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Toyota Racing NCWTS Post-Race Recap — Las Vegas 3.4.22

By
Official Release
-

SMITH WHEELS TUNDRA TRD PRO TO VEGAS VICTORY
Chandler Smith Claims First Tundra TRD PRO Win of 2022

LAS VEGAS (March 4, 2022) – Chandler Smith claimed his first victory of the season and the first for the Tundra TRD PRO in 2022 in Friday night’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Smith’s team owner, Kyle Busch, finished third in the race.

Toyota Racing Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Race 2 of 23 – 134 Laps, 201 Miles

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, CHANDLER SMITH
2nd, Zane Smith*
3rd, KYLE BUSCH
4th, STEWART FRIESEN
5th, Ryan Preece*
8th, MATT CRAFTON
11th, TY MAJESKI
13th, TATE FOGLEMAN
15th, CHASE PURDY
17th, TYLER ANKRUM
19th, TIMMY HILL
21st, LORIS HEZEMENS
22nd, TODD BODINE
23rd, MATT JASKOL
26th, JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK
29th, CHRISTIAN ECKES
32nd, BEN RHODES
*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

CHANDLER SMITH, No. 18 Safelite Auto Glass Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, Kyle Busch Motorsports

Finishing Position: 1st

How were you able to win this race tonight?

“All up there. When you guys tuned into me halfway through the race and asked how you got up there, the Good Lord. He performs miracles all day and he’s given me this talent and this opportunity to drive this truck for Kyle Busch Motorsports and for Safelite. I’m just beyond thankful for everything and all the glory goes to him. Thanks to my guys and my wife, everybody that’s a part of this deal and deals with me everyday.”

Do you feel you’re starting to make your mark on the series?

“I’m just another guy that’s trying to race cars for a living. I’ll do whateve the Good Lord lets me do.”

Why did you split your team owner on the final restart?

“Boss man did to me the restart before so I was like, ‘Alright Kyle, I see how it’s going to be, we’re not going to help each other.’ So I kept that in the back of my head. We were in contention there at the very end and I stuck it three-wide and was able to clear Kyle (Busch) and get around Zane (Smith). It was all being in the right places at the right times.”

How strong was your Toyota Tundra TRD PRO?

“I told Danny Stockman, my crew chief that if I ever got clean air, we were going to check out. We got clean air and started inching away more and more, but then the cautions kept coming and we were also kind of plate racing. There are so many aero games you can play and things you can do to suck up here. You can’t really drive away from people unless they’re really racing hard behind you and there wasn’t too much of that. I’m just happy to be here with Safelite in my Tundra TRD PRO.”

KYLE BUSCH, No. 51 JBL Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, Kyle Busch Motorsports

Finishing Position: 3rd

Was it a good night overall for Kyle Busch Motorsports?
“It was. The 18 (Chandler Smith) was definitely the best truck tonight. They did a great job being able to execute there. We split them on that second-to-last restart and then on that last restart, he split us. Kind of a little payback I guess. Then I was worried that the 38 (Zane Smith) was going to win. Overall, he (Chandler Smith) was able to get clear and get a good run down the backstretch here. Really proud of those guys – Danny (Stockman, crew chief) and Chandler both executed very well tonight. Cool to see Safelite in victory lane, it’s great for them. Our JBL Tundra just wasn’t quite as good as theirs. They could change lanes in the turns and do a lot of cool stuff, I couldn’t do that. Overall, a really good night with first and third. It sucks that John Hunter (Nemechek) got wrecked, but we’ll fire back at them next time.”

BEN RHODES, No. 99 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, ThorSport Racing

Finishing Position: 32nd

What was the sensation you felt in the truck before the wreck that ended your night?

“Pretty stable and no less unstable than everybody’s been all night long, right? A lot of really tight, close racing and you know I can’t speak to what happened with my teammate there. I’m just going to try to stay positive and you know, think that obviously it must have been an accident. I can’t imagine a teammate wrecking another teammate on purpose. It’s a big bummer, everybody back the shop works extremely hard to build these Tundras and this is one of the best Tundras I’ve had in a long time. Two stage wins was phenomenal. I think that’s the first of my career back-to-back. And really, we did everything we needed for points to get the lead for the season. Just a bummer because we were going to have it if we finished top-10 and keep up with all our goals for the season.”

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Chandler Smith claims a dramatic Truck Series victory at Las Vegas

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Ron Olds for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Executing a three-lap dash to the finish and a final lap crossover move on Zane Smith to his advantage, Chandler Smith raced his way to his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory of the season in the Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Friday, March 4.

Smith, a 19-year-old Georgia native who is currently in his second season driving for Kyle Busch Motorsports, led four times for a race-high 32 of 134-scheduled laps as he dueled with Zane Smith prior to the final lap before executing a final crossover move over Smith to muscle away with the victory ahead of Smith and Kyle Busch, thus becoming the second regular season winner two races into the 2022 Truck Series season.

Qualifying earlier on Friday determined the starting lineup and John Hunter Nemechek, winner of the spring Vegas event, started on pole position after posting a pole-winning lap at 178.583 mph at 30.238 seconds. Joining him on the front row was Kyle Busch, Nemechek’s owner who was making his first of five scheduled Truck Series starts of this season and turned in a qualifying lap at 178.000 mph, while teammate Chandler Smith made it a Kyle Busch Motorsports’ 1-2-3 sweep by qualifying in third place.

Prior to the event, Matt Jaskol dropped to the rear of the field due to a driver change along with Jordan Anderson and Blaine Perkins, both of whom due to unapproved adjustments to their respective machines.

When the green flag waved and the race started, Nemechek rocketed with an early advantage ahead of teammate and owner Kyle Busch as the field fanned out to multiple lanes through the first two turns and through the backstretch.

Following the first lap that was led by Nemechek, Kyle Busch moved into the lead. Soon after, Nemechek slipped to fourth place as Zane Smith and Ben Rhodes moved up towards the front. 

Through the first 10 laps of the event, Busch and Zane Smith battled dead even for the lead followed by Rhodes while Nemechek and Chandler Smith were in the top five. 

A lap later, Zane Smith, winner of the season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway in February, overtook Busch to move into the lead as Rhodes also moved into the runner-up spot. 

Five laps later, Zane Smith continued to lead by nearly four-tenths of a second over Rhodes while Chandler Smith was in third place in his No. 18 Safelite Toyota Tundra TRD Pro. Behind, Kyle Busch fell back to fourth place followed by Carson Hocevar and Tanner Gray while John Hunter Nemechek was back in seventh place ahead of Christian Eckes, Matt Crafton and Ryan Preece.

Through the first 20 laps of the event, Zane Smith was leading by nearly a second over Chandler Smith while third-place Kyle Busch trailed by more than a second in his No. 51 JBL Toyota Tundra TRD Pro. Hocevar was in fourth followed by Tanner Gray while Rhodes was back in sixth ahead of Nemechek.

A lap later, the first caution of the event flew when Blaine Perkins spun and made contact with the outside wall on the backstretch. Under caution, some led by Zane Smith pitted while the rest led by Chandler Smith remained on the track. Following the pit stops, Todd Bodine, a two-time Truck Series champion who was making his first NASCAR national touring series start since 2017, was penalized for speeding on pit road. In addition, Stewart Friesen was penalized for an uncontrolled tire violation.

Just as the field restarted under green on Lap 27, the caution immediately returned when Zane Smith made contact with Colby Howard in Turn 1, which sent Howard’s No. 91 Gates Hydraulics Chevrolet Silverado RST bouncing off of Crafton’s No. 88 Menards Toyota Tundra TRD Pro as he then spun in Turn 1 while Chase Purdy and Hailie Deegan also sustained damage while trying to avoid Howard. At the moment of caution, Rhodes had managed to overtake Chandler Smith for the lead. Then, NASCAR ruled that the first stage would conclude under caution. As the green and white checkered flag flew to conclude the first stage on Lap 30, Rhodes claimed his first stage victory of the season followed by Chandler Smith, Tanner Gray, rookie Jack Wood, Carson Hocevar, Matt Crafton, Kyle Busch, Nemechek, Ty Majeski and Zane Smith.

Under the stage break, some led by Rhodes pitted while the rest led by Hocevar and Gray remained on the track.

The second stage started on Lap 37 as Gray and Hocevar occupied the front row. At the start and as the field fanned out, Hocevar passed Gray to take the lead while Nemechek, Kyle Busch, Majeski and Eckes battled for third place. Then in Turn 3, Majeski, Eckes and Nemechek made contact, but all three competitors managed to keep their trucks running straight as Nemechek moved up to third followed by Majeksi, Kyle Busch and Eckes while Hocevar continued to lead, 

By Lap 40, Hocevar was leading by less than three-tenths of a second over Gray as Kyle Busch challenged Gray for the runner-up spot. 

Five laps later, Hocevar continued to retain a narrow advantage over Kyle Busch while Nemechek was in third. Behind, Gray was in fourth ahead of Ty Majeski and Rhodes.

During the following laps, however, Kyle Busch reassumed the lead. By Lap 50, Busch was leading by half a second over teammate Nemechek while Hocevar was back in third place. Gray and Majeski were in the top five followed by Rhodes, Eckes, Chandler Smith, Stewart Friesen and Derek Kraus.

Five laps later, the caution flew when Bodine got loose and spun his No. 62 Camping World Toyota Tundra TRD Pro in Turn 4. Under caution, some led by Busch pitted while the rest led by Gray remained on the track.

With the field restarting for a one-lap dash to the conclusion of the second stage, Rhodes managed to overtake Gray for the top spot and fend off the field to claim the second stage victory on Lap 60 and sweep the stages. Busch settled in second place followed by Majeski, Nemechek, Gray, Chandler Smith, Crafton, Eckes, Friesen and Derek Kraus.

Under the stage break, some led by Rhodes pitted while the rest led by Kyle Busch remained on the track.

With 68 laps remaining, the final stage started as Kyle Busch Motorsports’ competitors occupied the top-three spots. At the start, Busch received a push from teammate Nemechek to retain the lead as he brought Nemechek’s No. 4 Mobil 1 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro with him. Behind, Zane Smith overtook Hocevar to move into fourth place as Stewart Friesen and Ryan Preece joined the party.

Four laps later, Nemechek ignited a side-by-side battle against owner Kyle Busch for the lead. While teammates Nemechek and Busch battled for the lead, Friesen and Zane Smith started to challenge Chandler Smith for third place.

A few laps later, the caution returned for an incident involving Chase Purdy and Jack Wood. At the moment of caution, Nemechek emerged with the lead ahead of his two KBM teammates. Under caution, Crafton and Spencer Boyd pitted while the rest led by Nemechek remained on the track.

With 57 laps remaining, the race restarted under green. At the start, Nemechek received a push from teammate Chandler Smith to retain the lead. Behind, Zane Smith moved up to third while Kyle Busch was left in a battle with Hocevar for fourth.

Seven laps later, Nemechek was leading by three-tenths of a second over teammate Chandler Smith while bossman Kyle Busch trailed by seven-tenths of a second. Zane Smith was in fourth followed by Derek Kraus while Friesen, Preece, Eckes, Rhodes and Hocevar were in the top 10. Grant Enfinger was in 11th followed by Gray, Tyler Antrum, Matt DiBenedetto and Majeski while Crafton was mired back in 23rd. In between Matt Mills and Kaz Grala. Meanwhile, Todd Bodine was in 26th.

With 45 laps remaining, the caution returned when Bodine spun in Turn 4 and across pit road as his rear deck lid came loose despite making significant contact with any obstacles.

Under caution, the leaders except for Timmy Hill peeled to pit road and Nemechek retained the lead followed by teammates Busch and Chandler Smith. Following the pit stops, Zane Smith was penalized for speeding on pit road. In addition, Hill dropped to the rear of the field and yielded the lead to the KBM competitors.

Down to the final 40 laps of the event, the race restarted under green. At the start, teammates Nemechek and Chandler Smith battled dead even for the lead through the first two turns before Smith peaked ahead through the backstretch. As Smith took the lead, Eckes challenged Nemechek for the runner-up spot while Rhodes, Kyle Busch, Hocevar and Nemechek battled.

Two laps later, the caution returned when Hocevar, who was overtaken by Rhodes and Busch in Turn 3, got loose and was hit by Preece’s No. 17 United Rentals Ford F-150 before spinning his No. 42 Premier Security Solutions Chevrolet Silverado RST through the frontstretch grass.

Then as the field restarted with 32 laps remaining, the caution returned during the following lap when Ty Majeski got loose entering Turn 4 and turned his teammate Ben Rhodes, sending Rhodes’ No. 99 ThorSport Racing Toyota Tundra TRD Pro hard into the outside wall and out of the race as his truck briefly came off the ground. 

Down to the final 23 laps of the event, the race restarted under green as teammates Chandler Smith and Kyle Busch occupied the front row. At the start, Smith rocketed ahead with the lead as Eckes made his way into second place ahead of Busch. 

Three laps remaining, Chandler Smith was leading by a narrow margin over teammate Busch while Eckes, Grant Enfinger and Nemechek were in the top five. By then, Carson Hocevar was posted for changing lanes prior to the restart.

Then with 16 laps remaining, Kris Wright drew the caution when he spun his No. 44 iHeartRadio Chevrolet Silverado RST in Turn 2. 

Five laps later, the race resumed to green flag competition as teammates Chandler Smith and Eckes occupied the front row once again. At the start, Eckes received a strong push from Preece to take the lead as Kyle Busch made a move to the outside lane to rocket pass teammate Smith, who was falling out of the lead pack. Shortly after, Busch overtook Preece for the runner-up spot as he pursued Eckes for the lead.

Then with nine laps remaining, Eckes, who was challenged by Busch for the lead, spun after making contact with Busch, which sent Eckes’ No, 98 Curb Records Toyota Tundra TRD Pro sliding below the banking and pounding the infield wall drivers’ side before coming back across the track with significant damage despite being dodged by the field. While Busch proceeded with the lead, Eckes’ strong run concluded in the garage.

Down to the final three laps of the event, the field restarted under green. At the start, Zane Smith emerged with the top spot following a strong start over Kyle Busch as the field fanned out entering the backstretch. Behind, Preece and Chandler Smith placed Kyle Busch in a three-wide situation as Smith moved into second place followed by Busch while Preece slipped in Turn 3.

During the following lap, Zane Smith continued to lead ahead of a hard-charging Chandler Smith while Kyle Busch remained in third. Then through the backstretch, Derek Kraus, who got loose during the initial lap, made contact with Grant Enfinger, which sent Kraus’ No. 19 NAPA Chevrolet Silverado RST bouncing off of Nemechek’s No. 4 Toyota before slipping sideways below the banking. In spite of the incident, Kraus continued as the race proceeded under green. 

Back at the front, Chandler Smith drew himself alongside Zane Smith’s No. 38 Michael Roberts Construction Ford F-150 through Turns 3 and 4 while Kyle Busch lurked behind the two leaders.

When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Chandler Smith and Zane Smith dueled for the lead as Chandler peaked ahead on the outside lane. Then in Turn 1, Chandler Smith remained on the outside lane in front of teammate Kyle Busch while Zane Smith tried to clear the two Kyle Busch Motorsports competitors from the bottom lane entering Turn 2. Chandler Smith, however, pulled a crossover move against Zane Smith’s slide job process, which gave Chandler’s No. 18 Toyota the inside lane as he rocketed back to the lead entering Turn 3. As Zane Smith was unable to mount another challenge for the lead, Chandler Smith was able to able to pull away and cross the finish line in first place by less than three-tenths of a second over Zane Smith followed by the field.

As the field took the checkered flag, Grant Enfinger crossed the finish line on fire and with damage to his No. 23 Champion Chevrolet Silverado RST after making contact with the outside wall in Turn 3. Behind, Nemechek, who was losing ground following the contact with Kraus, was involved in a vicious accident after spinning before being t-boned by Jordan Anderson in Turn 3. Also involved was Spencer Boyd, who dislocated his shoulder and announced plans to check in to a hospital for get x-rays.

With the victory, Chandler Smith notched his third Camping World Truck Series career win in his 40th series start. He also recorded the first victory of the season for Kyle Busch Motorsports and the first NASCAR win for the Toyota Tundra TRD Pro stock car.

“When you guys tune into me halfway through the race, ‘how did he get up there?”’ Smith, who motioned towards the sky, said on FS1. “It’s the good Lord, man. He performs miracles all day. He’s given me this talent, this opportunity to drive this truck for Kyle Busch Motorsports and for [sponsor] Safelite. I’m just beyond thankful for this whole opportunity. All the glory goes to Him, all my guys, my wife, everybody’s that’s a part of this deal that deals with me, honestly, every single day. I’m just super thankful right now. Man, I’m just another guy that’s just trying to race cars for a living. I’ll do whatever the good Lord lets me do.”

Zane Smith, who was trying to claim back-to-back victories after winning the season-opening event at Daytona, settled in second place followed by Kyle Busch, who led 31 of 134-scheduled laps.

“[Chandler Smith’s truck] was, definitely, the best truck tonight,” Busch said. “They did a great job being able to execute there. We split him on that second-to-last restart and there on that last restart, he split us. Kind of a little payback, I guess, but then I was worried that [Zane Smith] was gonna win. Overall, [Chandler Smith] was able to get a good run and get cleared down the backstretch here. Really proud of those guys. [Crew chief] Danny [Stockman Jr.] and Chandler both just executed very well tonight. Cool to see [sponsor] Safelite in Victory Lane with them. Our JBL Tundra was just not quite as good as theirs…Overall, a really good night. First and third.”

Following the event, however, Zane Smith was disqualified and stripped of his runner-up result when his truck failed post-race inspection because his lug nuts did not conform to the rule book.

With Busch promoted to second place behind teammate Chandler Smith, Friesen was credited with third place followed by Ryan Preece and Tanner Gray. Matt DiBenedetto, Matt Crafton, Bret Holmes, Austin Wayne Self and Ty Majeski finished in the top 10. The seventh-place result for Crafton occurred in his 500th Truck Series consecutive career start.

Dean Thompson was the highest-finishing rookie competitor in 11th behind Ty Majeski, Todd Bodine finished 21st, Enfinger finished 23rd and Nemechek managed to finish 25th on the lead lap.

There were 21 lead changes for 10 different leaders. The race featured 10 cautions for 52 laps.

Following his victory, Chandler Smith leads the regular-season standings by five points over Tanner Gray, 15 over Ty Majeski, 17 over Ben Rhodes and 22 over Stewart Friesen.

Results.

1. Chandler Smith, 32 laps led

2. Kyle Busch, 31 laps led

3. Stewart Friesen

4. Ryan Preece, three laps led

5. Tanner Gray, seven laps led

6. Matt DiBenedetto

7. Matt Crafton

8. Bret Holmes

9. Austin Wayne Self

10. Ty Majeski

11. Dean Thompson

12. Tate Fogleman

13. Carson Hocevar, nine laps led

14. Chase Purdy

15. Matt Mills

16. Tyler Ankrum

17. Kris Wright

18. Timmy Hill

19. Lawless Alan

20. Loris Hezemans

21. Todd Bodine

22. Matt Jaskol

23. Grant Enfinger

24. Derek Kraus

25. John Hunter Nemechek, 23 laps led

26. Jordan Anderson – OUT, Accident

27. Spencer Boyd – OUT, Accident

28. Christian Eckes – OUT, Accident, four laps led

29. Thad Moffitt, 20 laps down

30. Kaz Grala – OUT, Engine

31. Ben Rhodes – OUT, Accident, nine laps led, Stage 1 & 2 winner

32. Jack Wood – OUT, Accident

33. Hailie Deegan – OUT, Accident

34. Colby Howard – OUT, Accident

35. Blaine Perkins – OUT, Dvp

36. Zane Smith – Disqualified, 15 laps led

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series competitors and teams will return to action at the reconfigured Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 19 at 2:30 p.m. ET on FS1.

CHEVY NCS AT LAS VEGAS: Erik Jones Press Conference Transcript

By
Official Release
-

NASCAR CUP SERIES
LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
PENNZOIL 400
TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
MARCH 4, 2022

ERIK JONES, NO. 43 FOCUSfactor CAMARO ZL1, met with the media in advance of the NASCAR Cup Series weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Press Conference Transcript:

ERIK, WE SAW YOU VISITED AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THIS WEEK FOR READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY. TELL US ABOUT THAT EXPERIENCE.

“It was really great. That was a couple of days ago we went out there and got to do that in person. Been doing a lot with reading initiatives, obviously with the foundation. It’s been tough the last couple of years to do things in person and indoors, so it was nice to be able to get to a school in person with kids and read to the class. Then obviously get to answer tons of questions from them on all different subjects. Really enjoy that and hopefully get to do some more of that. Not only at the schools, but at tracks and obviously all the places we go through a season. It was a lot of fun.”

ERIK, I KNOW ITS ONLY TWO RACES BUT HOW HAS THE START OF THIS SEASON AS FAR AS HOW COMPETITIVE YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE FIRST TWO RACES DONE FOR YOUR PSYCHI AND WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT HOW YOUR TEAM IS SITUATED IN TERMS OF THE NEXT GEN CAR?

“Well, it’s been good. Obviously, your confidence goes up week to week. I think in racing it is a bigger thing than people realize. It’s easy to look at a sport like golf and think when someone gets on a hot streak it is easy to keep it going. Honestly, racing is very similar and when you get kind of rolling and it’s not just me, it’s the team, it’s Dave (Elenz, crew chief), it’s everybody. When they get rolling on that confident hot streak, it’s easier to keep that momentum going. The Next Gen car I think has been great to us so far you know two races in. Hopefully just continue it going this weekend. This is a lot different track than Fontana. It’s easy to say that and it will be a totally different challenge for a racecar than what fought last week and balance last week. It’ll be a learning process, but you know the speed for sure has been there at Daytona, Fontana. Hopefully it continues this weekend. We are in a good spot in points right now and want to keep that going. Your expectations change. Obviously, being in contention to win last week definitely puts our mindset towards a win at this point. Hopefully we can continue to chase that.”

I THINK SOME PEOPLE SAY THE NEW CAR CREATES PARODY AND THAT IS WHAT’S ALLOWED YOU TO IMPROVE SPOTS, BUT I’M CURIOUS HOW MUCH IS IT NEW CAR AND HOW MUCH IS IT NEW CREW CHIEF AND NEW TEAM?

“Well, it’s a combo. It is hard to put a percentage on each one. I think it’s a combination of things, right. The new car and some of the tendencies of the new car, some strong suits I think that Dave (Elenz) has had in the Xfinity Series and already learned a little bit about at that level and has brought that over. Obviously with the merger with GMS, it really lets us kind of develop our own package right here. You know when I came to RPM last season, that car was in a development freeze, and it was what it was. There’s nothing left to gain on it. We couldn’t do anything to make it any better or any different than what it was. You know, that’s tough as a driver. Kind of locked into what you got and every driver wants something different. So, I kind of had to adapt and figure that out. With the Next Gen car, I think it’s opened up so many doors for us. Just having the same parts and pieces, we just have to figure out to take that wheel that they have given us and make it a little bit rounder and for us I think Dave’s (Elenz) done good job with that and that’s been a focus of not just him but everybody on the team. To answer your question, it’s bits and pieces of everything. It’s not just the new car. It’s not just the new crew chief. It’s everything kind of bundling all in one.”

A LOT OF TIMES DRIVERS SAY IF I HAD WHAT THAT GUY HAD I COULD DO JUST AS GOOD AS HE IS. DO YOU FEEL NOW THAT YOU ARE IN THAT BOX THAT’S CLOSE ENOUGH TO GO LIKE OK I HAVE WHAT THEY HAVE, NOW I REALLY DO GET TO SHOW THEM WHAT I GOT AND I CAN BE AS COMPETITIVE AS THEY ARE?

“For sure, right now. I think it’s so early on with this car, we don’t totally know everything that is even right and wrong with it. What’s the right things to adjust on and make it faster, make it better. What’s the car want? We have ideas of it, but we don’t truly know what’s going to be better and what’s going to be worse for this car right now. I think if the rules are continue being enforced the way they are right now with the parts and the pieces, I think that parody will last a while. I think eventually guys are going to start figuring out what makes these cars better, what makes them tick. Obviously, the big teams will have some sort of advantage there, but for sure right now we are on a good track to have you know at least somewhat of a leg up at this point in this season. It’s closed that gap. You know I would say that gap is 90 percent closer to what it was the last few years.”

HOW ABOUT THOUGH DRIVER TO DRIVER? DO YOU FEEL NOW LIKE OK, I’VE ALWAYS FELT LIKE I WAS AS GOOD AS THEY ARE AND NOW, I HAVE A CHANCE TO PROVE IT?

“Yeah, I think so. It’s adapting at this point, right? You know the car’s quite a bit different than what last years were. Driver to driver, you know I look at a lot of guys in the series and I think if you put most of the guys in a race winning car situation, they would have an opportunity to do it. I think the difference maker comes down to the finesse parts of it. You know, restarts, passing, traffic. I’ve seen a lot of guys take fast cars and when they are out front it’s fine, but as soon as they get back in the field they can’t come through. There’s a lot of different parts and pieces to being a winning racecar driver in the Cup Series and it’s by far the hardest thing that I’ve ever done. But right now, I think it’s definitely at a point where driver is able to make a bigger difference than in years past.”

ERIK, I WAS JUST CURIOUS WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE READING AND THE YOUNG KIDS. WHY IS THAT YOUR PASSION, WHY IS THAT SOMETHING YOU DO?

“I think for me, it starts from when I was pretty young kid. You know, my parents started reading to me when I was probably before I could comprehend what they were even saying to me. Then it would continue. It was every night when I was a kid, until I started reading on my own. My mom or dad would sit and read books to me, books I was interested in and wanted to read. Obviously when I started reading on my own, I could remember sitting in bed at night, had my own light, I would stay up. Instead of staying up late to watch TV, I was staying up late reading books. For me, I just really enjoyed it. I enjoyed learning and I wasn’t always the greatest student in school, but I wanted to learn thing that I wanted to learn. With books for me, that gave me the opportunity I could read and learn about any subject that I wanted to. That’s continued now. Anytime I want to go and figure something out or be more in tune with a subject, I’ll pick up a book and read and figure it out. I think that translates to childhood, right? That’s an early jumpstart, something that anybody, any family can do is reading. That gives that kid such an early advantage in life. If you’re a good reader and you can comprehend early and figure out how to take that information out of a book and absorb it that’s a huge advantage for any kid. So that’s what really it means to me and why it’s something that I really push for.
Team Chevy high-resolution racing photos are available for editorial use.

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.

Ford Performance NASCAR: Riley Herbst Las Vegas Media Availability

By
Official Release
-

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Las Vegas Motor Speedway | Alsco 300
Friday, March 4, 2022

Riley Herbst, driver of the No. 98 Circa Sports Ford Mustang, is racing in front of his hometown fans this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He came into the media center earlier today to talk about his hopes for getting to victory lane tomorrow afternoon.

RILEY HERBST, No. 98 Circa Sports Ford Mustang – DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE A HOME TRACK ADVANTAGE THIS WEEKEND? “I don’t think so. The last two times we’ve been here in the 98 it hasn’t been too kind to us, so we just kind of treat it as another racetrack this weekend and hopefully the good luck from being home kind of pays off later into the race and hopefully we can be there at the end.”

DID YOU SEE THE MURAL ON THE WAY IN? “Yeah, it’s pretty cool. That’s actually a local graffiti artist that paints murals all over the town, so it’s pretty cool to have a 98 circa Ford Mustang on the side of a convenience store, which we get to go take a few photos with later today, but he did a really good job.”

HAVING TO USE THE SAME CAR FROM LAST WEEK IS THAT WEIRD THING AT ALL AND IS IT GOING TO CHANGE THE DYNAMIC AT ALL? “I think it was a cool initiative. I think it was difficult on which tracks they chose – speaking about NASCAR – just because at Fontana nobody has been on the track in two years so it was really, really dirty. It destroyed a lot of the underneath of the car – crush panels and things of that nature – so 600 miles is quite a bit on components and engines and transmissions and rear end housings and things of that nature, so hopefully everything stays together for everybody who is in the same car because I know quite a few went to backups, but I think it definitely helps save the team money when it comes to the money standpoint, but definitely hard on equipment.”

A BETTER START TO THE SEASON THIS YEAR THAN LAST. HOW WOULD YOU ASSESS YOUR TEAM NOW? “Yeah, last year we had two DNFs to start the season and this year we had two top 10s to start the season, so I think that’s huge, just speaking on the fact of how deep the Xfinity competition field is this year. I really don’t want to be chasing points into the last summer like we were last year. Hopefully, we can get a win this weekend or any weekend so we don’t have to chase any points, but that’s huge to start the year off with two top 10s rather than two DNFs – way better position this year than last.”

YOU HAVE LOCAL SPONSORS ON THE CAR. HAVE THINGS WITH COVID GOING AWAY HELPED WITH SPONSORSHIP? “I would say a little bit. It’s cool to have Derek Stevens and the local sponsorship on a few race cars around here throughout the garage. It’s cool to have circa, but last year we had South Point on the car, so I wouldn’t say COVID played too much into that, but, like I said, I’m just looking forward to giving Circa a good run this weekend.”

SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt | Joe Graf Jr. Las Vegas March Event Preview

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SS Greenlight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt | NASCAR Xfinity Series
Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway | Alsco Uniforms 300

Fast Facts
No. 07 SS GreenLight Racing Team:
Driver: Joe Graf Jr. (@JoeGrafJr)
Primary Partner(s): Bucked Up LFG Burn
Manufacturer: Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Joe Williams
Spotter: TJ Bell

2022 Driver Points Position:19th | 2022 Owner Points Position: Seventh

Engine: Roush Yates Engines (RYE)

Notes of Interest:

Full of Energy: Bucked Up Energy Drink and its sister products will continue their role as the primary partner of Graf’s No. 07 Ford Mustang this weekend. Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway is the third race of 2022 but is the 34th race overall in a multi-year, multi-race deal with the former ARCA Menards Series winner.

This weekend, Bucked Up will promote its new Bucked Up LFG Burn product.

LFG Burn is a revolutionary pre-workout specifically designed to optimize fat loss. Designed to complement your hard work, LFG acts as both a pre-workout and a fat-burning supplement.

This science-based, non-proprietary formula supplies breakthrough ingredients to help you achieve your noble quest towards fat loss.
New Year, But New Look: In January, SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt (SSGLRwJL) announced the organization would switch from Chevrolet to Ford and have a technical alliance with Stewart-Haas Racing.

SHR will supply the organization with race cars while Roush Yates Engines will provide the legendary Ford horsepower.

In addition to providing race cars to SSGLRwJL, SHR will also provide technical support for the entire 33-race season.

Additionally, Graf will have NASCAR Cup Series and Stewart-Haas Racing drivers Cole Custer and Chase Briscoe as teammates for select events throughout the 2022 season.

Don’t Forget The New Partner Too: SS GreenLight Racing has added Jeff Lefcourt as a new co-owner of the Mooresville, N.C.-based team, as well as director of business development for the organization.

Lefcourt, a native of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. joins SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt (SSGLRwJL) with a long history of racing endeavors including owning Bethel (N.Y.) Motor Speedway in upstate New York, a current-NASCAR sanctioned race track.

The noted philanthropist, entrepreneur and real estate developer has deep ties to grassroots racing and was instrumental in helping secure the Stewart-Haas Racing alliance with SSGLRwJL in 2022.

Congratulations: SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt invades Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway as the most recent winner in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Last weekend at Auto Club (Calif.) Speedway, Graf’s teammate Cole Custer qualified second, led 80 laps and delivered the organization their first career Xfinity Series victory.

The triumph was also the first career Xfinity Series win for crew chief Joe Williams.

Surprise Awaits: Joe Graf Jr., SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt and Bucked Up Energy Drink will showcase for the first time in NASCAR one of their original energy drink flavors next weekend at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway for the United Rentals 200, the fourth race of the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series season.

Bucked Up started in 2013 when twin brothers Ryan and Jeff Gardner started marketing a product called Deer Antler Spray. After selling thousands of bottles to GNCs nationwide, the company morphed into what is now Bucked Up, a full-fledged vitamins and supplements manufacturer.

The company has gone from its humble beginnings to becoming the No. 1 best-selling pre-workout brand that’s available in over 10,000 stores worldwide.

Joe Graf Jr. Xfinity Series Las Vegas Motor Speedway Starts: Joe Graf Jr. will make his fifth career start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Saturday afternoon’s race.

In his previous four efforts, Graf has delivered a track-best of 18th earned in March 2021’s Alsco Uniforms 300 after starting 26th.

Joe Graf Jr. Xfinity Series Speedway Nuggets: At tracks greater than 1.0-mile in size, Graf has competed in 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races with an average starting position of 26.3 and an average result of 25.0.

Auto Club (Calif.) Speedway | Production Alliance Group 300 Race Recap: In the most recent NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Auto Club Speedway, Graf jumped through a series of obstacles to deliver a strong lead-lap 15th place finish in the second race of the season.

The effort vaulted Graf to 19th in the Xfinity Series championship standings and delivered a career-best finish for him at the 2.0-mile track.

Sneaker Mania: Along with the adrenaline of the Motorsports competition, Joe Graf Jr. also has a vogue for hype sneakers. In his current collection, he owns and wears at least 90 limited edition sneakers – and his collection continues to grow every month.

The current estimated value of his collection tops $100,000.

From the Pit Box: Industry veteran Joe Williams is Joe Graf Jr.’s crew chief.

He will crew chief his 68th NASCAR Xfinity Series race as crew chief on Saturday night and his fifth at the 1.5-mile speedway.

In his previous 67 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, he has collected one win (Auto Club Speedway | February 2022), five top-five and 16 top-10 finishes.

Hello From The Other Side: Graf Jr. has a teammate at SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt. Veteran David Starr will drive the No. 08 TicketSmarter Ford Mustang on Saturday for his first start of the 2022 season.

Starr is set to make his 235th career NASCAR Xfinity Series start and 11th at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. His best Xfinity track finish occurred in the 2015 Boyd Gaming 300, where he finished 17th after starting 31st for TriStar Motorsports.

Follow on Social Media: For more on Joe Graf Jr. visit JoeGrafRacing.com, like him on Facebook (Joe Graf Jr.), follow him on Twitter (@JoeGrafJr) and Instagram (@joegrafjr).

For more on SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt, please visit SSGreenLight.com, like them on Facebook (SS GreenLight Racing) and follow them on Twitter (@SSGLR0708).

Joe Graf Jr. Pre-Race Quotes:

On Las Vegas Motor Speedway: “I am really looking forward to going back to Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend. I learned a lot last year and I feel like I can take what I learned and apply it to this weekend and hopefully contend for a top-10 finish in our No. 07 Bucked Up LFG Burn Ford Mustang.”

On Jeff Lefcourt Partnership With SS GreenLight Racing: “Jeff is going to be a fantastic co car-owner at SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt. He has done amazing things for a lot of different drivers on several different spectrums for many, many years.

“This year, he’s a part of our SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt team looking to continue to make a difference but on a much larger scale. The partnership has already reaped benefits with the win at Auto Club Speedway.

“He and Bobby (Dotter) have big plans for the future and I’m just glad to be a small part of it.”

On 2022 Season Outlook: “We have made a lot of changes during the offseason. From switching manufacturers to bringing in new personnel, it’s all for the better. Honestly, I would be disappointed if we weren’t able to showcase ourselves as a strong capable team throughout the season.

“We’ve already shown what our SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt team can do when everything goes our way. The Auto Club win for Cole Custer was huge for our team and we definitely want to build on that in the weeks and months ahead.”

“Consistent top-10 finishes for myself should not be out of the question and hopefully by Phoenix in November, we will be racing near the front on a consistent basis.”

Race Information:

The Alsco Uniforms 300 (200 laps | 300 miles) is the third of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2022 schedule. Practice begins on Fri., Mar. 4 from 3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Qualifying follows at 4:00 p.m. The 38-car field will take the green flag on Sat., Mar. 5 shortly after 1:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m. ET) with live coverage on FOX Sports 1, the Performance Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90.

About SS Green Light Racing with Jeff Lefcourt:

As one of the most tenured teams in all of NASCAR, SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt led by team owner and former driver Bobby Dotter and new partner Jeff Lefcourt has been a mainstay entry in the sport fielding entries in either the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series or Xfinity Series competition since 2001.

SS GreenLight Racing with Jeff Lefcourt will continue with a two-car program in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2022.

Jordan Anderson Racing and Bommarito Autosport NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race Overview- Las Vegas Motor Speedway

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Official Release
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Jordan Anderson Racing and Bommarito Autosport NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race Overview- Las Vegas Motor Speedway; March 4, 2022

Track: Las Vegas Motor Speedway– Oval (1.5-Miles)
Race: Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200; 134 Laps –30/30/74; 201 Miles
Date/Broadcast: Friday; March 4, 2022 9:00 PM ET
TV: Fox Sports 1 (FS1), and the FOX Sports App
Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN)- Check Local Listings for affiliate, and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90
Social Media: Jordan Anderson Racing and Bommarito Autosport; Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Jordan Anderson – No. 3 Dometic Outdoor
Chevrolet Silverado Preview- Las Vegas Motor Speedway

News and Notes:

– Starting Position; Qualifying for the Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200 will be held Friday afternoon at 5:00 PM ET to set the 36-truck starting field for the evening’s 134-lap race. Qualifying for the Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200 will be determined by the fastest competitor in single-truck single-lap qualifying where the fastest competitor will be determined the race’s pole sitter. The lineup up will then be set by the fastest 31 competitors on speed and five provisional starters.

– Las Vegas Motor Speedway Stats; Friday night’s Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200 will mark Anderson’s tenth NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) start at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. In nine previous starts Anderson holds an average finish of 20.88 with a career best of 14th coming in 2019.

Featured Partners

  • Dometic Outdoor; Dometic is a global market leader in the mobile living industry. Millions of people around the world use Dometic products in outdoor, marine, residential, and professional applications. Our motivation is to create products with outstanding design and reliability, to support our mission to make the outdoors more accessible and enjoyable for all. With a strong brand portfolio, Dometic operates in the Americas, EMEA and Asia Pacific – a unique global market reach with presence in over 100 countries. Dometic employs approximately 9,000 people worldwide, had net sales of SEK 21.5 billion (USD 2.5 billion) in 2021, and is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden.

Go to www.Dometic.com to learn more. Follow Dometic on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

  • Bommarito Automotive Group; A primary supporter of Jordan Anderson Racing, Bommarito Automotive Group is celebrating 50 years in the St. Louis marketplace, the Bommarito Automotive Group currently operates 20 automotive franchises throughout every St. Louis neighborhood led by president John Bommarito and the over 900 dedicated team members. Bommarito is recognized by the St. Louis Business Journal as Missouri’s No. 1 selling automotive group and is currently ranked 52nd in the nation. What once started as a vision to have one Bommarito vehicle in every driveway, is today a reality thanks to the ‘Where Price Sells Cars” mission.

For more information on the Bommarito Automotive Group, visit them online at Bommarito.com, and follow their social channels on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

– Chassis; JAR will unload Chassis No. 004 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway for Anderson to compete with in the Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200. Chassis No. 004 had last competed during the 2020 season when the NCWTS would race at the Homestead-Miami Speedway during NASCAR’s return to racing from the COVID-19 stoppage. In the Baptist Health 200 Anderson would encounter a tire issue late in the race that would result in a 31st place finish.

About Jordan Anderson Racing and Bommarito Autosport

Jordan Anderson Racing and Bommarito Autosport is a NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) team, owned by owner/driver Jordan Anderson and Bommarito Automotive Group President, John Bommarito. Established in 2018, JAR has competed full-time in the last four NCWTS seasons claiming back-to-back runner-up finishes in the 2020 & 2021 season opening NextEra 250 at Daytona International Speedway. In its debut season the No. 31 NXS Chevrolet Camaro SS drove to 5 Top-Five finishes and 6 Top-Ten finishes in the team’s debut season. In 2022 JAR fields a full-time entry in the NXS Series; the No. 31 Chevrolet Camaro SS for driver Myatt Snider. JAR also fields the No. 3 Chevrolet Silverado for select drivers in the NCWTS.

Hardpoint Expands To Michelin Pilot Challenge With Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport with Nick Galante and Sean McAlister

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Set for Sebring Debut to Run Full 2022 Season, Race Effort Will Include Fund Raising for Racing to End Alzheimer’s Charity

DANVILLE, Virginia (March 4, 2022) – Fresh off a top-10 finish in the Rolex 24 At Daytona in a Porsche 911 GT3 R and one year removed from a Pro-Am Championship in Porsche Carrera Cup North America, Hardpoint is adding an IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Grand Sport (GS) Porsche to the team’s roster for the 2022 season. Nick Galante and Sean McAlister will pilot the No. 22 Racing to End Alzheimer’s Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport for the remainder of the 10 race season.

It’s a return to the championship for Hardpoint, who competed there with drivers Rob Ferriol and Spencer Pumpelly for part of the 2020 season before focusing the team’s efforts on the IMSA WeatherTech Championship. In 2022, the effort will feature sportscar racing veteran Galante, a two-time series champion in 2016 and 2018 in what was then the ST class, and McAlister, who was the 2019 Hurley Haywood scholarship winner for his success in single-make Porsche championships.

In a change from Hardpoint’s traditional red, black and white team liveries, Galante and McAlister will carry the purple representing Alzheimer’s Awareness. Racing to End Alzheimer’s was started by motorsports fan and Legistics CEO Philip Frengs and gives 100 percent of donations made at and away from the track to Alzheimer’s-related causes. The organization raises awareness and helps fund cutting-edge research, treatment, and support services that will end the scourge of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia once and for all – specifically with donations to the Nantz National Alzheimer Center at Houston Methodist Hospital and the UCLA Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Program. This is the sixth season for the Racing to End Alzheimer’s program, and the first with Hardpoint.

Galante joins Hardpoint as an eight-time race winner in Michelin Pilot Challenge competition. A golf caddy at Pebble Beach and a driving instructor away from the race track, Galante’s 2016 title came in a Porsche Cayman.

“I am extremely excited to have this opportunity to finally drive with Team Hardpoint,” Galante said. “Watching this team build itself into a top-level team has been tough to race against over the years, and now I can relax a little bit knowing I don’t have to compete against them. I can now work harder than ever to help make this team as strong as possible. I am looking forward to teaming up with Sean McAlister as a co-driver this season. He has been doing some great things in Porsche Carrera Cup, and the new 2022 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport is looking to be one of the top GT4 cars this season. I am excited to be back with the Porsche brand as we had some success the last time we were in one.”

McAlister’s Michelin Pilot Challenge debut is his first season with multiple makes following six seasons in Porsche championships. Two runner-up finishes in Porsche’s Trophy West series in a Cayman led to a 2018 class championship in a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup and three seasons in Porsche GT3 Cup and Carrera Cup North America competition, including a third-place finish in 2020.

“I’m incredibly excited to say that I will be racing with Hardpoint this year, making my debut in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge series,” McAlister said. “Last year I was racing against Hardpoint in Porsche Carrera Cup North America and was very impressed with the performance they brought to every event. The move from racing in single-make series the past six years to racing in a multi-make series is very new to me, but I’m eager to take on that challenge. Being with Porsche for the seventh year in a row will give me a ton of comfort throughout the entirety of the season. I can’t wait to get the series started and I am really looking forward to running with my teammate Nick Galante and being on board with Phil Frengs and Racing to End Alzheimer’s.”

Hardpoint’s Pilot Challenge program is housed in the same VIRginia International Raceway-based shop as the No. 99 GridRival Porsche 911 GT3 R piloted by Ferriol and Katherine Legge. Glenn Long will serve in the Team Manager role, with Hardpoint’s Charles Hamm as the team’s Technical Director.

“This program cuts to the core of our values here at Hardpoint,” Ferriol said. “We have a competitive Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport with drivers in Nick and Sean that have proven they can win races and compete for championships. To top it off, we’re able to provide value to a cause like Racing to End Alzheimer’s, which includes fan interaction by carrying the names of those touched by this disease. We’re looking forward to this expansion of our program and can’t wait to get started at Sebring.”

More information on the Racing To End Alzheimer’s program can be found at r2endalz.org. Donations are accepted in any amount, but a donation of $250 allows supporters to see the name and hometown of a person effected by Alzheimer’s on the livery of the No. 22 Porsche for the remainder of the season.

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.

Petty GMS Event Preview: Las Vegas Motor Speedway

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Ty Dillon, No. 42 Goettl Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Dillon at Las Vegas Motor Speedway:

  • Dillon has competed in seven NASCAR Cup Series events at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, notching a 10th-place result in 2020. The 30-year-old has also participated in seven NASCAR Xfinity Series races, earning an eighth-place finish in his last start at the Nevada oval in September 2021. In addition, Dillon has two NASCAR Truck Series starts, posting two top-10 results.
  • We Do Things the Right Way, Not the Easy Way: Goettl (gEHt-uhl), a leading provider of HVAC and plumbing maintenance, repair and replacement services in the residential market, will serve as primary partner on Dillon’s Chevrolet Camaro for Sunday’s race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Headquartered in Las Vegas, Goettl is a company doing things the right way not the easy way since 1939.
  • Trackside Live: Dillon will kick off race day morning at Trackside Live in the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Fan Zone on Sunday, March 6, from 10:15 to 10:30 a.m. PT. – About Goettl: Goettl is a leading provider of HVAC and plumbing maintenance, repair and replacement services to the residential market. Founded in 1939, Goettl has established a reputation for customer service, quality and innovation and today services the Southwestern U.S. through nine branches across Arizona, California, Nevada and Texas. Additional information about Goettl can be found at www.goettl.com.
  • From the Drivers Seat: What are your thoughts heading into Las Vegas with a new partner? “I’m excited to welcome Goettl on board the No. 42 Chevrolet for this weekend in Las Vegas. To be partnered with another company from Las Vegas is special not only for myself but for Petty GMS. Goettl is no stranger to our sport, but what I appreciate most about their company is their desire to do things the right way even if it’s not the easy way. In order to sustain success in any business, you must have that outlook. The goal is to have the Goettl colors up front on Sunday.”

Erik Jones, No. 43 FOCUSfactor Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Jones at Las Vegas Motor Speedway:

  • Jones has competed in nine NASCAR Cup Series races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, collecting three top-10 results in 2018, 2020 and 2021 respectively. In addition, Jones has two starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (one top-five finish) and two races in the NASCAR Truck Series (one win in 2014) at the Nevada oval.
  • Nutrition for the Brain: FOCUSfactor will serve as primary partner on Jones’s Chevrolet Camaro for Sunday’s race at Las Vegas Speedway. As the anchor sponsor on the No. 43 machine, FOCUSfactor’s blue and green colors will be sported for a total of 26 races during the 2022 Cup Series season.
  • Youngest Pole Winner: Jones continues to hold the record for the youngest pole award winner in the NASCAR Cup Series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Earning the award in 2018, the Michigan native was just 22 years, three months and 17 days old.
  • Firsts for Petty GMS: One week ago at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, Jones collected a series of firsts for Petty GMS in the NASCAR Cup Series – first front row starting position (second), first laps led and first top-five finish (third) in a points paying event. - About FOCUSfactor: FOCUSfactor is sold at America’s leading retailers such as Costco, Wal-Mart, Walgreens, CVS, The Vitamin Shoppe and Amazon.com. FOCUSfactor, America’s leading brain health supplement, is a nutritional supplement that includes a proprietary blend of brain supporting vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other nutrients. In December 2012, the United States Patent and Trademark Office issued US Patent 8,329,227 covering FOCUSfactor’s proprietary formulation “for enhanced mental function”. The issuance of the patent marked one of the few times a patent has been issued for a nationally branded nutritional supplement. FOCUSfactor is clinically tested with results demonstrating improvements in focus, concentration and memory in healthy adults.
  • From the Drivers Seat: Coming off a strong run at Fontana, what are the expectations for Las Vegas? ”These first few races seem to set the tone for your year, so for our FOCUSfactor team to come out and run strong right off the bat is a huge win. Just to go out and not only run up front, but to have race winning speed at times and an opportunity to win is great. I’m really looking forward to Vegas and the rest of the season. I was before, but when you go out and have a run like we did at Fontana, it really gets your expectations high and gets you excited to go back to the track every week. Hopefully we keep the momentum going this weekend and have another great race car to run up front with.”

ABOUT PETTY GMS:

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

SOCIAL MEDIA:

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

RCR Event Preview – Las Vegas Motor Speedway

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Richard Childress Racing’s History at Las Vegas Motor Speedway…In 76 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Richard Childress Racing boasts 11 top-five and 23 top-10 finishes. The storied organization has four wins at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with drivers Kevin Harvick (2004), Jeff Burton (2007), Austin Dillon (2015) and Tyler Reddick (2019). In addition, RCR boasts six pole awards in NASCAR Xfinity Series competition at the 1.5-mile oval.

Introducing the Next Gen … NASCAR’s Next Gen Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, which officially debuts in 2022, is a collaboration of the brightest engineering minds in racing. With technology at the forefront, Richard Childress Racing has played a unique and critical role in helping to bring this new on-track identity to life, working closely with OEMs, other teams and NASCAR to build and test the initial prototype.

Catch the Action … The ALSCO Uniforms 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will be televised live on Saturday, March 5 at 4:30 p.m. ET on FS1 and will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

The Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will be televised live Sunday, March 6 beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX and will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

This Week’s BREZTRI AEROSPHERE™ (budesonide, glycopyrrolate, and formoterol fumarate) Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway … In 13 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Dillon has two top-five and two top-10 finishes, including his best finish of fourth in March 2020. He is a former winner at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in both the NASCAR Xfinity Series (2015) and NASCAR Truck Series (2010).

BREZTRI AEROSPHERE™ (budesonide, glycopyrrolate, and formoterol fumarate) Sponsors the No. 3 at Las Vegas … BREZTRI is an AstraZeneca product and the sponsor of No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Las Vegas Motor Speedway with Austin Dillon. You can learn more at breztri.com. AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide.

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:
Are the bumps and challenges at Las Vegas Motor Speedway similar to the bumps in Turns 3 and 4 at Auto Club Speedway?
“Turns one and two at Las Vegas Motor Speedway are high speed corners and the bumps have always been something that you work on your car to get through to make speed. The faster your car can go through there without having to unload and get the feel back in the front tires has always been an issue. The person that can skip through them the best usually runs really well. At Las Vegas Motor Speedway it’s an entry issue, unlike last week at Auto Club Speedway where it was an exit issue. At Auto Club Speedway, you’re leaving the corner with wheel in the car. I think the bumps at Las Vegas will be challenging this weekend, just as they always are. Although truthfully, from the simulator work I’ve done to prepare for the race, the bumps were not as upsetting as they were at Auto Club Speedway. The Auto Club Speedway bumps were pretty accurate to our sim. We were busting loose across those bumps. So, I’m hoping that it’s accurate again, as far as the bumps in Las Vegas not being as much of a problem as they were in Fontana.”

You and Tyler Reddick both ran well at the Clash and at Auto Club Speedway. Explain what is behind RCR’s recent resurgence.
“I think Chevrolet, in general, is in a pretty good position. At RCR and ECR, we’ve put a big focus on the Next Gen car. We definitely tried to be the guys to embrace this new car the earliest in the process. I think some of the teams probably didn’t embrace it as much as we did. We saw it coming and tried to put a lot of effort into it from the beginning. I really love working with Tyler Reddick. He’s a great teammate and I think we both do each other some good. We have different thought processes on things, and I think that allows us to open our minds and push each other in different ways. I was bummed for him last week. I felt like that was his first win coming, for sure. And then all of a sudden, we popped up there and had a great shot at winning it.”

Wherever it might be, it could be a market, it could be a trip, but does Austin Dillon have a go-to place? What is it and why?
“When we’re out on the west coast, we like to stay out there for the entire west coast swing. Last year, my wife Whitney and I took my son Ace to a road course that Ron Fellows runs for Chevrolet. We spent a day at road course school out there. Then, we went to Phoenix Raceway early because I love the Phoenix area. Goodyear, Arizona is a cool area. We stay at the Wigwam and it’s nice and relaxing. It has a couple golf courses that we hit up. I like traveling the west coast swing at the beginning of the year because it gets the year going. When we come home, we don’t do a lot of traveling after that. We don’t do many road trips, but the west coast is the one that I stay out since we’re out there for several weekends in a row.”

This Week’s BetMGM Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway … Reddick will make his fifth NASCAR Cup Series start at the 1.5-mile Las Vegas, Nevada track on Sunday afternoon. His first Cup Series start was in 2020 and most recently, Reddick tallied his best finish of sixth at the track. Reddick has two wins under his belt at Las Vegas in the Xfinity Series and NASCAR Truck Series. In 2019, Reddick won the Xfinity Series race at Las Vegas and in 2016, he won in the Truck Series. He has five Xfinity starts at the track with one win, one top five, two top 10s and 95 laps led and three Truck Series starts with one win, one top five, two top 10s and 74 laps led.

Reddick’s Stats Improve … Reddick’s race last weekend at Auto Club Speedway didn’t end the way he wanted but did provide him with some new career statistics. Reddick swept the stages, adding two more stage wins to his resume and grabbing two Playoff points. He’s currently tied for third with Martin Truex Jr. for 2022 stage points. Reddick also led a career-high 90 laps at the Fontana track, having led only 73 laps in his Cup Series career prior to the race.

Roll the Dice with BetMGM … When a legendary global entertainment company joins forces with the world’s largest online betting technology company, the gaming world sits up and takes notice. BetMGM is a partnership between MGM Resorts International and Entain Holdings that is revolutionizing sports betting and online gaming in the United States. BetMGM is the exclusive sports betting division of MGM, both online and in MGM casinos nationwide. BetMGM is also the headline brand for online casino gaming alongside sister brands Borgata Online (New Jersey), Party Casino and Party Poker. We aspire to make unforgettable moments of sports and gaming even more personal, powerful, and fun through unmatched digital technology and evocative player experiences. For more information, visit betmgminc.com.

TYLER REDDICK QUOTES:
Looking back on last week’s race at Auto Club Speedway, you earned two stage wins and had a victory in sight before bad luck won again. How do you get your mindset back on track for this weekend?
“Well, I think you have to look at the positives of the race at Auto Club. Sure, I’m completely gutted that we didn’t get the win when it felt like we had the best car out there but there were also a lot of other small victories to come from that day. Winning two stages and leading the most laps of my Cup Series career just goes to show that our time is coming. We learned so much over the weekend from practice to qualifying to the race and those are all things that we will take with us and learn from to become stronger from it. This car has been a learning experience for all of us drivers and I think the handle that I do have on it right now is only going to get better and more consistent as the season goes on. I’m looking forward to seeing what my team and I can do this weekend at Las Vegas.”

You’ve had success at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Truck Series, but with this new car and having raced at Auto Club last weekend, what do you anticipate the racing being like this weekend?
“I expect the racing to look a lot like Fontana. It’s the same type of situation. You’re going to see cars being able to run all three lanes fairly early on and be able to make lanes work with their cars. You’re going to have to be able to run all three lanes in a lot of different points in the run. Early run, middle of the run, end of the run. Las Vegas has a lot of grooves, in the sense of you can run the very bottom of the racetrack in Turn 1, 2, 3 and 4 and paint the line, kind of like you would at the old Atlanta. You have a lot of options lane-wise at this racetrack and I think you’re going to see a lot of drivers forced to make those work to be able to get around their competition, to make passes, to maintain, whatever it might be. I expect a very similar race to Fontana last weekend. It will be very interesting to see how the rubber lays down, how lanes will come and go. You’ll have to keep up with this racetrack as it lays rubber, this one lays a lot of rubber. Fontana was a lot of fun and Las Vegas is going to be a lot of fun. I’m looking forward to it.”

Sheldon Creed and The No. 2 Whelen Engineering Chevrolet Camaro SS at Las Vegas Motor Speedway … Creed will be making his first NASCAR Xfinity Series start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday afternoon. He collected four top-10 finishes in six NASCAR Truck Series starts at the track, highlighted by a second-place finish in 2020. Creed enters the Las Vegas event 16th in series driver standings with one top-10 finish in the first two races of the season.

About Whelen … Whelen Engineering is a family-owned company with a pioneering spirit and a passion to protect the lives of those who protect and serve others. The company mission is to provide industry-defining safety solutions around the world, while creating a community of problem-solvers who are inspired to push boundaries and continue our legacy of delivering ground-breaking innovation. As a global leader in the emergency warning industry, Whelen has been trusted to perform since 1952, when George Whelen III invented the first rotating aviation beacon. Whelen now encompasses two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Connecticut and New Hampshire with over 750,000 square feet of engineering and manufacturing space and the largest design staff in the industry. Every part of every Whelen product is proudly designed and manufactured in America. We embrace quality as our foundation, we celebrate innovative engineering in every product we produce.

SHELDON CREED QUOTES:
Are you planning to spend time on the west coast between races during the west coast swing?
“I grew up in San Diego, and I usually only get back out here twice year nowadays. I’m glad I get to take advantage of NASCAR’s West Coast swing and will stay out here for two full weeks. I’ll get to hang out with family and just enjoy a little time on the West Coast before going back east.”

Are pit stops a difficult challenge for drivers at Las Vegas Motor Speedway?
“Pit stops can be difficult because the track goes from banking to flat pretty quickly. When I was racing in the NASCAR Truck Series, I found that you could drive really hard past the center of the corner before you started checking up to pit. I haven’t had the opportunity to pit yet in a NASCAR Xfinity Series car so it’s going to be a little different on Saturday with our Whelen Chevrolet, especially early in the race when I am getting used to things. I’m going to have to play with that a little bit if we do have green flag pit stops.”

Austin Hill and the No. 21 Bennett Transportation and Logistics Chevrolet Camaro SS at Las Vegas Motor Speedway … Hill will be making his second career NASCAR Xfinity Series start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He was credited with a 17th-place finish in the Fall 2020 race.

A Vegas Winner … Hill owns a pair of victories at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in NASCAR Truck Series competition. He won in 2019 and again in 2020, with both victories coming in the fall event at the 1.5-mile speedway. In eight Truck Series starts, Hill racked up six top-10 finishes for an average finish of 10.1.

And The Point Is … Hill enters this weekend’s race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway 11th in the NASCAR Xfinity Series driver standings. With his victory at Daytona, he has clinched a spot in the 2022 NASCAR Playoffs.

About Bennett Family of Companies … McDonough-Ga. based Bennett Family of Companies is a woman-owned, Women’s Enterprise Business Council (WBENC) certified, diversified transportation and logistics company. Through its nine affiliated operating companies, the Bennett Family of Companies delivers integrated transportation and supply chain management solutions worldwide. The company will use race experiences to recruit and retain hundreds of truck drivers for their organization in 2022. For more information, visit www.Drive4Bennett.com.

AUSTIN HILL QUOTE:
What are your thoughts on Las Vegas Motor Speedway? As a former race winner in the NASCAR Truck Series there, you have to be excited to go back there this weekend with Richard Childress Racing.
“Stats-wise Las Vegas Motor Speedway is probably one of my best racetracks. I have two wins there in the Truck Series, and it seems like I’ve ran up front pretty much every time we’ve raced there. I have a lot of confidence in that racetrack. I have confidence everywhere we go, but Las Vegas is probably at the top of the list. The Truck had so much downforce and sideforce. It was all about who could stay in the throttle longest. The track has a lot of bumps so I think if we can get our Bennett Transportation and Logistics Chevrolet through the bumps the best, especially down in Turns 1 and 2, that’s going to be big.”

4 Smart Tips for Getting into Car Racing Shape

By
SM
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Photo by Jenny Hill on Unsplash

Do you have a goal to race cars? Do you want to be the best you can be when it comes to your newfound passion? Just like with anything else, it will take practice, dedication, discipline, and hard work. As the saying goes, nothing worth having comes easy, right? But it’s not just about making sure your car is in peak racing condition; there is also a mental and physical element involved for you – the racer. Here are four smart tips for getting into car racing shape.

Why It Matters

Because you don’t see race car drivers out on a track, a field, in a rink, and so forth, it’s easy to discount their physical fitness. People believe the car is what matters, and you just need to be a “smart” driver. While that is necessary, drivers also need to be physically fit. When you are racing at such high speeds, the driver will be experiencing G-force. They need to have the strength to keep the car in line and drive safely. 

There is also the fact that the cars get very hot while racing, especially during long races. If you were to measure the heat inside a NASCAR vehicle on a track in the southern US states in the summer, you may be shocked to hear it can reach temperatures of up to 160 degrees. That is a lot of stress on the body, so you need to be able to handle the conditions.

Endurance Training Should be the Priority

In terms of what style of exercise to choose, experts will tell you that it’s all about endurance. Your number one goal should be to build endurance so that your body can handle the stress of the track. Endurance exercises come in all shapes and forms, and many of the top NASCAR drivers swear by cross-training. Cross-training means you use a variety of movements, exercises, and even different modalities so that you challenge your body and aren’t doing the same thing all the time. It allows you to build better overall endurance.

Some of the best exercises to build endurance include:

  • Walking
  • Jogging
  • Stair climbing
  • Skiing
  • Swimming
  • Cycling

Depending on the activity you choose, they can be done indoors, outdoors, or both.

Change Up Your Diet

Most people see the word ‘diet’ and it instantly creates a negative reaction. Don’t think of it as restricting yourself, see it as choosing healthier options. This is a lifestyle change since you’ll want to focus on a well-balanced, healthy and nutritious diet that fits all your needs.

Supplements Can Fill Gaps and Provide Added Benefits

If you’re having a hard time filling all your nutritional needs, supplements can be a great option. And it’s not just about filling the gaps in your diet; some supplements can also help to build your strength, stamina, endurance and so forth. A great example of this type of supplement can be found at turkesterone.com. You can view supplements as that added assistance that takes your workout, your diet, and your healthy lifestyle to the next level.

Give Your Vision a Workout as Well

Finally, you want to be sure that you also exercise reaction time tied to your vision. As a race car driver, you need to be hyper-aware of your surroundings so you can react quickly. When traveling at such high speeds, your reaction time needs to be near-instantaneous. Professional drivers will do peripheral vision and reaction time drills, exercises, and training as part of their regular workout.

By using each of these tips, you’ll be well on your way to getting in peak car racing shape.

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