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Lawless Alan – NextEra Energy 250 Race Recap

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Official Release
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Niece Motorsports takes to the track for the NextEra Energy 250 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, FL.

Race Recap | NextEra Energy 250 | Daytona International Speedway
Team: No. 45 AUTOParkit Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Lawless Alan
Follow the Team: @NieceMotorsport; @lawlessalan25
Start: 10th
Finish: 25th
Driver Point Standings: 27th
Owner Point Standings: 29th
Race Rundown – No. 45 AUTOParkit Chevrolet Silverado

After qualifying in the top-10 in his season debut, Alan and the No. 45 team suffered an early setback in the opening laps as the Sunoco Rookie of the Year Contender was brought to pit road for an unscheduled stop for a potential issue. Alan battled back to receive the free pass at the conclusion of stage two to get back on the lead lap. After linking up in the draft with Niece Motorsports teammates Carson Hocevar and Kris Wright, Alan made his way to the lead pack with four to go using the high line before he was collected in a 12-truck incident coming to the white flag. The No. 45 made several stops for repairs prior to overtime, but had to settle for a 25th-place finish making Alan the highest-finishing rookie in the NextEra Energy 250.

Alan on his season debut at Daytona: “It was a tough race here in Daytona. We had a really fast AUTOParkit Chevrolet Silverado and just got caught at the wrong place at the wrong time. I’m really proud of the effort our Niece Motorsports team put in this weekend.”

About Niece Motorsports:

Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2022, Niece Motorsports enters its seventh season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as Twitter @NieceMotorsport. www.niecemotorsports.com

About AUTOParkit:

AUTOParkit™ designs, manufactures, and constructs fully automated parking systems for new and existing buildings. AUTOParkit system structural steel and modular design can provide double the capacity of a traditional parking garage, providing up to 17 LEED points and drastically reducing construction time. AUTOParkit automated systems are 40 percent less expensive to operate, safer for the user and reduces carbon emissions associated with parking by more than 80 percent. AUTOParkit’s charging pallets provided by AUTOChargit, are a fast and convenient way of charging EVs and Hybrids. AUTOChargit’s patented technology allows for shuffling charged vehicles cutting infrastructure costs by up to 80 percent.

For more information on AUTOParkit, visit www.autoparkit.com

Carson Hocevar – NextEra Energy 250 Race Recap

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Official Release
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Niece Motorsports takes to the track for the NextEra Energy 250 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, FL.

Race Recap | NextEra Energy 250 | Daytona International Speedway
Team: No. 42 Premier Security Solutions Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Carson Hocevar
Follow the Team: @NieceMotorsport; @CarsonHocevar
Start: 22nd
Finish: 9th
Driver Point Standings: 13th
Owner Point Standings: 13th
Race Rundown – No. 42 Premier Security Solutions Chevrolet Silverado

Hocevar and the No. 42 team were mired in the second pack of trucks for a majority of the first two stages before crew chief Phil Gould made the call for a two-tire stop under caution on lap 65 while most of the leaders opted for fuel only. The call paid off as Hocevar made a charge to the front while avoiding a wreck in turn four on lap 81 before ultimately restarting 11th in overtime. Hocevar continued his push forward, but a caution on the front stretch on the final lap halted his charge, resulting in a ninth-place finish. The 19 year-old posted the 10th-fastest overall lap average on the night (49.682).

Hocevar on his top-10 finish to open the 2022 season: “We committed to that strategy – all in or all out – and we were all out just waiting for [the field] to crash and then we could race. It took all the way to [lap] 99 to finally be able to race, but it definitely worked out. It was hard to pass so I think it was the right strategy and it worked out for the second-straight year. I wish it could have turned out a little bit better if we got one more lap but, overall, we’re going to Las Vegas with some chips left.”

About Niece Motorsports:

Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2022, Niece Motorsports enters its seventh season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as Twitter @NieceMotorsport.

About Premier Security Solutions:

Founded in 2013 by a retired Flint Michigan Police Officer, Premier Security Solutions is committed to deflect and deter unlawful activity for their clients, create a safe campus, and provide a secure environment. A company fully committed to community involvement and protection. Premier partners with many community organizations like Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson and his G.H.O.S.T. team combatting human trafficking. Premier provides an array of security services, including K-12 school campus, industrial logistics, corporate and event security in addition to a state-of-the-art monitoring center and all types of security training for both law enforcement and civilian trainees. For more information, please visit www.premiersecurity.solutions/

Kris Wright – NextEra Energy 250 Race Recap

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Official Release
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Race Recap | NextEra Energy 250 | Daytona International Speedway
Team: No. 44 F.N.B Corporation Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Kris Wright
Follow the Team: @NieceMotorsport; @KrisOnNASCAR
Start: 12th
Finish: 19th
Driver Point Standings: 19th
Owner Point Standings: 21st
Race Rundown – No. 44 F.N.B. Corporation Chevrolet Silverado

Wright kept his No. 44 F.N.B. Corporation Chevrolet Silverado in line with the No. 42 of teammate Carson Hocevar for much of the early going as the two led the second pack of trucks in the draft. After serving a one-lap penalty for a pit road violation on lap 67, Wright got himself back on the lead lap via the free pass following a caution on lap 79. With 16 to go, Wright was collected in an incident in turn four and brought the No. 44 to pit road to repair right side damage but battled his way back to 12th for the overtime restart. Shortly after taking the white flag while following the high line to the front, the No. 44 was again collected in a wreck – this time on the frontstretch ultimately ending the race – resulting in a 19th-place finish.

Wright on his season debut at Daytona: “We had a really good F.N.B. Corporation Chevrolet Silverado. We battled all race long and were in position when it mattered most. The No. 42 and I had some good chemistry and could make a run when needed. There wasn’t much we could do there at the end and was just in the wrong place at the wrong time which is disappointing.”

About Niece Motorsports:

Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2022, Niece Motorsports enters its seventh season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as Twitter @NieceMotorsport.

Media Inquiries: media@niecemotorsports.com www.niecemotorsports.com

About F.N.B Corporation:

​​F.N.B. Corporation (NYSE: FNB), headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a diversified financial services company operating in seven states and the District of Columbia. FNB’s market coverage spans several major metropolitan areas including: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Baltimore, Maryland; Cleveland, Ohio; Washington, D.C.; and Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham and the Piedmont Triad (Winston-Salem, Greensboro and High Point) in North Carolina. The Company has total assets of approximately $42 billion and nearly 340 banking offices throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, D.C. and Virginia.

FNB provides a full range of commercial banking, consumer banking and wealth management solutions through its subsidiary network which is led by its largest affiliate, First National Bank of Pennsylvania, founded in 1864. Commercial banking solutions include corporate banking, small business banking, investment real estate financing, government banking, business credit, capital markets and lease financing. The consumer banking segment provides a full line of consumer banking products and services, including deposit products, mortgage lending, consumer lending and a complete suite of mobile and online banking services. FNB’s wealth management services include asset management, private banking and insurance.

The common stock of F.N.B. Corporation trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “FNB” and is included in Standard & Poor’s MidCap 400 Index with the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) Regional Banks SubIndustry Index. Customers, shareholders and investors can learn more about this regional financial institution by visiting the F.N.B. Corporation website at www.fnbcorporation.com.

DGR NCWTS Race Recap: Daytona International Speedway

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Official Release
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Friday, February 18
Track: Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, 2.5-mile superspeedway
Race: 1 of 23
Event: NextEra Energy 250 (100 laps, 250 miles)

Hailie Deegan, No. 1 Monster Energy Ford F-150
Start: 26th
Finish: 17th

  • Hailie Deegan qualified 26th for the NextEra Energy 250 ahead of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season debut at the Daytona International Speedway. The driver immediately made her presence felt in Stage 1 as Deegan was able to crack the top-10 on lap seven.
  • The Monster Energy F-150 developed a loose condition as the run carried on, forcing her to drop to 18th by the end of the opening stage. Finding herself free off the corners, the team took on four tires and fuel, while making adjustments to tighten her truck.
  • Deegan fought to stay within the top-15 for most of Stage 2 before handling issues would render her to a 17th-place stage finish. The Temecula, CA native reported she was uncomfortable with her truck on new tires, and noted she was more confident in its performance as her Goodyear Eagle’s came to temperature.
  • After a Stage 3 caution on lap 63, Deegan pitted to top off her F-150 with fuel heading to the conclusion of the final stage. Following a second caution on lap 80, Deegan entered the top-10 on the ensuing restart with 7 to go.
  • Deegan got comfortable in the race’s waning moments, moving between sixth and 10th within the closing laps, before a wreck on lap 99 that ultimately inflicted the No. 1 team with heavy right-side damage.
  • After making two separate trips down pit road while the track was being readied for overtime, the crew was able to make enough repairs for Deegan to take the green on the race’s final restart. Coming to the line in 19th, the 20-year-old moved up two spots and was credited with a 17th-place finish to start the 2022 NCWTS season.

Tanner Gray, No. 15 Black’s Tire Ford F-150
Start: 24th
Finish: 4th

  • Tanner Gray qualified 24th for the season-opening NextEra Energy 250. He quickly moved down into the bottom lane and drove his way forward, advancing into the top-10 on lap 12.
  • The driver reported his Black’s Tire F-150 felt good, but was loose off of turn four throughout the first stage. He would finish eighth in Stage 1 and earn three stage points.
  • Gray pitted for fuel and a trackbar adjustment and started the second stage from the fifth position.
  • The 22-year-old rode inside the top-10 for nearly all of the stage, but a run from the outside lane of cars on the final lap saw the No. 15 end up with an 11th-place effort at the end of Stage 2. The team opted for tires, fuel and air pressure adjustments this time down pit road.
  • Gray restarted the final stage in 13th and moved into seventh in the opening two laps. He was running in that position when the caution flag waved on lap 63. Crew chief Jerry Baxter made the call to pit again for right-side tires and fuel. Gray was nabbed for speeding on pit road and had to restart at the tail of the field.
  • Green flag waved on lap 67 and by lap 75, the New Mexico native once again found himself inside the top-10. Despite a series of cautions with under 20 to go, he continued to hold steady around seventh and was running there when the caution came out with one lap to go.
  • For overtime, Gray restarted inside third row in the fifth position. After pushing the lead trio past the white flag, the caution flag waved for the final time effectively ending the race and the No. 15 was credited with a fourth-place finish.

Riley Herbst, No. 17 Mechanix Wear Ford F-150
Start: 8th
Finish: 12th

  • Riley Herbst started eighth for the 100-lap season opener at the Daytona International Speedway.
  • The Xfinity Series regular bided his time in the outside lane from the drop of the green flag and was running in 12th on lap 12, but opted to bail out of line the following lap and drop to the rear of the lead pack. He would finish Stage 1 in 16th.
  • The driver reported the truck was very loose and the team changed four tires, added fuel and made a trackbar adjustment and rejoined the field to restart 21st for the second stage.
  • With the handling feeling better, Herbst decided to not press his luck for this stint and held his place in line at the back of the lead group. He finished Stage 2 in 18th.
  • Chad Johnston had the driver come down pit road for tires, fuel and further trackbar adjustments. An uncontrolled tire penalty during this round of pitstops relegated the No. 17 F-150 to the tail of the field.
  • When the caution flag waved on lap 63, the Las Vegas driver was back into the top-10 in the eighth position. He would pit for fuel and restart in seventh.
  • Herbst was running in 13th when the penultimate yellow occurred as the leaders were nearly taking the white flag. He was collected in the multi-truck accident that spanned across the entire frontstretch and sustained damage to both sides of his Mechanix Wear F-150. After pitting for damage repair, he was able to rejoin the field for the closing laps and brought home a 12th-place finish.

Next event: Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada on March 4 at 9:00 p.m. ET.

Parker Chase Concludes Busy 2022 Speedweek With ARCA Debut at Daytona

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Official Release
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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.: A productive week and a half of racing for 20-year-old Parker Chase will conclude Saturday afternoon in the ARCA Menards Series season-opener at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.

Chase’s inaugural oval debut at the “World Center of Racing” will conclude a busy stretch of action for the veteran American Sports Car driver which saw the rising phenom bounce back and forth between New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway competing in the World Series of Asphalt Championship and his first of a minimum 10 races with Venturini Motorsports aboard the No. 15 Toyota Camry in the developmental series owned by NASCAR.

Chase, the 2018 Pirelli World Challenge champion, will continue his stock car development program with Venturini Motorsports and TRD after a successful ARCA program last year and an impressive preseason test at the 2.5-mile superspeedway in January.

In practice on Thursday afternoon, Chase wheeled his No. 15 Vertical Bridge Toyota Camry around the Central Florida race track in 49.205 seconds at 182.908 miles per hour. His eclipsed time was the second-fastest of ARCA Menards Series entries entered for the 80-lap event on February 19, 2022.

On Friday, Chase maneuvered the third quickest lap in ARCA Menards Series qualifying right behind his Venturini Motorsports teammates. The Concord, N.C.-based team took three of the first five starting positions.

“We had a really good practice with all of the VMS cars working together in a draft,” explained Chase.

“The car seems good and we are just building on the work we did at the test. Our qualifying effort was very solid and I feel very comfortable that we can have a good race on Saturday and contend for the win.”

Before Chase steered his full attention to the ARCA Menards Series, the New Braunfels, Texas native has embraced a solid Pro Late Model Series tenure at the iconic New Smyrna short track which was highlighted by a sixth-place finish in night three at the half-mile oval driving for Wilson Motorsports.

“The World Series of Asphalt is one of the events that I’ve been looking forward to since we worked with Venturini Motorsports and TRD to get some more track time for my increased schedule in 2022,” said Chase.

“The Wilson Motorsports guys have put together a really good car and we improved every night that we have been on track. Our goal was to run in the top-10 and run all the laps and we have been meeting the mark on that. Undoubtedly, more experience throughout the year will help me even more.”

Following a stout performance in practice on Thursday afternoon, Chase was quietly already beginning to focus on his sixth ARCA Menards Series start and the opportunity to deliver Venturini Motorsports another historic win at the famed Daytona Beach, Fla. speedway.

Chase isn’t exactly new to the surroundings of Daytona International Speedway. He boasts prior experience in the coveted Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona and the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge.

With his prior experience in Sports Cars and his continued advancement of stock cars, Chase is confident he can continue a stretch of top-10 finishes in ARCA Menards Series which circles back to Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway last May, his debut with the potent Venturini Motorsports.

“We had a good test at Daytona in January in our No. 15 Toyota Camry and I’m looking to build on the experience gained in the five races I did in 2021,” added Chase. “This will be my first-time racing on the superspeedway oval after IMSA and Roval starts over the past seasons.

“Kevin Reed and the crew have been working hard in the winter to make sure we have everything we need to battle for wins.”

Vertical Bridge will continue its support Chase in his upcoming races at Daytona and Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway next month and additional races to be announced.

Added Chase, “I am also very happy to have Vertical Bridge on the car for this race and for a majority of our races in ARCA in 2022 and hope we can put them in victory lane.”

In addition to Daytona and Phoenix, Chase will pilot a Venturini Motorsports Toyota Camry at a variety of race tracks in 2022, including Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International, Kansas Speedway and Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.

“I want to continue to develop my craft in a stock car this year,” added Chase, who also competed in two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races for Kyle Busch Motorsports in 2021. “I am thrilled to be back with Venturini Motorsports and be a part of the TRD Driver Development program.

“I really want to build on my five races in the ARCA Menards Series and fight for wins for my team and partners this season.”

For more on Parker Chase, please visit ParkerChase.com, like him on Facebook (Parker Chase), Instagram (@parkerchase) and follow him on Twitter (@parker_chase19).

The Lucas Oil 200 driven by General Tire (80 laps | 200 miles) is the first of 20 races on the 2022 ARCA Menards Series schedule. The season-opener for the 70th consecutive ARCA season is set the following afternoon on Feb. 19 to take the green flag shortly after 1:30 p.m. The event will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with the Motor Racing Network (MRN) managing the radio waves. ARCARacing.com will also stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire weekend festivities.

WWE Superstar Big E To Serve as Honorary Pace Car Driver for Sunday’s 64th Annual DAYTONA 500

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Official Release
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Will Lead the Field to Green Flag in Toyota Camry; The Great American Race is Set for a 2:30 p.m. ET Start and Will Showcase NASCAR’s New ‘Next Gen’ Car

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 18, 2022) – Big E, one of WWE’s most versatile Superstars, has been named the Honorary Pace Car Driver for the 64th DAYTONA 500 this Sunday, Feb. 20.

Big E will pilot the “Official” 2022 Toyota Camry DAYTONA 500 pace car, leading the 40-car field to the green flag of The Great American Race, which is scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m. ET. Live prerace coverage begins on FS1 with NASCAR RACEDAY at 11:00 a.m. ET, before the show’s move to FOX at 1:00 p.m. ET.

Possessing incredible strength, unmatched charisma, and the power of positivity, Big E learned the value of hard work at an early age and found success in football and powerlifting before joining WWE. Big E is a former WWE Champion, Intercontinental Champion and United States Championship, and partnered with Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston to become one of sports entertainment’s most popular trios, The New Day.

A Tampa, Fla. native, Big E is a former University of Iowa defensive lineman and USA Powerlifting Champion. He actively supports WWE’s bullying prevention program, Be a STAR, as well as the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Big E will be a major part of WrestleMania 38, which takes place over the course of two nights on Saturday, April 2 and Sunday, April 3 from AT&T Stadium in Dallas. Tickets for the most stupendous two-night WrestleMania in history are still available at SeatGeek.com.”

While the DAYTONA 500 is sold out, there are still plenty of exciting ways to experience the pageantry of Speedweeks Presented By AdventHeath with an exciting doubleheader Saturday. For ticket information, log onto www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP.

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.

Big E’s participation in The Great American Race was unveiled earlier this evening on WWE Friday Night SmackDown on FOX[DG1] . Fans can follow Big E on Twitter and Instagram, in addition to WWE on Twitter and Instagram, for behind-the-scenes access at Daytona International Speedway this Sunday.

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.

About FOX Sports

FOX Sports is the umbrella entity representing FOX Corporation’s wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets. Built with brands capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, the business has ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing relationships. FOX Sports includes the sports television arm of the FOX Network; FS1, FS2, FOX Soccer Plus and FOX Deportes. FOX Sports’ digital properties include FOXSports.com and the FOX Sports App, which provides live streaming video of FOX Sports content, instant scores, stats and alerts to iOS and Android devices. Additionally, FOX Sports and social broadcasting platform, Caffeine jointly own Caffeine Studios which creates exclusive eSports, sports and live entertainment content. Also included in FOX Sports’ portfolio are FOX’s interests in joint-venture business Big Ten Network, a licensing and commercial relationship with The Stars Group that created the FOX Bet sports betting platform and the FOX Sports Super 6 free-to-play game, and a licensing agreement that established the FOX Sports Radio Network.

GMS Racing NCWTS Daytona Recap

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Official Release
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Grant Enfinger, No. 23 Champion Power Equipment Chevrolet Silverado RST

START: 4TH

FINISH: 29TH

POINTS: 26TH

Quote: “Well we were trying to wreck all race, and finally succeeded at the end there, I’m not quite sure what happened there but we were running around eighth or ninth when I got hit pretty hard. Thankfully, GMS Racing builds safe trucks, but it just ended our night unfortunately. We had some good runs going there with our alliance teammates there in the 19 and 91, along with our Team Chevy teammate in the 75, they gave me some good shoves. We were making progress at the right time, but just came up short.”

Jack Wood, No. 24 Make An Impact Now Foundation Chevrolet Silverado RST

START: 11TH

FINISH: 33RD

POINTS: 31ST

Quote: “My No. 24 truck was just free all race, it never felt like we were able to get it better there. I was able to suck up pretty good in the draft, but it felt like every time I got around anyone else, my truck would break loose. In the last fifteen laps or so, the truck just kept getting worse and worse, getting free even all by itself. Unfortunately, it got to the point where we ended up either blowing a tire or having something break, ending our night in a hard crash. I know how hard my team works to prepare these trucks, so to have it come to an end like that really stings. We’re going to keep our heads up and focus on Las Vegas, where I can return to a track that I’ve previously raced at.”

Thad Moffitt, No. 43 STP Chevrolet Silverado RST – Reaume Brothers Racing

START: 34TH

FINISH: 18TH

POINTS: 18TH

Quote: “I really learned a lot about my truck today. My guys never gave up all night, and the adjustments that they made continued to help make our truck better and better throughout the race. Just when I had thought that I had positioned myself in the right place there, the big one happened, and I had nowhere to go. Somehow, we were able to keep racing, and it ended up with what I would consider to be a pretty decent finish with all things considered. I’m thankful to have made my debut at Daytona and am looking forward to my next truck race!”

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.

Zane Smith Wins Wild NEXTera Energy 250 at Daytona in NASCAR Camping World Truck Series 2022 Season-Opener

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Official Release
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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 18, 2022) – A 19-car incident as the field approached the white flag signaling one lap to go instead sent Friday night’s NEXTEra Energy 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season-opener at Daytona International Speedway into overtime where 22-year old Californian Zane Smith won under caution over defending series champion Ben Rhodes.

A nearly 16-minute red flag was needed to clean up all the debris from the frontstretch melee, which happened only a few feet before the start/finish line and littered much of the track’s tri-oval. Had Smith – the leader at the time – crossed the line before the wreck began, the race would have ended. Instead, the remaining cars that were able to continue, continued.

So, Smith had to do it all over again. He lined up alongside Eckes for the final two-lap run to the checkered. A sturdy nudge from behind from Parker Kligerman sent Smith’s No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford-150 to the front and he was able to pull away – taking the white flag before caution flew on the final lap. He led only three laps on the night – including the important last two.

“It’s something else, man,” Smith said of winning at the iconic Daytona International Speedway. “This place is its own, I’ll tell you that. Literally my heart hurt during that red flag. I thought we had it.

“Just hats off to this whole group. They’ve really put the work in and it’s so damn cool to see when it pays off. Man, this is going to be a really fun year and I’m going to try and make it a record year for myself.”

Eckes finished third. Former National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) standout Tanner Gray and Kligerman rounded out the top-five. Carson Hocevar, Jesse Little, polesitter Ty Majeski, Danny Bohn and former NASCAR Cup Series driver Matt DiBenedetto rounded out the top-10. This was DiBenedetto’s career first start in the series.

Kligerman, who was the last driver to qualify for the race on speed, started 31st and rallied into the top five ultimately giving that winning push to Smith, who now has four victories and was championship runner-up last year. It was the kind of dramatic racing – there were 18 lead changes – and finish that fans have come to expect of Truck races on the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway high banks and it did not disappoint.

“This is just huge to get this momentum,” said Kligerman, a part-time series competitor who also does national racing broadcast work for NBC.

He was particular proud of Friday’s effort considering his truck team has only one fulltime employee.

“It’s just such an honor” Kligerman said. “I’m so grateful to have the chance to just show up here, let alone go out there and compete and reel off a top five. We’re just firing on all cylinders.”

While the ending was certainly exciting, last year’s five-race winner John Hunter Nemechek really dominated the early-going. He led a race best 50 of the 106 laps and won both Stage 1 and Stage 2. He was caught up in the massive incident while running in the top-five and ultimately settled for a 24th-place showing.

While the DAYTONA 500 is sold out, there are still plenty of exciting ways to experience the pageantry of Speedweeks Presented By AdventHeath with an exciting Saturday doubleheader. For ticket information, log onto www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP.

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.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race – 23rd Annual NextEra Energy 250

            1. (20)  Zane Smith, Ford, 106.

            2. (27)  Ben Rhodes, Toyota, 106.

            3. (14)  Christian Eckes, Toyota, 106.

            4. (24)  Tanner Gray, Ford, 106.

            5. (31)  Parker Kligerman, Chevrolet, 106.

            6. (9)  Jesse Little, Chevrolet, 106.

            7. (1)  Ty Majeski, Toyota, 106.

            8. (28)  Danny Bohn, Chevrolet, 106.

            9. (22)  Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet, 106.

            10. (23)  Matt DiBenedetto, Chevrolet, 106.

            11. (15)  Spencer Boyd, Chevrolet, 106.

            12. (8)  Riley Herbst(i), Ford, 106.

            13. (16)  Austin Wayne Self, Chevrolet, 106.

            14. (35)  Timmy Hill, Toyota, 106.

            15. (13)  Austin Hill(i), Chevrolet, 106.

            16. (5)  Stewart Friesen, Toyota, 106.

            17. (26)  Hailie Deegan, Ford, 106.

            18. (34)  Thad Moffitt, Chevrolet, 106.

            19. (12)  Kris Wright, Chevrolet, 106.

            20. (33)  Jason White, Toyota, Accident, 105.

            21. (3)  Chandler Smith, Toyota, 105.

            22. (32)  Tate Fogleman, Toyota, 105.

            23. (25)  Bryan Dauzat, Chevrolet, 105.

            24. (2)  John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota, 104.

            25. (10)  Lawless Alan #, Chevrolet, Accident, 103.

            26. (30)  Derek Kraus, Chevrolet, Accident, 101.

            27. (29)  Matt Crafton, Toyota, Accident, 100.

            28. (4)  Tyler Ankrum, Toyota, Accident, 99.

            29. (7)  Grant Enfinger, Chevrolet, Accident, 99.

            30. (18)  Colby Howard, Chevrolet, Accident, 99.

            31. (19)  Blaine Perkins #, Chevrolet, Accident, 99.

            32. (6)  Corey Heim #, Toyota, Accident, 91.

            33. (11)  Jack Wood #, Chevrolet, Accident, 63.

            34. (36)  Johnny Sauter, Toyota, Electrical, 60.

            35. (21)  Bret Holmes, Chevrolet, Clutch, 44.

            36. (17)  Dean Thompson #, Chevrolet, Brakes, 36.

Average Speed of Race Winner: 129.146 mph.

Time of Race: 2 Hrs, 3 Mins, 7 Secs. Margin of Victory: Under Caution Seconds.

Caution Flags: 7 for 27 laps.

Lead Changes: 18 among 10 drivers.

Lap Leaders: T. Majeski 1-18;J. Nemechek 19-29;S. Friesen 30-31;T. Majeski 32-34;D. Kraus 35;T. Ankrum 36-37;J. Nemechek 38-43;A. Hill(i) 44;C. Howard 45-51;J. Nemechek 52-64;Z. Smith 65;J. Nemechek 66-67;C. Howard 68;T. Ankrum 69-70;C. Howard 71;J. Nemechek 72-89;B. Rhodes 90-95;C. Eckes 96-104;Z. Smith 105-106.

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): John Hunter Nemechek 5 times for 50 laps; Ty Majeski 2 times for 21 laps; Colby Howard 3 times for 9 laps; Christian Eckes 1 time for 9 laps; Ben Rhodes 1 time for 6 laps; Tyler Ankrum 2 times for 4 laps; Zane Smith 2 times for 3 laps; Stewart Friesen 1 time for 2 laps; Derek Kraus 1 time for 1 lap; Austin Hill(i) 1 time for 1 lap.

Stage #1 Top Ten: 4,18,52,51,38,23,66,15,32,16

Stage #2 Top Ten: 4,99,18,98,88,22,16,19,7,66

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

Toyota Racing – NCWTS Post-Race Report – Daytona – 02.18.22

By
Official Release
-

BEN RHODES LEADS TOYOTA IN SEASON OPENER
Defending champion Rhodes starts the season with a runner-up finish

DAYTONA BEACH (February 18, 2022) – Ben Rhodes was the highest-finishing Tundra driver with a second-place finish in Friday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race.

Toyota Racing Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Daytona International Speedway
Race 1 of 23 – 100 Laps, 250 Miles

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, Zane Smith*
2nd, BEN RHODES
3rd, CHRISTIAN ECKES
4th, Tanner Gray*
5th, Parker Kligerman*
7th, TY MAJESKI
14th, TIMMY HILL
16th, STEWART FRIESEN
20th, JASON WHITE
21st, CHANDLER SMITH
22nd, TATE FOGLEMAN
24th, JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK
27th, MATT CRAFTON
28th, TYLER ANKRUM
32nd, COREY HEIM
*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

BEN RHODES, No. 99 EXT Extreme Hair Therapy Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, ThorSport Racing

Finishing Position: 2nd

How was your race tonight?

“It was a good second place finish for our team. I feel like if we could’ve got the run a little bit sooner we might have been able to get past Zane (Smith). You’re just trying to time how soon to make that run. I knew there was going to be a caution on the last lap, I just didn’t know where. So, you want to get the lead and possibly fall back by turn one, turn two, backstretch. You just don’t know when the caution is going to come out. Solid effort by our Toyota Tundra ThorSport team. I feel like we made a good showing all night long, especially where we qualified getting to the front. I’m really proud to have Hair Club on board with us for this race and hope to continue on. Just happy to have a good start to the season.”

Do you enjoy superspeedway racing?

“I enjoy it. It’s challenging with the people you’re around. You’ve got a really good mix of some old versus new and you can never count on what the new is going to do. I feel like I’ve got a few experienced guys I can really count on, and we tried to group up. We all talked before the race, but it’s just so hard to do that. There are so many last-minute moves that are being made, but all in all I know who I can count on, and I’ve got some good Toyota teammates. It was a really fast Tundra. I’m ready for the next one. It would be good to get a win this early in the season, but second place isn’t that bad.”

Were you surprised it took so long to have a wreck?

“A little bit, yeah. I would’ve thought it would’ve started a little bit sooner, especially with how the trucks are handling this year. I didn’t have a clue that we were all going to be as loose as we were. I think that was a surprise to everyone. I hope that we all go back to the drawing board a little bit as a series to kind of snug us up a little bit. You’ll see more aggressive racing I think, but as a whole everybody was really smart because they didn’t want to wreck.”

CHRISTIAN ECKES, No. 98 AHI Facility Services/Curb Records Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, ThorSport Racing

Finishing Position: 3rd

Can you talk about your race?

“We had a really good AHI Facility Service Toyota Tundra. We just came up a little bit short there. We were in a good position with my teammate (Ben Rhodes) behind. I thought we were in good position heading to the white, just came up a little short.”

What more did you need to get the win?

“Just a few more laps. I felt like we were in good position there. I felt like I was kind of sitting duck being the leader. At the end of the day, really proud of these AHI Facility Services Toyota Tundra guys. I sure wish we could have won, but a good start to our year.”

TY MAJESKI, No. 66 Cincinnati Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, ThorSport Racing

Finishing Position: 7th

Solid start to your first full-time season. How was the race from your seat?

“Our plan was to miss all of that. Our plan was to go the first two stages, get stage points, mission accomplished there. You just don’t know when it’s going to happen. We got all the way down to the last lap before anything really happened. All-in-all, our strategy wasn’t the race winning strategy, but a good solid points day and good solid base to shoot from for the rest of the year. Pretty happy about it. Hats off to everybody on this Cincinnati Tundra team.”

TYLER ANKRUM, No. 16 LIUNA! Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, Hattori Racing Enterprises

Finishing Position: 28th

What happened to take you out of the race?

“It felt like I got a really good push from the 4 (John Hunter Nemechek) and I don’t know if it was the 99 (Ben Rhodes) or 98 (Christian Eckes) in front of me but I was going to take him three-wide to the top. I just got really loose. It’s so hard. We were all pushing so hard. It was coming to one (lap) to go. It sucks, but our LIUNA! Toyota Tundra TRD Pro was really quick tonight so I’m really happy with that. Happy to be with a new team and Toyota and I’m ready to go pound the ground for the rest of the season.”

#

About Toyota

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

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

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

Anticipation: The 64th Annual DAYTONA 500 – The Great American Race – Shaping up to be a Memorable One

By
Official Release
-

Iconic Event to Showcase NASCAR’s New ‘Next Gen’ Car, New Team Combinations

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 18, 2022) – Already riding a wave of positive momentum and international attention Sunday’s 63rd Annual DAYTONA 500 (2:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) is again shaping up to be one of the most high-profile, highly-competitive events as it ushers in the 2022 season.

Reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson will start his No. 5 Chevrolet from the pole position alongside Hendrick Motorsports teammate Alex Bowman’s No. 48 Chevrolet – leading a field of 40 cars that includes six past Daytona 500 winners, eight former series champions and even a past Formula One world champion in NASCAR’s newest generation of race cars.

The Chevrolets, Fords and Toyotas – aptly referred to as the Next Gen cars – will feature different technical modifications and aesthetic enhancements – from the sequential shifter and 670 horsepower to single center-lock wheel nuts, rearview camera mirror and car numbers now placed behind the front wheels.

The response for the new cars and the sport in general has already benefitted from a successful debut at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum two weeks ago. The non-points Busch Light Clash was a nearly sold-out show with some estimates that 70 percent of the crowd were first-time NASCAR race attendees.

The diehards and first-timers paying attention this week at the sold-out annual season-opener at Daytona are expected to be treated to a highly competitive race.

Although Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolets have won the pole position in seven of the last eight Daytona races, the multi-championship organization hasn’t won a Daytona 500 since Jimmie Johnson did so in 2014.

The last time a DAYTONA 500 polesitter won the race was 22 years ago when Dale Jarrett won the 2000 edition. The team’s former champion driver-turned-team executive Jeff Gordon won from pole in 1999.

More often, this race has come down to the final thrilling laps. That was certainly the case last February when Front Row Motorsports driver Michael McDowell earned his career first NASCAR win taking the checkered flag by inches – credited with leading only the last lap. That scenario has played out frequently in recent years with race winners Austin Dillon (2018) and veteran Kurt Busch (2017) also capturing the win leading only the final lap.

There is only one multi-time winner in Sunday’s race – three-time Daytona 500 champion Denny Hamlin, who drives the No. 11 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Adding to the drama in 2022 are several new team/driver combinations. Busch is now driving a second car for the second-year 23XI Racing Toyota team owned by Hamlin and NBA legend Michael Jordan. His former teammate at Chip Ganassi Racing, Ross Chastain has similarly joined a new team. He’ll team with Daniel Suarez in the No. 1 Chevrolet fielded by TrackHouse Racing, which is co-owned by former driver Justin Marks and musical superstar Pitbull.

Former series champion Brad Keselowski has expanded his presence in the sport and now co-owns the Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing two-car team. His involvement with the RFK team – as owner and driver of the No. 6 Ford – has already resulted in two trophies. Keselowski (Duel 1) and Chris Buescher (Duel 2) helped RFK Racing to a sweep of Thursday’s Daytona qualifying races the first time a team accomplished the feat since 2015.

Kaulig Racing added to its championship-caliber NASCAR Xfinity Series program with a fulltime NASCAR Cup Series car driven by Justin Haley in 2022 and a second car that will be shared by three drivers. Erik Jones – a former summer race winner at Daytona – will team with Ty Dillon in the newly formed Petty GMS Motorsports organization.

And first-year NASCAR Cup Series drivers – former NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Austin Cindric (Team Penske) and second-generation NASCAR drivers Harrison Burton (Wood Brothers Racing) and Todd Gilliland (Front Row Motorsports) will compete for top rookie honors.

Cindric has the top starting position (fifth) among rookies. The defending Daytona 500 winner McDowell will start sixth after an impressive run in Thursday’s qualifying race. And the 2015 Daytona 500 winner Logano will start last in the field after having to go to a back-up No. 22 Team Penske Ford after an accident in his Duel 150 qualifying race.

Former Formula One champion and 1995 Indy 500 champion Jacques Villeneuve, 50, and current Xfinity Series title contender Noah Gragson raced their way into the Daytona 500 starting field in qualifying. It will be the first start in this race for both.

Kaz Grala qualified for the Daytona 500 starting field with a dramatic last lap pass to claim an “open” position available to non-chartered teams based on their Duel race result. Greg Biffle, 52, a former NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and Xfinity Series champion and perennial Cup Series title contender from 2003 -2016, earned the other 500 position with his finish in the second Duel.

Overall, the qualifying races were run with rave reviews. And the car manufacturers said they have high expectations for Sunday’s race.

As is customary just prior to the season-opening Daytona 500, executives from all three NASCAR manufacturers – Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota – spoke to the media on Friday. All reported being greatly satisfied with the racing to date at Daytona, yet cautioning there is a lot to be learned about the cars and the way they race. Inventory counts remain conservative but all three makes expect that to be changing in the upcoming months.

“For the next few weeks we’ll have to be mindful and make good decisions,” Toyota Racing Development’s David Wilson said. “What we can’t do is ask a driver once he pulls that visor down to mitigate his performance based on concerns about parts. That’s not racing.”

They also pointed to pit strategy as playing a greater role in the race. That was certainly the case in the qualifying races with the Ford contingent taking only two tires on its pit stop to get back out on track in front of the Chevrolets, which all serviced four tires on their pit stop.

“On the surface, I don’t envision 40 cars lined up three by three heading to the finish line. I just don’t think that’s going to happen,” Wilson said. “There’s the potential for more cars to go a lap down or two, but strategy, communication, teamwork are going to be absolutely critical to whomever wins that race on Sunday afternoon.”

There were 34 cars that participated in Friday evening’s hour-long practice with defending Daytona 500 winner McDowell turning in the fastest lap (192.678 mph) in the No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford. Stewart-Haas Racing’s Aric Almirola ran the most laps of the session (33).

Eight of the 10 fastest cars were Fords. Bubba Wallace was the fastest Toyota in the No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota car and Noah Gragson was the fastest Chevrolet with a 10th-best lap.

Final Daytona 500 practice is Saturday at 10:30 a.m. ET. While the DAYTONA 500 is sold out, there are still plenty of exciting ways to experience the pageantry of Speedweeks Presented By AdventHeath with an exciting doubleheader Saturday. For ticket information, log onto www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP.

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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