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For Friday’s Wawa 250 Powered by Coca-Cola, Kaulig Racing Has the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ Latest Winner, the Defending Race Champion, and the Most Recent Superspeedway Victor

Allmendinger, Haley and Burton Strong Favorites to win at Daytona International Speedway Traditional Summer 250-Miler

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (August 26, 2021) – Red hot AJ Allmendinger, coming off a win one week ago after a pair of runnerup finishes, will lead the charge of a Kaulig Racing assault in Friday’s Wawa 250 Powered by Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway.

Allmendinger will start from the Busch Pole in hopes of capturing his fourth win of the year in the highly anticipated race, which is set for a 7:30 p.m. ET start (NBCSN, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90). Flanking him will be a former Daytona Champion in Noah Gragson, who is hungry for his first win of 2021. Brandon Jones will start third, Justin Allgaier fourth and Harrison Burton will round out the top-five starters. For ticket information, visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP.

“I look forward to Daytona,” said Allmendinger, who has gone to the winner’s circle before in the 2012 ROLEX 24 At DAYTONA. “I enjoy the momentum we have going from the last couple of weeks as a team. We are back in a position to have the opportunity to go for the regular-season championship, so Daytona is super important for us to try and run up front all day to get some points. We always have fast Kaulig Racing Chevys there, so hopefully Jeb (Burton), Justin (Haley) and I can get together and dictate the front of the pack. This is always an important race to Matt (Kaulig), so we want to go out there and try to do everything we can to at least get one of cars in victory lane and keep the team momentum going.”

Haley is the defending champion of the Wawa 250 while Burton was victorious at Talladega Superspeedway in April, his first career triumph in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

“Daytona is one of my favorite tracks,” said Haley. I’ve always done well there and have had some success at the superspeedways. The key to having a good run at Daytona is understanding draft, having fast cars, and having teammates you can rely on.”

Burton, son of 2002 DAYTONA 500 Champion Ward Burton, hopes to join his dad as a Daytona Champion. “I finished fourth in my last two starts at Daytona on the superspeedway, so I think we have a good chance this weekend, especially with my teammates,” said the younger Burton.

Others have high hopes of a victory, including Austin Cindric who won the Xfinity Series opener at Daytona in February.

Here are some other interesting facts about Friday’s Wawa 250 Powered by Coca-Cola and the NASCAR Xfinity Series at the iconic Daytona International Speedway:

  • The inaugural NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Daytona was on February 13, 1982 and was won by NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt.
  • The 59 Xfinity Series races at Daytona have produced 42 different pole winner and 34 different race winners. William Byron was the youngest winner in 2017 at 19 years, six months and one day. Bobby Allison holds the record for the oldest winner in 1988 at 50 years, two months and 10 days.
  • Only five races in history have been won from the pole or first starting position (2002, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2021) including Cindric’s win earlier this season. Geoff Bodine still holds onto the race record from 1985 at 157.137 mph.
  • Joe Nemechek has the most starts at Daytona in the Xfinity Series with 37 as well as the most poles with five. Earnhardt and Tony Stewart are tied with the most wins at seven each and Kevin Harvick has the most top fives at 12. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Harvick are tied with 14 top 10s and Earnhardt Jr. holds the record for the most lead lap finishes at 19. Nemechek has completed the most laps at 3,526 and Earnhardt Jr. has led the most laps at 560. Daniel Hemric is the only full-time active Xfinity Series driver that holds a record at Daytona. Hemric has the best average start at 5.500.
  • Michael Annett, Noah Gragson and Ryan Reed all captured their first wins at Daytona, most recently Gragson in 2020.
  • Aside from the first Daytona race in 2020, the last five races have had a Margin of Victory less than 0.253-second, in the first 2020 race, the race was won under caution.
  • This weekend’s race will be 250 miles and 100 laps with Stage 1 ending on Lap 30 and Stage 2 ending on Lap 60.

Tickets to the Xfinity Series Wawa 250 Powered by Coca-Cola begins at $35 for adults and FREE for kids 12 and under. Access to the UNOH Fanzone will be available before this race as well! A Two-Day Pass is available which includes access to the Coke Zero Sugar 400 on Saturday, and the Wawa 250 on Friday. These passes start at $69 for adults. Fan Q&A is also scheduled for Friday and will include Cindric, Gragson, Haley, Allmendinger and Justin Allgaier.

Fans can purchase tickets for Saturday’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 starting at $49 for adults and $10 for kids 12 and under. Those fans can also purchase access to the UNOH Fanzone for $60. Here, fans can participate in events before the race. This includes, but is not limited to, the return of the traditional Coke Zero Sugar 400 Pre-Race Concert featuring Chris Lane, pre-race ceremonies, driver introductions, access to the large grass ballfield, signing the start/finish line through the middle of the 18-degree, banked trioval. Also scheduled is LIVE entertainment on the main UNOH Fanzone Stage, including Fan Q&A, which includes (scheduled) McDowell, Aric Almirola, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Bubba Wallace, Daniel Suarez and two-time DAYTONA winning crew chief Drew Blickensderfer. Fans can also get photos with the winning trophies of the weekend in Ruoff Mortgage Victory Lane.

As part of the “Welcome Back” weekend for fans, the track’s outside Midway (In Front of Sunoco, Toyota, Axalta, Chevrolet and AdventHealth Injectors) and UNOH Fanzone will be the site of a host of exciting interactive activities, featuring eNASCAR Racing, along with other speedway partner exhibits like Pit Boss, Coca-Cola, GEICO, Chevrolet, Toyota, Wawa, Air Force (featuring a fighter jet), Door Dash, Busch Beer, General Tire and a NASCAR Kids Zone.

The first 10,000 fans through the gates on Saturday will receive complimentary Coke Zero Sugar 400 drawstring bags.

For ticket information, and a full listing of activities in the Midway and UNOH Fanzone, visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP. Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway and see the latest speedway news on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

About Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a state-of-the-art motorsports facility and was awarded the SportsBusiness Journal’s prestigious Sports Business Award for Sports Facility of the Year in 2016. Daytona International Speedway is the home of The Great American Race – the DAYTONA 500. Though the season-opening NASCAR Cup Series event garners most of the attention – as well as the largest audience in motorsports – the approximately 500-acre motorsports complex, also known as the World Center of Racing, boasts the most diverse schedule of racing on the globe. In addition to at least nine major event weekends, the Speedway grounds are also used extensively for events that include concerts, civic and social gatherings, car shows, photo shoots, production vehicle testing and police motorcycle training.

The Original Larry’s Hard Lemonade Rejoins Brandon Brown and Brandonbilt Motorsports as Primary Partner at Daytona

Haymaker Coffee Joins as Major Associate Partner

Track: Daytona International Speedway | 2.5 Mile SuperSpeedway
Race: 23 of 33
Event: Wawa 250
Race: Friday, August 27 | 7:30 p.m. ET | NBCSN & MRN
Stages: 30 / 60 / 100 = 250 Miles

Brandon Brown | Xfinity Series Stats | Daytona International Speedway
Starts: 7
Best Start: 11
Best Finish: 6
Brown on Daytona:

“This weekend at Daytona, it’s win and you’re in. With only a few races left before the end of the NASCAR Xfinity Series regular season, this is by far our best opportunity to find Victory Lane and lock ourselves into the playoffs.
“It’s been a crazy year, full of highs and lows and unfortunately we’ve been in a bit of a slump the last few races as we’ve found ourselves in the right places, but at the wrong times, so I’m definitely ready to turn our luck around this weekend.

“This weekend, we’ll have The Original Larry’s Hard Lemonade rejoining our No. 68 Chevrolet Camaro as the primary partner as well as Haymaker Coffee as the major associate partner.

“This Larry’s (Hard) Lemonade scheme led us to a 6th-place finish in the season opener at Daytona, so hopefully we can back it up with another strong performance on Friday night.”

About Larry’s Hard Lemonade
One day at one of Larry’s famous backyard parties, he busted out a concoction that he dubbed “Larry’s Lemonade” and served it up to family and friends. Larry’s Lemonade was an instant hit and after receiving high marks from everyone, Larry knew he was onto something. Larry’s creation first found its way throughout Hampton Roads, VA to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and now to you. Larry insists to this day that had it not been for the support of his inner circle of Lemons the world would never get to know The Original Larry’s Hard Lemonade®. To learn more, visit thelarryslemonade.com.

Facebook: @larryshardlemonade
Instagram: @thelarryslemonade
Twitter: @Larrys_Lemonade

About Brandonbilt Motorsports
Brandonbilt Motorsports is a family-owned, professional stock car team competing full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS). Owned and operated by Woodbridge, Virginia native, Jerry Brown, Brandonbilt Motorsports has quickly become a household name in the NASCAR Xfinity Series through hard work and determination. As a smaller team in the NXS, Brandonbilt Motorsports’ goal has always been to do the most with less, while also becoming a contending organization in every race that it enters. Brandonbilt Motorsports shocked the racing world in 2020 as driver, Brandon Brown, secured the team’s first playoff berth in only its second, full-time season in the NXS, before going on to finish the year 11th in the overall points standings. On the horizon in 2021, Brandonbilt Motorsports looks to pick up where it left off as a playoff-caliber team at each event it enters. To learn more, visit bmsraceteam.com.

SS GreenLight Racing | Joe Graf Jr. Daytona International Speedway August Event Preview

SS GreenLight Racing | NASCAR Xfinity Series
Daytona International Speedway | Wawa 250

Fast Facts
No. 07 SS GreenLight Racing Team:
Driver: Joe Graf Jr. (@JoeGrafJr)
Primary Partner(s): G-Coin
Manufacturer: Chevrolet Camaro
Crew Chief: Joe Williams
Wawa 250 Starting Position: 39th (Event Formula)
Driver Points Position: 31st | Owner Points Position: 38th
Engine: Earnhardt-Childress Racing Engines (ECR)

Notes of Interest:

Welcome Back: This weekend at Daytona International Speedway, SS GreenLight Racing and Joe Graf Jr. welcome back G-Coin as the primary partner of the team’s No. 07 Chevrolet Camaro for Friday night’s Wawa 250 powered by Coca-Cola.

Daytona marks the eighth race of a multi-race deal where G-Coin, a product that brings gold into the digital age, making it accessible and giving it true utility will be the primary partner.

Learn More About G-Coin This Weekend On The Tube: An upcoming episode of the award-winning series, Advancements with Ted Danson, will focus on innovations in blockchain-enabled digital assets featuring Joe Graf Jr. marketing partner G-Coin.

The episode is scheduled to broadcast this Saturday, August 28, 2021, at 2:30 PM ET on CNBC.

Viewers will learn how the G-CoinTM token, powered by blockchain technology, solves the compliance and price volatility problems that hamper wholesale digital asset adoption, and is opening channels to make gold a more accessible, liquid, everyday medium of exchange.

The show will also explore how the underlying Responsible GoldTM is digitally tracked from mine to refinery to vault, to ensure G-Coin represents the highest level of integrity, transparency, and sustainability in the gold sector.

About G-Coin: Unlike cryptocurrencies, G-Coin is a digital title to a real asset: 1 G-Coin token equals 1 gram of Responsible GoldTM.

G-Coin combines the best qualities of traditional gold – stability, security, value, confidence, and social status – with the benefits of digital innovation, allowing users to easily save, send, and spend gold.

Tech-savvy investors keen to avoid cryptocurrency volatility, or physical storage burden and costs, are now able to purchase G-Coin digital gold tokens. G-Coin tokens can be purchased in increments of 0.01gram, giving individual investors better access to the gold market and the ability to use gold for day-to-day purchases.

G-Coin Wallets give users the freedom to send and receive value instantly, securely, and at no cost from the convenience of your mobile phone.

G-Coin Tip of the Week: A G-Coin token is a digital title of ownership to one gram of a Responsible Gold kilobar stored in a licensed vault.

Holders can redeem the tokens for physical gold on demand*. G-Coin tokens can be sent, spent, gifted or purchased as an investment through the G-Coin wallet.

Seal Covered: Earlier this 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 this weekend’s race at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway and the upcoming events at Richmond (Va.) Raceway in September 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.

Winning Welder: Thanks to the new support from new team partner PowerWeld, fans have an opportunity to win a brand-new welder autographed by Joe Graf Jr. and team owner Bobby Dotter.

To enter, follow or like Joe Graf Jr. on Twitter or Facebook, tag two friends and retweet or share the contest to your social media platform.

PowerWeld served as the team’s primary partner in the most recent NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Michigan International Speedway on Aug. 21.

A winner will be chosen at the end of the month.

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 last month, Z Grills Racing (ZGrillsRacing.com) is offering a 10 percent discount off your TOTAL purchase, using the code NASCAR at checkout.

Races for Faces: Joe Graf Jr. announced last week 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.

Over the coming weeks, stay tuned for ways you can show your support of “Team Graf” and see how your name can appear on the No. 07 Chevrolet Camaro at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway next month.

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

Joe Graf Jr. Xfinity Series Daytona International Speedway Starts: Joe Graf Jr. will make his fifth career start at the “World Center of Racing” in Friday night’s race.

In July 2019, Graf Jr. made his Xfinity Series debut at Daytona driving for Richard Childress Racing, qualifying a then career-best sixth. He was collected in a late-race crash and finished 23rd.

Graf Jr. made his SS GreenLight Racing debut at the 2.5-mile superspeedway in February 2020 qualifying a career-best fifth but was swept into a mid-race accident, finishing 36th.

In February, Graf Jr. started 18th and drafted to an 11th-place finish, a career-best finish in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and with SS GreenLight Racing aboard the No. 07 BuckedUp Energy Chevrolet Camaro.

He holds a career-best 12.8 average starting position at Daytona.

Joe Graf Jr. Xfinity Series Career Superspeedway Nuggets: In seven career NASCAR Xfinity Series Superspeedway races, has completed 518 of the 758 laps available. He holds an average starting position of 19.1 and an average result of 29.5 with a best finish of 11th at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway in February 2021.

Joe Graf Jr. ARCA Menards Series Career Superspeedway Nuggets: In three career ARCA superspeedway track races, Graf Jr. has two top-10 finishes. He has been running at the finish of all three races. He holds an average starting position of 15.3 and an average result of 11th with three (3) laps led.

In 2018, Graf Jr. was involved in the closest finish in ARCA Menards Series history at Talladega Superspeedway in a photo finish.

The margin was so narrow in the 69-year history of the series, it was a statistical dead heat, the margin of victory on the computerized scoring monitors showing 0.000 seconds. Only a video replay and the photo finish camera were able to determine Graf finished second by a matter of millimeters.

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.

New Leadership: SS GreenLight Racing announced last month that Joe Williams has taken over crew chief duties for Joe Graf Jr. for the remainder of the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series season.

Williams joins SS GreenLight Racing after a tenure at Our Motorsports. Additionally, Danny Johnson joins the Mooresville, N.C.-based team as car chief.

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

He will crew chief his 55th NASCAR Xfinity Series race as crew chief on Friday night and his first at the 2.5-mile oval.

In his previous 54 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. Veteran JJ Yeley will drive the No. 17 Figgers Wireless Chevrolet on Friday night.

Yeley is poised to make his 344th career Xfinity Series start and ninth of the 2021 season. In 15 Xfinity Series starts at the “World Center of Racing,” his best Xfinity track finish occurred in the 2006 Winn-Dixie 250 presented by PepsiCo, where he finished fourth after starting first (on the pole) driving for Joe Gibbs Racing.

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 Daytona: “I’m looking forward to getting back to Daytona this weekend. SS GreenLight Racing has such fast cars on the superspeedways, and I look forward to showcasing that with our No. 07 G Coin Chevrolet on Friday night.

“The February race was incredibly kind to us with an 11th place finish, but we are looking for a top-10 finish or better this weekend to revive us from a couple of tough weeks.”

On New Partner CoverSeal: “I am extremely excited to welcome CoverSeal to the family. I am thrilled that they will be a part of our NASCAR Xfinity Series program. CoverSeal has so much to offer anyone, whether you are a racer, car enthusiast, or just an everyday street driver.

“Their products and services are influential whether you are using it for protecting a race car that goes 200 miles per hour or a street car, that you want to keep in pristine condition ahead of the upcoming weather seasons.

“Best of all, they are the only functional cover on the market that was made to keep rodents out! As someone who isn’t crazy about little varmints, that is a huge win for me and I’m proud to not only represent CoverSeal but personally endorse their products!”

On New Leadership: “I have a positive outlook and approach for the final two and a half months of the season.

“I will continue to work hard and give everything both on and off the track to enhance the overall presence and performance of our team and partners for the rest of the 2021 season.”

Race Information:

The Wawa 250 powered by Coca-Cola (100 laps | 250 miles) is the 23rd of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2021 schedule. The race will take the green flag on Fri., Aug. 27, 2021, shortly after 7:30 p.m. ET with live coverage on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN), the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (ET).

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.

CHEVY NCS AT DAYTONA: Team Chevy Advance

TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE
COKE ZERO SUGAR 400
DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA
AUGUST 28, 2021

RACE #26 – DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
With plenty at stake, intensity ramps up for Chevrolet drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) regular-season finale under the lights Saturday, August 28, at Daytona International Speedway. Five Chevrolet drivers have secured a Playoff berth and will aim to cement momentum, while eight other Team Chevy drivers remain in the running to fill the final spot in the 16-driver Playoff field. Kyle Larson, driving the No. 5 Valvoline Instant Oil Change Camaro ZL1 1LE, seeks to clinch the regular-season title. He’ll start from the pole in the 160-lap race.

Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 48 victories, including 20 in the summer race, in the 148 races on the high-banked, 2.5-mile tri-oval dating to 1959. Career Chevrolet driver, Jimmie Johnson, is among five drivers to win both the Daytona 500 and summer race in the same year. Johnson accomplished the feat in 2013 in an Impala SS among his three NCS wins at the track.

Team Chevy has finished 1-2 in the summer race the past two years. On July 7, 2019, Justin Haley prevailed from the improbable 34th starting spot with William Byron the runner-up. On August 29, 2020, Byron earned his first NCS win and clinched a spot in the 2020 Playoffs, with Chase Elliott finishing second. Byron, who earned a 2021 Playoff spot with an early-season victory, will start on the outside of front row in the No. 24 Liberty University Camaro ZL1 1LE in the 26th NCS race of the season.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) will race Friday, August 27, at Daytona International Speedway as four races remain before the Series’ Playoffs begin. Chevrolet has won seven of the past eight NXS races at the track, and Chevrolet or fellow GM brands have won 49 of the 59 races. AJ Allmendinger will start from the pole in the No. 16 Hyperice Camaro SS for Kaulig Racing.

Allmendinger led three drivers of the Camaro SS in the top-five at Michigan International Raceway to capture his third NXS victory of the season. He is second in the standings and JR Motorsports driver, Justin Allgaier, is third. Chevrolet returned to the top of the Manufacturer Standings.

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 and 112 top-10 finishes through 25 races, surpassing its win total (9) from the 36-race 2020 season.

… WHILE LARSON LOOKS TO CLINCH TITLE
Kyle Larson remains atop the Driver Standings. Hendrick Motorsports teammates William Byron is fourth and Chase Elliott is fifth.

Larson can clinch the regular-season championship and its 15-point Playoff bonus by accumulating 32 points at Daytona, where he has posted five top-10 finishes in 14 starts. Larson, a five-time winner this season, collected 51 points after a third-place finish at Michigan International Speedway.

WHO’S IN AND PLAYOFF SCENARIOS
Chevrolet will be represented by at least five drivers when the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs begin at Darlington: Kyle Larson, William Byron, Chase Elliott, Alex Bowman and Kurt Busch. Eight Chevrolet drivers – Tyler Reddick, Austin Dillon, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ross Chastain, Erik Jones, Daniel Suarez, Ryan Preece and Corey LaJoie – have a shot to fill the final spot in the 16-car field with a win at Daytona. Also, Richard Childress Racing teammates Reddick and Dillon can clinch the spot based on points.

Dillon has one win (2018 Daytona 500) among eight top-10 finishes in 16 NCS races at the track. Reddick has a best finish of 27th in four NCS starts. He won the NXS race in February 2017 and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) race in February 2015.

BACK AT THE START
Bob Welborn, driving a ’59 Chevrolet Impala, won the first NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway on February 20, 1959 – the 40-lap Daytona 500 qualifier – from the seventh starting position. Grand National qualifying races were counted as points-paying races. It began a 17-race winning streak at the track for Chevrolet and fellow GM brands Pontiac and Oldsmobile. Junior Johnson delivered the first Daytona 500 win for Chevrolet in 1960.

ON THE WAY TO THE GREEN
With no practice or qualifying for the 160-lap race, the starting lineup is determined by NASCAR’s metrics system that was introduced to the series last year and incorporates results from both individual races and season-long results.

Team Chevy’s Top-20 starters:
1st Kyle Larson, No. 5 Valvoline Instant Oil Change Camaro ZL1 1LE
2nd William Byron, No. 24 Liberty University Camaro ZL1 1LE
5th Chase Elliott, No. 9 Unifirst Camaro ZL1 1LE
8th Kurt Busch, No. 1 Monster Energy Camaro ZL1 1LE
12th Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Funfetti Camaro ZL1 1LE
15th Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Camaro ZL1 1LE
17th Tyler Reddick, No. 8 Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen Camaro ZL1 1LE

BOWTIE BULLETS
· Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 112 top-10 finishes and 2,683 laps led of 5,861 total this season.
· In addition to its 48 NCS wins, Chevrolet has amassed 220 top-five and 444 top-10 finishes at Daytona International Raceway.
· Kyle Larson paces all drivers with 1,566 laps led.
· Larson has started from the pole six times this season.
· Tyler Reddick is second among drivers with 99.42% of laps completed (5,827 of 5,861).
· Kurt Busch is tied for most starts at Daytona International Speedway among active drivers with 40, which includes 20 in the summer races. He is also the leader among current drivers with 13 top-five and 18 top-10 finishes and 6,595 laps completed.
· Hendrick Motorsports is tied for the most wins at Daytona with 15.
· Career Chevrolet driver, Jeff Gordon, leads Chevrolet with six career wins at Daytona.
· Twenty years ago, Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway in No. 8 Chevrolet Impala months after his father’s fatal crash at the track.
· Five Team Chevy drivers have combined for 23 stage wins: Chase Elliott (Daytona RC, Michigan); 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 Daytona International Speedway.
Fans can check out an assortment of Chevrolet vehicles including: Silverado 1500 Trailboss, Silverado 2500 HD Custom, Traverse Premier, Tahoe LTZ, Blazer RS AWD, Corvette 3LT Convertible and Camaro 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:
Friday, August 27
· Noah Gragson: 3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
· Sam Mayer: 3:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
· Justin Allgaier: 4:35 p.m. – 4:50 p.m.

Saturday, August 28
· Daniel Suarez: 3:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
· Kurt Busch: 4:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
· Erik Jones: 4:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
· Kaz Grala: 4:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Chevrolet Display Hours of Operation:
Friday, August 27: 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 28: 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

TUNE IN
NBC will telecast the 160-lap NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 at 7 p.m. ET Saturday, Aug. 28. Live coverage is also on the MRN and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. NBCSN will telecast the 100-lap NASCAR Xfinity Series Wawa 250 at 7:30 p.m. ET Friday, Aug. 27.

QUOTABLE QUOTES
KYLE LARSON, NO. 5 VALVOLINE INSTANT OIL CHANGE CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 1st IN STANDINGS
LARSON ON RACING AT DAYTONA THIS WEEKEND:
“With a playoff spot still available, I’m sure it’s going to be intense. (Second place in standings) Denny (Hamlin) runs well at Daytona, so I am glad we have a bit of a cushion in the points. But that lead can be gone in an instant, so I hope to avoid all the craziness and have a good solid finish.”

CLIFF DANIELS, CREW CHIEF, NO. 5 VALVOLINE INSTANT OIL CHANGE CAMARO ZL1 1LE
DANIELS ON CALLING A RACE AT DAYTONA:
“Track position is important at Daytona, which is odd to say. We’ve seen over the last handful of years that cars that are able to get out front and be in the top five if single-file or in the top 10 if mixing it up can control the race inside that top group. What I mean is if you play your strategy wrong and are stuck back in 20th with a handful of laps left, it could be difficult to get back up to the front. We need to do our part right to hopefully have our car up front when it needs to be there. There are things we can control, but a lot is out of our hands.”

WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 LIBERTY UNIVERSITY CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 4th IN STANDINGS
BYRON ON THE STRESS OF LOCKING INTO THE PLAYOFFS LAST YEAR VERSUS THIS YEAR:
“Last year was stressful for most of the race. It was one of those Game 7-type moments that you go into knowing it’s do or die. I actually really like that sensation. You know exactly what you need to do to get the job done instead of trying to count points. It was interesting how that race played out, though. With things that happened on track with other guys, I was in a position that I could make it in on points as long as I finished. So, during that red flag, it was really a mindset change for me of, ‘Okay we don’t need to win, but if we can, we will to seal the deal.’ It’s nice to not be in that bubble situation this year. Now I can watch and see how it plays out. We’re still in a similar situation of going into this race with a clear objective – secure playoff points and a win to set us up better moving forward.”

BYRON ON HOW HIS DRIVING STYLE HAS CHANGED OVER THE YEARS ON SUPERSPEEDWAYS:
“I think I’ve learned a lot behind the wheel on these types of tracks. My driving style is really more dynamic now. With the stages, you have time to go really hard and then have times to relax and let the car find its way through traffic. Stage points are critical, though, in superspeedway racing. If you can get stage points you need to, but you don’t want to push it to get to that point and wreck right before the stage ends and wind up with 40th-place points. It’s a really tricky balance. I feel like for us, we’re going to try race for at least one of the stage wins to get the extra playoff point but also keeping strategy in mind to put us in position up front in the end. It’s up to me, though, on knowing when to push it, and I think I have a good idea of when those moments are.”

CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 UNIFIRST CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 5th IN STANDINGS
“Yes, Daytona is the cutoff race, but it has always been on the schedule before the playoffs. Whether it is at the beginning of the year or last race before the playoffs, you are either in it or you’re not. You have 25 other races to solidify your spot before then. It’s nice to go into the weekend and be locked in because anything can happen at Daytona.”

TYLER REDDICK, NO. 8 CHEDDAR’S SCRATCH KITCHEN CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 11th IN STANDINGS
HOW CRAZY AND WILD DO YOU THINK DAYTONA WILL BE WITH DRIVERS HAVING THEIR LAST SHOT TO MAKE THE NASCAR PLAYOFFS?
“I played a big part in that excitement in the last Daytona cutoff race. I think you’ll expect to see drivers that were as desperate as I was in that race to try and get up front and get control of the race and win for their team and all their partners. It’s just going to be a matter of trying to have an understanding in the back of your head or have a point that you kind of have within yourself. Like okay, this is my fun meter. If we can stay within, we’re good. If we go over here, etc. We’re trying to make the Playoffs, right? But we’re also trying to get tenth and get that extra point if we can, too. So, there are a lot of things around. We’re going to try and control what we can. Someone going in and winning that race in Daytona is something that we can’t really control unless we win that race. But it’s a tough spot to be in.”

ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 12th IN STANDINGS
“I think going to Daytona for the cutoff race to start the playoffs is interesting. You have guys kind of throwing everything they got at one race if they aren’t locked in. At a place like Daytona, that can cause a lot of things to happen. Hopefully we can stay out of the mess because I am sure that there will be one and be there at the end. Going into this race with a spot already in the playoffs, there probably isn’t as much pressure as there could be, but we are definitely going there with the goal of capitalizing on stage points, stage wins and the overall race win. It would be really cool to win at Daytona, so much history there. Regardless of what race it is, they’re all really special and it would be great to get a win.”

GREG IVES, CREW CHIEF, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1 1LE
“Ultimately we need to go into Saturday’s race thinking about getting as many stage points and stage wins as we can. We need to try to get more playoff points with the overall win, which kind of our goal. Obviously, we want to learn as much as we can since Talladega is going to be a key factor in order to move to the next round. We are trying to learn as much as we can and put Alex (Bowman) in situations where we have to learn what the new package is. There is a lot of learning that we have to continue to do and run as many competitive laps as we can. Hoping to come out of Daytona with a strong finish for the Ally 48 and get us a win before we head to Darlington.”

AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 BASS PRO SHOPS/TRACKER OFF ROAD CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 13th IN STANDINGS
WHAT IS YOUR CONFIDENCE LEVEL KNOWING THAT DAYTONA IS THE FINAL RACE IN THE REGULAR SEASON AND YOUR LAST CHANCE TO GET INTO THE NASCAR PLAYOFFS?
“Yeah, that gives the confidence to you as being the last race of the year. And the situation I am in right now, I think I’ve been in other situations down the road, it would probably be more stressful. But for me, we’re in a little bit of a nothing to lose attitude right now because we’ve got to gain on our teammate, and if not, we’ve got to win somehow. So, Daytona is that place and it gives us an opportunity with our ECR horsepower. I don’t know. We’ve just had the ability to keep that No. 3 at the front when we go to Daytona. I like it. It’s a magical place and I’ve had some great runs there. I’m pumped that it’s the last race of our regular season.”

RICKY STENHOUSE JR., NO. 47 FUNFETTI CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 18th IN STANDINGS
“Daytona levels the playing field in a lot of ways. It gives drivers the opportunity to get their first win or get a win and make the playoffs. For us, we feel really confident going into Daytona that we are going to have a shot at it. Brian Pattie (crew chief) and the boys have been working on our No. 47 Funfetti Camaro for a long time to make sure we have the fastest race car that we can unload with on Saturday to see if we can get the job done. It’s been a good track for us before. Hopefully, we can find that magic again and get to victory lane.”

ERIK JONES, NO. 43 COLUMBIA PFG CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 24th IN STANDINGS
HOW DO YOU APPROACH THE COKE ZERO SUGAR 400 AT DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY WITH THE EVENT BEING THE FINAL RACE OF THE REGULAR SEASON?
“I think you just go for it. If you are not locked into the NASCAR Playoffs and you need to win, that is your last shot, for sure. It’s a crazy race. Last year being the first year that it was the cut-off race before the Playoffs, everyone was making big moves and trying to do things to get themselves locked in and win the race. You just want to be upfront and have a shot for it.”
“I like it. I think it is fun to do that kind of thing and have a little bit of that chaos. Hopefully, Richard Petty Motorsports is upfront, in contention to get a win and get ourselves into the Playoffs.”

DANIEL SUAREZ, NO. 99 COMMSCOPE CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 25th IN STANDINGS
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON DAYTONA?
“Daytona is going to be fun. Superspeedways are a lot of fun. Actually, I enjoy that type of racing now. I didn’t always like it, but now I do. Hopefully we can have a good, strong weekend.”

IS THERE MORE PRESSURE SATURDAY NIGHT?
“No more pressure than any other race. We want to win every weekend. Our team knows what it has to do. We have been working to be more consistent and put ourselves in the right position. We know we can win this race. Even after Saturday night we still have three months of racing left and we are going to keep working and improving.”

HAS YOUR SEASON BEEN A SUCCESS EVEN IF YOU DON’T MAKE THE PLAYOFFS? “We are proud of what we have done this year. It has been a little bit of a struggle of late, but we are in a good position for the future. We keep growing and getting better and we are looking forward to continuing on that path. As you know (team owner) Justin (Marks) has a lot of exciting plans for 2022 by getting us bigger and stronger and I see good things for us. I believe that we will win.”

WHAT DO YOU HOPE FANS LEARN ABOUT RACING SATURDAY NIGHT WHEN YOU CARRY THE WHOOP STRAP?
“I think they will find it very interesting. I have worn a Whoop strap in the car in a lot of races this season and was surprised at how high my heart rate was. I think people will find it fascinating to see our calorie burn and strain plus things like that. I think it will show people who aren’t familiar with our sport the physical exertions it takes to race.”

WHAT DOES OWNER JUSTIN MARKS DO FOR TRACKHOUSE?
“He does so much for us. He knows exactly what he wants to do with Trackhouse Racing and where he wants to go. He is very hungry and wants us so badly to be successful. I feel like I am in a very good spot. Because he is a race car driver himself, he understands what I want and need plus he is very good with our sponsors and employees. He has us really looking forward to the future. I think bringing Ross Chastain in next year in a second car will make us better. He is a great driver and will make me better.”

COREY LAJOIE, NO. 7 BUILT BAR CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 29th IN STANDINGS
“Really excited to get back down to Daytona this Saturday night with our Built Bar Camaro. I’ve got some fresh legs after a week off, so we’re back, ready to rock and 100% healthy. My guys at Spire Motorsports have a really good Chevy hot rod prepared, so we’ll try to punch our ticket for the playoffs with a Hail Mary. Anybody has a shot at Daytona, so why not us this time? We have just as good of a chance as anyone else to get the job done. Hopefully we can get a little lucky, be in the right spot at the right time, miss the wrecks & get our Built Bar Chevy in Victory Lane after 400 miles.”

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: 2,683
Top-five finishes: 52
Top-10 finishes: 112

CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:
Total Chevrolet race wins: 808 (1949 to date)
Poles won to date: 722
Laps led to date: 239,388
Top-five finishes to date: 4,117
Top-10 finishes to date: 8,514
Stage wins: 23 – Chase Elliott (Daytona RC, Michigan), 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: 810
Ford: 710
Mercury: 96
Lincoln: 4

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

Toyota: 158

Team Chevy high-resolution racing photos are available for editorial use.

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

WIGHT MOTORSPORTS BACK IN ACTION IN QUEBEC

(August 26, 2021) Wight Motorsports Inc (WMI) will welcome back Donald Theetge to the driver’s seat of the #80 Theetge Chevrolet/Buick/GMC/Cadillac Camaro this weekend as the team prepares for three races at two different tracks with the 2021 NASCAR Pinty’s Series returning to action.

First up the series returns to Circuit ICAR for the first time since 2017. The unique road course on the tarmac of the Mirabel Airport in Mirabel, Quebec will provide plenty of action. Then it’s a doubleheader with twin 150-lap races Sunday at the Autodrome Chaudière in Vallee-Jonction, Quebec. This is the home track for driver Donald Theetge and where he will make his 2021 series debut.

Weekend Preview
August 28th
La Fernandiere 75
Race four of 11 in 2021
This is the 8th NASCAR Pinty’s Series race at Circuit ICAR

The Track:
2.125-mile tarmac road course

Best finish:
Leberge-first event, Dilley-5th in 2011, Rinomato-first event

August 29th
Canadian Tire 150 & Budweiser 150
Races five & six of 11 in 2021
These will be the 7th & 8th NASCAR Pinty’s Series races at Autodrome Chaudière

The Track:
¼-mile banked, paved oval

Best finish:
Theetge-3rd in 2018, Dilley0-2nd in 2014, Rinomato-14th in 2019

Career Victories:
Lessard 3, Theetge 1, Dilley 3,

Quote
“The whole group has worked really hard to get back on track after some challenges in the last race at GP3R. We know it’s going to be a busy weekend with three races but having Donald back in the #80 and racing at his home track gives us confidence. Mark Dilley has also had good success at Chaudière. But we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves, we also expect to run well at ICAR”.
David Wight, WMI Principal

TV & Live Streaming
The races will be streamed live on TSN.ca and the TSN app in Canada and through Trackpass on NBC Sports Gold in the US. Saturday August 28th, The Lafleur 75 begins at 4PM. Sunday August 29th, The Canadian Tire 150 is at 6PM with the Budweiser 150 to follow at approximately 7:40PM

Television Broadcast Dates/Times
La Fernandiere 75 – Sunday September 5th, 4:30PM on TSN, Saturday September 11, 1PM on RDS2
Canadian Tire 150 – Saturday September 11, 1PM on TSN, Friday September 17, 9:30PM on RDS2
Budweiser 150 – Saturday September 18, 5PM on TSN, Friday September 24, 9PM on RDS1

The 2021 NASCAR Pinty’s Series will consist of 11 total races in Ontario and Quebec with a mixture of oval tracks, road and street courses.

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

Wight Motorsports Inc Twitter @Wightmotorsport Instagram @wightmotorsport

Donald Theetge: Twitter @DonaldTheetge

Raphael Lessard: Twitter raphael_lessard Instagram @raphael_lessard

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

Mark Dilley: Twitter @MarkDilley9 Instagram @markdilley

TJ Rinomato: Twitter TJ_Rinomato Instagram @tjrinomato

KENNINGTON & CASTROL EDGE DODGE TEAM SPENDING WEEKEND IN QUEBEC

DJ Kennington racing in the #17 Castrol Edge Dodge at GP3R - Credit: Matthew Manor

August 26, 2021. This coming weekend DJ Kennington and the #17 Castrol Edge Dodge team will compete in three races at two very different racetracks as the NASCAR Pinty’s Series returns to the province of Quebec.

First up, it’s a welcome back to Circuit ICAR for the first time since 2017. A ticklish road circuit that’s set up on the tarmac of Mirabel Airport in Mirabel, Quebec on Saturday afternoon. Kennington has scored five top-ten results in seven races at ICAR. Then it’s a doubleheader event with twin 150-lap races at the Autodrome Chaudière on Sunday. The two-time series champion scored a podium finish in 2015 and has finished top-ten in five of six at the track located in Vallee-Jonction, Quebec.

Here’s what you need to know.

Weekend Race Event Previews:
August 28th
Lafleur 75
Race four of 11 in 2021
This is the 8th NASCAR Pinty’s Series race at Circuit ICAR

The Track:
2.125-mile tarmac road course

Best finish: 4th in 2016

August 29th
Canadian Tire 150 & Budweiser 150
Races five & six of 11 in 2021
These will be the 7th & 8th NASCAR Pinty’s Series races at Autodrome Chaudière

The Track:
¼-mile banked, paved oval

Best finish: 3rd in 2015

Career Victories: 21

Most Recent Win: Jukasa Motor Speedway 2020

DJ Quote: “We’re headed back to Quebec and looking for more success in our Castrol Edge Dodge. This is going to be a very challenging schedule this weekend, but my guys are the best in the business. We’ve worked hard to be ready, and I like our chances”.

TV & Live Streaming
The races will be streamed live on TSN.ca and the TSN app in Canada and through Trackpass on NBC Sports Gold in the US. Saturday August 28th, Lafleur 75 begins at 4PM. Sunday August 29th, The Canadian Tire 150 is at 6PM with the Budweiser 150 to follow at approximately 7:40PM

Television Broadcast Dates/Times
Lafleur 75 – Sunday September 5th, 4:30PM on TSN, Saturday September 11, 1PM on RDS2
Canadian Tire 150 – Saturday September 11, 1PM on TSN, Friday September 17, 9:30PM on RDS2
Budweiser 150 – Saturday September 18, 5PM on TSN, Friday September 24, 9PM on RDS1

Race fans can follow DJ Kennington and the #17 Castrol Edge Dodge team on their official social media platforms:

Twitter www.twitter.com/@djkracing
Instagram www.instagram.com/djkracing
Website www.djkracing.ca
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DJKenningtonRacing/

Photo: DJ Kennington racing the #17 Castrol Edge Dodge two weeks ago at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres.

Coca-Cola 6 Pack Athlete, Olympic Medalist and 200m World Champion Noah Lyles to Serve as Grand Marshal for Coke Zero Sugar 400

Rick Cardenas of Darden Restaurants Will Waive the Green Flag as Honorary Starter of “Last-Chance” Race at Daytona International Speedway That Will Determine the 16-Driver NASCAR Playoff Field

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (August 26, 2021) – Noah Lyles, a Coca-Cola 6-pack Athlete and Tokyo 2020 Olympic medalist, will serve as the Grand Marshal for Saturday’s Coke Zero Sugar 400, the last-chance race for drivers to make the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Daytona International Speedway.

The Coke Zero Sugar 400 (7:30 p.m. ET start) is the final race of NASCAR’s premier series’ regular season, and with only one spot remaining to be filled in the 16-driver playoff field, a total of 15 competitors has a shot to punch their ticket to the championship run. While Lyles will give the famous “Drivers Start Your Engines” command, Rick Cardenas, President and Chief Operating Officer of Darden Restaurants, will be high atop the flagstand and be the race’s Honorary Starter.

“I’m very excited to be Grand Marshal of the Coke Zero Sugar 400,” said track and field athlete Lyles, who won the bronze in 200m at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. “My whole life is built around speed, and it is great to see these drivers doing the same. I’m looking forward to this year’s race.”

Lyles is the current world champion and fourth fastest man ever in the 200m race. He won two gold medals at the 2019 World Championships in the 200m and 4x100m relay. In 2018 he joined Usain Bolt as the only two men in history to run four sub-19.70 times in the 200m in one year. Born in Alexandria, VA, he currently resides in Clermont, FL.

Cardenas was named President and Chief Operating Officer of Darden Restaurants in January 2021. In this role, he is responsible for all restaurant operations as well as supply chain, development, franchising & international and consumer insights. Darden owns and operates more than 1,800 Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, Yard House, The Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Bahama Breeze and Eddie V’s restaurants in North America.

Entering the summer classic Coke Zero Sugar 400, 15 drivers have secured their position in NASCAR’s Playoffs, but on the outside looking in, are another 15 drivers, who, with a win, can automatically punch their ticket towards a championship run in NASCAR’s premier series. Last year, William Byron pulled off the feat, capturing his first Cup Series win and a spot in the NASCAR Playoffs.

Fans can purchase tickets starting at $49 for adults and $10 for kids 12 and under. Those fans can also purchase access to the UNOH Fanzone for $60. Here, fans can participate in events before the race. This includes, but is not limited to, the return of the traditional Coke Zero Sugar 400 Pre-Race Concert featuring Chris Lane, pre-race ceremonies, driver introductions, access to the large grass ballfield, signing the start/finish line through the middle of the 18-degree, banked trioval. Also scheduled is LIVE entertainment on the main UNOH Fanzone Stage, including Fan Q&A, which includes (scheduled) McDowell, Aric Almirola, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Bubba Wallace, Daniel Suarez and two-time DAYTONA winning crew chief Drew Blickensderfer. Fans can also get photos with the winning trophies of the weekend in Ruoff Mortgage Victory Lane.

Tickets to the Xfinity Series Wawa 250 Powered by Coca-Cola, which is set for a 7:30 p.m. ET green flag start, begins at $35 for adults and FREE for kids 12 and under. Access to the UNOH Fanzone will be available before this race as well! A Two-Day Pass is available which includes access to the Coke Zero Sugar 400 on Saturday, and the Wawa 250 on Friday. These passes start at $69 for adults. Fan Q&A is also scheduled for Friday and will include Cindric, Gragson, Haley, AJ Allmendinger and Justin Allgaier.

As part of the “Welcome Back” weekend for fans, the track’s outside Midway (In Front of Sunoco, Toyota, Axalta, Chevrolet and AdventHealth Injectors) and UNOH Fanzone will be the site of a host of exciting interactive activities, featuring eNASCAR Racing, along with other speedway partner exhibits like Pit Boss, Coca-Cola, GEICO, Chevrolet, Toyota, Wawa, Air Force (featuring a fighter jet), Door Dash, Busch Beer, General Tire and a NASCAR Kids Zone.

The first 10,000 fans through the gates on Saturday will receive complimentary Coke Zero Sugar 400 drawstring bags.

For ticket information, and a full listing of activities in the Midway and UNOH Fanzone, visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP. Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway and see the latest speedway news on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

About Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a state-of-the-art motorsports facility and was awarded the SportsBusiness Journal’s prestigious Sports Business Award for Sports Facility of the Year in 2016. Daytona International Speedway is the home of The Great American Race – the DAYTONA 500. Though the season-opening NASCAR Cup Series event garners most of the attention – as well as the largest audience in motorsports – the approximately 500-acre motorsports complex, also known as the World Center of Racing, boasts the most diverse schedule of racing on the globe. In addition to at least nine major event weekends, the Speedway grounds are also used extensively for events that include concerts, civic and social gatherings, car shows, photo shoots, production vehicle testing and police motorcycle training.

Parker Retzlaff returns to ARCA Menards Series East competition at Milwaukee Mile

WEST ALLIS, Wisc.: Set to compete four hours or 250 miles from his hometown of Rhinelander, Wisconsin, teenager Parker Retzlaff returns to the ARCA Menards Series East scene eyeing his first career victory in Sunday afternoon’s Sprecher 150 at the famed Milwaukee (Wisc.) Mile.

Circumstances out of Retzlaff’s controls sidelined him in the series’ most recent race at Iowa Speedway last month, but rejuvenated and ready to the No. 42 Paul Senft & Sons Trenching Toyota for Cook Racing Technologies for battle, Retzlaff is hoping to pick up right where he left off at Southern National Motorsports Park (SNMP) in June.

Starting a career-best third in the Southern National 200, Retzlaff maintained pace throughout the 200-lap and finished third earning his first career ARCA Menards Series East top-five finish in 11 career starts.

“I’m stoked about getting back in the No. 42 Paul Senft & Sons Trenching | Ponsse Toyota this weekend at the Milwaukee Mile,” added Retzlaff. “Having to sit out Iowa was probably the hardest thing in my career so far, but I realize that there is going to be some challenges and bump along the way and I’m focused on getting back behind the wheel and continuing our pace from Southern National.”

While the ARCA Menards Series hasn’t visited the famed one-mile oval in 14 years, Retzlaff is hoping for the decade and a half sabbatical will put the field on a level playing field for Sunday’s 150-lap race.

“Even though most of the field doesn’t have experience at the Milwaukee Mile, I think it is going to be a very competitive race where there is going to be little to no room for error. I’m taking all the steps I can to prepare myself for the race on Sunday.

“I know Bruce (Cook, owner) and my crew chief Amber (Slagle) are bringing me a fast and competitive car and hopefully it will lead us to Victory Lane. That would certainly put an exclamation point on everything that we’ve had to encounter in 2021.”

An accomplished iRacer, Retzlaff has turned to the popular motorsports simulation program to turn thousands of laps at the one-mile oval not only in private testing but actual race simulations to aid him ahead of his 12th career ARCA Menards Series East start.

“I am really hoping that the hours that I have spent on iRacing at the Milwaukee Mile will help on Sunday,” added Retzlaff. “iRacing without a doubt has made me a better race car driver and I’m hoping that my weeks of preparation will help ease the real-life transition on Sunday.”

Franksville, Wisc. based Paul Senft & Sons Trenching will serve as the co-primary partner of Retzlaff’s No. 42 Ponsse Toyota.

Absolute Realtors, Eco-Tracks, Global Fabrication Inc., GrilleAdz, Iron Horse Loggers, Klinner Insurance, MMI and Sunwest Construction and Zamp Racing Products will all join as associate partners for the 150-lap race on Aug. 29.

“I feel very fortunate to be able to have a stack of companies that believe in me and our Cook Racing Technologies team,” added Retzlaff. “We earned them some time in the spotlight this season, it’s important to keep that going this weekend at the Milwaukee Mile.”

Despite missing the most recent ARCA Menards Series East race at Iowa Speedway, Retzlaff secures seventh in the championship standings, 36 points from fifth with two ARCA Menards Series East races remaining.

Sunday’s Sprecher 150 will be ARCA’s sixth-race overall in West Allis, Wisconsin since 1982. The 150-mile race is also a combined ARCA Menards Series premier, ARCA Menards Series East and Sioux Chief Showdown event.

Outside of the cockpit, Retzlaff is an accomplished racer with 1,262 poles, 1,605 wins, 3,155 top-five and more than 67,000 laps led.

For more on Parker Retzlaff, please visit parkerretzlaff.com, like him on Facebook (Parker Retzlaff Racing), Instagram (@parkerRetzlaff) and follow him on Twitter (@Parker79p).

The Sprecher 150 (150 laps | 150 miles) is the seventh of eight races on the 2021 ARCA Menards Series East schedule. Practice begins Sun., Aug. 29 with a forty-five-minute practice session from 10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. A timed General Tire pole qualifying session is set for a short time later at 11:30 a.m. The race is set to take the green flag shortly after 2:00 p.m. The event will be televised live on MAVTV and NBC Sports Gold Pass. ARCARacing.com will also stream live timing and scoring throughout the day’s festivities. All times are local (CT).

The Sprecher 150 (150 laps | 150 miles) is the 16th of 20 races on the 2021 ARCA Menards Series schedule. Practice begins Sun., Aug. 29 with a forty-five-minute practice session from 10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. A timed General Tire pole qualifying session is set for a short time later at 11:30 a.m. The race is set to take the green flag shortly after 2:00 p.m. The event will be televised live on MAVTV and NBC Sports Gold Pass. ARCARacing.com will also stream live timing and scoring throughout the day’s festivities. All times are local (CT).

Jack Wood Returns to GMS Racing for Full-Time 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Campaign

Statesville, NC – GMS Racing is proud to announce that Jack Wood has been re-signed for the 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season. Wood will compete full-time in the No. 24 Chevrolet Silverado with primary backing from Chevrolet.

Wood, who is just twenty-one years of age, initially joined GMS Racing to run the entire ARCA Menards Series schedule for 2021. However in May, it was announced that those plans would change, as the rookie found himself presented with an opportunity to compete in thirteen truck starts throughout the remainder of the season.

Coming off his first-career Top 10 finish in truck series competition, Jack was elated with the news that he would be returning for a full-time effort next season. “I feel extremely honored to be asked to drive for GMS Racing again next year, we have built a lot of momentum over the last few months and I feel strongly that next season will be a very successful one. There has been plenty of learning and ground work built in order to do just that. I would like to thank everyone at GMS Racing and Chevrolet for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to chase my dream. I hope to finish the rest of this year out strong and then take the off season preparing to hit the ground running in 2022 starting at Daytona!”

So far, the California-native has competed in a total of seven NCWTS starts, with highlights including an eleventh place finish at Nashville Superspeedway and a tenth place finish at Worldwide Technology Raceway, his best-career finish in his most recent start. In seven ARCA starts, Wood has four Top 10 finishes with a career-best of fourth place at Kansas Speedway.

Having never raced at any of the facilities on the truck schedule, Wood has learned to overcome the challenge of not having any practice or qualifying by regularly training with the Chevrolet simulator in Huntersville, NC.

GMS Racing President Mike Beam looks forward to seeing the continued growth of Jack Wood’s career as he returns to the organization, saying “We are really excited to welcome Jack Wood back to our truck series program. I feel like this year was a solid learning year for Jack and he progressed a lot in a short amount of time. I am looking forward to him being able to return to tracks and apply what he has learned in 2021.”

In January, Wood was selected to join the Drivers Edge Development class of 2021, a co-op effort between accomplished Chevrolet developmental teams GMS Racing and JR Motorsports. During the week, as part of a strict fitness regimen, Wood trains with Josh Wise and fellow Team Chevy athletes to strengthen his stamina during races, showcasing his dedication to improving overall performance as a driver.

Additional sponsorship and partnership opportunities with Jack Wood and the No. 24 team are available for the 2022 NCWTS season. To inquire about these opportunities, please reach out via email to sara@gmsracing.net.

For more information about Jack Wood, please visit his new official website, www.jackwoodracing.com. Additionally, follow Jack on Twitter and Instagram with his official handle @DriverJackWood.

#WeAreGMS

ABOUT GMS RACING:

GMS Racing competes full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with drivers Sheldon Creed, Zane Smith, Tyler Ankrum, Chase Purdy and Jack Wood. The team also competes in the ARCA Menards Series with Daniel Dye. Since the team began in 2014, GMS Racing won the 2016 and 2020 Camping World Trucks Championship, the 2015 ARCA Menards Series championship as well as the 2019 & 2020 ARCA East championship. GMS has grown to occupy several buildings located in Statesville, N.C. The campus also includes operations for GMS Fabrication. More information can be found at www.gmsracing.net.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, follow GMS Racing on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

RCR Event Preview – Daytona International Speedway

Richard Childress Racing at Daytona International Speedway… Dating back to 1976, Richard Childress Racing has won 11 poles and collected six points-paying victories at the most-storied racetrack on the NASCAR Cup Series circuit. RCR owns three Daytona 500 wins (Dale Earnhardt – 1998, Kevin Harvick – 2007, Austin Dillon – 2018), three Coke Zero Sugar 400 trophies (Earnhardt – 1990, 1993 and Harvick – 2010) and 14 qualifying races, including a record 10-consecutive victories with Earnhardt (1990 – 1999).

In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, the Welcome, N.C. organization has captured six wins, 33 top-five and 53 top-10 finishes in a total of 99 starts.

Catch the Action… The NASCAR Xfinity Series’ Wawa 250 at Daytona International Speedway will be televised live Friday, August 27, beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN and will be broadcast live on the Motor Radio Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

The NASCAR Cup Series’ Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway will be televised live Saturday, August 28, beginning at 7 p.m. ET on NBC and will be broadcast live on the Motor Radio Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops / TRACKER Off Road Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE at Daytona International Speedway… Dillon, the 2018 Daytona 500 Champion, has 16 previous starts in the NASCAR Cup Series at Daytona International Speedway, acquiring one pole award, three top-five and eight top-10 finishes, most recently finishing third in this year’s Daytona 500. The Welcome, North Carolina, driver, who grew up attending races at Daytona International Speedway with his family, has 10 starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with one win, seven top-five and seven top-10 finishes. He has two starts at the track in the NASCAR Truck Series.

Former Pole Winner… Dillon earned his career-first NASCAR Cup Series pole award with a lap of 196.019 mph (45.914 seconds) in the 2014 edition of the Daytona 500. It marked the fourth time the No. 3 has won the pole for the Daytona 500, and its 67th Cup Series pole, overall. Dillon also started on the front row for the July 2015 Coke Zero 400 at Daytona.

About Tracker Off Road… Dillon’s No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE prominently features TRACKER ATVs, a game-changing new line of all-terrain vehicles and side-by-sides offering breakthrough performance, service and value in the off-road industry. TRACKER OFF ROAD was born out of a powerhouse partnership formed between Bass Pro Shops and TRACKER founder Johnny Morris and Textron Specialized Vehicles, bringing together the undisputed world leader in boating with a global leader in innovation and technology.

About Bass Pro Shops… Bass Pro Shops is North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company. Founded in 1972 when avid young angler Johnny Morris began selling tackle out of his father’s liquor store in Springfield, Missouri, today the company provides customers with unmatched offerings spanning premier destination retail, outdoor equipment manufacturing, world-class resort destinations and more. In 2017 Bass Pro Shops acquired Cabela’s to create a “best-of-the-best” experience with superior products, dynamic locations and outstanding customer service. Bass Pro Shops also operates White River Marine Group, offering an unsurpassed collection of industry-leading boat brands, and Big Cedar Lodge, America’s Premier Wilderness Resort. Under the visionary conservation leadership of Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops is a national leader in protecting habitat and introducing families to the outdoors and has been named by Forbes as “one of America’s Best Employers.” Bass Pro Shops has a long relationship with NASCAR, dating back to 1998. For more information, visit http://www.basspro.com/.

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:
What is your confidence level knowing that Daytona is the final race in the regular season and your last chance to get into the NASCAR Playoffs?
“Yeah, that gives the confidence to you as being the last race of the year. And the situation I am in right now, I think I’ve been in other situations down the road, it would probably be more stressful. But for me, we’re in a little bit of a nothing to lose attitude right now because we’ve got to gain on our teammate, and if not, we’ve got to win somehow. So, Daytona is that place and it gives us an opportunity with our ECR horsepower. I don’t know. We’ve just had the ability to keep that No. 3 at the front when we go to Daytona. I like it. It’s a magical place and I’ve had some great runs there. I’m pumped that it’s the last race of our regular season.”

Last year, Daytona was the regular season finale, you didn’t have to worry about the points situation because you were already locked into the NASCAR Playoffs. Did you notice the racing was much different?
“For some reason, I can’t really recall that particular race. Usually, I’m pretty good at that. But I think we were kind of coasting in because we knew we were in the Playoffs. But Daytona and Talladega always provide a chance for excitement, and with it being the final race of the regular season, there are some that will go about it and say ‘hey, I’ve got to get to the checkered flag to have a chance to have a chance to win,’ and there are some that think they’ve got to lead every lap. I’ll definitely be re-watching the race, and seeing how people played it, and who was aggressive in those moments. It’s so easy to get aggressive and wipe out half the field at Daytona. So many things happen at the speedways with an errant move or an aggressive move and take a lot of people out early. You don’t want to be in that situation. We’ve been successful at the speedways by keeping ourselves up front, but I’ve seen guys get wrecked leading so anything can happen at these places. You’ve got to have a good strategy, a fast car that keeps you out of the way, and a bit of luck.”

Tyler Reddick and the No. 8 Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE at Daytona International Speedway… Reddick has four NASCAR Cup Series starts under his belt at Daytona International Speedway as he enters the final weekend of the regular 2021 season. Reddick, who will have one last chance to make the NASCAR Playoffs this weekend, has won in both the NASCAR Xfinity and NASCAR Truck Series at the 2.5-mile superspeedway. The Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender also has two top-10 finishes and two pole awards in the Xfinity Series at the track.

About Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen… Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen is the homestyle casual dining restaurant where guests always Get a lot. For not a lot™. The restaurant offers a variety of scratch-made meals and generous portions served up in a warm, welcoming atmosphere – all at an unbelievable price. After being welcomed with a signature Honey Butter Croissant on the house, guests can enjoy signature entrées like hand-breaded Chicken Tenders, Homemade Chicken Pot Pie and Fall-off-the-Plate Baby Back Ribs. Cheddar’s operates more than 170 restaurants in 28 states and employs more than 15,000 friendly and passionate team members. For more information or to locate the nearest restaurant, visit Cheddars.com. Fans can like or follow Cheddar’s on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

When Tyler Wins, You Win Tenders! Like Reddick, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen is hungry for his first Cup Series win to come in 2021. So all season long, when Reddick takes the checkered flag in the Cup Series, all NASCAR fans will win a FREE No. 8 Special Chicken Tender Platter at Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen the Monday following the race. Offer is valid both dine-in and To Go. See cheddars.com/offer/race-day for full details.

TYLER REDDICK QUOTES:
How crazy and wild do you think Daytona will be with drivers having their last shot to make the NASCAR Playoffs?
“I played a big part in that excitement in the last Daytona cutoff race. I think you’ll expect to see drivers that were as desperate as I was in that race to try and get up front and get control of the race and win for their team and all their partners. It’s just going to be a matter of trying to have an understanding in the back of your head or have a point that you kind of have within yourself. Like okay, this is my fun meter. If we can stay within, we’re good. If we go over here, etc. We’re trying to make the Playoffs, right? But we’re also trying to get tenth and get that extra point if we can, too. So, there are a lot of things around. We’re going to try and control what we can. Someone going in and winning that race in Daytona is something that we can’t really control unless we win that race. While it’s a tough spot to be in, I’m excited to be back behind the wheel of the Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen Chevrolet and hopefully at the end of the night, we are the ones in Playoffs.”

What does getting into the Playoffs mean to you?
“It’s extremely important. For me, last year it was a goal for our team. We had the trends, and the positives were there for us to get there but some of the mistakes in that rookie season really took us just far enough behind that it was really difficult to overcome. Other drivers were surging late in the season, and it was a difficult time to make up points and we were losing them. This year, it’s even more important considering we were one of the first drivers to miss the Playoffs last year. And then also, for us, we’re sitting 11th in points and have a shot at getting to 10th. We’ve had a really good turnaround from five or six races in. We’ve overcome a big points deficit and we’ve passed a lot of other teams and drivers in points. We’ve run really well for many months now in the season. Making the Playoffs is important, for sure. I think we’re running good enough to make it through the first round and have a really good shot at making it through the second round to round three, honestly. We’re right in that window. So that’s really important to make it into the Playoffs because we are going to have some Playoff points from the Stage wins if things go right, we’ll get some more from where we’re at in the regular season standings. So, a lot is on the line for us in that regard because it’s not a matter of just making the Playoffs. I think where we’re running right now and where our RCR team is going, and Austin Dillon as well. We are good enough to make it go deeper into the Playoffs than just make it a one and done.”

Myatt Snider and the No. 2 Crosley Brands Chevrolet Camaro at Daytona International Speedway… Snider has three previous NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Daytona International Speedway, leading a total of 22 laps and earning a seventh-place finish in the 2021 season opening race in February. The 26-year-old also has three starts in the NASCAR Truck Series at the 2.5-mile superspeedway tri-oval, recording a 10th-place result in 2017.

About Crosley Brands… For over 30 years, Crosley Brands has been a leader in the nostalgic electronics category. From their beginning in the premium incentive industry, Crosley Brands developed their own exclusive product lines and built solid relationships with some of the most well-known catalogers and retailers in the business. Today, Crosley Brands is known for two brands – Crosley Radio and Crosley Furniture. At the front lines of the Vinyl Revolution, Crosley Radio seeks to bring new life to a classic medium, with its revolutionary line of turntables to its new series of high-fidelity units. Building on a legacy of entrepreneurship, Crosley Furniture delivers quality products at competitive prices, without sacrificing style. From the patio to the kitchen, bath, entryway and beyond, Crosley Furniture offers over 1,800 indoor and outdoor furniture items in a variety of categories and designs. For more information, please visit www.crosleybrands.com.

MYATT SNIDER QUOTE:
Has earning a victory so early in the season impacted your driving strategy?
“Absolutely, it takes a lot of stress off our team at this current moment, versus someone who may not have a win and would be in a similar position as me points wise. We know our No. 2 Crosley Brands Chevrolet Camaro is locked in to the Playoffs and we can focus on racing hard each week. Our team has been working hard to determine what is needed to go faster as a group. Part of that is me learning and part of that is us getting the balance of the cars right. Andy Street (crew chief) and I have worked together really well and I think we are starting to hit our stride. Our goal is to shock a few people when it comes to the Playoffs.”