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It’s Official: NASCAR Cup Series Race at World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR) Named ‘Enjoy Illinois 300’

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Official Release
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World Wide Technology Raceway owner and CEO Curtis Francois and Sylvia I. Garcia, acting director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) at this morning’s announcement of the sponsor for WWTR’s June 5 NASCAR Cup Series race.

Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to Sponsor Inaugural Cup Series Race at WWTR

MADISON, ILL. (March 14, 2022) – With less than 100 days until the green flag waves at the start of the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR) on June 5, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announce the race’s official name: Enjoy Illinois 300, sponsored by the Illinois Office of Tourism.

“The Enjoy Illinois 300 establishes Illinois’ own World Wide Technology Raceway as the country’s standout track for stock car, open-wheel, and drag racing alike,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I promised to be our state’s best Chief Marketing Officer, and with the return of NASCAR to Illinois, visitors from around the nation have yet another reason to come explore all that Metro East has to offer. This is an incredible opportunity to showcase Illinois and we look forward to welcoming NASCAR fans to our great state.”

The NASCAR Cup Series is enjoyed by millions of viewers across the globe nearly year-round – at the track, on television and through robust digital platforms. These events are credited with delivering millions of dollars annually to host communities. An economic impact study recently completed by The Rawlings Sports Business Management Department at Maryville University projects that this NASCAR Cup Series event will produce at least $60 million in economic impact for the region, attracting more than 83,000 fans.

“As we prepare to host the largest spectator event in the state, we are thrilled to partner with the Illinois Office of Tourism to deliver the best Illinois has to offer,” said Curtis Francois, Owner & CEO of WWTR. “We have worked in close collaboration with officials from the Metro East and St. Louis to create one of the nation’s premier destinations for the motorsports industry and its incredibly passionate fans, and I look forward to hosting them for this historic race weekend.”

“We are excited to partner with WWTR to become the title sponsor for the Enjoy Illinois 300, the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race at this track,” said Sylvia I. Garcia, Acting Director of DCEO. “This is an incredible opportunity to drive economic development and tourism in the Metro East region and we look forward to attracting visitors from around the country who will travel to Illinois for race weekend and see all our great state has to offer.”

The week will feature several other events, such as: the World of Outlaws Late Model Series at nearby Tri-City Speedway in Pontoon Beach, Illinois, on Friday, June 3; the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Toyota 200 on Saturday, June 4 and conclude with the Enjoy Illinois 300 on Sunday, June 5. There will be live entertainment from local, regional, and national musicians all weekend at WWTR.

Race week will officially kick off on Thursday, June 2 with a NASCAR hauler parade through downtown St. Louis, which will cross the Mississippi River and arrive at the track, officially commencing the start of Cup Series race festivities – bringing together communities in both states to celebrate the arrival of the NASCAR Cup Series drivers and teams.

“From the minute the opportunity came on our radar, Governor Pritzker and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity joined me in making the case to NASCAR that St. Clair County would be the right place for a Cup Series Race” said Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Belleville). “The fact that the race will be called ‘Enjoy Illinois 300’ is a testament to Illinois’ commitment and excellence when it comes to executing large-scale events. I look forward to welcoming tens of thousands of NASCAR fans to the Metro East as they come see everything we have to offer.”

“The more than 250 annual events at WWTR have been a tremendous tourism driver for the state,” said Karla Flannery, Deputy Director of the Illinois Office of Tourism. “As the only racetrack in the U.S. to host the elite series from each of the three major race sanctioning bodies – NASCAR, INDYCAR and NHRA – hundreds of thousands of visitors support this multipurpose venue each year. We are proud to support the continuing economic growth and development at WWTR as it evolves into a vibrant multi-faceted entertainment district.”

For more information about the Enjoy Illinois 300 NASCAR Cup Series Race at World Wide Technology Raceway, visit WWTRaceway.com. To purchase tickets to the NASCAR Cup Series race, visit WWTRaceway.com or call 618-215-8888.

To learn more about the Illinois Office of Tourism. visit EnjoyIllinois.com.

About World Wide Technology Raceway

World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR) is the home of NASCAR, INDYCAR, and NHRA racing in the St. Louis region. Located just five minutes from downtown St. Louis and covering more than 600 acres, WWTR is the largest outdoor entertainment facility in the area. WWTR’s facilities include a 1/4-mile drag strip, 1.25-mile superspeedway, recently expanded 2.0-mile road course, the Gateway Kartplex (a state-of-the-art karting facility), and the adjacent Gateway National Golf Links. WWTR and Owner Curtis Francois have been recognized with several awards, including: 2021 Comcast Community Champion of the Year; 2021 Jack Buck Award; 2020 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Track Award; 2018 Innovator Award from the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission; 2017 Outstanding Facility of the Year Award from the Race Track Business Conference; and the 2017 Spirit of St. Louis Award from the St. Louis Attractions Association.

About the Illinois Office of Tourism:

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Office of Tourism manages industry efforts that result in sustainable and significant economic and quality-of-life benefits for Illinois residents.

Next Gen AMS debuts during Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 weekend

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Official Release
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HAMPTON, Ga. (March 14, 2022) – The anticipation has been building for months. Torn apart, modified, and rebuilt in 163 days, the next generation Atlanta Motor Speedway will make its grand debut this weekend during the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500.

Minutes after Kurt Busch took the checkered flag last July, crews began dismantling the track in preparation for its first repave since 1997. Reconfiguration produced 28-degree banking in every corner of the 1.54-mile speedway, making AMS the steepest intermediate track on the NASCAR schedule and writing a new chapter in the history of the iconic superspeedway.

“Anticipation has been building for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 since the moment we announced the reconfiguration,” said Executive Vice President and General Manger Brandon Hutchison. “The excitement and the unknown surrounding the upgraded and enhanced all-new Atlanta Motor Speedway has been unrivaled.”

From idea conception to announcement to iRACING simulation to construction and testing, Speedway Motorsports has taken feedback and insights from across the industry to create a first-of-its-kind race track.

Since completion of the repave in December, tests held at the all-new AMS have offered a chance to get additional insight from drivers on the new layout. Based on their input, speedway officials fine-tuned several aspects of the track, including the creation of a smoother entry into the frontstretch as drivers exit turn 4. Crews added 320’ of new outside wall and SAFER barrier to create a flatter curve.

The project also provided an opportunity to widen Atlanta’s front stretch. Crews removed a large portion of the infield grass and added more asphalt, giving drivers more runoff to save their cars from damage and more room to pass as they challenge for stage wins and the checkered flag.

Safety enhancements to the Speedway also included reinforcing the front stretch catchfence.

During construction, the track also added an open drainage layer under the asphalt to move groundwater away from the racing surface, reduce weepers and improve track drying time in inclement weather.

“Every step we’ve taken in this project has been to deliver a new, entertaining type of racing for the fans—something they’ve never seen before,” said AMS Executive Vice President and General Manager Brandon Hutchison. “From start to finish we’ve had great people involved in realizing this vision for the next generation of Atlanta Motor Speedway. We can’t wait to see NASCAR’s best take on this all-new track!”

The March 18-20 Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 weekend will feature the first NASCAR races on the all-new Atlanta Motor Speedway, from Saturday’s Fr8 208 and Nalley Cars 250 doubleheader to Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500. Drivers in each series will be tasked with taming a challenge unlike any other on the NASCAR circuit.

For more information or to purchase tickets, fans should visit AtlantaMotorSpeedway.com or call 877-9-AMS-TIX.

About the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 weekend:

Since 2015 the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 has been the main event in Atlanta Motor Speedway’s spring NASCAR weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway. This storied NASCAR Cup Series race brings awareness to Folds of Honor and its mission to help families of military servicemen and women who have fallen or been disabled while on active duty in the United States Armed Forces.

Follow Atlanta Motor Speedway:

Keep track of all of Atlanta Motor Speedway’s events by following on Twitter, Instagram, and become a Facebook fan. Keep up with all the latest news and information with the Atlanta Motor Speedway mobile app.

Gilliland Builds on Phoenix Success While McDowell Returns to Home Track

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Official Release
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“Lady Luck” was not on with the team in Las Vegas but showed great speed throughout the weekend in both the Truck Series, as well as the Cup Series. While this weekend only saw Front Row Motorsports’ Cup team on track, it was a weekend that excited. On one side, the return of hometown hero and Glendale, AZ native Michael McDowell, and on the other, rookie but no rookie to Phoenix Raceway success, Todd Gilliland.

GILLILAND CONTINUES PHOENIX RACEWAY SUCCESS
Todd is no stranger to success at the Arizona track. With multiple top ten finishes between multiple NASCAR sanctioned series, including one win, he went into this weekend looking to bounce back and get his first top-20 finish after being close the last couple weeks. Going into Sunday’s race, it was going to be a tall order, but one the team was very capable of achieving.

Starting in the 33rd position, the team spent most of the first stage working on the car to get the handling to Todd’s liking, as well as learn the new car and track combination. As the race progressed, passing on the track and in the pits saw Todd sitting on the fringe of the top-20, and set up to where with the speed he was gaining, a good finish was well within reach. Utilizing a series of cautions, the car was able to be worked on to cure a loose condition and work to help to preserve the right rear tire. Through a long green flag run toward the end, he was able to work his way into the top-20, and hold station through the end to finish in the 19th position.

GILLILAND ON PPHOENIX
“Today was a great day, and I felt like we learned a lot today that will be able to help us in the coming weeks. It was cool that not only was it my best finish of the season so far, but also the highest finishing rookie in the race. This track has always been good to me, and I’m just thankful to be able to deliver an awesome result for the team.”

McDOWELL RETURNS TO HOME TRACK
Michael returned home for the first time since fall 2021 and enjoyed every minute of it. Taking time to enjoy the rest of the West Coast swing and visit familiar sights, he and his family stayed out after Las Vegas to unwind and relax before returning to the East Coast. Recharged and ready, he practiced hard and got the car to where he was able to put down a 22nd starting position, same as last week.

When the race got underway the team showed speed immediately, working their way inside the top twenty. After speeding on pit lane during the second stop and an ill-timed caution, by the time Stage Two started, meant the team would have to claw back into contention. Unfortunately, in dirtier air meant the handling went away. This was amplified by the changing track conditions. Struggling to keep heat out of the right rear tire, the car was proving difficult to handle, and was tight most of the day, especially in the traction compound. While some cautions assisted, the team couldn’t bounce back, and finished in the 27th position going into the unknown next weekend at the newly paved Atlanta Motor Speedway.

McDOWELL ON PHOENIX
“We brought another fast Love’s Travel Stops Ford Mustang to the track, and it just stinks that we haven’t been able to capitalize on that speed. The West Coast swing has been tough, but we learned a lot about this new car that we can carry on with us into the coming weeks. We have a hard-working group at FRM, so there’s no doubt that we will be able to continue to bring fast race cars to the track.”

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS
Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Camping World Truck Series and the 2021 Daytona 500 champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 34 and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 38 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team– from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

Burton Finishes 29th at Phoenix

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Official Release
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A long day in the desert for Harrison Burton and the No. 21 DEX Imaging team ended with a disappointing 29th-place finish in the Ruoff Mortgage 500k at Phoenix Raceway.

Burton was set to start the 312-mile race from 24th place, but as the DEX Imaging team was preparing the No. 21 Mustang there was an issue with the ignition switch.

The crew replaced the switch, but NASCAR considers that an unapproved adjustment, and the penalty for that is having to start the race from the rear of the pack.

Burton struggled to find speed from the start. He was running 31st when the Competition Caution flag flew at Lap 25.

Crew chief Brian Wilson and the DEX Imaging team began making changes to the No. 21 Mustang in an attempt to improve performance, but few of the changes delivered much improvement.

Burton was running 29th at the end of Stage One, and since he’d pitted for fresh tires and fuel just 10 laps earlier, the decision was made to stay on the track during the ensuing caution flag and grab some much-needed track position.

He lined up sixth for the restart and ran in the top 10 for a few laps but eventually faded to 25th during a long green-flag run.

A brush with the outside wall just past the 100-lap mark compounded the team’s problems and relegated them to 29th place, one lap behind the leaders.

There was little change for the remainder of the race, other than the loss of two more laps, which made any potential strategy moves unlikely to succeed.

“We had to start in the rear and fought it all day,” Eddie Wood said. “We struggled with it all day. The changes made it better at times, but we never got it where it should be.

“We’re a lot better race team than what folks saw today. We’ll put this weekend behind us, move on to next week and put every effort into having a strong run.”

Burton and the No. 21 team now turn their attention to the fifth points-paying race of the Cup Series season – next weekend’s 500-miler on the repaved and reconfigured Atlanta Motor Speedway.

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About DEX Imaging
DEX Imaging is the digital document imaging division of Staples, the world’s largest business solutions provider. DEX sells and services the broadest selection of copiers, printers and data management solutions, such as HP, Konica Minolta, Canon, Kyocera and numerous others.

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES:
Reducing Operating Costs
Reducing Paper Consumption
Increasing Productivity

DEX Imaging has been the recipient of virtually every industry award since the company’s inception, including the JD Power & Associates Award for Best Customer Experience, the prestigious ProTech Service award by Konica Minolta, the Diamond Premier Dealer Award by Kyocera, and the Elite DEALER Award by ‘ENX’ magazine. Other accolades include being named ‘Best Place to Work’ by numerous business journals in the markets DEX serves.

Wood Brothers Racing
Wood Brothers Racing was formed in 1950 in Stuart, Va., by Hall of Famer Glenn Wood. Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team and one of the winningest teams in NASCAR history. Since its founding, the team won 99 races (including at least one race in every decade for the last seven decades) and 120 poles in NASCAR’s top-tier series. Fielding only Ford products for its entire history, the Wood Brothers own the longest association of any motorsports team with a single manufacturer. Glenn’s brother, Leonard, is known for inventing the modern pit stop. The team currently runs the Ford Mustang driven by Harrison Burton in the famous No. 21 racer.

 Dover Motor Speedway partners with A-GAME for April 30 NASCAR Xfinity Series Dash 4 Cash Race

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Official Release
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  • The A-GAME 200 NASCAR Xfinity Series Dash 4 Cash race is the middle event of Dover Motor Speedway’s April 29-May 1 NASCAR tripleheader weekend.
  • Longtime Major League Baseball star Johnny Damon is the chairman of the board for A-GAME.
  • The A-GAME 200 is the 76th NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Dover. The series has raced at the Monster Mile every year since 1982.

DOVER, Del. (March 14, 2022) – A-GAME, a leader in the hydration beverage market, is the entitlement sponsor of the NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday, April 30 at Dover Motor Speedway, the middle race of the Monster Mile’s NASCAR tripleheader weekend this spring, track and company officials said today.

The A-GAME 200 (1:30 p.m., FS1) will be the 76th NASCAR Xfinity Series race to take the green flag on the high-banked, one-mile concrete oval at Dover. The NASCAR Xfinity Series has raced at least once per year at the Monster Mile since 1982.

Johnny Damon, a two-time World Series champion with the Boston Red Sox (2004) and New York Yankees (2009) and two-time MLB All-Star is A-GAME’s chairman of the board. Damon is scheduled to attend the A-GAME 200 on Saturday, April 30.

“As a growing hydration drink company, it’s exciting for us to partner with a facility with such a long history as Dover Motor Speedway for our first NASCAR race sponsorship,” said Randall F. Greene, A-GAME’s CEO/Director. “We know NASCAR Nation appreciates the partners that are involved with their favorite sport and we look forward to sharing A-GAME with this passionate fanbase at the Monster Mile.”

Past Dover winners in the NASCAR Xfinity Series include current NASCAR Cup Series stars Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex, Jr., Christopher Bell, Cole Custer, Chase Briscoe and Austin Cindric.

“Just like their hydration drink, A-GAME will help us reach peak performance for our Monster Mile race weekend,” said Mike Tatoian, Dover Motor Speedway’s president. “Johnny achieved great success on the field and we are excited to be part of his success off the field. With the A-GAME 200 as part of our NASCAR lineup, our fans will be treated to a fantastic race weekend.”

The April 29-May 1 NASCAR tripleheader weekend also includes the DuraMAX Drydene 400 presented by RelaDyne NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, May 1 (3 p.m., FS1) and the ARCA Menards Series East race on Friday, April 29 (5:30 p.m.). The DuraMAX Drydene 400 presented by RelaDyne is the 104th NASCAR Cup Series race at Dover, one of only 10 venues in the country to host 100 or more Cup Series events.

TICKETS:
Tickets to the A-GAME 200 NASCAR Xfinity Series Dash 4 Cash race start at just $47 for adults. Kids 12 and under get in FREE with a paying adult. For tickets to all of Dover Motor Speedway’s events, visit https://www.DoverMotorSpeedway.com or call 800-441-RACE.

FOLLOW US:

Keep track of all of Dover Motor Speedway’s events by following on Twitter and Instagram or become a Facebook fan. Don’t forget to use #DuraMAXDrydene400 and #AGame200 with your posts.

Daniel Dye – GMS Racing ARCA Phoenix Recap

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Official Release
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Daniel Dye, No. 43 Father Lopez Catholic High School Chevrolet SS

START: 6TH
FINISH: 2ND
POINTS: 1ST

Quote: Friday’s race was pretty solid overall for us as we had hoped, after running good here last year. The GMS Racing group unloaded a really good Chevrolet for me, and we were able to just make minor adjustments to get where we needed to be at during the halfway break. We led some laps, and definitely showed our strength. If that caution didn’t come out we were in pretty good shape out front, and then I made a mistake in lane choice and had a few other things happened that set us back. I’m glad we were able to hang on during the final restart and come home second with only a donut on the door. Thanks to everyone who made this weekend possible.

ABOUT GMS RACING:

GMS Racing competes full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series operating the No. 23 and the No. 24 Chevrolet Silverado RSTs, as well as the ARCA Menards Series with the No. 43 Chevrolet SS. Since the team was formed in 2012, GMS Racing has won five titles across multiple series, including the 2016 and 2020 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship, the 2015 ARCA Menards Series championship, as well as the 2019 & 2020 ARCA Menards Series East championships. GMS has grown to occupy several buildings located in Statesville, N.C. including operations for GMS Fabrication. The GMS Racing campus also houses operations for Petty GMS, a two car full-time NASCAR Cup Series team formed in 2021.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

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

Petty GMS Race Recap: Phoenix Raceway

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Official Release
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Ty Dillon, No. 42 Black Rifle Coffee Company Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

START: 21st
FINISH: 15th
POINTS: 20th

Ty Dillon Post-Race Thoughts: “Very proud of the effort that everyone on this Black Rifle Coffee Company team put forth today. This was one of our best weekends from start to finish and we are chipping away at the things that need improvement for our new Petty GMS team. Our No. 42 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 fought a loose on entry, tight in the middle, loose on exit handling condition for most of the race, but Jerame (Donley, crew chief) kept making adjustments and hit on something towards the end. My pit crew was solid all day long, gaining positions when it mattered most. The call to come and take tires at the end definitely helped me go on attack during the final laps. To get our second top-15 finish is another building block and I’m looking forward to Atlanta next week.”

Erik Jones, No. 43 FOCUSfactor Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

START: 14th
FINISH: 25th
POINTS: 19th

Erik Jones Post-Race Thoughts: “Not the result we were looking for this weekend with our FOCUSfactor Chevrolet, but the Petty GMS team kept pushing. Our car was extremely tight for the entire race and it felt like something was off, because with every adjustment that Dave (Elenz, crew chief) made, it didn’t feel much different inside the car. Even with our brake issues and hitting the wall, we still managed to get a 25th-place finish out of the day. We will move on, head to Atlanta and look to tackle the new pavement. This team has a lot of speed and potential and we will keep putting in the work.”

ABOUT PETTY GMS:

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

SOCIAL MEDIA:

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

Buescher Makes Late Race Rally for Top-10

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Official Release
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Buescher Earns First Career Top-10 in Phoenix

AVONDALE, Ariz. (March 13, 2022) – The No. 17 crew earned their first top-10 finish of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season Sunday, braving a 312-lap battle at Phoenix Raceway that saw eight caution flags.

Chris Buescher began his day in the ITsavvy Ford Mustang from the 26th position, hovering around the mid-twenties before the competition caution flew on lap 25. On the restart, Buescher would work his way up five positions before another caution flew, this time for an incident. With a 10-lap dash to the green-checkered flag in stage one, Buescher drove up to the 15th position.

After pitting during the stage break, Chris would restart the race in 24th for stage two. By lap 100, the No. 17 ITsavvy Ford Mustang had moved up to the 20th position. The caution would fly again for a spin by the No. 20 car on lap 120. On the restart, Chris would pick up the 16th position and hold it for the next 62 laps to finish stage two.

The No. 17 would put Chris in the 15th position to begin the final stage, giving Chris the opportunity to drive up to 13th by lap 220, the highest he had been all day. A series of late-race cautions would ultimately set the field up for a three-lap dash to the checkered flag, with Buescher restarting P16.

Heading into the final corners before the checkered flag, a couple cars tangled in front of the No. 17, opening the gates for the team to close out the day in the 10th position. Sunday gave Chris Buescher his first top-10 finish at Phoenix Raceway, and as aforementioned, his first top-10 of the 2022 season.

The No. 17 team returns to action at the revamped Atlanta Motor Speedway next weekend, where Sunday’s race is set for 3 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Hagan Drives Dodge Power Brokers Funny Car to His First NHRA Gatornationals Win and First Victory for Tony Stewart Racing

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Official Release
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2022 NHRA, Gatornationals
  • Matt Hagan drove his Dodge Power Brokers Charger SRT Hellcat to his first National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Camping World Drag Racing Series’ Amalie Motor Oil Gatornationals win to earn his 40th career Wally trophy and present Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) with its first nitro victory
  • With the team’s first trip to the winner’s circle Tony Stewart joins an exclusive list of team owners with wins in both NHRA and NASCAR that includes Ray Beadle, Kenny Bernstein, Joe Gibbs, and Jack Roush
  • Hagan powered his Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat from a No. 4 qualifying effort to the team’s second consecutive final round appearance in just its third national event
  • No. 3 seed Cruz Pedregon took his Snap-on Tools Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car to the quarterfinals at Gainesville Raceway
  • Wet and cold weather limited Top Fuel qualifying and the NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout to one session which meant a loss of traction on Leah Pruett’s sole pass thwarted her participation in eliminations
  • Following historic performances by two 2021 Dodge Challenger Mopar Drag Paks in Constant Aviation Factory Stock Showdown qualifying, driver Warren Walcher advanced to the semi final round 

March 13, 2022, Gainesville, Florida — Tony Stewart Racing pilot Matt Hagan drove the Dodge Power Brokers Charger SRT Hellcat to his first-ever National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Camping World Drag Racing Series’ Amalie Motor Oil Gatornationals win and provided his team with their first nitro victory. Hagan earned the coveted Gatornationals Wally trophy in his 14th attempt after powering his way through the elimination rounds to advance to the team’s second consecutive final round appearance in just its third national event and reached a 40th career Funny Car victory milestone.

“Congratulations to Matt Hagan and the Tony Stewart Racing team for their first win of the 2022 season aboard the Dodge Power Brokers Funny Car at the NHRA Gatornationals,” said Tim Kuniskis, Dodge Brand Chief Executive Officer – Stellantis. “It’s great to see Matt earn his 40th career win and continue to demonstrate what Dodge//SRT performance looks like and what enthusiasts can expect from Dodge Power Brokers and Direct Connection.”

“Our NHRA Nitro team is appreciative of the long-standing relationship our drivers Matt Hagan and Leah Pruett have had with Dodge//SRT and Mopar,” said team owner Tony Stewart. “Everyone in racing knows the value of OEM support and its importance to a team’s success, so we’re pleased to have that relationship with Dodge in drag racing and how that quickly culminated in our first Funny Car win at the NHRA Gatornationals.”

TSR’s first national event win puts Stewart on an exclusive list of team owners with victories in both NHRA and NASCAR series that includes Ray Beadle, Kenny Bernstein, Joe Gibbs, and Jack Roush.

After wet and unseasonably cold weather disrupted most of the weekend schedule and limited qualifying to just one session for the nitro categories, Hagan’s sole qualifying pass of 3.898 seconds at 320.13 mph put the Dodge Power Brokers Funny Car No. 4 on the eliminations ladder for the 53rd edition of the famed event. 

His opening round pairing against No. 13 seed Dave Richards saw him launch his 11,000-horsepower machine off the line first, but an immediate loss of traction had Hagan skillfully pedaling it before regaining control and turning on the first win light. A solo run in the quarterfinals after Terry Haddock broke on the burnout was followed by a solid 3.894-second run at 332.84 mph to defeat Chad Green and advance to the final elimination. Hagan powered to a 3.910-second / 330.96 mph run aboard his Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat to defeat No. 6 seed Blake Alexander and earn the win he had been looking forward to providing his new team and the trophy he had yearned for.

“To get this first win at the Gatornationals and Tony Stewart’s first win in a drag car, it’s pretty awesome,” said the three-time NHRA Funny Car World Champion. “He wants to be here, and it says a lot for our sport. It was a good weekend for Tony, a good weekend for NHRA and I’m just very blessed and humbled to be here. I want to make sure I’m showing up on the starting line and doing my part and I just know what this team is capable of. It’s a lot of tough competition, but as a driver that’s exciting. 

“It just was a big weekend for me personally because I’ve been wanting to win this race and check it off on my career box, and I think this allows me to accomplish everything I’ve ever set out to do in NHRA.”

Sunday’s action asl saw No. 3 qualifier Cruz Pedregon take his Snap-On Tools Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car for another solid drive recording a 3.914-second run at 326.95 mph in the opening round to turn the win lights on against No. 14 seed Jim Campbell and advance to the quarter finals. Pedregon staged his HEMI-powered machine next to No. 6 seed Blake Alexander, but hit the throttle too soon, turning on the red-light and ending his run through eliminations.

With weather delays and the shortening of Top Fuel qualifying to just one session, the remaining two elimination rounds of the Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout has been rescheduled to take place at the Dodge Power Brokers U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis in September. Unfortunately, TSR pilot Leah Pruett’s traction issues in the first round of the specialty race eliminated her from advancing and also meant that her sole qualifying lap aboard the Dodge Power Brokers dragster wasn’t going to provide her the chance to stage for the elimination rounds. The team will refocus their efforts on the upcoming NHRA Four-Wide Nationals set to take place at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway April 1-3. 

Record-breaking performances in the only Constant Aviation Factory Stock Showdown (FSS) qualifying session on Saturday were highlighted by the 2021 Dodge Challenger Mopar Drag Pak setting the category’s quickest and fastest run ever. An impressive 7.608-second elapsed time pass at 183.15 mph by Mark Pawuk and his Empaco Equipment Mopar Drag Pak reset both ends of the national record and put him in the No. 1 qualifier position. 

Pawuk’s HEMI-powered machine had a red-light start in the quarterfinals to end his day, while No. 3 qualifier Warren Walcher advanced his 2021 Mopar Drag Pak to the semi finals in just his second FSS competition after his posting his own impressive qualifying performance(7.669 sec./180.79 mph) which also was quicker than the previous national elapsed time record (7.718 seconds). Ultimately, Walcher’s efforts were all for not when a technical issue hampered his team’s ability to make the call to stage for another round of competition. 

ADDITIONAL NOTES and QUOTES: 

Leah Pruett, Dodge Power Brokers Top Fuel Dragster  

(Did Not Qualify – 5.125 seconds at 227.34 mph)

“I have to say the Gators (Gatornationals) definitely got us. When we went up there for the Pep Boys All-Star Top Fuel Callout, we went to race, compete and throw down a low 70s or high 60s number. Ultimately, we just didn’t have enough power and that goes back to our database. The positive side of that is we have already regrouped and found the issues. We have a positive mindset as a team. When you have something so early on that you can identify, you can infuse hope and faith into the power plans that we have. It is unfortunate because we didn’t realize that one run would be the final qualifying session. There are a couple of other big teams that also didn’t qualify with their one hit wonder. This is not a one team wonder by any means. We will figure it out, it’s just going to take laps. I truly have all the faith in this team and we will get our round wins.”

Matt Hagan, Dodge Power Brokers Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car  

(No. 4 Qualifier – 3.898 seconds at 320.13 mph)

Round 1: (0.084-second reaction time, 5.266 seconds at 258.57 mph) defeats No. 13 Dave Richards (0.142/9.057/83.17)

Round 2: (0.094/4.021/315.42) defeats No. 12 Terry Haddock (No Time)

Round 3: (0.058/3.894/332.84) defeats No. 8 Chad Green (4.011/288.33)

Round 4: (0.056/3.910/330.96) defeats No. 6 Blake Alexander (0.081/9.561/80.15)

“It was just a matter of time before we got this [first] win. Not to brag or boast, but [Crew Chief Dickie Venables] is a genius. Dickie can do things with a race car and just go off of his gut instinct and the things that he does is just phenomenal. When you look at the stats and the numbers, we basically won more races together than anybody else in the last 10 years. It’s chemistry. You can’t buy it. You click and work together and we have a group of individuals that are driven and goal oriented. It’s exciting for me. It’s one of those things where, when it’s good, it’s just really good, and that’s what we have here with our team.

“There was definitely a different kind of feel to it today because the air was different and the track was different, and a lot of these big hitting cars couldn’t pull their stuff back enough (dial back their cars for the conditions to maintain traction). It’s a testament to Dickie Venables, Mike Knudson and Alex Conaway and what they did to reel my car back in when we were out there. I know we might kind of be in trouble when Robert [Hight] smoked them at the first hit. And then, then we went up there and I had to pedal it to get it to the finish line. [They] did a great job this weekend putting a good race car underneath me to go down the racetrack.”

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

(No. 3  Qualifier – 3.891 seconds at  327.35 mph)

Round 1: (0.078-second reaction time, 3.914 seconds at 326.95 mph) defeats No. 14 Jim Campbell (0.084/4.124/261.02)

Round 2: (-0.238/5.771/124.96) loss to No. 6 Blake Alexander (0.028/3.927/325.14)

“The Snap-on Tools Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat was flawless in qualifying with a strong 3.89 second run at 327 mph in our only run to prepare for race day. Our opening round 3.91-second run was nice and smooth but then I left too soon and fouled out in the quarterfinals. We’ll focus our attention on the next race in a couple of weeks for the Las Vegas Four-Wide.”

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

Team Chevy quick off the line at Gatornationals

By
Official Release
-

CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
AMALIE MOTOR OIL NHRA GATORNATIONALS
GAINESVILLE RACEWAY IN GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA
MARCH 13, 2022

Team Chevy quick off the line at Gatornationals

• Dallas Glenn delivers 350th Pro Stock win for Chevrolet in all-Camaro final
• Erica Enders sets Pro Stock elapsed time record at 6.450 seconds
• Brittany Force’s qualifying run of 337.15 mph sets Top Fuel track record
• Len Lottig earns Factory Stock Showdown win in all-COPO Camaro final

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 13, 2022) – Dallas Glenn has faced KB Racing teammate Kyle Koretsky a total of 10 times in 20 races over two National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) seasons. He equaled the won-loss record with a victory in the Pro Stock final of the 53rd Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals.

Glenn, driving the RAD Torque Systems Chevrolet Camaro SS, delivered the 350th Chevrolet victory in 902 Pro Stock events since the introduction of the class in 1970. Wins by car: Camaro 231, Cobalt 54, Cavalier 36, Beretta 11, Vega 11, Monza 6, Lumina 1.

“The Pro Stock category is so tough, it’s healthy, it’s young,” said Glenn, who collected his fourth career Pro Stock win with a run of 6.486 seconds at 210.21 mph. “The KB crew has been working really hard on this car and it has been making great runs. We got another one.”

Koretsky, the No. 2 qualifier in the Lucas Oil Chevrolet Camaro SS, checked in with a 6.513-second pass. It was the 52nd all-KB Racing final in the class.

Four-time Pro Stock champion Erica Enders set the quickest elapsed time in class history at 6.450 seconds in her Melling Performance Chevrolet Camaro SS but lost in the first round on a holeshot to 2017 champion Bo Butner.

“The only consolation is that Bo is my (Elite Motorsports) teammate,” said Enders, who cut a .077-of-a-second light to Butner’s .003 reaction time.

Three-time champion and former KB Racing driver Jason Line held the national record of 6.455 seconds set in March 2015 at Charlotte. Mike Edwards held the track record of 6.473 seconds set in March 2012.

Robert Hight, who scored the fourth No. 1 Gatornationals Funny Car qualifier honor and 72nd of his career, lost his first race of the season in the quarterfinals. Hight, driving the Auto Club of Southern California Camaro SS, swept the first two races of the season and won his opening-round matchup at Gainesville to run his round record to 9-1.

John Force, the No. 15 Funny Car qualifier in the PEAK BlueDEF Platinum Camaro SS, also lost in the quarterfinals.

Brittany Force, who qualified second with a Top Fuel track-record speed of 337.75 mph in the Monster Energy/Flav-R-Pac Chevrolet dragster, chattered the tires and fell in the first round. John Force Racing teammate Austin Prock, the No 8 qualifier in the Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist Chevrolet dragster also lost in the first round.

Force, who set the speed record on the 30th anniversary of Kenny Bernstein becoming the first to crack the 300-mph barrier, won her opening-round match of the inaugural Pep Boys NHRA All-Star Callout specialty race. The semifinals and final of the $80,000-to-win event will be conducted concurrent with qualifying at the U.S. Nationals in September. Force will be asked to choose her semifinal opponent from the other first-round winners: Steve Torrence, Mike Salinas and Justin Ashley.

Glenn ran a career-best 6.478 seconds to defeat Troy Coughlin Jr., the No. 9 qualifier in the JEGS.com Camaro SS, in the first round. He beat points leader and No. 1 qualifier Aaron Stanfield in the quarterfinals. Glenn then defeated Rodger Brogdon while Koretsky ousted Mason McGaha in the semifinals.

“To race Kyle in the final is the only time we want to race,” said Glenn, the 2021 NHRA rookie of the year. “I knew he waw going to be tough; we were only a few (thousandths of a second) apart and he was good on the Tree all day. The car made an absolute beautiful run. I’m in a different car this year, and I’ve heard ‘why did you get in a different car, you’re doing so good.’ I’d say, ‘just wait. We’re going to be a handful’ and we’re getting to that point.”

Five-time and reigning Pro Stock champion Greg Anderson was denied his 100th career victory when McGaha, driving the Harlow Sammons of Odessa Camaro SS, pulled out a first-round holeshot win by one-thousandth of a second.

Anderson, driver of the HendrickCars.com Camaro SS who turns 61 on March 14 and was the 2021 Gatornationals winner, was competing in his 500th NHRA Pro Stock race. Four other drivers in NHRA history have recorded 100 national event wins: 16-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force (154), and Sportsman racers Frank Manzo and Dan Fletcher (105) and David Rampy (100).

Len Lottig of Meyersdale, Pennsylvania, defeated Anthony Troyer of Lehigh Acres, Florida, in an all-Chevrolet COPO Camaro final in the first of eight races this season in the Constant Aviation Factory Stock Showdown.

“It’s extremely cool to get that first (national event) win,” Lottig said. “We only had the one qualifying yesterday and we kind of went in light just to get in. In the first round, we turned up the wick a little bit and we just progressed. This car is only nine months old and it’s phenomenal.”

The NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on April 1-3 is the next event on the schedule. FS1 will telecast taped eliminations at 7 p.m. ET April 3.

CHEVROLET FROM THE COCKPIT
TOP FUEL
BRITTANY FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, MONSTER ENERGY/FLAV-R-PAC CHEVROLET DRAGSTER (No. 2 qualifier; fell in first round): “It was an early weekend for our Monster Energy/Flav-R-Pac team out here in Gainesville. We got beat first round and it was tough. We only had the only qualifying pass down the racetrack and the weather conditions had a lot to do with it. But looking at the positive side, we won round one of the All-Star Callout, which will continue in Indianapolis. So, we pack up and we head to Vegas and we’ll start all over again.”

AUSTIN PROCK, JOHN FORCE RACING, MONTANA BRAND/ROCKY MOUNTAIN TWIST CHEVROLET DRAGSTER (No. 8 qualifier; fell in first round): “A tough, tough day today. It wasn’t the weekend this Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist team wanted, but we’ve got two weeks to go back to the shop and get our stuff back together. So, I’m looking forward to Las Vegas. It’s going to be a long two weeks.”

FUNNY CAR
JOHN FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, PEAK BLUEDEF PLATINUM CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 15 qualifier; fell in quarterfinals): “What a weekend. Glad we were able to get the race in today. the conditions were tough, but we were able to get in the show here on Sunday. This BlueDEF Chevy, I really had to put it through the paces. Got out there and pedaled it and it worked for the first round. Just missed it in the second. We’ll be OK; moved up in points quote a bit, so feel good about that and we’ll just head to Vegas and try to get it done four-wide.”

ROBERT HIGHT, JOHN FORCE RACING, AUTO CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 1 qualifier; fell in quarterfinals): “It’s been a long weekend, painful just having to sit out there and wait when all you want to do is get out there and race. We got the No. 1 qualifier but that’s not always a good thing. Tricky conditions all weekend long with the rain, but NHRA did a great job getting the track back on Saturday night and then today, making the decision to push back the start. We struggled a little but I’m not worried. Having Jimmy Prock and Chris Cunningham, opening the season with 14 of 16 runs in the 3.80s, that wasn’t a fluke. We just need to keep our heads down and work hard and try to get another streak going, starting with the four-wide in Vegas.”

PRO STOCK
GREG ANDERSON, KB RACING, HENDRICKCARS.COM CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 6 qualifier; fell in first round): “I’m so proud of this team, so proud of our guys. To get another win for Ken Black makes us all happy. As for my car, the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro is fast; we just need to run it like it wants to be run. We were too conservative, and it bit us. I’m excited to get to Las Vegas in a couple of weeks for the next race. We’ll be a different team when we get there, and we’re going to be racing a whole lot more aggressive. We won’t take anybody lightly out there.”

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.

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