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How Most Wanted Became the MOST Popular Title in NFS Series

By
SM
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Need for Speed used to be the most popular racing game series by Ubisoft in early 2000. Getting a massive kickstart by Underground, Need For Speed was already on track to be a huge hit and although Most Wanted wasn’t the most anticipated game in the NFS line, it sure did exceed every race game lover’s expectation when it was “first” released back in 2004. 

It turned out to be so damn good that it went on to claim the top spot for the most played racing title in the NFS series, selling well over 16 million copies worldwide, taking over its predecessor (if you will) by a huge margin and for the right reasons. But what exactly made Most Wanted so popular that this underdog took the whole world by storm?

The BEST Story Mode 

When it comes to racing games, one of the things that many developers don’t really pay attention to is the story mode. I mean, it makes sense a racing game has to be good at “racing” but if a good story mode is what keeps the players entertained for hours and gives more meaning to the whole game. 

There is a lot that goes behind making a game worth player’s attention, games like GTA 5 still remains popular even after a decade (almost) because there is so much that the game offers to the players, it has one of the best stories, incredibly beautiful graphics and a multiplayer mode where you can max out your GTA V account by pulling off different legal and not so legal gigs and so much more. There are many other games that bring in a lot of excitement, the likes of Fortnite accounts and PUBG Mobile accounts do bring a similar feel, but it’s hard to beat such a masterpiece like Need For Speed Most Wanted. And although Most Wanted didn’t need to have all that but it did, it had one of the best storylines for any racing game even to this date, beautifully crafted cutscenes that were both fun and interesting, a bunch of different racing modes, some of the badass rivals, a ton of beautifully designed cars and the best of all, POLICE CHASE!!

The Infamous Police Chase!

I remember spending hours trying to outmaneuver the police vehicles in the most fun ways possible. And it wasn’t just some dumb police cars chasing you around like robots, they had a pretty good AI that made it so satisfying yet very challenging to keep you hooked for hours. I mean it had everything from cars to heli’s to roadblocks just to get you! 

I remember the moment when I would speed and the cop car nearby would turn on its chase light and it would just pump me up and make me go all “It’s Game Time Baby” on them. 

But that’s not all, it also had one of the most amazing physics that I had ever encountered in any of the racing games out there. You could literally destroy everything that comes your way, jump off from cliffs while tearing through billboards and whatnot! 

8 Tips On How To Win at Blackjack

By
SM
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Photo by JT on Unsplash

Are you an ardent blackjack lover, but not a successful player? Or are you just looking to try out your luck with a good old blackjack game, but you are not sure where to even start? Either way, you’re in the right place! Take a look at these 8 tips on how to win at blackjack and get ready to gamble.

1. Choose the Casino Wisely

Regardless of whether you are playing in-person or online, if you do not choose the right casino, none of the tips and tricks to come that are supposed to help you win will matter. Always check the casino’s background before you decide to play their online blackjack, and look for all the information available, including the name of the owner or service providers, licenses, and reputation. You can use the best online casinos in Canada to compare ratings and read reviews that you can trust. If you are surfing the internet to find a casino site, beware that not every online casino is trustworthy and safe. Moreover, there are many scamming websites pretending to be online casinos. In order to ensure your investment won’t go to waste of a fraud’s pocket, use software tools to check the website’s credibility. 

2. Learn the Rules by Heart

‘’You can’t play the game if you don’t know the rules’’ may be a cliche saying, but it is downright true when it comes to the game of blackjack. Many beginners, and even the more experienced players, make a common mistake of taking the rule sheets for granted. Knowing the rules by heart and being able to go back to them at any moment of the game is a prerequisite to becoming a successful blackjack player. What is also important to always bear in mind is that not every blackjack game is the same. Each variant is played by different rules, and even the smallest detail can affect the house edge. This is particularly important for online blackjack since games are provided by different software developers and therefore have different rules and house edges. Closely examine the help section of each game to ensure a complete understanding of the game and increase your chances of winning. Once you know the rules, you will be able to absorb the wisdom of the ultimate blackjack tips and get the game going.

3. Pick the Most Suitable Blackjack Strategy for You

Once you have familiarized yourself with the table rules of the game variation of your choice, is it time to put the cards on the table, figuratively and literally. You need to get to know yourself as a blackjack player before you invest more of your time and money into becoming a winner. Depending on the type of player, each strategy has advantages and disadvantages. For example, the Martingale betting strategy is meant for the fearless players, those looking to win big but are also ready to lose a lot of money. On the other hand, a conservative or basic blackjack strategy is a safer option for those not yet as self-assured of their gambling competencies. The utter idea of picking the rights strategy is to get the best winning odds at the time. Tellingly, each blackjack variation requires a different strategy for different optimal results and different type of a player. Many professional players would take years and lots of effort to ‘’hack the game’, that is, learn how to play each hand with the best chances to win. However, nowadays, and with all the information we have at our disposal thanks to modern technology, you can easily search through the most optimal blackjack strategies for a specific game using one of the blackjack basic strategy calculators. 

4. Bet Within Your Budget

In line with finding your soulmate blackjack strategy, you should always remain grounded and remember your budget limits before raising a bet like a millionaire. Although this is not a trick to be used at the blackjack table, it is one of the most critical rules you need to adhere to as a gambler. Only when your bankroll starts to build up, you should allow yourself to slowly raise your stakes. Placing a bet that is out of your league can be detrimental both to your bank account and to your career as a blackjack player. 

5. Resist Purchasing Insurance 

Blackjack insurance will be offered to you in most, if not all, blackjack games online. It refers to a side bet which is offered in cases when the dealer shows an ace, in order to ensure you are against the dealer getting a blackjack. Despite the fact that getting the insurance would potentially save you from big losses, it is not as good as it sounds. Finally, the odds of the dealer making blackjack are too small to compensate for the price of the insurance itself. 

6. Focus on the Table

Keep your eyes on the table, your focus on the cards, and your mind on the price. Paying attention to all the possible details is the key to ‘’beat the odds’’. 

7. Double Down and Split at All the Rights Times

To guess when is the right time to double down or to split is half of the game’s success. Even though things need to be more complicated in order for the game to be as exciting and risky as it is, there are few rules set in stone regarding this. Increasing your money on the table largely depends on doubling down. When you’re given a starting hand of 11, always double down, because there is a high probability that your next card will be valued a ten and you will finish with 21. On the other hand, when the dealer shows a face or an ace, it is time to stay away from doubling down. When it comes to splitting, it is slightly more complicated. Therefore, the only splitting rule to live by is to never split pairs or 10s, 5s, or 4s. For all the other combinations, you will have to refer to your blackjack charts and personal sense for gambling.  

8, Know When to Stop

Always remain in control. If you hit the ground, take a break. If you touch the sky, also take a break. Don’t let the gambling spirit take you over and affect poor decisions. In situations when you do wish to proceed in playing after the lows and the highs, make sure to establish new bankroll and limits beforehand. 

What may trick many blackjack players to-be is the simplicity of the blackjack game. However, there is plenty more to it. Although it is not a complicated casino game, it requires skill and dedication in order to become good at it. With this list of tips in mind, a bit of luck, and some exercise, you’ll be mastering the game of blackjack in no time!

NASCAR and I AM ATHLETE announce new content partnership

By
Official Release
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‘I AM ATHLETE – NASCAR’ to Launch 16-Episode Video Series This Fall; Unscripted Show Will Feature the Sport’s Athletes, Storylines and Fan Experience

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (September 2, 2021) – Following a brief collaboration earlier this season, NASCAR and I AM ATHLETE, the fastest-growing, athlete-led media platform, today announced the launch of new content partnership focused on spotlighting the sport’s most interesting athletes, personalities and storylines.

I AM ATHLETE – NASCAR will explore the sport’s culture and fan experience across 16 video episodes and premiere on the show’s YouTube channel early this fall.

The partnership is the first sports league deal for I AM ATHLETE, founded by former NFL All-Pro Brandon Marshall.

“NASCAR is a dynamic sport that has a tremendous opportunity to engage new and diverse audiences,” said Marshall. “We see I AM ATHLETE as an amazing vehicle to help NASCAR build exposure and introduce its athletes and experiences to new communities of fans.”

After featuring Bubba Wallace as a guest in March, I AM ATHLETE launched four NASCAR-themed episodes as part of an explorative collaboration in May. The one-hour shows featured 2021 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Dale Earnhardt Jr., two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch, Arab-American driver Toni Breidinger and the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Pit Crew Development Program – and their success provided a launchpad for the new partnership.

“The formula that Brandon’s created aligns remarkably well with a sport like ours that has no shortage of compelling stories and personalities,” said Tim Clark, NASCAR Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Officer. “Through this partnership, we’re able to showcase NASCAR’s stars and the overall experience in an authentic and entertaining way that also helps us build connections with important new audiences.”

Earlier today, I AM ATHLETE and NASCAR released a teaser video featuring Marshall and co-host Chad Ochocinco at Daytona International Speedway for last week’s NASCAR Cup Series regular season finale. Marshall and other I AM ATHLETE talent will anchor I AM ATHLETE – NASCAR, conduct deep-dive interviews with NASCAR athletes and take viewers behind the scenes at racetracks to chronicle the race-day fan experience.

All 16 episodes of I AM ATHLETE – NASCAR will be available on the I AM ATHLETE YouTube Channel. The series will be produced by NASCAR Productions in collaboration with I AM ATHLETE in Charlotte, N.C.

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 Camping World 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’).

About I AM ATHLETE

Founded by former NFL All-Pro Brandon Marshall, I AM ATHLETE is the fastest growing athlete-led media platform, led by its flagship program I AM ATHLETE MIAMI, hosted by Marshall, Chad Ochocinco Johnson, Fred Taylor, and Channing Crowder. I AM ATHLETE MIAMI’s crew hold back no punches as they tackle important and controversial topics around sports, culture and current events. The I AM ATHLETE platform is the leading destination for athlete’s stories and perspectives told on their own terms. In under a year, I AM ATHLETE’s YouTube channel has attained over 620,000 subscribers and amassed over 48,000,000 views.

SS GreenLight Racing | Joe Graf Jr. Darlington Raceway September Event Preview

By
Official Release
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SS GreenLight Racing | NASCAR Xfinity Series
Darlington Raceway | Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200

Fast Facts
No. 07 SS GreenLight Racing Team:
Driver: Joe Graf Jr. (@JoeGrafJr)
Primary Partner(s): Bucked Up Energy
Manufacturer: Chevrolet Camaro
Crew Chief: Joe Williams
Sport Clips Haircuts Help A Hero 200 Starting Position: 32nd (Event Formula)
Driver Points Position: 32nd | Owner Points Position: 38th
Engine: Earnhardt-Childress Racing Engines (ECR)

Notes of Interest:

Full of Energy: Bucked Up Energy and its sister products will continue their role as the primary partner of Graf’s No. 07 Chevrolet Camaro this weekend.

Darlington Raceway is the seventh race of 2021 but is the 29th race overall in a multi-year, multi-race deal with the former ARCA Menards Series winner.

Bucked Up is the everyman (or woman) energy drink. We don’t care about the color of your collar; whether blue or white, we all require energy to power our days. We want something that tastes like success, enhances mood and focus, and most of all delivers long-lasting energy.

Bucked Up Energy New Flavors: Bucked Up Energy is now available in 10 different flavors including four recently released new flavors.

Gym n’ Juice pays homage to those classic west coast vibes with a citrusy, smooth flavor that is sure to drive you back to the early-coastal ‘90s.

Bucked Up Energy Strawberry-Kiwi features two delicious flavors fused to form one. The result — a zero sugar, solar-sweet source of energy so abundant the world might actually start revolving around you.
Pink lemonade prodigies innovate, fusing an otherwise basic beverage with refreshing cranberry, and thinly sliced lemons, for garnish — earning its sweet, refreshing, and jubilant. And yet, miraculously sugar-free taste.

Mango Tango tastes like a well-placed double entendre — two meanings, up to your interpretation. Perhaps, it’s a melodic, upbeat fiesta of juicy goodness pulling sultry-sweet dance moves on your tongue. Or we could be using Tango as code, letting you decide the most fitting “T” descriptive word.

Seal Covered: Last week, Joe Graf Jr. welcomed new partner CoverSeal® to the SS GreenLight Racing team.

CoverSeal® —the standout cover option keeping vehicles and other outdoor investments safe from rodents and the weather will serve as associate marketing on the No. 07 Chevrolet Camaro for upcoming events at Richmond (Va.) Raceway next weekend and at Kansas Speedway in October.

At Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, however, on Sat., Oct. 30, 2021 — CoverSeal® will increase their commitment and serve as the primary marketing partner for the penultimate NASCAR Xfinity Series race of the season.

Races for Faces: Joe Graf Jr. announced in mid-August that for the second consecutive year, Graf will be virtually participating in myFace’s Races for Faces, an event to raise awareness for myFace, an organization that helps kids and families living with craniofacial differences.

Graf is encouraging in the industry along with race fans to join “Team Graf” and show your support of his mission.

While the virtual event will be held on Sept. 19., donations to “Team Graf” will be accepted through Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021.

Saving You Some Money: As summer slowly starts to transition into fall, Joe Graf Jr.’s other marketing partner Z Grills wants to help the NASCAR community save money – but also enjoy the perfect barbecue.

In support of their recent partnership at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway in July, Z Grills Racing (ZGrillsRacing.com) is offering a 10 percent discount off your TOTAL purchase, using the code NASCAR at checkout.

Joe Graf Jr. Xfinity Series Darlington Raceway Starts: Joe Graf Jr. will make his fourth career start at the “Lady in Black” in Saturday afternoon’s race.

Last year, Graf Jr. impressed in the spring race climbing from his 36th place starting position to earn a lead lap 19th place finish without practice or qualifying.

In the fall, he finished as respectable 23rd after starting 28th in a throwback paint scheme to retired Xfinity Series driver Elliott Sadler.

In May, Graf contended for a top-20 finish again but hiccups on pit road put him at the rear of the field where he eventually was collected in a late-race accident and finished a disappointing 37th.

Joe Graf Jr. Xfinity Series Career Intermediate Nuggets: At tracks greater than 1.0-mile in size, Graf has competed in 28 NASCAR Xfinity Series races. He holds an average starting position of 25.5 and an average result of 24.2.

Put Me In Coach: To strengthen his physique, Joe Graf Jr. began working with new trainer and former NASCAR Cup Series Josh Wise during the 2020 offseason.

In addition to Wise, Graf has also been working with former NASCAR driver and open-wheel driver Scott Speed on being more discipline behind the wheel of his No. 07 G-Coin Chevrolet Camaro.

Sneaker Mania: Along with the adrenaline of the Motorsports competition, Joe Graf Jr. also has a vogue for hype sneakers. In his current collection, he owns and wears at least 85 limited edition sneakers – and his collection continues to grow every month.

The current estimated value of his collection tops $90,000.

From the Pit Box: Industry veteran Joe Williams is Joe Graf Jr.’s crew chief.

He will crew chief his 56th NASCAR Xfinity Series race as crew chief on Saturday afternoon and his fourth at the 1.366-mile oval.

In his previous 55 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, he has collected four top-five and 14 top-10 finishes.

Hello From The Other Side: Graf Jr. has a teammate at SS GreenLight Racing.
Georgia native Mason Masey will drive the No. 17 Anderson Power | Gerber Collision and Glass Chevrolet on Saturday afternoon.

Massey is poised to make his 17th career Xfinity Series start and eighth of the 2021 season. The 24-year-old will make his second start at the track dubbed Too Tough To Tame and hopes to improve on an 30th place finish in May 2020.

Follow on Social Media: For more on Joe Graf Jr. visit JoeGrafJr.com, like him on Facebook (Joe Graf Jr.), follow him on Twitter (@JoeGrafJr) and Instagram (@joegrafjr).

For more on SS GreenLight Racing, please like them on Facebook (SS GreenLight Racing) and follow them on Twitter (@SSGLR0708) and visit their website at SSGreenLight.com.

Joe Graf Jr. Pre-Race Quotes:

On Darlington: “I’m looking for some redemption this weekend at Darlington. We really had a good car in the spring, but we had a series of setbacks late in the race that haunted us and took us from an opportunity to finish inside the top-20.

“Joe (Williams, crew chief) has a pretty good record at Darlington and I’m hoping he can escalate our No. 07 Bucked Up Energy Chevrolet Camaro on-track performance and we can get a solid finish to carry to Richmond next weekend.”

On Bouncing Back: “There’s no hiding around that this season has been a huge bummer. We’ve had more than our fair share of bad luck and being at the wrong place at the wrong time, but there’s no quit in myself or this race team.

“We have to keep going and keep fighting knowing we have a good team surrounded by great people and great partners. We will make the best of the rest of the 2021 season and surge ahead for 2022.”

Race Information:

The Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200 (147 laps | 200.1 miles) is the 24th of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2021 schedule. The 40-car field will take the green flag on Sat., Sept. 4, 2021, shortly after 3:30 p.m. ET with live coverage on the NBC Sports Network (NBCSN), the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90.
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About SS Green Light Racing:

As one of the most tenured teams in all of NASCAR, SS GreenLight Racing led by team owner and former driver Bobby Dotter has been a mainstay in the sport fielding entries in either the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series or the Xfinity Series competition since 2001.

SS GreenLight Racing will continue with a two-car program in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2021.

Weekend schedule for Darlington Raceway

By
Angie Campbell
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Brad Keselowski and Kevin Harvick lead the field to start the NASCAR Cup Series Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway on May 09, 2021. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

This weekend NASCAR travels to Darlington Raceway for a Labor Day celebration of racing. The Xfinity Series will take center stage Saturday afternoon and Sunday will feature a doubleheader with the Camping World Truck Series race at 1:30 p.m. followed by the Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 at 6 p.m.

It’s the first of 10 races in the Cup Series Playoffs. Darlington starts off the Round of 16 as the drivers compete for the coveted championship title.

Sheldon Creed won the first race in Round 1 of the Truck Series Playoffs. The upcoming race at Darlington is the second post-season race and the final race of Round 1 will be held at Bristol Motor Speedway.

There are three races remaining in the Xfinity Series regular-season at Darlington Raceway, Richmond Raceway and Bristol Motor Speedway. Their post-season begins on Sept. 25 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

All times are Eastern.

Saturday, September 4

3 p.m.: Xfinity Series Driver Intros
3:30 p.m.: Xfinity Series Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200
Stages 45/90/147 Laps = 200.1 Miles
Pole: Daniel Hemric
NBCSN/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Sunday, September 5

1 p.m.: Truck Series Driver Intros
1:30 p.m.: Truck Series In It To Win It 200
Stages 45/90/147 Laps = 200.1 Miles
Pole: Sheldon Creed
FS1/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

5:30 p.m.: Cup Series Driver Intros
6 p.m.: Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500
Stages 115/230/367 Laps = 501.3 Miles
Pole: Ryan Blaney
NBCSN/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Cup Series Playoff Grid – Round of 16 – Race 1 at Darlington

1.Kyle Larson2052
2.  Ryan Blaney2024
3.   Martin Truex Jr.2024
4.   Kyle Busch2022
5.   Chase Elliott2021
6.   Alex Bowman2015
7.   Denny Hamlin2015
8.  William Byron2014
9.   Joey Logano2013
10.Brad Keselowski2008
11.Kurt Busch2008
12.Michael McDowell2005
13.Christopher Bell2005
14.Aric Almirola2005
15.Tyler Reddick2003
16.Kevin Harvick2002

Truck Series Playoff Grid  – Round of 12 – Race 2 at Darlington

1.John H. Nemechek2073
2.Sheldon Creed 2071
3.Ben Rhodes2070
4.Matt Crafton2051
5.Stewart Friesen2049
6.Austin Hill2039
7.Carson Hocevar2031
8.Todd Gilliland2028
9.Zane Smith2018
10.Chandler Smith2010

(Sheldon Creed – One playoff win – World Wide Technology at Gateway)

Darlington Raceway Data

Season Race #: 27 of 36 (09-05-21)
Playoff Race #: 1 of 10
Track Size: 1.366-miles
Banking/Turns 1 & 2: 25 degrees
Banking/Turns 3 & 4: 23 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 6 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 6 degrees
Frontstretch Length:  1,229 feet
Backstretch Length:  1,229 feet
Race Length: 367 laps / 501.3 miles
Stage 1 Length: 115 laps
Stage 2 Length: 115 laps
Final Stage Length: 137 laps

Top 12 Driver Ratings at Darlington

Kyle Larson ……………………….. 111.5
Denny Hamlin……………………… 107.3
Kevin Harvick……………………… 104.4
Martin Truex Jr……………………. 103.9
Kyle Busch…………………………. 103.1
Erik Jones………………………….. 100.0
Brad Keselowski……………………. 96.1
Joey Logano………………………… 91.1
Chase Elliott…………………………. 90.3
William Byron……………………….. 87.1
Ryan Newman………………………. 87.0
Kurt Busch…………………………… 86.4

Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2021 races (19 total) among active drivers at Darlington Raceway.

Darlington Raceway Qualifying Data

2020 Darlington #1 pole winner: Brad Keselowski – Qualifying by Random Draw.
2020 Darlington #2 pole winner: Ryan Preece – Qualifying by Inverting Field.
2020 Southern 500 pole winner: Chase Elliott – Qualifying by Metric Qualifying.
Track qualifying record: Aric Almirola, Ford (184.145 mph, 26.705 secs.) on April, 11, 2014.

  • Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch lead all active series drivers in starts at Darlington with 27 each.
  • Denny Hamlin leads all active drivers in the series in average starting position at Darlington with a 8.778 in 18 starts.
  • Kurt Busch (2001, 2013) and Kevin Harvick (2014, 2017) lead all active drivers in poles at Darlington with two each.
  • The youngest Darlington pole winner is William Byron (09/01/2019 – 21 years, 9 months, 3 days).
  • Ford leads the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Darlington Raceway with 43 poles; followed by Chevrolet (22), Mercury (13), Pontiac (10), Dodge (8), Buick (3), Oldsmobile (3), Plymouth (3), Toyota (2), Chrysler (1), Hudson (1) and Studebaker (1).

Darlington Raceway Race Data

2020 Darlington #1 race winner: Kevin Harvick, Ford (115.815 mph, 03:27:21) on May 17, 2020.
2020 Darlington #2 race winner: Denny Hamlin, Toyota (104.984 mph, 02:42:23) on May 20, 2020.
2020 Southern 500 winner: Kevin Harvick, Ford (132.256 mph, 03:47:26) on Sept. 6, 2020.
Track race record (500 miles): Matt Kenseth, Toyota (141.383 mph, 03:32:45) on 05-11-13.

  • Denny Hamlin (2010, 2017, 2020-2) and Kevin Harvick (2014, 2020-1, 2020-3) lead all active drivers with three wins each.
  • The youngest series Darlington winner is Kyle Busch (5/10/2008 – 23 years, 0 months, 8 days).
  • Kevin Harvick is the only active driver to win from the pole (2014) at Darlington.
  • The first starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (20 of 120, 16.667%) than any other starting position at Darlington.
  • Hendrick Motorsports has the most wins by an organization at Darlington in the NASCAR Cup Series with 14 victories.
  • A total of 11 different manufacturers have won in the series at Darlington; led by Chevrolet with 41 victories; followed by Ford (31), Mercury (10), Oldsmobile (six), Toyota (eight), Dodge (five), Pontiac (five), Buick (four), Plymouth (four), Hudson (three) and American Motor Company (two).

From OddsChecker:

Kyle Larson is coming off one of his worst races of the season, but oddsmakers expect a bounce back performance from the Cup Series leader. In fact, they expect him to win the race.  Larson is given +325 odds, or an implied 23.5% chance to win the Cook Out Southern 500. Next best is Martin Truex Jr, who is given +600 odds to win the race. Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch are both given +700 odds.

COOK OUT SOUTHER 500 WINNER ODDS 

Driver Odds Implied chance 
Kyle Larson +325 23.5% 
Martin Truex Jr. +600 14.3% 
Denny Hamlin +700 12.5% 
Kyle Busch +700 12.5% 
Chase Elliot +1000 9.1% 
Kevin Harvick +1200 7.7% 
William Byron +1400 6.7% 
Joey Logano +1600 5.9% 
Brad Keslowski +1800 5.3% 
Alex Bowman +2000 4.8% 

CHEVY NCS AT DARLINGTON: Team Chevy Advance

By
Official Release
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TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE
COOK OUT SOUTHERN 500
DARLINGTON RACEWAY
DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA
SEPTEMBER 5, 2021

RACE #27 – DARLINGTON RACEWAY
With the end of the 26-race NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) Regular Season in the books, six Chevrolet drivers have now secured their spot in the 16-driver Playoff field. Over the next 10 weeks, their focus is on the prize of the coveted championship.

There are three rounds (3 races per round) in the NCS Playoff format, plus one final championship-crowning season finale. Four drivers will be eliminated following each three-race round. The 367-lap Cook Out Southern 500 on Sunday, September 5, on the 1.33-mile Darlington Raceway oval kicks off the first of three races in the Round of 16.

A capsule look at Team Chevy in the NASCAR Cup Series title hunt:

Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Camaro ZL1 1LE – 1st in Standings; NCS Regular Season Champion (2052 Points)
Victories: 5 (field-high)
Leads the series in: Top-Fives: 14; Top-10’s: 18; Laps Led: 1,566
Average Finish: 9.7
Stage Wins: 12
At Darlington: Top-Fives: 4; Top-10’s: 6; Average Finish: 6.0 (series-best).
Of Note: The 2021 season marks Larson’s fifth Playoff appearance.

Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA/Children’s Camaro ZL1 1LE – 5th in Standings (2021 Points)
Victories: 2
Top-Fives: 11; Top-10’s: 16; Laps Led: 337; Average Finish: 11.0
Stage Wins: 3
At Darlington: Top-Fives: 2; Top-10’s: 4
Of Note: The 2021 NCS season marks Elliott’s sixth consecutive year of being part of the Playoff field. Six of his 13 career NCS wins have come in the Playoffs.

Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Camaro ZL1 1LE – 6th in Standings (2015 points)
Victories: 3
Top-Fives: 6; Top-10’s 13; Pole Wins: 1; Laps Led: 151; Average Finish: 14.1
At Darlington: Top-Fives: 1; Top-10’s: 2
Of Note: The 2021 NCS season marks Bowman’s fourth-career Playoffs appearance. Bowman has raced his way into the Round of 12 for the last three years.

William Byron, No. 24 Axalta Camaro ZL1 1LE – 8th in Standings (2014 points)
Victories: 1
Top-Fives: 9; Top-10’s: 16; Pole Wins: 2; Laps Led: 276; Average Finish: 13.1
Stage Wins: 3
At Darlington: Top-Fives: 2; Top-10’s: 2; Pole Wins: 1
Of Note: The 2021 NCS season marks Byron’s third-career Playoffs appearance. In 26 of 36 races, these are the most top-fives, top-10’s, laps led and stage wins that Byron has earned in a single season of his Cup career.

Kurt Busch, No. 1 Monster Energy Camaro ZL1 1LE – 11th in Standings (2008 Points)
Victories: 1
Top-Fives: 4; Top-10’s: 9; Laps Led: 175; Average Finish: 16.0
Stage Wins: 3
At Darlington: Top-Fives: 4; Top-10’s: 11; Pole Wins: 2
Of Note: This is Busch’s 15th NCS post-season appearance, tying career Chevrolet driver Jimmie Johnson and two others for most.

Tyler Reddick, No. 8 Camaro ZL1 1LE – 15th in Standings (2003 Points)
Top-Fives: 2; Top-10’s: 13; Pole Wins: 1; Laps Led: 26; Average Finish: 14.6
Stage Wins: 3
At Darlington: Top-10’s: 1; Average Finish: 13.750
Of Note: Reddick earned the final spot in the NCS Playoff field with a fifth-place finish in the regular season finale at Daytona, marking his first Playoffs appearance. He has completed 99.44% of the race laps thus far this season (5,992 of 6,026).

The push to the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) Playoffs continues with the 147-lap Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200 at 3:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, September 4. Justin Haley held off Kaulig Racing teammate AJ Allmendinger to win at Daytona last week as Chevrolet swept the top four finishers. Allmendinger moved to the top of the Driver Standings with three races left in the NXS regular season. Chevrolet remains first in the Manufacturer Standings. Allmendinger will start on the outside of the front row at Darlington.

Darlington hosts Race 2 of the first round of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) Playoffs – the 147-lap In It To Win It 200 – at 1:30 p.m. ET, September 5. Sheldon Creed, the 2020 NCWTS Champion, drove his No. 2 GMS Racing Chevrolet Silverado to victory in the Playoff opener at World Wide Technology Raceway. The victory secured his spot into the Round of 8 and his chance at defending the championship title.

SOUTH CAROLINA FOR THE CHEVY WIN
The Cook Out Southern 500 will mark the 121st NCS race at Darlington Raceway since 1950. Chevrolet’s first entries were in the September 7, 1953, race. Herb Thomas delivered Chevrolet’s first victory at the track on September 5, 1955, after starting eighth in the No. 92 Bel Air in the 60-car field. He led 76 of the 366 laps in the Southern 500. Jim Reed was runner-up and Hubert Westmoreland finished fifth in their Chevrolets.

In March of 1955, also in South Carolina, Fonty Flock scored the first NCS win for Chevrolet, leading 66 of 200 laps on the half-mile Columbia Speedway oval.

CHEVROLET CONTINUES TO PACE MANUFACTURERS
Chevrolet remains the leader in the NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer Standings in pursuit of its 40th title. Team Chevy has recorded field highs of 13 victories, 117 top-10 finishes and 2,749 laps led through 26 races. The Bowtie Brand has already surpassed its win total (9) from 2020.

QUITE A SEASON FOR LARSON
Kyle Larson, in his first season driving the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1 1LE, was crowned the NASCAR Cup Series Regular Season Champion, the first in his NCS career. “Congratulations to Kyle Larson, Cliff Daniels and the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team on clinching the NASCAR Cup Series Regular Season Championship,” said Jim Campbell, GM U.S. Vice President of Performance and Motorsports. “It was quite a battle right to the end, but the combination of the most wins, top-five’s, top-10 finishes, stage wins and laps led made the difference to secure this Regular Season Championship. The team has momentum going into the Playoffs.”

The top-10 driver standings earned Playoff points on a sliding scale, starting with 15 points for the champion to one point for 10th place. Larson has topped the standings since his fifth win of the season, captured at Watkins Glen International in early August.

ON THE WAY TO THE GREEN
With no practice or qualifying for the 367-lap race, the starting lineup is determined by NASCAR’s metrics system that was introduced to the series last year and incorporates results from both individual races and season-long results.

Team Chevy’s Top-20 starters:
3rd Kurt Busch, No. 1 Monster Energy Camaro ZL1 1LE
4th Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA/Children’s Camaro ZL1 1LE
5th Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Camaro ZL1 1LE
6th Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Camaro ZL1 1LE
7th Tyler Reddick, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Camaro ZL1 1LE
14th William Byron, No. 24 Axalta Camaro ZL1 1LE
18th Ryan Preece, No. 37 Kroger/Hershey’s Camaro ZL1 1LE
20th Justin Haley, No. 77 Bon Secours/Swamp Rabbits Camaro ZL1 1LE

BOWTIE BULLETS
· Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 117 top-10 finishes and 2,749 laps led of 6,026 total this season.
· In addition to its 41 wins, Chevrolet has amassed 192 top-five and 402 top-10 finishes at Darlington Raceway.
· Kyle Larson paces all drivers with 1,566 laps led.
· Tyler Reddick is second among drivers with 99.44% of laps completed (5,992 of 6,026).
· Hendrick Motorsports has recorded 14 wins at Darlington, the most of all teams.
· Erik Jones, who drives the No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Camaro ZL1 1LE, won the September 1, 2019, race at Darlington. He has an average finish of 7.0 in seven NCS starts. In the same race, William Byron earned the pole in his Chevrolet to become the youngest to start on the pole at the track in NCS competition.
· Five Team Chevy drivers have combined for 24 stage wins – three more than in 36 races in 2020: Chase Elliott (Daytona RC, Michigan, Daytona2); William Byron (Homestead, Pocono2, Road America); Tyler Reddick (Road America, Indianapolis Road course x2); Kurt Busch (Nashville Superspeedway, Pocono1, Atlanta2); Kyle Larson (Las Vegas, Atlanta x2, Kansas, Dover x2, Charlotte x3, Sonoma x2, Nashville).

FOR THE FANS:
Fans can visit the Team Chevy Racing Display in the Fan Midway at Darlington Raceway.
Fans can check out an assortment of Chevrolet vehicles including: 2021 Silverado 1500 RST, 2021 Silverado 2500 LTZ, 2021 Blazer, 2021 Trailblazer, 2021 Camaro ZL1, 2021 Corvette Convertible 3LT.
At the Chevrolet Display, fans can also view Chase Elliott’s No. 9 Camaro ZL1 1LE show car.

TEAM CHEVY QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSIONS AT THE DISPLAY:
Saturday, September 4
Brandon Brown: 12:45 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Jeremy Clements: 1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Jade Buford: 1:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Sunday, September 5
Carson Hocevar & Ryan Truex: 10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Sheldon Creed, Zane Smith & Jack Wood: 11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Erik Jones: 3:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
William Byron: 4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.

Chevrolet Display Hours of Operation:
Saturday, September 4: 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Sunday, September 5: 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

TUNE IN
NBCSN will telecast the 367-lap NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 at 6 p.m. ET, Sunday, Sept. 5. Live coverage is also on the MRN and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. FS1 will telecast the 147-lap NASCAR Camping World Truck Series In It To Win It 200 at 1:30 p.m. ET, Sept. 5. NBCSN will telecast the 147-lap NASCAR Xfinity Series Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200 at 3:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, Sept. 4.

QUOTABLE QUOTES
KYLE LARSON, NO. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 1st IN STANDINGS
LARSON ON DARLINGTON AND THE START OF THE PLAYOFFS:
“This is the best opportunity I’ve had to win a championship. There’s nothing easy about Darlington. It’s tough because we run so close to the wall and it’s so tough getting to pit road. It’s a crown jewel that we all want to win, and it means even more since it starts off the playoffs.”

CLIFF DANIELS, CREW CHIEF, NO. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM CAMARO ZL1 1LE
DANIELS ON POINT STANDINGS AFFECTING RACE STRATEGY:
“I have not looked at points (during the races) all year – I did not look at the points even once (last) Saturday night at Daytona. If we do our jobs correctly, the points should take care of themselves.”

CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 NAPA/CHILDREN’S CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 5th IN STANDINGS
ELLIOTT LOOKING AT DARLINGTON:
“We are super excited for Darlington this weekend. These next three weeks are exciting races. Three, I feel like, really cool racetracks with fun environments for us. It’s getting to be that time of year. Fall is an exciting time of year for a lot of things around sports and our season is getting down to it, as well. We are just excited to get going. It’s hard to believe we are 26 weeks in. It doesn’t really seem like it, but here we are starting another playoffs and heading into the final 10 of the year. It goes by fast, but over two months of racing is still a long time. They will click off and you’ll get in certain moments that you might like, some you might not like, and we’ll make the most of them all.”

ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 6th IN STANDINGS
“Last year, we had some rough weeks during the summer but showed up in the playoffs strong each and every week. I believe we have the ability to repeat that and go further in the playoffs this year. Hendrick Motorsports has a lot of momentum right now as an organization and the No. 48 team is bringing some fast Ally Camaros to the track every week. Darlington is a place where we have had good results in the past and I think it is one of three or four in the playoffs that suits our program.

GREG IVES, CREW CHIEF, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1 1LE
“I feel like having three wins in the first 26 races is definitely marked for a good season. You can check off some boxes like getting a win, getting a pole and making the playoffs. Obviously, there are a couple of races that we would want to take back and think we could have run better at. Most teams, if not all teams, find the one or two things that didn’t go right during certain races and focus on improving those going into the playoffs. We had a great playoff run last year and we are going to try to pull from that experience going into the playoffs this year.”

“The repave at Darlington in Turn 2 is going to provide some challenges for teams, just because we don’t know how it will affect the tire wear. Going to a track that has been repaved typically doesn’t wear tires as much and has a tendency to run edgy free versus more of a slidable free. You also tend to run a little faster for sure. It is going to be fun and exciting to figure out on Sunday. There are some things that we can look at doing differently as a team with the set up, but ultimately the teams and drivers that adapt quickly will be successful with it.”

WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 AXALTA CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 8th IN STANDINGS
BYRON ON RACING AT DARLINGTON FOR THE FIRST RACE OF THE PLAYOFFS:
“Darlington is a track that has a lot of character. I feel like you really have to drive your car to its limit all while understanding the grip and limit of your tires. You can’t exceed that level every lap. You have to stay within a certain limit. I think that is a factor at just about every track, but it’s really magnified at Darlington. Any time the drivers are challenged like they are at Darlington, it brings out the desire and passion within all of us. It just makes it that more intense when it’s kicking off the most intense part of our season with the playoffs. It’s definitely a cool race if you can win it track-wise but also because it sets the tone for how the next nine races go.”

RUDY FUGLE, CREW CHIEF, NO. 24 AXALTA CAMARO ZL1 1LE
FUGLE ON WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE PLAYOFFS:
“Daytona was a tough one for us, just because we had a car that could have won and the extra playoff points would have been nice. Unfortunately, preparation doesn’t always equal results, but you can’t get results without the preparation. While we’ve been preparing every week like we’ve already started the playoffs, we’re resetting for the start of the Round of 16 this weekend. The playoffs are a long, hard-fought war, but it starts with small battles. Our team has had the speed all year; we just need to execute and put ourselves in the best position to keep moving forward and get through the rounds. Obviously, the goal is to make it to the final four at Phoenix, but we need to win the small battles along the way to ensure we get there. This team is fully capable of doing that and it starts this weekend at Darlington.”

KURT BUSCH, NO. 1 MONSTER ENERGY CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 11th IN STANDINGS
“The first thing I think of with kicking-off the Playoffs at Darlington, is that it is a crown jewel event. That is the perfect stage that we could have start the 2021 Playoffs, and we are starting it at one of the coolest tracks. We are also going into some unknowns with the repaved or repaired surface in turn two. it is really going to improve the lap times with the grip level. Turn two is where your lap time is made and if you get through there good, it’s really going to help with that. Now with the extra grip, there is going to be a ton of speed down the back straightaway, into turn three, and there could be a question if we are up against the rev chip. So, you might have to back off the throttle to preserve the engine. With this being the second longest race of the year, that could be a huge factor at the end of the race as far as durability. But for the most part it’s still the same old Darlington. There is a ton of stuff that the driver has to compartmentalize at Darlington, plus the emotions of kicking-off the Playoffs. A lot of things that we have to juggle when we get there.”

TYLER REDDICK, NO. 8 RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 15th IN STANDINGS
THESE FIRST THREE TRACKS ARE ONES WHERE YOU’VE CONSISTENTLY FOUGHT FOR TOP-10’S AND TOP-FIVE’S. WHAT IS YOUR CONFIDENCE LEVEL HEADING INTO YOUR FIRST PLAYOFFS?
“It’s good. The nice thing is that we’re going back to a venue that we’ve been to earlier this season. The speed we had early at this race at Darlington in the beginning of summer was really promising. I’m excited for sure going into Darlington. But even more exciting, after all the chaos and everything at Daytona, our fifth-place finish at Daytona is going to help our starting position at Darlington. There’s only 13 points between myself and sixth right now, and with that tight of a spread I think we’re going to see a lot of shake up right away. We’re going to try to take advantage of that.”

AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 BASS PRO SHOPS/TRACKER OFF ROAD CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 17th IN STANDINGS
HOW DOES DARLINGTON RACEWAY SUIT YOUR DRIVING STYLE?
“I think long races in the past have fit my racing style. There is plenty of time to make the car better during a long race, and all of our wins have come in races 500 miles or more. So, I think that bodes well for Darlington. We learned a lot in the Southern 500 last year that we can translate to this weekend. Darlington is a place that falls off, so tire management becomes important and I really like that. It’s nice that we’re going to place that long run speed matters a bit.”

ERIK JONES, NO. 43 PETTY’S GARAGE CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 24th IN STANDINGS
HOW DOES DARLINGTON SUIT YOUR RACING STYLE?
“I love Darlington (Raceway). It reminds me a lot of the tracks that I grew up racing on. Some of the stuff I did growing up in Late Models, like managing and conserving your tires, is what Darlington is all about. I really enjoy that style of racing. It is not just all out from the start. You have to manage your stuff and be good at the end of a run. I feel like I just have a good feel for that place; I can what the car needs to do and how you need your car to drive at the end of the run, not necessarily at the beginning of a run. Darlington is one of my favorite tracks, for sure. The Southern 500 race – is pretty hard to beat.”

DANIEL SUAREZ, NO. 99 GOOD SAM CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 25th IN STANDINGS
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE SEASON SO FAR?
“I think it has been good. It hasn’t been great but it hasn’t been bad. We have had some spikes of good performance, but the last month or so has been difficult. We have had a few mechanical issues here and there and that has put us behind. The way we race right now, if you have an issue one week that carries over to the next week when it comes to time on the track, where you start, where you pick pits, things like that. We have to get back in the routine of running up front. I think we can run in the top 12-14 every week. If we can do that I think we will get even better. I believe we will have a shot to get a win this year.”

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE REST OF THE SEASON?
“My goal all year long has been to get a win – playoffs or no playoffs. I feel like with this Trackhouse team we are building something very, very amazing for the present and for the future. I keep pushing myself and the team and hopefully very soon we will get that victory.”

DO YOU HAVE A PRE-RACE ROUTINE?
“One hour before the race, I try to just be in my mind, relax and have fun. I remind myself why I am here. I am here not because I have to be here, but because I love racing and I love the competition. That puts a smile on my face.”

RYAN PREECE, NO. 37 KROGER/HERSHEY’S CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 27th IN STANDINGS
“I’m happy we are going to Darlington this weekend because it has been a better track for us as far as speed goes. We’ll be searching around to find the most speed. We also have Hershey’s on the car along with Kroger, which is pretty awesome. I know on our side Trent (Owens) and the 37 team continues to get better week in and week out. You know people look at the end result, but the past four to five weeks we’ve had better running days. We just haven’t got the finishes, whether due to a mechanical failure, a loose lugnut/loose wheel and just things that stop you from having that good finishing result. Hopefully, at Daytona we were able to get the monkey off our back and we can go have a solid day at Darlington and build some momentum to keep us moving throughout the season.”

Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series Statistics

Manufacturers Championships:
Total (1949-2020): 39
First title for Chevrolet: 1958
Highest number of consecutive titles: 13 (2003-15)

Years Won: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015

Drivers Championships:
Total (1949-2020): 32
First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)
Highest number of consecutive titles: 7 (2005-11)
Most Recent: Chase Elliott (2020)

Years Won: 1957, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020

Event Victories:
Record for total race wins in single season: 26 (2007)

2021 STATISTICS:
Wins: 13
Poles: 5
Laps Led: 2,749
Top-five finishes: 54
Top-10 finishes: 117

CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:
Total Chevrolet race wins: 808 (1949 to date)
Poles won to date: 722
Laps led to date: 239,454
Top-five finishes to date: 4,119
Top-10 finishes to date: 8,519
Stage wins: 24 – Chase Elliott (Daytona RC, Michigan, Daytona), William Byron (Homestead, Pocono 2, Road America), Kyle Larson (Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Atlanta x2, Kansas, Dover x2, Charlotte x3, Sonoma x2, Nashville), Kurt Busch (Nashville, Pocono 1, Atlanta 2), Tyler Reddick (Road America, Indy RC x2)

Total NASCAR Cup wins by corporation, 1949 to date

       General Motors: 1,142
       Chevrolet: 808
       Pontiac: 154
       Oldsmobile: 115
       Buick: 65

       Ford: 811                                                         
       Ford: 711
       Mercury: 96
       Lincoln: 4

       Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467
       Dodge: 217
       Plymouth: 191
       Chrysler: 59

       Toyota: 158

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.

Ryan Truex – In It To Win It 200 Race Advance

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Official Release
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Team: No. 40 Niece/Marquis Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Ryan Truex
Follow the Team: @NieceMotorsport; @Ryan_Truex

Truex on Racing at Darlington: “I’m proud of the effort this team continues to put into building fast race trucks,” said Truex. “We had such a great race at Gateway, and definitely didn’t get the finish we deserved, but this team is as motivated as ever to go to Darlington and put together another strong run.”

Truex at Darlington: Sunday’s race marks Truex’s second NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start at Darlington Raceway. In his previous start earlier this season, Truex started 18th and finished 11th.

Truex also has two NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Darlington Raceway, with his best finish of 15th coming in 2018.

Truex also has one NASCAR Cup Series start at ‘The Lady in Black’, coming in 2014.

On the Truck: Truex will race with support from Niece Equipment and Marquis this week at Darlington Raceway.
For over 40 years, Niece Equipment has provided clients with water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity, and dependability.

Marquis, an employee-owned company founded in 1980, builds world-class hot tubs in the USA. Designed with cutting-edge features, Marquis hot tubs deliver the ultimate hydromassage experience, costing less to operate, and requiring the least amount of maintenance. Marquis is proud to craft spas designed to enhance health and well-being. For more information, visit: www.marquisspas.com.

About Niece Motorsports:
Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2021, Niece Motorsports enters its sixth season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as Twitter @NieceMotorsport.

Carson Hocevar – In It To Win It 200 Race Advance

By
Official Release
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Team: No. 42 Good Sam/Throwback Brand Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Carson Hocevar
Follow the Team: @NieceMotorsport; @CarsonHocevar

Hocevar on Racing Darlington: “We had such a great truck at Darlington earlier this season, so I was excited when this race got added to the schedule,” said Hocevar. “We were able to capitalize on a tough race at Gateway and put ourselves in a better position in the points. We are still going into this race with the mentality that we have nothing to lose and everything to gain.”

Hocevar at Darlington: Hocevar returns to Darlington Raceway for the second time this season. Earlier this year Hocevar had a strong run at the track nicknamed ‘The Lady in Black’. The 18-year-old driver started 14th and quickly worked his way to the front of the field, running there for the majority of the race, and ultimately earning a third-place finish.

In the Points: Hocevar gained one spot in the driver standings following the first race in the Truck Series playoffs at Gateway. He now sits seventh in the standings as the series enters the second of three races in the opening round of the playoffs. In addition, Hocevar maintains the lead in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings.

On the Truck: The No. 42 Chevrolet will race with support Good Sam, Throwback Brand and Jesse Rast Enterprises.

Since 1966 Good Sam has delivered big savings, plus dependable services for millions of RVers. Today, Good Sam continues to provide a wide range of money-saving discounts and a range of services to help RVers enjoy their time on the road and focus on the fun!

As the world’s largest organization of RV owners, Good Sam members enjoy 10% savings in our network of 2,100+ Good Sam Parks in the United States and Canada. Members also get discounts at Camping World and Gander RV & Outdoors retail locations along with instant fuel discounts at select Pilot Flying J locations. Plus, Good Sam members enjoy savings on propane, installation fees, free online RV trip planning, show discounts and much more!

Good Sam has you covered with Roadside Assistance, extended warranty plans, RV and auto insurance, life and health insurance and travel assistance programs. Plus, the Good Sam Finance Center offers RV loans that could help you save on RV purchases or refinances. And, card holders earn points on every purchase with the Good Sam Rewards Visa.©

Throwback brand creates custom made hats that bring back a blast from the past, with fun looks you won’t find at the big box stores. We sell unique hats that will make you stand out from the crowd. To shop their inventory visit: https://throwbackbrand.com/

Rast Family Farms have been in operation since 1889, harvesting generations of appreciation for hard work, honesty, and dependability. Jesse Rast Enterprises has taken the family values from decades of farming, planting the seed for a better way to procure farm and agricultural equipment by eliminating “the man”, speeding up delivery, and doing what’s right.

About Niece Motorsports:
Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2021, Niece Motorsports enters its sixth season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as Twitter @NieceMotorsport.

Tight championship battles race into the Grand Prix of Portland next weekend

By
Official Release
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Portland International Raceway is the next stop for both the ARCA Menards Series West and NTT INDYCAR SERIES

PORTLAND, Ore. (Sept. 2, 2021) – The championship battles are heating up as the 2021 motorsports season draws closer to its finish. Three races remain for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and four for the ARCA Menards Series West with both featured next weekend at Portland International Raceway (PIR) during the Grand Prix of Portland, Sept. 10-12.

The ARCA Menards Series West will race first as the Saturday, Sept. 11th headliner with a starting time of 4:30 p.m. PDT for these stock cars. Then, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES will cap off an exciting Grand Prix of Portland weekend as the field takes the green flag at approximately 12:42 p.m. PDT on Sunday, Sept. 12th. Tickets can be purchased online now and the complete weekend schedule viewed at portlandgp.com.

The ARCA Menards Series West has the top four in its championship standings separated by just 14 points. Jesse Love leads the points battle by 11 over Cole Moore with Jake Drew and Todd Souza both 14 points back and tied at third in the standings. Love, the defending ARCA Menards Series West champion for Bill McAnally Racing, extended his points championship lead by winning the most recent race at Irwindale Speedway (Calif.).

“It definitely feels good to be the points leader! Our team has worked very hard this year to be our best. With the support of NAPA, we have that opportunity to work hard, so a huge thank you to them,” said Jesse Love, the 16-year-old driver from Menlo Park, Calif. “We are all on the same page right now and we want to be able to have our championship sealed before Phoenix. We can accomplish this, but we just need to keep our head down, be humble, work hard, and win races. With all the glory to God! ”

Featuring the stars and cars of the Indianapolis 500, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES saw a flip at the top of its season standings again after the most recent stop near St. Louis. Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou was atop the the standings after the four previous races including holding the positiion following eight of the 14 rounds on the season; however, Arrow McLaren SP driver Pato O’Ward took advantage of some recent misfortune by Palou and recaptured first by 10 points in the standings since last leading after the second race on the streets of Detroit in early June.

Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden has entered the championship fight sitting in third and only 22 points back of O’Ward after just notching his second win of the season. O’Ward, Palou and Newgarden all hold two race wins in 2021 with O’Ward and Palou both testing on the 1.964-mile, 12-turn PIR circuit on July 30th. O’Ward recently pointed to the Portland test after winning pole position on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course last month as a pivotal turning point to his and the team’s season.

“We had a great test in Portland. What we found there I knew was going to help us here. So the goal is definitely to truly return where we belong, which is contending for podiums, for poles, ultimately for wins,” said O’Ward. “We’ve had a quick car many places, but damn it’s a handful. It is so hard to drive. I think we found something that just is more predictable, that just makes it a lot easier on Felix (Rosenqvist) and I to actually get laps in lap after lap consistently.”

Two additional racing series are on the weekend schedule also bringing their own championship battles. The Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires returns to PIR with Indy Lights, the top rung of its open-wheel development ladder for aspiring NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers, featuring doubleheader races on Saturday and Sunday. David Malukas leads the standings by a mere three points over Kyle Kirkwood. Featuring competitors age five and up in multiple classes, the USAC National .25 Midget Series will take the green flag at PIR for the first time on a temporarily constructed 1/20th mile-long course in one of PIR’s paddocks on Friday and Saturday.

Ticket prices start as low as $20 for Single Day General Admission and $70 for Single Day Grandstand seats. Three-day tickets remain available for purchase and offer the best fan value. General Admission for the entire weekend is just $65, and a 3-Day Grandstand reserved seat starts at $85 which includes gate admission.

Children 12 and under receive free general admission to the event. This also includes complimentary access to the NTT IndyCar Series Paddock throughout the weekend when accompanied by a ticketed adult. To enhance their experience further, the youngest fans can participate in the Grand Prix of Portland Rookie Racers. This immersive program, offering unique experiences throughout the race weekend, is on sale at portlandgp.com for a nominal fee.

The Grand Prix of Portland will follow state and local guidance for COVID-19 at the time of the event. For all ticket pricing, grandstand locations and additional festival information, visit portlandgp.com. Stay up to speed on the Grand Prix of Portland on social media all year long by following #PortlandGP

About Grand Prix of Portland:
Portland International Raceway (PIR) is the home of the Grand Prix of Portland. PIR is a 1.964-mile, 12-turn permanent road course owned by the City of Portland and operated under the Portland Parks and Recreation. Opened in 1960 to host sports car and drag racing, the 268-acre property hosts over 550 events annually including automotive and motorcycle road racing, motocross, cruise-ins and other special events including the Rose Cup Races. PIR has been the site of many memorable Indy car races. Al Unser Jr. won the inaugural one in 1984, and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES returned in 2018 after an 11-year absence with Takuma Sato the winner and another Indianapolis 500 champion Will Power winning in 2019. The Father’s Day race of 1986 featured Mario Andretti victorious over his son Michael on the last lap by less than a second. The closest three-way road racing finish in INDYCAR SERIES history took place at PIR in 1997 when the top three were covered by just 0.055 of a second. The Grand Prix of Portland is owned and operated by Green Savoree Portland, LLC, whose affiliates also promote three additional INDYCAR SERIES races, Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (April 23-25, 2021), The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio (July 2-4, 2021), and Honda Indy Toronto.

For more information, visit portlandgp.com, ‘like’ its Facebook page @PortlandGP or follow updates on Twitter @Portland_GP and Instagram at @Portland_GP using #PortlandGP.

CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION: INDIANAPOLIS – PRE-RACE ADVANCE & QUOTES

By
Official Release
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CHEVROLET AT INDIANAPOLIS

What: Dodge/SRT NHRA U.S. Nationals
When: Friday, Sept. 3-Sunday, Sept. 5
Where: Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, Brownsburg, Indiana
TV: FOX will telecast eliminations live at 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Sept. 5

Team Chevy seeks to close out regular season with a bang
Chevrolet drivers in six categories aim to add to U.S. Nationals success

DETROIT (Sept. 2, 2021) – To many competitors and spectators alike, the U.S. Nationals is not only the final race before National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) playoffs.

Count four-time Pro Stock champion and current points leader Greg Anderson and 16-time Funny Car champion John Force, who has five victories in “The Big Go” at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, among the lot. The prestige and sense of accomplishment from standing in Victory Circle for the U.S. Nationals last long after the season’s final race.

“I can honestly say that when you drive through the gate in the morning it’s a different feeling,” said Anderson, who has held a U.S. Nationals Wally six times. “It’s a special place and there’s way more to it. It’s more important than all the other races. Some people don’t buy into that but I do, and I think that’s why I’ve had success there.”

Added Force: “You want to win Indy; that’s what it’s all about.”

Chevrolet competitors in professional classes of Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock will be joined by drivers of the Chevrolet COPO Camaro in the Constant Aviation Factory Stock Showdown, Super Stock and Stock Eliminator this weekend.

Countdown to the Championship seedings are on the line for Chevrolet drivers.

Brittany Force will aim to record her sixth consecutive Top Fuel No. 1 qualifier and her second victory of the season in the Monster Energy/Flav-R-Pac Chevrolet dragster. Force, who is second in the standings, would reach 200 career round wins with a victory (196-167 elimination round record). Tony Schumacher in 2005 is the last Top Fuel racer to earn six top qualifier honors in a row.

“We are finally heading into the U.S. Nationals and the final race before the NHRA Countdown begins,” said Force, who claimed the No. 1 qualifier and track elapsed time record of 3.645 seconds in 2019. “This Monster Energy/ Flav-R-Pac team is second in points and in a great spot. Our goal going into the Countdown was a top three position and we hit our expectation.”

Teammate and team owner John Force, driving the PEAK/BlueDEF Platinum Camaro SS, is only 16 points out of first place in the Funny Car standings. He would reach 2,000 Funny Car career elimination rounds (a first in NHRA’s 70-year history) if he advances to the semifinals. His record stands at 1,376-621.
Robert Hight, a three-time winner of the event, is sixth in the Funny Car standings in the Automobile Club of Southern California Camaro SS. Hight and Force remained at Brainerd International to test last week.

“Honestly, I think we found some consistency,” Hight said. “As far as confidence leaving Brainerd, all of our teams were pretty stoked. You don’t want to look back on a career and say I never won Indy. I’ve been fortunate to win it a few times.”

Competition in Pro Stock is equally as tight, with five different drivers of the Chevrolet Camaro SS having won at least once through 10 races. KB Racing’s Anderson, driver of the HendrickCars.com Camaro SS, is the points leader as he seeks to tie Warren Johnson’s class record of 97 wins.

Reigning and four-time Pro Stock champion Erica Enders, driver of the Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports Camaro SS, won the Pro Stock race at the 2020 U.S. Nationals.

Aaron Stanfield, driver of the Janac Brothers Camaro SS, has a field-high three wins and is second in the standings in his first full season in the class. His father, Greg, won the Pro Stock title at the U.S. Nationals in 2010.

The younger Stanfield, who drove the Janac Brothers COPO Camaro to victory in the 2020 Constant Aviation Factory Stock Showdown event at the U.S. Nationals on the way to the series championship, returns to the competition this weekend. A COPO Camaro driver has won four of the five Factory Stock Showdown races this season.

FOX will telecast eliminations live at 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Sept. 5.

CHEVROLET FROM THE COCKPIT

TOP FUEL:

BRITTANY FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, FLAV-R-PAC CHEVROLET DRAGSTER (seven-time No. 1 qualifier in 12 races; winner at Topeka; track ET record-holder; second in points): “The Indianapolis U.S. Nationals, The Big Go, is our biggest race of the season. It’s a prestigious race and one I’m still looking to win. Our plan is to take it all home and win at one of the most nostalgic tracks on our circuit.”

FUNNY CAR:
JOHN FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, PEAK ANTIFREEZE AND COOLANT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (three-time winner this season; five-time winner in U.S. Nationals; fourth in points): “You want to win Indy; that’s what it’s all about.”

ROBERT HIGHT, JOHN FORCE RACING, AUTO CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (two-time winner and two-time runner-up; three-time winner in U.S. Nationals; sixth in points): ““You don’t want to look back a career and say you never won Indy. I’ve been fortunate enough to say I’ve won it a couple times and I’m looking forward to winning it a couple more. There are full fields at this event. That Friday night run is going to be important; you can’t go and throw-down and if it doesn’t work expect you’ll get in the show on Saturday like a lot have done the rest of this season. We’re going to go out, make our run, get in the show and use Saturday to try and get as much data and build consistency for Sunday.”

PRO STOCK:

GREG ANDERSON, KB RACING, HENDRICKCARS.COM CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (two-time winner; No. 1 qualifier in eight of 10 races; six-time winner in U.S. Nationals; points leader): “This is the one I always look to. There’s more points involved, there’s more money involved, so I guess I like that extra pressure and that extra meaning to it. To me, there’s no place like that place for Victory Circle. All those wins I’ve had there have been absolutely some of the most special I’ve had. I’ve had a lot of wins there, but it’s been too long since the last one.”

AARON STANFIELD, ELITE MOTORSPORTS, JANAC BROTHERS CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (three-time winner this season; second in points; first Pro Stock appearance at track): “We’ve really run good the past several races. I’m very grateful for the opportunities and grateful for the success we’ve had. I’m in the best equipment I can have and it’s up to me to show up and do my job. From an engine building standpoint, it’s definitely not just another race. Things get a lot busier this time of year getting ready for the Big Go. To me, this is the Holy Grail of drag racing. This is the one you’ve got to win.”

DALLAS GLENN, KB RACING, RAD TORQUE SYSTEMS CAMARO SS (first-year full-time driver; two-time winner): “I’ve dreamt my whole life about racing at the U.S. Nationals and getting to do it in my rookie year of Pro Stock is really cool. Our RAD Torque/KB Racing Chevrolet Camaro has already had such a crazy year so far and I don’t see why we can’t keep that trend going to finish out the season.”

KYLE KORETSKY, KB RACING, LUCAS OIL CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (first-year full-time driver; runner-up at Topeka; first Pro Stock appearance at track): “I’m hungry for my first win. It’s what everyone comes out here to do. I’m hungry to get that first one for my family. A Koretsky winning it is incredibly huge for me and it’s been my main goal from when I started. I’m confident in my driving, I’m confident in the team. There’s not reason why we can’t win. I feel like we have a winning car every weekend. As long as I do my job, I’ve got a shot to win. Runner-up is nice and I’m grateful, but if you’re not first you’re last.”

TROY COUGHLIN JR., ELITE MOTORSPORTS, JEGS MAIL ORDER CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (runner-up in season opener; transferred to final quad at Charlotte; semifinalist at Sonoma; first Pro Stock appearance at track): “This is the final race before the playoffs so we’re looking to continue the momentum we’ve gained and make a great run at the championship. If I can get off the pedal when I’m supposed to then I know we can contend because Mark Ingersoll (crew chief), Kelly Murphy, Steven Hurley, Eric Luzinski, and Kyle Bates always give me a great race car. They are so efficient and professional, it’s exciting to be around them.”

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 79 countries with more than 3.2 million cars and trucks sold in 2020. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

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