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Toyota Racing Weekly Preview – 08.25.21

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Official Release
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This Week in Motorsports: August 23-30, 2021

· NCS/NXS: Daytona International Speedway – August 27-28

· ARCA/ARCA East: Milwaukee Mile – August 29

PLANO, Texas (August 25, 2021) – The regular season concludes for NASCAR Cup Series drivers as this weekend event at Daytona International Speedway sets the Playoff field. They will be joined by the NASCAR Xfinity Series, while the ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series East run a combination event in the series’ return to the Milwaukee Mile.

NASCAR National Series – NCS| NXS| NCWTS

Playoff field set… The NASCAR Cup Series sets its Playoff field this weekend at Daytona International Speedway and four Toyota drivers – Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr. and Christopher Bell – have already clinched their spots. Bubba Wallace can claim his first Playoff berth with a win this weekend.

Hamlin looks to add another Daytona win… Hamlin has been the king at the Daytona 500 recently – winning three of the last six – but surprisingly is looking for his first win in Daytona International Speedway’s second annual event. Hamlin hopes to score his first 400-mile Daytona victory and close the gap on Kyle Larson, whom he trails by 28 points for the regular season championship.

Wallace wants to be one spot better… Bubba Wallace heads back to the site of his career-best Cup Series finish – a runner-up – which he scored at the Daytona 500 in his 2018 rookie season. Wallace earned the result in a side-by-side battle to the line with now-team owner Hamlin.

Two chances for a win for Bell… Bell will get two chances for victory this weekend as he is back behind the wheel of the No. 54 Toyota Supra this weekend for the second time this year. Bell won his other Xfinity Series start this season at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and came just one spot short of the weekend sweep, finishing second in the Cup Series event there on Sunday.

Season-best for Jones… Brandon Jones tied his season-best finish with a runner-up result on Saturday in Michigan. The four-time Xfinity Series winner is looking for his first Daytona victory. He scored a third-place finish at the track in 2019.

Back-to-back for Garrett… For just the second time in his young career, Colin Garrett will get to run consecutive races as he is back behind the wheel of the No. 26 Supra this weekend. Garrett will make his first start at Daytona, but his team – Sam Hunt Racing – scored a season-best eighth-place finish at Daytona with Brandon Gdovic in February.

NASCAR Regional Series – ARCA| ARCA East

One point… After trading victories this past weekend, just one point separates Ty Gibbs and Corey Heim in the ARCA Menards Series championship battle. Both had dominating performances with Gibbs scoring the pole, leading the most laps and winning at Michigan International Speedway, and Heim doing the same at Illinois State Fairgrounds on Sunday. Both are making their track debut at the Milwaukee Mile this weekend.

ARCA East Combination Event… This weekend’s race is a combination race with the ARCA Menards Series East as they compete in their second-to-last race of their season. Toyota development driver Sammy Smith is the championship leader by 19 points over Mason Diaz.

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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.

FedEx Racing Express Facts – Daytona International Speedway

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Official Release
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Denny Hamlin
11 FedEx Shaping Black Futures Toyota
Joe Gibbs Racing

Saturday Race Info:
Race: Coke Zero Sugar 400
Date/Time: Saturday, August 28/7:00 p.m. ET
Distance: 160 laps/400 miles
Track Length: 2.5 miles
Track Shape: Tri-Oval
Banking: 31 Degrees

Express Notes:

Michigan Recap: Denny Hamlin earned his 13th top-five finish of the season Sunday at Michigan International Speedway in the penultimate race of the NASCAR Cup Series regular season. The 400-mile event was a chaotic one – with four-wide passing and 11 different leaders – with plenty of contact that left the FedEx Express Toyota with dings and dents all around. After starting ninth, Hamlin took the lead after a Stage 1 caution by pitting for fuel only. He led four laps in that stage and six more in Stage 3, all the while mixing it up with multiple other frontrunners. In the final cycle of green-flag stops, Hamlin came to pit road for fresh tires and fuel with about 35 laps remaining. He then surged from the back of the top 20 to chase down the leaders once again. But a pop-up rain shower brought out the yellow flag with 19 laps to go and doused his momentum. Drivers circled the track amid the raindrops under yellow for only five laps, and then the green flag waved once again. A multi-car wreck brought out a final caution with 13 laps to go, setting the stage for 10 wild, final green-flag laps. Hamlin was behind leader William Byron, both choosing the preferred top lane. Ryan Blaney, the first driver to opt for the low lane, used the front-row position to make his move for the lead. While Byron and Hamlin were racing each other, Blaney took off and, 10 laps later, took the checkered flag. Hamlin crossed the line fifth.

Daytona Preview: The NASCAR Cup Series moves to Florida for the final regular season race of the 2021 season at Daytona International Speedway. In recent history, Hamlin has been the king of Daytona with three career wins, including back-to-back Daytona 500 victories in 2019 and 2020. Hamlin and team are still in mathematical contention for the regular season championship and will look for a win and a big points day to push them to the top of the standings.

FedEx Cares on the #11: The FedEx Toyota will have a special Shaping Black Futures paint scheme at the Daytona race, highlighting the longtime FedEx commitment to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The scheme includes an illustration of HBCU college graduates, “Shaping Black Futures” on the quarter panel, and four HBCU school logos – Jackson State, Tennessee State, Mississippi Valley State, and Lemoyne Owen – on the rear bumper.

Hamlin Statistics:
Track: Daytona International Speedway
Races: 31
Wins: 3
Poles: 0
Top-5: 11
Top-10: 12
Laps Led: 628
Avg. Start: 16.6
Avg. Finish 16.0

Hamlin Conversation – Daytona:

What is the message behind the FedEx Shaping Black Futures paint scheme?

“The scheme focuses on the FedEx initiative to shape the futures of Black students and foster relationships across several HBCUs. We have included four HBCU logos on the TV panel of the car. FedEx stands dedicated to making the communities it serves more equitable and creating opportunities for the next generation.”

How do you like your chances of winning the final race of the regular season at Daytona?

“Daytona’s been one of the best tracks for me. I’ve won the 500, and I’d love to win the Coke Zero 400. I’m a Coke driver and I have not yet won that race. We seem to put ourselves in contention each and every year at Daytona, so we always look forward to racing there. And because my playoff spot is clinched, I can go on offense. I’ve got nothing to lose.”

FedEx Office – Closest to Daytona International Speedway: 2274 W International Speedway, Daytona Beach (386) 323-7840

DGR ARCA Menards Series Race Advance: Milwaukee Mile

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Official Release
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Sunday, August 29
Track: Milwaukee Mile, 1-mile oval
Race: 16 of 20
Event: Sprecher 150 (150 laps, 150 miles)

Schedule
Practice: 11:00 a.m. ET
Qualifying: 12:30 p.m. ET
Race: 3:00 p.m. ET (MAVTV)

Taylor Gray, No. 17 Ripper Coffee Ford Fusion

  • Gray enters the Milwaukee Mile with seven starts in ARCA Menards Series (ARCA) competition so far this season.
  • Last weekend, the Ripper Coffee driver competed in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois on Friday before joining the ARCA series at the Springfield Mile on Sunday where he finished third.
  • This will be the first appearance at the historic one-mile oval for Gray and crew chief Chad Johnston.
  • Gray has recorded a top-10 finish in all seven of his ARCA starts in 2021 with five of those finishes being inside the top-five. He sits ninth in the series point standings despite only competing in seven of the 15 completed races.

Thad Moffitt, No. 46 Dirteeze Ford Fusion

  • Sunday afternoon will mark Moffitt’s 15th start of the 2021 ARCA Menards Series season and 43rd of his career. He did not compete in the series’ last race at the Springfield Mile last Sunday afternoon.
  • The 20 year old was involved in an incident on lap one last Friday evening at Michigan International Speedway that required him to pit for tires and damage repair and go three laps down. He ultimately finished in the eighth position, two laps down.
  • Moffitt has five top-fives and 11 top-10s in his 14 starts this season. He remains third in the series standings with five races remaining.
  • The No. 46 will be adorned with the vibrant purple Dirteeze paint scheme for the second time this season. It was previously on the car at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in June.

Joey Iest, No. 54 ASN/Basila Ranch Ford Fusion

  • Joey Iest returns to the seat of the David Gilliland Racing No. 54 for his seventh start of the season as he continues his pursuit of the ARCA Menards Series East championship.
  • The last time out in the DGR Fusion at Iowa Speedway on July 24th, Iest’s day ended early after 26 laps. He was credited with a 20th-place finish.
  • Between the ARCA East and ARCA West series’, the California native has 11 starts with one win, seven top-fives and eight top-10s. He sits fifth in the East standings, 35 points out of first place and sixth in the West standings, 21 points out of first place.
  • Iest will work with veteran ARCA crew chief Seth Smith for the Milwaukee Mile.
  • Click here for Iest’s career statistics.

Crosley Brands Extends Partnership with Myatt Snider and Richard Childress Racing

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Official Release
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Crosley Furniture to serve as primary partner for four additional NASCAR Xfinity Series events

WELCOME, N.C. (August 25, 2021) – Richard Childress Racing announced today a continued partnership with Crosley Brands. Crosley Brands and Crosley Furniture will adorn Myatt Snider’s No. 2 Chevrolet Camaro for four additional NASCAR Xfinity Series events, starting with this Friday’s race under the lights at the historic Daytona International Speedway. The iconic red and black colors of Crosley will also ride with Snider at Darlington Raceway, Bristol Motor Speedway, and Texas Motor Speedway.

“I am very excited to be extending our relationship through the end of the season,” said Bo LeMastus, founder and chief executive officer of Crosley Brands. “To have Myatt represent the Crosley brand in a Chevrolet is awesome. The entire program at Richard Childress Racing, from Richard Childress to Myatt, has been nothing but a treat. Crosley looks forward to being involved in the continued growth of Myatt’s career.”

Based in Kentucky, Crosley Brands has a stylish line of vinyl players and turntables, while also offering jukeboxes, telephones and more through its Crosley Radio brand. Crosley Furniture delivers quality products at competitive prices, offering over 1,800 outdoor and indoor furniture items in a variety of categories and designs.

“I’m very excited to have Crosley Brands back on the No. 2 Chevrolet Camaro for four more races this season,” said Snider, driver of the No. 2 Crosley Furniture Chevrolet. “Bo has shown continued support of myself and our team throughout this year and I always enjoy representing the Crosley colors. Racing under the lights at Daytona will be full of high intensity and our team is gaining momentum heading into the Playoffs next month.”

Snider and the No. 2 Crosley Furniture Chevrolet will take to Daytona International Speedway on Friday, August 27, as the NASCAR Xfinity Series competes at the World Center of Racing for the final time this season. The green flag will wave at 7:30 p.m. ET, with live television coverage on NBCSN. Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will carry the radio broadcast.

For more information on today’s announcement and all that is happening at RCR, visit www.rcrracing.com. To learn more about Crosley Brands, visit www.crosleybrands.com.

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

About Richard Childress Racing:
Richard Childress Racing (rcrracing.com) is a renowned, performance-driven racing, marketing and manufacturing organization. Incorporated in 1969, RCR has celebrated over 50 years of racing and earned more than 200 victories and 16 championships, including six in the NASCAR Cup Series with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. RCR was the first organization to win championships in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Truck Series and is a three-time winner of the Daytona 500 (1998, 2007, 2018). Its 2021 NASCAR Cup Series lineup includes two-time NASCAR champion, 2017 Coca-Cola 600 winner and 2018 Daytona 500 champion Austin Dillon (No. 3 Chevrolet), along with two-time NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Tyler Reddick (No. 8 Chevrolet). RCR fields a full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series program with Myatt Snider (No. 2 Chevrolet).

FR8Auctions teams up with Brett Moffitt for four final races of regular season

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Official Release
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STATESVILLE, N.C. (August 25, 2021) – As Brett Moffitt attempts to claim a spot in the NASCAR Xfinity Series playoffs, FR8Auctions will serve as the primary sponsor of Moffitt and the No. 02 team for the final four regular-season events at Daytona International Speedway, Darlington Raceway, Richmond Raceway and Bristol Motor Speedway.

Through this partnership and FR8Auctions’ growing consignor base, the company is now accepting new buying members nationwide.

“The unprecedented growth over the last 24 months has not only allowed our company to build on our successful foundation, but also diversify our selection of merchandise by bringing in new consignors,” said Marcus Barela, founder, FR8Auctions.

As a result of the substantial growth, FR8Auctions is reaching out nationwide for any small, medium or large companies that are seeking the merchandise that FR8Auctions can offer.
FR8Auctions’ focus on showcasing product value, building independent businesses and delivering on its promise makes this call for new members a special opportunity to join the FR8 family.

With a new online registration portal and member application process, FR8Auctions can more effectively manage a large number of new applications daily. With that, they look to grow the buyer base in the coming weeks and months.

If you are interested in learning more, please visit FR8Auctions.com and click on the ‘New Buyers – Click Here’ tab to complete your application.

Tune in to the Wawa 250 on Friday, August 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN as the NASCAR Xfinity Series takes on the high banks of Daytona International Speedway.

About FR8Auctions
Fr8auctions is an Atlanta-based business that partners with freightlines, distribution companies, and consumer product based businesses in helping them sell their excess, discontinued, or damaged inventory that does not interfere in their traditional distributional channels. With our growing syndicate of the best buyers in the southeast our auction method is becoming the premier choice for maximizing returns for excess inventory.

About Our Motorsports
Our Motorsports competes full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, fielding the No. 02 Chevrolet Camaro for Brett Moffitt, and the No. 23 Chevrolet Camaro for multiple drivers. To find out more information about our team, please visit ourmotorsportsgroup.com.

Speedy Cash Makes Return to Daytona International Speedway

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Official Release
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Alfredo Ready to Take Partner Back to Victory Lane and Playoffs

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (August 25, 2021) – Speedy Cash visited victory lane at the Daytona 500 in February as a partner of Michael McDowell. They are now ready to help Anthony Alfredo to his first NASCAR Cup Series win this Saturday night when the NASCAR Cup Series closes its regular season back at the Daytona International Speedway.

For Alfredo and the No. 38 Speedy Cash team, it’s a win-and-in scenario concerning their last opportunity to join the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. Saturday night’s race is poised to be one of the most exciting races of the season with over a dozen drivers racing for the final berth into the playoffs.

“Speedy Cash has been our biggest partner this season and it’s great have them back on our No. 38 Ford Mustang at Daytona,” said Alfredo. “I want to go out and win this race. We’ve had so much bad luck, that we should have some good luck coming our way. It will be perfect to win on Saturday night and get our No. 38 team in the playoffs with Michael.”

“I think it’s going to be a wild race,” continued Alfredo. “There is so much on the line. We can potentially have our bad luck season turn into a top-16 or better season with just one win. That’s true for about 15 or 16 guys. So, the final few laps are going to be wild. If we can be there on the last lap, FRM has proven that we can win it.”

For Speedy Cash, the Daytona 500 provided their first win in the NASCAR Cup Series as an associate partner on the No. 34 Ford Mustang. They then powered Alfredo to his season-best finish at the Talladega Superspeedway in April. Alfredo has been mired in bad luck finishes since late June but can change all that on Saturday night.

Speedy Cash will return their familiar look and colors to the No. 38. Saturday night’s race will be televised live on NBC at 7:00 p.m. ET.

For more information about Speedy Cash, visit www.SpeedyCash.com.

About Speedy Cash
Speedy Cash is an omni-channel lender that specializes in financial services such as installment loans, title loans, payday loans, personal lines of credit, check cashing, money transfers and money orders. The company was founded in 1997 in Riverside, California by three friends from Wichita, Kansas to meet the growing consumer need for accessible credit. Speedy Cash has brick & mortar locations across the U.S. (operating as Rapid Cash in Nevada, Oregon and Washington) and offers loans online. Speedy Cash is owned and operated by CURO Group Holdings Corp (NYSE: CURO).

About CURO
CURO Group Holdings Corp. (NYSE: CURO) serves the evolving needs of the financial consumer. In 1997, the Company was founded in Riverside, California by three Wichita, Kansas childhood friends to meet the growing consumer need for short-term loans. Their success led to opening stores across the United States, later expanding to offer online loans and financial services in the United States and Canada and now broadening into a full-spectrum consumer lender through the point-of-sale / buy-now-pay-later channel. CURO combines its market expertise with a fully integrated technology platforms, an omni-channel approach and advanced credit decisioning to provide an array of credit products across all mediums. CURO operates under a number of brands including Speedy Cash®, Rapid Cash®, Cash Money®, LendDirect®, Flexiti®, Avío Credit®, Opt+® and Revolve Finance®.

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

JR Motorsports — NXS Daytona II Preview

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Official Release
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JR MOTORSPORTS TEAM PREVIEW:
TRACK: Daytona International Speedway
RACE: Wawa 250 (100 laps / 250 miles)
DATE: Friday, Aug. 27, 2021

Broadcast Information – TV: 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN / Radio: 7 p.m. ET on MRN and Sirius XM Ch. 90

Michael Annett
No. 1 Pilot Flying J Driver Appreciation Chevrolet
• Michael Annett’s No. 1 Pilot Flying J Chevrolet will carry a special paint scheme this weekend to kick off Pilot Flying J’s Driver Appreciation Month program. The scheme, which features yellow stripes around the bottom of the car and on the decklid, will be on the car for the next five races, ending at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
• Daytona International Speedway is a special place for Annett, who scored his first NASCAR Xfinity Series victory there in 2019’s season opener.
• In two of his last three starts at Daytona, Annett has finished seventh and 11th on the 2.5-mile tri-oval.

Sam Mayer
No. 8 PeopleReady TrueBlue Chevrolet
• Sam Mayer will make his first NXS start at Daytona this weekend in the blue and orange No. 8 PeopleReady TrueBlue Chevrolet.
• The 18-year-old Mayer will make his first-career start on a superspeedway track within NASCAR’s top three series.
• In four oval races to date in the NXS, Mayer has one top 10, coming at Atlanta Motor Speedway where he raced to a ninth-place finish.
• To date this season, the No. 8 team has accumulated one win (Martinsville Speedway), four top fives and nine top 10s while pacing the field for 151 laps.

Noah Gragson
No. 9 Bass Pro Shops / TrueTimber / Black Rifle Coffee Chevrolet
• After finishing third last weekend at Michigan, Noah Gragson enters the weekend on a roll. The Las Vegas native has earned top-10 finishes in eight of his last nine starts, four of which were top-five efforts.
• The hot streak for Gragson has shown up in the points as well, as the 22-year-old is now seventh in points with just four races remaining until the NXS Playoffs.
• Gragson’s first NXS victory came on Daytona’s 2.5-mile high banks in the 2020 season opener. He led 13 of the final 15 laps, including the last two, to become an NXS winner.

Justin Allgaier
No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet
• Justin Allgaier will make his 22nd start at “The World Center of Racing” on Friday night.
• In 21 previous starts, Allgaier has netted a best finish of second (twice), coming in this event in 2016 and in the season-opening event in 2019.
• Overall, in 33 career NXS starts at Daytona and Talladega Superspeedway, Allgaier has scored a combined seven top fives and 14 top 10s. The pair of second-place finishes at Daytona are his best.
• With four races remaining in the regular season, Allgaier sits solidly third in both the championship standings and the projected playoff grid.

Driver Quotes

“It’s always good to go back to Daytona, and I feel pretty good this week. Big thank-you to Josh Berry and Chase Elliott for stepping in during my recovery, and I can’t wait to get back in the car this weekend. We are in the thick of the battle for the playoffs, and these four races are extremely important in getting this No. 1 Pilot Flying J Driver Appreciation Chevrolet in to battle for a series championship.” – Michael Annett

“Daytona is one of those places where anything can happen. One minute you could be leading, and the next you could be outside the top 10. It’s a place where you definitely need to be on your toes. Hopefully, our luck can turn around there and we can have a really solid night with our BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet. I know that Jason (Burdett, crew chief) will give me a car that is capable of contending for the win and if we can just be smart and avoid any trouble out there, I feel like we will have a great chance to get back to Victory Lane.” – Justin Allgaier

“I’m really looking forward to racing at Daytona this weekend in the PeopleReady TrueBlue No. 8. I’ve raced on the road course here a few times but this is my first attempt at the oval and I can’t wait. JRM always has fast cars, especially at superspeedways, so that helps give our team confidence going into this weekend.” – Sam Mayer

“I got my first Xfinity Series win at Daytona last season and nothing would be better than to get the Bass Pro Shops/TrueTimber/Black Rifle Coffee Camaro back into Victory Lane at such a historic track. Dave (Elenz, crew chief) and this entire No. 9 team bring really strong cars to plate tracks so there’s a lot to look forward to this weekend.” – Noah Gragson

JRM Team Updates:

• JR Motorsports at Daytona: JR Motorsports has competed at “The World Center of Racing” a combined 88 times in the NXS. Over the course of these 88 starts at the 2.5-mile facility, JRM has tallied seven wins, 24 top fives and 37 top 10s. JRM’s most recent win came during the 2020 season when Noah Gragson drove the No. 9 to Victory Lane to secure his first career NXS victory.
• Pilot Flying J Driver Appreciation Month: Michael Annett’s No. 1 Pilot Flying J Chevrolet will have a signature paint scheme for the next five races as part of Pilot Flying J’s Driver Appreciation Month. The red and yellow scheme features the words “If you’ve got it, a trucker brought it” on the hood and #ThankATrucker on the TV panel at the rear of the car. The Driver Appreciation theme inspires fans to thank professional drivers for all their hard work in delivering the goods we all depend on.
• PeopleReady: PeopleReady has reimagined and simplified the path that connects people and work. Whether you need workers or you’re looking for new job opportunities, PeopleReady is ready to deliver results for you today. And with the JobStack | Find a Job mobile app, you are in control of your work schedule. Once you find a short-term job that fits your preferences, you will receive information on where to go, what to bring, and what to expect once you arrive. You can apply to be a PeopleReady worker and start accepting jobs all from the app. JobStack | Find a Job has work opportunities all over the United States. Visit peopleready.com today to find jobs, or workers, nears you.

Legendary Racing Journalist Miller Dies at 71

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Official Release
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INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021) – Robin L. Miller, a lifelong motorsports fan who became one of the sport’s most recognized and influential media personalities, died Aug. 25 in Indianapolis. He was 71.

A native of his beloved Southport, Indiana, Miller rose to prominence as an Indianapolis Star sports writer, parlaying his love of many sports into more than 50 years of communication that defined his life.

Known predominantly as a writer and columnist covering the Indianapolis 500 and INDYCAR SERIES racing, Miller became a television personality first with ESPN, then SPEED and most recently NBC. He also had long stints at all of Indianapolis’ TV affiliates over the years.

Miller’s journalism career began at The Star in 1968, and he never retired from writing about auto racing. His stories and columns were featured in Autoweek, Car and Driver, Sports Illustrated and RACER, among other notable publications and websites, and for years he hosted shows on Indianapolis radio stations as he was a master storyteller.

Miller first visited Indianapolis Motor Speedway with his father, Bob, in 1957, attending his first “500” two years later. In 1968, at the age of 18, he began working for his racing hero, hard-luck driver Jim Hurtubise, running the pit board and assigned to various non-mechanical jobs. However, the stint was short-lived as Miller ruined part of the paint on Hurtubise’s car.

Miller got hired at The Star a month later and talked his way into the sports department, where his first duties included answering telephones and taking box score information alongside Jeff Smulyan, who later owned the Seattle Mariners, and future Star columnist Bill Benner.

Miller, a Ball State dropout, got his first break as a newspaper writer when The Star needed a reporter for the still-fledgling professional basketball team, the Indiana Pacers of the American Basketball Association. Fiery coach Bobby Leonard took a liking to Miller, allowing the skinny-but-frisky 19-year-old access to the team that would be unheard of for today’s sportswriters. Many of the ABA players from that era – Bob Netolicky, Mel Daniels, Roger Brown and Billy Shepherd – became among Miller’s closest friends.

Miller tried his hand at driving race cars in the early 1970s, buying a Formula Ford from Andy Granatelli. Two years later, Miller purchased a midget from Gary Bettenhausen to start a 10-year run as a USAC competitor. With help from racing buddies Larry Rice, Johnny Parsons and the Bettenhausen brothers, Miller developed into a driver quick enough to qualify fifth for the 1980 Hut Hundred midget race at the Terre Haute Action Track, a prestigious dirt event featuring 33 cars lined up in 11 rows of three. However, a blown engine forced him out of the race.

Miller admittedly didn’t have a mechanical bone in his body and long enjoyed telling stories of his racing naivety. Such as, he bought a trailer too narrow for his race car – it had to be loaded in at an angle — and he survived a crash into a telephone pole in the Indiana State Fairgrounds parking lot when he started the car without buckling up. The throttle stuck, launching the powerful machine unexpectedly and dangerously forward.

In an even more serious situation, Miller suffered a head injury in hot laps at a 1975 midget race in Hinsdale, Illinois, when he flipped the car into a concrete wall, tearing the cage off his car.

However, a decade in a race car gave Miller a unique perspective on the sport and the drivers he covered. Over a span of 50 years, Miller befriended most of racing’s biggest names, regularly engaging them at lunches and dinners he organized. He was particularly close with “500” drivers Tom Sneva, Parnelli Jones, A.J. Foyt, Dan Gurney, Bobby and Al Unser, Tony Bettenhausen, Mario Andretti, Johnny Rutherford, Dario Franchitti and Tony Kanaan, and late-night TV icon and INDYCAR SERIES team owner David Letterman. Yet he seemed to know something about everyone involved in the sport, and he could hold court with the best of them.

For years, Miller was the animated emcee of the Last Row Party, the Indiana Press Club Foundation’s event which traditionally skewered the slowest three qualifiers of each “500.” He particularly enjoyed the event when it included Gordon Johncock, Steve Chassey and Pancho Carter, other close friends of his.

In 2019, as Miller covered his 50th “500” amid declining health, Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced the creation of the Robin Miller Award, to be given annually to an unheralded individual who has brought unbridled passion and an unrelenting work ethic to enrich the sport.

Miller, a lifelong bachelor, is survived by a sister, Diane, and nieces Emily and Ashley.

Statements on Passing of Legendary Racing Journalist Robin Miller

INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021) – Statements from Roger Penske and Mark Miles on legendary racing journalist Robin Miller, who died Aug. 25 at 71:

Roger Penske, Chairman, Indianapolis Motor Speedway

“Racing has lost one of its most well-respected journalists and most beloved personalities. Robin Miller achieved his dream as his lifelong passion for motorsports led him on a path to becoming the premier reporter in open-wheel racing. For more than 50 years, Robin covered the sport he loved with a fierce drive, a great sense of humor and uncompromising honesty. I know that Robin was truly touched by the support he received across the motorsports community over these last few months as he battled his illness. As many of Robin’s friends honored him and his legacy earlier this month when he was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame during Brickyard weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, it was a fitting tribute to his life’s work at the place that meant the world to him.”

Mark Miles, President and CEO, Penske Entertainment Corp.

“My friendship with Robin and appreciation for his talent and work began during his days at The Indianapolis Star. However, our relationship truly grew as I entered the motorsports world and immediately discovered his unmatched passion and energy for our sport and his tremendous dedication to our entire community. Robin was both a true friend and trusted confidant who never shied away from giving his honest opinion and blunt, but often invaluable, advice. Nobody loved racing more, and he was a true joy to work with who left an unforgettable and absolutely unique mark on both INDYCAR and the Racing Capital of the World. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends, along with his loyal and sizable legion of readers across the world. There simply won’t be another Robin Miller, and he will always hold a place in our hearts.”

TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR TOLEDO’S GLASS CITY, USAC SILVER CROWN EVENTS

By
Official Release
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Toledo, OH: Tickets go on sale today for Toledo Speedway’s 2 remaining events on the 2021 schedule-the Glass City 200 Saturday, September 18 and the Sunday, October 10 Hemelgarn/Super Fitness Rollie Beale Classic 100 for the USAC Silver Crown Series.

Advance tickets are available online at www.toledospeedway.com or by calling the track at 419-727-1100. All seating is general admission for both events. Tickets for each race are $25 for adults, children 6-12 are $5 and under 6 are free. Please add $1 per ticket for online purchases. The advance sale ends at 5 p.m. the Friday prior to each race date.

Central Transport will return as the title sponsor of the 33rd running of the Glass City 200. The prestigious race is set for Saturday, September 18 at the fast ½ mile paved oval. The Hampton Inn and Courtyard by Marriott, and DTS Drive Train Specialists, will be the presenting sponsors for the track’s signature event.

A pair of 100 lap contests are on the slate for the annual event, as the ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by Jeg’s stock-bodied Late Models and the Outlaw-bodied Super Late Models hit the track in separate 100 lap feature races. CRA’s Junior Late Models, featuring tomorrow’s rising stars in full-bodied cars, will also be in action, with the Toledo event serving as their Season Championship.

Spectator gates open will open at 12:30 p.m. Race time is set for 5 p.m. The complete time schedule is posted on the webpage;click on the race date. A rain date of Sunday, September 19 at 1 p.m. has been established should weather be an issue.

The USAC Silver Crown Series 100 lap feature is the only open-wheel event at Toledo this season. The Toledo race will determine the 2021 National Silver Crown Champion.

The 2021 Toledo Speedway season champions for the ARCA R & M Recycling Late Model Sportsman and The Vault ARCA Factory Stocks will also be determined October 10 for the Sunday afternoon contest.

The ticket office opens at 11:30 a.m. on race day, as well as the spectator gates. Practice begins at 11:30 a.m. and racing begins at 2 p.m. Sunday afternoon, October 10. There is no rain date for this race.

A THREE-RACE SPRINT FOR LOUIS-PHILIPPE DUMOULIN THIS WEEKEND

By
Official Release
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Photo Credit: Matthew Manor CSCG
EventsLafleur 75 (ICAR) | Canadian Tire 150 & Budweiser 150 (Autodrome Chaudière)
TracksICAR (Mirabel, Québec) – Routier | Autodrome Chaudière – Ovale (Vallée-Jonction, Québec)
Dates / Televison (EDT)·   ICAR: RDS2 – Saturday, September 11, 2:30 pm | TSN – Sunday, September 5, 4:30 pm·   Autodrome Chaudière: RDS2 – Friday, September 17, 9:30 pm | TSN – Saturday, September 11,1:00 pm
On-Track Schedule (EDT) /Race Center·   ICAR – Saturday August28: Practice 10:25 am | Qualifying 12:55 pm | Race 4:00 pm·   Autodrome Chaudière – Sunday August 29: Practice 12:30 pm | Qualifying 15:00 pm |Race 1 6:00 pm | Race 2 7:40 pm Canada: TSN.ca and on TSN app | United States: TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold | Live Timing: nascar.ca/race-center/

Trois-Rivieres (Quebec, Canada), August 25, 2021 – Louis-Philippe Dumoulin and the #47 WeatherTech Canada | Groupe Bellemare team are back on track for a three-race weekend on August 28 and 29. On Saturday, they will be at the ICAR road course for the Lafleur 75 and on Sunday, on the oval at the Autodrome Chaudière for the Canadian Tire 150 and the Budweiser 150. Louis-Philippe Dumoulin comes to ICAR after a convincing start to the season as he is in third place in the 2021 NASCAR Pinty’s Championship points race.

The man who started his career and won several races and championships on road courses feels at home on the ICAR road course. Louis-Philippe Dumoulin has evolved since his NASCAR Canada debut in 2009 and has now had great success on oval tracks, where his analytical approach and self-discipline allow him to get the most out of his #47 WeatherTech Canada | Groupe Bellemare car.

“Three races, two tracks, one on a road course and two on an oval, make for a vitally important weekend for the championship. For ICAR, the set-up we used at Trois-Rivières Grand Prix will work just as well on this track and we are looking forward to it. In addition, we will be able to take advantage of the lessons learned in past events on the small oval of the Autodrome Chaudière, as we have obtained good results there in the past. After these three events, we will be at the halfway point of the season and we are ready to make the most of this intense weekend”, underlines the man who was inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame last fall.

2021 RESULTS

EventDateRoadOvalLP Dumoulin
 Start FinishPos.Points
Sunset Speedway sunsetspeedway.ca01-08O311632/79
Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières gp3r.ca15-08R153/119
Circuit ICARicarexperience.ca28-08R   
Autodrome Chaudière autodromechaudiere.com29-08O   
Canadian Tire Motorsport Park canadiantiremotorsportpark.com04-09R   
05-09   
Flamboro Speedway flamborospeedway.ca12-09O   
Delaware Speedway delawarespeedway.com26-09O   

ABOUT PARTNERS

WeatherTech is committed to designing, engineering and manufacturing the finest products possible for your vehicle, home and your pet. From the industry leading FloorLiner to the 100% non-toxic Pet Feeding System, WeatherTech has dedicated itself to exceed customer expectations of quality, craftsmanship and environmental sustainability for over 30 years. To see the full line of automotive, home and pet products that are guaranteed for life, visit weathertech.ca.

Groupe Bellemare is a 3rd generation family business that has been serving clients since 1959. Today, the company has more than 500 employees and provides them with an innovative work environment facilitating work-family balance and a healthy and safe quality of life. With over a half century of experience and its sustained R&D efforts, the Company offers high-quality products and services in areas as diverse as concrete, abrasives and minerals, dimensional load transportation, and recycling. Groupe Bellemare is also very involved in its industry and attaches great importance to its social and environmental role as a member of the business community. Groupe Bellemare makes a positive contribution to the quality of life of citizens in the communities it serves by supporting numerous social causes and promoting local purchasing through its responsible procurement practices. groupebellemare.com

Dumoulin Competition. Jean-François and Louis-Philippe Dumoulin founded the Dumoulin Competition Race Team in 2009. Working with financial, marketing, logistics and sports management experts, they built up a solid business structure. Dumoulin Competition prepares its on race cars in-house since 2016. Their motto: “Passion – Performance – Partnerships” expresses their will to perform on the track and offer their partners maximum visibility and profitability in return for their commitment. Their vision: To become Canada’s leader in motorsports through track performance, entrepreneurial and human values dumoulincompetition.com

SUMMARY – HIGHLIGHTS IN LOUIS-PHILIPPE DUMOULIN’S CAREER

NASCAR Pinty’s Series

·         Inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame (2020) for his outstanding contribution.

·         In 2020, the sanitary situation forced the NASCAR Pinty’s Series to present only 6 races in the “Pinty’s FanCave Challenge”. Louis-Philippe Dumoulin scored 1 win and 3 top-5 finishes.

·         2019: Third in driver and owner championships (2 wins, 4 podium, and eight top-5 finishes from 13 events).

·         2018: Champion (3 victories, 7 podiums, 2 poles, eight top-5 in 13 events). Saw his name added for the second time to the NASCAR Hall of Fame (Charlotte, NC) / Wins“Driver of the Year” and “Best Performing Driver” awards.

·         2017: Fourth in the driver championship (3 podiums, nine top-5 and eleven top-10 finishes from 13 events).

·         2016: Joint fourthin the driver championship (4 podiums, six top-5 and seven top-10 finishes from 12 events).

·         2015: Fourth in the driver championship (2 podiums, six top-5 and nine top-10 finishes from 11 events).

·         2014: Champion (2 victories, 5 podiums and nine top-5 finish from 11 events). Saw his name added to the NASCAR Hall of Fame (Charlotte, NC) / Awarded the “Driver Of the Year”, “Best Performing Driver” and “Gilles-Villeneuve” awards.

·         2013: Fifth in the driver championship (2 victories, 3 podiums, four top-5s, six top-10s and five-time top-3 grid positions from 12 events).

·         2012: Sixth in the driver championship (1 pole, three top-5 and seven top-10 finishes from 12 events).

·         2011: Rookie of the year.

Rallying and Road Racing

·         2015: Participated in FIA World Rallycross Championship round in Canada (Grand Prix of Trois-Rivieres).

·         2012: Second in class in the 12 Hours of Sebring (American Le Mans Series – GT3 Cup). The only Canadian driver on the podium.

·         2004 to today: Front runner in the Grand-Am and Rolex Sports Car series, in Porsche, Ferrari and Daytona Prototype cars – Races in the 12 Hours of Sebring / and the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA events.

·         2002: Champion in the Canadian Formula Ford Championship.

·         2001: Awarded the ‘’Gilles-Villeneuve’’ and ‘’Quartz’’ trophies.

·         Records: Holder since 2002 of Formula Ford Series records for most victories (6) and most pole positions (7) in a single season.

WEBSITES / ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

WeatherTech Canada : weathertech.ca/behindtech

Groupe Bellemare : groupebellemare.com

ICAR : icarexperience.ca

Autodrome Chaudière : autodromechaudiere.com

Fondation québécoise du cancer : fqc.qc.ca

Musée Gilles-Villeneuve : museegillesvilleneuve.com

Festidrag développement : festidrag.com

Série Mini Sportsman Québec : seriesportsman.ca/mini-sportsman-calendrier

Dumoulin Compétition : dumoulincompetition.com

Série NASCAR Pinty’s : nascar.ca

Facebook: facebook.com/dumoulincompetition

Twitter: @DumoulinDC / @DumoulinLP / @jf_dumoulin

Youtube : youtube.com/user/dumoulincompetition

Instagram: @dumoulincompetition

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