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GMS Racing NCWTS Darlington Raceway Preview

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Official Release
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Sheldon Creed, No. 2 LiftKits4Less Chevrolet Silverado
Darlington Raceway Stats

  • NCWTS Starts: 2, Wins: 1 (2021), Top 5s: 1, Top 10s: 1, Best start: 2nd, Laps led: 89

2021 NCWTS Season Stats

  • Starts: 16, Wins: 2 (Darlington & Gateway), Top 5s: 7, Top 10s: 8, Stage wins: 3, Best start: 2nd, Laps led: 303
  • Sponsor spotlight: LiftKits4Less returns this week to feature on Sheldon Creed’s No. 2 Silverado. LiftKits4Less will sponsor Creed for the remainder of the season all the way through the season finale in Phoenix.
  • Chassis history/info: Creed and the No. 2 team will utilize chassis no. 327 at Darlington. This celebrated chassis carried Sheldon to the win, and more importantly, the championship, at Phoenix Raceway last November. The last time the chassis competed was earlier this season at Richmond, where Creed finished 11th.
  • Returning Darlington Winner: After experiencing a crushing defeat at Darlington last season, where he led the most laps in dominating fashion, Creed clutched up and powered to the win on a late restart during the track’s most recent race in May. He enters this weekend’s race looking to become the first driver to sweep both races at the Lady in Black.
  • Back2Back: Sheldon Creed and the No. 2 GMS Racing team made a statement during the Playoffs opener at Gateway, in a race where they led 142 of 163 laps and cruised to victory. Creed is now locked into the Round of 8, with hopes of continuing his winning ways this round.
  • Quote: Winning at Gateway to open the Round of 10 was a huge confidence booster for our No. 2 team. I am excited to return to Darlington this weekend, because this track fits my style perfectly. We had the dominant truck last year, but it got away from us, so winning there earlier this season made it seem like we redeemed ourselves. I think we might have the truck to beat once again on Sunday, and I’m looking forward to chasing after another win.

Zane Smith, No. 21 Chevy Accessories Chevrolet Silverado
Darlington Raceway Stats

  • NCWTS Starts: 2, Best start: 3rd, Best finish: 16th (twice)

2021 NCWTS Season Stats

  • Starts: 16, Top 5s: 1, Top 10s: 10, Stage wins: 3, Best start: 2nd, Best finish: 4th (Nashville), Laps led: 66
  • Sponsor spotlight: Chevy Accessories returns this week to feature on Zane Smith’s No. 21 Silverado.
  • Chassis history/info: Smith and the No. 21 team will utilize chassis no. 331 at Darlington, the same chassis that delivered Smith his first ever NCWTS win at Michigan last season. In total, this Silverado has six Top 10 finishes in seven races, including a fourth place effort this June in Nashville where it was last raced.
  • 21in21: Zane Smith finds himself on the outside looking in as the trucks head to Darlington, as a catastrophic rear gear failure parked the No. 21 Silverado with an early exit at Gateway. Smith currently sits ninth in points, just ten points back from the cutline. A solid run in Darlington could bump him back into the Playoffs picture.
  • Quote: “I’m looking forward to climbing out of the points hole and getting back in contention at Darlington. Even though our previous finishes aren’t great at this track, I feel like our No. 21 team has always brought fast trucks to compete with. We have to go out there and stay up front throughout the whole race, try to take home as many stage points as possible, and ultimately contend for the win. I’m confident that we will be able to turn things around in this first round of the Playoffs.”

Chase Purdy, No. 23 Bama Buggies Chevrolet Silverado
Darlington Raceway Stats

  • NCWTS Starts: 1, Best start: 24th, Best finish: 36th (2021)

2021 NCWTS Season Stats

  • Starts: 15, Top 10s: 1, Best start: 4th, Best finish: 6th (Gateway), Laps led: 4
  • Sponsor spotlight: Bama Buggies returns this week to feature on Chase Purdy’s No. 23 Silverado.
  • Chassis history/info: Purdy and the No. 23 team will utilize chassis no. 328 at Darlington, the same chassis that he competed with for the track’s first race in May. The chassis’ best race was a third place finish at Dover last year with Brett Moffitt behind the wheel. - Coming With Momentum: Purdy earned his best-career finish at Gateway in the series’ most recent race, an impressive sixth place result. The run marked the No. 23 team’s first Top 10 result of the season, a great confidence booster heading into Darlington. - Quote: “I’m pumped up to go back to Darlington this weekend! My No. 23 guys and I were fast the last time we were there, and I think when we return on Sunday we can be even better. Darlington is a super cool race track and I hope to come away with another solid Top 10 finish.”

Jack Wood, No. 24 Chevy Accessories Chevrolet Silverado
Darlington Raceway Stats

  • Jack Wood has no previous experience in any series at Darlington

2021 NCWTS Season Stats

  • Starts: 7, Top 10s: 1, Best start: 2nd, Best finish: 10th (Gateway)
  • Sponsor spotlight: Chevy Accessories returns this week to feature on Jack Wood’s No. 24 Silverado. The familiar white, black, and gray colors make a return as the primary Chevy Accessories paint scheme.
  • Chassis history/info: Wood and his No. 24 team will utilize chassis no. 309 at Darlington, a truck that has taken Brett Moffitt and Sam Mayer to one victory a piece at Iowa in 2019 and Bristol in 2020, respectively. Rafael Lessard most recently drove this chassis in Las Vegas earlier this season.
  • First Start, First Top 10: Jack Wood made the most of his first start at Gateway last time out, earning his first ever Top 10 finish in NCWTS competition with a 10th place finish. Wood will also be making his first start at Darlington Raceway in Sunday’s race, as he continues to grow in his rookie season.
  • Back and Ready for More: On Thursday, GMS Racing announced that Jack Wood will be returning to the No. 24 Silverado for a full-time effort in 2022. Competitive runs in the final six races of the year will help build a solid foundation entering next season.
  • Quote: “Darlington is one of the racetracks that I have never been to before, and without any practice or qualifying, it will be a challenge getting up to speed. I’m doing everything I can to prepare for the best outcome possible, and I’m looking forward to seeing what my No. 24 team can bring to the table with The Lady in Black.”

Tyler Ankrum, No. 26 LiUNA! Chevrolet Silverado
Darlington Raceway Stats

  • NCWTS Starts: 2, Best start: 9th, Best finish: 11th (2020)

2021 NCWTS Season Stats

  • Starts: 16, Top 5s: 3, Top 10s: 5, Poles: 1 (COTA), Best finish: 3rd (twice), Laps led: 12
  • Sponsor spotlight: LiUNA! returns this week to feature on Tyler Ankrum’s No. 26 Silverado. Ankrum will bring back the black and orange LiUNA! paint scheme from the start of the season.
  • Chassis history: Ankrum and his No. 26 crew will utilize chassis no. 305 at Darlington, a workhorse that has fifteen races under its belt. In November 2018, this chassis took Justin Haley to victory lane at Texas. Most recently, Ankrum drove this truck to a fourth place finish at Pocono in June.
  • Battle Within the Battle: With six races left to run in 2021, Tyler Ankrum finds himself in a heated battle with Derek Kraus and Johnny Sauter for 12th place in the points standings. Currently, Tyler runs 13th in points, just seven markers back from Kraus.
  • Quote: “I’m excited to head back to Darlington Raceway with my No. 26 crew! Hopefully this time, we will have some better luck than what we had in the spring. It may be the second race of the Playoffs, but our mindset still hasn’t changed despite the fact that we aren’t a part of them. We’re going to go out there and try to win some of these races and hopefully put on a heck of a show.”

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 Racing Series championship as well as the 2019 & 2020 ARCA East championship and 2020 Sioux Chief Showdown 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 https://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.

CHEVY NCS AT PLAYOFF MEDIA DAY: Tyler Reddick Teleconference Transcript

By
Official Release
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NASCAR CUP SERIES
PLAYOFF MEDIA DAY
TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
AUGUST 31, 2021

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

THE MODERATOR: We’re going to get right into questions here for Tyler Reddick.

Q. These first three tracks are ones where you’ve consistently fought for top 10s, top 5s. What is your confidence level heading into your first Playoffs?
TYLER REDDICK: It’s good. The nice thing is that we’re going back to a venue — well, let me think about this. I mean, in a way we’ve been to all three of these tracks already this year, the third Bristol. Obviously a little dustier for some reason the first time we were there earlier this year.
The speed we had early at this race at Darlington in the beginning of summer, if you will, was really promising to know we were that good and still have missed the mark on where our car needed to be by that much.
Yeah, I’m excited for sure going into that race. But even more excited, after all the chaos and everything kind of had passed at Daytona, we knew we were in, that night leading into the next morning, Bob is taking a guess at where everyone is going to start.
Oh, my gosh, this fifth-place finish was not only good to finally finish fifth, in the top 5 at Daytona, but it looks like it’s going to help our starting position at Darlington where there’s only I think 13 points between myself and sixth right now.
I think we’re going to see a lot of shake-up just right away in how tight everybody is, how it’s going to spread out just in this first race at Darlington. We’re going to try to take advantage of that.

Q. I know you weren’t in the Playoffs last year. Did you notice anything competitively or with intensity as a driver that maybe you can expect this time around, if there was something different?
TYLER REDDICK: Well, out of the competition or…

Q. Yeah. I mean, does the intensity level raise up? Do you feel that as a driver, something you actually experience that you can sense around you that can help you this year, if at all?
TYLER REDDICK: Yes and no. I think I experienced this for sure when we ran the Southern 500 last year. We at times were racing, especially the first round for sure, we were racing around a lot of Playoff cars all night long at Darlington, and Bristol especially once we were up in the top 5. We aren’t racing for what those guys are, but we’re still racing to try and have a good finish for our progress and everything like that.
So I think the intensity’s there whether you’re in the Playoffs or not. When you’re a Playoff driver, you’re racing really hard with those other Playoff drivers. It seemed like the guys outside of the Playoffs understand what is going on, but they’re still going to race hard for their season. The give-and-take, the mark has moved a little bit from where it is in the regular season up until that point.
But I’d say either way you have it, it’s just shaped a little bit differently whether you’re in the Playoffs or not. Last year when I wasn’t, I felt like the Playoff drivers – as they should – were racing hard for every single spot. Essentially this one or two points at the end of the year ultimately doesn’t dictate whether I make the next round or not.
So it is different, but I wouldn’t say it’s more intense. It’s just the intensity level is with a certain group of drivers on one side and another in the Playoffs.

Q. Entering Michigan you said you believed the No. 8 team was running well enough to potentially reach the Round of 8 if you got into the Playoffs. Now that you’re in, do you feel the consistency you’ve shown over the summer can get you that far or do you feel like you’re going to need a win somewhere in the first two rounds to reach the Round of 8 and go from there?
TYLER REDDICK: I would say at this moment looking at how everything’s seeded, if you will, only 13 points as of right now separate myself to I believe it’s sixth. I hope I got that number right. So it’s pretty tight. Again, that can change in one stage, one race, one part of these three-race rounds in this Playoff system.
We’re obviously going to see new winners. We’re going to see three winners this round of the Playoffs and three winners in the Round of 12. That can certainly shake up those numbers and where we’re at in comparison.
When you think about that 13-point gap right now over three races, I feel like we’ve been able to be consistent and gain a lot of points just over really a lot of the field over the course of the summer.
Yeah, you look at these three last races for myself, not exactly the most consistent, for sure. Michigan, flat out just made poor decisions. It happens from time to time. It’s a nice little reality check, if you will, before the Playoffs started of, Okay, this is why we need to really stay on the plan that we have.
So, yeah, I feel good about it still. I mean, everyone’s working really hard to set themselves up to really go out of the gates in the Playoffs. Obviously, everyone’s going to be probably a little bit faster or different than they’ve been the last two months. So, speed out of some cars, out of some drivers, may be different now.
I still feel good about it, but you never know until you’re in it for sure.

Q. The naysayers, I’m sure you’ve heard: Last man in, first man out. How would you respond to that? Is your strategy going to be to maximize points as much as you can or go all out for the win?
TYLER REDDICK: I mean, I would say to win races you need to be relevant all day long. The only places you can really pop in and steal wins, when fuel mileage has come into play in the past on superspeedways. To win those races, you before winning races you need to score a lot of points and be running up front.
For most of this year, especially once we got it rolling the way it needed to be, we were running inside the top 10 a lot, having shots, one pit stop or one decision here or there away from top 5s, which unfortunately haven’t had a lot of those this year. But we’ve been right there. Little details will either make or break this Playoff run for us.
But I like where we’ve been going. I still feel like we’re still just improving, but we’re right where we need to be for the right time at the start of this.
Certainly don’t feel like looking at how we’ve ran that we will be the first out. Again, it’s not just a race against 15 other competitors, you’re racing yourself.
Now that we’re in these Playoffs, certainly it will be a lot easier to allow the pressure to get to us. But I’m not going to lie, Saturday was one of the most pressure-packed nights of my life and I thought we handled it pretty well. Some may argue that I needed to just be out the back, let everything happen. But I can’t get so caught up in Austin that I forget there’s eight or nine drivers up there that could have won and knocked us out.
I thought we handled that situation as well as we could. It makes us even more prepared and ready for this first round, the rounds after, if we can do our part and get there.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you, Tyler.

FastScripts by ASAP Sports

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.

Noah Gragson Returns to JR Motorsports for 2022

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Official Release
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Bass Pro Shops, TrueTimber® Camo, Black Rifle Coffee Back as Partners

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Aug. 31, 2021) – Noah Gragson, a two-time winner in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with JR Motorsports, will contest the 2022 NXS season with JRM, the team announced today. It marks the third straight season for the driver with Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s organization. Bass Pro Shops, TrueTimber® Camo and Black Rifle Coffee will return to back the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro for the third straight season.

Gragson, 23, a native of Las Vegas, has made 89 starts with JRM since the 2019 season, his first full-time foray in the series. Bass Pro Shops, TrueTimber® Camo and Black Rifle Coffee have supported Gragson in 44 of those starts since 2020. The first start with the driver-sponsor combination, at Daytona International Speedway in 2020’s season opener, resulted in Gragson’s first career series victory.

“Johnny Morris believed in me enough to put Bass Pro Shops on my car to start the 2020 season, and it paid off with victory the first time out,” Gragson said. “It was special to stand in Victory Lane at Daytona with Johnny right beside me. Bass Pro Shops, Rusty Sellers at TrueTimber and Evan and Mat at Black Rifle Coffee Company have been fantastic to work with. We still have a lot to accomplish this season but I’m looking forward to battling for a series championship again in 2022.”

During his career at JRM, Gragson won at Daytona in 2020 and again that same season at Bristol Motor Speedway. The young driver has amassed 34 top-five and 61 top-10 finishes in that span and has made the playoffs in each of his three seasons with the team.

Gragson currently sits eighth in NXS points with three races remaining in the regular season, firmly inside the playoff field. So far this season, Gragson has earned eight top-five and 14 top-10 finishes, with his best result a second-place finish at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway in April. Gragson also won three of the four Xfinity Dash 4 Cash payouts this season, pushing his career total to four after taking the $100,000 bonus at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 2020. JRM has won 17 of the bonus prizes over its history.

Additional details surrounding Gragson’s paint scheme will be announced at a later date.

ABOUT JR MOTORSPORTS:
JR Motorsports is the racing operation co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Fame member and 15-time Most Popular Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kelley Earnhardt Miller and NASCAR Hall of Famer Rick Hendrick. Now in its 20th year of overall competition, JR Motorsports competes in multiple divisions, including the NASCAR Xfinity Series where it currently fields four full-time teams and earned championships in 2014, 2017 and 2018. The company also races in Late Model competition and owns four championships in regional Late Model divisions and added a prized national title in 2020. To learn more about the organization, its drivers and its sponsorship opportunities, visit www.jrmracing.com.

JIMMIE JOHNSON PASSES INDYCAR OVAL TEST AT NO LIMITS, TEXAS

By
Official Release
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Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion and seven-time Texas Motor Speedway race winner makes initial NTT INDYCAR SERIES laps on oval

FORT WORTH, Texas (August 30, 2021) – Jimmie Johnson knows Texas Motor Speedway like no other, with a track-record seven NASCAR Cup Series wins to his credit, but his first laps on an oval behind the wheel of an IndyCar created a completely new race track for the seven-time series champion.

Johnson and his No. 48 Chip Ganassi Racing NTT INDYCAR SERIES team conducted a seven-hour test at No Limits, Texas, which began at 6 a.m. CT. in the relative cool (75 degrees Fahrenheit at sunrise) and finished just after 1 p.m. with a heat index of nearly 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Six-time and reigning NTT INDYCAR Champion Scott Dixon drove the initial laps around the 1.5-mile tri-oval, using the knowledge that’s taken him to five victories at TMS, including the 2021 GENENSYS 300 on May 1.

“To know that I could come here and test and experience it as a driver was important to me,” said Johnson. “Let’s go to the tough one. It’s one thing by myself. I feel like I can control my environment, and I’m very thankful that I’m able to go out here and do it. The way INDYCAR has advanced their safety and certainly what the tracks have done to increase the safety, my concerns are much less and that’s why we’re here today. Now that my concerns are at a certain point, now it’s time to get in the car and see what my point of view is from there.

“The car drives way different. It’s much more responsive so I’ve found the majority of the day just trying to acclimate to this new environment, one that’s much faster and certainly a bit more sensitive to the inputs that the driver gives to the car. But it’s been really nice to be on a familiar track. I know where I am, I know what to do, I know the line around this place, and even down to simple things like knowing where the hotel was last night or knowing how to drive into the tunnel and get into the infield. There’s been some small wins that are nice to have.”

In addition to Dixon, on-hand for Johnson’s maiden IndyCar voyage were a current and a former Chip Ganassi Racing IndyCar driver to offer insight and encouragement: Tony Kanaan (2004 series champion, 2004 TMS race winner, and Johnson’s current co-driver of the No. 48); and three-time series champion and 2011 TMS winner Dario Franchitti.

“It’s a challenging thing that Jimmie’s doing as I say, but so far he’s done very well,” said Franchitti. “Track conditions were a little nicer this morning at 6 AM when Scott (Dixon) went out and those early runs Jimmie did, but it’s heated up now, and he’s learning a little bit about how the Indy car slides around a bit when it gets hot.

“It’s all about the subtleties. It would be like a person that plays cricket and plays for the English team or whatever … it’s got a bat, it’s got a ball. Then I’m going to play baseball. It’s got a bat, it’s got a ball. Everything else is different, and I think that’s the difference between a stock car and an Indy car. Everything you learn on the way up, and everything you learn when you’re the top in either of those fields, doesn’t prepare you in any way to do the other. In fact, it hurts you.”

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

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

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

Darlington – A Labor Day tradition of racing, family and fun

By
Angie Campbell
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Photo Credit: Chris Graythen | Getty Images

NASCAR heads to Darlington Raceway to celebrate Labor Day with a full weekend of racing competition and fun for the entire family.

As track president Kerry Tharp discussed several of the planned events, one thing was quickly apparent; there will be something for everyone.

“We’re going to have a fan zone. We’ve got a kid zone. We’ve got live entertainment Friday and Saturday night,” he said. “We’ve got a Playoffs party Saturday night and a doubleheader on Sunday.”

But, when the racing begins, tensions will be high as all three series focus on the Playoffs.

Turn 2 of the track was recently repaved in preparation for the Labor Day weekend. It was, however, a necessity rather than an enhancement.

“It was a much better long-term solution than the piecemeal we had been doing for the last three to four years,” Tharp explained. “They finished up about three weeks ago and NASCAR sent some people down from the manufacturers to check out the work. They felt very good about it. It didn’t change any of the banking or any of the geometry of that turn. I think it’s going to have a minimal if any, effect on the racing. It’s something that we had to do.”

The Cook Out Southern 500 is the first race in Round 1 of the Cup Series Playoffs.

The 1.366-mile track presents a unique challenge in the upcoming races. A win will automatically advance a driver through the Playoffs to the next round but there is a delicate balance between aggressiveness and patience.

“Darlington is a race where you need to be patient. It’s 500 miles so it’s 100 miles further than most races. Someone can be leading it on the 100-mile mark and then all of a sudden you look and say, ‘where did that guy go?’

“So I think the (playoff) drivers would certainly want to secure a win here but they also don’t want to forego any chance of advancing with a poor performance here. So, I think they are going to have to be very, very patient, take care of their tires and just be the best they can be.”

Tharp is looking forward to having the Camping World Truck Series back this weekend as they compete in the second race of their postseason playoffs.

“I love having the Trucks here. They put on great racing. I think for fans that have never come to a NASCAR race, the Truck Series is one to start out with. It’s an opportunity to let the fans see some of the younger drivers that are working themselves up into the ranks and there are also some veterans in the mix.”

The Xfinity Series regular season is winding down and with only three races remaining the competition at Darlington will be intense as the drivers contend for the remaining spots.

Although the 2022 schedule has not been released, Tharp is “cautiously optimistic” that the track will have the opportunity to host two race weekends again next year.

“We feel that the fans like coming here, the teams like coming here and it puts on a great show. It’s just a short drive down from where most of the team shops are in the Charlotte area.

“There are a lot of things to do here in South Carolina. It’s a beautiful part of the state and we would certainly welcome two race dates and hope to have two race dates for many, many more years to come.”

This will be the first time since September 2019 that the track is fully open with no seating restrictions in the grandstands and no limits in the camping areas.

“Ticket sales are going well,” Tharp confirmed. “There are really no limitations on our ticket sales or camping. We’re going to have a lot of fans in the grandstands and a lot of campers in the infield and the exterior of the facility.”

There are no specific COVID-19 protocols for fans in outdoor areas but they advise fans to wear masks in any enclosed spaces.

“We just ask fans to be smart and to be accountable for their own health.”

Tickets are available for purchase at https://www.darlingtonraceway.com/.

Why Are F1 Steering Wheels So Expensive?

By
SM
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Introduction

The price range of an F1 steering wheel will shock anyone who’s asking about it for the first time, especially if they don’t know all the cool specs it offers. So why are racing wheels so expensive?

We have the answers to the above question right here. The cost of getting an F1 steering wheel is included, of course.

In the end, you’ll see whether or not the products are worth your money. Rest assured that race teams aren’t spending that much money to show off.

  1. F1 Steering Wheel Cost

Depending on the design, F1 cars are worth about $10 million to $15 million. It shows that the parts are high-cost products. For example, the powertrain (engine, driveline components, and transmission) can take most of the overall cost of buying the vehicle with a price range that starts from $5 million to $10 million.

Now for the F1 steering wheel… It can cost about $40,000 to $100,000. However, it could be more than $100,000 million, depending on the level of sophistication. You’d be looking at 3× to 5× the above price range when you factor in how many times racing teams have to change their steering wheels in a year (three to five times). The possible costs are unbelievably high, right?

The price range of an F1 steering wheel can be quite astonishing, particularly for those learning about its capabilities for the first time. But why are these racing wheels so exorbitantly priced? Here, we delve into the specifics, including the cutting-edge technology and intricate engineering that justify the cost. Naturally, we include the cost of acquiring an F1 steering wheel as well. One noteworthy feature of F1 steering wheels is the integration of GPS technology from the GPS Tracker Shop. This addition offers crucial benefits, such as providing real-time data on the car’s location on the track, which enhances strategic decision-making regarding pit stops and tire management. Moreover, GPS assists with precise vehicle positioning relative to competitors, an essential factor in planning overtaking maneuvers or defending a position. In the end, you’ll be able to judge whether these high-tech products are worth your investment. Rest assured, race teams are not spending vast sums simply to flaunt their budgets.

Visit Automohub.com to get expert reviews and buyer’s guides about all kinds of racing car accessories, F1 racing ties, and other parts, etc. 

  1. How Do They Work?

Steering wheels are easy to operate once you’ve had enough practice—regardless of their complicated look. However, you should have an idea of how they work apart from knowing why they’re so big-budget. Visit Toolsbible to get expert recommendation and how the performance & deployment of the internal combustion engine(MGU-K and MGU-H) controls the Power Unit modes and allow the driver to change the car’s settings on F1 steering wheels.

The following can be done with the aid of the controls on an F1 steering wheel which can have as many as 20-something buttons:

  • Interfacing and menu navigation on the in-built display screen. For example; differential adjustment, engine power settings, front and rear brake balance, data display options, etc.
  • Vehicle steering/directional changes.
  • Car setup switch.
  • Clutch control.
  • Differential adjustments (rear-wheel torque transmission).
  • Braking pressure settings.
  • Dispensation of water to the driver.
  • Wheel contact angle changes.
  • Radio communication (with the engineers in the pit).
  • Pit lane speed limit option.
  • Power (strat) mode settings.
  • Honking.
  • “Fail” modes for car computer reset.
  • Overtake button for an extra boost.
    • System battery recharge option.

What Are the Advantages of a Racing Steering Wheel?

  • It does almost the same things that a regular type can do, but with more advanced functionalities.
  • It contains additional features such as electronic shifting systems, pre-wired buttons, transmission lock systems, etc.
  • It’s lighter than the regular type due to the combination of materials used in the construction process. The materials may include carbon fiber, copper, fiberglass, gold, silicon, titanium, etc.
  • Many racing steering wheel brands are flatter than the normal types which enhance driving convenience.
  • It cushions the impact of your chest with the racing collapsible steering column during accidents.
  1. Why Are F1 Steering Wheels So Expensive?

In other words, why are racing wheels so expensive? Now is the time to answer that question and we have 4 points for you…

These are six reasons explains why F1 racing wheels so expensive

  1. Technological Advancement and Ever-Changing Individual Racing Team Requirements

Steering wheel replacements are made due to new tech, accidents, expert recommendations, and so on. The steering wheel would also have to be changed if the in-car system is modified to accommodate new tech, make the vehicle faster, or ensure safety. In fact, other accessories that come with F1 racing cars, even external parts, are also affected by the above changes, such as the diagnostic tools. 

Sometimes, the transformation may be extensive. Other times, it may be very narrow in scope. However it is, the transformations take a considerably high amount of money. Some notable additions to F1 steering wheel specs over the years include the following:

  • Airbags
  • Cruise control buttons
  • Volume control
  • Built-in display screens
  • Some back-of-the-wheel paddles, rotary switches, and scroll wheels
  1. They’re Custom-Made and Limited in Number

Since they’re custom-made, F1 steering wheels can take about 50 to 80 hours to make. This period range isn’t surprising when you think about the high-tech design specs involved. If they take that long to make, it means that very few are available for the market.

  1. Sophisticated Computer Functionalities

There are many buttons on the steering wheel which perform several digital functions. These roles are made possible with electronic engineering (e.g. buttons and wiring), firmware, software, server-side code, and so on. These are mostly hand-made features!

So imagine having to customize this part of the vehicle with all the state-of-the-art specs it offers. It’s going to take a lot of time and money to make.

  1. They’re Designed for Ease of Vehicle Operation when Driving

F1 steering wheels are expensive because they’re designed for the optimal convenience of the driver during the most challenging of races (race tracks). Everything is custom-made even to the driver’s hand grip measurements. They’re not like the everyday car types which are designed for less demanding conditions and fewer personalization features.

Materials used in making the wheels are of high quality as seen in the list given earlier. They range from the lightest to the strongest of materials.

Normally, race cars are designed to suit race tracks. It’s only right that the steering wheels get an ergonomic design based on the driver’s preferences from button layouts to grip material. Asides from that, drivers need to keep their hands on the steering wheel for the entire race. Therefore, it should have all the necessary controls in proximity.

On a closer look, some steering wheels look like “advanced” video game controllers with their double-grip design, buttons, screen, LEDs, and so on. They’re aesthetically captivating even with their complex appearance.

VI. Conclusion

Now you have enough reasons as answers to this question: Why are racing wheels so expensive? In summary, they’re custom-made to suit the requirements of race teams who desire periodic modifications made possible by technological advancement to get the best results.

F1 race teams are getting value for their money with the number of benefits that the sophisticated steering wheels have to offer. Even makers of regular cars are adopting steering wheel technology used in Formula 1 as well as other motorsports. For example, steering wheel-mounted paddles.

5 Ways to Reduce Distractions While You’re Driving

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SM
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Photo by Ryan Porter on Unsplash

According to cdc.gov, in 2018, 2800 people were killed and a further 400,000 injured in crashes as a result of distracted driving. It’s one of the leading causes of car accidents in the United States.

These statistics show how important it is for us to remain vigilant when behind the wheel. We should aim to eliminate the causes of distractions as much as possible.

Below are going to take a look at five ways that you can do this while you’re driving.

Let’s get started.

Put away your phone

It’s tempting to want to answer a call or send a quick text when you’re on the road, but handling your mobile phone is one of the worst things you can do. In fact, you are four times more likely to get in a severe accident.

To resist the urge, place your phone in a concealed spot out of view. If you must use it for GPS purposes, put it on the appropriate holder and set up “hands-free” capabilities.

Keep passengers occupied

You probably already know how frustrating it can be when you’re driving with distracting passengers, especially young children. It’s difficult to remain focused when they are asking questions or arguing in the backseat. Enrolling in driving lessons online can provide valuable strategies to maintain concentration amidst such distractions, ensuring a safer and more focused driving experience.

To keep them entertained so that you can work on being a safer driver, try and find a few different solutions. Sticker books, portable DVD players, and some good old games such as I SPY are great options.

Take breaks to avoid fatigue

It’s challenging to stay concentrated when you’re tired. If you’re feeling fatigued on the road, you’re likely to get distracted more easily.

Take frequent breaks so that you can recharge and reset your mind. Experts recommend stopping every two hours and to avoid driving more than 8-10 hours in one day.

If you have been involved in a crash, make sure that you speak to the right professionals to assist with your case. A Car Accident Lawyer can help ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.

Avoid eating while driving

We all get hungry, but if you plan on having a quick snack while driving, you should pull over and take a break. When you’re eating, you don’t have two hands on the wheel. Not to mention that your eyes are off the road when you’re unpackaging something.

Take a little rest and continue on when you’re finished. It’s only a few extra minutes that could stop a severe crash.

Prepare for your journey in advance

Finally, the last way to reduce distractions while you are driving is to prepare for your journey in advance as much as possible. Set up your GPS, know your expected route, check the weather forecast and adjust all of your necessary vehicle controls.

You’ll be able to concrete entirely on driving and will know exactly when you need to leave to reach your destination on time. Preparation is a simple step that could potentially save a lot of lives.

No. 10 Smithfield Ford Racing: Aric Almirola Darlington Advance

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Official Release
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Aric Almirola
Darlington Advance
Smithfield Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview
● Event: Cookout Southern 500 (Round 27 of 36)
● Time/Date: 6 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Sept. 5
● Location: Darlington (S.C.) Raceway
● Layout: 1.366-mile egg-shaped oval
● Laps/Miles: 367 laps/501.3 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 115 laps / Stage 2: 115 laps / Final Stage: 137 laps
● TV/Radio: NBCSN / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Darlington Raceway’s historic Southern 500 kicks off the three-round playoff series where 16 drivers will battle it out on the track for the coveted NASCAR Cup Series championship trophy, awarded at the season finale Nov. 7 at Phoenix Raceway. This is the fourth consecutive playoff appearance in Almirola’s four years at Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) and fifth playoff appearance of his 12-year career. Almirola locked himself into the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs with his victory July 18 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon. He led 46 laps around the flat, 1.058-mile oval en route to his third career NASCAR Cup Series win. After a year full of adversity and bad luck, the victory put the No. 10 team, which was 27th in the standings and facing a must-win situation if it was going to compete for this year’s championship, in prime position to earn one of the 16 coveted berths in the 10-race playoffs. Almirola’s award-winning YouTube series “Beyond the 10” captured his entire race day here.
● In his pursuit of his first Cup Series championship, Almirola looks to continue Tampa Bay’s recent sports successes by adding to the accomplishments of his hometown teams – back-to-back Stanley Cup championships won by the National Hockey League’s Tampa Bay Lightning, last year’s World Series appearance by Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays, and this year’s Super Bowl championship by the National Football League’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
● History at Darlington: In 12 starts at the 1.33-mile egg-shaped oval, Almirola has earned two top-10 finishes, which came in back-to-back starts last year in May and September. In his most recent start, the Smithfield Ford team was forced to start at the rear of the field and, after proving to have speed by gaining 10 positions in only six laps, Almirola’s day was cut short when the No. 47 contacted his rear bumper and spun him into the inside wall.
● Smithfield Foods celebrates 10 years of partnership with Almirola this season with a special campaign called Taste Victory. As one of the most active partners in NASCAR, Smithfield engages fans all year long by hosting a microsite that provides the opportunity to win when Almirola wins or finishes inside the top-10. When Almirola wins, one fan wins $10,000, and 10 fans win a gift card for each top-10 finish.The microsite also doubles as an Aric Almirola fan page and entertainment source where fans can get behind the wheel of the No. 10 Smithfield Ford with a custom racing game, and learn more about Almirola with fast facts, favorite recipes and custom content about his life on and off the track. Visit www.tastevictory.com to learn more. Thanks to Almirola’s Feb. 11 win in his Duel qualifying race for the Daytona 500 and his July 18 win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, two lucky fans have already won $10,000 each.
● Almirola’s 2020 season proved successful when he earned a career-high 18 top-10 finishes, six top-fives and led 305 laps. During the season, Almirola went on a five-race streak of top-five finishes and earned nine consecutive top-10s.
● Career Stats: Almirola has career totals of three wins, two poles, 26 top-five finishes, 82 top-10s and 893 laps led in 378 NASCAR Cup Series starts.
● Beyond the 10 YouTube Series:In 2021, Almirola continues to share his life beyond the No. 10 Ford with season three of his award-winning YouTube series. Fans and media can subscribe on YouTube to see Almirola’s personality on and off the track. Episodes have already featured life as a dad, a husband and an athlete, and it gives fans a unique perspective on what goes on in the life of a professional NASCAR driver. Fans can also follow Almirola’s social media channels: @Aric_Almirola on Twitter and Instagram, and @AricAlmirola on Facebook. Almirola’s latest Beyond the 10 episode addresses the question “are NASCAR drivers athletes” in honor of the Olympic break.

● Playoff points position:

  1. Kyle Larson (2,052 points)
  2. Ryan Blaney (2,024 points, -28)
  3. Martin Truex Jr. (2,024 points, -28)
  4. Kyle Busch (2,022 points, -30)
  5. Chase Elliott (2,021 points, -31)
  6. Alex Bowman (2,015 points, -37)
  7. Denny Hamlin (2,015 points, -37)
  8. William Byron (2,014 points, -38)
  9. Joey Logano (2,013 points, -39)
  10. Brad Keselowski (2,008 points, -44)
  11. Kurt Busch (2,008 points, -44)
  12. Christopher Bell (2,005 points, -47)
  13. Michael McDowell (2,005 points, -47)
  14. Aric Almirola (2,005 points, -47)
  15. Tyler Reddick (2,003 points, -49)
  16. Kevin Harvick (2,002 points, -50)

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

You had an early exit at Darlington in May. Did you get to learn anything about your car in that short amount of time?

“Yeah. We had an early exit, but I was so pumped about our car at Darlington, to be honest. We started in the back and had an issue going through tech. In nine laps, we drove from last to like 22nd. We passed a ton of cars and were running just as good as the top-five guys, just passing all those cars, so it’s a small snapshot of what we had for a car and I felt really good about the way we unloaded at Darlington. Everyone has made improvements to their cars, and we have, as well, so I have no doubt we’ll bring a better car to Darlington than we did that many months ago.”

How do you feel about kicking off the playoff at Darlington?

“I’m excited to go to Darlington to start the playoffs. I think, as we kick off the playoffs, Darlington is such a special place to race on Labor Day weekend and it’s a place that we’ve had really strong runs at in the past, so looking to keep that going with a great run in Darlington. That’s key. You don’t want to start in a hole and have to dig your way out. Getting the playoffs started on the right foot is certainly key. Stage points are going to be huge at Darlington to start off on the right foot. You see the end of each of these rounds and it comes down to one or two points. I’ve lived it where the leaders wrecked and I got in on a tie.”

What is it about Darlington that makes it such an enjoyable track to race at?

“It’s just a really unique racetrack with the two corners being so drastically different from each other and the surface of the track being really narrow, so you kind of get forced to run up by the wall. It’s just a really old, worn-out, gritty, hard-core racetrack, so it makes it fun and makes it really enjoyable to race at. Certainly make it really nostalgic for our sport when we show up to Darlington.”

Looking through the playoffs what will it take to be successful and where do you think you team stacks up?

“As we eye the playoffs, it’s really just about doing everything perfect and maximizing the day that you have. All of those things add up to results and that’s what we really focus on as we dive into the playoffs – not making mistakes and not taking yourself out of contention, making sure we maximize every single race weekend and every single lap. I feel like we stack up nicely with the competition despite what the results of the year may show. The rules package in some of the first few races is the rules package that we’ve had the most success with and won with at New Hampshire. There are certainly going to be some challenges at a few of the tracks in the playoffs, and there will be some where our competition is better. I’m looking forward to the challenge and I think there are some really good tracks in the playoffs for us.”

How much emphasis has your team put on the playoffs since your win at New Hampshire?

“For us, I think we know our 750 (horsepower) package is good. We know that the work we’ve been doing on the package has significantly improved. We started hitting on it in Nashville, where we won the pole and our first top-five of the season at the time. That package is the majority of the playoffs and is our season-ending championship race. I think the first round is set up really good for us with all three races being the 750 package. The second round is definitely a challenge for us. Vegas has not been the greatest for us, and the (Charlotte Motor Speedway) Roval hasn’t been the greatest for me, but there’s Talladega in there. So we’ll look to make the most of Vegas, make the most of the Roval and maximize the round at Talladega.”

No. 10 Smithfield Ford Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Aric Almirola
Hometown: Tampa, Florida

Crew Chief: Mike Bugarewicz
Hometown: Lehighton, Pennsylvania

Car Chief: Jerry Cook
Hometown: Toledo, Ohio

Engineer: Lee Deese
Hometown: Rockingham, North Carolina

Engineer: James Kimbrough
Hometown: Pensacola, Florida

Spotter: Joel Edmonds
Hometown: Dobson, North Carolina

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Ryan Mulder
Hometown: Sioux Center, Iowa

Rear Tire Changer: Michael Johnson
Hometown: Andover, New York

Tire Carrier: Tyler Bullard
Hometown: King, North Carolina

Jack Man: Sean Cotton
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Fuel Man: James “Ace” Keener
Hometown: Fortuna, California

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Tony Silvestri
Hometown: Sylvania, Ohio

Mechanic: Robbie Fairweather
Hometown: Westbrookville, New York

Engine Tuner: Matt Moeller
Hometown: Monroe, New York

Tire Specialist: Russel Simpson
Hometown: Medford, New York

Transporter Co-Driver: Dale Lackey
Hometown: Taylorsville, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Wayne Smith
Hometown: Melbourne, Australia

BLANEY WINS TWO IN A ROW AND THE 2021 NASCAR CUP PLAYOFF FIELD IS SET

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Official Release
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DAYTONA, FL – August 30, 2021 – Ryan Blaney won the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona on Saturday night, marking his second win in a row after his victory at Michigan. Saturday’s Daytona night race concluded the regular NASCAR Cup Series season and a total of 16 drivers will advance to the playoffs next week at Darlington.

“Congratulations to Ryan, Todd, Roger, and the entire No. 12 crew on two wins in a row and finishing out the regular season strong,” said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “This was a battle to the end, but Ryan and Todd were able to navigate through the field and earn the well-deserved checkered flag.”

“Momentum is what everything is all about. Confidence is key and we came into this weekend very confident after last week with our heads held high. They’ll be a little bit higher this week, so I look forward to getting to Darlington,” commented Blaney.

Ryan Newman with Roush Fenway Racing finished P3, B.J. McLeod with Live Fast Motorsports finished P9, and Josh Bilicki with Rick Ware Racing finished P10.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series raced Saturday afternoon at Daytona International Speedway while two Ford Performance teammates finished in the top 15 as Riley Herbst with Stewart-Haas Racing finished in P10 and Jason White with Ryan-Sieg Racing finished P15.

POWERING THE PLAYOFFS

Six drivers powered by Ford Performance and Roush Yates Engines earned a spot in the NASCAR Cup series playoffs: Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, Michael McDowell, Aric Almirola, and Kevin Harvick.

RYAN BLANEY – TIED FOR 2ND
Ryan Blaney earned his spot in the playoffs after winning at Atlanta, Michigan, and this past weekend at Daytona. This year marks his 5th consecutive season in the playoffs. Earlier in the year, Blaney led 157 of 500 laps at Martinsville and looks forward to leveraging his knowledge and success at this track on October 31st. Blaney also has won at Talladega and looks forward to this superspeedway race on October 3rd.

JOEY LOGANO – #9
Joey Logano earned a spot in the playoffs after winning the inaugural race at the Bristol Dirt track in March. This year he has had 8 Top 5’s and 13 Top 10’s. Logano is a 27-time Cup winner and previous NCS champion. He is one of only a handful of drivers with at least four Championship 4 appearances and aims to advance this year as well.

BRAD KESELOWSKI – #10
Brad Keselowski earned his spot in the playoffs after winning at Talladega in April. Keselowski has had a lot of success at Talladega: this track marked his first Cup series win and a total of 6 wins at this track. He looks to use this experience when the series visits on October 3rd. In total, Brad has 35 Cup series victories and has been to the playoffs 9 times in the past 10 years. After finishing 2nd at last year’s championship, Brad is eager to take another swing at the top spot this year.

Our team at Roush Yates Engines succeeds with support from our world-class partners.

MICHAEL MCDOWELL – TIED FOR 12TH
Michael McDowell earned his spot after capturing a win at the Daytona 500 season-opener in February. This win marked the first time that a Ford Mustang won the infamous race. 2021 marks his 14th season in the Cup series and winning one of the series’ biggest races was a defining moment in his career. McDowell is fast at superspeedways and road courses and looks forward to racing at Talladega and the Charlotte Roval in the playoffs.

ARIC ALMIROLA – TIED FOR 12TH
Aric Almirola shook up the playoff picture late in the season by winning at New Hampshire and clinched his playoff spot. This year marks his 4th year in the playoffs after making it 3 years in a row in 2018, 2019, and 2020. Almirola has been fast at superspeedways with 8 consecutive top 10’s at Talladega and looks to use his experience when the series visits the track.

KEVIN HARVICK – #16
Kevin Harvick clinched his playoff spot based on points. Harvick has 119 combined series wins which makes him 3rd all-time in NASCAR history. Last year, he won a career-high 9 races and led over 1500 laps. He was the top seeded driver heading into the playoffs last year and will use that experience to his advantage. This year, he has had 6 top 5 finishes and 16 top 10 finishes. Harvick holds the all-time record for Cup series wins at Phoenix and looks forward to the playoff-closing race.

33 CHAMPIONSHIPS – 424 WINS – 383 POLES!

About Roush Yates Engines
Roush Yates Engines is a leading-edge engine development company based in Mooresville, NC consisting of two state-of-the-art facilities – Roush Yates Engines and Roush Yates Manufacturing Solutions, a world class ISO 9001 / AS9100 certified CNC manufacturing facility. The company’s core business includes designing, building and testing purpose-built race engines.

Ford Performance in partnership with Roush Yates Engines is the exclusive engine builder of the NASCAR FR9 Ford V8 engine and Ford Mustang 5.2L V8 engine, used in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge series.

With an unparalleled culture of winning and steeped in rich racing history, Roush Yates Engines continues to follow the company’s vision to lead performance engine innovation and staying true to the company’s mission, provide race winning engines through demonstrated power and performance.

Flying Lizard Motorsports Quick to Claim Championship Points at Road America

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Official Release
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ELKHART LAKE, Wis., (August 30, 2021) — The Flying Lizard Porsche and TKO Motorsports Bentley made a splash at Road America in SRO’s GT America. Andy Wilzoch, driver of the No. 460 Porsche 911 GT3 R secured two class podiums and an overall win, and Memo Gidley, driver of the No. 101 TKO Motorsports with Flying Lizard Bentley Continental GT3 secured second place in class and overall on Saturday.

“We’re all very happy with our return to GT America this weekend,” said Program Manager Darren Law. “It’s always great to see a Flying Lizard Porsche on the podium, and for Andy to get up there twice and get an overall podium. As for Memo Gidley in the TKO Motorsports with Flying Lizard Bentley, we obviously wish the weekend ended on a higher note, but we showed our driver has the skill and the car has the speed. It’s going to be a great reminder to the 2021 season. I’m looking forward to getting back on track.”

SRO3
With a clear last lap in qualifying on Saturday, Gidley was able to jump into second in class and overall for his first race start in GT America with the TKO Bentley. The strong starting position set him up for a smooth race one of the weekend. While maintaining his standing throughout the race, he secured second in class and overall, setting the second-fastest lap time of the race. With race two’s starting position determined by the fastest lap in race one, the quick time positioned the Bentley to start second for Sunday’s race.

Race two on Sunday morning had a strong yet short-lived start. After starting second, Gidley had charged forward to take the overall lead before hitting oil on the track surface early in lap two. The Bentley went off track at turn five and was followed by more than four others. After being pulled out of the grass, Gidley was able to bring the car back to the hot pits under its own power, but mechanically was unable to continue.

“To come out racing for the first time with the Bentley, a crowd favorite and Memo Gidley, a crowd favorite; it’s just so much fun,” said TKO Motorsports owner Dave Traitel. “The two of them make an iconic duo. This weekend we felt the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. I’m just glad that nobody got hurt and we’ll race another day.”

SRO 3 – Masters
Donning the classic Lizard Porsche livery in fresh colors, Wilzoch wheeled his way into the weekend qualifying second in class and fourth overall on Saturday. With the first three-quarters of the race relatively calm, contact with out-of-class Jason Daskalos in the No. 27 Audi set the end of the race into some fierce competition for the overall GT America position. After giving the position back to Daskalos, Wilzoch focused on recovering the lost ground. Retaking position before a full course yellow that stacked the field, Wilzoch fought the remainder of the green race to keep off Jason Harward in the No. 88 Lamborghini, securing second in class and fourth overall.

Starting grid for race two on Sunday, based on race one lap times, proved to be favorable for Wilzoch by the second lap. From his position at fifth overall on the race start, he was able to navigate around oil on track that left the front of the GT America field spun off and disabled off at turn five. Under full course yellow, Wilzoch drove the Porsche through the early race end and checkered flag as first in class and overall winner.

The next rounds of the GT America Championships take the team eastbound to historic Watkins Glen International (WGI) September 17-19. For more event information, visit gtamerica.us.

Driver Quotes
Andy Wilzoch | No. 460 Porsche
It was great to be back on track in the Flying Lizard Porsche. Road America is always a great track to come to, and it was great to see so many fans be so enthusiastic to see our car in livery at such a fan-favorite circuit. It was great to get two podiums, but I wish we had more than one full green lap. We had some fun battles ahead, and I was really hoping we could get up to speed and have a good fight. Big thanks to everyone at Flying Lizard for another great weekend.

Memo Gidley | No. 101 Bentley
It was a great debut weekend and opportunity with TKO Motorsports and Flying Lizard Motorsports. TKO has been one of my big backers since I had my big accident at Daytona some years ago and they put me back into a race car first. We had a great run getting our feet wet, finishing second on Saturday. We were pretty close. It was a great opening day for sure.

About TKO
TKO Motorsports designs, manufactures, installs and races our own proprietary line of track proven, street legal performance products. Since 2008 TKO Motorsports of Reno, NV has produced some of the most extreme custom built, street legal cars in the world. Follow us as we expand into the retail market with a new line of off-the-shelf TKO parts and accessories.

About Flying Lizard Motorsports
Based out of Sonoma, California, Flying Lizard Motorsports is one of the most iconic sports car teams in motorsports, having celebrated ten driver and team championships, as well as competed internationally at the 24 Hours of Le Mans eight times.

The Lizards burst on the American Le Mans Series scene in 2004, competing in the GT class until 2012. In 2013, the team moved to the GTC class, still competing in legendary events such as the 12 Hours of Sebring and 24 Hours of Daytona. In 2014, the team expanded its program to include running two Audi R8 LMS in the TUDOR Championship, and in 2015, again expanded the program to include two Porsches in Porsche Club racing. Flying Lizard closed out the season with a dominating win at the 25 Hours of Thunderhill with Toyo Tires, a win they repeated in 2016, 2017, and 2018. The 2020 season proved the team’s most successful to date, earning four titles in the GT4 America championship. Flying Lizard Motorsports has proven to be a championship contender no matter the race series or race car. For more information, visit lizardms.com.

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