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Code 3 Associates Joins Tony Stewart Racing

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Code 3 Associates to Serve as Primary Sponsor of Leah Pruett’s Top Fuel Dragster in NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at Las Vegas

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (March 22, 2022) – Code 3 Associates is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization specializing in animal rescue and recovery in disaster areas, and it has gained notoriety among the NASCAR community for its association with three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart and his NASCAR team, Stewart-Haas Racing.

The successful partnership has led Code 3 Associates to deepen its motorsports involvement by partnering with Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. Its blue-and-white colors will adorn Leah Pruett’s 11,000-horsepower Top Fuel dragster in the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals April 1-3 at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

“We’re honored to have Code 3 Associates join TSR,” said Stewart, whose Tony Stewart Foundation is dedicated to the protection of various animal species. “Whenever there’s a disaster, everyone wants to help, and it’s nice to know there’s an organization out there that takes care of a sometimes overlooked but very important family member – your pet. Taking care of animals has always been important to me, and when we started our Foundation, we made animal welfare a priority. To be able to promote the work of Code 3 Associates so that it can do even more work for people and their pets is very satisfying.”

Formed in 1985, Colorado-based Code 3 Associates is a national response team that at the request of local government officials provides animal rescue and recovery during any kind of disaster. The organization has evolved from one unpaid volunteer to at least 75 professional responders around the country, which includes animal welfare, law enforcement, fire, EMS and veterinary specialists from the United States and Canada. While its focus is animals and their owners, Code 3 Associates trains its responders to the standards of human rescue, and Code 3 Associates also provides training to conduct thorough investigations into animal welfare, all of which is accredited by Colorado State University (CSU) and the CSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

“Code 3 Associates has championed animal welfare for more than 30 years, and for the last 10 years Tony Stewart and his race teams have been involved in our efforts,” said Nan Stuart, founder, Code 3 Associates. “Tony and Leah have been recognized for their leadership and performance on and off the track. This initiative with Tony Stewart Racing will continue to raise the profile of our collective mission, which is to provide animal rescue and recovery in the immediate aftermath of a disaster.”

Pruett is a nine-time event winner in Top Fuel who has made 18 final-round appearances, including at Las Vegas in October 2018. She made her Top Fuel debut in 2013 and has been a mainstay in NHRA’s premier division ever since. Pruett has also earned an impressive presence off the track, as Drag Illustrated named her the 2021 Social Media Influencer of the Year.

“I’m an NHRA lifer because I love this sport, but I also love its sense of community, and the NHRA paddock has always been a place where competitors pitch in to help whenever help is needed,” said Pruett, whose dog, an Australian Shepherd named Fendi, has been a part of her career since her rookie season in Top Fuel. “It’s impressive to see how Code 3 Associates steps up on a moment’s notice, and I’ve learned a lot about what they do ever since I met Tony. I’m definitely looking forward to promoting Code 3 and all that it does because it’s a cause our fans and our industry can rally around.”

Those wanting to learn more about Code 3 Associates and what they can do to support its mission can do so by visiting www.Code3Associates.org.

About Code 3 Associates:

Code 3 Associates, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to providing professional animal disaster response and resources to communities, as well as administering professional training to individuals and agencies involved in animal-related law enforcement and emergency response. Its mission is accomplished through hands-on animal rescue and care operations during disaster events in the United States and Canada, and through certified animal welfare training seminars, which include animal cruelty training for investigators. More information is available at www.Code3Associates.org.

Front Row Motorsports Kicks Off New Partnership with Boot Barn

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Official Release
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Western and Work Wear Retailer to Support Todd Gilliland and Zane Smith

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (March 22, 2022) – Boot Barn is back in NASCAR. The largest western and work wear retailer in the nation returns to Front Row Motorsports (FRM) after partnering with the team during last year’s NASCAR Cup Series season finale. This year, Boot Barn has invested in FRM’s young drivers, Todd Gilliland and Zane Smith, in a major program for both throughout the remainder of the season.

Boot Barn will adorn the No. 38 Ford Mustang and Todd Gilliland beginning this weekend at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA). They will then be the primary partner for NASCAR Cup Series events at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in May, the Nashville Superspeedway in June and again at NASCAR Championship weekend at the Phoenix Raceway in November. Boot Barn will be an associate partner each week throughout Gilliland’s rookie season—both on the car and on his uniform.

An American lifestyle brand, Boot Barn will also serve as the primary partner for three races in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with driver Zane Smith and the No. 38 Ford F-150 team. The Americana Boot Barn scheme will debut at the Knoxville Raceway in June and be the primary partner for Smith and the team at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and the Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in July.

“We’re proud to return to Front Row Motorsports and expand our program with them this year,” said Stephen Loscko, Boot Barn’s Director of Media and Marketing. “The NASCAR and Boot Barn lifestyle continue to be a perfect fit for fans of both and we’re excited to welcome Todd Gilliland and Zane Smith into our Boot Barn family. Todd and Zane are young drivers who value working hard for their livelihood. That’s what our customers value, too. We are excited to be a part of their growth this year.”

As the largest western and work wear retailer in the nation, Boot Barn offers an extensive selection of cowboy boots, works boots, western wear, work wear, western-inspired fashion, and outdoor gear. Gilliland and Smith will both be making appearances for Boot Barn and showcasing the western and work wear lifestyle on social media.

“Boot Barn is a true American brand,” Gilliland stated. “It’s just special to be aligned with a company who believes in and supports our American workers, ranchers, cowboys, and more. I want to thank them for their partnership of our program as I continue my rookie year in the Cup Series.”

With the three-race partnership of Smith, the No. 38 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team now has completed its primary partnerships for the season and are concentrating on their championship run.

“Boot Barn is a great addition to our program this year,” echoed Smith. “They are going to give us that final piece of the puzzle to compete for the championship. But, more importantly, it’s really a great brand who supports our race fans and our American workers.”

For more information about Boot Barn, visit www.bootbarn.com.

ABOUT BOOT BARN
Boot Barn is the nation’s leading lifestyle retailer of western and work-related footwear, apparel, and accessories for men, women, and children. The Company offers its loyal customer base a wide selection of work, western, country, and lifestyle brands. As of the date of this release, Boot Barn operates 281 stores in 36 states, in addition to an e-commerce channel, www.bootbarn.com. The company also operates www.sheplers.com, the nation’s leading pure play online western and work retailer and www.countryoutfitter.com, an e-commerce site selling to customers who live in a country lifestyle. For more information, call 1-888-BOOT-BARN or visit www.bootbarn.com

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.

Food City, Gain, and Tide Help Petty GMS Stay Clean at Bristol

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Official Release
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STATESVILLE, North Carolina (March 22, 2022) – As the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) returns to dirt for the second consecutive season, Petty GMS announced today a partnership with Food City, Gain, and Tide at a press conference at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. For the NCS Food City Dirt Race on Sunday, April 17, the teammates will represent two cleaning champions – the freshness of Gain vs. the power of Tide. The No. 42 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 driven by Ty Dillon will carry the Gain brand, while the No. 43 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 piloted by Erik Jones will showcase the Tide brand as the primary partner.

After last season’s successful debut, Bristol Motor Speedway will once again be transformed from a high-banked concrete oval into a premier dirt racing showplace for the Food City Dirt Race. This will be only the second time that the Cup Series has been featured on dirt since September 30, 1970, when Richard Petty, current Petty GMS Chairman, and inaugural member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, won at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds near Raleigh.

For the first time in NASCAR’s modern era (1972-present) and only the 12th time in history, the Cup Series will race on Easter Sunday, and of the 11 previous Easter races, five were also held on dirt tracks.

“Food City is proud to team up with Petty GMS and Procter & Gamble to sponsor this great partnership which pairs two iconic brands – Gain & Tide with two seasoned drivers – Ty Dillon and Erik Jones for the running of the second annual Food City Dirt Race,” says Steven C. Smith, Food City president and chief executive officer.

Gain’s bright green-and-orange color palette will adorn Dillon’s No. 42 Chevrolet, marking the brand’s return to NASCAR competition since 2018. The “Smell Ya Later!” design will feature Gain branding on the hood and sides.

“I’m excited to have Food City and Gain partnering with the No. 42 team for Bristol,” said Dillon. “Running on dirt last season was a fun experience and one that I’m looking forward to doing again. To have both of our Petty GMS Chevrolets carrying well-known laundry brands is a great opportunity for Erik and myself. Also, in my lifetime, we have never raced on Easter Sunday, so I’m looking forward to celebrating the special day with my family in a different way this season.”

Tide’s recognizable logo, the distinctive orange-and-yellow bullseye, is on the hood and sides of Jones’s No. 43 Chevrolet. The design, which is the same scheme the 25-year-old ran in 2021, includes a nod to Tide’s rich NASCAR history with the addition of the iconic Petty Blue. The duo will look to “Fight Dirty!” together as the series embarks on the dirt surface.

“To have Food City and Tide back on board our No. 43 Chevrolet for the Food City Dirt Race is a proud moment for our Petty GMS team,” Jones said. “We had a strong run, finishing ninth, last season in our Tide Camaro and hopefully we can improve even more on that effort next month. Food City and Tide have a storied history in our sport and I’m glad to continue being a part of the next chapter.”

To celebrate the partnership of one dirt track and two cleaning champions, Gain and Tide are teaming up with Food City and Petty GMS for the “Ultimate Dirt Race” Sweepstakes. Participates have the chance to win a $1,500 Visa gift card or other prizes. For complete rules, please visit www.foodcity.com.

The Food City Dirt Race at the Bristol Motor Speedway will be broadcast live on FOX on Sunday, April 17 at 7:00 p.m. (ET). It will also broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network (PRN) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

About Food City:

Headquartered in Abingdon, Virginia, Food City is a local, family-owned company operating 138 retail supermarkets throughout southeast Kentucky, southwest Virginia, east Tennessee, north Georgia, and Alabama. The company serves as the title sponsor of the spring Cup Series Food City Dirt Race and fall Food City 300 Xfinity race. Celebrating 30 years of racing, Food City is Bristol Motor Speedway’s longest running sponsor and the second longest in NASCAR Motorsports. Food City’s annual Family Race Night events have contributed more than $565,000 in proceeds to charitable organizations throughout the region over the past 35 years.

ABOUT PETTY GMS:

Petty GMS competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, operating the No. 42 Chevrolet for Ty Dillon and the No. 43 Chevrolet for Erik Jones. The newly formed team brought together two storied organizations in December 2021. Over the last decade, owner Maury Gallagher built a victorious team, capturing two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championships, one ARCA Menards Series title, and two ARCA Menards Series East championships, as well as 65 wins and 235 top-five finishes across six series. Richard Petty, a member of the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2010, serves as Chairman of Petty GMS. Petty, known as “The King,” accumulated over 200 wins and was the first of three drivers to win seven championships in the Cup Series. For more information, visit www.pettygms.com.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, follow Petty GMS on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Shop Deegan 38 Joins Luke Morey as Primary Partner for 2022 Season

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Official Release
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Mooresville, NC (March 17, 2022) – Announced today, Team Hornaday Development and driver Luke Morey welcome Shop Deegan 38 for the 2022 CARS tour and Carolina Pro Late Model tour. Morey will make his CARS tour series debut March 26th at the historic Hickory Motor Speedway.

Born into a racing family, Morey began competing at the age of seven and has made the natural progression through the US Legend Car Series, earning a US Legend Car North Carolina State Championship and will now move into full-size stock cars. Along with his move to stock cars, Morey welcomes Shop Deegan 38 as his primary partner for the 2022 season.

Shop Deegan 38, founded by American racer Brian Deegan is a family owned business featuring merchandise supporting Deegan’s legendary career on both two and four wheels. The shop also showcases merchandise for his daughter and current Truck Series driver Hailee Deegan, and Haiden “Danger Boy” and Hudson “Huckson” Deegan, who are both competing on the motocross circuit.

“It’s all about family and when I met Luke, I saw a kid who’s 100% committed to his dream and his family backs him 110%,” said Brain Deegan. “It’s going to be cool watching Luke take this next step in the CARS tour promoting ShopDeegan38.com.”

Continuing to develop his career, Morey has been a part of Team Hornaday Development for two years and has shown his talents both on and off the track. This year will prove to be his biggest challenge yet, but one he has put in the time and effort for and is prepared to take the next step in his career.

“I’m excited to take on a new challenge with full-size stock cars this year,” said Morey. “For as long as I can remember, I’ve been at a race track with my family watching my dad race. It’s cool to now be able to be the one in the driver’s seat and continuing to compete on new tracks each weekend and against some of the best racers across the country. To have Brain Deegan come on board to support me and my career is huge. I’ve always looked up to him and what he accomplished in his career and to see what Hailee is now doing in NASCAR is really cool.”

NASCAR Xfinity Series Rookie Ty Gibbs Previews Expectations Ahead of the Pit Boss 250

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Official Release
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Ty Gibbs celebrates in victory lane after earning his first NASCAR Xfinity Series win of the 2022 season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 5, 2022. Photo Credit: Las Vegas Motor Speedway/Jeff Speer
  • With two wins already under his belt this season – Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Atlanta Motor Speedway – the 19-year-old grandson of team owner Joe Gibbs looks to leave his mark on Circuit of The Americas in his debut at the 3.41-mile Austin circuit.
  • Tickets for Saturday’s doubleheader featuring the NASCAR Xfinity Series Pit Boss 250 and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series XPEL 225 are on sale at NASCARatCOTA.com/Tickets.

AUSTIN, Texas (March 22, 2022) – NASCAR driver Ty Gibbs might be in his first full-time Xfinity Series (NXS) season, but the 19-year-old grandson of NASCAR team owner and NFL legend Joe Gibbs has already compiled a resume that ranks him among the favorites to win when the penultimate series takes on Circuit of The Americas (COTA) for the Pit Boss 250 on Saturday.

While he’s made 23 starts in his young career (earning six victories in the process), Gibbs has yet to race at COTA outside of time on the simulator.

“The surface is a little bit old in some spots, and they’ve repaved some spots, so it’s going to be fun to try to manage it,” Gibbs said. “You’re going to have a lot of grip in a couple of corners and way less grip in the other corners… I feel like the track is very technical in its own way, so kind of trying to find the flow for it, it’s going to be a fun time.”

While most up-and-coming racers learn the ropes on oval tracks, Gibbs cut his teeth racing road courses, which he feels may give him an advantage in his inaugural visit to the 20-turn, 3.41-mile circuit.

“I kind of grew racing go-karts on road courses. I feel like, honestly, I spend more time on road courses than I do on ovals. It’s kind of funny to say that. I feel like being very disciplined, that really helps on road courses,” he said. “Hitting brake markers and trying not to lock the tires up – just being very disciplined, I think that helps.”

Gibbs exhibited his road course prowess by winning two of the seven road course events on the 2021 NXS schedule. The first came in his NXS debut on the Daytona road course in February, and then he added another at Watkins Glen. He tied Kyle Busch and AJ Allmendinger for the most road course wins on the season, and he did it in just five starts. He also added a third-place finish at Mid-Ohio.

As for his expectations for the weekend, the goal is simple.

“For me, I feel like I’m always chasing trophies,” he said. “I feel like each race (the goal) is the same going into it. I want to win all of them.”

Tickets:

Tickets for the March 25-27 NASCAR at COTA tripleheader weekend are on sale now at NASCARatCOTA.com/Tickets. Further details can be found on the NASCAR at COTA website including the full race weekend schedule.

Follow Us:

Keep track of all things NASCAR at COTA by following on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@NASCARatCOTA). Keep up with all the latest information on the NASCAR at COTA website and mobile app.

TPC Racing Moves IMSA Carrera Cup Partnership with Carlos de Quesada and Alegra Motorsports Off to Productive Start at Season-Opening Sebring Doubleheader

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  • New TPC Racing and Alegra Motorsports Collaboration for de Quesada’s First Porsche GT3 Cup Season in Five Years
  • De Quesada, TPC and Alegra on Carrera Cup Top-10 Qualifying and Race Pace at Sebring in No. 22 Alegra Motorsports/TPC Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Type 992

SEBRING, Florida (March 22, 2022) – TPC Racing moved its new partnership with Carlos de Quesada and Alegra Motorsports off to a competitive and productive start last week at Sebring International Raceway in the season-opening races for the IMSA Porsche Carrera Cup North America Presented by the Cayman Islands. The same-day Carrera Cup doubleheader was one of several support series races for Saturday’s milestone 70th Anniversary running of the 12 Hours of Sebring but also marked a significant return for de Quesada.

A veteran Porsche GT3 Cup series competitor and two-time Rolex 24 at Daytona winning driver and car owner, de Quesada made his first race start in five years at Sebring in the No. 22 Alegra Motorsports/TPC Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Type 992. The last time de Quesada raced in competition, he came home a winner in the GTD class as one of five drivers in his Alegra Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R at the 2017 Rolex 24 At Daytona.

“It’s been a long time since I have been in a proper race car like this,” de Quesada said. “I kept my expectations low, I had back surgery five years ago, and it has been that long since I have raced at this level. I am just trying to get back in shape, and I felt like now was a good time to try it out and see how I did.”

Alegra currently campaigns a Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTD division. Not wanting to detract from that program, de Quesada contacted longtime friends and competitors TPC Racing to discuss a partnership in Carrera Cup this year.

“It’s such a perfect fit,” said Harris Levitas, TPC Racing Director of Race Operations. “The collaboration between Alegra Motorsports and TPC Racing came about when Carlos purchased his 992 GT3 Cup. His team is really focused on a top finish in GTD in the IMSA WeatherTech Championship with their Mercedes-AMG GT3, so, I spoke with Alegra Team Manager Tony Ditto – and Carlos too – about what we could do to work together. The goal is to keep Alegra from being so stressed on a race weekend, and we came up with the solution of TPC operating the car for Carlos and Alegra to keep their team free to focus on GTD. Carlos has always been such a great friend to our family, and it was a great time being back with him last week.”

Despite a late start to the partnership that didn’t allow for testing, the No. 22 Porsche was quick off the trailer with de Quesada at the wheel. He qualified ninth in the competitive Pro-Am field and held station in the class top-10 from the drop of the green flag in last Thursday’s first 40-minute sprint. De Quesada climbed to as high as eighth in the late stages of the race, but the fast pace and high track temperatures led to a worn rear tire that saw the No. 22 drop out of the top-10 at the finish.

De Quesada had a great start in that afternoon’s second and final race only to be unintentionally spun out by another competitor on the opening lap. Quickly recovering, de Quesada continued in last place on track and began picking off as many positions as he could before the checkered flag flew. The end results of the weekend were a pair of 13th place Pro-Am finishes in both races.

“My goal was to improve every session I went out,” de Quesada said. “I didn’t do any testing before coming to Sebring, but I still improved every lap. I am happy with my results so far in this first race, and I am just going to come back harder and more competitive. So, step by step.”

Levitas and the TPC crew were also encouraged by the positives from their first weekend of competition with de Quesada and Alegra.

“We have only had just over two days on track here and about an hour before arriving in Sebring,” Levitas said. “So, for Carlos to come in and start his first GT3 Cup races in five years and be competitive right off the bat was great. He has been doing a lot of historic racing the last few years, but he has been having so much fun getting back in this competition. The Carrera Cup has already shown so much growth and it is a great series.”

The Type 992 – the latest Porsche 911 GT3 Cup race car – impressed de Quesada.

“It’s just better grip overall,” de Quesada said. “I felt like the brakes are just absolutely amazing. I was able to just go in really deep and stand on them, and it would stop the car and allow me to turn in. And just very impressive with the aero. It felt like more grip around the turns. The car is phenomenal, very well built, a very sturdy car.”

The No. 22 team’s exact schedule of 2022 Carrera Cup races will be determined in the coming months, but the next chapter in a great relationship between TPC and Alegra is off to a good start.

“There have been so many battles between TPC and Alegra over the years,” Levitas said. “My father, Michael Levitas, called to congratulate Carlos when Alegra won its first Rolex 24 in 2007 because we had won the GT class with TPC a year earlier. We all have been friends ever since and I just can’t thank Carlos and Alegra enough for trusting us to do this and having him with us.”

About TPC Racing: TPC Racing is the Mid-Atlantic’s premier maintenance, service, tuning and modification center dedicated solely to Porsche sportscars. TPC Racing specializes in R&D and sales of high-performance modifications for Porsche sports cars and race cars, offering a wide range of vehicle upgrades. Best known for a line of forced induction solutions for the Porsche 911, Cayman and Boxster, a long-time focus on only one make, Porsche, has enabled TPC Racing to become experts in Porsche service, tuning, and racing. In 2000, TPC Racing began entering races under its own banner, scoring an SGS-class Championship in 2004 in the Grand-American Rolex Series and was a class winner in the 2006 Rolex 24 At Daytona, and captured the 2013 and 2016 IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA Gold Cup Championships. More information can be found at www.TPCRacing.com.

Bubba Wallace to Run Select NASCAR Xfinity Series Races with Joe Gibbs Racing

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Wallace Scheduled to Compete at Circuit of the Americas and Indianapolis Road Course in the No. 18 Toyota GR Supra

Mooresville, N.C. (Mar. 22, 2022) – 23XI Racing today announced that Bubba Wallace, driver of the No. 23 Toyota Camry TRD in the NASCAR Cup Series, will compete in two upcoming NASCAR Xfinity Series races with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR). Wallace will pilot the No. 18 Toyota GR Supra this weekend at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) and will race later this summer at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Both races will take place the day before the Cup Series is set to compete at the same tracks and will provide Wallace additional track time at two of the newer courses on the NASCAR schedule.

The races mark a return for Wallace, who made his NASCAR national series debut with JGR in 2012. Wallace raced in the No. 20 Toyota and made a total of six starts with JGR during the 2012 and 2014 Xfinity Series seasons, earning one pole award and four top-10 finishes. More recently, Wallace competed in one Xfinity race in 2021 to add to his 86 career starts in the series.

Dr Pepper, a Founding Partner of 23XI and Wallace on the No. 23 Toyota, will serve as the primary partner for the race at COTA in Austin this Saturday.

More information will be shared closer to the race regarding sponsorship for Indianapolis.

“I’m looking forward to partnering back up with Joe Gibbs Racing in the Xfinity Series after making my first career start in NASCAR with them about 10 years ago,” said Wallace. “The No. 18 Toyota GR Supra team is always strong and I’m excited to be competing with them at COTA and Indianapolis. Thanks to the team at 23XI and Toyota for helping to make this happen and thanks to Dr Pepper for coming on board for the race at COTA.”

About 23XI Racing

23XI Racing – pronounced twenty-three eleven – was founded by NBA legend Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin in 2020. With rising NASCAR star Bubba Wallace selected to drive the No. 23 Toyota Camry TRD, the team made its NASCAR Cup Series debut in the 2021 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Wallace made history on October 4, 2021, when he captured his first career Cup Series win, becoming just the second African American to win in the Cup Series, and earning 23XI Racing its first-ever victory. 23XI Racing expands to a two-car organization in 2022 with Cup Series Champion Kurt Busch driving the No. 45 Toyota Camry TRD.

Skittles “Lime is Back” Racing: Kyle Busch Circuit of Americas Advance

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KYLE BUSCH
‘Back’ to COTA

HUNTERSVILLE, North Carolina (March 22, 2022) – As the NASCAR Cup Series heads back to Austin, Texas, this week to race on the 3.426-mile, 20-turn road course at Circuit of Americas (COTA), Kyle Busch is hoping a strong successful first trip there last season will bear “fruit,” in more ways than one.

Busch, driver of the No. 18 Skittles “Lime is Back” Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), returns to COTA for Sunday’s EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix after a strong debut there last season. While the final race results showed Busch finished in the 10th spot there last spring, the Las Vegas native led 12 laps and won a stage before pit strategy had them fall down the running order in the race that was shortened by 14 laps due to heavy rain.

This weekend, Busch looks to take the Skittles colors back to COTA’s victory lane for the second year in a row. He drove the No. 54 Skittles Gummies Camry to the win in last year’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at the track, which has hosted numerous other racing series since it opened in 2012, including the annual stop for Formula One in America, IndyCar, Moto GP, IMSA and Trans Am sportscars, and many others.

Busch as shown a propensity for road-course racing during his Cup Series career, and with six road-course circuits on the schedule this year, he may have a chance to move himself up on the list of NASCAR road-course race winners. If Busch could win this weekend, he could also join some elite company as a road-racing ace in NASCAR’s top series. The Skittles “Lime is Back” driver’s four road-course wins tie him with NASCAR Hall of Famers David Pearson and Mark Martin on the all-time Cup Series road-course wins list. That’s some pretty good company, already. But with a fifth road-course win, Busch could tie Darrell Waltrip, Tim Richmond, Dan Gurney on the list. There is a bit of distance to the top two spots on the all-time road-course wins list when it comes to catching Chase Elliott, Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart, who have seven, eight and nine career road-course wins, respectively.

Road-course racing has taken on even more importance in the Cup Series the past couple of seasons with the addition of COTA, Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to join the traditional stops at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway, Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International and the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval. With the added road-course races, it’s more important than ever to have a strong driver and team that can turn left and right this season and beyond.

With the Skittles brand back on board Busch’s No. 18 Toyota Camry TRD this weekend, the brand will use the opportunity to highlight the return of its Lime flavor after an eight-year hiatus due to fan demand. Race fans can grab packs of Skittles featuring the recently reinstated Lime at retailers across the country to enjoy during this weekend’s race deep in the heart of Texas.

So, as Busch and his Skittles “Lime is Back” team head down to the capital city of Texas, they know they’ll have a challenge ahead of them at COTA, and Busch will hope to bring his racecar back to victory lane with a Cup Series win that would be the 60th of his career.

KYLE BUSCH, Driver of the No. 18 Skittles Lime is Back Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing:

Are you looking forward to going back to COTA and continuing to see some of the excitement you saw last year?

“They had a little bit of history there with Formula One, IndyCar and other racing series, but obviously the first time for NASCAR Cup Series cars there last year. There are a lot of flat turns on that circuit and a little bit of elevation change, which make for some interesting moments. We have a whole new car, now, so it will be an even bigger challenge. We’ll have some simulator time, too, so hopefully we can be on top of things when we arrive there this weekend. We won the Xfinity race there last year and, in the Cup race, we were competitive and just got bit by trying to pit and we never went back racing with the rain coming down too hard. Looking forward to getting back to COTA with our Skittles “Lime is Back” Camry TRD and see how things play out. Cool scheme this weekend. Everyone has been asking about bringing Lime back after eight years and they’ve been able to do it, and we get a good-looking car out of it. Looking forward to it.

Is road-course racing something that comes naturally to you, or is it something you had to work on?

“It’s definitely something you have to work on. With rule changes and tire changes and now a new car, it’s something you work on every year. There’s always change that you have to work on to be competitive. When I was a kid back in Las Vegas in Legends cars, that’s where I was able to learn about shifting and turning left and turning right. I had the natural instincts for it and won a couple of championships in the winter series we had out there. We actually went out to Sonoma back then and ran the national championship races two years in a row and finished third both times, so I had a little bit of experience on road courses as I came up through the ranks.”

You are running both the Cup Series and Truck Series races this weekend. Are doubleheaders fun for you?

“I feel like preparing for a doubleheader is pretty easy. I’ve always been used to running in two or three races in a weekend, running the Truck, Xfinity, Cup, whatever it may be. I like that, so I think it gives us an opportunity to get out there and get our feet wet in the Truck Series, and get a feel for the tire and the new car and really think about what you can learn. I’m a bit of a perfectionist, so it will be nice to have some extra track time to work on my car and get some experience and also have just a little bit more knowledge of what it’s like beyond what we do in our SIM and other ways we prepare for races and the limited practice time we will have.”

Event Overview:

● Event: EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix (Round 6 of 36)
● Time/Date: 2:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, March 27
● Location: Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas
● Layout: 3.426-mile, 20-turn road course
● Laps/Miles: 68 laps/231.88 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 15 laps / Stage 2: 15 laps / Final Stage: 38 laps
● TV/Radio: FOX / PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Meet the No. 18 Skittles Lime is Back / 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 two starts at COTA – one in the NASCAR Cup Series and one in the NASCAR Xfinity Series – and both came last year in NASCAR’s inaugural visit to the track. Busch won Saturday’s Xfinity Series race and was 10th in Sunday’s Cup Series race, which was shortened 14 laps from its scheduled 68-lap distance due to heavy rain.

● Road-Course Ringer: Busch scored his fourth career Cup Series road-course win in June 2015 at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway, and he heads to COTA with 15 top-five finishes and 24-top-10s in 40 combined starts at Sonoma, Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International, the Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway road course, Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, and the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval.

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

No. 10 Rush Truck Centers/Mobil Delvac 1 Ford Racing: Aric Almirola COTA Advance

By
Official Release
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ARIC ALMIROLA
COTA Advance
No. 10 Rush Truck Centers/Mobil Delvac 1 Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview

● Event: EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix (Round 6 of 36)
● Time/Date: 3:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, March 27
● Location: Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas
● Layout: 3.426-mile, 20-turn road course
● Laps/Miles: 68 laps/231.88 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 15 laps / Stage 2: 15 laps / Final Stage: 38 laps
● TV/Radio: FOX / PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Aric Almirola is the only driver in the NASCAR Cup Series who has finished on the lead lap in every race this season.

● Almirola’s average finish of 10.2 through the first five races places him second among all drivers this season. It’s his best average finish through five races in 10 fulltime Cup Series seasons.

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

● Last weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Almirola led six laps and ran up front until he was spun from the front row with 18 laps to go, which caused a mechanical issue and relegated him to a 22nd-place finish.

● Points: Almirola arrives at COTA seventh in the driver standings with 144 points, 27 out of first.

● Last year at COTA, severe rain forced the field to race on rain tires early in Stage 1. Almirola ran as high as 10th before the inclement weather cut the race short with Almirola running 20th.

● Almirola’s career: In 393 NASCAR Cup Series starts, Almirola has earned three wins, 28 top-five finishes, 87 top-10s, three poles, and has led 899 laps.

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

● Rush Truck Centers will serve as the “Alpha” sponsor of the No. 10 Ford Mustang this weekend at COTA. All of the SHR cars travel from race to race in haulers from Rush Truck Centers, the premier service solutions provider to the commercial vehicle industry. And those haulers are supported by the RushCare team of parts and service experts, who also provide concierge-level service and maintenance, technical support, schedule mobile service, dispatch roadside assistance, help locate the nearest dealer, and more. Rush Truck Centers is the largest network of commercial vehicle dealerships in the United States with 139 locations, and takes pride in its integrated approach to customer needs – from vehicle sales to aftermarket parts, service and body shop operations, plus financing, insurance, leasing and rental, as well as alternate fuel systems and other vehicle technologies.

● Rush Truck Centers is also a leader in all-makes parts for the commercial vehicle industry and recently issued its third All-Makes Parts Catalog. The catalog features 16,000 parts from more than 125 manufacturers, the most common parts needed for commercial vehicles. No matter what brand of truck you drive, you’ll find what you need in this catalog. It also is filled with product and technical tips to help keep you up and running. Contact your local Rush Truck Centers location for a copy.

● Mobil Delvac 1 joins Rush Truck Centers as the co-primary sponsor of the No. 10 Ford Mustang at COTA. Mobil Delvac 1 heavy-duty diesel engine oils are designed to help commercial fleets save money and boost uptime through fuel economy savings, extending the life of engines, and lengthening oil drain intervals. In 2020, the SHR haulers moved from three oil changes per season to a single oil change by using Mobil Delvac 1 diesel engine oil.

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

Aric Almirola, Driver of the No. 10 Rush Truck Centers/Mobil Delvac 1 Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing:

How do you think the NextGen car will perform at COTA, and will it suit you better?

“Well, this car is absolutely designed more for a road-course race type situation. It’s a more symmetrical car. Our cars used to be offset, and they were more designed to go just left-hand only, so it was more of a big deal to swap over to go road racing. Now, these cars are more symmetrical. So because of that, it is more specifically designed to go left and right, which suits it very well for road racing. The car is a very capable car. It handles well, it brakes very well. It’s got much bigger brakes than what we used to have on the old car, so it stops way better and the brake zones are way more compressed. It is a little bit more thrilling of a car to drive on the road courses.”

Do you enjoy road racing, and how do you continue to hone your craft?

“I have enjoyed road racing and I’ve strived to get better at it. Road racing is not something I grew up doing. I grew up racing go-karts on dirt ovals and then I went to stock car racing on asphalt ovals. I never did any road racing at all until I actually got to NASCAR. That was when I got introduced to road racing and I had a steep learning curve to catch up. I have really enjoyed honing my craft at road racing and trying to figure out how to get better. Having Ford Performance as our partner is so key to improving us on road courses, as well. I’m going to spend about four hours this week sitting in the simulator, logging laps at COTA to get as much practice as possible. That’s really our only chance to practice, so I’m going to put full focus on it this week and hope it pays off.”

No. 10 Rush Truck Centers/Mobil Delvac 1 Ford Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Aric Almirola
Hometown: Tampa, Florida

Crew Chief: Drew Blickensderfer
Hometown: Decatur, Illinois

Car Chief: Jerry Cook
Hometown: Toledo, Ohio

Engineer: Lee Deese
Hometown: Rockingham, North Carolina

Engineer: James Kimbrough
Hometown: Pensacola, Florida

Spotter: Joel Edmonds
Hometown: Dobson, North Carolina

Over-The-Wall Members

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

Rear Tire Changer: Trevor White
Hometown: Arlington, Texas

Tire Carrier: Tyler Bullard
Hometown: King, North Carolina

Jack Man: Sean Cotton
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

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

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Chris Trickett
Hometown: Grafton, West Virginia

Mechanic: Robbie Fairweather
Hometown: Westbrookville, New York

Engine Tuner: Matt Moeller
Hometown: Monroe, New York

Tire Specialist: Rusty Davidson
Hometown: Mount Juliet, Tennessee

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

Transporter Co-Driver: Wayne Smith
Hometown: Melbourne, Australia

XPEL 375 proves that Texas still belongs on the season schedule

By
Joseph Shelton
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Josef Newgarden - Photo by Chris Owen

The finish to Sunday’s NTT IndyCar XPEL 375 proved to be spectacular finish to a spectacular race, which has proven to be something of a rarity in recent memory at Texas Motor Speedway. The facility, which has hosted races in both NASCAR and IndyCar since 1997, has been through something of a slump in recent years since it’s 2017 repave.

Naysayers were quick to say that the race was a flop due to the dominance of runner-up Scott McLaughlin, who started second and led 186 of the 248 laps before Josef Newgarden chased him down for the win. But that’s not counting the race’s 15 lead changes among 12 drivers, or the four cautions for 52 laps.

The quality of racing could be attributed to the special practice session IndyCar and Firestone put together to lay down some rubber in the race’s second groove, as the PJ1-stained track surface could lose grip over time. As a result, with a second groove rubbered in there was plenty of racing and action throughout the race through all parts of the field.

As a result, the racing on Sunday made a strong case to keep Texas Motor Speedway on the IndyCar schedule. That’s a big statement considering how it’s now common knowledge that the speedway is among the least popular destinations on the circuit. Online pundits even asked if the lack of promotional efforts for the XPEL 375 were because of the perceived lack of popularity.

All said, Texas has been around long enough that it has achieved historical status in American motorsport. Where else would the racing world have gleefully watched AJ Foyt launch Arie Luyendyk into a bed of rose bushes? Where else would we have had the pleasure of watching Justin Wilson win his last race while driving for Dale Coyne? What about 2016, where the most exciting race in recent memory ended with James Hinchcliffe and Graham Rahal in a nose-to-nose photo finish with Rahal coming out on top?

It isn’t the track’s fault racing has been lackluster; all speedways go through periods where the racing isn’t that great. Texas is a great facility with a great layout. It was a given it would take time for the racing product to come in after the repave, and on Sunday that’s exactly what happened.

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