Home Blog Page 2311

DAMION GARDNER BRINGS OVER 100 MAIN EVENT WINS INTO SATURDAY’S USAC/CRA RACE AT PERRIS AUTO SPEEDWAY

By
Official Release
-
Photo courtesy of Kenny Lonngren

(Perris, CA, October 21, 2021) On the West Coast, the original California Racing Association (CRA) started in 1946. In the 1990s, it morphed into the Sprint Car Racing Association (SCRA) before the USAC/CRA Series took over the torch in 2004.  This year marks the 75th anniversary season of the three separate sanctioning bodies that are in reality, all the same one.  In all those seasons, thousands of drivers suited up and raced in the sanctioned events and nearly 400 of them have won main events.  However, only three drivers have won over 100 main events in the combined groups.  Two of the three, Dean Thompson and Rip Williams, are in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame.  The other is current superstar Damion Gardner who will be in action in Saturday’s Amsoil USAC/CRA race at Perris Auto Speedway.

For years, Thompson has been credited with 105 wins, but some people insist he had more.  Williams has a listed total of 104 wins leaving him one victory shy of Thompson.  However, some people claim he won more!  Likewise, Gardner’s victory numbers have a question as well.  For some – like this writer – the total found is 101.  But others claim it is 102.  Two things are for sure though.  One is that Gardner, who is the current point leader, has won eight of the first 17 USAC/CRA championships.  That is more titles than anyone else in the combined three series.  And in as little as three weeks’ time, that total could climb to nine.  In addition, within a year from now, whether he currently has 101 or 102 wins, he will more than likely have more victories than both Williams and Thompson.

The journey to get to the current victory total for the Concord, California racer did not exactly start under ideal conditions.  It was the SCRA season opening afternoon race at Perris Auto Speedway in February of 2002.  To put it bluntly, Gardner did not even want to be there.  It was a long drive from his home, and it was going to stretch his racing budget, but friend Kevin Urton would not hear of it and insisted they head south.  An afternoon race on a dirt track can almost certainly tell you something you may not want to hear.  Dry, slick and nothing like nighttime racing.  However, it was a day that changed Gardner’s life.  It is a day that will someday see his career culminate with his election into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame.

“I knew from that day that this (non-wing) racing is where I wanted to be,” Gardner, the now former wing racer said via phone on Wednesday night.  “Since then I have only raced winged cars a couple times.  That was two years at Ohio Sprint Week.”

After his initial foray at Perris, the driver who goes by the moniker of “The Demon,” wowed crowds with his fearless racing style.  While some fans and a lot of drivers were not very happy with him and his aggressive approach, a lot of fans made the daring driver their hero.  For his supporters, it did not take long for their new-found favorite to adapt to his new discipline.  A little more than two months into his first topless season, he out-qualified the field for the first time at Perris on April 27th, and on June 8th, he scored his first non-wing main event win.  On that day, nobody gave it a thought that he would end up having a chance of being the all-time leading winner.

“I was thinking about winning a lot,” the now eight-time champion said.  “I wanted to (win) and I was trying to figure out how to do that.  But I was not thinking about numbers.  Later I would formulate and think about how many races in a season it would take to be considered good.  Not in a career, but in a year.  I had that figured out, but it did not have anything to do with records or 100 wins.  None of that.” 

As time rolled on and the wins kept on coming, Gardner, who started in his own ride before getting seats in prestigious cars owned by Harlan Willis, Ron Chaffin, and Mark Alexander, started to realize he was getting into rarified victory air.  He also got to know some of the greats in the sport and they made a big impression on him.  That makes his staggering victory total even a little more special and important. 

“It is important that the guys whose records I am breaking or whatever, they (the guys) mean a lot to me,” the slender racer said.  “I am not considering myself better or anything like that.  To be in the same statistical conversation with those guys kind of blows me away.  I was learning about these guys as I was racing (wingless).  Guys like Bubby Jones and Ron Shuman.  I was learning about them then because I did not grow up doing this.  They kind of became my friends and they taught me things.  They were guys I could call for advice.  At the point where I started to realize how great they were, this started feeling pretty good.  It wasn’t until a couple of years ago when I tied Ron Shuman for the number of championships that these numerical things started to come up more often.  It has been a lot of hard work and guys have given me a lot to accomplish this. I have a lot of people to thank along the way.  I do not say much (about the records), but it kind of makes me smile and it feels good inside.  It is kind of amazing and kind of makes me shake my head.  I can’t believe it.” 

Not only has Gardner won races and championships on the West Coast, but he spent several years winning and contending for the championship in the USAC National Sprint Car Series in the Midwest.  When all is said and done, one day he is going to be elected into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame.  The thought is kind of humbling to the driver who at times can seem rather brash. 

“I have only thought about it (being elected into the Hall of Fame) a little bit lately because people bring it up to me,” he stated.  “These things are not something I ever thought about doing or achieving.  It is pretty amazing that I have been able to win this many races and this many championships.  I was fortunate.  I got to do it the way I wanted to do it with sponsors and people helping me.”

After his time racing his own equipment in the Midwest ended, he returned to the West Coast.  At that time, Gardner really did not have anything going on.  But he ended up teaming with successful car owner Mark Alexander.  Simply put by the sheer numbers of wins and championships, they are the number one traditional sprint car driver/owner combo in West Coast history.  When you meet Gardner and Alexander, it seems like an “Odd Couple” relationship.  Gardner is a very intense competitor and Alexander is as laid back as you can be.  He does not say a lot and is usually in the background.  While they are polar opposites, their prowess together means that not only will Gardner be in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame, but Alexander will be there with him.  It would be a big thrill for Gardner to be there together.

“I had won a lot of races with the 50 car (owned by Ron Chaffin and tuned by crew chief Bruce Bromme Jr.) when I left (for the Midwest) and I have been able to win a lot of races since I came back in the 4 car,” he affirmed.  “It means a lot to me to team with Mark and Steve (crew chief Steve Alexander) for a lot of wins.  I think the 4 car passed the 50 car for all-time wins out here.  That is pretty cool that I was able to team with these guys and we could do that together.  Mark is funny.  He is kind of quiet and he does not say much.  He kind of smirks and looks at you in a way that you know he is pretty happy about it.”

Whether it is 101 or 102 wins, the question had to be asked, which victory was the biggest?

“Oh wow,” “The Demon” said while taking a moment to think about it.  “For me, there are these small victories where I overcome some thing in the night.  You know, as far as adversity.  Maybe I did not have a car good enough to win or I thought it was going to be a struggle and I won.  But I think my biggest wins have to be my Oval Nationals wins.  I mean, that is 410 sprint car racing and the guy’s names on that list (the other Ovals winners) are big.  That is the pinnacle. That is the “Grand Daddy” and that is what you want to win.  And it (winning the Ovals) meant a lot to the guys that have sponsored me.  You know, Pace and Pat Kehoe.  Ken at Scott Sales.  And for Mark and those guys (the #4 car) because they had not won (the Ovals)  until I got with them.  Those wins all meant the same to all of us.  It is the biggest race to win.  To win that one is probably the best.”

In two weeks’ time, Gardner will be trying to make history as the first driver to win the Oval Nationals four times.  But, before that, he will be trying to win another race when the USAC/CRA Series returns to Perris Auto Speedway this Saturday night.  It may be win #102 or maybe it will be win #103. Who knows?  To some, victory numbers may not mean much.  To Damion Gardner, every single win means a lot.

Adult tickets are $30.00.  For seniors 65 and over it is $25.00.  Kids 6-12 get in for just $5.00 and children five and under are free.  There will be plenty of tickets available at the ticket window on Saturday.  We will not sellout.  For fans who wish, advance tickets are available at www.tix.com

The Fairgrounds charges $10.00 for parking.  

Camping at the fairgrounds on the grassy area outside of turn four will begin at noon on Friday.  The cost is $25.00 per night.

Perris Auto Speedway is conveniently located on the SoCal Fair and Event Center (home of October’s Southern California Fair), approximately one-hour east of Los Angeles and one-hour North of San Diego. To get to the track, take the 215 freeway, on the Ramona Expressway and go three miles east to the fairgrounds. For directions on online, the address to enter is: 18700 Lake Perris Drive and the zip code is 92571.

Advance tickets for all other races on the 2021 schedule are also available at www.tix.com

Fans can stay up to date on track and driver news on The PAS social media efforts at the links below.

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Perris-Auto-Speedway/113876798686480?ref=hl

Twitter: Perris Auto Speedway on Twitter.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perrisautospeedway/

Website: http://perrisautospeedway.com/

Perris Auto Speedway wants to thank the following corporate partners.  Ahern Equipment Rentals, All Coast Construction, Anderson Chevrolet, Battery Systems, Bud’s Tire Pro, Chris’ Hauling, City of Perris, Communication Innovations, Daytona Boat & RV Storage, Ed Moore Bullet Proof Driveshaft, Flowdynamics, HD Industries, Heimark/Anheuser Busch, Hoosier Tires, Inland Rigging, Living Water’s Hospice, LKQ Pick Your Part, Luke’s Transmission, Moose Racing, Pepsi-Cola, Performance Online, Pole Position, PrintItNow.com,  Rainbow Bolt & Supply, Rugged Radios, Shaver Specialties, Square H, Sunoco Race Fuels, Trench Shoring, Upland Rock, Varner Construction and Vista Paint.

Video and DVD productions of all racing sprint cars events at Perris Auto Speedway are available from Loudpedal Productions. For more information on these productions you can contact them by calling (805) 844-3854, E-mailing mailto:trtruex@gmail.com or you can visit the website LoudPedal Productions.

DVDs of all the PASSCAR/IMCA racing and Nights of Destruction at The PAS are available from Fourvideos.  For more information call (714) 225-9500. 

mailto:perrisautospeedway1@gmail.com is the only authorized Internet address to issue official media news released from The Perris Auto Speedway or Oval Entertainment.

2021 EVENT SCHEDULE

October 23rd – AMSOIL USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS Senior Sprints

October 30th – LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTIONVII – Demo Cross, Figure 8’s, Trailer Figure 8’s, Mini Stocks and Double Deckers     

November 3rd – 25TH ANNUAL HEIMARK/ANHEUSER BUSCH OVAL NATIONALS Presented by ALL COAST CONSTRUCTION – Practice Night

November 4th  – 25TH ANNUAL HEIMARK/ANHEUSER BUSCH ANNUAL OVAL NATIONALS Presented by ALL COAST CONSTRUCTION AMSOIL USAC National and USAC/CRA Sprint Cars   

November 5th – 25TH ANNUAL HEIMARK/ANHEUSER BUSCH OVAL NATIONALS Presented by ALL COAST CONSTRUCTION AMSOIL USAC National and USAC/CRA Sprint Cars

November 6th – 25TH ANNUAL HEIMARK/ANHEUSER BUSCH OVAL NATIONALS Presented by ALL COAST CONSTRUCTION AMSOIL USAC National and USAC/CRA Sprint Cars   

November 13th – PASSCAR “CHAMPION’S NIGHT” – Super Stocks, Street Stocks, American Factory Stocks, IMCA Modifieds  

November 20th LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION V – Demo Cross, Figure 8’s, Trailer Figure 8’s, Mini Stocks and Double Deckers

NOTE: SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE DUE COVID 19 LEVELS AND MODIFICATIONS REQUIRED REOPENING.

7 Tips for Setting up Furniture in Your New Home

By
SM
-
Photo by Rowan Heuvel on Unsplash

Most people don’t spend much time when it comes to setting up furniture in a new home. When they arrange furniture, they don’t think about rearranging it. So, the first thing you need to do to move furniture from one location to another is to hire an NYC moving company. Then, after reaching your new home, you need to find how to set it up professionally to make your home look adorable. So, here we’ll share some tips to make your home look fresh. 

How to Set Up Furniture in New Home – 7 Tips

You can keep your furniture anywhere you want, but setting it professionally will improve the look of your new home. So, follow these tips to make your home adorable. 

  1. Choose a Focal Point

Many people don’t understand the power of a focal point in the room. Sometimes, you already have it in your home, for example, in the shape of a window or built-in fireplace mantel. But, most of the time, you’ll have to create it yourself. For example, you can make it using a Television, TV stand, couch, or great-looking antique display cabinets. After deciding on the focal point, stick to it and don’t change it. Then, arrange your furniture around that focal point as much as possible. Remember, keep things simple, and don’t do overstuffing. 

  1. Avoid Pushing Furniture Against the Walls

First of all, check your room dimensions because they can help you understand how much you can pull your furniture away from the walls. Even if you have a small space, the best practice is to give a few inches of space between the furniture and walls. 

Some people feel that this space can make the room look bigger. If you have a large space, arrange furniture to maintain conversation areas in the middle of the room. Larger rooms allow you to leave several feet of space between the furniture and the walls. 

  1. Maintain Balance When Setting Up Furniture

When setting up your living space, balance is key. A well-arranged room feels comfortable and inviting, while an unbalanced one can seem awkward or cluttered. Start by considering the size and layout of your space. Avoid placing all the large furniture on one side and all the smaller pieces on the other—it’ll throw off the flow of the room. Instead, mix things up to create harmony. For example, if you have straight-lined seating, try adding round coffee tables to soften the look. A little variety goes a long way in making your home feel stylish, functional, and effortlessly put together.

  1. Don’t Ignore Traffic Flow

When it comes to arranging furniture in the new home, the most important thing to consider is the traffic flow. When passing through the room, people shouldn’t be tripping over each other or furniture. For example, there should be a couple of inches or feet of distance between the sofa, coffee table, and chairs. In addition, the path should be clear, so that people don’t find it difficult to move from one part of the room to the other. Maintaining clear pathways can be especially important in smaller or shared bedrooms, where space optimization can improve the flow. An example of space saving furniture that can be placed to ensure good traffic flow is kids bunk beds, which can double sleeping capacity while reducing the floor area consumed.

  1. Use the Right Sized Rugs

You can use area rugs under the furniture but only use them when you can manage them. For example, if you want to expose some flooring, you can do it around the edges of the room. When you decide to use an area rug, ensure that it’s large enough so that all the furniture seating can rest on it. If the size of the mat is small, you can place the front legs of large pieces on it and leave the back legs on the floor. But, it’s not a best practice. 

  1. Tables Should be At Arm’s Length

When arranging your furniture, make sure both the side and coffee tables—which you possibly purchased from Emma Mason—are easily accessible from your seat. Avoid creating a layout where people have to get up to reach something on the table. The height of the side tables should align with the chair arms for comfort. If that’s not possible, choose a table with a slightly lower height. Apply the same principle to the coffee table to ensure ease of use and comfort.

  1. Use Lights 

It doesn’t matter how well you have arranged the furniture in your home if you don’t use lights. The best practice is to use a mix of overhead lighting, table lamps, and floor lamps. You can place a floor lamp behind an accent chair or at the end of the sofa. 

For table lamps, the best places are shelves, side tables, and mantels. To ensure the proper balance, ensure that lights are placed at different levels. Lighting in the right areas can enhance the beauty of your furniture and room. 

Final Words

Setting up furniture in a new home is a daunting task. Likewise, filling an empty room with furniture is an overwhelming task. But after following the tips mentioned above, you can do complex tasks easily. More importantly, the professional arrangement will make you feel happy. Finally, it will improve the overall beauty of your home.

Whatever happened to the first NASCAR driver from India?

By
SM
-

Back in 2010 and following in the tire treads of other notable Formula One drivers, famed as a motorsport icon in his home country, Narain Karthikeyan became the first-ever Indian to compete in NASCAR. On the tarmac, the new style of racing proved a challenging experience, whilst also creating plenty of interest in his journey throughout that season.

Debuting in the Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway on 27 March 2010, behind the wheel of a Chevrolet Silverado and competing in the #60 of Wyler Racing, Karthikeyan finished that race in a respectable 13th position. Considering that was also his first-ever drive on an American oval short track, his first effort on the NASCAR scene was even more praiseworthy, instantly grabbing the attention of national and international media.

NASCAR clearly viewed his arrival as a great PR opportunity, which aside from potentially raising its profile internationally and to a massive Indian audience, was also viewed as a way to shift racial and cultural perceptions. Karthikeyan competed in just 9 races and never finished higher than 11th, although his determination and personality did gain recognition, becoming the first foreign-born driver to win the Most Popular Driver Award.

Huge Indian motorsports fanbase

Due to the storied racing career of Karthikeyan and his relative success, the profile and popularity of motorsports has been boosted significantly to the Indian audience. While other sports like cricket and soccer are amongst the most popular, fandom for motorsports grew because the populace had a driver they could get behind, following his progress from one series to the next.

Now that TV coverage has increased for NASCAR around the world and beyond the United States, fans as far afield as India are keeping up to speed with the latest races. Even though Formula One remains the motorsport with the biggest following amongst Indian fans, an appetite for NASCAR has endured, whether it’s for the Cup Series or the Xfinity Series, plus the Camping World Truck Series in which Karthikeyan featured.

Motorsports are also increasing in popularity when it comes to betting markets, as online sportsbooks increase the range of betting options and markets available. Asiabet recently produced a guide covering the best free bets and offers for the Indian market, with many sites now providing extensive selections for a variety of motorsports events. This comprehensive guide also provides tips and advice on how to use free bets profitably, along with detailed reviews and ratings for the leading sports betting sites.

Life after NASCAR & return to F1

Although he had enjoyed the experience of driving NASCAR in the United States, it was always in single-seater and open wheel auto racing where Karthikeyan felt most comfortable. After making his return to European events in the Superleague Formula series in 2010, the Indian driver managed to land a seat with the HRT Formula One team during the 2011 season, which he maintained into the 2012 season. 

Unfortunately for Karthikeyan, despite his experience of 19 races in 2005 followed by 29 races through 2011 and 2012, following the closure of the HRT Formula One team, the Indian racing icon found himself without any offers from other teams. By 2013 Karthikeyan was enjoying a successful spell in the 2013 Auto GP series, first with Zele Racing and subsequently with Supa Nova International, where he enjoyed 5 wins and finished 4th overall in the championship.

For the next five years between 2014 and 2018, Karthikeyan focused his attention on the Japanese Championship Super Formula series, driving for several different and unable to register any podium finishes during that time. Remaining in Japan, he then switched attention to the Super GT Series with Modulo Nakajima Racing, where better performances on the track followed, including victory at the DTM Dream Race.

Where is Karhikeyan now?

Now aged 44 and with a passion for motorsport still pumping through his veins, the first ever Indian Formula One and NASCAR driver continues to race competitively. Karthikeyan represented Racing Team India in the 2021 Asia Le Mans Series, behind the wheel of an Oreca 07 in the LMP2 Championship, part of a team of three drivers who ran to 6th position overall.  

CHEVY NCS AT KANSAS: Team Chevy Advance

By
Official Release
-

TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE
HOLLYWOOD CASINO 400
KANSAS SPEEDWAY
KANSAS CITY, KANSAS
OCT. 24, 2021

RACE #34 – KANSAS SPEEDWAY
For the first time in his NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) career, Team Chevy’s Kyle Larson is locked into the Championship 4, securing his chance to compete for the title of the 2021 NCS Champion. The next stop for the NCS Playoffs Rounds of 8 has the premier series heading to the Midwest to Kansas Speedway for the Hollywood Casino 400 on Sunday, October 24.

The 267-lap race on the 1.5-mile oval marks the second of three races in the Round of 8 and the next opportunity for the eight driver Playoff field to solidify their spot in the championship hunt. Chase Elliott is aiming to join his Hendrick Motorsports teammate in the title-deciding race on November 7, entering the Kansas race weekend in the fifth spot in the driver standings. Larson, driving the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Camaro ZL1 1LE, will start on the pole for the 11th time this season. Fellow Team Chevy and Playoff contender, Elliott, will take the green for the 400-mile race from fifth in his No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Camaro ZL1 1LE.

Larson’s dominant victory at Texas Motor Speedway, in which he led 256 of the 334 laps on the 1.5-mile oval, was his field-high eighth of the season and maybe the most important as it came with a ticket to the championship race. The 29-year-old Hendrick Motorsports driver is among just 17 NCS drivers in the modern era (1972-present) who have recorded eight or more wins in a single season.

A capsule look at Team Chevy in the title hunt:

Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Camaro ZL1 1LE – 1st in Playoff Standings (Locked into Championship Four by Win)
Victories: 8 (field-high)
Top-Fives: 18; Top-10’s: 24; Poles: 1; Laps Led: 2,267
Average Finish: 9.4
Stage Wins: 16
At Kansas (13 career NCS starts): Top-Fives: 3; Top-10’s: 5; Average Finish: 16.615
Of Note: Larson has now captured four wins on 1.5-mile tracks this season, in addition to the non-points NASCAR All-Star Race at Texas Motor Speedway in June. With his win at Texas, he has qualified for the Championship 4 for the first time in his career. In the May 2021 race at Kansas, Larson led a field-high 132 laps, but was involved in contact with another car in the closing laps to finish 19th.

Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts ZL1 1LE – 5th IN STANDINGS (-8 points below cutline)
Victories: 2
Top-Fives: 13; Top-10’s: 19; Laps Led: 527; Average Finish: 11.7
Stage Wins: 4
At Kansas (11 career NCS starts): Wins: 1; Top-Fives: 5; Top-10’s: 7; Average Finish: 10.455
Of Note: Elliott has finishes of seventh or better in five races in a row on 1.5-mile tracks this season. Elliott has five top-10 finishes in 11 starts at Kansas Speedway, including a victory in the October 2018 race, making him the youngest NCS winner at the track. His average finish of 10.455 is the best among Playoff drivers. The 2021 NCS season marks Elliott’s sixth consecutive year of being part of the Playoff field.

ALLMENDINGER LEADS CHEVY DRIVERS IN NXS ROUND OF 8
Chevrolet NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) drivers grabbed four of the top-10 spots last week at Texas Motor Speedway, led by Noah Gragson’s third-place finish in the JR Motorsports No. 9 Camaro SS. The 200-lap Kansas Lottery 300 at 3 p.m. ET Saturday, October 23, is the middle leg of the NXS Playoffs Round of 8. Regular Season Champion AJ Allmendinger, driving the No. 16 Kaulig Racing Camaro SS, remains first in the standings. Justin Allgaier is third and Noah Gragson is fourth, giving the Bowtie brand three of the top-four spots in the driver standings heading into the Kansas race weekend. Chevrolet, with 15 wins, remains atop of the Manufacturer Standings.

CHEVROLET CONTINUES ATOP STANDINGS
Chevrolet remains the leader in the NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer Standings in pursuit of its 40th title. Team Chevy has recorded manufacturer highs of 16 victories, 142 top-10 finishes, 3,806 laps led and 29 stage wins through 33 races. The Bowtie Brand has already surpassed its totals for wins (9), top-10 finishes (120), laps led (2,399) and stage wins (21) from the 36-race 2020 season.

TWENTY YEARS AGO: GORDON GIVES CHEVY WIN IN TRACK OPENER
The Hollywood Casino 400 will be the 32nd NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway. Jeff Gordon, driving the No. 24 Chevrolet Monte Carlo for Hendrick Motorsports, won the first race at the track on September 30, 2001. Starting second, he led 53 of the 267 laps, including the final 22. Gordon went on to win the 2001 Driver Championship. Gordon visited the winner’s circle at the track again in September 2002 and May 2014.

CHEVROLET CONTINUES SUPPORT FOR “MAKING STRIDES AGAINST BREAST CANCER” WITH PINK CAMARO ZL1 PACE CAR AT TEXAS
Since 2011, Chevrolet has partnered with the American Cancer Society’s “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” initiative through dealership walks, national test drive promotions and national service rebate promotions. Again this year, Chevrolet is supporting the cause by pledging to contribute $350 for every lap run under caution, with a maximum of $50,000, during three NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) races during the month of October.

The second of three NASCAR Cup Series events that are part of the initiative took place last weekend at the NCS Playoffs Round of 8 opener at Texas Motor Speedway. The specially-themed pink ”Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 served as the pace car for the NCS event at the 1.5-mile Texas oval. With 55 laps made under caution during the NCS Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500, Chevrolet will contribute an additional $19,250 towards the campaign, bringing the current total to $28,700.

The final race of this year’s campaign will take place at Martinsville Speedway (Va.) on October 31, where the pink “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 will return as the pace car for the NCS Playoffs Round of 8 elimination race.

ON THE WAY TO THE GREEN
With no practice or qualifying for the 267-lap race, the starting lineup is determined by NASCAR’s metrics system that was introduced to the series last year and incorporates results from both individual races and season-long results.

Team Chevy’s top-20 starters:
1st Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Camaro ZL1 1LE
5th Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Camaro ZL1 1LE
9th William Byron, No. 24 RaptorTough.com Camaro ZL1 1LE
12th Tyler Reddick, No. 8 Cat Dealer Tech Camaro ZL1 1LE
13th Kurt Busch, No. 1 Advent Health Camaro ZL1 1LE
14th Austin Dillon, No. 3 Get Bioethanol Camaro ZL1 1LE
16th Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Good Sam Camaro ZL1 1LE
17th Eric Jones, No. 43 Petty’s Garage Camaro ZL1 1LE

BOWTIE BULLETS
· Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 16 wins, 142 top-10 finishes and 3,806 laps led of 8,120 total this season.
· Chevrolet has scored 25 wins with the Camaro ZL1 1LE over two seasons.
· Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 12 wins in the 31 races since 2001 at Kansas Speedway.
· In addition to its 12 wins, Chevrolet has amassed 61 top-five and 132 top-10 finishes in the 31 races since 2001 at Kansas Speedway.
· Kyle Larson paces all drivers with 2,267 laps led this season.
· William Byron was runner-up to Larson at Texas Motor Speedway, giving Hendrick Motorsports its sixth 1-2 finish of the season.
· Byron earned his fourth top-two finish of the season, including a win at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
· Hendrick Motorsports, which leads the Owner Standings, is tied for most wins at Kansas Speedway with seven.
· Kurt Busch is tied for the most starts at Kansas Speedway with 31.
· Career Chevrolet driver Jimmie Johnson is the all-time leader with 19 top-10 finishes in 29 races at Kansas Speedway.
· Five Team Chevy drivers have combined for 29 stage wins: Chase Elliott (Daytona RC, Michigan, Daytona2, Charlotte2); William Byron (Homestead, Pocono2, Road America); Tyler Reddick (Road America, Indianapolis road course x2); Kurt Busch (Nashville Superspeedway, Pocono1, Atlanta2); Kyle Larson (Las Vegas, Atlanta x2, Kansas, Dover x2, Charlotte x3, Sonoma x2, Nashville, Darlington2, Bristol2, Las Vegas2, Texas2).

FOR THE FANS:
Fans can visit the Team Chevy Racing Display in the Fan Midway at Kansas Speedway.
Fans can check out an assortment of Chevrolet vehicles including: 2021 Trailboss LT, 2022 Camaro 1LZ, 2022 Trailblazer 1RS, 2022 Corvette 3LT, 2021 Tahoe, 2021 HD Crew Cab.
At the Chevrolet Display, fans can also view Chase Elliott’s No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE show car.

TEAM CHEVY QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSIONS AT THE DISPLAY:
Saturday, October 23
· Brandon Brown: 10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
· Joe Graf Jr: 11:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
· Sam Mayer: 11:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
· Josh Berry: 12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.

Sunday, October 24
· Ricky Stenhouse Jr: 11:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
· William Byron: 11:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
· Tyler Reddick: 12:00 p.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Chevrolet Display Hours of Operation:
Saturday, October 23: 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 24: 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

TUNE IN
NBCSN will telecast the 267-lap NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at 3 p.m. ET Sunday, Oct. 24. Live coverage is also on MRN and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. NBC will telecast the 200-lap NASCAR Xfinity Series Kansas Lottery 300 at 3 p.m. ET Saturday, Oct. 23. Live coverage is also on MRN.

QUOTABLE QUOTES
KYLE LARSON, NO. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 1st IN STANDINGS
LARSON ON HIS MINDSET AHEAD OF KANSAS KNOWING TEAM IS IN CHAMPIONSHIP 4:
“My mind is on Kansas. I want to go there and win. I have led a lot of laps there and come close to a couple of different wins. I want to go there and lead a bunch of laps and try and get another win and then look forward to Martinsville. I don’t want to change up what we have been doing; still take it week by week and do a great job every weekend and carry some momentum into Phoenix. I think it would be bad if we went to Kansas and Martinsville and had a couple of DNFs because we are ‘relaxed.’ Hopefully we can go through these next couple of weeks, have a few good runs and head into Phoenix with some good momentum.”

CLIFF DANIELS, CREW CHIEF, NO. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM CAMARO ZL1 1LE
DANIELS ON PREPARING FOR PHOENIX AND UPCOMING RACES:
“The schedule makes us prepare for Phoenix a little bit earlier. It’s a Friday, Saturday, Sunday race with practice starting on Friday and qualifying on Saturday. The truck leaves for Phoenix that week, I believe on Tuesday. Your week is short so you have to be prepared on the front side, which we will be. We still have to go have a good run in Kansas and definitely want to have a good run in Martinsville. We have had that one circled for a while because we, as a team, feel like we have something to prove. Hopefully we can do that. We will be focused on Phoenix, but we want to have some good races in the meantime.”

CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 5th IN STANDINGS
ELLIOTT ON RACING AT KANSAS:
“We’ve been hit or miss at Kansas, really. I’ve had some good runs and even some of those good finishes we haven’t been as solid as I feel like we want to be, but it’s a place where I know we can go and have success at. I feel like it’s a place where we have a decent notebook, so to speak, to build off of and make ourselves better.”

ELLIOTT ON BEING BELOW THE CHAMPIONSHIP 4 CUTLINE:
“The great thing is we’re able to be in this Round of 8, which is a great thing. Another thing about that is a win anywhere in this round is an opportunity to race for a championship. Obviously, we want to win – that would be the best way to lock ourselves in. Last year was certainly that way and kind of how it all played out. I would love to do that this weekend at Kansas and be able to go ahead and lock into Phoenix and set our eyes on that one. We’re going to fight through it either way and see where we end up.”

WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 RAPTORTOUGH.COM CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 13th IN STANDINGS
BYRON ON THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RACING AT KANSAS IN THE FALL VERSUS THE SPRING:
“The fall is usually always cooler than when we go there earlier in the year. It creates a lot of more wide-open throttle time because of that. You still move around the racetrack just as much and the restarts are just as crazy, but your on-throttle time is probably the biggest difference between the two races. It makes it a little bit easier to race but it’s still a tough track because I feel like the surface is pretty hard on tires. It sets it up to be a fun race to be in and I’m sure it’s a fun race to watch for fans. Something about that place clicked early on for me in Trucks and Xfinity. I struggled a bit there when I first got to Cup, but I think I’ve learned a lot over the years and it’s become one of my best tracks now.”

RUDY FUGLE, CREW CHIEF, NO. 24 RAPTORTOUGH.COM CAMARO ZL1 1LE
FUGLE ON WHY KANSAS IS ONE OF HIS FAVORITE RACETRACKS:
“Kansas is a really cool track. I like the progressive banking, the speed and the handling that comes with that track. I like when you have to have all the facets of the car together, and the crew chief has a major part to do with that. The first time we went there this year, we ran up front for most of the first stage and I just didn’t do a good job adjusting on it during the second stage, putting us back in traffic. We’ve made a lot of changes since then and our 550 horsepower package is way better since then. I’m just super, super excited to get there. It’s a track where drivers can go bottom, middle or top. Not only can we make a lot of adjustments as needed, but William can as well with his driving style because of that. It reminds me of Homestead at a young state before it aged and got really abrasive. If we can hit on everything we need to, we can definitely go win.”

ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 15th IN STANDINGS
“Going to Kansas, I’m really excited. (It’s) one of my favorite racetracks. It’s the only repave that’s stayed super race-y. I’m excited to get there and run from the bottom all the way to the outside wall; bunch of grooves. It’s been a good place for us in the past. We struggled there in the spring, but we have a good notebook to look back on from previous races. Our teammates were pretty strong – the No. 5 dominated that day, so being able to look at his notes and go back strong, we should be good this weekend.”

GREG IVES, CREW CHIEF, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1 1LE
“The one thing that Kansas (Speedway) definitely allows is multiple grooves in the track. In Texas, you were able to have two grooves, maybe a lane and a half, but in Kansas you can enter on the high side and carry momentum and someone can dive bomb you. You can be trimmed out for the restart for the first four or five laps and then you start getting tight off or loose in and the guy who has a little better downforce can get by you. Hopefully our Ally Chevrolet has speed on the short and long runs and is able to run top to bottom.”

AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 GET BIOETHANOL CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 17th IN STANDINGS
HOW IS KANSAS UNIQUE COMPARED TO SOME OF THE OTHER 1.5-MILE TRACKS?
“Kansas Speedway has done a really good job with their banking. There’s a line right up by the fence that has a little extra grip. There’s an angle up there that I don’t think many tracks have figured out yet, but Kansas got it right. You can run from top to bottom there. The bottom groove is the preferred groove at the beginning, but it becomes too tight to try and run around there in turns one and two sometimes depending on what the balance of your race car is. I’ve enjoyed that track a lot ever since they repaved it. I wish every track could do as good as a job as Kansas has with repaves.”

ERIK JONES, NO. 43 PETTY’S GARAGE CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 24th IN STANDINGS
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES THAT COME WITH RACING AT KANSAS SPEEDWAY?
“At Kansas (Speedway), it’s just the craziness of the restarts. Kansas is so wide that you can run anywhere from the white line all the way up against the wall. When you go through those restarts, you just have cars everywhere. You’re three, four, sometimes five wide. It’s hard to balance that, be aggressive and move forward; but stay out of trouble and not get damage, as well.”

“I feel like as far as car balance, you just have to have a lot of speed in your car. You’re pretty much wide open around that track and it always seems like it moves up against the wall as the day goes. So, just having the speed in your car is really important to where you can get up there and have the maneuverability, but also have the speed to drive through the field.”

DANIEL SUAREZ, NO. 99 GOOD SAM CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 25th IN STANDINGS
WHAT IS GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES AT TRACKHOUSE RACING RIGHT NOW?
“I think that would take about an hour to tell you everything that is going on or it might be easier just to tell you what isn’t going on. It’s way more than what i was expecting. There’s a lot of stuff going on people-wise, the shop, the Next Gen Car and things like that.”

“I am a big believer in if you want to take care of the future you have to take car of the present. I try not to get too involved in things like that because I still have three more races this year and want to concentrate on that.”

“You are always going to be as strong as your last race. I have to keep working on this year, but we have a lot of people working very, very hard getting ready for next year.”

”We have to keep digging. The future is very bright.”

Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series Statistics

Manufacturers Championships:
Total (1949-2020): 39
First title for Chevrolet: 1958
Highest number of consecutive titles: 13 (2003-15)

Years Won: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015

Drivers Championships:
Total (1949-2020): 32
First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)
Highest number of consecutive titles: 7 (2005-11)
Most Recent: Chase Elliott (2020)

Years Won: 1957, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020

Event Victories:
Record for total race wins in single season: 26 (2007)

2021 STATISTICS:
Wins: 16
Poles: 5
Laps Led: 3,806
Top-five finishes: 66
Top-10 finishes: 142
Stage wins: 29 – Chase Elliott (Daytona RC, Michigan, Daytona, Charlotte RC), William Byron (Homestead, Pocono 2, Road America), Kyle Larson (Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Atlanta x2, Kansas, Dover x2, Charlotte x3, Sonoma x2, Nashville, Darlington, Bristol, Texas 2), Kurt Busch (Nashville, Pocono 1, Atlanta 2, Las Vegas 2), Tyler Reddick (Road America, Indy RC x2)

CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:
Total Chevrolet race wins: 811 (1949 to date)
Poles won to date: 722
Laps led to date: 240,511
Top-five finishes to date: 4,131
Top-10 finishes to date: 8,544

Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:

       General Motors: 1,145
       Chevrolet: 811
       Pontiac: 154
       Oldsmobile: 115
       Buick: 65

       Ford: 811                                                         
       Ford: 711
       Mercury: 96
       Lincoln: 4

       Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467
       Dodge: 217
       Plymouth: 191
       Chrysler: 59

       Toyota: 162

Team Chevy high-resolution racing photos are available for editorial use.

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.

INTERPHASE ENTERTAINMENT ADDS NHRA TOP FUEL DRIVER JUSTIN ASHLEY

By
Official Release
-

NHRA Standout Justin Ashley Eyes NHRA Top Fuel Championship in 2022

PLAINVIEW, NY (October 21, 2021) – InterPhase Entertainment, LLC has signed NHRA Top Fuel driver and 2020 Rookie of the Year Justin Ashley to help grow his brand and bring awareness to his program. InterPhase Entertainment will represent Ashley in all sponsorship development and procurement areas as well as networking opportunities in television, film, and digital avenues. InterPhase Entertainment will work to align Ashley with corporations, marketing firms and causes that align with his diverse interests both on and off the track.

“We are excited to have Justin Ashley with us as we broaden our business portfolio,” said Ryan Johnston, President and CEO of InterPhase Entertainment. “Justin is a highly marketable young driver who is a standout, and as far as I’m concerned, the future of the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. Justin just not only won in Texas a few weeks ago, but he just broke the track record in Bristol with a blistering 334.48 mph run in 3.69 seconds. We are looking forward to diversifying and building his brand around the world.”

The two-time NHRA national event winner is a second-generation driver from Plainview, NY. At twenty-six years old, he is a future star in the Top Fuel ranks of the NHRA. During his rookie season of 2020 Justin was hyper-focused on being his best, producing the quickest average reaction time in the Top Fuel class and finishing the season in the Top Ten.

Ashley earned his first win in the NHRA Top Fuel category at Indianapolis last year at the Summernationals. Earlier this month, Ashley earned his second Top Fuel win at the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals in Dallas. He currently sits third in the NHRA Camping World Top Fuel Championship point standings with two events remaining on the 2021 calendar.

When Ashley isn’t at the track, he serves as President of Ashley Developers, a real estate investment organization dedicated to the rehabilitation of distressed properties. He spends his days searching for new properties and overseeing the improvements made to his current holdings.

“Joining the InterPhase Entertainment team gives our race program the best opportunity for sustainable success on and off the racetrack,” said Ashley, who has been instrumental in securing sponsorship deals the past two years. “The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series is a tremendous value, and our plan has always been predicated on communicating that value, structuring a strategic business plan, and building a brand that ensures successful return on investment. InterPhase Entertainment is going to help us take our game to the next level by doing that tenfold. I cannot wait to begin our relationship together.”

InterPhase Entertainment, LLC has amassed over a decade and a half of experience in motorsports all around the world between the NHRA, NASCAR, IndyCar, Formula 1 and even the X Games. They bring a wealth of knowledge on how to bring in sponsors in not only the traditional marketing approach, but more so in the business-to-business aspect of aligning companies to benefit in earning new sales, while enjoying motorsports as an activation platform. InterPhase Entertainment not only works within the industry of motorsports, but within the industries of film, television, music, tech, space, defense, exploration, underwater archaeology, gold mining, and into retail.

The National Hot Rod Association is the largest auto racing organization in the world. The NHRA competes in major U.S. markets, and the racing runs the gamut from 11,000 horsepower Top Fuel dragsters to 5 horsepower Jr. dragsters. In 2020, the NHRA joined forces with Camping World to present the world’s fastest motorsports attraction as the flagship sponsor of the national touring series, the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series.

Justin can be seen during the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series on Fox and FS1, check your local listings. You can also follow @thejustinashley on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Trans Am West Coast Announces 2022 Schedule

By
Official Release
-

Trans Am West Coast Championship set for seven-race 2022 calendar

MIAMI (21 OCTOBER 2021)- The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli West Coast Championship returns for its sixth season in 2022, visiting iconic tracks in the Western half of the United States in conjunction with the SportsCar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) SpeedTour.

With a continued focus on budget management, Trans Am West Coast will host seven races at six venues in 2022, highlighted by three combined event weekends with the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli National Series (WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Sonoma Raceway and Circuit of The Americas) and a doubleheader slated for its penultimate round at Utah Motorsports Campus.

This season, the West Coast TA2 grid saw an 85 percent growth in participation over 2020 and has served as a launchpad for multiple regional players like Thomas Merrill and Erich Joiner to step into the National Series.

“The West Coast championship is a great way for drivers in the Western part of the United States to get their feet wet in Trans Am,” said John Clagett, president of the Trans Am Race Company. “It’s a great exposure opportunity for the West Coast Championship to be able to travel with the SpeedTour again in 2022 and expand to three combined National and West Coast events.”

The 2022 Trans Am West Coast Championship season will kick off with back-to-back weekends alongside the National Series, debuting at the home of the Corkscrew at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for the Trans Am SpeedFest April 22-24. The series then moves up the Golden Coast to Sonoma Raceway for the Sonoma SpeedTour April 30-May 1.

The series will continue up the Pacific Northwest for its summer tour with the first stop at The Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton, Washington, as part of The Ridge SpeedTour June 10-12. The inaugural event, held this year, brought teams and drivers to a park-like setting nestled between Mt. Rainier and Mt. St. Helens near the state capitol in Olympia. The scenery paired with the high-speed straights, sweeper turns and heavy braking zones, became an instant track favorite for competitors.

The West Coast drivers will then head to Portland International Raceway for the Portland SpeedTour July 15-17. It’s the 29th time Portland has hosted the roar of Trans Am American Muscle, the first time was in 1972, with a Two-Five Challenge race for sub-compact sedans.

The schedule will see a two-month break before returning for the final three races of the season. Utah Motorsports Campus will host the only doubleheader on the Trans Am West Coast calendar on its new date of October 14-16 before the West Coast wraps up its season at Circuit of The Americas with the National Series on November 4-6 with the Austin SpeedTour.

2022 Trans Am West Coast Schedule

April 22-24 Trans Am SpeedFest (WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca)*
April 30-May 1 Sonoma SpeedTour (Sonoma Raceway) *
June 10-12 The Ridge SpeedTour (The Ridge Motorsports Park)
July 15-17 Portland SpeedTour (Portland International Raceway)
Oct. 14-16 Utah SpeedTour (Utah Motorsports Campus) ^
Nov. 4-6 Austin SpeedTour (Circuit of the Americas) *

*Combined National and West Coast Event

^Doubleheader

DiBenedetto Hopeful Headed Into Kansas

By
Official Release
-

Matt DiBenedetto and the No. 21 Menards/Monster team return this weekend to the scene of their best finish so far in the 2021 Cup Series season.

It was at Kansas Speedway back in May that DiBenedetto scored a fourth-place finish. Now they’re back at Kansas for the 21st annual Hollywood Casino 400, which will be the final intermediate-track race of the season.

In May, DiBenedetto started fifth, struggled in the first two Stages but capitalized on some late-race restarts and drove into the top five despite having just two fresh tires whereas many of his competitors had four.

Not surprisingly, he’s looking forward to a return to the 1.5-mile track, where his Wood Brothers team has five top-five and nine top-10 finishes in 23 starts.

“Kansas is my favorite mile-and-a-half track since the racing is so good there,” DiBenedetto said. “You can run all over the race track.”

He said he’s encouraged by the speed the Menards/Monster team has shown at tracks like Kansas, where the 550-horsepower package is used. The final two races of the season – at Martinsville and Phoenix – will be run with the 750-horsepower package.

“We have good speed on the 550 tracks, so we just need to get that win especially with how well the team is working together,” he said.

DiBenedetto and the Menards/Monster team will have extra motivation this weekend as the No. 21 Mustang will carry the name of Cancer Hero Howard Scholick above the driver’s door in the position normally taken by DiBenedetto’s name.

Scholick, of Columbia, Md., was nominated by his son-in-law Scott Townsend as part of a program put on by the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation, the NASCAR Foundation and AdventHealth.

Townsend said he chose DiBenedetto and the Wood Brothers because they share some of the same qualities as his late father-in-law.

“They operate with honesty, integrity and never shy away from hard work,” Townsend wrote.

“Matt has not had an easy road to get to the top level of NASCAR, but even when constantly being faced with adversity he continues to work hard with his ‘never give up attitude.’”

He said Scholick was much like DiBenedetto when it comes to work ethic and determination.

“It’s just a perfect fit, and we as a family are so thankful for the opportunity to honor Howard in this way.”

Team co-owner Jon Wood said his family and DiBenedetto are proud to be a part of the Cancer Hero program.

“It’s an honor to be chosen by the Scholick family, and we will do our best this weekend to turn in a performance that a hero like Howard would be proud of,” Wood said.

DiBenedetto will start Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 from 15th place, as the line-up was set using metrics from Texas, with the eight remaining Playoff contenders occupying the first four rows.

The green flag is set to fly just after 2 p.m. (3 p.m. Eastern Time) with TV coverage on NBCSN. Stage breaks are set for Laps 80 and 160 of the 267-lap race.

Menards

A family-owned and run company started in 1958, Menards is recognized as the retail home center leader of the Midwest with 236 stores in 15 states. Menards is truly a one-stop shop for all of your home improvement needs featuring a full-service lumberyard and everything you need to plan a renovation or build a home, garage, cabin, shed, deck, fence or post frame building. Menards is known for friendly Customer Service and as the place to “Save Big Money” with low prices every day, and sales too! For more information, please visit Menards.com to learn about our store locations, offerings and services.

Wood Brothers Racing

Wood Brothers Racing was formed in 1950 in Stuart, Va., by Hall of Famer Glen Wood. Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team and one of the winningest teams in NASCAR history. Since its founding, the team won 99 races (including at least one race in every decade for the last seven decades) and 120 poles in NASCAR’s top-tier series. Fielding only Ford products for its entire history, the Wood Brothers own the longest association of any motorsports team with a single manufacturer. Glen’s brother, Leonard, is known for inventing the modern pit stop. The team currently runs the Ford Mustang driven by Matt DiBenedetto in the famous No. 21 racer.

Kris Wright returns to Rette Jones Racing for 2021 ARCA season finale

By
Official Release
-

Kris Wright returns to Rette Jones Racing for 2021 ARCA season finale

KANSAS CITY, Kan: Rette Jones Racing confirmed today that NASCAR rookie Kris Wright will return to the team to participate in Saturday night’s ARCA Menards Series season finale at Kansas Speedway.

Wright will make his fifth series start of the season in the Reese’s 150 and hunts his third top-10 of the 2021 ARCA season at the track he landed his career-best series finish last October.

“I am excited to get back to Kansas Speedway this weekend with Rette Jones Racing,” said Wright. “This race was not initially on our schedule, but Mark (Rette) and the entire Rette Jones Racing team have been excellent to work with this year and it’s an opportunity to go out there on Saturday night and see if I can improve on my career-best ARCA finish from last year.”

Last fall, Wright in one of his five ARCA races of the year for Chad Bryant Racing started eighth and battled to a seventh-place lead lap finish to match his best short-track finish from earlier in the season at Lebanon I-44 Speedway in Missouri.

With 100 laps under his belt, Wright is looking forward to conquering Kansas again but with the added benefit of practice and qualifying behind the wheel of his No. 30 Wright Automotive Ford Fusion.

Last year, the ARCA Menards Series had just one brief 45-minute practice session before the 100-lap finale.

“We’ll have slightly more track time before the race this year, but believe me all the laps help,” added Wright. “I have been fortunate enough to have some more laps at Kansas earlier this year in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

“With laps and track time on my side, I’m hopeful we can have a good showing in what is expected to be a competitive race on Saturday night.”

For his 11th career ARCA Menards Series start, the former IMSA Sports Car competitor will sport a pink No. 30 Wright Automotive Group | WrightCars.com Ford Mustang to highlight their contribution in raising awareness during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Since 1927, family-owned and operated WrightCars.com, a part of the Wright Automotive Group has been serving the Pittsburg area’s automotive needs featuring its Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Hyundai, Honda, Nissan, Lotus, Genesis and Explorer Vans brands.

They offer an extensive selection of new and pre-owned inventory in Pennsylvania.

Find the perfect vehicle for your lifestyle at Wright Automotive Group.

“Our car looks fantastic,” sounded Wright. “Obviously, Breast Cancer Awareness Month is important for a lot of reasons, and we’ll be doing our part by honoring three women that have fought. We’re not only racing for ourselves but for Julie Aravich, Carol Barber and Karen Nazzaro.”

Team owner and former ARCA championship crew chief Rette is excited for the opportunity to call the shots for Wright again.

“We have had a lot of fun working with Kris and the Wright family this year, but we’re not done yet,” he said. “I feel like we still have some work to do. We’ve had fast cars but for one reason or another haven’t been quite able to put together the finishes I know Kris and the team are capable of.

“Kansas is one of the tracks that Kris has the most experience on and I believe that will be a benefit for us this weekend. The field will be stacked, but I think if we can keep the handling underneath Kris and avoid any chaos, we can find ourselves contending for a top-five finish at the end of the race.

“We look forward to the opportunity to put Rette Jones Racing in Victory Lane for the third time in 2021.”

In addition to Wright Automotive Group and WrightCars.com, iHeart Radio, F.N.B. Corporation, PPG, Ford Performance, Goodridge Fluid Transfer Systems, Jones Group Demolition and Abatement and JRi Shocks join the team as partners this weekend.

RJR is co-owned by Canadian entrepreneur and former race car driver Terry Jones.
For more on Kris Wright, please visit, kriswrightmotorsports.com, like him on Facebook (Kris Wright Racing) and follow him on Twitter (@KrisOnNASCAR).

For more on Rette Jones Racing, please visit RetteJonesRacing.com, like them on Facebook (Rette Jones Racing) or follow them on Twitter (@RetteJones30).

The Reese’s 150 (100 laps | 150 miles) is the 20th of 20 races on the 2021 ARCA Menards Series schedule. Practice begins Sat., Oct. 23 with a forty-five-minute practice session from 11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. A timed General Tire pole qualifying session is set for a short time later at 12:40 p.m. The race is set to take the green flag shortly after 6:00 p.m. (7:00 p.m. ET). The event will be televised live on MAVTV, the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM Satellite Radio (XM channel 391, online channel 981). ARCARacing.com will also stream live timing and scoring throughout the day’s festivities. All times are local (CT).

About Rette Jones Racing:

Headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, Rette Jones Racing (RJR) was founded in 2015 with the intent of building a successful racing operation built around the fundamentals of hard work and a never give up attitude.

Owned by racers Terry Jones and Mark Rette, RJR plan to field a full-time entry in 2021 in the ARCA Menards Series East, while also hopeful to field vehicles in the ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS).

The winning ARCA East team also offers technical and setup intel as part of its technical alliance partnership program.

Hendrick Motorsports Media Advance: Texas

By
Official Release
-

Kansas Speedway
Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021
1.5-Mile Oval
3:00 PM ET
Location: Kansas City, Kansas
TV: Fox
Event: NASCAR Cup Series (34 of 36)
Radio: SiriusXM, PRN

5 KYLE LARSON

Age: 29 (July 31, 1992)

Hometown: Elk Grove, California

Resides: Mooresville, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Cliff Daniels

Standings: 1st

No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE

FINAL FOUR: Kyle Larson led 256 laps – including the final 218 – to win the 334-lap race at Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday. The 29-year-old driver secured one of four spots in the Championship 4 and will compete for his first NASCAR Cup Series title at Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 7. The Texas win marked Larson’s second consecutive victory and eighth win of 2021.

CAREER YEAR: Through 33 of 36 Cup Series races, Larson leads the series in wins (eight), top-five finishes (18), top-10s (24), stage wins (16) and laps led (2,267) – all career bests. His laps led total is 868 more than the next-closest competitor.

LEADER OF THE PACK: Larson has led 1,187 laps on 1.5-mile tracks in 2021, the most ever by a driver during a season. In fact, the rest of the field has combined to lead just 13 more (1,200) on that type of track in 2021. Larson is the only driver with multiple victories (three) in races held on 1.5-mile layouts this year.

ONLY JG: Jeff Gordon is the only Hendrick Motorsports driver to lead more laps than Larson during a season. In 1995, Gordon led 2,610 laps and he paced the field for 2,314 circuits a year later. In 2001, the four-time Cup Series champion led 2,320 laps – the benchmark for a 36-race schedule. Larson trails that record by 53 laps with three races remaining in 2021.

42 FOR LARSON: Along with eight wins, Larson has also posted runner-up finishes in six races. The driver of the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE has finished in the top two in 42% of the Cup Series races held in 2021.

SPORTING IN KC: In May at Kansas Speedway, Larson finished second in stage one and won stage two. He led a race-high 132 laps before contact with another car after a late-race restart resulted in a 19th-place finish. Overall, Larson has three top-five finishes and five top-10s in 13 starts at the 1.5-mile track.

UPPING THEIR GAME: At 13.63 seconds, the No. 5 pit crew owns the quickest average time for four-tire pit stops in 2021. During the playoffs, their average time is even quicker at a series-best 13.22 seconds. The over-the-wall crew is comprised of gasman Brandon Harder, jackman Brandon Johnson, tire carrier R.J. Barnette and tire changers Donnie Tasser (front) and Calvin Teague (rear).

YOUR CAR NEEDS: This weekend, Larson will drive the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE. From the convenience of home, customers can select the category, make, model and vehicle packages that are important to them from the nearly 30,000 new, high-quality pre-owned and certified cars, trucks and SUVs available at HendrickCars.com. The website also makes it easy for customers to find one of Hendrick Automotive Group’s 93 dealership locations nationwide.

WE’RE HIRING: Hendrick Automotive Group is hiring more than 300 technicians at its dealerships throughout the country. Positions are open for all skill levels and offer tuition and training reimbursement. Interested people can apply at HendrickCars.com.

IT KEEPS ADDING UP: In March, Larson announced the launch of the Kyle Larson Foundation, which was established to better serve today’s youth, families and communities in need through hands-on support. The Sanneh Foundation and the Urban Youth Racing School are the primary beneficiaries of the foundation, which will also work closely with Hendrick Cares, the corporate social responsibility program of Hendrick Automotive Group. To kickstart the “Drive for 5,” Larson pledged a personal donation of $5 for every Cup Series lap he completes this season and will contribute another $5,000 for every top-five finish he earns. Through 33 races, he has already pledged more than $135,000 and raised nearly $200,000. To learn more, please visit KyleLarsonFoundation.org.

9 CHASE ELLIOTT

Age: 25 (Nov. 28, 1995)

Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia

Resides: Dawsonville, Georgia

Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson

Standings: 5th

No. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE

ROUND OF 8 ROUND UP: Chase Elliott continues his run to defend the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series title this weekend at Kansas Speedway. This is the fifth consecutive season he has advanced to the Round of 8 of the playoffs. Through the seven playoff races this year, Elliott has led 190 laps and spent 774 laps inside the top five and 1,438 laps running in the top 10. He is currently fifth in playoff standings, eight points below the cutline. Elliott has collected victories at the next two tracks in the round (Kansas, Martinsville Speedway). In his previous 57 playoff races, he has collected six wins, 22 top-five finishes, 32 top-10s and led 1,653 laps.

THREE TO GO: With only three races remaining in the 2021 season, Elliott’s eight top-two finishes are tied for the most he has collected in a single year and is also the second-most of all drivers this season. With 33 races complete this season, the driver of the No. 9 has also picked up two wins, 13 top-five finishes, 19 top-10s and 527 laps led.

KANSAS STATS: On Sunday, Elliott is set to make his 12th Kansas Speedway start at the Cup level. In his previous 11 races at the track, he garnered one win, five top-five finishes – tied with Charlotte Motor Speedway and Martinsville for the second-most top-five results at a track in his Cup career – seven top-10s and led 145 laps. He has finished inside the top 10 in five of the last six races at the 1.5-mile venue. Elliott also holds the second-best average finish (10.5) among active drivers at Kansas, behind only Kevin Harvick (9.1).

1.5-MILE STATS: This weekend at Kansas, Elliott will make his 61st start on a 1.5-mile track in the Cup Series. In his previous 60 races, Elliott has led 764 laps. Last season, he scored his second career 1.5-mile track win at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 28. Along with two victories, Elliott has collected 18 top-five finishes – five of which are runner-up results – and 30 top-10s on 1.5-milers. He currently holds the second-longest active top-10 streak (five) on these tracks.

QUICK STOPS: The No. 9 team owns the third-best average time for four-tire pit stops at 13.34 seconds during the playoffs. The NAPA pit crew is comprised of jackman T.J. Semke, gasman John Gianninoto, tire carrier Jared Erspamer and tire changers Chad Avrit and Nick O’Dell.

HONORING A CANCER HERO: This weekend at Kansas, the No. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet will feature a very special name above the driver door. Candy Howton’s name will be showcased as part of the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation’s initiative to recognize those who have fought bravely against cancer. Howton was diagnosed with Stage 2B lung cancer in January 2019. They had to remove her right lung completely because of the cancer’s location in the organ. After surgery, Howton had several weeks of chemotherapy. She was very determined to be well enough to attend the April 2019 Talladega Superspeedway race to watch her favorite driver, Elliott. When April arrived, she was able to make her first trip to the Talladega race and cheered Elliott on as he won the event.

BACK HOME: No. 9 team jackman Semke hails from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, less than 40 miles from Kansas Speedway. Before stepping on the football field at the University of Kansas in 2012, Semke was a part-time bounty hunter. The 28-year-old was a defensive lineman for the Jayhawks for three years, earning Academic All-Big 12 Second Team honors twice. Semke signed with Hendrick Motorsports in October 2016.

24 WILLIAM BYRON

Age: 23 (Nov. 29, 1997)

Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina

Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle

Standings: 11th

No. 24 RAPTORTough.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE

TEXAS TWO-STEPPED: Starting 12th Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway, William Byron powered his No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE to the front and remained there for almost the entirety of the race. Finishing stage one in fifth after a pit strategy call and leading 55 laps in stage two before crossing the stripe in second to end the second stage, Byron continued to run second as the laps wound down. With a string of late-race restarts to end the race, Byron ultimately crossed the finish line in second behind Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson – a track-best finish for Byron.

LOOKIN’ AT THE TOP TWO: After his runner-up result at Texas last Sunday, Byron has now finished in the top-two positions four times in the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season. That feat ties him for the third-most in the field behind Hendrick Motorsports teammates Larson (14) and Chase Elliott (eight). This is also the most times in a season that the 23-year-old driver has finished in the top-two positions, doubling his previous best of two in 2019.

CONTINUING THE TREND: Down to the last three races in the 2021 Cup Series season, Byron continues to post career-best stats this year at the highest level of competition in the No. 24 RAPTORTough.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE. So far, Byron has collected one win (Homestead-Miami Speedway), two pole awards (Road America and Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course – most by a driver this season), 11 top-five finishes and 18 top-10s all while leading 368 laps and collecting three stage wins. In his Cup career, these are the most top-five finishes, top-10s, laps led, and stage wins the Charlotte, North Carolina, native has collected in a single season.

1.5-MILE MOMENTUM: With the Cup Series racing at eight mile-and-a-half tracks so far this year, Byron has finished inside the top 10 in six of those events – tied for the second-most behind Kyle Busch (eight). Even going back as far as the last 12 races on 1.5-milers, Byron has secured eight top-10 finishes on that configuration of track.

HOT START AT KANSAS: Right out of the gate Byron found success at Kansas Speedway in just his first two NASCAR national series starts at the 1.5-mile track. With one NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start in 2016 and one NASCAR Xfinity Series start in 2017, Byron finished no worse than fourth in both events. In fact, in his debut at the intermediate oval in 2016 – just his fifth Truck Series start – Byron started from the top spot, led 34 laps and collected his first Truck Series win. That kickstarted the most successful season by a rookie in the history of the series.

MIDWEST MOJO: Aside from those first two starts, Byron has seven Cup Series starts at Kansas Speedway. While Byron faced bad luck in his first three races, including a mechanical failure, a late-race on-track incident and a pit road penalty, he has since turned that luck around. In his last four starts at the 1.5-mile track, Byron has collected one top-five finish and four top-10s. His four-consecutive top-10 finishes at Kansas is tied for the longest active top-10 streak at the intermediate track. Byron has the longest top-10 streak in his Cup Series career at Kansas (four) ahead of Phoenix Raceway (three) and Pocono Raceway (three).

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE KANSAS: Looking to make his second start as a Cup Series crew chief at Kansas Speedway this Sunday, Rudy Fugle’s first race at the Midwestern track earlier this year resulted in a ninth-place effort with the No. 24 team. Aside from that one Cup Series start, the Livonia, New York, native has 10 previous starts at the 1.5-mile oval, all coming in the Truck Series. In those 10 events, Fugle’s drivers have started from the pole four times, led 391 laps, collected two wins (2016 and 2018), earned five top-five finishes and six top-10s. In fact, Fugle’s 2016 win came with Byron, who captured his first Truck Series victory in just their fifth start together.

RAPTOR® TOUGH: Earlier this week, Axalta Racing unveiled a special paint scheme for the Byron and the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE featuring their newest acquisition, U-POL, and its RAPTOR® brand. The new paint scheme has a charcoal base with bright green accents and will be on board Byron’s Chevy this Sunday at Kansas as well as at the season finale at Phoenix. RAPTOR® is a durable protective coating and bed liner that is designed to tolerate the toughest climatic conditions and can be applied to a wide range of substrates from steel, wood, concrete and plaster to plastics and composites. Resistant to common fuels, U.V., scratches and stains, RAPTOR® is available at local paint distributors, auto parts stores and can also be purchased from online retailers like Amazon. For a better look at Byron’s No. 24 RAPTORTough.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, click here.

HONORING KEITH COOPER: The Martin Truex Jr. Foundation and the NASCAR Foundation have partnered together for the second time to recognize those who have battled cancer by auctioning off the space above the driver-side door to honor a cancer hero. For this Sunday’s race, Byron will have Keith Cooper riding on board his No. 24 Chevy, who was nominated by his son, Brian Cooper. Working at General Motors for 36 years, Cooper was known as one of the hardest workers by his family, friends and coworkers. He spent every Sunday watching NASCAR with his son and was a diehard Jimmie Johnson fan until his retirement from the Cup Series. Once Johnson retired, Cooper began cheering for Byron and the No. 24 team. Unfortunately, Cooper lost his battle to lung cancer in August of this year.

48 Alex Bowman

Age: 28 (April 25, 1993)

Hometown: Tucson, Arizona

Resides: Concord, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Greg Ives

Standings: 12th

No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE

1.5-MILE STATS: Alex Bowman has 68 starts in the NASCAR Cup Series on tracks measuring 1.5-miles in length. The Ally-sponsored driver captured his first career victory at Chicagoland Speedway on June 30, 2019, after leading 88 laps. Bowman has nine top-five finishes, 19 top-10s and has led 463 laps total at 1.5-mile facilities in his Cup career. In the last eight starts on 1.5-mile tracks this season, Bowman has captured three top-five finishes and four top-10s.

NO PLACE LIKE KANSAS: Bowman will make his 13th start at Kansas Speedway on Sunday afternoon. Earlier this season, he finished 18th after 267 laps and last season, Bowman brought home an eighth-place result in the spring race and a third-place finish during the fall playoff race at the venue. The driver of the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE is ranked fifth for the best average finish (8.5) at Kansas over the last six races. Bowman’s five top-10 finishes (career best) all come from his runs at the venue. He has two top-five finishes, five top-10s and has led 76 laps at the 1.5-mile track. Bowman made one start at the venue in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2013 and finished 11th at the end of the 200-lap event. He’s also made two Kansas starts in the ARCA Series and brought home wins in both races, including from the pole position in 2012.

IVES IN KANSAS: Crew chief Greg Ives has called the shots 13 times at Kansas Speedway in the Cup Series. The Bark River, Michigan, native’s drivers have three top-five results, seven top-10s and have led 78 laps at the 1.5-mile facility. Ives’ best finish of second came in spring of 2019 after the team rolled off fifth and led 63 laps. The crew chief’s résumé includes one top-five finish and two top-10s at the venue in the Xfinity Series. In 2013, Ives’ driver led 81 laps en route to a third-place result at the facility. Ives was a race engineer for the No. 48 team at Hendrick Motorsports from 2006 until 2012. During that time, he was part of two wins, two pole awards and eight top-10 finishes at Kansas.

HONOR A CANCER HERO: This weekend, Bowman will carry a very special name above the door of his Chevrolet Camaro thanks to the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation and NASCAR Foundation’s Honor A Cancer Hero auction. Judy Kontny of Lakeland, Florida, will ride along with the No. 48 team at Kansas Speedway on Sunday. Kontny is Ives’ aunt and a big fan of the No. 48 team. Two weeks after her husband passed away from cancer in 2010, Kontny was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was in remission but the cancer returned. She has been fighting the disease ever since.

HOME-TRACK FEELS: The fueler for the No. 48 team, Jacob Conley, grew up approximately 204 miles from Kansas Speedway in Omaha, Nebraska. Conley went to Doane University in Crete, Nebraska, and graduated with a degree in sociology in 2012. While at the university, Conley played offensive tackle for the Tigers and was a starter during all four years of college.

PIT PERFORMANCE: The No. 48 pit crew sits seventh on the charts for the fastest average four-tire stop time of 13.92. The team includes fueler Conley, tire carrier Allen Stallings, jackman Dustin Lineback and tire changers Scott Brzozowski and Devin DelRicco.

ONE-TWO PUNCH: Kyle Larson and William Byron finished first and second Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway, which delivered Hendrick Motorsports’ sixth 1-2 sweep of 2021 – the second-highest total since the NASCAR Cup Series went to a 36-race schedule in 2001. With seven in a single season, Hendrick Motorsports (2009) and Joe Gibbs Racing (2019) have the most sweeps of first and second in that span. The all-time record is 10 held by Carl Kiekhafer Racing, which accomplished it in 1956 during a 56-race Cup Series season. In 1957, Peter Depaolo Racing did it six times in 53 events.

NIFTY 50: Following Larson’s Texas performance, Hendrick Motorsports has recorded 50 all-time wins during the Cup Series playoffs – 17 more than next-best Joe Gibbs Racing (33) and more than double third-place Penske Racing (24). In seven playoff events this year, the team has three victories – all courtesy of Larson.

ONE MORE SHOT: Entering Sunday’s race at Kansas Speedway, Hendrick Motorsports is within striking distance of the Cup Series single-season record for most laps led on 1.5-mile tracks. In 2005, the five-car Roush Fenway Racing organization led 1,515 laps in 10 races held on intermediates. This year, the four-car Hendrick Motorsports stable has led 1,464 laps in eight events on 1.5-milers.

2021 FOR THE AGES: Hendrick Motorsports is having one of its best statistical seasons since Rick Hendrick launched the team in 1984. Through 33 points-paying events in 2021, the organization has 14 points-paying Cup Series wins – its second-best mark in a 36-race season and tied with 1998, which featured a 33-race schedule. Its best full-season victory total came in 2007 when it won 18 of 36 points events (50%).

BLACKJACK: Hendrick Motorsports has won 11 of the last 21 points-paying Cup Series races. Joe Gibbs Racing is the next-best team with four wins in that span.

QUOTABLE /

Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, on his mindset ahead of Kansas knowing team is in Championship 4: “My mind is on Kansas. I want to go there and win. I have led a lot of laps there and come close to a couple of different wins. I want to go there and lead a bunch of laps and try and get another win and then look forward to Martinsville. I don’t want to change up what we have been doing; still take it week by week and do a great job every weekend and carry some momentum into Phoenix. I think it would be bad if we went to Kansas and Martinsville and had a couple of DNFs because we are ‘relaxed.’ Hopefully we can go through these next couple of weeks, have a few good runs and head into Phoenix with some good momentum.”

Cliff Daniels, crew chief of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, on preparing for Phoenix and upcoming races: “The schedule makes us prepare for Phoenix a little bit earlier. It’s a Friday, Saturday, Sunday race with practice starting on Friday and qualifying on Saturday. The truck leaves for Phoenix that week, I believe on Tuesday. Your week is short so you have to be prepared on the front side, which we will be. We still have to go have a good run in Kansas and definitely want to have a good run in Martinsville. We have had that one circled for a while because we, as a team, feel like we have something to prove. Hopefully we can do that. We will be focused on Phoenix, but we want to have some good races in the meantime.”

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, on racing at Kansas: “We’ve been hit or miss at Kansas, really. I’ve had some good runs and even some of those good finishes we haven’t been as solid as I feel like we want to be, but it’s a place where I know we can go and have success at. I feel like it’s a place where we have a decent notebook, so to speak, to build off of and make ourselves better.”

Elliott on being below the Championship 4 cutline: “The great thing is we’re able to be in this Round of 8, which is a great thing. Another thing about that is a win anywhere in this round is an opportunity to race for a championship. Obviously, we want to win – that would be the best way to lock ourselves in. Last year was certainly that way and kind of how it all played out. I would love to do that this weekend at Kansas and be able to go ahead and lock into Phoenix and set our eyes on that one. We’re going to fight through it either way and see where we end up.”

William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, on the difference between racing at Kansas in the fall versus the spring: “The fall is usually always cooler than when we go there earlier in the year. It creates a lot of more wide-open throttle time because of that. You still move around the racetrack just as much and the restarts are just as crazy, but your on-throttle time is probably the biggest difference between the two races. It makes it a little bit easier to race but it’s still a tough track because I feel like the surface is pretty hard on tires. It sets it up to be a fun race to be in and I’m sure it’s a fun race to watch for fans. Something about that place clicked early on for me in Trucks and Xfinity. I struggled a bit there when I first got to Cup, but I think I’ve learned a lot over the years and it’s become one of my best tracks now.”

Rudy Fugle, crew chief of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, on why Kansas is one of his favorite racetracks: “Kansas is a really cool track. I like the progressive banking, the speed and the handling that comes with that track. I like when you have to have all the facets of the car together, and the crew chief has a major part to do with that. The first time we went there this year, we ran up front for most of the first stage and I just didn’t do a good job adjusting on it during the second stage, putting us back in traffic. We’ve made a lot of changes since then and our 550 horsepower package is way better since then. I’m just super, super excited to get there. It’s a track where drivers can go bottom, middle or top. Not only can we make a lot of adjustments as needed, but William can as well with his driving style because of that. It reminds me of Homestead at a young state before it aged and got really abrasive. If we can hit on everything we need to, we can definitely go win.”

Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, on returning to Kansas Speedway: “Going to Kansas, I’m really excited. (It’s) one of my favorite racetracks. It’s the only repave that’s stayed super race-y. I’m excited to get there and run from the bottom all the way to the outside wall. It’s been a good place for us in the past. We struggled there in the spring but we have a good notebook to look back on from previous races. Our teammates were pretty strong – the No. 5 dominated that day, so being able to look at his notes and go back strong, we should be good this weekend.”

Greg Ives, crew chief of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, on the track differences between Kansas and Texas: “The one thing that Kansas allows is multiple grooves in the track. In Texas, you were able to have two grooves, maybe a lane and a half, but in Kansas you can enter on the high side and carry momentum and someone can dive bomb you. You can be trimmed out for the restart for the first four or five laps and then you start getting tight off or loose in and the guy who has a little better downforce can get by you. Hopefully, our Ally Chevrolet has speed on the short and long runs and is able to run top to bottom.”

Double-Header F4 U.S. Driver Championship Showdown

By
Official Release
-
Photo provided by Gavin Baker Photography

A Champion will be named at the sold-out FORMULA 1 ARAMCO UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX 2021

AUSTIN, Texas (October 21, 2021) – This weekend’s F4 U.S. Championship Powered by Honda season finale will decide the 2021 Driver Champion at the largest event of the year, in front of a sold-out crowd, at Circuit of the Americas for the FORMULA 1 ARAMCO UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX 2021 on October 22-24.

With four drivers mathematically eligible for the Championship, it will be a mix of strategy and luck as drivers navigate the 3.4-mile, 20-turn course with 29 other racers. Leaning hard on their Hankook Tires, the double-header event will see drivers showcase their talents on an international stage and climb the same podium as their Formula 1 ® heroes.

Currently leading the Championship is rookie Noel Leon from Monterrey, Mexico. The 16-year-old driver and reigning NACAM F4 champion is looking to add the F4 U.S. title to his resume. To date, Leon has piloted his No. 19 DEForce Racing machine to eight podiums, including two wins.

“I am very much looking forward to this weekend,” Leon said. “COTA is a very fun track and racing alongside Formula 1 will make this extra special. My team, DEForce, has done a great job throughout the season, and we are more than ready to win that championship!”

If Mac Clark has anything to say, Leon won’t bring home the trophy. The Campbellville, Ontario native is trying to become the first Canadian to win the F4 U.S. Championship. Matching the leader’s number of podiums, Clark is coming in strong with five wins, including one at last month’s VIRginia International Raceway event. Racing at COTA will be a bucket list item for the 17-year-old driver.

“Driving together with Formula 1 will be an incredible opportunity, and I’m really thankful that we will have a full house to showcase our series,” driver of the No. 26 Gonella Racing car said. “I can’t wait to actually race on the track because I’ve had some great battles on the sim. The long straights should create good passing opportunities for our F4 U.S. races. With the 2021 title fight coming down to the wire, I can only control so much as a driver, but I am pushing myself to be perfect. That’s what it’s going to take to bring home the Championship.”

Jason Alder has a Turn 1-style hill to climb mathematically, but he’s not letting past failures hold him back. The driver of the No. 77 Velocity Racing Development Ligier JS F4 is looking to add to his six podiums and four wins.

“The USGP is where it all comes together, the grand finale,” the Cookville, Maryland native said. “I have some work to do, being third in points and around 25 back, but I know the pressure is on Noel and Mac to get two decent finishes. I am coming for the Championship, so they better get ready!”

Alder’s teammate Nico Christodoulou was instrumental in helping to secure the Team Championship for VRD. The Canadian from Maple, Ontario is focusing on the top step of the podium to maximize his points opportunity.

“I’m looking forward to the final round of the season at a track I love and in front of the F1 crowds,” Christodoulou said. “We are currently sitting P4 in the Drivers’ Championship, but we haven’t lost hope. I still want to add to my seven podiums and one win on the year.”

Drivers will take to the track on Friday for practice, followed by qualifying and Race 1 on Saturday, with Race 2 taking place ahead of Sunday’s Formula 1 ® United States Grand Prix. A schedule for the weekend is highlighted below.

Friday, October 22, 2021

12:55-1:25 pm F4 U.S. Championship Practice

Saturday, October 23, 2021

10:05-10:25 am F4 U.S. Championship Qualifying

2:25-2:55 pm F4 U.S. Championship Race #1 (10 laps or 25 minutes)

Sunday, October 24, 2021

10:00-10:30 am F4 U.S. Championship Race #2 (10 laps or 25 minutes)

Fans can keep up with the action on social media and the website:

Facebook: @F4USChampionship
Instagram: @F4USChampionship
Twitter: @F4Championship
Website: www.f4uschampionship.com

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

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

1...2,3102,3112,312...6,753Page 2,311 of 6,753