Home Blog Page 2403

Larson Endures Late Bump To Win BC39, Complete IMS Dirt Sweep

By
Official Release
-

INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021) – Kyle Larson can indeed take a bump.

The driver who has dominated U.S. motorsports over the past three months handled the competition again Thursday night on The Dirt Track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, surviving late-race contact in a battle for the lead to win the third Driven2SaveLives BC39 Powered by NOS Energy Drink.

The USAC Midget National Championship race honoring the late Bryan Clauson, an Indiana native who made three Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge starts on the oval track surrounding this quarter-mile stretch of dirt, tested Larson completely, particularly in the final couple of restarts. The NASCAR Cup Series star was running second and on the Turn 4 cushion with five laps to go when Thomas Meseraull slid into him.

The contact was hard enough to break Meseraull’s right front wheel, ending his night after leading much of the race. Larson, who was unscathed, still had work to do – he had to get around and then hold off Justin Grant and a charging Brady Bacon in what he described as “chaos” on the 38th of 39 laps.

Larson said he almost gave away the race trying to hold off Grant in a side-by-side battle, but a solid final lap rescued him.

“I had a thought of what I wanted to do, and I kind of screwed it all up on that last restart,” he said. “I slid myself (high) a few times, and I shouldn’t have been doing that, but I knew Justin was on top in (Turns) 1 and 2 there.

“I slammed the curb every time in (Turn) 4, and then Brady got to my inside and Justin was there. It was just wild. I did not do a good job there on that restart but thankfully put a decent last lap together and snuck through for the win. I’ll take it.”

Larson earned $15,000 for the victory, and it continued his run of success since winning NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 30. Since then, he has won four additional Cup races, the Kings Royal and Knoxville Nationals in a sprint car and the Prairie Dirt Classic in a late model. Larson opened the year by winning the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals.

Larson also won Wednesday night’s IMS preliminary race, known as the Stoops Pursuit, which came with a $3,000 prize. He also won that event in 2019, but this was his first main event win at IMS.

Larson said it was “cool to win this race and honor Bryan,” the Noblesville, Indiana, driver who lost his life five years ago this month following a crash in the Belleville Midget Nationals.

“This event has grown into something really big, and I’m glad to be part of it,” Larson said while thanking IMS management, including owner Roger Penske, who was on hand for a second straight night. “Putting a little bullring here in the infield is really cool.

“These midgets are so much fun and so fun on a little track like this. This is the perfect midget track. (IMS) did such a good job building this place — the size, the dimensions, the banking, the dirt, everything. The track build is great, so hats off to the whole crew here.

“That was so much fun.”

Grant didn’t completely agree with Larson.

“Man, I hate running second to this guy,” he said, smiling. “He’s good; I don’t have to tell you guys. But man, he’s good playing the slider game and doing that (high line) in (Turn) 4. He does it as good or better than anybody.

“We had a couple of chances there (to beat him) and didn’t get him played quite right. I had to take a pretty big bomb to get out in front of him there in 3 and 4 … just a ton of fun.”

Meseraull finished 24th in the 25-car field despite leading much of the 39-lap race. The race distance is in honor of Clauson, who often carried that number on his race car.

Cup Series driver and Hoosier Chase Briscoe finished 11th in the main event, with USAC champion Chris Windom 21st after recovering from a flip in Turn 3.

Reigning Cup Series champion Chase Elliott was bounced from the field in the B-Main, slowing to a stop while running 12th. Jason McDougal’s car came to a stop with slight contact alongside him. Elliott finished 18th. Logan Seavey won the race, giving him two in a row after also winning the C-Main. 2013 Brickyard 400 winner Ryan Newman’s night came to an end after he finished 14th in the C-Main.

NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver Conor Daly was eliminated in the second D-Main after finishing seventh. Only the top three drivers advanced to the C-Main.

The qualifying race winners were Bacon, Cannon McIntosh, Tyler Courtney, Kevin Thomas Jr., Emerson Axsom and Windom.

In hot laps, Spencer Bayston posted the night’s only official lap under 12 seconds. His time was 11.964 seconds. Larson, who turned the exact same time in Wednesday’s hot laps, was sixth at 12.135 seconds.

Clauson Marshall Racing teased the crowd gathered at The Dirt Track at IMS with a renumbered car for the night’s action. It bore No. 18, leading to speculation that a mystery driver such as Kyle Busch, who carries the number in NASCAR, might arrive to participate.

Alas, a driver’s name appeared on the car honorary starter Jeff Gordon drove in exhibition laps Wednesday night. The name on the car: Roger Penske, the IMS owner who has experienced 18 victories in the Indianapolis 500. Although Penske might have wanted to don a helmet and drive a midget, he did not.

CORVETTE RACING AT LE MANS: Tandy, No. 64 C8.R Third in Hyperpole

By
Official Release
-

Final on-track practice sessions ahead of Saturday-Sunday endurance classic

LE MANS, France (Aug. 19, 2021) – Nick Tandy set the third-fastest time in Hyperpole qualifying Thursday to put Corvette Racing’s No. 64 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C8.R on the second row of the GTE Pro grid for this weekend’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Tandy, who drives with Tommy Milner and Alexander Sims, posted a best lap of 3:47.093 (134.216 mph) in the 30-minute session. The day before in the first round of qualifying, Tandy turned a 3:47.074 (134.217 mph) – the fastest lap for any Corvette Racing entry in its 21 years at Le Mans.

Thursday also featured the final two official practice sessions for the full field of 61 cars – including eight in GTE Pro. The two Corvettes continued to focus on race pace with a number of adjustments and changes to many of the C8.R’s systems including suspension and aerodynamics.

Antonio Garcia set the best combined practice time for the No. 63 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Corvette C8.R – a 3:49.603 (132.725 mph) effort in the fourth and final practice session of the week. He will team with Jordan Taylor and Nicky Catsburg as the No. 63 C8.R starts eighth Saturday.

A 15-minute warmup is set for 11:30 a.m. CET/5:30 a.m. ET. The green flag for the 24 Hours of Le Mans falls at 4 p.m. CET and 10 a.m. ET. MotorTrend TV will air the race live with the MotorTrend App adding coverage of official practices and qualifying on Aug. 18 and 19. Live audio coverage will be available from Radio Le Mans starting with Sunday’s Test Day.

Chevrolet’s YouTube page will stream the on-board feed from the No. 63 Corvette C8.R for the entire race.

NICK TANDY, NO. 64 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R – THIRD IN GTE PRO QUALIFYING: “At the start of the week, I absolutely would have taken a P3 start at Le Mans in the first race here for this car. We are getting experience every time we run the C8.R on this circuit in this aero kit when we don’t normally run on low fuel in qualifying trim. So to get that peak performance out of the car is amazing. It’s such a good job of how we’ve developed, since the qualifying session in Hyperpole, the car and made it better. Of course, we are driving for Corvette Racing and expect to follow tradition and be strong at Le Mans. That’s why come here and why we go racing. So we are pleased but we don’t underestimate our competition. There are a lot of strong cars here with strong teams. All we can do is look after ourselves, and at the moment I’m very happy with how the week is progressing.”

IS THERE ONE AREA WHERE YOU’VE BEEN MOST PLEASED WITH HOW THE CORVETTE HAS PROGRESSED SINCE SUNDAY? “I think honestly it’s how good the car has been since we rolled it out of the container. It validates all the development that went into the program before we got here. But it’s also how the car reacts to the setup changes that we are making to it. That means you can tune it to track conditions and however the circuit is. This is always a good thing and shows that the car is in a good working window.”

TOMMY MILNER, NO. 64 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: “For Nick, that was a really good run in both the qualifying session and Hyperpole. I think he got everything out of the car he could. It was certainly fun to watch. Lap times are mega-quick and it’s cool to see for that. Nick seemed super happy with the C8.R. Balance-wise, everything looks pretty good. For me, the best indication was the last practice session before Hyperpole. Car balance has been relatively pretty good almost the entire week of practice here. We definitely made some changes from the Test Day, and we could see the benefits of that in the first practice. Overall for us in the 64 Corvette, we’re all pretty happy. We’ve spent a lot of time tweaking and trying things to improve in some areas where we still need to improve. I think we’re in a pretty good spot. We really won’t know where we’re at probably until the first hour of the race Saturday.”

THE DAYS AND HOURS PREPARING FOR LE MANS: “For me personally, I’ve probably spent 20 days at the simulator, something like that. That doesn’t touch the hours and hours spent by the engineers working on aero kits for this thing for the last four or five years. It’s gotten us to where we are now to fine-tuning little bits and pieces here and there. Twenty days doesn’t sound like a lot considering this has been a four- or five-year project. Starting third for the race Saturday is a great place. It’s a lot of validation from a lot of hard work by a lot of people for a long time that we have brought a really, really good Corvette C8.R to Le Mans.”

JORDAN TAYLOR, NO. 63 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: “Today was eventful. I think our whole week has been eventful. It was good to get more laps on the car obviously. As I said yesterday, it’s still our first weekend here with the C8.R, so every lap counts for each of us – the drivers as well as the engineers and the crew – working on slow zones, pitstops and all the little details that we don’t get to work on in America. Today we did a big setup swing; we have a lot more confidence now going into the race. We know what we want to do with the car, whereas yesterday we had a lot of big questions. I’m glad we got through today as well as we did. Now we can prepare for the big one.”

NICKY CATSBURG, NO. 63 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: “Today was not bad at all. It seems we improved the balance a little bit. We were trying to figure out whether we can double-stint the tires, yes or no. It feels good. Compared to yesterday, today was definitely better. I think we made good steps tonight, so I’m positive.”

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

CHEVY NCS AT MICHIGAN: Team Chevy Advance

By
Official Release
-

TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE
FIREKEEPERS CASINO 400
MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
BROOKLYN, MICHIGAN
AUGUST 22, 2021

RACE #25 – MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
Following two consecutive victories on road courses, Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) drivers turn their attention to two ovals to close the regular season, starting with the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday, August 22. Chevrolet, which leads the NCS Manufacturer Standings, has posted 13 wins and secured five spots in the Playoffs heading into the 200-lap race on the 2-mile, D-shaped oval in Brooklyn, Michigan.

Chevrolet has recorded 26 wins at MIS; the first by Cale Yarborough in the 200-lap race on June 19, 1977, in the No. 11 Chevelle Laguna/Laguna S-3 from the fourth starting position for team owner Junior Johnson. It will be the first time since 1973 that Michigan International Speedway has hosted only one race during an NCS season.

NASCAR Cup Series points leader Kyle Larson, driving the No. 5 Cincinnati Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE this weekend, has scored three victories at MIS in the past five years, including his first-career NCS win on August 28, 2016. He also won from the pole in June 2017 and from the ninth starting position in the August 2017, all behind the wheel of a Chevrolet.

Larson, who will start from the pole for the fifth time this season, has recorded three of his field-high five wins in non-restrictor plate races on superspeedways. Hendrick Motorsports teammate and reigning NCS champion Chase Elliott will join Larson on the front row in the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Camaro ZL1 1LE.

NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) drivers will also race at Michigan International Speedway this weekend, while the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) opens its Playoffs at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway in Madison, Illinois.

Chevrolet has won 17 of the 29 NASCAR Xfinity Series races at MIS, including the last three. NCS regular Tyler Reddick, who won the last NXS race at Michigan in 2019, is entered in the No. 23 Our Motorsports Camaro SS for the 125-lap New Holland 250. Seven drivers of the Chevrolet Camaro SS placed in the top-10 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course, led by runner-up AJ Allmendinger. He is second in the standings and Justin Allgaier is third with five races left in the regular season.

Three drivers of the Chevrolet Silverado, including 2020 NCWTS Champion Sheldon Creed, qualified for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series elimination-style Playoffs that kicks off Friday, August 20, at the 1.25-mile World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.

CHEVROLET, LARSON ATOP STANDINGS
Chevrolet increased its lead in the Manufacturer Standings in the run to its 40th NASCAR Cup Series title with AJ Allmendinger’s victory and six drivers finishing in the top-10 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course.

Kyle Larson took the outright lead in the Driver Standings with a third-place finish in the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Camaro ZL1 1LE and is positioned to grab the regular-season champion’s prize of 15 Playoff bonus points. Hendrick Motorsports teammates William Byron is fourth and Chase Elliott is fifth in the standings.

TEAM CHEVY ROAD COURSE DOMINANCE CONTINUES
Team Chevy drivers have won five of the six NASCAR Cup Series road course races this season. AJ Allmendinger’s first NCS win since 2014 – on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway circuit – complements victories by reigning champion Chase Elliott (Circuit of the Americas and Road America) and Kyle Larson (Sonoma Raceway and Watkins Glen International). One road course race, on the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL in September, is part of the NCS Playoffs.

ON THE WAY TO THE GREEN
With no practice or qualifying for the 200-lap race, the starting lineup is determined by NASCAR’s metrics system that was introduced to the series last year and incorporates results from both individual races and season-long results.

Team Chevy’s Top-20 starters:
1st Kyle Larson, No. 5 Cincinnati Camaro ZL1 1LE
2nd Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Camaro ZL1 1LE
6th Kurt Busch, No. 1 Monster Energy Camaro ZL1 1LE
10th Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Camaro ZL1 1LE
12th Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Kroger/Maxwell House Camaro ZL1 1LE
13th Erik Jones, No. 43 Medallion Bank Camaro ZL1 1LE
14th Tyler Reddick, No. 8 Chevrolet Accessories Camaro ZL1 1LE
17th Justin Haley, No. 77 General Formulations/Mutoh Camaro ZL1 1LE
18th William Byron, No. 24 Axalta Camaro ZL1 1LE

BOWTIE BULLETS
· Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 13 victories in 24 NCS races thus far this season.
· Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 108 top-10 finishes and 2,524 laps led of 5,661 total this season.
· In addition to its 26 wins, Chevrolet has amassed 180 top-five and 373 top-10 finishes at Michigan International Speedway.
· Kyle Larson paces all drivers with 1,496 laps led.
· Austin Dillon is second among drivers with 99.79% of laps completed (5,649 of 5,661) and Tyler Reddick is third (99.43%) with 5,629.
· Reddick holds a 28-point lead over Richard Childress Racing teammate Dillon for the final Playoff berth.
· Chase Elliott leads active drivers with an average finish of 7.7 n 10 races at MIS.
· Kurt Busch is tied for most starts at MIS among active drivers with 40. He has three wins among 16 top-10 finishes.
· Five Team Chevy drivers have combined for 22 stage wins: Chase Elliott (Daytona RC); William Byron (Homestead, Pocono2, Road America); Tyler Reddick (Road America, Indianapolis Road Course x2); Kurt Busch (Nashville Superspeedway, Pocono1, Atlanta2); Kyle Larson (Las Vegas, Atlanta x2, Kansas, Dover x2, Charlotte x3, Sonoma x2, Nashville).

FOR THE FANS:
Fans can visit the Team Chevy Racing Display in the Fan Midway at Michigan International Speedway.
Fans can check out an assortment of Chevrolet vehicles including: 2021 Silverado 1500 Trailboss, 2021 Corvette Convertible 3LT, 2021 Camaro SS 3LT Convertible, 2021 Silverado 2500 4WD LTZ Crew, 2022 Trailblazer, Blazer Premier.
At the Chevrolet Display, fans can also view Chase Elliott’s No. 9 Camaro ZL1 1LE show car.

TEAM CHEVY QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSIONS AT THE DISPLAY:
Sunday, August 22
Ross Chastain: 11:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Alex Bowman: 11:55 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.

Chevrolet Display Hours of Operation:
Friday, August 20: 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 21: 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Sunday, August 22: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

TUNE IN
NBCSN will telecast the 200-lap NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at 3 p.m. ET Sunday, Aug. 22. Live coverage is also on the MRN and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. NBCSN will telecast the 125-lap NASCAR Xfinity Series New Holland 250 at 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday, Aug. 21. FS1 will telecast the 160-lap NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Toyota 200 presented by CK Power at 9 p.m. ET Friday, Aug. 20.

QUOTABLE QUOTES
KYLE LARSON, NO. 5 CINCINNATI CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 1st IN STANDINGS
LARSON ON HIS STRATEGY AT MICHIGAN:
“It’s a totally different package; aero, engine, all that compared to when I used to win there but Hendrick Motorsports has been strong there and we have been good on all the bigger ovals this year. The draft plays a big role there, so you have to be really patient when you are making moves. As long as we keep executing and being smart like we have been doing all year long, we should have ourselves in position to challenge for another win.”

CLIFF DANIELS, CREW CHIEF, NO. 5 CINCINNATI CAMARO ZL1 1LE
DANIELS ON CHALLENGES OF MICHIGAN BEING THE ONLY RACE ON A 2-MILE TRACK THIS SEASON:
“Massive challenges. Michigan is a tough place to know where to set the trim of your car for drag and downforce. A lot of the mile-and-a-half’s are more similar in that regard. At Michigan, you really have to have speed in your car. Of course, you have to have the right amount of handling to get through the corners, but the straightaways are long and the track is smooth. If you have handling on your side – which hopefully we do – then you must be able to go fast in a straight line.”

WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 AXALTA CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 4th IN STANDINGS
BYRON ON THE HIGH SPEEDS AT MICHIGAN:
“I think with the 550 horsepower package we run, the mid-corner section of the track feels more high speed than anything. Even though we’re going slower down the straightaways than we were a couple years ago, I feel like the mid-corner now feels almost sketchy. It’s fully on edge and you’re close to always chattering the tires. It’s a fast track that makes you feel like you’re always running on a fine line. It’s just a different sensation of speed with this package.”

BYRON ON THE IMPORTANCE OF WINNING AT MICHIGAN:
“Michigan is such an important racetrack, not only for teams but for manufacturers – Chevrolet, most importantly. It’s a fun race that’s all about bragging rights for them on who had the most power, the most downforce, and things like that. I feel like we are heading into this race with a really good shot to get it done for Chevy. We have really fast cars on the 1.5-mile and 2-mile tracks. So, I’m excited to see how things play out for us and hopefully we can be the ones to give the bragging rights to Chevy at the end of the day.”

RUDY FUGLE, CREW CHIEF, NO. 24 AXALTA CAMARO ZL1 1LE
FUGLE ON THE FINAL RACES BEFORE THE PLAYOFFS:
“Since the two-week break, we wanted to make sure we came back with high intensity. We obviously bring it every week, but we wanted to ensure that everyone understands that we want to treat this like a 14-week playoff. With the last two races we ran and the next two coming up, we want to make sure that we are executing at the highest level possible. It’s about the cars you bring to the track, the execution level and going through every detail. That is what we’re trying to hit on to make sure we are ready to go for the playoffs. We don’t want to wait until the playoffs start to be like, ‘Okay, it’s time to step it up.’ It’s a fight every week, so we’re trying to make sure that we’re bringing it at all times.”

CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 5th IN STANDINGS
ELLIOTT ON MAKING A PLAYOFF RUN THIS SEASON:
“We just have to peak at the right time. That was really what we did best last year. We just really peaked at the right time and kind of got hot for a stretch of races. It was perfect timing. Unfortunately, you can’t always draw that up. That’s not just something you can snap your fingers and make happen. It’s a lot of hard work, it’s a lot of effort and it comes from everyone at Hendrick Motorsports, everyone on the road, myself, our off-track help. Everything has to really be clicking at the right time. Our playoffs are 10 weeks, which is a long time. Just that stretch of races, it’s tough to be at your peak for 10 weeks. We just hope we can peak at the right time again, that’s key. We want to perform when it matters most.”

ELLIOTT ON THIS YEAR’S ‘DESI9N TO DRIVE’ PROGRAM:
“With September being Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, the Chase Elliott Foundation, NAPA AUTO PARTS and Hendrick Motorsports have decided to give the No. 9 Chevrolet an entirely new look for the Darlington race. To me, the main player is obviously NAPA and how they are allowing Children’s to be a part of it. To take ‘DESI9N TO DRIVE’, an event that was just shoe designs, and turn it into being on the car, on the suit, on the helmet. I think all of that is extremely special, so I am grateful for NAPA being open, willing and excited about it enough to partner up and make it happen.”

TYLER REDDICK, NO. 8 CHEVROLET ACCESSORIES CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 11th IN STANDINGS
THE NASCAR PLAYOFFS BATTLE IS REALLY HEATING UP. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS FOLLOWING INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY WITH TWO MORE RACES REMAINING IN THE REGULAR SEASON?
“It’s an interesting place to be, with myself and my teammate, Austin Dillon, fighting for points and in that cutline situation. Looking back on it, I think Indy was tough. If we could have both just agreed not to go after stage points, I think we both could have had really strong chances at top-10s and good finishes, and maybe even going for the win. With the way the race played out and seeing all of the carnage that took place, I think we would have had a different strategy going in if we would have known. It was nice to get the stage points. Those Playoff points will be good to have if we can survive the next two weeks.”

FAST, TWO-MILE TRACK AT MICHIGAN. YOUR THOUGHTS HEADING INTO THE RACE?
“I don’t know, honestly. I’ve been really focused on these road course races. Trying to get up to speed on what we’re going to have for a racing surface. The last time the sport did anything surface-wise to a track was at Nashville Superspeedway when we put the resin down, so I am curious to see if the track is getting left alone or if anything is going to be applied. The resin seemed to work really well when we raced at Nashville Superspeedway on that concrete oval.”

YOU’RE A FORMER WINNER AT MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY…
“Yeah, it was really fun the last time we ran a NASCAR Xfinity Series car there. We were able to find Victory Lane with RCR, so I’m excited to be heading back to Michigan. I’ll be in both the NASCAR Cup Series car and I’m racing a Xfinity Series car for Our Motorsports. I’m excited to get back to Michigan and get some laps in both cars. Running the Xfinity Series race will hopefully be an advantage for Sunday and provide a way for me to get some insight into the characteristics of this tire with whatever application they decide to put on the track. I’m just excited to get back to Michigan. I forget that I haven’t run a Xfinity Series car there since I won in 2019. It’s just a neat place. A lot of power, and fighting dirty air is wild. It should be a fun trip.”

ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 12th IN STANDINGS
“Definitely excited to go to Michigan. Last year we were fast, so this year I think we know our program for that style racetrack is really strong and think we could be really good. Excited to go there and hopefully contend for a win. It’s really cool to go to Ally’s backyard, Chevrolet’s backyard and really everyone’s backyards. Everyone has a little bit of added pressure to try to win there and hopefully we can get it done.”

GREG IVES, CREW CHIEF, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1 1LE
“I am really looking forward to getting to Michigan. Obviously, it’s my home state and one of the first tracks that I went to as a fan in the stands. That gave me the passion for wanting to do this every day. We are looking to continue our great runs on 550 tracks this weekend. Ally’s presence there and Chevrolet’s, having success at Michigan is super important for us on Sunday.”

“There is never a bad time to have three wins in the hopper. The big thing is that you want to cap off these races at Michigan and Daytona with momentum. After Watkins Glen we were down a little bit, but I think we are getting back to where we need to be. We need that momentum to go into the start of the playoffs. That is our focus right now. We don’t want to plan to far ahead of us, because you have to take each race and keep building on it.”

AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 BREZTRI CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 13th IN STANDINGS
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY?
“We had a strong Chevy at Michigan International Speedway last year, and I expect the same this year. I’m really looking forward to the race. Michigan is a place we’ve run well at in the past, and it’s a place we’ve circled to try and win and lock ourselves into the NASCAR Playoffs.”

FANS HAVEN’T BEEN ABLE TO SEE A RACE AT MICHIGAN IN PERSON IN TWO YEARS. TALK ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE OF RACING THERE AND WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO?
“Michigan has been a fun race for us on the No. 3 team the last couple of years, so we always circle it. We are really focused on this one and the points situation we’re in, we like going to places where we’ve had success in the past. Everybody at RCR has put a lot of focus on our car for that weekend, knowing it’s a good place for us. We’d like to go there and show out for our partners at Dow and Chevrolet since they are based in Michigan. Chevrolet is in Detroit and Dow is based out of Midland, so it’s always good to put on a show for everyone that helps us get to the track each and every weekend. We’re also looking forward to spending time with our friends at AstraZeneca since this is a big race for BREZTRI AEROSPHERE® (budesonide, glycopyrrolate, and formoterol fumarate) Inhalation Aerosol.

YOU’VE BEEN HITTING THE GYM PRETTY HARD. WHAT DOES THAT DO FOR YOUR MENTALITY IN A HIGH-PRESSURE SITUATION?
“Hopefully, in any situation in the car, you feel good. You don’t want to have a point where you don’t feel strong enough to be the same driver every lap. Anytime you can put yourself in a better situation with your heart rate and everything, health-wise, I think it’s better. You are more clear, mentally. I’ve been back at the gym with our trainer and it’s a little more based on what I do in the car and staying more mobile and keeping my body right, so I’m stretched out and feel good when I get in the race car. Healthy is a good thing.”

DANIEL SUAREZ, NO. 99 COMMSCOPE CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 24th IN STANDINGS
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON GOING TO THE PITBULL CONCERT AND THE MICHIGAN RACE IN THE SAME WEEKEND?
“I think this is going to be very, very cool especially since we can do it as part of our race weekend. It’s not going to be just a concert; it’s going to be everything around it and the race at Michigan. I’m really
looking forward to seeing him do his thing.

HAVE YOU ENJOYED GETTING TO KNOW PITBULL THIS YEAR?
“It’s been a lot of fun. I was very fortunate to meet him in the past, but I didn’t get to know him to this level as I do now. He is a role model, man. He is the perfect example of somebody who works very, very hard and is successful. He came from nothing to something great. I really admire the way he represents himself.”

DESCRIBE WHAT IT TAKES FOR SUCCESS AT MICHIGAN?
“Michigan is the kind of racetrack where you have to have a lot of straightaway speed and try to be as good as possible in the corners. You have to have a good downforce car in combination with drag to be able to go fast in the straightaways.”

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MICHIGAN MEMORY?
“Michigan is where I got my first Xfinity win, so it’s special to me. You don’t forget moments like that.”

ERIK JONES, NO. 43 MEDALLION BANK CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 25th IN STANDINGS
THOUGHTS HEADING INTO YOUR HOMETOWN TRACK OF MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY?
“I always get pumped up to go to Michigan (International Speedway). For me, growing up about an hour away from there, the fan support I have there is unmatched. Not only that, but getting to go home and see friends and family, spend the week up there, and getting to do some cool stuff. There is a lot of neat events going on during that week in Flint and the surrounding areas with the Back to The Bricks and the Woodward Dream Cruise in Detroit. I have a lot of events going on and for me, having all that happening and getting to be a part of some of it is usually pretty cool.”

Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series Statistics

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

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

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

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

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

2021 STATISTICS:
Wins: 13
Poles: 5
Laps Led: 2,524
Top-five finishes: 49
Top-10 finishes: 108

CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:
Total Chevrolet race wins: 808 (1949 to date)
Poles won to date: 722
Laps led to date: 239,229
Top-five finishes to date: 4,114
Top-10 finishes to date: 8,510
Stage wins: 22 – Chase Elliott (Daytona RC), William Byron (Homestead, Pocono 2, Road America), Kyle Larson (Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Atlanta x2, Kansas, Dover x2, Charlotte x3, Sonoma x2, Nashville), Kurt Busch (Nashville, Pocono 1, Atlanta 2), Tyler Reddick (Road America, Indy RC x2)

Total NASCAR Cup wins by corporation, 1949 to date

General Motors: 1,142 Chevrolet: 808 Pontiac: 154 Oldsmobile: 115 Buick: 65 Ford: 809 Ford: 709 Mercury: 96 Lincoln: 4 Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467 Dodge: 217 Plymouth: 191 Chrysler: 59 Toyota: 158

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

RCR Event Preview – Michigan International Speedway

By
Official Release
-

Richard Childress Racing at Michigan International Speedway… In 177 NASCAR Cup Series starts at the two-mile speedway, Richard Childress Racing has recorded three wins with drivers Dale Earnhardt (1987 & 1990) and Kevin Harvick (2010), 25 top-five and 59 top-10 finishes.

In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, the Welcome, N.C. organization is the defending race winner with Tyler Reddick (2019), while also capturing three additional victories with Kevin Harvick (2003), Paul Menard (2014), and Austin Dillon (2018), 13 top-five and 28 top-10 results in a total of 49 starts.

Catch the Action… The NASCAR Xfinity Series’ Michigan 250 at Michigan International Speedway will be televised live Saturday, August 21, beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN and will be broadcast live on the Motor Radio Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

The NASCAR Cup Series’ Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway will be televised live Sunday, August 22, beginning at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN and will be broadcast live on the Motor Radio Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Austin Dillon and the No. 3 BREZTRI AEROSPHERE® (budesonide, glycopyrrolate, and formoterol fumarate) Inhalation Aerosol Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE at Michigan International Speedway… In 17 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Michigan International Speedway, Dillon boasts two top-five and five top-10 finishes. He is a former winner at the track in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

BREZTRI AEROSPHERE™ (budesonide, glycopyrrolate, and formoterol fumarate) Sponsors the No. 3 at Atlanta… BREZTRI is an AstraZeneca product and the sponsor of No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE at Michigan International Speedway with Austin Dillon. You can learn more at breztri.com. AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide.

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:
What are your thoughts on Michigan International Speedway?
“We had a strong Chevy at Michigan International Speedway last year, and I expect the same this year. I’m really looking forward to the race. Michigan is a place we’ve run well at in the past, and it’s a place we’ve circled to try and win and lock ourselves into the NASCAR Playoffs.

Fans haven’t been able to see a race at Michigan in person in two years. Talk about the experience of racing there and what you are looking forward to?
“Michigan has been a fun race for us on the No. 3 team the last couple of years, so we always circle it. We are really focused on this one and the points situation we’re in, we like going to places where we’ve had success in the past. Everybody at RCR has put a lot of focus on our car for that weekend, knowing it’s a good place for us. We’d like to go there and show out for our partners at Dow and Chevrolet since they are based in Michigan. Chevrolet is in Detroit and Dow is based out of Midland, so it’s always good to put on a show for everyone that helps us get to the track each and every weekend. We’re also looking forward to spending time with our friends at AstraZeneca since this is a big race for BREZTRI AEROSPHERE® (budesonide, glycopyrrolate, and formoterol fumarate) Inhalation Aerosol.”

You’ve been hitting the gym pretty hard. What does that do for your mentality in a high-pressure situation?
“Hopefully, in any situation in the car, you feel good. You don’t want to have a point where you don’t feel strong enough to be the same driver every lap. Anytime you can put yourself in a better situation with your heart rate and everything, health-wise, I think it’s better. You are more clear, mentally. I’ve been back at the gym with our trainer and it’s a little more based on what I do in the car and staying more mobile and keeping my body right, so I’m stretched out and feel good when I get in the race car. Healthy is a good thing.”

Tyler Reddick and the No. 8 Chevy Accessories Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE at Michigan International Speedway… In two previous NASCAR Cup Series starts at Michigan International Speedway, Reddick’s best finish is 18th in August 2020. The two-time NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion is a former winner at Michigan in the Xfinity Series (2019). He has also made a pair of NASCAR Truck Series starts at the track.

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

TYLER REDDICK QUOTES:
The NASCAR Playoffs battle is really heating up. What are your thoughts following Indianapolis Motor Speedway with two more races remaining in the regular season?
“It’s an interesting place to be, with myself and my teammate, Austin Dillon, fighting for points and in that cutline situation. Looking back on it, I think Indy was tough. If we could have both just agreed not to go after stage points, I think we both could have had really strong chances at top-10s and good finishes, and maybe even going for the win. With the way the race played out and seeing all of the carnage that took place, I think we would have had a different strategy going in if we would have known. It was nice to get the stage points. Those Playoff points will be good to have if we can survive the next two weeks.”

Fast, two-mile track at Michigan. Your thoughts heading into the race?
“I don’t know, honestly. I’ve been really focused on these road course races. Trying to get up to speed on what we’re going to have for a racing surface. The last time the sport did anything surface-wise to a track was at Nashville Superspeedway when we put the resin down, so I am curious to see if the track is getting left alone or if anything is going to be applied. The resin seemed to work really well when we raced at Nashville Superspeedway on that concrete oval.”

You’re a former winner at Michigan International Speedway…
“Yeah, it was really fun the last time we ran a NASCAR Xfinity Series car there. We were able to find Victory Lane with RCR, so I’m excited to be heading back to Michigan. I’ll be in both the NASCAR Cup Series car and I’m racing an Xfinity Series car for Our Motorsports. I’m excited to get back to Michigan and get some laps in both cars. Running the Xfinity Series race will hopefully be an advantage for Sunday and provide a way for me to get some insight into the characteristics of this tire with whatever application they decide to put on the track. I’m just excited to get back to Michigan. I forget that I haven’t run a Xfinity Series car there since I won in 2019. It’s just a neat place. A lot of power, and fighting dirty air is wild. It should be a fun trip.”

Myatt Snider and the No. 2 Superior Essex Chevrolet Camaro at Michigan International Speedway… While Snider will make his first career NASCAR Xfinity Series start at Michigan International Speedway this Saturday, the 26-year-old driver has competed in one NASCAR Truck Series and two ARCA Menards Series events at the Irish Hills track.

About Superior Essex… Superior Essex is the parent brand of Essex Furukawa Magnet Wire, Superior Essex Communications, and Essex Brownell. It has over 3,000 employees in 11 countries, on three continents. Superior Essex is the leading, global provider of magnet wire and is on the forefront of communications fiber application as well as Power over Ethernet (PoE) technology. It is instrumental in creating disruptive technological advancements in the electrification of the automotive, energy, and industrial sectors. Superior Essex is committed to pioneering smart building technology while also setting the pace on sustainability. Superior Essex is Everywhere You Live and Work®. Additional information is available at superioressex.com.

MYATT SNIDER QUOTE:
In the last half dozen races, you have captured three top-10 finishes. What does that say about you and your team right now?
“We absolutely are starting to gain momentum right now. I think that’s what the Olympic break helped me realize – that I needed to build some momentum and make sure we are establishing a good order of things going into the playoffs. I think we did that this past weekend in Indianapolis, while showcasing the speed our No. 2 team has on road courses. I’m really proud of Andy Street and everyone at Richard Childress Racing for bringing great Chevrolet Camaros to the track each week. We have been jiving as a team, I’ve been more focused, and have also been working with Tyler Reddick and Austin Dillon to help me learn things I may not know. Those relationships have been invaluable to my progression as a driver and I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of our Superior Essex Chevrolet this Saturday in Michigan.”

Jason Kitzmiller hunts first top-10 of 2021 in Michigan International Speedway return

By
Official Release
-

BROOKLYN, Mich: After nearly a two-month break in ARCA Menards Series competition, sophomore driver Jason Kitzmiller and CR7 Motorsports return to the tour set to compete in Friday evening’s Henry Ford Health System 200.

In his most recent outing at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, Kitzmiller contended for a top-10 finish in the General Tire #AnyWhereIsPossible 200, but a Lap 59 crash while running inside the top-10 demolished their hopes and instead left the team with a disappointing 17th place finish.

Regrouped, refreshed and energized, the family-owned CR7 Motorsports managed by former ARCA driver Codie Rohrbaugh treks to the Irish Hills of Michigan International Speedway eager to deliver their first top-10 finish of the season.

Last year at Michigan, Kitzmiller started the race 16th and methodically marched his way forward and climbed into the top-10 late in the event to finish eighth, his career-best finish in the series.

This weekend, Kitzmiller is hopeful for a duplicate performance or better and capture his first top-10 of the 2021 ARCA Menards Series season.

“I’m glad to be back this weekend at Michigan,” said Kitzmiller. “I left Pocono bummed about our finish but extremely thankful and encouraged by our performance. It was one of the most competitive ARCA races of my career.

“The CR7 Motorsports team and my crew chief Todd Myers brought me a great car and we found ourselves hunting a top-five when it got a little too crowded on the restart and we just got the rough end of it. Thankfully, we were able to get the car repaired and we’re focused on finishing what we started on Friday night.”

Michigan is touted as one of the fastest tracks on the ARCA Menards Series tour. A statement that doesn’t bother the Petersburg, WV native.

“I enjoy the fast speeds of Michigan, especially since there is a lot of room to race,” added Kitzmiller. “That helped with my comfort level last year and prepares for even more for this weekend. It’s a relatively easy track to drive.

“You can be aggressive as a driver and have room for recovery. That is a benefit for not only practice but the race too. We have just a half-hour of practice on Friday before the race. It’s going to be crucial for us to get out there and utilize as much of that half-hour as possible.

“We’ll evaluate ourselves after practice, make some changes to put us in a good and comfortable spot for the first break and then charge that second half – much like we did last year and hope it all works out.”

Additionally, Kitzmiller will also continue to adorn a decal remembering CR7 Motorsports general manager Mark Huff who passed away in February after a brief illness. Huff was responsible for helping revive the ARCA Menards Series team in 2020.

“I will always Mark for his carrying of people on this CR7 Motorsports team and his enormous work ethic. He did a lot for the team and is irreplaceable,” remarked Kitzmiller. “We will race to win in his honor on Friday night.”

Kitzmiller and CR7 Motorsports will run a partial ARCA schedule in 2021 with a firmer schedule planned for next season.

Marketing partnership(s) opportunities are available for the No. 97 A.L.L. Construction Chevrolet and No. 9 Grant County Mulch Chevrolet for the 2021 ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series seasons and beyond. Interested inquiries are encouraged to contact at tonya@gcmulch.com or 304.257.8783.

The Henry Ford Health System 200 (100 laps | 200 miles) is the 13th of 20 races on the 2021 ARCA Menards Series schedule. A half-hour group practice is set from 4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. The event will be televised live on MAVTV and aired on the Motor Racing Network (MRN Radio) beginning at 6:00 p.m. (MRN). ARCARacing.com will also stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire weekend festivities. All times are local (ET).

Corey Lajoie Sidelined for Firekeepers Casino 400, Josh Berry to Fill in at MIS

By
Official Release
-

CONCORD, N.C. (August 19, 2021) – Due to COVID-19 protocols, Corey LaJoie, driver of the No. 7 NationsGuard Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE will be unavailable to participate in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) Firekeepers Casino 400 and will not travel to Michigan International Speedway.

NASCAR Xfinity Series race winner Josh Berry will handle the driving chores in LaJoie’s absence for Spire Motorsports this weekend.

The Firekeepers Casino 400 from Michigan International Speedway will be televised live on NBCSN Sunday, August 22 beginning at 3 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The 25th of 36 races on the 2021 NCS schedule will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

About Spire Motorsports …
Spire Motorsports was established in 2018 and is co-owned by longtime NASCAR industry executives Jeff Dickerson and Thaddeus “T.J.” Puchyr. Spire Motorsports earned an upset victory for the ages in its first full season when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 7, 2019. The team fields the Nos. 7 and 77 Chevrolet Camaros in 2021 with drivers Corey LaJoie and Justin Haley.

Almirola, Stenhouse Jr., Wallace, Suarez and Blickensderfer Set to Join Q&A Sessions at Daytona Int’l Speedway’s UNOH Fanzone Prior to the Coke Zero Sugar 400, Aug. 28

By
Official Release
-
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 11: Aric Almirola, driver of the #10 Smithfield Ford, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Bluegreen Vacations Duel #2 at Daytona International Speedway on February 11, 2021 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Pre-Race Fan Q&A as Part of the UNOH Fanzone Experience That is a Hit With Fans of All Ages

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (August 17, 2021) – Two former Coke Zero Sugar 400 Champions, a driver who pilots a race car co-owned by an NBA legend and another who drives for a team co-owned by a Grammy Award-winning musical artist, along with a two-time DAYTONA 500 Champion crew chief, will highlight the lineup of Daytona International Speedway’s UNOH Fanzone Question & Answer Sessions prior to the start of this year’s Coke Zero Sugar 400.

As part of Welcome Back Weekend for fans, the UNOH Fanzone Question & Answer Sessions are back prior to the Coke Zero Sugar 400, the last chance for teams to make the 2021,16-driver NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, on Saturday, August 28.

Tampa native Aric Almirola, the 2014 Coke Zero Sugar 400 Champion, heads the list as he has qualified for the NASCAR playoffs. He will be joined by 2017 Coke Zero Sugar 400 Champion, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Bubba Wallace and Daniel Suarez (all three need a victory to secure their spot in the championship run), as well as veteran crew chief Drew Blickensderfer, who helped propel Michael McDowell to victory in the 2021 DAYTONA 500, and a spot in the 10-race playoff stretch).

Each driver is set to interact with fans just hours before the drop of the green flag to the Coke Zero Sugar 400, the premier series regular season finale.

Anyone who has access to the UNOH Fanzone can ask these drivers their questions and get a personal experience with the potential victor of the 2021 Coke Zero Sugar 400. Saturday admission, where fans will also have access to the pe-race concert performed by multi-platinum country music star Chris Lane, is $60 for adults 13 years and older and FREE for kids 12 and under, who are accompanied by a paid adult. As part of the UNOH Fanzone/Pre-Race Access Experience, fans will also get to see driver introductions, stand on the famed high banks, sign the start/finish line, see teams in their garage bays, visit Ruoff Mortgage Victory Lane and take photos with the Coke Zero Sugar 400 trophy, and much more.

Below gives more detail on the group of drivers scheduled to be a part of the UNOH Fanzone on Saturday, Aug. 28:

  • Almirola, driver of the No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford, collected his first career NASCAR Cup Series victory in the 2014 Coke Zero Sugar 400. Almirola is in the playoff hunt by virtue of his victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Earlier this year in preparation for the DAYTONA 500, he won one of the Bluegreen Vacations Duel qualifying races which landed him the third starting position for the DAYTONA 500. He is also a Daytona NASCAR Xfinity Series victor thanks to his win at the 2016 Wawa 250 Powered by Coca-Cola.
  • Stenhouse Jr., driver of the No. 47 JTG Daugherty Racing Chevy, had his second career NASCAR Cup Series victory at the 2017 Coke Zero Sugar 400, with his first victory being at Talladega Superspeedway earlier that season. Stenhouse Jr., who won the pole position for the 2020 DAYTONA 500, is a two-time NASCAR Xfinity Series champion, winning back-to-back titles in 2011 and 2012. Currently, he needs to win one of the final two races in the regular season to qualify for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
  • Wallace, driver of the No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota, is in his first season of the team co-owned by NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan and NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin. He made his full-time Cup Series debut by placing runner-up in the 2018 DAYTONA 500 while driving for Richard Petty Motorsports. A winner in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Wallace is searching for his initial triumph in NASCAR’s premier series. He, too, needs a win in the final two regular season races to make the Playoffs.
  • Suarez, driver of the No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Team Chevy, is in his first season as part of the team co-owned by Justin Marks and Grammy Award-winning artist Armando Christian “Pitbull” Pérez. Suarez, the 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion and the 2015 NASCAR Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year, also needs a victory in the final two regular season races to have a shot at the Cup Series title.
  • Blickensderfer, crew chief of the No. 34 Front row Motorsports Ford, is in his third year as the team leader for driver McDowell. Unbelievably, three of Blickensderfer’s four career wins as a crew chief have come at Daytona. In addition to his DAYTONA 500 victory earlier this year, Blickensderfer also headed Matt Kenseth’s team that captured the 2009 DAYTONA 500, as well as David Ragan’s 2011 Coke Zero Sugar 400.
  • Driver availability for the DIS Pre-Race Fan Question & Answer session is subject to change and without notice. Neither NASCAR nor any of its affiliates are responsible for this event

For UNOH Fanzone admission the day before, for the Xfinity Series Wawa 250, the cost for adults 13 years and older is $25, and kids 12 and under, once again, have FREE admission if they are accompanied by a paid adult. Scheduled for Friday’s Fan Q&A include Noah Gragson, Justin Haley, AJ Allmendinger and Justin Allgaier. If fans would like to visit the UNOH Fanzone before both the Coke Zero Sugar 400 and the Wawa 250 Powered by Coca-Cola (Friday, Aug. 27), they have the option of the Two-Day Pass, where access to the pre-race events for both days will be only $75.

Tickets for the Coke Zero Sugar 400 and the Wawa 250 Powered by Coca-Cola can be purchased online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 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.

CHEVY NCS AT MICHIGAN: Ross Chastain Teleconference Transcript

By
Official Release
-

NASCAR CUP SERIES
FIREKEEPERS CASINO 400
MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
AUGUST 19, 2021

ROSS CHASTAIN, NO. 42 MOOSE FRATERNITY CAMARO ZL1 1LE, Teleconference Transcript Highlights:

LOOKING AHEAD TO DAYTONA, HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE DESPERATION OF WANTING TO MAKE IT INTO THE PLAYOFFS VERSUS NOT WANTING TO CAUSE SOMETHING CRAZY THERE?
“That’s the biggest thing. I don’t want to cause a big wreck. I’ve done that. I’m trying to learn from it. I used to get really freaked out and worried and stressed about superspeedway races, but I’ve just realized over my ten years in the sport; and really, I learned it from Johnny Sauter, he said one day something that resonated with me like we’re all going to crash. We’re all going to get backwards in the grass at 200 mph at some point. You make it. Go home. So, yeah. No desperation. I just want to win and compete in this series. So whatever happens there, happens.”

DO YOU TAKE ANYTHING FROM THE WAY THE XFINITY RACE ENDED WITH YOUR TEAMMATES AS FAR AS THE LEARNING PROCESS AND WHAT TO DO AT THE END OF THOSE RACES?
“Yeah, for sure. I still hate that I made that move on the last lap and I just could have done so much better there and just been a better person about it. And I wasn’t. And I didn’t do that. So yeah, I learned from that, I think.”

SUPERSPEEDWAY RACES ARE CRAZY ANYWAY. BUT WHEN YOU’VE GOT THIS WITH A DOZEN OR SO GUYS AND THE ONLY WAY THEY CAN GET IN IS TO WIN. AND THE LOCKED-IN GUYS ARE LIKELY GOING TO BE LOOKING TO BUILD UP SOME PLAYOFF POINTS. IT PUTS A LOT OF DIFFERENT AGENDAS ON THE TABLE AT ONCE. WITH ALL THAT, HOW CRAZY DO YOU EXPECT IT TO BE?
“I have not been a part of a boring Superspeedway race in my career. Whether it’s February or Spring Talladega or Fall Talladega, I don’t see there being a difference. It’s going to come down to a handful of cars that still have all their fenders and body panels intact. And from there, you race it out. Just making it to that is probably the biggest thing. The same guys cycle up there. And the same guys restart the green-white-checkered in the front three rows four out of five times. And so, that’s where I’m just trying to watch and learn from those guys. I haven’t been a part of a boring one yet and I don’t expect this Daytona to be any different.”

WHEN YOU ARE WATCHING THOSE GUYS AND LOOKING BACK, IS THERE ANY COMMON THREAD THAT JUMPS OUT AT YOU BESIDES LUCK? IS THERE SOMETHING THEY DO TO GET UP THERE ALL THE TIME?
“It’s not luck. I used to think it was, but it’s not. They put themselves in the best position and the right position to be up there. If it is luck, they make their own luck. And they make the luck so they can be up there at the end.”

THERE IS A LOT OF MEDIA ATTENTION AROUND YOUR TRACKHOUSE ANNOUNCEMENT, WHICH WILL BE WITH TEAM CHEVY. JUST ABOUT ALL OF YOUR MAJOR SUCCESS HAS BEEN WITH CHEVROLET. TALK ABOUT THE SPEED CHEVY HAS HAD THIS SEASON AND MAYBE HOW THAT WILL BENEFIT YOU LEADING INTO THE PLAYOFFS.
“Yeah, it’s a good time to strap on a Bowtie and I’m proud and happy, just genuinely, that my success has come with them like you said. And it wasn’t on purpose, I’ll be honest. It was just the way that the different teams I’ve driven for worked out. But once that success started happening, then Chevrolet, GM, Pratt & Miller, that’s when the resources started coming my way to help me be the best race car driver I can be. I was not in a pipeline. I was not in a development program or anything. And so, to get there and then get their attention for them to help me, that’s kind of made our relationship special I think, where it wasn’t pre-planned. And now, they knew me before and I knew them before and now we work together. Yeah, it’s a good time to drive a Chevy in the Cup series. We’ve had incredible power this year and I’m not saying every week we have the most, but there are not many that beat us, and you see it across the board. All that stuff goes in cycles though, so I know it’s going to come back around and we’re going to be in a Chevy for the foreseeable future and I’ve built a lot of friendships and relationships now and just how can I help? How can I help the Bowtie? How can I help Chevrolet get more out of this than just race cars, right? What can we do during the week and what can we do off the track? I want to be the best race car driver I can be, but there’s just so many opportunities. I’m still trying to figure out kind of my role in all that.”

IT WAS NOT THE FINISH YOU WANTED AT INDIANAPOLIS, BUT IT WAS ENTERTAINING. IN THE END, THE CURB CHAOS HAPPENED. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND THE GENERAL MOOD FROM THE GARAGE AFTER THE RACE AND THOSE FINAL FEW LAPS?
“I think aside from the curb breaking and coming apart, everything was fine. The road course, you’ve got strategy, you’ve got guys cycling up, you’ve got guys pitting for flat tires because they run into each other. It’s normal. It’s the same curb we’ve ran there for four or five years. Like nobody knew that thing was going to break. We hit it in the Xfinity cars all weekend last year and it was fine. We hit it at practice and Xfinity ran on it. It just broke. Something broke. You don’t know it’s going to break until it breaks. I think there are opportunities to run other parts of the track right there, or just let us run. The curbing didn’t slow us down. I heard them say they couldn’t pull out the other curb behind the one they removed because they didn’t want us just going flat-out through there when we already are. They know that. They see our data. And so, just take that out and let us have more opportunity for double file down into (Turn) 7. Hindsight is perfect vision. But it’s a fine track. It’s got all the right qualities. And so yeah, I do think they adapted pretty well. It’s got to be a pretty tough decision to say we’re going to remove this whole piece of curbing and track that we’ve had here for five years because we can’t get it to stay together. Like everybody had to learn on the fly. Little did I know I had already destroyed my car at that point. I thought I could keep going, but ultimately couldn’t.”

FOR MICHIGAN, HOW DO YOU THINK THE RESIN WILL WORK ON THE 2-MILE ASPHALT TRACK? DO YOU EXPECT A WIDER GROOVE TO WORK WITH?
“I hope so. But I don’t know. I’ve never raced on resin on asphalt. And definitely not resin on PJ1 on asphalt, which I guess PJ1 is the former the way I understand it. I don’t truly grasp what the concoctions are. But it sounds like everywhere the PJ1 was last year, which I did not get to run. We’ll just figure it out, right? We’ll just go up there and kind of poke at it and feel it, whatever we have to in dirty air, and if it’s got grip, you’ll see a lot of us up there. If it doesn’t have grip, you’ll see us all below it. We’ll only take what we can take out of it. It does seem to be more forgiving than PJ1 where that other substance has to be like activated and warmed to run it. They want the best race. They want to give us options. And I think we’ve got a shot. I don’t think the rain up there this week is helping their track prep stuff, but they’re going to do what they can. They don’t want to make it too slick or too gripped-up. They’re just trying to find a happy medium. And if they get it in the box where we can race in it, then we’ll have a lot more options for racing.”

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

Race Preview: Bommarito Automotive Group 500

By
Official Release
-

INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021) – Since opening in 1997, World Wide Technology Raceway has been a racetrack of INDYCAR’s elite, with all 12 races won by drivers who had either won a series championship (or soon would) or an Indianapolis 500.

Whether that trend continues Saturday night is to be determined, but it is a fact too significant to discount when sizing up the 24-car field.

Josef Newgarden (No. 2 Sonsio Team Penske Chevrolet) and Scott Dixon (No. 9 PNC Bank Grow Up Great Honda of Chip Ganassi Racing) not only have combined to win the past four series championships, they were the race winners in last year’s doubleheader at this 1.25-mile track in Madison, Illinois. Newgarden also won the 2017 race, making him the track’s winningest INDYCAR driver.

Thus, the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline (8 p.m. ET, NBCSN and the INDYCAR Radio Network) sets up well for the two veterans as they try to claw their way back into title contention. With four races remaining, Dixon is third in the standings, 34 points behind series leader and Ganassi teammate Alex Palou (No. 10 The American Legion Honda). Newgarden occupies the position behind Dixon, 55 points out of the lead.

With the right set of circumstances, Palou is susceptible to losing as many as 48 points to another driver in this race. Something similar nearly happened in last week’s Big Machine Spiked Coolers Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course when mechanical failure caused Palou to finish 27th of the 28 car-and-driver combinations. In other words, another shakeup is possible this weekend.

Second-place Pato O’Ward (No. 5 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet) enters this event 21 points out of the lead. His fifth-place finish at IMS, coupled with Palou’s trouble, cut 27 points out of his deficit and intensified the championship pursuit. Marcus Ericsson’s ninth-place finish in the No. 8 Huski Chocolate Honda of Chip Ganassi Racing drew him to within 62 points of the lead, increasing the chances of five drivers being in this title showdown.

Saturday’s race is the last oval event and final night race of the season. The final three races – Sept. 12 at Portland International Raceway, Sept. 19 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and Sept. 26 on the streets of Long Beach, California – will be staged on permanent road courses or temporary street circuits.

Grosjean Making Oval-Track Debut

Despite all the success of veteran drivers at this venue, an intriguing subplot of this event is Romain Grosjean’s oval-track debut.

The 10-year veteran of Formula One’s road racing series entered his first INDYCAR season wanting to take a wait-and-see approach to the ovals. Initially, he decided to sit them out, but with World Wide Technology Raceway being a short track and Grosjean now familiar with INDYCAR’s safety elements, he decided to give oval racing a go. He said he felt comfortable during last month’s test at the track.

“I want to see how it’s going,” Grosjean said of oval racing. “Everyone (in INDYCAR) seems to be enjoying ovals. I still prefer road courses (because) I like braking late. But I’m looking forward to it and seeing what we can get out of it.”

Grosjean drives the No. 51 Nurtec ODT Honda of Dale Coyne Racing with RWR, which is basically the same entry Santino Ferrucci piloted in his INDYCAR oval-track debut in 2019. Ferrucci posted top-10 finishes in three of his four oval races that season, including a fourth-place finish at Gateway. Last year, Palou showed well with this organization in the first four short-oval races of his career, posting an average finish of 13.0 at this track and Iowa Speedway.

Point being, team owner Dale Coyne has had success bringing along oval-track newcomers. Grosjean hopes to be the latest.

“There is not much room for mistake, and that’s something you need to keep in mind rather than just trying to go (all out) straight away,” Grosjean said.

A Power-ful Run Ahead?

Like Newgarden and Dixon, Will Power (No. 12 Verizon 5G Team Penske Chevrolet) and Takuma Sato (No. 30 Panasonic/Mi-Jack Honda of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing) are former INDYCAR race winners at World Wide Technology Raceway.

Power is one to watch this weekend as he regained his mojo last weekend at IMS, earning his first victory of the season to extend his streak of winning seasons to 15 (second only to Dixon’s record 17). The 40th victory of his INDYCAR career moved Power ahead of Al Unser for sole possession of fifth place on the sport’s all-time chart. Power is just two race wins from matching Michael Andretti for fourth place.

Power not only has won at Gateway, he also will be INDYCAR’s defending champion at Portland, and he is a two-time Long Beach winner. In terms of title hopes, Power is too far in arrears – 137 points in the ninth position – to capture his second championship, but if he is indeed back in the groove, he could be an obstacle for those still in title pursuit.

Know this about Power: He usually gets hot late in the season. He has won at least one of the final four races in each of the past five seasons and in seven of the past eight. In 2019, he won two of the final four, and in 2013 he won three of the final five.

“Winning is absolutely what makes me happy,” he said. “I’m very moody when I haven’t won for a while. Just ask my wife.”

O’Ward Ready To Pounce

O’Ward wasn’t eager to celebrate a fifth-place finish at IMS because Palou was ahead of him at the time of his mechanical trouble.

But O’Ward didn’t apologize for slicing his deficit by more than half because bad luck befalls every competitor at some point.

“It was very unfortunate for (Palou), but he hasn’t had bad luck at any point in the season – we have,” O’Ward said. “In racing, it doesn’t exist to have (good) luck in every single race. That doesn’t exist.”

O’Ward likes how the rest of the schedule shapes up for him. He finished third and second, respectively, in the two World Wide Technology Raceway events last year, and he swept the Indy Lights doubleheader in 2018 at Portland. Also, he has raced at Long Beach in INDYCAR while Palou has not.

Palou finished 12th and 15th last year at Gateway. He also never has raced in Portland or Laguna Seca, although he has tested at each.

“From now on, we don’t go worse than fifth,” O’Ward said. “We just continue to go better.”

Sato’s Kind of Place

Sato has not had as strong of a season as last year, but World Wide Technology Raceway has been good to him in the past.

In addition to winning the 2019 race, Sato was a factor in both races last year – finishing second in Race 1 by .1404 of a second, and winning the pole and leading a race-high 66 laps in Race 2 before finishing ninth.

If Sato can win one of the season’s final four races, he will become one of only four drivers to have won a race in each of the past five seasons. Dixon, Newgarden and Power already have accomplished that.

Odds and Ends

  • Ericsson finished ninth on the IMS road course and continues to be the driver with the most points scored since the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. He has earned 215 points in that six-race span, which is 32 more than the 183 O’Ward has collected. Newgarden has scored 176, Dixon 169 and Palou 167.
  • Power has won a pair of NTT P1 Award poles at World Wide Technology Raceway, which could bode well for scoring his first pole of the season. Power has won at least one pole in each of the past 12 seasons and is five poles behind Mario Andretti’s record 67.
  • Tony Kanaan, the 2004 INDYCAR champion and 2013 Indianapolis 500 winner, returns to action this weekend, driving the No. 48 Carvana Honda that Jimmie Johnson has piloted on the road courses and street circuits. This will be Kanaan’s fourth race of the season. He finished second in the 2003 race at this track.
  • Ed Carpenter also will make his final start of the season, driving the No. 20 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet that Conor Daly has driven on road courses and street circuits. Daly moves to the No. 59 Carlin Chevrolet that Max Chilton drives most of the season.
  • This is Daly’s second-favorite track (behind Indianapolis Motor Speedway). He has started four INDYCAR races at WWTR with two different teams (AJ Foyt Racing and Carlin). Despite having an average starting position of 15.0, he has finished fifth, sixth, 10th and eighth, respectively.
  • The Road to Indy program will join the NTT INDYCAR SERIES at this event, with Indy Lights and Indy Pro 2000 action Friday and a single Indy Lights race on Saturday. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ on-track activity begins with a 90-minute practice Saturday at 1:15 p.m. (ET) and NTT P1 Award qualifying at 5 p.m. ET (both sessions live exclusively on Peacock Premium, NBC Sports’ streaming service). The 260-lap Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline will be live on NBCSN at 8 p.m., with a green flag estimated at 8:45 p.m.

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

By
Official Release
-

CHEVROLET AT BRAINERD

What: Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals
When: Friday, Aug. 20-Sunday, Aug. 22
Where: Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minnesota
TV: FOX will telecast eliminations live at 3 p.m. ET Sunday, Aug. 22

Team Chevy seeking to build on winning weekend
John Force Racing hitting its stride, aims for 50th win with Chevrolet

DETROIT (Aug. 19, 2021) – John Force downplayed the move to the top of the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Funny Car standings following his victory Aug. 15 in Topeka, Kansas.

The 16-time Funny Car champion holds the points lead heading to Brainerd International Raceway this weekend for the first time since Oct. 5, 2014 – 135 races ago. Still, says Force, it’s too early in the season to assign anything of significance to the move.

“That will jump around; it is what it is,” the driver of the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS said after posting his third victory of the season and 154th of his illustrious career. “I don’t talk about it because when you do you get lost why you came, and you start focusing on that. No, what you do is you drive your car.”

Force, who has been atop the standings in 22 different seasons, has been doing an exceptional job of consistently getting the Camaro SS down the track. And with crew chiefs Daniel Hood and Tim Fabrisi making key adjustments, Force will be a favorite to win the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals for the 12th time.

“Where we are in points, we need to keep it going. The Countdown is almost here, and it’s tough out there, but we’re hanging in there,” Force said.

Daughter Brittany Force, who shared the winner’s stage with her father at Heartland Motorsports Park for a first in NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series history, also has the Monster Energy/Flav-R-Pac Chevrolet dragster coming around. Force’s first Top Fuel victory of the season, which boosted her to second in the standings, was preceded by her fourth consecutive No. 1 qualifier and sixth in 11 races this season.

“Now these John Force Racing teams all head to Brainerd. This Monster Energy team will be on the hunt for another win,” Force said. “With the Countdown so close, we have to keep on this upward momentum. Our goal is to repeat what we did last weekend because we’re chasing down that points lead.”

Robert Hight, who has two Funny Car wins and a pair of runner-up finishes in the Automobile Club of Southern California Camaro SS, is also a favorite this weekend with two races remaining before the seven-race Countdown to the Championship.

“I’m looking forward to Brainerd. I’ve done well here in the past so I’m hoping to build on that,” said Hight, who 3.793-seconds pass in August 2017 at Brainerd still stands as the NHRA Funny Car national record.. “The Countdown to the Championship is coming up quick so it’s time to really get in gear and get this Auto Club Chevy back into the winner’s circle.”

Since rejoining Chevrolet for the 2015 season, the John Force Racing lineup has produced 49 total wins: Robert Hight (19 Funny Car), John Force (13 Funny Car), Brittany Force (11 Top Fuel), Courtney Force (5 Funny Car), Austin Prock (1 Top Fuel) in addition to championships by Hight (2017, ’19) and Brittany Force (2017).

FOX will telecast eliminations live at 3 p.m. ET Sunday, Aug. 22.

Chevrolet Pro Stock drivers rejoin the schedule at the U.S. Nationals on Sept. 3-5 in Indianapolis. KB Racing’s Greg Anderson, driver of the
HendrickCars.com Camaro SS, is the points leader as he seeks to tie Warren Johnson’s class record of 97 wins. Five different drivers of the Camaro SS have won at least once through the 10 races.

CHEVROLET FROM THE COCKPIT

TOP FUEL:

BRITTANY FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, FLAV-R-PAC CHEVROLET DRAGSTER (six-time No. 1 qualifier; winner in most recent race; runner-up in Charlotte and Norwalk; second in points): “I’m still on a high after winning alongside my dad in Topeka this last weekend. Doubling up with my dad has been a goal of mine since the start of my career. Year after year I realized just how tough lining that up would be. It’s not easy going four rounds on race day and trying to do that in two separate fields seemed impossible. But Sunday in Topeka we both had the best cars and teams on the track. Celebrating in the winner’s circle with the Monster Energy/Flav-R-Pac team and my dad’s PEAK Chevy team is something I’ll never forget.”

FUNNY CAR:

JOHN FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, PEAK ANTIFREEZE AND COOLANT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (three-time winner this season; No. 1 qualifier in Charlotte four-wide; points leader; 11-time winner at track): “It’s important to me to remember that I’m where I am because of the support I have. Support from my sponsors, my team and the fans. The fans are important, the fans are why we do what we do, we couldn’t do this without them. I’m looking forward to Brainerd, looking forward to seeing the crowds, the grandstands full. We are here to compete, to win races but also to entertain. It’s the best part of the job, it is the job. This PEAK team, we’re putting on a show.”

ROBERT HIGHT, JOHN FORCE RACING, AUTO CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (two-time winner and two-time runner-up; No. 1 qualifier in Las Vegas four-wide; fifth in points): “I’ve said it before, I think this Funny Car field is one of the most competitive we’ve ever had. I don’t think it’s ever been this close, the top six all within 70 points of the lead, it goes to show you how hard you have to work and how consistent you have to be. We were a little off last weekend, but Jimmy Prock and Chris Cunningham are known for turning things around in a hurry.”

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

1...2,4022,4032,404...6,746Page 2,403 of 6,746