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Ryan Newman – Phoenix II Advance

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Official Release
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Team: No. 6 Castrol GTX Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Luke Lambert
Twitter: @Roush6Team, @RoushFenway and @RyanJNewman
Race Format: 312 miles, 312 laps, Stage: 75-115-122

NASCAR Cup Series Practice – Friday, Nov. 5 at 4 p.m. ET on NBCSN, NBC Sports App
NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying – Saturday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. ET on TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold
NASCAR Cup Series Championship – Sunday, Nov. 7 at 3 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Newman at Phoenix Raceway

· Newman returns to the site of his last NCS win, Phoenix Raceway, for the final race of 2021 and his final with Roush Fenway Racing. Newman will make his 38th Cup start at the 1-mile track on Sunday where he has an average finish of 17.2 with 12 top-10 and 10 top-five finishes.

· Sunday will also mark Newman’s 725th overall Cup start, which will put him 15th on the all-time list for starts in NASCAR’s top series.

· His 2017 win came after starting 22nd, and in 2010 he won from the 14th starting spot. He also has a pair of runner-up results (2004, 2010) and two third-place finishes (2003, 2015).

· Most recently, Newman finished 28th this spring, and last fall finished 24th.

· Newman has four Cup poles at Phoenix and an average starting position of 14.5. His last pole came in 2008.

· He also made a pair of Xfinity starts at Phoenix with a best finish of fourth in 2011.

Luke Lambert at Phoenix Raceway

· Lambert returns to the site of his lone Cup win, which came four years ago with Newman in the No. 31 for Richard Childress. Overall Lambert carries a 14.2 average finish, statistically his best average of any track on the circuit.

· Sunday will mark his 18th race as a crew chief at Phoenix, a track where he has four top-10 and three top-five results. He led Jeff Burton to a fourth-place run in his first-ever race in Phoenix back in 2011, and went on to finish seventh (2014) and third (2015) with Newman.

· Lambert also visited victory lane in the Xfinity Series with Elliott Sadler in 2012 after starting eighth.

QUOTE WORTHY
Newman on racing at Phoenix:
“Phoenix has and always will be a special place to me for many reasons, as I’m fortunate to have won there a couple times, and it’s the site of my last win, too. It’s a fun race track if you can get the handling right all the way around. Glad to have a practice and qualifying session prior to jumping on Sunday so we can fine-tune the Castrol Ford.”

Last Time Out
Newman finished 32nd last weekend in Martinsville.

On the Car
Castrol, the official oil partner of Roush Fenway and primary partner on both Newman and Buescher’s Mustangs this season, will be back on the No. 6 this weekend for the final race of 2021. Castrol will run a new scheme this weekend highlighting its Castrol GTX Full Synthetic products, with corresponding firesuits to match for the No. 6 team.

About Castrol
Castrol, a global leader in lubricant technology, serves consumers in over 140 countries. Our leadership brands include Castrol® GTX® — a premium conventional motor oil; Castrol® GTX® High–Mileage™ – a premium synthetic blend designed for vehicles with over 75,000 miles; the Castrol® EDGE ® line of advanced full-synthetic super premium motor oils that offer unsurpassed strength and performance; as well as our range of commercial transport lubricants. To find out more about Castrol products and programs, please call 1–888–CASTROL or visit www.castrol.com/us

Young’s Motorsports Phoenix Raceway November Truck Series Team Preview

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Official Release
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Young’s Motorsports | NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway | Lucas Oil 150

Fast Facts

No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Team:
Driver: Kris Wright
Primary Partner(s): F.N.B. Corporation
Manufacturer: Chevrolet Silverado
Crew Chief: Steven Dawson
2021 Driver Points Position: 26th
2021 Owner Points Position: 21st
Chassis Intel: YMS Chassis No. 22

Engine: Ilmor Racing Technologies

Notes of Interest:

The Lowdown: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year candidate Kris Wright will pilot the No. 02 F.N.B. Corporation Chevrolet Silverado this weekend at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway for his 17th career start.

In addition to his 15 Truck Series races this season at Daytona, Las Vegas (twice), Richmond, Kansas, Darlington, Charlotte, Texas, Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway, Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, Gateway, Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway and most recently at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, Wright also made his NCWTS debut last summer at the Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway Road Course.

Friday night’s Lucas Oil 150 will mark Wright’s Truck Series debut at the famed Arizona speedway.

Welcome Aboard: For the sixth time in 2021, F.N.B. Corporation will serve as the primary partner on Wright’s No. 02 Chevrolet Silverado.

F.N.B. Corporation (NYSE: FNB), headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a diversified financial services company operating in seven states and the District of Columbia. FNB’s market coverage spans several major metropolitan areas including Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Baltimore, Maryland; Cleveland, Ohio; Washington, D.C.; and Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham and the Piedmont Triad (Winston-Salem, Greensboro and High Point) in North Carolina.

The Company has total assets of more than $38 billion and nearly 340 banking offices throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, D.C. and Virginia.
FNB provides a full range of commercial banking, consumer banking and wealth management solutions through its subsidiary network, which is led by its largest affiliate, First National Bank of Pennsylvania, founded in 1864.

Kris Wright Truck Series Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway Stats: Friday night’s Lucas Oil 150 will mark Wright’s inaugural Truck Series debut at the 1.0-mile racetrack.

Wright, however, did compete in last year’s ARCA Menards Series West season finale at Phoenix. After starting 12th in an entry fielded by Chad Bryant Racing, Wright recovered from a Lap 1 incident to record an 18th place finish.

Martinsville (Va.) Speedway | United Rentals 200 Race Recap: In the most recent NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Martinsville, Wright made his 16th career NCWTS start.

Starting 26th based on the metrics set by NASCAR without practice or qualifying, Wright battled handling issues early in the race with his No. 02 F.N.B. Corporation Chevrolet Silverado. Great adjustments by crew chief Steven Dawson propelled Wright through the field and onto a lead-lap 13th place finish.

The effort was a career-best for Wright on a short track in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and marked his second top-15 finish of the season after finishing a season-high 12th at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway in February.

Driver Intel: Road racing standout Kris Wright continues his rookie season with Young’s Motorsports with Saturday afternoon’s United Rentals 200 at Martinsville.

The former IMSA and Formula 3 driver invades the Truck Series scene this season after spending much of the 2020 season competing in the ARCA Menards Series competing for Chad Bryant Racing and GMS Racing, respectively.

Wright earned three top-10 finishes in six races, including a career-best seventh in the season finale at Kansas Speedway last October.

This season, in addition to the Truck Series, Wright has spent time competing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for Sam Hunt Racing on the road courses and a string of races in ARCA for Rette Jones Racing.

Solid Pace For Young’s Motorsports: With one race remaining in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series this season, Young’s Motorsports sits a respectable 21st in the series owner standings with a handful of drivers.

In addition to Wright, former Truck Series winner Kaz Grala, NASCAR Xfinity Series winner Josh Berry, NASCAR Cup Series standout Daniel Suarez and USAC Triple Crown champion Chris Windom have all piloted the No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet in the 21 races thus far of 2021.

In one of the most competitive Truck Series seasons on record, the team has collected one top-five, two top-10s, six top-15s and 13 top-25 efforts collectively.

Young’s Motorsports stands 10 points behind 20th in the Truck Series owner standings currently secured by David Gilliland Racing.

Calling the Shots: Guiding Wright as crew chief of the No. 02 F.N.B. Corporation Chevrolet Silverado is crew chief Steven Dawson.

A long-time Young’s Motorsports employee, Dawson will serve as crew chief for just his third NCWTS race. In 2017, he guided Austin Hill to a respectable 17th place finish at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway after starting 27th.

Last weekend, he recorded a career-best finish as crew chief with a competitive 13th place finish in the 204-lap race.

Dawson, 33, is a native of Concord, N.C.

Follow on Social Media: For more on Kris Wright, please visit, kriswrightmotorsports.com, like him on Facebook (Kris Wright Racing) and follow him on Twitter (@KrisOnNASCAR).

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports) and follow on Instagram (youngsmotorsports) and Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

Kris Wright Pre-Race Quote:

On Phoenix: “I am pumped to get to Phoenix this weekend with the Young’s Motorsports team and our No. 02 F.N.B. Corporation Chevrolet Silverado. I am really proud of our team for making huge strides last weekend at Martinsville and I believe we can continue to showcase that pace on Friday night.

“Although I don’t have any laps in a truck at Phoenix, I’m hoping that the laps in the ARCA car last November will be helpful on top of the practice and qualifying I’ll have in the truck before the race.

“It’s been an influential season for me in the Truck Series and I’m indebted to everyone at Young’s Motorsports for giving me the opportunity to race.”
No. 12 Young’s Motorsports Team:

Driver: Tate Fogleman

Primary Partner(s): Young’s Building Systems | Randco. | Sim Seats

Manufacturer: Chevrolet Silverado

Crew Chief: Ryan “Pickle” London

2021 Driver Points Position: 20th

2021 Owner Points Position: 27th

Chassis Intel: YMS Chassis No. 19

Engine: Ilmor Racing Technologies

Notes of Interest:

Back To Familiar Territory: In his sophomore season of Truck Series competition, Fogleman returns to Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway looking for his third top-10 finish of the 2021 season.

Welcome Aboard: For the 22nd and final Truck Series race of 2021, Young’s Motorsports and Fogleman welcome Texas-based Young’s Building Systems and Randco Industries Inc. as the primary marketing partners on the No. 12 Chevrolet Silverado for the Lucas Oil 150.

Proud Partner: Sim Seats, an innovative leader in driving simulators has also stepped up to support Fogleman for the 150-lap race Friday night and be displayed on the television panel of the No. 12 Chevrolet Silverado.

Since 2009, Sim Seats has been designing and fabricating high-quality made-in-the-USA driving simulators including motion systems, triple monitor mounts, sim racing accessories, complete turn-key iRacing ready packages and even custom fabrication.

Their customer base includes all racers from amateur to pro ranks.

Sim Seats joined Young’s Motorsports as a team partner in June 2021.

First Win In The Books: Last month, Fogleman and crew chief Ryan London delivered Young’s Motorsports their second career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in a dramatic last-lap pass coming to the checkered flag.

Not only did Fogleman have to battle the No. 4 of John Hunter Nemechek, but also edged the No. 56 of Tyler Hill at the start-finish line, winning the Chevrolet Silverado 250 by a mere 0.052 thousands of a second.

Tate Fogleman Truck Series Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway Stats: Friday night’s Lucas Oil 150 will mark Fogleman’s second NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at the 1.0-mile speedway.

Last November, he started 28th and used the 156-lap race to move forward and collect a 19th place finish, one of his 11 top-20 finishes in his rookie NCWTS season for Young’s Motorsports.

Tate Fogleman Truck Series Speedway Stats: At NASCAR Camping World Truck Series tracks classified as a speedway in lengths of 1.0 to 2.0-mile(s) in length, Fogleman has made 27 starts carrying an average finishing position of 23.8.

Martinsville (Va.) Speedway | United Rentals 200 Race Recap: In the most recent NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Martinsville, Fogleman made his 47th career NCWTS start.

Starting 12th based on the metrics set by NASCAR without practice or qualifying, Fogleman’s No. 12 Young’s Building Systems | Randco. | Sim Seats Chevrolet Silverado maintained a competitive top-20 pace throughout the majority of the race.

During Stage 3, Fogleman rebounded from being collected in a Lap 185 pileup in Turn 4 to finish 18th and not only earn his best result at the 0.526-mile paperclip but delivered his eighth top-20 finish of 2021.

To The Point(s): Entering Phoenix, Fogleman sits 20th in the championship standings with 280 points earned.

129 points separate Fogleman from 15th in the championship standings currently held by Tyler Ankrum with one race remaining.

Young’s Motorsports’ No. 12 team maintained 27th in the NCWTS owner standings following the penultimate Truck Series race of the season.

Did You Know?: 21-year-old Fogleman is the son of Jay Fogleman a former competitor in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and a 10-time winner in what is now known as the CARS Tour Series.

He is also a business major at High Point University and has a strong passion for fishing.

Calling the Shots: Guiding Fogleman as crew chief of the No. 12 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado is crew chief Ryan London.

He will crew chief his 46th NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Friday night. In his previous 45 races, he has one win, two top-five and four top-10 finishes to his resume.

This weekend marks his second race as crew chief at Phoenix.

Follow on Social Media: For more on Tate Fogleman, please like him on Facebook (Tate Fogelman Racing) and follow him on Instagram (tatefogleman) and Twitter (@tate_fogleman).

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports) and follow on Instagram (youngsmotorsports) and Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

Tate Fogleman Pre-Race Quotes:

On Phoenix: “It has been a good three races for everyone on this No. 12 Young’s Motorsports team. In addition to the win at Talladega, we’ve been able to deliver two really solid top-20 finishes at Las Vegas and last weekend at Martinsville.

“Ryan (London, crew chief) brought me a really good truck to Martinsville last weekend, circumstances fell in the way of us getting another top-10 finish this season.

“It’s on to Phoenix where we are hopeful that we can continue this momentum and end the season on a high note for not only the Young family but everyone who supports and has supported our No. 12 program throughout the year.”
No. 20 Young’s Motorsports Team:

Driver: Spencer Boyd

Primary Partner(s): HairClub

Manufacturer: Chevrolet Silverado

Crew Chief: Joe Lax

2021 Driver Points Position: 23rd

2021 Owner Points Position: 31st

Chassis Intel: YMS Chassis No. 14

Engine: Ilmor Racing Technologies

Notes of Interest:

Back To Familiar Territory: Fan favorite Spencer Boyd returns to Phoenix Raceway, eyeing his second top-10 of the season in the final NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race of the season.

No. 119: This weekend at Martinsville, Boyd will make his 119th career NASCAR start. Boyd has three starts in the NASCAR Cup Series, 50 starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and will make his 66th start in Trucks when the green flag waves Friday night.

The highlight of his NASCAR career is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in October 2019 driving for Young’s Motorsports.

Welcome Back To The Team: This weekend at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway, Young’s Motorsports welcomes back HairClub as the primary partner on the No. 20 Chevrolet Silverado.

This weekend, HairClub is promoting its Strain Builder line.

With HairClub Strain Builder, restore and grow hair again. Strand Builder rebuilds your hair with natural Keratin Fibers that are designed to statically cling to existing hair, building each strand for thicker-looking hair.

Founded in 1976, HairClub is North America’s number one provider of hair regrowth, replacement, and restoration solutions.

For over 40 years, HairClub has helped 600,000+ people regrow, replace, or restore hair that they love.

HairClub has over 120 locations throughout the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tokyo-based Aderans Co. Ltd., the world’s leading provider of total hair loss solutions.

Phoenix will be the fifth race where HairClub has partnered with Boyd and Young’s Motorsports. In addition to four races last year, including the season finale at Phoenix, HairClub also partnered with Boyd and Young’s Motorsports in September at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway.

We Love Free: As they did last year, HairClub is offering NASCAR fans a free hair health checkup and a free hair care kit as part of the partnership.

Find a location near you at hairclub.com/find-a-center.

Double Duty: In addition to Friday night’s Truck Series race at Phoenix, Boyd will return to DGM Racing and compete in the NASCAR Xfinity Series season finale on Saturday night aboard the No. 90 MiniDoge Chevrolet Camaro.

Spencer Boyd Truck Series Phoenix Raceway Stats: Friday night’s Lucas Oil 150 will mark Boyd’s second NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at the Avondale, Arizona speedway.

Last November, Boyd finished 27th after starting 18th completing his first full season of Truck Series competition. Following Phoenix, Boyd claimed 23rd in the championship standings.

Spencer Boyd Truck Series Speedway Stats: At NASCAR Camping World Truck Series tracks classified as a speedway in lengths of 1.0 to 2.0-mile(s) in length, Boyd has made 39 starts carrying an average finishing position of 23.5.

Martinsville (Va.) Speedway | United Rentals 200 Race Recap: In the most recent NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Martinsville, Boyd made his 65th career NCWTS start.

Starting 18th based on the metrics set by NASCAR without practice or qualifying, Boyd’s No. 20 Credit MRI Chevrolet Silverado bounced back from mid-race handling woes to finish 15th in the 204-lap race.

The effort yielded Boyd’s third straight 15th place finish at the famed Virginia short track dating back to the 2019 season.

To The Point(s): Entering Phoenix, Boyd sits 23rd in the championship standings.

49 points separate Boyd from 20th in the championship standings currently held by teammate Fogleman with one race remaining this season.

Young’s Motorsports’ No. 20 team also secures 31st in the NCWTS owner standings.

Truck Series Rundown: In five years of Truck Series competition, Boyd has 65 career Truck Series starts with one win, two top-five and three top-10 finishes and a championship best of 17th in 2019 and carries an average finish of 22.5.

Calling the Shots: Guiding Boyd as crew chief of the No. 20 HairClub Chevrolet Silverado is veteran crew chief Joe Lax.

He will crew chief his 76th NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Friday night. In his previous 75 races, he has one pole and seven top-10 finishes to his resume.

This weekend marks his fourth race as crew chief at Phoenix.

Follow on Social Media: For more on Spencer Boyd, please like him on Facebook (Spencer Boyd Racing) and follow him on Instagram (SpencerBoydpr) and Twitter (@SpencerBoyd).

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports) and follow on Instagram (youngsmotorsports) and Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

Spencer Boyd Pre-Race Quotes:

On Phoenix: “Phoenix is another busy weekend for, especially with practice and qualifying back in the mix. I’m very optimistic about our chances for Friday night.

“I’m excited to have HairClub back on our No. 20 Chevrolet Silverado and I definitely want to better our finish from last November. Phoenix is a tough track. It’s hard to pass and momentum is everything.

“It’s been a couple of solid races for our No. 20 Young’s Motorsports team and I’d love to head into the off-season with another top-15 finish added to our tally.”
Race Information:

The Lucas Oil 150 (150 laps | 150 miles) is the 22nd of 22 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races on the 2021 schedule. Practice begins on Fri., Nov. 5, 2021, from 8:05 a.m. – 8:55 a.m. Qualifying is set for later in the day at 2:05 p.m. The 36-truck field will take the green flag that night shortly after 5:00 p.m. (8:00 p.m. ET) with live coverage on FOX Sports 1, the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM Satellite Radio NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (MT).

Ryan Truex – Lucas Oil 150

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Official Release
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Phoenix Raceway Race Advance

Team: No. 40 Marquis Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Ryan Truex
Follow the Team: @NieceMotorsport; @Ryan_Truex

Truex on Racing at Phoenix: “I’m so appreciative of Marquis for all of their support, we wouldn’t be able to get to the track without it. A huge thank you to Al Niece and everyone at Niece Motorsports for their hard work this season. We’re looking to go to Phoenix and close the season out on a high note.”

Truex at Phoenix: Friday night’s race at Phoenix Raceway marks Truex’s fourth start in the series at the one-mile track in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. In 2012, Truex finished ninth after leading 22 laps.

Truex has six NASCAR Xfinity Series starts to his credit at Phoenix Raceway, with his best finish of second coming in 2019.

The New Jersey native has one NASCAR Cup Series start at Phoenix Raceway, coming in 2014.

On the Truck: Truex will race with support from Marquis in this week’s season-finale at Phoenix Raceway.

Marquis, an employee-owned company founded in 1980, builds world-class hot tubs in the USA. Designed with cutting-edge features, Marquis hot tubs deliver the ultimate hydromassage experience, costing less to operate, and requiring the least amount of maintenance. Marquis is proud to craft spas designed to enhance health and well-being. For more information, visit: www.marquisspas.com.

About Niece Motorsports:
Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2021, Niece Motorsports enters its sixth season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as Twitter @NieceMotorsport.

Ford Performance NASCAR: Cindric Seeks Second Straight NASCAR XFINITY Championship

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Official Release
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FORD PERFORMANCE NASCAR: PHOENIX PLAYOFF NOTES

The NASCAR season comes to an end this weekend as Phoenix Raceway hosts all three playoff finales, beginning with Friday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race. That will be followed by the NASCAR XFINITY Series on Saturday and NASCAR Cup Series on Sunday.

This Week’s Schedule:

Friday, November 5 – NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, 8 p.m. ET (FS1)
Saturday, November 6 – NASCAR XFINITY Series, 8:30 p.m. ET (NBCSN)
Sunday, November 7 – NASCAR Cup Series, 3 p.m. ET (NBC)

FORD IN THE NASCAR CUP SERIES AT PHOENIX

  • Ford has 17 series wins at Phoenix Raceway.
  • Alan Kulwicki won the first series race at Phoenix Raceway in 1988.
  • Current Ford drivers Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano and Ryan Newman have series wins.

FORD IN THE NASCAR XFINITY SERIES AT PHOENIX

  • Ford leads all manufacturers with 15 series wins at Phoenix Raceway.
  • Ford has won at least once at Phoenix Raceway in three of the last four seasons.Austin Cindric has won the last two series races at Phoenix Raceway.

FORD IN THE NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES AT PHOENIX

  • Ford has 3 series wins at Phoenix Raceway.
  • Jack Roush has two of those series wins with Joe Ruttman and Greg Biffle.
  • Greg Biffle and Matt Crafton have won series championships with Ford.

CINDRIC GOING FOR SECOND STRAIGHT NXS TITLE

Austin Cindric has never been lower than second in the point standings after winning five times this season and posting 21 top-5 and 25 top-10 finishes in 32 starts. He comes into this weekend’s finale having won each of the last two races held at Phoenix Raceway, including last year’s championship event in which he passed Noah Gragson on the final lap to win in overtime. Cindric is looking to become the eighth driver to win back-to-back series championships and the second Ford driver after Ricky Stenhouse Jr. did it in 2011-2012.

BACK-TO-BACK NXS SERIES CHAMPIONS

Sam Ard (1983-48), Larry Pearson (1986-87), Randy LaJoie (1996-97), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (1998-99), Martin Truex Jr. (2004-05), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (2011-12), Tyler Reddick (2018-19).

AUSTIN CINDRIC, No. 22 Carshop Ford Mustang – Team Penske

Austin Cindric will be making his third career Championship 4 appearance, and second straight in the NASCAR XFINITY Series…Cindric was part of the title race in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2017 and finished fifth in the race, which was good for third in the final standings…He captured the championship last year after winning the season finale with a last-lap overtime pass…In seven NXS series starts at Phoenix, Cindric has two wins, four top-5 and six top-10 finishes.

FORD’S NXS CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVERS

2002 – Greg Biffle

2007 – Carl Edwards

2011 – Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

2012 – Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

2015 – Chris Buescher

2020 – Austin Cindric

MUSTANG LOOKING TO ADD ANOTHER TITLE

Mustang has dominated the NASCAR XFINITY Series since it joined the circuit full-time in 2011, winning at least one championship in eight of its first 10 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 five times in the last eight seasons, including three in a row from 2013-15. Overall, Mustang has won 11 driver’s and owner’s championships combined going into Saturday’s final event at Phoenix Raceway.

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)

GILLILAND GOING FOR TRUCK SERIES OWNER’S CHAMPIONSHIP

Even though Todd Gilliland was eliminated from the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver’s championship, he’ll still be racing to give Front Row Motorsports its first NASCAR title as he runs for the owner’s crown Friday night. In four career Phoenix starts, Gilliland has two top-10 finishes, including a ninth place run one year ago. He will be battling Zane Smith (21), Ben Rhodes (99) and John Hunter Nemechek (4) while hoping to give Ford its first championship in the series since Matt Crafton won the driver’s title two years ago.

FORD’S NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVERS

2000 – Greg Biffle

2019 – Matt Crafton

FORD NASCAR CUP SERIES WINNERS AT PHOENIX

1988 – Alan Kulwicki

1989 – Bill Elliott

1991 – Davey Allison

1992 – Davey Allison

1993 – Mark Martin

1995 – Ricky Rudd

1997 – Dale Jarrett

1998 – Rusty Wallace

2000 – Jeff Burton

2001 – Jeff Burton

2002 – Matt Kenseth

2005 – Kurt Busch (1)

2010 – Carl Edwards (2)

2013 – Carl Edwards (1)

2016 – Joey Logano (2)

2018 – Kevin Harvick (1)

2020 – Joey Logano (1)

FORD NASCAR XFINITY SERIES WINNERS AT PHOENIX

2000 – Jeff Burton

2001 – Greg Biffle

2003 – Bobby Hamilton Jr.

2005 – Greg Biffle (1) and Carl Edwards (2)

2006 – Matt Kenseth (2)

2008 – Carl Edwards (2)

2009 – Greg Biffle (1) and Carl Edwards (2)

2010 – Carl Edwards (2)

2014 – Brad Keselowski (2)

2015 – Joey Logano (1)

2018 – Brad Keselowski (1)

2020 – Austin Cindric (2)

2021 – Austin Cindric (1)

FORD NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES WINNERS AT PHOENIX

1997 – Joe Ruttman (2)

1998 – Mike Bliss (2)

2001 – Greg Biffle

FedEx Racing Express Facts – Phoenix Raceway

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Official Release
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Denny Hamlin
11 FedEx Express Toyota
Joe Gibbs Racing

Sunday Race Info:
Race: NASCAR Cup Series Championship
Date/Time: Sunday, Nov. 7/3:00 p.m. ET
Distance: 312 laps/312 miles
Track Length: 1 mile

Express Notes:

Martinsville Recap: Victory #3 of the year was in Denny Hamlin’s sights in the closing laps of the penultimate race of the season, as he led the field around the paperclip-shaped track with six laps to go. But after multiple laps of Alex Bowman trying unsuccessfully to make an inside pass on the FedEx Ground Toyota, Bowman finally shoved his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet under the left rear of Hamlin’s car and spun the #11 out of the lead. Bowman went on to win the race. Hamlin, after leading 103 laps, finished 24th. But the FedEx Racing driver’s result was enough to advance to the Championship 4, the four drivers who will compete for the Cup trophy next Sunday at Phoenix Raceway.

Phoenix Preview: The Cup Series heads out West for the final race of the season at Phoenix Raceway, where Hamlin will be one of the Championship 4 competing for the 2021 Cup trophy. The event marks the third straight year that Hamlin has advanced to the final round of the Playoffs to compete for the title. In his 32 career races in Phoenix, Hamlin has notched two wins and 15 top-five finishes.

Hamlin Statistics:

Track: Phoenix Raceway
Races: 32
Wins: 2
Poles: 2
Top-5: 15
Top-10: 19
Laps Led: 854
Avg. Start: 9.8
Avg. Finish: 10.8

Hamlin Conversation – Phoenix:

What is your strategy for outracing the other three drivers competing for the title?

“I’m just trusting in my team. Joe Gibbs Racing has been focusing on this race for a long time, and I know we’ll bring a fast FedEx Camry. Ultimately, we just need to do the same things that got us to this point and made us successful.”

Do you feel that this type of track gives you an edge?

“We have been stronger at the 750-horsepower tracks this year, and I think that’s going to help us. Last year, that was the weaker type of track for us, and the results showed that. This year, we worked on this package and our results are showing that improvement. So, this is an ideal track for us to get out there and run up front.”

FedEx Careers on the #11: This week at Phoenix Raceway, the FedEx Express Toyota will encourage fans to check out career opportunities with FedEx. “FedEx.com/careers” will appear on the back of the car, showing viewers how they can apply to join the FedEx team and represent the purple and orange just like Hamlin.

FedEx Express Along for the Ride at Phoenix: As the NASCAR season comes to a close and the championship title is determined, FedEx Express recognizes the hard work and dedication of the everyday champions at the SFOA station in San Francisco, Calif., by having the letters SFOA appear on the B-post of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota at Phoenix Raceway. FedEx thanks all the dedicated FedEx Express teams for riding along during the 2021 NASCAR season and striving to make every FedEx experience outstanding.

FedEx Office – Closest to Phoenix Raceway: 9925 W McDowell Rd., Suite 105, Avondale, AZ 85392, (623) 643-9873

Drew Dollar – No. 51 Sunbelt Rentals Tundra Camping World Trucks Phoenix Preview

By
Official Release
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Drew Dollar: Driver, No. 51 Sunbelt® Rentals Toyota

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Overview:
Event: Lucas Oil 150, Race 22 of 22, 150 Laps –30/30/74; 150 Miles
Location: Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway (one-mile oval)
Date/Broadcast: Nov. 5, 2021, at 8 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR 90

The Data on Dollar:

  • Drew Dollar will make his eighth career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start behind the wheel of the No. 51 Tundra in Friday’s 150-lap event at Phoenix Raceway as the final event in his eight-race schedule with Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) in 2021. It will be Dollar’s fourth career start in any series at the one-mile oval. Dollar posted a track-best fifth-place finish in the ARCA Menards West Series event at the Arizona track in Nov. 2020.
  • Sunbelt Rentals, the premiere rental company in North America, will serve as the primary sponsor on Dollar’s Tundra Friday night at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway. This will be the sixth race of 2021 that Sunbelt has been onboard the No. 51 Tundra.
  • Dollar has recorded an average finish of 25.7 across the first seven starts of his Camping World Truck Series career. His best result was a 10th-place finish in his series debut at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway in February.
  • In addition to his part-time schedule with KBM in the Truck Series, Dollar competed in a limited schedule in the ARCA Menards Series this season with Venturini Motorsports. Despite competing in only 12 of the 20 races, the 20-year-old driver finished seventh in the championship standings behind the strength of an average finish of 8.2 across his 12 starts this year.
  • The Toyota Racing Development driver finished fourth in the ARCA Menards Series championship standings in 2020 after recording one win, four top-five and 14 top-10 finishes across 20 starts. Dollar led 40 laps en route to his lone series victory at Talladega Superspeedway last June. He also finished inside the top 10 in both of his ARCA Menards Series starts in 2019, including a sixth-place finish in his series debut at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.
  • The No. 51 team has won three times this season, including earlier this season on the Bristol Motor Speedway dirt track with Martin Truex Jr. KBM owner-driver Kyle Busch collected victories at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Ga., and Kansas Speedway in Kansas City. The team qualified for the owner’s portion of the playoffs by finishing the regular season ranked fifth in the point standings but were eliminated in the Round of 10.
  • Mardy Lindley is in his first season as a crew chief at KBM. Before arriving at KBM, Lindley guided his drivers to 32 wins and four ARCA Menards Series East championships since 2013, including back-to-back titles with Sam Mayer the last two seasons. Additionally, he earned the ARCA Menards Series Sioux Chief Showdown championship with Mayer in 2020. Behind the wheel, the second-generation driver won 11 races on the Pro Cup Series from 2000 to 2006 and was crowned the series champion in 2001. In his only race atop the pit box in the Truck Series at Phoenix, Lindley earned a 19th-place finish with Sam Mayer in 2019.

Drew Dollar, Driver Q&A:
Are you looking forward to having practice and qualifying on Friday?
“Practice in our Sunbelt Rentals Toyota Tundra will be very beneficial for me this weekend. I’ve been to Phoenix a few times now, so that should help me get up to speed a little quicker. My focus will be on getting comfortable for the race later than night.”

You have an average finish of 6.0 across two ARCA Menards Series starts at Phoenix. Is it a track that fits your driving style?
“Phoenix is definitely one of my favorite tracks that I’ve been to in the Toyota Camry. I feel like we’ve always had good speed at Phoenix. I just need to focus on running all the laps and being consistent. I’m sure that Phoenix is a place where we can end up with a good finish.”

Drew Dollar Career Highlights:

  • Has one top-10 finish and an average result of 25.7 across seven career Camping World Truck Series starts.
  • Across 34 career ARCA Menards Series starts has one win, 98 laps led, 10 top-five and 24 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 8.2.
  • Picked up his first career ARCA Menards Series victory at Talladega Superspeedway June 20, 2020.
  • Finished fourth in the ARCA Menards Series championship standings in 2020 after recording one win, four top-five and 14 top-10 finishes across 20 starts.
  • Recorded two top-five and seven top-10 finishes with 49 laps led across eight NASAR K&N Pro Series East starts in 2019.

Drew Dollar’s No. 51 Sunbelt Rentals Tundra:

KBM-054: The No. 51 Sunbelt Rentals team will unload KBM-54 for Friday’s race at Phoenix. KBM owner-driver Kyle Busch has two victories driving this Tundra, including its maiden voyage at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa. in July of 2018. Rowdy was victorious with it again this year in May at Kansas Speedway. Dollar drove it to a 24th-place finish in its most recent outing in September at Las Vegas.

KBM Notes of Interest:

  • KBM drivers have collected five wins, five poles, 14 top-five and 22 top-10 finishes across 31 starts at Phoenix Raceway. They have earned a collective average finish of 9.7 and have led 914 laps.
  • The organization’s five victories at the Arizona track have come with four different drivers. Kyle Busch won in 2011, Brian Scott in 2012, Erik Jones went back-to-back in 2013-2014 and Daniel Suarez claimed the top spot in 2016.
  • KBM holds the Camping World Truck Series records for most career wins (89) and most wins in a single season (14 in 2014). With his victory at Bristol Motor Speedway Chandler Smith became the 17th different driver to win a Truck Series event for KBM. In addition to collecting a series-record seven Owner’s Championships, the organization has produced two championship-winning drivers: Erik Jones (2015) and Christopher Bell (2017).
  • With 37 victories, the No. 51 is the winningest number in KBM’s Truck Series fleet.

John Hunter Nemechek – No. 4 Pye-Barker Fire & Safety Tundra Camping World Trucks Phoenix Preview

By
Official Release
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John Hunter Nemechek: Driver, No. 4 Pye-Barker Fire & Safety Toyota

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Overview:
Event: Lucas Oil 150, Race 22 of 22, 150 Laps – 45/45/160; 150 Miles
Location: Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway (one-mile oval)
Date/Broadcast: Nov. 5, 2021, at 8 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR 90

Neme’chek’ The Facts:

  • Second-generation driver John Hunter Nemechek gave up a chance to continue racing in the NASCAR Cup Series, where he competed full time in 2020, to come to Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) for the 2021 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season. Nemechek came to the most successful team in Truck Series history with one goal in mind, winning. He made his announcement with #Here4Wins and winning is what he’s done at KBM this year. Nemechek led the Truck Series in race wins (five), stage wins (11), won the regular season championship, and now heads to Phoenix Raceway on Friday with hopes of winning his first NASCAR National Series title.
  • Nemechek’s chance to compete for the Truck Series championship Friday nearly got derailed last weekend at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The Toyota Racing driver entered the final race in the Round of 8 36 points above the cutoff line for advancing and helped his cause by earning 17 stage points with finishes of third and second, respectively in the opening two stages. He hit pit road at the end of Stage Two, and then lined up 14th when the Final Stage went green due to differing pit strategies throughout the field. Marching back towards the front, Nemechek made his way to the inside of Austin Wayne Self and was nearly clear when Self turned left into the right side of Nemechek’s Toyota and sent him shooting up the track into the outside wall. With severe damage, Nemechek was unable to continue and relegated to a 39th-place finish. He would spend the remainder of the race watching the television broadcast from inside his hauler, seeing his name move in and out of the Championship 4 before ultimately making it in by four points.
  • The 24-year-old driver registered his fifth Truck Series win of 2021 June 26 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa. The talented wheelman has posted victories at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway in March, Richmond (Va.) Raceway in April, Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway in May and in June at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. In addition to leading the circuit in race wins (five) and stage wins (11), he leads the Truck Series in top fives (12), fastest laps run (287), driver rating (113.5) and average running position (7.545).
  • Nemechek is competing in the Camping World Truck Series playoffs for the third time in his career. He finished eighth in the championship standings for his family-owned team, NEMCO Motorsports, in 2016 and 2017. Nemechek is an 11-time winner in Camping World Truck Series action, winning at least one race each season from 2015 to 2018 for his family-owned team, NEMCO Motorsports, and returning to victory lane this year with KBM.
  • KBM will be shooting for its eighth owner’s Truck Series championship Friday. In addition to collecting a series-record seven Owner’s Championships (2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019), the organization has produced two championship-winning drivers: Erik Jones (2015) and Christopher Bell (2017). Both of KBM’s driver championships came with the No. 4 team. The team’s most recent championship was the 2019 owner’s crown with the No. 51 team.
  • Eric Phillips returned to KBM to lead the No. 4 team this season. Phillips led the No. 18 team at KBM in its debut season in 2010 and helped build the organization into one of the premier teams in all of NASCAR before departing at the end of the 2014 season. Under his guidance, the No. 18 team won eight races in its inaugural campaign and became the first team in Truck Series history to capture an owner’s championship in its first season of competition. In 2014, the Illinois native led the No. 51 team to an owner’s championship and his team’s 10 wins spearheaded KBM to a single-season Truck Series record of 14 wins. His 41 career Truck Series victories make him the winningest crew chief in Truck Series history, with 32 of those coming while at KBM.
  • Across 10 starts At Phoenix, Phillip’s drivers have three wins, five top-five and six top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 10.5. In his last three Truck Series races at the one-mile track, he has won with three different drivers: Kyle Busch (2011), Brian Scott (2012) and Erik Jones (2014).
  • Pye-Barker Fire & Safety, an industry leader in commercial fire protection since 1946, will adorn the hood of Nemechek’s for the Championship 4 race at Phoenix. Pye-Barker recently acquired Nemechek’s long-time supporter Fire Alarm Services. Mobil 1, Fire Alarm Services, ROMCO, Berry’s Manufacturing, Safeway and Power Up Trail Mix have all served as primary sponsors of the No. 4 for at least one race in 2021.

John Hunter Nemechek, Driver Q&A:

You came to KBM to win, and you’ve won five races this year but was winning the championship the ultimate goal?
“Coming to KBM this year was coming back to win races. We were #Here4Wins, we used it when announced me coming back. I wanted to come here to be able to park it and victory lane and take checkered flags home. For me, it was proving to myself that I could still do this. When we use that hashtag, we’re not just using it to win races, we’re here to win practice, qualifying, stages, races, and championships. Luckily, we were able to lock up the regular season championship earlier this year, so now trying to go for the playoff championship. Hopefully, we’ll be the ones hosting that trophy over our head come Friday night.”

How rewarding has the move back to the Truck Series been not only for you, but for your long-time partners that came to KBM with you?
“It’s means a lot to me to be able to represent all of my long-term partners as well as Mobil 1, Toyota, TRD and KBM. It’s been definitely a road and journey that all my partners have been on with me through the ups and downs, through winning races to running mid-pack and now back in the spot to try and go for the first championship with all our partners. It’s been an exciting year. We’ll have a lot of our partners at Phoenix, hopefully to be able to celebrate when we get it done.”

Getting wrecked last week put you in a position where you almost didn’t get a chance to race for a championship this week. Did the feeling you had last week help motivate you more for this week?
“I definitely think that what happened last week it was definitely nerve wracking and stressful not knowing if we were going to make it or not make it. Very helpless feeling of not being able to pass cars and gain more points to make sure if we made it to the next round. I think if anything, we are ready to go. It’s definitely loaded the cannon, as Erick (Phillips, crew chief) said. We’re ready to go out there and show what we are made of. Just keep doing what we’ve been doing all year, don’t beat ourselves and hopefully we go and dominate.”

How do you feel about having practice and qualifying Friday compared to most of the season where you just showed up and raced?
“I don’t necessarily like it going into the final race since we’ve been pretty much all year with no practice and qualifying – just show up and race. It’s what the cards have dealt, so we have to go out there and show what we’re made of. Hopefully, we have a really good truck right off the trailer and don’t have to adjust on it too much — I definitely think that should be the case right here. Hopefully, we don’t chase the race track too much because I feel like it may change quite a bit during the day — especially with having practice and qualifying — us practicing in the morning, compared to racing later in the day. We definitely have some notes to fall back on I feel like and with myself running the 54 in the Xfinity Series I feel like that should help as well.”
Does it give you extra confidence that KBM placed all three trucks in the top five last year at Phoenix?
“It definitely gives me confidence knowing that KBM has been successful there, as well as Eric (Phillips, crew chief) and myself. Phoenix is one of my favorite race tracks to go to. I feel like every time that Eric has been there, he’s been super-fast, if not winning the race. KBM last year almost stealing a victory and having three trucks in the top five was a huge deal for the end of the year. I’m hoping that we can take everything from that race last year, all the notes and everything that I’ve learned and Eric and put it all into one. If we can do that and hit every right and not beat ourselves, I definitely think that we will be the one to beat.”

What would it mean to you to win a NASCAR National Series championship?
“It would mean a lot to me to win a NASCAR championship. As a kid this is the kind of stuff that you dream about. I’m not here just to be in the Cup Series, I’m not here just to be in the Xfinity Series, I want to be where I feel like I can win races and championships. I’m here to try and win as much as I can, set records and break them as well. All here, #Here4Wins”

John Hunter Nemechek Career Highlights:

  • Eleven-time winner in Camping World Truck Series action, winning at least one race each season from 2015 to 2018 for his family-owned team, NEMCO Motorsports. Across 123 career starts in NASCAR’s third division, has compiled two poles, 1,181 laps led, 40 top-five and 65 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 12.6.
  • Qualified for the Camping World Truck Series playoffs in each of his two full-time seasons, finishing eighth in the championship standings in both 2016 and 2017.
  • Produced three top-10 finishes and an average result of 22.4 while competing for rookie of the year honors in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2020. He recorded a career-best eighth-place finish twice, both coming at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, earned the Sunoco Rookie of the Race award four times and finished 23rd in the championship standings.
  • Across 55 career XFINITY Series starts, has totaled two wins, one pole, 325 laps led, 14 top-five and 32 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 11.8.

John Hunter Nemechek’s No. 4 Pye-Barker Tundra:
KBM-56: The No. 4 Pye-Barker Fire & Safety team will unload KBM-56 for the Championship 4 race at Phoenix Raceway. Nemechek piloted this Tundra twice this season, including at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa., where he was victorious. In its most recent outing, KBM-56 raced at Las Vegas, where it was out front for 33 laps but experienced some mechanical issues and was relegated to a 33rd-place finish.

KBM Notes of Interest:

  • KBM drivers have collected five wins, five poles, 914 laps led, 14 top-five and 22 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 9.2 across 31 starts at Phoenix Raceway.
  • The organization’s five victories at the Arizona track have come with four different drivers. Kyle Busch won in 2011, Brian Scott in 2012, Erik Jones went back-to-back in 2013 and 2014 while Daniel Suarez claimed the top spot in 2016.
  • KBM holds the Camping World Truck Series records for most career wins (89) and most wins in a single season (14 in 2014). With his victory at Bristol Motor Speedway Chandler Smith became the 17th different driver to win a Truck Series event for KBM. In addition to collecting a series-record seven Owner’s Championships, the organization has produced two championship-winning drivers: Erik Jones (2015) and Christopher Bell (2017).
  • The No. 4 has 16 career victories at KBM and was the number for both of the organization’s driver championships.

3 Great Reasons To Pick A Small SUV Over A Sedan

By
SM
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With so many options to choose from in today’s vehicle market, looking for which type of car to buy can be a challenging process. The best option usually boils down to which one will best suit your needs and preferences, and most people end up choosing between a sedan and a sport utility vehicle (SUV). 

A sedan or a saloon car is a vehicle with three separate sections: the engine, the cargo, and the passenger compartment. On the other hand, an SUV is a vehicle only has two divisions: a combined passenger and cargo section, and the engine compartment. While both vehicle types can be good, you may want to go for the small SUV.

Research Before You Buy

While we can make a case for SUV, you have to remember that you should still do your own thorough research before picking any vehicle. You can do this by visiting different dealerships to compare automobiles. You should also talk to friends who own vehicles to understand what features make a car more efficient. 

Alternatively, you can do your research online by visiting sites that offer genuine automobile assessments. For instance, a reliable Kia Seltos GT review or that of any other car will provide sufficient information about all the vehicle’s features. 

A thorough research greatly relies on asking the right questions. Seek information about a vehicle’s drivability, fuel consumption, price, and performance. This way, you’ll have enough data to help you decide whether a vehicle is suited for you or not. 

As mentioned earlier, many buyers looking for a compact vehicle might favor a small SUV over a sedan. To understand why this might be so, below are some features that make the former more pleasant than the latter:

  1. It Has More Storage Space

SUVs are known to have more storage space than many other vehicles. Therefore, you’ll find that the a small SUVs has more load capacity than an equally-sized sedan. For this reason, Small SUVs are very popular among people who often go on road trips or those who travel with a lot of luggage on a regular basis.

Aside from having large storage spaces, a lot of small SUV models also have expandable storage compartments. All you need to do is lower the back row seats. This way, one can carry even more luggage than what’s already possible. You could also install bicycle holders or roof racks to create additional space for your small SUV, further increasing it cargo capacity. 

  1. It’s A Dependable Off-Road Vehicle

A small SUVs is a more reliable off-road vehicle than a sedans. This is mainly because most SUV models are designed with more power to travel over rough terrains and steep paths. Besides that, most have four-wheel-drive and traction control systems giving drivers more control over their vehicles on snowy, icy, or rocky roads.  

All these mobility features make small SUVs more preferable, especially for those who love venturing into the wild outdoors once in a while. Apart from that, they’re also better suited for individuals who live in areas where roads are constantly in a bad shape. 

On the other hand, some car experts would tell you that sedans might not be suited for rough terrains and bumpy roads. In most cases, driving a sedan over rough terrain can cause structural damage and lower their service life. 

  1. It Offers A Better Road View 

Compared to a sedan, a compact SUV offers a better road view. It’s because it has more height, elevating a driver further from the ground. This way, the driver can avoid cracks and potholes on the road, and as a result, they could also prevent car accidents like getting tipped over at high speed or even more dangerous rollovers.  

The height of a small SUV also makes it easier to park compared to a sedan. With a better view of one’s surroundings, a driver can quickly identify a spot and park their vehicle without straining to look forward or over their shoulders.

Conclusion

Small SUVs and sedans are two popular options in today’s car market, especially for buyers looking for compact vehicles. That said, you might find more people leaning towards SUVs because they have certain features that make them more likable than sedans. 

If you’re torn between buying a sedan and a compact SUV, this article provides three great reasons why you should consider the small SUV. First, compact SUVs have better storage than sedans. Also, it’s possible to create extra space with them, in case more storage is required. 

Next, small SUVs are more dependable off-road vehicles. This is because they’re naturally built to survive harsh terrains and bad roads. Also, most of them have traction control and four-wheel-drive system, which provide drivers maximum control of their vehicles while driving in the wild outdoors.

Finally, small SUVs have more height. This helps ensure that drivers have a better view of their surroundings, and therefore, can easily travel along bad roads and park without straining.

Trans Am Makes History Ahead of Circuit of The Americas Finale

By
Official Release
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Nearly 80 Trans Am Series cars set to invade Austin

AUSTIN, TEXAS (2 November 2021)- It’s been said that everything is bigger in Texas. The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli will prove that saying right as a Texas-sized field descends on Circuit of The Americas November 5-7 for the Heacock Classic, part of the Austin SpeedTour event weekend.

Seventy-eight Trans Am National Series and West Coast Championship drivers will unite for the second-largest field in Trans Am history, with an outstanding roster of 78 entries this weekend (Sebring 2016 had 79 entries).

The TA2 class continues its record-setting season of growth, with 50 entries slated for the season-finale event, officially resetting the single-event record for the class and upping the mark from the Nashville round, which featured 38 cars.

The Trans Am National Series and West Coast Championship fields will unite for a weekend of intense action with two 100-mile races set for Sunday (Nov. 7). The enormous field of TA2 American Muscle cars will take the green at 10:50 a.m. Central followed by the TA/XGT/SGT/GT season finale at 1:50 p.m. Central. (Tickets)

“It’s incredible to see the growth this season,” said John Clagett, Trans Am Racing Company President. “Trans Am always delivers great racing with intense competition. We are excited to end the season on such a high note.”

With all class championships on both coasts already determined, the focus this weekend will be on which drivers will take runner-up and third place honors as well as who will score some new race winning hardware in Texas.

After winning seven races across the nation, Chris Dyson clinched his first Trans Am championship one round early. Dyson can rest easy as the No. 20 ALTWELL CBD Ford Mustang driver leaves his rivals Tomy Drissi and Ernie Francis Jr. to fight for champion runner-up.

For the first time in his eight-year Trans Am career, Francis Jr. will be fighting for second in the championship. The seven-time consecutive champion enters the weekend third in points, trailing Drissi by 17 (242 vs. 225). Francis Jr. has been consistently quick in qualifying, snatching up the valuable extra Motul Pole Award points four times this season, the most of any TA competitor. Though his car has been fast off the line, Francis Jr.’s No. 98 Future Star Racing Ford Mustang has had mechanical gremlins pop up in several races throughout the season that have ended his charge early.

Franicis Jr. will be pulling double duty at CoTA also competing in the three-round Formula Regional Americas Championship Powered by Honda finale. Through his roller-coaster of a season, Francis Jr. still has his head in the game to overtake Drissi in the championship.

“It’s been a tough season but nevertheless we are looking forward to the race at CoTA,” said Francis Jr. “It’s always a fun track to go to and pulling double duty with FR will definitely be more interesting. Racing three series this year (TA, FR Americas and SRX) and having some issues with our TA car has been challenging, however we plan on completing the full race season by giving it the best we got in Austin.”

Drissi’s response to his strategy to keep Francis Jr. behind him for the weekend was a simple one:

“Go flat out with our elbows out and win!”

The XtremeGT class will see the most diverse competition between motorsport manufacturers since its inception. Championship elect for both the National and West Coast titles, Erich Joiner returns in the No. 10 Good Boy Bob Coffee Roasters Porsche 991 GT3 R. He will be challenged by a pair of Corvettes driven by Randy Hale (No. 31 Hale Propeller Chevrolet Corvette) and Texas-native Mike Weathers (No. 48 GSpeed Chevrolet Corvette). Both have second place finishes in the class this season.

Following a 31 year absence, Mike Sheehan will return to Trans Am in his iconic Lamborghini Gallardo to complete the XGT lineup.

Justin Oakes returns to the SGT field, making his home-track debut in the championship-winning No. 11 Droneworks Chevrolet Corvette. Oakes missed the last race in Virginia to participate in his first SCCA National Runoffs competition after he clinched the SGT title two rounds early.

Only three points separate the father and son duo of Milton and Carey Grant for second and third place in the SGT class. While the pair do work together on the track, they are ultra competitive with each other and come Sunday Carey will treat his dad like any other racer on the track, as he aims for ultimate family bragging rights by taking the championship runner-up title.

With SGT West Coast champion John Schweitzer moving into TA2, the door is open for Cindi Lux. Lux has three consecutive victories this season in the No. 45 LuxPerformance/BlackRockCoffee Dodge Viper, and she is looking to close out her season strong with her fourth win for the finale.

Natalie Decker is back in the No. 29 Wisclift Audi R8 for Ave Motorsports to finish out her ProAm SGT title run.

Austin hometown driver Sean Young is the lone entry for the GT class, driving the No. 74 Corsair Racing Ginetta GT 55 GT4.

The Trans Am Series takes to the 3.4-mile, 20-turn circuit on Friday for testing before the official weekend starts on Saturday with the Trans Am practice block starting at 11:20 a.m. Central. The drivers will take a break before the 15-minute split qualifying sessions start at 5:20 p.m. Central. The enormous field of TA2 American Muscle cars will take the green Sunday at 10:50 a.m. Central followed by the TA/XGT/SGT/GT season finale at 1:50 p.m. Central. Live timing and scoring will be available at www.gotransam.com/livetiming

Veteran Crew Chief Matt McCall to Lead Keselowski, No. 6 Team in 2022

By
Official Release
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CONCORD, N.C., (Nov. 2, 2021) – Veteran crew chief Matt McCall has joined Roush Fenway Racing and will lead Brad Keselowski and the No. 6 team in the NASCAR Cup Series beginning in 2022.

McCall is fresh off his seventh season in the NCS, a stint that most recently included working with 2004 NASCAR Cup Champion Kurt Busch. Prior to that, McCall worked with another former Roush Fenway driver, Jamie McMurray, for four seasons in NASCAR’s top series.

Under McCall’s leadership, the No. 1 team at Chip Ganassi Racing scored 97 top-10 and 30 top-five finishes including three wins, most recently Atlanta in 2021, as well as Las Vegas in 2020, and Kentucky in 2019. The Kentucky win marked the first of McCall’s Cup career. He also led the team to NASCAR Playoff appearances in six of his seven seasons.

Prior to joining CGR, McCall served as the lead race engineer on the No. 31 car at Richard Childress Racing, a team that finished the 2014 NCS season as runner-up in the final standings of the NASCAR Playoffs.

Outside of his work as a crew chief and race engineer, McCall is also a successful driver himself with over 60 victories in late-model stock cars, and has competed as a driver in both the NASCAR Truck and Xfinity Series.

A native of Denver, North Carolina, McCall is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He and his wife, Meredith, and their two children reside in Denver.

Roush Fenway is in the process of solidifying its 2022 roster and will have additional announcements at a later date.

About Roush Fenway Racing
Roush Fenway Racing is one of the most successful teams in NASCAR history, fielding multiple teams in NASCAR Cup Series. In its 34th season of competition in 2021, Roush Fenway is a leader in driver development, having launched the careers for many of the top drivers in the sport. Off-track, Roush Fenway is a leader in NASCAR marketing solutions, having produced multiple award-winning Social Media, digital content and experiential marketing campaigns. Roush Fenway is co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Fame team owner Jack Roush and Fenway Sports Group, parent company of Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox and English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C. Visit RoushFenway.com, become a fan on Facebook and Instagram, and follow on Twitter at @roushfenway.

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