and NASCAR collectors of all ages can show of their allegiance to the Monster Mile in a new and creative way in time for the April 29-May 1 NASCAR tripleheader weekend.

Beginning Monday, April 25, fans can purchase Dover-themed NFTs via RaceDayNFT.com, Speedway Motorsports’ original digital marketplace.

An NFT (non-fungible token) is a digital collectible (such as a video or image) that is officially licensed and recorded on the blockchain to demonstrate proof of ownership.

Dover Motor Speedway’s full 2022 collection on RaceDayNFT.com include the following scheduled drops:

  • MONDAY, APRIL 25, 1 p.m. (ET): 500 animated DMS Stadium Series NFTs featuring Miles the Monster in 3-D!. PRICE: $5. VIEW HERE
  • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27: 100 Speedway Children’s Charities tokens. All proceeds will benefit Speedway Children’s Charities. PRICE: $50. VIEW HERE
  • THURSDAY, APRIL 28 THROUGH SUNDAY, MAY 1: 500 DMS-themed virtual diecast NFTs. PRICE: $20. VIEW HERE
  • SUNDAY, MAY 1: 5,000 commemorative Dover Platinum Ticket NFTs. PRICE: FREE for Sunday ticketholders on a first-come, first-served basis; 500 also available for $10 for all other customers.

“All of NASCAR Nation can remember their special times at the Monster Mile with a Dover-themed NFT purchase,” said Mike Tatoian, Dover Motor Speedway’s president and general manager. “NFTs are the biggest item in the collectible world with Dover and the entire Speedway Motorsports family leading the way. We look forward to sharing the unique Dover-themed collection to kick off our upcoming race weekend.”

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Visit RaceDayNFT.com for more details.

The April 29-May 1 NASCAR tripleheader weekend race weekend schedule 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)
  • FRIDAY, APRIL 29: General Tire 125 ARCA Menards Series East race (5:30 p.m.)

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 our Friday and Saturday races 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, #AGame200 and #GeneralTire125 in your posts.

Meyer Shank Racing Tackles Barber, Laguna Seca in Double-Duty Weekend

By
Official Release
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#06: Helio Castroneves, Meyer Shank Racing Honda

Pataskala, Ohio (25 April 2022) – Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) is set for its third double-duty weekend of the 2022 race season, fielding competitive teams in Sunday’s events at Barber Motorsport Park and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

MSR’s NTT INDYCAR SERIES team visits Birmingham for the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama (May 1st, 1:00pm ET, NBC), the fourth IndyCar race of the year.

Meanwhile, the MSR sports car program will compete in Round 4 of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the Hyundai Monterey Sports Car Championship presented by Motul (May 1st, 3:00pm ET, NBC).

Meyer Shank Racing’s Pagenaud and Castroneves are Both Former IndyCar Winners at Barber

Driver Lineup:

Helio Castroneves: No. 06 AutoNation / SiriusXM Honda
Simon Pagenaud: No. 60 AutoNation / SiriusXM Honda

Tune in:

Sunday, May 1, 1:00pm ET on NBC / Peacock
SiriusXM Ch. 160

Helio Castroneves led the two-car MSR effort in the most recent IndyCar race at Long Beach, placing ninth on the famed California street circuit. Teammate Simon Pagenaud had an off-course excursion that cost him three laps and he ultimately finished 19th.

Now heading to the free-flowing, high-speed Barber Motorsports Park, Castroneves and Pagenaud have their sights set on a top finish having both claimed victories at the 2.3-mile road course.

Castroneves has eight career starts at Birmingham from 2010-17, winning in 2010 in addition to winning two pole positions.

Pagenaud is a 10-time veteran of Barber, winning from the pole in 2016 on the way to winning the IndyCar Championship.

Meyer Shank Racing has two race starts at Barber yielding 13th and 11th place finishes in 2019 and 2021.

Driver Quotes:

Helio Castroneves:

“We’re coming off a little incident at IMS with the warm up lane but good news is, the car is already in the shop. I spoke with Mike Shank and the boys are doing a phenomenal job. It’s an important one [the Indianapolis 500], we have to make sure the car is ready. Now, we have to keep moving on for Barber which is next. We had a great test at Barber last month which is very good. The car is super fast so I’m looking forward to getting back in the No. 06 AutoNation / SiriusXM machine so that we can have some fun out there.”

Pagenaud Simon:

“We had a good test in Barber about two weeks ago, just before Long Beach. We had a positive session and I was really happy with the race car. We still have some fine tuning to do with it, but I feel very comfortable and confident going into the race weekend with a test under our belt. It’s a race where I’ve had success in the past and I really look forward to being there and being out on the track. Hopefully we can have a good weekend.”

Meyer Shank Racing Looking to Regain Podium Form in Return to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

Driver Lineup:

Tom Blomqvist and Oliver Jarvis: No. 60 AutoNation / SiriusXM Acura ARX-05 DPi

Tune In:

Saturday, April 9, 3:00pm ET on NBC / Peacock
SiriusXM Ch. 207

MSR is looking to return to the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship podium after seeing a potential third-place finish slip away in the final minutes on the streets of Long Beach. Oliver Jarvis and Tom Blomqvist were in the fight to place on the podium throughout the 100-minute event, only to be nosed out by a mere 0.966-seconds at the checkered flag.

MSR opened the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season by winning the Rolex 24 at Daytona, joined by IndyCar regulars Helio Castroneves and Simon Pagenaud. The team placed fifth in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, joined by Stoffel Vandoorne. Jarvis and Blomqvist are currently third in the standings, trailing first by only 32 points.

IMSA last raced in Monterey in September, when Dane Cameron and Olivier Pla placed fourth in the No. 60 MSR Acura DPi.

Jarvis raced in four IMSA events at WeatherTech Raceway from 2018-2021, finishing fifth the latter two years. Blomqvist also has a race at Laguna Seca under his belt, competing in the GTLM class and finishing fifth in 2019.

Since claiming pole at the track in 2005, MSR has had several years of success at Laguna Seca including three race wins. The team’s first win was onboard a Honda Ligier in 2016 with drivers Ozz Negri and John Pew. MSR went on to race to two additional victories in 2018 and 2020, both with the MSR Acura NSX GT3 racing from the pole position to class win.

The 2020 MSR win was extra special with the team’s sister Acura NSX also finishing on the podium in third.

Driver Quotes:

Tom Blomqvist:

“I think coming off of Long Beach we’re all quite confident and optimistic heading to Laguna. We know it’s a track that suits the car well and last year the guys had a competitive package. Obviously everyone has been working super hard and we made great progress at Long Beach. And now we’re hoping to continue that at a track that we know suits our package. Ultimately the goal is to win the race and there’s no reason why we can’t do it.”

Oliver Jarvis:

“I am really excited to be heading to Laguna Seca, it’s a track where the Acura ARX-05 has excelled at in the past. After two tough races that favored our competitors I feel that Laguna offers the first opportunity since the Daytona 24 hours for us to fight for victory on outright performance. It is an extremely important race for us as a team to maximize the performance of the car and come away with a strong points finish for the championship.”

Five Can’t-Miss Storylines Heading into This Weekend’s Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals

By
Official Release
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Chasing his fifth consecutive NHRA Top Fuel world championship, Steve Torrence looks to add to his recent success at zMAX Dragway and reclaim the overall points lead when the Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals return this weekend. (CMS/HHP photo)
  • From familiar names on new race teams to Steve Torrence’s recent dominance at zMAX Dragway, there are plenty of compelling storylines to watch as the NHRA’s best prepare to battle for four-wide supremacy this weekend at the Bellagio of drag strips
  • To purchase weekend passes, single-day tickets, hospitality upgrades and camping to the Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, visit the dragway’s website or call 1-800-455-FANS (3267).

CONCORD, N.C. (April 25, 2022) – The long-awaited return of the Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals roars to life under the lights at zMAX Dragway this weekend, as Friday’s Night of Fire kicks off a three-day showcase of thundering, 44,000-horsepower excitement at the Bellagio of drag strips.

Before the cars are staged and the trees are lit, here’s a look at five can’t miss storylines fans should keep an eye on at the Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals:

Same Names, New Teams

Fans know their names, but a number of the NHRA’s best are driving for new teams in 2022. Both Antron Brown (Top Fuel) and Ron Capps (Funny Car) left powerhouse Don Schumacher Racing to become their own bosses at AB Motorsports and Ron Capps Motorsports, respectively. Similarly, Leah Pruett (Top Fuel) and Matt Hagan (Funny Car) joined forces in the off-season with NASCAR legend Tony Stewart to form Tony Stewart Racing. Despite the newness of each team, there’s plenty of experience behind the wheel to propel any of these veteran drivers to victory on Sunday. Hagan has already earned two wins in the inaugural season for TSR, while Capps claimed his first Wally as a team owner earlier this month at the Las Vegas four-wide.

Torrence Tuned In

In recent years, Steve Torrence and his CAPCO Top Fuel team have been nearly unbeatable at zMAX Dragway, winning six of the last eight events, including four consecutive four-wide Wallys dating back to 2017. But he hasn’t cracked the win column yet in 2022. He finished runner-up to Brittany Force earlier this season at the Las Vegas four-wide event, and is locked in a tight battle with the John Force Racing standout in the season’s point standings. Another win at the Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals would not only chip away at Force’s points lead, but could be the catalyst for a team chasing its fifth consecutive Top Fuel world title.

Surprise Stars

If fans have learned anything watching drag racing’s best compete at zMAX Dragway, it’s the unpredictability of drag racing. The last time the NHRA was in town, part-time racer Josh Hart knocked off Brittany Force in one of the most unexpected wins in recent memory. In 2018, Cruz Pedregon snapped a 92-race winless streak at the Charlotte four-wides. With a stacked field of contenders across all three pro categories competing this weekend and a unique four-wide format that’s known for creating havoc, don’t be surprised if an unexpected name finds his or her way to Victory Lane on Sunday.

Blistering Bikes

Last year’s Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals saw the very best of the Pro Stock Motorcycle class with three riders topping the 202mph mark, a feat never before accomplished in the category. Eddie Krawiec topped the charts with a 203.49mph pass, but at the end of the weekend it was Steve Johnson hoisting his first Wally since 2014. The track has proven it can handle the speed. With a favorable forecast, fans could be in for another record-setting weekend.

Double Down?

Brittany Force (Top Fuel) and Ron Capps (Funny Car) have already proven their four-wide mettle this season, each winning their respective class at the Las Vegas event earlier this month. Each has also found past success at zMAX, with Capps having amassed three victories and Force having hoisted the Wally in 2016 at Charlotte’s spring event. Since Las Vegas started running four-wide, only Steve Torrence (2018 and 2021) has doubled down and won both the East Coast and West Coast showdowns in the same year. While the odds may be stacked against them, don’t count out either of these two to pull it off this year.

TICKETS:
Weekend passes to the Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals start at just $99 with single-day tickets and camping packages also available starting at $30. Save $7 at the gate when you bring a Polar Pop cup from Circle K. Kids 12 and under get in FREE with adult ticket purchase. For more information, visit www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/tickets or call 800-455-FANS (3267).

FOLLOW US:

Keep track of all of Charlotte Motor Speedway’s attractions and events by following on Twitter and Instagram or become a Facebook fan. Keep up with all the latest news and information with the Charlotte Motor Speedway mobile app.

Bridget Burgess Digs Deep at Kern Raceway NASCAR ARCA Race

By
Official Release
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Image: Ethan Smith

SALT LAKE CITY, UT, April 24, 2022 – Bridget and the team at BMI Racing loaded up the HMH Construction Chevrolet SS and headed to Kern County Raceway Park located in Bakersfield, CA, for the next round of NASCAR’s ARCA Menards West Series.

An optional Friday night practice was available to the teams. Bridget and the team took full advantage, allowing the opportunity to work on the car’s setup as the Friday test session would present similar track conditions to the Saturday night race.

Once cleared through technical inspection, the team prepared the HMH Construction Chevrolet SS for the practice/qualifying session, with the plan to make qualifying runs early in the session. Bridget headed out on track, made multiple runs, put in a solid effort, and started 13th for the race later that evening.

The grand marshal gave the command for drivers to start their engines, and after the pre-race pace laps, the green flag waved, signaling the start of the Salute to the Oil Industry NAPA Auto Parts 150. Bridget started the race well in the HMH Construction Chevrolet SS, working with her spotter/dad Adam Burgess to be patient, work her lines, and gain positions; she managed to work her way into the top 10.

The halfway break came at lap 75, and the pace car brought the field down pit road for servicing; the pit crew led by Sarah Burgess, as well as Victor Franco and Samantha Penny, added Sunoco Fuel, changed the right side General Tires and made a quick adjustment to free up the car. The green flag dropped for the second half of the race; Bridget worked hard to improve her position and brushed the wall on the exit of turn 2; while there was no significant damage, it did cause a vibration in the car. After battling well all night, Bridget brought the HMH Construction Chevrolet SS home in 12th position.

A delayed broadcast of the Salute to the Oil Industry NAPA Auto Parts 150 will be shown on USA Network on Friday, April 29, at 1 p.m. ET.

NASCAR’s ARCA Menards West Series season continues on June 4 for the Portland 100 at Portland International Raceway in Portland, Oregon. That race will be streamed live on FloRacing.

These great companies power Bridget:
HMH Construction, GEARWRENCH, Rugged Radios, Cometic Gasket, Circle Track Warehouse, Ferrea Racing Components, FK Rod Ends, Fragola Performance Systems, GC Cooling Fan, Hawk Performance, Impact Race Products, K&N Filters, Kellerstrass, Lucas Oil, Miller Electric, ProAm, PSC Motorsports, Rare Parts, Streamline Custom Designs, Sunoco Race Fuel, XS Power

Facebook page: BridgetBurgess8 | Instagram: BridgetBurgess8 | Twitter: 8BridgetBurgess

Beard Motorsports: Noah Gragson GEICO 500 Race Report from Talladega

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Official Release
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Noah Gragson Finishes 20th at Talladega
Solid Outing for Driver of No. 62 Wendy’s $5 Biggie Bag Camaro

Date: April 24, 2022
Event: GEICO 500 (Round 10 of 36)
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway (2.66-mile oval)
Format: 188 laps, broken into three stages (60 laps/60 laps/68 laps)
Start/Finish: 31st / 20th (Running, completed 188 of 188 laps)

Race Winner: Ross Chastain of Trackhouse Racing (Chevrolet)
Stage 1 Winner: Bubba Wallace of 23XI Racing (Toyota)
Stage 2 Winner: William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet)

Stage 1 Recap (Laps 1-60):

● Noah Gragson started 31st and finished 28th.
● Gragson drove the No. 62 Wendy’s $5 Biggie Bag/Beard Oil Distributing Chevrolet Camaro up to 13th by lap 14.
● On lap 36 while the race was green, Gragson pitted for fuel only and returned to the track in 28th.

● On lap 57 when the caution came out for an accident and ended the stage, Gragson held steady in 28th.
● Upon the conclusion of the stage, Gragson pitted for four tires and fuel.

Stage 2 Recap (Laps 61-120):

● Gragson started 23rd and finished 24th.
● In an effort to avoid a multicar crash that seemed to be imminent as the pack-style racing heated up, Gragson dropped to the back of the field and rode in 30th, conserving his No. 62 Wendy’s $5 Biggie Bag/Beard Oil Distributing Chevrolet Camaro.
● During a caution on lap 81, Gragson pitted for right-side tires and fuel. He returned to the track in 25th with 35 laps to go in the stage.
● Gragson’s conservative strategy worked well as he avoided a big wreck on lap 90. This gave the team the opportunity to pit for four tires and fuel.
● After telling the team he’s “ready to race” at the end of the stage, Gragson brought his car down pit road for a new set of tires, fuel and a chassis adjustment.

Final Stage Recap (Laps 121-188):

● Gragson started 20th and finished 20th.
● Gragson held steady in 24th on the restart and fought to stay in the lead draft as the field went single-file in the opening laps.
● With just 28 laps to go, Gragson brought his No. 62 Wendy’s $5 Biggie Bag/Beard Oil Distributing Chevrolet Camaro down pit road under green for the team’s final pit stop. He was 21st when he returned to the track.
● Unfortunately, without another caution, Gragson was unable to catch back up with the lead pack and he had to settle for a 20th-place finish.

Notes:

● Before the green flag dropped on the GEICO 500, Gragson was already a winner at Talladega. The 23-year-old from Las Vegas won the NASCAR Xfinity Series race Saturday at Talladega to score his seventh career Xfinity Series victory, his second of the season and his first on the 2.66-mile oval. His margin over second-place Jeffrey Earnhardt was .131 of a second.

● Ross Chastain won the GEICO 500 to score his second career NASCAR Cup Series victory, his second of the season and his first at Talladega. His margin over second-place Austin Dillon was .105 of a second.

● There were six caution periods for a total of 28 laps.

● Twenty-one of the 39 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.

● Chase Elliott remains the championship leader after Talladega with a 21-point advantage over second-place Ryan Blaney.

Noah Gragson, driver of the No. 62 Wendy’s $5 Biggie Bag/Beard Oil Distributing Chevrolet Camaro:

“Grateful for the opportunity with No. 62 Wendy’s $5 Biggie Bag/Beard Motorsports team. They worked their tails off. We had some good pit stops and I had a lot of fun today. We just got off sequence there on the final pit stop and lost the draft. Overall, the car’s in one piece and it looks good. Bummer, but we’ll try again in Daytona.”

Next Up:

The next event on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the Dover 400 on May 1 at Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway. The race begins at 3 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by FS1 and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Gragson and Beard Motorsports’ next race is the Coke Zero Sugar 400 on Aug. 27 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. That race starts at 7 p.m. EDT with live coverage on NBC and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Tony Stewart Racing: Houston Event Recap for the NHRA SpringNationals

By
Official Release
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Leah Pruett & Matt Hagan
Dodge Power Brokers Top Fuel & Funny Car Drivers
NHRA SpringNationals
April 22-24 | Houston

Event Recap

Leah Pruett, driver of the Dodge Power Brokers Top Fuel Dragster:

● Earned No. 6 provisional qualifying position in Q1 on Friday (3.719 ET at 328.54 mph).
● Maintained No. 6 qualifying position from Q1. Pruett’s Q2 run on Saturday was a 5.966 ET at 113.26 mph.
● Secured No. 7 qualifying position in Q3 on Saturday (3.711 ET at 329.26 mph).
● Ran a 4.973 ET at 201.04 mph in Round 1 of eliminations on Sunday, lost to Shawn Langdon (4.774 ET at 197.48 mph).
● Currently 13th in the Top Fuel championship standings, 249 points behind points leader Brittany Force.

Matt Hagan, driver of the Dodge Power Brokers Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car:

● Earned No. 7 provisional qualifying position in Q1 on Friday (3.926 ET at 319.37 mph). ● Maintained No. 7 qualifying position from Q1. Hagan’s Q2 run on Saturday was a 6.732 ET at 100.30 mph.
● Secured No. 8 qualifying position in Q3 on Saturday (3.924 ET at 329.34 mph).
● Advanced to Finals on Sunday:
● Round 1: 3.954 ET at 325.77 mph, defeated John Force (4.010 ET at 328.06 mph).
● Round 2: 3.933 ET at 326.87 mph, defeated Ron Capps (8.017 ET at 95.44 mph).
● Semifinal: 3.937 ET at 323.97 mph, defeated J.R. Todd (10.851 ET at 81.82 mph).
● Final: 3.982 ET at 326.63 mph, defeated Bobby Bode (4.046 ET at 282.95 mph).

Notes of Interest

● Hagan’s victory at the NHRA SpringNationals marked his 41st career win and his second at Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, Texas. The first of his 41 wins came at the track on April 11, 2010, and this most recent victory served as a bookend to Hagan’s career at Houston as the track hosted its final NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series event this weekend after 35 years.

● Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) dedicated this weekend’s SpringNationals win to the late Dick Venables, the father of Hagan’s crew chief, Dickie Venables. Dick passed away on Dec. 29, 2021. He had a passion for drag racing and paved a way for Dickie to make a career in the NHRA for the last 40 years.

● Hagan has advanced to the finals in four out of the first five NHRA events in 2022.

● Hagan was selected as the NHRA’s “Marquee Matchup” for Round 1 of eliminations against 16-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force.

● For the second time in 2022, two drivers of the iconic No. 14 celebrated victories on the same weekend. The day before Hagan secured the Funny Car win at Houston, Chase Briscoe drove his No. 14 to the United Sprint Car Series Outlaw Thunder Tour feature win at the Talladega (Ala.) Short Track. It was a sense of déjà vu for it was only six weeks ago when Briscoe drove the No. 14 to victory lane for his first NASCAR Cup Series win at Phoenix Raceway, while just minutes apart Hagan scored the first win for TSR by winning the NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville (Fla.) Raceway.

● The SpringNationals marked Pruett’s 176th career start in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series and her ninth at Houston.

Leah Pruett, Driver of the Dodge Power Brokers Top Fuel Dragster

“Overall, we feel this has been a very generous weekend in the form of information that this team is accruing in order to find our window of performance. It was great to qualify seventh because there is a super tight field. We are just a couple of hundredths behind. Our challenge right now is that we backed the car up to where we thought it would get down the racetrack and it smoked in a very prime zone. I did not do a platinum job of pedaling the car. I’ve been working really hard on my reaction times and that is a huge win to be able to leave before Shawn (Langdon). In all of my 10 years of racing in Top Fuel, I’ve never been in a pedal situation like that where I pedaled it, smoked it and Shawn was ahead of me. However, I see myself at about half-track gaining on him and I’m trying to look at the distance of the finish line and how much I’m gaining on him. In my calculation process, he had gotten back ahead of me, but he wasn’t on a full pull. I couldn’t see that his parachute was out. It was a very weird anomaly of what happened to him in his lane. For me, I couldn’t get myself to pedal the car again at half-track and regain traction because it looked to me that I could already be gaining on him. It’s a testament to our Dodge Mopar parts that stayed together during the run. While it didn’t put the win lights on, between our performance and our team’s visit with NASA and their engineers, we feel very inspired seeing all of their technology and that will help our team dig a little deeper. Everyone’s head is held very high. We get to go back to four-wide racing in just a couple of days and I’m excited about that. We have a hot rod and I can’t wait to put it back on the track.”

Matt Hagan, Driver of the Dodge Power Brokers Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car

“First of all, Bob and Bobby Bode are doing a great job. That kid is doing a great job driving and I’m super proud of him. We need youngsters like that coming up in the sport. I hated to rain on his parade for his birthday weekend. That is drag racing though. I’m here to do a job and to win. It was so special for Dickie Venables (crew chief) to have his whole family here for the win, following his dad’s passing at the end of last year. Dick Venables is a huge part of Dickie and what he has been able to accomplish in his career. It’s so special for Dickie to have that inspiration from his dad. This race means so much to me because I won my first race here in 2010. I got in on a pedal job and won on a pedal job. To close it out at Houston Raceway Park with a win and honor Dickie and his dad means a lot. It is a sad, sad thing, but we’re going to end on a really good note. To be able to give Dickie and his family the trophy this weekend is massive. Dickie means so much to me and it’s so cool because racing is his life. To be able to come out of here with a win is huge. I’m excited that our Dodge Power Brokers Charger is running well. We’re the points leader and we’ve been to the final in four out of five races. We are making a statement this year. We got through a lot of heavy hitters today and there were no easy runs. All in all, it’s a really great weekend.”

Next Up

The next event on the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series schedule is the Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals April 29-May 1 at Charlotte (N.C.) Dragway.

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