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DiBenedetto Ready for Some Short Tracking at Richmond

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Matt DiBenedetto and the No. 21 Menards/Dutch Boy team are hoping to rebound from a disappointing run in the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway by posting a good finish in Saturday night’s Salute to American Heroes 400 at Richmond Raceway.

The event, which will be run on the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on America, will honor the first responders and other heroes of that fateful day.

While the day – and the race – likely will have a somber feel, DiBenedetto and the Menards/Dutch Boy team will be working hard to turn in a performance that will live up to the name of the race.

Throughout his Cup career, DiBenedetto has had some of his best runs on the shorter tracks such as the three-quarter-mile oval at Richmond.

It was there back in April that he got the first of his seven top-10 finishes this season.

“Short tracks are ones we look forward to most,” DiBenedetto said. “You’ve got to be easy on the throttle and on the tires.”

He’s also hoping to regain the momentum he’s had in recent weeks. In the past eight races, he’s had six finishes of 11th or better followed by a strong run at Daytona that ended with a crash while battling for the lead in the closing laps. The only disappointment was a 23rd-place finish at Darlington Sunday night.

“We have been on a good roll as a team and just have to shake off Darlington,” he said.

DiBenedetto will line up 28th for Saturday night’s 400-lapper as the starting positions are based on results from the most recent race, with the 16 Playoff drivers starting up front.

The green flag is set to fly just after 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time, with Stage breaks at Laps 80 and 235.

NBCSN will carry the live TV broadcast.

Menards

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

Wood Brothers Racing

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

Ridetech Offers New, Innovative StrongArms Control Arms for Various General Motors Vehicles

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Official Release
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Ridetech is introducing new options within its StrongArms control arms portfolio that are designed to fit factory coil springs and shocks on a number of classic General Motors vehicles. The new Ridetech StrongArms are now currently available for the following vehicles:

  • 1967-1981 Chevrolet Camaro & Pontiac Firebird
  • 1968-1974 Chevrolet Nova
  • 1964-1972 GM A-Body Vehicles
  • 1963-1970 Chevrolet C10 Trucks

The new tubular front lower control arms will allow users to adjust their ride height and fine-tune vehicle ride height with the addition or removal of included spacers located under the coil spring. Ride height adjustability can travel by just over an inch to account for weight variances, as well as a wide range of tire and wheel combinations. Ridetech StrongArms are also compatible for use with Ridetech dual rate springs, as well as factory coil springs.

The performance tubular control arms from Ridetech outperform stamped OEM stock control arms through precision engineering, significant geometry updates and use of stronger, high-tech materials. Ridetech uses precision Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machined bent tubing for superior accuracy. From this accuracy, Ridetech StrongArms bolt directly in the factory location with new hardware included for quick and easy installation.

Features and Benefits

  • Revisions to geometry offer significant improvement in dynamic caster and camber curves to provide dramatic upgrades in handling and control by making best use of modern performance tires
  • Tubular control arms add strength, style and improved performance
  • Self-lubricating Delrin bushings reduce deflection and suspension bind
  • Increased caster dramatically improves handling and control
  • Adjustable ride height to fine-tune the stance

For complete details and purchasing options for Ridetech StrongArms, please visit Ridetech.com.

No. 10 Smithfield/Tuesday’s Children Ford Racing: Aric Almirola Richmond Advance

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Official Release
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Aric Almirola
Richmond Advance
Smithfield/Tuesday’s Children Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview
● Event: Federated Auto Parts 400 Salute to First Responders (Round 28 of 36)
● Time/Date: 7:30 p.m. EDT on Saturday, Sept. 11
● Location: Richmond (Va.) Raceway
● Layout: .75-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 400 laps/300 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 80 laps / Stage 2: 155 laps / Final Stage: 165 laps
● TV/Radio: NBCSN / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● This morning, Smithfield® and the Gene Haas Foundation had the honor of recognizing Tuesday’s Children, an organization formed in the wake of 9/11 that provides a lifetime of healing for families who have been affected by terrorism, military conflict or mass violence, with a $50,000 donation at Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) headquarters in Kannapolis, North Carolina. In addition to the donation, driver Aric Almirola unveiled the special-edition No. 10 Smithfield Ford Mustang that he will pilot in Saturday night’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond (Va.) Raceway. The Ford Mustang will feature a commemorative 9/11 paint scheme and the Tuesday’s Children logo to honor those whose lives were forever changed by the tragedy and further spotlight the non-profit’s mission. Since Tuesday’s Children was founded nearly two decades ago, it has served more than 42,000 individuals. The organization’s goal is to ensure that families who have suffered losses due to the events of 9/11, post-9/11 military service, or other acts of mass violence and terrorism always have a comforting place to turn to for support and community. This $50,000 donation will help provide individuals and families with counseling and support, youth mentorship and career guidance, healing through service and peacebuilding, and much more.
● History at Richmond: In 18 starts, Almirola has earned seven top-10 finishes, two top-fives, and has led one lap on the .75-mile Richmond oval. In his most recent start there, Almirola finished sixth, which was his third-best finish of the year behind Nashville Superspeedway, where he finished fourth, and his win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon. His sixth-place finish in April earned him back-to-back top-10 finishes at Richmond.
● Almirola and the No. 10 Ford team are bringing the same car to Richmond that piloted the team to a victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon on July 18. That win locked Almirola into the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. 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.
● Richmond is a hometown race for Smithfield Foods, whose headquarters are located just 80 miles southeast of the track. Smithfield celebrates 10 years of partnership with Almirola this 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 379 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 two races to go before Round of 12):

  1. Denny Hamlin (2,072 points) 1 win
  2. Kyle Larson (2,106 points) +80 points
  3. Martin Truex Jr. (2,062 points) +36 points
  4. Kurt Busch (2,062 points) +26 points
  5. Ryan Blaney (2,048 points) +22 points
  6. Joey Logano (2,047 points) +21 points
  7. Kevin Harvick (2,046 points) +20 points
  8. Brad Keselowski (2,038 points) +12 points
  9. Christopher Bell (2,031 points) +6 points
  10. Chase Elliott (2,030 points) +4 points
  11. Aric Almirola (2,029 points) +3 points
  12. Alex Bowman (2,026 points) +0 points
  13. Tyler Reddick (2,026 points) -0 points
  14. Kyle Busch (2,024 points) -2 points
  15. William Byron (2,017 points) -9 points
  16. Michael McDowell (2,006 points) -20 points

Aric Almirola, Driver of the No. 10 Smithfield/Tuesday’s Children Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing:

Earlier today, you had the honor of presenting matching $25,000 checks to Tuesday’s Children on behalf of Smithfield and the Gene Haas Foundation, as well as unveil a paint scheme paying tribute to the organization’s 20th anniversary. How was that?

“With Saturday’s race in Richmond taking place on the 20th anniversary of Sept. 11, we wanted to pay tribute to those who were affected by the heinous acts of 9/11. Tuesday’s Children has done an incredible job serving as a strong support system for so many individuals and families throughout the last two decades, and I am privileged to be a part of this moment to spotlight their organization through this donation and paint scheme.”

What do you expect at Richmond?

“More of the same. It’s going to be tough. It’s going to be intense. There’s going to be a lot of battling and I have no doubt that you will see a playoff car or a few run into some trouble. It just happens and you just don’t want to be that guy. We’ve been fortunate going to Richmond in year’s past, especially in the playoffs, where we’ve always had good cars. We’ve run in the top-five, scored a lot of stage points and had good finishes, so that’s been one of our best racetracks and we’re taking the same car we won with at Loudon, so hopefully we can produce a similar result.”

How much has changed since the first Richmond race this year?

“It’s hard to say because I feel like Richmond doesn’t change, but everybody always seems to find a way to get better, so you can’t rest on your laurels. If you were good at Richmond last time, you can’t automatically assume that you’re going to beat the competition. Everybody is always looking to find ways to make their cars better from the last race. And you just look at Darlington – I know the patch (of new pavement in turn two) was an added difference and something new about Darlington, but you go back and look at the spring race and look at the cars that ran well, and then you look at this race and there were some different cars running up front. I think the race teams, the organizations, everybody works hard to find more speed in our cars, more downforce, all those things, so that usually equates to stiffer competition in the playoffs, so everybody brings their A-game. I have no doubt that even though we’ve run well at Richmond and we ran well there in the spring, we’re still fine-tuning and tweaking on what we had there in the past to try and make it a race-winning car instead of a top-five car.”

What clicked for you so much earlier this year at Richmond when nothing else seemed to go right?

“I do feel like going to Richmond this time around I have so much confidence because I didn’t feel like our cars were where they needed to be earlier this year, and yet we still went to Richmond and ran in the top-10 and finished seventh. So, to go there and run like we did in the spring, where I felt like our cars were still off, especially the 750 (horsepower) stuff that we’ve made significant gains on, it gives me a lot of confidence knowing that we ran well there in the spring and that we’re going back with a lot better racecar and it’s a place that we just, for whatever reason, run better at. It doesn’t matter the team or the crew chief or whatever, I always show up to Richmond and tend to run well there – very similar to Loudon. I’m excited about it. It’s a great place for us. It’s Smithfield’s backyard, so it always feels good to go up there and run well, and then this weekend in particular we’re running a really cool, special paint scheme to honor and remember 20 years ago, 9/11, so I’m pretty excited about this weekend on all fronts.”

Is it better to go for the win in round one or survive? Is there a balance?

“That’s certainly a balance, but if you look historically over the last several years, the first round is definitely a round that you’ve got to survive. Winning obviously makes it way easier, but surviving is key because on any given year you look back and at least two or three cars end up taking themselves out just from one or two bad races, wrecks, blown engines, whatever it is So when you look at the first round, it’s about surviving, but you have to be aggressive. It’s such a balancing act between not making mistakes and don’t wreck, don’t take yourself out but, at the same time, you’ve got to race for every point. Every single stage point matters. Every single point in position on the racetrack at the end of the race matters, so it really is a tough challenge and a balancing act between being aggressive to go get the spots that you need to go get, and making sure that you don’t put yourself in a bad position to get tore up and have a DNF.”

What do you make of all the attrition at Darlington last Sunday, and how did your night go?

“I honestly can’t explain the amount of attrition between the playoff drivers, but it does seem to happen when we get to the playoffs. We see it time and time again where playoff drivers end up with bad races and find themselves in a hole. I guess it’s just the way it works and it creates a lot of excitement for TV and the sport in general, seeing guys trying to dig out of holes to make it to the next round of the playoffs. As far as our race goes, we overcame some adversity, for sure. We had some things not go our way, late-race cautions and a tire going down, and several different things just popping up and happening that we had to overcome. So, for us, getting out of there with a 16th-place finish and being three points above the cutline, while not ideal, especially with a car that was capable of running anywhere from seventh to 10th most of the night, we didn’t take ourselves out. We kept fighting, kept grinding away the whole night. It’s a long race. Five hundred miles at Darlington is a long race, but to get out of there with a decent night, scoring some stage points and finding ourselves leaving Darlington three points above the cutline is a good spot to be going to these next two weeks that are good tracks for us.”

Where were you on 9/11 and what do you remember from that day?

“I remember exactly where I was that day. I was a senior in high school and I was in drafting class. I was in an architectural engineering class and I was drawing on graph paper and I remember our teacher got a phone call or got notified, I don’t remember exactly how he got notified, but he got notified and he turned on the little tube TV that was mounted up on a wall bracket in the classroom and put the news on and we all put our pencils down and just sat there in shock. We couldn’t believe what we were witnessing. I remember it being very somber in the classroom and just a lot of emotion and everybody was very quiet and glued to the TV, trying to figure out what was going on. Shortly after that, we all got dismissed from school. If you drove to school, you could leave. Otherwise, you had to wait for the buses to come or for your parents to come pick you up. I was a senior in high school. I drove, so I was able to hop in my truck and drive home. I just remember getting home as fast as I could and turning the news back on.”

No. 10 Smithfield/Tuesday’s Children 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

GOLDEN NUGGET ONLINE GAMING UPS THE ANTE IN RICHMOND

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Official Release
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GNOG Returns to No. 38 Team Ahead of Virginia Launch

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (September 8, 2021) – Anthony Alfredo’s No. 38 Ford Mustang will once again carry the Golden Nugget Online Gaming (NASDAQ: GNOG) colors this weekend at Richmond Raceway.

Visitors to GoldenNuggetSports.com in Virginia can enjoy mobile sports betting in the state with the launch of the Golden Nugget Sportsbook app coming soon. GNOG’s online sportsbook is also the home of their Golden Lines, featuring exclusive daily odds boosts and Notorious VIG promotions.

Alfredo continues to help familiarize GNOG to the passionate NASCAR fan base through social media promotion as well as carrying the patriotic Black and Gold Stars & Stripes scheme on the track and to the millions of NASCAR fans tuning into Saturday’s race.

“It’s great to have Golden Nugget back with us at Richmond,” said Alfredo. “I know they’re getting ready to unveil GoldenNuggetSports.com in the Virginias and we’re pumped to support that roll out. We have another opportunity on Saturday to do well for them on track and hopefully turn our luck around as we head into the last nine races of the year.”

For more information about Golden Nugget Online Gaming, visit GoldenNuggetSports.com; or download the app, available on iOS, Android, and Google Play.

Saturday’s race will be televised live on NBCSN at 7:30 p.m. ET.

ABOUT GNOG
Golden Nugget Online Gaming is a leading online gaming company that is considered a market leader by its peers and was first to bring Live Dealer and Live Casino Floor Roulette to the United States online gaming market. GNOG was the past recipient of 17 eGaming Review North America Awards, including the coveted Operator of the Year award in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS
Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Camping World Truck Series and the 2021 Daytona 500 champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 34 and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 38 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team– from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

Merriman and Dalziel Team Up Again at Laguna Seca Following Road America Race Win

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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., (September 8, 2021) – Following their race win in the LMP2 class at Road America last month, Dwight Merriman and Ryan Dalziel will race as co-drivers again at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, on Sunday, September 12 in the No. 17 Era Motorsport Oreca. Despite missing one race this year, the two-time IMSA race winners are fourth in the championship standings. The sixth event in the 2021 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, this weekend’s race at Laguna Seca will act as the penultimate race for the LMP2 class.

“I’m very much looking forward to racing at Laguna Seca,” said Merriman. “It’s such an iconic track and in such a beautiful area. It’s a circuit any racer wants to celebrate a victory at, and with the momentum of our win at Road America, I’m looking forward to giving it our best shot this weekend.”

The No. 18 Era Motorsport Oreca showed a strong pace the entire Road America weekend, with the drivers and team producing a near-flawless execution with every session. A result of private testing and further development overseas in the team’s European Le Mans Series efforts, the team’s success provides strong momentum heading into the California event.

“I’m super excited to be going to Laguna Seca with Era Motorsport, especially after our last outing at Road America,” said Dalziel. “Dwight and the team did a great job getting us that victory. We know Laguna will be a big challenge for us, but we are up for the task. Big thank you to Kyle and Sarah Tilley for letting me drive alongside Dwight and try to get us another victory.”

On-track activities for this weekend’s race, the Hyundai Monterey Sports Car Championship, begin with one practice session on Friday evening, September 10, followed by a final practice and qualifying session on Saturday. Four of the live IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship classes will compete in the race, with the LMP3 class sitting out this round. The field of 26 entries will take the green flag on Sunday, September 12 at 1:10 PM local. The race will air live on NBC Sports Network, beginning at 1:00 PM Pacific/4:00 PM Eastern. Live timing will be available on livescoring.us, and IMSA Radio will cover international audio coverage beginning with Saturday’s qualifying session. For full event information, visit imsa.com.

About Era Motorsport
Era Motorsport was formed in 2018 with the idea of providing unmatched excellence in historic racing. Just two years later, the team expanded to the world of professional sports car racing, fielding an Oreca 07 in the prolific IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 2021, the team went on to win at the iconic Rolex 24 At Daytona, in what was their second attempt competing in the event. Motorsport isn’t just a hobby, it is a way of life: a passion that is in the team’s blood. Whether you find us in the IMSA WeatherTech paddock with modern prototypes or chasing down lap records in our fully restored classic sports cars, or even globetrotting to experience historic F1 at some of the world’s most iconic circuits, Era Motorsport has something for everyone. In 2021, the team will return to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for the full LMP2 season and also contest in the full seasons of the Asian Le Mans championship and European Le Mans Series.

Toyota Racing – Weekly Preview – 09.08.21

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Official Release
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This Week in Motorsports: September 6-12, 2021
· NCS/NXS: Richmond Raceway – September 11
· ARCA WEST: Portland International Raceway – September 11

PLANO, Texas (September 8, 2021) – The NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series are headed back to Richmond Raceway for the Salute to American Heroes Race Weekend presented by Toyota. The ARCA Menards Series West also competes this weekend at Portland International Raceway in Oregon.

NASCAR National Series – NCS| NXS

Toyota supports Tuesday’s Children… With this weekend’s race occurring on the 20th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks, Toyota is proud to honor the first responders and victims of that tragic day. Toyota will have a Wall of Remembrance which shows all of the names of those lost. In front of the Wall of Remembrance, Toyota will host Tuesday’s Children, a charity founded in the aftermath of the September 11th terrorist attacks which focuses on the children of victims of terrorist attacks. Fans can donate to this worthy cause and Toyota will match fan donations up to $10,000.

Hamlin clinched… After a successful year, Denny Hamlin drove his Camry to his first win of the season at Darlington Raceway – earning his third Southern 500 win and fourth Cup Series victory at the South Carolina-track. Hamlin heads to his home track this weekend, another place he has seen incredible success. Hamlin has three wins at Richmond Raceway, including Toyota’s first victory in the fall event at the track in 2009.

Truex, Busch look to add to recent Richmond success… Both Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. have had recent sweeps at Richmond Raceway. Busch has six victories at Richmond Raceway with the last two occurring in a sweep of the 2018 races at the track. Truex gave Joe Gibbs Racing four straight wins at the track by winning both the Toyota Owners 400 in April 2019 and following that win with another victory in the fall event later that year.

First for Hemric… Daniel Hemric scored his first Xfinity Series pole position at Richmond in 2017. He led the first 26 laps and finished third. He added another third-place finish at the Virginia-short track in 2018.

Gibbs looking at Rookie of the Year… Despite making just 12 starts this season, Ty Gibbs is currently out front of the Rookie of the Year battle in the Xfinity Series holding a slim 12-point advantage over fellow part-time driver Josh Berry with nine races remaining. He would be the second straight Rookie of the Year winner for Joe Gibbs Racing after Harrison Burton drove to the title last season. Gibbs is back behind the wheel of the No. 54 Toyota Supra this weekend.

Nemechek makes second start of the season… John Hunter Nemechek will make his second start of the season behind the wheel of the No. 26 Toyota Supra, which is owned by Virginia-native Sam Hunt. Nemechek was impressive in his team debut at Dover earlier this season, driving from his 30th starting spot to the top-10 before encountering mechanical issues.

NASCAR Regional Series – ARCA WEST

Love looks to add to the lead… Jesse Love holds the season points lead as the ARCA Menards Series West heads into the second half of the season. After another victory at Irwindale Speedway, the 16-year-old holds an 11-point lead over his teammate Cole Moore as he searches for his second consecutive championship.

Stay Connected

https://www.toyota.com/racing @ToyotaRacing.com @ToyotaRacing

facebook.com/ToyotaRacing Camera With Flash on Apple iOS 11.3 ToyotaRacingMedia.com

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands plus our 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota has created a tremendous value chain and directly employs more than 47,000 in North America. The company has contributed world-class design, engineering, and assembly of more than 40 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants, 15 including our joint venture in Alabama that begins production in 2021.

Through its Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.

NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2021 Induction Slated for January 21

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Official Release
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Inductees Dale Earnhardt Jr., Red Farmer, Mike Stefanik and Landmark Award recipient Ralph Seagraves will be honored as part of a weekend full of activities and events. Tickets go on sale October 7.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Sept. 8, 2021) – The NASCAR Hall of Fame and NASCAR are pleased to announce that the Class of 2021 Induction Ceremony will take place in Charlotte on Friday, January 21, 2022. The Ceremony was originally scheduled for February 5, 2021 but was postponed due to the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19.

“We are thrilled to celebrate these legends’ significant accomplishments and contributions to NASCAR alongside their families, friends and fans,” said Winston Kelley, Executive Director of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. “The decision to postpone was very difficult but the right thing to do. With the planned evolution from five to three inductees with the Class of 2021, NASCAR and the NASCAR Hall of Fame teams saw an opportunity to take a fresh look at our schedule of events for Induction Weekend and are excited about what we have created. It’s always a special time for each honoree and their families and friends and will be a truly memorable weekend for our fans and guests alike.”

To celebrate the Class of 2021, the NASCAR Hall of Fame will again have three days of special events and programming – including an exclusive insiders experience, a brunch event with NASCAR Hall of Famers and behind-the-scenes looks at pieces of racing history.

Tickets to the Class of 2021 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Weekend events, which will take place Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022 through Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, go on sale to the general public on Thursday, October 7 at 10 a.m.

KEY DATES AND TAKEAWAYS

  • Induction Dinner and Induction Ceremony (Friday, Jan. 21, 2022): Both the Induction Dinner and Induction Ceremony will take place in the Crown Ballroom at the Charlotte Convention Center adjacent to the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
  • Public On-Sale (Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021): Tickets to all Class of 2021 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Weekend events go on sale to the public. NASCAR Hall of Fame members will have access to an exclusive ticket pre-sale later this month. Additional information about membership can be found here.
  • Cost: Tickets to the Induction Ceremony start at $150 per person (plus tax and applicable service fees).
  • Inductees: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Red Farmer and Mike Stefanik make up the Hall of Fame’s 12th class with Ralph Seagraves being honored as the recipient of the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR.
  • Additional Events: Bookending the Induction Ceremony will be a roster of fan-centric events designed to give attendees an immersive NASCAR Hall of Fame experience. More detailed information about weekend events will be available later this month.

Among the additional events scheduled for Induction Weekend are the Insider Experience, featuring a Q&A session with Class of 2021 Inductees and an Induction Stage photo op; Brunch with Hall of Famers where guests will share a table with a NASCAR legend; and Victory Lap, where the Class of 2020 will share stories and memories about the artifacts from their Hall of Honor exhibits.

ABOUT THE CLASS OF 2021

The Class of 2021 will be the 12th class inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s since its inception in 2010. The first class with three members instead of five, it is comprised of:

  • Dale Earnhardt Jr.: A third-generation NASCAR champion in a family synonymous with the sport, Earnhardt Jr. is among the most popular drivers in NASCAR history. In addition to his 26 Cup Series wins and two Xfinity Series championships, Earnhardt Jr. served as the face of NASCAR for many years with 15 consecutive Most Popular Driver awards.
  • Red Farmer: Part of the original Alabama Gang, Farmer’s exact win count is unknown – but it’s more than 700 and counting. Named one of the 50 Greatest Drivers in NASCAR’s first 50 years in 1998, Farmer’s immeasurable passion for the sport has kept him racing for decades, even as he approaches 90 years of age.
  • Mike Stefanik: Atop the list of all-time NASCAR championships with nine sit two men: NASCAR Hall of Famer Richie Evans, and Mike Stefanik. In 2003, Stefanik was named one of the Modified Tour’s 10 Greatest Drivers, and he holds the all-time series record in wins, poles, top fives and top 10s.

Induction of this class brings the Hall’s total number of racing legends to 58. Additionally, Ralph Seagraves will be honored with the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR.

About the NASCAR Hall of Fame
Located in Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina, the NASCAR Hall of Fame is an interactive, entertainment attraction honoring the history and heritage of NASCAR. The high-tech venue, designed to educate and entertain race fans and non-fans alike, includes artifacts, hands-on exhibits, a 278-person state-of-the-art theater, Hall of Honor, Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant, NASCAR Hall of Fame Gear Shop and NASCAR Productions-operated broadcast studio. Opened on May 11, 2010, the NASCAR Hall of Fame is owned by the City of Charlotte, licensed by NASCAR and operated by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority. For more information, visit nascarhall.com.

About NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 16 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR consists of three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series™), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour), one local grassroots series and three international series. The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, Americrown Service and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’).

23XI RACING ANNOUNCES STEVE LAULETTA AS TEAM PRESIDENT

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Official Release
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Mooresville, NC (September 8, 2021) – Today 23XI Racing announced that veteran motorsports executive Steve Lauletta, who has served as its interim president since the team’s formation last year, has been named the team’s president.

“Steve has been invaluable to our team from day one,” said Denny Hamlin, co-owner of 23XI Racing. “When we launched the team last year, we needed someone with experience who could jump right in, and Lauletta was the perfect fit. He’s done a phenomenal job and we are thrilled to have him as our team president.”

Lauletta joined 23XI Racing after a 10-year tenure at Chip Ganassi Racing that ended in 2018. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Lauletta previously worked in sports marketing with Miller Brewing Company and continues to successfully run his own sports marketing consultancy company, Pigeon Sports Marketing, which was launched in 2018.

“The unique opportunity to continue to work alongside this ownership group to build a race team focused on making significant contributions both on and off the track is one I couldn’t pass up,” said Lauletta. “I am fortunate to be part of 23XI Racing and I look forward to enhancing existing relationships, adding new partners and growing the organization into one that contends for race wins each week and championships each year.”

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.

The Prestige Performance with WTR Team Hungry to Continue Winning Streak at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

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Official Release
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Brownsburg, Ind. (September 8th, 2021) – Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America returns this weekend for Round Five of the 2021 season at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing team enters the weekend with five victories and 12 podiums this season, just one overall win shy of tying Change Racing for most overall wins in series history.

Kyle Marcelli and Daniel Formal catapulted to fourth position in the PRO Driver Championship after securing two overall wins and pole starting positions at Road America. The No. 1 Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor racing drivers will look to match their success from last month’s event and gain points in the overall championship.

Although Jordan Missig missed two rounds due to a racing conflict in the Formula Regional Americas Championship, the No. 53 Wayne Taylor Racing driver is currently fourth in the PRO|AM championship. The young driver continues to impress after garnering two class victories at Road America, his first in the North American series.

Driver of the No. 25 Harrison Contracting with Wayne Taylor Racing Lamborghini Super Trofeo, Ashton Harrison, sits third in the AM Championship just ten points shy of first position. The American continues to showcase her skills with two class victories and podium finishes for four of the last five events.

Randy Sellari, driver of the No. 03 JG Wentworth LST, has showcased his abilities amongst adversity in the AM class. The 2020 LB Cup Champion is currently fifth in the AM class championship.

Practice for the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America drivers begins this Friday at 10:35 a.m. PT. Race one of the weekend is set for Saturday at 2:30 p.m. PT with Race two scheduled for Sunday at 11:25 a.m. PT. All race coverage will be available on IMSA. TV.

Kyle Marcelli, No. 1 Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo (PRO)
“Who doesn’t love Laguna Seca! The circuit has many challenges, for one; you must fully maximize the track width and when doing so, you’re constantly balancing the fine line between the pavement and the sand. Furthermore, there is plenty of elevation and corners with blind exits that require confidence and commitment. And finally, the surface is low grip and high tire degradation which means the car and grip level is constantly changing and going away throughout the race stint, this all brings many challenges to the drivers. Our goals are simple, just win races. Unfortunately, it’s a significantly uphill battle to win the North American championship given the misfortune at Watkins Glen, however we can still win races. Beyond winning races, it’s about our sponsor partners, we want to make sure our team partners such as Prestige, Konica Minolta, and Race For RP are receiving high level value and exposure. We also want to continue to improve operationally as a team and perform like a well-oiled machine.

Daniel Formal, No. 1 Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo (PRO)
“I’m super excited of the last round of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo season in the United States. After Laguna Seca we will go to the World Finals in Italy. Laguna Seca is one of the coolest tracks in North America and I received my first pole position there last year, so it’s a track I like very much. We have the momentum going in our favor after a dominating weekend at Road America. The team worked so hard to make the car perfect and I know they have been working nonstop since Road America to get everything ready for Laguna Seca. I’m really excited for next week and then hopefully we’ll get the World Championships in October in Italy.”

Jordan Missig, No. 53 Wayne Taylor Racing (PRO|AM)
“Laguna Seca is a very interesting track with lots of elevation changes and difficult corners, not to mention the corkscrew at the top of the hill. But to me this is more of a drivers track. It’s kind of like Mid-Ohio and a street course without the walls right next to you with the way it flows from one corner to the next and the way the track changes from session-to-session lap after lap. I am in fact looking forward to getting to California and back into the Lamborghini’s after my most recent success up at Road America. It has boosted my confidence with the car up to another level and I am interested to see if that confidence level continues at a different venue such as Laguna Seca. With this being the last North America event, I think I have accomplished all I could for a first session in a closed wheel GT car. I think the most important thing now for me is to start working on how to get those couple of tenths here and there to start closing the gap to the other Pro class cars and be able to consistently run the pace that they are running and even surpass that. It has been a fantastic first year with WTR and I can’t thank everyone from this team enough for all the hard work and dedication that they have poured into this program.”

Ashton Harrison, No. 25 Harrison Contracting with Wayne Taylor Racing Lamborghini Super Trofeo (AM)
“I love the city, weather and the grounds at Laguna Seca. It’s always so nice to be back at the fast and technical track. I feel we have always been set up for success at Laguna and this year I’m looking to finally get a win at this track. I’m sad the season is almost to an end but so excited and thankful for the year we’ve had. It hasn’t been easy, but we have grown so much and I’m proud to have accomplished what we have so far with Harrison Contracting and Wayne Taylor Racing. I’m looking to close the gap to the championship lead at Laguna. Fingers crossed!”

Randy Sellari, No. 03 JG Wentworth with Wayne Taylor Racing (AM)
“I’ve been able to work alongside some talented people who have helped me elevate behind the scenes into being a better driver. Although we’ve been optimistic for stronger results at times, I continue to improve nearly every race, which has proved to be extremely rewarding. As we head into our last round of the year on American soil at Laguna Seca, I’m still fighting to finish on the AM class podium. The circuit can be challenging with sand and subsequent tire degradation, but I believe with a strong setup and smart driving, I can be in the hunt.”

JR Motorsports — NXS Richmond Preview

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Official Release
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JR MOTORSPORTS TEAM PREVIEW:
TRACK: Richmond Raceway
RACE: Go Bowling 250 (250 laps / 187.5 miles)
DATE: Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021

Broadcast Information – TV: 2:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN / Radio: 2 p.m. ET on MRN and Sirius XM Ch. 90

Michael Annett
No. 1 Pilot Flying J Driver Appreciation Chevrolet
• Having cut 22 points off his deficit last week at Darlington Raceway, Michael Annett enters the weekend 46 points out of the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs with two races remaining.
• Richmond Raceway is a good track of late for the Iowa driver, as Annett has earned finishes of ninth, seventh and seventh in his last three starts on the .750-mile oval.
• Annett will again carry a special paint scheme this weekend in honor of Pilot Flying J’s Driver Appreciation Month program. The scheme, which features the hashtag #ThankATrucker on the TV panel, will be on the car through the Sept. 25 event at Las Vegas.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.
No. 8 Unilever United For America Chevrolet
• Dale Earnhardt Jr. will make his first and only NXS start of the season at Richmond this weekend in the Unilever United For America Chevrolet.
• In eight NXS races at Richmond, Earnhardt, Jr. has accumulated four wins (most recently in 2016), six top fives and seven top 10s while pacing the field for 829 laps.
• The United For America Chevrolet pays tribute to the victims of the Sept. 11 terror attacks on its 20th anniversary this Saturday. The hood showcases the 9/11 Memorial and Museum’s Tribute in Light, which signifies the four locations targeted in the attacks (World Trade Center Towers, the Pentagon and the Flight 93 site in Shanksville, Pa).

Noah Gragson
No. 9 Bass Pro Shops / TrueTimber / Black Rifle Coffee Chevrolet
• Noah Gragson, the most recent winner in the NXS after his triumph at Darlington last weekend, clinched his spot in the NXS Playoffs by way of the victory.
• Gragson is stout at Richmond, having earned a pair of top five finishes and four in the top 10 in his five starts there. His average finish at Richmond is 8.8, and he’s completed all but one lap of competition on the .750-mile oval.
• The 23-year-old from Las Vegas has been on a hot streak of late. Over his last 11 starts, Gragson has the victory at Darlington, five top-fives and 10 top-10 finishes.

Justin Allgaier
No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet
• Justin Allgaier enters Saturday afternoon looking for his third consecutive victory at Richmond. The Illinois native swept the doubleheader weekend at the Virginia short track last season.
• In addition to the two wins, Allgaier has amassed seven top fives and 10 top 10s in 20 NXS starts at Richmond.
• Allgaier’s seven top fives rank fourth best of any track he has competed on in the NXS, trailing only Bristol Motor Speedway, Dover International Speedway and Phoenix Raceway.
• With just two races remaining in the regular season, Allgaier currently sits third in the NXS Playoff Grid.

Driver Quotes

“We cut into the point deficit last week at Darlington and it could have been even more. We know we have more work to do, and with the cars that Bummy (crew chief Mike Bumgarner) and the No. 1 team have been giving me, we have that chance. Our No. 1 Pilot Flying J #ThankATrucker Chevrolet was really good last time we were here, hopefully we can unload with that same speed again this weekend.” – Michael Annett

“I’m really looking forward to getting back to Richmond on Saturday with our BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet. We were really strong here in both races last year, and I feel confident we can repeat that same success this weekend and get back into Victory Lane and come away with maximum points. The playoffs are right around the corner and every point matters. Hopefully we can have a smooth day and be in the right position at the end to fight for the victory.” – Justin Allgaier

“I always have a lot of fun when I come back for my one race a year in this series. Richmond is one of my favorite tracks, and it’s one I’ve had a lot of success at in the past. I know that Taylor (Moyer, crew chief) and the entire No. 8 team will unload a fast Camaro and hopefully we’ll have a shot at it towards the end of the race.” – Dale Earnhardt Jr.

“It felt really good to finally get the first win of the season last weekend and Richmond is another track that has been really good to this No. 9 Bass Pro Shops/TrueTimber/Black Rifle Coffee team. We’ve led some laps and have consistently raced inside of the top 10. We finished eighth and fifth here last year, so hopefully we can continue this strong run and finish a few spots better again this weekend.” – Noah Gragson

JRM Team Updates:

• JRM at Richmond: Over the course of the 81 starts at the .750-mile facility, JRM has tallied five wins, 26 top fives and 50 top 10s. JRM’s most recent win came last season with Justin Allgaier sweeping the doubleheader weekend.
• Tribute in Light: As an extension of Tribute in Light, for the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum has once again partnered with NYC & Company and buildings throughout the city to light up their facades and rooftops in sky blue. “Tribute in Light” is a unique, but simple gesture of collective remembrance that will illuminate the city on the evening of the anniversary. For more information, please visit www.911memorial.org/tributeinlight.
• Standing United: Never forget. That was the vow made by Americans following the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001. JR Motorsports and long-time partner Unilever are standing united in that promise. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.’s 2021 return to the No. 8 Chevrolet will come in the NASCAR Xfinity Series event at Richmond Raceway on Sept. 11 – the 20th Anniversary of the terror attacks – where the NASCAR Hall of Famer will drive a special United for America paint scheme honoring the victims of 9/11.
• Pilot Flying J Driver Appreciation Month: Michael Annett’s No. 1 Pilot Flying J Chevrolet will have a signature paint scheme for the next three races as part of Pilot Flying J’s Driver Appreciation Month. The red and yellow scheme features the words “If you’ve got it, a trucker brought it” on the hood and #ThankATrucker on the TV panel at the rear of the car. The Driver Appreciation theme inspires fans to thank professional drivers for all their hard work in delivering the goods we all depend on. And to see how Pilot Flying J is thanking professional drivers, visit pilotflyingj.com.

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