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Dr Pepper and 23XI Racing’s SPEED Institute Announce Scholarship Winners

By
Official Release
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FRISCO, Texas, and MOORESVILLE, NC (Sept. 24, 2021) — Dr Pepper, in collaboration with 23XI Racing’s SPEED Institute, today announced the first recipients of the Dr Pepper Tuition Program designed to support students seeking to work in a variety of fields in motorsports. The 23 selected students will each receive a $5,000 scholarship, and the SPEED Institute will award two of the recipients with internships at 23XI Racing.

The Dr Pepper Tuition Program was created to amplify the SPEED (Scholarship, Professional Education, Executive Development) Institute’s efforts to increase educational and professional development opportunities and support diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in motorsports.

“Dr Pepper is thrilled to award these scholarships to well-deserving students in partnership with 23XI Racing’s SPEED Institute,” said Andrew Springate, Chief Marketing Officer of Keurig Dr Pepper. “Dr Pepper is committed to supporting students’ educational goals and is proud of this inspiring group.”

Dr Pepper has a long history of helping students unlock their potential through tuition giveaway programs. To date, Dr Pepper has given over $12 million to deserving students through their College Football Tuition Giveaway program.

“When the SPEED Institute was created, the goal was to open doors and create opportunities for students to pursue a career in motorsports,” said 23XI Racing President Steve Lauletta. “To have our first program officially launched a few weeks ago and now award recipients with the means to help with their college education is a huge milestone for the SPEED Institute and 23XI Racing. Dr Pepper is a great partner and has been a staple among tuition programs, and we’re excited to now be a part of those programs. As we continue to build and grow the SPEED Institute, we look forward to more collaborations as we increase our diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and enhance opportunities for students seeking a career in motorsports. Congratulations to the 23 scholarship winners, and we look forward to hosting two of these talented students for internships at 23XI.”

2021 Dr Pepper $5,000 Scholarship Recipients

  1. Katelyn Allan, 20, West Chester University of Pennsylvania
  2. Nat Brue, 20, Baton Rouge Community College
  3. OJ Bruin, 23, Anna Maria College
  4. Taylor Chapman, 24, Clayton State University
  5. Victor Chen, 19, Citrus Community College
  6. Myia Davis, 18, Clark Atlanta University
  7. Joseph Dawisha, 23, San Diego State University
  8. Annie Duong, 20, University of New Hampshire
  9. Alison Gallegos, 17, Texas A&M University
  10. Matthew George, 21, New Jersey Institute of Technology
  11. Malcolm Hedgepeth, 21, Illinois Wesleyan University
  12. Harley Howard, 18, Western Kentucky University
  13. Kassidy Jack, 21, Clark Atlanta University
  14. Tyree Jones Jr., 21, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
  15. Kaylee Kallas, 19, Arizona State University
  16. Kesly Lubin, 19, Point Park University
  17. Andrew Martinez, 19, Doane University
  18. Xavier Morris, 20, NASCAR Technical Institute
  19. Sidia Navarette, 18, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  20. Maxwel Pace, 19, Ohio State University
  21. Thomas Pickett, 21, Winston-Salem State University
  22. Darrius Pinder, 19, University of Central Florida
  23. Brandon Rasool, 19, Florida International University

The names of the 23 students receiving the $5,000 scholarship will appear on the No. 23 Dr Pepper Toyota Camry at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the South Point 400 on Sunday, Sept. 26. The names will appear starting at the c pillar and extend up the roof line to Bubba Wallace’s name above the door.

The two recipients of the 23XI Racing internship will be announced on a later date.

About Dr Pepper
Dr Pepper, a brand of Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP), is the oldest major soft drink in the United States. Since 1885, the 23 flavors of Dr Pepper have earned legions of fans that enjoy its unique, refreshing taste. The brand is available in Regular, Diet, Caffeine Free, Cherry, and Cream Soda varieties. For more information, visit DrPepper.com or keurigdrpepper.com. For the brand’s latest news and updates, follow Dr Pepper at Facebook.com/DrPepper or Twitter.com/DrPepper.

About 23XI Racing

23XI Racing – pronounced twenty-three eleven – was founded by NBA legend Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin in 2020. Rising NASCAR star Bubba Wallace is the single car team’s driver. 23XI Racing’s No. 23 Toyota Camry made its NASCAR Cup Series debut at the Daytona 500 on February 14, 2021, at Daytona International Speedway.

About 23XI Racing’s SPEED Institute

SPEED Institute is 23XI Racing’s educational and professional development initiative, launched in 2021. The initiative expands on the team’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in sports, specifically in the motorsports industry. 23XI Racing, along with its partners under the SPEED Institute program, will provide educational opportunities as well as diversity recruiting and professional development in the motorsports field.

ARCA Menards Series West Race Recap: GRAY DOMINATES THE BULLRING

By
Official Release
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Thursday, September 23
Track: The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, 3/8 mile oval
Race: 7 of 9
Event: Star Nursery 150 (150 laps, 75 miles)

Taylor Gray, No. 17 Ford Performance Fusion

Start: 2nd
Finish: 1st

  • Taylor Gray started second for the Star Nursery 150 by virtue of his best lap from a combined practice/qualifying session earlier in the afternoon.
  • On the initial start, Gray settled into second right on the bumper of the leader. He took the lead on lap 23 as the leaders entered lapped traffic.
  • After a brief caution on lap 24, the Ford Performance driver launched back out to over a one second lead and held it until another yellow bunched the field back up for a lap 65 restart.
  • Gray fell to second on the restart, but quickly got back to the bottom lane and passed back for the lead on lap 70 just before another caution flag waved.
  • A string of cautions from lap 94 to 115 set up three more restarts. The field went back to green for the rest of the race with 28 laps to go. Gray built up a 1.3-second lead in the closing laps and picked up the win.
  • The victory marked Gray’s second consecutive ARCA Menards Series West win and first career victory at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in his first appearance at the 3/8-mile oval.

Next event: NAPA Auto Parts 150 at All American Speedway in Roseville, California on October 9 at 10 p.m. ET.

Team Hardpoint Takes On Long Beach Grand Prix For First Time In IMSA WeatherTech Championship

By
Official Release
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Rob Ferriol To Make Long Beach Debut in No. 88 Richard Mille/GridRival Porsche 911 GT3 R; Katherine Legge Returns To Site of First US Race and Victory

LONG BEACH, California (September 23, 2021) – Team Hardpoint co-drivers Rob Ferriol and Katherine Legge have two unique views of this weekend’s IMSA WeatherTech Championship GT Daytona (GTD) race on the streets of Long Beach. Ferriol will make his first appearance at the famed U.S. street circuit, while Legge returns to the place that hosted her first career appearance in the United States, where she also earned a win.

The 100-minute race is scheduled for Saturday, September 25 at 2:05 p.m. PDT (5:05 p.m. EDT) and can be seen live on NBCSN for cable and satellite subscribers or via TrackPass on the NBCSN app. The temporary street race is the second of its kind on the 2021 IMSA schedule, following a 100-minute race on Belle Isle, Detroit in June.

For Ferriol, the famed 1.968-mile race through the streets of Long Beach is just his second on a temporary street circuit, following the earlier race in Detroit, in his first full season of IMSA GTD competition.

“I’m looking forward to getting behind the wheel of our Richard Mille/GridRival Porsche 911 GT3 R here at Long Beach,” Ferriol said. “We certainly learned a lot about street racing at Detroit, which will hopefully carry over. This is a tough circumstance for a first-time driver like myself, because there are no opportunities to test. Instead, we’ve put in some work on the simulator to get familiar with the layout. We’re much further along as a team at this point in the season and I think that will show. This is such an iconic race in the United States and we’re ready to put on a show in front of these fans.”

Conversely, Legge knows the layout well. Her first race in the United States came in what was then the open-wheel Atlantic Championship in 2005, where Legge won to become the first woman to win a major North American open-wheel race. The following season, she scored a top-10 finish at the same event in her Champ Car debut.

“Long Beach has a special place in my heart,” Legge said. “It’s where it all started for me. It was my first race in the Atlantic Championship and the start of my pro career. I won that race and have had some success here since. It’s been a while since I raced here but I’m beyond excited to be back this week with Team Hardpoint, Rob and the No. 88 Richard Mille/GridRival Porsche 911 GT3 R.”

Team Hardpoint and the No. 88 Richard Mille/GridRival Porsche 911 GT3 R pull onto the track for the first time at 9:45 a.m. PDT on Friday, September 24, for one hour of practice, followed by a second hour of practice at 1:20 p.m. PDT. Qualifying begins later that same day at 4:50 p.m. PDT to set the grid for Saturday’s race. Saturday’s race begins 2:05 p.m. PDT (5:05 p.m. EDT) on NBCSN.

About Team Hardpoint:
Hardpoint Motorsports was founded by Rob Ferriol in 2018 with the vision of combining his experience as a successful entrepreneur with his passion for racing. Team Hardpoint EBM is a joint venture between Team Hardpoint and Earl Bamber Motorsport formed in late 2020 for Team Hardpoint’s Porsche Carrera Cup North America program to utilize the resources of EBM and co-owners Earl Bamber and Will Bamber and the early success of Team Hardpoint. Headquartered at VIRginia International Raceway, the team’s 2021 plans include a full-season effort in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship in a Porsche 911 GT3 R and a multi-car effort in the IMSA Porsche Carrera Cup North America. More information on Hardpoint Motorsports can be found at www.hardpoint.com or through its strong social media presence on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Grant Family Building a Family Legacy in Trans Am at VIR

By
Official Release
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ALTON, VIR. (23 September 2021) -Meet the Grant family from Memphis, Tennessee, who have made racing in the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli a family affair.

Three of the Grants will be competing this weekend at Virginia International Raceway, while several other Grants have made themselves at home at VIR and other tracks across the United States.

Leading the family are brothers Milton and Richard. Milton drives the No. 55 Sentry Self Storage/Fairfield Inn Porsche 991.1 in the SGT class. Richard pilots the No. 30 Grant Racing Corvette in the TA category.

Milton’s son, Carey, drives the No. 6 Grant Racing 2 Porsche 991 GT3 Cup in SGT. All three race at the same time. Richard’s racing for the overall win in TA, while his son competes against his uncle in SGT.

Another of Milton’s sons, Kevin, formerly competed. Richard also has two sons, Keith and David, who race in the IMSA Prototype Challenge. They will be co-driving the No. 40 JDC Motorsports Duqueine D08 when that series races at VIR on Oct. 8-10.

Milton and Richard started a home-building business in 1970. Both of their sons – along with Richard’s daughter – are also in that business. The brothers began their racing careers in Triumphs. Richard moved up to GT1 in 1998, and then raced two Corvettes.

“My brother and I had been doing some autocrossing, and one of his friends invited him to a race,” Milton Grant recalled. “He got so excited, when he came home he built a Triumph GT6. Then I went to watch him race, and then I went out and built a Triumph Spitfire. That’s how we got started.”

Richard made his Trans Am debut back in 1999 at Road Atlanta, placing 32nd in a Camaro. He has 49 career races in the series, including two top-fives, taking fifth in both in the second race of the VIR doubleheader in 2020, and in the opening race at Watkins Glen in 2021,

“We’ve been racing a long time,” Richard said. “I’ve been racing for 48 years, mostly in the Southeast at tracks like VIR, Road Atlanta and Sebring. Most of my career has been club racing and Trans Am.”

Milton, 72, has 51 starts in Trans Am, with nine podiums and 31 top-fives. He placed second twice in TA5 in 2016, at Road Atlanta and Watkins Glen.

Milton recorded his 500th racing career start earlier this season at Mid-Ohio while winning the SGT Masters class. Richard isn’t sure how many races he’s accumulated in his career.

“When we started racing, we got a vehicle logbook, and a driver logbook,” Richard said. “When they quit requiring it, I stopped filling mine out, but my brother kept recording his results. That’s how he came up to running in 500 races. But I’ve got probably more than 600, because I’ve been racing a whole lot more the last 15 years, and a lot of my races are in SCCA Majors, which are a two-race weekend.”

Carey made his Trans Am debut at New Orleans in 2015, finishing second in the TA3 International class in a Porsche 997 GT3 owned by his father. He matched that finish twice, at Road America in SGT in 2020 and in the most recent race at Watkins Glen in 2021. Happy with the consistency the team has enjoyed the past few seasons, he is now looking to add a little more speed to get to the top of the podium.

“We’ve run a lot at VIR, and I definitely love the track,” said Carey, who campaigned for VIR-based Synergy for a few seasons. “I almost consider Mid-Ohio my home track because when I started racing I ran in the Run-Offs there so much, but we love VIR, especially the Trans Am races there. I love running in Trans Am. Coming from Grand-Am, we got to like multi-class racing and longer events, as opposed to 30-minute sprint races.

“We also like Trans Am because it doesn’t have pit stops, and you don’t need to bring as many guys to the races. That cuts our costs considerably. Also the length of the races suits our driving styles. I don’t think you can beat the bang for the buck that Trans Am offers.”

Kevin Grant ran selected events in the Grand-Am Rolex Series from 2007 through 2013, running for Synergy Racing, Grand Racing and Turner Motorsport. While he no longer races cars, he competes in Can-Am side-by-side events, although he is preparing a Mazda Miata for a possible return to competition.”

Keith and David Grant are currently tied for fourth in the IMSA PC standings. Stepping up to LMP3 from Formula Atlantic, they opened the campaign with a third-place finish at Daytona, and were fourth at Mid-Ohio. The brothers placed fourth in the standings in 2018, with three podiums. Richard drove their car last year at a test day, but he admits, “I like my Trans Am car better.”

With six family members competing, Milton recalled that at one time the Grants had the highest family entries at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs.

“Now, I think the Aquilantes beat us,” he said.

With the season winding down, the Grants are two-three in the SGT driver’s championship, with Carey only five points behind his dad with VIR and the season finale at Circuit of The Americas remaining.

“He’s knocking on the door,” said Milton, who finished a career-high third in the 2020 standings. “I’m going to see if I can hold him off.”

After enjoying a successful weekend at Watkins Glen the family is ready for even more success this weekend. The team will be staying at the lodge on the property that, in the words of Paul Newman, “If there’s a heaven on Earth, it’s VIR.”

“We looking forward to coming back to VIR, coming off a good weekend at Watkins Glen,” Richard Grant said. “VIR is one of my favorite tracks, and I really like going there. It’s high speed and challenging.”

The Trans Am Series drivers will spend Friday (Sept. 24) testing with Saturday TA/XGT/SGT/GT class practice at 11:40 a.m. Eastern followed by TA2 practice at 12:10 p.m. Eastern. The Trans Am qualifying block starts at 5:30 p.m. Eastern on Saturday. Trans Am will host a pair of 100-mile races on Sunday with TA/XGT/SGT/GT taking the green at 11:00 a.m. Eastern and TA2 at 3:35 p.m. Eastern. The full VIR SpeedTour weekend will be live streamed on the Trans Am by Pirelli Racing App.

3 Useful Tips to Prepare Your Car for the Ultimate Camping Experience

By
SM
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There are very few things that add a breath of fresh air to your life as profoundly as camping. Imagine waking up to the harmonious chirping of birds while a soft morning breeze caresses your hair. Add to that the sight of the sun’s rays painting the sky in a zillion shades of red, orange, and yellow.

That’s camping for you.

When it comes to camping prep, most people think about all the gear and utilities they’re going to need during the getaway. Amidst that rigmarole, you might end up ignoring an important element that ensures a stress-free camping experience.

If you haven’t guessed yet, it’s your car. Your car is more than just a means for you to reach the campsite. It’s your biggest ally for a seamless escapade to the woods. Whether you need space to store all your belongings or want to set up a dining table, your vehicle will come to your rescue.

In this blog, we’ll discuss a few simple ways to prepare your car for a smooth and hassle-free camping getaway. Let’s get started.

1. Visit a Trustworthy Auto Repair Service

You want your car to be in perfect shape before you go out camping. That involves more than filling the gas tank and topping up the wiper fluid. It’s always a good idea to get your vehicle inspected at an established auto repair service, such as AG Automotive. 

From the brake cables and coolant to the battery and engine – auto repair services will run a thorough inspection of your car. It’ll help identify any potential faults that could aggravate while you’re camping.

If your car is due for scheduled maintenance, make sure you get it done before heading for the campsite. Check whether the door locks are working properly. Also, if your car needs any immediate repairs, make sure you get those done before the trip.

2. Don’t Skimp on Accessories

You don’t need a luxury car for the most comfortable camping experience. Irrespective of the type of car you own, you can always upgrade it using the right accessories. Whether you want to convert the back of your car into a tent or use it to store perishable foods, you’ll find plenty of accessories to make it possible.

The most essential car accessories for camping include:

  • Dashboard organizers
  • Portable coolers
  • Trash cans
  • Window screens
  • Smartphone chargers

Make sure you keep a pair of jumper cables handy to jumpstart your car’s battery. The last thing you want is to get stranded in a deserted forest with a dead car battery and spotty internet connectivity.

You could also take your camping experience up a notch by investing in fancy accessories, such as a rooftop tent for your car. Or you could even get campings screens to cover the windows and keep the sultry heat waves away from your vehicle. If you have a tendency to misplace your car keys, consider getting a Bluetooth-powered key tracker as well.

Similarly, if you aren’t particularly adept at pitching your tent, get a portable air mattress to sleep comfortably in your car. When it comes to camping, the list of essential car accessories is endless. Make sure you invest in high-quality and sturdy accessories that won’t falter while you’re in the middle of nowhere.

3. Don’t Ignore Security

Here’s the thing – car thefts are more common than you’d like to believe. In fact, automobile thefts in Oregon have increased by 9% between 2019 and 2020. Whether you’re within the city limits or out on a campground, the last thing you want is to deal with the aftermath of your car getting stolen.

The good news is that new-age car models are equipped with a ton of security enhancements to prevent theft. Nevertheless, it’s always a good idea to take additional precautionary measures before you go out camping.

To begin with, etch your car windows with the vehicle registration number. That makes it easier to track your car down even if it gets stolen. Also, if your car has a keyless lock, consider investing in a steering wheel lock for added protection. Installing a dashcam with in-built intelligent parking mode is a clever idea too.

Apart from getting your car ready for a camping trip, you should also focus on learning basic car maintenance and repair skills. At the very least, you should know how to check and refill the wiper fluid, as well as change a flat tire. The idea is to be prepared for any unforeseen challenge you come across while you’re in a secluded campground.

What steps do you follow to prep your car before a weekend of camping? Share your suggestions in the comments section below.

Betting and Casino Sponsorship with NASCAR

By
SM
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NASCAR is still one of the most popular sports in the world. Sponsors are drawn to the sport because of its growing popularity. In this light, casino sponsorship is becoming increasingly prevalent in NASCAR events. The exposure that NASCAR would provide to an online casino like CasinoVibez.com, which offers superb slot games and sports betting markets, would be quite beneficial. The casino would brand the racing cars with their logos and obtain celebrity endorsements from famous drivers.

NASCAR Sponsorship For Online Casino Sports And Betting

Things have changed since then. NASCAR has a growing array of sports and betting partners. Before, the sport had not piqued the interest of betting companies. The parties engaged gain from each other’s efforts. Because NASCAR permits them to paint racing vehicles and use drivers as brand ambassadors and spokespersons, gambling companies could benefit from the publicity. 

The sponsorship deal appears to be paying off for the sponsors, as reports indicate that more gambling companies are vying for a chance to sponsor NASCAR.

NASCAR Has Many Sponsors

NASCAR has had several sponsors since its inception. From motor oil, cigarette companies, and alcohol companies dominated the sport’s sponsorship at one point. Procter & Gamble, on the other hand, modified the pattern by sponsoring automobiles with Tide, Crisco, and Folger’s logos in the mid-1980s.

As a result, the company’s sales surged, and other non-traditional businesses took notice. NASCAR has also provided an opportunity for politics and sponsorship to collide. The BAM team approached Barack Obama and John McCain in 2008 with sponsorship proposals. They both declined the offer, though.

Things have changed in recent years, and we’ve begun to witness the introduction of sports and betting sponsors on NASCAR. Previously, NASCAR did not garner as much gambling attention as the NBA, NHL, or NFL, but it has recently opened itself up to sponsorship from gambling companies.

What Is The Future Of Both Industries?

Now that the two industries have established a functioning relationship, it’s time to plot a course for the future. So, how does the future look?

  • Development Of Policies

NASCAR and betting firms are two distinct industries with distinct aims. As a result, the participants in both sectors must devise a workable formula to secure mutual gain. They can take a page from the book of successful collaborations. Sports betting businesses and soccer clubs, for example, have an excellent working connection that has been going strong for a long time.

  • Both Industries Stand To Gain

Both industries could expect to benefit from the sponsorship contract after establishing a clear working connection. NASCAR teams, for example, will be given the funds they require to help expand their brands and improve their performance in the sport. On the other hand, Casinos will benefit from increased publicity, which will help them expand their membership. With the proper framework in place, generating mutual benefit should be simple.

NASCAR Is Expected To Attract More Sponsors

Not every company has the audacity to test the waters. Before jumping in, many business owners want guarantees that something will succeed. NASCAR betting and casino sponsorship is a growing trend. As a result, many businesses may choose to wait and see how things play out. Firms that sponsor NASCAR, on the other hand, are having a lot of success. 

Therefore NASCAR should expect more sponsorship requests from betting companies. In 2018, NASCAR promised to create a comprehensive gambling strategy for the industry as part of an integrity agreement with Sportradar. The sanctioning body has allowed all teams and venues to sell marketing sponsorship to legal sportsbooks and sports betting organizations in another development. Anyone concerned about the sport’s integrity will be relieved to learn that NASCAR will not allow any drivers or team personnel to wager on NASCAR events.

As companies in these areas begin to pay more attention to NASCAR, the sport may increase sponsorship of individual teams and tracks. Because advertisers can hire drivers as celebrity spokesmen, NASCAR drivers may appear as brand ambassadors for their sponsors in the future. NASCAR provides a lot of excitement for fans. It looks that the organization is becoming more open to sponsorship from the sports betting and casino industries, thanks to recent changes in US legislation that have legalized sports betting. Whatever company sponsors NASCAR, one thing is certain: the sport will always be popular.

Final Thoughts

Sports betting companies have amassed sufficient funds to support sports teams and events. Sports franchises, on the other hand, require funds to enhance their teams. The upshot of a solid framework for the two to collaborate is mutual advantage.

Weekend schedule for Las Vegas

By
Angie Campbell
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Photo by Jim Fluharty/HHP-Chevy Racing

NASCAR travels to Las Vegas Motor Speedway as the Playoffs continue after an exciting weekend at Bristol where four drivers in the Cup Series were eliminated from championship contention.

It will be the first race in the Cup Series Round of 12.

The Xfinity Series will begin its Playoffs at Las Vegas as 12 drivers compete for the title. The post-season title contenders include AJ Allmendinger, the Xfinity Series Regular Season Champion, Austin Cindric, Justin Allgaier, Justin Haley, Jeb Burton, Daniel Hemric, Harrison Burton, Myatt Snider, Jeremy Clements, Riley Herbst, Noah Gragson and Brandon Jones.

Friday night, the Camping World Truck Series will begin its Round of 8. John Hunter Nemechek leads the way with 3050 points followed by Sheldon Creed, Ben Rhodes, Zane Smith, Chandler Smith, Matt Crafton, Carson Hocevar and Stewart Friesen.

There will be no qualifying or practice this weekend and starting lineups will be determined by the metrics formula established by NASCAR.

Thursday, Sept. 23

11 p.m.: ARCA Menards Series West Star Nursery 150
TV: Trackpass

Friday, Sept. 24

9 p.m.: Truck Series Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200 presented by Westgate Resorts
Distance: 201 miles (134 Laps)
Stage 1 ends on Lap 30, Stage 2 ends on Lap 60, Final Stage ends on Lap 134
Pole: John Hunter Nemechek
TV: FS1 – Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR

Saturday, Sept. 25

7:30 p.m.: Xfinity Alsco Uniforms 302
Distance: 302 miles (201 Laps)
Stage 1 ends on Lap 45, Stage 2 ends on Lap 90, Final Stage ends on Lap 201
Pole: Austin Cindric
TV: NBCSN – Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR

Sunday, Sept. 26

7 p.m.: Cup Series South Point 400
Distance: 400.5 miles (267 Laps)
Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 80),
Stage 2 ends on Lap 160, Final Stage ends on Lap 267
Pole: Kyle Larson
TV: NBCSN – Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR

Las Vegas Motor Speedway Data

Season Race #: 30 of 36 (09-26-21)
Track Size: 1.5-miles
Banking/Turns 1 & 2: 20 degrees
Banking/Turns 3 & 4: 20 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 9 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 9 degrees
Frontstretch Length:  2,275 feet
Backstretch Length:  1,572 feet
Race Length: 267 laps (400.5 miles)
Stage 1 & 2 Length: 80 laps (each)
Final Stage Length: 107 laps

Las Vegas Motor Speedway Qualifying Data

Track Qualifying Record: Kurt Busch, Chevrolet (196.328 mph. 27.505 secs.) on March 4, 2016.
2020 Playoff Race Pole Winner: Metric Qualifying, Kevin Harvick started from the first position.

  • Kevin Harvick leads the NASCAR Cup Series in starts at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with 24 starts.
  • Daniel Hemric leads the series in average starting position at Las Vegas a 5.5 in two starts.
  • Chase Elliott leads all active drivers in the series in average starting position at Las Vegas an 8.778 in nine starts.
  • Kyle Busch (2008, 2009) and Kurt Busch (2010, 2016) lead all active drivers in poles at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with two each.
  • Kyle Busch is the only driver to win consecutive Cup Series poles at Las Vegas from 2008-2009.
  • Five different manufacturers have won a pole at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series led by Ford (11), and followed by Chevrolet (four), Dodge (four), Toyota (three) and Pontiac (one).

Las Vegas Motor Speedway Race Data

Track Race Record: Brad Keselowski, Ford (154.633 mph, 2:35:24) on March 9, 2014.
2020 Playoff Race Winner: Kurt Busch, Chevrolet (131.420 mph, 03:03:32) on September 27, 2020.

  • Brad Keselowski leads all active drivers in NASCAR Cup Series wins at Las Vegas with three (2014, 2016, 2018).
  • The youngest LVMS winner: Kyle Busch (March 01, 2009 – 23 years, 9 months, 27 days).
  • Kyle Busch became the first and only driver to win from the pole at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series on March 1, 2009.
  • Five of the 27 Las Vegas races (18.52%) have been won from the front row.
  • The second starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field producing more winners (four) than any other starting position at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (14.81%).
  • Roush Fenway Racing leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Las Vegas with seven victories: Mark Martin (1998), Jeff Burton (1999, 2000), Matt Kenseth (2003, 2004), Carl Edwards (2008, 2011).
  • Four manufacturers have visited Victory Lane in the NASCAR Cup Series at Las Vegas, led by Ford (13 wins), Chevrolet (nine), Toyota (four) and Dodge (one).

From OddsChecker: Kyle Larson favorite to win South Point 400

Larson is given +350 odds, or an implied 22.2% chance to win the race. He’s followed by Kyle Busch, who is given +650 odds or an implied 13.3% chance. Denny Hamlin is given +700 odds, Chase Elliot +800, and Martin Truex Jr. +900. Those are the 5 favorites. Even among them, it’s clear that oddsmakers are separating Larson from the pack.

SOUTH POINT 400 WINNER ODDS 

Driver Odds Implied chance 
Kyle Larson +350 22.2% 
Kyle Busch +650 13.3% 
Denny Hamlin +700 12.5% 
Chase Elliot +800 11.1% 
Martin Truex Jr. +900 10% 
Kevin Harvick +1000 9.1% 
Joey Logano +1100 8.3% 
William Byron +1200 7.7% 
Ryan Blaney +1400 6.7% 
Brad Keselowski +1500 6.3% 

CHEVROLET NTT INDYCAR SERIES – STREETS OF LONG BEACH-LONG BEACH GRAND PRIX-TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE

By
Official Release
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CHEVROLET RACING IN NTT INDYCAR SERIES
ACURA GRAND PRIX OF LONG BEACH
STREETS OF LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA
SEPT. 24-26

RACE 16 OF 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES SEASON

Team Chevy heads to Long Beach with eyes on the prize
Pato O’Ward and Josef Newgarden take aim at driver championship in season finale; Scott McLaughlin eyes Rookie-of-the-Year title

DETROIT (Sept. 23, 2021) – Pato O’Ward’s path to clinching the Astor Cup has become more challenging. But like any true competitor, the second-year NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver thrives on challenges.

The driver of the No. 5 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet enters the 85-lap championship-deciding race Sunday, Sept. 26, on the 1.968-mile, 11-turn temporary street circuit in Long Beach, California, second in the standings. Scoring his third win of the 16-race season is a necessity to leave Southern California with the title.

“We are still alive in the championship, and a lot of things can fall our way,” said O’Ward, who enters the season finale 35 points out of first. “I’m going for the win in Long Beach, whatever it takes. I think our street course package is probably one of our stronger packages in terms of road courses, street courses, ovals, short ovals. I think I’m pretty handy around a street course, so hopefully I can pull off something good.”

O’Ward has one NTT INDYCAR SERIES start on the technical street circuit, qualifying ninth and placing 12th in 2019. The event was not contested in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re here as underdogs,” O’Ward added. “It’s the first time we truly challenged for a championship of this magnitude, with this amount of competitiveness. I think it’s been a fantastic year. I’m very proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish. Really proud of how we’ve grown. But we’re not there yet. We need to keep pushing and we need to keep improving.”

Two 45-minute practice sessions on the precede knockout qualifications Saturday, Sept. 25. The race will be the 165th for Chevrolet since it returned to INDYCAR manufacturer competition in 2012. The Bowtie Brand has four victories on the Long Beach course in that span and seven in a row from 1987-93.

“Chevrolet enters the final race of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season with the same objective and resolve it entered 2021 with — to provide the best support possible to our teams and drivers and see a race car with the Bowtie take the checkered flag,” Chevrolet INDYCAR program manager Rob Buckner said. “It’s been a challenging season in many regards for everybody but rewarding, too.

“We’re looking forward to watching the one of Chevy’s newest talents Pato O’Ward tackle the Long Beach street circuit in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet and Josef Newgarden wheel his No. 2 Hitachi Team Penske Chevrolet as they both charge for the win and hopefully either Pato’s first or Josef’s third championship.”

Two-time NTT INDCYAR SERIES champion Newgarden, who was runner-up in the 2019 race at Long Beach, is 45 points behind front-running Alex Palou and mathematically in contention for the title.

“I’m so proud of the No. 2 car team and everyone with Chevy and Hitachi — just a little short,” said Newgarden, who advanced 10 positions to finish seventh at Laguna Seca. “Little bit tough, but we’ll go to Long Beach and try to get another win before the offseason.”

McLaughlin seeks to secure rookie of year title
Scott McLaughlin will aim to wrap up the INDYCAR Rookie of the Year award in the No. 3 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet. With five top-10 finishes through the 15 races, including runner-up at Texas Motor Speedway in his oval debut, the three-time Australian V8 Supercars champion is a respectable 13th in the standings.

Buckner continued: “Scott has made a difficult transition with incredible determination. He has challenged himself all season. It will be an exciting to see his hard work rewarded.”

Chevrolet on display
Spectators can learn more about Chevrolet vehicles at the Chevrolet Motorsports Display in the Long Beach Expo Center throughout the weekend. Display vehicles include the No. 16 Paretta Autosport Chevrolet NTT INDYCAR SERIES car that raced in the 2021 Indianapolis 500, a 2022 Corvette Stingray convertible, a 2021 Camaro 1LE and a 2021 Silverado Trail Boss. Chevrolet INDYCAR team owner Beth Paretta will meet fans at the Chevrolet Display on Sunday at 10:00 a. m.

Of note
INDYCAR veteran Charlie Kimball returns to AJ Foyt Racing for the season finale in the No. 11 Tresiba Chevrolet. … Dalton Kellett, driver of the No. 4 K-Line Insulators AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet, got engaged to be married after the Sept. 16 race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. … Sebastien Bourdais, driver of the No. 14 ROKiT AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet, is a three-time winner at Long Beach. … The 2022 Long Beach race will be third event of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule, scheduled for April 10.

Tune in
NBCSN will telecast the 85-lap/167-mile race at 3 p.m. ET Sunday, Sept. 26, and knockout qualifications at 3 p.m. ET Saturday, Sept. 25. Qualifying and practice sessions will also stream on Peacock Premium. The race, qualifications and practice will be broadcast live on INDYCAR Radio Network affiliates, Sirius 211, XM 205, Indycar.com, and on the INDYCAR Mobile app powered by NTT DATA.

Team Chevy will be represented by:
A.J. Foyt Enterprises
Dalton Kellett, No. 4 K-Line Insulators AJ Foyt Racing
Charlie Kimball, No. 11 Tresiba AJ Foyt Racing
Sebastien Bourdais, No. 14 ROKiT AJ Foyt Racing
Arrow McLaren SP
Pato O’Ward, No. 5 Arrow McLaren SP
Felix Rosenqvist, No. 7 Vuse Arrow McLaren SP
Carlin
Max Chilton, No. 59 Carlin
Ed Carpenter Racing
Conor Daly, No. 20 U.S. Air Force
Rinus VeeKay, No. 21 Sonax/Autogeek
Juncos Hollinger Racing
Callum Ilott, No. 77 Juncos Hollinger Racing
Team Penske
Josef Newgarden, No. 2 Hitachi Team Penske
Scott McLaughlin, No. 3 PPG Team Penske
Will Power, No. 12 Verizon 5G Team Penske
Simon Pagenaud, No. 22 Menards Team Penske

Chevrolet IndyCar V6 Year-By-Year Results since 2012
2021 ­– 6 wins, 7 poles in 15 races
Wins – Pato O’Ward (Texas2, Detroit2); Rinus VeeKay (Indy RC1); Josef Newgarden (Mid-Ohio, St. Louis); Will Power (Indy RC2). Pole – Pato O’Ward (Barber Motorsports Park, Detroit1, Indy RC2); Josef Newgarden (Detroit2, Road America, Mid-Ohio); Will Power (St. Louis).
2020 – 7 wins, 11 poles in 14 races
Wins – Simon Pagenaud (Iowa1); Josef Newgarden (Iowa2, St. Louis2, Indy RC2, St. Petersburg); Will Power (Mid-Ohio1, Indy RC3, St. Petersburg). Poles – Josef Newgarden (Texas, Road America1, Iowa2), Will Power (Indianapolis road course, St. Louis1, Mid-Ohio1, Indy RC3; St. Petersburg), Pato O’Ward (Road America2), Conor Daly (Iowa1), Rinus VeeKay (Indy road course October)
2019 – 9 wins, 9 poles in 17 races
Driver/owner championship (Josef Newgarden/Roger Penske); Indianapolis 500 win (Simon Pagenaud)
2018 – 6 wins, 9 poles in 17 races
Indianapolis 500 win (Will Power)
2017 – 10 wins, 11 poles in 17 races
Engine Manufacturer Championship; driver/owner titles (Josef Newgarden/Roger Penske)
2016 – 14 wins, 13 poles in 16 races
Engine Manufacturer Championship; driver/owner titles (Simon Pagenaud/Roger Penske)
2015 – 10 wins, 16 poles in 16 races
Engine Manufacturer Championship; driver/owner titles (Scott Dixon/Chip Ganassi);
Indianapolis 500 win (Juan Pablo Montoya). First manufacturer to capture all titles since Chevrolet returned to INDYCAR in 2012
2014 – 12 wins, 14 poles in 18 races
Engine Manufacturer Championship; driver/owner titles (Will Power/Roger Penske)
2013 – 10 wins, 11 poles in 19 races
Engine Manufacturer Championship; Indianapolis 500 win (Tony Kanaan)
2012 – 11 wins, 10 poles in 15 races
Engine Manufacturer Championship; driver/owner titles (Ryan Hunter-Reay/Michael Andretti)
Total – 95 wins, 106 earned poles in 164 races

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.

Must-Have Camping Mods | Dodge RAM

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Official Release
-

AmericanTrucks Announces New Episode of “The Haul”

PAOLI, Pa. (September 22nd, 2021) – Parts authority, AmericanTrucks (AT) outlines must-have camping mods in their latest episode of its “The Haul” YouTube series. In this video, host Adam Maqboul equips AT’s 2014 RAM and 2019 RAM with a selection of parts designed to make outdoor adventures “a lot more enjoyable and easier to manage.”  The suggested mods, as well as others like it, are available for all model years on AT’s website.

“These mods are here to help you make your camping trip a lot more enjoyable and easier to manage.” – Adam Maqboul

Adam begins with the Barricade bull bar and 20-inch LED light bar to protect the front end and provide extra visibility on the campground. Weathertech mud flaps feature a no-drill install and help to keep paint safe from scratches, dents, and other chips. Adam then outlines the convenience of having a portable air compressor before moving on to a couple of practical storage mods to take care of all that extra camping gear. The episode wraps up with the star of the show, a full-size truck bed tent from Rightline Gear.

AT’s new episode of “The Haul” prepares Dodge Ram owners for their next camping trip covering everything from protection and storage options to a full-size truck bed tent and air mattress. AT’s viewers are invited to subscribe to their YouTube channel to stay up to date on product reviews, lifestyle content, customer builds, and more.

View it here: https://www.americantrucks.com/thehaul-ram-september-2021.html

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

About AmericanTrucks

AmericanTrucks is regarded as one of the best, most dependable online aftermarket retailers providing parts and accessories for F150, F250, Ranger, Silverado, Sierra, and RAM. Catering to the needs and demands of late-model truck owners and enthusiasts, AmericanTrucks provides the best parts with support from genuine truck experts. Located just outside of Philadelphia, AmericanTrucks is dedicated to offering the truck community with the highest quality of parts and customer service. Please visit https://www.americantrucks.com for more information.

CHEVY NCS AT LAS VEGAS: Team Chevy Advance

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Official Release
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TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE
SOUTH POINT 400
LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
SEPT. 26, 2021

RACE #30 – LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
The Round of 12 of the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) Playoffs for four Team Chevy drivers opens Sunday, September 26, with the 267-lap South Point 400 on the 1.5-mile oval of Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Chevrolet has won nine of the 27 NCS races held at the Nevada venue, including the past two by Kyle Larson (March 2021) and Kurt Busch (September 2020). Larson, first in the Playoff standings entering the race, will start from the pole in his No. 5 Tarlton and Son Camaro ZL1 1LE.

The diverse three-race set of the second round also includes the 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway oval and the Charlotte ROVAL, where the field will be trimmed from 12 drivers to eight in pursuit for the NCS championship title.
A look at Team Chevy in the NASCAR Cup Series title hunt:

Kyle Larson, No. 5 Tarlton and Son Camaro ZL1 1LE – 1st in Standings (3,059 Points)
Victories: 6 (field-high)
Top-Fives: 16; Top-10’s: 21; Poles: 1; Laps Led: 1,905
Average Finish: 9.0
Stage Wins: 14
At Las Vegas (10 career NCS starts): Wins: 1; Top-Fives: 4; Top-10’s: 7; Average Finish: 9.8
Of Note: In the March 2021 NCS race at Las Vegas, Larson led a field-high 103 of 267 laps to capture his first win of the 2021 NCS season and his first with Hendrick Motorsports. The NCS Regular Season Champion starts the second round 46 points above the cutline.

Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Camaro ZL1 1LE – 6th in Standings (3,021 points)
Victories: 2
Top-Fives: 12; Top-10’s: 17; Laps Led: 524; Average Finish: 12.0
Stage Wins: 3
At Las Vegas (9 career NCS starts): Top-Fives: 2; Top-10’s: 3; Average Finish: 20.556
Of Note: The 2021 NCS season marks Elliott’s sixth consecutive year of being part of the Playoff field. Six of his 13 career NCS wins have come in the Playoffs. Elliott has wins at five of the next seven venues on the NCS schedule.

Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Camaro ZL1 1LE –7th in Standings (3,015 Points)
Victories: 3
Top-Fives: 7; Top-10’s 14; Pole Wins: 1; Laps Led: 151; Average Finish: 14.1
At Las Vegas (9 career NCS starts): Top-Fives: 1; Top-10’s: 2; Average Finish: 19.667
Of Note: The 2021 NCS season marks Bowman’s fourth-career Playoffs appearance. Bowman has raced his way into the Round of 12 for the last three years. Bowman tied a career best at Bristol of a fifth-place finish to advance to the Round of 12.

William Byron, No. 24 Axalta/Service King Camaro ZL1 1LE – 8th in Standings (3,014 Points)
Victories: 1
Top-Fives: 10; Top-10’s: 17; Pole Wins: 2; Laps Led: 276; Average Finish: 13.7
Stage Wins: 3
At Las Vegas (8 career NCS starts): Top-10’s: 2; Average Finish: 20.286
Of Note: The 2021 NCS season marks Byron’s third-career Playoffs appearance. Byron produced a career-high third place finish at Bristol, making up an 18-point deficit to advance to the Round of 12. In six NCS races on 1.5-mile tracks thus far this season, Byron has captured one win (Homestead-Miami Speedway) and finished inside the top 10 in five of those races.

CHEVROLET OCCUPIES SEVEN OF 12 NXS PLAYOFF SPOTS
Seven drivers of the Chevrolet Camaro SS – AJ Allmendinger, Justin Allgaier, Noah Gragson, Justin Haley, Jeb Burton, Myatt Snider and Jeremy Clements – qualified for the 12-driver NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) Playoffs that begin Saturday, September 25, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Allmendinger sealed the regular season championship with his fourth victory of the season at Bristol Motor Speedway. The Kaulig Racing driver returns to Las Vegas Motor Speedway looking to become a repeat winner after capturing the NXS victory at Las Vegas in March. Chevrolet, with 12 NXS wins, is heading into the NXS playoff run atop the Manufacturer Standings.

NCWTS ROUND OF EIGHT
Reigning NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) champion Sheldon Creed, Zane Smith and Carson Hocevar advanced to the Round of 8 in their Chevrolet Silverado’s. The reigning NCWTS Champion, Sheldon Creed, had an impressive first round, capturing the victory at two of the three races in the Round of 10. Creed leads the Team Chevy brigade sitting second in the driver standings. The Round of 8 kicks off at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Friday, September 24, with the Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200 Presented by Westgate Resorts.

TWENTY YEARS AGO – GORDON RECORDS CHEVY’S FIRST
Career Chevrolet driver Jeff Gordon gave the Bowtie Brand its first victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 4, 2001. Gordon led twice, including the final 20 laps of the 267-lap race, after starting 24th. Jimmie Johnson leads Chevrolet and all NCS drivers with four wins at the track, including three in a row in 2005, ’06 and ’07.

CHEVROLET HOLDS LEAD IN MANUFACTURER STANDINGS
Chevrolet remains the leader in the NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer Standings in pursuit of its 40th title. Team Chevy has recorded field highs of 14 victories, 128 top-10 finishes, 3,300 laps led and 26 stage wins through 29 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.

BUSCH TO MAKE 750TH START ON HOME TRACK
Las Vegas native Kurt Busch, driving the No. 1 Chip Ganassi Racing Camaro ZL1 1LE, will make his 750th NASCAR Cup Series start on his home track. In his 22nd season, the 2004 NASCAR Cup Series champion is the longest-tenured active driver in terms of career starts. He has 33 wins and 327 top-10 finishes. Busch, 43, qualified for the Playoffs this season for the 15th time in the 18 years of the postseason.

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 Tarlton and Son Camaro ZL1 1LE
3rd William Byron, No. 24 Axalta/Service King Camaro ZL1 1LE
7th Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Camaro ZL1 1LE
11th Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Camaro ZL1 1LE
13th Tyler Reddick, No. 8 Cat Trial 11: Hot Wheels Camaro ZL1 1LE
15th Austin Dillon, No. 3 BETMGM Camaro ZL1 1LE
16th Erik Jones, No. 43 Medallion Bank Camaro ZL1 1LE
18th Ross Chastain, No. 42 Clover Camaro ZL1 1LE
20th Kurt Busch, No. 1 Monster Energy Camaro ZL1 1LE

BOWTIE BULLETS
· Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 14 wins, 128 top-10 finishes and 3,300 laps led of 7,293 total this season.
· In addition to its nine wins, Chevrolet has amassed 55 top-five and 106 top-10 finishes in 27 races since Las Vegas Motor Speedway opened in 1998.
· The Southpoint 400 is the fourth race of the Playoffs. Career Chevrolet driver Jimmie Johnson won the fourth race in 2009 and 2016 on the way to claiming the Driver Championship.
· Johnson’s four wins at Las Vegas leads all drivers.
· Erik Jones (22 years, 3 months, 17 days) is the youngest pole winner at Las Vegas.
· Jones led non-Playoff drivers with an eighth-place finish at Bristol.
· Hendrick Motorsports continues to lead the Owner Standings.
· Kyle Larson paces all drivers with 1,905 laps led.
· Tyler Reddick is second among drivers with 99.49% of laps completed (7,256 of 7,293).
· Five Team Chevy drivers have combined for 26 stage wins: Chase Elliott (Daytona RC, Michigan, Daytona2); 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).

TUNE IN
NBCSN will telecast the 267-lap NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400 at 7 p.m. ET, Sunday, Sept. 26. Live coverage is also on PRN and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. NBCSN will also telecast the 201-lap NASCAR Xfinity Series Alsco Uniforms 302 at 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday, Sept. 25. FS1 will telecast the 134-lap NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200 presented by Westgate Resorts at 9 p.m. ET, Friday, Sept. 24.

QUOTABLE QUOTES
KYLE LARSON, NO. 5 TARLTON AND SON CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 1st IN STANDINGS
LARSON ON RETURNING TO LAS VEGAS:
“It’s nice going back to a track we’ve won at before. We were really good at Vegas earlier this year, so definitely excited to go back and hoping we have similar speed. The temperature will be much warmer this weekend, so that changes things but our team has been really good at adapting to every situation this year. Hopefully, we can prepare well and have another good car and battle for the win.”

CLIFF DANIELS, CREW CHIEF, NO. 5 TARLTON AND SON CAMARO ZL1 1LE
DANIELS ON HOTTER TEMPERATURES COMPARED TO MARCH:
“It definitely presents a lot of challenges – from the ambient air temperature to the track temperature, and the pace is going to be slower and (tire) fall off is going to be higher. We’re taking all that into consideration and hope we make the right decisions to have a good car – not only for speed but longer into a run when grip is lacking.”

CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 6th IN STANDINGS
“We haven’t had the best results at Las Vegas. The good thing is I feel like we have been fast out there at times. That’s the frustrating thing. Terrible results. I feel like every time I leave out there I’m mad and ready to go home, but I’m looking forward to this trip. Vegas is a place that I don’t have any ill will toward and again, I feel like we have had pace there. We have just really struggled to get the results. Hopefully, this time is a little different. It would be nice to get a win out there. That would be even better.”

ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 7th IN STANDINGS
“Advancing to the Round of 12 was exactly what we needed to do going into the Bristol race. It is obvious we struggled in the first two races in the playoffs, but we went into Bristol with a strategy and Greg (Ives) and the team did a great job with adjustments throughout the race. We fought hard and coming out with a fifth-place finish was big for this Ally team. We want to take Ally as far as we can in these playoffs and putting races together like last weekend will do just that for us.”

“Going to Vegas this weekend is a good track for the 48 team. We have seen success there in the past and earlier this season we had a top-10, if not a top-five run going before we had a tire go down. Our mile and a half program is strong and this Ally team has been working hard on our Chevrolets. This round of the playoffs has a lot of good tracks for us, so we are looking to have strong runs the next three weeks.”

GREG IVES, CREW CHIEF, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1 1LE
“Whether it’s a great week or a bad week, you try to look at each week as a new start and have realistic goals in mind. A realistic goal for us at Las Vegas is a win. There are some places you go and try to get top five in stages and then come out with a good finish. With Vegas, I feel like we got great race cars capable of going out there and scoring a lot of stage points and getting the win. Fortunately, or unfortunately, we have teammates who have the same thing. We just got to go out there and execute to the best of our abilities and take advantage when we can. Whether it’s a restart or on pit road or short runs or long runs. We just got to stay focused on that. I feel like we’re capable of winning at any racetrack, but there’s a lot of confidence going back to Vegas.”

WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 AXALTA / SERVICE KING CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 8th IN STANDINGS
BYRON ON HOW CRUCIAL LAS VEGAS IS FOR THE NEXT ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS:
“It’s a great feeling knowing that we had the performance we did in Bristol and were able to advance on. I knew this team was capable of it but to be able to execute it in a Game 7-style situation is even more impressive. Now we’re moving on and turning or focus to the next round. These upcoming tracks are ones that have always been good for us but they also can be wildcards in their own respective, especially Talladega (Superspeedway) and the Charlotte ROVAL. That’s why it’s even more important for us to go to Vegas, execute everything and maximize points. We don’t want to start this round off in a hole like we did the first round. Myself and Rudy (Fugle) would rather play offense through these next three races than have to worry on defending points. Vegas is crucial, in my mind, to determine how you play the rest of the round. Hopefully, we come out with a win and the only points that matter for the next two races are playoff points.”

RUDY FUGLE, CREW CHIEF, NO. 24 AXALTA / SERVICE KING CAMARO ZL1 1LE
FUGLE ON THE MOMENTUM HEADING TO LAS VEGAS:
“We’re super excited to hit the reset button at this stage. Darlington put us behind and we didn’t have a good run at Richmond. It made Bristol way too stressful. I feel like Vegas is really good for us, and this whole round has tracks where we are fast and perform well. I’m really excited about getting a reset, getting a good start at Vegas, competing for a win and maybe not having to worry about the next two (races), so that would be great.”

ERIK JONES, NO. 43 MEDALLION BANK CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 24th IN STANDINGS
THOUGHTS ON GOING BACK TO LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY FOR A SECOND TIME THIS SEASON?
“I’m looking forward to going back to Las Vegas (Motor Speedway). We had a really good run there in the spring with a top-10. Hopefully we can just go back and run as good and improve on it, as well. We’ll see how it goes. Las Vegas is kind of an interesting track. I feel like this race is a lot different than the spring, just because it ends at night and the track changes a lot when it cools down.”
“Overall, I feel good about our package and being able to come back with something that was good in the spring and hopefully just as good when we go back this weekend.”

DANIEL SUAREZ, NO. 99 GOOD SAM CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 25th IN STANDINGS
WHAT IS DANIEL’S AMIGOS?
“Daniel’s Amigos was just an idea. I always wanted to do something special for the Latinos, and was just trying to come up with ways to bring this community to the race track and give them a special, cool experience.

“After several conversations with Coca-Cola and NASCAR, we were able to make it happen in 2019 at Auto Club Speedway in California. The program just grew from there until COVID made us take a break. It has been a while since we have done it, but we are back Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
“It has taken a lot of work by Coca-Cola and NASCAR to make this happen, but I am super excited about it.”

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT ON SUNDAY WITH DANIEL’S AMIGOS?
“We are going to have a few hundred people in the infield of the race track in an open air space where they can have a good time. I am going to be there for 45 minutes, taking pictures, questions and answers and lots of fun. I want them to get to know me better and I want to get to know them. I want to show them how cool NASCAR really is.”

WHY IS THIS PROGRAM IMPORTANT?
“One of the great things I love about our sport is that it is very family oriented. Every time I get the opportunity to do one of these Daniel’s Amigos events, I want to make them feel like they are at home so they will come back and support us every week at the track.”

HOW COOL WOULD IT BE TO WIN SUNDAY?
“Winning Sunday would be amazing. I would invite all 200 Daniel’s Amigos to victory lane to help us celebrate.”

COREY LAJOIE, NO. 7 BUILT BAR CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 29th IN STANDINGS
“Heading into Vegas this weekend with some high hopes. I turn 30 on Saturday, so my friends at Built Bar did a special scheme that makes me look like I’m turning 80. We broke a gear running 16th the first race here, so hopefully we can back that up and have an even better run this time. This track changes drastically from the start of the race in the direct sunlight, to the end of the race when it finishes under the lights. We’ve got some good notes that we’ll apply from previous races & stay on top of the changes to our Built Bar Camaro all night.”

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: 14
Poles: 5
Laps Led: 3,300
Top-five finishes: 60
Top-10 finishes: 128
Stage wins: 26 – Chase Elliott (Daytona RC, Michigan, Daytona), 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), Kurt Busch (Nashville, Pocono 1, Atlanta 2), Tyler Reddick (Road America, Indy RC x2)

CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:
Total Chevrolet race wins: 809 (1949 to date)
Poles won to date: 722
Laps led to date: 240,005
Top-five finishes to date: 4,125
Top-10 finishes to date: 8,530

Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:

       General Motors: 1,143
       Chevrolet: 809
       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: 160

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.

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