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Roush Fenway Weekly Advance | ROVAL

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Roush Fenway Weekly Advance | ROVAL

NASCAR visits its final road course of the 2021 slate this weekend as the ROVAL hosts its fourth Cup event. Jack Roush has nine road course wins with an average finish of 17.7.

Bank of America ROVAL 400
Sunday, Oct. 10 at 2 p.m. ET
NBC, PRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

· Ryan Newman, No. 6 Castrol Ford Mustang

· Chris Buescher, No. 17 Fastenal Ford Mustang

Talladega Recap, ROVAL Preview

· Newman finished 21st in Monday’s postponed Talladega race, an event that was shortened due to rain.

· Buescher won the only completed stage of the day and ultimately finished sixth at Talladega. He led seven laps and was in the mix all afternoon before rain set in and ended the race early at lap 117.

· Castrol returns to the No. 6 Ford of Ryan Newman for this weekend’s road course action at the ROVAL, while Fastenal is back with Buescher on the No. 17.

Road Course Racing

Overall, Roush Fenway has 341 starts on road courses in NCS and NXS action with nine wins, 56 top fives, 118 top-10s, eight poles and 765 laps led. In Cup action alone, Jack Roush’s Fords have an average finish of 17.7 on road courses with 78 top-10 results. In 111 starts in the Xfinity Series, Roush has an average finish of 16.5.

ROVAL Refresh

This weekend the Cup Series stars hit the track at the 17-turn ROVAL for just the fourth time ever. Once crossing the start/finish line, the cars will make a hard left turn into the turns 1 & 2 side of the infield, before embarking on a challenging adventure through winding hills and turns. Once through the road course portion, cars will hit the oval once again between turns 1 & 2, before getting up to speed down the backstretch. The entrance to turn three features a challenging chicane – updated from 2018 – before cars get back up to speed, complete turn four, and dive left one last time, completing turn 17 on the front stretch.

Victories on the Road

Former RFR driver Carl Edwards was the last Jack Roush driver to go to victory lane on a road course, earning the win at Sonoma in 2014. Mark Martin, winner of the other four road course races in NCS action, also won at Sonoma in 1997, and went to victory lane at Watkins Glen in three straight races from 1993-95. On the Xfinity side, Edwards is responsible for three of the four victories, all in the 60 car, crossing the line first at Watkins Glen (2012), Road America (2010) and Montreal (2009). Chris Buescher also went to victory lane in the 60 in 2014 at Mid-Ohio.

As for the Oval Portion

Considering a good portion of the oval surface of Charlotte Motor Speedway is in play this weekend, we will dive into those stats for Roush Fenway on the typical 1.5-mile oval. In NCS action, Jack Roush has eight wins, 46 top-five and 81 top-10 finishes. In Xfinity action, Roush has 12 wins in 123 starts with 33 top-five and 60 top-10 results.

Driven for a Cause
Throughout the month of October, Roush Fenway Racing will show its support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month by running special pink markings on its Ford Mustangs. This weekend both cars will feature pink numbers on the door panels and roof.

No. 10 Ford Warriors in Pink Racing: Aric Almirola Charlotte Roval Advance

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Aric Almirola
Charlotte Roval Advance
No. 10 Ford Warriors in Pink Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview
● Event: Bank of America Roval 400 (Round 31 of 36)
● Time/Date: 2 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Oct. 10
● Location: Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval
● Layout: 2.28-mile, 17-turn road course
● Laps/Miles: 109 laps/252.88 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 25 laps / Stage 2: 25 laps / Final Stage: 59 laps
● TV/Radio: NBC / PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Ford Warriors in Pink: Almirola will sport a special paint scheme to raise awareness of Ford Warriors in Pink this weekend. For 28 years, Ford has been a passionate supporter in the fight against breast cancer, dedicating more than $138 million to the cause to date. Ford is dedicated to providing transportation solutions to support breast cancer patients in need. Today, Ford Warriors in Pink funds transportation grants for breast cancer patients. Fans can shop Warriors in Pink wear and gear at www.fordcares.com and Ford will donate 100 percent of the net proceeds to this cause. In addition to the specialty scheme, Almirola will sport pink shoes during the race and will sign the shoes to be auctioned in further support of the cause.

● In 2018, the series raced for the first time on the Charlotte Roval. Almirola started 20th that day and finished 19th, which was good enough to advance him to the next round of the playoffs after a nail-biting final stretch. Last year, he was in a similar position on the Roval but needed to gain 12 positions at the end of that race to move on. The Smithfield Ford driver turned on the jets in the closing laps and came up just five spots and a few seconds short of the next playoff round.

● Road-Course History: Almirola has 28 road-course starts in the NASCAR Cup Series. He has two top-10 finishes with a best of eighth at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway, five top-20s at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International with a best finish of 12th, three top-20s on the Charlotte Roval with a best finish of 14th, and a top-12 finish in the non-points Busch Clash Feb. 9 on the Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway road course – his best road-course finish of the year.

● Last weekend at Talladega, Almirola ran as high as second place in the first stage and avoided two multicar accidents before inclement weather ended the race prematurely with Almirola in 26th.

● Almirola locked himself into the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs with his July 18 victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon. He led 46 laps around the flat, 1.058-mile oval en route to his third career NASCAR Cup Series win. After a year full of adversity and bad luck, the victory put the No. 10 team, which was 27th in the standings and facing a must-win situation if it was going to compete for this year’s championship, in prime position to earn one of the 16 coveted berths in the 10-race playoffs. Almirola’s award-winning YouTube series “Beyond the 10” captured his entire race day here.

● Although Almirola did not advance to the Round of 12, this year marked his fifth playoff appearance and fourth consecutive playoff appearance since joining Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR). While he can no longer compete for a championship, Almirola has set his sights on a top-10 points position after the checkered flag drops at the season finale Nov. 7 at Phoenix Raceway. Fans and media can watch the “Beyond the 10” episode of his playoff run on YouTube here.

● Career Stats: Almirola has career totals of three wins, two poles, 26 top-five finishes, 82 top-10s and 893 laps led in 383 NASCAR Cup Series starts.

● Beyond the 10 YouTube Series: In 2021, Almirola continues to share his life beyond the No. 10 Ford with season three of his award-winning YouTube series. Fans and media can subscribe on YouTube to see Almirola’s personality on and off the track. Episodes have already featured life as a dad, a husband and an athlete, and it gives fans a unique perspective on what goes on in the life of a professional NASCAR driver. Fans can also follow Almirola’s social media channels: @Aric_Almirola on Twitter and Instagram, and @AricAlmirola on Facebook. Almirola’s latest Beyond the 10 episode addresses the question “are NASCAR drivers athletes” in honor of the Olympic break.

● Point standings: Almirola is currently 15th in the driver standings with 2,104 points.

Aric Almirola, Driver of the No. 10 Ford Warriors in Pink Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing:

Since you’re not racing for points in the NASCAR playoffs, how do you approach this race differently?

“It’s one last opportunity for us this year to have some success at a road course. I think we’ll be good. We had a good car at the Daytona road course earlier this year and I thought we made huge gains over the past few years. The Roval is still a playoff cutoff race next year, so you have to treat this weekend just like any other. We’re practicing this week on the Ford simulator and just trying to learn all that we can to have the best performance possible. The Roval is such a tricky course and the guys in the playoffs are going to give it their all and push their cars past the limit, so it may provide us opportunities to capitalize on and be there at the end.”

You’ll be behind the wheel of the No. 10 Ford Warriors in Pink Mustang when it makes its debut this weekend. What do you think about the design and what it means for all of the men and women who’ve been helped because of the commitment to the cause?

“It’s an honor to get behind the wheel of a car that is dedicated to support the fight against breast cancer. It truly is. Ford is a huge supporter of us as a race team, but an even bigger supporter of this cause. It’s amazing to see what kind of impact this has made on the lives of so many who have battled with breast cancer. The pink, white and blue design of this No. 10 Ford mustang is so unique and has so many cool details. I hope we can get it up front on Sunday for all to see.”

Can you tell us a little about the special set of shoes and merchandise your team plans to reveal aimed at NASCAR fans?

“On top of the Ford Warriors in Pink apparel I’ll be wearing, I’ll also be sporting pink Warriors in Pink shoes during the race. After the race, Ford will auction my signed and race-worn shoes to further support the cause, and Stewart-Haas Racing will have specialty merchandise with a charitable component, so our entire team from top to bottom will be supporting the cause all race week. Race fans have some incredible ways to show their support. NASCAR fans are the most loyal fans in all of sports. Not only do they support us and our sponsors, but their passion to support breast cancer is shown every year during the Charlotte October race. I have no doubt our fans will come out in full force to support Ford Warriors in pink.”

A select group of warriors will get to spend time with you prior to the race. What will it mean to you to meet this special group of NASCAR fans?

“It’s humbling to be in a position to give such incredible people an experience like no other. I’m blessed to be in a position to make others smile and give them something to cheer for. Many of us will never understand how strong they are to fight against breast cancer and, honestly, it motivates me and gives me a new perspective on life, perseverance and never giving up. This Sunday, I’ll have the best cheerleaders in the sport.”

No. 10 Ford Warriors in Pink Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Aric Almirola
Hometown: Tampa, Florida

Crew Chief: Mike Bugarewicz
Hometown: Lehighton, Pennsylvania

Car Chief: Jerry Cook
Hometown: Toledo, Ohio

Engineer: Lee Deese
Hometown: Rockingham, North Carolina

Engineer: James Kimbrough
Hometown: Pensacola, Florida

Spotter: Joel Edmonds
Hometown: Dobson, North Carolina

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Ryan Mulder
Hometown: Sioux Center, Iowa

Rear Tire Changer: Michael Johnson
Hometown: Andover, New York

Tire Carrier: Tyler Bullard
Hometown: King, North Carolina

Jack Man: Sean Cotton
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Fuel Man: James “Ace” Keener
Hometown: Fortuna, California

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Tony Silvestri
Hometown: Sylvania, Ohio

Mechanic: Robbie Fairweather
Hometown: Westbrookville, New York

Engine Tuner: Matt Moeller
Hometown: Monroe, New York

Tire Specialist: Russel Simpson
Hometown: Medford, New York

Transporter Co-Driver: Dale Lackey
Hometown: Taylorsville, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Wayne Smith
Hometown: Melbourne, Australia

FedEx Racing Express Facts – Charlotte ROVAL

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Official Release
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FedEx Racing Express Facts – Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course

Denny Hamlin
11 FedEx Office Toyota
Joe Gibbs Racing

Sunday Race Info:
Race: Bank of America ROVAL 400
Date/Time: Sunday, Oct. 10/2:00 p.m. ET
Distance: 109 laps/252.88 miles
Track Length: 2.32 miles
Track Shape: Road Course

Express Notes:

Talladega Recap: Denny Hamlin and the FedEx Racing team scored a top-10 finish in a rain-delayed and rain-shortened race at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway on Monday. The original event, scheduled to go 500 miles, was postponed on Sunday after just a couple pace laps as rains soaked the track before the first green flag could wave. Hamlin, in the pole position, led the field back to pit road as officials make the call to postpone until Monday. Resuming Monday afternoon, rain clouds still dropped occasional sprinkles on the 2.66-mile oval, including a shower that prompted an 18-minute red-flag period early in Stage 2. Hamlin dropped to the back of the pack early in the event, then got aggressive later when he knew rain could end the race prematurely as he pushed for a second straight win. He led three times for a total of six laps. The rains came again late in Stage 2, forcing another stoppage. That shower thoroughly soaked the track and caused NASCAR to call the event complete after running 117 of the scheduled 188 laps. Hamlin climbed out of his car with a seventh-place finish as Bubba Wallace earned his first Cup Series win.

Charlotte Preview: The Cup Series heads next to the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway ROVAL (road course/oval hybrid) on Sunday for the final race in the Playoffs’ Round of 12. Denny Hamlin and the FedEx Racing team have already secured their spot to advance to the Round of 8. In his three career races at the ROVAL course in Charlotte, Hamlin has yet to be victorious.

Hamlin Statistics:

Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course
Races: 3
Wins: 0
Poles: 0
Top-5: 0
Top-10: 0
Laps Led: 0
Avg. Start: 18.7
Avg. Finish: 15.3

Hamlin Conversation – Charlotte:

What makes the Roval so challenging?

“There are a lot of interesting things about the Roval – how narrow the track is, so there’s a lack of passing zones. There’s not really a lot of run-off areas. So, there are a lot of challenges with the track itself and why it’s such a wild card. It’s very intricate in that sense. We don’t have as many playoff points as we’ve had in the past, so we’re going to have to be very smart with how we race that track.”

What’s your approach to those challenges?

“We have to make sure we put ourselves in a very smart position in hopefully getting a good starting spot, and that goes into how we prepared the week before. It’s been a track that’s been tough on me and my results. But, in general, we’re better on road courses this year than what we’ve been in the past, so I’m pretty optimistic.”

FedEx Office Along for the Ride at Charlotte: The Miami South team in D56 is proud to be leading the pack and going “Along for the Ride” on the FedEx #11 car in Charlotte. FedEx works hard to provide outstanding service every day and admires team members for their consistent hard work to support FedEx customers.

FedEx Office – Closest to Charlotte Motor Raceway: 7741 Gateway Lane NW, Suite 110, Concord, NC 28027, (704) 979-1971

GRECO WINS VENTURA MAIN EVENT AND TAKES CALIFORNIA LIGHTNING SPRINT CAR SERIES POINT LEAD

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Eric Greco won his fourth CLS main event of the year at Ventura. Lance Jennings photo.

(Upland, CA, October 5, 2021) Eric Greco only led two laps of the main event at the Ventura Raceway last Saturday night, but they were the most important two and they propelled him to the win in the 25-lap California Lightning Sprint Car Series main event. In addition to it being his series leading fourth victory of the year, it also shot him into the CLS point lead for the first time since April.

Escaping what is hopefully the last SoCal triple digit heat wave of 2021, the CLS gathered at the track that is located about a 9-Iron shot from the Pacific Ocean. As always, the location supplied great relief from the thermometer busting inland temperatures. One thing that was still hot on the day was the racing. First on the agenda for the night was qualifying and when it was all said and done, Gardena’s Dominic Del Monte was the quickest of the group with a time of 12.117. Santa Barbara rookie David Gasper turned in the second fastest lap when he toured “The Best Little Dirt Track in America” in 12.131. Greco, who won the main event the last time the CLS was at Ventura on August 28th, was third in qualifying at 12.243.

“Rockstar” Jon Robertson of Torrance, who is having his best season in the CLS, captured the first eight lap heat race over Greco and Ventura local Robb Pelmear. Rosamond’s Mark Henry bested the field in the second heat when he beat Yucca Valley’s Jeff Dyer and series point leader James Turnbull to the checkered flag.

The dash, which determined the starting spots for the first three rows of the main event, was up after the heat races. Henry again outdistanced the competition and won the six lapper which earned him a ticket on the pole for the 25-lap feature. Dyer placed second and started next to Henry. Row two was made up of Pelmear and Greco with Ken Coulston of Bermuda Dunes and Gasper in row three.

Once the main began, it was all Jeff Dyer. The veteran driver set off as soon as the green flag flew and seemed to have the victory under lock and key. He lapped all the way up to the fifth-place car and it certainly looked like he was going to grab his first win of the year. However, disaster struck on lap-24 and Dyer’s victory was snatched away by the jaws of defeat when he lost his clutch! That handed the lead, with less than two laps to go, to Greco, who was wheeling the Janssen’s Floor and Fabric Care/Sidewaze Designs/Greco Family/Competition Suspension Inc/Henchcraft/ZX10R #8. The appreciative teen took full advantage of the opportunity presented and led the last 23 seconds of the race for his fourth win in 2021. Gasper, who won the previous race at the Kern County Raceway, finished second with Coulston getting his best ever CLS finish when he came home third. Pelmear and Robertson rounded out the top five. A frustrated Dyer ended up sixth. Gasper was the race “Hard Charger” after starting sixth.

Turnbull, who had led the points for five months, had a forgettable night starting with an electrical problem that prevented him from qualifying. In the main he was clobbered by a lapper when he was attempting to pass for third. The young driver forged on, but the electrical issue reared its ugly head again forcing him to drop out and thus, relinquish the point lead.

The CLS now has three weekends off before returning to Ventura on October 30th. Going into that event, new point leader Greco will have a slim, eight-point advantage over Turnbull in the championship standings. Gasper is third and is only 69-points off the lead with five races to go in the season. Dyer and Robertson are fourth and fifth, respectively.

The CLS would like to thank 2021 series sponsors Hoosier Tires, T Shirts By Timeless, TJ Forged Racing Wheels, and Walker Performance Filtration. If you or your company would like to become part of the series, please call Alex Grigoreas at (909) 437-3170.

To keep up with the CLS online, please visit the website at http://racecls.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/californialightningsprints/

Ventura Raceway Main Event Finish (with starting positions)

  1. Eric Greco – Palmdale, CA – 4th
  2. David Gasper – Santa Barbara, CA – 6th
  3. Ken Coulston – Bermuda Dunes, CA – 5th
  4. Robb Pelmear – Ventura, CA – 3rd
  5. Jon Robertson – Torrance, CA – 7th
  6. Jeff Dyer – Yucca Valley, CA – 2nd
  7. Dale Gamer – Anaheim, CA – 11th
  8. Pat Kelley – Chino, CA – 12th
  9. James Turnbull – Indio, CA – 8th
  10. Mark Henry – Rosamond, CA – 1st
  11. Dominic Del Monte – Gardena, CA – 9th
  12. Cody Nigh – Camarillo, CA – 10th

Lap Leaders: Jeff Dyer 1-23, Eric Greco 24-25

Hard Charger: David Gasper

California Lightning Sprint Car Series Points

  1. Eric Greco – Palmdale, CA – 1364
  2. James Turnbull – Indio, CA – 1356
  3. David Gasper ® – Santa Barbara, CA – 1295
  4. Jeff Dyer – Yucca Valley, CA – 1132
  5. Jon Robertson – Torrance, CA – 937
  6. Dominic Del Monte – Gardena, CA – 901
  7. A.J. Bender – San Diego, CA – 823
  8. Aiden Lange – Lakewood, CA – 795
  9. Bobby Michnowicz – Oak Hills, CA – 759
  10. Pat Kelley – Chino, CA – 749

CLS/BCRA Civil War Series Point Standings

  1. Eric Greco – CLS – 336
  2. Dave Gasper – CLS – 335
  3. James Turnbull – CLS – 325
  4. Brandon Leedy – BCRA – 297
  5. Dominic Del Monte – CLS – 247
  6. Terry Bergstrom – BCRA – 240
  7. Dakota Albright – BCRA – 227
  8. Bobby Michnowicz – CLS – 1226
  9. Jeff Dyer – CLS – 226
  10. Aiden Lange – CLS – 215

2021 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Schedule

March 13 Bakersfield Speedway – Eric Greco

April 10 Bakersfield Speedway – Bobby Michnowicz

April 24 Merced Speedway (Wayne Albright Memorial – Round #1 of the Civil War Series with BCRA – Wingless) – James Turnbull

May 15 Bakersfield Speedway – A.J. Bender

June 5 Ventura Raceway – A.J. Bender

June 19 Keller Auto Speedway (Hanford) – Postponed due to heat.

July 3 Santa Maria Speedway – Eric Greco

July 24 Santa Maria Speedway (Wing Madness #1) Santa Maria – A.J. Bender

August 7 Merced Speedway (Civil War Series #2 with BCRA – Winged) – Dave Gasper

August 28 Ventura Raceway – Eric Greco

September 18 Bakersfield Speedway (Civil War #3 with BCRA – Winged) – Kevin Michnowicz

September 19 The Dirt Track At Kern County Raceway Park – David Gasper

October 2 Ventura Raceway – Eric Greco

October 30 Ventura Raceway

November 16 Bakersfield Speedway (Civil War #4 with BCRA – Winged and Western States Lightning Sprint Car Championship)

November 18 Placerville Speedway Hangtown 100 – (Co sanctioned with BCRA and in companion with the USAC National Midgets)

November 19 Placerville Speedway Hangtown 100 – (Co sanctioned with BCRA and in companion with the USAC National Midgets)

November 20 Placerville Speedway Hangtown 100 – (Co sanctioned with BCRA and in companion with the USAC National Midgets)

The schedule is subject to change due to Covid restrictions.

PAST CALIFORNIA LIGHTNING SPRINT CAR CHAMPIONS

1994 Tony Everhart

1995 Gary Sexton

1996 Rob Sczymczak

1997 Jon Rahe

1998 Chris Rahe

1999 Brent Sexton

2000 Greg Bragg

2001 Greg Bragg

2002 Greg Bragg

2003 David Cardey

2004 Keith Janca

2005 Johnny Bates

2006 Donny Gansen

2007 Shane Rossen

2008 Brent Sexton

2009 Stuart Hielschier Sr.

2010 Jarrett Kramer

2011 Tim Brown

2012 Bobby Michnowicz

2013 Stephen Limon

2014 Bobby Michnowicz

2015 Bobby Michnowicz

2016 Bobby Michnowicz

2017 Bobby Michnowicz

2018 Jarrett Kramer

2019 Jarrett Kramer

TOP OVAL NATIONALS 360 GUARANTEED SPOT IN TURKEY NIGHT GRAND PRIX SPRINT CAR RACE

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(Perris, CA, October 5, 2021)  The pot for 360 sprint cars entering November’s 25th Annual Heimark Anheuser Busch Budweiser Oval Nationals at Perris Auto Speedway  just got sweeter.  Promoter Don Kazarian announced on Tuesday morning that the 360 driver who accumulates the most points over the three days will get a guaranteed starting spot in the USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series finale at the Turkey Night Grand Prix on the Ventura Raceway.

The announcement comes when both races are celebrating historic birthdays in 2021.  In addition to it being the 25th anniversary of the Oval Nationals, the Turkey Night Grand Prix, which began in 1934 at Gilmore Stadium in Hollywood (the track is where the CBS studios are now located), will be celebrating its 80th anniversary on Thanksgiving weekend.  It will be the sixth time the race has taken place at the picturesque Ventura track which is located adjacent to the beach on the Ventura County Fairgrounds.    

A few weeks ago, Kazarian announced that the highest finishing 360 on all three nights of the Oval Nationals will receive a $500.00 bonus.  Each night the second highest finishing 360 will get $300.00 and third highest will pocket $200.00 extra.  These bonuses are guaranteed whether the top finishers are in the A mains or not. 

“There are a lot of very strong 360 sprint cars in California these days and a lot of top racers driving them,” Kazarian said.  “360 powered cars have already won two races against the 410s in the  USAC/CRA series this year.  Ten years ago, that was almost unheard of.  We decided to give teams with 360s some special incentives to race in the Oval Nationals this year with the cash bonuses.  These bonuses will be paid in addition to their regular purse winnings.”

“On Monday, I decided to give my friend Jim Naylor of the Ventura Raceway a call,” Kazarian continued.  “I wanted to see if he would consider giving the highest 360-point driver in the Oval Nationals a guaranteed starting spot in the USAC West Coast Sprint Car main event at the Turkey Night Grand Prix on November 27th.  Jim liked the idea.  It is another great reason for 360 teams to come run the Oval Nationals.  In addition, it will enable extra cross promotion between The PAS and Ventura leading up to each of our biggest races of the season.”

Interested 410 and 360 teams can download and print the entry blank for the Oval Nationals at the following link www.perrisautospeedway.com/2021/21ovalentry.pdf.

All three nights of racing will be full shows with qualifying, heat races, preliminary mains, and A Main events.   The Thursday “Bill Pratt Main Event” and Friday’s “Evelyn Pratt Main Event” will be 30-laps each.  Saturday’s finale will be 40-laps.   The top six drivers in points after the first two nights will not have to qualify on Saturday and will be seeded directly into the A Main event.  They will contest “The Super Six Dash” to determine the lineup for the first three rows of the 40-lap finale.  The complete racing format can be viewed at the following link https://bit.ly/2XgT8Wv.  The link to the Oval Nationals points structure is https://bit.ly/399fcoo.

The Thursday and Friday main events will pay $5,000.00 each to win and $500.00 to start.  Saturday’s 40-lap finale will pay $10,000.00 to win and $1,000.00 to start.  The complete purse for all three nights is available at the following link  https://bit.ly/3tTm1Et.

In addition to the three nights of racing, there will be a Wednesday night practice session for Oval Nationals entered cars.  The practice session will be free for fans in the grandstands.

Camping will be available for the Oval Nationals beginning at noon, on Wednesday, November 3rd in the old campground.  The cost is $25.00 per night. 

Advance tickets for the “25th Annual Heimark/Anheuser Busch Budweiser Oval Nationals” are available now at  https://bit.ly/pas21tix

Perris Auto Speedway is conveniently located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds (home of the 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 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.

2021 EVENT SCHEDULE

October 9th – WTP Motorsports $50K Pro Whip Invitational

October 16th – PASSCAR SERIES – “FAN APPRECIATION NIGHT” Super Stocks, Street Stocks, American Factory Stocks and IMCA Modifieds

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 BUDWEISER OVAL NATIONALS Presented by ALL COAST CONSTRUCTION – Practice Night

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

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

November 6th – 25TH ANNUAL HEIMARK/ANHEUSER BUSCH BUDWEISER 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

Kenyan Washington Scores Big Win In Germany

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Official Release
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Kenyan Washington picked up a race win with the Rotax Max Challenge Germany over the weekend.

WACHTERSBACH, Germany – (Oct. 5, 2021) – After spending a few months sidelined due to an injury, Kenyan Washington put together a strong performance Sunday during the Rotax Max Challenge Germany karting event at MSC Wittgenborn e.V. Vogelsbergring.

Thirteen-year-old Washington took his first Mini Max class victory in the first of two races Sunday, which helped him end the day in a tie for the overall victory. A tiebreaker granted the overall win to one of Washington’s rivals, meaning Washington ended the day second overall.

“I’m so happy,” an elated Washington said. “I’ve never driven so hard before and I’m so happy I ended up winning the first race. It means a lot after everything I’ve been through these last few months.”

Washington battled for the victory in the first of the two 10-lap races, eventually winning by the narrow margin of .286 seconds. Washington followed that up with a third-place finish in the second race, which left him in a tie at the top of the overall standings.

Despite losing the overall triumph due to a tiebreaker, Washington was more than happy with the result after being forced to sit out part of the season due to an injury suffered earlier this year.

“It feels so great to be a Mini Max winner for first time after the crazy season that it’s been,” Washington said. “I just can’t wait to race again. I’m very happy with the podium result.”

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About McCallister Precision Marketing

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

Car Insurance for Young Drivers: Top Tips

By
SM
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Photo by Jan Baborák on Unsplash

New drivers are always so excited to get on the road for the first time. Sometimes, however, this means that they don’t consider other critical information, such as the need for car insurance. It’s not just about being able to drive but also about being able to drive safely. 

To truly be safe on the roads, all drivers need to have car insurance, including young drivers. It can be confusing to be getting insurance for the first time. Here are some of the top tips about car insurance that all young drivers should know. 

Tip #1: Explain the Details

Many young drivers do not have to worry about understanding or choosing their car insurance. They are often included as part of their parent’s car insurance plan, and they don’t think about it beyond making sure they keep the proof of insurance in their car with them.

However, it can be beneficial for parents to sit down and explain the car insurance to their young drivers. At least, they will have an idea of the coverage of different car insurance like SR22 insurance, claims, and policies.

Doing this sooner rather than later will make it easier for them to get their own insurance later on. Additionally, it will help them feel the responsibility that comes with being a driver of a vehicle. 

Tip #2: Consider the Costs

It’s no secret that car insurance for teens is exorbitantly expensive compared to the rates offered to more experienced drivers. This is why most teens stay on their parents’ plans for as long as possible. The rates offered to teen drivers through their parents’ plans are significantly more affordable; most teens cannot afford their own insurance outside of this.

While it’s always worthwhile to check if there is a cheaper way to insure a young driver, most parents will find that keeping their children on their car insurance as long as possible is preferable for the overall cost savings.

Tip #3: Look for Discounts

Did you know that young drivers might be eligible for things like student discounts if they have a high-grade point average or if they took a driving class?

Ask your insurance company if there are any discounts specifically for young drivers and how you can qualify for them. This is a great way to save a little bit of money while also rewarding young individuals for focusing on important things.

Tip #4: Limit Them to One Car

Many car insurance companies will cut you a break on cost if you have a young driver listed on just one vehicle rather than on all vehicles on your policy. While this means that they will only be able to drive that car, it also means that you will be spending less on car insurance. Some policyholders don’t realize that this is even possible, so it’s at least worth your consideration.

Tip #5: Know When You Need to Be Insured

If you’re getting behind the wheel of a new car, make sure you have information about the new car insurance grace period that applies under your family’s insurance policy. Car dealers will require you to verify your insurance status before buying or leasing a car, but you must also add the specific car to the insurance plan within a certain grace period for it to be covered.

Drivers are required to have insurance coverage when on the roads in nearly every state, so drivers must make sure coverage is active and in place before they start driving.

Tip #6: Don’t Be Afraid to Wait

If a young driver isn’t ready to get their license yet or you simply cannot cover the costs of car insurance, don’t be afraid to have them wait to be a driver out on the roads. Older teenage drivers get better rates than younger ones. Every year you wait will save more money, so this is something to consider if the costs are just too high for your family at this time and your child doesn’t absolutely need to drive just yet.

Photo by Aaron Doucett on Unsplash

Tip #7: Practice What to Do After a Wreck

No matter how well you try to prepare for a car accident, there is nothing like actually being in that situation. Still, young drivers must know what to do if they are in an accident when they are out driving by themselves. Many drivers are totally inexperienced in this respect even as they get older, and it can lead to complex and stressful situations.

Tell your teenager all about how to exchange information with another driver, document the scene, call for help, and otherwise handle a car accident. If you’re a young driver learning how to drive on your own, watch some videos online about what to do in this situation and make sure that you are prepared.

Car insurance companies will want you to take the right actions, including snapping photos, after an accident in order to make the claims process easier. Young drivers might not know this, so learning about it early on is always a good idea.

6 Tell-Tale Signs You Need To Sell Your Old Vehicle

By
SM
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While you may want to get the most out of your vehicle, there are times when giving up is in your best interest. It’s frequently best to sell your car before it develops an issue rather than keep it. Whether it’s to purchase a new vehicle, pay off debt, or dispose of an old piece of junk, everyone must sell their car at some point.

If you’re contemplating selling your car, you need to know when you’ll do it. To do that, you need to be aware of common indicators that can tell you when it’s time to let go of your vehicle.

1. Lifestyle Changes

Your lifestyle will change as you age and gain wisdom. You have the option of owning a sports automobile as a single young adult. As you marry and consider establishing a family, you’ll want to swap in your sports car for something that has more seat capacity, such as an SUV.

Unfortunately, older models can be a tough cookie to sell. So, if you own one, you may sell it faster to a junkyard rather than a private party or a dealership. You have a selection of junkyards and car wreckers, like Car Wreckers Hamilton, to choose from if you think it’s time for you to let go of it.

2. Annoying Noises

Even the most well-maintained car will eventually lose some of its efficiency. While you may notice a decrease in acceleration, horsepower, or towing capacity, you’re more likely to see wear and tear first. However, when you start to hear irritating creaks, moans, grinds, and whistles, you may need to get rid of it immediately.

While certain noises you may hear inside your car can be fixed by replacing worn components such as ball joints, brake rotors, shock absorbers, or struts, some may become a permanent problem that may require you to replace major parts. Remember that when you ignore these noises and concerns, your car values depreciate, and it might become too late for you to take action.

3. Safety Concerns

As much as possible, it’s essential that you feel confidently safe when driving your car. If you’re no longer feeling secure behind the wheel, it’s probably time to sell it. Some of the significant safety concerns you should always watch out for are brake failure, defective airbags, and significant engine noise.

Aside from noticeable safety concerns, you may want to consider getting rid of your car when you become dissatisfied with how it performs on wet roads or how the steering wheel operates. Remember that it’s always wise to exchange your old car for a new one as they include modern safety systems such as blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warnings, and electronic stability control systems.

4. Costly Repairs

The cost of replacing an engine or transmission in a car can cost you an arm and a leg. Unless you love your car, you should say goodbye now instead of spending more on it. 

Also, don’t ignore the constant need for it to receive minor repairs or maintenance work. The costs can quickly accumulate. Aside from that, the more you need to visit repair shops, the faster your car’s value depreciates.

5. Rusting

Many car owners fear rust, which is understandable—considering that it’s a very persistent issue that will haunt you. While it’s possible to contain and eliminate it, it’s tough to stop it from spreading.

Rust—or oxidation, to be precise—may cause havoc on virtually every car component, from the doors and exhaust to the suspension and the vulnerable underbelly. It’s one of the first items on the checklist of discriminating secondhand automobile purchasers.

So, whenever you see rust signs or spots, it’s either you get it removed right away or consider selling it to car wreckers while the opportunity exists.

6. Scarce Parts

Each passing year is like a slow dagger penetrating the heart of your car; you know it will eventually die, but you have no idea when. Apart from the horrific connotations, your car is rapidly fading from relevance—everything in the automotive industry, particularly automotive components, advances at a breakneck pace.

As a result, you may anticipate that older components required for these vehicles will also be phased out. And any parts left available will become significantly more expensive and difficult to obtain than they were previously.

Whatever the reason, if your car’s parts become too costly and difficult to obtain, sell it immediately. Nobody wants to purchase an unrepairable vehicle.

Takeaway

‘How do I know when it’s time to sell my car?’ is a frequently asked question by car owners. If you’re considering selling your car, keep an eye out for these indicators to determine if the time is right to say goodbye to it.

Autodesk Fusion 360/HaasTooling.com Racing: Cole Custer Charlotte Roval Advance

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Official Release
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COLE CUSTER
Charlotte Roval Advance
No. 41 Autodesk Fusion 360/HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview

● Event: Bank of America Roval 400 (Round 32 of 36)
● Time/Date: 2 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Oct. 10
● Location: Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway
● Layout: 2.28-mile, 17-turn road course
● Laps/Miles: 109 laps/252.88 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 25 laps / Stage 2: 25 laps / Final Stage: 59 laps
● TV/Radio: NBC / PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● The last of a groundbreaking seven road-course races of 2021 is at hand as Cole Custer and the No. 41 Autodesk Fusion 360/HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang team for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) and their fellow NASCAR Cup Series competitors head just down the road to the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval for Sunday’s Bank of America Roval 400.

● And back with Custer and the No. 41 SHR Ford team for the last of this season’s six appearances as primary partner is Autodesk Fusion 360, which kicked off its fourth season with the 23-year-old driver and SHR in June on the Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway road course and made its fifth appearance last weekend on the mammoth 2.66-mile Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway oval. The Sonoma weekend was a hometown race for San Francisco-based Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK), a leader in software applications for the engineering, manufacturing, construction, architecture, media and entertainment industries.

● Sunday’s 109-lap race will be Custer’s 71st Cup Series start and his second on the 2.28-mile, 17-turn Roval. He finished ninth in his Cup Series debut at the track a year ago this weekend for his seventh top-10 of the season en route to capturing Rookie of the Year honors. The finish came in just his second career road-course race in the Cup Series.

● Fast-forward to this weekend and the 23-year-old driver from Ladera Ranch, California, will be making his ninth points-paying Cup Series race on a road course. The ninth-place run on the Roval last year was best of them all. Since then, he rallied for a 13th-place finish on the Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway road course in February after dropping back as far as 24th while avoiding a multicar accident in the closing laps. In his most recent road-course outing on the grand prix course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in August, Custer finished 25th. In this year’s non-points Busch Clash on the Daytona road course, Custer drove deep into the top-10 on multiple occasions, but he fell three laps off the pace late in the race when he could not refire his Mustang after serving a self-imposed stop-and-go penalty for missing the backstraight chicane. He finished 20th.

● Custer’s 11 road-course outings in the Xfinity Series from 2017 through 2019 included a pair of outings on the Roval. He finished seventh in 2018 and eighth in 2019. His best Xfinity Series road-course result was fourth in 2018 at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. All but one of his 11 career road-course outings in the Xfinity Series were top-10s.

● Custer also has top-10s in all three of his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series outings on road courses, all three occurring at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario. His best was his most recent, a second-place run from the pole with a race-high 39 laps led in the No. 00 JR Motorsports entry in 2016. In addition to his three Truck Series outings, Custer raced on road courses twice in the ARCA Menards Series, at Road America and New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, and nine times in the K&N Pro Series at Sonoma, Watkins Glen, Virginia International Raceway in Alton, and Road Atlanta.

● This year’s seven road-course events is four more than the Cup Series has ever contested in a single season. From 1988 to 2017, there were only two road courses on the schedule – Sonoma and Watkins Glen. The Roval was added in 2018, giving the series three road-course venues. The initial 2021 schedule doubled that tally, with Circuit of the Americas in Austin Texas, Road America, and the Indy road course all being added. And when COVID-19 restrictions forced the cancellation of the series’ stop this year at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, the Daytona road course was put in its place.

● After his 13th-place finish in Monday’s rain-delayed and rain-shortened race at Talladega, his seventh top-15 of the season, Custer arrives at the Roval 28th in the driver standings.

● The No. 41 Autodesk Fusion 360/HaasTooling.com Mustang will be sporting a pink window net in Sunday’s race as part of the “Window of Hope” campaign initiated by Cup Series driver Kurt Busch in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Custer will autograph his window net after the race and it will be part of an eBay auction hosted by The NASCAR Foundation, proceeds from which will benefit breast cancer research and treatment.

● Joining Autodesk on the No. 41 Ford Mustang is team co-owner Gene Haas’ newest holding, Haas Tooling, which was launched as a way for CNC machinists to purchase high-quality cutting tools at great prices. Haas cutting tools are sold exclusively online at HaasTooling.com and shipped directly to end users. HaasTooling.com products became available nationally last July, and the cutting tools available for purchase at HaasTooling.com have proven to be even more important during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as CNC machines have become vital to producing personal protective equipment. Haas Automation, founded by Haas in 1983, is America’s leading builder of CNC machine tools. The company manufactures a complete line of vertical and horizontal machining centers, turning centers and rotary tables and indexers. All Haas products are constructed in the company’s 1.1-million-square-foot manufacturing facility in Oxnard, California, and distributed through a worldwide network of Haas Factory Outlets.

● SHR, its partner Wow Wow Classic Waffles, and Feeding America®, the largest hunger relief organization in the United States with a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, are asking fans to do their part in helping to end hunger in America by texting HUNGER to 50555 to make a $5 donation to Feeding America, by visiting the Feeding America donation page on Facebook, or the donation page via the Feeding America website. Each $1 donated helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America® on behalf of local member food banks.

Cole Custer, Driver of the No. 41 Autodesk Fusion 360/HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

You’ve had some of the best runs of your career on road courses, everywhere from last year on the Roval down through the Xfinity, Truck, ARCA and K&N ranks. Does that give you extra confidence when you go to road courses?

“I’ve always loved the road course races and I feel like I’ve actually been pretty close to winning a few and I still haven’t won one. That’s probably the one thing in my career up to now that I really want to try and check off, to have a road course win. I feel like, every single one I’ve been to, we’ve run pretty solid and I’ve been happy with it. There are so many things that have to go right to win a road-course race with the strategy, and people are running off course and running into you and spinning out. It’s just the races are so crazy that you have to have a lot of things go right, so I definitely want to try and check off that road-course win. That would be huge.”

You had a solid top-10 on the Roval in your first-ever Cup Series race there a year ago this weekend. What do you remember about that day, and do you feel it will have any carryover into this weekend?

“What I remember most is that we had a lot of ups and downs in that race, which is typical on road courses, in general, especially on the Roval and especially on restarts. There’s always a lot going on and the potential for mayhem is always there. The crew stuck with it all race long and we ended up with a top-10 that we could feel good about. And I think one of the bigger positives that came out of that day was that we learned some things with regard to road-course racing that definitely carried on over into this year with all the road-course races we had on the schedule. Coming off of a pretty solid race at Talladega, I can’t wait to get to the Roval, and the team feels the same way.”

No. 41 Autodesk Fusion 360/HaasTooling.com Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Cole Custer
Hometown: Ladera Ranch, California

Crew Chief: Mike Shiplett
Hometown: Amherst, Ohio

Car Chief: Tony Cardamone
Hometown: Bristol, Virginia

Engineer: Davin Restivo
Hometown: Ashboro, North Carolina

Engineer: Scott Bingham
Hometown: Lawrenceville, Georgia

Spotter: Andy Houston
Hometown: Hickory, North Carolina

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: John Roselli
Hometown: Terre Haute, Indiana

Rear Tire Changer: Coleman Dollarhide
Hometown: Hickory, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Chad Emmons
Hometown: Tyler, Texas

Jack Man: Matthew Schlytter
Hometown: Ponte Vedra, Florida

Fuel Man: Corey Coppola
Hometown: Bluefield, West Virginia

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Joe Zanolini
Hometown: Sybertsville, Pennsylvania

Mechanic: Nick McIntosh
Hometown: Havre, Montana

Shock Specialist: Aaron Kuehn
Hometown: Kensington, Connecticut

Tire Specialist: Thomas Gagliano
Hometown: East Hampton, Connecticut

Engine Specialist: Evan Cupples
Hometown: Hudson, Illinois

Transporter Co-Driver: Eddie DeGroot

Hometown: Baldwinsville, New York

Transporter Co-Driver: David Rodrigues
Hometown: Santa Clarita, California

Mobil 1 Racing: Kevin Harvick Charlotte Roval Advance

By
Official Release
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KEVIN HARVICK
Charlotte Roval Advance
No. 4 Mobil 1 Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview
● Event: Bank of America Roval 400 (Round 32 of 36)
● Time/Date: 2 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Oct. 10
● Location: Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval
● Layout: 2.28-mile, 17-turn road course
● Laps/Miles: 109 laps/252.88 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 25 laps / Stage 2: 25 laps / Final Stage: 59 laps
● TV/Radio: NBC / PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Kevin Harvick is sporting a fan-chosen paint scheme on his No. 4 Mobil 1 Ford Mustang during the Bank of America Roval 400 Sunday at the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval. The imposing black-and-white design garnered 61.5 percent of the votes across Stewart-Haas Racing’s social media channels.
● Turning left and right. Going up and down through the gears. Hitting the apex of corners and, sometimes, riding the curb with such force that it puts the car on two wheels. It’s all a part of road-course racing, and it demands maximum performance from every part and piece on the racecar. Harvick has an added advantage with Mobil 1. Not only is the world’s leading synthetic motor oil brand the primary sponsor of his No. 4 Ford Mustang at the Roval, Mobil 1 products are used throughout his racecar and they extend beyond just engine oil. Power steering fluid, transmission fluid, gear oil and driveline lubricants from Mobil 1 give Harvick a technical advantage over his counterparts by reducing friction, heat and rolling resistance. Mobil 1 is a sponsor whose technology makes Harvick’s No. 4 Mobil 1 Ford Mustang faster.
● Harvick comes into the Roval on a five-race top-10 streak, a run punctuated by a strong second-place drive Sept. 18 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway where he led three times for 71 laps. Before finishing second at Bristol, Harvick finished eighth Sept. 11 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway and fifth Sept. 4 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway. He finished ninth Sept. 26 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and eighth in his most recent outing Monday at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, where Harvick led five times for a race-high 16 laps.
● Harvick has scored 21 top-10s in the 31 races run this season, second-most among NASCAR Cup Series drivers. Only Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin (22 top-10s apiece) are ahead of Harvick in this category.
● Harvick is currently ninth in the NASCAR Playoff standings, nine points below the cutline with only the Bank of America Roval 400 remaining before the current 12-driver playoff field is whittled down to eight. Harvick is in the midst of his 12th consecutive playoff appearance and his 15th overall. He has advanced into the Round of 12 in all eight editions of the current playoff format and, coming into this season, he had advanced all the way to the Round of 8 since 2014. Five times he’s competed in the Championship 4, winning the title in 2014.
● The Bank of America Roval 400 is the final road-course race of the season, culminating a ground-breaking seven races to be held on road courses in 2021. From 1988 to 2017, there were only two road courses on the schedule – Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway and Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International. The Roval was added in 2018, giving the series just three road-course venues. The initial 2021 schedule doubled that tally with Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course all being added. And when COVID-19 restrictions forced the cancellation of the series’ planned stop earlier this year at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, the road course at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway was put in its place, serving as the series’ second race of 2021.
● Harvick has made a total of 48 NASCAR Cup Series starts on road courses. He has 20 starts at Sonoma, 20 at Watkins Glen, three at the Roval, two on the Daytona road course and one apiece at COTA, Road America and the Indianapolis road course. He has scored two wins – Watkins Glen in 2006 and Sonoma in 2017 – along with 10 top-fives and 24 top-10s with 195 laps led.
● In three career NASCAR Cup Series starts at the Roval, Harvick has never finished lower than 11th. His best result came in 2019 when he led twice for 34 laps on his way to a third-place finish.
● When Harvick scored his first road-course victory at Watkins Glen in 2006, he had to beat his current team owner to do it. Tony Stewart – the “Stewart” in Stewart-Haas Racing – had won the past two NASCAR Cup Series races at the seven-turn, 2.45-mile road course and was poised to capture a third straight win as he was leading Harvick with four laps to go in the 90-lap race. But Harvick, who had already led once for 24 laps, passed Stewart on lap 87 as the two drag-raced down the frontstretch and into turn one. Harvick held onto the lead despite Stewart in his rearview mirror, earning a margin of victory of .892 of a second.
● Harvick’s second career road-course win also had a connection to Stewart. When Harvick won at Sonoma in 2017, he gave Stewart-Haas Racing its second straight victory at the 10-turn, 1.99-mile road course. The winner in 2016? None other than Stewart. It ended up being his 49th and final NASCAR Cup Series victory as Stewart retired from NASCAR racing at the conclusion of the season.
● Harvick’s last road-course win was his first in a Ford. When Harvick won at Sonoma in 2017, he became the 83rd different driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series race behind the wheel of a Ford. Harvick has now won 23 Cup Series races with Ford, which makes him one of only 13 drivers to win 20 or more races with the manufacturer. He is currently tied with Rusty Wallace and Carl Edwards for 11th on the all-time Ford win list.
● Harvick has four road-course wins outside of the NASCAR Cup Series. Two came in the NASCAR Xfinity Series – Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in 2007 and Watkins Glen in 2007 – and two were in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West – Sonoma in 1998 and Sonoma in 2017. Harvick’s K&N Series win at Sonoma in 1998 was three years before his Cup Series debut on Feb. 26, 2001 at North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham.

Kevin Harvick, Driver of the No. 4 Mobil 1 Ford Mustang

When it comes to road-course racing, do you feel that more of the race is in your hands?

“You do have more in your hands, for sure, especially when it comes to shifting and all the different things that could happen. But strategy and track position are a big part of that element too. It’s just like anything else, you’ve got to have the whole piece of the puzzle to put it all together.”

The Roval serves as a playoff cutoff race, with the field of 12 playoff drivers getting whittled down to eight. You’re still in the mix to advance to the Round of 8 – is that a testament to the work you and this Mobil 1 team have put in all season long?

“My team’s done a good job all year. We’ve had a lot of weeks where we’ve walked out of these tracks with a sixth-, seventh-, eighth-place finish. Our team itself has done a great job. We just needed to do a better job getting faster cars and sometimes that’s just not in the cards. You just have to plug away and take what you can get out of it and try to make the least amount of mistakes, and that’s the part our team has done well. We’ve gotten a lot of decent finishes throughout the year, and that just comes from experience. You dot the I’s and cross the T’s and, really, that’s what it all comes down to. We’ve lost a lot of races with fast cars and we’ve won some races with slow cars – you grind away and you just keep yourself in there and see where it all shakes out. Sometimes it’s in the car to win and sometimes it’s not, you just never know so you just grind away every lap.”

Do you feel that you and the team have gotten better as the playoffs started?

“We had a really fast car at Michigan – it got torn up at the end, but it took us half the race to get the balance right. The cars are fine. It’s just the balance of the racecars where we just wind up off at the beginning of the race one way or the other, and it takes you half the race to get the balance right. There’s nothing wrong with the racecars, it’s just when you plug everything in and you don’t figure out in practice that you’re way off so you can say, ‘I don’t need a little bit, I need a lot.’ It’s the green flag and you’re way off and then it’s, ‘I need a good change’ and you end up needing three times that amount of change and, suddenly, you’re at the end of the first stage. That’s the reality of the situation, and you’re just going to have a tough time and hope that you get it closer.”

After you race at the Roval on Sunday, NASCAR has an industry-wide NextGen test at the Roval on Monday and Tuesday. You just mentioned how without practice, it’s sometimes difficult to get the current car where you want it to start the race. With the NextGen car, how important will practice be to learn an entirely new racecar?

“For me, I kind of raised my hand about three or four months ago about really trying to understand why we weren’t going to practice more with this car because it was not going to be what everybody thought it was going to be. The drivers needed time in these vehicles in order to figure out how they raced, where they raced, what the problems were, and I think the red flag went up at Daytona to say, we probably need to have more tests and things. So I think the longer weekends probably need to come in the first half of the season in order to work through some things because, right now, you don’t know how to work on the car. If you have a 20-minute practice or a 30-minute practice and you have an issue, it could take you 20 or 30 minutes to take the floor panel off the car. Having everybody have all the right things at the beginning of the year and being able to have some tests and have the drivers in the cars is really important at this point for the quality of the racing.”

Whether it’s a road course or a short track or any kind of track, you have an added advantage with Mobil 1 as a sponsor and technology partner. How advantageous has this relationship been?

“The oil in the engine, the oil in the transmission, the oil in the rear gear and the things Mobil 1 provides us from a lubricant standpoint, it all adds up in the form of quicker lap times. On an oval, we can pick up a tenth-and-a-half or two-tenths of a second. On a road course, Mobil 1 helps with preservation, because we beat the heck out of our racecars – hitting curbs and shifting all the time. The level of technology and commitment to the things that go in our car, every piece of it adds up to a pretty big chunk of speed and an incredible amount of reliability.”

No. 4 Mobil 1 Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Kevin Harvick
Hometown: Bakersfield, California

Crew Chief: Rodney Childers
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Car Chief: Robert “Cheddar” Smith
Hometown: Whitewater, Wisconsin

Engineer: Dax Gerringer
Hometown: Gibsonville, North Carolina

Engineer: Stephen Doran
Hometown: Butler, Pennsylvania

Spotter: Tim Fedewa
Hometown: Holt, Michigan

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Shayne Pipala
Hometown: Frankfort Square, Illinois

Rear Tire Changer: Daniel Smith
Hometown: Concord, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Jeremy Howard
Hometown: Delhart, Texas

Jack Man: Stan Doolittle
Hometown: Ninety Six, South Carolina

Fuel Man: Evan Marchal
Hometown: Westfield, Indiana

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Richie Bean
Hometown: Bradford, Vermont

Tire Specialist: Jamie Turski
Hometown: Trumbull, Connecticut

Engine Tuner: Robert Brandt
Hometown: Mobile, Alabama

Transporter Co-Driver: Rick Hodges
Hometown: Raleigh, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Stephen Mitchell
Hometown: Woodville, Ohio

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