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Hardpoint Ready For Sebring With IMSA WeatherTech and Michelin Pilot Challenge Efforts

By
Official Release
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Rob Ferriol, Katherine Legge and Stefan Wilson Return to No. 99 GridRival/GNARLY Jerky Porsche 911 GT3 R, with Nick Galante and Sean McAllister Piloting the No. 22 Racing To End Alzheimer’s Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport

SEBRING, Florida (March 16, 2022) – Hardpoint returns to action this week for the first time since a 10th place finish in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona. Rob Ferriol, Katherine Legge and Stefan Wilson return in the WeatherTech GTD Class No. 99 GridRival/GNARLY Jerky Porsche 911 GT3 R at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, run on Saturday, March 19. Nick Galante and Sean McAllister make their Hardpoint debuts in the Michelin Pilot Challenge GS-class No. 22 Racing To End Alzheimer’s Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport in the Alan Jay 120 on Thursday, March 17.

The Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring can be seen live in its entirety via streaming on Peacock beginning at 10 a.m. EDT on Saturday, March 19, and live from 3:30 p.m. EDT through the race’s conclusion on USA Network for cable and satellite subscribers. The Alan Jay Automotive Network 120 can be seen live in its entirety, also on Peacock, at 4:20 p.m. EDT on Thursday, March 17.

No. 99 GridRival/GNARLY Jerky Porsche 911 GT3 R Event Notebook

  • Ferriol, Legge and Wilson will team up in the No. 99 GridRival/GNARLY Jerky Porsche 911 GT3 R for each Michelin Endurance Championship event on the 2022 calendar, with Ferriol and Legge co-driving in all Sprint Cup events. The trio, along with Nick Boulle, earned a 10th place finish at the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona.
  • Ferriol and Hardpoint were recently included on the entry list for the 2022 24 Hours of Le Mans. Ferriol earned the entry as IMSA’s 2021 Bob Akin Award winner for top Bronze driver in the GTD Class.
  • Ferriol is competing in his third Sebring 12-hour race, finishing fifth in the COVID-rescheduled season finale in 2020 with co-drivers Spencer Pumpelly and Andrew Davis. That finish is a career best for Ferriol in the WeatherTech Championship.
  • Legge finished fifth a season ago for Hardpoint at Sebring, driving with Christina Nielsen and Bia Figueiredo. The trio were in a position for a podium finish before a late-race drive through penalty relegated them to fifth.
  • Wilson is competing in each of the endurance races through a partnership with Hardpoint and Cusick Motorsports. Hardpoint is carrying GNARLY Jerky, Lohla Sport and Neptune Systems on the team’s Porsche 911 GT3 R for the season, in addition to longtime partner GridRival.
  • Hardpoint is hosting a free season-long Formula One fantasy league for fans through the GridRival app. The league winner will receive a pair of tickets to a 2023 IMSA race and a behind-the-scenes tour at the track.

No. 22 Racing To End Alzheimer’s Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport Notebook

  • Galante and McAllister will team together for the first time during the Sebring event, and race for the first time at Hardpoint.
  • Galante is the 2016 and 2018 Series Champion in what was then known as the ST class. He is an eight-time race winner in the series.
  • In addition to his driver duties, Galante works as a caddy at Pebble Beach.
  • McAllister is the 2019 Hurley Haywood Scholarship winner and has previously competed in Porsches single-make championship series. This is his first foray into both multi-make and multi-driver competition.
  • The No. 22 team tested at Sebring in February. IMSA-winning Team Manager Glenn Long, most recently of Long Road Racing, will handle similar duties for Hardpoint’s Pilot Challenge program.
  • Racing to End Alzheimer’s was founded in 2017 by Philip Frengs to fund the care and fund the cure, donating 100% of proceeds to Alzheimer’s-related organizations.
  • For a $250 donation, fans get to put the name and hometown of a loved one affected by Alzheimer’s on the Audi. A matching corporate donation from Legistics doubles the impact, with all donations going to the Cognitive Health Clinic at UCLA Medical Center and the Nantz National Alzheimer Center at Houston Methodist Hospital.
  • More than $100,000 has been raised each year for the past five years by Racing To End Alzheimer’s. This is the organizations’ first season with Hardpoint. Donations can be made at www.R2EndAlz.org.

Hardpoint Quote Board

Rob Ferriol, Team Owner and Driver, No. 99 Porsche 911 GT3 R: “Sebring is by far one of my favorite stops on the IMSA schedule – both for the personality of the circuit and how that unique personality can turn it into anyone’s race after twelve grueling hours. While most people know that VIR was the first race track I ever set a wheel on, it was actually Sebring where I first tested a proper factory-built race car, and I fell in love with the bumps right away. For all the bumps and bruises a trip to Sebring can produce, the 12 Hours of Sebring has always given the team an opportunity to show our mettle, and this year will be no different. We’ve narrowly missed the podium two years in a row, so we’re anxious to get back out and see if the third time’s a charm.

“For a track that represents so many firsts for me as a driver and team owner, I couldn’t have picked a better venue to introduce Sean and Nick in the 2022 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport alongside Racing to End Alzheimer’s. We’re excited to not only return to the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge paddock, but to also do it with such a talented pair of drivers and a fabulous partner. This program perfectly represents the combination of elite competition and partner activation potential that Hardpoint aims to showcase in American sports car racing.”

Katherine Legge, Driver, No. 99 Porsche 911 GT3 R: “I love racing at Sebring, it’s so challenging with all the bumps, and the track changes so much through the course of the 12 hour race. The fans here are also unique, and exploring the infield is a must-see experience for us! We were in position for a podium last year in the last five minutes and got that questionable penalty, so we are looking for redemption! We had a successful test here last month and hope that translates into some good speed this week. The team has been improving tremendously and gelling together I’m excited to see what we can achieve here.”

Stefan Wilson, Driver, No. 99 Porsche 911 GT3 R: “Daytona was my first experience in GT3 racing and it was a huge learning experience for me. The racing was intense in the GT field and I had an absolute blast out there. The Sebring 12 hour is another one of those bucket list events, a race that I’ve always wanted to compete in, and I’m just champing at the bit to get to Sebring and continue working with this amazing Hardpoint 99 crew. Once again I’ll be representing Cusick Motorsports, Gnarly Jerky, LOHLA SPORT and Neptune Systems. I am so hungry to deliver a good result for those that have supported me and helped me get this opportunity.”

Nick Galante, Driver, No. 22 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport: “Sebring has shown to be one of the toughest tracks to finally feel like I have the hang of it. On paper it looks so approachable, but she is a tricky beast with many complexities. Just when you feel like the car is going to make it to apex or perfectly track out, the surface changes, or you launch the car over a big bump and everything changes. I’ve got much respect for this beast. The Porsche has been tough to set up here. The Hardpoint team has been amazing at tackling a tough task in a short amount of time. I’m impressed with how Sean McAlister has dove into this team with his foot flat to the floor. I haven’t had the luxury of a podium here since our win in 2017. I am eager to get one here this week, in this top-level GS class.”

Sean McAllister, Driver, No. 22 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport: “As we approach Sebring, the more excited I get. I’m someone who loves the layout and uniqueness of Sebring. It’s fast, technical, and bumpy and it probably has one of the most unconventional final corners of any track. At our recent test, we learned a lot about the car and we explored setups that we both like. Now we just need to fine tune it. A podium at Sebring has eluded me for quite some time now. The goals for this week are to have a good debut in the series and hopefully secure a spot on that podium. With Hardpoint I definitely believe that is a possibility.”
About Hardpoint:
Hardpoint was founded by Rob Ferriol in 2018 with the vision of combining his experience as a successful entrepreneur with his passion for racing. Headquartered at VIRginia International Raceway, the team captured the 2021 Porsche Carrera Cup North America Pro-Am championship in its inaugural season and competes full-time in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship in the No. 99 GridRival Porsche 911 GT3 R with co-drivers Ferriol and Katherine Legge, joined by Stefan Wilson for Michelin Endurance Cup races. More information on Hardpoint can be found at www.hardpoint.com or through its strong social media presence on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Takuma Sato scheduled for 200th IndyCar career start at Texas

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Tim Jarrold for SpeedwayMedia.com.

With a new season of NTT IndyCar Series competition underway, Takuma Sato is primed to reach a milestone start in his 12th full-time in America’s premier open-wheel series. By taking the green flag in this weekend’s XPEL 375 at Texas Motor Speedway, the newly named driver of the No. 51 Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing Dallara-Honda will achieve career start No. 200 in the IndyCar circuit. 

A native of Tokyo, Japan, Sato made his inaugural presence in IndyCar competition in 2010 when he signed with KV Racing Technology. By then, he had campaigned in seven full-time seasons in Formula One competition (2002-2008) between Jordan, BAR and Super Aguri. Driving the No. 5 Dallara-Honda for KV Racing Technology, Sato started 10th but finished 22nd in his IndyCar debut after being involved in an opening lap multi-car wreck. Sato competed the entire 17-race schedule, where he earned his first top-10 career result in ninth place at Edmonton City Centre Airport in July before settling in 21st place in the final standings,

Remaining at KV Racing Technology for the 2011 IndyCar season, Sato earned three top-five results, a season-best fourth-place result at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in August and his maiden two poles (Iowa Speedway and Edmonton in July) before finishing in 13th place in the final standings.

Following his first two years in IndyCar competition with KV Racing Technology, Sato joined Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing for the 2012 season. After finishing no higher than eighth during the first three scheduled events, Sato claimed his maiden podium after finishing third at the Streets of Sao Paulo, Brazil. During the following event, the 96th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, he was running within striking distance of Dario Franchitti for the victory. At the start of the final lap, Sato made his move beneath Franchitti, but both made contact and resulted with Sato spinning and crashing into the wall, which ended the event under caution. While Franchitti went on to win, Sato ended up in 17th place. For the remaining 10 events of the season, Sato claimed a career-best result of second place at Edmonton in July before finishing in 14th place in the final standings. 

In 2013, Sato joined forces with A.J. Foyt Enterprises after departing Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. After finishing no higher than eighth during the first two events, he claimed his maiden IndyCar victory at California’s Long Beach Street Circuit in April after leading 50 of 80 scheduled laps. The victory, which occurred in his 52nd career start, made Sato the first Japanese competitor to win in the IndyCar circuit. Sato then came close in capturing back-to-back victories of the season at Sao Paulo until he was overtaken by James Hinchcliffe on the final lap and final corner, which relegated him back to second place. Despite briefly taking over the points lead, a series of inconsistent results resulted with Sato finishing in 17th place in the final standings. 

From 2014 to 2016, Sato earned a single podium result, which was a runner-up result in the second of a Belle Isle doubleheader weekend in May, a total of two poles and a best points result of 14th place in 2015. By then, he surpassed 100 career starts in the IndyCar Series.

Following a four-year run with A.J. Foyt Enterprises, Sato joined Andretti Autosport to pilot the No. 26 Honda on a full-time basis in 2017. Through the first five events of the season, his best on-track result was fifth place during the season-opening Streets of St. Petersburg in March. Then during the 101st running of the Indianapolis 500, Sato overtook Max Chilton for the lead with nine laps remaining and fended off three-time Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves to claim his second IndyCar career victory and become the first Japanese competitor to win the Indy 500. He then went on to claim two poles during the final 11 scheduled events before finishing in the top 10 in points for the first time in his career in eighth place.

Despite the success at Andretti, Sato reunited with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing to pilot the No. 30 Honda for the 2018 season. After enduring a season-long up-and-down run, where his lone highlight was claiming a podium result (third place) at Iowa Speedway in July, he claimed his third IndyCar career victory in the series’ decade-long return to Portland International Raceway in September. Ultimately, he concluded the season in 12th place in the final standings.

The 2019 IndyCar season was where Sato earned multiple victories in an IndyCar season for the first time in his career. He claimed an early victory at Alabama’s Barber Motorsports Park in April and earned two additional podiums during the following 10 scheduled events before winning at Gateway’s World Wide Technology Raceway in August. With a career-high two victories and career-high four podiums to the 2019 season, Sato capped off the season in ninth place in the final standings.

During the shortened 2020 season amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Sato claimed his second Indianapolis 500 victory in August following a late battle against five-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon. To add a second-place result at Gateway during the following event, he concluded the season in a career-best seventh place in the final standings and with a career-best average-finishing result of 11.3. 

The 2021 season marked the first time Sato went winless and failed to secure a podium result as the Japanese veteran picked up a season-best fourth place during the first of a Belle Isle doubleheader weekend in June before finishing in 11th place in the final standings and earning an average-finishing result of 12.2.

The 2022 IndyCar season marked a new beginning for Sato, who joined Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing following a four-year run with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. He is coming off a 10th-place run in his first event with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing at the Streets of St. Petersburg.

Through 199 previous IndyCar starts, Sato has achieved six victories, 10 poles, 14 podiums and an average-finishing result of 14.3.

Sato is scheduled to make his 200th NTT IndyCar Series career start in the XPEL 375 at Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday, March 20, at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

No. 10 Smithfield Ford Racing: Aric Almirola Atlanta Advance

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

Event Overview

● Event: Folds of Honor 500 (Round 5 of 36)
● Time/Date: 3:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday, March 20
● Location: Atlanta Motor Speedway
● Layout: 1.54-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 325 laps/500 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 105 laps / Stage 2: 105 laps / Final Stage: 115 laps
● TV/Radio: FOX / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Almirola’s average finish of 7.3 through the first four races tops all drivers this season. It’s his best average finish through four races in 10 fulltime Cup Series seasons. His average finish is even more impressive in light of the No. 10 team’s average starting position of 23.5, which ranks 25th in the series.

● 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 last weekend with a 12th-place finish at Phoenix Raceway despite running inside the top-10 throughout the race. Even though he finished outside the top-10, Almirola still gained two points on the leader in the driver standings.

● Points: Almirola arrives at Atlanta sixth in the driver standings with 122 points, 14 out of first.

● Atlanta Motor Speedway will debut its new pavement and track configuration this weekend. Its banking increased from 24 to 28 degrees, and the track width was reduced from 55 to 40 feet.

● In Almirola’s 12 starts on Atlanta’s previous track configuration, he scored one pole, two top-10 finishes and an average finish of 18.0.

● Almirola’s track record at superspeedways provides a promising outlook for success at Atlanta this weekend, where drivers and teams are expecting pack-style racing akin to events at Daytona and Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. Almirola has two wins, seven top-fives, 13 top-10s and 84 laps led at Daytona and Talladega. Last June, he scored his eighth-consecutive top-10 at Talladega to tie the track record for most consecutive top-10s. The mark was originally set by Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr., between April 2001 and October 2004. Almirola finished fifth in his most recent superspeedway start in this year’s season-opening Daytona 500.

● Almirola’s career: In 392 NASCAR Cup Series starts, Almirola has earned three wins, 28 top-five finishes, 87 top-10s, three poles, and has led 893 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.

● Smithfield Foods will adorn the No. 10 Ford Mustang as the primary sponsor this weekend. Headquartered in Smithfield, Virginia, since 1936, Smithfield Foods, Inc. is an American food company with agricultural roots and a global reach. Its 63,000 team members are dedicated to producing “Good food. Responsibly.®” Smithfield is one of the world’s leading vertically integrated protein companies. The company has pioneered sustainability standards for more than two decades, including its industry-leading commitments to become carbon negative in U.S. company-owned operations and reduce GHG emissions 30 percent across its entire U.S. value chain by 2030. Smithfield believes in the power of protein to end food insecurity and has donated hundreds of millions of food servings to local communities. Smithfield boasts a portfolio of high-quality iconic brands, such as Smithfield®, Eckrich® and Nathan’s Famous®, among many others. For more information, visit www.SmithfieldFoods.com, and connect on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

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

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

With Atlanta’s newly configured track, what can we expect this weekend and what are you preparing for?

“On the old Atlanta surface, the biggest concern was the tire wear and how aggressive you could or couldn’t be to save your tires. Atlanta was already one of the fastest racetracks we went to and now it’s newly repaved, and we’re going to be running there with a superspeedway package. It is going to be so far different than anything we have ever experienced at Atlanta that I feel like I’m going there kind of blind, like a complete rookie, because I have no idea what to expect.”

Do you think the configuration will race similarly to Talladega and Daytona?

“I don’t know. I don’t think so because it’s not as big of a racetrack. The corner radiuses are a lot narrower and tighter and so I don’t know how it’s going to play out. I know that our cars will probably drive fine. I think there is going to be a ton of grip with that high of banking and a newly paved track, but I don’t know how the cars are going to race. Are we going to pack race or not? All of those things are a big question mark.”

Do you enjoy all of these new challenges in your final season with the NextGen car and new track configurations?

“It’s quite exciting to finish out my career in this new car. You know, there’s an old saying that says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but I love to learn new things. I think it keeps me young. It keeps me sharp and I really enjoy challenges. This is a huge challenge to learn how to adapt to this new style with the NextGen car, so I’m excited about the opportunity. I’m excited to have the last year of my career be in this car because this car is going to be around for a while. So whatever I do next, whether I’m involved in the industry or not, at least I will feel relevant and understand the dynamics of this car and what it races like.”

No. 10 Smithfield Ford Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Aric Almirola
Hometown: Tampa, Florida

Crew Chief: Mike Bugarewicz
Hometown: Lehighton, Pennsylvania

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: Michael Johnson
Hometown: Andover, New York

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

Herta to make 50th IndyCar career start at Texas

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Chris Owens (Penske Entertainment).

Competing in his fourth full-time season in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, Colton Herta is within striking distance of a milestone start. By taking the green flag in this weekend’s XPEL 375 at Texas Motor Speedway, the driver of the No. 26 Andretti Autosport with Curb-Agajanian Dallara-Honda will reach career start No. 50 in the IndyCar circuit.

A native of Valencia, Santa Clarita, California, and the son of former IndyCar and Champ Car competitor Bryan Herta, Colton made his IndyCar debut at Sonoma Raceway in September 2018, which marked the season finale event. By then, he was competing in his second season in Indy Lights for Andretti Steinbrenner Racing and had accumulated six victories and a runner-up result in the championship standings. Driving the No. 88 Harding Racing Dallara-Chevrolet, Herta started 19th and finished 20th, the final car on the lead lap, in his series debut.

The following season, Herta piloted the No. 88 Dallara-Honda for Harding Steinbrenner Racing on a full-time IndyCar basis. Following an eighth-place result in the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg at the Streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, Herta notched his first IndyCar career win in the IndyCar Classic at the Circuit of the Americas in late March. In doing so, he became the youngest winner in IndyCar history at age 18 and 359 days old. Following his maiden IndyCar victory in Austin, Texas, Herta only achieved four additional top-10 results through the next 13 events in the schedule. He managed to conclude the 2019 season on a high note by finishing fourth in the Grand Prix of Portland at Portland International Raceway followed by his second IndyCar career victory in the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey County, California, September. Despite settling in seventh place in the final standings, he fell five points short of capturing the Rookie-of-the-Year title over Felix Rosenqvist.

Remaining as the driver of the No. 88 Dallara-Honda for Andretti Harding Steinbrenner Autosport for the 2020 season, Herta commenced the season with a seventh-place result in the Genesys 300 at Texas Motor Speedway in June followed by three consecutive top-five results. Following an up-and-down shortened season amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Herta achieved his third IndyCar career victory in the second of a Honda Indy 200 doubleheader feature at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. He then achieved a runner-up result in the second of an IndyCar Harvest GP doubleheader feature at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course in October before concluding the season in a strong third-place result in the final standings.

For the 2021 season, Herta took over the No. 26 Andretti Autosport Dallara-Honda and entered the season as a title favorite. Despite finishing 22nd following an early crash in the season-opening Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park, he rebounded by notching a dominant victory at the Streets of St. Petersburg, where he led all but three of 100 laps. The majority of the 2021 IndyCar season, however, was a difficult season for Herta, who notched two additional podium results through the following 12 events in the schedule. Following an eighth-place result at Portland in September and with two scheduled races remaining, he was in sixth place in the standings and 129 points behind the eventual champion Alex Palou. Herta, though, managed to conclude the 2021 season on a positive note by going back-to-back in victories: the first at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca after leading all but four of 95 scheduled laps and the second at California’s Long Beach Street Circuit, where he held off Josef Newgarden, Scott Dixon and the season champion Alex Palou to grab his sixth career win. The victories moved Herta to fifth place in the standings just as the season concluded.

Through 49 previous IndyCar starts, Herta has achieved six victories, seven poles, nine podiums and an average-finishing result of 10.5. He is coming off a fourth-place result at the Streets of St. Petersburg in February to commence the 2022 IndyCar season.

Herta is set to make his 50th NTT INDYCAR Series career start at Texas Motor Speedway for the XPEL 375, which will occur on Sunday, March 20, at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

Fraternal Order of Eagles to Sponsor Spire Motorsports, Corey LaJoie in Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500

By
Official Release
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CONCORD, N.C. (March 15, 2022) – Spire Motorsports announced today the Fraternal Order of Eagles (F.O.E.) will sponsor the team’s No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 with driver Corey LaJoie in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

The F.O.E. is an international non-profit organization uniting fraternally in the spirit of liberty, truth, justice, and equality, to make human life more desirable by lessening its ills and promoting peace, prosperity, gladness and hope.

The F.O.E. donates more than $10 million a year to local communities, fundraisers, charities and more. As part of its philosophy, the F.O.E. gives back 100 percent of monies raised in the form of grants. Fundraisers are conducted for eight major charities, including kidney, heart, diabetes, cancer and spinal cord injury funds, a children’s fund, memorial foundation and the Golden Eagle Fund.

“We are thrilled to be able to continue our partnership with Spire Motorsports and now with Corey LaJoie in the Cup Series,” said Brian Rogers, Grand Worthy President of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. “Corey and the team represent what the Eagles are all about on and off the track and we’re excited for another great season together.”

​​“It’s always a fun weekend when we have the Fraternal Order of Eagles on board,” said Spire Motorsports co-owner T.J. Puchyr. “We won our first NASCAR Cup Series race together, so that’s obviously a historic moment for both of us. The Eagles always show great passion for the sport. Anytime we can showcase that organization, its members and their charitable and philanthropic efforts, we’re winning on and off the track, no matter what the scoreboard says. Atlanta Motor Speedway has been re-configured so we’re looking at a whole new racetrack. We know Corey LaJoie will rise to the occasion.”

As an active participant in benevolent endeavors, LaJoie is a natural fit for the F.O.E. His passion for charitable work has raised money for the Christian organization SamaritansFeet.org. He was acknowledged for his efforts with the 2019 National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) distinguished Spirit Award. LaJoie is a staple on social media platforms, and he also hosts the podcast “Stacking Pennies.”

The phrase “stacking pennies” has become a life and career philosophy for LaJoie. Despite being the son of two-time NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion Randy LaJoie, the third-generation racer has charted his own trajectory in the sport and champions small accomplishments that add up to the sum of a larger victory.

“The Fraternal Order of Eagles has a great legacy in the sport,” explained LaJoie. “I’ve always admired its charitable initiatives and the organization’s desire to help those who need it the most. I’m excited to carry the iconic F.O.E. scheme in Atlanta this weekend. We’re looking forward to a solid run.”

The Folds of Honor Quik Trip 500 from Atlanta Motor Speedway will be televised live on FOX Sunday, March 20 beginning at 3 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The fifth of 36 races on the 2022 NCS calendar will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

About the Fraternal Order of Eagles …
The F.O.E. was founded in February 1898 by six theatre owners gathered in a Seattle shipyard to discuss a musician’s strike. After addressing the matter, they agreed to “bury the hatchet” and form “The Order of Good Things.” As numbers grew, members selected the Bald Eagle as the official emblem and changed the name to “The Fraternal Order of Eagles.” The women’s auxiliary traces its roots to 1927. The Fraternal Order of Eagles includes nearly 800,000 members and more than 1,500 locations across the United States and Canada. Stop by one of our locations and see why the F.O.E. is known as People Helping People.

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

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

3 More Defensive Driving Tips To Help You Stay Safe On The Road

By
SM
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Photo by Elina Sazonova from Pexels

Staying safe on the road means understanding how to drive in order to avoid an accident. After all, it is much better to avoid an accident even if it isn’t your fault instead of needing to call a car accident lawyer Salt Lake City. This means that learning some defensive driving lessons is very important. 

This is a style of driving that helps you understand the signs that an accident could happen so you can actively avoid it. It takes practice, of course, but over time you will get used to incorporating these tips into your driving style so it becomes second nature. We already gave you a few defensive driving tips in an earlier article and now we want to add some more to your routine. 

1 – Don’t drive distracted

Cars have gotten extremely safe over the years, which is of course a good thing. However, this feeling of security when we drive is something that can also hurt us if we take it for granted and start doing things we shouldn’t. For instance, when we feel protected we might start driving while distracted and that means we aren’t able to react when something unexpected happens. 

Texting and driving is one of the worst ways to distract yourself while driving and is considered to be as dangerous as drunk driving. It takes your eyes off the road for seconds at a time and that can mean we don’t have time to react to brake or to avoid another car. If you receive an important text, pull off the road and answer it safely and not while you are driving. 

Even eating and drinking are distracting and not a good idea. If your hands are full of food, then even if you see something happen you aren’t prepared to react. 

2 – Watch the weather

It’s important to check the weather before heading out on the road. Knowing ahead of time allows you the opportunity to leave earlier, or even change your route. 

For instance, if there is cold weather after it rained then the chance of black ice is high. You may want to avoid a road that you know is subject to icy conditions based on the information you got ahead of time. 

If it is raining or snowing then traffic backs up and moves slowly in certain areas. Leaving earlier will allow you the time to take it slow and not feel like you need to rush. Rushing around in bad weather conditions is a recipe for an accident. 

3 – Take it slow

Always give yourself enough time to get where you need to go in case of unforeseen events. There could be an accident or just ordinary traffic that slows you down. If you have an appointment or are heading to work then you’ll be tempted to speed or run stop signs to make up the lost time. 

Leave early so this is not something you are tempted to do. It’s better to arrive early and catch up on an errand instead of being late because you were in an accident.

Staying Safe: Online Gambling

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SM
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Photo by Naim Benjelloun from Pexels

In the past three years, we’ve witnessed a meteoric rise within the online gambling and betting scene. The biggest catalyst for this recent increase is COVID-19 however, the ease of accessibility also plays a huge factor. The barrier for entry to these online casinos is minuscule and only requires a few things:

  • A device with access to the Internet (Mobile Phone, Desktop PC, Laptop, Tablet, etc.)
  • An account
  • A method to deposit and withdraw money (Back Account, PayPal, Crypto Wallet, etc.)

When looking at this list, most everyone already has two of the three things, and one must simply create and verify an account on the chosen website to instantly become involved. With the barrier for entry being low along with the unregulatable vastness of the internet, it’s a feeding ground for bad actors to attempt to take your money through fraudulent websites, viruses, and phishing.

Green Flags to Look For

Knowing the indicators of a safe and secure website to bet and gamble online is incredibly useful information. These are especially important to look for in regions outside the US and Europe, as regulations are not as strict. An example of a great gambling website outside of the US and Europe would be 22Bet Kenya as it meets all the criteria listed below. Here are some of the most important things to look for when choosing a website to gamble on:

  • A secured website
  • Licensed and Regulated
  • Good RTP
  • Positively Reviewed

So, going into further detail, a secured website is a website that meets the google standards of security. All websites that handle any kind of sensitive information must have SSL encryption for the protection of said information. To see whether or not the website in question is secure, look for ‘HTTPS’ in the domain name and most browsers will display a ‘lock’ to show it’s secure. If the domain name only has ‘HTTP’ it is not secure.

To see whether a website is licensed check the footer of the website as it will have information about the government authority responsible for licensing the website. To find information on who and what to look for check here.

Return to Player (RTP) is the percentage of money returned to players. You can do an independent search online or check the information offered by the website to see the amount returned to players. If a site has an exceedingly low RTP <80%, that website should be avoided.

The last easily accessible green flag to look at is public review. Simply use google searches, or look around on social media such as Twitter, or Reddit to find out how others are enjoying the website. If the consensus is positive, it is likely a safe website.

Red Flags to Look For

Like the aforementioned point, knowing the indicators of an unsafe website can save you a whole lot of headaches. Here are some obvious things that indicate a website is unsafe:

  • Unsecured Website
  • Insane Promotions or Bonuses
  • Asking for more information than necessary

As mentioned before the first thing to check off your list is checking whether the website’s security meets Google’s standards. Most browsers will immediately warn you if a website isn’t secure however you can double-check by checking whether it uses SSL in the domain name.

Another red flag is offering too good to be true bonuses and promotions. If you see a website offering an insane amount of ‘free’ money on signup, it is likely a scam.

Lastly, asking for too much personal information. Remember, the barrier to partake in online gambling is low, and if you notice that a website asking specific personal questions on sign-up is likely trying to gain access to your other accounts on different websites. This is similar to a phishing attack and can just be just as subtle.

In conclusion, before you partake in any kind of online gambling, betting, or casinos, spend a few minutes doing your research to check the legitimacy of the website. Ten minutes of busywork beforehand can save you hours of headache in the future.

Corey Heim – No. 51 JBL Tundra Camping World Trucks Atlanta Preview

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Official Release
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Corey Heim: Driver, No. 51 JBL® Toyota

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Overview:
Event: Fr8 208, Race 3 of 23, 135 Laps –30/30/75; 207.9 Miles
Location: Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway at (1.54-mile Quad-oval)
Date/Broadcast: March 19, 2022, at 2:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR 90

The Story on Corey:
Georgia native Corey Heim will make his first career start in any series at his home state track in Saturday’s Fr8 208 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Saturday’s event will be Heim’s second of what will be a 16-race schedule behind the wheel on the No. 51 Tundra TRD Pro in NASCAR Camping World Truck Series 2022. Heim opened his season at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway where he qualified sixth and finished fourth in the opening stanza before a pit road accident caused significant damage to his Toyota and relegated him to a 32nd-place finish.

Heim made three NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts in 2021, with a best result of 11th coming at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. Heim had an impressive Truck Series debut at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway last May, where he led two laps, finished Stage Two in the runner-up position and was running second when he got turned from behind on a restart with just under 30 laps remaining.

Despite not being slated for a full-time schedule this year, Heim is competing for the 2022 Sunoco Rookie of the Year award. After two events, he sits fourth in the standings, 28 points behind Lawless Alan. Heim will look to join three other KBM drivers that have won the award, reigning winner Chandler Smith, William Byron (2016) and Erik Jones (2015).

While he didn’t race in the last event at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway, Heim traveled with the No. 51 team and observed KBM owner-driver Kyle Busch throughout the Truck Series practice, qualifying and race.

In addition to his part-time Camping World Truck Series schedule, the 19-year-old driver is running six-race schedule in the ARCA Menards Series for Venturini Motorsports. In his lone start so far this season, Heim led 74 of 90 laps en route to the victory at Daytona in February. The win marked was the eighth of his ARCA Menards Series career. Across 37 career ARCA Menards Series starts has 577 laps led, 27 top-five and 36 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 4.1. Heim finished second to Ty Gibbs in the 2021 ARCA Menards Series championship standings. The Toyota Racing Development product collected six wins, three poles, 406 laps led, 16 top-five and 20 top-10 finishes and produced an average finish of 3.1 across 20 starts.

Mardy Lindley returns to KBM for his second season atop the pit box of the No. 51 team. The No. 51 team produced three victories in Lindley’s first season as a crew chief at KBM, two with owner-driver Kyle Busch and one with Martin Truex Jr. Before arriving at KBM, Lindley guided his drivers to 32 wins and four ARCA Menards Series East championships since 2013, including back-to-back titles with Sam Mayer the last two seasons. Additionally, he earned the ARCA Menards Series Sioux Chief Showdown championship with Mayer in 2020. Behind the wheel, the second-generation driver won 11 races on the Pro Cup Series from 2000 to 2006 and was crowned the series champion in 2001. In Lindley’s lone race atop the pit box at Atlanta, he was victorious with owner-driver Kyle Busch leading a race-high 102 laps in last year’s race.

JBL, the authority in engineering superior sound, returns to KBM for an eighth season and will be the primary sponsor on Heim’s Toyota for 10 races this season including Saturday’s race at Atlanta. Crescent Tools, a premier hand tool brand from Apex Tool Group, will serve as a primary sponsor for four of Heim’s races, beginning July 29 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis (Ind.) Raceway Park.

Corey Heim, Driver Q&A:

As a kid from Georgia did you frequent Atlanta Motor Speedway?
“I grew up racing at and also watching all the NASCAR races at Atlanta Motor Speedway. I grew up racing Legends and Bandoleros there and every year that the NASCAR Series would go there, I’d watch all three series cheering on selected drivers. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen Kyle Busch himself win there, so to be racing with him and his team now is pretty special.”

You traveled with the team to Las Vegas to watch and learn while Kyle (Busch) raced. How did that go?
“I think it was great for me to just kind of be part of the team and see how it functions outside of being a driver. Being with Derek Kneeland in the spotter’s stand and kind of listening to the radio all throughout the day, through practice, qualifying and the race, I learned a lot about how Derek talks and how Kyle speaks to his spotter and his crew chief. I think it gave me a lot of good information heading into Atlanta.”

With the track being repaved and reconfigured, do you feel like it levels the playing field for you in your first race there?
“I’d say so, it’s kind of a good equalizer. KBM has always been so good at Atlanta Motor Speedway, I’ve seen Kyle Busch win there so many times, even with the new repave I think my JBL Tundra TRD Pro is going to be really good this weekend.”

Corey Heim Career Highlights:

  • Made three Truck Series starts in 2021 with a best result of 11th coming at Martinsville in October.
  • Finished runner-up in the ARCA Menards Series championship standings in 2021 after collecting six wins, three poles, 406 laps led, 16 top-five and 20 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 3.1 across 20 starts.
  • Across 37 career ARCA Menards Series starts has eight wins, 577 laps led, 27 top-five and 36 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 4.1. Picked up his first career ARCA Menards Series victory at Kansas Speedway Oct. 16, 2020.
  • Brought home a victory March 27, 2020, in the Super Late Model Georgia Spring Nationals at Crip Motorsports Park in Cordele, Ga. It was his second Super Late Model win at his home state track, where he also won CRA SpeedFest at the 3/8-mile track in 2020.
  • On the CARS Tour, has collected one Super Late Model win at South Boston (Va.) Speedway in 2018 and one Late Model Stock victory at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway in 2020.

Corey Heim’s No. 51 JBL Tundra TRD Pro:
KBM-66: The No. 51 JBL team will unload KBM-66 for Saturday’s 135-lap event at Atlanta. This Tundra TRD Pro has one victory under its belt, which came with owner-driver Kyle Busch at Atlanta in 2021.

Click here to see KBM-66 Performance Profile
KBM Notes of Interest:

  • KBM drivers have collected three wins, two poles, 689 laps led, 10 top-five and 13 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 12.8 across 26 starts at Atlanta. KBM Owner-driver Kyle Busch won last year and in 2019 while Christopher Bell brought home the trophy in 2017.
  • KBM holds the Camping World Truck Series records for most career wins (91) and most wins in a single season (14 in 2014). With his victory at Bristol Motor Speedway last September, Chandler Smith became the 17th different driver to win a Truck Series event for KBM. In addition to collecting a series-record seven Owner’s Championships, the organization has produced two championship-winning drivers: Erik Jones (2015) and Christopher Bell (2017).
  • With 37 victories, the No. 51 is the winningest number in KBM’s Truck Series fleet.

Chris Buescher – Atlanta I Advance

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Official Release
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Team: No. 17 ITsavvy Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Scott Graves

Twitter: @RFK17Team, @RFKRacing and @Chris_Buescher
Race Format: 500 miles, 325 laps, Stages: 105-105-115

Practice – Saturday, March 18 at 5 p.m. ET on FS1, SiriusXM Channel 90
Qualifying – Saturday, March 19 at 12:30 p.m. ET on FS1, SiriusXM Channel 90
Race – Sunday, March 20 at 3 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Weekend Format

· With practice and qualifying back on the horizon for the NASCAR Cup Series, with it comes a unique format. For Atlanta, teams will practice a full 50-minute session Friday evening, followed by a qualifying session Saturday midday.

· 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 Atlanta Motor Speedway

· Buescher makes his eighth start at Atlanta this weekend where he has two top-10s and a best finish of seventh (2021 – fall). He also finished ninth in the 2019 event.

· Last season Buescher ran 16th, and overall has an 18.7 average finish.

· Buescher has a career-best qualifying effort of 13th in 2020.

· He also finished fourth in the Xfinity Series there in 2015, one of his three NXS starts for RFK.

Scott Graves at Atlanta Motor Speedway

· Graves will be atop the box for his seventh Cup race Sunday. He has an average finish of 16.5 with two 13th-place runs, both of which came with Ryan Newman. Outside of last fall’s race, Graves has finished 16th or better five times.

· Graves has one career pole at his first-ever Cup race in Atlanta, which came with Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.

· Graves also called three NXS races in Atlanta, earning a P4 finish in 2015 with the No. 60 team.

QUOTE WORTHY
Buescher on racing at Atlanta:
“This weekend is going to definitely be interesting, for sure. I’m fortunate enough to be one of the guys that got to test there before, so hopefully that turns out to be an advantage for us. It is going to be unlike any other Atlanta race we have ever run, and it sounds like it is going to no doubt be a blast and fast. I’m a little anxious, but looking forward to the weekend and a full practice Friday in the ITsavvy Ford.”

Last Time Out
Buescher earned his first top-10 of the season, and first at Phoenix, last weekend, driving from the 16th position on the final restart to finish P10.

On the Car
ITsavvy makes its second-straight appearance on the No. 17 car this weekend. The brand initially joined the RFK family in 2021 as a primary on the No. 6 car.

Brad Keselowski – Atlanta I Advance

By
Official Release
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Team: No. 6 Kohler Generators Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Matt McCall
Twitter: @RFK6Team, @RFKRacing and @keselowski
Race Format: 500 miles, 325 laps, Stages: 105-105-115

Practice – Saturday, March 18 at 5 p.m. ET on FS1, SiriusXM Channel 90
Qualifying – Saturday, March 19 at 12:30 p.m. ET on FS1, SiriusXM Channel 90
Race – Sunday, March 20 at 3 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Weekend Format

· With practice and qualifying back on the horizon for the NASCAR Cup Series, with it comes a unique format. For Atlanta, teams will practice a full 50-minute session Friday evening, followed by a qualifying session Saturday midday.

· 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 Atlanta Motor Speedway

· Keselowski makes his 15th Cup start at Atlanta this weekend where he is a two-time winner with an average finish of 15.2.

· Keselowski won at the 1-mile track first in 2017 after starting fifth, and again in 2019. Overall he’s led laps in eight different Atlanta races, and finished inside the top-10 on nine occasions.

· He finished top-10 in six-straight races from 2015-2020, including the pair of events he won. Outside the two victories, he has one runner-up result (2018), a third-place run (2012) and three ninth-place finishes.

· Keselowski has a 14.1 average starting position at Atlanta with a career-best effort of P2 in 2014. Overall he’s started inside the top-10 five different times.

· He also made eight Xfinity Series starts with six top-10s, including two P2 finishes. He also made four Truck starts.

Matt McCall at Atlanta Motor Speedway

· McCall won the Cup Series’ most recent event at Atlanta, leading Kurt Busch and the No. 1 team to the victory. The team led 144 laps en route to McCall’s third Cup win overall.

· Overall he has four top-10s on the Atlanta surface with a P3 finish in 2019, and a sixth-place run a year later.

· McCall has an impressive 8.0 average qualifying effort with five starts inside the top-10, including a career-best second in 2016 with Jamie McMurray.

QUOTE WORTHY
Keselowski on racing at Atlanta:
“Atlanta is going to be one of the more interesting weekends we will see all season. There is already so much new right now, then throw in a repave of that surface and the differences it now provides, Sunday is going to turn out to be wild. As a 6 team we know where we stand, and as I’ve said before we know the battle to get to where we want to be would be tough. We’re looking forward to a fun weekend in the Kohler Generators Ford.”

Last Time Out

Keselowski finished 23rd last weekend in Phoenix.

On the Car

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

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

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

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