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Toyota Launches New Noah and Voxy Minivans in Japan

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Official Release
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Minivans with more comfort, convenience, and peace of mind to bring joy to all

Toyota City, Japan, Jan 13, 2022 – (JCN Newswire) – Toyota Motor Corporation announces today the Japan wide launch of its completely redesigned “Noah” and “Voxy” minivans, with models scheduled for release on January 13*.

The new Noah and Voxy have been reborn as everybody’s minivans, with more comfort, convenience, and peace of mind to provoke a deeper sense of happiness that only minivans can offer.

  • In addition to the excellent packaging unique to minivans, the ease of use is further increased, with universal steps and free stop rear hatch doors using karakuri mechanism.
  • New models come equipped with the latest advanced fixtures, including Toyota Safety Sense and Toyota Teammate.
  • They also come with exceptional dynamic performance, including the new-generation series parallel hybrid system.

Launched in November 2001, the Noah and Voxy are compact cab wagons developed in pursuit of the pure minivan fun, with sliding doors for easy entry and exit, and roomy, comfortable cabin spaces for lots of passengers and cargo. As cars supported and loved by Japanese families, they are still among our most popular cars, particularly with families.

The new fourth-generation Noah and Voxy have been reborn as minivans with more comfort, convenience, and peace of mind than ever to encourage users to load up their hobbies and toys and hit the road. Using the TNGA (GA-C) platform for their basic structure, these minivans were developed for a deeper sense of happiness that the outstanding packaging and ease-of-use their generations of models have always brought, and to achieve even greater minivan appeal through use of the latest advanced fixtures. Designed based on three unique worldviews that further emphasize their features, the Noah is built on the concepts of “majestic, modern, and high quality” combined with “mainstream and aggressive,” while the Voxy goes for “leading edge and unique.”

Welcab models (assisted mobility vehicles) also enhance the model lineup by dramatically improving the range of wheelchair-adapted models and expanding the configuration for type-designated vehicles.

*Production of hybrid vehicles will begin at the end of January 2022.

More details of the new Noah and Voxy, visit https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/toyota/36614730.html.

POWRi SOUTHWEST LIGHTNING ROOKIE OF THE YEAR CHIARAMONTE GETS 10TH IN TULSA SHOOTOUT

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Official Release
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(Lakeside, CA, January 12, 2021) The 2021 Lucas Oil POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series “Rookie of the Year “, Braden Chiaramonte, scored an impressive 9th place finish in the Non-Wing Micro Class at the prestigious Tulsa Shootout. The impressive top-10 finish came against a whopping roster that totaled 436 entries.

Joining 14-year-old Chiaramonte in the “Sooner State” event was 2021 Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series champion Grant Sexton of Lakeside, California. Sexton made it all the way to one of the B mains in the Outlaw Non-Wing division before bowing out of the star-laden competition on the last day.

Driving Hyper house cars, each of the So Cal-based teens began their first appearance at the Shootout in Tuesday’s practice session. They followed that up 24-hours later with their initial heat race appearances of the four nights of intense competition. The highlight of opening night for the young duo came when Sexton started third and finished second in his Outlaw Non-Wing Heat race. Chiaramonte, who lives in El Cajon, California, started and finished seventh in his Outlaw Non-Wing heat. Also, on opening night in the Winged Micros, Chiaramonte started ninth and finished eighth in his eight-lapper. Sexton came from eighth at the start to finish seventh in his.

The second night of action saw Chiaramonte notch his first of two wins on the week when he came from his third-place starting spot to win his Non-Wing Micro heat. In Grant’s Non-Wing Micro heat, he started 10th and finished sixth. Both drivers also contested Micro Wing heats with Grant starting fourth and finishing third in his. Chiaramonte placed 9th in his outing in the class.

Night #3, which happened to be New Year’s Eve, saw Chiaramonte notch his second win at the Shootout when he won a Micro Non-Wing 10-lap Qualifier from the pole. That put him straight into Saturday’s main event, which is a tough feat for a newcomer considering there were 435 other entries in the class. Sexton’s qualifier saw him finish ninth. He also placed 11th in his Outlaw Non-Wing Qualifier.

The four-day competition, which drew a record-setting 1,700 total entries, ended on New Year’s Day. Chiaramonte was seated straight into the main event for the Non-Wing Micros. That was going to be his only race of the night. Sexton was still trying to fight his way into the Outlaw Non-Wing main event by transferring out of the B Main. Starting ninth in a stacked 12 lap, 14 car race he had to finish second to continue. With time working against him and on a track that was hard to pass on, he only advanced one position to eighth, thus ending his rookie foray at the Tulsa Shootout.

The 30-lap, 24-car Micro Non-Wing main was Chiaramonte’s last race at the Tulsa Shootout. The teen started 11th in the race. By the midway point, he had slipped back six or seven spots, but he shined in the second half of the affair. He steered clear of a multi-car tangle in front of him and maneuvered his way back to 11th. In the race’s waning moments, he advanced another couple of spots forward for a very impressive ninth-place finish in his first voyage at Tulsa.

This Saturday, January 15th, Sexton, and Chiaramonte will gather with other drivers, teams, officials, and fans for the 2021 Lucas Oil POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series Awards Banquet. The casual affair will take place at 5:00 p.m. at 9632 Pine Blossom, in El Cajon, CA 92021. The night will include awards, raffles, smack talk, BBQ, drinks (BYOB) and the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals will be shown live. For more details, use the contact email or phone number in the sponsor section below in this release.

The Lucas Oil POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series will kick off its third season during the California Mid-Winter Fair on March 4th and 5th at the Imperial Valley Raceway. The following week the tour will head to Arizona’s Mojave Valley Raceway for races on Friday, March 11th, and Saturday, March 12th.

The Lucas Oil POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series would like to thank the Sexton Fire Protection, RTL Traffic Control & Equipment, Victory Graphix, United Cleaning Company, BK Wing, and A.M. Ortega Construction Inc. If you or your company would like to become part of the series in 2022, please contact Brent Sexton at (619) 454-6945 or mailto:sextonfire@cox.net

Lucas Oil POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series Final 2021 Point Standings

  1. Grant Sexton – Lakeside, CA – 1366
  2. Brandon Chiaramonte ® – El Cajon, CA – 1244
  3. David Bezio – San Diego, CA – 1233
  4. Matt Sotomayor ® – Alpine, CA – 1006
  5. Rudy Padilla – Norco, CA – 925
  6. D.J. Dumas – El Cajon, CA – 843
  7. Peter Benker – Alpine, CA – 784
  8. Jim Squire III – El Cajon, CA – 746
  9. Parker Dumas – San Diego, CA – 734
  10. Ryan Dumas – San Diego, CA – 711

2021 Lucas Oil POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series Winners

March 26 Mohave Valley Raceway (Winged) – James Turnbull

March 27 Mojave Valley Raceway (Winged) – Brent Sexton

April 3 Barona Speedway (Winged) – Parker Dumas

April 17 Barona Speedway (Winged) – Dalton Sexton

May 1 Barona Speedway (Winged) – Grant Sexton

May 15 Barona Speedway (Wingless) – Grant Sexton

June 12 Barona Speedway (Winged) – Grant Sexton

August 7 Barona Speedway (Winged) – David Bezio

August 21 Barona Speedway (Wingless) – Brent Sexton

September 18 Barona Speedway (Wingless) – Grant Sexton

October 2 Barona Speedway (Winged) – Braden Chiaramonte

Dylan Murry Set for Debut with Racing Team Nederland

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Official Release
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Racing Team Nederland drivers are (left to right) Frits van Eerd, Rinus VeeKay, Dylan Murry and Giedo van der Garde

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 12, 2022) – Driver Dylan Murry will make his debut with Racing Team Nederland next weekend, January 21-23, at IMSA’s “Roar Before The Rolex 24” at Daytona International Speedway.

Murry has signed on with the Dutch endurance racing team for IMSA’s four endurance rounds at Daytona, Sebring, Watkins Glen and Road Atlanta.

“This is an amazing opportunity,” said Murry, the son of former sports car world champion, David Murry. “I am still in awe about the entire program. This will be the best year of racing yet.”

The Athens, Georgia resident will be stepping up in class this season after competing in LMP3 last year. He finished third in the standings aboard a Riley Motorsport-run Ligier.

“I really don’t know what to expect,” said Murry. “The LMP3 is the fastest car I’ve driven lap time wise, so I don’t really know what to expect with the LMP2. I have driven cars with the same power to weight ratio as the LMP2, but never something with that much downforce. The braking abilities and cornering speeds are insane, and I am so excited to drive it for the first time. I do feel this is the right time in my career, and that I am ready for the next step up.

“Having been in LMP3 for a couple years now, I feel it is the perfect time to take the step up to LMP2. The current IMSA LMP2 cars are very similar to the LMh and LMDh cars. It’s going to be the same chassis with similar aero and power. It is perfect timing for me to be able to get experience in these cars, so I am ready for the LMDh opportunity when it comes. That’s where my eyes are set.”

Murry is excited about the chance to drive with his teammates Frits van Eerd, Rinus VeeKay, and Giedo van der Garde. Last year, the team captured the Pro/Am LMP2 crown in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

“I am so thankful for Fritz, Racing Team Nederland, and TDS Racing for all coming together and choosing me to be a driver for the year – it truly means a lot,” said Murry. “To be able to work with both an F1 driver (van der Garde) and an IndyCar driver (VeeKay) will be a great opportunity. It will be a perfect match since I know the tracks, and they know the car. We will be able to learn very quickly from each other to have great success this year.

“I think it is time for me to start learning Dutch and French. Between all the other drivers living in the Netherlands and the TDS team based in France, I am outnumbered. I am proud to carry the American flag with us to the races and am grateful that the team has put faith in me to run with them.”

The “Roar Before The Rolex 24” weekend will include a one-hour, 40-minute qualifying race on Sunday, January 23, in advance of the 60th Rolex 24, which is scheduled for January 29-30.

About Dylan Murry

Dylan Murry made his IMSA debut in the Michelin Pilot Challenge Series in 2018 alongside his father. They were the first father-son combination to race in the series. In 2017, he finished in the top 10 in both NASCAR K&N Pro Series races that he competed in. He also has 12 overall championships to his credit in go karts as well as in the Pro Class Legends and Pro-Legends Winter Series at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

AVD Motorsports Presents “Save Our Racecars Night” at Wenatchee Valley’s Super Oval

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Official Release
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WENATCHEE, WA – January 12, 2022 – Leading motorsports marketing agency AVD Motorsports is delighted to announce that Wenatchee Valley’s Super Oval will present a fastastic night of racing on April 16, 2022 to bring attention to Performance Racing Industry (PRI) and its “Save Our Racecars” initiative.

The Save Our Racecars Night at Wenatchee, known as the fastest quarter-mile in the Northwest, will feature three classes of racing along with a spectacular fireworks show. In addition to superb on-track action, the event will highlight PRI’s Save Our Racecars campaign, a crucial initiative to preserve motorsports in North America.

Save Our Racecars Night seeks to grow interest and membership in PRI and to build grassroots support for the vital Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports (RPM) Act 2021 (H.R.3281/S.2736). The RPM Act is a bipartisan bill in the U.S. Congress that protects Americans’ right to convert street vehicles into dedicated race cars by clarifying in federal statute that it is legal to make emissions-related changes to a street vehicle for the purpose of converting it into a dedicated track vehicle used in motorsports competition. The bill also enshrines in law the racing industry’s ability to produce, market, and install parts and equipment that enable racers to compete.

“The RPM Act is essential to racing and we are determined to pass it this congress,” said Dr. Jamie Meyer, President of PRI. “We are thrilled to sponsor Save Our Racecars Night to highlight this important issue that affects all racers and racing enthusiasts. I ask racers and race fans to head to saveourracecars.com and urge your lawmakers to take action.”

PRI is leading the effort to pass the RPM Act, which is crucial to the future of motorsports. Competition and performance rights are under threat from those who want to attack those freedoms through government overreach and interference.

“I couldn’t be more honored to bring this evening celebration of racing to life,” AVD Motorsports CEO Ashley Van Dyke said. “PRI’s Save Our Racecars Initiative and the RPM Act are so important for our industry beyond just one night. Having grown up attending races from my childhood in Washington and knowing the importance of motorsports as economic drivers to our local communities, we can take nothing for granted and must continue to support our sport’s long-term future. To preserve the sport, we need to do more, and I hope this evening underlines the bold initiatives that our trade associations are undertaking on our behalf to protect and grow motorsport as we know it.”

For more than three decades, PRI has served as the motorsports industry’s key source for trends, merchandising ideas, new products, business strategies, and more. Through the world’s premier auto racing trade show in Indianapolis, Indiana, as well as PRI’s award-winning monthly business magazine, digital platforms and social networks, motorsports industry members from all over the world remain at the cutting edge of the worldwide racing marketplace.

PRI will be on site at Wenatchee promoting its individual memberships, and individuals can sign up or learn more about them at performanceracing.com.

Sessler to Feature as Evening’s Master of Ceremonies

Jerrod Sessler will serve as Save Our Racecars Night’s master of ceremonies. Sessler is a former NASCAR driver who is running for Congress in Washington’s 4th District. He has taken up the cause of championing the institution of American racing and intends to advocate on behalf of the motorsports community in Washington.

Sessler has run NASCAR All-American Touring races and has two sons in kart racing, so it’s natural for him to emerge as an important defender of U.S. motorsports and the industry that supports it. He plans to give a speech about the importance of getting involved in and advocating for the racing industry, stressing how it starts right in our own communities and at our local race tracks. Attendees will learn how to get more involved in both his campaign for Congress and the Save our Racecars and RPM Act campaign, as well as how to take action.

Learn more about Jerrod Sessler’s run for Congress here: Jerrod Sessler for Congress. Follow him on Twitter at @Sessler. Donate here.

Tickets for the Save Our Racecars Night event will be available in 2022 from the Wenatchee Valley’s Super Oval website at http://www.wvso.com/

In addition to the website at avdmotorsports.com follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/avdmotorsports/, @avdmotorsports on Twitter and subscribe to the YouTube channel.

Ragan joins Rick Ware Racing for multiple Cup events in 2022

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Tim Jarrold for SpeedwayMedia.com.

David Ragan will be returning to the NASCAR Cup Series to drive the No. 15 car for Rick Ware Racing for multiple events this season, beginning with the 64th running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway scheduled for February 20.

Ragan, a former full-time NASCAR veteran from Unadilla, Georgia, is coming off his second one-race entry season in the Cup circuit, where he drove the No. 36 Ford Mustang for Front Row Motorsports to a 37th-place result in the 2021 Daytona 500 after being involved in an early multi-car wreck.

Through 2021, Ragan has achieved two career victories in NASCAR’s premier series (Daytona International Speedway in July 2011 with Roush Fenway Racing and Talladega Superspeedway in May 2013 with Front Row Motorsports). He has also recorded two poles, 16 top-five results, 41 top-10 results, 169 laps led and an average-finishing result of 24.3 in 472 Cup career starts. He retired from full-time NASCAR competition following the 2019 season to spend time with his family, but returned to compete in the 2020 Daytona 500 for Rick Ware Racing, where he finished in fourth place.

“I am thrilled to be back in The DAYTONA 500 driving the new 2022 Ford Mustang for RWR,” Ragan said. “I have always loved racing at Daytona, and know that we will have a shot to lead laps and contend for the win this year. The DAYTONA 500 is a special race with the best drivers in the world, and I cant wait to hit the track.”

The 2022 Daytona 500 will mark Ragan’s 16th consecutive appearance in NASCAR’s most prestigious events to commence a new season of competition as he bids for his first 500 victory. He will also be serving as one of two competitors driving a chartered entry for Rick Ware Racing, which is aligned with Stewart-Haas Racing and Roush Yates Engines for this season.

“I am really excited to have David back behind the wheel of one of our Rick Ware Racing Ford’s,” Rick Ware, team owner of Rick Ware Racing, said. “David is a great asset to the RWR family. In 2020, RWR scored our first Top 5 in the DAYTONA 500 with Ragan behind the wheel, and I’m optimistic that through our new Ford Performance alliance, we could see that No. 15 leading the field to the checkered flag on February 20th.”

Additional information regarding the remainder of Ragan’s schedule along with sponsorships for Rick Ware Racing will be announced at a later date.

Ragan is scheduled to compete in the 64th running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, which is scheduled to occur on February 20 at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

Risi Competizione Announces Entry/Drivers for 50th Annual Rolex 24 At Daytona

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Official Release
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(L-R) Risi Competizione drivers Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, Davide Rigon and Daniel Serra with a young fan and an autograph session

Risi Competizione Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo 2020 No. 62:
James Calado (GBR)
Alessandro Pier Guidi (ITA)
Davide Rigon (ITA)
Daniel Serra (BRA)

Houston, Texas (January 12, 2022) … The 60th annual Rolex 24 at Daytona race is an endurance benchmark in sports car racing history at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. The Houston, Texas-based Ferrari team of Risi Competizione has plenty of its own racing history over the decades. The team owned by Giuseppe Risi will once again vie for victory at the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Rolex 24 At Daytona, January 29-30, 2022, seeking to add its name further to the history books.

Drivers for the popular No. 62 Risi Competizione team for Daytona are no strangers to the Rosso Corsa red liveried Ferrari. Returning to the cockpit are Brit James Calado, Italians Alessandro Pier Guidi and Davide Rigon, and Brazilian Daniel Serra. All four are Ferrari Competizioni GT factory drivers and most recently all competed together in 2020 in the Risi Ferrari at Daytona. Additionally, Calado, Pier Guidi and Serra captured the GTLM victory at Petit Le Mans in 2019 for Risi Competizione.

The Risi team will be challenging the 3.86-mile, 12-turn Daytona sports car circuit in a new Ferrari 488 GT3 EVO 2020 in the new for 2022 IMSA GTD Pro class. The Ferrari GT3 features a twin turbo V8 with around 600 hp with 3902 cc total displacement. IMSA’s GTD class is now based on the global GT3 specs car, which is used all over the world in multiple series. The GTD Pro class replaced IMSA’s previous GTLM class using a Pro/Pro format and its GTD class continues using a Pro/Am pairing.

“We will be competing in this year’s Rolex 24 with the new Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo GTD Pro entry,” said Giuseppe Risi, Team Principal. “The 24 Hours of Daytona is always on my mind as a race for the team to compete for a victory. This year we have a new Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo 2020 car and a strong line-up again of Ferrari Competizioni GT factory drivers with Calado, Pier Guidi, Rigon and Serra. They all are talented drivers, know the car well and compete regularly at the highest level of racing on a global scale. James and Ale won both the FIA WEC championship and Le Mans last year, so they are at the top of the sport. Davide and Daniel continue to add success to the Ferrari name as well. With the solid driver line-up and always prepared race team, we’re ready to contend for victory at Daytona later this month.”

The Risi Ferrari team and all four drivers will also participate in the Roar Before the 24 test days, January 21-23.

This year will be Risi Competizione’s 22nd entry in the renowned Rolex 24 race, its first being in 1998 with a number of years skipped while competing in the former American Le Mans (ALMS) series. The team’s record includes one class victory (2002), and four additional podium finishes (second place in class in 1999, 2003 and 2019; third-place in class in 2017). Last year the Risi team finished fourth in class and just one lap down during a very challenging Daytona enduro.

The 2022 Daytona 24 competition will be Calado’s seventh Rolex 24 race, with all six previous appearances with Risi and four Top 5 finishes. Pier Guidi will be making his ninth Rolex 24 race appearance and has celebrate one victory in 2014. Rigon will also be making his ninth Rolex appearance and seventh time with the Risi team. Serra will also be competing at Daytona for the ninth time and just the second with Texas squad.

No additional racing plans have yet been announced for the 2022 racing season by the Risi Competizione team but are under consideration.

For more information, please go to www.risicompetizione.com and follow us on Facebook/RisiCompetizione and Twitter @RisiComp and on Instagram/RisiComp.

A Record Six Mercedes-AMG GT3 Entries to Defend Last Year’s Historic Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing Victory at the 60th Rolex 24 At Daytona

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Official Release
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Petit Le Mans, Road Atlanta, IMSA, Braselton, GA, November 2021. (Photo by Brian Cleary/bcpix.com)

Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing Entries in Three Classes Across Two IMSA Racing Series Set for Season Debut in Rolex Roar Test, January 21 – 23, and the 60th Rolex 24 At Daytona, January 26 – 30​

A Record Six Mercedes-AMG GT3 Entries to Defend Last Year’s Historic Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing Victory at the 60th Rolex 24 At Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida – Six Mercedes-AMG GT3 entries will defend last year’s historic Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing victory in the Rolex 24 At Daytona in the 60th running of North America’s premier 24-hour race, January 26 – 30, at Daytona International Speedway (DIS). The six Mercedes-AMG GT3 teams compete in next weekend’s Roar Before the Rolex 24 three-day test and qualifying event, January 21 – 23, before returning to DIS a week later for the season-opening IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race, which begins Saturday, January 29, at 1:40 p.m. EST and ends 24 hours later on Sunday, January 30, at 1:40 p.m. EST.

In last year’s Daytona opener, debuting team Winward Racing secured the first Rolex 24 victory for the Mercedes-AMG GT3, crossing the finish line just ahead of the SunEnergy1 Racing entry for a one-two Mercedes-AMG GT3 IMSA WeatherTech Championship GT Daytona (GTD) class finish.

Both Winward and SunEnergy1 return to Daytona this year along with four additional Mercedes-AMG GT3 competitors. The six-strong GTD entry comprises the largest field of Mercedes-AMG GT3 competitors in an IMSA WeatherTech race since the Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing program made its North American debut in 2017.

The half dozen Mercedes-AMG competitors are part of a blockbuster race that will see IMSA make some history of its own this year at Daytona. In addition to marking the 60th running of the Rolex 24 with a full field of 60 cars, IMSA also introduces the new GTD Pro class at the Daytona opener.

While the traditional Pro-Am format of the original GTD division that debuted in 2014 continues, GTD Pro showcases top-ranked professional sports car drivers from around the world competing in machinery similar to the cars used in GTD.

Four Mercedes-AMG GT3 entries, including Winward and SunEnergy1, are set to compete in GTD. Two additional Mercedes-AMG GT3 entries will be part of the new GTD Pro division’s inaugural race.

Winward defends its 2021 Rolex 24 GTD victory with two of last year’s winning drivers and a pair of familiar teammates joining this year’s Daytona lineup in the No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3.

Russell Ward and Philip Ellis co-drove the No. 57 to their first Rolex 24 victories last year and will defend the title with teammates Mikael Grenier and Lucas Auer.

Grenier was part of SunEnergy1’s runner-up result in last year’s Rolex 24 but later in 2021 joined the Winward Mercedes-AMG GT3 team for races in both Europe and the U.S. In addition to success in GT World Challenge Europe, Ward and Grenier co-drove to a breakout GT World Challenge America victory at VIRginia International Raceway (VIR) last June.

Auer is another familiar Winward driver in Europe that brings a pair of wins with the team in last year’s DTM championship and Formula 1 test driver experience to his Rolex 24 At Daytona debut.

SunEnergy1 returns three of the four drivers that carried the No. 75 SunEnergy1 Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 to second place in GTD last year at Daytona. Kenny Habul, Raffaele Marciello and Luca Stolz will be joined by Fabian Schiller, who makes his first Rolex 24 start in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 since 2019.

The GTD Pro contenders include a pair of Mercedes-AMG GT3 cars entered and prepared by winning European team Proton Competition.

Cooper MacNeil, Maro Engel, Jules Gounon and Daniel Juncadella co-drive the No. 97 Proton Competition Mercedes-AMG GT3 while Patrick Assenheimer, Austin Cindric and Dirk Müller drive as a trio in the No. 15 Proton Competition Mercedes-AMG GT3.

Engel was part of Winward’s winning 2021 Rolex 24 lineup, Assenheimer is a successful European driver making his Rolex 24 debut and Cindric is an emerging NASCAR star who brings vast road racing skills back to the Rolex 24. Cindric’s fulltime ride in 2022 will be a rookie campaign in Roger Penske’s famous No. 2 “Blue Deuce” NASCAR Cup Series car.

Alegra Motorsports returns for a second season of competition with Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing and is committed to at least the 2022 Michelin Endurance Cup in the No. 28 Alegra Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3.

The MIchelin Endurance Cup is a four-race battle within the overall WeatherTech Championship that rewards the year’s top performers in the long-distance races at Daytona, Sebring, Watkins Glen and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

Michael de Quesada and Daniel Morad return as Alegra’s lead drivers and will be joined at Daytona by reigning Mercedes-AMG DTM Champion Maximilian Götz and emerging young talent Linus Lundqvist.

Götz, who sealed the 2021 DTM title for Mercedes-AMG with three victories, makes his Rolex 24 debut. Lundqvist, a multiple champion in international open-wheel development series competition, has one previous career GTD start at the Rolex 24 in 2019.

Gilbert Korthoff Motorsports builds on an encouraging partial season debut with Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing in 2021 with the team’s first full-season GTD campaign in the No. 32 Gilbert Korthoff Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3.

The No. 32 team’s Rolex 24 debut will see full-season co-drivers Mike Skeen and Stevan McAleer co-drive with 2022 Endurance Cup teammate Guy Cosmo and Daytona addition Scott Andrews.

In addition to the strong entry of Mercedes-AMG GT3 teams for the Rolex 24, four Mercedes-AMG GT4 teams compete at Daytona in the traditional season-opening IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge four-hour race that sets the stage for the Rolex 24 on Friday.

News on competing Mercedes-AMG GT4 teams entered in the top-tier Grand Sport (GS) class for the Daytona opener will be announced in the coming days.

Team preparations for the 60th Rolex 24 At Daytona officially begin at Daytona International Speedway, January 21 -23, with the traditional Roar Before the Rolex 24 At Daytona test for both WeatherTech Championship and Pilot Challenge teams. The three-day weekend test also includes a 100-minute qualifying race to set the Rolex 24 field that closes out the Roar on Sunday.

The 60th Rolex 24 At Daytona official schedule begins Wednesday, January 26, with a one-hour Michelin Pilot Challenge practice session. Four WeatherTech Championship practice sessions are scheduled over Thursday and Friday in addition to GS qualifying Thursday and the four-hour season-opening Pilot Challenge race Friday at 1:35 p.m. EST.

The 60th Rolex 24 At Daytona starts at 1:40 p.m. EST on Saturday, January 29, with live coverage beginning at 1:30 p.m. EST on the flagship NBC network.

International viewers can watch all of the races and more from the Rolex 24 weekend live at www.IMSA.tv.

Russell Ward, Driver – No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3: “It’s the 60th running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona with a 60-car field and it is going to be awesome. We are really looking forward to getting back to Daytona. We are coming off a great win there, we were really strong in last year’s finale at Road Atlanta, and that gives us a lot of motivation. We definitely have the lineup, the car and the crew to do it again at Daytona. It is my favorite event of the year, and also the biggest event, so really looking forward to coming back, seeing the fans and getting back on the track. It is great to be back with Philip from last year’s winning effort, and we had our eye on Mikael when we raced against him at Daytona. You could see right away he had the potential, and late last year we did some racing together overseas and here in America in SRO World Challenge. We are really excited to have him joining us for the full Michelin Endurance Cup this year. It is really about the whole package you put together, and I think Mik and Lucas are fast, take care of the car and are really, really hungry to come in. Lucas is a DTM winner and Formula 1 test driver, and he will be tough to beat for anybody out there, even in his first start at Daytona. I’m very excited and it is going to be good!”

Maro Engel, Driver – No. 97 Proton Competition Mercedes-AMG GT3: “I am really excited about returning to Daytona. It’s obviously a fantastic memory for me. Winning last year was definitely a bucket-list victory, both for me and for Mercedes-AMG, and to get that one-two finish last year was very special as well. Obviously, the aim is to repeat again this year, running in a new class, and it will be great to see the debut of GTD Pro. We are excited to have a really strong car with the Mercedes-AMG GT3 in this class. It is really exciting what Cooper is doing, and Dani, Jules and myself will be trying to support him the best we can to try and win that Rolex. From a team side and the driver side, we have everything we need, so we are definitely feeling confident going into the event. It will be about being there at the end when the spoils are up for grabs. The Mercedes-AMG GT3 has proven to be an incredibly strong, fast and reliable race car, not only for success in sprint races but big endurance victories like our win last year in the Rolex 24. Daytona is certainly a track that puts the car to a huge test with long straights, a lot of flat-out periods and hard and tough curbs on the turns. We hope to be as competitive as we were last year, even though the level will be extremely high in GTD Pro and we will be battling against some new manufacturers for the first time.”

Mikael Grenier, Driver – No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3: “I am happy to be back in Daytona. The Rolex 24 is a race that everybody wants to win. It hurt a bit last year to finish second, so close to Winward after 24 hours of racing, but now I am very happy to be racing for them in this year’s Rolex 24. We started our relationship last year in GT World Challenge Europe, straight away did well together, and then Russell and I won together in GT World Challenge America in Virginia. It’s a great team that wants to win every race they compete in, and I think that’s why I really love about working with them. The Mercedes-AMG GT3 is a very reliable car, which is the most important aspect over a long-distance race. We will try to keep this victory right at home at Winward Racing.”

Daniel Morad, Driver – No. 28 Alegra Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3: “Daytona has always been a great place for me, but you are only as good as the team around you and your teammates, so this year I am just really happy to see that our Alegra Motorsports lineup is very strong. We have talent through and through, and Michael, with a season of experience in the Mercedes-AMG GT3, is going to come back a lot stronger. He ended last year very well at Petit Le Mans. Overall, we just can’t have a much better lineup than what we have heading into the Rolex 24. Linus has run Daytona before while Maxi makes his debut, but he has been on a roll right now as the DTM champion. You can’t get much more decorated than that coming to Daytona. At the end of the day, it will again come down to keeping our Mercedes-AMG GT3 in one piece and fighting at the end.”

Mike Skeen, Driver – No. 32 Gilbert Korthoff Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3: “Having some history with the Gilbert Korthoff Mercedes-AMG GT3 team has been good. I got in a couple of races with them last year, and we made good progress working out the kinks in the program. It was very valuable and makes us even stronger going into this year. Still, we have a lot of new guys with the program, so getting everybody to mesh and into a good flow at the Roar will be important. Starting with the Rolex 24 is difficult for everybody, but especially for a team that hasn’t been working together already at Daytona. We will get off to a good start at Daytona, and the bigger picture is getting everything going for the full year and trying to make the most of this great opportunity. We have a lot of great potential and will work hard to make it all come together.”

Jr III Racing Ready for 2022 IPC Season with Fresh Driver Lineup

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Daytona Beach, Fla. (12 January 2022) – Jr III Racing returns to IMSA Prototype Challenge (IPC) competition with new and returning faces for the 2022 season. The Mooresville-based team will field the No. 3 Jr III Racing Ligier JS P320 of Terry Olson and Courtney Crone and the No. 33 Airbnb Ligier JS P320 of Ari Balogh in the season opener endurance race at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, January 22nd at 12:00pm ET.

Terry Olson and Courtney Crone join forces behind the wheel of the No. 3 Jr III Racing Ligier JS P320. Olson returns to the team for his first full season campaign after making two starts with the team at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in 2021. In both outings, Olson scored podium results including Jr III Racing’s first IMSA podium in team history.

“I am very excited to be with Jr III Racing for the 2022 season,” said Olson. “Everything that I experienced last year during my two weekends with the team made me want to come back and do more. Billy (Glavin) has a fantastic organization that I am thrilled to be a part of. Courtney (Crone) is an up and coming driver that is a professional to work with. I’m really looking forward to getting to the track and competing with Courtney (Crone) and Jr III Racing.”

Courtney Crone joins Olson in the No. 3 Ligier for her first season with Jr III Racing. Crone made her sports car debut last year with a full season campaign in IPC. She enters her second season in the LMP3 series and is looking forward to utilizing the Ligier platform for the first time with Jr III Racing.

“Working with Jr III Racing and Terry (Olson) is a great opportunity for me and I can not wait to get going at Daytona,” said Crone. “The entire team has been very welcoming and a pleasure to work with already. A big thank you to Cusick Motorsports, Gnarly Jerky, Lohla Sport, Myobrace and Bob Stallings Dealerships for helping me get to this point in my career and have this opportunity to compete with a highly professional team like Jr III Racing.”

Completing Jr III Racing’s Roar Before the 24 lineup, Ari Balogh will pilot the No. 33 Airbnb Ligier JS P320 solo for the three-hour endurance race. In addition to his IPC duties, Balogh and Garett Grist will campaign the LMP3 category in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship beginning at Sebring International Raceway.

The two-car squad begins the 2022 season at Daytona International Speedway during the Roar Before the 24. IMSA Prototype Challenge will host a three-hour opening round on Saturday, January 22nd at 12:00pm ET.

Country Music Superstar Chris Janson to Perform Thrilling Pre-Race Concert Before 63rd Running of the Coca-Cola 600

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  • ACM award winner and chart-topping singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Chris Janson will perform a pre-race concert on May 29 before the historic 63rd running of the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway
  • Concert will include a mix of past chart-topping singles like “Done” and “Good Vibes” as well as new music from Janson’s forthcoming album
  • To purchase tickets, camping and upgrades for the Coca-Cola 600, fans should visit charlottemotorspeedway.com or call 800-455-FANS (3267)

CONCORD, N.C. (Jan. 12, 2022) – Fans are sure to be feeling nothing but good vibes when singer/songwriter and Academy of Country Music award winner Chris Janson takes the stage for a electrifying pre-race concert ahead of the 63rd running of the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 29.

Known for No. 1 hits including “Buy Me a Boat,” “Fix a Drink,” “Done,” and “Good Vibes,” the high-octane entertainer and multi-instrumentalist will bring a variety of fan favorites as well as new music from his forthcoming album.

“I can’t wait to perform in Charlotte at one of the biggest events in NASCAR. It’s going to be a great day filled with two things that I love: country music and NASCAR.”

The 60-minute concert will take place in the infield, preceding the speedway’s spectacular Memorial Day Weekend salute to the troops and the green flag for NASCAR’s toughest test of man and machine, the Coca-Cola 600. Fans can upgrade their race ticket to a Track Pass for stage-front access to the concert and a trackside view of all the pre-race festivities.

“The Coca-Cola 600 is the biggest Memorial Day Weekend party in the country, and what better way to kick things off than with one of country music’s biggest names,” said Charlotte Motor Speedway Executive Vice President and General Manager Greg Walter. “With Chris Janson’s spectacular pre-race concert, a rousing pre-race salute to the troops and one of NASCAR’s crown jewel events all on tap, this year’s Coca-Cola 600 should be on every fan’s bucket list.”

TICKETS:
Tickets to the Coca-Cola 600 start at just $49 for adults. Kids 12 and under get in for just $10 with a paying adult. For tickets to all of Charlotte Motor Speedway’s events, including the 63rd running of the Coca-Cola 600, visit www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/tickets.

FOLLOW US:

Keep track of all of Charlotte Motor Speedway’s events during its 60th anniversary season by following on Twitter and Instagram or become a Facebook fan. Keep up with all the latest news and information with the Charlotte Motor Speedway mobile app.

Who is Chris Janson? He’s a “live legacy in the making” (Rolling Stone). Breakout country star Janson is a platinum-selling recording artist, high-octane entertainer, multi-instrumentalist, and award-winning singer/songwriter. The ACM award winner has collected prestigious accolades that place him amongst country music greats. Both his inspiring hit “Drunk Girl” and his chart-topping, 3x Platinum smash “Buy Me A Boat” were named among NSAI’s “Ten Songs I Wish I’d Written” lists – making Janson one in a handful of the industry’s most elite artists to earn the title multiple times. “Good Vibes,” the flagship single from his 2019 album Real Friends, and follow-up “Done” each topped the country charts, bringing his total of No. 1 songs to four – and now the hit-maker is entering a new chapter with “Bye Mom.” The single, derived from the real-life story of co-writer Brandon Kinney, is a triumphant ode to unconditional love. It was most-added upon impact at country radio and earned the highest first-week streaming total of Janson’s career. In addition to his own successes, the talented songwriter has lent his pen to industry peers including Tim McGraw (“Truck Yeah,” “How I’ll Always Be”), LOCASH (“I Love This Life”) and the legendary Hank Williams Jr. (“God Fearin’ Man,” “Those Days Are Gone”). Catch Janson’s “crazy harmonica skill and… riveting stage tyle” (People) this winter on his headlining Halfway to Crazy Tour and see for yourself what makes him an “undeniable star” (The Tennessean).

DAYTONA 500 Reserved Seating, RV Camping Sold Out – Many Opportunities Remain to be a Part of The Great American Race & DAYTONA Speedweeks Presented By AdventHealth

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Other DAYTONA 500 Admission Options Feature UNOH Fanzone & Pre-Race
Access Plus Hospitality Options
Six Days of Incredible On-Track Activity at The World Center of Racing Awaits Fans

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 12, 2022) – Just how excited are fans for the NASCAR Cup Series season-opening DAYTONA 500, the points-race debut of the new, anticipated ’Next Gen’ car? Daytona International Speedway announced today that the 64th running of the Great American Race (Feb. 20) has sold out of reserved fronstretch seating and RV camping, but there are still plenty of ways to experience the pageantry of the DAYTONA 500 in addition to all other events throughout Speedweeks Presented By AdventHeath.

A new DAYTONA 500 ticket package is being offered for just $145.00 per person that gives fans admission to the UNOH Fanzone plus access to the Luke Combs pre-race concert and driver introductions. In the UNOH Fanzone, families can peer into the garage of their favorite driver plus witness special driver and VIP appearances. A limited amount of infield is available for purchase for those taking advantage of this new package.

Fans can also take their DAYTONA experience to the next level with many fan hospitality options. There are still a variety of hospitality packages left in 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 viewing options, log onto www.DAYTONA500.com.

“The fans have definitely spoken,” said Daytona International Speedway President Frank Kelleher. “We’re going to have a packed house for the 64th Annual DAYTONA 500, but we are happy to showcase a multitude of other opportunities for fans to be a part of the Great American Race, in addition to all of the other racing action that makes up Speedweeks Presented By AdventHealth.”

While DAYTONA Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth culminates with the 64th Annual 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 2022 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.

Below is a full schedule of on-track activity during Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth:

  • Tuesday, Feb. 15: DAYTONA 500 Practices (5:05 p.m./6:35 p.m. ET).
  • Wednesday, Feb. 16: DAYTONA 500 Qualifying Presented By Busch Light (8:05 p.m. ET).
  • Thursday, Feb. 17: Bluegreen Vacations Duel At DAYTONA qualifying races (7:00 p.m. ET); NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practice (4:35 p.m. ET) & ARCA Menards Series practice (5:30 p.m. ET).
  • Friday, Feb. 18: NextEra Energy 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race (7:30 p.m. ET); ARCA Menards (1:30 p.m. ET) and Camping World Truck Series qualifying (3:00 p.m. ET); NASCAR Cup Series practice (6:00 p.m. ET).
  • Saturday, Feb. 19: Lucas Oil 200 Driven By General Tire ARCA Menards race (1:30 p.m. ET) and Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series event (5:00 p.m. ET); NASCAR Cup Series final practice (10:30 a.m. ET); NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying (11:35 a.m. ET).
  • Sunday, Feb. 20: DAYTONA 500, The Great American Race (2:30 p.m. ET).
  • ** Schedule subject to change

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.

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