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Interstate Batteries Racing: Kyle Busch Texas Advance

By
Official Release
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KYLE BUSCH
Capping Off a 30th Anniversary Celebration

HUNTERSVILLE, North Carolina (Oct. 12, 2021) – Interstate Batteries – the founding sponsor of Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) – has been in a celebratory mood all season during the company’s impressive 30-year partnership with JGR. And nothing would be more perfect for the Dallas-based company than to cap off the 30-year celebration in victory lane after Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500, just up the road from the company’s headquarters, at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.

Likewise, it’s no surprise that Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota for JGR, would like nothing more than to bring home his fifth Texas Cup Series win this weekend, not only for another chance to celebrate with his longtime partner, but to automatically lock himself into the Championship 4 Nov. 7 at Phoenix Raceway. Needless to say, there’s a lot on the line as Busch and his fellow Cup Series competitors head to the 1.5-mile Texas oval.

Sunday’s race at Texas serves as the first race of the Round of 8 of this year’s Cup Series playoffs. Busch advanced with his fourth-place run in the Round of 12 finale last Sunday on the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval. The two-time Cup Series champion is the defending Texas race winner.

Busch brings plenty of optimism, along with 23 important playoff points, to the Round of 8. With the unknowns of Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway and the Charlotte Roval now in the rearview mirror, Busch can focus on the next three tracks ahead of him in the Round of 8 – Texas, Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, and Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. Busch has a combined eight wins at those three tracks, including victories at both Texas and Kansas within the last calendar year.

With Interstate Batteries finishing off its six primary sponsorships of Busch’s No. 18 Toyota in 2021, JGR’s founding partner hopes to put an exclamation mark on an important milestone as the team celebrates its 30th anniversary of Interstate Batteries being along for the ride every step of the way. Busch has brought home nine victories sporting the colors of Interstate Batteries. Add Bobby Labonte’s 21 wins and Dale Jarrett’s two, and Interstate has made a combined 32 visits to victory lane in the Cup Series over the years. Labonte scored his last win for Interstate Batteries at the 2003 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, and five years later it was Busch who brought Interstate back to victory lane during his first season at JGR, when he bested Carl Edwards to win the July 2008 race at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.

As fall is in full swing and winter is quickly approaching, Busch is encouraging race fans to stop by a local Interstate dealer to get their vehicle batteries checked, as cold weather of winter can adversely affect a car’s battery.

So as NASCAR’s top series heads to Texas for the start of the Round of 8 on Sunday, Busch and the Interstate Batteries team are charging toward back-to-back fall wins in the Lone Star State. As Busch sports the colors of the official battery and founding sponsor of JGR for the final time this season, he hopes there’s one more celebration for its 30th anniversary season, back in a familiar spot – Texas victory lane.

KYLE BUSCH, Driver of the No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing:

Given your success at Texas, including being the defending fall winner, is this an ideal track for you to get off to a good start and gain momentum in the round?

“For sure. Both the first two tracks to start the Round of 8 are places we’ve won at within the last calendar year, so I look forward to getting to Texas and starting the next round. All the tracks are good places for us, so hoping we can get some solid finishes and maybe even a win, hopefully the sooner the better, and can get us to the Championship 4 at Phoenix with a win in our Interstate Batteries Camry.”

You are the defending fall race winner at Texas. Does that mean something as you head there this weekend?

“Yes and no. You look at last year, we did what we needed to do to save fuel and win the race, so not sure it really translates from that one race. But, we’ve won at Texas four times and feel like it’s a really good place for us. The biggest part of a lot of Texas races is having Interstate Batteries on board for a least one race a year there, and we’ve gotten them a few wins at their home track over the years. Would be a really big deal to get them a win as we celebrate 30 years with them and JGR, and then also advance us to Phoenix, as well.”

Is there anything about Texas that particularly suits your style (or JGR), outside of being a 1.5-mile layout given your dominance there in all three NASCAR national series divisions?

“It’s always been a really good place for me, whether that was before the repave or after the repave. A lot of credit goes to Joe Gibbs Racing and the cars they bring there for me. We’ve had a lot of success at Texas over the years, whether that is in the Xfinity Series, winning five in a row as we did there, winning in the Trucks, and now we have four Cup wins there, too, after the win last fall. It’s just been a really good place for me, and our team has been better with the 550 (horsepower) package this year, and hoping we can get into victory lane there this weekend with our Interstate Batteries Camry and punch our ticket to Phoenix early.”

How do you think the round lays out for you, given your success at all three tracks – four wins at Texas and two each at Kansas and Martinsville, along with a lot of top-five efforts?

“This round lays out very well for us. We have three tracks where we have had a lot of success over the years. Like I said earlier, we won at both Texas and Kansas within the last year, so I feel like that’s a good omen for us. The mile-and-a-half program has been really strong for us. We did not run so well at Texas in the All-Star Race, but that was different, just everything with the package tweaks they had for that race. We should have a pretty good starting spot for us and we need to stay up front and hopefully keep our track position. Looking forward to this weekend.”

Event Overview:

● Event: Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500

● Time/Date: 2 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Oct. 17

● Location: Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth

● Layout: 1.5-mile oval

● Laps/Miles: 334 laps, 501 miles

● Format: Stage 1: 105 laps / Stage 2: 105 laps / Final Stage: 124 laps

● TV/Radio: NBC/ PRN/ SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Meet the No. 18 Interstate Batteries / Joe Gibbs Racing Team

Primary Team Members:

Driver: Kyle Busch
Hometown: Las Vegas

Interim Crew Chief:

Seth Chavka
Hometown: Soldotna, Alaska

Car Chief: Nate Bellows
Hometown: Fairfax, Vermont

Spotter: Tony Hirschman
Hometown: Northampton, Pennsylvania

Over-The-Wall Crew Members:

Gas Man: Matt Tyrrell

Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Front Tire Changer: Blake Houston
Hometown: Enochville, North Carolina

Jackman: T.J. Ford
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Joe Crossen

Hometown: Salisbury, North Carolina

Rear Tire Changer: Jeff Cordero
Hometown: Salem, Connecticut

Road Crew Members:

Truck Driver: Chris Miko
Hometown: Bronx, New York

Truck Driver: Tom McCrimmon
Hometown: Spicer, Minnesota

Mechanic/Tire Specialist: Justin Peiffer
Hometown: Lebanon, Pennsylvania

Mechanic: Scott Eldridge
Hometown: Warsaw, Indiana

Notes of Interest:

● 30th Anniversary Celebration: This season, JGR and Interstate Batteries are celebrating quite the milestone in their 30th year together in NASCAR’s top series. No other sponsor has been with the same team for as long of a run as this strong partnership. In fact, Interstate Batteries has brought home 32 all-time Cup Series wins as a primary sponsor and countless others as associate sponsor on JGR cars. Interstate Batteries and JGR brought home their first win together in the 1993 Daytona 500 with Dale Jarrett behind the wheel. Jarrett won twice in Interstate Batteries colors, Kyle Busch nine times, and Bobby Labonte leads the way for the Dallas-based company with 21 all-time Cup Series wins in its colors.

● 30-Year Giveaway: In celebration of the 30-year partnership with JGR, Interstate Batteries is hosting a Twitter giveaway on the 30th day of each month. Fans can follow Interstate on Twitter (@interstatebatts), Facebook (@interstatebatteries), Instagram (@interstatebatteries), and YouTube (@interstatebatteries) for giveaways, how-to tips, NASCAR updates, and even more car-related content most people never knew they needed.

● Green Machine: In addition to Busch’s nine Cup Series victories in Interstate Batteries colors over the years for JGR, he’s brought home two Xfinity Series victories for Interstate Batteries. Both came at Phoenix Raceway, in 2008 and 2011. In addition to the aforementioned victories, Busch also brought home a Camping World Truck Series victory for Interstate Batteries in 2010 at Texas.

● Round of 8: Busch was able to survive and advance to the Round of 8 of the 2021 Cup Series playoffs with a fourth-place finish Sunday on the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval. Busch has racked up 23 important playoff points he can take with him through each round. With Texas serving as the first race of the Round of 8, Busch was reseeded to fifth on the playoff grid, one point below the fourth-place cutoff with his 13 top-five finishes and 19 top-10s so far this season.

● Texas Stats: Busch has four wins, 14 top-five finishes and 17 top-10s and has led a total of 1,049 laps in 30 career Cup Series starts at Texas. Busch’s average Texas finish is 11.0.

● Alone in Ninth: With Busch’s win at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway in June, the two-time Cup Series champion scored his 59th career win in NASCAR’s top series as he moved past Kevin Harvick into sole possession of ninth on the all-time win list. Next up on the win list is Dale Earnhardt, the seven-time Cup Series champion and NASCAR Hall of Famer who won 76 races during his storied career.

● 222 and Counting: Busch will be aiming to add to his record 222 overall wins among NASCAR’s top three series this weekend at the Texas. In addition to his 59 Cup Series wins and 102 in the Xfinity Series, Busch has 61 wins in the Camping World Truck Series.

Benefits of Purchasing Electronic Cigarette Online

By
SM
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Electronic cigarettes have become more popular compared to conventional cigarettes. Most actors, celebrities, and notable individuals smoke to calm their nerves. The smoking pattern can be once in a while or addictive, whereby an individual smokes five to six cigarettes in a day. Most people are introduced to smoking while in high school and college. The notion is that you will seem cool when you smoke and drink alcohol. However, cigarettes ruin people’s lives because of the nicotine, which sticks to the lungs causing various respiratory problems. Most people have to either reduce smoking or be admitted to rehab. Electronic cigarettes help individuals minimize smoking since it filters the smoke and there are various flavors available. Smoking addiction is hard to combat in a few days or months, and the urge can only be reduced but not stopped immediately. You can acquire electronic cigarettes from any store or purchase them online. Here are some advantages of acquiring electronic cigarettes online.

  1. Convenience

Electronic cigarettes simulate the traditional smoking process whereby tobacco, tar, and nicotine are not available. The e-liquids are present in the cigarette and produce vapor which the smokers inhale. When acquiring electronic cigarettes, an individual can use various online sites that sell electronic cigarettes and vapers. The person needs only to make an order of a particular e-cigarette based on the design and flavor. The package is delivered to your doorstep without going out to various physical stores looking for electronic cigarettes. You can also acquire replacement parts like the coil  (คอยล์) with ease since they have to be changed regularly. Online stores provide hassle-free shopping for electronic cigarettes and the electronic juices that you need to refill from time to time.

  1. Availability

When you intend to acquire any electronic cigarettes online, you only need to go through the catalog to find the available types of electronic cigarettes. Online sites provide crucial information on the availability of electronic cigarettes. You don’t waste time looking for the cigarette from one physical store to another since information on the availability of electronic cigarettes can only be found by asking the shop attendant. In most cases, online stores restock a particular product immediately are not available in a couple of days. The replacement parts are also available to change and enjoy the practical value of electronic cigarettes instead of traditional cigarettes.

  1. Fewer Costs

Electronic cigarettes are available in different price ranges across other stores. The difference in pricing is based on the features included in the cigarette and the refills you will acquire of different juices. When you are shopping online for electronic cigarettes, you will end up less than buying in physical stores. Most online sites offer discounts and promotions to their customers. The low cost is applicable since the overhead expenses incurred in running the physical stores are not relevant to online platforms.

Tobacco, tar, and nicotine present in traditional cigarettes are harmful to your health with continuous usage. A lot of people have lung cancer and respiratory issues due to smoking. An electronic cigarette is an alternative since the three items aren’t present. It’s just juices and flavors. Electronic cigarettes only need to be changed a few times hence saving you money in the long run. When you are replacing the coil  (คอยล์), ensure you choose the right type for your electronic cigarette.

Apply for a SORN if you do not want to use your vehicle through the pandemic

By
SM
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Photo by André Luís Alves Campos on Unsplash

Through the pandemic, a lot of people were no longer using vehicles that they had because they had no choice but to stay indoors. To reduce the spread of the virus, the authorities were asking people to work remotely. They were not allowed to meet in large groups so going to an office was off the table. According to the rules put forth by various authorities, companies started implementing multiple remote working options and were having virtual meetings, which made processes a lot more bearable. With these changes, people were trying to be as safe as possible, and to reduce their in-person interactions, with many even getting their groceries and other basic home requirements delivered to their houses.

People were hitting the brakes on many in-person activities, including home renovations, which were delayed for when the pandemic situation started getting better. There were other changes they were getting through, and transportation was becoming challenging because there were new restrictions when it came to the rules relating to the border. Most states and countries were trying to control the spread of the virus from within so they implemented various border control measures which made it a bit challenging to move from one country or state to another. It was now quite challenging to get the correct supply of raw materials and other requirements when getting through the process.

Getting an MOT test in the UK

One of the requirements to have a vehicle in the UK is to get through the MOT test, which is a mandatory test that vehicle owners have to get done. Every car, bike, or truck should have a current MOT test if they want to ply on roads in the UK. There are various rules that they have to follow to make sure that they pass the test. Vehicle owners are requested to get their vehicles tested before applying for the MOT test because there are penalties if they fail the MOT test.

Additionally, they would not be allowed to ply on roads in the UK without their pass certificate and would have to reapply for their MOT test. Every year more than 33% of vehicles that apply for their test fail it, and then have to re-apply. According to a study, some vehicles have a higher chance of failing the MOT test while a few would get through it without too much trouble. Vehicle

owners should check the sections of the test that they need to prepare and work on. Furthermore, they can download their previous year’s records and handle repairs, so their vehicles are ready to get through the process.

However, through the pandemic, some of the rules around the MOT test were changing. Many people were not open to leaving their homes and getting their car tested especially with such a large number of people in the country infected with the virus. Furthermore, with remote working as an option, people were not planning on and some even lacked the opportunity to use their vehicles which were just sitting around for the most time. With the MOT test being a mandatory one, people no longer wanted to get their vehicles tested, if they were not using them.

There were changes implemented to the MOT tests and most of the service centers started working on online systems that would allow people to get through the process. No longer did applicants have to apply at the MOT center and wait for a date for them to bring in their vehicles. They could now get through the process with ease which was simple and could fill out their information and receive a date for their test in under 30 minutes without leaving their house.

Many MOT centers were even sending a person to the house to collect the vehicle so they could get them tested, sanitized, and bring the vehicle back at the end of the day. There are other changes that they were implementing to make the process as smooth as possible for everyone working through it.

There were many households with more than one car which made sense when two people from the house were heading to work in opposite directions. However, with remote working becoming the norm, people were not using their vehicles as much as they were in the past.

Using SORN to avoid paying for unused vehicles

There was a rule within the MOT requirements that stated that people could stop renewing their MOT temporarily and start again once they wanted to start using the car on the streets. Even if you plan on not renewing your MOT or your vehicle insurance, you have to apply for a SORN otherwise you would receive information about their documents having expired and would have to pay the backlog. There are fines for using vehicles without the right documents or not applying for the requirements that they have in store.

People who are not planning on using their vehicles on the road could apply for a Statutory Off Road Notification. The process allows people to temporarily or permanently stop taxing or insuring their vehicle but can only be used if the vehicle is going to be off the road.

Some of the times when you consider vehicles to be off the road are:

  • If they are not kept or used on public roads. For instance: if you leave the vehicle in your garage, on a drive, or private land.
  • If your vehicle is not taxed
  • If your vehicle is not insured (even for a short time, for example, because there’s a delay renewing your policy)
  • If you want to break a vehicle down for parts before scrapping it
  • If you buy or receive a vehicle and want to keep it off the road

Unlike the MOT or the vehicle insurance, which is more with the vehicle than the vehicle owner, you cannot transfer a SORN from the previous keeper and have to apply for the same again.

Keen Parts launch an initiative to support the fight against women’s cancers through their sponsorship of driver Ryan Ellis on October 30

By
Official Release
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Tom and Tj Keen of Keen Parts launch an initiative to support the fight against women’s cancers through their sponsorship of driver Ryan Ellis surrounding the NASCAR Xfinity Series race on October 30, 2021. 

Tom and Tj Keen of Keen Parts (CorvetteParts.net) are launching a campaign in conjunction with their NASCAR sponsorship of driver Ryan Ellis, in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, to help raise awareness and provide funding for women’s cancers. The campaign, set to begin on Monday, October 11th, will extend through race day on October 30th, 2021 at Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia. 

Profits from the initiatives will be split 50/50 between The Laughlin Family Foundation and the Susan G. Komen Foundation. During the duration of the campaign, fans who donate $30.00 or more will get their name, or a name of their choice, on Ellis’ CorvetteParts.net racecar. Fans can also show their support by recognizing someone who has been affected by cancer through the $30.00 donation. Donations can be made at www.thelaughlinfamilyfoundation.org. The deadline for name submission is October 21, 2021. 

In addition, a VIP pit experience with meet and greets with both Ellis and Laughlin will be available for auction for the October 30th race, as well as Ellis’ race worn suit. Limited corporate/ individual sponsorships are also available through donation on the quarter panel of the racecar for increased branding opportunities. 

CorvetteParts.net, a family-owned business owned by Tom and Tj Keen, sells parts and accessories for Corvette-lovers of all generations. They have been loyal NASCAR sponsors and friends of many within the industry since 2011, supporting drivers of all levels since then. The Keen’s elected to donate much of their sponsorship space to these foundations to raise money for these great causes.  

“Keen Parts is honored to team up with both the Laughlin Family Foundation and the Susan G. Komen organization in their quest to help fight cancer. We’re hoping that this will get a massive push and hope fans will help us raise money for everything that these fine charities do,” stated Tj Keen of CorvetteParts.net.

Ryan Ellis, driver of the CorvetteParts.net racecar said of the event, “It says so much about Tom and Tj [Keen] that they donated these sponsorship locations of their sponsored racecar to these causes. It’s a beautiful scheme that really ties the whole thing together. It’ll be so special to carry the names of these donors and families affected by cancer and I hope that we can raise a substantial amount of money to make a difference. My mother-in-law battled breast cancer and is currently in remission, and after hearing about Craig and Linda’s [Laughlin] story, the Keen’s offered to split the car for both causes which is so cool. We want to highlight all women’s cancer with this effort and I hope we can use the combined NHL, NASCAR, and extended media platforms to raise as much money as possible.”

“We are thrilled that Tom Keen at CorvetteParts.net and Ryan Ellis reached out to us about this collaboration to help support and put an end to women’s cancers. We are so excited to be a part of this,” said Craig Laughlin of The Laughlin Family Foundation.

The Laughlin Family Foundation’s mission is to help spread awareness, education and research for underfunded and rare cancers. Former NHL player and current NBC Sports Washington analyst started the foundation when his wife Linda was diagnosed with a rare gynecological cancer in 2018. The Susan G. Komen Foundation invests in research to prevent and cure breast cancer. 

About Keen Parts/CorvetteParts.net:

Corvettes are all they do, so whether you’re looking for a complete interior for your vintage ’53 Corvette or a performance accessory for your ’11, they have the Corvette part you need and the expertise you want. For your Corvette exterior, they got you covered bumper-to-bumper. They even have emblems, moldings, grilles, bumpers and brackets, fiberglass, exterior trim and weather stripping. For the interior, they have steering wheels, seats, dash pads, consoles, carpeting, door panels, seat belts, interior trim and fasteners. Under the hood, they’ve got it all from air cleaners to exhaust systems, air conditioning, radiators, and valve covers all the way down to the decals and correct fasteners to bolt it all back together. For more information, please visit www.CorvetteParts.net or call 1-800-757-KEEN (5336).

About The Laughlin Family Foundation:

Craig and Linda Laughlin, along with their family, founded The Laughlin Family Foundation to bring awareness, support, and research to rare cancers. Craig is a former NHL player and current Capitals TV Analyst on NBC Sports Washington. He has long supported the DMV community with charitable endeavors, and has now forged his own foundation to help fight this devastating disease. In April 2018, Craig’s wife, Linda, was diagnosed with a rare form of endometrial cancer – uterine serous carcinoma – a disease which only affects approximately 6,000 women per year in the United States. While Linda’s diagnosis came as a shock, it also shed light on the realization that there are hundreds of other rare cancers. Affecting over 100,000 people each year, there is very limited patient and clinical knowledge for these cancers.

About Susan G Komen:

In 1980, Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan, that she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became the Susan G. Komen® organization and the beginning of a global movement. What was started with $200 and a shoebox full of potential donor names has now grown into the world’s largest nonprofit source of funding for the fight against breast cancer. To date, we’ve invested more than $2.9 billion in groundbreaking research, community health outreach, advocacy and programs in more than 60 countries. Our efforts helped reduce deaths from breast cancer by 40 percent between 1989-2016 and we won’t stop until our promise is fulfilled.

NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Roval

By
Jeffrey Boswell
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Photo by Brad Keppel for SpeedwayMedia.com.

1. Kyle Larson: Larson experienced early electrical issues before rallying to take the win in the Bank Of America Roval 400.

“Once we got everything fixed,” Larson said, “I was actually able to make a ‘charge.'”

2. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin came home fifth at Charlotte and will start the Round Of 8 in second.

“All eight drivers left have playoff experience,” Hamlin said, “if not championship experience. That should serve each of us well. As Kevin Harvick said, ‘Real life teaches lessons.’ And I’m sure we’ll find that those are words he won’t live by.”

3. Joey Logano: Logano finished seventh at Charlotte and will start the Round Of 8 in seventh.

“I can certainly relate to the Kevin Harvick-Chase Elliott feud,” Logano said. “I know what it’s like to be wrecked, and I definitely know what it’s like to hear loud cheers when that happens.”

4. Kyle Busch: Busch led 22 laps and finished fourth at Charlotte.

“I absolutely love this drama between Kevin Harvick and Chase Elliott,” Busch said. “If there’s one thing this country needs, it’s more hatred.

“Harvick must be kicking himself after he realized he was unable to get his complete vengeance. That begs the question: Is it physically possible to kick yourself? I can’t say for sure, but if you wreck yourself, you’re off to a pretty good start.”

5. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex survived a late run-in with Joey Hand, who made contact with Truex’s No. 19 Toyota and spun him out. Truex finished 29th but still advanced to the Round Of 8.

“I’m not sure who Joey Hand is,” Truex said, “but there should be a rule in NASCAR for people like Joey Hand. It’s got nothing to do with lack of experience. In fact, the rule should simply be ‘If your name is ‘Joey Hand,’ you should not be allowed to be a NASCAR driver.”

6. Ryan Blaney: Blaney finished ninth at Charlotte and will start the Round of 8 in 4th.

“If you take into account all the electrical issues,” Blaney said, “and the Kevin Harvick-Chase Elliott saga, this race had more twists and turns than the Roval track itself.”

7. Chase Elliott: Elliott won Stage 1 and was in solid position when Kevin Harvick wrecked him, sending him into the wall and endangering his playoff position. Elliott recovered, thanks to some frenzied work by his crew, and finished 12th, good enough to advance to the Round Of 8.

“Harvick tried to drive through me,” Elliott said. “Then he tried to drive through the wall. Then he was just ‘through.'”

8. Kevin Harvick: Harvick exacted his revenge on Chase Elliott midway through the race at Charlotte, nearly ruining Elliott’s day, but later misjudged his entry into Turn 1 and slammed the wall. He finished 33rd and out of the playoffs.

“You can’t fault my intensity,” Harvick said. “I was so intent on revenge, I avenged myself for Elliott. Trust me, I’m gonna have an off-season of self-reflection, in which I contemplate self-infliction.”

9. William Byron: Byron finished 11th and failed to advance to the Round Of 8.

“We were in position to win,” Byron said, “but Tyler Reddick got into the back of me and sent me off the track. The rest is history. At some point, I’ll have to give Reddick a ‘history lesson.'”

10. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski survived two spins to finish 20th, nabbing the final transfer spot to the Round Of 8.

“For action and intrigue,” Keselowski said, “the Roval never disappoints. So it deserves a ‘r-ovation.’

“I would be a fool not to comment on the Kevin Harvick-Chase Elliott situation. If this were football, Harvick got a ‘bye’ into the next round. Baseball? ‘You’re out!’ Golf? ‘Four!’ Tennis? ‘Double fault.’ Boxing? ‘Technical knockout.’ Karma? ‘A bitch.'”

Bridget Burgess Persists at All American Speedway

By
Official Release
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Image by Diego Alvarado

TOOELE, UT, October 11, 2021 – The ARCA Menards West Series headed to All American Speedway in Roseville CA just outside of Sacramento this past weekend, as the feature race for a jammed packed evening of entertainment.

The BMI Racing team unloaded the HMH Construction Chevrolet SS, cleared tech and prepared for the hour and 15-minute practice/qualifying session. Bridget hit the track and worked with the team, communicating on how the car felt. The session finished with Bridget qualifying 16th out of a field of 23 cars.

All American Speedway always puts on a great show for the fans, and this past weekend was no different to the sell out crowd. The green flag dropped the cars roared across the start finish line; Bridget struggled with the car in the first part of the race falling back to 19th, and then as she continued, she managed to drive up to 9th.

Then on lap 110, Bridget was on the receiving end of an aggressive driver that drove up on to the rear quarter of Bridget’s HMH Construction Chevrolet SS causing both cars to spin out. Although Bridget went three laps down, she didn’t give up – she put head down and focused on the rest of the race, gaining her laps back finishing 11th on the lead lap.

A replay of Saturday night’s NAPA AutoCare 150 presented by Berco Redwood at All American Speedway will broadcast on NBCSN on Thursday, Oct. 14, starting at 5 p.m. ET.

Bridget’s next race will be the Arizona Lottery 100 at noon MT / 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 6, as part of a doubleheader with the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ championship race later that evening at Phoenix International Raceway.

Bridget is powered by these great companies:
HMH Construction, GEARWRENCH, Rugged Radios, Cometic Gasket, Circle Track Warehouse, Ferrea Racing Components, FK Rod Ends, Fragola Performance Systems, GC Cooling Fan, GT Radial, Hawk Performance, Impact Race Products, K&N Filters, Kellerstrass, Konig, Lucas Oil, Miller Electric, ProAm, PSC Motorsports, Rare Parts, Streamline Custom Designs, Sunoco Race Fuel, Tilton, XS Power

Facebook page: BridgetBurgess8 | Instagram: BridgetBurgess8 | Twitter: 8BridgetBurgess

LARSON ARRIVES AT TEXAS FOR NASCAR PLAYOFFS ROUND OF 8 OPENER IN MIDST OF CAREER YEAR

By
Official Release
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  • Cup Series Regular-Season Champion Owns Series-Best Seven Victories Heading Into Sunday’s Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500
  • Hendrick Motorsports Driver Chasing Texas Sweep After Winning NASCAR All-Star Race In June

FORT WORTH, Texas (October 11, 2021) – Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson has witnessed first-hand how the NASCAR Cup Playoffs can quickly transform a championship favorite into a post-season bystander in just one round of the elimination format.

The Cup Series’ regular-season champion with a series-high seven wins has avoided calamity through the first two rounds to advance as the top seed in the Round of 8 that opens with Sunday’s Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 at Texas Motor Speedway (1 p.m. CT, TV: NBC and Peacock, Radio: PRN, SiriusXM Radio, 95.9The Ranch).

That wasn’t always the case for Larson during his tenure with Chip Ganassi Racing, where he qualified for the NASCAR Cup Playoffs in four consecutive seasons (2016-19) but only advanced to the Round of 8 once (’19). He was enjoying a similar season to this one in 2017 when he entered the NASCAR Cup Playoffs as the second seed and with the most regular-season wins (4).

And poof – his championship dreams were up in smoke in the second round known as the Round of 12.

“In 2017 at Ganassi that also was a really good year,” said Larson, the 29-year-old Californian in his first season with Hendrick Motorsports and ninth overall in the series. “Our playoffs did not go good. We had a lot of bad luck in the second round. But yes, this is even a better opportunity than then. We won the regular-season title, got more wins, more laps led, things like that. I feel that I’ve got a great group of guys and gals within the (number) 5 team but also Hendrick Motorsports and that definitely adds a lot of confidence for the playoffs.”

It seemed like it could be déjà vu all over again for Larson when early in Sunday’s race at the Charlotte ROVAL his No. 5 Chevrolet was having electrical issues. The team was able to change the battery and alternator belt under caution to keep him on the lead lap and avoid flirting with elimination. With the problem resolved, Larson carved his way through the field and secured an improbable victory.

Through the first two rounds, Larson has five top-10 finishes in six races, highlighted by wins at the Charlotte ROVAL and Bristol along with a runner-up finish at Darlington. He opens the Round of 8 at Texas Motor Speedway, where he collected $1 million for winning the NASCAR All-Star Race in June. Larson doesn’t believe that signature victory, however, brings added momentum as much as the type of track.

“I think it just being a mile-and-a-half race track in general I think is good for us,” said Larson, who earned two wins this season on the 1.5-mile ovals at Las Vegas and Charlotte. “We won the All-Star Race, but we weren’t that amazing until the end of it. My car drove not great. Hopefully, we’ll be a little bit better and more balanced to start the race and can adjust on it from there and hopefully find ourselves in Victory Lane again.

“I always look forward to going to Texas for the area. I love going to Fort Worth, there’s great food there and then the racing is exciting as well. You get big drafts and close racing kind of all race long. You have to execute well throughout the whole race because it is tough to pass.”

Larson is motivated with his pursuit of a first Cup Series championship one step closer but, more importantly, to even have the opportunity to be competing in the sport he cherishes so much.

In April of last year, he uttered a racial slur over the radio while competing in an iRacing event during the pandemic and suddenly his NASCAR future was severely in doubt. Larson, of Japanese descent and a graduate of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program, was immediately suspended indefinitely by NASCAR with a mandate to undergo sensitivity training as part of the reinstatement process. He was fired by Chip Ganassi Racing and his livelihood came to a screeching halt for him, wife Katelyn and two young children, Owen and Audrey.

The sensitivity training was just the start as Larson took several more steps on his own while taking accountability and responsibility for his actions. He penned an open letter on his website in October of 2020 apologizing for his actions, hired an inclusion coach, participated in a variety of classes and took special visits to learn more about the African-American community.

He volunteered for the Sanneh Foundation and joined them in visiting the George Floyd Memorial in Minneapolis to pay his respects. He visited Olympic great Jackie Joyner-Kersee and her community center in St. Louis. He began the Kyle Larson Foundation, which is dedicated to bringing people together and providing support to hands-on charitable organizations that benefit today’s youth, families and communities in need.

“It’s been cool this year to get another opportunity to succeed at the Cup level on the race track,” Larson said. “Then off the race track, with everything that happened last year it’s nice to try and show people who I really am as a person and change some opinions of myself over time.

“I’ve enjoyed getting my foundation started. It’s always been something I wanted to do. I just didn’t know what I wanted to do with it, so it’s been cool to meet a lot of people last year with it and now have my foundation to support those people and those communities and raise a good amount of money to share. It’s been neat to learn about it and I look forward to growing it all in the future.”

He has especially enjoyed supporting the Urban Youth Racing School in Philadelphia.

“There have been a lot of experiences that I’ve gotten to do but just growing a closer connection with the Urban Youth Racing School in Philadelphia has been neat,” Larson said. “Supplying them with racing simulators, building friendships with some of the kids and they’re just picking up the phone to call me and you’re getting advice on how to get around a certain race track I think has been cool to have those close relationships. But like I said, there has been a lot of stuff I’ve done that has been meaningful.”

While Larson was making significant strides in his personal life, there was still the big question looming if any organization would take a chance on him in the Cup Series upon being reinstated. Team owner Rick Hendrick watched Larson’s actions and opted to give him a second chance. Larson, who spent time dirt racing while under the NASCAR suspension, didn’t miss a beat as he captured his first Cup win of the season at Las Vegas in just the fourth race.

“Everybody has been amazing to work with …I really enjoy working with my crew chief, Cliff Daniels,” Larson said. “He is just a great team leader – a young guy not much older than myself. I think his leadership skills give everybody a lot of confidence. He’s definitely made me a better race car driver, for sure.”

The chemistry and equipment, including Chevrolet power, have been there from the outset and Larson took advantage of all of it with a strong regular season and now advancing to the Round of 8. He needs to produce this round – which consists of Texas, Kansas (Oct. 24) and Martinsville (Oct. 31) – to advance to the Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway (Nov. 7) and have an opportunity at that first title. They plan to go about business as usual.

“I feel like we’ve been pretty good in all areas,” Larson said. “I think if you can get all areas a little bit better that’s a good thing. We’ve done a great job executing I feel like most races and that’s important when you don’t have an amazing race car and you can execute and at least finish where you deserve that’s usually a good day. Just continue to do that and do all the little things right and hopefully we’ll leave ourselves a good shot.

“I knew we were going to be good. … I didn’t know we would be as good as we are but very thankful that I’m at an amazing organization with amazing leaders and just the greatest resources.”

The NASCAR Playoffs weekend at Texas Motor Speedway will consist of the Andy’s Frozen Custard 335 NASCAR Xfinity Series race Saturday at 2 p.m. (TV: NBC, Radio: PRN, SiriusXM Radio, 95.9 The Ranch) and followed by Sunday’s Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 NASCAR Cup Series race.

TICKETS
Tickets for the Oct. 16-17 NASCAR Cup Series Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 weekend, are on sale now at http://www.texasmotorspeedway.com.

Season tickets and camping for Texas Motor Speedway’s 2022 major event season are on sale now. Click HERE for more information and to purchase season tickets.

STAY CONNECTED
Keep track of all of Texas Motor Speedway’s events by following on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Keep up with all the latest news and information on the speedway website and TMS mobile app.

ABOUT TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
Texas Motor Speedway is among the largest sports stadiums in the United States and features an array of amenities such as the world’s largest TV that make it one of the premier venues in the world of sports. The 1.5-mile superspeedway located in Fort Worth hosts all three NASCAR national series as well as the NTT IndyCar Series among its various races and specialty events throughout the year. Since opening in 1997, Texas Motor Speedway has generated an annual economic impact of approximately $300 million to the North Texas region. Texas Motor Speedway is owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports, LLC, a leading marketer and promoter of motorsports entertainment in the United States. For more information, please visit texasmotorspeedway.com.

Solid Finish for Stoner Car Care Racing at VIR

By
Official Release
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ALTON, Va. (10 October 2021) – Steady drives and flawless pit work saw the Stoner Car Care Racing fielded by Automatic Racing team come home in 15th position in Sunday’s marquee race at VIRginia International Raceway, the Virginia is for Racing Lovers Grand Prix for the Michelin Pilot Challenge series.

The No. 09 Stoner Car Care Aston Martin Vantage GT4, driven by Rob Ecklin, Jr. (Lancaster, Pa.) and Ramin Abdolvahabi (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.), performed well throughout the two-hour race, pacing consistent laps. The team gambled on fuel strategy during their second pit stop and looked to be heading toward a top-10 finish until a late yellow meant the entire field was able to finish the race with no additional pit stops.

The team came into the weekend with high expectations, given the sheer number of hours they have spent at VIR this year (between a two-day test back in May and two eight-hour World Racing League enduros last month, the team had 24 hours of track time at the scenic, 3.27-mile road course).

With cloudy skies and cool conditions, Abdolvahabi took the wheel for the 15-minute qualifying session early Sunday morning, with the plan of setting a quick time early in case a red flag thwarted their late laps. That thought proved to be prescient, as Abdolvahabi broke through slow traffic just as a competitor went off track, bringing out the red flag. Starting 14th, he knew that steady early pace would be key to making his way through the field.

With the usual scrum at the green flag, Abdolvahabi stuck to the plan and played it safe in the early going, taking the measure of the drivers around him. Battling traffic, he fell to P18 in the first four laps but he began to regain those positions despite a quick off-and-on on Lap 7.

As drivers began to pit, Abdolvahabi climbed through the field to P10 before a full course caution. The team waited until the fuel light came on to bring him into pit lane for four Michelin tires and a change to Ecklin at the halfway point of the race. With the caution continuing, the team brought Ecklin back to pit lane for a splash of fuel they hoped would take him to the finish.

The strategy appeared to be working perfectly, as teams began to head to pit lane late in the race. But an untimely yellow with 20 minutes remaining meant that the rest of the field would also be set to go to the finish. Ecklin, with a smart and consistent drive, brough the Aston Martin home P15, with a best lap of 1:57.172 on lap 38.

The team was pleased with the performance, hoping that it will mean some of the bad luck they’ve experienced this season is behind them.

“I was stuck behind two Toyotas, and they didn’t give an inch,” said Abdolvahabi. “I was faster than they were, but we lost a lot of time through my entire stint. But the car was really good, we just couldn’t do anything with it. The pit stops were great, it’s just too bad that we couldn’t finish higher. But it’s good to finish, with no bad luck. No luck is better than bad luck, so things are trending in the right direction!”

“The car felt really good,” said Ecklin. “It was so consistent, but the pace didn’t match the feel. Otherwise, it was a good race for us. The car was set up well, the pit stop was good, we had a good strategy, and we went to work. We pushed hard, but I couldn’t get the time out of the car that I thought was there. But there was no drama today, it was just a good, clean race. We can build on that.”

“That was a good day,” said Automatic Racing team manager David Russell. “Everything was very sound, from the pit stops, driver changes, and the strategy call by Kirt Wightman and Chris Long. Ramin and Rob both drove good stints, though Ramin got stuck behind traffic. We were able to leapfrog a lot of cars with the strategy of coming in for fuel and we would have been in really great shape, but that late yellow put an end to that. But we had a strong car, though we were down on the pace we had here in testing, so we’ll have to figure that out. We have a good platform to build on for the finale.”

NBCSN will broadcast a two-hour race recap of the race on Thursday, October 14 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern (check local listings). Next up for the Stoner Car Care Racing Team will be the season-endingFox Factory 120 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on Friday, November 12.

About Invisible Glass

Automatic Racing sees their way to victory with Invisible Glass, the top-selling automotive glass cleaner in the United States. The Invisible Glass product line includes aerosol and spray bottle cleaner, Invisible Glass with rain repellent for windshields and wiper blades. Find more online at https://www.invisibleglass.com/

About Stoner Car Care

Stoner Car Care produces high-performance car washes, waxes, polishes, and dressings for auto enthusiasts and car care professionals. The Stoner Car Care line-up includes Invisible Glass, America’s #1 Automotive Glass Cleaner, along with many other appearance products. Whether driving, washing or waxing, Performance Matters! Stoner car care proudly formulates all of our product since 1942

About Automatic Racing

Based in Orlando, Automatic Racing is one of the longest-running teams in the paddock, forming in 2001 and competing in all but one of the 11 MICHELIN Pilot Challenge races at Daytona. The team has been developing, preparing and racing the prestigious Aston Martin Vantage GT4 since 2012. Automatic Racing won the 2017 MICHELIN Pilot Challenge title.

CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION: DALLAS – POST-RACE RECAP & QUOTES

By
Official Release
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CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
TEXAS NHRA FALLNATIONALS
TEXAS MOTORPLEX IN ENNIS, TEXAS
OCT. 10, 2021

Anderson drives Chevrolet Camaro SS to NHRA record

• Four-time champion becomes all-time Pro Stock wins leader
• Brittany Force sets both ends of Top Fuel track record
• Robert Hight rolls to 70th career Funny Car No. 1 qualifier

ENNIS, Texas (Oct. 10, 2021) – Greg Anderson’s 98th National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Pro Stock victory was 24 years in the making and what seemed like a lifetime in his dreams.

The driver of the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro SS broke a tie with Warren Johnson to become the winningest driver in NHRA Pro Stock history and second in all professional classes to Chevrolet driver John Force’s incomparable 154 victories by defeating Texas native Chris McGaha in the final of the Texas NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex.

“I couldn’t imagine one win and here we are 98 wins later,” said Anderson, who also tied Johnson for the second-most elimination round wins at 877 among all professional classes. “What a run. I seem to be getting all the accolades right now. It’s not me, it’s this KB Racing team. I’m on top of the world. What a career it’s been. The best part of the whole deal is I don’t think I’m done yet.”
Anderson, 60, an integral part of Johnson’s success with GM products in the class as a crew member and crew chief for more than a decade, competed in his first NHRA race in 1998 and picked up his first victory by defeating Jim Yates on April 29, 2001, at Bristol Raceway. Every Anderson win has also been in a GM car.

A HendrickCars.com car also visited the winner’s circle Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway as Kyle Larson won the NASCAR Cup Series race in the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE.

“Congratulations to Greg Anderson on becoming the winningest driver in NHRA Pro Stock. We are proud that Greg’s 98 victories have all come behind the wheel of a Chevrolet and other products from our company,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. vice president of Motorsports and Performance.

“Greg has done an incredible job on the track and in leading an outstanding team of talented crew members and engineers in preparing his Camaro SS.
Greg has also been a great representative for Chevrolet and his team on and off the track. We look forward to the balance of the 2021 season as Greg pursues his fifth Pro Stock world championship.”

A day earlier, for the second time in three events and fifth time in 15 races this season, Chevrolet drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock swept the No. 1 qualifier spots.

Brittany Force earned her 11th Top Fuel top qualifier honor of the season, driving the Monster Energy/Flav-R-Pac Chevrolet dragster to track records of 3.637 seconds at 335.32 mph. The elapsed time is the fifth quickest in NHRA Top Fuel history. Force holds the record of 2.623 seconds, set in 2019 at Reading. Tony Schumacher holds the class single-season record for most No. 1 qualifiers with 13 in 2006.

Force, second in the standings, fell on a holeshot in the semifinals.
Teammate Robert Hight, driving the AAA Texas Camaro SS, scored his second No. 1 qualifier of the season and 70th of his career – sixth on the NHRA all-time list — with a run of 3.878 seconds at 331.94 mph. He lost in the quarterfinals. John Force, the No. 11 qualifier, also fell in the quarterfinals in the PEAK Antifreeze & Coolant Camaro SS.

Anderson, the No. 1 Pro Stock qualifier for the 10th time this season and 116th time in his career, extended his NHRA record by qualifying for his 414th consecutive race. The record win came in his 166th final, which includes eight this season.

“People kept asking me, ‘Where are you going to get it done?’ ” said Anderson, who won for the sixth time at Texas Motorplex. “As soon as I stepped out of the car I got a call from Mr. Hendrick – Kyle Larson won today, too, in a Chevrolet – and Jim Campbell, the VP of Chevrolet jumps on the phone excited as can be, so big day for Chevrolet and Hendrick Motorsports. I’m honored to be part of it.”

McGaha, who had reached the semifinals once in the previous 14 races in the Harlow Sammons of Odessa Camaro SS, bounced Aaron Stanfield, a three-time winner this season in the Janac Brothers Camaro SS, in one of the semifinals. Anderson knocked out Troy Coughlin Jr., driving the JEGS.com/Elite Motorsports Camaro SS, in the other.

Anderson increased his points lead to 81 over reigning Pro Stock champion Erica Enders, who fell in the quarterfinals to Stanfield. Both drivers are seeking their fifth NHRA Pro Stock world championship.

Pro Stock competitors have off until Oct. 29-31 at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The John Force Racing trio will aim to gain ground in the standings Oct. 15-17 at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway in Tennessee. FS1 will telecast eliminations live at 2 p.m. ET Sunday, Oct. 17.

An interview with Pro Stock winner GREG ANDERSON, KB RACING, HENDRICKCARS.COM CHEVROLET CAMARO SS:
WHAT’S THIS MEAN TO YOU?
“I’m trying to figure it out. It’s been such a big build up and I’ve had such a fantastic race car all year, it was almost impossible for it not to happen. At the same time, there are so many great drivers in this class that are capable, want to and will whip you. It’s been happening so often, so there’s no guarantee that it would happen. Who knows, maybe next year my car won’t be so good. I can’t say I put a lot of extra pressure on myself, but I certainly expected myself to step top the plate and get it done. I would have been disappointed if I didn’t get it done this year. As soon as I stepped out of the car I got a call from Mr. Hendrick – Kyle Larson won today, too, in a Chevrolet – and Jim Campbell, the VP of Chevrolet jumps on the phone excited as can be, so big day for Chevrolet and Hendrick Motorsports. I’m honored to be part of it.”

NINETY-EIGHT. THAT’S A BIG NUMBER.
“I didn’t think I’d see one. What a career it’s been. The best part of the whole deal is I don’t think I’m done yet. I’ve had a lot of victories here that have been special. They’ve been career-changing and they’ve been year-changing and championship-clinching. It’s a great place to race; it’s great for Pro Stock cars.“

WHAT ABOUT WARREN JOHNSON?
“He taught me a ton. I would not be here without everything he did for me. One life was working for Warren Johnson – I learned a ton of what to do and what not to do – and I applied that to my next life, which is driving a race car and running a race team. People ask me every day, ‘Are you proud of all these wins you’ve had?’ I tell them I’m most proud of the team I’ve assembled. That’s been the story since day one. That’s probably the most important thing in all the years with Warren – you have to surround yourself with good people if you want to succeed. I’ve tried to practice that with this KB Racing team and (owners) Ken and Judy Black. I’m just a fortunate guy. It’s been my dream and what a dream it’s been.”

IS THIS A DOWNPAYMENT ON A FIFTH CHAMPIONSHIP?
“It is a great step. We had a great day and now we’re down to two races. It’s not in the books but I like my chances. I feel if I can find a way to win at least one of these races, I’m going to be the world champion this year. Try to win them both, obviously.”

TELL US ABOUT NO. 1.
“That was in Bristol in 2001. I’ll remember that until the day I die. I certainly was not expected to win; I didn’t expect to win. We got it done in our black Firebird. It was just a magical day and things just fell our way. Everybody said he’s a flash in the pan, one and done probably and we’ll never see him again. Well, here we are 97 times later.”

BIG POINTS DAY AS WELL.
“I come to all these races to win. That’s my goal. The points are secondary. There is no feeling like winning one of these events. That’s what it’s all about for us. We got it done today. It’s kind of cool; they all go together. If I concentrate on winning the race and making history, that gets me the most points and helps in the championship chase. The championship is going to be a battle right down to the end.”

CHEVROLET FROM THE COCKPIT

TOP FUEL:

BRITTANY FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, MONSTER ENERGY/FLAV-R-PAC CHEVROLET DRAGSTER (No. 1 qualifier, fell in semifinals, No. 2 in points): “Tough weekend for this Monster Energy/Flav-R-Pac team. We qualified well, we brought home the $15,000 check for going low Friday nights, got the No. 1 qualifier and then got beat in the semis. Overall, we picked up points and we went some rounds but to lose in the semis the way we did is tough. It was a close side-by-side race, but he had me on the tree. So, we’re going to pack up, go to Bristol and recover from this one.”

FUNNY CAR:

JOHN FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, PEAK ANTIFREEZE & COOLANT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 11 qualifier, fell in quarterfinals): “A little bit of a tough weekend out for this PEAK Chevrolet. We had some issues but I’m proud of my guys. Had to bring out the back-up car and they had some long nights and early mornings getting it ready. It ran good for a couple laps but had some bad luck with a cylinder going out in that second round. We’ll get it figured out and be ready for Bristol next week.”

ROBERT HIGHT, JOHN FORCE RACING, AAA TEXAS CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 1 qualifier, fell in quarterfinals): “We had something going there for a while. It’s a good sign for these last three races. This AAA team is just focusing on taking it one run at a time and having some fun along the way. We had put a lot of pressure on ourselves and there’s still pressure, but we need to enjoy ourselves. We know how to race, Jimmy Prock and Chris Cunningham, they know what they’re doing.”

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 79 countries with more than 3.2 million cars and trucks sold in 2020. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

Gilbert Korthoff Motorsports Battles to 11th at VIR

By
Official Release
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DANVILLE, VA (9 Oct. 2021) – Gilbert Korthoff Motorsports’ third foray into IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competition resulted in an 11th -place finish in Saturday’s Michelin GT Challenge at Virginia International Raceway.

Guy Cosmo and Mike Skeen co-drove the No. 32 Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the GT Daytona class, covering all but one of the 85 laps in the two-hour, 40-minute contest.

“For our first weekend with this revamped team, I think we learned a lot,” Cosmo said. “We just didn’t have the pace this weekend. So we took a little bit of a ‘Hail Mary’ with the strategy to see if it could get us anything, but ultimately, we finished where we would have, anyway.”

Cosmo started eighth and settled into 10th position in the early laps. He pitted at the 47-minute mark, with Skeen taking over in 13th position.

“The opening stint was real exciting,” Cosmo said. “The track was still damp in a number of sections, so racing side by side was challenging. I got into a groove early on. It was the same issue that we’ve been battling this weekend, we just didn’t have quite enough front end to make the car turn as much as we needed to, but we were doing alright. A couple of guys got a run on me, as we were slipping and sliding coming down into 17, heading into Turn 1.

“When somebody gets alongside, you’ve got to leave them room, but then you’re off-line and on the damp part of the track,” said Cosmo. “Losing a position is one thing, but you also lose time because you had to slow up. We did what we could; we just didn’t have enough grip. When we got Skeen in the car, we were hoping he could let it rip, but he was facing the same thing.”

The race had its lone caution at the 1:15 mark. While most of the GTD competitors took to pit lane for service, Gilbert Korthoff Motorsports opted to stay out, moving Skeen up to second in the class. When the race resumed with 1:14 remaining, Skeen ran second before making his final pit stop. Skeen returned to the event in 13th, gaining two positions in the closing laps.

“We knew going into the race that we weren’t starting up front, so we had to make it up somewhere,” Skeen said. “We had a decent pace at the start of each stint. Once the yellow fell, it was a matter of seeing where we fell on the fuel. We made a guess, but came up a little shorter than we wanted to. Still, it was a decent, clean result, and the car came home in one piece.”

Cosmo qualified 10th in Friday’s opening session, running 1:44.790-seconds. Since the team is not running for the championship, Skeen ran two easy laps in the second session that awards GTD points, opting not to post a competitive lap.

Only one race remains on the 2021 WeatherTech Championship season, the Motul Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on Saturday, Nov. 13.

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