Herbst Finishes 10th at Daytona Monster Energy Driver’s Top-10 Streak Continues as Playoffs Loom
Date: Aug. 27-28, 2021 Event: Wawa 250 (Round 23 of 33) Series: NASCAR Xfinity Series Location: Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway (2.5-mile oval) Format: 100 laps, broken into three stages (30 laps/30 laps/40 laps) Start/Finish: 6th / 10th (Running, completed 100 of 100 laps) Point Standing: 11th (554 points, 371 out of first) Race Winner: Justin Haley of Kaulig Racing (Chevrolet) Stage 1 Winner: Jeb Burton of Kaulig Racing (Chevrolet) Stage 2 Winner: Justin Haley of Kaulig Racing (Chevrolet)
Overview:
After two days of racing at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, Riley Herbst and the No. 98 Monster Energy team kept its top-10 streak rolling for a third straight week. Herbst finished 10th in the Wawa 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series, which began on Friday night and ran only 19 laps before rain and lightning forced a stoppage, postponing the remainder of the race until 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. Herbst resumed the 250-mile race around the 2.5-mile oval in 37th, whereupon he drove his Monster Energy Ford Mustang up to 17th within five laps of the restart. The first stage ended under caution and Herbst was 13th. At the beginning of the second stage, the 22-year-old was second. He took the lead on the restart and held the point for nine laps before Brandon Brown took the top spot. Herbst stayed in the top-10 for the remainder of the stage and rallied to finish fourth, earning seven valuable bonus points. Herbst remained in the top-10 for the final stage and ran as high as fifth while jockeying for position among the draft. Two caution periods with subsequent restarts left Herbst 14th as he worked to make the bottom lane the preferred line to the front. It didn’t materialize quickly enough, but it did allow Herbst to break back into the top-10 to score his ninth top-10 of the season. The result, combined with Michael Annett’s 30th-place finish, allowed Herbst to expand his advantage over the top-12 cutoff to make the NASCAR Playoffs. While on the bubble in 12th, Herbst now has a 68-point margin over 13th-place Annett with three races remaining in the regular season before the NASCAR Playoffs begin Sept. 25 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Riley Herbst, driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing:
“To be honest, we’re happy with a 10th-place finish, but it kind of sucks when we had a car capable of winning, but that’s just the racer in me. Overall, it was a really, really good day for our year and our points situation. We’ll take it, but, man, finishing 10th with a first-place car is always a gut punch. I think we had to play it safe, but I don’t know. I just want to win a race and show people that I can win a race in this series. We’ll go to Darlington.”
Notes:
● Herbst increased his laps led total at Daytona to 25. ● Justin Haley won the Wawa 250 to score his fourth career Xfinity Series victory, his first of the season and his second at Daytona. His margin over second-place AJ Allmendinger was .023 of a second. ● There were seven caution periods for a total of 29 laps. ● Thirty-one of the 40 drivers in the Wawa 250 finished on the lead lap. ● Allmendinger leaves Daytona as the new championship leader by just a single point over second-place Austin Cindric.
Next Up:
The next event on the Xfinity Series schedule is the Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200 on Saturday, Sept. 4 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway. The race starts at 3:30 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by NBCSN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Saving their absolute best for the last, Kaulig Racing utilized teamwork to storm to another victory at Daytona International Speedway. On this occasion, Justin Haley edged teammate AJ Allmendinger by a nose and in a three-wide photo finish including their other teammate, Jeb Burton, to win the rain-postponed Wawa 250 at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, August 28.
The victory was Haley’s first of the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series season.
The starting lineup was based on a performance metric formula, weighing the driver’s and owner’s results from a previous Xfinity event, the owner points position and the fastest lap recorded from a previous Xfinity race. With that, AJ Allmendinger, winner of last weekend’s Xfinity event at Michigan International Speedway, started on pole position and was joined on the front row with Noah Gragson.
The race started on Friday evening, August 27, and Allmendinger received a push from Justin Allgaier on the outside lane to jump to an early lead and lead the first lap ahead of Noah Gragson and a steaming pack of cars. He went on to lead the following two laps before Gragson peaked ahead during the fourth lap. Allmendinger, however, quickly snatched the lead back the following lap.
By the ninth lap, Brandon Jones, who was the lead car on the inside lane, encountered early issues when he made an unscheduled pit stop under green due to overheating issues as a result of a piece of debris.
When the competition caution flew on Lap 15, Gragson, who reassumed the lead on Lap 14, was scored the leader ahead of Allmendinger and the field. Under the competition caution, some led by Gragson pitted while the rest led by Allmendinger remained on the track. By then, Jones retired due to his mechanical issue.
Just as the field was set to restart, rain fell on the track and the field was brought to pit road as the race was red-flagged for a weather delay on Lap 19. Over an hour later, NASCAR declared that the race would be postponed to Saturday afternoon and run prior to the Cup event due to inclement weather continuing throughout Friday evening. At the time of, Allmendinger was leading ahead of Christopher Bell, Myatt Snider, Austin Cindric, Brett Moffitt, Justin Haley, Jeb Burton, Daniel Hemric, Jeremy Clements and Caesar Bacarella.
When the race resumed under green on Lap 21 and on Saturday afternoon, Allmendinger jumped ahead with another strong start on the outside lane followed by Cindric, Haley and Bell while Snider mounted a charge on the inside lane.
By Lap 25, Allmendinger continued to lead followed by teammate Haley while Cindric challenged as the lead car on the outside lane. Snider and Jeb Burton were in the top five followed by Bell, Michael Annett, Hemric, Allgaier and Moffitt.
A lap later, the caution flew when a bump from Snider sent Cindric making hard contact into the outside wall in the frontstretch. The incident ignited a chain reaction wreck that involved Snider, rookie Sam Mayer, Hemric and Annett. The wreck was enough to knock Cindric, who won the Xfinity opener at Daytona in February, out of contention.
With the caution period and cleanup surpassing the first stage’s conclusion on Lap 30, the first stage concluded under caution as Haley, who overtook teammate Allmendinger at the moment of caution, claimed his fifth stage victory of the season. Teammates Allmendinger and Jeb Burton settled in second and third followed by Bell and Allgaier. Scored in the top 10 were Moffitt, Gragson, Bacarella, Brandon Brown and Harrison Burton.
Under the stage break, everyone pitted except for Brandon Brown, Herbst, Chase Briscoe, Ryan Sieg and Jason White.
The second stage started on Lap 33 and Herbst jumped ahead with the lead on the outside lane followed by Briscoe as the field fanned out to three lanes through the backstraightaway.
When the field returned to the start/finish line, Brown mounted a challenge on the inside lane against Herbst for the lead. As the field continued to battle through Turns 2 and 3, the caution returned due to debris from Michael Annett’s car coming out in Turn 2.
When the race restarted on Lap 39, Herbst jumped ahead with the lead on the inside lane before he moved up to the outside lane in front of Briscoe and a bevy of cars.
Two laps later, the inside lane led by Brown mounted a charge for the lead through the tri-oval and entering the first turn. Herbst, however, was able to fight back through the backstraightaway and when the field returned to the start/finish line.
By Lap 45, Brown took the lead followed by Allmendinger, Allgaier, Gragson, Jeb Burton and Sam Mayer while Herbst fell back to eighth alongside Harrison Burton. A lap later, though, Allmendinger muscled his way back into the lead followed by Allgaier, Gragson and Mayer while Brown got shuffled back to fifth.
Three laps later, the caution returned due to debris coming off of Caesar Bacarella’s car in the frontstretch following contact from Blaine Perkins. Under caution, some including Allmendinger, Allgaier, Gragson, Mayer, Harrison Burton, Jeb Burton, Haley, Sieg and Bell pitted while the rest led by Brown and Herbst remained on the track.
With eight laps remaining in the second stage, the race restarted. At the start, Brown rocketed with the lead followed by Herbst. Through the backstraightaway, though, the field fanned out to multiple lanes and caught Brown through Turns 3 and 4 as Sam Mayer made his way into the lead with drafting help from teammate Gragson.
By Lap 54, all three Kaulig Racing competitors lined up on the inside lane resulted with Jeb Burton taking the lead ahead of teammates Allmendinger and Haley. They were then quickly pursued by three JR Motorsports competitors featuring Mayer, Gragson and Allgaier, respectively.
In the closing laps of the second stage, the battle for the lead intensified as Jeb Burton continued to lead by a narrow margin over his Kaulig Racing teammates, a trio of JR Motorsports competitors and the field. By then, Brown pitted as the hood of his car went up.
When the second stage concluded on Lap 60, Jeb Burton, who was blocking all comers through both lanes, managed to claim his first stage victory of the season. Teammates Allmendinger and Haley settled in second and third followed by Herbst and Bell. Gragson, Hemric, Allgaier, Briscoe and Mayer settled in the top 10.
Under the stage break, some led by Jeb Burton pitted while the rest led by Bell and Gragson remained on the track.
With 36 laps remaining, the final stage commenced. At the start, Bell and Gragson battled dead even for the lead as the field fanned out to double lanes and in a pack behind the two leaders.
Down to the final 30 laps of the event, the field settled in a long single-file lane as Gragson was leading followed by Bell, Harrison Burton, Jeb Burton, Snider, Allgaier, Mayer, Herbst, Briscoe and Moffitt while Allmendinger and Haley were in 11th and 15th. By then, Hemric was back in 14th.
Shortly after, the caution flew when Colin Garrett spun and wrecked in Turn 4 as he ended up getting his car stuck in the tri-oval muddy grass. Colby Howard also spun to avoid Garrett.
With 23 laps remaining, the race restarted under green. At the start, Bell and Gragson battled dead even for the lead through the backstraightaway as the field fanned out to three lanes.
Back to the start/finish line, Bell was leading followed by Jeb Burton while Gragson fell back to fourth while battling Snider.
Down to the final 20 laps of the event, the majority of the field settled in a single-file line as Bell was leading followed by Jeb Burton, Gragson, Allgaier, Herbst, Allmendinger, Snider, Harrison Burton, Hemric, Haley and Mayer while Chase Briscoe was in 13th.
A few laps later, the caution flew when Caesar Bacarella made contact with Jordan Anderson and hit the outside wall in the backstretch. While trying to straighten his car, Jade Buford and Matt Mills also wrecked to avoid Bacarella.
Under caution, some including Briscoe pitted while the rest led by Bell remained on the track.
With 14 laps remaining, the race restarted. At the start, Jeb Burton had drafting help from Gragson to take a narrow lead before Bell fought back on the outside lane.
The following lap, Bell cleared the field with the lead followed by Allgaier and Allmendinger while the Burton cousins battled for fourth.
Down to the final 10 laps of the event, Bell continued to lead followed by Allgaier, Allmendinger, Harrison Burton, Jeb Burton, Haley, Hemric, Snider, JJ Yeley, Jason White and the field, all running in a single-file line. By then, Joe Graf Jr.’s car was smoking through the frontstretch, but the field continued to run under green as Graf took his car below the apron and out of the racing groove.
With five laps remaining, Bell continued to lead, but a bevy of cars behind started to fan out to multiple lanes while challenging Bell for the lead. A lap later, Allmendinger stormed to the lead followed by teammates Jeb Burton and Haley while Allgaier also moved up, dropping Bell to fifth.
A few laps later, all three Kaulig Racing competitors led by Jeb Burton were at the front followed by Bell, Harrison Burton, Allgaier and the field.
When the final lap started, Allmendinger was leading by a narrow margin over teammate Jeb Burton, Bell and the field. Through the backstretch, Jeb Burton peeked to the inside of teammate Allmendinger, who tried to block Burton, for the lead while Bell got shuffled out on the inside lane with no drafting help. In addition, Haley made his move to the outside of Allmendinger, thus placing all three Kaulig Racing competitors in a dead three-wide heat for the win in Turns 3 and 4.
Entering the tri-oval and with the field fanning out to three lanes, Allmendinger peaked ahead with a push from Allgaier, but Haley started to gain a run on the outside lane as he had Hemric behind him. At the finish line, Haley managed to edge teammate Allmendinger by 0.023 seconds to grab the checkered flag and the win.
Photo by Andrew Boyd for SpeedwayMedia.com.
The victory guaranteed Haley a spot in the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs as he also captured his fourth career victory in the series. All four of Haley’s Xfinity victory have occurred on superspeedway venues (Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway). In addition, Kaulig Racing captured its third win at Daytona.
“It’s just not been the best season,” Haley said on NBCSN. “It’s been really, really hard on this No. 11 LeafFilter Gutter Protection team all year. We’ve had a lot of bad luck. I was trying to formulate the plan there and obviously, team orders, saw it out of there, they were so good. Hats off to Kaulig Racing. I think we got the teammate thing down. It’s just so special to win here at Daytona. It’s absolutely incredible. That was a close one and getting it to just beat out AJ. It always means a lot, too.”
Allmendinger settled in second place while Allgaier, Jeb Burton and Hemric finished in the top five.
“I mean, that was like the perfect photo shoot right there coming across the [finish] line for all the Kaulig Racing Chevys,” Allmendinger said. “Proud of my son, Justin Haley. He might be one of the best we’ve ever seen on superspeedway. Jeb [Burton] did a fantastic job. I was hanging on in the middle [lane] there. I thought we might get it, but proud of everybody at Kaulig Racing, all the men and women. The Hyper Ice Chevy was good. I think we led the most laps as well. Finished second, all day, it seemed like, but just proud. It was fantastic.”
“We led some [laps] today and going down the back, I think I led for a second,” Jeb Burton said. “AJ kind of slid up in front of me. I checked up and gave him a shot and then, I had to take the run. I looked and we were one, two and three, and I was thinking we were gonna come across the line like that, but [Allgaier] got me at the line. Really proud of Kaulig Racing. Thanks to Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen for coming on board. We needed this and the Playoffs are coming, so we needed the momentum.”
Bell settled in sixth followed by Gragson, Snider, Harrison Burton and Herbst.
With their top-10 results, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Daniel Hemric and Harrison Burton have locked themselves into the 2021 Xfinity Series Playoffs based on points. Including six other competitors that are in based on winning throughout the regular-season stretch (Austin Cindric, AJ Allmendinger, Justin Allgaier, Justin Haley, Jeb Burton and Myatt Snider), there are four spots left vacant to the Playoffs with three regular-season races remaining to the schedule.
There were 17 lead changes for eight different leaders. The race featured seven cautions for 29 laps.
With his runner-up result, AJ Allmendinger leads the regular-season standings by 17 points over Austin Cindric.
Results.
1. Justin Haley, five laps led, Stage 1 winner
2. AJ Allmendinger, 30 laps led, Stage 2 winner
3. Justin Allgaier
4. Jeb Burton, eight laps led
5. Daniel Hemric
6. Christopher Bell, 23 laps led
7. Noah Gragson, 16 laps led
8. Myatt Snider
9. Harrison Burton
10. Riley Herbst, nine laps led
11. Brett Moffitt
12. Sam Mayer, one lap led
13. JJ Yeley
14. David Starr
15. Jason White
16. Ryan Sieg
17. Josh Williams
18. Tommy Joe Martins
19. Chase Briscoe
20. Jeffrey Earnhardt
21. Landon Cassill
22. Jordan Anderson
23. Blaine Perkins
24. Jeremy Clements
25. Mason Massey
26. Colby Howard
27. Ryan Vargas
28. Jade Buford
29. Tim Viens
30. Michael Annett
31. Alex Labbe
32. Kyle Weatherman, two laps down
33. Matt Mills, two laps down
34. Brandon Brown, three laps down, nine laps led
35. Joe Graf Jr. – OUT, Accident
36. Caesar Bacarella – OUT, Accident
37. Colin Garrett – OUT, Accident
38. Spencer Boyd – OUT, Engine
39. Austin Cindric – OUT, Accident
40. Brandon Jones – OUT, Engine
With the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series regular-season stretch nearing its conclusion, the series will next travel to Darlington, South Carolina, and compete at Darlington Raceway on Saturday, September 4, during Labor Day weekend. The event will occur at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN.
Myatt Snider and the No. 2 Crosley Brands Team Overcome Early Damage to Finish Eighth at Daytona International Speedway
Finish: 8th Start: 23rd Points: 12th
“Our Crosley Brands Chevrolet was extremely fast last night under the lights and I knew we were going to be in contention for the win today at Daytona International Speedway. The track was definitely slick in the heat and from the start, the car was twitchy on exit. Unfortunately, I made a mistake at the end of the first stage and got into the 22 car, which ended his day and damaged our Camaro. My guys were able to fix the left front damage; we reset the DVP clock and regained our lap as the lucky dog. From that point forward, we kept chipping away at it as a group. By the start of the third stage, we were back inside the top 10 and stayed there for the remainder of the race. It’s frustrating to finish eighth when you have a car that could have won the race, but that just shows how strong our program is at Richard Childress Racing. I wouldn’t want to be with any other group of guys. We’ll shift our focus to Darlington next week.”
HEMRIC DRIVES THROUGH THE FIELD TO SCORE A TOP-FIVE FINISH AT DAYTONA Daniel Hemric overcomes early damage to earn a fifth-place finish
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (August 27, 2021) – Daniel Hemric (fifth), Christopher Bell (sixth) and Harrison Burton (ninth) scored top-10 finishes to lead Toyota in the rain-delayed Wawa 250 at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday afternoon. With their finishes, Hemric and Burton clinched their spots in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs.
Toyota Racing Post-Race Recap NASCAR Xfinity Series Daytona International Speedway Race 23 of 33 – 250 miles, 100 laps
TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS 1st, Justin Haley* 2nd, AJ Allmendinger* 3rd, Justin Allgaier* 4th, Jeb Burton* 5th, DANIEL HEMRIC 6th, CHRISTOPHER BELL 9th, HARRISON BURTON 14th, DAVID STARR 25th, MASON MASSEY 33rd, MATT MILLS 37th, COLIN GARRETT 40th, BRANDON JONES *non-Toyota driver
TOYOTA QUOTES
DANIEL HEMRIC, No. 18 Poppy Bank Toyota Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 5th
How were you able to come back and earn a top-five finish?
“Just a huge testament to everyone on this Poppy Bank Toyota Supra team. They did an incredible job. I hit the wall pretty hard there coming to the end of stage 1 and coming into stage 2 we really thought our day was over. The steering wheel was completely – the tow was knocked out of the car and a ton of tire rub on the right side. We pitted every single opportunity to patch it up. Eventually, by the fifth or sixth time we got it to where it was driveable and draftable and thought we had really good speed considering everything. Those guys deserve this top-five. I was hoping to give them a little bit more. You’re gridlocked there when you’re coming down to the end. That’s a huge testmant to a team effort so we’ll take it.”
How surprised were you that you were mixing it up toward the front at the end?
“That was a valient team effort by this Poppy Bank Toyota Supra team. I hit the wall a ton whatever lap that was and thought that was the end of our day and got back on. Dave Rogers (crew chief) did an incredible job a top the pit box to bring us down pit road and get this thing as tuned up as much as we could every chance that we had the opportunity to do that. By the last time, I thought it was pretty decent. We’d come to the pack enough every time we worked on it I knew we had good speed. It was a really good pusher. I was with the 11 (Justin Haley) and he was my best chance to move forward there at the end. He made the right moves and pulled me along and it was cool to see those guys win. Those teammates are tough to beat when it comes to superspeedway racing. Proud of the effort of these guys. Thanks to everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing back at the motor shop, suspension and chassis. It takes everything to run good here and we did all we could to maximize it here today.”
How difficult was it to try and find a teammate out there to work with not having Brandon Jones?
“When you lose one of your bullets, it’s just a matter of picking and choosing when the right moments are and how do you manipulate the situation you’re in at that time to get to him. We finally found each other there with three or four to go and the 54 (Christopher Bell) and the 20 (Harrison Burton) had to take a run to the bottom and it was just enough where I couldn’t get down. At that point it just became every man for themselves. Never thought we’d advance as far as we did, but I’m thankful that we did and we’ll go on to Darlington.”
Are you happy that you clinched a spot in the Xfinity Series Playoffs?
“I hadn’t even thought about that, which quite frankly it’s not really been our mindset. At Joe Gibbs Racing, we come here to win races and obviously being locked in it does open up the doors – I think we have three left now before the end of the regular season so we can go for broke. Darlington is a place that I love and thought we had a really good shot to win at and had a flat left rear tire in stage 2 in the spring race so we’ll be ready to rock.”
CHRISTOPHER BELL, No. 54 Reser’s Fine Foods Toyota Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 6th
Damage early and then bounced back and led late. How was the finish?
“The race was playing out really well. I had control of the race coming down to those closing laps and I don’t know. The Kaulig cars are really good and you see it every time. They are able to work together and stay together. They just do good; they blew right by me.”
HARRISON BURTON, No. 20 Offerpad Toyota Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 9th
Top-10 with a clean car at a superspeedway, could be a worse day, but how was your race?
“It could be a worse day, but frustrating because I felt like we wanted to come here and win. I don’t know, it just didn’t work out. We will keep pushing for it. This is a tough game to play, but we were trying to help our teammates as much as we could. It just didn’t pan out, but we will see what we can do better and go from there.”
BRANDON JONES, No. 19 Menards/Patriot Lighting Toyota Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 40th
What happened to take you out of the race early?
“First off I want to thank Menards and Patriot Lighting. They do a lot for our race team and do a lot for our race team. I hate to go out like this. You don’t expect to go out like this at Daytona. You’re either on the hook or you’re doing really well. At this point in the race I thought we were doing really well. I don’t know, man. I’ve only had this happen one other time where we pushed that much water out of this thing. I just think we picked up something on the front end of our Supra there. We were pushing a lot of water out for a couple laps and they don’t run good without water in them. I was surprised with how fast it went. Obviously, I think me and Jeff (Meendering, crew chief) are beating ourselves up pretty hard right. We both probably would’ve done something different there to try and get that off. When you’re out front like htat no one really wants to try to work with you and try to get it off your nose. Obviously, for the reasons of a competitor I wouldn’t want to do that. It is what it is. I’ve got a group of warriors on our 19 team. Michigan was great – that was awesome to see our speed there at Michigan so we’ll rally from that and use some momentum there. Darlington is a great track for us next week. We won there and looking to get another one.”
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands plus our 1,800 dealerships.
Toyota has created a tremendous value chain and directly employs more than 47,000 in North America. The company has contributed world-class design, engineering, and assembly of more than 40 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants, 15 including our joint venture in Alabama that begins production in 2021.
Through its Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.
Long-time Roush Fenway partner demonstrates ongoing commitment to motorsports
CONCORD, N.C. (Aug. 28) – In just over 10 years, Roush Fenway Racing’s partnership with Fifth Third Bank, N.A., has grown to become one of the strongest in the sport. As that partnership enters its second decade, the team and the industry-leading bank are proud to announce a multiyear renewal that will see Fifth Third continue to serve as a primary partner on Roush Fenway’s No. 17 Ford Mustang.
It has been a little over a decade since Roush Fenway Racing “teased” the media with news of a “new number” for NASCAR champion and then No. 17 driver Matt Kenseth. The new number was that of Fifth Third joining the team. The bank initially joined the team in 2012 as a primary partner with Matt Kenseth. A season later, they paired with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in a relationship that would encompass seven seasons and included a pair of wins. Chris Buescher has wheeled the Fifth Third machine the last two seasons.
“For the past 10 years, Fifth Third Bank has been a true partner to Roush Fenway Racing,” said team president Steve Newmark. “On and off the track they have been there in full support of our efforts – both as our official bank helping guide our financial path and as a primary on the No. 17 Ford. The relationship with Fifth Third has grown into one of the strongest partnerships in NASCAR, and we‘re privileged to announce this a multi-year renewal that will ensure Fifth Third will remain as part of the Roush Fenway family, and a key supporter of our sport, for years to come.”
The Fifth Third Ford went to victory lane in May of 2017, when Stenhouse won at Talladega, and just two months later he won again at Daytona. With Chris Buescher at the wheel, the Fifth Third Ford has earned a pair of top-10s, at Darlington and Charlotte earlier this season.
“We couldn’t be prouder of our partnership with Roush Fenway Racing and are pleased to extend our relationship with this iconic team for up to another five years,” said Lee Fite, president of Fifth Third Bank’s Mid-Atlantic region. “Roush continues to outperform and overdeliver on their commitments to Fifth Third, yielding a best-in-class ROI on our sponsorship.”
Since 2012, Roush has served as the anchor for Fifth Third Bank’s motorsports practice, which today also includes premier teams in IndyCar with Rahal Letterman Lanigan and in NHRA with Kalitta Motorsports. Through these partnerships, Fifth Third has become the de facto bank for race teams, tracks, suppliers, other racing industry stakeholders and racing fans.
Buescher is in his sixth full season in the NASCAR Cup Series. Through the first half of the season, he totaled four top 10 finishes and powered the No. 17 into playoff contention with a career high in laps led through the spring. In 2022, he will enter his seventh Cup season and his third with Roush Fenway.
Since joining the fold in 2012, Fifth Third has two wins, 13 top-10s and five top- five’s in more than 50 starts in the NCS. Three drivers have driven the No. 17 in the ten seasons that Fifth Third has been a primary partner.
About Fifth Third Bank Fifth Third Bancorp is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the indirect parent company of Fifth Third Bank, National Association, a federally chartered institution. As of June 30, 2021, the Company had $205 billion in assets and operates 1,096 full-service Banking Centers, and 2,369 Fifth Third branded ATMs in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Tennessee, West Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. In total, Fifth Third provides its customers with access to approximately 53,000 fee-free ATMs across the United States. Fifth Third operates four main businesses: Commercial Banking, Branch Banking, Consumer Lending, and Wealth & Asset Management. Fifth Third is among the largest money managers in the Midwest and, as of June 30, 2021, had $483 billion in assets under care, of which it managed $61 billion for individuals, corporations and not-for-profit organizations through its Trust and Registered Investment Advisory businesses. Investor information and press releases can be viewed at www.53.com. Fifth Third’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ® Global Select Market under the symbol “FITB.”
About Roush Fenway Racing Roush Fenway Racing is one of the most successful teams in NASCAR history, fielding multiple teams in NASCAR Cup Series. In its 34th season of competition in 2021, Roush Fenway is a leader in driver development, having launched the careers for many of the top drivers in the sport. Off-track, Roush Fenway is a leader in NASCAR marketing solutions, having produced multiple award-winning social media, digital content and experiential marketing campaigns. Roush Fenway is co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Fame team owner Jack Roush and Fenway Sports Group, parent company of Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox and English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C. Visit RoushFenway.com, become a fan on Facebook and Instagram, and follow on Twitter at @roushfenway.
Track: Daytona International Speedway Race: Wawa 250 Date: August 28, 2021 No. 22 CarShop Ford Mustang – Austin Cindric Start: 14th Stage 1: 13th Stage 2: 39th Finish: 39th Status: Accident Laps Completed: 27/100 Laps Led: 0 Driver Point Standings (behind first): (-17)
Notes:
Austin Cindric’s race ended prematurely after being turned into the front stretch wall on lap 27 of Stage 1 Saturday afternoon at Daytona International Speedway. The incident left the No. 22 CarShop Ford Mustang with extensive right-front suspension and body damage, resulting in a 39th-place finish in the final rundown. Cindric falls to second in the NASCAR Xfinity Series driver standings, 17 markers behind leader AJ Allmendinger.
The starting lineup was set per NASCAR rule book, which gave Cindric the 14th starting position. During the opening laps, Cindric steadily made his way to the seventh position before the competition caution on lap 15. He reported his CarShop Ford was decent but a little free in. Crew chief Brian Wilson elected to say out under caution, giving Cindric the fourth position. Shortly before the restart the sky’s opened up and rain red flagged the race on lap 20.
The race resumed Saturday afternoon with nine laps remaining in Stage 1. Cindric was sitting in second position before getting turned into the wall on lap 27. Cindric brought his CarShop Ford down pit road for repairs, but the damage sustained was too extensive to repair under the Damaged Vehicle Policy and unable to continue.
Quote: “I got spun through the tri-oval. Obviously, everyone is trying to push lanes there, but it’s just really unfortunate. That’s two weeks in a row for our Ford Mustangs to get torn up — two cars that I thought were race-winning cars, so a lot of points lost today and a lot of work to do for the next three weeks. A lot of work that a lot of the year you can look at it both ways — half full or half empty — that is gonna be put in jeopardy, so very frustrating. We’ll move on. That’s racing and sometimes it takes one and that’s it.”
FORD FINISHING RESULTS 10th — Riley Herbst 16th — Ryan Sieg 19th — Chase Briscoe 39th — Austin Cindric
RILEY HERBST, No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang — HOW DOES IT FEEL TO FINISH 10TH WITH A MUSTANG THAT UNDER DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES COULD HAVE WON? “It kind of sucks to be honest with you, but that’s just the racer in me. Overall, it was a really, really good day for our year and our points situation. We’ll take it, but, man, finishing 10th with a first-place car is always a gut punch.”
YOU WERE IN THE BOTTOM LINE TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN, BUT IT DIDN’T MATERIALIZE FAST ENOUGH. “It’s just a matter of numbers. I don’t know. More cars on the top is faster than less cars on the bottom.”
WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS WHEN YOU SAW THE 1 CAR HAVE ITS PROBLEM EARLY ON? DID THAT CHANGE YOUR THINKING IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT THE BIG PICTURE? “I think we had to play it safe, but, I don’t know, I just want to win a race and show people that I can win a race in this series. We’ll go to Darlington, I guess.”
THREE TO GO IN THE REGULAR SEASON. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT YOUR CONSISTENCY GOING INTO THIS STRETCH? “Good. I feel like this is not a surprise to us. We just haven’t finished earlier on in the season. We’re where we’re supposed to be. We’re running up front and leading laps, so it’s a good day.”
RYAN SIEG, No. 39 CMR Construction and Roofing/A-Game Ford Mustang — “The car that blew up on the bottom kind of messed up the momentum pretty bad that we had there, but it is what it is. We were in the lead pack when we needed to be, but once you get single-file like that there’s not a whole lot that can go on and then we got mired back in traffic. I slipped through the stall that one time and kind of set us back. We recovered, but once you’re seventh or eighth in one line and there are two lanes, you’re pretty far back and it’s hard to do anything. Our Ford Mustang had plenty of power. It drafted well, it just needed a little bit of track position. We’ll work on it and try to get her better for Talladega.”
AUSTIN CINDRIC, No. 22 Car Shop Ford Mustang — “I got spun through the tri-oval. Obviously, everyone is trying to push lanes there, but it’s just really unfortunate. That’s two weeks in a row for our Ford Mustangs to get torn up — two cars that I thought were race-winning cars, so a lot of points lost today and a lot of work to do for the next three weeks. A lot of work that a lot of the year you can look at it both ways — half full or half empty — that s gonna be put in jeopardy, so very frustrating. We’ll move on. That’s racing and sometimes it takes one and that’s it.”
Choosing the right auto insurance company is a crucial decision. You want to make sure that you don’t pay too much and go over your budget. At the same time, you want to get the coverage and service you expect. The good news is that by looking for just a few important signs, you can be on your way to finding the best car insurance. Look for the following signs of a good insurance company.
1. A Long History
Start by looking at the history of the insurance company. The longer that it has been around, the better of a sign this is. That is not saying that a new insurance company won’t be good, but there is a greater risk with newer companies.
If you choose an established insurance company with a long history, you know that they can weather various economic situations. This also gives you even more opportunities to find reviews and ratings for the company.
2. Financial Stability
In addition to a long operating history, good insurance companies should be financially stable. This helps ensure that they will be able to pay out your claims. Financial stability is especially important in case of major disasters that could drive up the volume of claims. In that case, companies without financial stability may struggle to pay out all the claims.
3. Good Reviews and Ratings
Speaking of reviews and ratings, you should look for an auto insurance company with positive reviews and ratings. You want to look at both of these things from past customers and independent third-party players in the industry.
Remember that reviews and ratings don’t have to be perfect. After all, no company is perfect. However, they should be positive in general. Ideally, the rare negative review will seem out of place compared to others. For example, one customer may complain about something other reviews praise, letting you know it was a rare occurrence. It is even better if the insurance company replied to a negative review and resolved the issue to the customer’s satisfaction.
You can use reviews as a way to get insight into specific customer experiences. For example, you can learn how easy it is to process a claim, how long it takes, whether the insurer suggests good repair shops, and how friendly and helpful customer service is.
4. Great Customer Service
Customer service is another important trait of any good auto insurance company. There are two main factors: availability and helpfulness.
Ideally, auto insurance companies will have 24/7 customer service, as you can get into an accident at any time. The best ones also offer various contact points, including phone, live chat, and email.
To get a feel for customer service, look at the insurer’s website and customer reviews. You may also want to contact the customer service team and ask a few questions. This will give you an idea about wait times and helpfulness. As a bonus, it will also clear up any doubts you have.
5. Clarity of Information and Policies
As you talk to a representative or look at the company’s website, you want the information on policies, premiums, limits, deductibles, and coverage to be clear. If something is not clear, you should be able to ask customer service or an agent for clarification and get a straightforward answer.
If something is purposely vague and you can’t get a straight answer, it is not a good insurance company.
This is one thing to look for in reviews. Confirm that reviewers weren’t told something was covered only to realize it wasn’t when they needed that coverage.
6. Quick and Easy Claims Response
Good auto insurance companies will be ready to process claims quickly. They understand that the faster they process your claim, the sooner you will be able to have your car repaired and get back on the road.
As part of this, they should make it easy for policyholders to reach them and start the claim process. Most reputable companies will let you file a claim online or with an agent. They will even have a mobile app to let policyholders start the process right away.
The payouts from claims should also be prompt. While some claims will naturally take longer, the majority of claims should be completed as fast as possible, so you can return to your normal driving routine. This is another aspect you should evaluate based on reviews.
7. Competitive Prices
While price should not be the only factor in determining if an auto insurance company is good, it should be a consideration. The most important factor here is that there is a clear pricing structure without hidden fees.
Remember that if you opt for cheap insurance, you are likely to get poor coverage and fight to receive payouts from claims. It is definitely worth spending a bit more, but within reason, on a good company.
When comparing prices, be sure to look at various combinations of premiums and deductibles. You should also pay attention to discounts.
8. Quality Repairs From Quality Facilities
Your auto insurance company has some control over where you can get your car repaired, so you want to make sure that their approved facilities are of good quality. Ideally, there will be a variety of options to choose from, so you can select a mechanic you are comfortable with. There should also be a wide network that extends across the country or to anywhere else you may potentially drive.
The quality of work at those repair facilities should also be good. Cheap insurance providers may force you to choose substandard parts to save money. By contrast, good insurance companies will only approve OEM or new parts, as they understand the importance of quality repairs.
9. They Have What You Need
One of the most important traits of a good auto insurance company is that it has the insurance product that you need. For most people, this is no problem. However, if you have a classic car, want roadside assistance, have especially low mileage, or have another unusual situation, make sure your chosen company offers coverage that fits your needs.
The Wawa 250 at Daytona International Speedway has been postponed to Saturday, August 28, at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN due to persistent rain that halted and prevented its completion on Friday, August 27.
The 250-mile event at Daytona, which serves as the 23rd event of the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, had completed 19 of 100 scheduled laps and was under its competition caution scheduled on Lap 15 when persistent rain made its way to the superspeedway venue. After the field was brought down to pit road, the race was red-flagged for more than an hour before NASCAR made the decision to postpone the event by a day as the rain continued to fall and persist on Friday evening.
At the time of the race’s postponement, AJ Allmendinger, who started on pole position and who won last weekend’s Xfinity event at Michigan International Speedway, was the leader followed by Christopher Bell, Myatt Snider, Austin Cindric and Brett Moffitt. Rounding out the top 10 were Justin Haley, Jeb Burton, Daniel Hemric, Jeremy Clements and Caesar Bacarella.
In addition, Brandon Jones was the only competitor to be eliminated from the event due to early engine issues.
The Wawa 250 at Daytona International Speedway will return to action on Saturday, August 28, at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN.
His Handprints, Right Footprint and Signature in Concrete Part of Daytona Tradition; Will Attempt a Daytona International Speedway Sweep of 2021 in Saturday’s Coke Zero Sugar 400
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (August 27, 2021) – It’s been a special year for NASCAR driver Michael McDowell – wining the season-opening DAYTONA 500 and clinching a spot in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. Friday, the surreal feeling became complete reality, when he became part of the DAYTONA 500 Champions’ Walk of Fame in front of the Daytona International Speedway Ticket & Tours Building.
“To be put in the same category as some of the greatest drivers in the history of our sport, a DAYTONA 500 Champion, is just mind-boggling to me. I am truly humbled and so proud. It’s been a dream,” said McDowell, whose victory in February was his first career triumph. “I think we have a shot to get our second Daytona win in tomorrow’s Coke Zero Sugar 400, too. We have a good car and am pumped about it.”
The DAYTONA 500 Champions’ Walk of Fame is a tradition that dates back to 1996 with NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett being the first to partake. As part of the DAYTONA 500 Champions’ celebration in February, every driver places their hands, right foot and autograph in a 3×3 foot cement block that is officially installed in August as part of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 Weekend.
McDowell will go for history yet again Saturday in the Coke Zero Sugar 400. Since the track opened in 1959 and began hosting two NASCAR Cup Series races a year, only five times has the DAYTONA 500 Champion backed it up with a Coke Zero Sugar 400 triumph.
The list of names is a “Who’s Who” of NASCAR royalty that includes: Fireball Roberts (1962), Cale Yarborough (1968), LeeRoy Yarbrough (1969), Bobby Allison (1982) and Jimmie Johnson (2013). Roberts, Yarborough and Allison are NASCAR Hall of Famers, and Johnson is a shoo-in once he becomes eligible, while Yarbrough won NASCAR’s Triple Crown in ’69.
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.
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.
