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Give the Gift of the 2022 DAYTONA 500! Holiday Packages Available Now for up to 30% off DAYTONA Speedweeks Presented By AdventHealth Events

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Limited Number of Tickets Remain for 64th Annual Great American Race; Fully Open Frontstretch Seating, Camping, Hospitality & Pre-Race Experiences; Debut of NASCAR Next Gen Car

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 12, 2021) – With a limited number of tickets remaining for the 64th Annual Great American Race fans need to act now to take advantage of a host of DAYTONA 500 Holiday packages, which are on sale for a limited time, offering up to 30% off for DAYTONA Speedweeks Presented By AdventHealth events.

The DAYTONA 500 at Daytona International Speedway is set for Presidents’ Day Weekend, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, and it will be the site of the points-race debut of the NASCAR Cup Series anticipated ‘Next Gen’ car. Tickets are selling fast for the DAYTONA 500 and fans are encouraged to make their plans now. The Cup cars will be in action on Thursday, Feb. 17 during the Bluegreen Vacations Duel at DAYTONA qualifying races. Friday (Feb. 18) will see the NextEra Energy 250 for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series while Saturday, Feb. 19 will feature a doubleheader, with the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. 300 for the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire for the ARCA Menards Series.

In addition to purchasing a DAYTONA 500 tickets, for only $100 more, fans can attend all the leading events to the DAYTONA 500. The longer fans stay as part of for DAYTONA Speedweeks Presented By AdventHealth, the more the savings. Here’s the specific breakdown of economic opportunities, which end on Dec. 31:

Offer 1: $199

  • Single-Day DAYTONA 500 Ticket and $25 Merchandise Voucher; Savings of 20%.

Offer 2: $239

  • Single-Day DAYTONA 500 Ticket, General Admission Ticket to Saturday’s Doubleheader (Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. 300 and Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire) and $25 Merchandise Voucher; Savings of 22%.

Offer 3: $299 (Best Savings!)

  • Single-Day DAYTONA 500 Ticket, General Admission Ticket for all Leading Events (Bluegreen Vacations Duel at DAYTONA Qualifying Races, NextEra Energy 250, Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. 300 and Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire) and $25 Merchandise Voucher; Savings of 30%.

UNOH Fanzone and Premium Parking are available to add to any holiday package. DAYTONA Speedweeks Presented By AdventHealth will have fully open frontstretch seating, expanded camping, hospitality and pre-race experiences.

The Next Gen car, a collaboration of the brightest engineering minds in racing and the automotive industry, is designed to give the drivers greater control. It will put an emphasis back on race strategies, team personnel and vehicle setups while returning the ‘stock car’ look to NASCAR. The cars are set to put on great racing for fans, incorporate relevant technology and look more like street version vehicles.

For ticket information on the 2022 DAYTONA 500, as well as Speedweeks Presented By AdventHealth events, log onto www.DAYTONA500.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP. Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram 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.

Tony Stewart Racing Names Crew Chiefs for NHRA Program

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Neal Strausbaugh To Crew Chief Top Fuel’s Leah Pruett;
Dickie Venables Continues with Funny Car Driver Matt Hagan

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Nov. 12, 2021) – Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) has announced its crew chief lineup for the team’s 2022 debut in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series with Top Fuel driver Leah Pruett and Funny Car pilot Matt Hagan.

Neal Strausbaugh will be the crew chief for nine-time Top Fuel event winner Pruett and Dickie Venables will continue his longtime role as the crew chief for 39-time Funny Car event winner Hagan. Both Strausbaugh and Venables come to TSR from Don Schumacher Racing (DSR), where the duo have spent a combined 25 years.

Strausbaugh has been an assistant crew chief since 2008 working across both Top Fuel and Funny Car, first with Cory McClenathan in Top Fuel (2008), Tony Schumacher in Top Fuel (2009-2016), Jack Beckman in Funny Car (2017-2018) and Pruett (2019-present). Venables has had two stints at DSR, spending 2010-2011 with Funny Car driver Johnny Gray before returning in 2013 to lead Hagan’s Funny Car effort.

“Joe Gibbs taught me a long time ago that you win with people, and Neal and Dickie are the right guys to help build this team and get it ready for next year,” said team owner Tony Stewart. “For the past year-and-a-half, I’ve gotten to know Neal and Dickie and have seen firsthand how they work and interact with everyone on the crew. Both have a strong work ethic and know what they’re doing, but they also know each other and their drivers really well. That kind of familiarity and continuity is massively important as we build this program from the ground up.”

Strausbaugh will be joined at TSR with co-crew chief Mike Domagala and car chief Ryan McGilvry. Venables is bringing the same personnel who have helped Hagan earn two of his three Funny Car titles (2014 and 2020) and compete for a potential second straight championship in the season-ending Auto Club Finals this weekend in Pomona, California. Specifically, co-crew chief Michael Knudsen and car chief Alex Conaway will continue with Venables at TSR.

“Being a part of TSR is a dream situation,” said Strausbaugh, a native of Hillsboro, Illinois. “There are a lot of great people who are a part of this team, and it starts at the top with Tony. It’s built by racers, for racers, and we have all the resources we need to be successful.”

While Venables knows what he’s doing next year, the Texan who has spent the last 25 years in Plainfield, Indiana, is intently focused on the present this weekend at Pomona. Hagan is second in the championship standings heading into the season finale.

“We’d like nothing more than to do well this weekend and be able to take the championship,” Venables said. “We’ve got a lot to take care of, but I’m looking forward to what’s coming shortly thereafter.

“I’ve been doing this a lot of years and I honestly haven’t looked forward to a program as much as I’m looking forward to this one. Being able to bring all my guys over will help us get started on the right foot and really grow this program.

“That’s what intrigues me about this opportunity most of all. I enjoy being able to build things from scratch. I enjoy being able to work with people and teach them to work in certain roles.”

TSR will make its NHRA debut during the 2022 season opener Feb. 17-20 at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. Those interested in partnering with TSR for its inaugural NHRA season can contact the team at TSRnitro@TonyStewart.com.

PMH and SCCA Pro Racing Expand Partnership to Long-Term Operating Agreement

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Trans Am presented by Pirelli TA2® cars set a single-event grid record with 53 entries at the Austin SpeedTour at Circuit of the Americas in 2021. Photo by Chris Clark.

INDIANAPOLIS (November 12, 2021) – Parella Motorsports Holdings (PMH) and SCCA Pro Racing announced today that they are strengthening their current partnership through a historic 25-year partnership agreement, a highly strategic move that builds on an already strong foundation.

Under the expanded agreement, PMH will assume responsibility for promotion, operating, staffing, and commercial aspects of SCCA Pro Racing starting in 2022, while sanction and sporting oversight of the Formula 4 U.S. and Formula Regional Americas Championships and FIA International events will stay with SCCA Pro Racing.

“Bringing SCCA Pro Racing centrally under the management of PMH will serve to strengthen all of our properties,” said Tony Parella, PMH Owner and CEO. “This cornerstone agreement sets PMH up for continued success, delivering immediate improved operational and organizational strength, while maintaining agility and focus on new opportunities.”

Parella’s ability to create a strong internal culture transcends his decades of leadership across multiple industries. Optimizing the organizational impact of PMH will have an immediate and positive impact for all stakeholders, partners, staff, contractors, and fans.

“We have been partners with Tony and the PMH team supporting the Trans Am series since 2017 and they have done a great job growing and promoting the Formula 4 U.S. and Formula Regional Americas Championships this year,” said Mike Cobb, President and CEO of SCCA. “Tony and I share a lot of the same values of integrity, fairness, and professionalism. We are excited to build on this success in the future, to deliver the best racing experience possible for our combined membership, partners, and fans.”

PMH will have a booth at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) show, Booth 7014, on December 9-11. The 2022 SpeedTour schedule kicks off on February 4-6 at Auto Club Speedway.

About Parella Motorsports Holdings: PMH is a premier motorsport holding company that includes wholly owned Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) and Trans Am Racing Company (TARC). PMH also holds commercial rights to Formula Regional Americas Championship Powered by Honda and Formula 4 United States Championship Powered by Honda. Together with independent properties such as International GT (IGT), the PMH portfolio of racing properties combine to produce some of the largest and most diverse motorsport festivals at America’s most storied and prestigious racing venues.

About SCCA Pro Racing: SCCA Pro Racing has been at the forefront of the professional racing landscape in the United States since 1963, providing full-service organization, operational support, and sanctioning for numerous professional racing series. SCCA Pro Racing is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sports Car Club of America, Inc. – a 65,000-member organization dedicated to motorsports events and a voting member of the Automobile Competition Committee of the United States (ACCUS) – the FIA delegate for the United States.

Wagner Takes Mazda MX-5 up Championship; Thomas Gets First Race Win of 2021

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Paley Earns Rookie Title and $80,000 in Mazda support

BRASELTON, Ga. (November 12, 2021) – With a 150 point advantage ahead of the last green flag of the season, it was Gresham Wagner’s (No. 5 Spark Performance) championship to lose as the Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich® Tires race got underway at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on Friday. Despite not finishing on the podium for the first time this year, Wagner still finished high enough to secure his first championship with a run to sixth at the finish. Earning his first win of the season, Jared Thomas (No. 96 JTR Motorsports Engineering) claimed the top spot on the final lap in another dramatic race finish.

Coming off of a win in Thursday’s Round 13 race, Wagner’s margin over Michael Carter (No. 08 Carter Racing Enterprises) meant that even if Carter won the race, Wagner only had to finish 11th or higher to lock in the title and the $250,000 support package from Mazda for the champion.

Wagner struggled in the race, at one point running as far back as ninth and in the middle of a tense fight for Rookie of the Year. Up at the front, Carter was fighting for the win. Wagner ultimately finished sixth, which is his worst finish of the season, but still took home the biggest prize of all.

“It’s been a long season, with everything building to this,” Wagner said. “It’s amazing to get it done, it’s almost more relief than excitement. But today, the car was just slow. Not much else to it. That was probably my worst race of the season, but I just had to get top nine and we did that, so I’m happy with that. Aside from that, it was a pretty un-fun race. I was back in the rookie pack and it seemed as though they were racing harder for sixth than a lot of the wins I’ve been a part of. It was tricky, some guys cut me slack and some didn’t, so I’m happy to bring it home.”

Carter was doing everything he could to hold off Thomas and Selin Rollan (No. 87 Hixon Motor Sports) and keep his championship hopes alive. The trio was able to pull away from the pack, except when two, short full-course yellows brought everyone in line again.

On the final lap, Carter slid in Turn Five and got some air over the exit curbing. There was no way to hold his momentum and Thomas went right past. The former Rookie of the Year took his first win of the season by 0.132-second over Rollan. It was long overdue for Thomas, who had plenty of pace but zero luck all season.

“We started the season strong, had some ups and downs mid-season, but Laguna was a step in the right direction,” Thomas said. “I love Road Atlanta – we’ve been fast in everything we’ve raced here and it was absolutely perfect today, no one could touch us. It felt like a walk-off homer. That last lap, it was a three-car breakaway and all three of us knew what was going to happen. I tried to cool off my brakes to make sure I had them the best I could and I was ready to make a move on Michael [Carter], but he made a mistake that let Selin [Rollan] and me around. It was a drag race from there, but I had the line and my brakes were there. It was great to take the checkered flag in an awesome race. The guys at the front had absolute respect for each other – we knew what was acceptable and right and we made it a great race.”

En route to victory, Thomas set a new Mazda MX-5 Cup lap record for Road Atlanta: 1:36.567.

Rollan started from the pole and led six laps of the race while taking on Thomas and Carter. Any plans he had for the last lap to take over the lead went out the window when Carter’s car slammed over the Turn Five curbing.

“After the second restart, once we saw we were leading the pack, the plan was just to stay working together,” Rollan said. “I didn’t know if I wanted to be first or second or third. Michael going off helped me out, and I wanted to be in second, but I timed the run wrong and Jared and I made contact. Michael [Carter] might have been thinking about it (the championship) more than I was – I was just planning to pick up the pieces, if there’d been any pieces to pick up. But I’m happy to be on the podium and I’m happy Jared got the win. I’m glad to be racing with Hixon Motor Sports. I didn’t expect to be here this year, so to get four wins, and finish third in the points, it’s been a great time.”

Racing in front of family and friends at his home track, Carter was doing everything in his power to steal the championship from Wagner. He led the most laps of the race, which gave him 10 bonus points, but one small mistake cost him the race win, although ultimately even a race win would not have been enough considering Wagner’s position.

“Gresham still finished sixth so in the end it wouldn’t have mattered (to have won the race or not),” said the 2020 champion, who led 20 laps. “But yeah, I really wanted to win a race. I really like winning. I carry a chip on my shoulder and expect to win like every race. And, you know, it hurts but, I mean, I guess there’s nothing wrong with second. It’s just frustrating, you know after yesterday and then to lead all those laps today, it’s definitely frustrating, but you know, Gresham [Wagner] had a great season and he deserves it. He really does. I felt like we still ran a great season but there were some things out of our control, and those things add up over the season and they ended up really biting us. I had my opportunities, but I just wonder ‘what if all that stuff didn’t happen?”

The championship wasn’t the only title on the line; Rookie of the Year honors came down to a close matchup between Sam Paley (No. 28 McCumbee McAleer Motorsports) and Chris Nunes (No. 32 JTR Motorsports Engineering). Both were part of a pack of cars running fourth through ninth. The order shuffled in every turn with intense door-to-door driving. Nunes finished seventh to Paley’s ninth, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the point lead Paley had built. Paley earned rookie honors by 40 points.

“It was definitely a crazy race,” Paley said. “I felt like a lot of people were out to get me. The main goal was just to finish in a decent spot because I knew I had the rookie championship sealed up. I was giving everyone a lot of room, being cautious and trying to bring it home. It means a lot to win the rookie title – the team and I have been through a lot of adversity this year, a lot of different issues. And of course, this helps me financially next season, so hopefully I can come back and win the championship. It’s a big relief and I’m really happy.” Finishing fourth, another rookie, Luca Mars (No. 41 Copeland Motorsports) earned the Hard Charger Award for advancing five positions in the 45-minute race.

In only his second MX-5 Cup race, Connor Zilisch (No. 72 Hixon Motor Sports), the most recent MX-5 Cup Shootout winner, finished fifth.

All of the 2021 Mazda MX-5 Cup awards will be handed out at Friday evening’s championship celebration, including the $250,000 grand prize for Wagner and $80,000 for Paley’s rookie title.

Rounds 13 and 14 from Road Atlanta will air on NBCSN, Tuesday, November 23, at 3pm ET.

The 2022 Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup season opener is just around the corner, January 27 – 30 at Daytona International Speedway.

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

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

Jr III Racing Finishes on Podium in IPC Road Atlanta Finale

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Braselton, Ga. (12 November 2021) – Capping off a breakthrough year Jr III Racing’s No. 3 Ligier JS P320 driven by Mike Skeen and Terry Olson claimed the final spot on the podium in the IMSA Prototype Challenge (IPC) Finale at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on Friday.

The No. 33 Airbnb Ligier JS P320 of Ari Balogh and Garett Grist battled through adversity to finish the season finale in sixth.

Starting from fourth row, Balogh climbed aboard the No. 33 Ligier in seventh with Olson just behind in the No. 3 Ligier in eighth for the opening stint. Overnight rain made for a damp start for the field of Prototypes. The race clock began to tick,but the field of 17 entries remained under yellow flag conditions due to a competitor going off course during the pace lap.

When the green flag waved , Balogh and Olson were quick to push their Ligier machines, each gaining a position on the opening lap. The first hour saw green flag running until a full course caution was deployed on lap 24.

Utilizing the slower pace under yellow, Olson came to pit lane completing his 27 lap stint and handed the car to Skeen who returned to the course in 10th. Balogh came to pit lane on lap 28 for a driver change to put Grist in and a full tank of fuel. With 58 minutes remaining on the race clock, Grist focused on maneuvering lapped traffic.

Skeen had his eye on the competitors ahead making a daring pass down Turn 12 and sliding past three fellow Prototypes as the green flag flew. Skeen placed the No. 3 Ligier into the top five on lap 49. A sprint to the checkered was in order as the final yellow flag appeared on lap 50.

Grist in the No. 33 Ligier shot up the running order on the restart and moved from 10th to fifth in the melee. Grist maintained the position for the final 13 laps before a drag race to the finish brought the No. 33 Airbnb Ligier JS P320 to the line in sixth.

Clean maneuvering by Skeen on the restart allowed him to take over third. After 67 laps, Skeen brought the No. 3 Jr III Racing Ligier JS P320 to the checkered flag in the final podium spot. The third place finish is the second podium appearance for Skeen and Olson – the duo captured a second place finish at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course earlier this year

“The conditions at the start were treacherous so my entire focus was staying on the track and just keeping pace at first,” said Olson. “When we finally had some grip in the tires, it was just a ball to drive the car. It handled terrifically and the team set it up to just really go. My goal was to turn it over cleanly to Mike (Skeen) and let him do his thing. To get a podium result today is amazing. What a day.”

“It was certainly a difficult race and I just wanted to make sure we could keep it on track and try to finish as high as possible,” said Skeen. “What really helped us today was our competitors making mistakes. We utilized that to gain a few positions and set us up to make a charge on the last restart. I am really happy to get a podium for Jr III Racing and be able to end the season on a high note.”

The Jr III Racing squad will stay at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta as they partake in the Motul Petit Le Mans in the IMSA WeatherTech LMP3 category on Saturday, November 13th. Balogh, Grist and Spencer Pigot will combine in the No. 30 Airbnb Ligier JS P320 and start from eigth for the team’s first IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship endurance event.

Three Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Cars to Battle for World Championship Title at NHRA Season Finale

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Dodge//SRT NHRA Nationals Presented By Pennzoil

●       National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) “Countdown to the Championship” playoff series concludes this weekend with three Dodge Charger SRT Hellcats headed for a dramatic final showdown to determine the winner of the Funny Car World Championship at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, California

●       With a second world championship title within sight, Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) pilot Ron Capps drives his HEMI®-powered machine into the Auto Club NHRA Finals with a two- and three-round advantage, respectively, over teammate Matt Hagan and fellow Dodge Funny Car driver Cruz Pedregon

●       With his Direct Connection Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat second in points heading into the finale, Hagan relishes the challenge and opportunity to battle for a fourth Funny Car world championship in his final event with the DSR team

●       Fresh off his second win of the season that put him back in the championship mix, Pedregon ranks third in the Funny Car standings, with 187 points available in the racing weekend

●       DSR driver Leah Pruett is focused on repeating her drive to the winner’s circle at Pomona aboard the Direct Connection Top Fuel dragster; her aim is to secure a top-five finish and close out the 2021 NHRA season on a positive note

November 12, 2021, Pomona, California – The dramatic final showdown of the 2021 National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Camping World Drag Racing Series season lines up this weekend at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, with the spotlight shining on three Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Cars battling for the World Championship crown.

Fresh off his runner-up finish at the Dodge//SRT NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas, Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) pilot Ron Capps, a 27-year veteran seeking his second World Championship, drives his HEMI®-powered Funny Car into the Auto Club NHRA Finals with the class lead over teammate Matt Hagan (58 points) and fellow Dodge Funny Car driver Cruz Pedregon (83 points).

Capps first parked his NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat atop the leaderboard in August at the rescheduled Pomona Winternationals event with one of his two victories this season in the ultra-competitive class that has seen 10 different event winners. Capps wheeled his way to the semifinals or beyond at 11 of 19 events this season. Bolstered by three runner-up performances, four No. 1-qualifier honors and 35 round wins, the veteran racer jostled with Hagan for the lead in the last six of seven playoff events. When the final win light turns on Sunday, Capps will assuredly be in the top five for a 15th season.

“We’ve qualified well throughout the year and have been consistently strong all season and now here we are, running for a championship,” says Capps, who takes nothing for granted following four runner-up season finishes in 1998, 2000, 2005 and 2012 before securing his first championship in 2016. “(Crew chiefs Dean) ‘Guido’ (Antonelli) and (John) Medlen and our NAPA AutoCare team, we came together quickly like a duck to water at the beginning of the season and it just felt like a natural fit. They’ve gotten to know me and our last race in Vegas was a perfect example of how well we all work together because as much pressure as there was on race day, especially with all of the other top Countdown cars going out early, they really knew how to loosen me up and keep me in the right frame of mind. They’ve certainly helped me and my driving throughout the year. The big key for us this weekend is just to continue what we’ve been doing.”

The season finale features a unique format that increases the points payout to 1.5, with a maximum of 187 points up for grabs for the event. While there are myriad of scenarios, with 30 points awarded for each round win, Hagan needs to go at least two rounds further than Capps to have a chance at the season title while Pedregon needs to win three rounds more than Capps to claim the big trophy.

Three-time and reigning World Champion Hagan stages his Direct Connection Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat for the final “Countdown to the Championship” playoff event ready for the battle to retain his crown after his team earned four wins, three runner-up finishes, three top-qualifier awards and 32 round wins this year.

“We’re heading into Pomona fighting for a championship and I’ve been on both sides of this battle,” says Hagan, who has vied for the Funny Car crown as either leader or challenger heading into the season finale seven times, winning three (2011, 2014 and 2020). “My first championship I just had to show up and go two rounds to be crowned a champion, similar to what Ron (Capps) has to do this year. Last year we were going into the last race two rounds ahead and this year we’re going in two rounds behind so it’s nothing new for us. Ithink we have to be super aggressive rolling into qualifying and get some valuable points. The game plan is just really run hard, run smart and be aggressive. We’ve got nothing to lose. This is Ron’s to lose, honestly, and ours to win.”

Hagan relishes being in contention for his fourth Funny Car title, particularly after missing two events (recovering from illness) and a pair of  uncharacteristic consecutive first-round exits at the last two playoff events. Hagan and his Mopar Dodge//SRT crew are motivated by the opportunity to rebound from those challenges and make an aggressive final sprint for the Wally and championship trophies in his final event with DSR.

“We’ve had two bad races in a row in the Countdown and that’s been a big hit,” says Hagan.“It’s unfortunate but we’ve just got to bounce back. We want to show what we can do here. I’m going in there with the attitude that we’re going to kick everybody’s teeth in and put in our mouthpiece and get back in the fight. I want to win. I’m very passionate about what I do. I want to leave DSR with a fourth championship. We’re all competitors. I’m very aggressive about it. (Crew Chief) Dickie (Venables) is going to be aggressive. I’m coming in there full steam ahead. I’m pumped up. I’m ready to go and fired up about it. I want to go race and that’s what we’re going to do.”

Pedregon, the final contender in the three-way Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat battle for the 2021 Funny Car title, is driving into the season finale straight from the winner’s circle at the Dodge//SRT NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas. The Cruz Pedregon Racing owner and driver found himself back in the title fight after the team earned their second Wally trophy and fourth final round appearance of the season, in addition to a No. 1-qualifier position and 30 round wins.

“To be in this position is really great but I really try not to get caught up in the points possibilities because I want to enjoy this,” says Pedregon, who is vying for a third world title (1992 and 2008) and looking to finish among the top three for a ninth time in three decades of Funny Car racing. “With points-and-a-half in play, we’re not even guaranteed to finish in the top three. It’s pretty open-ended but after winning (the Dodge//SRT NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas) we’re back in it. We’re going to come out swinging at Pomona and see who is the last man standing. Just to be in the conversation for a change really is a victory for me.”

Competing among the top contenders in the Top Fuel category all season long, DSR pilot Pruett may have fallen out of the title hunt recently but that won’t stop her from pursuing a second win at Pomona’s Fairplex facility this year and closing out the season with her fifth consecutive top-five finish in the standings.

“For those not inside the nucleus of the championship hunt, this final race really reveals what kind of warrior you are — you’re either one that gives up in the last bit of the marathon or the one that charges to the end with surprising spirit,” says Pruett, who aims to take  her Direct Connection themed dragster out on a positive note. “I know this is a fighting team that is pushing and striking every which way we can to the final round of the final season of our final race with DSR. That is who we are and how we will finish out this season in the Direct Connection Top Fuel Dragster.

“There are some years I think we deserved to finish higher and just fell short at the end,” adds Pruett. “This weekend, having our eyes on the No. 5 finisher spot would be a direct reflection of our performance overall. There is no blaming the Countdown or made-up excuses. We have not been the highest performing team this season but we have been the most relentless. A top-5 finish for the fifth consecutive year would be a good ending to an intensely grateful run with DSR.”

The Auto Club NHRA Finals will air on FS1 on Sunday, Nov. 14, with qualifying coverage scheduled from 2-4 p.m. ET, then immediately followed by the eliminations telecast featuring live coverage of the final rounds from 4-7 p.m. ET to close out the 2021 NHRA Camping World Series season.

NHRA Championship Points Standings:
Following the Dodge//SRT NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
  
FUNNY CAR (season wins in parentheses)

1. Ron Capps (Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat) – 2,585 (2)

2. Matt Hagan (Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat) – 2,527 (3/1-Tommy Johnson Jr.)

3. Cruz Pedregon (Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat) – 2,502 (2)

4. J.R. Todd – 2,447 (1)

5. John Force – 2,430 (3)

6. Bob Tasca III – 2,417 (2)

7. Robert Hight – 2,412 (2)

8. Alexis DeJoria – 2,380 (1)

9. Tim Wilkerson– 2,282 (1)

10. Blake Alexander– 2,184

TOP FUEL (season wins in parentheses)

1. Steve Torrance – 2694 (10)

2. Brittany Force – 2,589 (1)

3. Mike Salinas – 2,522 (1)

4. Justin Ashley – 2,506 (2)

5. Billy Torrence – 2,411 (2)

6. Leah Pruett (Mopar Dodge//SRT) – 2,343 (1)

7. Clay Millican – 2,302

8. Antron Brown – 2,285 (1)

9. Shawn Langdon – 2,260

10. Doug Kalitta – 2,211

Constant Aviation Factory Stock Showdown

1. Aaron Stanfield – 768

2. David Barton – 484

3. Leah Pruett (Mopar Drag Pak) – 461

4. Jesse Alexandra – 456

5. John Cerbone – 441

6. Stephen Bell – 412

7. David Janac – 377

8. Mark Pawuk (Mopar Drag Pak) – 358

9. Leonard Lottig – 315

10. Doug Hamp – 312

DodgeGarage: Digital Hub for Drag Racing News

Fans can follow all the NHRA action this season at DodgeGarage, the one-stop portal for Dodge//SRT and Mopar drag-racing news. The site includes daily updates and access to an online racing HQ, news, events, galleries, available downloads and merchandise. For more information, visit www.dodgegarage.com.

@DodgeMoparMotorsports on Instagram

The @DodgeMoparMotorsports Instagram channel continues to share content capturing Dodge//SRT Mopar drivers on the track. Fans can see action from the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series and NHRA Sportsman grassroots racers, competing in classes such as Factory Stock Showdown, Stock and Super Stock, as well as additional motorsports series.

Mopar

Mopar (a simple contraction of the words MOtor and PARts) offers exceptional service, parts and customer care. Born in 1937 as the name of a line of antifreeze products, the Mopar brand has evolved over more than 80 years to represent both complete vehicle care and authentic performance for owners and enthusiasts worldwide.

Mopar made its mark in the 1960s during the muscle-car era with performance parts to enhance speed and handling for both on-road and racing use. Later, the brand expanded to include technical service and customer support. Today, Mopar integrates service, parts and customer-care operations in order to enhance customer and dealer support worldwide.

Mopar is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis. For more information regarding Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), please visit www.stellantis.com.

Follow Mopar and company news and video on:

Company blog: blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Media website: media.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Mopar brand: www.mopar.com

Mopar blog: blog.mopar.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/mopar

Instagram: www.instagram.com/officialmopar

Twitter: @OfficialMOPAR

YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/mopar and www.youtube.com/StellantisNA

Dodge//SRT

For more than 100 years, the Dodge brand has carried on the spirit of brothers John and Horace Dodge. Their influence continues today as Dodge shifts into high gear with muscle cars and SUVs that deliver unrivaled performance in each of the segments where they compete.

Dodge drives forward as a pure performance brand, offering SRT versions of every model across the lineup. For the 2022 model year, Dodge delivers the drag-strip dominating 807-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock, the 797-horsepower Dodge Charger SRT Redeye, the most powerful and fastest mass-produced sedan in the world, and the Dodge Durango SRT 392, America’s fastest, most powerful and most capable three-row SUV. Combined, these three muscle cars make Dodge the industry’s most powerful brand, offering more horsepower than any other American brand across its entire lineup.

In 2020, Dodge was named the “#1 Brand in Initial Quality,” making it the first domestic brand ever to rank No. 1 in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study (IQS). In 2021, Dodge brand ranked No. 1 in the J.D. Power APEAL Study (mass market) — making it the only domestic brand ever to do so two years in a row.

Dodge is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis. For more information regarding Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), please visit www.stellantis.com.

Follow Dodge and company news and video on:

Company blog: blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Media website: media.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Dodge brand: www.dodge.com

DodgeGarage: www.dodgegarage.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/dodge

Instagram: www.instagram.com/dodgeofficial

Twitter: @Dodge and @StellantisNA

YouTube: www.youtube.com/dodge and www.youtube.com/StellantisNA

Jr III Racing Set for 2022 IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship Campaign

By
Official Release
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Mooresville, NC (12 November 2021) – Jr III Racing is set to contest the 2022 IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship (IWSC) in the LMP3 category with Ari Balogh and Garett Grist. The growing team will field the Airbnb Ligier JS P320 in their first full season campaign in the top echelon of North America sports car racing.

In preparation for their 2022 campaign, Jr III Racing is partaking in the Motul Petit Le Mans this weekend at. Balogh and Grist are joined by Spencer Pigot for the 10-hour season finale on Saturday, November 11th. The 10-hour race will be the first endurance race in team history but made their IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship debut this year at Road America.

Jr III Racing will continue their IMSA Prototype Challenge program with two entries – one of those for Balogh and Grist who will run both series next season. The No. 3 Jr III Racing Ligier JS P320 will complete the IPC lineup for the team.

“I am thrilled to be representing Jr III Racing in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship next season,” said Grist. “Becoming a part of this team has been seamless and everyone works at a high professional level. Ari (Balogh) and I have shown that we are capable of contending for wins and by taking this partnership that we have to IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship we will be in a great position to represent Jr III Racing well.”

In preparation for their 2022 campaign, Jr III Racing is partaking in the Motul Petit Le Mans this weekend at Road America. Balogh and Grist are joined by Spencer Pigot for the 10-hour season finale on Saturday, November 11th.

Get the right insurance coverage in NY or where ever you live

By
SM
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Photo by Michael Jin on Unsplash

If you live in New York, you already know that its rich heritage of performing arts and theatre.  You can easily visit venues such as ballet and productions such as musicals or plays. Or you can enjoy the outdoor fun and entertainment at the beautiful parks, beaches, or play a game of miniature golf.

No matter where you are on Long Island, there is always something to do.  While you are driving to enjoy a family weekend at the beach or other outdoor adventures, keep in mind that you need proper auto insurance in Long Island to ensure the safety of your family and others on the road.

Choosing the right insurance policy in New York will help get you back on the road quickly after an accident or just a breakdown.  Insurance is even more important if you encounter a more serious situation such as your vehicle being destroyed by accident or fire.  But you also need to consider things such as theft and acts of nature.  So, finding the right policy with the right company along with comparing quotes from several top companies is key.

With Long Island’s selection of wineries increasing year to year, touring a vineyard is becoming increasingly popular.  But before planning your trip, consider how you plan to get there and back home safely.  Consider booking a vineyard tour and your party can enjoy the winery without having to worry about driving and an accident.

With all of the amazing things to do in New York, such as motorcycle riding, surfing, Golf, Bowling, Basketball, and RV riding, it’s important to consider also insurance for motorcycles, RVs, or boats that you may own that can be damaged or lost in an accident or even theft or vandalism.

Insurance will vary by each state and in some cases, it’s not enough.  Things to consider are:

  • How much does the policy cover for property damage for a single accident?
  • The coverage amounts for bodily injury and for the death of a person involved in an accident or an occupant of.
  • The insurance deductibles for both collision and comprehensive coverage.

It is usually necessary to have insurance that covers damage to your vehicle if you are financing it.  You will most likely need Collision Insurance and Comprehensive Insurance.

Collision is exactly what it sounds like, it’s coverage that pays for damage caused to your vehicle in an automobile accident.  You will have some sort of deductible to pay if you are involved in an accident.  The lower the deductible, the higher the insurance premium will be, and the higher the deductible is, the premium will be lower.

Although not required in any state, Comprehensive Insurance will cover things such as theft, windshield damage, vandalism, or things other than a collision.  But it will most likely be required if you are financing.  There will also be some sort of deductible to pay with Comprehensive Insurance.

You will find a wide range of affordable options in the New York area.  It’s important to get the right amount of insurance but at an affordable price.  Shop around for discounts such as having a good driving record, doing a safe driving course, or bundling your home and automotive insurance.

Funny Car Championship down to the wire at Pomona

By
Briar Starr
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Photo Courtesy of NHRA

In what has been a year of interesting battles, the NHRA Funny Car class championship comes down to the wire this weekend at Pomona. The action begins Friday afternoon with the first round of qualifying.

Currently, there are five drivers that have a mathematical chance to win or steal the championship but all will have to go their way to win the 2021 title amid numerous scenarios that could play out. Realistically, however, there are three drivers that have a better shot at winning. But let’s start off with the basics. The five drivers that are hunting for the championship are John Force who is fifth in points, J.R. Todd in fourth, Cruz Pedregon who is currently third in points, last-year’s champion Matt Hagan in second and the point leader, Ron Capps.

Items of note – There are 187 maximum points available for Pomona II. Fifteen points are awarded for a qualifying attempt and 22 maximum points are available to earn in qualifying. A round win will be worth 30 points instead of the traditional 20. Four points are awarded for the low ET of each session as well.

John Force (Fifth in points, -155, seeking 17th Funny Car Championship)

The 2021 Funny Car season has been interesting for the all-time great John Force. He’s picked up three wins that have occurred at the Four-wide Charlotte Nationals, Epping, and his last win that came in August in Topeka. With the win in Topeka, Force was able to grab the points lead and it appeared as though he was starting his run toward a 17th Funny Car championship based on his summer success.

Unfortunately, since Topeka, he’s been hot and cold. Force lost the points lead following Topeka where he fell to fourth in Brainerd after a first-round loss to Ron Capps. The California native retook the points lead with a runner-up finish to Tommy Johnson Jr. (subbing in for Matt Hagan) at Reading. But after Reading, Force has been struggling and losing momentum, falling to fifth in the standings following the most recent race at Las Vegas. He’s had a quarterfinal loss to Tim Wilkerson at Charlotte 2, a semi-final loss at St. Louis to Bob Tasca, and a quarterfinals loss to Cruz Pedregon at Dallas and J.R. Todd at Bristol while falling to Chris Morel at Vegas.

However, despite losing momentum, Force is going to a track where he leads the Funny Car class with the most at-track victories with seven and he knows the championship can come down to the wire should things go his way.

“I’m still in it,” Force said. “It could still happen. I know it’s a slight chance, but it’s still a chance and we’re going to do everything we can to try to make it happen. Winning championships, it comes down to the wire, things can get wild. I would know. It’s going to be a fight, but I know this PEAK Chevy team, they’re up for it. Danny Hood, Tim Fabrisi, Joe Barlam and all my guys, they want it just as much as I do.”

J.R. Todd (Fourth in the standings, -138, seeking second Funny Car Championship since 2018)

J.R. Todd has been in this position before, after all, he won the 2018 Funny Car title. When Todd began the 2021 season, he opened with a win at the famous Gatornationals and had the points lead right away. Since that victory, he’s earned four runner-up finishes at Charlotte I, Pomona I, Topeka, and Bristol. Those runner-up finishes along with more consistent finishes throughout the year kept Todd in the upper half of the championship point standings, despite a couple of slip-ups along the way.

Todd has fallen as low as sixth after losing to Robert Hight in a quarterfinal finish at Sonoma and the runner-up finish at the first Pomona race to current points leader Ron Capps. Todd began climbing up the ladder once more at Brainerd going to second in the standings falling to Cruz Pedregon. Following Brainerd, Todd fell back to fifth in the standings after losing to Matt Hagan in the quarterfinals at St. Louis and the semi-final finish at Dallas once more to Hagan. After the Las Vegas II race, Todd sits fourth in the standings due to the first-round loss at Vegas to Paul Lee.

“We hurt ourselves in Las Vegas, but we can still finish strong in Pomona,” said Todd. “This championship has been a battle between four or five drivers all season it seems. No one has really dominated. I am proud of everyone on this DHL Toyota Funny Car team because we fought hard all season and it is coming down to the last race.”

In addition, Todd knows he can’t suffer another first-round loss this weekend or his championship chances are over.

“Everyone knows you have to avoid first-round losses in the Countdown, and we have avoided them almost the whole season,” said Todd. “This DHL Toyota has been one of the most consistent and quick race cars all season. I have to thank Todd Smith and Jon Oberhofer plus all these Yella Fellas for giving me a great race car every event. We are going to leave it all on the table in Pomona this weekend.”

Cruz Pedregon (Third in the standings, -83, looking for third Funny Car Championship and first since 2008)

Pedregon, the California native, has enjoyed one of his best Funny Car seasons in quite some time.

The 2021 Funny Car season has been quite the bounce back for Cruz Pedregon and his Snap-On machine. Pedregon earned two wins at Norwalk and the most recent race at Las Vegas II by defeating Ron Capps to put him back in championship contention. Throughout the year, the California native has garnered six semi-final appearances and two runner-up finishes at Charlotte II and at Brainerd to Matt Hagan.

Despite those consistent finishes, Pedregon spent most of the summer in the bottom of the standings. Even though he lost in the quarterfinals to J.R. Todd at Reading, Pedregon began climbing up the standings to fifth after Charlotte II, fourth following St. Louis and the up to third at Dallas after a loss to Capps in the semis. He lost again to Capps at Bristol, which knocked Pedregon back down to fourth but gained another spot and some big momentum by winning against Capps a few weeks ago at Vegas.

“The good people, the good team, have kept us alive this season…J.C. (John Collins), Rip (Reynolds) and the guys, they mean a lot to me. We made a big investment to bring them on board and it has been a game-changer,” Cruz says. “Things have really come together for us this year. We had an advantage going into Vegas with consistent runs the last half of the season. And a .004 reaction time helped us get to the finals, win, and head into this weekend in a solid third place in the standings.”

Matt Hagan (Second in the standings, -58, poised for fourth Funny Car Championship)

Matt Hagan is looking to defend his 2020 Funny Car championship this weekend in Pomona, California. The last couple of months has been newsworthy for Hagan, as he will be switching to Tony Stewart Racing in 2022.

Hagan opened up the year with a first-round loss to Bob Tasca at Gainesville, but since then picked up momentum in the summer. He’s claimed victories at Denver, St. Louis, and Brainerd along with earning three runner-up finishes and three No. 1 qualifiers. With those wins, Hagan was second in the standings following a runner-up finish at Sonoma to Robert Hight. Unfortunately, after the runner-up finish at Sonoma, Hagan suffered first-round losses to John Force at Pomona I, and a quarterfinal loss to Blake Alexander at Topeka. This saw the Don Schumacher Racing driver fall to fifth in the standings but he got back to first with the win at Brainerd.

But, Hagan had to sit out at two races at Indianapolis and Reading, due to testing positive for COVID-19. Fortunately, former DSR driver Tommy Johnson Jr. filled in for him at those two races and helped earn him points. Johnson even got the win at Reading, which gave points to Hagan to keep him in title contention.

Since then, Hagan won at St. Louis by defeating Bob Tasca in the finals and earned a runner-up finish to Capps at Dallas. Around this time, Hagan and Capps were tied in the standings. But, with the most recent losses at Bristol to J.R. Todd and Vegas II to Chad Green, Hagan now finds himself 58 points behind his teammate, Capps.

“We’re heading into Pomona fighting for a championship and I’ve been on both sides of this battle,” says Hagan, who has raced for the Funny Car crown as either leader or challenger heading into the season finale on seven occasions and won three (2011, 2014 and 2020). “My first championship, I just had to show up and go two rounds to be crowned a champion, similar to what Ron has to do. Last year, we were going into the last race two rounds ahead and this year, we’re going in two rounds behind, so, it’s nothing new for us, but I think we have to be super aggressive rolling into qualifying and get some valuable points. The game plan is just really run hard, run smart and be aggressive. We’ve got nothing to lose. This is Ron’s to lose honestly, and ours to win.”

With that in mind, Hagan knows those two first-round losses have hurt his points going into the final race of the year.

“We’ve had two bad races in a row in the Countdown and that’s been a big hit,” says Hagan, who is on track to score his 11th Top 10 finish. “It’s unfortunate but we’ve just got to bounce back. I’m very aggressive about it. Dickie is going to be aggressive. I’m going in there full steam ahead. I’m pumped up. I’m ready to go and fired up about it. I want to go race and that’s what we’re going to do.”

Ron Capps (First in the standings, +58 ahead of teammate Hagan, seeking first championship since 2016)

Last, but not least, Ron Capps is looking to capitalize on a solid season after earning two wins at Pomona I and Dallas and having three runner-up finishes and six semi-final appearances. The NAPA Auto Parts/Gearwrench driver has also gained four No. 1 qualifiers to his credit.

Capps has notably been the most consistent driver ever since winning the Pomona race earlier this year. He’s remained first or second in the standings all season long, only falling to fifth at Brainerd due to a quarterfinal loss to Pedregon. However, Capps has traded the points lead back and forth after Charlotte II with a semi-final loss to Tim Wilkerson and a quarterfinal loss to Force at St. Louis. Things began to look upward and forward for the 2016 Funny Car champion with a win at Dallas by eliminating Matt Hagan.

“It’s been so fun getting to know this new NAPA AUTO PARTS team. We were teamed up over the off-season and it’s been such a great year,” said Capps, referring to the decision to pair him with the longtime DSR co-crew chief tandem of Antonelli and Medlen and their crew after former NAPA crew chief Rahn Tobler announced his retirement in late January.”

“We’ve qualified well throughout the year, and have been consistently strong all season and now here we are, running for a championship. ‘Guido’ and Medlen, and our NAPA AutoCare team, we came together quickly like a duck to water at the beginning of the season, and it just felt like a natural fit. They’ve gotten to know me, and our last race in Vegas was a perfect example of how well we all work together, because, as much pressure as there was on race day, especially with all of the other top Countdown cars going out early, they really knew how to loosen me up and keep me in the right frame of mind. They’ve certainly helped me and my driving throughout the year. The big key for us this weekend is just to continue what we’ve been doing.”

The action begins Friday afternoon with the first round of qualifying at 3 p.m. PT live on NHRA TV (with a subscription). The final two rounds are scheduled for Saturday at 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. PT to set the field. Final round eliminations began at 10 a.m. PT. Fox Sports 1 will showcase the finals beginning at 4 p.m. ET.

McDowell Season in Review

By
Official Release
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As Told by Student Nathan Romberg of the University of Wyoming

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (November 12, 2021) – Earlier this year, Front Row Motorsports was contacted by Nathan Romberg, a journalism student at the University of Wyoming who lives and champions those who live life on the spectrum. Romberg is a big fan of Michael McDowell, the No. 34 team, and NASCAR as a whole, and as such, has focused on the team’s historical season and written how he viewed it. He also received feedback from McDowell and crew chief Drew Blickensderfer on how they viewed their year.

The following is told by Romberg:

It’s the last lap of the Daytona 500 – NASCAR’s biggest race – and you are in the driver’s seat, running third, with a long line of cars behind you. For years, you have worked for this moment, to have a chance to reach the famed checkered flag first, not just for the 500, but for any NASCAR event.

Rounding Turns 1 and 2, you get a push from behind to reach the two competitors standing between you and racing immortality. That bump just got forces you into the car in second as the field heads down the backstretch. You see that car get loose and turn around the car in first. It’s as if the sea has parted in front of you. After 358 tries, you’ve finally done it. You’ve won the Daytona 500 and your first NASCAR Cup Series event.

It may be crazy to think, but for Michael McDowell and the No. 34 Love’s Travel Stops Ford team, this very scenario played out in February to start their 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Looking back at that night, McDowell had a similar evaluation. “We felt like we were in a good position all night. We worked so well with the Ford team, had good pit stops, made no mistakes and it all came together on the last lap. The excitement happened in real time. We took the lead and the checkered. So, we knew we were probably going to be called the winner by NASCAR. Then, they did, and it’s all excitement.”

For them, it was just the start of an incredible and consistent season of growth. With a win, playoff appearance, two top-fives and seven top-10 finishes this season, McDowell and the No. 34 team have found ways to improve their race team’s performance and allow for much bigger growth in the future.

After the team’s unexpected Daytona 500 win locked them into the playoffs (win, and you’re in), McDowell and the No. 34 team proved that their performance at the 500 was no fluke, netting an eighth-place finish at the Daytona Road Course the following weekend and a sixth-place result at Homestead-Miami Speedway the week after that. While a lack of qualifying on account of COVID-19 protocols meant that the field was set by metric from past race performances, the No. 34 team showed that they did belong with the big dogs.

Having already had a strong start to the season, McDowell and the team were also rewarded with an appearance in NASCAR’s All-Star Race in Texas in June as a result of the Daytona 500 win. For the Love’s crew, it provided a bit of a fun break from the stresses of regular-season points racing – after all, who wouldn’t want to race for a million dollars? As McDowell puts it, “It’s just a lot of fun. That’s a race for the fans to enjoy. So, you’re looking to put on a good show. It’s cool to be a part of it, but it’s really all for the fans to see something different.” While they didn’t win the million, finishing 12th ahead of some of NASCAR’s other biggest names was rather impressive. And they could build on that when they visited Texas again in the fall.

As the 2021 season progressed into the summer months, McDowell and the Love’s team began to settle into a rhythm – though it was not without its struggles. Despite finishing third at the Talladega Superspeedway and seventh at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin in May, bad luck and some poor races hurt the team’s momentum heading into the playoffs, including a late race wreck at the Indianapolis Road Course. The team had high hopes in their return to Daytona in August, but engine troubles prevented them from possibly sweeping the Daytona oval events. It left the Daytona 500 champions with a bit of a mixed bag entering the playoffs.

McDowell’s crew chief, Drew Blickensderfer, said: “For us, as a smaller team, we were proud to have had such a strong start to our season. We lost some momentum in the summer, but we had a fast car to start the Playoffs. We just had misfortune. But, overall, we’re very proud of the steps we took. We just want to be to more consistent.”

Entering the NASCAR Playoffs at Darlington in September, the No. 34 team was seeded 13th in points out of the 16-driver playoff grid based on their win and consistent performances early in the season. As they only needed to pass one car in points to make it into the next three-race round of 12, spirits were high. As Blickensderfer mentioned, McDowell’s crew had built quite the Ford Mustang for him at the Southern 500 in Darlington, the Labor Day weekend opener for the playoffs.

“We have pressure every week to give Michael the best car. So, we’re always working hard to get better. During the Playoffs, we had fast cars. We’re proud of that.”

Even then, the team’s mid-season struggles found a way to continue into the playoffs. An early wreck at the Southern 500 left McDowell and the Love’s team in a must-win scenario, and a series of compounding pit road penalties at Richmond the following week did not help. Despite this, McDowell and the No. 34 crew soldiered on, doing their best to get a win and advance to the round of 12 at Bristol. As Blickensderfer puts it, “You just move on, learn and try and get better for the next time.”

While failing to advance to the next round, the No. 34 team and McDowell have been able to mount some strong finishes to close out the season and return to their spring highs, with four straight top-20 finishes at Talladega’s fall race, the Charlotte Roval, Texas (repeating the strong success of their All-Star run there in June), and Kansas. In addition, considerable improvements with their mile-and-a-half program has allowed the team to look toward an even brighter and more successful 2022. Could that include more wins in the Next Gen car and a stronger or deeper playoff run? Well, if you ask McDowell about it, he seems pretty confident. And why wouldn’t he? He is the defending Daytona 500 champion, after all.

“We hope so! That’s always the goal. I do like the Next Gen car, the schedule and I think it fits my strengths. It’s hard to win, but I think we can put up front and compete.”

Even then, no one really knows for sure, as there still are some logistical headaches that come with a new car. As McDowell said: “This will put everyone on an equal playing field, but we’re still faced with the same challenges of relying on simulation, setup, and data. So, we’ll have to continue to work hard with the group we have. But, I like our guys.”

For now, McDowell and the No. 34 team can still look back at that Sunday night in February as a good omen for what lay ahead for them in 2021 – and even into 2022.

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

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