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Dominant Weekend For Jak Crawford at Red Bull Ring

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Jak Crawford #52 Team Motopark, during round six of the EuroFormula Open series at the Red Bull Ring on Sep 10-12, 2021. // SI202109110631 // Usage for editorial use only //

Two wins, 3 fastest laps, pole in EFO outing

SPIELBERG, Austria – (12 September 2021) – Red Bull Junior team driver Jak Crawford scored an emotional victory for the Stars and Stripes on 9-11 Saturday, leading all the way to win the opening Euroformula Open race at Red Bull Ring.

After finishing fifth in the morning round with an inverted grid, the 16-year-old Texan finished the weekend by leading all the way in winning Sunday’s final race. He won his fourth pole in as many attempts in addition to running the fastest race lap in all three events, and made three podium visits, including being the top rookie in the second race.

“This was a good one for America,” Crawford said from victory circle after his Saturday triumph. “Obviously, 20 years ago was a tragic event, so this was a good one for my country, and for myself as well.”

“It was quite a good weekend, obviously,” Crawford summed up. “Two race wins, the pole and three fastest race laps is pretty good. I’m happy with the weekend. We had the best speed, and the most points as well.”

Crawford showed why Red Bull Ring is one of his favorite tracks from the beginning of the weekend. He dominated Friday’s practice, only to lose fast time in the closing minutes by 0.358-seconds. In Saturday morning’s qualifying, he set fast time several times, only to be knocked off the pole three times. But each time he came back with an even faster lap, finally capturing pole position with a lap of 1:22.093-seconds.

“I’m happy to be on pole,” Crawford said after qualifying. “It wasn’t easy; times are always really close at the Red Bull Ring since there aren’t that many corners.I made a mistake on my last lap, which I probably could have had another tenth or so. But still happy with the pole.”

The opening race saw Crawford get off to a 0.9-second lead on lap one, eventually building up to a whopping 6.911-second gap on the field.

“Race 1 was pretty dominant It was an easier one today, because I didn’t have much pressure, but I’m excited about the victory.”

The top six finishers were inverted for Sunday morning’s second race, putting Crawford sixth on the grid. He gained two positions on the opening lap with a pair of passes, and then bided his time in fourth – setting the fastest lap of the race on lap 11. He slipped up and lost two positions on lap 14, although he gained one back on the following lap and finished fifth.

“Race 2 was a bit unfortunate, because I had a few incidents,” he said. “It was a difficult one, being very difficult to overtake. I got up to fourth and held that position, but then I got attacked from behind while being stuck behind a train of cars in front of me. We had the speed to win – and got the fastest lap – but it was difficult to overtake.”

Sunday afternoon was a repeat of race one. Crawford started on the pole by virtue of setting the fastest lap in race two. He led by 1.2-seconds after the opening lap, set fastest race lap four times and gapped Team Motopark teammate and point leader Cameron Das by 4.602-seconds.

“It was a fun race,” Crawford said. “I had a good start and they were battling behind me, so I got a quite comfortable lead. After that, I was trying to be as consistent as possible with no mistakes while managing the gap. Quite an easy one. I’m happy with the win, and the points as well.”

Crawford managed to gain ground with the solid weekend to gain on the leaders from third position. However, he will miss the penultimate round of the campaign at Monza due to an FIA Formula 3 conflict with the new season finale at Sochi in Russia.

“I’m not going to race Monza, which is a bit unfortunate,” he said. “I think the championship is a bit out of reach unless something crazy happens. But we do get to race in Sochi, which will be the first time for me – the first time for nearly everyone. So the playing ground will be a bit more even, and I’m looking forward to another good weekend like Zandvoort, with all three races in the points.”

The Euroformula Open season ends at Barcelona on Oct. 22-24.

“I’ve driven there quite a bit, and it’s one of my favorite tracks in the world,” Crawford said. “I’m looking to get some good results there.”

No. 10 Smithfield Ford Racing: Aric Almirola Bristol Advance

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Aric Almirola
Bristol Advance
Smithfield Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview

● Event: Bass Pro Shops Night Race (Round 29 of 36)
● Time/Date: 7:30 p.m. EDT on Saturday, Sept. 18
● Location: Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway
● Layout: .533-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 500 laps/266.5 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 125 laps / Stage 2: 125 laps / Final Stage: 250 laps
● TV/Radio: NBCSN / PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway is the cutoff race in the first round of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. Almirola currently sits 11th with three points ahead of the cutoff line to advance to the Round of 12. The Smithfield driver was in a similar position heading into last year’s playoff cutoff race at Bristol – 10th place, seven points ahead of the cutoff line.
● Almirola is no stranger to pressure when it comes to the cutoff line. In 2018, he advanced to the Round of 12 by one point at the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway “Roval” road course. He advanced to the Round of 8 with his win at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway and he went on to finish fifth in the final standings.
● Last weekend at Richmond (Va.) Raceway, Almirola and the Smithfield Ford team ran inside the top-10 with a promising run until a loose wheel derailed their night, ultimately putting them a lap down and finishing 14th.
● History at Bristol: Almirola’s most recent visit to Bristol resulted in a fifth-place finish. In 20 starts at Bristol since 2007, Almirola has two top-fives and four top-10s. His best finish there was third in the Food City 500 on March 16, 2004. In addition to his Cup Series experience at Bristol, Almirola has seven NASCAR Xfinity Series starts with four resulting in top-10 finishes.
● Almirola locked himself into the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs with his July 18 victory at New Hampshire. 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.
● In his pursuit of his first Cup Series championship, Almirola looks to continue Tampa Bay’s recent sports successes by adding to the accomplishments of his hometown teams – back-to-back Stanley Cup championships won by the National Hockey League’s Tampa Bay Lightning, last year’s World Series appearance by Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays, and this year’s Super Bowl championship by the National Football League’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
● Smithfield celebrates 10 years of partnership with Almirolathis season with a special campaign called Taste Victory. As one of the most active partners in NASCAR, Smithfield engages fans all year long by hosting a microsite that provides the opportunity to win when Almirola wins or finishes inside the top-10. When Almirola wins, one fan wins $10,000, and 10 fans win a gift card for each top-10 finish. The microsite also doubles as an Aric Almirola fan page and entertainment source where fans can get behind the wheel of the No. 10 Smithfield Ford with a custom racing game, and learn more about Almirola with fast facts, favorite recipes and custom content about his life on and off the track. Visit www.tastevictory.com to learn more. Thanks to Almirola’s Feb. 11 win in his Duel qualifying race for the Daytona 500 and his July 18 win at New Hampshire, two lucky fans have already won $10,000 each.
● Almirola’s 2020 season proved successful when he earned a career-high 18 top-10 finishes, six top-fives and led 305 laps. During the season, Almirola went on a five-race streak of top-five finishes and earned nine consecutive top-10s.
● Career Stats: Almirola has career totals of three wins, two poles, 26 top-five finishes, 82 top-10s and 893 laps led in 380 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.

Playoff Standings (with one race to go before Round of 12):

  1. Denny Hamlin (2,127 points) 1 win
  2. Martin Truex Jr. (2,113 points) 1 win
  3. Kyle Larson (2,151 points) +88 points
  4. Joey Logano (2,093 points) +40 points
  5. Ryan Blaney (2,081 points) +28 points
  6. Kevin Harvick (2,078 points) +25 points
  7. Chase Elliott (2,072 points) +19 points
  8. Christopher Bell (2,070 points) +17 points
  9. Brad Keselowski (2,066 points) +13 points
  10. Kyle Busch (2,061 points) +8 points
  11. Aric Almirola (2,056 points) +3 points
  12. Kurt Busch (2,053 points) +0 points
  13. Alex Bowman (2,053 points) -0 points
  14. Tyler Reddick (2,048 points) -5 points
  15. William Byron (2,035 points) -18 points
  16. Michael McDowell (2,015 points) -38 points

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

How did you feel about Richmond and how does it change your outlook on Bristol?

“We didn’t have a race-winning car, but I thought we could have run fifth to eighth, so I was a little frustrated. But it’s a team sport and we’ll go to Bristol and keep fighting. I think we’re competitive. We’re in the hunt. We had a loose lugnut and I had to pit again under green, and that got us behind. We finished 14th instead of sixth or seventh, which is about where we were running, so frustrating that we gave up those points. In this situation, we can’t really give up any points. It would have been a lot nicer to go to Bristol plus 12 (points) instead of plus three, but it is what it is. It’s no big deal. We’ve got to put our head down and go race. It’s the same situation. We’ve just got to go racing and score as many points as we can.”

Do you think the driving will be more aggressive this weekend with the points situation so close?

“The playoffs always bring out the best in us. The intensity level ratchets way up and every spot matters, every point matters during the stages and every finishing position matters, so I don’t think it can get any more aggressive. It’s already really aggressive and it will continue to be that way. We were in a similar position last year ahead of the cutoff line and we just didn’t execute in the first stage enough to get us points, so we have to get those points early. But you see what happened at Darlington with cars and equipment taking them out of the race. You have to be there at the end, too, so there is a fine balance.”

Is it a new mindset when you return to Bristol’s concrete surface after racing on the dirt?

“Bristol on dirt does not correlate at all to Bristol’s typical concrete self. One thing that I am interested in is the fact that they completely had to wash the racetrack and I believe, or I’ve heard, they had to spray a solution on there to get all of the clay and stuff off and pressure wash the racetrack, so it’ll be interesting to see how different the track is just without the rubber that’s laid down in the pores of the concrete and if that changes anything – then how they apply the PJ1 to the bottom groove. That’s always a moving target for us on whether they apply it in a small strip or if they widen it out and make it to where it’s a whole car width wide. It’s always changing the dynamic of how the cars run around the racetrack.”

No. 10 Smithfield Ford 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

Ty Dillon Returns to the Our Motorsports #23 with Hometown Lenders, Inc.

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(Statesville, NC 9/13/21) – Fresh off of back-to-back races filling in for Brett Moffitt in the Our Motorsports No. 02 Chevrolet, Ty Dillon returns to the seat of the team’s No. 23 for the upcoming Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Joining Dillon for the much-anticipated night race will be national mortgage lender, Hometown Lenders.

Hometown Lenders was founded in 2000 from a single office in Huntsville, AL. Since then, the lender has grown to 100 branches operating in 40 states nationwide while still corporately calling Huntsville home. As Hometown Lenders grew, dedication to customer service was never overlooked. The hometown way of doing business has always been to make sure that each ncustomer receives the highest level of personalized customer service throughout the entire mortgage loan process.

“Hometown Lenders is incredibly proud to support Ty Dillon and Our Motorsports at the most exciting venue on the NASCAR Xfinity Series Schedule, Bristol Motor Speedway!”, said John Taylor, President, Hometown Lenders. “We are excited to see what Ty can do in the Hometown Lenders Chevy and the HTL family will be cheering him on from all across the country!”

Dillon will pilot the Hometown Lenders Chevrolet in what will be his fifth start for Our Motorsports in the 2021 season. In ten previous starts at Bristol in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Dillon has scored in the top-10 at eight of those races.

The Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway is scheduled for Friday September the 17th at 7:30pm EST. The event will be televised live on NBCSN.

About Hometown Lenders, Inc.
Hometown Lenders, Inc. is a fully integrated, multi-channel mortgage lender leveraging technology and the power of the Internet with a traditional brick and mortar business in order to bring you efficient mortgage financing and unsurpassed customer service. HTL offers a complete range of conforming, non-conforming and government loan programs, as well as a variety of options to help successfully budget any style mortgage. To learn more about how

About Our Motorsports
Our Motorsport, based in Statesville, NC, competes full time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with No. 02 and driver Brett Moffitt and No. 23 with a rotation of drivers. To learn more about Our Motorsports, visit www.OurMotorsportsGroup.com.

BAC-D® Joins Moffitt for The Last Great Colosseum

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Bacterial Defense Company to Adorn No. 46 at Bristol Motor Speedway

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (September 13, 2021)—David Gilliland Racing (DGR) announced today that BAC-D® will serve as the primary partner of Thad Moffitt’s No. 46 Ford Fusion for the Bush’s Beans 200 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway when the ARCA Menards Series tackles the iconic half-mile track on September 16.

The BAC-D® brand of sanitizers is owned by AEC Consumer Products headquartered in Fayetteville, North Carolina. AEC is an innovator, marketer and national distributor of branded consumer products. With the mission of creating products that enhance quality of life while contributing to a healthier future, BAC-D® Sanitizers including Original, Alcohol and Animal are a convenient and gentle way to kill 99.99% of illness-causing germs and bacteria.

“AEC is proud to partner with DGR and the Petty Family to sponsor Thad Moffitt,” Richard Guy, Founder and CEO, said. “It is an honor to align ourselves with family-oriented people who share the same values and are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of others.”

“I’m excited to head to Bristol Motor Speedway with Bac-D® Hand Sanitizer as our primary partner. They are leading the charge in the hand-sanitizer sector by offering a quality, American made product that is 99.99% effective in killing germs and bacteria,” Moffitt said. “A sense of safety is always reassuring on and off the track. I am grateful for the opportunity to represent their brand and I look forward to building our partnership.”

Moffitt has competed in 15 ARCA Menards Series races for DGR in 2021. The Trinity, North Carolina-native has five top-five and 12 top-10 finishes with a best finish of third twice – Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway in March and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington in June.

The Bush’s Beans 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway will be televised live on FS1 and streamed on the Fox Sports Go app at 6:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, September 16.

About AEC Consumer Products

AEC Consumer Products was founded by Richard Guy, creator of Blue Emu® and is based in Fayetteville, North Carolina. As a privately-owned company, AEC Consumer Products controls all aspects of production including the supply of all raw materials as well the flow of all manufacturing. That allows us to continuously formulate, manufacture and distribute quality products nationwide to both retail and commercial facilities. We are proud to supply accounts such as Petty Motorsports as well as SeaWorld, Smithfield Foods, Texas Roadhouse, and many more. And through the support of these partners, we have the privilege of being able to support the US Military and First Responders. For more information, visit www.aecconsumerproducts.com or www.bac-d.com.

About David Gilliland Racing

David Gilliland Racing (DGR) is a race team owned by NASCAR veteran David Gilliland and businessman Johnny Gray. The team specializes in driver development, competing full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, multiple ARCA Menards Series divisions and CARS Tour with factory support from Ford Performance. In its first four years of operation, DGR has achieved success in each series tallying up multiple wins and championships. The team operates out of three buildings totaling 60,000 square feet in Mooresville, N.C.

Steven Aghakhani and Jacob Eidson Secure IMSA Lamborghini Super Trofeo Championship Sunday Podium Finish at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

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Third and Fourth Place Race Finishes Cap Competitive but Challenging Weekend for No. 6 SADA Systems US RaceTronics Lamborghini Huracán Team and Drivers

MONTEREY, California (September 13, 2021) – A third-place podium finish in Sunday’s second and final race of the IMSA Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America doubleheader at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca capped a competitive but challenging weekend for Steven Aghakhani and Jacob Eidson in the No. 6 SADA Systems US RaceTronics (USRT) Lamborghini Huracán Evo.

After climbing from ninth overall on the starting grid to a fourth-place finish in Saturday’s opening 50-minute race, Aghakhani, Eidson and the SADA/USRT team came into Sunday’s finale determined to get back on the podium.

Rolling off from third on the grid, Eidson moved up to second for a few laps at the start of the race to begin a challenging battle in the top three he and closing driver Aghakhani would wage the entire race.

“We had some higher hopes for Sunday, but it was getting progressively hotter and hotter as I was getting in the car,” Aghakhani said. “Jacob held second as long as he could and brought the car in third. I went out and it was just an absolute nightmare. There was no grip and the tires were gone, but we just had to go out there, kept our cool, brought the car home safe and collected some hardware in victory lane.”

Eidson also got the most out of the SADA Systems No. 6 Lamborghini despite the challenges.

“Laguna Seca is always really challenging in terms of setup and tire degradation,” Eidson said. “That was the theme of today, major tire degradation. Steven and I both did the best we could with what we had. The team always gives us the best car possible and sometimes the deck is stacked against you and you just have to do the best you can with what you’re dealt. I had a good start and moved to P2, but then one the tires fell off and we dropped back one spot, but it was still a good race.”

A highlight of Saturday’s otherwise forgettable race was Eidson’s last-lap pass for fourth, a move in Laguna Seca’s legendary Corkscrew set of turns that reminded some of Alex Zanardi’s famous “The Pass” from 1996.

“After getting hung out in qualifying for race one, we had to suck it up and just start the race from ninth,” Aghakhani said. “We got the car up to P8 but got stuck behind another car in another class. I brought the car into the pits and Jacob went out and climbed all the way up to fourth. He actually did a Zanardi move in the Corkscrew, got past fourth and we took that position overall for the first day.”

In total, Aghakhani, Eidson and the SADA/USRT team have hit the podium in seven of the year’s first 10 North American races, a consistent run that includes at least one top-three showing on each of the five doubleheader race weekend events held to date this season.

With the North American portion of the 2021 Super Trofeo season complete, next up is the season-ending sixth doubleheader of the year that will be held in Misano, Italy in late October, just ahead of the season-ending World Finals at the same Italian circuit.

“We got some good points this weekend at Laguna Seca and it’s on to the World Finals,” Eidson said.

Before Aghakhani and Eidson pack their bags for Europe, however, a more familiar challenge awaits in just two weeks. With the support of longtime partner SADA Systems and new sponsor Raymond James – which was on the car for the first time this weekend at Laguna Seca – Aghakhani and Eidson make their IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GT Daytona (GTD) debut at the Grand Prix of Long Beach, September 24 – 25.

“Long Beach is going to be fun,” Aghakhani said. “It’s a different breed of races, the entire crowd, everyone out there and the car we’re using. Everyone is going to be there, Formula Drift, Trophy Trucks, GTLM, Prototypes, and us in the GTD class. There’s so many different kinds of cars, things to do out there, and it’s only an hour away from home. We could even go back home, enjoy a meal and come back!”

Aghakhani’s racing programs run with the support of several key sponsor partners in 2021. SADA Systems, Inc. is a privately held global leader in providing business and technology consulting services that transform organizations through cloud-based solutions at www.sada.com The Global Wealth Solutions Group of Raymond James has far-reaching abilities to help clients. Their team has a global focus while maintaining an intimate focus on each client’s world. Learn more at www.raymondjames.com. Magic Laundry Services (MLS) is one of the largest independently owned hospitality linens and dry-cleaning operations in the country, catering primarily to the hospitality industry. Learn more at www.magiclaundryservices.com. TKX Associates specializes in consulting and staff augmentation at www.tkxassociates.com, Shegerian & Associates is a Los Angeles based firm at www.shegerianlaw.com. Insignia Mortgage focuses on providing flexible portfolio lending options for clients with non-traditional lending needs. Learn more at www.insigniamortgage.com. The Tax & Business Consulting Group is a Los Angeles-based public accounting firm at www.alllp.com. Equeduct provides capital funding solutions for small businesses at www.equeduct.com. O’Gara Coach is a luxury and high-performance auto dealer in Beverly Hills, Westlake Village and San Diego. Additional valued partners include Forgiato Wheels, Speed Society and the Pro Automotive Repair Center in Glendale, California.

Storylines to Watch When DEWALT NHRA Carolina Nationals Return to zMAX Dragway This Weekend

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  • From qualifying shakeups to jet cars and nostalgia exhibitions, there’s plenty of fun fueling fans’ excitement ahead of the return of drag racing to zMAX Dragway this weekend
  • Tickets remain for this weekend’s white-knuckled action at the Bellagio of drag strips, and kids 12 and under get in free; details at zmaxdragway.com

CONCORD, N.C. (Sept. 13, 2021) – The high-octane excitement of Countdown to the Championship NHRA drag racing returns to zMAX Dragway for the DEWALT NHRA Carolina Nationals this weekend, and there are no shortage of storylines to watch as the action revs to a fever pitch and the 11,000-horsepower prepare to roar to life in a pivotal playoff clash.

Can Anyone Top Torrence?: Three-time NHRA Top Fuel champion Steve Torrence has been unstoppable at zMAX Dragway in recent years, winning six of the last seven events – including two consecutive DEWALT NHRA Carolina National events. To continue his recent dominance, the driver of the 11,000-horsepower Capco dragster will have to hold off power houses like Brittany Force, who currently sits second in the point standings; his father, Billy Torrence, fresh off and win at Redding last weekend; and Don Schumacher Racing’s Leah Pruett, among a field of talented Top Fuel drivers.

Funny Car Force: After sitting out the 2020 season amid the uncertainty of the pandemic, John Force Racing’s namesake and 16-time Funny Car champ John Force wasted no time returning to championship form when the bested the field at the NGK NTK NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway in May, notching his 152nd career victory in the class. The first of three wins in the 2021 regular season, Force has once again propelled himself into title contention, leading the Funny Car points heading into the weekend. But bringing home a mind-boggling 17th title will require holding off the likes of Matt Hagan, Ron Capps, JR Todd and Force’s teammate Robert Hight, who round out the top five in points.

Leave It to the Pros: A late-season schedule shakeup means Pro Stock racing returns to zMAX Dragway when the NHRA’s best roll into town this weekend. The addition of the Pro Stocks is not only welcome news for fans – who will get to see the likes of Greg Anderson, Erica Enders and Troy Coughlin Jr. compete in a crucial playoff contest – but also for hometown favorite Dallas Glenn. The Mooresville, North Carolina native earned his first career Pro Stock win earlier this season at the NGK NTK NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, and has ridden that momentum to two additional wins in his rookie season. Glenn, who took over driving duties from three-time Pro Stock champion Jason Line, certainly has the pedigree to take home the title, but doing so will require a strong performance in his second visit to zMAX Dragway. Meanwhile, Glenn’s KB Racing teammate, Anderson, who earned a Pro Stock record-tying 97th victory in Redding on Sunday, will look to add a fourth zMAX Dragway Wally to his collection.

Friday Fireworks: The weekend kicks off with the first round of qualifying under the lights on Friday night. With temperatures dropping and header flames rising, blistering speeds are almost assured when the top four classes (Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycles) head to the lanes for Q1. In a nod to the history and tradition of drag racing, fans will be treated to exhibition runs by The ScottRods AA/Gassers and Southeast Nostalgia Pro Stockers. Fueling the fun at the end of opening night, two jet dragsters – “Mustang Sally” and “The Diamond Jim Racing” machines – will light up the night with a side-by-side exhibition. And it wouldn’t be a Friday Night of Fire without pyrotechnics, so fans can expect sparks to fly on and off the track!

TICKETS:

While there are no tickets available for Saturday’s qualifying sessions at the NGK NTK NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, tickets remain for Friday and Sunday. Adult tickets start at just $20 on Friday and $40 on Sunday, kids 13 and under get in free. To purchase, visit www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or call 800-455-FANS (3267).

FOLLOW ALONG:

Keep track of all of the latest news and information from zMAX Dragway by following on Twitter and Instagram or become a Facebook fan. Keep up with all the latest news and information with the Charlotte Motor Speedway mobile app.

Logitech G Joins Forces with 23XI Racing and eNASCAR iRacing Series Driver Mitchell deJong

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Mooresville, NC (September 13, 2021) – Today 23XI Racing announced the addition of Logitech G to its growing list of team partners. Logitech G joins 23XI Racing as its first partner focused on the team’s involvement in the eNASCAR iRacing Series and will serve as a primary partner for Mitchell deJong and the No. 23 Camry. Logitech G made its debut with deJong at Watkins Glen where he finished the race in third. During the first Playoff race at Darlington Raceway, deJong started from the pole and led 120 of 189 laps before finishing second. As we enter the second race of the playoffs, Logitech G continues as the primary partner for the final three playoff races – Bristol Motor Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway and Texas Motor Speedway. deJong and the No. 23 Toyota Camry team currently sit second in the point standings, two points out of first with two wins this season.

When we started, our vision was to create an all-encompassing, inclusive platform that blurred the line between virtual and real,” said Jim Hoey, head of Logitech G eRacing. “This new partnership with 23XI Racing is further proof of the growth and excitement around sim racing. We’re eager to work alongside 23XI Racing to create new realistic experiences for race fans around the world.”

With the addition of 23XI Racing to the Logitech G family, the team joins Logitech G’s growing list of partners including 23XI Racing’s Driver Bubba Wallace.

“As we continue to grow 23XI Racing, we’re excited to bring Logitech G on board with our eNASCAR iRacing Series team and Mitchell deJong,” said Steve Lauletta, 23XI Racing President. “The iRacing Series continues to grow and attract new fans to NASCAR and we certainly want to do our part to bring new eyes and fans to the sport and our team. Both Mitchell and Keegan Leahy have had strong seasons winning races and battling for a championship.”

The second race of the 2021 eNASCAR iRacing Series Playoffs kicks off Tuesday, September 14, at Bristol Motor Speedway at 9 p.m. ET on eNASCAR.com.

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.

WMI DRIVERS HAVE IMPRESSIVE SHOWING AT FLAMBORO

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Credit: Matthew Manor

(September 13, 2021) Wight Motorsports Inc (WMI) brought two strong cars to Flamboro Speedway to compete in rounds seven and eight of the 2021 NASCAR Pinty’s Series on Sunday afternoon. Both Donald Theetge in the #80 Theetge Chevrolet/Buick/GMC/Cadillac Camaro and Brandon Watson in the #64 Leland Industries / RGC Sports / NTN Chevrolet showed plenty of speed.

Making his first ever start in the Pinty’s Series Watson began the 125-lap race in the 11th position. Showing poise and plenty of skill handling the car and plenty of tough competition, Watson climbed five spots during the race and finished and impressive sixth overall.

During practice Theetge had issues with a broken gear that only allowed him a handful of laps on track. In spite of a 12th starting spot in race one and contact with another car, he claimed a top ten result.

Regrettably, persistent rain showers wouldn’t allow the second 125-lap race to run and it has been postponed at a date still to be determined.

Quotes from David Wight, WMI Principal
“We saw some very impressive driving today from Brandon Watson in his first ever Pinty’s race. You could see him adjusting his line as the race went on and the handling of the car began to change. Finishing just outside the top five is an amazing first effort.

“A bit of a challenge for Donald and the #80 group with the gear issue. But we saw Donald move well into the top-ten before having some struggles with others late in the race. Donald did post the second fastest lap of the race and that would have him starting outside pole for race two”

“It’s too bad we couldn’t get both races in today, I’m not sure how that’s going to shuffle the schedule going forward, but we’ll be ready for even better results”.

WEEKEND PERFORMANCE
DRIVER STARTED FINISHED
Brandon Watson 11 6
Donald Theetge 12 10

The 2021 NASCAR Pinty’s Series will consist of 10 total races in Ontario and Quebec with a mixture of oval tracks, road and street courses.

Schedule notes: The Qwick Wick 125 from Flamboro will be rescheduled at a date to be determined. There has also been a 125-lap race added to the schedule Friday September 24th at Delaware Speedway. Watch the live stream on the TSN app, TSN.ca or through Trackpass on NBC Sports Gold in the US.

Race fans can get the latest information regarding WMI and the drivers on these social media channels:

Wight Motorsports Inc Twitter @Wightmotorsport Instagram @wightmotorsport

Donald Theetge: Twitter @DonaldTheetge

J.F. Laberge: Instagram jf_laberge https://www.facebook.com/jflracingmtl

Mark Dilley: Twitter @MarkDilley9 Instagram @markdilley

TJ Rinomato: Twitter TJ_Rinomato Instagram @tjrinomato

Howie DiSavino III returns to Truck Series competition at Bristol Motor Speedway

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Official Release
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STATESVILLE, N.C.: After a brief break from competition, Howie DiSavino III will return to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) scene with Jordan Anderson Racing (JAR) for his fourth career start in next Thursday night’s UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.

DiSavino has impressed in his three prior Truck Series races this season, including scoring a career-best 22nd place finish in his most recent race at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway in June.

For the second time this season, DiSavino will compete on a short track after making his NCWTS debut in April at his hometown track of Richmond (Va.) Raceway.

With confidence remaining on his side, the 20-year-old will soon head to “Thunder Valley” eager to deliver his first career top-20 result.

“I’m stoked to be back with Jordan Anderson Racing for Bristol,” said DiSavino. “Jordan (Anderson) and his team have been exceptional to work with and really have made me feel comfortable in making my transition from ARCA to NASCAR.

“We have made significant gains in every race that we’ve been together and I expect Bristol to be no different. Even though I have never raced at Bristol, I have taken the steps to readily prepare myself for what I expect to be a grueling and intense race. I plan to have a lot of fun though too.”

When it comes to conquering his goal of earning his first top-20 finish, DiSavino will rely on the advice and experience of the team he has assembled around him.

“I am lucky to have the ears of Jordan, my manager Austin (Theriault) and coach Joey (Coulter). They all have experience at Bristol and know what it takes to conquer that place. I’ve never been there so the green flag will be my first lap ever turned.

“I know it is not going to be easy, but they never said anything in racing was going to be, so I take this latest challenge in stride with the determination to stay focused, stay out of trouble and most important of all be respectful of those around me.

“I plan to take the races in stages. I want to stay on the lead lap, that’s the most important. Getting comfortable in Stage 1. Keep working on the balance of our truck throughout Stage 1 and Stage 2 and forging ahead in Stage 3 for the best finish possible. If things go well at Bristol, hopefully, there is some more Truck Series racing in my future before the season ends.”

Longtime DiSavino partner Bud’s Heating & Air Conditioning will serve as the primary marketing partner on the No. 3 Chevrolet Silverado, while KEES Vacations will hold an associate partnership role in the quadruple weekend with ARCA and the three national series of NASCAR all in competition at the World’s Fastest Half-Mile.

“I cannot thank my primary partners Bud’s Heating & Air Conditioning and KEES Vacations enough for this opportunity.
“They have been superior partners not only this season but throughout my racing career and I want to deliver for them in a big way on Thursday night.”

In addition to KEES Vacations and Bud’s Heating & Air Conditioning, Azalea D Realty, Bommarito Automotive Group, Lucas Oil, MassMutual Greater Richmond, and Q Barbeque Richmond will serve as associate marketing partners on DiSavino’s No. 3 Chevrolet Silverado.

In addition to Pocono, DiSavino made his NCWTS debut in April at Richmond (Va.) Raceway and competed at Texas Motor Speedway in June. He is also a six-time participant in the ARCA Menards Series where he earned two top-10 finishes for AM Racing.

Former winning NASCAR driver Reed Sorenson will continue to guide DiSavino from above this weekend as his spotter.

For more on Howie DiSavino III, please visit howiedisavino.com, like him on Facebook (Howie DiSavino III Racing), follow him on Twitter (@hdisavino) and Instagram (HowieDiSavino).

The UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics (200 laps | 106.6 miles) is the 18th of 22 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races on the 2021 schedule. The 40-truck field will take the green flag on Thurs., Sept. 16, 2021, shortly after 9:00 p.m. ET with live coverage on FOX Sports 1, the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM Satellite Radio NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (ET).

About Bud’s Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning & Electric:

Bud’s Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning & Electric is the recognized leader in residential and light commercial mechanical contractors in the Hampton Roads market. From simple, honest beginnings in 1969, Bud’s quickly rose to prominence, establishing a legendary reputation for quality, service and professionalism while always maintaining the same home-town personalized connections with clients throughout its 51-year history.

In 2000, Bud’s expanded under the current leadership of CEO Robert W. Nelson Jr. adding plumbing and electrical departments and introducing a science-based whole home approach that has now become the industry benchmark, while national influencing the market through innovative business and customer relations practices.

About KEES Vacations:

Your Vacation, Your Way with KEES FLEXSTAY™.

KEES Vacations on the Outer Banks, a division of KEES Travel™, is your source for quality vacation rentals from hotels to oceanfront homes. KEES FlexStay™ gives you the freedom to plan your ideal vacation with flexible check-in and check-out dates. We believe everyone deserves a vacation no matter the length and strive to provide the best experience possible.

Enter promo code HOWIE2021 at checkout and receive a discount at KEESVacations.com and KEESOuterBanks.com.

14-Year-Old Katie Hettinger Makes Presence Known with Victory at Hickory Motor Speedway

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Official Release
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Introducing Katie Hettinger
14-Year-Old Racer Makes Presence Known with Victory at Hickory Motor Speedway

DRYDEN, Mich. (Sept. 13, 2021) – Even at 5’1”, 14-year-old Katie Hettinger will walk into Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway a little taller this Saturday. That’s because on Sept. 4 at the .363-mile oval, Hettinger won the 50-lap Limited Late Model feature as part of the Bobby Isaac Memorial event.

In scoring her first victory at the “Birthplace of the NASCAR Stars,” the Dryden, Michigan-native became the youngest female race winner at Hickory at 14 years, 2 months and 10 days.

She did it in style too. Hettinger put her No. 71 Victory Custom Trailers/Incredible Bank Chevrolet on the pole, but she had to battle fellow Michigander Max Price for the lead, finally earning the top spot on lap 26. The 19-year-old Price stayed in Hettinger’s rearview mirror through the checkered flag as she took the victory in just her 11th Limited Late Model start at Hickory.

“Max and I raced side-by-side for a couple laps on the start before he got around me and then we just kind of stayed in line, pulling away from the rest of the cars, but he never pulled away from me,” Hettinger said. “I was still right behind him, but I had to match my corners right to be able to set up a pass. About 20 laps in my crew chief told me I only had 30 laps left, so I knew that if I wanted to win I had to make my move quickly.

“We were catching lapped traffic, so I put two corners together as best I could. I got a run on Max halfway down the front straightaway and he gave me room going into the corner, so I used it. We ran side-by-side for a lap and when we caught a lapped car, he went a little higher. I was able to get a good run on the bottom and got around him. After that, I was able to pull away and come home with the win.”

Hettinger is a third-generation racer who attended her first race at only four weeks old. By age five, she was racing Quarter Midgets. At first, it was only locally, but soon Hettinger was racing regionally and then nationally, collecting more than 40 wins.

At nine, she moved up to Junior Sprints and 600cc Micro Sprints, competing on dirt from 2016 through 2018. But pavement beckoned. A 12-year-old Hettinger transitioned to full-bodied stock cars in the Champion Racing Association (CRA) Junior Late Model Series. She proved to be a quick study.

After finishing fourth in the 2019 championship and earning the Sportsman of the Year award, Hettinger upped her game in 2020. She took two wins and earned three fast-time awards, one of which set a new track record at Anderson (Ind.) Speedway. She ended the season as the 2020 CRA Junior Late Model Series champion – the first and only female champion in the CRA’s 25-year history.

Since turning 14 on June 25 and getting her NASCAR license, Hettinger has scrapped the “Junior” tag from her Late Model. She competes at the highest level of local stock car racing, commuting from Michigan to race in the southeastern hotbed of the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series.

“If I want to go to NASCAR, then I have to race down here and get used to everything,” Hettinger said. “But just driving in general, I’m comfortable with it, I’m used to it, and I’ve always just loved going fast.”

Her win at Hickory came in her 19th overall start at the track. In addition to 11 Limited Late Model starts, she has made four Late Model Stock starts and four starts in the Carolina Pro Late Model Series.

“The Late Model Stock car is definitely faster. I feel like I have more control in the Limited Late Model just because I’m more comfortable with it and I’ve had so many laps in it, but the more I race the Late Model Stock and Carolina Pro cars, the more comfortable I get. The Carolina Pro Late Model is more fun because it’s faster and I get to race it at a lot of different tracks.”

A return to the familiar confines of her Limited Late Model is on tap for Hettinger Saturday at Hickory. It’s one of the nearly 30 races Hettinger has on her schedule this year as she balances being a high-school freshman with her near-weekly, 700-mile commute from Michigan to North Carolina.

“I juggle everything I do with sports and school and it can be hard sometimes, but a lot of people are very understanding and I’m able to stay on top of it,” Hettinger said. “I still get mostly A’s and some B’s, and I play a lot of school sports, so sometimes I miss a volleyball game, track meet or a basketball game but, overall, I’m able to manage it.”

Hettinger is committed to this juggling act. She’s racing in the Southeast now with an eye on her future.

“The driving styles down here are different, more aggressive, and the cars are faster too,” Hettinger said. “I’m getting some really good experience.

“After I turn 15, I’d like to test and run an ARCA car. The NASCAR Cup Series is my ultimate goal, and it always has been.”

Beyond the pit crew that helps her at the track, Hettinger has the full support of her family as she chases her NASCAR dream. This includes her 11-year-old sister Grace and 2-year-old brother Keith.

“My mom and dad are very supportive and understanding, and my sister races dirt sometimes, but she’s more of a dancer. My little brother loves racing and he always wants to go see Katie’s racecar. They’re all in this dream as much as I am.”

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