Chevrolet drivers qualify No. 1 in NHRA opener

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February 20, 2022

CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
LUCAS OIL NHRA WINTERNATIONALS PRESENED BY PROTECTTHEHARVEST.COM
AUTO CLUB RACEWAY IN POMONA, CALIFORMIA
FEB. 19, 2022

Chevrolet drivers qualify No. 1 in Top Fuel and Pro Stock

• Brittany Force starts season with 33rd career Top Fuel top honor
• Erica Enders takes her Pro Stock Camaro SS to the top in 900th race
• Robert Hight qualifies No. 2 in Funny Car in his Camaro SS

POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 19, 2022) — Qualifying in the three professional categories for the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com showed that Chevrolet teams and drivers are fast and well-positioned for victories in the season opener.

Brittany Force claimed her 33rd career No. 1 qualifier honor in Top Fuel – and 11th in the past 14 races – with a blistering run of 3.661 seconds in her Monster Energy Chevrolet dragster on the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona track.

“It feels awesome just to be back out here at my home track, starting a new season with the Monster Energy/Flav-R-Pac team. Even better to go No. 1. First race of the season it just pumps all of us up to see what we can do this season,” said Force, the 2021 championship runner-up who will be seeking her first Winternationals victory.

Four-time Pro Stock champion Erica Enders earned the 23rd No. 1 qualifier of her career with a pass of 6.521 seconds at 210.44 mph in the Melling Performance Camaro SS.

“She’s very consistent. She responds well to the input my crew chiefs give her. We haven’t scored a whole lot of No. 1 qualifier lately, but it’s a great way to start off the season,” Enders said.

Fourteen Camaro SS drivers will be aiming to hold the silver shifter – the trophy created for the winner of the 900th race in Pro Stock history. Bill Jenkins won the first race in the class in the 1970 Winternationals in his big-block Camaro.

Reigning Pro Stock champion Greg Anderson will seek his 100th career victory in the class, which would make him the second NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series driver to hit the milestone and fifth overall. Sixteen-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force leads the way with 154 wins. A victory by Anderson, who qualified fourth in the HendrickCars.com Camaro SS, would also tie Bob Glidden (7) for the most in Pro Stock in the Winternationals.

Camrie Carusso, who was a crew member on Enders’ car a few years ago, qualified eighth for her NHRA Pro Stock debut in the PowerBuilt Camaro SS. Race day will mark the second time two female drivers have competed for a Wally in the same event in Pro Stock history.

Robert Hight held the top spot in Funny Car qualifications based on his 3.882-second pass in Q1 until the final run of the third and final session. Hight improved his time to 3.861 seconds in the Auto Club of Southern California Camaro SS and qualified second. John Force qualified 16th in the BlueDEF Platinum Camaro SS.

FS1 will telecast taped eliminations at 10 p.m. ET on Feb. 20.

An interview with Top Fuel No. 1 qualifier BRITTANY FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, MONSTER ENERGY CHEVROLET DRAGSTER (33rd of career):
HOW GOOD DID THAT LAST RUN FEEL?
“It feels awesome just to be back out here at my home track, starting a new season with the Monster Energy/Flav-R-Pac team. I’m excited to be back with all of them, doing what we love. Even better to go No. 1. First race of the season it just pumps all of us up to see what we can do this season.”

IT SEEMS YOU BUILT UP TO THAT RUN.
“We were out at Phoenix testing. I think we made nine or 10 runs and it was a little bit of a struggle for us. We learned what we needed to, but we only made one full pass. We were making half-track runs most of the time, and we came out here and struggled on a couple qualifying runs. So, it felt good to have a solid pass down the track going into race day, and at 3.66 that’s pretty outstanding. I’m pumped, I’m excited about it, and I give that up to David Grubnic and Mac Savage and all our guys.”

HOW FRUSTRATING WAS IT TO NOT MAKE THAT ONE GLORY RUN AT TESTING?
“It was fine. We’re out there to find our routine of things again. Grubnic asked, ‘Brittany, do you need to make full passes?’ I told him I’d love to make a few going into Pomona. I stand by David Grubnic and what he wants to do. We did make one full pass. You want to get back in the feel of things, but honestly getting in the car, warming it up, doing a burnout at 60 feet is all you need. Typically, testing is all over the place with everyone trying to find their groove again. It’s always up and down and never as planned.”

WHEN YOU COME UP WITH GREAT CONDITIONS LIKE THIS, DO YOU KNOW GRUBNIC IS GOING TO TAKE YOU TO NO. 1?
“He’s really quiet. He has so much going on in his head. He just comes to me and says, ‘I’m not going to say anything.’ I already know what that means. We were in safe with our run last night, so it gave us the opportunity to push and take some chances.”

WHAT WOULD WINNING YOUR FIRST WINTERNATIONALS MEAN TO YOU?
“This is my home track. I love it here. I grew up here, sitting in the stands watching my dad. So, this is a very special track to me. It’s where my love of drag racing began. I have so many great memories here, standing in the winner’s circle with my dad and my sisters. Standing in my own winner’s circle in 2017 when we won the championship. So, to do it at the opening of the season, that’s what we’re going for. That’s why we’re here.”

An interview with Pro Stock No. 1 qualifier ERICA ENDERS, ELITE MOTORSPORTS, MELLING PERFORMANCE CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (23rd of her career):
DO YOU FEEL GOOD GOING INTO RACE DAY?
“Absolutely. This is probably the best race car we’ve had in a long time even considering the Countdown last year. We had a goal in the offseason to come out swinging. I think we have something to prove. We got our Chevy Camaro tuned up and to lay down three really consistent runs during qualifying and that gives you confidence heading into race day.”

THE 900TH PRO STOCK RACE AND YOU’RE GOING FOR YOUR FIRST WINTERNATIONALS VICTORY. HOW EXCITED ARE YOU?
“Tomorrow is very exciting, and I’ll try to focus on keeping it like a normal race. I just go up and try to control every aspect in my lane and try to do the best I can at the starting line, hit my shift points and turn on four win lights. We’ve been fortunate enough to battle it out for awards and it definitely would mean a lot to take that bad boy home.”

HOW DO YOU APPROACH TOMORROW?
“It’s another goal my team and I had this year. We’re not out here to make friends. We’re going to do our best to put our Melling Performance Camaro in the winner’s circle.”

CHEVROLET FROM THE COCKPIT
TOP FUEL:
AUSTIN PROCK, JOHN FORCE RACING, MONTANA BRANDS/ROCKY MOUNTAIN TWIST CHEVROLET DRAGSTER (qualified ninth): “Overall, a pretty good start to the weekend. It’s been a while since I’ve driven one of these things, and this is the shortest shut down on the circuit, so you have to make sure you have the laundry out on time. Tomorrow we’ll have a decent baseline and go from there.”

FUNNY CAR:
JOHN FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, BLUEDEF PLATINUM CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (qualified 16th): “I’m just glad to be back in a PEAK Chevy, glad to be starting the season. This BlueDEF team is working hard, we’ll be OK. Danny Hood, Tim Fabrisi, we’re looking good for this year.”

ROBERT HIGHT, JOHN FORCE RACING, AUTO CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (qualified second): We’ve got to get one run at a time and four on Sunday and then we’ll be excited.”

PRO STOCK:
GREG ANDERSON, KB RACING, HENDRICKCARS.COM CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (qualified fourth): “We came in a little bit too conservative. We tested over at Phoenix and the racetrack just wasn’t that great, so we came in and tried to be safe on that first run yesterday. It was very safe; it just wasn’t quite quick enough and that’s what you get for that. It’s more indicative today of what we can run tomorrow. The car is as fast as anybody. We just lost a couple of qualifying spots because we were a little slack yesterday. It’s going to be a tough year.”

KYLE KORETSKY, KB RACING, LUCAS OIL CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (qualified third): “We’re happy with how everything went. Friday, we started out really strong and ended up No. 3. We’ll get ready for tomorrow.”

DALLAS GLENN, KB RACING, RAD TORQUE SYSTEMS CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (qualified seventh): “The car is working really good; it’s been good at 60 foot every run. I’m getting the clutch pedal handled, so the (fourth) run was my best light yet. I think the car is making good, clean runs and we’re just going to chip away at it. I think we’ll be good by the end of race day or even next race. The car is there and everything is there. We just have to put it all together.”

CAMRIE CARUSSO, CARUSSO RACING, POWERBUILT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (qualified eighth in her first Pro Stock race): “It’s been crazy, it’s been fun and we’ve learned a ton. The PowerBuilt Camaro has been good to me and so has my team. We’ll be ready to bring our A game tomorrow.”

MATT HARTFORD, HARTFORD RACING, TOTAL SEAL CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (qualified 10th): “(Final run) We needed to get off the bump spot. We’ve not done a very good job this weekend – at least today. Yesterday I thought we made a good run, but we had a fuel that was not correct in a correctly labeled jug, and we got (penalized) for fuel and that put us way behind. The Total Seal/CIP1 Camaro knows how to win rounds, so we’ll go up there and execute tomorrow.”
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.

Rookie Austin Hill Captures NASCAR Xfinity Series Victory – the Beef. It’s What For Dinner. 300 at Daytona International Speedway

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Official Release

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February 20, 2022

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 19, 2022) – Austin Hill nosed ahead of AJ Allmendinger moments before a last-lap caution period at Daytona International Speedway to earn his first NASCAR Xfinity Series victory in Saturday’s Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. 300.

The caution froze the field with Hill declared the winner in his first NASCAR Xfinity Series start with Richard Childress Racing.

In a large pack, the cars were streaking down the backstretch at the 2.5-mile superspeedway when an aggressive push from Anthony Alfredo’s No. 23 Chevrolet turned Snider’s No. 31 Camaro in front of Jade Buford’s No. 48 Chevrolet.

Snider climbed from his destroyed race car in yet another testament to the safety of the vehicles. Snider visited the infield care center, where he was treated and released.

The victory was Hill’s first in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in his 16th start, after he moved from the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series to a full-time ride with RCR in the Xfinity ranks.

All told, nine cars were involved in the wreck that forced the race to end under the sixth caution of the evening.

Hill developed a strong run on the backstretch and made the winning pass after Allmendinger’s Chevrolet advanced too far in front of the lead pack.

“We timed it perfectly,” an elated Hill said after climbing from his car on the frontstretch. “Obviously, that caution came out, but we had a heck of a run, so who knows what would have happened there.

“I was able to drag back, the 98 (Riley Herbst) gave me a heck of a push, we were able to get by (Allmendinger), and this is so crazy.

“I won (a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season opener) in 2019 with a new team, now we’re with RCR, first race with them. We were able to get the job done… Man, I’m speechless. (Crew chief) Andy Street, (owner) Richard Childress, just all these guys back at RCR for believing in me. It’s been a fun offseason, and now we get to go race for a championship. Let’s go!”

Allmendinger was credited with his second straight runner-up finish in a Daytona Xfinity Series race.

“I’d have to go see the replay, study it,” Allmendinger said. “I’m sure I will. Kind of kept trying to block both lanes, and it looked like Austin moved up there and timed it perfect where he just got a massive shove, and I probably could have tried to really block, but I think I probably would have wrecked us if I would have done it.

“Seeing there, I’ve got to be better sometimes not getting too far out in the lead. I don’t know, I’ll just keep working on it, man.”

Noah Gragson was third, followed by Herbst and Justin Allgaier. Sheldon Creed, Alfredo, Ryan Sieg, Josh Bilicki and Brandon Brown completed the top 10.

Hill led four times for 23 of the 120 laps, second only to the 38 of reigning series champion Daniel Hemric, who was the victim of a 10-car crash on Lap 91. Hemric finished 28th, four laps down.

Another casualty of the final wreck was Ty Gibbs, who was making his first Xfinity start on the Daytona oval. Gibbs was 11th when the field was frozen by the caution.

Speedweeks Presented By AdventHealth culminates Sunday with the 64th running of the DAYTONA 500, which is sold completely out. The Great American Race is set for a 2:30 p.m. ET start (FOX, FOX Deportes, MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Reining NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kyle Larson will start from the Busch Light Pole Position.

Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, as well as the all-new NASCAR Tracks App, for the latest speedway news.

NASCAR Xfinity Series Race – 41st Annual Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner. 300

Daytona International Speedway

Daytona Beach, Florida

Saturday, February 19, 2022

            1. (2)  Austin Hill #, Chevrolet, 120.

            2. (11)  AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 120.

            3. (14)  Noah Gragson, Chevrolet, 120.

            4. (10)  Riley Herbst, Ford, 120.

            5. (17)  Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, 120.

            6. (4)  Sheldon Creed #, Chevrolet, 120.

            7. (16)  Anthony Alfredo, Chevrolet, 120.

            8. (19)  Ryan Sieg, Ford, 120.

            9. (31)  Josh Bilicki, Chevrolet, 120.

            10. (13)  Brandon Brown, Chevrolet, 120.

            11. (15)  Ty Gibbs, Toyota, 120.

            12. (38)  Ryan Truex, Toyota, 120.

            13. (21)  JJ Yeley, Chevrolet, 120.

            14. (6)  Landon Cassill, Chevrolet, 120.

            15. (20)  Jeffrey Earnhardt, Toyota, 120.

            16. (7)  Josh Berry, Chevrolet, 120.

            17. (9)  Brandon Jones, Toyota, 120.

            18. (8)  Ryan Vargas, Chevrolet, 120.

            19. (27)  Jeb Burton, Chevrolet, 120.

            20. (25)  Bayley Currey, Chevrolet, 120.

            21. (36)  Kyle Sieg, Ford, 120.

            22. (33)  Myatt Snider, Chevrolet, Accident, 119.

            23. (3)  Jade Buford, Chevrolet, Accident, 119.

            24. (32)  Tommy Joe Martins, Chevrolet, Accident, 119.

            25. (18)  Matt Mills, Chevrolet, Accident, 119.

            26. (28)  Joey Gase, Ford, 119.

            27. (30)  Jesse Iwuji #, Chevrolet, 118.

            28. (1)  Daniel Hemric, Chevrolet, 116.

            29. (29)  Joe Graf Jr., Ford, 110.

            30. (34)  Sam Mayer, Chevrolet, 105.

            31. (24)  Josh Williams, Chevrolet, Accident, 95.

            32. (23)  Kyle Weatherman, Chevrolet, Accident, 91.

            33. (37)  Shane Lee, Toyota, Accident, 91.

            34. (5)  Brett Moffitt, Chevrolet, Accident, 91.

            35. (26)  CJ McLaughlin, Ford, Accident, 91.

            36. (12)  Drew Dollar, Toyota, Accident, 14.

            37. (35)  Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, Accident, 13.

            38. (22)  Caesar Bacarella, Chevrolet, Engine, 11.

Average Speed of Race Winner: 136.605 mph.

Time of Race: 2 Hrs, 11 Mins, 46 Secs. Margin of Victory: Under Caution Seconds.

Caution Flags: 6 for 28 laps.

Lead Changes: 18 among 9 drivers.

Lap Leaders: D. Hemric 0;D. Hemric 1-2;A. Hill # 3-10;D. Hemric 11-33;J. Graf Jr. 34-36;B. Brown 37-48;N. Gragson 49-59;D. Hemric 60-66;T. Gibbs 67;D. Hemric 68-73;T. Gibbs 74-75;J. Berry 76;J. Bilicki 77-86;A. Hill # 87-97;A. Allmendinger 98-102;A. Hill # 103-105;A. Allmendinger 106-117;N. Gragson 118;A. Allmendinger 119;A. Hill # 120.

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Daniel Hemric 4 times for 38 laps; Austin Hill # 4 times for 23 laps; AJ Allmendinger 3 times for 18 laps; Brandon Brown 1 time for 12 laps; Noah Gragson 2 times for 12 laps; Josh Bilicki 1 time for 10 laps; Ty Gibbs 2 times for 3 laps; Joe Graf Jr. 1 time for 3 laps; Josh Berry 1 time for 1 lap.

Stage #1 Top Ten: 11,16,98,21,9,54,7,39,68,1

Stage #2 Top Ten: 11,39,1,16,7,68,54,8,19,98

About Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a state-of-the-art motorsports facility and was awarded the SportsBusiness Journal’s prestigious Sports Business Award for Sports Facility of the Year in 2016. Daytona International Speedway is the home of The Great American Race – the DAYTONA 500. Though the season-opening NASCAR Cup Series event garners most of the attention – as well as the largest audience in motorsports – the approximately 500-acre motorsports complex, also known as the World Center of Racing, boasts the most diverse schedule of racing on the globe. In addition to at least nine major event weekends, the Speedway grounds are also used extensively for events that include concerts, civic and social gatherings, car shows, photo shoots, production vehicle testing and police motorcycle training. The iconic venue will be the site of a host of motorsports events early in 2022, beginning with AHRMA Classic Motofest and the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA in January, and the 64th DAYTONA 500, which will debut the first points race for NASCAR’s ‘Next Gen’ car as part of Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth in February. The tradition-rich 81st Annual Bike Week At DAYTONA returns in March, featuring DAYTONA Supercross and the DAYTONA 200, and in May with the Heroes Honor Festival. Later in the summer during Independence Day weekend, the track, in association with Torneos, will host Soccer Fest before the NASCAR Cup Series returns for the final race of the regular season with the Coke Zero Sugar 400 on Aug. 27.

Herbst Scores Strong Fourth-Place Drive at Daytona

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Official Release

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February 20, 2022

Monster Energy Driver Picks Up Second Top-Five at Daytona
Date: Saturday, Feb. 19
Event: Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. 300 (Round 1 of 33)
Series: NASCAR Xfinity Series
Location: Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway (2.5-mile oval)
Format: 120 laps, broken into three stages (30 laps/30 laps/60 laps)
Start/Finish: 10th / 4th (Running, completed 120 of 120 laps)
Point Standing: 3rd (42 points, nine out of first)
Race Winner: Austin Hill of Richard Childress Racing (Chevrolet)
Stage 1 Winner: Daniel Hemric of Kaulig Racing (Chevrolet)
Stage 2 Winner: Daniel Hemric of Kaulig Racing (Chevrolet)

Overview:

Riley Herbst picked up right where he left off last year by scoring a strong fourth-place finish in the season-opening NASCAR Xfinity Series race Saturday night at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. The driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing ended 2021 with a fourth-place drive in the season finale at Phoenix Raceway. Herbst was a top-10 mainstay at Daytona, starting 10th and staying among the top-10 throughout the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. 300. In the end, a two-wide battle to the finish worked out in Herbst’s favor as the Las Vegas native crossed the line in fourth to earn the 10th top-five of his nascent Xfinity Series career.

Riley Herbst, driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing:

“This was our goal. We finished last year’s season finale at Phoenix in fourth and we wanted another top five. That’s what we were missing last year was consistency, so it was good to start 2022 with a top-five run. We had a fast Monster Energy Ford Mustang.”

Notes:

● Herbst finished third in the first stage to earn eight bonus points and 10th in the second stage to earn one more bonus point.

● This was Herbst’s second top-five at Daytona. He equaled his previous best finish at Daytona – fourth in August 2020.

● Austin Hill won the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. 300 to score his first career Xfinity Series victory.

● There were six caution periods for a total of 28 laps.

● Twenty-one of the 38 drivers in the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. 300 finished on the lead lap.

● AJ Allmendinger leaves Daytona as the championship leader by just two points over second-place Austin Hill.

Next Up:

The next event on the Xfinity Series schedule is the Production Alliance 300 on Saturday, Feb. 26 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. The race starts at 5 p.m. EST with live coverage provided by FS1 and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Toyota Racing – NXS Daytona Post-Race Report – 02.19.22

By

Official Release

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February 20, 2022

THREE GR SUPRA TOP-15 FINISHES AT DAYTONA

DAYTONA BEACH (February 19, 2022) – Three Toyota GR Supra drivers finished in the top-15 in Saturday’s season-opening NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) race at Daytona International Speedway, including Ty Gibbs (11th), Ryan Truex (12th) and Jeffrey Earnhardt (15th).

Toyota Racing Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Daytona International Speedway
Race 1 of 33 – 300 miles, 120 laps

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, Austin Hill*
2nd, AJ Allmendinger*
3rd, Noah Gragson*
4th, Riley Herbst*
5th, Justin Allgaier*
11th, TY GIBBS
12th, RYAN TRUEX
15th, JEFFREY EARNHARDT
17th, BRANDON JONES
33rd, SHANE LEE
36th, DREW DOLLAR
*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

TY GIBBS, No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 11th

How was the race as a whole?

“I feel like we were pretty good with our Monster Energy GR Supra. We couldn’t suck up too well, so that was frustrating at points, but I feel like overall we were pretty good. I kind of got bottled up with just some dumb moves with experienced drivers. I feel like that is what caused that – I mean, we were last lap, but if you are 22nd, and you are three-wide with nowhere to go, you are not winning the race. Just driving dumb and cleaning everybody out is not the best decision, but that is just part of it. You see these things happen and you have to avoid them. I tried my best and went around there. Luckily, I didn’t flip over or anything, but I felt like we had a good run. I enjoyed it. I don’t know if superspeedway racing is my cup of tea or not, but I’m excited to go on to Fontana next week.”

RYAN TRUEX, No. 26 Circle B Diecast Toyota GR Supra, Sam Hunt Racing

Finishing Position: 12th

Solid run all night, how was the race from your seat?

“Our strategy went perfect. We were going to do four tires on both pit stops. We had to start last, so we had nothing to lose. The Circle B GR Supra was good. I needed a pusher, but other than that, we ran really well. We did what we planned to do until the very end – the very last half lap at least – we were inches from making it through that wreck. All-in-all, I think Allen (Hart, crew chief) did a really good job, the team did a really good job, pit stops were good. We had to do our green flag pit stop last minute and executed it flawlessly. Just proud of the team, and hopefully I can do more with these guys.”

JEFFREY EARNHARDT, No. 24 ForeverLawn Toyota GR Supra, Sam Hunt Racing

Finishing Position: 15th

How was your race as a whole?

“I think today is a true testament to the Sam Hunt Racing team. We didn’t give up all day. We didn’t have the best start with the battery issue, but we fought back and raced hard to get those Lucky Dogs and get those laps back. We got back on the lead lap and just fought all day. The guys made the right adjustments – the right calls – and we were able to keep this thing pretty clean. We went through the grass. I think if they put some ForeverLawn turf there, no one would have any problems. I’m really just happy for everyone. Yeah, we wanted to finish better but starting the year with a top-15 and seeing how hard these guys are willing to fight as a team is exciting for everyone involved. All the ForeverLawn guys are pumped to see just the fight in these guys. These Toyota Supras were fast all day long. We had to fight to be there in the end, and came up a little bit short. We will build on this and go on to Fontana.”

BRANDON JONES, No. 19 Menards/Proctor and Gamble – Swiffer Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 17th

How was today’s race?

“We were just kind of wrong place, wrong time at the end. I knew when I heard last lap and where we were kind of positioned that it was going to happen at some point. Didn’t really get it that bad. I actually followed somebody through the grass and I think that’s kind of what really took us out. All in all, not a terrible day. I think we got just a little bit of stage points there. Just kind of kept getting shuffled to the bottom and could never get to the that top lane. I’ve seen multiple times where the bottom here somewhat builds back up and it becomes pretty good, but it just seems that top lane is where you wanted to be all race. This place is tough. It’s good to come out the way we did I guess and we’ll go to the next one and get ready to race.”

DREW DOLLAR, No. 18 Lnyx Capital Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 36th

What happened out there?

“I haven’t got to see it yet. They just checked up really quick in front of us. Just kind of unfortunate circumstances. We all got bottled up on the bottom. I guess I got the bad end of it, but I had a really fast Toyota GR Supra to fire off there. I felt like we were going to have something at the end if we could have just been there. Unfortunate end to our day, but we will get back at it at Talladega.”

Jeremy Clements actually blamed it on inexperienced drivers. What is your response to that?

“I don’t really know. There is not much to say. I will go back and look at it and I will work to get better, but I have a great team. Joe Gibbs Racing – thanks to them for bringing a great car, and we will go back at it. I don’t know; I’ll go watch the race.”

#

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.

RCR NXS Post Race Report: Daytona International Speedway

By

Official Release

-

February 20, 2022

Austin Hill and the No. 21 Bennett Transportation & Logistics/United Rentals Chevrolet Team Kick Off 2022 Season With Thrilling Win at Daytona International Speedway

Finish: 1st
Start: 2nd
Points: 2nd

“We joined Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series to win, and that’s what we did tonight. I’m so happy for Bennett Transportation & Logistics, United Rentals, Global Industrial and all of the partners at RCR. I worked really well with my spotter, Derek Kneeland, all night. Throughout the race, I kept telling Derek and crew chief Andy Street that I was putting information in the memory bank to remember for late in the race. We timed it perfectly. I was able to drag back and the No. 98 car gave me a heck of a push. We were able to get by. I won at Daytona International Speedway in 2019 with a new team, so it’s cool to join RCR and to win my first race with them. It means so much to me that Andy Street, Danny Lawrence, Richard Childress, and all of the guys at RCR and ECR believe in me. It’s been a fun off-season, and now we get to go race for a championship.” -Austin Hill

Sheldon Creed Races The No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet To Solid Sixth-Place Finish at Daytona International Speedway

Finish: 6th
Start: 4th
Points: 9th

“We had a really strong and fast No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet Camaro, so I have to thank everyone at RCR and ECR for all of the work they did in the off season to put us in the best position possible to start off 2022. We ran up front and stayed out of trouble all night. Even after we got behind, we kept pushing and came home with a solid finish. It’s a really great start to the 2022 season for our whole team and I’m excited to keep this momentum going next weekend at Auto Club Speedway. Congrats to my teammate, Austin Hill, coming home with the win at Daytona. On to California.” -Sheldon Creed

Ford Performance NASCAR: Herbst and Sieg Post Top 10 Run in Daytona NXS Opener

By

Official Release

-

February 20, 2022

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner 300 | Saturday, February 19, 2022

FORD FINISHING RESULTS
4th – Riley Herbst
8th – Ryan Sieg
21st – Kyle Sieg
26th – Joey Gase
29th – Joe Graf Jr.
35th – CJ McLaughlin

RILEY HERBST, No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang – “This was our goal. We finished last year’s season finale at Phoenix in fourth and we want another top five. That’s what we were missing last year is consistency, so it was good to start 2022 with a top-five run. We had a fast Ford Mustang. Monster Energy, everybody supporting us and ready to get out to California next week.”

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO GET OFF TO A GOOD START THIS SEASON? “It’s huge. Last year, I think we had three DNFs in a row and just put us in a hole and then we battled back all year long. To start the season off with a fourth, all of these 98 guys deserve to be in victory lane and we’re working really hard to get there.”

THOUGHTS ON THE LAST LAP. YOU WERE FOURTH. WHAT KIND OF MOVE DID YOU WANT TO MAKE? “I was looking for Austin Cindric in the 22 car to help us out, but he wasn’t there. We gave a big shot to the 21 and that propelled him by the 16 I think. I’m ready for Talladega.”

RYAN SIEG, No. 39 CMRoofing.com/A-Game Ford Mustang – “It was a great day for our CMR Roofing Ford. I wasn’t gonna sit there and ride in the single-file line. It happened twice and I was one of the ones trying to get at the bottom. I just kept clawing and fighting our way to the front and it worked out right there in Stage 2 and at the end. All in all, a good day for our Ford.”

WERE YOU CLOSE TO THE 31? “I did see him out of my peripheral vision going backwards and then he went up, and then that’s all I could see because I got hit. We got some right-front damage at the end and thought I was gonna plow the wall. I got hooked there, but, all in all, just a great day to come out of Daytona not too bad. It’s a good points day and we’ll move on to California and do it again and try to get a top 10 there, too.”

CJ MCLAUGHLIN, No. 38 Sci Aps Ford Mustang – “I just got real aero loose coming out of four. We had a great Sci Aps Ford and RSS built me a great car. We were trying to stay out of the big one and then I caused it, so I feel bad for tearing everyone’s stuff up. I just got aero loose, tried to correct it and it came back and cleared everyone out. It’s my own fault. I had a great car and can’t thank Sci Aps and my family enough for helping me get this dream.”

WHAT’S THE THOUGHT PROCESS WHEN YOU KNOW YOU’RE TRYING TO CORRECT? “I thought I had it corrected and it just chopped back up the racetrack and that’s when I cleared everyone out. I was worried I was gonna take my teammate out because I got into Kyle’s bumper for a second and it was just turned around there.”

Déjà Vu: Heim Captures Second Straight Lucas Oil 200 Driven By General Tire ARCA Menards Series Victory at Daytona International Speedway

By

Official Release

-

February 20, 2022

DeLand, Florida Native Daniel Dye, Who Attends High School Just a Few Miles Away From Daytona, Finishes Third

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 19, 2022) – Corey Heim and Venturini Motorsports experienced a déjà vu Saturday at Daytona International Speedway.

Last year, Heim and his team opened the season with a superspeedway victory when he won the race following an overtime restart. While it was not technically an overtime finish this time, the 2022 Lucas Oil 200 Driven By General Tire ended with a restart on the final lap. And once again, Heim wheeled his No. 20 Crescent Tools Toyota for Venturini Motorsports to the checkered flag.

The victory marked VMS’ fifth consecutive ARCA Menards Series triumph at Daytona. It was Heim’s eighth trip to Victory Lane in the ARCA Menards Series dating back to 2020.

RELATED: Complete results from ARCA opener at Daytona

“My team made it easy on me,” Heim said. “I had great teammates with me the whole way. Venturini Motorsports — the most organized team out here. Toyota Racing has helped me get here, Crescent Tools … It just all came together for this race, and it worked out.”

The teammate who spent the majority of Saturday’s race pushing Heim was Parker Chase, who finished second, a new career high in the ARCA Menards Series.

Chase was on Heim’s bumper as the two crossed the finish line.

“The objective here today was to have a Venturini car win, and we succeeded at that,” Chase said. “Five in a row for Venturini, which is incredible. That’s what we came here to do.”

A stalled car brought out the final caution of Saturday’s race with four laps to go, setting up the final-lap restart. Drew Dollar, who was driving the No. 18 Lynx Capital Toyota for Kyle Busch Motorsports, crashed hard on the backstretch during the final lap before the leaders drove on to take the checkered. Dollar was evaluated in and released from the Daytona infield care center.

Daniel Dye, who attends high school just a few miles away from Daytona in DeLand, Florida, finished third Saturday to open his first full-time season in the ARCA Menards Series running for GMS Racing.

“To finish third, with us points racing this year, I think there were 36 cars in this race — to be in the top five and finish third clean is a great start to our year,” Dye said. “I’m just proud to be here and part of this GMS team.”

Sean Corr and Gus Dean rounded out the top five in Saturday’s race. Andy Jankowiak, Mason Diaz, Dave Mader III, Toni Breidinger and Ryan Huff completed the top 10.

Speedweeks Presented By AdventHealth culminates Sunday with the 64th running of the DAYTONA 500, which is sold completely out. The Great American Race is set for a 2:30 p.m. ET start (FOX, FOX Deportes, MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, as well as the all-new NASCAR Tracks App, for the latest speedway news.

About Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a state-of-the-art motorsports facility and was awarded the SportsBusiness Journal’s prestigious Sports Business Award for Sports Facility of the Year in 2016. Daytona International Speedway is the home of The Great American Race – the DAYTONA 500. Though the season-opening NASCAR Cup Series event garners most of the attention – as well as the largest audience in motorsports – the approximately 500-acre motorsports complex, also known as the World Center of Racing, boasts the most diverse schedule of racing on the globe. In addition to at least nine major event weekends, the Speedway grounds are also used extensively for events that include concerts, civic and social gatherings, car shows, photo shoots, production vehicle testing and police motorcycle training. The iconic venue will be the site of a host of motorsports events early in 2022, beginning with AHRMA Classic Motofest and the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA in January, and the 64th DAYTONA 500, which will debut the first points race for NASCAR’s ‘Next Gen’ car as part of Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth in February. The tradition-rich 81st Annual Bike Week At DAYTONA returns in March, featuring DAYTONA Supercross and the DAYTONA 200, and in May with the Heroes Honor Festival. Later in the summer during Independence Day weekend, the track, in association with Torneos, will host Soccer Fest before the NASCAR Cup Series returns for the final race of the regular season with the Coke Zero Sugar 400 on Aug. 27.

Toyota Racing NHRA Pomona Post-Qualifying Report — 2.19.22

By

Official Release

-

February 20, 2022

TOYOTA TOP FUEL DRAGSTERS QUALIFY TOP-10 IN POMONA
On-track debut of GR Supra Funny Car Set for Pomona with J.R. Todd and Alexis DeJoria

POMONA, Calif. (February 19, 2022) – The five Toyota Top Fuel dragsters all qualified in the top-10 for Sunday’s NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series kickoff at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, California. The GR Supra Funny Car will make its inaugural race start with Toyota drivers J.R. Todd and Alexis DeJoria piloting the new bodies.

Toyota Post-Qualifying Recap
NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series
Auto Club Raceway at Pomona
Race 1 of 22

TOYOTA TOP FUEL QUALIFYING POSITIONS

Name	Car	Qualifying Position	First Round Opponent
Brittany Force	Monster Energy Top Fuel Dragster*	1	R. August Jr.
Justin Ashley	Phillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	2	J. Maroney
Doug Kalitta	Mac Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	5	T. Schumacher
Steve Torrence	Capco Contractors Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	6	D. Foley
Shawn Langdon	DHL Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	8	J. Hart
Antron Brown	Matco Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	10	L. Pruett

TOYOTA FUNNY CAR QUALIFYING POSITIONS

Name	Car	Qualifying Position	First Round Opponent
Ron Capps	NAPA Auto Parts Funny Car*	1	J. Force
Alexis DeJoria	Bandero Tequila Toyota GR Supra Funny Car	5	J. Campbell
J.R. Todd	DHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car	8	B. Bode

(*non-Toyota driver)

TOYOTA QUOTES

JUSTIN ASHLEY, Phillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, Davis Motorsports

Qualifying Position: 2nd

Following your run in Q1 on Friday night, how did it feel to put down such a fast pass to post the provisional number one qualifier position?

“That run felt great. You have the whole off-season that is relatively quick since it is only two months, but at the end of the day it feels like it has been forever. It is exciting to be able to get back in this Phillips Connect Toyota dragster, to go down there on the first run of the season and go right to the top with a run as good as that in front of our new sponsor. That is exactly what we were looking for.”

DOUG KALITTA, Mac Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, Kalitta Motorsports

Qualifying Position: 5th

How strong is this Mac Tools Toyota and what are your expectations for tomorrow’s race?

“The Mac Tools Toyota dragster in the third session there was .372 was an 0. So I’m not exactly sure where that puts us, but I feel real good for taking that baby into Sunday. It should be good. I love running at this place. Just a lot of confidence in my team. We’ll up there and hope to have a great day tomorrow.”

How is the communication going with the new crew chief line-up on this race car?

“The new calls are good. And we’re only going to get better. So you know we’ll just keep at it. Looking forward to driving this thing for sure tomorrow.”

SHAWN LANGDON, DHL Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, Kalitta Motorsports

Qualifying Position: 8th

You were in a must qualify position going into Q3, what happened in the first two qualifying runs and how do you feel about the pass you were able to put down in this session?

“Obviously, we had some mechanical issues on the first two runs. We had a clutch box malfunction and then we had a fitting break that let the clutch fluid out. We just had just some little malfunctions, but we just really went back up there and just really like Q1, there’s a lot left in the car, but it made a good run .374. That should get us in the top half of the field. And we just really kind of had to go back and go back to our testing notes. We got little notes, you know, just from a couple days testing and so we just kind of went to scenarios where you just trust the process and go with your gut instinct, and fortunately it paid off.”

Did you feel like this team finally got to show how strong the car is for this weekend?

“It’s not there yet, but it’s close.”

# # #

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 14^th 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.

Austin Hill scores first Xfinity Series career win at Daytona

By

Andrew Kim

-

February 19, 2022

Photo by Patrick Sue-Chan for SpeedwayMedia.com.

In his first event as a full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series competitor, Austin Hill overtook AJ Allmendinger at the moment of caution due to a harrowing multi-car wreck to win the season-opening Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. 300 at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, February 19, and claim his first Xfinity Series career victory in his 16th series start.

The 27-year-old Hill from Winston, Georgia, led four times for a total of 23 of the 120-scheduled laps as he made a bold move beneath Allmendinger to emerge out in front and claim the victory in his first event driving the No. 21 Chevrolet Camaro for Richard Childress Racing.

The starting lineup was determined through a qualifying session earlier in the day. Daniel Hemric, the reigning Xfinity Series champion, started on pole position after posting a pole-winning lap at 182.849 mph. Joining him on the front row was Austin Hill, an Xfinity rookie candidate who qualified with a lap at 182.423 mph.

Ronnie Bassett Jr., Natalie Decker, Gray Gaulding, Alex Labbe, Mason Massey, Stefan Parsons, Harrison Rhodes, David Starr and Tim Viens failed to qualify into the 38-car field.

Prior to the event, Shane Lee, Sam Mayer and Ryan Truex started at the rear of the field due to unapproved adjustments to their respective machines.

When the green flag waved and the race commenced, Hemric jumped with an early lead through the first two turns and through the backstraightaway. With the field fanning out to double lanes in the early stages of the event, Hemric led the first lap before he moved to the outside lane to block Sheldon Creed. At the same time, Jade Buford challenged Hemric for the lead, but was unable to clear Hemric as he retained the lead through the following lap.

Then in Turn 1, Hill pulled his No. 21 Bennett Transportation/United Rentals Chevrolet Camaro beneath Hemric’s No. 11 Athletic Greens Chevrolet as he challenged for the lead. While Hill had teammate Creed behind him, Hemric received drafting support from his new teammate Landon Cassill.

Through the first five laps of the event, Hemric and Hill continued to duel for the lead followed by Sheldon Creed, Cassill, Buford, Riley Herbst, Brett Moffitt, Josh Berry, Drew Dollar, Brandon Jones and the field. By then, Anthony Alfredo was black-flagged and was forced to pit to replace a right-side window that fell out of his car.

Five laps later, Hill was out in front ahead of Hemric, Cassill, Herbst and Gragson. By then, Creed was back in 12th ahead of Brandon Jones. In addition, Ty Gibbs was in 16th and AJ Allmendinger was in 20th.

On Lap 13, the first caution of the event flew when Drew Dollar got loose in front of Jade Buford entering the backstraightaway and shot his No. 18 Lynx Capital Toyota Supra back across the track into the path of Jeremy Clements as both competitors made hard contact against the outside wall. Behind, Sam Mayer spun, but continued. Under caution, some like Noah Gragson, Justin Allgaier and Allmendinger pitted while the rest led by Hemric remained on the track. Following the pit stops, Gragson was penalized for an uncontrolled tire violation.

When the race restarted under green on Lap 19, Hemric, who restarted with the lead, retained the top spot for a full lap as the field jostled behind for positions.

By Lap 25 and with the field fanning out to three lanes through close-quarters racing, Hemric continued to lead ahead of Hill, Herbst, Ty Gibbs and Berry while Allmendinger, Cassill, Allgaier, Brandon Brown and Myatt Snider were in the top 10. By then, Gragson was in 12th behind Brandon Jones, Buford and Mayer were in 14th and 15th and Creed was in 19th in between Brett Moffitt and Kyle Weatherman.

Then on the final lap of the first stage 1, Hill mounted a challenge on Kaulig Racing’s Hemric and Allmendinger for the first stage victory. Entering Turn 3, Hill briefly got by Allmendinger, but the latter fought back entering the frontstretch. Allmendinger, however, was unable to formulate a charge for the stage victory over his new Kaulig Racing teammate as Hemric claimed the first stage victory on Lap 30. Allmendinger settled in second followed by Herbst, Hill, Gragson, Gibbs, Allgaier, Ryan Sieg, Brandon Brown and Mayer.

Under the stage break, nearly the entire field led by Hemric pitted and Brown exited first after electing to not have his tires changed. Mayer and Jeb Burton also pitted for only fuel, some like Hill and Gragson pitted for two fresh tires and others like Hemric pitted for four fresh tires. Back on the track, few like Joe Graf Jr. and Ryan Vargas remained on the track. Prior to the restart, Vargas pitted while Graf remained on the track.

The second stage started on Lap 36 as Graf and Brown occupied the front row. At the start, both competitors dueled for the lead before Brown pulled ahead entering the backstraightaway while Graf slipped out of the top five.

By Lap 40, Brown was out in front of a long line of competitors running towards the outside wall while Gragson, Hill, Gibbs and Ryan Sieg were in the top five. Allgaier, Josh Berry, Buford, Herbst and Creed were in the top 10 while Snider, Hemric, Brandon Jones, Allmendinger and Landon Cassill were in the top 15. Graf was back in 16th ahead of Brett Moffitt, rookie Jesse Iwuji, Shane Lee, Josh Bilicki and Jeb Burton while Mayer was in 23rd.

Ten laps later on Lap 50, Gragson was out in front of the field after he muscled his No. 9 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet Camaro into the lead during the previous lap. By then, Ryan Sieg was in second ahead of Hill and Kaulig Racing’s Hemric and Allmendinger.

Soon after and as the field began to fan out to multiple lanes towards the front, Hemric and Allmendinger moved up to second and third as Gragson retained the lead. By then, Gibbs emerged in the top five as he formed a second line of competitors running on the inside lane ahead of Hill.

Through the closing laps of the second stage, the field settled in a long single file line towards the outside wall as Gragson led Hemric, Allmendinger, Brown, Sieg and the field. By then, Gibbs had drifted out of the top 15.

Then on the final lap of the second stage, Hemric and Gragson made contact while battling for the lead entering Turns 1 and 2, which sent Gragson nearly sideways before he slipped up the track and out of the draft as the former returned to the lead ahead of Sieg and Mayer. With the field unable to gain a draft for a final mount, Hemric was able to claim the second stage victory on Lap 60, which marked the halfway mark of the event. Sieg settled in second ahead of Mayer, Allmendinger, Allgaier, Brown, Gibbs, Berry, Jones and Herbst while Gragson, who managed to preserve his car from wrecking, fell back to 14th.

Under the stage break, the field returned to pit road and Hemric retained the lead ahead of teammate Allmendinger following a two-tire pit service. Jones, Gibbs and Gragson exited pit road in the top five. During the pit stops, Jesse Iwuji dropped to the rear of the field due to an uncontrolled tire violation along with Jeb Burton, who had a crew member jump over his pit stall too early. In addition, Allgaier pitted for a second time to address missing lug nuts on his No, 7 BRANDT Chevrolet Camaro.

With 54 laps remaining, the final stage started under green. At the start, Hemric jumped ahead and pulled in front of teammate Allmendinger to retain the lead while Gibbs mounted a challenge for the lead on the outside lane with drafting help from Sheldon Creed.

By the next scheduled lap, Gibbs led a lap for himself before Hemric fought back on the inside lane.

With 50 laps remaining, Hemric was laeding ahead of teammate Allmendinger, Gibbs, Creed and Cassill.

Four laps later, Kaulig Racing’s Hemric, Allmendinger and Cassill pitted under green. During the following lap, a next wave of competitors, including Mayer, Buford, Creed, Gragson and Hill pitted, but Mayer spun prior to reaching the pit road entrance. Despite the spin, Mayer was able to straighten his car into his pit stall as the race proceeded under green, but he returned not long after for a new bumper cover.

Down to the final 40 laps of the event and with most of the field having made a pit stop, Josh Bilicki was leading ahead of Matt Mills, Ryan Vargas, Bayley Currey and Josh Williams, all of whom needed to pit, while Shane Lee, CJ McLaughlin, Hill, Gragson and Allmendinger were in the top 10. Cassill, Hemric and Gibbs were in 11th, 12th and 13th ahead of Creed and Brandon Jones.

Four laps later, the caution returned due to Mayer’s bumper replacement coming off of his car in Turn 4. Under caution, some led by Bilicki pitted while the rest led by Austin Hill remained on the track. Among those who pitted included Hemric, who had all four tires on his car changed due to concerns of flat-spotting his tires.

With 29 laps remaining, the race restarted under green. At the start, Hill and Gragson dueled for the lead before Hill received a push from Allmendinger on the inside lane to retain the lead for a full lap.

Shortly after, the caution flew when the No. 38 Ford Mustang piloted by CJ McLaughlin got loose entering the frontstretch and came back across the middle of the track, which triggered a multi-car wreck that collected Moffitt, Jeffrey Earnhardt, Iwuji, Lee, Tommy Joe Martins, Joey Gase, Josh Williams, Kyle Weatherman and Hemric.

With 23 laps remaining, the race proceeded under green. At the start, Hill muscled with an early advantage before he moved up the track entering Turns 1 and 2. This allowed Allmendinger to storm to the lead with drafting help from new teammate Landon Cassill.

Down to the final 20 laps of the event, Allmendinger continued to lead ahead of teammate Cassill and Hill while Gibbs, Gragson, Jones, Herbst, Allgaier, Buford and Jeb Burton were in the top 10.

Three laps later, Hill cleared Allmendinger to control both lanes with the lead as he had drafting help from Gragson and Riley Herbst.

With less than 15 laps remaining, Allmendinger returned to the lead as Allgaier charged his way to the front ahead of Hill. Allgaier, however, slipped back into the top 10 as Hill led a parade of competitors running towards the outside lane behind Allmendinger’s No. 16 Nutrien Ag Solutions Chevrolet Camaro.

Down to the final 10 laps of the event, Allmendinger remained as the leader followed by Hill, Gragson, Herbst and Creed, who was back in the top five. Snider, Buford, Bilicki, Brown and Allgaier were in the top 10 ahead of Cassill, Jeb Burton, Anthony Alfredo, Gibbs and Sieg.

With five laps remaining and the top-25 competitors separated by five seconds, Allmendinger led ahead of Hill, Gragson, Herbst and Creed.

Then with two laps remaining, Gragson made his move to the front on the inside lane and drew himself alongside Allmendinger as the field fanned out to two lanes and close quarters racing.

When the white flag waved and the final lap commenced, Allmendinger continued to lead ahead of Hill, Gragson and the field. Then on the backstraightaway, Hill, who had drafting help from Herbst, made a crossover move beneath Allmendinger to challenge him for the lead. Behind, a multi-car wreck ensued that started when Myatt Snider got bumped and turned off the front bumper of Anthony Alfredo, which he was then hit by a pack of oncoming cars as his car was sent airborne and caught the catchfence while upside down before landing back on the track right-side up and in a shower of sparks with the front and rear ends of the car shredded off. Among those involved in the wreck included Matt Mills, Buford, Martins, Jeb Burton, Cassill and Gibbs.

The wreck forced NASCAR to declare the event official and conclude under caution. At the moment of caution, Austin Hill was ruled the winner after emerging out in front of Allmendinger.

The victory made Hill the 171st overall competitor to achieve a win in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the 18th to do so while driving for Richard Childress Racing as RCR achieved their first Xfinity victory at Daytona International Speedway since July 2015. This also marked the first time since RCR’s No. 21 car won an Xfinity event since Kevin Harvick made the last accomplishment at Texas Motor Speedway in November 2007.

In addition, Hill achieved his second NASCAR national touring series victory at Daytona, the track where he achieved his first Camping World Truck Series in 2019, and he became the first Xfinity Series competitor to score a first career victory at Daytona since Noah Gragson made the last accomplishment in 2020.

“Me and [spotter] Derek Kneeland worked really well tonight,” Hill said on FS1. “I was learning all night. I kept telling him, ‘Hey, I’m putting that in the bank, I’m putting that in the bank. I’m just putting that in the memory bank to remember for late in the race.’ We timed [the pass] perfectly. Obviously, that caution came out, but we had a heck of a run, so who knows what would’ve happened there. I was able to drag back, [Herbst] gave me a heck of a push, we were able to get by [Allmendinger]. This is so crazy. [I] Won [Daytona] back in 2019 with a new team. Now we’re with RCR, first race with them, we were able to get the job done. Our United Rentals Chevrolet was just as fast as Xfinity Internet. Man, I’m speechless. [Crew chief] Andy Street, [team owner] Richard Childress, just all these guys back at RCR for believing in me. It’s been a fun off-season and now we get to go race for a championship.”

Despite enduring a wild ride on the final lap, Snider emerged uninjured from his battered No. 31 TaxSlayer Chevrolet Camaro and made the mandatory trip to the infield car center, where he was evaluated and released.

Allmendinger settled in second place while Gragson, Herbst and Allgaier completed the top five on the track. Creed, Alfredo, Ryan Sieg, Josh Bilicki and Brandon Brown finished in the top 10.

There were 18 lead changes for nine different leaders. The race featured six cautions for 28 laps.

Following the first event of the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, Allmendinger leads the regular season standings by four points over Hill, nine over Herbst and Allgaier, 10 over Sieg and 11 over Gragson.

Results.

1. Austin Hill, 23 laps led

2. AJ Allmendinger, 18 laps led

3. Noah Gragson, 12 laps led

4. Riley Herbst

5. Justin Allgaier

6. Sheldon Creed

7. Anthony Alfredo

8. Ryan Sieg

9. Josh Bilicki, 10 laps led

10. Brandon Brown, 12 laps led

11. Ty Gibbs, three laps led

12. Ryan Truex

13. JJ Yeley

14. Landon Cassill

15. Jeffrey Earnhardt

16. Josh Berry, one lap led

17. Brandon Jones

18. Ryan Vargas

19. Jeb Burton

20. Bayley Currey

21. Kyle Sieg

22. Myatt Snider – OUT, Accident

23. Jade Buford – OUT, Accident

24. Tommy Joe Martins – OUT, Accident

25. Matt Mills – OUT, Accident

26. Joey Gase, one lap down

27. Jesse Iwuji, two laps down

28. Daniel Hemric, four laps down, 38 laps led, Stage 1 & 2 winner

29. Joe Graf Jr., 10 laps down, three laps led

30. Sam Mayer, 15 laps down

31. Josh Williams – OUT, Accident

32. Kyle Weatherman – OUT, Accident

33. Shane Lee – OUT, Accident

34. Brett Moffitt – OUT, Accident

35. CJ McLaughlin – OUT, Accident

36. Drew Dollar – OUT, Accident

37. Jeremy Clements – OUT, Accident

38. Caesar Bacarella – OUT, Engine

Next on the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule is the series’ return to Auto Club Speedway, which also commences a three-week West Coast swing for the series. The event is scheduled to occur on Saturday, March 26, at 5 p.m. ET on FS1.

NHRA Season Kicks Off with Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car as No. 1 Qualifier

By

Official Release

-

February 19, 2022

Dodge//SRT and Mopar get the 2022 National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Camping World Drag Racing series season started with three Dodge Funny Cars and a Top Fuel entry in the top half of the eliminations ladder for the 62nd annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, California
Defending 2021 Funny Car World Champion Ron Capps drove his Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat to the No. 1 qualifier position for the first national event of the season
2021 Funny Car championship runner-up Matt Hagan qualified his new Dodge Power Brokers Charger SRT Hellcat No. 3 for Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) first NHRA event
Cruz Pedregon qualifies his Snap-On Tool Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car No. 4 for Funny Car eliminations
Defending Winternationals Top Fuel winner Pruett qualifies her Dodge Power Brokers dragster No. 7 for TSR’s inaugural race

February 19, 2022, Pomona, California— The Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat that won last year’s Funny Car world title kicked off the 2022 National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Camping World Drag Racing Series season at the top of the qualifying timing sheets as driver and new team owner Ron Capps claimed the No. 1 qualifier position for the season-opening 62nd annual Lucas Oil Winternationals presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, California.

Capps, also the defending Winternationals winner, drove his NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat to the provisional No. 3 spot in Friday’s qualifying session, posted the quickest run of the second session, then bettered that with a stout 3.857 second elapsed time lap at 332.43 mph under the lights to secure his 30th career No. 1 qualifier position. He’ll battle the No. 16 seed and fellow veteran racer John Force in the first eliminations round of the year to kick off his 28th NHRA season of competition.

Last season’s runner-up in the Funny Car championship and three-time (2011, 2014, 2020) NHRA World Champ Matt Hagan launched the new Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) team’s season with a strong Friday evening qualifying run aboard his Dodge Power Brokers machine to provisionally sit No. 2 with 3.886-second pass at 329.344 mph. He repeated the exact same elapsed time lap under the lights in the final qualifying session, clicking off just before the finish line, to secure the No. 3 spot on the eliminations ladder to pair him with No. 14 seed Chad Green.

Two-time Funny Car champ Cruz Pedregon, who is looking to build on a productive 2021 season that saw his team earn two national titles and finish fourth in the championship, took his Snap-on Tools Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat to the fourth quickest time of the second session, then improved on that performance in the cooler evening air with a 3.906 sec./ 325.22 mph run that moved him from the seventh spot to No. 4 qualifier position. The Cruz Pedregon Racing HEMI-powered machine will have lane choice over No. 13 seed Terry Haddock as a first round pairing.

In Top Fuel qualifying, Leah Pruett took her Dodge Power Brokers dragster for its first official qualifying runs with the fledgling TSR team while looking to prepare to defend her 2021 Winternationals win. She took her HEMI-powered machine to the fourth quickest pass of the second qualifying session with 3.768 second elapsed time run at 326.63 mph, then powered to a 3.768 second/ 326.63 mph on her final run to keep her seventh overall placing on the timing sheets. Pruett will face off against No. 10 seed Antron Brown in Sunday’s first elimination round of the new season.

Highlights of qualifying at the Winternationals will air on FS1 this Sunday, February 20, at 7 a.m. Eastern, followed by three hours of elimination rounds coverage on FS1 beginning at 10 p.m. Eastern.

ADDITIONAL NOTES and QUOTES:

Leah Pruett, Dodge Power Brokers Top Fuel Dragster

(No. 7 Qualifier – 3.726 seconds at 328.54 mph)

Qualifying 1: 8.425 sec./ 77 mph

Qualifying 2: 3.768 sec./ 326.63 mph

Qualifying 3: 3.726 sec. / 328.54 mph

“This Dodge Power Brokers team has qualified seventh for this first race. We had a little bit of tire shake on Friday night but got that power under control. We ran a 3.726 on our final qualifying session. I’m very much looking forward to eliminations tomorrow. We’ve got [Antron Brown] in the next lane, but we do have lane choice.”

Matt Hagan, Dodge Power Brokers Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car

(No. 3 Qualifier – 3.886 seconds at 313.07 mph)

Qualifying 1: 3.886 sec./ 329.344 mph (2 bonus points for quickest run of session)

Qualifying 2: 5.497 sec./ 128.98 mph

Qualifying 3: 3.886 sec./ 313.07 mph (1 bonus point for third quickest run of session)

“We had a great qualifying session, ended up No. 3, and had some great runs. Two good night runs, but struggled a bit with our day run when we overpowered the track, but that’s what ( Crew Chief) Dickie Venables does best, he makes a lot of horsepower. Looking to get this Dodge Power Brokers Funny Car car hopefully in the winner circle tomorrow. We have 16 cars to battle it out and we got a great race car. I feel very competent with my life. I feel confident with my lights. I feel confident with what the crew is doing and what Dickie is doing up there on the calls that he’s making. We’re just going to go out there and race our race car and have some fun doing it.”

Cruz Pedregon, Pedregon Racing Snap-on® Tools Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat

(No. 4 Qualifier – 3.906 seconds at 325.22 mph)

Qualifying 1: No Time (Timing blocks were hit by competitor negating both their times)

Qualifying 2: 3.969 sec./ 283.13 mph

Qualifying 3: 3.906 sec./ 325.22 mph

Ron Capps–NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car

(No. 1 Qualifier – 3.857 seconds at 332.43 mph)

Qualifying 1: 3.903 sec./ 329.84 mph (1 bonus point for third quickest run of session)

Qualifying 2: 3.923 sec./ 326.40 mph (3 bonus points for quickest run of session)

Qualifying 3: 3.857 sec./ 332.43 mph (3 bonus points for quickest run of session)

“That thing was a rocket ship, I was just hanging on.You start to wonder do you want to go No. 1? Or maybe two or three and stay away from John Force, but this yellow No. 1 hat means a lot. To start my career as a team owner from this position, it’s huge. We know we have what it takes as a team, we know we have the parts, the people. I always say ‘I wouldn’t want to race the NAPA car.’ It’s just a car that always goes down the race track, and it’s tough to beat. It’s great to get the No. 1 and show that we can run with the best of them, but that 92 from Q2 was even more impressive to me, because we did that in the heat, and we were half-a-tenth or so ahead of everybody else. We know we’ll have similar conditions tomorrow. So, to show we can throw down in the heat, and then come back up and do the same thing in cooler conditions, it just instills so much confidence in me.”

DodgeGarage: Digital Hub for Drag Racing News

Fans can follow all the NHRA action this season at DodgeGarage, the one-stop portal for Dodge//SRT and Mopar drag-racing news. The site includes daily updates and access to an online racing HQ, news, events, galleries, available downloads and merchandise. For more information, visit www.dodgegarage.com.

@DodgeMoparMotorsports on Instagram

The @DodgeMoparMotorsports Instagram channel continues to share content capturing Dodge//SRT Mopar drivers on the track. Fans can see action from the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series and NHRA Sportsman grassroots racers, competing in classes such as Factory Stock Showdown, Stock and Super Stock, as well as additional motorsports series.

Dodge//SRT

For more than 100 years, the Dodge brand has carried on the spirit of brothers John and Horace Dodge. Their influence continues today as Dodge shifts into high gear with muscle cars and SUVs that deliver unrivaled performance in each of the segments where they compete.

Dodge drives forward as a pure performance brand, offering SRT versions of every model across the lineup. For the 2022 model year, Dodge delivers the drag-strip dominating 807-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock, the 797-horsepower Dodge Charger SRT Redeye, the most powerful and fastest mass-produced sedan in the world, and the Dodge Durango SRT 392, America’s fastest, most powerful and most capable three-row SUV. Combined, these three muscle cars make Dodge the industry’s most powerful brand, offering more horsepower than any other American brand across its entire lineup.

In 2020, Dodge was named the “#1 Brand in Initial Quality,” making it the first domestic brand ever to rank No. 1 in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study (IQS). In 2021, Dodge brand ranked No. 1 in the J.D. Power APEAL Study (mass market) — making it the only domestic brand ever to do so two years in a row.

Dodge is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis. For more information regarding Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), please visit www.stellantis.com.

Mopar

This year marks the 85th anniversary of Mopar.

A simple combination of the words MOtor and PARts, Mopar offers exceptional service, parts and customer-care. Born in 1937 as the name of a line of antifreeze products, Mopar has evolved over nearly 85 years to represent both complete vehicle care and authentic performance for owners and enthusiasts worldwide.

Mopar made its mark in the 1960s during the muscle-car era with performance parts to enhance speed and handling for both on-road and racing use. Later, Mopar expanded to include technical service and customer support, and today integrates service, parts and customer-care operations in order to enhance customer and dealer support worldwide.

Complete information on Mopar is available at www.mopar.com. For more information regarding Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), please visit www.stellantis.com.

Follow Dodge, Mopar and Stellantis news and video on:

Company blog: blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Media website: media.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Dodge brand: www.dodge.com

Mopar brand: www.mopar.com/

DodgeGarage: www.dodgegarage.com

Mopar blog: blog.mopar.com/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/dodge and www.facebook.com/mopar

Instagram: @Dodgemoparmotorsports, @dodgeofficial and @officialmopar

Twitter: @Dodge, @OfficialMopar and @StellantisNA

YouTube: www.youtube.com/dodge, https://www.youtube.com/c/mopar and www.youtube.com/StellantisNA