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Garrett Smith Finishes Second During World Of Outlaws World Finals

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Garrett Smith raced to a runner-up finish on night two of the World of Outlaws World Finals Saturday at The Dirt Track at Charlotte. (Adam Fenwick Photo)

CONCORD, N.C. – (Nov. 7, 2021) – Rising dirt late model star Garrett Smith ran the race of his life Saturday night.

Competing with the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series during the NGK NTK World of Outlaws World Finals, Smith battled with superstars like Brandon Sheppard and Jonathan Davenport for the race win before ultimately finishing second in front of a sold out crowd at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

“It feels amazing,” said Smith, a native of Eatonton, Ga. “It’s fun racing with these guys. They’re really talented and just to learn from them and learn how to race other people. It’s been a good weekend. It’s just fun to watch and learn from these veterans.”

It was the culmination of a strong weekend for Smith, who finished 14th in Friday’s first race of the World Finals. He returned to the track Saturday and quickly went to work, setting fast time in his qualifying group before winning his heat race later in the program.

His heat race win meant Smith could take part in the redraw, where he drew lucky number two, which gave him a spot on the front row alongside four-time World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series champion Sheppard.

Sheppard took the lead at the start, with Smith settling into second. However, as Sheppard caught traffic Smith closed in and passed him to take the race lead. Davenport was right on his heels, slipping past Smith to take the lead of the race shortly thereafter.

Smith wasn’t going to give up that easily. He stayed with Davenport and when the dirt late model ace got caught in traffic, Smith slipped past him to regain the race lead. A few quick cautions followed, with Smith surviving until a restart with 21 laps left.

One lap after the restart, Davenport used a big run out of turn two to drive under Smith and regain the lead. Davenport led the rest of the way from there, but Smith stayed steady and ran the rest of the race in second.

All told, 18-year-old Smith led eight laps on his way to his career-best finish with the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series. It was a night he won’t soon forget.

“It felt good to lead some of those laps,” Smith said. “Honestly it kind of surprised me when Davenport threw the first slider and slid across my nose. I had no idea he was that close. It was definitely wild and fun. It was definitely a confidence booster.

“Cody Mallory has been working for me now for about a month and we’ve finally clicked. I think we’ve got it going right now. I was just coming here trying to make the race and we ended up having speed all weekend. It turned out to be a really good weekend.”

Garrett Smith would like to thank all of his fans, friends and family, his crew and his sponsors Schaeffer’s Oil, MPM Marketing, Base Racing Fuel & Oil, Dirtcarlift, Swift Springs, BKP Art, Wiley X, ProFabrication, Inc, K1 RaceGear, Atlanta Paving and Terminal Maintenance & Construction (TMC) for all of their support.

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About McCallister Precision Marketing

McCallister Precision Marketing (MPM) focuses on assisting up-and-coming race car drivers with career advancement and promotion. McCallister Precision Marketing helps drivers build confidence in front of and behind the camera, giving them the tools they need to advance to the next level. The company also provides companies with a strategic plan for their sales, marketing and promotional needs. We believe in building positive relationships with our clients so that we may provide them with the most professional, yet personal guidance they need, in order to achieve their racing goals. Our clients include race car drivers, race team owners, companies and racing series’. We also work closely with charities and charity events. For more information on McCallister Precision Marketing, visit www.MarketWithMPM.com, email TonyaMac44@MarketWithMPM.com or call 803-361-6199.

Daniel Hemric Wins First NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship

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Daniel Hemric Wins First NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship
Scores First NASCAR Title for Supra with Victory in Season Finale

AVONDALE, Ariz. (November 6, 2021) – Supra driver Daniel Hemric won his first career NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) championship on Saturday with a victory in the season finale at Phoenix Raceway. Hemric’s championship marks the third Xfinity Series driver title for Toyota.

TOYOTA FAST FACTS

• Hemric won one race, claimed 15 top-five results and 21 top-10 finishes over 33 races to claim the 2021 driver’s championship.

• Hemric captured the first championship for the Toyota Supra and is the third Toyota driver to win a NXS driver’s championship. In addition to Jones, Daniel Suárez (2016) and Kyle Busch (2009) have also won Xfinity Series titles for Toyota in Camrys.

• Toyota drivers have now earned NASCAR national series titles in three different vehicles as the Camry, Tundra and Supra race cars have all collected championships since Toyota’s entry into NASCAR in 2004.

• Supra debuted in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at the 2019 season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway.

• Toyota has earned 181 victories since joining Xfinity Series competition in 2007, with 32 of those victories being in the Supra.

• Earlier this season, Toyota made it’s 500th Xfinity Series start at the Charlotte ROVAL in October.

TOYOTA QUOTES

DANIEL HEMRIC, No. 18 Toyota Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

“Unbelievable. These guys right here have asked me all year how bad do you want it? We gave away one here in the spring. I felt like we had to give one up last week to get here. We were not going to be denied. Thank you Dave Rogers (crew chief). Bill and Cindy Gallaher. Everyone at Poppy Bank. Will Gallaher. They took a chance on me in 2015 in some form or fashion. They stuck with me through times they probably shouldn’t have to be honest with you. I’ve been waiting a long damn time to do that. Thank you Joe Gibbs, everyone at TRD, Toyota, Bell Helmets, everyone here that makes this program what it is. People doubted me. I would do it all over again for a night like this.“

TONY MUELLER, vice president, integrated marketing operations, Toyota Motor North America

“We are thrilled for Daniel, Dave and the whole Joe Gibbs Racing team on this incredible achievement. This is the first driver’s championship in the Xfinity Series for the Supra and we are excited to add the Supra badge alongside Camry and Tundra as championship nameplates in NASCAR. Daniel’s season is the epitome of consistency. He’s an exceptional driver and person and we’re excited to join him in celebrating this championship.”

About Toyota

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

Toyota has created a tremendous value chain and directly employs more than 47,000 in North America. The company has contributed world-class design, engineering, and assembly of more than 40 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants, 15 including our joint venture in Alabama that begins production in 2021.

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

Ford Performance NASCAR: Cindric’s Runner-Up Finish Leads to Eighth Owner’s Championship for Mustang

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Official Release
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Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Championship Race at Phoenix | Saturday, November 6, 2021

FORD FINISHING RESULTS
2nd — Austin Cindric
4th — Riley Herbst
17th — Ryan Sieg

AUSTIN CINDRIC, No. 22 CarShop Ford Mustang — POST RACE INTERVIEW:

WAS THAT GOOD RACING? “If everyone in the stands enjoyed it, it’s good racing. I’m very appreciative of the opportunity to race on such a big stage. The opportunity to race for Roger Penske and represent Ford Performance, our companies and all of our sponsors that have helped us this season. It would have been awesome to finish this out. I felt like we had a dominant race car. I felt like we did everything right. Come up a little bit short. Sometimes it’s like that way. Unfortunately, at the end of both seasonal championships this year I’m getting obviously moved out of the way and doored, but that’s hard racing. That’s why everyone enjoys watching this series. It’s because there’s a lot on the line. I’m thankful for the opportunity and pissed to be second for like the third week in a row.”

WHAT GOES THROUGH YOUR MIND ON THE OVERTIME RESTART? “I know my left-rear bumper cover is as vulnerable as ever. Obviously, Daniel was in position to be the advocate of that and he certainly used it and he’s the champion because of it.”

AND YOU WOULD HONOR HIS CHAMPIONSHIP? “Yeah. He’s over there. I’m over here. He’s the champion.”

BUT IT WAS A GOOD YEAR FOR YOU GUYS. “Yeah, absolutely. That’s why it’s so frustrating to come up so short. One lap. One lap is all you need, maybe one restart. You never know, but to make it this far and have the season we’ve had. The stats obviously show the consistency and the way our team has performed throughout the season. It doesn’t matter what type of racetrack. I work with some of the best people in this sport and I’m a better driver because of it.”

YOU WON THE OWNER’S CHAMPIONSHIP TO PRESENT TO THE TEAM? “Yeah, that’s really poetic. Obviously, this 22 car has won so many owner’s championships over the years with so many great drivers. My first race in this 22 car was in 2017 and they won the owner’s championship then. I guess I get to close that one out I guess as ironic as that might be.”

TAKE US THROUGH THE LAST LAP: “Certainly not how I would have wanted it to go. Just trying to get clear off the top. I have put myself in too many bad spots giving people the bottom. I am not sure if I should have drove in shallower or softer or whatever it may be. I feel like I was pretty vulnerable with how close he still was to me and still packing left rear air. I got a little free into three and that is all she wrote. Obviously disappointed to have the car we had and the success we had this year and not be able to close it out. We put ourselves in position and sometimes that is all you can do.”

HOW DO YOU SUM UP WHAT THIS SERIES HAS MEANT TO YOU IN YOUR CAREER AS YOU MOVE TO THE CUP SERIES NEXT YEAR? “I think it has defined me as a driver in the sport. I mean that in a lot of ways. I’ve shown up not knowing much about what I have been doing. From there, I have driven so many different types of cars and bring all those experiences and probably the most unique situation as possible as far as a competitor and what other drivers might expect from me. I have had to mature a lot and I have had to go from not being respected to where I feel like I am respected and it has been a fun journey. I am very appreciative of it.”

RILEY HERBST, No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang — “I think we had a little bit going on with the motor and the power-steering, so the short runs we were loose and it was really hard to drive because I couldn’t counter steer to the right, just because the power-steering was going in and out. I was begging for long runs because once we got spread out and I could start just being easier on the front tires and then ultimately be easier on the steering. Thank you to Monster Energy, Ford Performance, Stewart-Haas Racing. It’s a good way to close out this year after kind of a really bumpy year to be honest with you. Hopefully, we can go into 2022 pretty strong.”

MUSTANG ADDS ANOTHER TITLE — Mustang has dominated the NASCAR XFINITY Series since it joined the circuit full-time in 2011, winning at least one championship in 9-of-11 seasons. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. won back-to-back drivers’ championships in 2011 and 2012 while Chris Buescher (2015) and Austin Cindric (2020) have one series title each. Roger Penske has dominated the owner’s championship, winning six times in the last nine seasons, including three in a row from 2013-15. Overall, Mustang has won 12 driver’s and owner’s championships combined.

MUSTANG NASCAR XFINITY CHAMPIONSHIP STREAK
2011 — Driver’s Championship (Ricky Stenhouse Jr.)
2011 — Owner’s Championship (Jack Roush, No. 6)
2012 — Driver’s Championship (Ricky Stenhouse Jr.)
2013 — Owner’s Championship (Roger Penske, No. 22)
2014 — Owner’s Championship (Roger Penske, No. 22)
2015 — Driver’s Championship (Chris Buescher)
2015 — Owner’s Championship (Roger Penske, No. 22)
2017 — Owner’s Championship (Roger Penske, No. 22)
2018 – Owner’s Championship (Stewart-Haas, No. 00)
2020 – Driver’s Championship (Austin Cindric)
2020 – Owner’s Championship (Roger Penske, No. 22)
2021 – Owner’s Championship (Roger Penske, No. 22)

Toyota Racing – NXS Phoenix Post-Race Report – 11.06.21

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Official Release
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HEMRIC EARNS CHAMPIONSHIP WITH FIRST WIN
Daniel Hemric earns first title for the Toyota Supra

PHOENIX (November 6, 2021) – Daniel Hemric made a last lap pass to win his first race and the Xfinity Series Championship. Hemric is the third driver to win a championship for Toyota in the Xfinity Series and first to win the title in the Supra.

Toyota Racing Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Phoenix Raceway
Race 33 of 33 – 200 miles, 200 laps

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, DANIEL HEMRIC
2nd, Austin Cindric*
3rd, HARRISON BURTON
4th, Riley Herbst*
5th, Justin Haley*
6th, JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK
7th, BRANDON JONES
15th, DYLAN LUPTON
21st, DAVID STARR
*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

DANIEL HEMRIC, No. 18 Poppy Bank Toyota Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 1st

He climbs out not only as a winner in the Xfinity Series, but Daniel Hemric, you are the champion. Congratulations.

“Lost my breath. Unbelievable. These guys right here, they asked me all year, How bad you want it? I gave one away here in the spring. Felt like I had to give one up here last week. We were not going to be denied. Thank you, Dave Rogers, Bill and Cindy Gallaher, everyone at Poppy Bank, Lou Gallaher, JR, I’m talking to you. Man, they took a chance on me. 2015, some form or fashion. Oh, they stuck with me through times they probably shouldn’t have, to be honest with you. How about those race fans? That backflip good enough for you? I’ve been waiting a long damn time to do that. Thank you Joe Gibbs, everyone at TRD, Toyota, Bell Helmets. Everyone here that makes this program what it is. I know I’ve given up a lot. People have doubted me. I’ll do it all over again for a night like this.”

Take us through the last lap. You knew it was possible.

“I’m blacked out. Blacked out. Just knew I had to be the first one to the line. I thought I let him get too much of a run off of four. Drove into one, knew I was close not to completely use them up, but we work our asses off for an opportunity like this. Excuse my language. This is what it’s all about, winning at the second highest level in all of motorsports. What an honor. Unbelievable. I’d do it all over again. I’ll take all the heartbreaks again to live this right here.”

You said in the car you’ll never have to answer that again because you are a winner.

“Absolutely. That’s the greatest feeling in the world.”

About Toyota

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

Toyota has created a tremendous value chain and directly employs more than 47,000 in North America. The company has contributed world-class design, engineering, and assembly of more than 40 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants, 15 including our joint venture in Alabama that begins production in 2021.

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

Kyffin Simpson goes out on top with the Championship and Race Win in the final race of FR Americas’ 2021 Season

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Official Release
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AUSTIN, Texas (November 6, 2021) – Kyffin Simpson made it two-for-two in Saturday’s races at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) with the Formula Regional Americas Championship Powered by Honda. The 17-year-old driver led the field from start to finish to take his seventh victory of the 2021 season and close out his championship year.

“It was a tough race,” said Simpson, driver of the No. 21 TJ Speed Motorsports / Simpson Race Products / GoPro / Spy Optic Ligier JS F3. “Dylan was on me the entire time and I just couldn’t pull a gap. Every time I tried, I just overheated the tires and would fall back even more. It was just such a good race and awesome to have that battle at the end. I’d like to thank God, the whole team, all my sponsors and my family.”

The 2021 season marked Simpson’s first full year of competition in FR Americas, after racing in a handful of events during the 2020 season.

“This year has been a lot of fun,” Simpson said following the race. “I’ve learned a lot about downforce cars and higher horsepower cars running FR Americas. Higher downforce is a big part of racing in IndyCar, F1 and many other series, so it’s always important to know how to race with downforce. It’s been great to learn everything that I have with FR Americas. It’s been an incredible season, and it’s awesome to come home with the championship.”

After suffering a mechanical issue during the formation lap, Dylan Tavella did not compete in Race 1. However, with his No. 14 Crosslink Competition / Crosslink Coatings Ligier JS F3 fixed and ready for Saturday’s races, Tavella found himself with a competitive advantage—Hankook Tires that were a full race fresher than all of his competitors. As a result, he secured the second starting position and never let off with the pressure on Simpson. Consistently running within just a few tenths of each other, the top two were side-by-side on the final lap. Tavella attempted a pass for the win in Turn 12 on the final lap, but Simpson ultimately held on to take the checkered flag. A hard-fought second place earned Tavella the Omologato Perfectly Timed Move of the Race award, and a beautiful Omologato bespoke timepiece complete with the FR Americas logo.

“My tires were heated up at the beginning of the race, so I hung back for a little bit before taking another go,” said Tavella after the race. “I absolutely gave it everything; I knew I was going to regret it if I didn’t go for it on the last lap that far back. I knew I wasn’t going to take him [Simpson] with me if I did a stupid move. I tried to make it stick, but he did the ol‘ switcher-roo and we went into Turn 13 and it was the same thing again, we flipped back places. I want to thank my entire team who put in a massive amount of work last night after we had some issues yesterday. My mom and dad, thank you very much. Hopefully, we will do even better next year.”

Runner-up of the 2021 Formula Regional Americas Championship Powered by Honda, Joshua Car put his race craft on display in the final round of the season by starting 11th and finishing third on the podium. The result marked the ninth podium of the season in the No. 9 Crosslink Competition / Crosslink Coatings Ligier JS F3 for the Australia native.

“It was a really fun race,” Car said from the podium. “The team gave me a great car for the final round, and we managed to go through the field early on with a lot of passing, which was a lot of fun. We had great speed in the Crosslink Coatings machine. Thank you to the whole team and all my supporters for coming out. I love having everyone around, so thank you so much.”

FR Americas will kick off their 2022 season with the SpeedTour Cup Invitational at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on March 24-27, 2022.

Full Results: https://www.framericas.com/pages/2021-austin-speedtour-results

About Formula Regional Americas Championship & Formula 4 United States Championship, Powered by Honda:

The FIA-certified Formula 4 United States Championship & Formula Regional Americas Championship are designed as entry-level open-wheel racing series offering young talent the opportunity to demonstrate their skills on an international platform while keeping affordability and safety as key elements. The Championships align with the global FIA development ladder philosophy of using common components to provide a cost-efficient, reliable and powerful racing structure as drivers ascend through the levels on their way to U.S. or global racing success.

Francis Wins 52nd Pole in Qualifying in Trans Am Season Finale at COTA

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Official Release
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Champion-elect Matos blasts track record, leads 52-car TA2® field

AUSTIN (6 Nov. 2021) – Ernie Francis Jr. put an exclamation point on the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli season by winning the Motul Pole Award for the season-ending Heacock Classic at Circuit of The Americas on Saturday.

Francis shared the spotlight with Rafa Matos, with the newly crowned champion winning the TA2® pole in a class-record turnout of 52 competitors. Due to time constraints, the TA/XGT/SGT/GT sessions were combined and cut to 12 minutes, with the TA2® class divided into two groups with 10 minutes a piece for qualifying.

Eliminated from the championship for the first time in his Trans Am career, seven-time champion Francis ran only two laps – both under the track record – capped by a flyer of 2:05.871-seconds in the No. 98 Future Star Racing Ford Mustang. It was the 23-year-old driver’s fifth pole of the season, the 52nd of his career and 23rd in the TA class.

“It’s always great to get a track record,” Francis said. “The car has had good pace all weekend. We got it off the trailer and were already super quick. We are super happy with that. We put some new Pirelli Tires on there and the car was almost a second quicker than second place. We couldn’t get the championship done this year but if we can end the season with a win, we will be super happy.”

Third-generation driver Matt Brabham qualified second in his Trans Am debut, running 2:06.771-seconds in the No. 20 ALTWELL CBD Ford Mustang. He is filling in for Chris Dyson as the recently crowned 2021 TA champion forced to miss the event due to a family matter.

“I am super grateful for the opportunity to race in Trans Am, but obviously I am hoping all the best for Chris and his family,” said Brabham. “Everyone on the CD Racing team has been so great and welcoming. It’s been quite fun learning the car, but I was a bit disappointed in myself during qualifying. I didn’t play traffic right and wished I would have got an open lap to show what the car and I can do. Second place is still super good, especially the first time out. The car and team did such a great job.”

Tomy Drissi took third, 2:07.942-seconds in the No. 8 Lucas Oil Chevrolet Camaro. The Hollywood veteran enters the finale second in the championship.

Pro-Am point leader Oscar Teran was fourth, 2:08.743-seconds in the No. 3 Oscar Teran Ford Mustang, followed by Ken Thwaits, 2:09.283-seconds in the No. 5 Franklin Road Apparel Chevrolet Camaro.

In TA2®, Matos quickly got down to business, shattering the track record by two seconds on his first lap in the No. 88 3-Dimensional Services Ford Mustang. Entering the event with the title already in hand, Matos improved twice to win his fourth pole of the season and 15th of his career with a lap of 2:10.539-seconds.

“It’s always nice to start from pole position,” explained Matos. “It gives us the freedom to pace ourselves for the first part of the race. But, there’s a lot of hungry guys out there. Misha (Goikhberg) is looking for his first win. There’s (Connor) Mosack, who is in good form today. I expect to have a very exciting race tomorrow. Dealing with 50-plus cars is going to be very difficult.”

Misha Goikhberg will start second in the class, 2:10.736-seconds in the No 20 BC Race Cars Camaro. Mosack, currently third in the points, will start third, 2:10.962-seconds, followed by former TA2® champions Cameron Lawrence, making his season debut in the No. 6 Franklin Road Apparel Camaro, and Adam Andretti in the No. 86 3-Dimensional Services Mustang.

Carl Rydquist captured his fourth TA2® West Coast pole of the season. He was 12th fastest overall, running 2:14.181-seconds in the No. 47 Racecars4Rent/Group Wholesale Ford Mustang.

Thomas Merrill recorded the fastest lap in Saturday’s lone practice, running 2:11.376-seconds in the No. 26 Mike Cope Race Cars Ford Mustang before sustaining a blown engine near the end of session. While it appeared his weekend was finished, veteran TA2® competitor Tom Sheehan graciously stepped up and loaned Merrill his backup car, keeping his quest to finish third in the championship alive. Merrill led the second qualifying group, eighth overall in 2:12.864-seconds in the No. 91 HPTuners Ford Mustang.

Erich Joiner scored his seventh consecutive pole in XGT, running 2:10.096-seconds in the No. 10 Good Boy Bob Coffee Roasters Porsche 991 GT3 R. It was the 10th Trans Am pole of his career.

In SGT, Justin Oakes took his sixth pole of the season and eighth of his career in the No. 11 Droneworks Corvette, running a track record lap of 2:12.226-seconds.

“Everything really came together today,” said Oakes. “We did a lot of tuning to the car when we were in Indy (for SCCA National Runoffs) and got the car really dialed in. We’ve improved and learned so much since we were here at COTA last year, and that’s the biggest difference in our gains. I think we can go even faster tomorrow with some minor adjustments to the car.”

Second in the class – and leading the four SGT West competitors – was Cindi Lux, 2:17.973-seconds in the No. 45 Lux Performance/Black Rock Coffee Dodge Viper.

Sean Young made his Trans Am debut by capturing the GT class pole. He ran 2:24.204-seconds in the No. 74 Corsair Racing Aston Martin Vantage.

Sunday’s races will each be 30 laps, with a 75-minute time limit. The TA2® event takes the green flag at 11:50 a.m. CT, with the TA/XGT/SGT/GT race set to start at 2:50 p.m. CT.

Follow live timing and scoring at: www.gotransam.com/livetiming

NGK NTK World of Outlaws World Finals Crowns Champions On A Spectacular Saturday Of Action

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Official Release
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Brandon Sheppard (World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Models), Brad Sweet (World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars), and Matt Sheppard (Super DIRTcar Big-Block Modifieds) celebrate their championships after Saturday's NGK NTK World of Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte. (Chris Owens/HHP photo)
  • Brent Marks (World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars), Jonathan Davenport (World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Models) and Brett Hearn (Super DIRTcar Big-Block Modifieds) won Saturday’s feature races in the NGK NTK World of Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte
  • Brad Sweet (World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars), Brandon Sheppard (World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Models) and Matt Sheppard (Super DIRTcar Big-Block Modifieds) claimed series championships
  • Fans can buy tickets and pit passes to upcoming speedway events by visiting https://www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/

CONCORD, N.C. (Nov. 6, 2021) – While Brad Sweet, Brandon Sheppard and Matt Sheppard celebrated championships, Brent Marks ended his season in the best way possible Saturday night: lifting a winner’s trophy in the NGK NTK World of Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

Marks took advantage of a flat tire by leader Logan Schuchart, who led the first 21 laps, and held off Brock Zearfoss in front of a sellout crowd to score his first World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars victory at The Dirt Track.

“This is awesome, to be able to win in front of this crowd,” Marks said. “I usually struggle here, so we came here and had high hopes for how we’ve been running this year. Everything’s been working out. Right place, right time for me. I knew Logan was better than me, and I just wanted to make sure I finished second. It is just awesome to be standing up here.”

Marks was joined in Victory Lane by Jonathan Davenport, who won the 40-lap World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Models feature, and the legendary Brett Hearn, who claimed the 30-lap Super DIRTcar Big-Block Modifieds A-Main.

Marks’ good fortune mirrored Schuchart’s misfortune. For the second night in a row, Schuchart suffered a tire failure while in the lead. On Saturday, Schuchart won his heat and followed that up by dominating the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash.

Schuchart was pulling away in the 25-lap feature before the tire went down in Turn 1. Marks took over and led the final nine laps. Zearfoss earned his first top-five of the season with his runner-up finish, while Donny Schatz rallied from 25th to finish third.

“To end the year finally getting our first top-five of the year – I feel like we should have at least a handful,” Zearfoss said. “We were battling for the win there, and I just got a little antsy. I think I might have been able to get a run on him if I’d have hit it right. Just to have an opportunity to win is special for us.

“Happy to be on the podium here in front of this great crowd, a sold-out crowd, it’s awesome.”

Schatz needed a provisional to even get in the A-Main, but he used the bottom line around The Dirt Track to move through the field.

“It was a good night,” Schatz said. “We didn’t start out that way. We found ourselves in every bad position: Being on the bottom in the heats didn’t help, and same thing in the (last-chance qualifier). We changed everything but the seat, the steering wheel and the driver, and they did a great job. We were able to get up through there and have a respectable finish to end the year.”

Series champion Brad Sweet was the fastest qualifier and won a heat race, but had to change a tire in the feature and ended up ninth. Sweet’s title, on the strength of 16 victories, was his third in a row.

“It obviously says a lot (to win three in a row),” Sweet said. “There’s a lot of people who work so hard, night-in and night-out, to make it so we can celebrate these moments. We work together really well. We’re a great team. (Team owner) Kasey (Kahne) gives us great equipment. Once you’re on top of that (championship) mountain, you don’t want to get off it.”

Jac Haudenschild closed his stellar Outlaw sprint car career with a 24th-place finish after getting involved in an early-race, multi-car accident.

The other heat-race winners were Friday night’s winner, David Gravel, and Carson Macedo.

Davenport swept the weekend in the Late Model class, following up Friday’s win with another victory. He passed Garrett Smith with 19 laps to go and held Smith off on a green-white-checkered finish. Smith and Davenport battled earlier in the race, with Smith taking the lead just before a caution with 24 laps remaining. Davenport fought back and retook the top spot on his way to another triumph.

“I gave the lead away,” Davenport said. “I was a little too patient with the lapped cars. I just kept trying the top: it got me to third and almost to second on the first lap. Hat’s off to my guys one more time. This car here, we’ve beat it up pretty bad, and it’s got a lot of races on it, but she’s still pretty good.

“Congratulations to (series champion) Brandon (Sheppard) on his championship. That’s a pretty cool deal. Thanks to all these fans for coming out. I love this place. Charlotte’s the racing capital of the world, almost. This should be a crown jewel event.”

Sheppard, who claimed his fourth series title, won a heat race and finished third. The other heat winners were Kyle Strickler, Smith and Chris Madden. Davenport was the fastest qualifier.

“Our consistency paid off for us and we were able to win the championship,” Sheppard said. “I can’t thank my crew enough. Everybody involved with this team who supports me on these long trips, it means the world to me. I always dream big, but maybe never this big, so it’s really cool and I can only hope that my dad and my grandpa, that I made them proud. That’s what it’s about for me. If it wasn’t for my family, I wouldn’t have any reason to do it.”

Hearn added to his spectacular resume by leading all 30 laps of the Super DIRTcar feature. The Charlotte win was his 450th DIRTcar-sanctioned victory and his fifth at The Dirt Track. Plus, it was Hearn’s first Super DIRTcar win since Nov. 3, 2018.

“I don’t know how it feels, really, to be honest with you,” Hearn said. “I’ve been sitting on the sidelines running a race track. I never really envisioned being back in victory lane because I was so far out of the seat. But as I drove down here, I said, ‘If I can’t see myself in victory lane, I’ll never get there.’ I came into tonight visualizing being on this stage, and look, that’s what happens.”

Series champion Matt Sheppard chased Hearn the entire race but finished second. Peter Britton was third. Super DIRTcar Series heat winners were Brett Hearn, Britton, Jimmy Phelps and Mat Williamson, with Phelps the fastest qualifier.

Sheppard, who celebrated an incredible eighth series crown, reflected on an up-and-down season that ended in successful fashion.

“I don’t know how many races it took to get a top-five, but once we turned the corner, we had a lot of really good finishes to end the year,” he said. “We’re just happy to come out of here with a great run tonight and this eighth championship, it’s big. It’s really special.”

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The Good Things You Get From Regular Car Washing

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SM
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Image source: iStockphoto

Cars are regularly exposed to dirt and pollution because of driving. Because of that, their exterior starts to fade, and the interior sustains damage. That’s why it’s essential to wash your car to keep them in good condition.

Car washing is a basic maintenance method to ensure that cars remain usable and clean. How often it’s done varies depending on the car owner. Some follow a schedule, while some don’t.

If you’re one to procrastinate when it comes to washing your car, it won’t do you any good. Instead, doing it regularly will serve your car better. Learn about its benefits in this blog that discusses the good things you get from regular car washing.

It can serve as a maintenance check

If you allot time to wash your car yourself, it can be a great opportunity to do a maintenance check. The purpose of car washing is to maintain its cleanliness, so checking the exterior only makes sense even while washing your car. You can look around to survey your car for possible minor repairs if you haven’t done it lately.

You can check to see if things aren’t placed in tight, such as headlight and taillight lenses, mirrors, antennas, valve steam caps, and hubcaps. You can also look under your car to see if the chassis has any broken or loose cables. Other than that, you may also take some time checking your tires for any stuck debris or cuts.

Tire repair can be quite expensive, and so is replacing them. While there are many options to choose from online, like on https://triangletiresph.com/, it’d be better if you maintained and cleaned them well regularly.

It contributes to fuel efficiency

Did you know that dirt can affect a car’s fuel efficiency? When dirt particles accumulate on your car’s exterior, it causes wind resistance to increase. That leads to your car having to exert more effort accelerating forward, which requires the use of more fuel.

Hence, it’s important to keep your car aerodynamic to reduce the use of fuel. To do that, you have to ensure that no accumulation of dirt is on its exterior. Clean your car to make it more fuel-efficient and reduce fuel consumption and expenses.

It improves visibility

Speaking of accumulated dirt on a car’s exterior, it can also reduce your visibility when driving. It may look like a minor inconvenience from the outside but having something block your view while driving isn’t safe at all. It can disturb your driving which in turn makes it unsafe.

Of course, the safety of you and your passengers is a top priority. Regular car washing prevents dirt accumulation that could block your vision when driving.

It preserves the exterior’s finish

The paint on your car’s exterior protects it from the spread of rust. Dirt buildup compromises that by damaging your car’s paint. Damage brought by dirt will make your car’s exterior susceptible to winter elements that could lead to a huge rust problem.

What makes it even bothersome is you won’t notice the damage to your paint right away. That’s why you have to wash the dirt off regularly to avoid buildup and slow down the deterioration of your car’s finish. It’ll also delay having to repaint your car, reducing your expenses.

Wrap up

Washing your car regularly does a lot of good things for it and you as well. Aim to clean your car about once every two weeks to ensure that your exterior is in good shape. Make it a habit to prevent dirt buildup, which helps maintain your car’s looks, lessen expenses, and keep you safe when you drive.

Author’s Bio:

Frank is an energetic salesman. On his free days, he spends his time writing and reading about quality tires and vehicular parts. He says it’s because of his love for cars ever since he was a kid, when his dad started teaching him about automotive parts.

How To Choose The Right Car Accessories

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SM
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The process of choosing the right accessory for your car is both an enjoyable and daunting experience. There are so many different things that impact the look or feel of your vehicle. From the interior finish to the color, choices are endless. Today we’re going to reveal all the Auto-Secrets and tips to buy the car accessories so you can get specific information on each before you make your final purchasing decision.

Types of Car Accessories

When it comes to car accessories, it is important to know what kind of car accessories will work for your car’s interior and is important for your car’s make and model. It is vital to know what type of accessories will suit your car’s interior and is important for your car model.

Car safety

The safety of your car is most important, so it is highly recommended to consider installing video parking sensors along with the rearview mirror. 

Nowadays, there are plenty of security options available for your vehicle. These include a gear lock, steering lock, concealed hardwired car tracker, auto cop car alarm system, and so on.

Price

It is important to set a budget when you shop for car accessories. There are many car accessories that can be found at varying prices, based on their functionality and design. Once you have decided on the accessory model and type, you can easily find a store or even a website that sells them with a wide variety of options at a price that suits your budget.

Consider your requirements

Consider your lifestyle, driving habits, and preferences when choosing auto parts and accessories. You can find hundreds of options with different price tags. Before making the final purchase, you must determine the purpose they will serve.

Brand & Quality

Owing to so many car accessory manufacturing companies in the market, choosing the right car accessory can be quite overwhelming for many car owners. Before buying a particular product or brand, it is prudent to check online for reviews or recommendations from other people who have bought it before you. Accessories are of great importance to the car owner. Some people like to look good while others prefer to drive their car in style.

What To Do After An Unrepairable Crash?

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SM
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A faulty car, someone else’s negligence, or your own actions have resulted in an accident. Besides the emotional distress, injuries, pain, and physical impairment, other damages come with such accidents. 

You are lucky to have survived the accident, but the car has suffered extensive damage. Insurance premiums are mandatory for cars, and many factors will be considered for compensation. 

So what to do next after an irreparable car accident?

Immediately After The Accident

The first thing to do after a severe accident is to ensure the safety of all passengers and to prevent fire or explosion of the vehicles involved. After this, notify the police and call the insurance agency.

Every detail of the accident, including the date, time, and location will be taken into account.

The registration details, car make and model, name of the driver or drivers involved, and insurance information are crucial.

It is significant when claims are to be made to the insurance provider. The policy provider will use fault determination rules to make the decision of who was at fault.

Tow The Car To The Mechanic

Once the authorities have done their part and you have notified the insurance company, it is time to move the vehicle.

Insurance companies have their preferred body shops, and this is where you should tow it to. The advantage is that the claim process will be faster. 

Although there will be no repairs being done, you must follow their policies to the letter. It is for your good. If it cannot be towed there or it is too expensive, talk to your agent for further guidance. 

Filing A Claim

As long as the car is insured, claim compensation according to the policy. This is especially important if you are injured, or need to protect yourself if you injured others.

An appraiser from the company will assess and estimate the damage to your vehicles and others. 

If the appraiser deems the vehicle as unrepairable, then it means repairing it will cost more than the insured amount. When this happens, the car is deemed a write-off.

Do you owe anything in terms of auto loans? It is crucial as the insurer will have to do some calculations, and it is good you are prepared. 

Have the title and identification documents with you as they are required. Work closely with the company’s representative for a seamless process.

At times, the claim process can be overwhelming when you do not understand what is required. 

What Happens To The Vehicle

There are many reasons that the insurance company will choose not to repair an accident-damaged vehicle. It will either be too expensive, or it will be unsafe to get it back on the road. 

In this scenario, there are two options. One is that you can opt to keep the damaged vehicle, and when it comes to compensation, its value will be deducted from the settlement. 

For example, if the company was to pay 20,000 dollars and the value of the salvage is 5,000 dollars, your settlement will be 15,000 dollars. They will consider the highest salvage bid. 

Once you buy back the vehicle, ensure you get a salvage certificate. 

The other option is to have the insurer keep the vehicle. You need to understand that it is no longer yours once you get compensated, and you must hand over it’s documents. 

Perhaps you have decided to keep the salvaged car and get the difference from the insurance company. What should you do with it?

There are different options to this, but you must put various factors into consideration. Will the car sit in your garage, driveway, or backyard? These options pose a risk to the environment, people, and animals.

The most viable option is to sell the junk car to a car salvage company who will purchase it in whichever condition it is. Even when it is deemed a total loss, you still get paid. 

This allows you to have some extra cash to put towards a new car. 

Things To Keep In Mind

Whenever you are acquiring insurance for your car, whether it is old or new, read the policy.

You need to understand what is covered and what is not. Every detail matters and one mistake people make is not to read it until after an accident.

Insurance agents will always be there for clarification. As soon as the accident takes place, inform the relevant people. The sooner the information is collected, the better. 

Once such a terrible accident takes place and you survive, avoid arguing with other people involved. 

Also, do not own up to any mistake or agree to pay other parties. Doing so implies that you are at fault, which may not be the case.

Determining fault should be left to the authorities or insurance agents. As a responsible driver, always carry your license and car registration. 

What To Expect From The Insurance Agent

They will provide you with the forms that need to be filled in and also give instructions. A good company will not only do this but will also offer reasonable assistance as soon as possible. 

Besides, they advise on the time limits, coverage, and benefits. It is all about the provisions of that particular insurance policy.

They should advise on the process up to when the settlement is completed. It should be inclusive of taxes, transfers, and license fees.

It should also cover towing fees and it should match the value of your totaled car. Additionally, they should keep you updated and respond to your communications promptly.

For example, once you have filed the claim, they should acknowledge and kick off the investigations immediately. 

Conclusion

Being involved in an accident is detrimental, especially when it is fatal or there are injuries. The mental anguish that one goes through is immeasurable.

Apart from the injuries, a vehicle can be damaged to a point it is unrepairable. It is devastating, and this is where insurance comes in.

Inform the authorities and the insurance company. File the paperwork needed and submit it to the company. It is the responsibility of your agent to follow it up.

You can opt to hand over the damaged vehicle to the policy provider or take possession.

If you choose the latter, you can sell it to a car removal company and get paid for it. You don’t have to spend a dime to do so. 

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