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NASCAR Hall of Fame honors 2021 inductees Dale Earnhart Jr., Red Farmer and Mike Stefanik

Photo by Ted Seminara for SpeedwayMedia.com.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame continued its tradition of paying tribute to the sport’s past Saturday night with the induction of Dale Earnhardt Jr., Charles “Red” Farmer and the late Mike Stefanik.

The evening’s ceremony was a unique glimpse into the history of the sport and how each of these drivers contributed to the growth of NASCAR and secured their place in its history.

Renowned crew chief, Ray Evernham, a 2018 Hall of Fame inductee, opened up the ceremony, saying, “This is our house, this is our house where our legends live.” He then invited Stefanik’s wife, Julie, to the stage to accept the NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee ring.

“This is a huge honor, and I know Michael would have been very humbled,” Julie Stefanik said. She spoke of his 38 years in the sport and her appreciation of all the people who had helped and influenced him during those years, saying, “I can’t even begin to name names and won’t even try in fear of leaving someone out.”

She spoke at length about her husband’s career but ended by saying, “He was more than just a racer to us. He was a beloved husband, father, son, brother and friend and he will be missed forever.

Stefanik’s accomplishments include being at the top of the list for all-time NASCAR championships with nine, a position he shares with only one other driver, 2012 Hall of Fame inductee, Richie Evans. Julie Stefanik named Evans as someone who was a mentor to her husband and a good friend. In 2003, Stefanik was named one of the Modified Tour’s 10 Greatest Drivers and he holds the all-time series record in wins, poles, top fives and top 10s.

Tony Stewart, a three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and good friend, inducted Farmer. He described him as “a racer’s racer,” saying, “he deserves to be in the NASCAR Hall of Fame.”

Farmer began by humorously saying, I’m gonna take a little time here tonight. I hope you all had something to drink and been to the bathroom ‘cause I got 75 years of racing I need to talk about.”

It was a theme that would be prevalent throughout his speech as he regaled the audience with stories. His entertaining story-telling even prompted Dale Earnhardt Jr. to say, “I think I got my first guest for this year’s Dale Jr. Download. I don’t know what you’re doing in February, Red, but I need you to come on and tell some stories, buddy.”

Farmer named Ralph Moody as someone who helped him tremendously during his career and spoke of their first meeting when he was new to racing and searching for direction.

During his speech, he noted that the NASCAR Hall of Fame was the 10th hall of fame to honor him.

“If these Hall of Fames were a Christmas tree with all the ornaments around it, this NASCAR award,” Farmer said, “would be the gold star on top of that Christmas tree.”

Farmer has been racing for 75 years and at the age of 89, continues to race. He was a member of the Alabama Gang and was named one of the 50 Greatest Drivers in NASCAR’s first 50 years in 1998. His exact win count is unknown but estimates put it at over 700.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was inducted by his wife, Amy. After congratulating the other inductees, Earnhardt reflected on his humble beginnings.  

“I was a mechanic at a dealership. That was my destiny, or so I thought.”

He couldn’t have been more wrong.

As a driver, his accomplishments include 26 Cup Series wins, two Daytona 500 wins, two Xfinity Series championships and being voted the most popular driver for 15 consecutive years. He has also won three Xfinity Series championships as a team owner of JR Motorsports with 58 race wins. Now working as a television analyst, he has continued his influence and cemented his legacy off the track.

Earnhardt began by thanking everyone involved in NASCAR, “anyone who has ever invested their time in this sport to make it great.” He went on to say, “However if I were to single just one person out of that group somebody who embodies NASCAR and has also been an incredible friend to me and mentor, it’s Mike Helton.”

He also mentioned others who had played significant roles during his career, including Gary Hargett, who taught him humility when he first began racing late models. “He taught me how to treat people,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “He called me out when I was making mistakes. Gary never shouted. Gary never got angry. But, he was a guy who held me accountable.”

Tony Eury Sr. was, without doubt, a key factor in Earnhardt’s growth in the sport. When Dale Earnhardt asked Eury who should drive Dale Earnhard Inc.’s Xfinity Series car, Eury suggested that his father let Dale Jr. drive it.

He also gave credit to his sister Kelley Earnhardt Miller, Rick Hendrick, Steve Letarte, and his fans.

“Junior Nation has always had my back. When I stumbled you guys were right there ready to lift me back up. And man, there were times when I absolutely needed you and you never let me down. We won together and we lost together. And because so, you should know that I don’t go into this Hall of Fame alone. I go with you and I go because of you.”

But most importantly, the person who made his life complete, his wife, Amy.

“How do you explain someone who makes every day of your life better?” Earnhardt said.

The night would not have been complete without Earnhardt acknowledging the significance of joining his father as an inductee. It was a proud and humbling experience to join his father, Dale Earnhardt, who was a member of the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame class of 2010.

“To join Dad in the Hall of Fame is probably as good as it’s going to get.”

During the Hall of Fame ceremony, the late Bob Jenkins was awarded the Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Excellence for his work in television and radio broadcasting. Also recognized was the late Ralph Seagraves as the recipient of the 2021 Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR. Seagraves was an executive with R.J. Reynolds and influential in bringing the Winston sponsorship to NASCAR.

*All photos by Ted Seminara

NFL’s Antonio Williams Joins fgrACCEL, Continues Investment with Joe Graf Jr. in 2022

NFL’s Antonio Williams Joins fgrACCEL, Continues Investment with Joe Graf Jr. in 2022

MOORESVILLE, N.C.: National Football League (NFL) player and Buffalo Bills running back Antonio Williams burst onto the NASCAR scene last February in a strategic partnership with NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Joe Graf Jr.

On Friday, Williams expanded his involvement in NASCAR. He has expanded his investment into Graf’s racing platform – in addition to joining fgrACCEL, a full-service sports marketing and management agency where Williams will serve as director of business development.

A friendship that was sparked through fgrACCEL’s Nate Blasdell, Williams will continue to work with Graf to expand his current relationships in the sport, while also working to continue bringing new interest to not only Graf but the growing list of fgrACCEL clients.

Williams, 24, will be heavily involved in fgrACCEL’s day-to-day business interactions, while also planning to increase his at-track presence throughout the season, including attending next month’s season-opener at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.

Williams is also the managing partner of Ancient World Gaming, a professional eSports and Entertainment team.

“Antonio has already been an incredible asset to our team and will showcase even more with his new position at fgrACCEL,” said April Wiesner, chief operating officer at fgrACCEL.

“He brings the same drive, dedication and passion to everything he does, whether that’s on the football field, in the creation of his eSports team Ancient World Gaming or to business development at fgrACCEL. I’m thrilled to see him step into a bigger role overall with the organization.”

Despite his additional responsibilities with fgrACCEL, Williams reiterated his focus on assisting Graf to achieve the pinnacle of the sport by competing in the NASCAR Cup Series in the near future.

“Last year being my first year involved with NASCAR was more than I expected,” said Williams. “What Joe showed was the potential he has and with our new partners in Ford, Stewart-Haas Racing and Roush Yates, I know we will be in the position to be even more competitive this year.

“Expanding my footprint into the sport with my new duties at fgrACCEL will only continue to accelerate my knowledge of the multiple sectors within the sport. We are opening new doors this year not only for Joe – but the other members of the fgrACCEL team and I look forward to seeing the success of everyone throughout the 2022 season.”

For Graf who is entering his third season of Xfinity Series competition at Bobby Dotter’s SS GreenLight Racing team, his relationship with Williams is priceless.

“Antonio has done so much for me as a competitor both on and off the track,” said Joe Graf Jr. “He has not only been a huge investor into my career, but we have become incredible friends. His leadership and vision for 2022 will not only be beneficial for me but for the other members of the fgrACCEL team too.

“He is devoted to increasing a new commitment to fgrACCEL, but also continue building that bond that we share and be at my side as much as he can. He’s not just an investor or a friend, he is family.”

For more on Antonio Williams like him on Facebook (Antonio Williams), follow him on Twitter (@A_B_Williams26) and Instagram (@antonio_williams35).

For more on Joe Graf Jr. visit JoeGrafRacing.com, like him on Facebook (Joe Graf Jr.), follow him on TikTok (@JoeGrafJr), (Twitter (@JoeGrafJr) and Instagram (@joegrafjr).

For more on fgrACCEL. visit fgrACCEL.com, like them on Facebook (fgrACCEL), (Twitter (@fgrACCEL) and Instagram (@fgrACCEL).

For more on SS GreenLight Racing, please like them on Facebook (SS GreenLight Racing) and follow them on Twitter (@SSGLR0717) and visit their website at SSGreenLight.com.

About SS Green Light Racing:

As one of the most tenured teams in all of NASCAR, SS GreenLight Racing led by team owner and former driver Bobby Dotter has been a mainstay in the sport fielding entries in either the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series or the Xfinity Series competition since 2001.

SS GreenLight Racing will continue with a two-car program in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2022.

Speedway Motorsports’ Marcus Smith Shares Vision For Revitalized North Wilkesboro Speedway

Smith was guest speaker at the Wilkes County Chamber of Commerce 75th Membership Celebration, where he shared conceptual renderings for the historic property

NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. (Jan. 21, 2022) – Speedway Motorsports President and CEO Marcus Smith shared his vision for the future of North Wilkesboro Speedway during the Wilkes County Chamber of Commerce 75th Membership Celebration Thursday night.

Earmarked within the North Carolina state budget that was passed in November was $18 million toward infrastructure improvements at the historic 0.625-mile facility. That money, Smith said, will go a long way toward modernizing the iconic venue to bring motorsports, concerts and other entertainment options to the Wilkes County region.

“The future of North Wilkesboro Speedway is bright,” Smith told a group of 250 people gathered for the event. “There is a great opportunity to revive this fantastic venue to be, not just a race track, but a place that can host lots of events, a place that people will come to from far away and enjoy the community, enjoy the region and enjoy special events.”

Thanks to the efforts of local volunteer groups, cleanup around the 75-year-old race track began several months ago and attention can now turn to prioritizing the necessary upgrades and refurbishment projects to reopen North Wilkesboro Speedway. Smith highlighted his vision for the property through a series of renderings that showcased not only a return to racing, but also alternative uses like serving as a concert venue.

“Water, sewer, electricity, roads, connectivity – those are a lot of the building blocks that we need to get done,” Smith said. “We want to keep the character of the property, celebrate the history, but, of course, make it safe, convenient and enjoyable for everyone who comes to visit.

“In the car world, I would call it a resto-mod. It’s going to look old, but it’s going to work new. When you think about nostalgic opportunities, this is one of those one-in-a-million opportunities.

“Our hope is to celebrate the history and look forward to the future. North Wilkesboro Speedway is an amazing, historic place for NASCAR. It’s almost like Fenway Park is to baseball. I think, with this money from the state and the American Rescue Plan, we can make some dreams a reality at North Wilkesboro Speedway.”

Smith noted the “real possibility” of bringing a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event. “We specifically – and I’ll thank Marcus Lemonis, the CEO of Camping World for his voice of support – we specifically think it’s a real possibility to bring back NASCAR and the Camping World Truck Series to North Wilkesboro Speedway,” he said. “Those races are nationally televised events, and it’s a national NASCAR touring series. We have a number of those (races) in our portfolio, and I would love to see one of those here.”

Seeing renderings of the re-envisioned speedway and hearing Smith’s ideas for the future of the property was welcome news to lifelong residents, community leaders and business owners.

“This means everything to anybody that lives in Wilkes County,” said Terri Parsons, widow of NASCAR legend Benny Parsons and a longtime advocate of revitalizing the facility. “By the speedway coming back, this has just turned a lightbulb on in this whole community again. You can see by the attendance tonight, everybody in the town, everybody in the county supports it and wants to see something come alive out there.”

“I’m very excited to hear the ideas that are coming from Speedway Motorsports,” said Rep. Jeffrey Elmore, whose district includes Wilkes County. “This track is a symbol of our community. He (Smith) used the word ‘hope.’ It’s very exciting to see the vision that he’s putting forth and how it’s tying to the past and looking to the future.”

Smith also used the opportunity to thank the community for its efforts – from cleanup crews to business and political leaders – to help return the legendary facility to its former glory.

“Bringing back races, bringing back special events, bringing back tourism, creating a very special place where the community can gather, it’s exciting,” he said. “When you think about nostalgic opportunities, this is one of those one-in-a-million opportunities.

“I think there’s a bright future ahead for North Wilkesboro Speedway. It wouldn’t happen without the amazing community support that’s in this room as well as the people who have been out at the speedway to help us bring the speedway back. Anybody might have said this place is too far gone, but this community rallied and brought it to a place where we can rebuild it and it can be a fantastic jewel.”

About Speedway Motorsports:

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

Young American Jak Crawford Moves to PREMA Racing for 2022 FIA F3 campaign

Jak Crawford #52 Team Motopark, during round eight of the EuroFormula Open series at Circuit Barcelona Catalunya on Oct 22-24, 2021. // SI202110240530 // Usage for editorial use only //

16-year old set to begin 2022 with hectic 15-race Formula Regional Asian Championship

HOUSTON (21 January 2022) – American Formula 1 hopeful Jak Crawford is set for his second full season in the competitive FIA Formula 3 championship in 2022, joining the premier PREMA Racing team for the series that competes on seven Grand Prix weekends.

Crawford, who will turn 17 on May 2, returns to the category as part of his program for the Red Bull Junior team, following in the footsteps of current Driver World Champion and Red Bull driver Max Verstappen – a former Junior Team driver.

Crawford’s 2021 F3 campaign saw the Texas native soak in a full season of new tracks as he took on the unique challenge that the three-race weekend formats presented. Having a season of racing as part of the Formula 1 events under his belt, the promising results that Crawford delivered in the second half of the year could provide the foundation for a breakout season in 2022.

Any rust from the off-season layoff will quickly be shaken off, with Crawford making his debut in the Formula Regional Asian Championship, with a hectic 15-race schedule over the course of five-consecutive weekends – all in the United Arab Emirates. The championship will give Crawford a strong start to the 2022 season as he looks to build on the opportunity to race with the powerhouse PREMA squad.

Crawford will drive for Abu Dabhi Racing PREMA when the series begins this Friday with a three-race weekend at the Yas Marina Circuit, home of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Action then shifts to the Dubai Autodrome, which hosts races on three-straight weekends. The championship returns to Yas Marina Circuit for the concluding Round 5 on Feb. 17-20. The series will carry FIA Super License points for the top finishers. Each of the three-race weekends will have the top-10 finishers from Race 1 reversed for Race 2.

“I’m very excited to be joining PREMA for a second season of FIA F3 as well as contesting the Formula Regional Asian Championship with them,” Crawford said. “I am very much looking forward to building on what I learned last year in my rookie season, and hoping to emulate the success that other drivers have had with the team in the past. FIA F3 will be the main focus for me this year and I am eager to get the season underway.”

The FIA F3 campaign begins March 17-19 in Sakhir. The season continues April 21-23 at Imola; May 19-21 at Barcelona; June 30-July 2 at Silverstone; July 7-9 at Spelberg, Austria’s Red Bull Ring; July 28-30 at Budapest; August 25-27 at Spa Francorchamps; Sept. 1-3 at Zandvoort; and closes at Monza on Sept., 8-10.

Each weekend will hold two races for the F3 competitors. Crawford ran the full Formula 3 season in 2021. The youngest driver in the series, he placed second in the opening race of the Spa Francorchamps weekend, and also scored points in all three races at Zandvoort. He kept pushing at every opportunity, even ending the year with a pass on the final lap of the season to take fifth at Russia’s Sochi circuit.

Missing the opening two races of the Euroformula Open campaign, Crawford celebrated his 16th birthday with a sixth-place finish to wrap up the Portimao weekend. Although missing an additional two rounds (six races) due to FIA F3 schedule conflicts, he finished third in the season championship, within striking distance of second. Crawford won eight of 16 races in the No. 52 Team Motopark Dallara, winning two of the three races in four of his five full weekends. He won the pole in four out of five qualifying attempts, and scored 12 fastest race laps.

Hemric set for Daytona 500 return with Kaulig Racing

Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images.

Kaulig Racing took to social media to announce that Daniel Hemric will be driving the No. 16 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the 64th running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway scheduled for February 20.

Hemric, the reigning NASCAR Xfinity Series champion from Kannapolis, North Carolina, is coming off his breakout season to date in NASCAR, where he drove the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Supra to the 2021 Xfinity Series championship and his first career victory across NASCAR’s top three national touring series after edging the 2020 Xfinity champion Austin Cindric in a thrilling final lap battle at Phoenix Raceway. He also earned 15 top-five results and 21 top-10 results en route to the title as he became the first competitor to achieve a first victory and championship in the same event.

This season, he is set to pilot Kaulig Racing’s No. 11 Chevrolet Camaro as a full-time Xfinity Series competitor in a quest to defend his series championship. Alex Yontz will be remaining in the Xfinity circuit to serve as Hemric’s crew chief.

In addition, Hemric will be serving as one of three competitors in Kaulig Racing’s No. 16 “all-star” entry throughout the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season alongside fellow Xfinity competitors AJ Allmendinger and Noah Gragson. Matt Swiderski will be serving as crew chief for the No. 16 team that will be making its first appearance in the Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on February 6 with Allmendinger scheduled to compete.

The No. 16 entry will be one of two full-time Cup entries for Kaulig Racing this upcoming season as Justin Haley will be driving the No. 31 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 on a full-time basis led by veteran crew chief Trent Owens.

The 2022 Daytona 500 will mark Hemric’s second career start in NASCAR’s prestigious crown-jewel events to commence a new season of racing. He made his 500 debut in 2019 with Richard Childress Racing, where he finished 34th after being eliminated in a late multi-car incident. The season opener at Daytona will also mark Hemric’s first start in NASCAR’s premier series since the 2019 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, where Hemric finished 12th in RCR’s No. 8 entry and captured the Cup Rookie-of-the-Year title.

Kaulig Racing is coming off one of its successful seasons to date, where the team tallied nine victories in the Xfinity circuit made between AJ Allmendinger, Jeb Burton and Justin Haley as Allmendinger made the Championship Round at Phoenix in November before settling in fourth place in the 2021 Xfinity drivers’ standings. In addition, the team achieved its first victory in the Cup Series with Allmendinger at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course in August following an overtime, two-lap shootout.

Hemric is scheduled to make his Daytona 500 return with Kaulig Racing at Daytona International Speedway on February 20 with the race scheduled to commence at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

Sprecher Brewing Co. to Sponsor ARCA Menards Series

Milwaukee brewery becomes Official Craft Soda of ARCA

Toledo, OH (January 21, 2022) – Sprecher Brewing Co. and the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) announced today that Sprecher® will become the Official Craft Soda of the ARCA Menards Series in 2022.

“Sprecher is proud to increase our partnership with ARCA and Menards for 2022. Sprecher is Milwaukee’s original craft brewery and the birthplace of Sprecher’s award-winning root beer and craft sodas,” said Sharad Chadha, CEO of Sprecher. “We enjoyed our first foray into the ARCA Menards Series last year when racing returned to The Milwaukee Mile, and we’re excited to see what 2022 has in store.”

The official partnership status will see Sprecher craft soda enhance their presence at all ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East and ARCA Menards Series West Races in 2022, beginning with the season-opening race for the ARCA platform at New Smyrna Speedway on February 16, just days before the ARCA Menards Series takes to the World Center of Racing in the Lucas Oil 200 at Daytona International Speedway on February 19.

In addition to the Official Craft Soda designation, Sprecher will support all ARCA Menards Series platform television broadcasts, including FS1 and MAVTV, as well as become the sponsor of the Sprecher Lap Leader Award, which will go to the driver who leads the most laps in each race across the ARCA Menards Series platform throughout the season, and an overall season-long award for the driver who leads the most laps in each series throughout the year.

“We’re pleased, and proud to partner with Sprecher and the ARCA Menards Series,” commented Jeff Abbott, Menards Spokesperson. “Sprecher craft sodas are a staple supplier to Menards. A Wisconsin company whose products sell vigorously throughout the Menards retail footprint. The ARCA Menards Series sponsorship for Sprecher is a great fit.”

Established in Milwaukee in 1985, Sprecher had modest beginnings, with company founder Randy Sprecher hand-crafting much of the brewery equipment at the first location. Sprecher’s award-winning root beer was originally made for family-friendly brewery tours, and became the brewery’s top seller and was rated the best root beer by The New York Times.

Today, Sprecher is one of the only breweries in the U.S. that still uses a unique fire-brewing process that caramelizes the flavors to give Sprecher’s craft sodas and beers big, bold flavor. The popularity of Sprecher’s unique craft beverages has led to continued expansion of the facilities located in Glendale, Wis, located just minutes from downtown Milwaukee. Sprecher has gone from serving Southeastern Wisconsin to being distributed to retailers in 35 states. In February 2020, Randy Sprecher retired after achieving his entrepreneurial dreams He kept the company in local hands, selling Sprecher to a small team of Milwaukee investors.

“Sprecher craft sodas are a great fit for the ARCA Menards Series,” said ARCA president Ron Drager. “ARCA fans are definitely Sprecher fans, we saw that with our buy-a-case, get-a-ticket promotion last year. We are extremely excited to welcome Sprecher to the ARCA family of corporate partners for 2022.”

ABOUT SPRECHER BREWING COMPANY

Sprecher Brewing Co. is Milwaukee’s original craft brewery. Sprecher brews more than 20 craft sodas as well as 12 craft beers, including the world famous Sprecher Root Beer. Sprecher craft sodas are fire-brewed and made with honey to produce unique bold flavor with antioxidants. Sprecher’s craft sodas are made in Milwaukee and now available in 35 states and online.

ABOUT MENARDS

A family-owned and run company started in 1958, Menards is recognized as the retail home center leader of the Midwest with 236 stores in 15 states.  Menards is truly a one-stop shop for all of your home improvement needs featuring a full-service lumberyard and everything you need to plan a renovation or build a home, garage, cabin, shed, deck, fence or post frame building.  You’ll find a large selection of lumber, roofing, siding, construction blocks, trusses, doors and windows, plus cabinets, appliances, countertops, flooring, lighting, paint, plumbing supplies and more.  To complete the job, Menards has quality hand tools, power tools, fasteners, electrical tools plus storage options and supplies for everyone from the weekend warrior to the pro! 

Menards has what you need to complete your outdoor projects and keep your yard in tip-top shape including mowers, trimmers, blowers, pressure washers and more, plus a beautiful garden center stocked with plants, shrubs, trees, landscaping tools, grass seed, fertilizer options, outdoor décor and patio furniture.  Menards also has everyday essentials like health & beauty products, housewares, pet and wildlife supplies, automotive items and even groceries.  And at Christmas, an Enchanted Forest display area with impressive trees, lighting, decorations, ornaments, inflatables and more. 

Menards is known for friendly Customer Service and as the place to “Save Big Money” with low prices every day, and sales too!  For more information, please visit Menards.com to learn about our store locations, offerings and services.

ABOUT ARCA

The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA), founded in 1953 by John and Mildred Marcum in Toledo, Ohio, and acquired by NASCAR in April 2018, is the leading grassroots stock car sanctioning body in the United States. Bridging the gap between NASCAR’s top three national touring series and weekly racing all across the country, the organization is scheduled to administer more than 100 events in multiple racing series in 2022, including the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East, ARCA Menards Series West, the ARCA/CRA Super Series, and the ARCA Midwest Tour, plus weekly racing at Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways. For more information about ARCA visit www.arcaracing.com, or follow ARCA on Facebook (@ARCARacing) and Twitter (@ARCA_Racing).

Four Mercedes-AMG GT4 Entries Part of 10-Strong Lineup of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing Teams at Daytona

Mercedes-AMG GT4 Entries Feature New Liveries and Driver Lineups for 2022 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Season-Opening Race at Daytona International Speedway, January 26 – 28

Four Mercedes-AMG GT4 Entries Part of a 10-Strong Lineup of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing Teams Competing Across Two IMSA Racing Series in Season-Opening Races at Daytona International Speedway

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida – Four Mercedes-AMG GT4 entries help to makeup the powerhouse lineup of 10 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing teams across two IMSA racing series set to compete the next two weekends at Daytona International Speedway (DIS), starting the 2022 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season at DIS, Friday, January 28. The four-hour Pilot Challenge race sets the stage for the next day’s 60th Rolex 24 At Daytona that will see a record six Mercedes-AMG GT3 teams compete in the season-opening IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race, January 29 – 30.

On-track action begins this weekend with the traditional Roar Before the Rolex 24 test that includes five practice sessions over three days for the Pilot Challenge series.

The Mercedes-AMG GT4 competes in the top-tier Pilot Challenge Grand Sport (GS) class with four entries from two different teams set for next Friday’s four-hour opener.

Race-winning Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing team Murillo Racing begins its fifth year of competition with the Mercedes-AMG GT4 and an expanded entry of three cars.

The returning Murillo driving duos of Jeff Mosing and Eric Foss, and Brent Mosing and Tim Probert, will be joined by a sister entry co-driven by Kenny Murillo and Christian Szymczak this season.

Jeff Mosing and Foss return to the wheel of the No. 56 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4 after a successful season in 2021 that included an overall and GS race win at Lime Rock Park in July.

Brent Mosing and Probert reunite in the No. 65 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4 with the veteran driver duo entered in the new Bronze Cup, a new championship within the overall 10-race GS schedule. To be eligible for points, both drivers must be rated Bronze, which most commonly designates sportsman or “Am” drivers.

Kenny Murillo, the son of team owner Ken Murillo, and Szymczak move to GS after winning the 2021 Pirelli GT4 America Silver Class Championship.

The No. 72 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4 Murillo and Szymczak co-drive carries a new blue on orange livery that is a departure from the traditional black on orange and white on orange colors of the Murillo team cars.

Another familiar team with a new look and driver pairing is the No. 11 Capstone Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT4 of Gary Ferrara and Kris Wilson.

With team owner John Allen joining Ferrara and Wilson at the wheel, Capstone made its IMSA debut last year at Watkins Glen International. Wilson and Ferrara later co-drove in two more races in preparation for this year’s full season return to GS competition.

Team preparations for the 60th Rolex 24 At Daytona weekend officially begin at DIS this weekend with the traditional Roar 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.

Kenny Murillo, Driver – No. 72 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4: “We are really excited to have three cars this year. It’s not new to us to have more than two cars, so we understand what a successful routine is to run more than a couple of cars. Christian and I have been talking about this for a while now, pretty much dreaming about it for four years. To be here at Daytona, one of my favorite tracks, and in a Mercedes-AMG GT4 with Christian is kind of a dream come true. Our car is new, we decided to get a new chassis to start off in IMSA on the right foot, and this car and a new No. 56 car arrived on just January 8. It was a big, huge team effort. Everybody worked their tails off. We are on the West Coast, so to get ready for an East Coast opener was tough. It was a real challenge.”

Kris Wilson, Driver – No. 11 Capstone Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT4: “I’m excited for our first full season of IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge with our No. 11 Capstone Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT4. This is our third year in partnership with Mercedes-AMG, so we feel that that relationship is key to our success. Gary Ferrera and I did three exploratory races last season preparing for our program this year. Over the winter break, the Capstone team has moved its headquarters from Colorado to Atlanta and into a 400,000 square foot facility near Road Atlanta. It’s an amazing place. You actually need to drive a golf cart to get around to the different departments. It is so big that it used to have an indoor go kart track. We feel like we have everything in place to be competitive with the established IMSA teams.”

Natalex- Buy Ford emblems, stickers, and Accessories

The car has long been a part of our daily life, where we spend a lot of time. Goods for the car are in maximum demand. For example, when he wants to update the interior of the cabin, buy car care chemicals, or he needs to buy a car part or a navigator to navigate the way on a long journey.

A separate place in this list is taken by badges, stickers, and accessories. Many people want to buy Ford emblems and it is not surprising. Thanks to these decorative elements the vehicle acquires a completely different appearance. An indispensable requirement for auto accessories is quality and reliability. And that is exactly the kind of accessories for your car you will find at Natalex Auto Store.

Depending on the purpose the stickers are divided into:

  • Graphic. These can be pictures, inscriptions, catchphrases, or combined collages, which allow the car owner to express his/her lifestyle or preferences.
  • Promotional. These are marketing tools that provide information of a promotional nature. For example, the sale of goods, services, and the like.
  • Information stickers. These decorative stickers are designations of a firm, institution, brand, or organization.
  • Signs. These are small signs that carry information about the car or driver.
  • Humorous. A variety of humorous stickers with text, pictures, or combined collages.

Usage and attachment

Stickers on discs are used to decorate the vehicle and once again emphasize its involvement in the brand of the manufacturer. Is a decorative accessory that does not affect its driving qualities in any way.

The mounting method that allows the emblem to be attached optimally:

  1. Thoroughly degrease the surface on which we want to stick the emblem.
  2. A heat gun or dryer can be used to gently heat the emblem.
  3. If the emblem becomes flexible, attach it to the desired location.

How to buy Ford emblems, stickers, and accessories

There are plenty of auto rim stickers from every possible modern car brand in the catalog. Car hubcaps stickers are a one-time purchase that will last you throughout the lifetime of your vehicle. According to the production method of this category of tuning, there are currently three main categories of products. Stickers can be produced by different methods:

  1. Plotter cutting. This method involves cutting the decor on a special machine – a plotter. The machine is controlled by a computer program and selects fragments with a high degree of accuracy. After cutting on the machine unnecessary parts of the film are removed from the substrate by hand. Only the image or text itself remains on the substrate. The parts of the sticker are bonded together by an adhesive layer, but a matte translucent film with a weaker adhesive power is applied to the front surface of the picture.
  2. Full-color printing. Copies produced by this method are a little more expensive but have a high-quality picture and accurate color reproduction. The image is applied to the film with a special printer, which can reproduce complex graphics with fine detail.
  3. The perforation method. This method of production is mainly used for advertising stickers or pictures, which would be attached to the rear window. This method preserves the transparency of the product, and small holes remain on its surface. Such stickers create a light toning effect and do not block the view when driving.  

Reasons to buy badges, stickers, emblems

The absence of inscriptions on the back of the badge in front is a frequent occurrence: it may be a hooligan prank, and it is often the case that rear inscriptions are removed because of the inconvenience of care, for painting or decorative coating (airbrushing). It may happen that the motorist, removing the symbol, breaks it.

The reason for replacement may also be an accident or normal wear and tear, for example, due to contact with reagents. Another reason is the desire to improve the car, for example, to buy a part with a backlight. It is aesthetic and has practical sense – the car becomes more conspicuous, and therefore not attractive to thieves.

Why Should You Use a Title Loan Calculator Before You Sell Your Car?

Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

Many people are left in a difficult situation when they have to sell their cars. They don’t know whether to use the calculator. This article talks about the title loan calculator and why you should use it before selling your car.

Many people are left in a difficult situation when they have to sell their cars. They don’t know whether they need to use the calculator. This article talks about the title loan calculator and why you should use it before selling your car.

Why Should You Use a Title Loan Calculator Before You Sell Your Car?

A title loan calculator is a tool that estimates the amount of money you could get by selling your car. The calculator will determine how much money you will receive by taking into account the extent of the damage and whether the vehicle is in good condition.

This article talks about the different ways you can use a title loan calculator before selling your car and why it is essential to use it. It also discusses the benefits of using a title loan calculator when selling your car, as well as other things to keep in mind before using it.

Taking out short-term car pawn loans has become a common way to bridge temporary financial gaps before completing a vehicle sale. These arrangements allow sellers to access immediate capital while they prepare their documentation and market the vehicle to potential buyers.

Trusting Your Calculator

If you have a title loan on your car, you’ll need to know the payoff amount so you can sell your vehicle for a price acceptable to the lender. The payoff amount is calculated by adding the balance of your loan to any fees and interest payments.

Knowing the payoff amount will allow you to negotiate a fair selling price for your car with a buyer. You can then use this information to get a valid offer from a dealership.

The problem with selling a car without calculating the payoff amount is that it often leads to disagreements between buyers and sellers about how much the vehicle should be sold. One party may think that the car is worth more because they don’t know what needs to be paid off before the sale. The other party may not want to pay more than they think it’s worth because they don’t know what needs to be paid off before the sale.

It becomes even messier if the title loan has varying rates for interest or fees across lenders. Using a calculator simplifies everything by providing an accurate figure for both parties involved in the transaction.

How to Calculate Title Loan Interest Rate

A car title loan calculator is also known as a car title calculator. This calculator will help you determine the interest rate and the total amount due for the loan.

To use this calculator, you will need to input some information about your vehicle. You will need to enter the car’s year, make, and model, along with any modifications. You will also need to enter your income and your down payment. Lastly, you will need to list any other collateral you may have for the loan.

Six reasons why you should use a car title loan calculator before selling your car.

1) It saves time;

2) It’s more accurate;

3) Protects against lender confusion;

4) Reduces risk of missing out on credit score points;

5) Helps with understanding how much money you’ll owe over time;

6) The result can be used in negotiations with potential buyers or sellers

What Are The Different Types of Calculators?

You should know the different types of calculators before you start using them. There are three types – the title loan calculator, the equity calculator, and the trade-in value calculator.

The first is a title loan calculator, which helps you calculate how much money you can get from your car depending on its year, make and model.

The second type is an equity calculator, which helps you determine how much money you will get from your car when it’s sold. The last type is a trade-in value calculator that lets people estimate the value of their used car for a trade-in deal.

Conclusion

A title loan calculator is a great tool for figuring out how much a car is worth and the interest rates. A calculator is a good choice for anyone who wants to get the most out of their vehicle and keep it running for as long as possible. The calculator can be very beneficial.

3 Important Tips to Know before Going to the USA

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Being born inside and living within the United States is something many American citizens take for granted, but there are many cultural differences to expect if you’re a foreigner. Whether you plan on visiting, working, or immigrating, there are a plethora of things you should know beforehand.

States are All Unique

The state-to-state differences inside the United States vary massively. The distance between a couple of states can be the distance of three separate countries in Europe and thus you will find that each unique State has its own flair and culture.

Aside from cultural differences, States can also have completely different laws as each has its own sovereign under the federal government. For example, it’s legal to smoke and possess marijuana in Virginia, however, its neighbor Kentucky this would be illegal and will land you in jail.

States laws also affect things such as owned property. Depending on which state you live in your assets could be owned automatically by a spouse or family member. Therefore, if you plan on immigrating to the United States, it’s not just about learning Federal Laws, it’s equally important to learn state-wide laws for the state you plan on living in.

How the Roads Work

Driving in the United States is essentially mandatory outside of major cities. The US is enormous and there aren’t really any public transit systems to navigate quickly throughout the country. Like the aforementioned point, because driving is required, it’s super important to know the laws surrounding driving, and what to do in an accident. It’s also good to know that foreigners can drive legally with an international driver’s license inside the U.S.

Notable laws include quality of life such as being able to turn right on red but an often-ignored part of driving within the United States is making sure the car you drive is insured. The biggest difference in insurance between the U.S. and the U.K. for example is that in the US, the car is insured instead of the driver. The good news is that depending on circumstances you can get U.S. car insurance for U.K. drivers, which would be extremely beneficial if you’re immigrating into the U.S.

Aside from statewide driving laws, the most obvious difference from many other countries is that Americans drive on the ride side of the road. To add to that, the states use the imperial system rather than the metric system. Distance and speed are measured differently and it’s important to make sure you’re using the correct speed on your speedometer to ensure safety when traveling inside the United States.

Healthcare

The last big elephant in the room when speaking about America is its healthcare system or lack thereof and trying to stay healthy. If you do find yourself in a medical emergency it’s important to know that regardless of your financial state you will be treated with great care, but just expect to be billed afterward. When planning to live in the U.S., plan ahead a means to gain access to medical insurance, whether through federally offered Medicaid or through your employer.

The United States is full of opportunities, culture, and basically just about anything someone could want. You could take a vacation to somewhere new every month and still not have enough time to see all it has to offer. If you’re planning on immigrating in or just visiting, knowing about some of these extra caveats about the United States is invaluable to make the process that much smoother.