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Toyota Racing – Weekly Preview – 04.20.22

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Official Release
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This Week in Motorsports: April 18-24, 2022

· NCS/NXS/ARCA: Talladega Superspeedway – April 23-24
· NHRA: Houston Raceway Park – April 24

PLANO, Texas (April 20, 2022) – NASCAR and ARCA are back on the high-banks as they compete in their first superspeedway race of the season at Talladega Superspeedway, while NHRA is on-track this weekend at the final race at Houston Raceway Park.

NASCAR National Series – NCS | NXS

Busch delivers in the clutch… Kyle Busch led just one lap, but it was the one that counted as the now 60-time NASCAR Cup Series winner drove to the win at Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt. Busch has won in 18 consecutive Cup Series seasons, tying a record held by Richard Petty. Busch was Toyota’s first winner at Talladega Superspeedway in the Cup Series, scoring the win in April 2008.

Wallace superspeedway success… Bubba Wallace looks to be one to beat this weekend at Talladega. Last fall’s winner at the Alabama superspeedway also has two consecutive runner-up finishes at Daytona International Speedway.

Hamlin continues to be stellar on superspeedways… Three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin continues to show his prowess on superspeedway style drafting. The Virginia-native has two victories at Talladega – May 2014 and October 2020.

Jones looks to mark off another first… Brandon Jones earned his first short-track win at the series’ last stop at Martinsville Speedway, and now the five-time winner looks to mark off another first – a superspeedway victory. Jones has been close with runner-up finishes twice at Talladega – 2018 and 2021.

Dollar returns… Drew Dollar returns to the NASCAR Xfinity Series this weekend for his second career start aboard the Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) No. 18 Toyota GR Supra. Dollar is a former ARCA winner at the track and will be competing in both the Xfinity and ARCA races on Saturday afternoon.

Smith debuts… After a strong start to the 2022 Truck Series season for Chandler Smith, he will make his Xfinity Series debut this weekend at Talladega in the No. 26 Toyota GR Supra for Sam Hunt Racing. The 19-year-old will make three starts for the team as he is back behind the wheel next weekend in Dover and at Homestead-Miami Speedway later this season.

NASCAR Regional Series – ARCA

Heim looks to continue superspeedway success… Corey Heim is back aboard the No. 20 Toyota Camry for Venturini Motorsports at Talladega and looks to continue his run of success on superspeedways for the team. Heim has won the last three superspeedway races, including driving to his second win at Daytona earlier this season.

NHRA – Top Fuel | Funny Car

Torrence duo ready to compete for another win in their home state… Longview, Texas native Steve Torrence is looking for a repeat victory in the final race at Houston Raceway Park. Torrence, who took the points lead after Las Vegas despite still looking for his first victory of the season, will be joined in the race by his father Billy Torrence, who will compete in his second race this year.

DeJoria looks to make history… Alexis DeJoria drove her Toyota GR Supra to the first four-wide final for the new body in Las Vegas, coming home in fourth after a close race to the finish line. She looks to continue to make history in the new Funny Car in her adopted home state as she currently resides in Austin, Texas.

Stay Connected

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About Toyota

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

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

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

NTE/SSR Resumes IMSA Championship at Laguna Seca with Conwright and Holzer

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Official Release
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Former Porsche factory driver joins Lamborghini squad

DALLAS, Tex., (April 20, 2022) – After missing the Long Beach Grand Prix due to a tire blowout in the team’s race transporter, professional sports car racing team NTE/SSR is back on track and ready to resume the 2022 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship next week at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The Lamborghini racing team will contest in their third event of the year, racing the No. 42 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo with drivers Jaden Conwright and Marco Holzer.

“Missing Long Beach was really hard for us,” said NTE Sport team owner Paul Mata. “That race is one of my favorites and it was a dream to have NTE/SSR compete there, and with such a strong lineup. However, after that setback, we were able to focus on WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and put together a strong lineup. I’m excited to have someone of Marco’s caliber join the team and I’m looking forward to what we hope will be a great race weekend!”

In transit from the team’s Dallas-based shop to Long Beach, California, the NTE/SSR transporter suffered a tire blowout 280 miles into the 1,500-mile drive. The driver of the truck expertly brought the transporter to a safe stop, narrowly avoiding totaling the transporter or having contact with any other cars. The tire took out the radiator, DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid) components, and the wiring harness and also damaged the suspension. The truck was towed 80 miles back towards Dallas, and Mata immediately sought out to get parts and repairs, while calling IMSA teams and local transportation options. As almost every business has experienced since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, obtaining parts or replacement solutions in quick time was not possible, and the team was unable to make the repairs and the 1,500-mile journey in the 48-hour window in which they had to arrive at the downtown Long Beach street circuit by. Though the team missed the event, under Mata’s leadership, the repairs were completed, and the truck will again make its way to California for the IMSA WeatherTech Laguna Seca event next week.

Jaden Conwright, rising sports car racing star and inaugural winner of the IMSA Diverse Driver Development Scholarship Program, will again race the No. 42 machine, enjoying his first season as a Lamborghini GT3 Junior driver. This will be Conwright’s first time participating in the event, the Hyundai Monterey Sports Car Championship presented by Motul, though the 22-year-old Newark, CA native has been a longtime fan of the event.

“I’m really looking forward to running at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca as it’s one of my home tracks that I began my car racing career at,” said Conwright. “We have some catching up to do after the misfortune at Long Beach, but I have no doubt that we’ll be competitive with Marco and myself. We’ll head in with the same approach as always and aim to make the best result we can as a team.”

Thirty-three-year-old Marco Holzer will make his return to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for the first time since 2015. The German started racing in karts, eventually moving up to Porsche Carrera Cup Germany. He became a Porsche driver in 2010, racing for banner teams like Manthey, Flying Lizard Motorsports, Prospeed, and Paul Miller Racing. He holds two podiums at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, finishing third in 2010 and 2014.

“I’m super happy to be back racing in IMSA,” said Holzer. “It has been too long. I have so many great races and memories of racing in the United States. I’m looking forward to the new challenge, new team, new car, and all together at Laguna Seca. It couldn’t be better!”

This event will be the fifth IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship start for both Conwright and Holzer, though the German has completed 28 in the series predecessor, the American Le Mans Series. Holzer last raced at Laguna Seca in 2013 with Paul Miller Racing, where he earned a sixth-place finish, his best at the circuit.

Located near Monterey, California, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is revered as one of the most iconic road course circuits in North America, boasting the infamous Corkscrew turn which features a 10-story drop from Turn 8 to Turn 9. Fans and drivers alike hold the 2.238-mile, 11-turn circuit track in high regard, as it has hosted some of sports car racing’s most dramatic battles.

The 2022 Hyundai Monterey Sports Car Championship will take the green flag on Sunday, May 1, 2022, at 12:10 PM PT. The race will run for two hours and forty minutes, showcasing four of the five IMSA WeatherTech classes: DPi, LMP2, GTD Pro, and GTD. The race will air in its entirety on both NBC and Peacock, beginning at 12:00 PM Pacific. Fans can also tune in to IMSA Radio for live, comprehensive coverage of qualifying and the race. The full event schedule can be found on IMSA’s event page.

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.

About Star Spangled Racing
Based in Jacksonville, Florida, Star Spangled Racing is a newer sports car racing team, established in 2020 by first-generation immigrant Tiger Tari from Turkey. Tari is an accomplished businessman, race car driver, and philanthropist with big motorsport ambitions. Star Spangled Racing provides driving opportunities in the USA and Europe. Follow on Instagram here.

About Southwest Funding
Southwest Funding began operations in 1993 under the name Dallas Residential Mortgage. We enjoyed great success early on and before long we were serving the entire state of Texas. This growth caused us to change our name to Texas Residential Mortgage.

As we continued to grow and thrive in the industry, Texas Residential Mortgage was changed to Southwest Funding to better accommodate our growing business in other states.
Today we’re still thriving, thanks in part to happy customers who have spread the word about what our company is doing to help borrowers get a home loan that fits their situation in an enjoyable and timely way. www.southwestfunding.com

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.

JR Motorsports — NXS Talladega Preview

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Official Release
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JR MOTORSPORTS TEAM PREVIEW:
TRACK: Talladega Superspeedway
RACE: Ag-Pro 300 (113 laps / 300.58 miles)
DATE: Saturday, April 23, 2022

Broadcast Information – TV: 4 p.m. ET on FOX / Radio: 3:30 p.m. ET on MRN and Sirius XM Ch. 90

Sam Mayer
No. 1 Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions Chevrolet
• Sam Mayer heads to Talladega Superspeedway this weekend on the heels of three straight top-five finishes.
• Mayer holds the second best average speed on restarts (11.5) according to NASCAR’s loop data statistics, just behind teammate Noah Gragson (10.9).
• At Martinsville Speedway, the last race for the NXS, Mayer led the field in green flag passes with 71 and quality passes with 63. The next closest in each category was 69 (Josh Berry) and 54 (Sheldon Creed).
• Mayer has limited experience on ovals measuring 2 miles or more in the NXS, earning one top-10 finish at Auto Club Speedway this season.

Josh Berry
No. 8 PUBG MOBILE Chevrolet
“• Josh Berry has made two starts at the 2.66-mile track in Talladega, Ala. with a best finish of ninth coming in the fall of 2021.
• On tracks measuring more than 2 miles in length, Berry has seven starts with two top-five and four top-10 finishes, while pacing the field for 28 circuits.
• Berry remains fifth in the championship standings after an eventful race at Martinsville. The 31-year-old is only 94 points from the lead.
• The Hendersonville, Tenn. native has made 37 career starts in the NXS and has earned two wins, nine top fives and 18 top 10s.

Noah Gragson
No. 9 Bass Pro Shops / TrueTimber / Black Rifle Coffee Chevrolet
• This weekend, Noah Gragson and the No. 9 Bass Pro Shops/TrueTimber® Camo/Black Rifle Coffee team will seek to post their first victory at Talladega after previously visiting Victory Lane at its sister track, Daytona, in February of 2020.
• The 23-year-old driver has been successful at Talladega in the past, earning a pair of top-five finishes and four in the top 10 in six career NXS starts there. He has also led 56 laps on the 2.66-mile superspeedway.
• Gragson enters the race third in series points and already qualified for the NXS Playoffs by virtue of his victory at Phoenix Raceway last month.

Justin Allgaier
No. 7 Walmart Fight Hunger Spark Change Chevrolet
• In 13 previous starts in the NXS at Talladega, Justin Allgaier has earned a best finish of second, coming in this event in 2016.
• Overall, the Illinois native has scored four top fives and seven top 10s at the historic Alabama oval.
• At the superspeedways of Daytona International Speedway and Talladega in the NXS, Allgaier has amassed 10 top fives and 17 top 10s in 36 starts.
• According to NASCAR’s loop data statistics, Allgaier currently ranks first in green flag passes (2,813), quality passes (1.897), laps led (86) and fastest laps run (46) at Talladega.

Driver Quotes

“Taylor (Moyer, crew chief) and the No. 1 Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions team have built strong cars all year long and it has started to show the last few weeks. We’ve put together a strong run of three straight top-five finishes and that is what we set out to do. If we can keep doing that, the wins will come. Hopefully we keep that going this weekend and are racing for the win at the end of the day.” – Sam Mayer

“Talladega is a place where anything can, and usually does happen. At any given moment you can go from being out front to being stuck in the back of the pack. But I’m really looking forward to getting there and seeing what we can do with our Walmart Fight Hunger. Spark Change. Chevrolet. We had a lot of speed here last fall and I know that we will back that up again when we unload on Friday. Hopefully we can keep our nose clean all race long and work well with our JR Motorsports teammates to be in contention for the victory in the end.” – Justin Allgaier

“JRM always has really fast speedway cars and Bummy (Mike Bumgarner, crew chief) and this entire PUBG MOBILE No. 8 team have always been towards the front in the past. That gives us confidence as we head into this weekend at Talladega. We started the year off strong but have hit a minor rough patch so we’re ready to get this team back to Victory Lane where it belongs.” – Josh Berry

“I know when we get to these speedway races that this Bass Pro Shops/TrueTimber/Black Rifle Coffee team always has a chance to win. We’ve led a lot of laps at these types of places and are usually near the front in contention. If we can keep our nose clean, I think we will be battling for the win at the= end. It’s going to be a busy weekend for me running the Cup car this weekend but I can’t wait to get down to Talladega.” – Noah Gragson

JRM Team Updates:

• Fourth Anniversary: Celebrating its fourth anniversary, PUBG MOBILE is a battle royale mobile game developed by Lightspeed and Quantum Studios of Tencent Games and KRAFTON, Inc. and is based on PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS. The game focuses on visual quality, maps, fast-paced action, and other aspects, providing an all-rounded surreal battle royale experience to players. For more information, visit pubgmobile.com and download the game for free on the App Store or Google Play Store.
• Fight Hunger. Spark Change: For 2022, Walmart and Sam’s Club are once again coming together in support of the Feeding America® network through the Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign. Now in its ninth year, the campaign has been a way for Walmart and Sam’s Club to partner with suppliers, customers and members – including our partner, Unilever, to help provide food to people in need. To date, the campaign has helped to secure more than 5.8 billion meals. In coordination with the Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign, Unilever will donate the monetary equivalent of at least one meal ($0.10) to Feeding America from April 18 – May 15, 2022, with a guaranteed minimum donation of $250,000 and maximum donation of $1,000,000. $1 helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local member food banks. For more information on the Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign and for ways to donate, please visit www.FeedingAmerica.org/Walmart or www.FeedingAmerica.org/SamsClub.

Rheem® and Kevin Harvick Chasing a Cure While Chasing Another Win at Darlington

By
Official Release
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Pretty in Pink
Rheem® and Kevin Harvick Chasing a Cure
While Chasing Another Win at Darlington

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (April 20, 2022) – As Kevin Harvick chases a fourth NASCAR Cup Series victory at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway in the May 8 Goodyear 400, Rheem will promote its Chasing a Cure campaign to support cancer research by adding a touch of pink to Harvick’s No. 4 Rheem Ford Mustang.

On the Official Throwback Weekend of NASCAR, the pink-and-black design Harvick will sport at Darlington is a throwback to the liveries Harvick ran in October 2011 and October 2012 when Rheem first launched its Chasing a Cure campaign. In the 2022 edition, the primary beneficiary is St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, with the No. 4 Rheem/Chasing a Cure Ford Mustang serving as a call to action for fans to support pediatric cancer research by visiting StJude.org/Donate. Meanwhile, Rheem’s Heart of Comfort program will donate $25,000 to St. Jude.

“When Rheem first got involved in NASCAR racing, Kevin, his wife DeLana, and our late friend Sue Karli, were three key foundational building blocks on which today’s Rheem Racing program is built. They were also critical to conceiving and nurturing the original Rheem Chasing a Cure campaign,” said Ed Raniszeski, executive director, Rheem Motorsports. “Having that beautiful pink paint scheme back on the track with Kevin at the wheel is truly what we believe the spirit of the Darlington Throwback Weekend on Mother’s Day is all about.”

Darlington also serves as a milestone for Rheem. America’s No. 1 water heating brand and major air conditioning and heating manufacturer is commemorating its 15th year in racing, and the Goodyear 400 marks its 500th race as a NASCAR sponsor.

“Bringing together our NASCAR sponsorship, our history with Kevin Harvick, and our community giving program on our 500th race makes Darlington Throwback Weekend very special for Rheem,” said Michelle Caldwell, senior manager, marketing, Rheem. “We’re proud to support St Jude Children’s Research Hospital and we ask our fans to join us in Chasing a Cure.”

Darlington marks the second of three races where Rheem is the primary partner for Harvick and the No. 4 team in 2022. Harvick carried Rheem to a 12th-place finish in its debut with Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) on March 6 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. After Darlington, Harvick will drive the No. 4 Rheem Ford Mustang again Sept. 11 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City.

The pairing has reunited Rheem with Harvick, a relationship that began in 2007 when Harvick won the Daytona 500 in dramatic fashion, beating NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin for the victory by .02 of a second in a frantic, green-white-checkered finish. It led to Rheem serving as a primary partner for Harvick’s NASCAR Xfinity Series team, Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI), in 2008. Rheem’s debut with KHI came on May 2, 2008 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway where Harvick finished second in the Lipton Tea 250. Harvick delivered Rheem its first victory as a primary sponsor on Feb. 27, 2010 when he won the Sam’s Town 300 at Las Vegas. Rheem aligned as a primary partner with Harvick in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2011 and stayed with him through the 2013 season before Harvick joined SHR in 2014.

“It’s been 15 years since we first started working with Rheem and it’s great to be back with them,” Harvick said. “The NASCAR fan is their customer, and we’ve worked really hard to understand that relationship to ensure Rheem gets a good return on its investment. This year kind of throws it back to how it all began with Rheem being a primary sponsor on one of my racecars. I’m proud to carry their colors again in 2022.”

About Rheem:

Founded in 1925, Rheem® innovates new ways to deliver precise temperatures while saving energy, water and supporting a more sustainable future. Rheem is America’s No. 1 water heating brand with products available in more than 80 countries. Paloma Co., Ltd.® of Nagoya, Japan, acquired the iconic Rheem brand in 1988. Today the company’s portfolio of premium brands include Rheem®, Raypak®, Ruud®, Eemax®, Richmond®, Splendid®, Solahart® and EverHot™ as well as commercial refrigeration brands Russell®, Witt®, ColdZone® and Kramer®, which are part of the Heat Transfer Products Group (HTPG®) division and, most recently, Friedrich, an industry leader in high-end air conditioning solutions.

About Stewart-Haas Racing:

Stewart-Haas Racing is the title-winning NASCAR team co-owned by three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart and Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation – the largest CNC machine tool builder in North America. The Kannapolis, North Carolina-based organization has won two NASCAR Cup Series titles, one NASCAR Xfinity Series championship and more than 90 NASCAR races, including such crown-jewel events as the Daytona 500, Brickyard 400 and Southern 500. For more information, please visit us online at StewartHaasRacing.com and on social at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Brad Keselowski – Talladega I Advance

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Official Release
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Team: No. 6 Castrol Carbon Neutral Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Matt McCall
Twitter: @RFK6Team, @RFKRacing and @keselowski
Race Format: 500 miles, 188 laps, Stages: 60-60-68
NCS Race at Talladega – Sunday, April 24 at 3 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Weekend Format

· The weekend at Talladega features single-car qualifying only for the Cup cars, which will take place Saturday morning at 11 a.m. ET.

Keselowski at Talladega Superspeedway

· Keselowski enters the weekend as the winningest active driver at Talladega with six Cup wins, and is tied for second on the all-time list with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon.

· Since 2014, Keselowski has four wins – two each in the spring race and two each in the fall race. He is the defending race winner from last spring, and in the fall finished runner-up, one of his 13 top-10s at the track all-time in 26 starts.

· Overall, Keselowski won at Talladega in 2009 (spring), 2012 (spring), 2014 (fall), 2016 (spring), 2017 (fall) and 2021 (spring).
· He also made five NXS starts at the 2.66-mile track with one in (2010) in the No. 22 entry.

Matt McCall at Talladega Superspeedway

· McCall is back on the box this weekend, and will call his 15th Cup race at Talladega. In 14 starts he has five top-10s and a 20.6 average finish.
· McCall’s best Cup finish at Talladega came back in 2017 with Jamie McMurray in the spring event finishing second. He’s also run fourth twice, once with McMurray in 2016, and again with Kurt Busch last fall.

QUOTE WORTHY
Keselowski on racing at Talladega:
“For me, obviously Talladega is a special place in my mind and always will be. It is a place of unknowns in a lot of cases, but fortunately I’ve been able to be very successful there now with six victories, which is a hard feat at any one track. We all know most of Sunday is about survival, but we also know our Superspeedway cars at RFK consistently perform at a high level. Proud to have Castrol on board with us and help carry the carbon neutral and sustainability banner as we try and go for yet another Talladega victory.”

Last Time Out

Keselowski finished 11th in the Easter Sunday Bristol dirt race after running inside the top 10 in much of the 250-lap event.

On the Car

As part of its ongoing initiative with the first carbon neutral race car and RFK’s sustainability mindset, Brad Keselowski and the No. 6 team will be in the all-white scheme throughout the weekend, and with it wear all white crew shirts and firesuits. RFK became the first carbon neutral NASCAR race team in 2021.

The initiative is part of Castrol’s ongoing relationship with RFK and is another step toward supporting its partners in achieving their lower carbon ambitions. Prior to the race on Sunday, Castrol will lead a community-wide clean-up with Keselowski and other RFK personnel in Oxford, Alabama, helping to recognize Earth Day. Fans are encouraged to post pictures to Instagram of their own clean-ups with the hashtag #DrivingForChange for a chance to win Keselowski’s firesuit.

About Castrol
Castrol, a global leader in lubricant technology, serves consumers in over 140 countries. Our leadership brands include Castrol® GTX® — a premium conventional motor oil; Castrol® GTX® High–Mileage™ – a premium synthetic blend designed for vehicles with over 75,000 miles; the Castrol® EDGE ® line of advanced full-synthetic super premium motor oils that offer unsurpassed strength and performance; as well as our range of commercial transport lubricants. To find out more about Castrol products and programs, please call 1–888–CASTROL or visit www.castrol.com/us.

Amber Balcaen and Rette Jones Racing Ready to Take on Talladega Superspeedway

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Official Release
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TALLADEGA, Ala.: After more than a month’s sabbatical, Amber Balcaen and Rette Jones Racing’s quest for the 2022 ARCA Menards Series championship leads to Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway for Saturday afternoon’s General Tire 200.

Balcaen in her first full season of driving duties aboard the No. 30 ICON Direct Ford Fusion invades the final superspeedway race of the 2022 season looking to utilize the experience of her Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway debut in February and deliver her first top-10 finish of the season.

“I am super excited to race at Talladega Superspeedway this weekend,” said Balcaen.

“This break between Phoenix and Talladega has seemed long, so I’m more than ready to be back in the No. 30 ICON Direct Ford Fusion with the Rette Jones Racing crew.

“I am especially excited for Talladega because after having a race under my belt from Daytona, I now know what to expect for a superspeedway race. I also love the fundamentals of superspeedway racing. I love the rush of going fast and being in the draft.”

Knowing that the same basics apply between Daytona and Talladega, Balcaen believes the experience that she amassed during the 80-lap season-opener earlier this year at Daytona will improve her craft on Saturday.

“After competing at Daytona, I know what it feels like to be in the draft,” she explained. “I learned how to manage the air and speed in the cars whether I was in a small draft of cars or huge draft of cars. I’m planning to showcase and apply everything I learned at Daytona to Talladega, which makes me very optimistic for the race.”

After an early exit in the most recent ARCA Menards Series race at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway last month, the Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada native is still taking solace knowing she’s moved inside the top-10 in the ARCA championship standings and hopes the third race of the year will help her continue her climb forward.

“I have taken this month’s break to really prepare for this upcoming season,” Balcaen said. “I have been spending a lot of time in the gym, on iRacing and on my mental game. I feel very optimistic about the busy upcoming stretch of races as well as the rest of the ARCA season.”

As far as Talladega is concerned, Balcaen believes her Rette Jones Racing No. 30 ICON Direct Ford Fusion is plenty capable of a top-10 finish.

“I would like a top 10 finish at Talladega which I think is a very manageable goal,” she said. “I want to have fun like I did in Daytona and keep progressing forward as a driver.”

For crew chief and co-team owner Rette, he is confident that his rookie driver will adapt and find her groove and continue a solid pace in her ARCA Menards Series quest.

“Amber really did a good job at Daytona,” added Rette. “She learned a lot, kept our No. 30 ICON Direct Ford Fusion out of trouble and delivered a solid finish. She is more than capable of improving on Daytona at Talladega on Saturday.

“With no qualifying before the race, we’ll have to make sure we get her comfortable in the draft because she’ll be likely starting in the eye of the storm and it’s going to be important to get her in a position where she can quickly and decisively move forward and ride a lot of the race until she’s in a position to make a move at the end of the race.

“She’d like a top-10 on Saturday and that would be a good boost for our Rette Jones Racing team and give us some great momentum for Kansas Speedway next month.”

ICON Direct will continue to adorn the primary positions on Balcaen’s race car in their second of 20 races this season.

ICON Direct is a manufacturer of high-quality plastic component parts for the RV industry, located in Manitoba, Canada. ICON aftermarket replacement parts are available through RV Dealers and Distributors across North America and directly through their website IconDirect.com.

The Winnipeger’s new endeavor at Rette Jones Racing will also be supported by Glenn McLeod and Sons – cementing a full Canadian roster of partners for her ARCA Menards Series rookie season.

Longtime RJR partners Ford Performance, Goodridge Fluid Transfer Systems, Jones Group Demolition and Abatement and JRi Shocks will continue their relationship with the team in 2022 and serve as associate partners on Balcaen’s No. 30 ICON Direct Ford Fusion.

RJR is co-owned by Canadian entrepreneur and former race car driver Terry Jones.

For more on Amber Balcaen, please visit amberbalcaenracing.com, like her on Facebook (AmberBalcaenRacing) and follow her on Instagram (@amberbalcaen10) and Twitter (@amberbalcaen10).

For more on Rette Jones Racing, please visit RetteJonesRacing.com, like them on Facebook (Rette Jones Racing) or follow them on Instagram (@RetteJones30) and Twitter (@RetteJones30).

The General Tire 200 (76 laps | 200 miles) is the third of 20 races on the 2022 ARCA Menards Series schedule. Group practice begins on Fri. April 22 from 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. The series won’t host qualifying, setting the field by 2021 ARCA car owner standings. The 60th ARCA from Talladega is set to take the green flag on Saturday, April 23 shortly after 12:00 p.m. The event will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with the Motor Racing Network (MRN) handling the radio waves. ARCARacing.com will also stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire weekend festivities. All times are local (CT).

About Rette Jones Racing:

Headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, Rette Jones Racing (RJR) was founded in 2015 with the intent of building a successful racing operation built around the fundamentals of hard work and a never-give-up attitude.

Owned by racers Terry Jones and Mark Rette, RJR plan to field a full-time entry in 2022 in the ARCA Menards Series, while also planning to field vehicles in the ARCA Menards Series East and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) respectively.

The winning ARCA team also offers technical and setup intel as part of its technical alliance partnership program.

No. 10 Smithfield/IHOP Ford Racing: Aric Almirola Talladega Advance

By
Official Release
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ARIC ALMIROLA
Talladega Advance
No. 10 Smithfield/IHOP Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview

● Event: Geico 500 (Round 10 of 36)
● Time/Date: 3 p.m. EDT on Sunday, April 24
● Location: Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway
● Layout: 2.5-mile Superspeedway
● Laps/Miles: 188 laps/250 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 60 laps / Stage 2: 60 laps / Final Stage: 68 laps
● TV/Radio: FOX / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● History at Talladega: In 24 career NASCAR Cup Series starts, Aric Almirola has one win, nine top-10 finishes, five top-fives, and has led 71 laps at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. In the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Talladega, Almirola visited victory lane in May 2017.

● With his third-place finish in the June 2020 race at Talladega, Almirola tied the record of eight consecutive Talladega top-10s set by Dale Earnhardt Jr., from April 2001 to October 2004. Despite seeing his streak come to an abrupt end thanks to a multicar accident on lap 57 of the October 2020 race on the 2.66-mile oval, Almirola’s average finish in his last 10 Talladega outings is 11.1 – best in the NASCAR Cup Series.

● Almirola has already shown strength in the NextGen car at superspeedways this year. In the season-opening Daytona 500, Almirola had a strong run before crossing the finish line fifth. Last month, on the newly repaved and reconfigured Atlanta Motor Speedway oval, which now races like a superspeedway, Almirola led six laps before he was spun while leading the inside lane, ultimately damaging the car and placing him 22nd.

● Almirola finished 23rd in Sunday night’s Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway dirt race. It was his best finish in two dirt-race starts at the track.

● Points: Almirola arrives at Talladega 12th in the driver standings with 237 points, 87 out of first.

● Almirola’s career: In 397 NASCAR Cup Series starts, Almirola has earned three wins, 27 top-five finishes, 88 top-10s, three poles, and has led 899 laps.

● Almirola was the only NASCAR Cup Series driver to finish in the top-10 in this year’s opening three races. He finished fifth in the season-opening Daytona 500 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, sixth at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, and sixth at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Almirola’s top-10 streak ended with a 12th-place finish at Phoenix Raceway despite running inside the top-10 throughout the race.

● IHOP will adorn the No. 10 Smithfield Ford this weekend with a specialty paint scheme. IHOP is launching the International Bank of Pancakes, the brand’s first loyalty program designed to spread joy to guests. Unlike other banks that keep their fortunes under lock and key, IHOP is opening the vaults to share the wealth and spread happiness with its most loyal guests. To sign up, customers can create an account on IHOP.com or through the IHOP Mobile App. Guests can earn PanCoins – digital tokens they can redeem for rewards. Every $5 spent equals one PanCoin, or one pancake. Three PanCoins equal one Short Stack of Buttermilk Pancakes, while five PanCoins equal one Full Stack. PanCoins are housed on the Stack Market, where they can be traded for a coupon to use on a variety of tasty assets. In addition, Almirola’s name is replaced with “The PanCoin Man” on the door frame of his racecar.

● One More Time: On Jan. 10, Almirola released a video on his YouTube channel announcing his retirement from fulltime NASCAR Cup Series racing after the 2022 season to spend more time with his family. This year marks Almirola’s 11th fulltime Cup Series season. The official press release can be viewed here.

● Beyond the 10 YouTube Series:In 2022, Almirola is once again sharing his life beyond the No. 10 Smithfield Ford with season three of his award-winning YouTube series. Fans and media can subscribe on YouTube to see Almirola’s personality on and off the track. Episodes have already featured life as a dad, a husband and an athlete, and it gives fans a unique perspective on what goes on in the life of a professional NASCAR driver. Fans can also follow Almirola’s social media channels: @Aric_Almirola on Twitter and Instagram, and @AricAlmirola on Facebook.

Aric Almirola, Driver of the No. 10 Smithfield/IHOP Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing:

You had success at the season-opening Daytona 500 and you ran up front at Atlanta. How confident are you heading to Talladega?

“We’re as confident this year as ever. We’ve run up front at Daytona and Atlanta this year. We had a shot at the Daytona 500 win at the end there, and we were in a position to race for a win at Atlanta before we were taken out toward the end. If we can continue to avoid the inevitable wrecks, we’ll be there again. I have no doubt about that.”

What is your favorite memory of your career?

“I would say so far to date, my highlight was winning in 2018 at Talladega. It was my first win for Stewart-Haas Racing. It was the first win for Smithfield since joining Stewart-Haas Racing. It happened in the playoffs, coming off of a race where I felt like I should have won at Dover and I didn’t. And then we rebounded and backed it up with a win at Talladega and it catapulted us into the next round of the playoffs, where we eventually went on to finish fifth in the points championship. So it was a phenomenal year and that race at Talladega was a very pivotal moment.”

Stewart-Haas Racing dominated that 2018 Talladega race. Why was that?

“So often you go into a race weekend, especially at a superspeedway where you have a plan and you start thinking about, like, ‘Alright, this is this is our plan. This is when we’re going to pit together. This is what we’re going to do on the racetrack together.’ And rarely does that ever work out, right? It never pans out. We show up and we all start racing for ourselves and we don’t work together at all. So that was an incredible weekend to where we showed up and we had incredibly fast racecars, which made it way easier to work together. And then we started the race with all of us working together and kind of dominating the race, and we realized, ‘This is going to pay off, like, this is going to work out and pay off. So we need to stay to this plan,’ and I think that’s really what helped it. Oftentimes, when you come up with a plan and you start working together and the next thing you know, you find yourself in the middle of the pack, you’re like, ‘Oh, this isn’t working,’ and you abandon the plan, you jump ship. So for the fact that we had fast racecars and our plan was working and we were dominating the race, it made it very easy to stay to the plan.”

No. 10 Smithfield/IHOP Ford Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Aric Almirola
Hometown: Tampa, Florida

Crew Chief: Drew Blickensderfer
Hometown: Decatur, Illinois

Car Chief: Jerry Cook
Hometown: Toledo, Ohio

Engineer: Davin Restivo
Hometown: Asheboro, North Carolina

Engineer: James Kimbrough
Hometown: Pensacola, Florida

Spotter: Joel Edmonds
Hometown: Dobson, North Carolina

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Ryan Mulder
Hometown: Sioux Center, Iowa

Rear Tire Changer: Trevor White
Hometown: Arlington, Texas

Tire Carrier: Tyler Bullard
Hometown: King, North Carolina

Jack Man: Sean Cotton
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Fuel Man: James “Ace” Keener
Hometown: Fortuna, California

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Chris Trickett
Hometown: Grafton, West Virginia

Mechanic: Robbie Fairweather
Hometown: Westbrookville, New York

Engine Tuner: Matt Moeller
Hometown: Monroe, New York

Tire Specialist: Rusty Davidson
Hometown: Mount Juliet, Tennessee

Transporter Co-Driver: Steven Casper
Hometown: Salisbury, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Matt Murphy
Hometown: Augusta, Georgia

SPIRE MOTORSPORTS WAVES GREEN FLAG ON MULTI-RACE PARTNERSHIP WITH RAZE ENERGY BEGINNING WITH GEICO 500 AT TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY

By
Official Release
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CONCORD, N.C. (April 19, 2022) – Spire Motorsports and RAZE Energy are pleased to announce a multi-race partnership beginning with Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway where RAZE Energy will serve as the primary sponsor of Corey LaJoie’s No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.

The GEICO 500 will mark the first of several races in 2022 where RAZE Energy products will be showcased aboard Spire Motorsports’ entries.

RAZE Energy, the 2021 Energy Drink Brand of The Year as awarded by “Stack3d”, and 2021 Clash of the Cans winner is the only energy drink created based on input from its consumers.

RAZE Energy “insiders” suggest flavors, taste test, vote and then contribute to the graphic design process prior to new a product launch. The process, which determines how flavors are selected, relies on feedback from over 5,000 insiders.

Following that process, RAZE Energy releases limited edition flavors every month.

White Peach will be featured aboard LaJoie’s No. 7 machine and is RAZE Energy’s first limited edition to be named a permanent flavor. RAZE is manufactured and bottled in its Orlando, Fla., headquarters to ensure superior quality and consistency.

“Our entire team is thrilled to unveil the RAZE Energy partnership with Spire Motorsports
this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway,” said RAZE Energy Founder Chris Wagner. “When it comes to marketing, there is no bigger stage. Talladega always puts on exciting races, and I’m thrilled to see this program afford us the opportunity to reach millions of loyal NASCAR fans. With White Peach being voted our first limited edition to become a permanent flavor, it makes great sense to showcase that product on Corey LaJoie’s No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro this weekend to kick off the program.”

Nine races into the 2022 NCS season, LaJoie has notched one top-five and four top-20 finishes. The 30-year-old Concord, N.C., native recorded a career-best fifth-place finish in the series most recent restrictor-plate race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

In eight previous starts at the legendary 2.66-mile Talladega, Ala., tri-oval, LaJoie has earned one top 10 and three top 20s, including a venue-best seventh-place finish on October 14, 2019.

Meanwhile, Spire Motorsports will leverage its collective experience with Good Hemp and Diamond Creek Water to help position RAZE Energy as one of the newest and most attractive beverages in the category.

“We have a great opportunity to introduce Raze Energy to the most loyal fan base in sports at one of NASCAR’s most iconic venues this weekend,” said Spire Motorsports co-owner T.J. Puchyr. “I’ve had the opportunity to get to know Chris Wagner and his team over the last few months and we’re both eager to see what the future holds for RAZE Energy. Our teams share tremendous synergy and collectively, we see this program as a like-minded partnership. Corey does a great job at restrictor-plate races so Talladega is the perfect track to roll out the program.”

The GEICO 500 from Talladega Superspeedway will be televised live on FOX Sunday, April 24 beginning at 3 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The 10th of 36 races on the 2022 NCS schedule will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

About Spire Motorsports …
Spire Motorsports was established in 2018 and is co-owned by Jeff Dickerson and Thaddeus “T.J.” Puchyr. In 2022, Spire Motorsports will field two full-time NASCAR Cup Series entries. Corey LaJoie will drive the team’s No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in NASCAR’s premier series for the entire 2022 campaign while Josh Bilicki and Landon Cassill will split time in the team’s No. 77 entry. The team will also field a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team in select events.

Spire Motorsports earned an upset victory for the ages in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 7, 2019.

Debunking Myths About Sports Concussions

By
SM
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Photo by Ben Hershey on Unsplash

While a concussion is a frequent sports injury, there is conflicting information on the causes, risk factors, and healing process. The increased attention these serious injuries are getting in the media has parents and coaches asking what more they need to know about concussions. A practical place to start is debunking some common myths about a sports concussion. 

You Must Be Hit in the Head to Have a Concussion

A concussion occurs due to the force that presses the brain against the hard skull. That can happen with a direct hit to the head, but that force can come from other places, too. A blow to the face, for example. 

It can also result from shaking as force hits another part of the body or from whiplash-like injuries. For instance, the brain can move about and bang into the skull’s interior when the upper body takes a forceful hit or movement. An example of this is a vehicle accident or when being violently shaken.

A Helmet Will Protect Against a Concussion

Helmets are protective equipment that can prevent skull fractures or more catastrophic injuries, such as a bleed in the brain. They cannot, however, ensure there will not be a concussion. 

If you imagine that the brain sits floating in liquid inside a jar, you get a better idea of how concussions happen. When someone slams a jar of pickles down on a table, everything inside bounces off the side. That is what happens to the brain when there is a jolt or hard hit. The helmet will not stop that force from slamming the brain against the inside of the skull. 

You Must Be Unconscious to Have a Concussion

Some people lose consciousness after sustaining a concussion. Most concussions, however, do not result in loss of consciousness. For example, a 2015 study found that only nine percent of people who experience a concussion lose consciousness. 

That same study found that: 

  • 87% of people have a headache. 
  • 77% have balance problems and dizziness
  • 62% have brain fog
  • 30% have some level of amnesia, usually regarding the trauma

As these numbers indicate, there are more common symptoms than unconsciousness. 

Leaving Due to a Sports Concussion Lets the Team Down

The choice to leave a game is difficult for most athletes, whether they experience a sports concussion or some other injury. However, keep in mind that players who choose to continue with a potential concussion put themselves at risk for much more severe health problems. Therefore, being off the team permanently is a more significant concern. 

Symptoms of a Concussion Start Right Away

Concussion symptoms might emerge soon after an accident, but they can appear the next day or even two or more days later. In fact, younger athletes are more prone to experience delayed onset of signs and symptoms.

It Is Okay to Return to the Game After the Symptoms Stop

Nothing could be further from the truth. Any athlete at risk of concussion should remain out of the game to prevent further injury. They should not return to training until a healthcare provider rules out concussions. 

When someone experiences a concussion, diagnosed or not, the recommendation is to wait at least three weeks before returning to play. After that, follow the rules provided by the sports organization and the healthcare team’s recommendations. 

Place Bet Online at 12Play Free SGD Credit Online Casino

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SM
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Online casino is gaining rapid popularity, and we can’t stress how important it is for you to find a reliable platform like 12Play. The website is reliable, registered, and stands out in terms of the quality of games and the bonuses that you get to enjoy. Given that Singapore is one of the leading spots for popular online casino games, it isn’t surprising that 12Play steals the show.

If you aren’t well acquainted with what 12Play is and what you can get from the platform, this post should give you a quick rundown.

What are the available bonuses and promotions on 12Play?

Besides everything, the bestselling feature of this website is the diverse availability of games. You get to choose from different kinds of bonuses, which make the games and chances of winning a lot more interactive. 

Some of the most popular bonuses and promotions on the free SGD credit online casino include:

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  • Casino bonus – much like the staple sports bonuses, the casino bonuses are applicable and particularly dedicated to the online casino games that are available on the platform. If you want to try your luck at the different casino games but don’t want to splurge out, this is where you can save a lot of coins.
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12Play is a trusted and accessible Singapore-based online 4D lottery platform that offers you access to a variety of online casino games too. If you are considering indulging in their website, these are some of the most common types of bonuses and promotions they offer.

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