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Rebel Rock Racing Set to Return for VIR

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Official Release
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DELAND, FL (10 Sept. 2021) – Regrouping to make a strong close to the season, Rebel Rock Racing is set to return to IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge competition with the Michelin GT Challenge at Virginia International Raceway on Sunday, Oct. 10.

Frank DePew and Robin Liddell will co-drive the No. 71 Urban Grid Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R in the two-hour race, looking to return to the form that saw the pair drive to victory earlier this season at Sebring International Raceway and win a GS-leading two races in 2019.

Chassis issues discovered in practice and qualifying with the team’s backup car led to the team withdrawing from the most recent race at Road America. That came on the heels of an accident with their primary Camaro at Watkins Glen, which led to an early retirement. To get both of its cars in prime condition, the team has made the decision to not to participate in this weekend’s race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on Sept. 12, and instead focus on continuing preparations for the VIR round.

“It is quite unfortunate to miss out on racing this weekend, but this is the most sensible decision we could make as a team,” said Liddell. “We simply didn’t have the time to be as fully prepared for Monterey as we’d want to be so we will sit this one out and look forward to VIR, where we’ve gone well in the past.”

Rebel Rock seemed headed to its first podium finish of 2020 at VIR when Liddell ran out of fuel on the final lap – negating a charge from the back of the pack following a penalty for a pit-road miscue.

“Last year’s race was a wasted opportunity, because the team performed extremely well,” Liddell said. “The strategy was good, even though we ran out of fuel, and that was because I was pushing so hard coming from the back. The penalty might have cost us the win, so that was disappointing.”

The race will be a homecoming for DePew, who lives in Richmond and began his racing career at VIR 17 years ago.

“VIR is my home track, and I’ve been going there since I started racing,” DePew said. “I know the track and I’m very comfortable there. We’ve had our bad luck this year, but we’re hoping to turn that around at one of my favorite tracks. I think we’ve got a decent shot.”

The track was the site for the team’s initial return to IMSA competition with the Camaro platform, when the team made an impressive debut with a run to third in 2018.

CHEVY NCS AT RICHMOND 2: Tyler Reddick Press Conf. Transcript

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Official Release
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NASCAR CUP SERIES
FEDERATED AUTO PARTS 400
RICHMOND RACEWAY
TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

TYLER REDDICK, NO. 8 RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING CAMARO ZL1 1LE, Teleconference Transcript Highlights:

TALK ABOUT HEADING TO RICHMOND AND HOW YOUR TEAM IS GOING TO APPROACH THE RACE
“The confidence level of the team is still where it needs to be. Unfortunately, we made a big mistake going into Darlington. We had a lot of motivation to come out of the gate well. We focused on a lot of things really well. It was just kind of a product of it being Darlington, the first Playoff race, we’ve done a really good job of improving our car and we did a good job of hitting on some really important details and aspects of our race. But unfortunately, because Randall (Burnett, crew chief) and myself were so busy and so focused on a number of things, that we just kind of got away from the basics; like just being on the same page about where we’re going to be throughout the night and what adjustments we need to make. We started off the race with a really good car. We just didn’t have that game plan or the approach that we normally are pretty good about staying on through a race path. Five hundred miles is a long time at Darlington. A lot of sets of tires and a lot of opportunities to adjust. In hindsight, it really seemed like a really doom and gloom moment, which was a tough one to swallow after having such a good car to start to finish where we did. To peel the layers of the onion back, it really was obvious what we missed and how we missed it, isn’t something that can’t be corrected within one week’s time. It’s something that, going into Richmond we can have a hundred percent better. That makes it pretty easy to get positive once again. I look at where we were in the Fall here, I had a lot of learning to do over the course of this race last year. So, we started in the hole, and I worked to get closer and closer to my teammate, Austin Dillon, who had a good strong car here in the Fall. And by the end of it, we were right where we needed to be, pace-wise. We just had given up too much to that point to really do anything good or really serious about it. So, I like where we’re at. I like where our car is at. It was a tough lesson to have at Darlington. We had a great opportunity there but didn’t take full advantage of it. And I think it was a good humbling moment or a good painful experience to go through to start this thing off. Just a reminder that it totally didn’t take us out of the Playoff running, if you will, to make the next round.”

IS THERE ANY LESS ANGST NOW THAT YOU ARE NOT RACING YOUR TEAMMATE, AUSTIN DILLON, IN THE PLAYOFFS?
“I don’t know if it really would have changed much. Austin and I, whether both in the Playoffs or not, both teams work really close together, which is something I’ve said a lot, especially in the last month or two. I’ve been asked more. The effort that we have combined works really good together. We have some differences in driving style. That driving style really showed up in the Spring Richmond. We pretty much brought back exactly what he ran in the Fall there. Yeah, it was a daytime race, but the way he drives his car, and everything, doesn’t really match up for me. It was a good lesson to go through in that race in the Spring. So, we’re kind of coming back to what I like, some of the details that I like, in the car; but with some tweaks to try and make it better. Between us, I don’t know if it really would have changed anything in being in the Playoffs, or not. We’re both going to push really hard, and I think we saw that at Darlington. A number of drivers that are in the Playoffs, they never really have, from my vantage point, the drivers outside the Playoffs have never really laid over for the Playoff drivers. Yeah, you give them a little bit more room. A little bit more space. You don’t race them super hard. But no one really gives an inch or much more than an inch out there. Maybe the non-Playoff drivers give that tiny inch. Everyone still knows how to race really hard within reason.”

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FOUR GUYS BEHIND YOU IN THE PLAYOFFS, HOW IMPOSING IS THAT?
“Yeah, we’re all aware of where they’re at. Those drivers are behind the cutline. But for us, and our situation, I think it’s more important to look at who is ahead of us and focus forward. Those guys, for sure, are capable of winning. We’ve seen Alex (Bowman) win earlier this year at Richmond. Kyle (Busch) has always been really good at Richmond. William (Byron). There are guys in there that have good speeds. Looking behind, while it could be beneficial a little bit, especially at a place like Darlington, Richmond, and even Bristol, it’s all about running your own race. And for us to win, you’ve got to run up front all day. You can’t drive through the field. You’re not going to get a magic adjustment, if you will, to get the car perfect. You’ve got to be up there all night long, working on it, if it needs it, and maintaining that track position. Winning versus running good enough to make it to the top 12, how you approach that, are pretty similar. I mean, you’re battling for the win at the end of the race, like we saw with Kyle (Larson) and Denny (Hamlin) at the end of the Southern 500, that’s when things change a little bit in that final run. But up until that point, the path on how you get either of those goals accomplished, are very similar on how your approach and execute that over the course of a race.”

AFTER THE RACE, DENNY HAMLIN SAID HE KNEW HE WAS GOING TO WIN EVENTUALLY AND THINGS JUST FINALLY LINED UP RIGHT FOR HIM. YOU ARE STILL LOOKING FOR YOUR FIRST WIN OF THE YEAR. HOW MUCH ENCOURAGEMENT DOES IT GIVE YOU TO SEE HOW HIS LUCK CHANGED IN ONE RACE?
“It’s not luck. I disagree with you there. It was a well-executed day. They were really good on pit road. Denny only hit the wall a couple of times and made minimal mistakes and did a really good job of managing the track position that he had. It’s not a matter of luck by any means. It’s adding up all the little details and having that perfect race. Sometimes your perfect race means that you get an 8th, or a 7th, or a 5th; it doesn’t always mean you get a first-place finish. But when you’re running, and you have the speed to stay in the top 5. Hitting all those extra details right can be the difference between running fifth and first. We haven’t had a whole lot of top 5’s this year, but we’ve been in the top 10 a lot. Those top 10’s have been with bumps in the road throughout the days. We just keep focusing on the little things that I need to be better at. Even the stuff that got us at Darlington last week. We were paying attention to a lot of things. We just got away from one of the most important parts. And that happens. And it didn’t cost us too much. It’s a constant moving target. Everyone is getting better, as always, and you just keep having to squeeze out more out of your car, your team, yourself. It eventually will add up. We’re in a good spot for that. The last month we’ve been a little inconsistent, finish-wise. But we had some different targets moving around with the cutoff and then, as much as we tried to be aggressive at Darlington, it was very obvious that we missed it. We were trying to recover. And the last thing we needed to do was to be super aggressive while free-falling and losing more positions than we did.”

DO YOU THINK FINDING THE BALANCE AND STAYING ON TOP OF IT WILL BE EASIER IN NIGHTTIME CONDITIONS GOING INTO THE FALL RICHMOND RACE?
“I think it could. Whether it was a daytime race, I think it cooled off a little bit towards the end. So, there was a little bit of a transition. It will certainly cool off as the night rolls in at Richmond, as well. But I think how the track changes at night and how it may grip-up, if you will, in combination with rubber being laid down and the track getting worn in, I think it kind of doesn’t change an entirely large amount. So, we’ll see. I’m not expecting the track to change a lot. It should still change some. But having what we went through last weekend was kind of a good lesson reminder, so we have a game plan in place for what we’re going to do throughout the race, adjustment-wise. We don’t expect a lot though. We just hope that what we changed, the little tweaks that we’ve changed, are as expected; and the balance remains really close to where it was when we ran there last Fall.”

YOU SAID YOU WERE DISAPPOINTED WITH YOUR TEAM’S EXECUTION AT DARLINGTON. HEADING TO RICHMOND, WHAT ARE YOU CHANGING WITH THAT GAME PLAN AND HOW CLOSE DO YOU FEEL TO BEING IN A MUST WIN SCENARIO?
“I certainly don’t feel like we are in a must win scenario. But it’s pretty simple. There are a lot of details that are really important to have right, going into a race; especially a race like Darlington. It’s important to have the car good. It’s important to, as a driver, have a good understanding of where you need to be, line, and a lot of details like pit road and green cycles and being good there. But there were so many things going on we were really focused on just to make sure we had every last detail checked off, that we just kind of missed one of the more obvious, maybe redundant, parts of our preparation; and being on the same page about how we think the track is going to change, what adjustments we like in our car, what ones we need to stay away from. It’s like showing up to a football game and not really ever putting together a game plan. It happens. And it showed. The car was good when we got there. We were confident in what we brought. We were right. We showed up with the right piece. It’s just that we were so caught up in a number of those things that really just kind of got away from some of the more easy, redundant, kind of repetitive motions that you have throughout the week. Change is tiresome sometimes, right? By trying to cover all the bases and making sure every little detail is right with this length of a race and how much we both like Darlington and we feel like we have good speed there. We just missed it.”

HOW DO YOU VIEW THE POINTS NOW? IS IT ANY DIFFERENT FROM HOW YOU LOOKED AT IT IN THE LAST RACE OF THE REGULAR SEASON?
“Oh no. Not at all. As we saw with Darlington, so much can happen. The pressure is on not just us, it’s on everybody. Now a different kind of pressure is on. The pressure of not screwing it up is upon you. And it’s very easy to let that get to you more so than being in the hole. Wherever you’re at, I feel like it’s just important to have the same mindset, whether you’re in the hole or whether your plus 30 or minus 30, the same things need to happen. It’s just about running a clean race and getting the most out of your day. Without practice, and throwing darts at a board without even looking at it and hoping you’re going to get a bullseye. Nine times out of 10, it’s not going to work; especially in the Cup Series. So, to win these races, being consistent and being close to the front all day and hitting on all the details are important. And I don’t think running fifth and winning, there’s a bit difference in how you approach those things. It’s just a matter of did you do your homework perfectly, where all the little details add up. Was there a difference? Was there not? I don’t feel like we’re in a must win situation. Again, I really like all three of these tracks in this first round that we have. We had a little bit of a stumble, a trip-up, if you will. But thankfully, the misfortune of some of the other drivers really didn’t allow our struggles to really be that much more of a penalty than we did from our struggles Sunday.”
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.

Jordan Anderson Racing NASCAR Xfinity Series Race Overview- Richmond Raceway

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Official Release
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Jordan Anderson Racing NASCAR Xfinity Series Race Overview-
Richmond Raceway; September 11, 2021

Track: Richmond Raceway – Oval (0.75-Miles)
Race: Go Bowling 250; 250 Laps –75/75/100; 187.5 Miles
Date/Broadcast: Saturday; September 11, 2021 2:30 PM ET
TV: NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) and the NBC Sports App
Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) – Check Local Listings for affiliate, and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90
Social Media: Jordan Anderson Racing; Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
Josh Berry; Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Josh Berry – No. 31 Bommarito.com / Solid Rock Carriers
Chevrolet Camaro SS Preview- Richmond Raceway

News and Notes:

– Starting Position; Josh Berry will start the Go Bowling 250 from the 33rd position on Saturday afternoon. Due to no practice or qualifying the starting lineup was calculated by the competition-based performance metrics system; fastest lap in the previous race 15 percent, driver finish from previous race 25 percent, owner points 25 percent, and driver points 35 percent.

– Richmond Raceway Stats; Saturday afternoon’s Go Bowling 250 will mark Berry’s 18th NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) start of the 2021 season, and fourth for Jordan Anderson Racing (JAR). Berry holds one previous start at Richmond Raceway in NXS competition during the 2015 season. In his only NXS start of the season Berry would start the Virginia 529 College Savings 250 from the 5th position and would go on to finish in 7th. In 2021, Berry holds very impressive numbers in his 17 starts claiming one win, 5 Top-5’s, and 10 Top 10’s.

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For more information on the Bommarito Automotive Group or to see the vehicles they currently have in stock, visit them online at Bommarito.com, and follow their social channels on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

  • Solid Rock Carriers; Based out of LaGrange, North Carolina, Solid Rock Carriers is a freight, shipping, and trucking company providing on-time delivery and superior customer service since 1997. Owned and operated by Kirk Ipock, Solid Rock Carriers has more than 50 team members operating a fleet of over 50 trucks all over the Eastern United States on a daily basis.

– Chassis; Jordan Anderson Racing (JAR) will bring Chassis No. 105 for Berry to compete with in Saturday afternoon’s Go Bowling 250 at Richmond Raceway. Since being acquired from RCR in the off-season Saturday’s race will be the third event No. 105 has been entered in for JAR. Last seeing on track action in June Berry would drive No. 105 to a Top-Ten finish in the Pocono Green 225 Recycled by J.P. Mascaro & Sons at Pocono Raceway. In the JAR debut for Chassis No. 105 at Texas Motor Speedway team owner Jordan Anderson would experience clutch issues at the initial start, would make repairs early and would return to the action finishing in the 34th position.

About Jordan Anderson Racing

Jordan Anderson Racing (JAR) is a NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) team, owned by owner/driver Jordan Anderson. Established in 2018, JAR has competed full-time in the last three NCWTS seasons claiming back-to-back runner-up finishes in the 2020 & 2021 season opening NextEra 250 at Daytona International Speedway. JAR fields a full-time entry in the NXS Series; the No. 31 Chevrolet Camaro SS driven by Jordan Anderson, Tyler Reddick, Josh Berry, Kaz Grala, Sage Karam, Erik Jones & Austin Dillon. JAR also fields the No. 3 Chevrolet Silverado for select drivers in the NCWTS.

Trans Am Set for Two 100-Mile All-Class Races at Watkins Glen

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Official Release
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Trans Am will make history with new format at Watkins Glen

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (10 September 2021)- After a long summer break, the Trans Am Championship presented by Pirelli is back in full swing this weekend (Sept. 10-12) for its 33rd showing at Watkins Glen International. The three-day celebration of American motorsport will feature an all-class doubleheader from Trans Am with a mix of more than 40 TA, TA2, XtremeGT and SuperGT cars taking the green for a pair of 100-mile sprints on Saturday and Sunday.

It’s the first time that Trans Am has hosted an all-class race that also includes the production classes on the 3.4-mile course. From 1974 through 1980, Trans Am raced alongside the World Championship of Makes during the Six Hours of Watkins Glen endurance race. From 2012 to 2013 TA and TA2 ran in combination, but when the series returned to The Glen in 2016, it has since held separate 100-mile races. Originally scheduled to be a single feature from both groups, the combined two-race program was added to the Watkins Glen SpeedTour 2021 schedule after the Canadian Tire Motorsports Park round was cancelled due to COVID-19 border crossing restrictions.

Qualifying for this historic race will work just like a typical race weekend, each group will receive 15 minutes for drivers to set their fastest laps, starting with TA2 Friday at 5:15 p.m. Eastern. On Saturday (1:00 p.m. Eastern), the cars will be gridded by their overall fastest time within their class, with all drivers taking the green at the same time (no split starts).

Sunday’s 100-mile feature (11:20 a.m. Eastern) will be staged by the overall fastest set in Saturday’s race for each class (TA, TA2, XGT/SGT/GT), which will no doubt create an exhilarating finale. Both races will be live streamed on the Trans Am by Pirelli Racing App.

“While we were disappointed about not traveling to Canada, the new format introduced for Watkins Glen will create an interesting weekend of racing,” said Trans Am Race Company President John Clagett. “We introduced a new rule this season with no-split starts, which has created an extra element of excitement in the TA/XGT/SGT/GT races this year.

“We have a strong field of participants and with only four rounds left in the season, teams and drivers will be going extra hard at Watkins Glen in order to secure their fate in the championship. Drivers’ strategies will be a little different, especially for the TA2 class, as traffic will definitely come into play this weekend.”

Trans Am drivers have the option to test on Thursday before official practice starts on Friday at 11:45 a.m. Eastern. Drivers will qualify in their separate classes in 15 minute intervals on Friday evening, starting at 5:15 p.m. Eastern with TA2, followed by TA, then the production classes (XGT/SGT/GT).

The first of two 100-mile races will be held on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. Eastern, and the weekend will culminate on Sunday with all drivers taking the green at 11:35 a.m. Eastern. Prior to racing on Saturday, the track will host a fan walk with Trans Am drivers and cars from 12:20-12:50 p.m. Eastern.

RCR Event Preview – Richmond Raceway

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Official Release
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Richard Childress Racing at Richmond Raceway… In 179 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Richmond Raceway, Richard Childress Racing has scored nine wins, 38 top-five, and 73 top-10 finishes. The Welcome N.C. organization has also found success in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at the Virginia short track, capturing six wins, 32 top-five and 58 top-10 finishes.

Catch the Action… The NASCAR Xfinity Series’ Go Bowling 250 at Richmond Raceway will be televised live Saturday, September 11, beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN and will be broadcast live on the Motor Radio Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

The NASCAR Cup Series’ Richmond 400 Salute to First Responders at Richmond Raceway will be televised live Saturday, September 11, beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN and will be broadcast live on the Motor Radio Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Roland Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE at Richmond Raceway… Dillon’s best NASCAR Cup Series finish at Richmond Raceway is a fourth place result he earned last Fall in the NASCAR Playoffs. He also has a pair of consecutive sixth place finishes in April 2019 and September 2018. Most recently, he finished 10th at the track in April. He has 10 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Richmond Raceway, acquiring seven top-10 finishes and one pole award.

About Roland… Roland DGA Corporation serves North and South America as the marketing, sales, distribution and service arm for Roland DG Corporation. Founded in 1981 and listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Roland DG of Hamamatsu, Japan is a worldwide leader in wide-format inkjet printers for the sign, apparel, textile, personalization and vehicle graphics markets; engravers for awards, giftware and ADA signage; photo impact printers for direct part marking; and 3D printers and CNC milling machines for the dental CAD/CAM, rapid prototyping, part manufacturing and medical industries. For more information, visit www.rolanddga.com.

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTE:
What are your thoughts on Richmond Raceway?
“I actually love Richmond Raceway. There was a time in my career when I did not run well at Richmond at all. It was a thorn in my side, but over the years that has changed. Richmond has become a much better place than it used to be for me. We ran really well there in April, and I’m excited to get back there and see what we can do this time around.”

Tyler Reddick and the No. 8 Childress Vineyards Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE at Richmond Raceway… Reddick has two previous NASCAR Cup Series starts at Richmond Raceway, earning his best finish of 11th at the track last year. Reddick also has five NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at the 0.75-mile track, collecting one top-five and four top-10 finishes there.

Race One in the NASCAR Playoffs… Last week, Reddick survived an eventful race at Darlington Raceway with a 18th place finish, positioning him 12th in points and within the cutoff line in the NASCAR Playoffs with two races remaining in the round of 16.

About Childress Vineyards… Childress Vineyards is a premier winery located at the southern gateway of the Yadkin Valley in Lexington, North Carolina. Owned by Richard Childress, NASCAR team owner and Hall of Fame member, Childress Vineyards has been producing award-winning wines with the expertise of Winemaker Mark Frizsolowski. Open daily for tours, tastings, and lunch in the Bistro. Information about Childress Vineyards can be found on Facebook at facebook.com/childresswines/, on Twitter at @ChildressWines and on Instagram at Instagram.com/childresswines.

TYLER REDDICK QUOTE:
What are the challenges that Richmond Racing present? You’ll have decent track position to start the race.
“When we ran at Richmond last year in the fall and it was Playoffs time, obviously we weren’t racing in the Playoffs at that point, but Austin (Dillon) and myself, and Austin especially, were really good at the beginning. He was flying and our No. 8 team eventually caught up to where he was at. We both had good pace, so I don’t think we are far away from where we need to be for this time around. The race in the spring in the daytime is a little different race than it is at night, so we just need make sure to not chase the balance the wrong way. It will be important to not have a bad stage during the race to not lose time and track position for the end.”

Myatt Snider and the No. 2 Superior Essex Chevrolet Camaro at Richmond Raceway… Snider has two career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Richmond Raceway, both of which came during the 2020 doubleheader. Saturday will mark the 26-year-old’s first start at the Virginia short track behind the wheel of a Richard Childress Racing-prepared Chevrolet.

About Superior Essex… Superior Essex is the parent brand of Essex Furukawa Magnet Wire, Superior Essex Communications, and Essex Brownell. It has over 3,000 employees in 11 countries, on three continents. Superior Essex is the leading, global provider of magnet wire and is on the forefront of communications fiber application as well as Power over Ethernet (PoE) technology. It is instrumental in creating disruptive technological advancements in the electrification of the automotive, energy, and industrial sectors. Superior Essex is committed to pioneering smart building technology while also setting the pace on sustainability. Superior Essex is Everywhere You Live and Work®. Additional information is available at www.superioressex.com.

MYATT SNIDER QUOTE:
What do you have to do better at Richmond Raceway to have a successful result?
“I think I wasn’t patient enough in my first two Xfinity Series starts there in the No. 93 last season. I was always rushing the throttle, hustle the car and that doesn’t work at Richmond. You have to drive your car like a late model there – drive real smooth, wait on the throttle, let the car work. It is a total different style of racing that I had learned for the Xfinity Series up to that point. I will need to go back to some of my late model days to calm myself down with the throttle pedal.”

GLASS CITY 200-FROM THE START-1968, 1969

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Official Release
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The year is 1968—short track stock car racing was in its heyday. Big races ended the season each year for the Late Model class-the Hoosier 200 at Baer Field, the Pittsburgher 250 at Heidelburg, PA, the Steel Valley 200 at Sharon, PA, and later the Midwest 300 at Salem, IN and the Winchester 400 at Winchester, IN.

ARCA founder and Toledo Speedway promoter John Marcum decided to add a race to the end of the Toledo season-the Glass City 200. Marcum was promoting races all over the Midwest with success. Toledo was the prime track to stage one of these races. The race would gain immediate prestige and recognition as one of the top season-ending classics.

A total of 70, count ‘em, 70 cars showed for the very first Glass City event on Sunday afternoon, October 6 of 1968. The man who would become a legend in these parts showed the way, as Joy Fair topped Toledo driver Jim Clarke, Indiana native Dave Sorg, Pennsylvania hotshoe Tom Colella and Eastern Ohio legend Jim Bickerstaff. Ironically, Fair’s win would be his only Glass City victory.

The race was a 200 lap shootout, with no breaks. Ron Grana pushed his #5 to fast time at 18:41. The consi winner was Danny Byrd.

1969

An upstart young kid with deep racing roots began to make his name in the Midwest, and Joe Ruttman posted perhaps his first big win of his career at the 1969 version of the Glass City 200. Joe’s brother, Troy, was an Indy 500 winner. Ruttman would top Figure 8 graduate Jerry Makara (who won the Flat Rock Figure 8 title in 1968), veteran Fran Harden, ARCA legend Iggy Katona (in his big Dodge Charger) and Kalamazoo racer Jerry Spear. Fair set quick time at 18:16 for the 47 car field. Again, the race was run 200 laps with no breaks.

Ruttman would later steer Joy Fair’s Maverick to the Glass City win in 1973, filling in for Joy, who was injured in an accident at Toledo earlier in the summer. Ruttman took Fair’s ride on an incredible win streak the rest of the season, winning races all over the Midwest. Joe would later become a USAC Stock Car champion and competed on the top NASCAR circuit for many seasons before retiring from racing.

Saturday, September 18, the 33rd Running of the Glass City 200 race day begins with practice at 12:30 p.m., qualifying at 3:15 p.m. and racing starts at 5 p.m. Both the ARCA/CRA Super Series powered by Jeg’s stock-bodied Late Models and the Outlaw Super Late Models will be shooting for the $300 LV Alliance Fast Qualifier bonus.

Each group of Late Models will battle in separate 100 lap main events on the fast ½ mile paved oval.

The CRA Jr. Late Models will be in action on Toledo’s short track in their 2021 Season Championships event.

2000 Glass City winner Tim Ice will serve as Grand Marshal for the event.

The pre-entry lists for both groups will be updated Monday, September 13. Lap money sponsorship is still available at just $5 per lap, which goes to the leader of each lap of the 100 lap features. Call 419-727-1100 to become a lap sponsor!

Tickets are now on sale online at www.toledospeedway.com or by calling the track. The advance sale ends Friday, September 17 at 5 p.m. Tickets will go back on sale race day at the track at 12:15 p.m. Race day tickets are only available in person at the track at the ticket office.

CHAYCE BECKHAM CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS LOUD & PROUD PRE-RACE SHOW DURING NASCAR PLAYOFFS WEEKEND

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American Idol Season 19 winner to perform hit country song “23”

FORT WORTH, Texas (Sept. 10, 2021) – Rising country music newcomer and American Idol winner Chayce Beckham will perform as part of the Loud & Proud Pre-Race Show presented by The Dallas Morning News prior to the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs race Oct. 17 at Texas Motor Speedway.

Beckham and his band will perform live beginning at 11 a.m. CT on the pre-race stage located at the start/finish line of The Great American Speedway.

Race fans can watch the concert from the comfort of their grandstand seat or get up close with the purchase a Track Pass. The Track Pass credential includes access to stand on the track for the concert as well as driver introductions. The cost is $59 and must be accompanied by a race ticket. Texas Motor Speedway season ticket holders will receive a free Track Pass. Pit access is not included.

The life and career of the Season 19 winner of American Idol has gone full vertical since he was crowned on May 23, 2021. Beckham’s debut song, the semi-autobiographical “23,” debuted that month and quickly earned the top spot on both the iTunes Country and all genre charts. The Southern California native and former heavy machine operator has since moved to Nashville where he is recording his debut album for 19 Recordings in partnership with BBR Music Group/Wheelhouse Records.

The 24-year-old cites artists including Chris Stapleton, Tyler Childers, and Kolton Moore & The Clever few as influences for his songwriting. American Idol host and superstar Katy Perry said his signature gravelly voice sounds like “the heart of America.”

The Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 weekend begins Saturday, Oct. 16 at 2 p.m. CT with the 200-lap Andy’s Frozen Custard 335, the fourth race of the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series playoffs. The green flag to start the 334-lap Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500, the seventh race of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, is scheduled to wave Sunday, Oct. 17, shortly after 1 p.m. CT.

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

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

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

TPC Racing Headed For Both Indianapolis and California For IMSA Sanctioned Race Weekends In Two Locations

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Official Release
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Vernon McClure, Jordan Wallace and Rob Lorndale In Indianapolis For Porsche Carrera Cup North America and Porsche Sprint, With Scott Schmidt and Trevor Andrusko In Monterey for Lamborghini Super Trofeo

JESSUP, Maryland (September 9, 2021) – TPC Racing will be on-site at two different legendary race tracks this weekend when the team’s Porsche Carrera Cup North America and Porsche Sprint Challenge drivers visit the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Lamborghini Super Trofeo crosses the country to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, both September 10-12.

TPC Racing driver Vernon McClure leads the charge for those heading to Indianapolis, where the Porsche Carrera Cup North America field will compete in three races and Porsche Sprint Challenge will run a doubleheader during the Porsche SportsCar Together Festival. Rob Lorndale and Jordan Wallace join McClure in the Porsche Sprint contests. Scott Schmidt and Trevor Andrusko rejoin the Lamborghini Super Trofeo field in Monterey during the IMSA Monterey SportsCar Championships for a doubleheader weekend.

McClure’s No. 10 Main Street Homes Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is one of 12 entries in the Pro-Am class of Porsche Carrera Cup North America, where McClure sits seventh in the season-long point standings. He’ll also drive his previous generation No. 101 Main Street Homes Porsche 911 GT3 Cup in the Platinum Class of the Porsche Sprint Challenge, giving him five races during the weekend.

Lorndale and Wallace return to Porsche Sprint Challenge for a pair of non-points paying races in the Gold and Silver classes, respectively. Lorndale will return to the No. 6 TPC Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, while Wallace drives his familiar No. 35 Dasbold/TPC Racing Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport at Indianapolis.

Out west, Schmitt and Andrusko make a return to a race track for the first time in their Lamborghini Super Trofeo program’s history. The duo made their debut in the No. 38 Lamborghini Sterling/Erin Levitas Foundation Lamborghini Huracan Evo a year ago at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, running a partial season in 2020 before hitting the ground running for 2021.

The duo, driving in the Am class, will run a doubleheader of 50-minute races during the weekend.

The race weekends begin on Friday, September 10 and run through Sunday the 12th. In Indianapolis, both the Porsche Carrera Cup North America and Porsche Sprint get a pair of practices on Friday, and each will qualify on Saturday morning before a Saturday afternoon race at 1:40 p.m. EDT for Porsche Sprint and 4:15 p.m. EDT for Porsche Carrera Cup. On Sunday, Porsche Carrera Cup races at 8:45 a.m. EDT and 3:30 p.m. EDT, while Porsche Sprint splits the day with a 1:45 p.m. EDT race. The Porsche Carrera Cup North America races can be seen live on IMSA.com/tv, with the Porsche Sprint races available via subscription at FloRacing.com.

In Monterey, the Lamborghini Super Trofeo field practices twice on Friday, with qualifying at 10:20 a.m. PDT on Saturday morning. The first 50-minute race of the weekend is at 2:30 p.m. PDT on Saturday, with the second of the doubleheader weekend at 10:35 a.m. PDT on Sunday. Both Lamborghini Super Trofeo races can be seen at IMSA.com/tv.

Noteworthy


  • The logistics of two races in two locations, both far from the team’s Jessup, Maryland home base, provided a challenge for the weekend. The TPC Racing trucks took the team’s Porsche contingent to Indianapolis. The Lamborghini Sterling/Erin Levitas Foundation Lamborghini Huracan Evo was shipped to the west coast to the SigalSport shop, owned by former sportscar racer Gene Sigal, and will utilize the team’s trailer at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. SigalSport, now a dealer for TPC Racing and DSCSport performance products, was a competitor of TPC Racing in the former Grand-Am Cup days and the Levitas family and the Sigals have remained friends since that time.
  • In addition to the wheel-to-wheel racing, the Porsche Together Festival includes a time attack class, where the winner will be the driver with the quickest lap. TPC Racing owner Michael Levitas is competing in the exhibition class in a 991-generation Porsche 911 Turbo built specifically for track and time attack purposes.

About TPC Racing: TPC Racing is the Mid-Atlantic’s premier maintenance, service, tuning and modification center dedicated solely to Porsche sportscars. TPC Racing specializes in R&D and sales of high-performance modifications for Porsche sports cars and race cars, offering a wide range of vehicle upgrades. Best known for a line of forced induction solutions for the Porsche 911, Cayman and Boxster, a long-time focus on only one make, Porsche, has enabled TPC Racing to become experts in Porsche service, tuning, and racing. In 2000, TPC Racing began entering races under its own banner, scoring an SGS-class Championship in 2004 in the Grand-American Rolex Series and was a class winner in the 2006 Rolex 24 At Daytona, and captured the 2013 and 2016 IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA Gold Cup Championships. More information can be found at www.TPCRacing.com.

Safety First: 3 Things to Consider Before You Purchase Auto Insurance

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SM
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Photo by Steven Binotto on Unsplash

Auto insurance is required to legally operate a motor vehicle in just about every single state. Regardless, if you get caught driving without insurance, or if you get involved in an accident, you can be fined and sued, respectively. 

Insurance policies come in a variety of forms, and the fine print included in some of these policies can be difficult for the average person to comprehend.  

Before you shop around and compare quotes for car insurance, it’s wise to familiarize yourself with a few particulars that you don’t want to be left without. And because anything can happen while on the road, you’ll want to ensure that you’re covered under a wide range of circumstances.

The good news is that purchasing insurance is often a cinch, and with the following information, you’ll be able to make a sound decision.

Roadside Assistance

Do you take a lot of cross-country trips? Or do you make long commutes to and from work? If the answer is yes to either question, you’ll want to be sure to include some form of roadside assistance on your insurance policy. 

Accidents happen both near and far from home. In addition, a breakdown can occur anywhere, and the last thing you’ll want to experience (especially when far from home) is to break down and have no assistance.

Most insurance companies offer a towing package of some sort that’s included in your policy, but you need to pay attention to the fine print. Some towing packages only cover the cost of towing for up to 5 miles, where others might have a 50 to 100-mile policy which might cost more. 

Regardless, you’ll need to consider what type of roadside assistance is right for you to ensure that you’re not stranded along the roadside and having to fork over hundreds of dollars for towing service. 

Occasional Drivers

Unless you plan on never allowing another human being to get behind the wheel of your car, you need not worry about adding an occasional driver to your policy. But, keep in mind that some situations may arise where someone else might need to drive your car.

For those who have teens who’ve reached driving age, for couples, or anyone who intends to share a vehicle, adding an occasional driver to your insurance policy is something that you need to look into, just to make sure you’re completely covered in the event of an accident.

It’s also good to note that all insurance companies differ when it comes to who is covered in the car while driving. Some policies state specifically that anyone who drives the vehicle will be covered, while others will only specify a single driver unless others are added. 

Deductibles

Believe it or not, many people don’t even know what their deductible is, or what it means. So just for a refresher, your deductible is the amount you typically have to pay when you file a claim. 

For example, if you have to put your car in the shop and the cost for parts and labor is around $7,000, and your deductible is $1,000, then your insurance company will cover everything beyond 1,000 dollars. But, you’ll have to pay your deductible first in order to get your insurance company to pay the remainder, and to get your car out of the shop.

A lower deductible usually means a higher-priced insurance policy. This means that your monthly insurance payment will be much higher if you have a low deductible, especially if the deductible is priced under $1,000. 

Most often, a deductible will be between $500 and $1,000 for a modest monthly payment. But keep in mind that you could reduce repair costs by at least 40 percent with some insurance companies by setting a higher deductible. 

No matter, you should heavily weigh the amount of your deductible as something feasible for you (or not) in the event of an accident. In other words, make sure you can afford your deductible.

Insurance is often an afterthought when you purchase a vehicle, and because of this, many drivers don’t pay too much attention to the fine print. Ensure that you know exactly what your coverage is before purchasing any insurance policy.

Boost Your Car’s Price by Following These 4 Tips

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SM
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Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

People in the past year have been sensibly avoiding crowded situations to protect their health. This regrettably includes things like public transportation options. Although they are affordable and convenient, they are also full of uncertainty.

Given the increased demand for distancing, experts have noted a huge boom in the used car market. The demand for used vehicles stems from people who want the mobility provided by cars without the steep costs associated with buying one fresh from the factory floor.

If you have a car that you don’t plan on using anymore or if you simply need more money, you can put your car up for sale. If you want to make sure your vehicle fetches a great price, here are a handful of tips you can use to boost its market value:

1. Deep Clean First

No one wants to purchase a car that still has all the assorted stains and spills from its previous owner. These unsightly marks can discourage people from buying your vehicle.

The first thing you need to do before taking pictures of your car and uploading the photos on the web is to clean it as thoroughly as possible. You’ll find professional car cleaning service providers that can get the job done effectively and efficiently. Leave the work to them if you can afford their rates or don’t have the time to clean your vehicle.

If you don’t have the funds to have your car professionally deep cleaned, you can opt for a DIY approach. Soak and scrub the seats thoroughly with strong soap. This will wash away the unpleasant stains and smell.

Then, use a powerful vacuum device to suck up all the filthy foam from this wash and dry the upholstery. Don’t forget to minute scrub, sweep and vacuum the underside of the seats, the trunk, and the spaces under the dashboard.

Last but not the least, clean the air conditioning vents and give the windows a thorough wiping.

2. Accessorize Properly

Although you can just advertise your car as is, you can rake the price up considerably by getting the right type of accessories. Focus on accessories that will bump up the utility of the vehicle. Custom-made floor mats, for instance, can protect the car’s interior and heighten durability.

Another example is excellent window tinting. This handy accessory prevents thieves from seeing inside the interior of parked vehicles. What’s more, it protects drivers from eyestrain and sunlight glare.

Don’t forget that drivers appreciate more technologically leaning accessories, such as smartphone holders, wireless speakers and the like. If you purchase a few of the perfect accessories, you could easily add some value to your car that you’re going to put on the market.

3. Remove Dings and Dents

Sometimes, you have to spend money to make money. Getting rid of dings from the exterior of your car is one example. If your vehicle has a lot of minor scratches and dents, you may have to knock out hundreds of dollars from the asking price. If you spend just a little more money, however, you could buff those damages right out and expect a greater return of investment for your used vehicle.

Remember that the removal of dings and dents from your car requires lots of professional experience and equipment. Unless you have had years of experience doing so yourself, you should leave such repair efforts to professionals. The money you’ll make from the sale of your pristine-looking car will be worth the professional fees.

4. Check Under the Hood

Some people have had bad experiences buying used cars. Although the sellers are supposed to spruce up the exteriors, they didn’t pay much attention to the condition of the engine or the machinery. Unless you want to get caught up in a legal issue, you would do well to check under the hood of your car and perform some much-needed tune-ups.

Though, specifically for carburetors, it might be worth getting it replaced with something from specialized businesses like Southwest Performance parts in some cases.

Before selling your vehicle, check all the important areas of the engine: the radiator, battery couplings, and carburetor. Keep an eye out for pipes, fraying wires, and loose bolts.

Crawl under your vehicle and make sure that the undercarriage components, such as the axles and the like, are all in great shape. Be on the lookout for rust, especially if you live in a flood-prone area or drive a lot on salted snowy roads. Rusting in the underside can be a problem even for high-profile vehicles, so don’t forget to look carefully.

Selling your car can sometimes be the only way to get the money you need to buy essential items. Or maybe you’re just looking to upgrade to a better vehicle. No matter what the reason for putting your car on the market, these tips will ensure that your buyer gets a great quality vehicle, and you receive more money on the mile.

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