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7 car accessories you shouldn’t drive without

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SM
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Photo by David Kretschmann

Finding the best car accessories shop in Australia? Let’s face it: driving can be dangerous. The odds of having an accident are much higher than you think. In fact, 1 in every 113 Americans will be involved in a car accident this year. But there are some things you can do to make the roads safer for everyone and prevent the possibility of being ill-prepared in case something happens to you or your vehicle. As a public service, we’ve compiled a list of 7 car accessories that have the potential to save lives and make life on the road safer for everyone.

1. A first aid kit

It’s no secret that accidents happen—but when they do, you’ll want to be prepared with a first aid kit and a basic understanding of first aid techniques or have undergone a calgary first aid training course. You might not always have access to emergency medical care, so it’s important to have everything you need on hand for yourself and others in case of an emergency. If you’re at all concerned about your own safety, a first aid kit is a must-have item for your vehicle.

2. A quality GPS system

Sure, smartphones have made paper maps obsolete. However, with the volume of traffic and roadwork happening in any given city, it’s unwise to rely solely on the directions provided by Google Maps or Waze—especially when they’re constantly changing! A GPS system will always be able to provide an alternate route if necessary, and since many have Bluetooth capability, they can double as hands-free devices while driving.

3. Seat Belt Silencer

In an effort to make driving more comfortable, it is essential to equip cars with a seat belt silencer. This feature is designed to reduce the noise of the seat belt when it’s being fastened.

A seat belt silencer is a device that reduces the noise of a seat belt. It’s usually clipped onto the seat belt and it muffles the sound of the clicking sound as you buckle up.

It is also known as a sound dampener or a sound suppressor.

The main benefit of this device is that it makes wearing your seatbelt more comfortable for passengers in the backseat – especially if they have hearing problems.

4. Remote start and tracking

Have you ever found yourself looking for your car in a store parking lot? If you need help tracking a car, your phone can now do so with an app. Once you have finished shopping and found your car, think about how nice it would be if your car were already warmed up or cooled down for you? With a remote start system installed, your vehicle can now turn on before you or your key fob even arrives. Check with your dealer first, though—if your vehicle isn’t equipped with one already, they can help you get set up correctly.

5. Flashlight with fresh batteries 

You never know when you might get into an accident after dark, or when you might need illumination for any number of other reasons (changing a tire, looking under the hood, etc.). And there’s nothing worse than having a flashlight but not being able to see anything because the batteries are dead. So, keep a good quality flashlight from a company like fenix in your glove compartment and make it a habit to check that it has working batteries every time you get gas.

6. A Dash Cam

If you spend a lot of time on the road, a dash cam can help keep you safe if you get into an accident—or if someone else causes an accident. A dash cam can record footage of your surroundings, allowing you to prove what really happened if something goes wrong. If you don’t want to purchase a new dashboard camera or add one to your vehicle, there are smartphone apps that can provide similar functionality.

7. Floor mats

Floor mats are a great way to protect your car’s interior from dirt, mud, and other debris. They’re also helpful if you live in an area with lots of rain or snow—you won’t have to worry about tracking in puddles or melting snow! Custom floor mats will fit perfectly in your vehicle, keeping it clean and organized.

You can also add a personal touch (and a pleasant scent) to your ride with custom air fresheners designed to match your style or brand.

8. Phone mount

The CDC reports that approximately 660,000 drivers use their cell phones while driving at any given moment during daylight hours in the United States. In 2015, 3,477 people were killed and 391,000 were injured in auto crashes involving distracted drivers, so keeping your eyes on the road is very important. A car phone mount may allow you to safely use your phone while driving by securing it within easy reach. As such, you wouldn’t have to take your eyes off the road or risk dropping your device in order to answer a call or change music tracks.

In conclusion, equipping your vehicle with the right accessories can significantly enhance your driving experience and ensure your safety on the road. From essential tools like a reliable first aid kit and emergency roadside gear to comfort-enhancing items such as seat covers and organizers, these accessories are not just luxuries but necessities that can make a world of difference. By investing in these items, you’re not only preparing for unforeseen circumstances but also creating a more enjoyable and organized driving environment. Remember, being proactive about your car’s accessories is key to a smooth and secure journey every time you hit the road.

Chevrolet Captures Four-wide Funny Car Victory as John Force Prevails Again

By
Official Release
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CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
CIRCLE K NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS
ZMAX DRAGWAY IN CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA
MAY 1, 2022

Chevrolet victorious as John Force adds to record win total
• John Force gets Funny Car career win No. 155, first of 2022
• Brittany Force remains points leader in Top Fuel
• Chevrolet COPO Camaro captures victory in Stock Eliminator competition

CONCORD, N.C. (May 1, 2022) — Legendary drag racer John Force was fast all weekend at zMAX Dragway and closed out the deal with his first win of 2022 and 155th overall in the Funny Car class.

Force and his PEAK/BlueDEF PLATINUM Chevrolet Camaro SS race team entered eliminations of the four-wide event in the No. 1 qualifying position for the 164th time in his career after a record-setting run on Friday night of 3.850 seconds at 334.24 mph. Force, who won the event in 2021, has three wins at zMAX Dragway in the four-wide format. He also won the first four-wide event at the track in 2010.

Force’s teammate, Robert Hight, also made it to the final Funny Car quad and came in as runner-up in the Auto Club of Southern California Camaro SS.

In Top Fuel, Austin Prock fell in the first round in his Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist Chevrolet dragster, while teammate Brittany Force fell in the semifinals in the Flav-R-Pac / Monster Energy Chevy. She retained the championship points lead after six events.

Darren Poole-Adams of Shelby, North Carolina, drove his Chevrolet COPO Camaro to victory in Stock Eliminator competition to give drivers of the powerful COPO Camaro five victories in the Sportsman category in six national event races.

“Chevrolet Performance has given me awesome COPO Camaros to drive and I’m just blown away right now,” said Poole-Adams, who claimed his first national event victory.

David Barton of Reading, Pennsylvania, was runner-up in his COPO Camaro in the second round of the Constant Aviation Factory Stock Showdown. Len Lottig won the first of the eight scheduled races in the series in March at Gainesville., Florida.
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The Virginia NHRA Nationals on May 13-15 at Virginia Motorsports Park is the next event for Chevrolet Top Fuel and Funny Car teams. The event was not held in 2021 or 2020. FS1 will telecast eliminations at 6:30 p.m. ET Sunday, May 15.

CHEVROLET FROM THE COCKPIT

TOP FUEL
BRITTANY FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, FLAV-R-PAC/MONSTER ENERGY CHEVROLET DRAGSTER: “It was a tough weekend here in Charlotte. This Flav-R-Pac team came in here with back-to-back wins and just had that momentum moving forward. We went out qualified seventh, and it was a tough position to be in,” Force said. “We got past first round but in that second round we got beat and had to pack up early. It was still a good weekend for the John Force Racing teams with my dad winner and Robert getting the runner-up.”

AUSTIN PROCK, JOHN FORCE RACING, MONTANA BRAND/ROCKY MOUNTAIN TWIST CHEVROLET DRAGSTER: “It was a frustrating way to end our weekend. I felt like we had a competitive car all weekend and I was hoping it would all come together this morning but it didn’t,” Prock said. “First round losses are always tough to swallow, especially because we all had high expectations going into this morning. It was a tough break but luckily we get to play again in Richmond. I think the team is definitely on the right track. We just have to get our ducks in a row and we should be fine.”

FUNNY CAR
JOHN FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, PEAK BLUEDEF PLATINUM CHEVROLET CAMARO SS: “I walked down to the trailer and I said, ‘Danny, I got to get my energy up, you have got to get me fired up’ and he yells ‘swap motors’ and awe man, my blood pressure shot up and I was going to tip over. I want to take a minute to thank Blue Def, Power Solar, Auto Club, Cornwell, Monster, Flav-R-Pac, Montana Brand, and Chevrolet. And hey, Bruton, I love you. This one is for my daughter Adria and just shows that I can still hang in the fight. We just keep fighting and we are going to be fine.

I wanted to do this last year for Bruton, you know what I am saying. I have been trying to find God for a lot of years, I am working on it, my wife works on it. So, I don’t want to get into that, but things just seem to happen to me in my life that are almost like you are destined. And Bruton Smith last year, when I spoke with him on the phone, was struggling but now he is better. To whatever degree, I got the win for him and mentioned him a few times down there. What was amazing is going up for the final, I was struggling as a driver, I will be honest. These kids are just good, and I have to jump on that tree and attack it whenever I can. What was funny was that we were sitting in the pits, and I told Danny, my crew chief, that they get the credit. I was standing there, and I said, ‘Danny, somebody fire me up. If I don’t get some energy I am going to go out there and get treed.’ And he goes, ‘how about this? Switch motors’. And I said, ‘what are you talking about?’ He said, ‘the motor is dead’. All the sudden they start ripping it apart. I was like, ‘no, its time to tow up, are you going to do this in ten minutes?’. Whatever time they took, they made it and it was amazing. But my energy went straight to the top. Its hard to find that moment that you need when you really need that fire in your belly.

ROBERT HIGHT, JOHN FORCE RACING, AUTO CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHEVROLET CAMARO SS: “It was a great day for John Force Racing. Any time you can get two cars to the final, it’s a good day. If this Auto Club Chevy team is going to come up short, I’d rather it be to John and that PEAK Chevy than anyone else,” Hight said. “Ran into some issues there at the end that we’ll get figured out and be ready to come do it all again out in Richmond.”

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 79 countries with more than 3.2 million cars and trucks sold in 2020. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

O’Ward Tunes Out Distractions, Powers to Barber Victory

By
Official Release
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IMG_7454.JPG

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Sunday, May 1, 2022) – With a clear mind and a fast car, Pato O’Ward returned to his winning ways Sunday by capturing the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama presented by AmFirst at Barber Motorsports Park.

O’Ward, from Mexico, earned his first victory of the season in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet, beating reigning NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion and 2021 Barber winner Alex Palou to the checkered flag by .9800 of a second. NTT P1 Award winner Rinus VeeKay finished third in the No. 21 SONAX Chevrolet.

The third career win came after O’Ward admitted he was distracted by contract talks with Arrow McLaren SP at the first two races of the season, at St. Petersburg and Texas, where he finished 12th and 15th, respectively. O’Ward rebounded by placing fifth last month at Long Beach and returned this weekend to the form that helped him finish third in the 2021 championship standings.

“It sucks to be at war within your own team, right?” O’Ward said. “I’m glad there have been very positive talks for the future. I wanted to do it for these guys, for Arrow, for McLaren SP, Team Chevy. I was tired of being 10th and 11th and fifth, so I said, ‘Let’s get a win under our belts so we can claw our way back into the championship fight.”

O’Ward climbed from ninth to fifth in the standings with his first victory since winning Belle Isle-2 last June.

There was also movement at the top of the championship, as Palou took the lead with his third podium finish in four starts this season in the No. 10 The American Legion Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. The Spaniard leads Scott McLaughlin, 144-141, as just 10 points separate the top four drivers in the standings.

Two-time series champion Josef Newgarden, who led the points entering this race, dropped to third after finishing 14th in the No. 2 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet.

The race, which took place in dry, sunny conditions after morning thunderstorms, unfolded as a strategic duel between drivers who chose a three-stop strategy and those who opted for two stops. Newgarden, Colton Herta, Romain Grosjean and Marcus Ericsson were among the contenders who elected for three stops, hoping they could lean harder on their Firestone tires during shorter stints.

But that strategy unraveled when rookie Callum Ilott spun his No. 77 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet into the gravel trap adjacent to Turn 9 on Lap 32. That incident triggered the only full-course caution of the race and essentially returned the entire 26-car field to the same tire strategy.

Nearly every driver pitted either just before or after Ilott’s incident, with VeeKay leading O’Ward, McLaughlin, Palou and Alexander Rossi as the top five on the restart on Lap 35.

Dutch driver VeeKay built a lead of 2.0875 seconds over O’Ward by Lap 60. VeeKay, O’Ward and McLaughlin pulled into the pits for their final stops in lockstep on Lap 62, with VeeKay and O’Ward taking new primary Firestone tires, while McLaughlin opted for used primary tires on his No. 3 Sonsio Team Penske Chevrolet.

VeeKay won the race off pit lane, but O’Ward pounced on the out lap. He passed VeeKay with a brave outside move in the hairpin Turn 5 and never trailed thereafter.

“(Team president Taylor Kiel) told me we were fighting for the win,” O’Ward said. “We almost got him in the pit stops. I said, ‘Man, this is the chance.’ It was so tough to follow because it’s such a fast and flowing circuit. I knew if I had the opportunity, it would have been right then and there. I knew if we got into clean air, we could kind of control the thing. Once we did that, it was cruise to Victory Lane.”

Palou made his final pit stop on Lap 64, producing sizzling in and out laps and re-entering the racetrack behind O’Ward but ahead of VeeKay. Palou kept O’Ward on his toes until the checkered flag, pulling to within .8951 of a second on Lap 73 of the 90-lap race.

But O’Ward kept his cool, managed his tire wear and eased away for victory.

“He was running second at that time,” Palou said of O’Ward on the restart. “I think we’re running fourth and just that track difference, that’s what what got us. I think I did a mistake on a restart and the 27 (Rossi) got us there. So, I think that was all the difference.

“The No. 5 (O’Ward) was really fast today. But yeah, so we’re happy with the No. 10 American Legion Honda car was super-fast this weekend and another podium, so we were fighting until the end. We couldn’t make it today, but we’ll try to win at the next one.”

Up next for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES are two races at the hallowed ground of the sport, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The GMR Grand Prix is set for Saturday, May 14 on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile IMS road course, while the 106th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge will run Sunday, May 29 on the historic 2.5-mile oval. Both races will be televised live by NBC, with live coverage also from the INDYCAR Radio Network. Tickets for both races are available at IMS.com.

Pato O’Ward capitalizes for late IndyCar victory at Barber Motorsports Park

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

In an event dominated by Rinus VeeKay, Pato O’Ward rose to the occasion in the late stages and rallied from a difficult start to the season by winning the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park on Sunday, May 1.

The 22-year-old O’Ward from Monterrey, Mexico, spent more than 70% of Sunday’s event trailing pole-sitter Rinus VeeKay. During a late cycle of pit stops under green with less than 30 laps remaining, however, O’Ward capitalized on the opportunity to close in and overtake VeeKay for the lead. From there, he fended off Alex Palou by less than a second to grab his first NTT IndyCar Series victory of the 2022 season.

With on-track qualifying occurring on Saturday, Rinus VeeKay started on pole position after notching a pole-winning lap at 124.980 mph in one minute, 6.2507 seconds. Joining him on the front row was Pato O’Ward, who recorded a fast lap at 124.698 mph in one minute, 6.4003 seconds.

The first lap of the event occurred under caution as the IndyCar competitors were still working to line up in double lanes under a cautious pace.

When the green flag waved and the race commenced on the second lap, VeeKay took off with the lead followed by O’Ward and Scott McLaughlin battled Alex Palou for third place while the rest of the field jostled for positions in a long single file line. 

As the field made their way through the 15-turn circuit for a full lap under green, VeeKay was leading ahead of O’Ward, McLaughlin, Palou, Alexander Rossi, Felix Rosenqvist, Romain Grosjean, rookie Callum Ilott, Graham Rahal and Josef Newgarden.

Through the first 10 scheduled laps, VeeKay continued to lead by more than a second over O’Ward while McLaughlin, Palou and Rossi occupied the top five, all while trailing VeeKay by more than three seconds. Rosenqvist, Grosjean, Ilott, Rahal and Newgarden remained in the top 10 ahead of Colton Herta, Jack Harvey, Marcus Ericsson, Christian Lundgaard and Scott Dixon. Takuma Sato, Helio Castroneves, Devlin DeFrancesco, Will Power and David Malukas were in the top 20 while Jimmie Johnson was mired in 25th.

A lap later, pit strategy ensued as Marcus Ericsson pitted his No. 8 Huski Chocolate Dallara-Honda. Shortly after, Newgarden pitted his No. 2 PPG Dallara-Chevrolet along with Helio Castroneves and Jack Harvey. During the proceeding lap, Colton Herta veered his No. 26 Gainbridge Dallara-Honda to his pit stall for his service along with rookie Kyle Kirkwood, who endured a slow pit stop after his pit crew encountered issues while changing the right-front tire. In the midst of this, Romain Grosjean also made his way to pit road for service.

On Lap 15, Herta overshot the course entering the first turn while battling teammate Grosjean, but the race proceeded under green as the two Andretti Autosport teammates continued to battle.

By Lap 20, VeeKay extended his advantage to more than two seconds over O’Ward while McLaughlin, Palou, Rossi, Rosenqvist, Ilott, Rahal, Lundgaard and Dixon were in the top 10. By then, Will Power was in 13th, Johnson was in 16th ahead of Newgarden, Herta and Grosjean and Ericsson was in 22nd behind Tatiana Calderon and Jack Harvey.

Nearing the Lap 30 mark, Rosenqvist pitted his No. 7 Arrow McLaren SP Dallara-Chevrolet along with Devlin DeFrancesco, O’Ward, Rossi, Ilott, Lundgaard, Takuma Sato, David Malukas and Simon Pagenaud. Soon after, the leader VeeKay made his first pit stop of the event along with Palou, McLaughlin, Rahal, Power and Dixon.

Then on Lap 32, the first caution of the event flew when Ilott, who was having a stellar run in the top 10, overdrove and spun in Turn 9 before getting his No. 77 Juncos Hollinger Racing Dallara-Chevrolet stuck in the gravel while battling Castroneves. At the moment of caution, Newgarden, who was on a different strategy from the leaders, was leading ahead of Herta, VeeKay, Grosjean, O’Ward, McLaughlin, Palou, Harvey, Rossi and Ericsson.

Under caution, some like Newgarden pitted while the rest led by VeeKay remained on the track.

When the race proceeded under green on Lap 36, VeeKay retained the lead ahead of O’Ward as the field jostled for positions. 

On Lap 41, Castroneves got into the rear end of Johnson’s No. 48 Carvana Dallara-Honda, which sent Johnson spinning in Turn 8 while the race proceeded under green. As a result, Castroneves was assessed a drive-through penalty for the incident.

At the halfway mark on Lap 45, VeeKay was leading by over O’Ward while McLaughlin, Rossi, Palou, Dixon, Power, Rosenqvist, Rahal and Pagenaud were in the top 10. Herta was up in 11th ahead of Sato, Laundgaard, Newgarden, Grosjean, Ericsson, DeFrancesco, Harvey, Malukas and Conor Daly while Johnson and Castroneves were back in 22nd and 23rd behind Kyle Kirkwood.

Five laps later, VeeKay stabilized his advantage to less than two seconds over O’Ward while McLaughlin, Rossi and Palou remained in the top five. 

By Lap 60, VeeKay continued to lead by more than two seconds over O’Ward followed by McLaughlin, Rossi, Palou, Dixon, Power, Rahal, Herta and Pagenaud.

Shortly after, pit stops under green ensued as Rossi pitted followed by Rosenqvist, Lundgaard, DeFrancesco, Harvey and Rahal. During the following lap, the race leader VeeKay pitted followed by O’Ward, McLaughlin and Power. Despite VeeKay exiting pit road ahead of O’Ward, the latter was able to gain the speed needed to overtake VeeKay for position after trailing him throughout the event.

When the pit stops concluded on Lap 65, O’Ward cycled his way into the lead while Palou, who had just exited his pit stall on Lap 64, fended off VeeKay for the runner-up spot, thus dropping VeeKay to third place. With Ericsson pitting, Dixon and McLaughlin were in the top five followed by Power, Rossi, Rahal, Herta and Pagenaud.

With 20 laps remaining, O’Ward was leading by more than a second over Palou while third-place VeeKay trailed by more than four seconds. Dixon and Power were in the top five followed by McLaughlin, Herta, Rahal, Rossi and Grosjean.

Five laps later, O’Ward continued to lead by more than a second over Palou and more than six seconds over VeeKay. Behind, a tight battle ensued for fourth place as Dixon was in position ahead of Power, McLaughlin, Herta, Rahal, Grosjean and Rossi. Soon after, Herta made contact with McLaughlin while battling for position and spun, but he proceeded under green.

Down to the final 10 laps of the event, O’Ward remained as the leader by more than two seconds over Palou and more than seven seconds over VeeKay. Power and Dixon remained in the top five while McLaughlin, Rahal, Grosjean, Rossi and Herta were scored in the top 10. Pagenaud, Ericsson, Newgarden, Sato and Lundgaard were in the top 15 followed by Rosenqvist, DeFrancesco, Harvey, Daly and Malukas while Castroneves and Johnson were in 21st and 24th.

With five laps remaining, O’Ward retained the lead by more than a second over Palou while third-place VeeKay trailed by more than 10 seconds. While Power and Dixon stabilized themselves in the top five, McLaughlin continued to be pressured by Rahal and Grosjean for more. 

When the white flag waved and the final lap started, O’Ward remained as the leader by more than a second over Palou. With the battles ensuing behind but none near his No. 5 Arrow McLaren SP Dallara-Chevrolet, O’Ward smoothly navigated his way through the 15-turn circuit and cycled his way back to the finish line to claim his first checkered flag of the season.

The victory was the third of O’Ward’s IndyCar career and first since he won the first of a Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix doubleheader feature in June 2021. He also recorded the fourth consecutive victory of the 2022 season for Chevrolet and the first of the season for Arrow McLaren SP.

“[Team principal] Taylor [Kiel] told me we were fighting for the win when we almost got [VeeKay] in the pit stops, so I said, ‘No, this is the chance, man.’ It was so tough to follow just because it’s such a fast and flowing circuit, so I knew if I would have the opportunity it would have been right then and there. I got on my [push to pass] button, got around him into [Turn] 5, and I knew if we would get into clean air, we could kind of control the thing. Once we did that, [we] cruised to Victory Lane.”

The Barber victory also erased all speculations of O’Ward’s on-track struggles to the start of the season and uncertainty beyond this season as he is now poised to ink a new contract extension with Arrow McLaren SP.

“It sucks to be at war within your own team, so I’m glad there’s been very positive talks for the future,” O’Ward added. “And man I wanted to do it for these guys, for Arrow McLaren SP, Team Chevy, they’ve swept this year so far, so I think it’s great for them…I was tired of being 10th, 11th and fifth, so I said let’s get a win under our belts so we can claw our way back into this championship fight.”

Alex Palou, who notched his first IndyCar career victory at Barber a year ago, settled in second place as he trailed O’Ward by less than a second. Despite falling one spot shy of claiming his first victory of the season, Palou emerged as the new leader in the championship standings.

“We had a good day, overall,” Palou said. “Super happy with P2. [O’Ward] was running second at that time. I think we were running fourth. Just that track difference, that’s what got us. I did a mistake on the restart where [Rossi] got us there. I think that was all the difference. [O’Ward] was really fast today, but super happy with the No. 10 American Legion Honda car. It was super fast all weekend. Another podium. We were fighting till the end. Couldn’t make it today, but we’ll try on the next one.”

VeeKay, meanwhile, came home in third place after leading a race-high 57 of 90 laps.

“We were in a great race and coming into pit lane, and I really got held up a little bit with Jimmie [Johnson], so Pato closed the gap a lot,” VeeKay said. “I was so much looking in my mirrors I forgot to use the push to pass because I was too much looking in my mirrors. Yeah, I was just a little bit too conservative there. So pretty bummed missing out on that win. We had a great car, great race.”

Power and Dixon completed the top five on the track while McLaughlin, Grosjean, Rahal, Rossi and Herta finished in the top 10. 

Following the event, Rahal voiced his displeasure towards Grosjean over their late battle and on-track contact. 

Newgarden, who was vying for his third consecutive win in the IndyCar Series along with a $1 million bonus, settled in 14th place after an early gamble with a three-stop strategy was spoiled due to Ilott’s incident. 

There were five lead changes for four different leaders. The race featured one caution for three laps.

With his runner-up result, Alex Palou leads the IndyCar drivers’ standings by three points over Scott McLaughlin, nine over Josef Newgarden, 10 over Will Power, 30 over Pato O’Ward and 31 over Scott Dixon.

Results.

1. Pato O’Ward, 27 laps led

2. Alex Palou, four laps led

3. Rinus VeeKay, 57 laps led

4. Will Power

5. Scott Dixon

6. Scott McLaughlin

7. Romain Grosjean

8. Graham Rahal

9. Alexander Rossi

10. Colton Herta

11. Simon Pagenaud

12. Marcus Ericsson

13. Takuma Sato

14. Josef Newgarden, two laps led

15. Christian Lundgaard

16. Felix Rosenqvist

17. Devlin DeFrancesco

18. Jack Harvey

19. Conor Daly

20. David Malukas

21. Helio Castroneves

22. Kyle Kirkwood, one lap down

23. Dalton Kellett, one lap down

24. Jimmie Johnson, one lap down

25. Callum Ilott, two laps down

26. Tatiana Calderon, two laps down

The 2022 NTT IndyCar Series season will be returning to action at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course in Indianapolis, Indiana, for the GMR Grand Prix. The event is scheduled to occur on May 14 at 3 p.m. ET on NBC.

CHEVROLET RACING IN NTT INDYCAR SERIES: GRAND PRIX OF ALABAMA – PATO O’WARD PUTS CHEVROLET IN VICTORY LANE/KEEPS TEAM PERFECT FOR THE SEASON

By
Official Release
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CHEVROLET IN NTT INDYCAR SERIES
GRAND PRIX OF ALABAMA
BARBER MOTORSPORTS PARK
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
TEAM CHEVY RACE WINNER QUOTE PATO O’WARD
MAY 1, 2022

PATO O’WARD, NO. 5 ARR OW MCLAREN SP CHEVROLET, captured the third win of his young NTT INDYCAR Series by taking his No. 5 Chevrolet to Victory Lane at Barber Motorsports Park.

His first two victories were in 2021 at Texas Motor Speedway and the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix.

The win kept Chevrolet in INDYCAR perfect thus far in the 2022 season.
Chevrolet now sits at 99 victories out of 169 races since returning to the American open wheel series in 2012.O O’

PAT O’WARD QUOTE:
WHAT A SMOOTH WEEKEND FOR THE 5 BUNCH. NICE TO SEE YOU IN VICTORY LANE PATO! WIN NUMBER THREE, BUT I HAVE TO ASK YOU ABOUT HOW AGGRESSIVE YOU HAD TO PLAY THAT PASS ON VEEKAY TO GET THE LEAD. AT THE MOMENT DID YOU KNOW THAT MAYBE THAT WAS THE PASS FOR THE WIN?
“Yeah, Taylor told me we are fighting for the win. We almost got them in the pit stops, so I said no this is your chance man. It’s so tough to follow just because it’s such a fast and flowing circuit. I knew if I would have the opportunity, it would have been right then and there. I got on my button and got around him into (Turn) five and then I knew if he would get into clean air, we can kind of control the thing. Once we did that it was a cruise to victory lane.”

THERE WAS A LOT OF TURMOIL AROUND THIS TEAM JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO. YOU CAME INTO LONG BEACH SAYING I’M PUTTING IT ALL BEHIND ME. HOW MUCH DID THAT MENTAL SHIFT HELP YOU BEHIND THE WHEEL?
“Man, it sucks to be at war within your own team. I’m glad there’s been very positive talks for the future and man I wanted to do it for these guys. I wanted to do it for Arrow McLaren SP, Team Chevy. They’ve swept this year so far, so I think it’s great for them. Yeah, man I was just tired of being 10th and 11th and fifth. I said let’s get a win under our belt so we can claw our way back to this championship fight.”

ABOUT CHEVROLET
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 80 countries with more than 3.2 million cars and trucks sold in 2020. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama presented by AmFirst Race Results

  1. (2) Pato O’Ward, Chevrolet, 90, Running
  2. (3) Alex Palou, Honda, 90, Running
  3. (1) Rinus VeeKay, Chevrolet, 90, Running
  4. (19) Will Power, Chevrolet, 90, Running
  5. (13) Scott Dixon, Honda, 90, Running
  6. (4) Scott McLaughlin, Chevrolet, 90, Running
  7. (8) Romain Grosjean, Honda, 90, Running
  8. (9) Graham Rahal, Honda, 90, Running
  9. (5) Alexander Rossi, Honda, 90, Running
  10. (10) Colton Herta, Honda, 90, Running
  11. (24) Simon Pagenaud, Honda, 90, Running
  12. (12) Marcus Ericsson, Honda, 90, Running
  13. (17) Takuma Sato, Honda, 90, Running
  14. (7) Josef Newgarden, Chevrolet, 90, Running
  15. (14) Christian Lundgaard, Honda, 90, Running
  16. (6) Felix Rosenqvist, Chevrolet, 90, Running
  17. (20) Devlin DeFrancesco, Honda, 90, Running
  18. (15) Jack Harvey, Honda, 90, Running
  19. (22) Conor Daly, Chevrolet, 90, Running
  20. (18) David Malukas, Honda, 90, Running
  21. (16) Helio Castroneves, Honda, 90, Running
  22. (21) Kyle Kirkwood, Chevrolet, 89, Running
  23. (23) Dalton Kellett, Chevrolet, 89, Running
  24. (26) Jimmie Johnson, Honda, 89, Running
  25. (11) Callum Ilott, Chevrolet, 88, Running
  26. (25) Tatiana Calderon, Chevrolet, 88, Running

Race Statistics
Winner’s average speed: 114.304 mph
Time of Race: 1:48:39.4368
Margin of victory: 0.9800 of a second
Cautions: 1 for 3 laps
Lead changes: 5 among 4 drivers

Lap Leaders:
VeeKay 1-29
Palou 30
Newgarden 31-32
VeeKay 33-60
Palou 61-63
O’Ward 64-90

NTT INDYCAR SERIES Point Standings:
Palou 144, McLaughlin 141, Newgarden 135, Power 134, O’Ward 114, Dixon 113, VeeKay 106, Grosjean 101, Ericsson 84, Rahal 84, Herta 79, Pagenaud 69, Rossi 62, Sato 61, Lundgaard 57, Rosenqvist 56, Castroneves 55, Johnson 51, Daly 50, Kirkwood 46, Harvey 44, Malukas 44, Ilott 37, DeFrancesco 33, Kellett 30, Calderon 25, Ferrucci 22, Carpenter 18, Hildebrand 17

Force Scores Victory, Sets Track Speed Record At Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals

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Official Release
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Taking Care of Business
Force Scores Victory, Sets Track Speed Record At
Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals

  • John Force set a new zMAX Dragway speed record en route to winning the Funny Car portion of Sunday’s Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, his 155th career NHRA victory; Mike Salinas (Top Fuel) and Steve Johnson (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also triumphed at the Bellagio of drag strips
  • Fans can buy tickets to upcoming speedway events, including the Coca-Cola 600 on May 29, by visiting http://www.charlottemotorspeedway.com

CONCORD, N.C. (May 1, 2022) – Three days shy of his 73rd birthday, John Force proved he’s as sharp as ever behind the wheel of an NHRA Funny Car. Force completed a clean sweep in Sunday’s exhilarating Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway, grabbing his 155th career win in addition to a new track speed record.

Force – who also earned No. 1 qualifier honors – became the first NHRA driver to eclipse the 335-mile-per-hour mark at zMAX Dragway during the first round of eliminations. Force’s 3.914-second, 328.66-mph run in the final, though, was the one which spurred the 16-time World Champion to his second consecutive four-wide win at zMAX.

“We came out here (for the final) and I wasn’t even sure if the motor could run (after the semifinal round),” Force said. “I almost apologized to Robert (Hight, Force’s teammate and competitor in the final). I wanted to say, ‘That wasn’t supposed to happen.’

“I’ve wanted a win so badly this year. As tired as I am and as much as I’ve been beaten up, you can get back on top. This gave me confidence.”

Mike Salinas powered his Top Fuel car to victory on Sunday with a 3.708-second, 330.47-mph pass which topped the finals and gave Salinas his fifth career victory.

“My guys are amazing,” Salinas said. “I want to thank them for everything they do. It’s just amazing to win again. It’s so hard to believe. We’ve worked so hard to get here. We’re racing against the best people in the world. It’s so hard to win that I feel bad for the guys who didn’t win today. I know how hard you have to strive.”

Steve Johnson lost No. 1 qualifier status at the end of Saturday’s Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying, but no one could stop Johnson from scoring the win on Sunday. A 6.740-second, 200.65-mph pass in the final enabled Johnson – who also set a new dragway Pro Stock Motorcycle elapsed-time record – to join Force as back-to-back winners of the Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals.

“I don’t even know where to start,” said Johnson, who took over the class points lead with his win on Sunday. “I just love our sport so much. We’ve been chasing this for 30 years and now, we’ve won two in a row. This is such a special place (to win).

“I absolutely feel like we can contend for the title. I mean, that’s what I want. I spend every day on this. I sleep at the (race) shop. Our sponsors, our team, all of these people, they make this happen. Contending for this championship is why we’re here.”

TICKETS:
Tickets to upcoming speedway events, including the Coca-Cola 600 on May 29, are available by calling 800-455-FANS or shopping online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/tickets.

KEEP TRACK:
Connect with Charlotte Motor Speedway on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or get all the latest news and information with the Charlotte Motor Speedway mobile app.

Pagenaud Gains 13 Positions in Impressive Run for Meyer Shank Racing at Barber

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Official Release
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#60: Simon Pagenaud, Meyer Shank Racing Honda, pit lane

Castroneves finishes 21st after getting caught out by yellow flag

Birmingham, Ala. (1 May 2022) – Simon Pagenaud improved an impressive 13 positions to score an 11th place finish for Meyer Shank Racing in the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama on Sunday.

Pagenaud started 24th in the No. 60 AutoNation / SiriusXM Honda and ran a two-stop strategy as he worked his way up to 13th before his first pit stop on lap 30. Over his next stint, Pagenaud had a strong battle to move into the top 10. The Frenchman pitted again on lap 60 of 90, and ran 11th over the final 18 circuits.

“It was a great day at the office,” said Pagenaud. “We made some really great moves in the race after starting really far back. We had a great car in the race and were able to march out way froward. Great strategy from Mike Shank and the entire team. I’m just really satisfied with how everything went and how everyone performed as a group. It’s really showing a lot of momentum. Obviously we want to be P1 in the end, but we have to be patient and reasonable. It was a great day for the entire team and showed a lot of spirit.”

Teammate Helio Castroneves had a tough day, finishing 21st in the No. 06 AutoNation / SiriusXM Honda. Starting 16th,the four-time Indianapolis 500 champion elected to use a three-stop strategy. Castroneves pitted on lap 11 while running 16th, returning to the race in 24th.

Castroneves worked his way back to 14th when the lone caution of the event came out – taking away any advantage from a three-stop strategy.

Following the restart, Castroneves unfortunately had contact with another competitor forcing him to fall back nearly eight seconds to give the position back. After his final pit stop, Castroneves returned to the race in 22nd, and gained one position in the run to the checkered flag.

Although Castroneves didnt get the result he was hoping for, he was pleased with the performance of the car throughout the race.

“The strategy was to do three stops and we had the pace,” said Castroneves. “I was very, very happy with the No. 06 AutoNation / SiriusXM car. We were pushing and were in a really good rhythm, but unfortunately when the yellow came out it favored everyone on the two stop strategy. After that I had a little incident with Jimmie – sorry Jimmie – and I just bottomed out on the curb and hit the back of him. Before that I was having a really good time. At least we had a fast car so now let’s go for the next one.”

The attention of the motorsports world now focuses on Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES competitors take on the Brickyard’s road course in the GMR Grand Prix on Saturday, May 14. MSR and Helio Castroneves defend their Indianapolis 500 victory in the 106th running of the America classic on Sunday, May 29.

CHEVROLET RACING IN NTT INDYCAR SERIES: GRAND PRIX OF ALABAMA – RINUS VEEKAY PUTS CHEVROLET POWER ON POLE

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Official Release
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RINUS VEEKAY PUTS CHEVROLET ON POLE IN ALABAMA
PATO O’WARD QUALIFIES SECOND TO MAKE ALL-CHEVY POWER FRONT ROW

BIRMINGHAM – After setting the fastest lap through the first two practice sessions, Rinus VeeKay backed up that effort with the fastest time of the 26-car field to win the NTT INDYCAR Series P1 award.

VeeKay’s No. 21 Sonax Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet-powered team made all the right choices for Qualifying Session One (Q1).

The young driver from the Netherlands transferred to Qualifying Session Two – trimmed to the 12-fastest cars (Fast 12) – and again, with the right decisions from his team, he moved to Qualifying Session Three – The Firestone Fast Six, and waited until the last lap of of the session as the clock ran out to lay down a pole-winning run of one-minute 6.2507 seconds on the heals of a drive-through penalty for pit lane violation.

This is the second NTT P1 Award of VeeKay’s career and the third for Chevrolet in the 2022 NTT INDYCAR Series season.

Chevrolet has won the pole at Barber Motorsports Park nine of the 10 races since returning to INDYCAR competition in 2012 with the 2.2 liter twin turbo charges direct injected V6 purpose-built engine.

Last season’s pole sitter, Pato O’Ward, No. 5 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet, qualified second to give Team Chevy the front row for the start of the Honda Grand Prix of Alabama.

Giving Chevrolet four of the top-six starters in tomorrow’s 90-lap race on the 2.3-mile, 17-turn circuit just outside Birmingham, Alabama, are Scott McLaughlin, No. 3 Sonsio Team Penske Chevrolet, qualified fourth and Felix Rosenqvist, No. 7 VUSE Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet, qualifying for the sixth starting position.

Three-time Barber Motorsport Part winner, Josef Newgarden, No. 2 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet, qualified seventh to give Bowtie Brand five of top-seven qualifiers.

Chevrolet and the NTT INDYCAR Series continue with round four of the 2022 season at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 1 from Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala. The race will air live on NBC, the Peacock streaming service and SiriusXM IndyCar Nation (Channel 160). Live timing and scoring will be available at racecontrol.indycar.com.

DRIVER QUOTES
RINUS VEEKAY, NO. 21 SONAX ED CARPENTER RACING CHEVROLET, POLE WINNER:
“Very good qualifying! We put the SONAX Chevrolet on pole, the Ed Carpenter Racing team did a great job. “We had potential and we knew we were in a good position, but to actually put it on pole was an accomplishment. I think the whole team maximized everything. We made the right decisions with tires, setup, everything. Confidence is high. I think from here we can have a great race and fight for the win, definitely.”

PATO O’WARD, NO. 5 ARROW MCLAREN SP CHEVROLET, QUALIFIED 2ND:
“It was a solid day for Arrow McLaren SP. We had a strong qualifying and we can do a lot from there. We are starting second tomorrow and the car has felt good and comfortable. We will have to see what the best strategy is going to be in the race; I think the weather is going to have a lot to say about that. We are looking forward to having a good race tomorrow.”

SCOTT MCLAUGHLIN, NO. 3 SONSIO TEAM PENSKE CHEVROLET, QUALIFIED 4TH:

FELIX ROSENQVIST, NO. 7 VUSE ARROW MCLAREN SP CHEVROLET, QUALIFIED SIXTH:
“Another good qualifying and Firestone Fast Six appearance for the No. 7 Vuse Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet. We have been on a roll in qualifying. Obviously you want to be better than sixth when you make the Fast Six but we will definitely take that position after what started as a tricky weekend. We got a pretty good read on both tires during the final practice so now we just need to execute tomorrow.”

JOSEF NEWGARDEN, NO. 2 PPG TEAM PENSKE CHEVROLET, QUALIFIED SEVENTH:

CALLUM ILOTT, NO. 77 JUNCOS HOLLINGER RACING, QUALIFIED 11TH:
“Good result for us. P11 our first Fast 12. Good result but I think there was a little more in there. However, we got caught out by the red flag. P11 Amazing feeling. I think all the Juncos Hollinger guys are happy. Chevy is happy. We have a little bit of work to do overnight to see if we can make the car a little faster for the race. Excited to have Racing for Children on the car. Amazing organization and it really awesome to have all the kids have their hand prints on the car.”

WILL POWER, NO. 12 VERIZON 5G TEAM PENSKE CHEVROLET, QUALIFIED 19TH:

KYLE KIRKWOOD, NO. 14 ROKIT AJ FOYT RACING CHEVROLET, QUALIFIED 21ST:
“We didn’t have the best of qualifying, we finished 11th in our group. Not sure what the issue was. Honestly the [car’s] balance felt pretty good, we’re just lacking speed there towards the end on red tires. I think our race pace is good. We’re going to find out here in warmup but tomorrow might rain so that could throw a curveball at everyone and that could potentially help us so we’ll see what happens.”

CONOR DALY, NO. 20 BITNILE ED CARPENTER RACING CHEVROLET, QUALIFIED 22ND:
“We had sectors quick enough to transfer to the next group, but we ran into a lot of dirt because of another car that went off in front of us. Then there was a red flag, so we couldn’t get in any more laps. We had a great car, fast enough, obviously, since our teammate is on pole which is wonderful. I’m still excited for tomorrow, we know we are fast, we just got a bit unlucky today.”

DALTON KELLETT, NO. 4 K-LINE AJ FOYT RACING CHEVROLET, QUALIFIED 23RD:
“Not the qualifying session we were looking for. It was the whole Foyt team really, we seemed to struggle out there. The car felt alright but the pace wasn’t there so that’s something to look at between the three cars and see what we can come up with for warmup. We’ll test a couple things for the race tomorrow. It probably looks like a two-stop race so we’ll be working on fuel mileage stuff and see what we can come up with from a setup standpoint.”

TATIANA CALDERON, NO. 11 ROKIT AJ FOYT RACING, QUALIFIED 25TH:
“I think we’ve been making steps forward. I’m more comfortable with the balance of the car. We still need to find a little bit more grip, particularly with the red tires so that’s something to work on towards the free practice three [final warmup] to prepare for the race. I think we’re making steps forward and that’s the most important thing. We’ll see what the weather does tomorrow. It should be an interesting race.”

BAYSTON AND WEISS SCORE SATURDAY NIGHT VICTORIES IN WORLD OF OUTLAWS BRISTOL BASH AT BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY

By
Official Release
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Rookie driver Spencer Bayston won the NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series race Saturday at Bristol Motor Speedway.

BRISTOL, Tenn. (April 30, 2022) – Rookie Spencer Bayston and Canadian Ricky Weiss raced to victories in their respective categories Saturday night at the World of Outlaws Bristol Bash at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Bayston led wire to wire in the 25-lap feature in the NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and held off a determined Kyle Larson for most of the race, especially in the closing laps. The two crossed the start/finish line side by side with one lap to go and then Bayston was able to pull away to take the checkered flag.

Larson finished second, Friday winner Logan Schuchart was third, pole winner Rico Abreu was fourth and last year’s winner, David Gravel, was fifth.

“It’s been a long time coming, we’ve been so damn fast every night,” Bayston said. “I feel more comfortable than I have my whole career in any race car. This is such a high-risk place with high speed and high reward. I’m so fortunate to be in a wicked-fast car right now. Hopefully we can start clicking off a few more wins now.”

As Bayston kept hitting his marks around the dirt-transformed Bristol high banks, he knew Larson and Schuchart were closing in on him. After a late caution, he was determined to be ultra-focused for the two-lap run to the finish.

“When that caution came out I knew I had to run really, really well in those final two laps,” Bayston said. “Kyle got some good runs on me and he gave me a lane in those final two laps and I was thankful for that. I felt like I had to hit my marks. I was committed to what I was doing and Kyle threw those moves into one and two and three and four, and I circled around him and did what I had to do.”

Bayston said taking the win over Larson here at Bristol is definitely the biggest win of his young career.

“Its incredible,” Bayston said. “To think about all the races I watched here as a kid as a Jeff Gordon fan and Tony Stewart fan, it’s surreal. It almost takes your breath away when you walk into this Colosseum. It’s a great opportunity. Given this opportunity to come here and compete is really cool and to win here at Bristol Motor Speedway at such an iconic place is special. It’s great to get our first win of the season out of the way and get over the hump and hopefully stay on the path we are on to click off a couple more down the road.”

Larson kept the pressure on Bayston all the way to the end of the race, but had to settle for second place in his No. 57 machine. Once again, like he did in the Late Model class the night before, his hard-charging style brought the Bristol fans to their feet.

“I felt like it was going to be close; I got through three really well, I didn’t want to squeeze him in the fence, he was barely able to squeeze around me and win the race,” Larson said. “It was a fun little shootout we had there and I’m glad we were able to make it fun for the fans. It was a good weekend for the 57. We still have some work to do but I feel like we are in a much better place with the car.”

Schuchart was pleased with his team’s performance to get another podium finish for the weekend. He said he was making a move just as the caution came out, but after that he lost the momentum he needed at the end.

“It was a great weekend for our team, I feel like we had the best car all weekend,” Schuchart said. “We were up there racing for the lead. I didn’t get the best restarts that I needed. I needed to stay green to have the best chance. Proud of another podium finish and props to the five team. Spencer drove his butt off and he didn’t have but an inch between himself, Larson and the wall and he held his ground.”

Abreu qualified No. 1 with a best lap of 13.517 then held off Schuchart to take an impressive heat race victory. After the redraw, Abreu started the feature in the fourth position.

Australian Kerry Madsen, who was impressive in winning his heat race, finished sixth and was followed by Carson Macedo, Donny Schatz, Anthony Macri and Aaron Reutzel in the top 10.

In the CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series race Weiss was the quickest qualifier, won his heat race and then held on to win the 30-lap feature race.

Weiss received a challenge at the end from Chris Madden, who passed Weiss for the lead on lap 11 but then Weiss regained the lead the for good on lap 13 and cruised to the victory, his first at Bristol Motor Speedway.

“It’s awesome, we’ve been so close here,” Weiss said. “We’ve gave away a couple. When Madden got by me there I thought he had to be really good. Typically, I would’ve just followed him there. He just showed me the fast lane and I was able to get back by him. Thanks to everyone who turns wrenches on this thing. I hope they keep putting dirt on this track every year.”

Friday night winner Jonathan Davenport, from Blairsville, Ga., rallied to finish second in his No. 49 machine.

“My car got better as the race went on,” Davenport said. “About half way through the car came to me. Finally I found the line that worked to get some speed. Ricky did a good job. He deserves one, he’s led three of four of the races here. Good job to him. Just got to thank my guys. It’s been awesome and I hope they keep putting dirt on this place.”

Chris Madden, who won two races and $200,000 at Bristol in March during the Karl Kustoms Bristol Dirt Nationals, appeared to be on his way to winning another race here but this time it wasn’t meant to be.

“When I got by Ricky there I left too much race track open,” Madden said. “I didn’t get down there to clear those guys and Ricky got back to me and took the lead back. I got behind some lapped cars after that. It was a good race tonight, a great race track and I had fun racing with these guys to put on a heck of a show.”

Kyle Bronson finished fourth, Kyle Larson was fifth and Kyle Hammer claimed sixth. Max Blair, Ryan Gustin, Ross Bailes and Newport’s Jimmy Owens completed the top 10.

Moresburg’s Scott Bloomquist, a winner of 600 dirt Late Model feature races, had engine issues at the start of the race and wasn’t able to take the green flag.

NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Feature Results

  1. Spencer Bayston
  2. Kyle Larson
  3. Logan Schuchart
  4. Rico Abreu
  5. David Gravel
  6. Kerry Madsen
  7. Carson Macedo
  8. Donny Schatz
  9. Anthony Macri
  10. Aaron Reutzel
  11. Jacob Allen
  12. Brock Zearfoss
  13. Brad Sweet
  14. Sheldon Haudenschild
  15. Kraig Kinser
  16. Bill Rose
  17. James McFadden
  18. John Carney
  19. Noah Gass
  20. Jason Sides
  21. Landon Myers
  22. Matt Frisbie
  23. Brian Paulus
  24. Jake Spoon

CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series Feature Results

  1. Ricky Weiss
  2. Jonathan Davenport
  3. Chris Madden
  4. Kyle Bronson
  5. Kyle Larson
  6. Kyle Hammer
  7. Max Blair
  8. Ryan Gustin
  9. Ross Bailes
  10. Jimmy Owens
  11. Boom Briggs
  12. Tanner English
  13. Tyler Bruening
  14. Dennis Erb Jr.
  15. Kyle Strickler
  16. Brent Larson
  17. Tim Vance
  18. Josh Richards
  19. Vic Hill
  20. Gordy Gundaker
  21. Scott Bloomquist

Tough day for Stoner Car Care Racing at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

By
Official Release
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Tagged from behind on lap one, the team fights to the end to take the checkered flag

MONTEREY, Calif. (30 April 2022) – There would be no “California Dreamin’” for the Stoner Car Care Racing fielded by Automatic Racing team on Saturday, as an opening-lap punt from behind and a late mechanical issue made for tough going in the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca 120 for the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge.

Four full course cautions in the two-hour race made for a disjointed event – and a plethora of different strategies up and down pit lane. The Stoner Car Care team had come back from that early incident to get into the top 20. But that progress was lost after a high-speed vibration developed late in the race and slowed the charge to the finish.

Drivers Rob Ecklin, Jr. and Ramin Abdolvahabi returned to WeatherTech Raceway for the first time since 2019. The team worked on balance throughout two practice sessions on Friday, settling into a solid setup that would handle both the tricky corners and what they knew would be an increasingly slippery racetrack – between wind and cars putting tires off course, the sand that accumulates on track makes for slick going.

Abdolvahabi qualified the No. 09 in 25th position, fourth in the Bronze Cup standings, a separate designation for FIA Bronze-ranked drivers. Taking the green flag on a cool and sunny late afternoon, Abdolvahabi set his eyes forward – only to get tagged in the left rear in turn five on lap one by a TCR car. The Floridian gathered himself quickly but returned to the track mired in the TCR field.

With just over an hour and a half remaining, a full course caution bunched the field. As cars ahead pitted, Abdolvahabi climbed as high as 10th before heading to pit lane for four tires, fuel and a change to Ecklin.

“We were all talking about turn one before the race, but turn five ended up being the problem for us,” said Abdolvahabi. “I guess you put it down as a racing incident with someone who wasn’t being very careful – I guess he thought that he could just drive through us. It spun me around and that put me in the back. Not a great way to start a race.”

Unfortunately, another yellow flag flew right after the stop, putting the team a lap down. When the class split brought Ecklin back to the lead lap – albeit at the back of the pack – the team came into pit lane for right side tires and enough fuel to make it to the end, hoping to gain ground. Ecklin had once again cracked the top 20, but then the Aston Martin developed a high-speed vibration. Initially thinking it was build up on the tires, Ecklin toughed it out to the end, taking the checkered flag in 21st position.

“I fought as hard as I could,” said Ecklin. “Initially, I thought the car felt pretty good, fairly competitive, and then I started to feel the rear end kind of fall off. I thought it was tires, but evidently it was wheel studs loosening up – and then they just snapped off. In the last ten laps, it was just a matter of getting around the track. I had no contact out there, the car was fine despite Ramin getting hit. I thought I could race the guys ahead, but I just felt the rear go. I was able to bring it home, but it was a tough way to end the day.”

The Stoner Car Care team continues to support End Alzheimer’s Racing, carrying decals on the car to help their efforts to raise funds and awareness.

About Stoner Car Care
Stoner Car Care produces high-performance car washes, waxes, polishes, and dressings for auto enthusiasts and car care professionals. The Stoner Car Care line-up includes Invisible Glass, America’s #1 Automotive Glass Cleaner, along with many other appearance products. Whether driving, washing or waxing, Performance Matters! Stoner car care proudly formulates all of our product since 1942. www.stonercarcare.com

About Invisible Glass
Automatic Racing sees their way to victory with Invisible Glass, the top-selling automotive glass cleaner in the United States. The Invisible Glass product line includes aerosol and spray bottle cleaner, Invisible Glass with rain repellent for windshields and wiper blades. Find more online at https://www.invisibleglass.com/

About Automatic Racing
Based in Orlando, Automatic Racing is one of the longest-running teams in the paddock, forming in 2001 and competing in all but one of the 11 MICHELIN Pilot Challenge races at Daytona. The team has been developing, preparing and racing the prestigious Aston Martin Vantage GT4 since 2012. Automatic Racing won the 2017 MICHELIN Pilot Challenge title. https://automaticracing.com

About End Alzheimer’s Racing
The Stoner Car Care team continues to support End Alzheimer’s Racing, carrying decals on the car to help their efforts to raise funds and awareness.

End Alzheimer’s Racing began in 2019, as father and son duo Bill and Alex Slupski – both experienced kart racers who also work in sports car racing – chose racing as the “vehicle” for their program to promote awareness and raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Association. Through End Alzheimer’s Racing, they want to be an integral part of the support network for families dealing with Alzheimer’s and other dementias and be part of the cure that ends Alzheimer’s disease. http://act.alz.org/goto/endalzheimersracing

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