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Tony Stewart Racing: Gainesville Advance for the 53rd NHRA Gatornationals

By
Official Release
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Leah Pruett & Matt Hagan
Dodge Power Brokers Top Fuel & Funny Car Drivers
53rd NHRA Gatornationals
March 11-13 | Gainesville, Florida

Event Overview

Friday, March 11 (Nitro Qualifying, streamed live on NHRA.TV)
● Nitro qualifying session (Q1): 5:30 p.m. EST

Saturday, March 12 (Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout and Nitro Qualifying, streamed live on NHRA.TV)
● Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout – Round 1: 11:45 a.m. EST
● Nitro qualifying session (All Top Fuel cars not in the Callout, plus Funny Car): 12 p.m. EST
● Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout – Semifinals: 1:30 p.m. EST
● Nitro qualifying session (Top Fuel): 2:45 p.m. EST
● Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout – Finals: 3:15 p.m. EST
● Nitro qualifying session (Funny Car): 3:20 p.m. EST

Sunday, March 13 (Nitro Eliminations, streamed live on NHRA.TV)
● Round 1: 11 a.m. EDT
● Round 2: 1:35 p.m. EDT
● Semifinals: 3:10 p.m. EDT
● Finals: 4:55 p.m. EDT

TV coverage on FS1 and FOX
● Saturday, March 12: Qualifying show, recapping all of Friday’s action (10 a.m. EST on FS1)
● Saturday, March 12: Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout (2 p.m. ET on FOX)
● Saturday, March 12: Qualifying show, recapping all of Saturday’s action (7 p.m. EST on FS1)
● Sunday, March 13: Finals show, recapping all of Sunday’s final-round action (7 p.m. EDT on FS1)

Notes of Interest

● The 53rd NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville (Fla.) Raceway is the third event on the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series’ 22-race calendar in 2022. Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) brings its two fulltime entries – one in Top Fuel for nine-time event winner Leah Pruett and one in Funny Car for 39-time event winner and three-time Funny Car champion Matt Hagan – to the north-central Florida track eyeing continued progress in its debut season. The team scored its first No. 1 qualifying position via Hagan on Feb. 26 during the NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Chandler. Hagan set a new track record (3.823 ET at 333.41 mph), surpassing Courtney Force for the quickest run ever at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park. It was also the quickest Funny Car run in four years. It was Hagan’s first No. 1 spot of the season and the 44th of his career.

● Dodge Power Brokers and Direct Connection are the primary partners of Pruett and Hagan this weekend in Gainesville. The new Dodge Power Brokers program serves as the exclusive source for Direct Connection, Dodge’s factory-backed performance parts program, which is equipped with staff trained to deliver a performance-focused customer service experience.

● The Gatornationals will mark Pruett’s 175th career Top Fuel start and her 10th at Gainesville. For Hagan, the Gatornationals will be his 296th career Funny Car start and his 14th at Gainesville.

● Pruett and seven of her Top Fuel counterparts have a race within the race at Gainesville. On Saturday, the inaugural Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout pits the top-eight Top Fuel drivers against one another in a winner-take-all event worth $80,000 and televised live on FOX. Pruett earned the sixth seed in the specialty race by way of her seventh-place finish in the 2021 championship combined with her qualifying positions in the first two events of the 2022 season – the NHRA Winternationals Feb. 17-20 in Pomona, California, and the NHRA Arizona Nationals Feb. 25-27. Pruett is joined in the Callout by reigning Top Fuel champion Steve Torrence and fellow Top Fuel drivers Brittany Force, Mike Salinas, Justin Ashley, Antron Brown, Doug Kalitta and Shawn Langdon. The Callout is exactly what it sounds like. Prior to the first round of qualifying on Friday, drivers will “call out” who they want to go up against on Saturday. The first to make a call out is Torrence, who earned the No. 1 seed by virtue of his championship in 2021. He gets to pick from the seven drivers who he wants as his opening-round opponent. Force would get the next pick, provided she is not called out by Torrence. Salinas would follow until all the first-round matchups are set. The first round of the Callout will take place at 11:45 a.m. ET on Saturday with the semifinals set to follow at 1:30 p.m. FOX comes on the air at 2 p.m. to recap the action from the first round and semifinals before showing the final round live at 3:15 p.m. where the last two drivers standing in the bracket-style elimination go head-to-head for bragging rights and the $80,000 payday.

● The Callout used to be known as the Shootout, and Pruett was a two-time qualifier in its previous incarnation. She was the seventh seed in 2016 and advanced all the way to the finals, beating Kalitta in Round 1 and Langdon in Round 2. In the final round, Pruett raced her then teammate, Tony Schumacher, who won with a time of 3.17 ET at 328.85 mph, eclipsing her mark of 3.738 ET at 317.05 mph. In 2017, Pruett was the No. 3 seed and lost to Kalitta in Round 1.

● Hagan is a 39-time event winner in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series, but a Gatornationals win has so far eluded the three-time series champion (2011, 2014 and 2020). However, Hagan has proven to be quick at Gainesville. He has earned the No. 1 qualifying spot three times – 2010, 4.060 ET at 313.58 mph; 2011 – 4.030 ET at 309.84 mph; and 2020 – 3.975 ET at 321.35 mph.

● Hagan has made one final-round appearance at Gainesville – 2018 when he lost to Jack Beckman. Beckman’s winning time was 4.035 ET at 323.58 mph, which was quite literally just a tick better than Hagan’s time of 4.034 ET at 322.04 mph.

● DYK? Gainesville opened in 1968 and the track hosted the first Gatornationals in 1970. The historic track is known as one of the fastest in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series, a fact punctuated by 2022 marking the 30th anniversary of when Kenny Bernstein broke the 300 mph barrier in the 1992 Gatornationals. At 4:44 p.m. on March 20, Bernstein became the first driver to eclipse 300 mph when rocketed down the strip at 301.70 mph in his Top Fuel dragster. Today, runs in excess of 330 mph are commonplace.

Leah Pruett, Driver of the Dodge Power Brokers Top Fuel Dragster

After spending three weeks on the West Coast, what are the biggest adjustments the crew will have to make to your Dodge Power Brokers Top Fuel Dragster to prepare for the atmospheric change in Florida?

“Typically, the Friday night session sets the low standard of qualifying, but the forecast calls for much cooler temperatures on Saturday, which is an advantage for everyone. Being able to chip away at powering our performance down is the key to our next steps of a deep mid-60s run with our Dodge Power Brokers Top Fuel Dragster.”

With you participating in the Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout on Saturday, does your strategy change for this weekend’s Gatornationals?

“I’m probably more excited about the Callout for various reasons than all of my other competitors. I personally have been having trouble on the tree when it comes to Sunday eliminations. Therefore, us having ‘eliminations’ on Saturday will give me the opportunity for redemption I’ve been chewing on for weeks. That will subsequently make for the most extreme competition this team has yet to offer. I most likely will not have the opportunity to call anyone out, but it will be interesting to see who in line is wanting to pair up next to us. The money is big. I honestly don’t know of another team that’s done what we did this offseason. Our crew deserves the bonus that’s on the line.”

What are the characteristics of Gainesville Raceway and what allows you to make a successful run there?

“Gainesville Raceway is one of the most historic tracks in the country. It’s relatively low sea level and high barometer make for recipes of fast passes, but the humidity factor really tries to smother that extra horsepower. Given our unique weather forecast, this weekend is definitely shaping up to be the ultimate horsepower war.”

Matt Hagan, Driver of the Dodge Power Brokers Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car

After spending three weeks on the West Coast, what are the biggest adjustments the crew will have to make to your Dodge Power Brokers Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car to prepare for the atmospheric change in Florida?

“After spending three weeks on the West Coast, we compiled a lot of data out there between one week of testing and two races. There is a fair amount of altitude in Phoenix, so we’ll have to transition to sea level in Florida. It looks like it may be a bit of a rainy weekend, so it will be fast and cool. I’m looking forward to it. Crew chiefs will have some big changes to make as far as compression and other things they do to make our cars run better at sea level. Gainesville is a track that has always eluded me a little bit because I’ve never won there. It’s one of the few tracks I haven’t won at, so I would like to be able to check it off. Every time I get a chance at Gainesville, I really want to try and make it happen. I’ve been to the finals before, so we have a lot of data compiled over the years. There are a lot of things going our way to look forward to this weekend in Gainesville.”

Since you set a new track record and advanced to the finals in Phoenix, does that give you and your team added confidence heading into Gainesville?

“After setting the track record at Phoenix, looking at the data and talking to Dickie Venables (crew chief), I think there’s still more left there. Very rarely do you have a crew chief that says, ‘That’s all we have left in the car.’ It’s exciting to know we can set a track record at Phoenix and then come to Gainesville and run even harder. Gainesville is a great track. If the conditions are right with the weather and the track, I know Dickie will throw down. We’ll probably see some more records in the near future. It’s exciting as a driver to strap into a car that you know is going to perform and has the opportunity to break records. I know the wins are coming. I see it in the crew and I see it in myself. The confidence is there and we’ll continue to build upon it every weekend. Robert Hight will be tough, but there are a lot of other cars out there that will be tough all year. As the season goes on and temperatures change, people adapt. Dickie Venables is a great racer on Sunday and we adapt very quickly. I know he’ll put a great Dodge Power Brokers Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Carbelow me. Bring on the low ETs (elapsed time) and records because I know we’re capable of it.”

What are the characteristics of Gainesville Raceway and what allows you to make a successful run there?

“There’s plenty of shutdown at Gainesville and the tracks are pretty even. I’ve never had much of a one-lane racetrack there. We’re able to set track records if the temperatures and conditions are there, so I feel like we’re going into a racetrack where we can really lay down the performance that TSR is making with my Dodge Power Brokers Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car. I’m expecting us to run up front all season and I know Tony, Leah and the rest of the crew expect the same. Everyone has worked really hard over the winter to create more power. It’s really about playing to the racetrack with clutch application. NHRA does a great job with Safety Safari by putting enough glue down and getting a great racetrack underneath of us to put on a great show for the fans.”

Toyota Racing – Weekly Preview – 03.09.22

By
Official Release
-

This Week in Motorsports: March 7-13, 2022

· NCS/NXS/ARCA: Phoenix Raceway – March 11-13
· NHRA: Gainesville Raceway – March 13

PLANO, Texas (March 9, 2022) – NASCAR teams finish up their West Coast swing at the site of the championship race – Phoenix Raceway, while the NHRA is back on track for one of the majors – the Gatornationals – in Gainesville, Florida.

NASCAR National Series – NCS | NXS

Busch ready to add to Phoenix legacy… Kyle Busch is always one to watch as the series heads to Phoenix Raceway. Busch has two Cup Series victories, 11 Xfinity Series wins and two Truck Series triumphs at the track.

Truex plans to continue run of success… Martin Truex Jr. is looking good heading into Phoenix – with last year’s results and the early results this season. After a top-10 run at Las Vegas, Truex is currently second in the point standings. The New Jersey-native is also the reigning winner of the spring race in Phoenix.

Gibbs looks to add another win… Ty Gibbs had to start in the back in Las Vegas but was there when it counted, leading the last six laps on his way to his first victory of the season, and fifth Xfinity Series overall. Gibbs made his Phoenix debut in this event one year ago and delivered a runner-up finish.

Bayne returns… Trevor Bayne is back behind the wheel of the No. 18 Toyota GR Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing this weekend. In his first start in the Xfinity Series in several years at Auto Club Speedway, Bayne was impressive scoring a stage win and a third-place finish.

Nemechek back in the 26… John Hunter Nemechek will be back in the Sam Hunt Racing No. 26 Toyota GR Supra for the second consecutive week. The Truck Series championship contender delivered Sam Hunt Racing’s third top-15 finish – by its third different driver – to start the season in Las Vegas.

NASCAR Regional Series – ARCA

Love looking for a Phoenix victory… Jesse Love has had several exciting moments at Phoenix Raceway, but the two-time ARCA West champion is looking for his first win at the track. The 17-year-old is competing for Venturini Motorsports for the first time in Phoenix.

First national start of the season for Smith… Sammy Smith makes his return to Phoenix Raceway for his first national ARCA Menards Series start for Kyle Busch Motorsports. The reigning ARCA East champion and current ARCA East points leader finished third at Phoenix Raceway last fall.

NHRA – Top Fuel | Funny Car

Toyota stacked Shootout field… All five of Toyota’s full-time drivers have qualified for the Pep Boys Callout – an all-star event in the Top Fuel class that will take place on Saturday afternoon. Steve Torrence clinched his spot with his Top Fuel championship last fall, while Antron Brown, Justin Ashley, Doug Kalitta and Shawn Langdon earned their spots through their qualifying efforts. Torrence – the no. 1 seed – will get the first pick of opponents when the field is set on Friday evening.

Todd reigning winner… 2018 Funny Car champion J.R. Todd kicked off his season one year ago with a stellar run to his first Gatornationals victory. Todd looks for a return to the winner’s circle this year as he looks to be the first winner in the all-new Toyota GR Supra Funny Car body.

#

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs more than 48,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 43 million cars and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With the more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, more than a quarter of the company’s 2021 North American sales were electrified.

Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

JR Motorsports — NXS Phoenix Preview

By
Official Release
-

JR MOTORSPORTS TEAM PREVIEW:
TRACK: Phoenix Raceway
RACE: United Rentals 200 (200 laps / 200 miles)
DATE: Saturday, March 12, 2022

Broadcast Information – TV: 4:30 p.m. ET on FS1 / Radio: 4 p.m. ET on MRN and Sirius XM Ch. 90

Sam Mayer
No. 1 Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions Chevrolet
• Sam Mayer is coming off a strong performance at Las Vegas Motor Speedway that saw the 18-year-old pace the field for 25 circuits before being involved in a late-race incident, relegating him to a 25th-place finish.
• In one start at the 1-mile facility of Phoenix Raceway, Mayer raced his way to a 13th-place finish in the 2021 season finale.
• In 18 NXS races during the second half of 2021, Mayer racked up one top five and six top 10s while leading the field for 57 laps.
• At tracks measuring 1-2 miles in length, Mayer has two top10 finishes and has led 25 laps in total in NXS competition.

Josh Berry
No. 8 PUBG MOBILE Chevrolet
• Josh Berry heads to Phoenix on the strength of two top-five finishes in the first three races of the 2022 season.
• The 31-year-old started ninth and ran as high as third in this race in 2021 before being involved in a multi-car incident just 54 laps shy of the scheduled 200-lap distance.
• The Hendersonville, Tenn. native drove the No. 8 to a strong fourth-place effort last weekend in Las Vegas to record his second top-five finish of 2022.
• Berry currently sits fifth in the championship standings only 36 points from the lead.
• The No. 8 team welcomes back PUBG MOBILE for the second of four races as primary partner with Berry.

Noah Gragson
No. 9 Bass Pro Shops / TrueTimber / Black Rifle Coffee Chevrolet
• Noah Gragson is on a tear to open the 2022 NXS season, finishing third, second and second in the first three races of the season. The effort sees Gragson as the series point leader heading to Phoenix.
• Last November, Gragson battled at the front of the field in the NXS Championship race before finishing 12th in the event.
• On 1-mile tracks, Gragson has two top-five and eight top-10 finishes in 14 starts, leading 70 laps total over that span.
• Running at the front continues to be Gragson’s biggest strength in 2022. He’s led 89 laps in three races this season.

Justin Allgaier
No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet
• In 23 starts in “the Valley of the Sun,” Justin Allgaier has earned two wins, eight top fives and 15 top 10s.
• Allgaier’s most recent victory at Phoenix came in November of 2019, with his first at the 1-mile oval coming in this event in 2017.
• According to NASCAR’s loop data statistics, Allgaier ranks first in laps led (493), quality passes (494), laps run inside the top 15 (4,264) and in fastest laps run (298) in the Arizona desert.
• Overall, in his NXS career on tracks between 1-2 miles in length, Allgaier has scored eight wins, 61 top fives and 122 top 10s in 200 career starts.

Driver Quotes

“Phoenix is not one of my stronger tracks but we have been putting a lot of effort in to make sure we are ready when we arrive. Having a little bit of practice is definitely going to help me warm up to the place and knowing that we have had strong cars capable of winning adds a little bit of confidence. Hopefully this Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions Chevrolet will be battling for the win Saturday.” – Sam Mayer

“Phoenix is definitely one of my favorite places that we come to on the schedule. It seems like we’ve always been able to unload with an extremely fast BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet there and I see no reason why we can’t do that again this weekend. We’ve gotten off to a good start so far this season and hopefully we can keep that positive momentum rolling and be in contention for the win again come Saturday.” – Justin Allgaier

“I had a really good run going last season in Phoenix until I got caught up in a wreck that ended our day early. The added time on track Friday for the ARCA race will definitely help me figure the track out a little more and see how it progresses through a run. This team has built cars each week that have put us in spots for good finishes and I know this weekend will be more of the same with this PUBG MOBILE Camaro.” – Josh Berry

“Luke (Lambert, crew chief) and this entire No. 9 Bass Pro Shops/TrueTimber/Black Rifle Coffee team have given me great cars to start the season and have put us in the right position to be contending for wins at every race so far. Phoenix has been one of those places that are hit and miss for us, but JRM tends to be towards the front fighting for the win here and hopefully that is us again this weekend.” – Noah Gragson

JRM Team Updates

• JR Motorsports at Phoenix: JR Motorsports has competed at Phoenix a combined 84 times in the NXS. Over the course of these 84 starts at the 1-mile facility, JRM has tallied three wins (two with Allgaier and one with William Byron), 20 top fives and 44 top 10s. JRM’s most recent win came with Allgaier during the 2019 season.
• Fourth Anniversary: Celebrating its fourth anniversary, PUBG MOBILE is a battle royale mobile game developed by Lightspeed and Quantum Studios of Tencent Games and KRAFTON, Inc. and is based on PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS. The game focuses on visual quality, maps, fast-paced action, and other aspects, providing an all-rounded surreal battle royale experience to players. For more information, visit pubgmobile.com and download the game for free on the App Store or Google Play Store.
• Souvenir Rig Autograph Session: JRM drivers Justin Allgaier and Noah Gragson will be signing autographs at the JR Motorsports/Hendrick Motorsports souvenir trailer at Phoenix Raceway on Saturday, March 12 from 12 – 12:30 p.m. local time.
• Chevrolet Stage: JRM drivers Sam Mayer and Josh Berry will be appearing at the Team Chevy display located in the Phoenix Raceway Fan Zone for a Q&A on Saturday, March 12 at 11:45am and 12pm (local time), respectively.

Mahindra Tractors Racing: Chase Briscoe Phoenix Advance

By
Official Release
-

CHASE BRISCOE
Phoenix Advance
No. 14 Mahindra Tractors Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview

● Event: Ruoff Mortgage 500k (Round 4 of 36)
● Time/Date: 3:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, March 6
● Location: Phoenix Raceway
● Layout: 1-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 312 laps/312 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 60 laps / Stage 2: 125 laps / Final Stage: 127 laps
● TV/Radio: FOX / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Chase Briscoe, driver of the No. 14 Mahindra Tractors Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), makes his third Phoenix start in the NASCAR Cup Series during Sunday’s Ruoff Mortgage 500. In the previous two, Briscoe has a best finish of 22nd earned last March. An accident on lap 153 in the season finale last November brought an early end to the rookie’s day and relegated the No. 14 team to a 35th-place finish.

● The 2021 Cup Series Rookie of the Year has one top-five so far this year, a series-best finish earned in the season-opening Daytona 500. Just last weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Briscoe earned his best Cup Series qualifying effort after placing the No. 14 Mahindra Tractors Ford fourth on the grid for Sunday’s race. He ran as high as third and scored three bonus points with his eighth-place finish in the first stage before a series of incidents caused damage that brought his day to an early end.

● Through the first three races of 2022, Briscoe has an average starting position of 12.3 and average finish of 18, compared to an average start of 26th and finish of 23rd in as many races last season. In 2021, he led a total of 18 laps, which he has already bested with a total of 20 laps led following last weekend’s race at Las Vegas. Briscoe sits 14th in the driver standings, 39 points behind the leader.

● The 27-year-old driver from Mitchell, Indiana, has four career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at the Phoenix mile oval and each resulted in top-10 finishes. His best is sixth, scored twice – March 2019 and 2020. He also made one NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start there in November 2017, when he started eighth and finished fourth in his Ford F-150, securing his 13th career top-10.

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

● The longer the workday – or the race day – the more important comfort becomes. Mahindra Tractors offers many comfort features for its operators, including air suspension seats with extra cushioning. At the racetrack this season, guests of SHR will be able to experience that comfort for themselves as the No. 14 pitbox has been retrofitted with the Mahindra comfort seat.

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

Are you more comfortable with the NextGen heading into Phoenix since this was one of the tracks where you tested?

“I think so. You just have a little more knowledge of what to expect. I still think there is plenty to learn. A race situation is a lot different than a testing or practice situation, but we’re starting off in a different place than we were the last two weeks at Fontana and Las Vegas. There’s a little bit of a notebook, but we’re still so early in the schedule we’re going to keep adding to it every race.”

Despite the result at Las Vegas, the No. 14 team has had a strong start to the season. As a second-year driver, how does that help you overcome the tough days?

“Our Mahindra Tractors Ford Mustangs have been so fast. Johnny (Klausmeier, crew chief) and the guys have done a great job putting together something strong before the weekend starts and we haven’t been far off when we get on track. There are still things we’ll figure out about the cars and what they can handle, but we’ve been up front consistently in these first few races and that helps a lot. I can look back and think about all the things that were going well before something happens and maybe last year I didn’t always have that. We weren’t running in the top-five before something happened or leading laps, and now I can look back and say, ‘OK, we were competitive before things started to take a turn. It’ll all come together.’ You’re seeing this with guys who don’t typically have those days, so I’m not concerned. There’s still a lot of racing left to do and I believe even more now that we have a team fully capable of making it to victory lane.”

No. 14 Mahindra Tractors Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Chase Briscoe
Hometown: Mitchell, Indiana

Crew Chief: John Klausmeier
Hometown: Perry Hall, Maryland

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

Engineer: Mike Cook
Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland

Engineer: Marc Hendricksen
Hometown: Clinton, New Jersey

Spotter: Joey Campbell
Hometown: Berlin, Connecticut

Over-The-Wall Members

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

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

Tire Carrier: Jon Bernal
Hometown: Shelby, North Carolina

Jack Man: Brandon Banks
Hometown: High Point, North Carolina

Fuel Man: Corey Coppola
Hometown: Bluefield, West Virginia

Road Crew Members

Underneath Mechanic: Stephen Gonzalez
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Interior Mechanic: Trevor Adams
Hometown: Naples, Florida

Tire Specialist: Keith Eads
Hometown: Arlington, Virginia

Shock Specialist: Brian Holshouser
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina

Engine Tuner: Jon Phillips
Hometown: Jefferson City, Missouri

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

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

Everything You Need To Know Before Investing In A Car Stereo System

By
SM
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A car stereo (or in-car entertainment system) is an electronic system that produces sounds and has the ability to receive input signals. Car stereos can be found in most cars today, even in some motorcycles and commercial vehicles. The term “Car Stereo” is used for equipment that does not only play music but also features a radio tuner. There are many types of car stereos available on the market with lots of different additional functions usually supported by extra accessories.

Buying a car stereo system is a very important decision since the sound system is the most used feature in a car. There are tons of things to consider before making a purchase and lots of elements to put together. You can also check out Stereoguides for the same.

In this article, we have listed the most important points on everything you need to know before investing in a car stereo system.

How To Choose A Car Stereo

Nowadays, there are lots of different types of car stereos available on the market with different features and most importantly, very important sound quality. It’s extremely difficult to choose a model without having tested it first so it’s best to try them out using your own equipment before making the purchase. Most manufacturers offer their customers an opportunity to test their product in one of their stores located in most large cities around the country. This way you can hear all the details that would be otherwise hard to distinguish from online reviews or written descriptions. You will have the possibility not only to listen but also to see how they work and feel how comfortable they are with their design.

Most people would immediately choose the car radio that’s cheapest or has the highest number of stars on Amazon without even considering other important little details. Some people also buy a cheap model only to find out later that they have made a big mistake due to poor sound quality, build quality, and most importantly lack of additional features.

So before making your purchase you need to know what you are looking for in order not to regret your decision later down the road. We will go over some important things  you should be aware of before buying one below:

1- Speaker Type

A car stereo system includes an amplifier, speakers, woofers & tweeters which are all used together with different cables to produce high-quality sound. The whole system is based on the type of speakers it includes. Nowadays, there are lots of different types of speakers available on the market with their own features and specifications. Some models include tweeters (high-frequency speaker), mid-range woofer (low-frequency speaker), and subwoofers (extra bass speaker).

2- Equalizers  

Most car stereos offer adjustable equalizers that allow you to adjust sound output to your preferences. There are many types of equalizers available for cars which can be adjusted by spending some time playing in the settings. Some people prefer more deep sounds while others like high treble in order to hear all the details when listening to music.

3- Auxiliary Inputs 

An audio auxiliary input is an RCA type of input that allows you to connect external devices into your car stereo system. These inputs include 3.5mm AUX & USB ports that are used for smartphones, mp3 players, and most importantly digital music files stored on flash drives with the help of a USB cable.

4- Bluetooth/Wireless 

Since more and more people are using Bluetooth connections in their daily lives, having a car stereo with this connection option is essential if you want to stay connected with your phone without any wires. Most models include built-in Bluetooth technology which allows users to make hands-free calls while driving if their mobile device supports it.

5- Camera Inputs 

If you have a rear camera installed in your vehicle or plan on getting one, you should definitely get a car stereo with a rear camera input. This feature allows you to install your Backup camera wirelessly without having to cut any wires or drill additional holes which could otherwise damage the look of your vehicle.

6- Remote Controls 

The ability to control all the basic functions of your car stereo system from outside is essential for most people that want convenience while driving. Some models include remote controls that allow users not only to change tracks and adjust the volume but also to switch between Bluetooth devices saved in memory (wireless audio streaming). There are many types of remotes available depending on make & model including wired or wireless options.

These were some of the things you have to consider before buying a car stereo.

Conclusion: Everything You Need To Know Before Investing In A Car Stereo System

After going through all the basic information about car stereos and what you need to know before buying one, we wanted to mention that it is not difficult to find a model which satisfies your needs and preferences. There are many reviews online that can help you make an informed decision, and take good care of your investment.

We hope that this article helped you. If you have any questions let us know in the comment section. Thanks for reading!

Country Star Dierks Bentley To Headline Firestone Legends Day Concert May 28

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Official Release
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Venue Moves to TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park

INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, March 9, 2022) – Country music superstar Dierks Bentley will headline the Firestone Legends Day Concert on Saturday, May 28, one day before the 106th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.

Special guests Ashley McBryde and Dillon Carmichael will open the show, which begins at 7 p.m. (ET), with individual performances.

Previously held on the Firestone Stage inside Turn 4 of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the concert will be held at the TCU Amphitheater in White River State Park, further expanding the celebration of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” into downtown Indianapolis.

Tickets will be available for purchase starting at 10 a.m. (ET) Friday, March 11 at LiveNation.com. The first 500 fans to purchase a lawn ticket will pay only $25. All dates, acts and ticket prices are subject to change without notice. Ticket prices are subject to applicable fees.

“Concerts on the days leading up to Race Day help build the tremendous energy that our community brings to the green flag,” Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles said. “Hosting the Firestone Legends Day Concert downtown will further integrate our city into the weekend and make for a great Saturday evening under the lights of downtown in a fantastic, newly renovated venue. It also allows us to make sure we will have the Indianapolis Motor Speedway properly prepared to host over 300,000 fans beginning at 6 a.m. the following morning.”

The new venue allows fans to celebrate Legends Day presented by Firestone at both IMS and throughout downtown Indianapolis. Legends Day kicks off with the 106th Indianapolis 500 Public Drivers’ Meeting and driver autograph sessions at IMS. Gates will close early so fans can make their way downtown for the AES 500 Festival Parade and the Firestone Legends Day Concert.

“White River State Park is excited to host the Firestone Legends Day Concert at our new TCU Amphitheater,” said Jake Oakman, executive director of White River State Park Development Commission. “The new concert venue is the perfect stage for the world-class entertainment that has long been associated with Race Weekend. White River State Park and Live Nation are looking forward to welcoming race fans from all over the world to this May tradition in downtown Indianapolis.”

Said Leonard Hoops, president and CEO of Visit Indy: “We’re excited to bring more of the Indy 500 weekend excitement downtown, as we welcome the Firestone Legends Day Concert to the TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park in the heart of the city. Extending the footprint for May events beyond the Indianapolis Motor Speedway provides more opportunities for visitors and locals alike to get in on the action and excitement leading up to the largest single-day sporting event in the world.”

Bentley continues to be a dominant voice for the genre with over 6.4 billion streams as his new single, “Beers On Me,” with BRELAND and HARDY races up the radio charts. Reaching a new creative high while “making music designed to challenge” (New York Times), Bentley co-wrote 10 of 13 tracks on his latest full-length release “The Mountain,” which earned him the highest debut sales of his career and became his seventh chart-topping release. Last year, Bentley surprised fans with his “Live from Telluride” FROM TELLURIDE collection that was touted as “a gift that Country music fans didn’t know they needed” (The Tennesseean).

Bentley will celebrate his 16th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 2022. He also has created professional endeavors outside of the music with his Flag & Anthem lifestyle collection Desert Son, along with his “Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row” franchise hosting four locations. For more information, visit Dierks.com.

McBryde earned a 2021 Grammy nomination for Best Country Album, making her “Never Will” the only album nominated for Country Album of the Year by the ACMs, CMAs and the Recording Academy in the same award season. The music is stadium-ready rock-and-roll with a bluegrass wink or two and country music’s storytelling heart––and McBryde, no longer new, is the music’s ordained and highly capable standard bearer.

Since unleashing his critically acclaimed 2018 debut, “Hell On An Angel,” Carmichael has toured with some of country music’s biggest names, written a song for Travis Tritt’s latest album, racked up millions of streams on Spotify, gone viral on TikTok and even gotten engaged. He used his pandemic downtime to go back to the studio and record his latest album, “Son of A,” a collection of high-energy, feel-good country that includes the singles “Hot Beer” and “Hose Water.”

As the Official Tire of Country Music and the Official Tire of the Indianapolis 500, Firestone has served as the presenting sponsor of Legends Day since it debuted in 2014. The partnership brings together two platforms – racing and country music – that have played significant roles in the rich history of the time-tested Firestone brand.

The 106th Indianapolis 500 by Gainbridge is scheduled for Sunday, May 29. Race Day tickets are on sale now at IMS.com or by calling or visiting the IMS Ticket Office. General admission tickets for Legends Day presented by Firestone start at $10. This ticket does not include concert admission. IMS gates will open at 8 a.m. and will close early at 1 p.m.

Chris Buescher – Phoenix I Advance

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Official Release
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Team: No. 17 ITsavvy Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Twitter: @RFK17Team, @RFKRacing and @Chris_Buescher
Race Format: 312 miles, 312 laps, Stages: 60-125-127

Practice – Saturday, March 12 at 1:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90
Qualifying – Saturday, March 12 at 2:05 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90
Race – Sunday, March 13 at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Weekend Format

· With practice and qualifying back on the horizon for the NASCAR Cup Series, with it comes a unique format. For Phoenix, the field will be separated into two groups who will each have a 15-minute warm-up/practice.

· Immediately following that brief session, qualifying will begin, also split into two groups, with the top five fastest cars in each group transferring to the final round. The final round of qualifying to determine the pole sitter will feature 10 cars, as all qualifying this weekend will include just one lap per car.

Buescher at Phoenix Raceway

· Buescher makes his 13th Cup start at Phoenix this weekend. In 12 prior starts he has a best finish of 16th (twice – 2019).

· Buescher is coming off a 25th-place run in last fall’s event, and an 18th-place run in the 2021 spring race.

· His best qualifying effort stands as 17th, which he accomplished twice, in the 2019 fall race and again in the 2021 spring race. Overall he has a 25.9 average starting position.

· Buescher also made four Xfinity Series starts in Arizona for Jack Roush with a best finish of P12 (2014).

Scott Graves at Phoenix Raceway

· Graves will be on the box for his 11th Cup race from Phoenix this weekend. He has a best result of eighth at the 1-mile track, which came in 2018 with Daniel Suarez. He also led Ryan Newman to a 12th-place run in the 2019 spring race.

· Graves also called seven NXS races in Phoenix with a best finish of third, also with Suarez, in 2016. He followed that with a P5 result in the fall.

QUOTE WORTHY
Buescher on racing at Phoenix:
“We have had some bright spots the last couple weeks, we just have to be more consistent in finding speed in our Ford Mustangs. Phoenix is a challenging place and one we have worked hard on the last couple of years. We need a solid day in the orange ITsavvy Ford come Sunday, and look forward to closing the West Coast Swing on a high note.”

Last Time Out
Buescher finished 18th last weekend in the Wyndham Rewards Ford at Las Vegas.

On the Car
ITsavvy makes its 2022 debut with RFK this weekend as the primary on Buescher’s Ford Mustang in Phoenix. The brand initially joined the RFK family in 2021 as a primary on the No. 6 car. They will return as Buescher’s primary next weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

HaasTooling.com Racing: Cole Custer Phoenix Advance

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Official Release
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COLE CUSTER
Phoenix Advance
No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview

● Event: Ruoff Mortgage 500k (Round 4 of 36)
● Time/Date: 3:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, March 13
● Location: Phoenix Raceway
● Layout: 1-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 312 laps/312 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 60 laps / Stage 2: 125 laps / Final Stage: 127 laps
● TV/Radio: FOX / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Sunday’s Ruoff Mortgage 500k at Phoenix Raceway marks the 79th NASCAR Cup Series start of Cole Custer’s career and takes him to the track where he scored his first of nine career Cup Series top-10s.

● That March 2020 race on the desert mile oval was just the seventh career Cup Series start for the driver of the No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) and it resulted in a ninth-place finish from the 38th starting position. He followed it up with another near-top-10 in the 2020 season finale at Phoenix that capped his Cup Series Rookie of the Year season. But that top-10 bid was derailed by an unscheduled pit stop to replace a loose wheel during the final stage. Custer finished 13th at Phoenix in last year’s Cup Series finale.

● In six NASCAR Xfinity Series outings at Phoenix from 2017 through 2019, all behind the wheel of the No. 00 SHR Ford, Custer started in the top-four and finished in the top-eight in each of the last five, with a best result of second from the second starting position in the November 2018 race. He finished .810 of a second behind Justin Allgaier in that race after recording four of his six career Xfinity Series laps led at Phoenix.

● In Custer’s three career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series appearances at Phoenix, he has a best finish of third in the November 2014 race in the No. 00 Haas Automation entry behind winner Erik Jones and runner-up Matt Crafton.

● Custer dominated the February 2014 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race at Phoenix in the No. 00 for owner Bill McAnally. He qualified on the pole and led a race-high 62 laps en route to his third of four career K&N Series wins.

● After his 20th-place run in the season-opening Daytona 500 and his 11th-place finish the following weekend at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, Custer saw his bid for a top-15 finish last weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway come to an end with a mechanical issue early in the final stage. The DNF ended his streak of 20 consecutive races running at the finish, and the 33rd-place result dropped him to 26th in the driver standings.

● Riding along with Custer and his SHR Mustang is team co-owner Gene Haas’ newest holding, Haas Tooling, which was launched as a way for CNC machinists to purchase high-quality cutting tools at great prices. Haas cutting tools are sold exclusively online at HaasTooling.com and shipped directly to end users. HaasTooling.com products became available nationally in July 2020. Haas Automation, founded by Haas in 1983, is America’s leading builder of CNC machine tools. The company manufactures a complete line of vertical and horizontal machining centers, turning centers and rotary tables and indexers. All Haas products are constructed in the company’s 1.1-million-square-foot manufacturing facility in Oxnard, California, and distributed through a worldwide network of Haas Factory Outlets.

Cole Custer, Driver of the No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Do you expect the racing to be much different with the new NextGen car at Phoenix this weekend compared to the Gen 6 car there last November?

“Honestly, I think it will be similar. I think it’s a car that should perform pretty well on the short tracks. Phoenix, obviously you have a little bit of aero effects going there, so it’ll be a little more interesting to see how the dirty air works and stuff like that. But, overall, I think it’ll be pretty similar to what it has been in the past. I think one thing that people are a little bit questionable about is the dogleg, how the car is going to handle through there and if you’re going to be using the apron at all. As we’ve seen at these other tracks, they don’t like going over bumps that well.”

How much do you think you’ll be able to take from this weekend’s race to this year’s November race?

“You’ll definitely be able to take some things. Obviously, we’ve had a test there already, so we have an idea of what we’re looking for. This car and what we’re thinking about will change a lot by the time November comes around, but you’ll still have that baseline of the first Phoenix race and that’s where the championship happens, so there will still be a lot of emphasis on it.”

How different is it getting onto and off of pit road with the NextGen car, so far?

“You can definitely get into your pit box harder and get on pit road harder with the bigger brakes on the car, but also the biggest thing is getting used to how fast the guys are. I think they’re a couple seconds faster than they used to be, so it’s definitely impressive. You just have to get used to that and also leaving the pit stall, how much you can push it, how you want to rev the engine up, so just little things here and there.”

You’ve had a solid racecar at the first three races thus far. To what would you attribute that solid start, aside from the mechanical issue at Las Vegas last weekend?

“I think it’s just a matter of trusting in our people. We have a lot of great people at Stewart-Haas Racing who have worked extremely hard on this new car, trying to get ahead of it. So I think we hit the ground running on this season. It’s a matter of getting our organization back to victory lane, where we belong. It wasn’t the year that any of us wanted last year, so I think we’re on our way to rebounding.”

No. 41 HaasTooling.com Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Cole Custer
Hometown: Ladera Ranch, California

Crew Chief: Mike Shiplett
Hometown: Amherst, Ohio

Car Chief: Tony Cardamone
Hometown: Bristol, Virginia

Engineer: Lee Deese
Hometown: Rockingham, North Carolina

Engineer: Scott Bingham
Hometown: Lawrenceville, Georgia

Spotter: Andy Houston
Hometown: Hickory, North Carolina

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Josh Leslie
Hometown: Mount Clemens, Michigan

Rear Tire Changer: Coleman Dollarhide
Hometown: Hickory, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Chad Emmons
Hometown: Tyler, Texas

Jack Man: Matthew Schlytter
Hometown: Ponte Vedra, Florida

Fuel Man: Dewayne Moore
Hometown: Griffin, Georgia

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Joe Zanolini
Hometown: Sybertsville, Pennsylvania

Shock Specialist: Aaron Kuehn
Hometown: Kensington, Connecticut

Tire Specialist: Austin Greco

Hometown: Harrisburg, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: David Rodrigues
Hometown: Santa Clarita, California

Transporter Co-Driver: Charlie Schleyer
Hometown: Youngsville, Pennsylvania

Lowered 2013 Challenger R/T | Customer Build

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Official Release
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AmericanMuscle Inspires the Muscle Car Community

PAOLI, Pa. (March 8th, 2022) – AmericanMuscle (AM) is back with another episode of its “Customer Builds” YouTube series. The new video shines the light on a lowered 2013 Challenger R/T with a staggered wheel and tire setup. AM’s Adam Maqboul hosts the virtual chat with owner Robert S. going over all the key details of his build and the reasons behind each choice. A complete mods list with additional photos and details can be found on Robert’s dedicated build page at americanmuscle.com. 

While Robert’s build is far from complete, he’s made several key appearance and performance upgrades starting with a set of Eibach Sportline Lowering Springs. Robert tackled the job himself using AM’s step-by-step install video and is pleased with the results and the compliments that followed. Next up were staggered wheels and tires along with adjustable camber bushings. Other key mods include a cold air intake, oil separator, exhaust, and an SRT style rear spoiler to add to his overall aesthetic.

“One of the things I admire about your mods list is you’re just completely set on what you know you like. You know you got them because you liked the appearance. You got them because it’s functional. You got them because you know that you can build on them in the future.” – Adam Maqboul

While the mods list on this 2013 Challenger R/T continues to grow, the current appearance and performance upgrades will inspire muscle car owners to get started on their own ride at home. Viewers are invited to get the full rundown on Robert’s build by heading to his dedicated build page on AM’s website.  

View it here:  https://www.americanmuscle.com/profiles/950

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

About AmericanMuscle

Starting out in 2003, AmericanMuscle quickly rose to be one of the leading aftermarket Mustang parts providers in the business. With the addition of Challenger in 2018 and Charger in 2020, AmericanMuscle provides the most sought-after parts, accessories, and fast shipping. Located just outside of Philadelphia, AmericanMuscle is dedicated to supporting the Mustang, Challenger and Charger communities with the highest level of customer service. Please visit http://www.AmericanMuscle.com for more information.

Brad Keselowski – Phoenix I Advance

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Official Release
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Team: No. 6 Violet Defense Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Matt McCall
Twitter: @RFK6Team, @RFKRacing and @keselowski
Race Format: 312 miles, 312 laps, Stages: 60-125-127
Practice – Saturday, March 12 at 1:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90
Qualifying – Saturday, March 12 at 2:05 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90
Race – Sunday, March 13 at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Weekend Format

· With practice and qualifying back on the horizon for the NASCAR Cup Series, with it comes a unique format. For Phoenix, the field will be separated into two groups who will each have a 15-minute warm-up/practice.

· Immediately following that brief session, qualifying will begin, also split into two groups, with the top five fastest cars in each group transferring to the final round. The final round of qualifying to determine the pole sitter will feature 10 cars, as all qualifying this weekend will include just one lap per car.

Keselowski at Phoenix Raceway

· Keselowski makes his 26th start at Phoenix this Sunday, where he has 13 top-10s all-time with an average finish of 12.5. Despite no wins at the 1-mile track, Keselowski has three-straight top-10s in Arizona with a runner-up result in the 2020 season finale, one of his two P2 finishes there (2018, fall).

· He’s led 283 laps at Phoenix in 14 different races and is coming off a 10th-place run last fall. In the 2021 spring event he finished fourth after starting from the pole.

· Keselowski is a two-time Xfinity Series winner in Phoenix, earning the victory in 2018 in the No. 22 entry, and in 2014 for Team Penske. Overall he has 21 NXS starts there with 15 top-10s. He also made two Truck starts there in 2005 and 2008 with a best finish of sixth in his own No. 19 truck for BKR.

Matt McCall at Phoenix Raceway

· McCall will call his 15th Cup race from Phoenix on Sunday where he has five top-10s and a best finish of second, which came in his very first start with Jamie McMurray back in 2015.

· Dating back three spring events from the desert, McCall has finishes of 15th (2021), sixth (2020) and seventh (2019). He most recently ran 16th with Kurt Busch last fall, and overall has an 11.7 average finish at the 1-mile track.

QUOTE WORTHY
Keselowski on racing at Phoenix:
“We obviously have our work cut out for us to try and get back on the right track here in terms of finishing position. We have no doubt had speed, I unfortunately just made a mistake last week and we have not been able to come away with finishes on paper to accompany our bright spots. I am confident in this team, though, and know we’re doing everything we can to put it together this weekend in Phoenix and come away with a great run in the Violet Defense Ford.”

Last Time Out

Keselowski was in the mix inside the top five after leading three laps in Sunday’s race from Las Vegas before spinning out on the front stretch. The spin would put him laps down to the leaders, something he was ultimately unable to overcome to finish 24th.

On the Car

Violet Defense returns for its second points race of 2022 and third appearance overall.

About Violet Defense

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

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