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Wright Motorsports Returns to Defend GT World Challenge America Championship Titles

By
Official Release
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Team and driver champions reveal Luck and Heylen lineup

BATAVIA, OHIO, (March 30, 2022) – After clinching the team and driver championship titles for two consecutive years in the Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS, Wright Motorsports has announced their return to the series for the 2022 season. The veteran Porsche customer team will field a new lineup as Charlie Luck and Jan Heylen come together to race the No. 45 Porsche 911 GT3 R in the Pro/Am class.

Both drivers won their respective championships last season, with Charlie Luck and Wright Motorsports dominating the inaugural season of the GT America series with thirteen pole positions, nine wins, and an additional four podium finishes. The team’s success continued in the Pro/Am class with drivers Jan Heylen and Fred Poordad, who secured the championship titles with eleven podiums and three wins. Wright Motorsports also swept the team categories in the respective championships, closing out the season with five titles to add to the team’s illustrious sportscar racing history.

Though this will be the first time the pair share a car for a full-season program, Luck and Heylen have a longstanding relationship, going back to Luck’s days in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA with Heylen as his coach. For the last five years, Heylen has acted as Luck’s coach helping guide his progress through the ranks to race and capture the overall title in the GT America championship. The two also became more than just racing family over the fall, following Heylen’s marriage to Luck’s daughter, Margaret.

This year, Luck will depart from the single-driver, forty-minute race format of GT America to compete in GT World Challenge America. The top level of SRO America, this series features two drivers sharing a car over the course of a 90-minute race, with one mandatory full-service pit stop during the event. Luck and Heylen will compete in the Pro/Am class, defending Wright’s 2021 team and driver championship titles.

The 2022 calendar will follow a similar schedule to the previous season, hosting seven events starting at Sonoma Raceway in April and concluding at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in October. In its first full season of operation, Ozarks International Raceway will be a new addition to the GT World Challenge America series, bringing competitors to Gravois Mills, Missouri. Six of the seven 2022 events will hold two races per weekend, with the Indianapolis 8 Hour finale running as part of the Intercontinental GT Challenge.

Wright Motorsports will unload for the opening weekend at Sonoma Raceway on Wednesday, April 13 before test sessions get underway the following day. On Friday, April 15, the first official practice sessions of the weekend begin, allowing drivers and teams to make final preparations before the back-to-back race days.

Fans who hope to attend the event can purchase a weekend pass for just $40.00, while children under 12 years old are admitted for free. Race One will begin on Saturday, April 16 at 2:15 PM PT, with Race Two taking place the following day at 1:45 PM PT. Fans unable to attend the event can stream the races live for free at YouTube.com/GTWorld. For more information, visit wrightmotorsports.com.

DRIVER QUOTES

Charlie Luck
I’m really looking forward to my first time doing some driver changes and having everything that’s involved with the strategy of tires and fuel, and race strategy be a part of this upcoming year for me. I’m also very excited about working with Jan who has been coaching me for five years, so I’ll learn a ton under his guidance and direction. I know that Wright Motorsports will provide us with a competitive car. I’m super excited about the season.

Jan Heylen
It’s exciting to start the season as former champions, and it puts some healthy pressure on the team, and everyone involved, going into the same championship again as a favorite contender. On top of that, I don’t think there have been that many father and son-in-law driver combinations out there. That will certainly make it an extra special experience. We’re all looking forward to it and having the special time with each other and the family, and hopefully, make some good memories. Charlie is always super-motivated and has been training throughout the winter, to be in the best shape he can be and show up as well prepared as he can for the first race. He always shows up the best he can, and it makes a big difference to have a teammate who puts his heart into it. It’s nice to be a co-driver with someone as motivated as Charlie. It’s very encouraging for the team. I’m looking forward to our first race. It’s been a busy off-season for us. It seems like the last race of SRO America event was forever ago. I’m certainly ready for the first race to come around and hopefully, we can kick off the season with a good result and with the championship in mind.

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

McDowell to make 400th Cup career start at Richmond

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Bruce Nuttleman for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Competing in his 16th season in the NASCAR Cup Series, Michael McDowell is scheduled to achieve a milestone start. By taking the green flag in this weekend’s event at Richmond Raceway, the driver of the No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford Mustang will make his 400th career start in NASCAR’s premier series.

A native of Glendale, Arizona, and a former champion of the Star Mazda Championship region, McDowell had made five career starts between the Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series before being announced as a Cup Series competitor and in Michael Waltrip Racing’s No. 00 Toyota Camry for Michael Waltrip Racing, beginning at Martinsville Speedway in March 2008. McDowell’s promotion to NASCAR’s premier series came after Dale Jarrett, the 1999 Cup Series champion and NASCAR Hall of Famer, retired from competition while David Reutimann took over Jarrett’s No. 44 Toyota. Starting in 34th place, McDowell finished 26th in his Cup debut after cutting a tire in the closing laps.

The following weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, McDowell was involved in a horrific accident during his qualifying session, where he got loose entering Turn 1, veered into the outside SAFER barriers head-on at over 180 mph, rolled over on his roof and barrel rolled seven times down to the apron before coming to rest on all four wheels. Despite the wild ride, McDowell was able to emerge uninjured as his wreck exemplified the effectiveness of modern safety enhancements made, from the SAFER barriers to the HANS device and the 2008 Car of Tomorrow stock car, to keep the competitors safe in the event of an on-track incident. McDowell went on to finish 33rd in the main event.

Following the Texas incident, McDowell continued to drive MWR’s No. 00 Toyota in the Cup Series from Phoenix Raceway in April through Kansas Speedway in September. During this span, his best on-track result was 20th at Richmond Raceway in September. McDowell, however, was released by the team for the rest of the season after he failed to qualify at Kansas Speedway in September.

The following season, McDowell campaigned on a full-time basis in the Xfinity Series, starting with JTG Daugherty Racing before transitioning to MacDonald Motorsports and Whitney Motorsports. His first Cup Series start of the 2009 season did not occur until September at Richmond, where he drove the No. 36 Toyota for Tommy Baldwin Racing to a 41st-place result after retiring early due to an engine issue. He competed in seven additional Cup races with Tommy Baldwin, where he did not finish in all of them and was credited with a result no higher than 38th place.

McDowell started the 2010 season on a high note by driving the No. 55 Toyota Camry for Prism Motorsports to a 14th-place result in the first of two duel races at Daytona International Speedway in February. The result rewarded him with one of two transfer spots to the 52nd running of the Daytona 500. During the main event, however, he finished 33rd due to a drive shaft issue. He competed in 23 additional events throughout the 36-race schedule, where he failed to finish in all but one race, which was at Talladega Superspeedway in October as he finished 35th, two laps behind the leaders.

McDowell competed in 32 of the 36-race schedule in 2011 with nearly all of his starts occurring with HP Racing. His best result with HP Racing was a 30th-place result at Sonoma Raceway in June. Then in November at Texas, he served as an interim competitor in Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 18 Toyota Camry and in place of Kyle Busch, who was suspended by NASCAR throughout the weekend as a result of intentionally wrecking NASCAR Hall of Famer Ron Hornaday Jr. in the early stages of the Truck Series event at the Lone Star state two days prior to the Cup event. During the event, however, McDowell, who struggled with pace, finished in 33rd place, three laps behind the leaders. He went on to conclude the season in 36th place in the final standings.

In 2012, McDowell remained with HP Racing that was renamed to Phil Parsons Racing. Driving the team’s No. 98 Ford Fusion in all but six of the 36-race Cup schedule, his best result was a 23rd-place finish at Bristol Motor Speedway in August as he settled in 37th place in the final standings, one spot lower from 2011. By then, McDowell surpassed 100 career starts in the Cup Series.

Following the 2013 Cup season, where he competed in all but three races between three organizations (Phil Parsons Racing, Front Row Motorsports and HScott Motorsports) while achieving his first top-10 career finish during the 55th running of the Daytona 500 in February (ninth place), McDowell joined Leavine Family Racing to pilot the No. 95 Chevrolet SS for the 2014 season. He failed to qualify for the 56th running of the Daytona 500, but went on to compete in 19 of the 36-race schedule. His best on-track result during this span was seventh place in the rain-shortened Coke Zero 400 at Daytona in July.

McDowell continued to drive for Leavine Family Racing in 2015, where he made 16 starts with the team and finished no higher than 20th place at Watkins Glen International in August, and in 2016 when LFR formed an alliance with Circle Sport and changed manufacturers from Ford to Chevrolet. Starting the 2016 Cup season in the No. 59 Chevrolet SS, McDowell finished in 15th place in the 58th running of the Daytona 500. He then split driving responsibilities of the No. 95 LFR Chevrolet with Ty Dillon throughout the season, where he finished 10th at Daytona in July, 12th at Richmond in September and 14th at Charlotte Motor Speedway in October. He concluded the season by finishing in 10th place at Homestead-Miami Speedway and a career-best 30th place in the final standings. By then, McDowell surpassed 200 career starts in NASCAR’s premier series.

The 2017 Cup Series season marked McDowell’s first time competing the entire 36-race schedule as he remained at Leavine Family Racing for a fourth consecutive season. Throughout the season, he earned his first top-five career result after finishing fourth at Daytona in July along with 14 top-20 results before finishing in 26th place in the final standings, which marked his first top-30 result in a driver’s standings.

In 2018, McDowell moved to Front Row Motorsports to pilot the No. 34 Ford Fusion, where he replaced Landon Cassill. He commenced the season with a ninth-place finish in the 60th running of the Daytona 500 in February. He went on to record nine additional top-20 results, a career-high 33 laps led and a 26th-place result in the final standings for a second consecutive season.

Returning to Front Row Motorsports for the 2019 season, McDowell started the season by finishing in fifth place in the 61st running of the Daytona 500. This marked his third top-10 result in the 500. He then achieved three additional top-15 results over the next 29 Cup races before he logged in another fifth-place result at Talladega in October. He went on to finish in 27th place in the final standings. Following the 2019 season, McDowell surpassed 300 Cup career starts.

In 2020, McDowell notched a career-high four top-10 results throughout the 36-race schedule with his best on-track result being a seventh-place finish at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July. He ended the season improving four spots from his result in the 2019 driver’s standings by settling in 23rd place in the 2020 standings.

Then in 2021, McDowell, who returned to FRM for a fourth consecutive season, pulled off the upset by claiming his first elusive Cup Series victory in the 63rd running of the Daytona 500 after dodging a multi-car wreck on the final lap while running in third place. The victory snapped McDowell’s 358-race winless drought, which marks the second-largest winless streak in NASCAR history prior to a first victory and right behind Michael Waltrip’s 463-race drought prior to claiming his first win in the 2001 Daytona 500. With the victory, McDowell became the 40th different competitor to win the Daytona 500 and the 196th different competitor to win in the Cup Series as he recorded the first 500 victory for Front Row Motorsports. The 500 win guaranteed McDowell and his No. 34 FRM team a spot into the 2021 Cup Playoffs.

The early momentum into 2021 for McDowell did not stop there as he finished eighth during the following weekend at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course, which was followed by a sixth-place result at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Seven races later, McDowell collected a strong third-place result at Talladega in April following a late battle with eventual winner Brad Keselowski. He went on to collect a seventh-place result at the Circuit of the Americas in May before entering the 2021 Cup Playoffs for the first time in his career. His title hopes, however, came to an end during the Round of 16 after finishing no higher than 24th during the opening round’s three events. Nonetheless, he finished a career-best 16th place in a season where he claimed his first victory, a career-high five top-10 results and a career-best average result of 20.5.

Through 399 previous Cup starts, McDowell has achieved one victory, five top-five results, 18 top-10 results, 118 laps led and an average-finishing result of 29.0. His highest-finishing result through the first six scheduled events of 2022 is seventh, which occurred in the 64th running of the Daytona 500 in February, and he currently sits in 26th place in the regular season standings.

McDowell is scheduled to make his 400th Cup Series career start at Richmond Raceway on Sunday, April 3, with coverage to occur at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

M&M’S Crunchy Cookie Racing: Kyle Busch Richmond Advance

By
Official Release
-

KYLE BUSCH
New Look, Same Impressive Stats at Richmond

HUNTERSVILLE, North Carolina (March 30, 2022) – Kyle Busch heads to Sunday’s Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway sporting a new look with M&M’S newest flavor, M&M’S Crunchy Cookie, adorning his Toyota Camry TRD for the first of seven races this spring and summer.

M&M’S Crunchy Cookie combines two favorite treats – M&M’S and chocolate chip cookies – which is now available nationwide and is bound to give race fans a fun, nostalgic snack to enjoy during this weekend’s race. M&M’S is also partnering with a cool cookie creator, Milk Bar’s Christina Tosi, to create 100, one-time-only, limited-edition cookies that will be made available to race fans on a first-come, first-served basis. Fans can sign up at MMS.com to find out when they’ll drop.

While Busch’s car will have a new look, the same impressive resume still remains when taking a deeper dive into his stats at the .75-mile Richmond short track. Busch has six career Cup Series victories at Richmond, most among active drivers. In addition to those six career wins, Busch’s Richmond stat sheet shows 18 top-five finishes and 25 top-10s in 32 career starts, making him the most consistent active driver at the track.

The Las Vegas native also leads all active drivers with his Richmond average finishing position of 6.9. Next best is Kevin Harvick at 10.0. Busch has completed all but one of the 12,828 laps available to him in his 32 Richmond starts.

The first four of Busch’s six career Richmond wins came in consecutive spring races from 2009 to 2012, besting Richard Petty’s previous record of three Richmond spring-race wins in a row from 1971 to 1973. Busch’s other two Richmond wins came in a sweep of the 2018 races there. With his impressive statistics and records to back him up, it’s little wonder that a visit to Richmond is one of Busch’s favorite stops on the NASCAR tour.

So, as the series heads to the “Capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia,” Busch and the M&M’S Crunchy Cookie team look to bring home their seventh win there wearing the latest M&M’S colors, and perhaps enjoy a celebratory “Cookie” in victory lane.

KYLE BUSCH, Driver of the No. 18 M&M’S Crunchy Cookie Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing:

Is Richmond one of your favorite tracks, and what are your expectations there this weekend?

“Richmond is a great place for us and our M&M’S Crunchy Cookie team. You’ve really got to be mindful of the bottom of the racetrack and, based on the past, also mindful of your brakes and how you use them, especially getting into turn one where you can really overheat your brakes, which overheats your tires and makes you slide around more. With the new cars and better brakes, we’ll see if that changes anything. Having good cars there has certainly been something we’ve been fortunate with at Joe Gibbs Racing over the years. I’ve won there six times and I’ve been in the top-f10 about every time we go there and also a lot of top-five finishes, so I would like to think we can keep that going and, more importantly, get a win. It would certainly be a good time for it, so we look forward to Richmond being one of those places where we can do that. Really excited to have M&M’S Crunchy Cookie on board with us for the first time this week. We’ve had a lot of good luck with these new M&M’S schemes and it’s also a great snack, of course.”

What does it take to get around Richmond?

“Richmond is getting a little trickier, it seems like, just with the asphalt kind of getting older and the way the cars were. The consensus at Richmond is, of course, just trying to get your car to turn, but also having really good forward bite. You have to be able to get off the corners at Richmond. All of it correlates. Everything you want as a racecar driver, you’ve got to have most all of it and, if you don’t, then you better hope you have more forward bite than the rest of them. That’s sort of the equation of Richmond. It’s a fun place to race. It’s really cool. As a driver, you wish it could widen out and give you more options of being able to run around in different grooves, but it hasn’t shown us that the last couple of years. We’re hoping to get our M&M’S Crunchy Cookie Camry another win there.”

What is it about Richmond that suits your driving style?

“I don’t know, over the years – I started out really bad there. My first Truck Series race there was horrible. I think I ran into everything but the hot dog stand. The next time I went there was with Hendrick (Motorsports) in the Busch Series in 2004 when they first repaved the track, and I ran really well. We were able to win that race, and I led the most laps. From that point forward, I feel like I kind of learned or had a sense of what it takes to be fast there and what you need to be able to do to win there. As the years have gone on, the racetrack has definitely aged, it’s definitely gone through some transition, it has lost a lot of grip. There have been some changes in that respect, as well, just trying to figure out, ‘OK, what’s next. What’s the next thing that’s going to keep you on top of your game at Richmond.’ The new car is another challenge that we will take on there, now. It’s always been a good track for me, I enjoy going there. It’s a fun short track. It’s a very challenging short track that doesn’t lend itself to typical short tracks around the country.”

Event Overview:

● Event: Toyota Owners 400 (Round 7 of 36)
● Time/Date: 3:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, April 3
● Location: Richmond (Va.) Raceway
● Layout: .75-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 400 laps/300 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 70 laps / Stage 2: 160 laps / Final Stage: 240 laps
● TV/Radio: FOX / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Meet the No. 18 M&M’S Crunchy Cookie / 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:

● All in the Stats:Busch has six wins, 18 top-five finishes, 25 top-10s and has led a total of 1,528 laps in 32 career Cup Series starts at Richmond. Busch’s average Richmond finish is 6.9.

● Top-10 Streak: Busch currently has a streak of eight consecutive top-10 finishes at Richmond, a streak which started in September 2017. The streak is longest current top-10 streak at the .75-mile short track in the Cup Series.

● Get Out the Broom: Busch swept both races at Richmond in 2018, as he brought home his fifth career spring race win there that year and his first in the fall race. Both 2018 wins came from a starting position outside the top-10.

● Short-Track Ace: Busch has shown quite the propensity to win at NASCAR’s core short tracks. In addition to his six wins at Richmond, Busch has eight wins in NASCAR’s top series at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway and two at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway for his 16 total wins on those three short tracks alone.

● Spring is in the Air: While Busch added a win in the fall Richmond race to his resume in 2018, the two-time Cup Series champion has shined in the spring race there. His four consecutive Cup Series spring-race wins from 2009 to 2012 bested Richard Petty’s previous record of three Richmond spring-race wins in a row from 1971 to 1973. Busch also won the 2018 spring race at Richmond.

● 222 and Counting: Busch will be aiming to add to his record 222 overall wins among NASCAR’s top three series this weekend at Richmond. In addition to his 59 Cup Series wins and 102 in the Xfinity Series, Busch has 61 wins in the Camping World Truck Series.

Brad Keselowski – Richmond I Advance

By
Official Release
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Team: No. 6 Violet Defense Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Josh Sell
Twitter: @RFK6Team, @RFKRacing and @keselowski
Race Format: 300 miles, 400 laps, Stages: 70-160-170
Practice – Saturday, April 2 at 10:30 a.m. ET on FS1, SiriusXM Channel 90
Qualifying – Saturday, April 2 at 11:15 a.m. ET on FS1, SiriusXM Channel 90
Race – Sunday, April 3 at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Weekend Format

· Practice and qualifying are back in the weekend schedule for the NASCAR Cup Series, which this weekend features a pair of group practice sessions Saturday morning, immediately followed by single-car qualifying.

· Qualifying will again be split into two groups with the top-five fastest cars in each group transferring to the final round. The final round of qualifying to determine the pole sitter will feature 10 cars, as all qualifying this weekend will include just one lap per car.

Keselowski at Richmond Raceway

· Keselowski, a two-time winner at Richmond, makes his 25th Cup start at the 3/4-mile track this weekend. He is one of the more recent winners in Virginia, having led 192 laps in the 2020 fall race after starting ninth.

· Keselowski’s first win at Richmond came back in 2014 when he started from the pole and led 383 of the 400 laps. In total, Keselowski has led laps in 12 of his 24 starts at Richmond for a total of 1177 led, the most of any track on the circuit. Of those 12, he has led more than 100 laps in five different events.

· His 12.3 average finish stands as one of his best on the circuit as he has finished 14th or better in 12-straight races. In those 12 races he has an average finish of 7.6.

· Keselowski also made 17 Xfinity Series starts from 2006-17 in Richmond earning four victories and 10 top-10s. He won his last NXS start there in 2017, and also went to victory lane in 2010 once and 2013 twice.

Josh Sell at Richmond Raceway

· Sell, filling in for Matt McCall during RFK’s appeal, will be on the box for his second race as crew chief with Keselowski.

QUOTE WORTHY
Keselowski on racing at Richmond:
“Richmond has been one of my better tracks, especially lately, and somewhere I’m confident at and enjoy running. It’s on us to figure out the key to success there this weekend, and we’re ready to get to work doing that in the Violet Defense machine come Saturday.”

Last Time Out

Keselowski overcame a long Sunday afternoon at COTA to finish 14th in the Wyndham Rewards Ford.

On the Car

Violet Defense returns for its fourth appearance aboard Keselowski’s No. 6 this weekend. His teammate – Chris Buescher – will sport an identical scheme with the number as the only difference for Sunday afternoon’s race from Richmond.

About Violet Defense

Violet Defense uses UV disinfection to protect everyday spaces from harmful pathogens by killing up to 99.9% of E. coli, Salmonella, MRSA, C. diff., Norovirus, C. auris, and coronavirus. Violet Defense’s technology is the only known Pulsed Xenon solution that can be installed into a room full-time, creating a continuous way to address disinfection needs of all types of settings. For more information, visit www.violetdefense.com or follow us on Facebook or LinkedIn (@violetdefense).

Chris Buescher – Richmond I Advance

By
Official Release
-

Team: No. 17 Violet Defense Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Twitter: @RFK17Team, @RFKRacing and @Chris_Buescher
Race Format: 300 miles, 400 laps, Stages: 70-160-170

Practice – Saturday, April 2 at 10:30 a.m. ET on FS1, SiriusXM Channel 90
Qualifying – Saturday, April 2 at 11:15 a.m. ET on FS1, SiriusXM Channel 90
Race – Sunday, April 3 at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Weekend Format

· Practice and qualifying are back in the weekend schedule for the NASCAR Cup Series, which this weekend features a pair of group practice sessions Saturday morning, immediately followed by single-car qualifying.

· Qualifying will again be split into two groups with the top-five fastest cars in each group transferring to the final round. The final round of qualifying to determine the pole sitter will feature 10 cars, as all qualifying this weekend will include just one lap per car.

Buescher at Richmond Raceway

· Buescher makes his 12th start at Richmond on Sunday where he has a 26.3 average finish. He finished 24th in the most recent race last fall.

· He also made five NXS starts for Jack Roush from 2011-15, earning three top-10s with a best finish of seventh (2014).

· Buescher’s best qualifying effort came back in the 2019 spring race, lining up seventh.

Scott Graves at Richmond Raceway

· Graves will be atop the box for his 12th Cup race Sunday afternoon. In 11 prior starts he has a best finish of fifth, which came with Ryan Newman in the 2019 fall race.

· Prior to that he also finished ninth with Newman in the spring, and most recently ran 20th last fall.

· Graves’ top qualifying effort of 11th came with Daniel Suarez back in the 2017 spring event as he has a 21st average starting position overall.

QUOTE WORTHY
Buescher on racing at Richmond:
“It’s no secret that Richmond is one of those places I’ve struggled to figure out in the past. But, having said that, we found something that worked out in Phoenix, so we’re hopeful that type of run will carry over to this weekend. It has been up and down for us thus far, but the goal is to obviously keep it on the upswing. We’re excited to be back in the Violet Defense colors this weekend, and can’t wait to see two matching Ford Mustangs ripping around the track.”

Last Time Out
Buescher finished 21st in the Fifth Third Bank Ford last weekend at COTA.

On the Car

Violet Defense makes its first appearance with the No. 17 team this season, the first of two scheduled races with the Indianapolis Road Course race being the second. Both Buescher and teammate Brad Keselowski will run matching schemes throughout the weekend, with the number as the only difference on the purple machine.

About Violet Defense

Violet Defense uses UV disinfection to protect everyday spaces from harmful pathogens by killing up to 99.9% of E. coli, Salmonella, MRSA, C. diff., Norovirus, C. auris, and coronavirus. Violet Defense’s technology is the only known Pulsed Xenon solution that can be installed into a room full-time, creating a continuous way to address disinfection needs of all types of settings. For more information, visit www.violetdefense.com or follow us on Facebook or LinkedIn (@violetdefense).

Top tips on fuel cost saving in Brisbane

By
SM
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According to abc.net.au, recently, fuel prices is going up in different areas of Australia, this ends up some people may going after around hybrid cars or trying to save fuel costs.

With fuel prices hitting record levels, we’re all watching our wallets and looking for new ways to save money. Due to high inflation rates outpacing wage increases, the costs of living are rising faster than ever, and one of the primary factors that influence our lives is fuel costs. That is why a vehicle’s fuel efficiency is among the priorities of car buyers. “How much should I budget for petrol?”. You might want to ask or check the petrol prices in Australia daily to find lower prices. But there are other ways to help you decrease your average petrol costs per kilometer. Luckily, in this article our team at junkcar removals have prepared the best ways to make your fuel go further, resulting in fewer trips to the petrol station. Driving habits, car and tire maintenance, or lifestyle changes are the major players in petrol conservation.

Before we dive in, if your car is using more fuel than usual, this article can help you decide if you should repair your vehicle, or consider upgrading. So, let’s talk about the tricks you can use to start saving on fuel costs.

Change your driving habits

Keep Your Speed in Check 

The fuel consumption of your car is determined by several elements, one of which is the friction between the wind and the road. You could save money on fuel simply by driving at speeds between 60 to 80 kilometers per hour. This is true because at speeds higher than 80 your car’s efficiency will drop significantly. Another tip that you should keep in mind is avoiding taking off quickly in your car. When you drive gently, your car’s engine needs less fuel in comparison. Rapid accelerations and braking frequently may increase your fuel usage up to 30% more.

Unburden your vehicle

Maybe it is time for you to get rid of all the stuff you have piled up in the trunk of your car. Your engine is doing a lot of work carrying around all those excess weights around. Imagine walking around carrying a heavy backpack every day. The small items in your vehicle can also add up to a lot of weight. If you have attached roof or bicycle racks that you don’t use regularly, take them off. Not only do these parts increase car weight, but they also slow you down through wind friction.

Another useful idea is to only half-fill your petrol tank. Your car weighs a lot less when the tank is half empty. However, you have to factor in that it requires you to travel to the petrol station more frequently. But if you don’t need to use the car a lot, it wouldn’t hurt to give it a try.

Reduce energy usage

Many of us know driving around with the air conditioning switched on causes a lot of fuel consumption. Turning on the air-con or heater can make your car use as much as 10% more fuel than going without it. It would be helpful to get into the habit of only using AC when necessary, to avoid draining your fuel. Idling the engine to keep the AC running is itself another source of energy usage. Some people leave the car running in chilly mornings to warm up the engine. Not only this practice is wasting your car’s fuel, but it can also be a cause of pollution to the environment. If you drive a manual car, it’s also a good point to keep in mind: use the correct gear! Using too low gear for your speed or a high gear can affect your fuel efficiency because the engine has to burn more fuel to compensate.

Keep Your Car Maintained

Check your tires

You should check the condition of your tires regularly to make sure tire pressure is suitable. Underinflated tires cause more fuel usage, in addition to being dangerous while driving. If your budget is not limited, there are energy-efficient options you can pick from. Your tires are in constant contact with the road and as such, they suffer a lot of wear, even if you drive carefully. This is why you must keep an eye on the condition of your tires. Tyre pressure level must be maintained as recommended by the manufacturer.

Have a servicing schedule

Blocked air filters may lower the performance of your vehicle. A binding brake has been proved to increase the kilometer per liter. An AC that is not working at its best can take more energy than it needs. As time passes, every car gets rusty, and to restore the vehicle to optimal performance, regular service is a must for the car and its engine to get tuned up. This is also beneficial for your car’s value since an up-to-date service history means a dealer will put a higher price tag on your car if you were looking to exchange or upgrade. Our services in Brisbane will give you a hand if you ever considered getting some cash for your old car to change or upgrade.

Change your lifestyle

Fill your tank at dawn or dusk

Hot and cold conditions can affect petrol with expansions and contraction. Believe it or not, cold mornings cause fuel to become denser, which means you can get a little more on every liter. Also, petrol is volatile and on hot summer days, there is a possibility of fuel evaporating. This can also happen when you park your car outside. One way to avoid this is to find a shady spot or park inside your garage during hot summer days. Don’t forget to double-check your tank cap after going to the pump. Good practice in summer is to hit the fuel pump when the sun’s not out because the temperature is at its lowest point early in the morning or late in the evening, making it the best time to purchase fuel.

Alternatives to driving

While I agree that Australia is a big place and some journeys are not possible on foot, for close distances you can walk, cycle or use public transport options. This has the benefit of getting you more active along with saving you some money on fuel. If your commute to work is shared with your colleagues, you can also try carpooling which is a win for all. Altering drivers means you get to use your car only half of what it used to be or even less, considering more carpooling partners are involved.

Buy an economical car

Modern vehicles are getting more and more efficient. The manufacturers have to meet the tightening emission and fuel consumption laws. Innovative technologies to reduce fuel consumption mean every day newer models use less fuel. Old cars can chew more fuel and although it might seem costly, owning a more efficient vehicle could save you in the long run.

Another option is to consider a hybrid or electric car. This might not be an option for everyone and electric cars have their high expenses. But it is still a decision that can help cut your fuel costs.

If your car’s kilometer per liter is causing you concern and you have decided on changing or upgrading, junk car removals will pick up your car in exchange for cash if you have a truck or junk car and you just need some cash in exchange.

junkcarremovals.com.au is the best place to recycle your car and then you will get paid in cash for unwanted cars.

Phone number: 0483 333 444
Address: 7 Faculty Cct, Meadowbrook QLD 4131
Working Hour: 7:00 am to 5:00 pm Mon-Sat

Betting at NASCAR at its Best

By
SM
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Online betting for NASCAR is an exciting event and it is not just betting on a driver but also on the occasion itself depending on the season whether regular or postseason.

Let’s learn more about NASCAR

NASCAR stands for The National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. This is American auto racing and they are responsible for approving and operating stock car racing.

Stock car racing is automobile racing that runs on oval tracks and road courses. The track measures .25 to 2.66 miles or 0.4 to 4.3 kilometers. Originally this place was used for production model cars which is the reason why it is called “stock cars” and it is now using cars built for racing.

Online Casino

An online casino is a form of wagering using gadgets, particularly smartphones or iPhones, or tablets with the aid of a strong internet connection. By nature, it has the same qualities, games, and rules as a physical casino. The ambiance also copies the physical casino except that it is played thru one’s gadget. Casinocrawlers offer new casino sites with loads of bonuses and promos. Check their latest on the site indicated.

The games on the online casino can be played using virtual or via Live Casino. All virtual games are decided by the Pseudorandom Number Generated (PRNG) a type of software that uses the Algorithm mathematical method to make sure that all output of the games must be exact, random, unpredictable, and fair.

Players playing live dealer get the chance to meet human croupier and mingle with other players and games are done live stream and real-time.

Online Betting with NASCAR

Perhaps because of the rapid expansions of the car racing sport, betting on NASCAR has been an active online sport. NASCAR doesn’t generate in full since it is not wide-ranging yet nevertheless, it is a nine-month-long season. The majority of NASCAR betting sites provide great opportunities.

  • Weekly NASCAR Cup Series races
  • NASCAR All-star races
  • NASCAR Xfinity or NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Races

What are the criteria for wagering in NASCAR?

Since future betting in NASCAR is promising, more and more online sportsbooks are offering them odds and the requirements are not that complicated. One has to have the financial capacity of betting and has to be 21 years of age. It takes a few minutes to register online.

  • Your Name
  • Your Address
  • Your Date of birth
  • Valid Email Address
  • Your Contact Number
  • Your Social Security Number

How to wager in NASCAR?

Betting on NASCAR has different criteria and the sportsbook is here to assist bettors and offer to bet on individual races, futures and/or props.

Ø Prop bets

Prop bets offer bettors future results and not just on the driver.

–        The manufacturer of the races
–        The number of caution flags that are thrown
–        Driver which leads in the laps
–        The number of crashes in the race

Props bets are usually offered to meticulous bettors who wanted a secure winning.

Ø Race Winner

Online bettors who are experts in betting in NASCAR are familiar with the car re drivers and their capabilities. For this reason, bettors usually place a bet on the driver who they believe to win the race easily.

Ø Driver Matchups

This type of racing gives the bettor a chance to wager on a random driver who is in the lead. Matchups can be two drivers or a group of four drivers which makes the race more exciting.

Ø Futures Bets

NASCAR wagers who wager in future bets place their bets on the driver according to their accomplishments or if they already established a name.

Final Insight

The online gambling world is expanding and it gives virtual bettors an opportunity to wager in other sports games. Car racing is a famous type of sport and it gives bettors a chance to place a bet on their favorite player.

One bingo game for each day of the week

By
SM
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Photo by Mick Haupt on Unsplash

Everybody loves Bingo, a great and fun way to spend time in your free time. Bingo games have been around since the early 1900s, but you’ll still find millions of people playing worldwide. For those who don’t like the conventional cube, why not try a fresh game that is one of the best online bingo games with real money? Seven days of binging: what could be more fun than this? We will look at seven of the best online bingo games available to play today. Also, how they differ from each other. 

Monday — Bingo millions 

Bingo Millions is one of the first and most successful game types offered by the most popular bingo casino online sites. The game features a variety of different play types, including Multi-Player Bingo, where more than one player can participate in a single game. Moreover, Single-Player Bingo, is a solo type of game where only one player plays at a time. The site’s main feature is its vast selection of bingo cards, with over 3 million in circulation at any given time. Moreover, it has a great selection of bingo cards to choose from. 

Tuesday — Bingo street 

Bingo Street is a fun and friendly bingo website designed to give players the best possible experience with their online bingo game. The site features a design by the same people who run the very popular Wink Bingo, 888 Ladies, and Posh Bingo. Therefore, you know that it will be good. The online bingo game features a vibrant and welcoming design full of bright colors and big fonts. Hence, this is something that makes it instantly appealing. However, do not let the bold design fool you. There are plenty of great features that you should expect to find from your online bingo Canada experience.

Wednesday — Castle jackpot 

Castle Jackpot is the best online bingo site for players looking for a medieval theme. The site is also home to some excellent promotions, including a £10 no deposit bonus available to new players. You can use your free £10 to purchase 100 bingo tickets in all of Castle Jackpot’s rooms, including 75-ball and 90-ball games. There are also plenty of free bingo games where you can win real cash prizes with no deposit required. New players will also benefit from a 100% first deposit bonus, after making your first initial payment to double chances. 

Thursday – 75 Ball Bingo Game 

As the most popular online bingo game, 75-ball is the go-to option for many players. This game is played on a 5×5 grid with 25 numbers on every card. The letter B covers the five numbers in the first column of each card, I represent the second column, and so on. The middle square is a free space and can be used to complete patterns. The goal of this game is to match your cards with the pattern you are playing with or have the entire card covered by matching numbers to win a prize. 

Friday — Wink bingo 

Wink Bingo is one of the best online bingo sites in the UK. It is a state-of-the-art website that offers its players more than just an ordinary bingo game. The site is popular for being one of the most generous bingo sites for bonuses and promotions and offers numerous ways for players to win massive amounts of real cash. New players can rest assured that they are getting the best bang for their buck. Wink Bing offers newbies a £40 welcome bonus plus 50 free spins on their first deposit of only £10. 

Saturday — Paddy power bingo 

Paddy Power Bingo has been designed with three things in mind: fun, simplicity, and the very best of Irish fortune. Fans of the site can play a wide range of games, including 75 balls, 80 balls, and 90 ball bingo. The bingo site also offers a variety of multi-player/multi-stake slot games, scratch cards, and instant win titles. There are no less than nine different bingo rooms at Paddy Power Bingo, including Lucky Stars, Bargain Bingo, and Super Jackpot. Each room has its jackpot amount and offers players the chance to win a different prize fund. 

Heart Bingo is a site that offers players a lot of free bingo games and some fun promotions. Players at this site will also find plenty of slots, table games, and other casino games to enjoy. The welcome bonus here is worth up to £50 in cash and 50 free spins on the Paper Wins slot game. This site also has a VIP program that includes perks such as cashback, birthday bonuses, and prize draws. The jackpots available here are some of the best around, and there are always new games to try out. 

Jabs Construction Returns to BMS as Primary Partner for NASCAR Xfinity Series ToyotaCare 250

By
Official Release
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Brandonbilt Motorsports welcomes Jabs Construction back as a primary sponsor for the fourth straight season

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (March 29, 2022) – Brandonbilt Motorsports (BMS) announces today the return of Jabs Construction as the primary sponsor of Brandon Brown’s No. 68 Chevrolet Camaro for the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Richmond Raceway on Saturday, April 2.

Jabs Construction Inc. is a full-service design/build residential remodeling company based out of Dumfries, Virginia. They provide complete contracting services for projects ranging from small trim repairs to whole-house remodeling. In addition to their complete remodeling services, Jabs Construction maintains an Architectural Department and an Electrical Division.

Jabs Car Photo.png
“I’m so excited to have Jabs Construction back on the race car this weekend in Richmond. They’ve been a partner for the past four seaon Richmond Raceway is their home track, so hopefully I can make this weekend that much more special with a good finish!

The company was started in 1978 as a small family business and maintains that structure today with Jabs Construction still being owned, operated and managed by members of the Jabs Family.

“One of my favorite things about working with Jabs is that they’re a family-owned business, just like Brandonbilt Motorsports. We really relate to one another because of that. I strive to support other family-owned businesses, because I know the amount of hard work and heart that it takes to operate one.”

Brandon Brown heads to Richmond Raceway feeling optimistic about the first short-track race of the season. “Short track racing is my comfort zone and something that I’m pretty confident about. I’m anxious to get back out there and redeem myself after my run at COTA. Tire strategy will be important here for stronger long runs.”

“Another thing that I’m pumped about is my family being there this weekend. My hometown is only about an hour from the track (Woodbridge, VA) so a lot of them are able to come. I feel like I push myself harder when my mom and younger brother are at the tracks, because I’d love to get them to Victory Lane. The feeling of winning is indescribable.”

The No. 68 Jabs Construction Chevrolet Camaro will hit the track on Saturday, March 19 at Richmond Raceway, with coverage airing live on FS1 at 1:30 p.m. ET.

For more information about Jabs Construction, please visit www.jabsinc.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.

Mahindra Tractors Racing: Chase Briscoe Richmond Advance

By
Official Release
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CHASE BRISCOE
Richmond Advance
No. 14 Mahindra Tractors Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview

● Event: Richmond 400 (Round 7 of 36)
● Time/Date: 3:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, April 3
● Location: Richmond (Va.) Raceway
● Layout: .75-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 400 laps/300 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 70 laps / Stage 2: 160 laps / Final Stage: 170 laps
● TV/Radio: FOX / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Chase Briscoe and the No. 14 Mahindra Tractors Ford Mustang team for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) roll into Virginia’s capital city for the seventh race of the season. Opened in 1946 and last paved in 1988, the worn-out surface of Richmond Raceway will be a different kind of test for drivers who have only competed on short tracks with newer surfaces so far this year. Briscoe was having a strong showing at the Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum before a mechanical issue ended his race. Five weeks later, on the mile oval at Phoenix Raceway, he dominated the final stage of the race en route to his first career Cup Series win.

● Six races into the 2022 season, Briscoe is ninth in points, 42 behind leader Chase Elliott. He currently holds a spot in the 16-driver playoff field by virtue of his win at Phoenix. He’s led laps in four of the first six races and ranks fourth in total laps led to date.

● Briscoe has two Cup Series starts at Richmond with a best finish of 16th earned in September 2021. Though he struggled to earn top results on short tracks in his rookie year, Briscoe continues to adapt his dirt-racing style to stock-car racing on pavement and has already made gains this season in the NextGen car.

● In his five NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Richmond, Briscoe earned his first top-10 in April 2019, then returned that September to earn a fifth-place result.

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

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

What suits this new car to your driving style?

“I don’t know. I don’t feel like I’m really doing anything different. The last few weeks, the car has driven pretty similar to the old Cup car – not the 550 stuff, but the 750 package. I feel like just as a team we’ve gotten better. We’ve had more speed in our racecars where last year was obviously a struggle but, to me, the cars don’t drive a whole lot different. I don’t know if other guys just have more habits to break, where I didn’t really have a lot of things I needed to change as far as from an experience standpoint. The NextGen is kind of a hybrid between a Cup car and an Xfinity car in terms of feel, but I just think our cars have been really good. We’ve had a lot of speed and we’ve been able to capitalize on that, where last year we never had the speed we needed a lot of the time, and the races we did have speed and ran up front, we didn’t have it consistently like we have this year, so far.”

What do you think about this new car at Richmond?

“The racing at Richmond has been good in the past, it’s just so circumstantial. Everybody’s view of what makes it a good race is different. Some people want to see a lot of passing. Some people want to see the cars slipping and sliding around. Some people want to see wrecks. Others just want to see a close finish at the end. That definition of a good race is different for everybody, so I think for me at least, in the past Auto Club has been a blast. I had a blast there this year, too. Richmond, I don’t really know what to expect. I do think this car probably creates a little more grip than the old car does at places like Richmond, but I honestly don’t know what to expect when we get there. I think that we haven’t really seen this car on a true short track. Yes, Phoenix is a short track, but there’s not a lot of tire falloff, where at Richmond there’s a ton of falloff, so we have to see how this car reacts to that. It’ll definitely be interesting to see how this car impacts tire saving and guys going hard and things like that. I do think that, with this car, everywhere we go there are a lot of comers and goers. You have guys that are extremely good on the short run, guys that are good on the long run, and with this car you’re just constantly changing positions. You throw in the tire falloff side of things at Richmond and it’s going to be interesting, for sure.”

Can you talk about your relationship with Johnny Klausmeier?

“I feel like from the beginning we’ve always gotten along really well. From a personal standpoint, we’re both a lot alike. That’s kind of been different for me than crew chiefs I’ve had in the past. A lot of my crew chiefs aren’t as, I guess – I don’t even know what the word would be – just as laid back and relaxed as Johnny is. So, it’s been kind of different for me because normally it’s a deal where it’s hot and cold, where one guy is more amped up all the time and the other guy is really relaxed, where me and Johnny are both pretty relaxed all the time. I think, as we’ve continued to learn more about each other, we’ve only gotten better. Last year was tough with no practice and no qualifying. He was trying to figure out what I was even asking for sometimes. He hasn’t worked with any Sprint car guys before, and just our lingo and what we look for is different. I felt like toward the end of last season we really started to click as far as what I liked in the racecar, and this year we’ve done a phenomenal job of doing the same. I think our success on the racetrack has honestly come from having practice and having qualifying and all these things. Last year, we were always trying to catch up and it just made it a real struggle to where, by the end of the race, I always felt like our car drove really good and we were one of the faster cars, but we were just buried from a track position standpoint. We were already a lap down from the beginning of the race, so us being able to have practice and get our car driving really good and then go qualify and be able to start up front has been really good for our team.”

No. 14 Mahindra Tractors Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Chase Briscoe
Hometown: Mitchell, Indiana

Crew Chief: John Klausmeier
Hometown: Perry Hall, Maryland

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

Engineer: Mike Cook
Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland

Engineer: Marc Hendricksen
Hometown: Clinton, New Jersey

Spotter: Joey Campbell
Hometown: Berlin, Connecticut

Over-The-Wall Members

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

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

Tire Carrier: Jon Bernal
Hometown: Shelby, North Carolina

Jack Man: Brandon Banks

Hometown: High Point, North Carolina

Fuel Man: Corey Coppola

Hometown: Bluefield, West Virginia

Road Crew Members

Underneath Mechanic: Stephen Gonzalez
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Interior Mechanic: Trevor Adams
Hometown: Naples, Florida

Tire Specialist: Keith Eads
Hometown: Arlington, Virginia

Shock Specialist: Brian Holshouser
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina

Engine Tuner: Jon Phillips
Hometown: Jefferson City, Missouri

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

Transporter Co-Driver: Rob Fink
Hometown: Mocksville, North Carolina

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