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Interstate Batteries Racing: Kyle Busch Talladega Advance

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Official Release
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KYLE BUSCH
Adding to the Resume

HUNTERSVILLE, North Carolina (April 19, 2022) – With his victory in Sunday night’s Food City Dirt Race at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, Kyle Busch added plenty of new numbers to his already thick racing resume with some ties to a couple of NASCAR’s all-time greats.

For starters, it was Busch’s 60th career NASCAR Cup Series victory, which is ninth on the all-time list and 16 wins behind Dale Earnhardt’s 76 all-time wins, which is eighth on the list.

Additionally, it gave Busch at least one win for the 18th consecutive season to tie a record held by another NASCAR legend – Richard Petty. That puts Busch in position to eclipse Petty’s mark in 2023.

With his first win of the season secured and a playoff spot all but assured, Busch will now head to Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway with the familiar green colors of Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) founding partner Interstate Batteries returning to the Las Vegas native’s No. 18 Toyota Camry TRD for the second time this season. Interstate Batteries has a long history not only in the sport, but winning in the sport, as well. The company is celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2022 while also reaching an impressive milestone of 31 years as a team sponsor at JGR.

Busch would like nothing more than to add to the winning history of Interstate Batteries. NASCAR Hall of Famers Dale Jarrett and Bobby Labonte, along with a future Hall of Famer in Busch, have combined to win 30 races in the green, Interstate-themed No. 18 car for JGR.

To bring home another victory for Interstate Batteries is always tricky at the mammoth 2.66-mile Talladega track, where Busch has found fortune both good and bad. With lessons learned during his 18 seasons on the tour, the two-time Cup Series champion knows anything can happen at Talladega, where one lap, or even one corner, could change a driver’s fortunes quickly.

He has conquered Talladega just once in his career, his lone win coming in April 2008. The Las Vegas native knows the winner of Sunday’s 500-mile race will need to have a strong car and some good fortune at the longest track on the schedule, where the potential for huge, multiple-car accidents is always a possibility.

With Interstate Batteries back on board this weekend, Busch will look to keep adding to his resume and continue to break records, as he has during his successful 15-year run with his longtime sponsor on board, and continue the success Interstate Batteries has enjoyed in its 31 years with JGR.

KYLE BUSCH, Driver of the No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing:

What does it mean to tie Richard Petty by winning at least once in 18 consecutive seasons?

“To me, it’s a long time, 18 years. The biggest thing to me is just having that opportunity and being thankful for my chances with Joe Gibbs Racing, Joe, Coy, everybody at Interstate Batteries and M&M’S having my back over this long of a time, keeping me in the seat. But a lot of different people to work with, a lot of different cars we’ve gone through, a lot of things that we have done and won races in during those years. With how we’ve struggled, how our year has been this year, did we deserve to win Sunday night at Bristol? Yeah, I mean, we ran up front all night, we were in contention, that was great. I’ll take that. We’ve got a lot of work to do to win more races and be in contention each and every week. I say all this because, yes, the 18 (consecutive seasons with at least one win) is important, but I feel like I’m in the prime of my career and I would love to be running up front and dominating and winning races and contending for championships. That’s our ultimate goal.”

What is the key to pulling off a victory at Talladega?

“The key there is to somehow stay out of trouble, and hope we can do that with our Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry TRD. You stay where the pack is, generally, and we get up single file on the wall at times until it’s time to go, and you can pretty much run wide open every single lap. Everyone can run up on top of each other. When you get single file at the bottom, sometimes it’s hard to get a lane on the outside with enough good cars to get something going. It can be frustrating at times because of that. It also seems to still put on a good race each time we go there. If you can be a contender and stay in line on the bottom, you can make it a pretty easy and safe race. Normally, guys are not content doing that, so that’s when it starts to get crazy.”

Is it an advantage being a former winner at Talladega?

“It doesn’t matter at all. It’s such a crapshoot there in the last 20, 30 or 40 laps that you never really know who is going to win, what’s going to happen, and where the wreck is going to come from.”

Do you try and duplicate what worked at Talladega before?

“Yeah, I think so. I mean, there are obviously times when you feel like you want to push hard and go get a win or go get a better finish than where you’re currently running. But, you know you’ve just got to do what you can in order to let these races kind of fall into place, and sometimes it’s just worth taking the finish that’s coming to you and moving on and going to the next one. It doesn’t always help to push too hard, either, at times. There’s a balance there, for sure. It can also help to just sit back, relax and finish where you can, so we’ll see how it plays out for us. You just hope you have enough Toyotas running up front at the end to get any help. That’s what it comes down to a lot at Talladega, getting the help from your teammates, since it’s hard to do that on your own.”

What can a driver still control at Talladega?

“You kind of look at what Denny (Hamlin) does and what Brad (Keselowski) does, the guys who are good racers at Daytona and Talladega and the guys who are fast at those places. Denny makes the most out of what he’s got for equipment, and I’ve got the same stuff and I’m not quite as forceful in situations as he is, and he makes that work for him. I won’t try to put myself in a bad spot to cause something, but it’s always a challenge and it’s always different. I feel like, every time you go to Talladega it’s the same, but it’s different and you just don’t know what to expect. A lot of new drivers who are out there don’t have wins, yet, in our series who are going to be hungry and looking for wins. So they’re going to be trying to punch their ticket to the playoffs and be very aggressive. You’ve got to be mindful of that, too.”

Event Overview:

● Event: GEICO 500 (Round 10 of 36)
● Time/Date: 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 24
● Location: Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway
● Layout: 2.66-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 188 laps/500 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 60 laps / Stage 2: 60 laps / Final Stage: 68 laps
● TV/Radio: FOX / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Meet the No. 18 Interstate Batteries / Joe Gibbs Racing Team

Primary Team Members:

Driver: Kyle Busch
Hometown: Las Vegas

Crew Chief: Ben Beshore
Hometown: York, Pennsylvania

Car Chief: Nate Bellows
Hometown: Fairfax, Vermont

Spotter: Tony Hirschman
Hometown: Northampton, Pennsylvania

Race Engineer: Seth Chavka
Hometown: Soldotna, Alaska

Race Engineer: Jaik Halpainy
Hometown: Blockville, New York

Over-The-Wall Crew Members:

Gas Man: Matt Tyrrell
Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Front Tire Changer: Thomas Hatcher
Hometown: Middleburg, Florida

Jackman: Kellen Mills
Hometown: Mesa, Arizona

Tire Carrier: CJ Bailey
Hometown: Outer Banks, North Carolina

Rear Tire Changer: Lee Cunningham
Hometown: Leaf River, Illinois

Road Crew Members:

Engine Tuner: Dan Bajek
Hometown: Camden, New York

Truck Driver: Chris Miko
Hometown: Bronx, New York

Truck Driver: Mike Curtis
Hometown: Grandby, Connecticut

Mechanic/Tire Specialist: Justin Peiffer
Hometown: Lebanon, Pennsylvania

Mechanic: Scott Eldridge
Hometown: Warsaw, Indiana

Mechanic: Tony Hamm
Hometown: Walla, Walla, Washington

Notes of Interest:

● Busch has one win, six top-five finishes and eight top-10s and has led a total of 260 laps in 33 career NASCAR Cup Series starts at Talladega. Busch’s average Talladega finish is 21.0.

● Alone in Ninth: The two-time Cup Series champion’s 60th career win Sunday night at Bristol put him two wins ahead of 10th-place Kevin Harvick, who has 58 wins. Ahead of Busch at eighth on the all-time wins list is Dale Earnhardt, the seven-time Cup Series champion and NASCAR Hall of Famer who won 76 races during his storied career.

● Moving on Up: With his first win of the season at Bristol, Busch heads to Talladega sixth in the driver standings and in position to make the Cup Series playoffs for the 10th consecutive year.

● 223 and Counting: Busch will be aiming to add to his record 223 overall wins among NASCAR’s top three series this weekend at Talladega. In addition to his 60 Cup Series wins and 102 in the Xfinity Series, Busch has 61 wins in the Camping World Truck Series.

Brandon Brown Returns to Talladega Superspeedway Hopeful to Find Himself Back in Victory Lane

By
Official Release
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Brandonbilt Motorsports and primary partner, Tradethechain.com, prepare to take on Talladega with heads held high after Brown’s victory in October

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (April 18, 2022) – Brandonbilt Motorsports (BMS) announces today that Trade The Chain will return as the primary sponsor of Brandon Brown’s No. 68 Chevrolet Camaro for the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday, April 23. Brown, the defending Talladega race-winner, looks to secure victory number two in the Ag-Pro 300.

“I know that I’m going to be a pretty popular guy when I get to Talladega. I just hope that I can back it up,” says Brown when asked his feelings about the upcoming weekend. Brown earned his first ever NASCAR Premier Series win at Talladega Superspeedway on October 2, 2021. “It’s nice going back to a place where we’ve already won. It’s definitely a confidence booster for me and the team. We’re excited to go for a win again, but this time in a full length race! I’d love to put the No. 68 Trade The Chain Chevrolet Camaro in Victory Lane!” Brown has three top-10 finishes at Talladega, two being from the 2021 season.

A win this weekend would lock Brown into the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs. “It’s very important to capitalize on a superspeedway at this point in the race season because of how tough it’s going to be to make the playoffs this year,” admits Brown. He currently sits 14th in the points standings. “Going to a superspeedway always feels like a crapshoot, because you never know when or if the “big one” is going to happen. I’d prefer to bring my Trade The Chain Chevy Camaro back to Mooresville in one piece!”

“Trade The Chain is our primary partner this weekend, and you’ll definitely be seeing more of them this season. They’re just as excited about this race as I am. That kind of enthusiasm goes a long way in this sport,” says Brown.

Trade The Chain is a market agnostic, global community of traders and crypto enthusiasts that enables anyone, regardless of skill level, background, location, or experience, to learn from each other and share strategies for success. They also provide access to actionable sentiment indicators, real time significant development alerts, and a price prediction algorithm — data that up until now was only used by hedge funds and other financial institutions to help them make more informed trading decisions.

The No. 68 Trade The Chain Chevrolet Camaro will hit the track on Saturday, April 23 at Talladega Superspeedway, with coverage airing live on FS1 at 4:00 p.m. ET.

For more information about Trade The Chain, please visit www.tradethechain.com.

About Brandonbilt Motorsports

Brandonbilt Motorsports (BMS) is a race-winning organization that competes in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and fields the No. 68 Chevrolet Camaro piloted by Brandon Brown. Headquartered in Mooresville, N.C., BMS is owned and operated by successful entrepreneurs, Jerry Brown, David Clarke and Alex Mascioli.

For team updates, follow BMS on social media: Twitter at @BMSRaceTeam, Facebook at Brandonbilt Motorsports and Instagram at @bmsraceteam. Visit www.bmsraceteam.com for more team related information.

How to Identify the best NASCAR Underdogs

By
SM
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For years NASCAR racing was very top-heavy, you’d be lucky to get Vegas Odds of 4:1 or 6:1 at the highest as it seemed that some form of Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin, or Kyle Busch would finish with the checkered flag week in and week out.

A younger crop of drivers and some technological changes have started to bring parity to the NASCAR race track. In fact, through the first 10 races of 2022, there have been 10 different winners. Some of those have been pretty profitable too such as Austin Cindric at Daytona (+2500), Alex Bowman in the Pennzoil 400 (+2000), and Chase Briscoe at the Ruoff Mortgage 500 (+10000).

If you can cash in on one of those higher odds racers then it’s almost a free year of NASCAR betting for the rest of the season. The big question, of course, is how do I do that? Here are some tips:

Driver Track History

It’s common knowledge that some drivers just perform better at different tracks. Whether it’s because it’s close to their hometown and they are familiar with the course, it’s a favorable layout, or the weather/atmosphere just aligns with their driving style, track history is a thing.

For example, Kevin Harvick at Phoenix was a near lock at one point, he won 7 of 16 races at one span which is almost unheard of including four in a row from 2013 to 2015. On the flip side, you get a decent driver like Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. who has just one top 20 finish in his last five trips to Bristol with an average finish of 32nd.

Start Position

Obviously, a lot can happen from green flag to checkered, but it never hurts to start near the front of the pack. Start position not only means the driver will have less traffic as they get started and thus avoid the dreaded early wreck, but also that their car has performed well in the qualifying rounds to get them towards to top 3-5 spots.

Get Lucky

Unfortunately in NASCAR betting, picking the big underdog winner is going to unfortunately still involve a ton of luck. There are on average around 43 cars that start each week, and even with the correct analytics and research, those drivers are still going to need to avoid wrecks, mechanical failure, pit malfunctions, etc. You might have the best car for 99 of the last 100 laps, but if your driver decides to risk it with tires or fuel instead of pitting you might find yourself just short of a winning bet. There are tons of variables with NASCAR wagering.

Other Ways to Make Money with Underdogs

One great thing about big NASCAR underdogs is that you don’t necessarily need to win the race to have a very profitable weekend. In fact, sometimes betting on a top 3 or even top 5 finish can still have Vegas Odds of 20:1 or higher. If you have a couple of different underdogs you like on a specific race, just betting them to finish in the top 3 instead of being the winner offers you the chance to win 2-3 bets on a single race.

One last thing to remember is that hitting on a 10:1 driver four times pays just as much as a 40:1 driver one time. Don’t take an underdog just because they have high odds – go with the driver who you think will win.

Staying on the Cutting Edge of Motorsport Sportsbook Betting

By
SM
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Live and online sportsbook betting are as popular as ever, however, becoming involved and formulating winning strategies can be a daunting and intimidating task, especially for newcomers. When you partake in any form of sportsbook betting, a viable strategy, and knowledge reign supreme.

The good news for anyone who wishes or currently partakes in motorsports is that there are plenty of good places online to do so. A great example is 20bet which offers a multitude of sportsbook betting as well as other casino games to tide you over between major events which you can access with mobile devices too.

Blindly betting, or betting on emotion is equivalent to throwing your hard-earned cash into the bin, therefore, knowing strategies is extremely useful. We will go over the who what and where to help maximize your sportsbook gains in motorsports, and other live sports events. We will go over the who what and where to help maximize your sportsbook gains in motorsports, and other live sports events (you can also get the latest sports picks, news, and NY sportsbook reviews over at places like this sports betting New York site).

When it comes to motorsports wagering here is a list of the key things you will need to know to have the best advantages:

  • Racetrack layout and its recent history
  • Team compositions and Drivers
  • Qualifier times
  • Overall season performance

Overall, the best thing to look for is driver performance history in recent history. Take for example William Byron’s second win in the 2022 Nascar cup. The emergence of a repeating pattern early on in a cup is a good indicator of a strong bet in future races on any given driver and team.

While “who is going to win” is very likely the most commonly asked question when it comes to making live bets and wagers. However, it necessarily isn’t the most important one to maximize your advantages as there are many different aspects in any given race to bet on. Here is a list of what you can bet on in Nascar aside from the victor in any given race and cup:

  • Overall cup winner
  • Cup placements
  • Top 10 Positions
  • Team Strategies
  • Qualifying Positions
  • Fastest Lap Time

Coinciding with our example from before, Byron would be a safe candidate for wagering on the top 10 positions and cup placements overall in the 2022 NASCAR Cup.

Taking a look into the recent racetrack history of the next race event is another good way to formulate strong sportsbook wagers. Another example of using the Martinsville Speedway would be to look at repeat winners on a given track. Jimmie Johnson has taken first place on this speedway on three separate occasions as well as Martin Truex Jr. showing recent wins in 2020 and 2019.

Using the aforementioned tips, and applying them to the aspects on which you can bet, you can extrapolate a strong plan of action to finally gain the edge you’ve been looking for.

An example of applying this knowledge would be to take a look at the upcoming Talladega Speedway race. We can see in the spring 2019 race Chase Elliot took victory as well as his overall performance within the 2022 Nascar Cup making him a solid candidate for many viable aspects in this given race.

However, this is just an example, and it is not meant to be taken or used as financial or betting advice. We encourage you to do your research using the aforementioned tips to come up with strategies of your own.

NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Bristol Dirt

By
Jeffrey Boswell
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Photo by Christian Gardner for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Ryan Blaney: Blaney charged from 25th on the starting grid to post a fifth at Bristol, his fourth top-five finish of the year.

“Ty Dillon’s car was sponsored by ‘Gain,'” Blaney said. “Erik Jones had ‘Tide’ on his car, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s car sported the ‘Irish Spring’ logo. I’m not sure what race teams charge for sponsorship at a dirt race, but you can bet those got ‘taken to the cleaners.'”

2. Joey Logano: Despite not leading a single lap, Logano was a fixture up front all night at Bristol and finished third.

“Drivers one and all love racing on the dirt at Bristol,” Logano said. “I think NASCAR should consider some other surfaces to race on, like linoleum, vinyl, tile, or carpet. Just call the event the ‘Floor It 500.'”

3. Chase Elliott: Elliott started ninth and finished ninth at Bristol, and remains atop the points standings, three points up on Ryan Blaney.

“I had an incident with Cody Ware in Stage 3,” Elliott said. “He retaliated and gave me a pretty hard bump. Somebody needs to tell that kid who I am because I am a ‘somebody.’ Somebody also needs to tell him who he is, because he’s a ‘nobody.'”

4. Kyle Busch: Busch ran up front all night at Bristol and stole the win when Chase Briscoe and Tyler Reddick wrecked battling for the win.

“I don’t have a background in dirt racing,” Busch said. “I grew up on the clean streets of Las Vegas, which are hard, smooth, and paid for with the life savings and crushed hopes of many a failed and addicted gambler.

“You could say I ‘backed’ into the win at Bristol. You could also say Chase Briscoe ‘backed’ into Tyler Reddick, thus backing me into the win. Either way, I’m back in Victory Lane.”

5. Chase Briscoe: Briscoe suffered an early flat tire at Bristol but recovered to put himself in position to win on the final lap. But his kamikaze move on race-leader Tyler Reddick backfired, as Briscoe spun himself and Reddick, which allowed Kyle Busch to steal the win.

“I made it a point to apologize to Tyler,” Briscoe said. “I offered him a handshake, and he graciously accepted. If you ask some of the old school drivers, they’ll tell you that’s the closest us youngsters will come to ‘throwing hands.'”

6. Alex Bowman: Bowman finished sixth at Bristol.

“It’s really special racing on Easter,” Bowman said. “Probably more so for Kyle Busch. I’m sure Kyle and his team were resigned to finishing third. But then, all of a sudden, he was in first. And all his stunned followers could say was, ‘Look! He is risen!’

“And let me apologize for even remotely comparing Jesus to Kyle Busch. As Brad Keselowski might say, ‘You just put the ‘a$$’ in ‘blasphemy.'”

7. Tyler Reddick: While seemingly headed for his first win, Reddick was wrecked by Chase Briscoe, who spun Reddick while attempting a daring, potential race-winning pass in the final corner. Reddick recovered to finish second, while Briscoe dropped to 22nd as Kyle Busch won.

“My No. 8 Chevy was great,” Reddick said. “I’d like to thank everyone associated with Richard Childress Racing and 3CHI. RCR brings the speed, and 3CHI brings the weed.

“I could have tried to be a tough guy and take a swing at Briscoe for wrecking me. But I tried to be the ‘bigger man,’ which is hard because it ain’t easy being the ‘bigger man’ when you’re 5′ 5″ and Briscoe is 6′ 1″ and looks like he’s hiding Tony Stewart under his driver’s suit.”

8. Kyle Larson: Larson won Stage 1 and came home fourth in the Bristol Dirt Race.

“I’m totally at home racing on dirt,” Larson said. “In fact, I love it, even though the end result is often a mouthful of dirt. And, it gives me an opportunity to literally ‘wash my mouth out with soap,’ something I’ve done before figuratively.”

9. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex experienced engine issues at Bristol and struggled to a disappointing 21st.

“Luck just wasn’t on our side,” Truex said. “It was, however, on the side of my JGR teammate Kyle Busch. Seeing the discrepancy in luck between a good guy like me and a punk like Kyle brings tears of pain to me, and tears of joy to him. That’s why Kyle is considered by many to be a ‘lucky SOB.’

“That being said, I’d rather be unlucky than be Kyle Busch.”

10. William Byron: Byron finished 18th in the dirt at Bristol while his three Hendrick Motorsports teammates all placed in the top 10.

“Racing on dirt is the closest we come to ‘drifting,'” Byron said. “It may not be ‘The Fast And The Furious,’ but I’ll put my driving up against any street racer any day, and I’ll put my acting up against Vin Diesel’s every day.”

Miami International Autodrome nearing completion ahead of Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix 2022

By
Official Release
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  • New Miami International Autodrome track “95 per cent complete” ahead of its debut race in May
  • Work started on the 5.41km track in April 2021 with the final lift of asphalt completed in March
  • The final works to include curb painting and installation of temporary safety barriers.
  • Recently released fly through video revealing the full layout of the incredible variety of spaces and experiences on offer to fans around the Campus is available to watch here
  • Campus Pass on sale now and available to purchase here

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla., The construction of the Miami International Autodrome is “95 per cent complete” ahead of its staging of the first-ever Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix on May 6-8, 2022. Work on the 5.41km circuit started in April 2021 and all permanent structures, such as the Pit Building, Garages and Race Control Tower are close to completion, and the final lift of asphalt laying was finished in March. The focus in the final weeks will shift to the final fit of the temporary structures around the Miami Campus and minor works, such as painting curbs, which is already underway, and installing temporary safety barriers.

“We’re in the final stages of this incredible circuit that will host the first-ever Formula 1® race in Miami,” says Richard Cregan, CEO of the Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix. “We are delighted with the progress we have made and it’s a huge credit to the hard work of the team here in Miami, in consultation with both Formula 1® and the FIA to get this circuit finished in a tight timeline. We have tried to create a track that drivers love to race on and a campus that offers unique, best-in-class fan experiences; and we can’t wait for the first weekend in May to be here.”

The state-of-the-art Miami International Autodrome has been constructed in Miami Gardens within the campus of the Hard Rock Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins NFL team. The 19-turn track is the newest circuit built to host a round of the FIA Formula 1® World Championship. The circuit features three straights — the longest being 1.28km in length — three DRS zones and simulations predict drivers will be on full throttle for 58 per cent of the lap, with an estimated top speed of 320km/h.

Planning of the Miami International Autodrome began in the summer of 2019, while the ground-breaking process started in April 2021. Over the past 12 months, 24,000 tons of asphalt have been laid, with the final top lift completed in February 2022. The foundations of the Pit Building started on September 1, 2021 and a total of 1,130 tons of concrete has been used across the site.

The layout of the track has been formulated by Clive Bowen’s Apex Circuit Design company and work on the design has taken place in close consultation with both Formula 1® and the sport’s governing body, the FIA, to ensure the track is a challenge for the drivers and adheres to the rigorous safety standards of a modern Grand Prix facility.

Around the 5.41km circuit, a total of 2,870 Geobrugg blocks have been installed with 118 in place along the Pit Wall. Extending the length of the Miami International Autodrome are 37,000 feet of concrete barriers and debris fences (the equivalent to seven miles in length). There are also 14 pedestrian bridges that span the track — the most of any F1® circuit — to enable ease of access around the Miami Campus.

“There has been no compromise on any aspect of the circuit design or quality of construction,” says Cregan. “In my experience of working with new venues over the years, I’ve never seen as much effort on perfecting the surface of the track as we have done in Miami. Everything was exactly per the design, and everyone involved in construction has done an incredible job.”

The Miami International Autodrome will roar into life on the weekend of May 6-8, 2022 and will be the 11th different venue in the USA to host a Formula 1® race since the championship started in 1950. This year’s inaugural event will form round five of this season’s 23-race schedule.

Follow us at:
Facebook – F1 Miami Grand Prix
Twitter – @F1Miami
Instagram – @F1MIA
LinkedIn – F1 Miami Grand Prix

About the Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix

Scheduled to make its debut on 6-8 May, 2022, the Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix is the sport’s newest race on the Formula 1® calendar. Located in Miami Gardens, Florida, the world’s top drivers are set to compete on a brand-new circuit located within the complex of the Hard Rock Stadium, the home of the legendary Miami Dolphins NFL team. The 5.41km Miami International Autodrome features 19 corners, three straights and has an estimated top speed of 320km/h. The race will also provide an additional tourist boost and economic impact to local businesses in the greater Miami region. Formula 1® and South Florida Motorsports are working closely with the local community to provide an allotment of discounted tickets for the residents of Miami Gardens, ensuring they have the opportunity to experience the thrill of the sport. Additionally, South Florida Motorsports have launched a programme to support both local businesses and the community to ensure they get the full benefits of the race being held in Miami Gardens. This includes a STEM education programme through F1 in Schools, as well as the opportunity for local restaurants to be part of the race weekend.

About Formula 1®

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

GEARWRENCH Racing: Kevin Harvick Talladega Advance

By
Official Release
-

KEVIN HARVICK
Talladega Advance
No. 4 GEARWRENCH® 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: 2.66-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 188 laps/500 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

● GEARWRENCH®, a premier hand tool brand from Apex Tool Group, joined Kevin Harvick and the No. 4 team of Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) as a primary partner in 2022. GEARWRENCH is the No. 1 worldwide professional-grade mechanics’ hand tool brand, offering products that are designed and manufactured to meet the requirements of pros, mechanics and auto techs making a living with their tools. GEARWRENCH understands the problems mechanics face every day and provides tools that increase productivity through speed, strength and access. Since the launch of the original five-degree ratcheting wrench, the GEARWRENCH brand has led the industry with breakthroughs in pass-thru ratchets, sockets, screw/nut drivers, pliers, extraction tools and specialty tools. Learn more at GEARWRENCH.com.

● VIP me ASAP! GEARWRENCH is ready to make it happen. Enter the GEARWRENCH VIP Racing Sweepstakes for the chance to win a VIP racing experience with either the NASCAR Cup Series, Formula Drift or the NHRA. The winner and three of their best friends will go inside the ropes and behind the scenes at one of three events of their choice – the South Point 400 NASCAR race weekend Oct. 15-16 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the Formula DRIFT season finale Oct. 14-15 at Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway, or the NHRA season finale Nov. 12-13 at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona (Calif.). The grand prize includes hotel accommodations for up to three nights, transportation, a private meet-and-greet with GEARWRENCH drivers, VIP seating for the race, and $2,500 in GEARWRENCH products. In addition to the grand-prize winner, two first-prize winners will be randomly selected to receive $1,500 in tools, and four second-prize winners will be randomly selected to receive $500 in tools. And for the GEARWRENCH driver who refers the most entrants to the contest via their social media channels and their racecar, they get to donate $50,000 worth of GEARWRENCH product to the charities of their choice. So, scan that QR code on the C-post of Harvick’s No. 4 GEARWRENCH Ford Mustang if you’re on the grid before Sunday’s GEICO 500 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway or just go to GEARWRENCH.com.

● Harvick comes into Talladega with back-to-back top-10 finishes at the 2.66-mile oval. The driver of the No. 4 GEARWRENCH Ford Mustang finished eighth last October and fourth in last year’s GEICO 500. It is the first time since early 2015 that Harvick has had consecutive top-10s at Talladega. In three straight races at Talladega in 2014-2015, Harvick finished seventh (May 2014), ninth (October 2014) and eighth (May 2015). Until last year, a top-10 was always followed by a finish of 20th or worse.

● In last year’s GEICO 500, Harvick led three times for 12 laps, and in his return to Talladega in October for the YellaWood 500, he led five times for a race-high 16 laps, increasing his laps-led total at Talladega to 292.

● Harvick has made 42 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Talladega, collecting eight top-fives and 18 top-10s, both of which are the second-most among all active Cup Series drivers. Kurt Busch, Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano are tied for the most top-fives with nine apiece. In the top-10 category, only Busch is ahead of Harvick with 22 top-10s.

● Atop Harvick’s NASCAR Cup Series stat box at Talladega is a win. Harvick came out the victor in a dogfight of a race at Talladega on April 25, 2010. There were an incredible 88 lead changes and three massive accidents that collected a total of 24 cars. Harvick kept his car intact throughout each bout of calamity and despite leading only two laps, the second lap led was the one that mattered most. Harvick got underneath race leader Jamie McMurray in the track’s tri-oval to sweep past him and take the win by just .011 of a second. It was the 12th of Harvick’s 58 career Cup Series wins.

● In addition to his 42 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Talladega, Harvick has eight NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, with a best result of second in April 2006.

● At Talladega in October 2008, SHR enjoyed one of its most dominant days ever. The team qualified 1-2-3-4 for the first time in its history. SHR drivers then led 155 of the race’s 193 laps (80.3 percent), including the last lap by Aric Almirola, who delivered SHR’s milestone 50th points-paying NASCAR Cup Series victory and the organization’s 11th win of 2018.

Kevin Harvick, Driver of the No. 4 GEARWRENCH Ford Mustang

As you get ready for your second superspeedway race of the season, how much learning/evolution has happened with the NextGen car since you raced it in the Daytona 500?

“I think it’s going to be pretty similar to Daytona. I think it’ll be more aggressive than Daytona just because everybody’s more comfortable, there’s more room to move around, and everybody has a little bit more time in the car. It’ll be the same style of race, just more aggressive.”

Are there any differences as to how the NextGen car performs in the draft compared to the previous generation car?

“It was different, but I’ve been through so many different styles of superspeedway cars and every package has its own little nuances. I think the superspeedways are probably the least amount of change than anything else that we’ve done so far.”

Despite the new car, is racing at Talladega and Daytona still pretty much the same as what you’ve known it to be throughout your career?

“Every rules package has a difference. Some of them you can push really good, some of them you can’t push, some of them are pack racing, some of them are single-file, some of them are tandem. This one, you can push and it has some tandem, but it winds up being pack racing. Every package ends up migrating in a little bit different of a direction, it seems.”

There are some drivers who really seem to excel at Talladega and Daytona – almost like how some drivers rise to the challenge at a road course. What is it about superspeedway racing that makes some drivers stand out over others?

“There are some guys who are really good at it. I think some guys look at it as, ‘This is my chance to win,’ and just take all the risks throughout the day to put themselves in position. We just want to finish where we’re running. I think we’ve been running in the top-five for five of the last six and wound up torn up. So, we just want to finish.”

They said that Dale Earnhardt could see the air when he raced at Talladega and Daytona. Are there things that you see behind the wheel that kind of foreshadow what will happen next? If so, are you constantly thinking two or three steps ahead when you’re in the draft?

“You try to be one step ahead of everything, but as you go through the day, you learn the things that work and the things that don’t work, and you try to be around the cars that you want to be around. But, by the end of the race, a lot of time you just wind up in a position and just kind of go with your gut and your instincts and the things that you’ve learned all day. I think it’s important to race all day to try to not only get stage points, but to learn the tendencies of the style of race that you’re in so that you can do everything that you can in order to maximize your position.”

There are some physically demanding races on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule. Is Talladega mentally demanding?

“Superspeedway racing, in general, is just a mentally demanding situation just because of the constant looking in the mirror and looking around and trying to keep the car going as fast as it can go and being aggressive and pushing and shoving and doing all the things it takes. There’s just a lot that you have to process from a mental standpoint, for sure.”

Describe the intensity of racing at Talladega.

“You have to be aggressive just for the fact that if you’re not aggressive, it always seems like you’re not going to be where you need to be. Nine times out of 10, the aggressor is going to be the guy who comes out on the good side of things just for the fact that you’re making things happen and you’re not waiting for something else to happen. When you wait for something else to happen, that’s usually when you get in trouble because it’s usually someone else’s mess. You can still get in trouble if you’re aggressive, but with the way things are, it’s best to stay aggressive and try to stay up front.”

No. 4 GEARWRENCH Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Kevin Harvick
Hometown: Bakersfield, California

Crew Chief: Rodney Childers
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

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

Engineer: Dax Gerringer
Hometown: Gibsonville, North Carolina

Engineer: Stephen Doran
Hometown: Butler, Pennsylvania

Spotter: Tim Fedewa
Hometown: Holt, Michigan

Over-The-Wall Members

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

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

Tire Carrier: Jeremy Howard
Hometown: Delhart, Texas

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

Fuel Man: Evan Marchal
Hometown: Westfield, Indiana

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Richie Bean
Hometown: Bradford, Vermont

Mechanic: Nick DeFazio
Hometown: Orange, California

Tire Specialist: Jamie Turski
Hometown: Trumbull, Connecticut

Engine Tuner: Robert Brandt
Hometown: Mobile, Alabama

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

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

Sally McNulty Sets the Tone for the Season in Sonoma at TCA Opener

By
Official Release
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SONOMA, Calif., (April 18, 2022) — The TC America powered by Skip Barber season opened at Sonoma Raceway this weekend, and racer Sally McNulty executed the double-header weekend stong, earning two top-five finishes in the No. 780 Borla Exhaust VGRT Civic Si. The consistent finishes set a strong tone that McNulty plans to carry through the 2022 season.

McNulty finished the 2021 season with 68 points, a significant step toward her goal to be the first woman to win the overall championship. After a strong weekend, she’s already fourth in the championship with 20 points.

“We had a great weekend. I’m proud to work with Sally,” said Victor Gonzales, Jr. “We showed that she belongs in that front pack. We will keep working to get her a better car for her driving style. She did great. We’re proud! Two top fives! I think that’s awesome.”

TC America Race One
Abrupt weather changes on Friday morning made for a difficult qualifying session. With the group on slicks when rain came in, TC America was only able to complete two full green laps due to multiple incidents. While McNulty was happy with a sixth in class starting position, series procedures during such situations reverted the starting grid positions to practice two’s lap times, moving her up to fifth for the race start. McNulty’s consistency throughout the race created a large gap between herself and the pack behind her. Focused forward, she earned a top-five finish.

TC America Race Two
With the grid being based on race one’s fastest lap times, McNulty’s Saturday steadiness earmarked a sixth in class starting position on Sunday. As overall race leaders began to mix with the back of the field, she used this to her advantage to close the gap to Cristian Perocarpi in the No. 61 MINI Cooper JCW. In the final lap of the race, Perocarpi suffered a mechanical issue and McNulty claimed another TCA class finish in fifth.

McNulty makes her way to Missouri May 20-22 as TC America heads to the brand-new track, Ozarks International Raceway, for rounds three and four. For more information, visit www.tcamerica.us.

DRIVER QUOTE
Sally McNulty
I came into this weekend with hopes of just getting into the top five, being fast, and being consistent. I’ve had a lot on my plate starting with a brand-new car. Once we got past some electrical problems and figured out how to deal with the car losing throttle on the out lap, we could run the rest of the race. We definitely wanted to show pace and I think we were able to. We are really looking to win the season championship and the best way to win is being consistent and always scoring points, and being in the top five every single race. We’re going to strive really hard for that and I think we did a good job this weekend.

FRM Bristol Dirt Recap: Smith and McDowell Score Top-10 Finishes. Gilliland Finishes 17th

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Official Release
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Smith and McDowell Score Top-10 Finishes
Gilliland Finishes 17th

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) took to the dirt at “The Last Great Colosseum,” the Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. All three drivers were in action on Easter weekend, as Smith earned another Top-10, McDowell powered forward for a ninth-place finish, and Gilliland rebounded for 17th.


ZANE SMITH ADDS TO PLAYOFF POINTS, FINISHES 10TH

Zane Smith started the weekend searching for speed throughout practice. Due to a random draw, he started towards the back of his qualifying race. Smith was able to gain a few passing points and started the feature event in 17th.

The No. 38 Speedco Ford F-150 fought the track all evening, as Smith reported the truck was tight. He finished both stages outside of the top-10 but was able to fight his way up to 14th to start the final stage. The team elected to not pit at the end of the stage to gain track position.

Smith started the final stage by reporting that the power steering had started to fade, but that didn’t deter him from moving forward. The young driver searched for speed on both the top and the bottom lines, making up positions to bring home another top-10 finish.

SMITH ON BRISTOL DIRT:

“Dirt racing is still something I am trying to learn and improve on. The No. 38 crew did an amazing job helping me get this Speedco Ford F-150 inside the top-10 to keep our streak alive. We’ll take these next two off-weeks to prepare and really hit Darlington hard.”


MCDOWELL POWERS THROUGH THE FIELD, FINISHES 9TH

The No. 34 Love’s Travel Stops/Speedco Ford Mustang of Michael McDowell had a great weekend. Working on both the car and track conditions in practice, McDowell finished fourth in his heat race and started the feature in 17th.

By the end of Stage One, McDowell had his Love’s Ford into the top-15, and was positioned to pounce at the top-10 runners. Adjusting to the changing track and weather conditions, as well as taking advantage of restarts, McDowell was able to claim stage points by finishing eighth in Stage Two.

It was from the beginning of Stage Three, onward, that the Love’s Travel Stops/Speedco team showed their potential. They raced inside the top-10 for the remainder of the night. When all was said and done, McDowell finished in the ninth position, inking his second top-10 of the season.

MCDOWELL ON BRISTOL DIRT:

“For not being a driver with a dirt racing background, a top-10 at the end of this race is amazing. We had an amazing car that handled great all weekend, and we made the most of it. We finally had a race come our way, so I’m excited to get this after the last three races we have had.”


GILLILAND IMPRESSES THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND, FINISHES 17TH

Todd Gilliland came into the weekend and turned heads, as the NASCAR Cup Series rookie took the No. 38 First Phase Credit Card Ford Mustang to third in final practice. Gilliland started in the first heat race and was in pole position. Unfortunately, the bottom was a hard place to restart. Gilliland ultimately finished his heat in sixth, starting Sunday’s Cup race in 23rd.

Gilliland started the feature and quickly found himself making up ground on the high side and by the end of Stage One, he was up to 18th. In Stage Two, Gilliland continued to impress on the dirt, making up more ground to finish the stage in 15th. Then, as they were about to start the third and final stage, the rain came.

The final stage was plagued by rain delays and restarts, Gilliland was shuffled back to the 21st position as the race got back underway. In the closing laps, Gilliland spun off of Turn Two, avoiding any damage. He went back to work, making up the ground he lost and then some to round out his dirt weekend with a 17th-place finish.

GILLILAND ON BRISTOL DIRT:

“Dirt track racing is something that has always been a fun challenge to me. I was really happy with the work the No. 38 First Phase Credit Card team put in to give me the opportunity to have a great day. We were able to climb back up through those final restarts and ended with a solid finish.”

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.

Wendy’s® Joins Beard Motorsports and Driver Noah Gragson for Talladega

By
Official Release
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Wendy’s $5 Biggie™ Bag To Adorn No. 62 Chevrolet at NASCAR’s Biggest Oval Track

MT. PLEASANT, Mich. (April 18, 2022) – Wendy’s® (Nasdaq: WEN) has joined Beard Motorsports and driver Noah Gragson as its primary partner for the GEICO 500 NASCAR Cup Series race April 24 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

Fresh off an impressive activation on the biggest stage in college basketball, where Wendy’s was the Official Breakfast of March Madness®, the company is shifting gears and traveling to the biggest oval track in NASCAR to share the fan-favorite $5 Biggie™ Bag with race enthusiasts.

Talladega is a high-banked, high-speed 2.66-mile oval and it’s where Gragson will drive the No. 62 Wendy’s $5 Biggie Bag Chevrolet Camaro in his second start for Beard Motorsports after debuting with the team in the season-opening Daytona 500.

“It was awesome to make my Cup Series debut with Beard and ever since Daytona I’ve been looking forward to rejoining them at Talladega,” said the 23-year-old Gragson. “We’ve got Wendy’s on board with us as they launch their $5 Biggie Bag promotion and I’m genuinely stoked about it. This is the first time they’ve been on a racecar in almost 20 years and they’re doing it with me. I’m proud of that and proud to have them at Beard Motorsports. Wendy’s has really embraced NASCAR as they’ve gone all in at Talladega.”

The $5 Biggie Bag comes complete with the choice of a Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger, Double Stack™, or a Crispy Chicken BLT with four-piece chicken nuggets (Spicy or Crispy), small Hot & Crispy Fries, and a small soft drink. A lot of flavor, a lot of value, a lot of choices.

The Biggie-st, baggiest meal deal is lapping the competition and going big at Talladega. In addition to its red-white-and-blue No. 62 Wendy’s $5 Biggie Bag Chevrolet Camaro, Wendy’s will have a pop-up restaurant in the infield at Talladega where fans can get their own $5 Biggie Bag without missing any of the racing action.

“A NASCAR race has an absolutely indescribable energy, and there’s no better place to promote our $5 Biggie Bag than at Talladega – the biggest oval track in NASCAR,” said Carl Loredo, Chief Marketing Officer for The Wendy’s Company. “Noah is an impressive person. He’s a brash racecar driver who doesn’t give an inch on the racetrack, but off the track, he has a genuine personality that deeply resonates with fans. Our partnership with him and Beard Motorsports is a great way to share our brand and get high-quality, great-tasting food in the hands of the most passionate fans in motorsports.”

Wendy’s founder is Dave Thomas, who founded the restaurant in 1969 in Columbus, Ohio. Today, Wendy’s and its franchisees employ hundreds of thousands of people across approximately 7,000 restaurants worldwide.

Beard Motorsports was founded by the late Mark Beard Sr., and is now run by his wife, Linda Beard. The generational race team has proven to be the little team that could, a modern-day David competing against the Goliaths of the NASCAR Cup Series.

“My dad was a ‘Go big or go home’ kind of person and that’s why Talladega and Daytona have been the tracks where we’ve decided to go and compete against the biggest teams in NASCAR. It’s a challenge and we love it,” said Amie Beard, Executive Vice President, Beard Motorsports.

“When you taste success at this level, it just makes it that much more rewarding. We take a lot of pride in what we do and how we do it. We’re about quality over quantity, and that’s how we plan to take care of Wendy’s and promote their $5 Biggie Bag at Talladega.”

Beard Motorsports makes it all work by taking a strategic approach to its racing endeavors. It runs only the superspeedway races at Talladega and its sister track, Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.

Gragson is a six-time winner in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, the stepping-stone division to the elite NASCAR Cup Series. Three of those victories came last season, netting Gragson a coveted spot in the NASCAR Playoffs where he advanced all the way to the Championship 4 finale, finishing a career-high third in points. Gragson continues to compete fulltime in the Xfinity Series for JR Motorsports while making select starts in the NASCAR Cup Series.

About Wendy’s:

Wendy’s was founded in 1969 by Dave Thomas in Columbus, Ohio. Dave built his business on the premise, “Quality is our Recipe®,” which remains the guidepost of the Wendy’s system. Wendy’s is best known for its made-to-order square hamburgers, using fresh, never frozen beef*, freshly-prepared salads, and other signature items like chili, baked potatoes and the Frosty® dessert. The Wendy’s Company (Nasdaq: WEN) is committed to doing the right thing and making a positive difference in the lives of others. This is most visible through the Company’s support of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption® and its signature Wendy’s Wonderful Kids® program, which seeks to dramatically increase the number of adoptions of children waiting in North America’s foster care systems. Today, Wendy’s and its franchisees employ hundreds of thousands of people across approximately 7,000 restaurants worldwide with a vision of becoming the world’s most thriving and beloved restaurant brand. For details on franchising, connect with us at www.wendys.com/franchising. Visit www.wendys.com and www.squaredealblog.com for more information and connect with us on Twitter and Instagram using @wendys, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/wendys.

*Fresh beef available in the contiguous U.S., Alaska, and Canada.

March Madness is a registered trademark of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

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