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Michael Roberts Construction to Help Build Championship with Zane Smith

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (January 28, 2022) – Michael Roberts Construction (MRC) has partnered with Front Row Motorsports (FRM) to be a primary partner of Zane Smith in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) for the 2022 season. MRC has been a partner of Smith throughout his career and now moves to FRM to help win a championship.

MRC is a private and public commercial construction company based in northern California. MRC expert engineering can be seen in various constructions throughout the region. The company partnered with Smith, a two-time NCWTS champion runner-up, early in his budding career and has been one of his most loyal supporters and friend since. They are proud to continue their relationship as Smith competes for his first championship.

“Zane is a great driver and an amazing young man,” said Mike Avila, President and CEO, Michael Roberts Construction. “Our company fully supports Zane and believe that he’s ready for a breakout season with his new team at Front Row Motorsports. We are proud to support Zane and the team.”

MRC will be the primary partner of Smith, a NCWTS most popular driver award winner, at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Martinsville Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Sonoma Raceway, Kanas Speedway, and the season finale at the Phoenix Raceway.

“I want nothing more this year than to celebrate a championship with Mike and my friends at Michael Roberts Construction at Phoenix in November,” said Smith. “I think we can win a lot of races together and I love their schedule of primary races. And I know they are always supporting me every weekend, too. It feels good to have their support and I can’t wait to start the season.”

MRC will also be an associate partner all season of the No. 38 team and Smith. For more information about MRC, visit www.michaelrobertscontruction.com.

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.

Gonzalez Wins Rainy MX-5 Cup Season Opener at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 27, 2022) – Teams in the Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich® Tires had to contend with a wet Daytona International Raceway to kick off the 2022 season. In typical MX-5 Cup fashion, the 45-minute race came down to a four-wide, door-to-door sprint to the finish line. That sprint was won by Tyler Gonzalez (No. 51 Copeland Motorsports).

The first Mazda MX-5 Cup race of the season was an exercise in car control. Rain and cold temperatures made for a very slick race track and the 31 cars created a haze of spray as they took the green flag.

Sam Paley (No. 28 McCumbee McAleer Racing) started from the pole, but as the field fanned out into Turn One, he fell behind in the shuffle of cars searching for grip. Instead it was third-starting Connor Zilisch (No. 72 Hixon Motor Sports) and outside polesitter Selin Rollan (No. 87 Hixon Motor Sports) who charged into the lead.

Gonzalez had a great start, from 12th on the grid to third by lap three and would not let Zilisch and Rollan get away. While that trio battled for position, MX-5 Cup regulars Michael Carter (No. 08 Carter Racing Enterprises) and Jared Thomas (No. 96 JTR Motorsports Engineering) were ready to pounce as was Chris Nunes (No. 32 Formidable Racing) who is in his second year of MX-5 Cup Competition.

The lead pack of six changed order at seemingly every turn as someone would slide wide or misjudge the braking zone. The action was paused mid-way through the race with a four-lap full-course yellow.

Defending Champion Gresham Wagner arrived on the scene after the restart and took the lead briefly, but was issued a drive-through penalty for incident responsibility, dropping him out of the fight for the win.

Rollan retook the lead but in a similar scenario to last year’s season opener, he had a big target on his back coming out of the final turn. Behind him Gonzalez, Zilisch and Nunes finally fanned out at the very last minute and the quartet crossed the finish line door-to-door.

The timing screens declared Gonzalez the winner by 0.062-second over Nunes. Rollan crossed the line 0.002-second behind Nunes. Zilisch was a further 0.06-second adrift in fourth.

“I raced MX-5 Cup a little while ago in 2019 and this is my first year back,” Gonzalez said. “My boys at Copeland Motorsports really helped me out with giving me a great car that was fun in the rain. It is fun to be back with MX-5 Cup. There is always fun racing with the way Mazda has these cars set up. I am doubling down this weekend competing in both MX-5 Cup and IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge. I am just hoping to win them all.”

Gonzalez will start eighth in Friday’s Round Two race.

Much like the crowd watching the race, Nunes admitted he isn’t quite sure how he managed to finish second.

“Honestly, I am speechless,” Nunes said. “I am shaking. If it wasn’t for my Kicker Audio keeping me cool and collected through this event I don’t know if I would have been able to pull it off. The BFGoodrich Tires kept these cars under our feet the entire race. Unfortunately, in the rain at Daytona our plans may not fall into place. My plan fell into the water, so I came up with new strategies on the fly. With quick reactions, I was able to take second place. I have no idea what happened in that final drag race to the finish. Everyone was pinching down to the bottom of the track so we all got bottlenecked. I bet all the fans watching loved that type of racing and we are looking forward to putting on more great events for them.”

After the four cars crossed the finish line, Rollan got sideways and hit the wall. He was able to walk away from the incident, but he crew has a long night of repairs ahead of them.

“I didn’t mean to be first to the line,” Rollan said. “They had a weird stack going coming up to the tri-oval. I didn’t know how that happened so I just picked a lane and ended up in first. I had a gap to Tyler [Gonzalez] so in Turn Five I slowed down so he was on my bumper. There was nothing I could do at the end. It was some rough racing out there. I hope my car is okay – it’s wrecked right now. I know my Hixon Motorsports crew can help me out and we can figure out a plan. Thank you to Hixon Motorsports for all their help. The Austin Hatcher Foundation car looked and felt fantastic because of them. We will see what tomorrow brings.”

Rollan starts Friday’s race from pole.

Zilisch, the latest winner of the Mazda Shootout Scholarship, finished fourth even through several setbacks that could have ended his race. He was the highest finishing rookie in the race.

Thomas, a former scholarship winner himself, completed the top five.

The runner-up to Zilisch in this year’s MX-5 Cup Shootout, Bryce Cornet (No. 65 Hixon Motor Sports), was given the Hard Charger Award for starting 28th and finishing 13th.

Round Two of the Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup goes green on Friday, January 28, at 10:15am ET with live coverage on RACER.com and IMSA.com/TVlive.

Full Race Results

About: The Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich® Tires is the signature spec series for Mazda Motorsports. The series has been operated by Andersen Promotions since 2017 and is currently sanctioned by IMSA. Mazda-powered grassroots champions can earn Mazda scholarships for this pro-level series. The Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup champion is awarded $250,000 as the top rookie nets $80,000.

Find out more at http://www.mx-5cup.com.

Should You Buy A Manual Car Or An Automatic Car?

Photo by Yuvraj Singh on Unsplash

In the last two years, Coronavirus has locked the whole world indoors. Now that we are learning that the virus is here to stay, we are learning to live with it. We are eventually coming out of our homes and renewing our normal lifestyles with the addition of “newness” to it. 

If you are in Coventry, you would have seen that there is a new kind of car in town these days, which is on the rise. This new type is the automated car. If you wish to learn it, you have good news. The driving lessons in Coventry can train you to drive such vehicles in the shortest time. Before you head to the driving school, however, you will need to know a couple of factors and differences. The article will provide you with that information.

Factors to Consider Before Buying a Car

  • Purpose of buying the car – Will the car be driven more in Stop and Go conditions, or could there be different driving conditions in which you want to control the vehicle? Do you want a car that is easy to drive at a stop or one that requires the driver to exercise sufficient control?
  • Cost of the car – Is the vehicle affordable? 
  • Gearbox basics – Cars with automatic gearboxes can be driven without much input from the driver’s part, while one can use manual cars for a long time. You can learn more about gearboxes at this gearbox manufacturer.
  • Power – Do you prefer to control the car, or are you looking to drive comfortably?
  • Ease of driving.
  • Will you be driving your car in a rural set-up or an urban city?

Differences You Will Notice Between Manual and Automatic Cars

  • Price: Manual cars are cheaper than automatic cars. Therefore if your budget is lower, you can buy manual cars. Such cars will give you higher mileage, and the cost for maintaining them is also lower than that of automatic cars, though the mileage gap decreases with the newer models of automated cars. For example, the AMT brings about low-cost and fuel-efficient automatic gearboxes. However, note that if you no longer wish to drive the car and want to sell it, you will get a higher resale value if your car is automatic rather than manual. 
  • Driving: Automatic cars are much easier to drive than manual cars, which require a lot more effort. For driving a manual car, the driver must learn the mechanism as to how the clutch, brake and accelerator pedal operate. However, a gear shift lever and clutch pedal are absent in an automatic car.
  • Learning Lessons – Learning to drive manual cars come at a lower cost. In addition, unlike automatic vehicles, a driver who knows how to drive a manual car can drive both types of cars. On the other hand, if you only know how to drive an automatic car, you will need to clear an additional test to drive a manual car. Click here to know where you can learn your preferred lessons at affordable rates.
  • Training: Manual cars require extensive training. Automatic cars do not need training. They are easier to use and are excellent for people learning how to drive.
  • Efficiency: Manual cars are more fuel-efficient than automatic cars.
  • Acceleration: Manual cars provide a much superior performance than automatic cars. On the other hand, automated vehicles perform great in Stop and Go traffic instead of manual vehicles.

Conclusion

As already stated, the professional driving instructors in Coventry provide training for both types of cars nowadays. Before you sign up for the course, make sure you consider the differences between driving the two kinds of vehicles. You can then take the training you need. 

What is Graphological Analysis?

We tell you what graphological analysis consists of and what it is used for.

Graphological analysis belongs to the science known as graphology. It is dedicated to studying character, temperament, and personality based on handwriting. It looks at aspects such as form, space, and movement.

This topic will interest anyone who has anything to do with writing, psychology, and self-discovery. Perhaps you are into writing, or you work in a paper writer service, or you like to write by hand, or maybe you want to know more about other people. If you recognize yourself – keep reading.

Table of contents

  • What is graphology based on?
  • What graphological analysis is based on
  • Conclusions of graphological studies
  • Preferred uses of graphology
  • Some common graphological interpretations

Margins
Basis of the lines
Letter-size
Pressure on paper
Spacing
Inclination

What graphology is based on?

We write automatically. The brain itself orders to write to the muscles, and they execute it. Consequently, our handwriting reveals the conscious and unconscious tendencies that we have within us.

Graphological handwriting analysis is the main procedure of the science of graphology. It is based on interpreting a handwritten text that includes the signature and has been written in lowercase cursive handwriting. It is preferred that it has been written in pencil and, if not possible, with a ballpoint pen. For this purpose, white paper is used, without lines, and spontaneous creation is requested.

What does the graphological analysis look for?

When the graphologist analyzes your handwriting, he does so from a holistic perspective. But he looks at certain factors: inclination, direction, dimension, pressure, form, speed, order (proportion, distribution, and arrangement), and continuity.

The study goes beyond analyzing text and handwriting. Aspects such as tremors, invasion of margins, size, and displaced dots are evaluated. Also, the retouching, the letters’ fractures, and the capital letters’ characteristics. Likewise, the presence of enlargements or unfinished words and letters also provides valuable information.

Conclusions of graphological studies:

The so-called graphic genres are the factors that allow us to extract accurate assessments in graphology. From them, we can conclude personality and character:

Order. It reflects your inner balance, the vision of the world, and ability to cope with it.

Form. Indicates your cultural level and how you behave in society.

Dimension. Size reflects your self-esteem and self-concept, as well as your intelligence and how well you can concentrate.

Pressure. It manifests your vital energy and the strength of your feelings. Your character can also be seen in the force you press the text to the paper.

Direction. Through it is possible to appreciate your state of mind. Also your will, your mood and your emotional stability.

Inclination. This is another very revealing factor. It transmits the importance you give to the external and relationships with others. and your tendencies in terms of affectivity, passions, and feelings.

Speed. It shows your usual reaction time. It is related, therefore, to your mental agility.

Continuity. Cohesion indicates whether logic or instinct prevails in us. It also reflects how we establish bonds with others.

Preferred uses of graphology?

Graphological analysis of handwriting has its limitations. It is not mathematics. However, it is a valuable tool of personal knowledge that offers handy references and interpretations.

Many managers and human resources departments rely on this science. They do so to recognize and recruit talent. To identify possible personal circumstances that limit or enhance their employees. Recruitment is undoubtedly counting on it. Don’t be surprised if, in a personnel selection, you are asked to write a handwritten text.

It is also common in some forensic investigations. It has been decisive in clarifying the facts and arresting the culprits on some occasions.

Teaching, emotional compatibility between couples, and health are other frequent fields of application. This field is applied in two directions: graphotherapy and graphopathology. That is, it can help to heal people, but also to diagnose what problems affect them.

Take a look at these aspects and references as examples.

Margins

When they are narrow and little respected, the associated personality is introverted and shy. Wide borders reflect the opposite. If yours are irregular, contradiction nests in your feelings.

Basis of the lines

The study of lines allows you to interpret affective states and moods. If you tend to write upwards, positivity and optimism nest in you. If you tend to go downward, it may mean that you are tired, sad, or unhappy. Do your lines look like wavy paths? Emotion, restlessness, and instability are your interpretations.

Size of the letter

Perhaps the best-known interpretation. The small print (lower case less than 1.5 mm), introversion, or depth of thought. Large image (over 2.5 mm), broad vision, and desire for experimentation and socialization.

Pressure on paper

If you are a sensitive and delicate person, you will write gently. If you put a lot of pressure on the paper, you waste energy and are brave in front of the world.

Spacing

This trait is associated with the distance you establish between yourself and others. If the separation target is narrow, you like to be close to others. And vice versa. However, it has to be put about the size of the letter.

Inclination

If your handwriting is to the left, it reflects that it is difficult for you to express your true emotions. If it goes to the right, you are friendly and free of communication problems. When you mix both options, you may have trouble adapting to your environment.

As you can see, graphological handwriting analysis is fascinating and arouses curiosity. It is a science that has come a long way and is increasingly proving its effectiveness. It allows a personality test that illustrates in many different areas.

The method must be face-to-face, with a text chosen according to the person, dictated by the graphologist, spontaneous and surprising. It is essential to prevent the person being investigated from twisting the page when writing.

In this way, the subsequent graphological analysis will acquire the necessary appearance of adequacy and rigor. If the graphologist has the experience and knowledge needed, his conclusions will be revealing and valuable.

HairClub® and Spencer Boyd Renew Sponsorship for Third Season

Mooresville, NC (January 27, 2022) – Spencer Boyd announces his continued partnership with HairClub®. This marks the third season between HairClub and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Driver. New hallmarks for the third season will include new paint schemes and ‘Hair Wars III’ at World Wide Technology Park.

“I’m humbled to have such a great partner in HairClub,” said Boyd, who relishes the relationship he has formed with HairClub over the years. “It’s one of those situations where we do a lot of work together, but it doesn’t feel like work.”

HairClub President and CEO Mike Nassar is equally excited for what this latest partnership with Boyd will bring to television viewers and HairClub members.

“Spencer is one-of-a-kind, and I had the opportunity to spend the better half of a week with him in Charlotte last year,” said Nassar. “I still smile thinking about the fun of filming during that week and we’ve got more fun things planned together, so I’m thrilled Spencer is continuing as a valued ambassador for the HairClub brand.”

The Boyd-HairClub partnership resonates with members and race fans, since HairClub is a staunch proponent of living life to the fullest. The company rang in 2022 with a dynamic campaign and unprecedented ‘New Hair’s Resolutions’ offer. Inspiring clients to celebrate being confident and strong individuals, vignettes featured going on vacation, rocking outfits long absent from the closet for too long, and making up for lost time with loved ones.

Boyd is a HairClub client and visits HairClub centers for regularly scheduled appointments with his favorite stylist. After his initial hair health consultation, Boyd chose the family of EXT products to help regrow his hair and maintain optimum scalp health – a critical component in achieving thicker, fuller-looking hair.

As part of the season three partnership, Boyd and HairClub will reveal a new paint scheme for race fans.

“This year I had direct involvement in the paint scheme,” said Boyd. “I wanted it to feel like I was on vacation, while HairClub wanted to go retro, so the combination is head-turning.”

Accustomed to helping people turn heads, HairClub was on board with marrying neon colors and the skylines of Las Vegas and Miami, two cities that encourage fun and individualism.

“I’m challenging Don Johnson to a race with this truck,” Boyd joked. “It’s going to be another great year together!”

Follow HairClub (@hairclub) and Spencer Boyd (@spencerboydpr) for scheduling and special offers.

About HairClub
Founded in 1976, HairClub is North America’s number one provider of hair regrowth, replacement, and restoration solutions. For more than 40 years, HairClub has helped 600,000+ people regrow, replace, or restore the hair they love. HairClub has more than 120 locations throughout the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tokyo-based Aderans Co. Ltd., the world’s leading provider of total hair loss solutions.

Speedway Motorsports Partners with Stewart-Haas Racing On Ultimate Race Day Experience with Dedicated Fan Suite

  • Five Speedway Motorsports facilities to debut Stewart-Haas Racing Fan Suites during NASCAR Cup Series weekends in 2022, offering fans exclusive access to race weekend track tours, VIP appearances and hospitality
  • Limited ticket packages are available at stewarthaasracing.com/fan-suite, starting at $525

CONCORD, N.C. (Jan. 27, 2022) – Stewart-Haas Racing fans are revved up for the start of the upcoming NASCAR season, and Speedway Motorsports is giving the team’s most avid supporters yet another reason to fuel up on fun, with all-new Stewart-Haas Racing Fan Suites set to debut at tracks across the country.

New for 2022, five Speedway Motorsports properties – Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway – will roll out the red carpet for a limited number of passionate fans looking for the ultimate race day experience. Stewart-Haas Racing Fan Suite ticket holders will receive exclusive access to track tours, VIP appearances, team gift bags and the chance to take in the NASCAR action alongside fellow SHR fans in an enclosed, climate-controlled suite.

Stewart-Haas Racing Fan Suite ticket packages will be available at the following Speedway Motorsports events:

March 6: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
March 20: Atlanta Motor Speedway
April 17: Bristol Motor Speedway
May 22: Texas Motor Speedway
May 29: Charlotte Motor Speedway
July 10: Atlanta Motor Speedway
Sept. 17: Bristol Motor Speedway
Sept. 25: Texas Motor Speedway
Oct. 9: Charlotte Motor Speedway
Oct. 16: Las Vegas Motor Speedway

“Our fans are so integral to the DNA of NASCAR and it is important that we continue to mine unique, world-class experiences for them,” said Brett Frood, President of Stewart-Haas Racing. “We’re proud of the continued collaboration and partnership with Speedway Motorsports and our focus on elevating the fan experience and holistic access to our sport.”

Suite capacity is limited at each facility, so fans are encouraged to lock in this unique opportunity early to ensure a spot. Ticket packages start at just $525, and can be purchased online at www.stewarthaasracing.com/fan-suite.

About Speedway Motorsports:

Speedway Motorsports is a leading marketer, promoter and sponsor of motorsports entertainment in the United States. The company, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates the following premier facilities: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Dover Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Nashville Superspeedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Sonoma Raceway, Texas Motor Speedway and Kentucky Speedway. Speedway Motorsports provides souvenir merchandising services through its SMI Properties subsidiaries; manufactures and distributes smaller-scale, modified racing cars and parts through its U.S. Legend Cars International subsidiary; and produces and broadcasts syndicated motorsports programming to radio stations nationwide through its Performance Racing Network subsidiary.

ABOUT STEWART-HAAS RACING

Stewart-Haas Racing is the title-winning NASCAR team co-owned by three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart and Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation – the largest CNC machine tool builder in North America. The Kannapolis, North Carolina-based organization has won two NASCAR Cup Series titles, one NASCAR Xfinity Series championship and more than 90 NASCAR races, including such crown-jewel events as the Daytona 500, Brickyard 400 and Southern 500. For more information, please visit us online at StewartHaasRacing.com and on social at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Brayton Laster Joins Mullins Racing For Daytona ARCA Opener

Brayton Laster will join Mullins Racing for the ARCA Menards Series opener at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 19. (Image 13 Photography)

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – When Brayton Laster followed Dinah Mullins on TikTok, he had no idea it would eventually lead to the opportunity of a lifetime.

Laster, a 19-year-old racer from Greenwood, Ind., will join Mullins Racing to compete in the ARCA Menards Series Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire on Feb. 19 at Daytona International Speedway.

“I’m a small town dirt track guy. We’re not supposed to make it to Daytona,” said a very excited Laster. “The Mullins Racing team is an awesome group of people. I’m so thankful to be able to work with them and actually be able to race for them at Daytona. It’s so cool to work for a team that I share a lot of my values and ideals with.”

The Liberty University freshman, who is pursuing an Associate of Arts degree in business, joins Mullins Racing after spending the last four seasons racing primarily on dirt.

In 2018 he was the Brownstown (Ind.) Speedway Rookie of the Year in the super late model division. More recently, he finished the 2021 season ranked third in the Ultimate Heart of America Super Late Model Series standings. He was also third in the Richmond (Ky.) Raceway super late model standings last year.

The opportunity for Laster to make his ARCA debut at Daytona stems from a simple follow on the social media platform TikTok. Laster began following Dinah Mullins, the wife of Mullins Racing owner Willie Mullins, on TikTok because he enjoyed the content that the small, family-owned team produced.

Dinah Mullins’ TikTok account (@dinahmmullins) has exploded in the last year. Now boasting more than 25,000 followers, her account features a lot of behind-the-scenes content showcasing what it takes to get the Mullins Racing team to the race track.

Soon after he began following Dinah Mullins on TikTok, Laster’s father brought up the idea of taking part in the ARCA Menards Series pre-race practice at Daytona in January. It was then Laster discovered that Mullins Racing was seeking drivers to take part in the pre-race practice.

A few emails and text messages later and Laster was signed up to take part in the Daytona pre-race practice for Mullins Racing.

“I didn’t really know them before we put this whole deal together,” Laster said. “I knew Dinah from TikTok. That’s how I knew they were looking for some drivers for the practice. So I reached out to them and that’s how we ended up going to the practice.

“You can’t prepare to run at Daytona,” Laster continued. “I went in there completely blind and I came out of there completely speechless. There is nothing like going 190 mph.”

Following the pre-race practice, Laster and his family agreed that Laster was going to race at Daytona, then Mullins Racing was the team they wanted to do it with.

From there, it was only a matter of days before the deal was done for Laster to race at Daytona. It will be the first time in team history that Mullins Racing has fielded two cars at Daytona International Speedway in the ARCA Menards Series. Team owner Willie Mullins will once again drive the No. 3 entry while Laster will pilot the No. 03.

“This is a big deal for us,” said Willie Mullins, who is also on TikTok at @williemullins.3. “To have Mullins Racing represented by Brayton Laster is extremely exciting. We would have never thought TikTok would bring a driver to us, but it was has worked out well. They see how hard we work on our stuff. We’re excited that platform has actually given us the ability to reach so many people in the motor racing industry.”

Laster’s No. 03 Mullins Racing Ford will carry sponsorship from a number of supporters, including IndyAutoRecyclers.com, EDCO, One Way Auto Parts, Image 13 Photography, C.J. Rayburn Race Cars, USA Insulation and Jimmy’s Diner.

He’s hopeful that given the success Mullins Racing has enjoyed at Daytona in the past, which includes one top-five and four top-10 finishes, that he’ll be able to enjoy a strong run when the ARCA Menards Series takes the green flag on Feb. 19 at Daytona International Speedway.

“We have a really good car and we have a really great team,” said Laster. “The car I’m going to drive has a pretty strong reputation of finishing strong at Daytona. I’d be very content with finishing the entire race, but even if we don’t I’ll be happy because I’ll be able to say I ran at Daytona and a lot of people don’t make it to this level.”

For more information on Mullins Racing, please visit mullinsracing.net, like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mullinsracing and follow them on Twitter at @mullins_racing.

African American-Led Force Indy Elevates to Indy Lights with Driver Francis

Rising Star Adds to Diverse Legacy of Growing Team

INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022) – Force Indy has announced its entry for the 2022 Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires championship with Ernie Francis Jr. driving the team’s No. 99 car.

Haitian American Francis heads to Force Indy after three wins in his lone season in the Formula Regional Americas Championship and a second-place finish in the inaugural season of the Superstar Racing Experience (SRX), with a win at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.

Florida native Francis, 24, is also a seven-time class champion in the Trans Am Series (2014-2020). His 47 career victories are the most of any driver in Trans Am history. His 24 wins in the premier TA category trail only Paul Gentilozzi (31), Mark Donohue (29) and Tommy Kendall (28).

“This is an incredible opportunity,” Francis said. “After getting a taste last year and beginning to learn what open-wheel racing is all about, I found myself wanting more. Open-wheel cars are incredible to drive. To know that I’ll continue my education with Force Indy and only one step away from the NTT INDYCAR SERIES makes this unbelievably special. I cannot wait to get started.”

In December 2020, African American business leader and former racing team manager Rod Reid announced the formation of Force Indy with the focus on hiring men and women of color, including mechanics, engineers, staffers and drivers. During its inaugural season in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship, the team won in thrilling fashion at New Jersey Motorsports Park with driver Myles Rowe.

“Being able to finish our first season with a win showed what this team is capable of doing,” Reid said. “We want to thank Myles, who will always be a member of the Force Indy race team, and will continue to offer assistance and mentorship as he pursues another season in USF2000.

“I could not be more thrilled to promote our group to the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires championship with Ernie Francis Jr. His work ethic and history of success speak for itself.”

Team Principal Reid’s years of karting and auto racing experience have proven invaluable. His NXG Youth Motorsports Inc., has introduced more than 2,300 students from under-represented communities, ages 11 to 15, to the educational benefits of the sport.

Team Penske will continue to offer mentorship for Force Indy, as the initiative also falls under Penske Entertainment Corp.’s “Race for Equality & Change” announced in July 2020. The goals include recruiting and developing a diverse workforce throughout all levels of INDYCAR and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, ultimately creating a community that fundamentally transforms the sport.

“I was pleased to learn that Ernie would be driving for Force Indy in 2022,” Roger Penske said. “As someone who has a history in Trans Am, I know the type of skillset that comes from that series. Ernie will be a wonderful addition to Indy Lights.

“It was inspiring to see the growth of Force Indy during their first season, and we will continue to support their progress and mission as the team continues on a path to compete in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.”

Force Indy will make its Indy Lights series debut Feb. 25-27 on the Streets of St. Petersburg, Florida. The team will continue to use No. 99 on the car in honor of the late Dewey “Rajo Jack” Gatson, who drove a roadster with that number toward the end of his career in 1951. Gatson, one of the winningest African American drivers and mechanics in racing history, never received an opportunity to race in the Indianapolis 500.

“We remain very fortunate to have Team Penske offer its guidance and mentorship,” Reid said. “I have been in and around the sport for 40 years. Force Indy remains a labor of love, and our goals are unchanged: focusing on diversity with an eye toward competing in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and, in honor of Rajo Jack, the Indianapolis 500.”

For additional information, please visit the team’s website: www.ForceIndy.com.

Patriotic! New DAYTONA 500 Tri-Oval Grass Design Unveiled

bcpix, bcpix.com, brian cleary Rolex 24 at Daytona, IMSA, Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL, January 2022. (Photo by Brian Cleary/bcpix.com)

Ticket Options Available for 64th Annual Great American Race, Which Will Feature the New, Much-Anticipated NASCAR ‘Next Gen’ Car

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 27, 2022) – The fans have spoken. The DAYTONA 500 Tri-oval Grass Design for the 2022 Great American Race was unveiled today and will showcase a one-of-a-kind, patriotic design.

For the seventh consecutive year, fans had the chance to vote in October on the design for the 64th Annual DAYTONA 500, the NASCAR Cup Series season-opener.

“We are thrilled with the fans’ choice for this year’s DAYTONA 500 Trioval Grass Design,” said Speedway President Frank Kelleher. “Our ballfield in the middle of the trioval separates Daytona International Speedway from other venues, and it will provide a ‘wow’ factor for our fans at the Great American Race. It will give a packed house of fans goosebumps then they see their choice during the DAYTONA 500 and Speedweeks Presented By AdventHealth.”

While tickets to this year’s iconic race has sold out of reserved fronstretch seating and RV camping, there are a host of fan hospitality options, including the Rolex 24 Lounge Suites and the all-new Harley J’s Experience (High Banks Suite with incredible view of the fronstretch). To see a complete list of DAYTONA 500 hospitality options, log onto www.DAYTONA500.com.

While DAYTONA Speedweeks Presented By AdventHealth culminates with the DAYTONA 500, the week will feature six days of incredible on-track action, featuring practices, qualifying and a total of six races among four different series, allowing fans several possibilities to not only see the Next Gen car but a variety of some of the greatest drivers in the world.

For ticket information on the DAYTONA 500, as well as Speedweeks Presented By AdventHealth events, log onto www.DAYTONA500.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP. If fans are looking to buy or sell reserved seats for the DAYTONA 500, please visit SeatGeek, the Preferred Ticket Exchange of the DAYTONA 500 and Speedweeks Presented By AdventHealth.

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 Daytona International Speedway 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. 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.

Rebel Rock Racing has new driver lineup for Daytona four-hour opener

Michael Cooper to sub for DePew in Urban Grid Camaro

DAYTONA BEACH, FL (26 Jan. 2022) – Rebel Rock Racing is set to kick off its fourth complete season of IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge competition with Friday’s BMW M Performance Endurance Championship, a four-hour race at Daytona International Speedway.

Robin Liddell will have a new co-driver in the No. 71 Urban Grid Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R for the event. With regular co-driver Frank DePew opting out of the event due to a family medical issue, Michael Cooper was asked to join the team for the event. DePew, who has 4 Michelin Pilot Challenge race wins with Liddell to his credit and led his first IMSA race at VIR last year, will look forward to his return to the cockpit at Sebring.

“Frank is incredibly disappointed that he will not be racing, and it’s very unfortunate for all of us,” said Liddell, who doubles in the role of team manager. “I am thankful that Frank has supported us to be able to race next weekend, and we look forward to having him back in action for the next race, when we defend our 2021 victory at Sebring.”

Cooper is a five-time champion in the SCCA Pirelli World Challenge, with many of his 41 career victories, 15 poles and 79 podiums coming in that series. He has three career starts in the Michelin Pilot Challenge.

Liddell spent the past weekend doing all of the driving at Daytona’s Roar Before the Rolex 24, and was impressed with the continued improvement of the Urban Grid Camaro.

“We had a very good test at the Roar,” Liddell said. “We put a lot of miles on the car, and it has performed very well. We think the car is quite competitive, but obviously, at the Roar you never know how it will shake out when you return for the race weekend. The Porsches are very fast – it’s a new car, and there’s a lot of them. I’m not sure how we will compete with them, but overall, we’re in pretty good shape.”

The team will look to change the narrative for their fortunes at the epic World Center of Racing, as the previous best result at the track was 13th in 2019. Daytona is one of two four-hour races on the schedule, with the remaining events two hours in duration.

“I like the four-hour races, because it gives a slightly different flavor, and it gives us the feel of an endurance race,” Liddell said. “It’s long enough to allow you to do some strategy that we don’t get in the shorter races. It also gives you time to recover if you’ve had a bit of an issue early on. I think it’s ideal to do it with two drivers – we used to do it with three drivers – but then it puts more pressure on the two drivers and the team.”

Practice for the BMW M Performance Challenge begins Wednesday with a one-hour session at 1:45 p.m. (all times ET). The second practice is a one-hour session Thursday at 9:45 a.m., followed by GS qualifying at 2:45 p.m. Friday opens with a final 30-minute practice at 9:25 a.m.

The opening round of the 2022 Michelin Pilot Challenge season takes the green flag on Friday at 1:35 p.m.