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Qualifying Procedure Expanded for 106th Indianapolis 500

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Official Release
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Additional Round To Establish First Four Rows, Decide Pole Position

INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, April 26, 2022) – The most pressure-filled four laps in racing have become even more challenging for those looking to qualify well and win the pole position for the 106th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.

INDYCAR officials have announced adjustments to PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying on Saturday, May 21 and Sunday, May 22, which sets the field for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” on Sunday, May 29 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

2022Indy500QualOneSheet042622Download

After Day One of qualifying from noon-5:50 p.m. (ET) Saturday, May 21, Day Two will include two rounds of qualification attempts to decide the first four rows, including pole position.

Starting in reverse order of speeds based on Day One, each of the top 12 drivers will have a guaranteed attempt to post a traditional four-lap qualifying time starting at 4 p.m. The fastest six will advance to the Firestone Fast Six at 5:10 p.m. to determine positions one through six and compete for the NTT P1 Award for pole. The slowest six will fill out starting positions seven through 12 according to their recorded time.

In the Firestone Fast Six, each entrant is again guaranteed one attempt and will qualify in reverse order based on their Top 12 qualification results. The fastest wins pole position, which includes a $100,000 prize, with the remaining five drivers filling out the remainder of the first two rows.

“We have an incredibly deep field heading into this year’s Indianapolis 500,” said INDYCAR President Jay Frye. “The timing is right to implement a new and dramatic way to expand one of the most intense weekends on our calendar. Winning pole position for the ‘500’ is an incredible feat, and with this new format, it will be even more challenging.”

2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship points will be awarded for those who advance to the Top 12 qualifying session. The Indy 500 pole winner will receive 12 points, the second fastest will receive 11, and points awarded will decrease by one-point increments down to 12th fastest (one point).

“Indianapolis 500 qualifying weekend always is special,” Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles said “This format will give our fans even more opportunities to see INDYCAR’S world-class drivers compete on racing’s biggest stage. While winning the race is the ultimate prize, capturing pole position for the ‘500’ is one of motorsports’ most prestigious honors and almost a race within a race. I cannot wait to see this expanded format on the final Sunday before Race Day.”

A Last Chance Qualifying session for spots 31-33 is scheduled from 2-3 p.m. (ET) Sunday, May 22 if there are more than 33 entries competing for a spot in the world’s most prestigious auto race. Each entry is guaranteed one attempt and can make multiple attempts until time expires. If multiple attempts are made, previous times are withdrawn, and the fastest non-qualified car assumes the 33rd spot.

PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying Schedule (All times ET, subject to change):

Saturday, May 21

9-10:30 a.m.: Pre-Qualifying Practice: Peacock Premium, INDYCAR Radio Network

Noon-5:50 p.m.: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifying: Setting positions 13-33 (or 13-30 if more than 33 entries) Peacock Premium, INDYCAR Radio Network

Sunday, May 22

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Last Chance Practice (If necessary): Peacock Premium, INDYCAR Radio Network

12:30-2 p.m.: Top 12 Practice: Peacock Premium, INDYCAR Radio Network

2-3 p.m.: Last Chance Qualifying: (Positions 31-33, if necessary) Peacock Premium, INDYCAR Radio Network

4 p.m.: Indianapolis 500 Top 12 Qualifying: NBC, INDYCAR Radio Network

5:10 p.m.: Firestone Fast Six: NBC, INDYCAR Radio Network

5:40 p.m.: NTT P1 Award Presentation: NBC, INDYCAR Radio Network

A practice session for all 33 Indianapolis 500 starters is scheduled for noon-2 p.m. Monday, May 23, with live coverage on Peacock Premium and the INDYCAR Radio Network. Fans will be permitted in the infield only. Gates 2, 4, 6S, 7 and 7S will be open from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Bronze and silver badges will be honored for gate admission and corresponding garage and pit access.

Live coverage of the 106th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge starts at 11 a.m. Sunday, May 29 on NBC, Peacock Premium, Telemundo Deportes on Universo and the INDYCAR Radio Network. The full Month of May schedule will be announced later.

The 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season continues Sunday, May 1 at Barber Motorsports Park for the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama presented by AmFirst. Race coverage begins at 1 p.m. on NBC, with INDYCAR Radio Network coverage available at 12:30 p.m.

Autodesk/HaasTooling Racing: Cole Custer Dover Advance

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Official Release
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COLE CUSTER
Dover Advance
No. 41 Autodesk/HaasTooling.com 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

● Cole Custer and his No. 41 Autodesk/HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang team for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) head to one of his best racetracks, statistically, when they take to the Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway concrete mile oval for Sunday’s Dover 400 NASCAR Cup Series race.

● Back with Custer and the No. 41 SHR Ford team for the first of this season’s six appearances as primary partner is San Francisco-based Autodesk. Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) is a leader in software applications for the engineering, manufacturing, construction, architecture, media and entertainment industries. The 2022 season marks Autodesk’s fifth year with SHR, and the partnership is more than skin deep. The team utilized Autodesk’s Fusion 360 design and manufacturing software extensively to create lightweight, but strong, components for its fleet of Gen 6 racecars. Autodesk’s generative design capabilities and its Fusion 360 software helps designers and engineers quickly find optimal solutions to design problems, like SHR’s brake pedal revision in its Gen 6 racecars, as chronicled in this video. The new pedal accounted for a 32 percent reduction in weight with a 50 percent increase in stiffness, with the optimized design being realized by Fusion 360. The entire project took just two months to complete – from initial design to simulation, additive manufacturing of the pedal, testing and finalized part. Just as importantly, it was all delivered within two weeks of the needed race date.

● Also riding along with Custer and his SHR Mustang this weekend is team co-owner Gene Haas’ newest holding, Haas Tooling, which was launched as a way for CNC machinists to purchase high-quality cutting tools at great prices. Haas cutting tools are sold exclusively online at HaasTooling.com and shipped directly to end users. HaasTooling.com products became available nationally in July 2020. Haas Automation, founded by Haas in 1983, is America’s leading builder of CNC machine tools. The company manufactures a complete line of vertical and horizontal machining centers, turning centers and rotary tables and indexers. All Haas products are constructed in the company’s 1.1-million-square-foot manufacturing facility in Oxnard, California, and distributed through a worldwide network of Haas Factory Outlets.

● Sunday’s 400-mile race will be Custer’s 86th Cup Series start and his fourth at Dover. He’s riding a streak of back-to-back top-10 finishes at The Monster Mile after scoring an 11th-place finish in his Cup Series debut there. His most recent Dover outing was a 10th-place run last May, and was preceded by finishes of 11th and 10th during a Saturday-Sunday Dover doubleheader weekend in August 2020. Custer’s average Cup Series finish of 10.3 at Dover ranks best among tracks where he’s raced more than once.

● Custer’s six outings at Dover in the NASCAR Xfinity Series collectively rank among his best in 104 career starts in that series from 2017 through 2019. His most recent, in October 2019, was his best. He qualified third in the No. 00 SHR Ford and led 31 laps en route to a victory by a one-second margin over runner-up Justin Allgaier. It was his fourth of four top-fives and fifth of five top-10s in his six Xfinity Series starts at Dover. In the May 2019 race, he qualified on the pole and led a race-high 155 of 200 laps before finishing fourth. That came on the heels of his runner-up finish in the October 2018 race, when he led 38 laps and crossed the finish line .525 of a second behind Christopher Bell. Custer finished fourth in his Dover Xfinity Series debut in May 2017 and eighth in the October 2017 race.

● In NASCAR Camping World Truck Series competition, the native of Ladera Ranch, California, has a best finish of fifth in the most recent of his three Dover outings, when he drove the No. 00 entry for JR Motorsports in the May 2016 race. He led a race-high 67 of 200 laps en route to a 13th-place finish in the May 2015 Truck Series race for JR Motorsports.

● The 24-year-old from Ladera Ranch, California saw a promising run at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway end with engine issues 98 laps into Sunday’s GEICO 500. He arrives at Dover 26th in the Cup Series standings.

● Two weekends ago, in the Food City Dirt Race at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, Custer earned his first career NASCAR Cup Series pole. The starting grid for Sunday night’s race on the half-mile, dirt-covered Bristol oval was determined via four nine-car, 15-lap heat races, in which drivers earned points based on their finishing position and the number of cars they passed. Custer finished second in the first heat after starting in the ninth and final position to earn 16 points, more than any other driver in the 36-car field.

Cole Custer, Driver of the No. 41 Autodesk/HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

You’ve had a good bit of experience on the Monster Mile at Dover. What would be your favorite memory?

“For me, it was winning there in the Xfinity Series. It was a track I always wanted to win at and it took me some time. I was close a lot of times, so to finally win there meant a ton. It’s the coolest trophy you can win with the Monster, and it’s one every driver wants to check off their list.”

Dover is a track where a small, one-car incident can turn into a multicar mess and usually it’s the guys in the back who get the short end of the stick. How can that be avoided?

“At Dover it’s especially difficult when you have to start deep in the field. It’s really hard to pass, at times, and you can get caught up in wrecks easily. A lot of times you’ll see guys wreck and come down the track collecting a lot of others. This weekend, it will be ultra-important to qualify well and maintain track position from the beginning of the race to the end.”

It seems drivers either love or hate Dover. What are your feelings toward the racetrack?

“I love Dover. You’ve got to be really aggressive and just go for it, or it’ll eat you up. But you also have to be very strategic with how you work the gas pedal and make your way through the corners. There’s a reason it’s called the Monster Mile. If you aren’t ready for it, and don’t pay attention to those details, it can be a handful.”

No. 41 Autodesk/HaasTooling.com Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Cole Custer
Hometown: Ladera Ranch, California

Crew Chief: Mike Shiplett
Hometown: Amherst, Ohio

Car Chief: Tony Cardamone
Hometown: Bristol, Virginia

Engineer: Lee Deese
Hometown: Rockingham, North Carolina

Engineer: Scott Bingham
Hometown: Lawrenceville, Georgia

Spotter: Andy Houston
Hometown: Hickory, North Carolina

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Josh Leslie
Hometown: Mount Clemens, Michigan

Rear Tire Changer: Coleman Dollarhide
Hometown: Hickory, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Chad Emmons
Hometown: Tyler, Texas

Jack Man: Matthew Schlytter
Hometown: Ponte Vedra, Florida

Fuel Man: Dewayne Moore
Hometown: Griffin, Georgia

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Joe Zanolini
Hometown: Sybertsville, Pennsylvania

Shock Specialist: Aaron Kuehn
Hometown: Kensington, Connecticut

Tire Specialist: Austin Greco
Hometown: Harrisburg, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: David Rodrigues
Hometown: Santa Clarita, California

Transporter Co-Driver: Charlie Schleyer
Hometown: Youngsville, Pennsylvania

Mahindra Tractors Racing: Chase Briscoe Dover Advance

By
Official Release
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CHASE BRISCOE
Dover Advance
No. 14 Mahindra Tractors 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/400miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 120 laps / Stage 2: 130 laps / Final Stage: 150 laps
● TV/Radio: FS1 / PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Chase Briscoe, driver of the No. 14 Mahindra Tractors Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), looks to rebound at Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway this weekend following a disappointing result at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. Briscoe finished 37th in last Sunday’s GEICO 500 after getting caught in a wreck on lap 56.

● Ten races into the season, Briscoe is 12th in the driver standings, 122 points out of first. He currently holds a spot in the 16-driver playoff field by virtue of his win March 13 at Phoenix Raceway.

● Briscoe has one Cup Series start at Dover, resulting in a 35th-place finish. He started the race from 17th and ran inside the top-20 before losing a right-rear tire at the end of the first stage. Trouble plagued the No. 14 team for the rest of the race, forcing Briscoe to make additional pits stops before a visit to the garage to diagnose handling issues. Briscoe finished the event, albeit 60 laps behind the leader.

● The dirt racer from Mitchell, Indiana, found his way victory lane at the Monster Mile in the second race of the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series Saturday-Sunday doubleheader at the concrete oval. Briscoe started last in the Sunday race after going to a backup racecar and proceeded to lead three times for a race-high 107 laps en route to his sixth win of the season. He won the race by a commanding 2.463-second margin over second-place Ross Chastain.

● In total, Briscoe has five starts in the Xfinity Series at Dover, his win in 2020 among his three top-five finishes and four top-10s. He also made one NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start at Dover in June 2017, finishing 12th after earning his first career NASCAR pole.

● Mahindra Tractors, a brand of Houston-based Mahindra Ag North America, makes their first trip to the Monster Mile as the primary sponsor on the No. 14 Ford Mustang. Part of Mahindra Group’s Automotive and Farm Sector, Mahindra Ag North America is the No. 1-selling farm tractor company in the world, based on volumes across all company brands. Mahindra farm equipment is engineered to be easy to operate by first-time tractor or side-by-side owners, and heavy duty to tackle the tough jobs of rural living, farming and ranching. Steel-framed Mahindra tractors and side-by-sides are ideal for customers who demand performance, reliability and comfort at a great value. Mahindra dealers are independent, family-owned businesses located throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Chase Briscoe, Driver of the No. 14 Mahindra Tractors Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing:

Dover is a unique track, so is there anywhere we’ve been this year that you can pull from and compare to set expectations for this weekend?

“I don’t really know. I’ve been running Dover on the simulator for the last two or three weeks. And I feel like, from a driving standpoint, the new car drives pretty good. I don’t know what to expect, though, it’s hard to say. This car has raced really, really well on high-speed racetracks. Dirty air has been way less of a factor than it was in the old car. But then when we go to the short tracks, it’s kind of been the opposite. So, I don’t know where Dover’s going to fall in that. I will say the car on the simulator at least drove better than I thought it would, so I’m kind of interested to see what happens when we get there. It’s definitely going to be extremely fast in the corner. From a physical side, it’s going to be probably one of the toughest races this year, just with ride quality and the G-forces and things like that.”

Is Dover a track you’ve enjoyed in the past?

“Yeah, I’ve always loved going there. It’s really high-speed, high-commitment, high-reward, and those are the kind of places I enjoy running. So yeah, I’ve always enjoyed going there and I’d love to get another win there. It’s one of my favorite racetracks, especially when we can move around and run other lanes, and that’s the area I’m kind of curious to see how this NextGen car kind of plays into that. It’ll be a really fast track this weekend, so hopefully we’ll have a fast car and be able to take advantage of it.”

No. 14 Mahindra Tractors Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Chase Briscoe
Hometown: Mitchell, Indiana

Crew Chief: John Klausmeier
Hometown: Perry Hall, Maryland

Car Chief: J.D. Frey
Hometown: Ferndale, California

Engineer: Mike Cook
Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland

Engineer: Marc Hendricksen
Hometown: Clinton, New Jersey

Spotter: Joey Campbell
Hometown: Berlin, Connecticut

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Daniel Coffey
Hometown: Granite Falls, North Carolina

Rear Tire Changer: Chris Jackson
Hometown: Rock Hill, South Carolina

Tire Carrier: Jon Bernal
Hometown: Shelby, North Carolina

Jack Man: Brandon Banks
Hometown: High Point, North Carolina

Fuel Man: Corey Coppola
Hometown: Bluefield, West Virginia

Road Crew Members

Underneath Mechanic: Stephen Gonzalez
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Interior Mechanic: Trevor Adams
Hometown: Naples, Florida

Tire Specialist: Keith Eads
Hometown: Arlington, Virginia

Shock Specialist: Brian Holshouser
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina

Engine Tuner: Jon Phillips
Hometown: Jefferson City, Missouri

Transporter Co-Driver: Todd Cable
Hometown: Shelby, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Rob Fink

Hometown: Mocksville, North Carolina

The Pete Store Makes Return to Front Row Motorsports at Dover

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Official Release
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Truck Dealership Back with Todd Gilliland

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (April 26, 2022) – The Pete Store, a network of Peterbilt truck dealerships, will again partner with Front Row Motorsports. Todd Gilliland will race No. 38 The Pete Store Ford Mustang this weekend at the Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway.

With locations spanning the eastern United States, The Pete Store offers sales, service, leasing, parts, and financing of Peterbilt trucks. A recipient of numerous awards, including Peterbilt North American Dealer of the Year (2004, 2016 and 2018), The Pete Store is a respected dealer in the transportation industry with a record for quality support.

“We have a strong partnership with Front Row Motorsports,” said Greg Arscott, President of The Pete Store. “We always enjoy our brand on the track, and we are proud to support their tractor as they race across the country. We are looking forward to watching Todd race this Sunday in Dover.”

The Pete Store has a footprint that includes ten states, 27 locations, and 1,500 miles of service coverage on the East Coast. They have been with Front Row Motorsports for years and provide the most reliable tractor in the NASCAR Cup Series.

“Our hauler is one of the most important pieces of equipment we have,” said Gilliland. “Peterbilt powers our hauler and that’s all thanks to The Pete Store,” said Gilliland. “The Pete Store gets us to the track to race and it is cool to race their colors. They supported me in the truck series and now are with me in the NASCAR Cup Series. I am proud to race for them.”

For more information about The Pete Store, visit www.petestore.com

About The Pete Store

The Pete Store is a growing network of Peterbilt truck dealerships, with locations spanning the Eastern United States. Through our exclusive Peterbilt dealerships we offer sales of new and pre-owned trucks, truck parts, body shops, and truck service. A recipient of numerous awards, including Peterbilt North American Dealer of the Year (2004, 2016 and 2018), The Pete Store is a respected dealer in the transportation industry with a track record for quality support.

About Front Row Motorsports

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Camping World Truck Series and the 2021 Daytona 500 champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 34 and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 38 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team– from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

Cadillac takes momentum into Laguna Seca race

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Official Release
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Cadillac DPi-V.R entries aim to complete sweep of podium in West Coast events

DETROIT (April 26, 2022) – Completing a West Coast podium sweep is the goal of Cadillac DPi teams this weekend in the Hyundai Monterey Sports Car Championship at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

The No. 01 V-Performance Academy Cadillac DPi-V.R won the 100-minute race April 9 on the streets of Long Beach (California) to lead a 1-2-3 Cadillac finish in the ultra-competitive class, and the four Cadillac teams will seek a repeat performance May 1.

Following 24-hour, 12-hour and 100-minute races, the 2-hour, 40-minute race on the technical 2.238-mile, 11-turn natural-terrain road course will present its own set of car set-up, strategy, and traffic and tire management issues. Additionally, while the race is longer than the most recent event, the pace will be as intent.

“It’s going to be all out,” said Alex Lynn, co-driver of the No. 02 Cadillac Accessories Cadillac DPi-V.R that holds the class points lead. “On our side, we have to maximize everything. It’s about executing the plans, about executing performance and just a lot of focus. Maximizing every single time you’re on track the game plan of each session and being very meticulous in preparation usually pays dividends.”

Added Tristan Vautier, co-driver of the No. 5 Mustang Sampling Cadillac DPi-V.R: “The track is very unforgiving so it’s just finding that right balance because when it’s time to go it’s time to go. You still have to push and be at the limit, but the track grip is so low that it’s very easy to make mistakes.

“So, it’s just about finding that right balance between trying to make the most of it without overdriving.”
Vautier and co-driver Richard Westbrook, who have finished on the podium in all three races, are three points arrears of Lynn and co-driver Earl Bamber in the DPi standings. The No. 02 Cadillac Accessories Cadillac DPi-V.R won at Sebring in March and was runner-up to its sister entry at Long Beach. The victory at Long Beach marked the 25th for Cadillac since the inception of the DPi class in 2017.

Cadillac DPi entries finished second and third at Laguna Seca in the 2021 race, held on Sept. 12.

Green flag is scheduled for 3:10 p.m. ET/12:10 p.m. PT on Sunday, May 1. The race will air live on NBC and stream on Peacock starting at 3 p.m. ET/noon PT. IMSA Radio will air all on-track sessions at IMSA.com along with XM 207 and SiriusXM Online 992.

Cadillac DPi roster for Laguna Seca

No. 01 V-Performance Academy Cadillac DPi-V.R (Cadillac Racing)
Renger van der Zande, Sebastien Bourdais
Van der Zande and Bourdais co-drove the No. 01 Cadillac DPi-V.R to the victory on the streets of Long Beach on April 9 after starting from the pole. … It was the 16th IMSA victory for van der Zande and eighth for Bourdais. … Bourdais set the qualifying lap record time in the event. He set the lap record time in earning the pole for the March 19 Twelve Hours of Sebring. … Van der Zande and Kevin Magnussen co-drove to a second-place finish in 2021 at Laguna Seca. … Van der Zande teamed with Marc Goossens to win the 2017 race at Laguna Seca. He also won the Prototype Challenge race in 2014.

No. 02 Cadillac Accessories Cadillac DPi-V.R (Cadillac Racing)
Earl Bamber, Alex Lynn
First-year entry in expanded Cadillac Racing DPi program. Bamber and Lynn co-drove to a runner-up finish on the streets of Long Beach on April 9 after starting second. … They, along with Neel Jani, co-drove to victory March 19 in the Twelve Hours of Sebring. … Bamber and Lynn are the DPi championship points leaders entering the Laguna Seca race weekend.

No. 5 Mustang Sampling Cadillac DPi-V.R (JDC-Miller MotorSports)
Tristan Vautier, Richard Westbrook
Vautier and Westbrook co-drove to third place on the streets of Long Beach on April 9 after starting fifth. Vautier and Westbrook, joined by Loic Duval, drove to second place in the March 19 Twelve Hours of Sebring and opened the ’22 season by starting second and finishing third at the Rolex 24 At Daytona. … Only DPi team to finish on the podium in all three races. … Trails in the DPi championship standings by three points. … Westbrook is a three-time winner in IMSA competition at Laguna Seca (Daytona Prototype-2012, Prototype-2015, GTLM-2016).

No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R (Action Express Racing)
Pipo Derani, Tristan Nunez
Derani and Nunez co-drove to fifth place on the streets of Long Beach on April 9 after starting fourth. … Derani and Nunez, joined by Mike Conway, started second and finished third in the March 19 Twelve Hours of Sebring. … The three-driver team started seventh and finished fourth in the Rolex 24 At Daytona to open the season. … Derani and Felipe Nasr were the 2021 IMSA DPi Driver Champions and Whelen Engineering/Action Express Racing was the Team Champion.

See the Cadillac lineup

Spectators have the opportunity to view an array of Cadillac vehicles, including the exciting CT5-V Blackwing and Escalade-V, at the Cadillac display at the racetrack. Hours are 8 a.m-5 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.
Cadillac Racing DPi-V.R Laguna Seca results 2021-2017

2021: Second (No. 01 Cadillac DPi-V.R) start third – Renger van der Zande, Kevin Magnussen
Third (No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R) start fourth – Pipo Derani, Felipe Nasr
Sixth (No. 5 Mustang Sampling Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R) start fifth – Tristan Vautier, Loic Duval
2020: Third (No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R) start fourth – Pipo Derani, Felipe Nasr
Sixth (No. 10 Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R) start eighth – Renger van der Zande, Ryan Briscoe
Seventh (No. 5 Mustang Sampling Cadillac DPi-V.R) start fifth – Sebastien Bourdais, Tristan Vautier
Eighth (No. 84 JDC-Miller MotorSports Cadillac DPi-V.R) start seventh – Stephen Simpson, Matheus Leist
2019: Third (No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R) start fifth – Pipo Derani, Felipe Nasr
Fourth (No. 10 Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R) start third – Renger van der Zande, Jordan Taylor
Fifth (No. 5 Mustang Sampling Cadillac DPi-V.R) start seventh – Felipe Albuquerque, Joao Barbosa
Eighth (No. 85 JDC-Miller MotorSports Cadillac DPi-V.R) start eighth – Tristan Vautier, Misha Goikhberg
Ninth (No. 84 JDC-Miller MotorSports Cadillac DPi-V.R) start 10th – Stephen Simpson, Simon Trummer
2018: Fifth (No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R) start seventh – Felipe Nasr, Eric Curran
12th in class, 30th overall (No. 10 Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R) start first* – Renger van der Zande, Jordan Taylor * pole
DNS (No. 5 Mustang Sampling Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R) start ninth — Felipe Albuquerque, Joao Barbosa
2017: Second (No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R) start fourth – Eric Curran, Dane Cameron
Third (No. 10 Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R) start first* – Jordan Taylor, Ricky Taylor * pole
Fifth (No. 5 Mustang Sampling Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R) start second – Joao Barbosa, Christian Fittipaldi

About Cadillac
A leading luxury auto brand since 1902, Cadillac is growing globally, driven by an expanding product portfolio that features distinctive design and technology. More information on Cadillac appears at www.cadillac.com. Cadillac’s media website with information, images and video can be found at media.cadillac.com.

EVENT PREVIEW: Wright Motorsports Looks Ahead to Next Round at Laguna Seca

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Official Release
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Porsche customer racing team to run WeatherTech and Carrera Cup entries

SALINAS, Calif., (April 26, 2022) – The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and Porsche Carrera Cup North America Presented by the Cayman Islands return to California this weekend, and Wright Motorsports is ready for a packed event, racing four Porsches at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The No. 16 1st Phorm Porsche 911 GT3 R will run in Sunday’s headlining event, and the three Wright Carrera Cup entries will race on Saturday and Sunday in support of the WeatherTech Series.

“It’s always great to race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca,” said Team Owner John Wright. “This kind of circuit suits our Porsche well, and we have a lot of experience here. Following our successful recent test, we feel ready to head into this weekend’s races.”

The Hyundai Monterey Sports Car Championship Presented by MOTUL is the fourth round of the 12-round WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and will include four of the five classes in the series. Thirty-two entries are set to compete in the event, with the GTD class being the largest with 14 cars entered. The GTD class has proven to be highly competitive this year, and Wright Motorsports is in good standing after winning the first round of the season, the Rolex 24 At Daytona in January. The team currently stands third in the battle for the championship and should be a strong contender for this weekend’s festivities.

Following the Grand Prix of Long Beach, where the No. 16 Porsche 911 GT3 R gained the most positions during the short sprint race, the Wright GTD squad drove to Salinas, California to begin preparations for this weekend’s event. The team capitalized on the quick, two-day test at the 2.238-mile, 11-turn circuit. Drivers Ryan Hardwick and Jan Heylen were able to work with the team’s engineers, testing various setups and adjustments to get the car ready for the first two-hour, 40-minute race of the year.

In 2021, the team started the event from pole position here and celebrated their third podium of the season, showcasing the strength of the Porsche on the flowing circuit. Drivers Ryan Hardwick and Jan Heylen have high hopes heading into the California event, aiming to roll off the truck with a competitive package and return to the podium once again.

The Hyundai Monterey Sports Car Championship Presented by MOTUL will air live in its entirety on NBC, beginning at 12:10 PM PT on Sunday, May 1. IMSA Radio will offer coverage of qualifying and the race, streaming free for all audiences. For additional event information, visit imsa.com.

DRIVER QUOTES

Ryan Hardwick
Laguna Seca has always been one of my favorite racetracks to visit. The atmosphere and weather are always great, and I’ve personally had a lot of fun racing there over the years. The lack of grip makes it especially challenging for all the drivers, but that’s what also makes it a fun race! Our team had a solid test day there right after the Long Beach race, so we are looking to be very competitive, and aiming to get back on the GTD podium at this race. Looking forward to it!

Jan Heylen
We’re heading back to California. We all like going to Monterey and are looking forward to our next race at Laguna Sea. This is a good track for Porsche so we should have a strong, competitive package. We finished a productive test at Laguna where Ryan and I felt good in the car. We’re ready for the weekend and hoping to come away with as many points as possible for our run in the championship.
Porsche Carrera Cup North America Presented by the Cayman Islands
After racing on a tight, concrete jungle street circuit like Long Beach, the Porsche Carrera Cup North America field will be pleased to run on a circuit like WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Its 180 feet in elevation change, wide runoffs, and sweeping turns are a stark contrast to the previous circuit and will provide ample room for the battles expected from the 34 entries. John Goetz, Hutton McKenna, and Varun Choksey will represent Wright Motorsports, competing in the two-race event, racing Saturday, April 30 at 1:50 PM PT, Sunday, May 1 at 8:40 AM PT. Both races will stream live on Peacock and free on imsa.com/tv.

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1st Phorm
1st Phorm is a sports nutrition company based in St. Louis, MO. In 2009, CEO Andy Frisella and his business partner Chris Klein started the brand, and since then, it has become the fastest growing supplement company in the world. 1st Phorm has set the standards in the industry for quality and helping people reach their goals. This new racing partnership is not their first time in the exotic car scene either. 1st Phorm has been the title sponsor for the Gold Rush Rally for six years running. With over a million followers across social media, 1st Phorm has amassed a huge cult-like following known as, “The Legion of Boom.” They stand for a movement in the fitness world. To turn it back to what it was meant to be. Helping others improve their lives, to be a good human… and to drop the excuses and do the work. 1st Phorm is a winning brand and they don’t expect anything less when it comes to their race team. For additional info: www.1stphorm.com

Mountain Motorsports
Mountain Motorsports is a group of motorcycle and powersports dealerships with multiple locations in the southeastern United States. The company was founded by lifelong friends Ryan Hardwick and Justin Price when they opened their first location as a single-line Honda dealership in Sevierville, Tennessee in 1999. The company has since grown into one of the largest retailers of motorcycle and powersports vehicles in the nation, spanning nine dealership locations representing eleven of the industry’s most well-known brands. For additional info: www.mountainmotorsports.com

Una Vida Tequila
Una Vida translates to One Life. That is how this brand started. By people who want to live their “One Life” to the absolute fullest and to their highest potential. A group of guys from the Midwest who love great quality tequila, and want their One Life to have meaning and impact others.

One Life, One Tequila is our CORE BELIEF. We’re building the only tequila brand you will ever need to drink. Una Vida is bigger than just tequila we’re also building a culture of people who want to live their life to their utmost potential.

Our story begins and continues to grow bottle by bottle. It’s a life mission for us to create a community of people who all raise a glass knowing they’re living their ONE LIFE! For more information, visit unavidatequila.com

Wright Motorsports
Wright Motorsports is the premier Porsche race engineering facility in Ohio and a multi-series and international racing team known for superb car preparation, expert race strategy, and driver development. Located in Batavia, Ohio, it is owned and directed by John Wright, a certified Porsche factory-trained technician. As a crew chief John Wright has played a key role in winning eight driver and seven team championships in World Challenge, IMSA (ALMS) and the Grand-Am Rolex Series. Wright Motorsports won the team championship in Porsche GT3 Cup USA in 2012, 2013, and 2015, and went on to win the Pirelli World Challenge Overall, Sprint, Team, and Manufacturer’s titles in 2017. In 2020, the team captured the GT World Challenge America Am championship. In 2021, Wright Motorsports had a wildly successful season, capturing nine championships across their five racing efforts.

ARCA Menards Series Event at Indianapolis Raceway Park to be Named Reese’s 200

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Official Release
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The ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series doubleheader at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park is already one of the most anticipated race events of the summer, and it’s just gotten sweeter for fans who will be attending as Reese’s has been announced as the entitlement partner of the ARCA portion of the unique twin bill.

Reese’s made a huge splash in the ARCA Menards Series in 2021, with entitlement sponsorship of the championship finale at Kansas Speedway in addition to the “Reese’s Sweet Move of the Race” award that was given out by a vote of the fan at each event within the ARCA Menards Series platform. Award winners throughout the season were then grouped into brackets and fans once again voted for the “Reese’s Sweet Move of the Year”, which was won by 2020 and 2021 ARCA Menards Series West champion Jesse Love.

“Any time a sponsor activates in a way that involves the fans it’s a win for everyone, and Reese’s did that very well in 2021,” said ARCA president Ron Drager. “The entire sport has heard our fans over the years, and they’ve been very vocal about a return of big-time stock car racing to Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park and we’re happy to be a part of it. We’re very much looking forward to having Reese’s on board for what promises to be a great day of racing.”

“Reese’s is excited to continue supporting the ARCA Menards Series in 2022,” said Ian Norton, Senior Director of the Reese’s Team. “After a great year in 2021, we look forward to another “sweet” partnership with Menards, including the return of the ‘Reese’s Sweet Move of the Year’”.

“We couldn’t be more excited to have Reese’s join us on such an exciting night that is highlighted by the return of the ARCA Menards Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series to Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park on July 29th,” said Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park General Manager Kasey Coler. “The combination of great racing and Reese’s on the same night, makes this a “must attend” event.”

ARCA’s history at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park includes 16 previous races that date back to Ramo Stott’s win in 1971, Ralph Latham in 1972 and Bruce Gould in 1974, Marvin Smith in 1983 and Bob Schacht in 1984, and Davey Allison in a combination race with what is now known as the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 1985. The series returned after a 26-year absence in 2011 with Ty Dillon scoring the win en route to the series championship. Other winners include Frank Kimmel in 2012, Brandon Jones in 2014, Travis Braden in his first career series start in 2015, Chase Briscoe in 2016 on his way to the series championship, Dalton Sargeant in 2017, Christian Eckes in 2018, and Chandler Smith in 2019 and 2020.

For event schedules and ticket information, please visit ARCARacing.com and RaceIRP.com.

About The Hershey Company

The Hershey Company is headquartered in Hershey, Pa., and is an industry-leading snacks company known for bringing goodness to the world through its iconic brands, remarkable people and enduring commitment to help children succeed. Hershey has approximately 17,000 employees around the world who work every day to deliver delicious, quality products. The company has more than 90 brands around the world that drive more than $8.1 billion in annual revenues, including such iconic brand names as Hershey’s, Reese’s, Kit Kat®, Jolly Rancher, Ice Breakers, SkinnyPop, and Pirate’s Booty.

For more than 125 years, Hershey has been committed to operating fairly, ethically and sustainably. Hershey founder, Milton Hershey, created the Milton Hershey School in 1909 and since then the company has focused on helping children succeed.

To learn more visit www.thehersheycompany.com

About ARCA: The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA), founded in 1953 by John and Mildred Marcum in Toledo, Ohio and acquired by NASCAR in April 2018, is the leading grassroots stock car sanctioning body in the United States. Bridging the gap between NASCAR’s top three national touring series and weekly racing all across the country, the organization is scheduled to administer more than 100 events in multiple racing series in 2022, including the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East, ARCA Menards Series West, the ARCA/CRA Super Series, and the ARCA Midwest Tour, plus weekly racing at Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways. For more information about ARCA visit www.arcaracing.com, or follow ARCA on Facebook (@ARCARacing) and Twitter (@ARCA_Racing).

About Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park: Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park is a multipurpose motorsports facility which hosts a wide variety of events – from the World’s Biggest Drag Race to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Home to the Dodge//SRT NHRA U.S. Nationals since 1961, IRP features more than 130 days of on-track action through the year across events on the drag strip and the 0.686-mile oval. For more information about Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, please visit www.RaceIRP.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at the handle @RaceIRP.

WORLD OF OUTLAWS BRISTOL BASH FIVE QUESTIONS

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Donny Schatz, David Gravel, James McFadden and Carson Macedo preview the Greatest Show on Dirt’s return to The Last Great Colosseum

The Greatest Show on Dirt returns to The Last Great Colosseum April 28-30. It is the fourth time in history that the World of Outlaws will race on the high-banked dirt-transformed half-mile oval. Last year David Gravel took the checkered flag in both of the feature races at Bristol Motor Speedway to make for a memorable weekend. This year the race will feature both the NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series competing together in what promises to be an amazing weekend of dirt racing. Several of the top drivers in the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series gave us their thoughts to five big questions leading in to this weekend’s World of Outlaws Bristol Bash.

How much fun did you have last year at Bristol?

DAVID GRAVEL: It was a little nerve-wracking going there for the first time and the practice day to see how fast the cars were and they were very fast, but to sweep the weekend was definitely a great feeling and you couldn’t ask for any more.

CARSON MACEDO: I had a lot of fun at Bristol last year. I’m excited to go back, I think it’s a fast race track and I think the fans are in for a treat with both the World of Outlaws Late Models and World of Outlaws Sprint Cars.

DONNY SCHATZ: I was there at the original Bristol on dirt back in the early 2000s. I was a lot younger and the speed was nothing like we’d ever experienced before other than places like Eldora. The bank was incredible. Just to see that Colosseum and be in that atmosphere was incredible. A lot of emotions flowed through me last year. It was great to be back. Obviously we’re even faster, which makes it super-exciting but also there’s a fine line on whether it’s beyond scary for a guy like me or super fun as well.

Was there anything you learned last year that you plan to apply this year?

CARSON MACEDO: A few things I learned last year that I plan to apply is just the high speeds, keeping the car nice and straight. When you’re going that fast, these wings are nice and big. They like to cut through the air really nice. The straighter you are the faster you’re going to go and the better these race cars handle.

DONNY SCHATZ: I don’t know that you can take dirt off of Bristol then put dirt back on Bristol and think anything you did last year is going to be the same thing. I think they changed the bank up a little bit again. I know they’ve made it a little wider in certain areas. What was applied 20 years ago didn’t apply last year. It all relies on what these guys do with these cars and the things they do to keep the speeds going. We don’t normally get in the sprint car world to where you trim the car in order to get more speed, but man Bristol is that way. There’s so much speed and so much downforce that you end up doing that and it’s one of the very few places that happens.

It’s rare, but how cool will it be to have both the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars and Late Models competing at the same event?

JAMES MCFADDEN: Yeah, that’ll be really cool. I enjoy watching the late models. I got to see the World 100 once so to watch those guys around there will be really fun. It’ll be a good event for the spectators for sure.

DAVID GRAVEL: We did it I believe at Cedar Lake one time and then we did it at obviously the World Finals, but for me it doesn’t really matter too much, we’re so focused on the task at hand and what we got going on. Staying on top of the race track, communicating with my team so it’s one of those things where you’re just laser focused. When we were there last year I don’t think I watched one lap of the big block modifieds. I’m just trying to do what I can to win races and be very focused.

CARSON MACEDO: It’ll be really cool to have both the sprint cars and late models at the same event. I think with an action-packed track like Bristol and huge grandstands with plenty of race fans to come check it all out. I think it’ll be a success and I’m excited for the two straight, good nights of racing.

DONNY SCHATZ: I’m optimistic about everything, having both classes at the same event. We don’t have it very often, we have it at the World Finals in Charlotte. We had it at Cedar Lake a couple years ago. If you take those two events one was successful and I think one was not as successful as they want for track conditions. I’m really unsure about what’s going to happen, but I think it’s going to force them to do a lot of track maintenance and work that probably wouldn’t happen if the late models weren’t there because there are really demanding tires on the surface. All I can do is speculate and see what happens. I’m sure they’ll make the best of it.

What would it mean to you to be able to win an iconic Bristol Gladiator Sword?

JAMES MCFADDEN: It would be pretty special to win at Bristol. Obviously, being a short track guy to win at the biggest half-mile we go to would be pretty crazy. Just like I said, it’s a pretty crazy place when you walk in there and feel the atmosphere so to win there would be pretty special and one you’d definitely be proud about.

CARSON MACEDO: It would mean a lot to me to be able to win the Bristol Gladiator Sword. It’s definitely a race track that I’ve always thought was really cool as a little kid playing the 2002 World of Outlaw Sprint Car game on PS2. A dream that I’d be able to race there someday, let alone win. This JJR car is really good especially on big half miles like that so I’m looking forward to going there.

DONNY SCHATZ: It would be really cool to win at Bristol, to win the sword. Just to win, the older I get the more I appreciate all these wins. I appreciate everyone I’ve got. They’re coming fewer and further between. That’s just the nature of how competitive the sport is and how things are. To be able to get a win there, we were close last year. We ran second the final night, so that sticks in the back of my mind. Second is something that a lot of people would be OK with, but it’s not what you want when you’re that close. You want that win and that extra edge so we’re pulling out all the stops. These guys are working hard to build a special car for Bristol and I’m hoping we can get that win for them and that gladiator sword. I’m definitely going to enjoy it if we do.

How cool was it to win a pair of Bristol Gladiator Swords last year?

DAVID GRAVEL: Obviously walking into that place is unexplainable unless you’re there in person. To play the old 2002 video game and see old videos, to finally get to race there and sweep the weekend and get those swords is very cool. This year it pays a little bit more on the first night so hopefully we do that again.

What did you do with your swords?

DAVID GRAVEL: Tod [Quiring] kept them, the team owner keeps the trophies, but he was able to purchase me two replicas which are the exact same thing. I have a trophy room that is now turning into a baby room so all my stuff is laying in a pile. I do want to mount those up really cool looking and have them crossing. Right now they’re sitting in my room, but I’ll have them displayed in a cool spot one day.

Can you describe what you see and feel when you’re at full speed on a lap around Bristol?

JAMES MCFADDEN: Nah, not really, it’s all a bit of a blur, you know. We tend to not go as fast as we do there at most places. It’s just a lot different, you have different pick up points with your eyes because you’re going faster and stuff like that. It’s fast, it’s pretty intense; it’s a lot of turbulence in the car and to do a lap around there with the big colosseum feel is pretty crazy.

KRAIG KINSER: You really don’t realize how fast you’re going until you start pushing over the limit a little bit or doing something you don’t want to do then you feel the speed come up a little bit. I mean we go to fast tracks, don’t get me wrong; you get that feeling quite a bit, but just pushing that little bit extra you realize you’re on the edge.

DAVID GRAVEL: Actually the straightaways feel like they take forever and they’re long, but you really feel the speed going into the corners and going into the banking. There’s a lot of G-force and the corners go by very, very fast. It’s like going on a rollercoaster where you get a lot of pressure on your shoulders and your head and then the speed just happens really, really fast. It’s pretty physically demanding. When you’re by yourself it’s easy to go around there, but the corners are very physical.

DONNY SCHATZ: What you see and feel at Bristol is quite a bit different from everywhere else. I haven’t been at speed like that where your head moved around and buffeted. We all have the best safety equipment. We all have the best helmets and all these things. I remember my head moving enough to where it created an issue where trying to keep your eyes focused on one thing at speed was pretty crazy. You feel every little vibration, every little flaw in a tire. It creates such a high frequency vibration that everything affects you at those speeds. You’ve got to be very cautious, things happen in a hurry.

CARSON MACEDO: Basically, it’s intense. The speeds are the fastest we see throughout the World of Outlaws season. It will definitely be the fastest we go all year and I’m looking forward to the high banking and all of the things that are different compared to a lot of the race tracks we go to across the country.

Ford Performance NASCAR: Dover Motor Speedway Advance

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Official Release
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FORD PERFORMANCE NASCAR: DOVER ADVANCE

The NASCAR Xfinity and NASCAR Cup Series will be making their only trip this season to Dover Motor Speedway with single races on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Ford has won 41 times at the Monster Mile in both series combined, which includes a weekend sweep in 2020.

This Week’s Schedule:

Saturday, April 30 – NASCAR XFINITY Series, 1:30 p.m. (FS1)
Sunday, May 1 – NASCAR Cup Series, 3 p.m. (FS1)

FORD IN THE NASCAR CUP SERIES AT DOVER

· Ford has 27 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins at Dover.
· Brad Keselowski and Kevin Harvick have series wins at Dover.
· Richard Petty won the inaugural race at Dover while driving a Ford in 1969.

FORD IN THE NASCAR XFINITY SERIES AT DOVER

· Ford has 14 NASCAR XFINITY Series wins at Dover.
· Mark Martin won Ford’s first series event at Dover in 1987.
· Joey Logano won a series-record four straight Dover races from 2012-13.

CUSTER AND DOVER

Cole Custer has only made three NASCAR Cup Series starts at Dover Speedway, but so far, so good as the California native has registered a pair of 10th-place finishes to go with an 11th-place run his rookie season. That falls in line with the success he had at the Monster Mile during his NASCAR Xfinity Series career, where he made six starts and one victory. His average finish in those races was 5.3 as he registered four top-five runs during that time.

BRISCOE AND CINDRIC LOOK TO ADD DOVER CUP WIN

Chase Briscoe and Austin Cindric are looking to add a NASCAR Cup Series win at Dover to go with their NASCAR Xfinity Series victories. Briscoe won the second race of a weekend doubleheader in 2020 and eventually went on to win nine NXS races that season while Cindric won the only time the series visited Dover last year.

HARVICK RECORDS FORD’S 700TH CUP WIN

Kevin Harvick recorded Ford’s 700th all-time series victory when he won at the Monster Mile in 2020. Harvick dominated the second half of the weekend doubleheader, sweeping all three stages and leading 223-of-311 laps to win for the seventh time in 2020. The victory also clinched the regular season championship for Harvick, who went on to lead the series with nine victories.

ANOTHER FIRST FOR THE KING

Ford won the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race at Dover International Raceway in 1969 when Richard Petty drove to victory lane on July 6. That marked the only year in which The King drove a Ford and was the fourth of nine wins for him that season, and it came in dominating fashion as he led half of the 300 laps, including the final 109. It was a Ford day all-around as the Blue Oval led every lap in the race with Lee Roy Yarbrough (124) and David Pearson (26) combining to lead the ones Petty didn’t, and had nine of the top 11 finishers.

JUNIE GOES TO VICTORY LANE

Dover proved to be magical for the late Junie Donlavey, who won the only NASCAR Cup Series race of his career at Dover on May 17, 1981 in the Mason-Dixon 500 when driver Jody Ridley took the checkered flag. Ridley had a good car that day, but it was even more reliable and that proved the difference. Neil Bonnett was the dominant driver as he led 404 of the first 459 laps, but he blew an engine that ended his day. Cale Yarborough appeared to be the main beneficiary as he inherited the lead, but the same fate befell him 20 laps from the finish and sent him to the garage. That left Ridley to assume the top spot and he held on from there to register his first and only Cup win. It also ended up being Donlavey’s only trip to victory lane. The Richmond native made 863 starts and fielded strictly Ford products from 1965-2002 in NASCAR’s top series that featured names like LeeRoy Yarbrough, Fred Lorenzen, Harry Gant, Ricky Rudd, Ken Schrader and Dick Trickle.

FROM 500 TO 400

In 1997 Ford swept both Dover events, but it’s remembered for historical reasons because when Ricky Rudd won the spring event on June 1, 1997 it marked the speedway’s final 500-mile event. Rudd took advantage of being in the right place at the right time after leader Ernie Irvan was involved in an accident with 29 laps remaining. Rudd took over the lead and held off Mark Martin over the final few laps to lead a Ford sweep of the top four spots. Martin bounced back a few months later by winning the fall event, which marked the inaugural 400-mile race at the track. That started a streak that saw him win three straight fall events at the Monster Mile.

FORD NASCAR CUP SERIES DOVER WINNERS

1969 – Richard Petty

1978 – Bobby Allison (2)

1980 – Bobby Allison (1)

1981 – Jody Ridley and Neil Bonnett

1985 – Bill Elliott

1986 – Ricky Rudd (2)

1987 – Davey Allison and Ricky Rudd

1988 – Bill Elliott (Sweep)

1990 – Bill Elliott (2)

1994 – Rusty Wallace (Sweep)

1997 – Ricky Rudd and Mark Martin

1998 – Dale Jarrett and Mark Martin

1999 – Mark Martin (2)

2004 – Mark Martin (1)

2005 – Greg Biffle (1)

2006 – Matt Kenseth (1)

2007 – Carl Edwards (2)

2008 – Greg Biffle (2)

2011 – Matt Kenseth (1)

2018 – Kevin Harvick (1)

2020 – Kevin Harvick (2)

FORD NASCAR XFINITY SERIES DOVER WINNERS

1987 – Mark Martin (1)

2001 – Jeff Green (2)

2002 – Greg Biffle (1)

2004 – Greg Biffle (1)

2007 – Carl Edwards (1)

2011 – Carl Edwards (Sweep)

2013 – Joey Logano (Sweep)

2015 – Chris Buescher (1)

2017 – Ryan Blaney (2)

2019 – Cole Custer (2)

2020 – Chase Briscoe (2)

2021 – Austin Cindric

Brad Keselowski – Dover Advance

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Official Release
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Team: No. 6 Kohler Generators Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Matt McCall
Twitter: @RFK6Team, @RFKRacing and @keselowski
Race Format: 400 miles, 400 laps, Stages: 120-130-150
NCS Race at Dover – Sunday, May 1 at 3 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Weekend Format

· The weekend at Dover features group qualifying, where the top-10 fastest cars in group one will transfer to the final round and run for the pole.

Keselowski at Dover Motor Speedway

· Keselowski makes his 24th Cup start at Dover on Sunday, where he has a 12.8 average finish with one win, 10 top-10s and five finishes inside the top five.

· Keselowski won the 2012 fall race in the No. 2 car, and additionally has two runner-up finishes, both of which came in 2014. Most recently, Keselowski finished 16th at Dover a season ago, and in 2020 ran ninth and eighth when the track hosted two events.

· Keselowski’s average starting position stands at 11.2 with two poles (2014, 2016).

· He also made 12 combined additional starts in the Xfinity and Truck series, earning an Xfinity win in 2009 in the No. 88 with seven overall top-10s in 10 starts.

Matt McCall at Dover Motor Speedway

· McCall is set for his 14th Cup race from Dover this weekend, where he has five top-10s and a 16.2 average finish. His best result came back in 2015 with Jamie McMurray when the No. 1 team ran fourth. He and Kurt Busch finished ninth in the 2019 fall race, and last season ran 13th, his second-straight 13th-place finish at the track and third overall.

· McCall has an average qualifying position of 18.5 with two starts inside the top-10 (ninth – twice).

QUOTE WORTHY
Keselowski on racing at Dover:
“Dover is such a unique track and a place that takes a lot of patience and skill to navigate everything it offers for 400 miles. The corners at Dover are so different and unlike anything else we experience on the circuit, so getting the handling where you need to is critical before a long race. I’m fortunate to have found success there before with a win years ago, and hope to find some of that magic once again this weekend.”

Last Time Out

Keselowski finished 23rd at Talladega after getting trapped a lap down due to a speeding penalty late in Sunday’s race.

On the Car

Kohler Generators returns to the No. 6 car for its third primary race of the season. They will serve as the anchor partner for the No. 6 team in 2022 and be the primary in 14 races. Kohler initially joined the RFK family in 2021 as a partner in eight events with the No. 6 team.

About Kohler Co.
Founded in 1873 and headquartered in Kohler, Wisconsin, Kohler Co. is one of America’s oldest and largest privately held companies comprised of more than 40,000 associates. Kohler is a global leader in the manufacture of kitchen and bath products; engines and power systems; premier cabinetry, tile and lighting; and owner/operator of two of the world’s finest five-star hospitality and golf resort destinations in Kohler, Wisconsin, and St. Andrews, Scotland.

A global force in power solutions since 1920, Kohler manufactures engines and complete power systems, including generators (portable, marine, residential, commercial and industrial), automatic transfer switches, switchgear, monitoring controls, and accessories for emergency, prime power and energy-management applications all around the world. The business is committed to reliable, leading edge power-generation products, clean energy solutions, as well as comprehensive after-sale support. Visit KohlerGenerators.com, facebook.com/KOHLERPower, and on Twitter at @KOHLERPower.

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