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Zane Smith wins in Martinsville thriller, Championship 4 set for Phoenix

By
Briar Starr
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MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA - OCTOBER 30: Zane Smith, driver of the #21 MRC Construction Chevrolet, and crew celebrate in the Ruoff Mortgage victory lane after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series United Rentals 200 at Martinsville Speedway on October 30, 2021 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)

Martinsville Speedway was the host for the penultimate race of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs in the Round of 6. Four drivers below the cut line were racing for a chance at the championship, but only one of those of four could advance with the win.

As the checkered flag flew at the end of the United Rentals 200, Zane Smith was in the right place at the right time and captured the victory to advance to the Championship 4 next weekend at Phoenix Raceway. Prior to the race, he was below the cut line but on the white flag lap, race leaders Stewart Friesen, Todd Gilliland and Smith were side-by-side, fighting for the lead. All three made contact with Friesen turning then race leader Gilliland, which allowed Smith to drive right on by. When Smith assumed the lead, more contact occurred behind the leaders and the race ultimately ended under yellow giving the win to Smith.

“It (those final laps) was definitely wild to say the least,” Smith said about the win. “I knew with me being third, I was in a really good spot. Speed-wise, I don’t think we had anything for the 38 (Gilliland), I think he had fresher tires than us. I was worried with it staying green. For the final restart, I had the 16 (Austin Hill) behind me and kind of got him upset at the start of the race and I got flipped off on Lap 2.”

“I got shoved into the corner and luckily, I came out three wide (on the) bottom and pretty much just white-knuckled it in the end.”

Coming into the Round of 6 at Martinsville, none of the drivers were locked into the Championship 4 but the top two drivers, John Hunter Nemechek and Ben Rhodes, had a more than 30 point lead over anyone else. Via the metric system, Nemechek was awarded the pole once again and started on the front row with Todd Gilliland beside him.

There were some notable moments during the first two stages. The first caution came out on Lap 46 when Cory Roper spun in Turn 4 and there was a big pileup wreck on Lap 87 on the frontstretch. Second place starter Gilliland swept both stages by leading nearly every lap. Nemechek finished third in the first stage and second in the second stage. However, things began to worsen for Nemechek and some of the other playoff drivers during the final stage.

With 70 laps to go, Nemechek was running in the back as other drivers used a different strategy and stayed out to assume the top spots. Those drivers included Zane Smith, Carson Hocevar and Stewart Friesen. Nemechek was looking to make his way back up toward the frontrunners. Unfortunately for the No. 4 Kyle Busch Motorsports team, they found themselves in a losing battle with the No. 22 of Austin Wayne Self. Going into Turns 3 and 4, Nemechek attempted to make a pass on Wayne Self, but Self made contact with the No. 4 and sent Nemechek up into the wall and he was eventually out of the race with a 39th place finish.

Now, all Nemechek could do was sit and watch and hope for some good luck for the rest of the way in order to have a chance to race for the championship. More and more yellows fell late in the going and Smith continued to maintain the lead. However, right around 27 to go, Gilliland inched his way back to the lead and tapped Smith out of the way. As a result, Smith moved back into second and was -41 below the cut line.

Fortunately for Smith, he caught a break with a late-race caution due to the No. 51 of Corey Heim and the No. 41 of Dawson Cram who spun in Turn 4. Playoff driver, Matt Crafton, was caught up in the incident and Crafton spun around as well but made it through the melee with no contact to his No. 88 truck.

The contact set up a late-race overtime restart. Gilliland chose the inside lane as did Smith. Friesen chose the outside lane and was the first driver to line up right beside Smith. During the final laps, there was numerous contact between the leaders. Gilliland was seeking his first win since Circuit of the Americus back in May and seemed poised to do so until he was turned by Friesen. Going into Turn 1, Friesen had one last shot to make a move on Smith but ended up spinning which allowed Smith to claim the checkered flag and a Championship 4 spot at Phoenix next weekend. Among the others fighting for a championship are Matt Crafton, Ben Rhodes, and Nemechek.

There were 14 cautions for 89 laps and 10 lead changes among four different leaders.

Smith led four times for 65 laps en route to the checkered flag.

Championship 4:

Zane Smith
Matt Crafton
Ben Rhodes
John Hunter Nemechek

Official Results following the United Rentals 200 at Martinsville Speedway:

  1. Zane Smith, led 65 laps
  2. Austin Hill
  3. Tanner Gray
  4. Chandler Smith
  5. Matt Crafton
  6. Parker Kligerman
  7. Ben Rhodes
  8. Taylor Gray
  9. Sheldon Creed
  10. Timmy Hill
  11. Corey Heim
  12. Carson Hocevar, led four laps
  13. Kris Wright
  14. Danny Bohn
  15. Spencer Boyd
  16. Chris Hacker
  17. Stewart Friesen
  18. Tate Fogleman
  19. Hailie Deegan
  20. Austin Wayne Self
  21. Grant Enfinger
  22. Bret Holmes
  23. Dawson Cram
  24. Derek Kraus
  25. Todd Gilliland, led 133 laps, won both stages, 1 lap down
  26. Tyler Ankrum, 1 lap down
  27. Jack Wood, 1 lap down
  28. Josh Berry, 1 lap down
  29. Spencer Davis, 2 laps down
  30. Jesse Iwuji, 2 laps down
  31. Johnny Sauter, 3 laps down
  32. Sage Karam, 4 laps down
  33. Ryan Truex, 6 laps down
  34. Josh Reaume, 6 laps down
  35. Roger Reuse, 11 laps down
  36. Jennifer Jo Cobb, 14 laps down
  37. Cory Roper, 16 laps down
  38. Colby Howard, 30 laps down
  39. John Hunter Nemechek, led two laps, OUT, Crash
  40. Chase Purdy, OUT, Rear Gear

Up Next: The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will head out west to Phoenix Raceway for the final race of the season on Friday, Nov. 6, live on Fox Sports 1 and MRN Radio at 8 p.m. ET.

Toyota claims 12th Truck Series Manufacturer Championship

By
Official Release
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MARTINSVILLE, Va. (October 30, 2021) – For the seventh time in the last nine seasons, Toyota has won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Manufacturer’s title. Toyota clinched the title a race before the conclusion of the 2021 season early on the strength of 14 in the first 21 events on the Truck Series schedule.

“The continued success of Toyota in the Truck Series is something we are very proud of,” said Paul Doleshal, Group Manager, Motorsports and Assets, Toyota Motor North America (TMNA). “We are excited to claim this title once again due to the hard work of our Tundra teams this season. Our veterans and young drivers have driven with poise and excellence, and we look forward watching them continue to battle for the driver’s championship as we close out this season.”

Toyota drivers have been dominating this season. Kyle Busch Motorsports driver John Hunter Nemechek leads all drivers with five victories, while team owner Busch has three wins of his own. ThorSport Racing’s Ben Rhodes drove to two wins at the start of the season – including Toyota’s 200th Truck Series victory at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course in February. Hattori Racing Enterprises’ Austin Hill also won two races in back-to-back fashion, while Kyle Busch Motorsports rookie Chandler Smith and ThorSport Racing’s Christian Eckes both earned their first-career victories.

Since joining the series in 2004, Toyota has won 212 Truck Series races and captured 156 poles in 426 races. In addition to this year’s title, Toyota also claimed manufacturer championships in 2006 (12 wins); 2007 (13 wins); 2008 (13 wins); 2009 (14 wins); 2010 (15 wins); 2013 (13 wins); 2014 (18 wins), 2015 (14 wins), 2016 (14 wins), 2017 (12 wins) and 2019 (12 wins).

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.

Toyota Racing – NCWTS Martinsville Post-Race Report – 10.30.21

By
Official Release
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TOYOTA ADVANCES THREE TUNDRAS TO CHAMPIONSHIP FOUR
Nemechek, Rhodes and Crafton set to compete for Truck Series title at Phoenix

MARTINSVILLE, Va. (October 30, 2021) – Austin Hill (second) led four Toyota Tundras inside the top-five finishers in the United Rentals 200 at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday afternoon. With the final results, Toyota has three of the Championship 4 drivers – John Hunter Nemechek, Ben Rhodes and Matt Crafton – who will battle for the Truck Series championship in Phoenix on Friday.

Toyota Racing Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Martinsville Speedway
Race 21 of 22 – 200 Laps, 150.2 Miles

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, Zane Smith
2nd, AUSTIN HILL
3rd, Tanner Gray
4th, CHANDLER SMITH
5th, MATT CRAFTON
6th, PARKER KLIGERMAN
7th, BEN RHODES
11th, COREY HEIM
14th, DANNY BOHN
17th, STEWART FRIESEN
21st, GRANT ENFINGER
24th, DEREK KRAUS
29th, SPENCER DAVIS
30th, JESSE IWUJI
31st, JOHNNY SAUTER
34th, JOSH REAUME
39th, JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK
*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

AUSTIN HILL, No. 16 United Rentals Toyota Tundra, Hattori Racing Enterprises

Finishing Position: 2nd

How would you describe your day?

“Eventful for sure. I felt like we really had to work on it all day. Our United Rentals Toyota Tundra was really fighting us at the start of the race. I lost some track position early. Just kept coming in and working on it and got it better. Did some really big adjustments. Scott (Zipadelli, crew chief) was being really aggressive with adjustments, which was really good. I felt like him and me worked really well together today on what I needed to make our Toyota Tundra better. We got it better there at the end. I didn’t think we had a shot at it in the end of the race and then all hell broke loose at the end and we were able to sneak by for a P2, which is what I needed here to build some confidence at this racetrack because in years past we haven’t been good here. First top-five for me here at Martinsville. I wanted it to stay green. I think me and the 21 (Zane Smith) could have raced down into three and four and who knows what could have happened if we had a shot at it. All-in-all, really solid effort. I really wanted to get a win for everybody at United Rentals since they were the title sponsor today, but just came up one short. We will build on it and when I come back here next year in the Xfinity Series, hopefully that gives me some confidence.”

MATT CRAFTON, No. 88 Black Label Bacon/Menards Toyota Tundra, ThorSport Racing

Finishing Position: 5th

What was your side of the scuffle between you and Sheldon Creed?

“At the end of the day, I wasn’t going to wreck Sheldon (Creed). I did get in the back of the 98 (Grant Enfinger) because I wheel hopped getting in to turn one, just everyone trying to get in there and I ran in the back of the 98 and moved him up in to the 2 (Sheldon Creed), but we were fine after that point, but then we get down in three and four and my teammate drove through me just to retaliate because I got in the back of him. I understand where Sheldon is upset because he got moved up the race track, but I did not wreck Sheldon. I did not wreck him on purpose, did not wreck him at all. The 98 is the one who wrecked us off of four and ended up getting him eventually. At the end of the day, this Menards Toyota Tundra was pretty good today, just needed track position at the end.”

BEN RHODES, No. 99 Bombardier LearJet 75 Toyota Tundra, ThorSport Racing

Finishing Position: 7th

How would you summarize the day?

“Crazy day even though I put all of my energy into not making it a crazy day, I mean people were beating my bumper off, I was letting them go, I was doing everything I could to not be like John Hunter (Nemechek) who, our fingers crossed he got in, but he was in a really bad spot to have to watch the whole race and I didn’t want that to happen to us. We did everything we could to get our stage points and get our Bombardier Tundra clean, but still, I had my blood pressure get up there at the end just trying to avoid the craziness. Yeah, it would have been nice to get a top five or chase a Grandfather clock, but we’re here for Phoenix and now this is my first time in the final four and I have a really good team behind me with ThorSport Racing and just really, really proud of their efforts all year. It comes down to one race now and I know we can do it.”

STEWART FRIESEN, No. 52 Halmar International Toyota Tundra, Halmar Friesen Racing

Finishing Position: 17th

What did you think of everyone being that aggressive at the end of the race?

“I mean it always is everytime we are here. It’s bumper cars and that leads to cautions. It starts from the top down and that’s all you can do. You get leaned on and you lean on somebody back. I didn’t mean to wreck everyone at the end. I was just trying to lean back and protect my turf. It is what it is. It sucks that we didn’t make it farther to battle in Phoenix. Big thanks to Toyota and Halmar. We will be back here next year. Just crappy way to short track race, that’s all it is.”

JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK, No. 4 Pye-Barker Fire & Safety Toyota Tundra, Kyle Busch Motorsports

Finishing Position: 39th

What happened between you and Austin Wayne Self?

“I don’t know. He shouldn’t be out here if he’s just going to hook someone in the right rear and turn them in the fence. NASCAR should definitely look at that. It’s Playoff contention. You’ve got to have respect and he doesn’t. It is what it is. Hopefully we make it to the final four and we definitely will have something for them in Phoenix.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. and North America for more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands. During that time, Toyota has created a tremendous value chain as our teams have contributed to world-class design, engineering, and assembly of more than 40 million cars and trucks in North America, where we have 14 manufacturing plants, 15 including our joint venture in Alabama (10 in the U.S.), and directly employ more than 47,000 people (over 36,000 in the U.S.). Our 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.) sold nearly 2.8 million cars and trucks (nearly 2.4 million in the U.S.) in 2019.

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

Sage Karam makes his NASCAR Truck Series Debut Driving for Jordan Anderson Racing at Martinsville

By
Official Release
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Jordan Anderson Racing NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race Overview-
Martinsville Speedway; October 30, 2021

Track: Martinsville Speedway– Oval (0.526-Miles)
Race: United Rentals 200; 200 Laps –50/50/100; 105.2 Miles
Date/Broadcast: Saturday; October 30, 2021 1:00 PM ET
TV: Fox Sports 1 (FS1), and the FOX Sports App
Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN)- Check Local Listings for affiliate, and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90
Social Media: Jordan Anderson Racing; Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
Sage Karam; Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Sage Karam – No. 3 Montage Mountain Chevrolet Silverado Preview- Martinsville Speedway

News and Notes:

– Starting Position; 26-year-old Sage Karam from Nazareth, Penn. will line up in the 31st position for the United Rentals 200 at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday afternoon. Due to no practice or qualifying the starting lineup would be calculated by the competition-based performance metrics system; fastest lap in the previous race 15 percent, driver finish from previous race 25 percent, owner points 25 percent, and driver points 35 percent.

– Martinsville Speedway Stats; Saturday afternoon’s United Rentals 200 will mark Karam’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) debut, and first start at famed Martinsville Speedway. The IndyCar and open-wheel veteran holds three NASCAR Xfinity Series starts to his credit this season all for Jordan Anderson Racing (JAR) having competed at the Indianapolis Road Course, Bristol Motor Speedway (BMS), and Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval. In those three starts Karam would collect finishes of 26th, 16th and 25th respectively earning an average finish of 22.333.

Featured Partner

– Montage Mountain; Montage Mountain is a locally-driven Ski Resort and Waterpark dedicated to delivering premier service and an excellent customer experience. Montage Mountain provides the steepest vertical drop ski resort in all of PA. With 27 trails, seven ski lifts, 15 lanes of tubing, and a full-service lodge equipped with Slocum Hollow Bar & Restaurant, Montage Mountain offers something for everyone! In the summer months, Montage Mountain transforms into an exhilarating water park. The resort is also home to the thrilling ZipRider, a 1/2-mile cable ride that lets you soar down the mountain reaching speeds over 50 mph. Guests can always find something fun happening at Montage Mountain, ranging from birthday parties and corporate outings to festivals, concerts, and much more.
You can learn more at MontageMountainResorts.com.

– Chassis; JAR will bring Chassis No. 001 to Martinsville Speedway for Karam to compete with in Saturday afternoon’s United Rentals 200. Chassis No. 001 last competed for JAR in the UNOH 200 Presented by Ohio Logistics at Bristol Motor Speedway in September with Howie DiSavino III behind the wheel. In DiSavino’s first race at Bristol he would quickly learn how challenging ‘The World’s Fastest Half Mile’ truly is being involved in multiple on track incidents and ultimately finishing in the 28th position. Prior to Bristol, Chassis No. 001 raced at Pocono Raceway in June where DiSavino would remain on the lead lap, and race to his best career NCWTS finish in 22nd. Chassis No. 001 has been on track one other time during the 2021 season for JAR seeing action at Texas Motor Speedway with DiSavino driving. After starting in the 30th position the young driver from Chesterfield, VA would drive to a 23rd place finish in his first 1.5-mile speedway attempt.

About Jordan Anderson Racing

Jordan Anderson Racing (JAR) is a NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) team, owned by owner/driver Jordan Anderson. Established in 2018, JAR has competed full-time in the last three NCWTS seasons claiming back-to-back runner-up finishes in the 2020 & 2021 season opening NextEra 250 at Daytona International Speedway. JAR fields a full-time entry in the NXS Series; the No. 31 Chevrolet Camaro SS driven by Jordan Anderson, Tyler Reddick, Josh Berry, Kaz Grala, Sage Karam, Erik Jones, Austin & Ty Dillon. JAR also fields the No. 3 Chevrolet Silverado for select drivers in the NCWTS.

24 Hours of Racing Ahead for Round 3 Racing at Sebring

By
Official Release
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Sebring, Fla. (29 October 2021) – With the 2021 World Racing League (WRL) season winding down, Round 3 Racing heads to Sebring International Raceway for the penultimate round on October 29-31st. The weekend at Sebring will host the only 24-hour endurance race on the schedule this year.

No. 701 Team Cooper Tires Porsche Cayman (GP1)

Standing on the top step of the podium in the previous round at VIRginia International Raceway, the Team Cooper Tire team aim to replicate results. New for the endurance weekend at Sebring, Brian Ghidinelli joins Mike Gilbert, Loni Unser, and Mo Dadkhah in the driver lineup of the Porsche Cayman.

Ghidinelli, founder of Hagerty MotorsportReg and Race Hero, brings experience and success to the team with over 10 years behind the wheel.

“It is incredibly exciting to join Round 3 Racing in the No. 701 Team Cooper Tires Porsche Cayman,” said Ghidinelli. “Being able to come to Sebring and do a 24 hour race is a very special opportunity. Mike (Gilbert), Mo (Dadkhah) and Loni (Unser) have a whole season of work together already so joining the team I want to make sure I keep the car in good condition for them. My ultimate goal is to win and it is possible with this team and this car.”

No. 601 Team Sentinel Porsche Boxster (GP2)

The Team Sentinel lineup of James Candelaria, Christian Maloof, Hannah Grisham and Cole Loftsgard have redemption on their mind as their weekend at VIR was plagued by mechanical gremlins. The R3R crew worked through the six week break to fine tune the Boxster.

Loftsgard, who usually pilots the sister No. 605 Porsche Boxster, joins the No. 601 Team Sentinel Porsche Boxster adding to the strength in the driver’s seat. Loftsgard has stood atop the podium four times this season in the GP3 category. He hopes to bring that history of success to the No. 601 Team Sentinel Porsche Boxster this weekend.

Primed with fresh machinery and an additional teammate, the Sentinel drivers will make their first 24 hour race start together on Saturday.

“When you think of Sebring, you think of all the history that has been made here,” said Grisham. “The Round 3 Racing crew has worked hard to get the No. 601 Team Sentinel Porsche Boxster ready for this weekend. 24 hours is a long time for a race car and Sebring can be brutal to the equipment with all the bumps and surface changes. Our job is to keep the car clean so we can be at the finish.”

No. 605 Hagerty Drivers Club Porsche Boxster (GP1)

Currently leading the GP3 National Championship, the No. 605 Hagerty Drivers Club Porsche Boxster of Jim Ptak, Dennis Neel, and Carter Pease welcome Buz McCall, Brad McCall, and Sarah Montgomery to the driver lineup.

The No. 605 Porsche has shined all season claiming seven consecutive podiums including four wins and currently hold the championship lead by 16 points heading into the weekend. Crossing the finish line Sunday is the goal for the six drivers as the 24 hour race will count for double points.

The No. 605 Porsche returns to WRL competition with a newly built chassis ready for Sebring.

“We have put in a lot of time and effort in the shop to get this car built and ready for this weekend,” said Brad McCall. “The guys in the No. 605 have been super successful this season so Buz (McCall), Sarah (Montgomery) and I will help them continue that as much as possible. Rest is going to be the most important part and can make or break your race. Luckily we came as prepared as possible and it really will be a team effort to finish this race.”

The 24 Hours of Sebring International Raceway begins Saturday, October 30th at 12:00 PM ET. Live streaming will be available via the World Racing League YouTube channel (YouTube.com/RaceWRL).

Thwaits Heads to Finale at Texas for Trans Am Season Championship Looking Strong in Top Five

By
Official Release
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Franklin, TENNESSEE – October 29, 2021 – Although it’s been far from plain sailing, 2020 Extreme GT Class Champion Ken Thwaits has enjoyed a hugely rewarding rookie season in the TA Class and is now aiming to go out on a high note. The Trans Am presented by Pirelli series rolls into Texas and the prestigious Circuit of The Americas for the annual finale and what will be the Round 12 of the 2021 season in the TA Class. Driver Ken Thwaits sits in P4 in the Driver’s Championship with an impressive 196 points.

Ken has made the podium on two occasions this year, at Laguna Seca and then again in Virginia where he was P3 on both occasions and has picked up points very consistently all season. He drove the opening race way back in March in a Dodge Challenger but has been piloting a Chevrolet Camaro for the rest of year to great effect under the Showtime Motorsports banner with the black Franklin Road Apparel No. 5 car being one of the fixtures on the circuit.

While a podium finish in the Drivers Championship looks beyond his reach, to finish behind only newly crowned Chris Dyson and former Champions Tomy Drissi and Ernie Francis is a noteworthy achievement, something not lost on Ken when we spoke to him at his Tennessee headquarters this week.

“Winning the Extreme GT Class last year was a huge thrill but if anything this year has been even better. Being up among such great teams and drivers is very satisfying and I want to thank everyone behind the Franklin Road Apparel team. We’ve really got to know each other over the season and it paid off with some great results. Now, I want to go out on a high and do as well as we possibly can at COTA.”

Joining Ken and Showtime Motorsports next weekend in Texas will be Cameron Lawrence, two-time Trans Am Series Champion. He will return to the Trans Am Series for the season finale event at Circuit of the Americas and will pilot the #6 Franklin Road Apparel Chevrolet Camaro in TA2 for Showtime Motorsports.

Showtime Motorsports has available options for the right driver, which could be you! This is an excellent flagship program and Trans Am racing in both TA1 and TA2 are both opportunities being offered for 2022. Get in touch with Ken!

Let’s not forget, there’s more to Ken than being a driver and his Franklin Road Apparel business not only sponsored the hugely successful inaugural TA2 Class race at the Music City Grand Prix in Nashville but Ken also drove in it, charging through the field from an unpromising position to finish in P14 from 37 starters at his home town event. In conjunction with Trans Am, Franklin Road Apparel have produced some terrific commemorative gear which is available through the Franklin Road Apparel website.

Circuit of the Americas (CoTA) is a grade 1 FIA-specification 3.427-mile motor racing track and is the venue of the Formula One United States Grand Prix. It’s arguably North America’s Premier Motorsports facility these days, and having been designed primarily with single seater cars in mind, presents a unique and particularly tough challenge for the stock cars of Trans Am. It also makes for one of the best spectacles of the year.

Visit the team’s website for Showtime Motorsports, showtimemotorsports.net. Learn more about the Showtime Motorsports team partner, Franklin Road Apparel, at franklinroad.com and keep up to date with the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli at gotransam.com. #GoTransAm

Check out the Showtime Motorsports Facebook page: facebook.com/showtimemotorsp/ and @ShowtimeMotorsp on Instagram

About Showtime Motorsports:
The Showtime Motorsports brand includes Ken Thwait’s racing team and racecars, and an outstanding classic Camaro collection. Showtime Motorsports brings together a dynamic staff who employ diverse talents and share a passion for cars, racing and caring for clients like they are our own family members.

SS GreenLight Racing | Joe Graf Jr. Martinsville Speedway October Event Preview

By
Official Release
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SS GreenLight Racing | NASCAR Xfinity Series
Martinsville (Va.) Speedway | Dead On Tools 250

Fast Facts
No. 07 SS GreenLight Racing Team:
Driver: Joe Graf Jr. (@JoeGrafJr)
Primary Partner(s): Dead On Tools 250
Manufacturer: Chevrolet Camaro
Crew Chief: Joe Williams
Dead On Tools 250 Starting Position: 32nd (Event Formula)
Driver Points Position: 27th | Owner Points Position: 38th
Engine: Earnhardt-Childress Racing Engines (ECR)

Notes of Interest:

Welcome Back: This weekend at Martinsville Raceway, Joe Graf Jr. and the No. 07 SS GreenLight Racing Chevrolet Camaro will highlight CoverSeal as the primary partner in the penultimate race of the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series season.

CoverSeal® —the standout cover option keeping vehicles and other outdoor investments safe from rodents and the weather has served as associate marketing partner at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway in August, Richmond (Va.) Raceway in September and last weekend at Kansas Speedway.

This weekend, however, CoverSeal® will increase its commitment and serve as the primary marketing partner in their first-ever primary partnership in auto racing.

We Have You COVERED: Racing fans know the importance of keeping cars in top-quality condition, and they can extend an unmatched level of care toward their own vehicles with CoverSeal®.

These covers don’t just protect vehicles from nature’s damage: whether fans plan to tailgate at the track or barbecue in the backyard, CoverSeal® craftsmanship can protect grills and furniture when not in use.

The CoverSeal® weighted apron helps seal the cover to the ground on each version, making the cover easy to use and hard to beat.

Spooktacular Decision: To celebrate their first foray into the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Joe Graf Jr., CoverSeal® and Graf Jr. unveiled a limited edition Halloween-themed No. 07 Chevrolet Camaro hero card.

The car decked out in spooktacular colors is also filled with some personal information from Joe Graf Jr. surrounding All Hallows’ Eve.

Halloween first came to the United States in the 1840s but the observance of Halloween dates back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain.

The custom of Halloween came to America in the 1840s with Irish immigrants fleeing a potato famine. At that time, the favorite pranks in New England included tipping over outhouses and unhinging fence gates.

Another New Sponsor Announcement: Before the curtain is drawn on the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, SS GreenLight Racing and Joe Graf Jr. will announce again another innovative marketing partner for the final race of the year at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway next month.

The new sponsor is also new to NASCAR and the Xfinity Series scene and is scheduled to be announced on Monday, Nov. 1, 2021.

Save The Date: The offseason may be approaching, but that doesn’t mean Joe Graf Jr. won’t be around. This week, he confirmed his attendance for this year’s 32nd annual Stocks-For-Tots.

Returning after a one-year sabbatical due to COVID-19, this year’s event is set for Tuesday, December 7, 2021, in Mooresville, N.C.

Additional details on the engagement will be available through Graf’s social media or Stocks-For-Tots, official Facebook page.

Since 1989, Stocks for Tots has generated more than $1 million and collected well in excess of 70,000 toys during its never-ending efforts to raise awareness of child abuse throughout North Carolina.

School Back In Session: While juggling a full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule with SS GreenLight Racing, college life has resumed for Joe Graf Jr.

With the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Graf Jr. has resorted to online classes at the University of New York, where he is pursuing a degree in business, media and sports management.

In Loving Memory: This weekend at Kansas Speedway and for the remainder of the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, Joe Graf Jr. and SS GreenLight Racing will carry the name of Bray Pemberton on the passenger side name rail of the team’s No. 07 Chevrolet Camaro.

Pemberton passed away on September 8, 2021, after a brief illness.

Pemberton was an instrumental figure in the everyday business and growth of Graf’s motorsports career. He will be deeply missed by all.

Saving You Some Money: As fall has officially fallen, Joe Graf Jr.’s other marketing partner Z Grills still wants to help the NASCAR community save money – but also enjoy the perfect fall barbecue dinner.

With the holidays on the horizon, Z Grills Racing (ZGrillsRacing.com) is offering a 10 percent discount off your TOTAL purchase, using the code NASCAR at checkout.

Joe Graf Jr. Xfinity Series Martinsville Speedway Starts: Joe Graf Jr. will make his third NASCAR Xfinity Series start at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway in Saturday night’s Dead On Tools 250.

In his two previous races, Graf Jr. finished 21st and 38th respectively. In his most recent trip to the historic Virginia race track, Graf Jr. contended for a top-20 finish but was wiped out of the race by another competitor 71 laps from the finish.

Joe Graf Jr. Xfinity Series Career Short Track Nuggets: At tracks classified as a short track, Graf has competed in 10 NASCAR Xfinity Series races. He holds an average starting position of 25.3 and an average result of 22.6.

Kansas Speedway | Kansas Lottery 300 Race Recap: In the most recent NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Kansas Speedway, Graf Jr. fought hard in the final intermediate race of the season.

After starting 30th, Graf muscled his No. 07 EAT SLEEP RACE Chevrolet Camaro inside the top-20, until a series of flat tires flattened the team’s solid effort, resulting in a 29th place finish.

Put Me In Coach: To strengthen his physique, Joe Graf Jr. began collaborating with new trainer and former NASCAR Cup Series Josh Wise during the 2020 offseason.

In addition to Wise, Graf has also been working with former NASCAR driver and open-wheel driver Scott Speed on being more disciplined behind the wheel of his No. 07 CoverSeal Chevrolet Camaro.

Sneaker Mania: Along with the adrenaline of the Motorsports competition, Joe Graf Jr. also has a vogue for hype sneakers. In his current collection, he owns and wears at least 85 limited edition sneakers – and his collection continues to grow every month.

The current estimated value of his collection tops $90,000.

From the Pit Box: Industry veteran Joe Williams is Joe Graf Jr.’s crew chief.

He will crew chief his 64th NASCAR Xfinity Series race as crew chief on Saturday night and his third at the 0.526-mile oval.

In his previous 63 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, he has collected four top-five and 15 top-10 finishes.

Hello From The Other Side: Graf Jr. has a teammate at SS GreenLight Racing. Veteran JJ Yeley will drive the No. 17 Chevrolet Camaro on Saturday night for his 15th start of the 2021 season.

Yeley is set to make his 350th career NASCAR Xfinity Series start and fourth at Martinsville. His best Xfinity track finish occurred in the 2006 Goody’s 250, where he finished ninth after starting 10th for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Follow on Social Media: For more on Joe Graf Jr. visit JoeGrafJr.com, like him on Facebook (Joe Graf Jr.), follow him on Twitter (@JoeGrafJr) and Instagram (@joegrafjr).

For more on SS GreenLight Racing, please like them on Facebook (SS GreenLight Racing) and follow them on Twitter (@SSGLR0708) and visit their website at SSGreenLight.com.

Joe Graf Jr. Pre-Race Quotes:

On Martinsville Speedway: “Redemption is on my mind this weekend at Martinsville. I am stoked about having CoverSeal onboard our No. 07 Chevrolet Camaro for the next to last race of the year.

“Martinsville is a tough short track, but I embrace the challenge and I would like nothing more than leaving Martinsville on Saturday night with a performance similar to what we had in our most recent short track at Bristol Motor Speedway last month.

“We’ve had a lot of speed in our cars the last few weeks and we’ve been able to capitalize on that when we didn’t have bad luck on our side. I hope we can leave Martinsville with some momentum on our side for the finale at Phoenix.”

On Xfinity Series Homestretch Run: “Hard to believe there is just two races left in the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. Just two more weekends. Our season has not gone the way we planned, but it has not been from a lack of effort, just a variety of circumstances – most beyond our control.

“I really look forward to Martinsville and Phoenix though. We see those races as opportunities. Not only an opportunity to deliver strong finishes but build some momentum for the offseason. We are also starting to get focused on 2022 and cannot wait to announce those plans soon.”

Race Information:

The Dead On Tools 250 (250 laps | 131.5 miles) is the 32nd of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2021 schedule. The 40-car field will take the green flag on Sat., Oct. 30, 2021, shortly after 6:00 p.m. ET with live coverage on NBCSN (NBC Sports Network), the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90.

About SS Green Light Racing:

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

SS GreenLight Racing will continue with a two-car program in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2021.

Jordan Anderson Racing and Josh Berry Ready for Martinsville Challenge

By
Official Release
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Jordan Anderson Racing NASCAR Xfinity Series Race Overview-
Martinsville Speedway; October 30, 2021

Track: Martinsville Speedway– Oval (0.526-Miles)
Race: Dead On Tools 250; 250 Laps– 60/60/130; 131.5 Miles
Date/Broadcast: Saturday; October 30, 2021 6:00 PM ET
TV: NBCSN and the NBC Sports App
Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) – Check Local Listings for affiliate, and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90
Social Media: Jordan Anderson Racing; Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
Josh Berry; Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Josh Berry– No. 31 THERA-GESIC/ Solid Rock Carriers/ Tailored Media
Bommarito Automotive Group Chevrolet Camaro SS Preview- Martinsville Speedway

News and Notes:

– Starting Position; 30-year-old Josh Berry of Hendersonville, Tenn. will start the Dead On Tools 250 from the 29th position at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday afternoon. Due to no practice or qualifying the starting lineup was calculated by the competition-based performance metrics system; fastest lap in the previous race 15 percent, driver finish from previous race 25 percent, owner points 25 percent, and driver points 35 percent.

– Martinsville Speedway Stats; Saturday’s Dead On Tools 250 will mark Berry’s 22nd NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) start of the 2021 season, and fifth for Jordan Anderson Racing (JAR). Berry holds one NXS start at Martinsville Speedway earlier this season driving a Chevrolet Camaro SS to victory in Cook Out 250. Berry is having a year to remember with a part time NXS schedule claiming two wins, six Top-5’s, and 12 Top-10’s. While driving the No. 31 for JAR, Berry raced to an impressive eighth-place finish at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in June in his first ever road course event and visit to the Central Ohio road course. Three weeks later Berry was back in the car at Pocono Raceway another track he had not competed at previously. Berry would prove the ‘Tricky Tri-Angle’ wasn’t so tricky as he raced in the Top-15 all day on the way to capturing a ninth-place finish. Berry also made starts for JAR at Atlanta Motor Speedway in July, and Richmond Raceway in September where he was able to finish 23rd and 24th respectively. In his four starts for JAR, Berry holds average finish of 16.00.

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  • Bommarito Automotive Group; A primary supporter of Jordan Anderson Racing, Bommarito Automotive Group is celebrating 50 years in the St. Louis marketplace, the Bommarito Automotive Group currently operates 20 automotive franchises throughout every St. Louis neighborhood led by president John Bommarito and the over 900 dedicated team members. Bommarito is recognized by the St. Louis Business Journal as Missouri’s No. 1 selling automotive group and is currently ranked 52nd in the nation. What once started as a vision to have one Bommarito vehicle in every driveway, is today a reality thanks to the ‘Where Price Sells Cars” mission.

For more information on the Bommarito Automotive Group, visit them online at Bommarito.com, and follow their social channels on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Quote Box;

  • John Schutte, CEO and MainPointe Founder; “MainPointe Pharmaceuticals is excited to not only be associated with Jordan Anderson Racing, but also to engage with NASCAR fans in such a unique way”
  • Jordan Anderson, JAR Team Owner; “It’s always great to bring a new partner to the team like MainPointe Pharmaceuticals – as well as having returning ones like Solid Rock Carriers, Tailored Media and Bommarito Automotive Group that have supported our journey and drivers all year.”

“With Josh’s past success at this track, I feel we have put together a great package for him to make his way to the front. Martinsville under the lights the night before Halloween, will for sure be a spectacular race for all the fans in attendance – and a race we hope will help bring our season to a close on a high note.”

– Chassis; JAR will bring Chassis No. 102 to the track for Berry to compete with in Saturday’s Dead On Tools 250 at Martinsville Speedway. Chassis No. 102 last competed for JAR at Watkins Glen International in the Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey 200 with Erik Jones behind the wheel. In that race Jones would compete in the Top-15 all day before being involved in a late race accident where the damage was too severe to continue resulting in a 36th place finish. In the chassis debut at New Hampshire Motor Speedway with Driver/Owner Jordan Anderson behind the wheel No. 102 would run in the Top-20 the first two stages, but would encounter battery issues at the completion of Stage-2 resulting in a 34th place finish.

About Jordan Anderson Racing

Jordan Anderson Racing (JAR) is a NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) team, owned by owner/driver Jordan Anderson. Established in 2018, JAR has competed full-time in the last three NCWTS seasons claiming back-to-back runner-up finishes in the 2020 & 2021 season opening NextEra 250 at Daytona International Speedway. JAR fields a full-time entry in the NXS Series; the No. 31 Chevrolet Camaro SS driven by Jordan Anderson, Tyler Reddick, Josh Berry, Kaz Grala, Sage Karam, Erik Jones, Austin & Ty Dillon. JAR also fields the No. 3 Chevrolet Silverado for select drivers in the NCWTS.

Wayne Taylor Racing Scores Class Win and Five Podiums in LST North America Finale

By
Official Release
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Misano, Italy. (October 29, 2021) – The final two races of the 2021 Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Championship were held today during the Lamborghini Super Trofeo World Final weekend at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in Emilia-Romagna, Italy.

With the Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing stable of five drivers competing in four cars across three classes, the team took home a class win and five top-three finishes in the final two rounds of the North American series. The Prestige Performance | WTR team ended up third and fourth in the Dealer and Team Championships respectively, with 8 wins and 23 podiums on the season.

Kyle Marcelli and Daniel Formal started both races at the 16-turn, 4.064-kilometer circuit in fourth position. Marcelli fell to sixth at the start of Race 1, but pushed onward before coming in at the opening of the pit window to hand the No. 101 machine to Formal. After a pair of retirements ahead, Daniel delivered a fourth place finish. Race 2 saw Formal behind the wheel for the start, and he got away cleanly, maintaining fourth position. With precise work from the team in the pits, Kyle Marcelli took to the track, but had to stop on his outlap due to a fuel pressure issue. He got the car moving again and persevered to secure a top-10 overall finish and another fourth place finish in class for the team.

With the North America season complete, Marcelli and Formal secure fourth in the PRO driver’s championship, concluding a year that saw a dominant win at Laguna Seca and a sweep of both races at Road America.

Jordan Missig concluded his LST North America campaign with a hard-fought fourth position in Race 1, and a second place in Race 2. A flying start saw him take the lead of his class in the first race, running directly behind the PRO drivers. He defended well from an AM class competitor behind, relinquishing the overall position rather than fighting and losing time to the chasing PRO|AM pack. He entered the pits maintaining the class lead, but with single drivers required to take a three-second time penalty when they stop, he cycled out in second position. After a late caution, the field went green again for a one-lap dash to the finish. Jordan had his elbows out, running three-wide mid-lap, and swapping positions with P3 twice in as many corners before coming home P4 in class. In Race 2, he started cleanly, but spun early. He responded well, fighting his way back to end the North America season with a podium and another second-place finish.

Missig’s rookie season in sportscars ends with an impressive collection of hardware earned. After scoring a class podium in his debut back in May, he has shown consistent improvement, adding two wins and five podiums to his growing resume en route to third place in the PRO|AM points standings.

Ashton Harrison had a thrilling weekend on track in her red Harrison Contracting No. 125 car. Race 1 was looking dire in the opening minutes as contact from a competitor left her limping back to the pits with a left rear tire puncture, but she recovered to secure a third-place podium for the team. Her fortunes reversed in Race 2, when a late mistake by the class leader allowed her to take the lead and despite contact on the final lap, win the race—her third of the year. This final victory helped Harrison secure second place in the AM points standings in her first season contesting in the class and her third LST campaign overall.

Randy Sellari ended his season in an emphatic fashion with a pair of podiums on the weekend, his best of the year. His second place in class in the first race ties his best race result of the season and his second podium in the final race was the result of a fast and consistent drive. With his first class podium at the final round on United States soil last month and another two in Italy this weekend, Randy Sellari ends the 2021 campaign on a positive note. He finished fourth in the AM class points.

Before switching gears to the 2022 Lamborghini Super Trofeo Championship, the North American drivers will join their European counterparts on track for the World Final rounds tomorrow, October 30, and Sunday, October 31. The first race of the weekend begins tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. ET/4:30 p.m. CET. Tune in to Lamborghini Squadra Corse’s official YouTube channel for live streams of all four races.

FINAL RESULTS: NA ROUND 6, RACE 11

PRO CLASS, No. 101 Prestige Performance with WTR Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo
Kyle Marcelli | Daniel Formal – P4 overall
Qualification by Kyle Marcelli – P4 overall

PRO|AM CLASS, No. 153 WTR Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo
Jordan Missig – P4 in class
Qualification by Jordan Missig – P2 in class

AM CLASS, No. 125 Harrison Contracting with Wayne Taylor Racing Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo
Ashton Harrison – P3 in class
Qualification by Ashton Harrison – P3 in class

AM CLASS, No. 103 JG Wentworth with Wayne Taylor Racing Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo
Randy Sellari – P2 in class
Qualification by Randy Sellari – P4 in class

FINAL RESULTS: NA ROUND 6, RACE 12

PRO CLASS, No. 101 Prestige Performance with WTR Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo
Kyle Marcelli | Daniel Formal – P4 in class, P10 overall
Qualification by Daniel Formal – P4 overall

PRO|AM CLASS, No. 153 WTR Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo
Jordan Missig – P2 in class
Qualification by Jordan Missig – P3 in class

AM CLASS, No. 125 Harrison Contracting with Wayne Taylor Racing Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo
Ashton Harrison – P1 in class
Qualification by Ashton Harrison – P3 in class

AM CLASS, No. 103 JG Wentworth with Wayne Taylor Racing Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo
Randy Sellari – P3 in class
Qualification by Randy Sellari – P4 in class

Kyle Marcelli, No. 101 Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo (PRO)
“The first day of racing is complete here in Misano, Italy. We qualified fourth for both Race 1 and Race 2. All week, we seem to be really good on used tires, but struggled on new tires. We haven’t quite figured that out yet, but we started fourth and finished fourth in the first race. It was okay. We went back to the drawing board and made some changes for the second race and the pace was a little bit better for us. The car was a little bit happier. Unfortunately, we had a fuel pump issue that came up after the pitstop that stalled the car on the exit of the pitlane. We went down a lap, having to refire the car. After that, I was quite pleased with the balance. We were one of the quickest cars on track at the end of the race, but we weren’t in the race to fight. So we’ll put our heads together one more time. The guys here at Wayne Taylor Racing with Prestige Performance are working extremely hard, tweaking everything they can to give us more speed and improve the car. The competition is very strong. It’s been a long week. I know all the crew are tired, but tomorrow is the big day, the World Final. We’ll have the warmup, qualifying, Race 1 and Race 2 and we’ll be pushing one hundred percent to get this Prestige Performance machine up front.”

Daniel Formal, No. 101 Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo (PRO)
“Race 2 did not go as planned. I had a good start and was running P3, less than three seconds from the leader. It would’ve helped us in the pit stops because he’s a single driver. We had a great stop, changed drivers quickly, but we had a fuel pump issue that took us out of the race. We finished P4, but it wasn’t what we wanted. Thank you to Wayne Taylor Racing, Prestige Performance and Lamborghini Paramus. Tomorrow is World Final day and we’ll try and make America proud.”

Ashton Harrison, No. 125 Harrison Contracting with Wayne Taylor Racing Lamborghini Super Trofeo (AM)
“Super excited to get the win here in Misano for Race 2. What a great way to end the U.S. rounds. I can’t wait to compete in the World Final tomorrow with my teammate Jordan and hoping for a success for the entire Wayne Taylor Racing team. They really deserve it. It’s been a long week, but everyone has had a great attitude and everyone has been putting in great work. I’m so grateful for my car chief, Shawn, thankful for all the WTR mechanics who have busted their tails to get my car ready after having damage in Race 1 and Race 2. They’ve put in a lot of hard work and I’m so thankful for them and for Harrison Contracting for allowing me to do this. Looking forward to the rest of the weekend.”

Jordan Missig, No. 153 Wayne Taylor Racing (PRO|AM)
“Today was a good day, overall. In Race 1, we showed great race pace getting out front and leading early. We messed up a little with the pit stop which dropped us back a spot before the safety car came out, setting us up for a one-lap shootout to decide the race. It was a free for all and I came out on the wrong end of it going from P2 to P4. Race 2 brought a bit more luck on my side. After getting a suboptimal start, I rallied back to finish the season off with at P2 finish. We now turn our focus to the World Final rounds to bring home some more hardware for WTR.”

CB Motorsports to pair Shield, Bacon in 2021 Michelin Pilot Challenge finale

By
Official Release
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PunchOut2Go, the Business-to-Business commerce integration platform joins team to support Sheild’s IMSA debut

BRASELTON, Ga. (29 Oct. 2021) – CB Motorsports will close out the 2021 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge campaign with a two-car entry in the Fox Factory 120 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

Team newcomer Coby Shield will join Caleb Bacon in the No. 81 Hyundai Veloster N in TCR for the two-hour race, joining Mark Kvamme and Trenton Estop in the No. 18 Mercedes-AMG GT4 in GS as the growing team races in both classes for the first-time this season.

Shield will be making his IMSA debut after capturing an SCCA National Time Trial Championship and the NASA American Iron national title at Daytona in September racing a Mustang for Carroll Shelby Racing.

Brady Behrman, Co-Founder and CSO of PunchOut2Go, the Business-to-Business commerce integration platform, had been in talks to join CB Motorsport, but moved the conversation to helping Shield get the opportunity for his first run at the IMSA level.

“Coby (Shield) has amazing talent, is a great person all around and incredibly deserving of this opportunity to carry the PunchOut2Go CB Motorsports powered Hyundai to the podium at Road Atlanta and continue to elevate his career” said Behrman, who is also Shield’s teammate in American Iron.

“I invited PunchOut2Go to the IMSA race at Virginia International Raceway, and they loved it,” said CB Motorsports team owner Chad Bacon. “We got Coby and Brady together with Ricky (Reynolds, CB Motorsports team manager), and we did a test together last week at VIR, which was the first time we really spent time together. Everybody meshed really well, so we decided to go for it.”

Now, Shield looks forward to racing in IMSA for the first time.

“I’m insanely excited about this opportunity, because I’ve been going to the Rolex 24 At Daytona with my dad since I was nine or 10 years old,” Shield said. “We’ve been huge sports car fans forever, and this is definitely a dream come true. To me, IMSA is the pinnacle of sports car racing in North America, and it’s pretty darn cool to be racing against many of the people I’ve looked up to for a long time.”

Shield’s background includes some motorcycle and road racing, although he’s concentrated on time trials in recent years, setting a track record at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in a Camaro SS.

“I love Road Atlanta – it’s probably my second-favorite track after VIR, my home track,” said Shield, a 27-year-old from Lynchburg, Va. “I’ve been there quite a few times, racing and coaching.”

Bacon, the son of team principal Chad Bacon, recently wrapped the SRO TC America TCA championship at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with four victories among eight podium finishes in 2021. He is the grandson of four-time Rolex 24 At Daytona winner Dr. Al Bacon.

“Everybody worked together really well, and both drivers were up to pace very quickly,” said Chad Bacon about the VIR test. “We can’t wait for Caleb and Coby to team up for Road Atlanta and to continue to grow our program here in IMSA.”

Kvamme and Estep stepped up to the lead GS class in the new Mercedes at Road America for the final four races of the season after starting the year in TCR. Their best finish was fifth in the most recent race at Virginia International Raceway. Caleb Bacon joined the duo in a 14th-place finish in TCR in the 2021 season opener at Daytona.

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