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Ryan Newman – Michigan Advance

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Team: No. 6 ITsavvy Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Twitter: @Roush6Team, @RoushFenway and @RyanJNewman
Race Format: 400 miles, 200 laps, Stages: 60-60-80
FireKeepers Casino 400 – Sunday, August 22 at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Newman at Michigan International Speedway

  • Newman makes his 40th Cup start at MIS this weekend where he has an average finish of 16.3 with two wins and 10 top-10s.
  • Newman’s wins came in back-to-back events in 2003 and 2004. He led 32 laps in his fifth of eight wins in 2003, then led 22 laps after starting fourth the following season.
  • He has one career pole at the 2-mile track, which came in 2005, and an average starting position of 14.1. Overall he’s started inside the top-10 on 16 occasions.
  • Dating back eight events at MIS, Newman has sixth top-15 runs including finishes of fourth (2017) and eighth (2019). Most recently he finished 13th in the second race of a doubleheader last summer.
  • Newman also made four Xfinity starts at MIS, winning his first two events (2001, 2005) with a combined 126 laps led.

Scott Graves at Michigan International Speedway

  • Graves will call his 11th Cup event at Michigan on Sunday, a place he carries a 19.8 average finish. Graves led Newman to an eighth-place run in their first race there together in 2019, and backed that up with a 12th-place finish in the second race, and most recently 13th last season.
  • Graves won an Xfinity event at the 2-mile track in 2016 with Daniel Suarez, topping Kyle Busch to lead the final two laps en route to one of his three wins with Suarez.

QUOTE WORTHY
Newman on racing at Michigan:
“Michigan is always a big weekend for more than one reason. It’s a place that’s pretty close to home and will always be a favorite place of mine to visit. The track and race always makes for an interesting finish as you have to manage fuel mileage, but also have the perfect amount of balance, speed, and drag on the car. Lot of different scenarios can play out at Michigan, so being in the hunt at the end is pivotal and we’re looking forward to doing just that in the ITsavvy Ford.”

Last Time Out
Newman survived one of the wildest finishes in recent history last weekend at the Indy road course to finish 10th in the Oscar Mayer Ford, his fourth top-10 of 2021.

Where They Rank
Newman is 26th in points through 24 events.

On the Car

ITsavvy makes its Roush Fenway debut this weekend in Michigan. The brand has been on the No. 6 Ford as an associate in select races this season.

About ITsavvy
ITsavvy is a leader in tailored, end-to-end IT product and service solutions. ITsavvy built its reputation as a value-added reseller with industry-leading product availability, design and implementation, client support and delivery speed through 46 distribution centers across the U.S. ITsavvy also has data center locations in Cedar Knolls, N.J. and Oak Brook, Ill. The company’s user-friendly website provides concise, leading-edge IT decision-making resources, including an e-commerce site with real-time pricing and availability. ITsavvy is headquartered in Addison, Ill., with offices in Chicago’s Loop; Hauppauge, N.Y.; New York, N.Y.; Naples, Fla.; Miami; Warren, N.J.; Hayward, Calif.; Beavercreek, Ohio and Raleigh, N.C. Call 855.ITsavvy (855.487.2889), email info@ITsavvy.com, visit www.ITsavvy.com.

Landen Lewis to make ARCA Menards Series debut at Springfield with Rette Jones Racing Development

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill.: Rette Jones Racing Development (RJRD) and Austin Theriault Racing Development jointly announced today that 15-year-old Landen Lewis will make his ARCA Menard Series debut in the highly anticipated Allen Crowe 100 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds (Springfield) this Sun., Aug. 22.

Lewis will drive the No. 2 L&A South | Lou Lou’s Waterfront Restaurant Toyota Camry prepared by RJR Development with several racing icons who have offered their advice to the Ocean Isle Beach, N.C. native.

Lewis graduates to the ARCA Menards Series on the strength of a successful career in Legends Cars, Super Trucks and Dirt Modified competition.

In Legend Car competition, the teenager has roared to 22 series victories while mastering 51 top-five finishes overall.

He is also the most recent Winter Heat champion winning a jaw-dropping nine of the 10 races.

Advancing to Dirt Modifieds driving for four-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) champion Ron Hornaday Jr. Under his leadership, Lewis has mastered five poles, six wins, eight-second place runs and 27 top-fives.

Lewis is banking on his experience in Dirt Modifieds to help ease his transition to stock cars on dirt at the historic 1.0-mile Illinois State Fairgrounds with advice not only from Hornaday but racing icon Ken Schrader, a former ARCA Menards Series winner at Springfield and close friend of Hornaday.

“This is such an unbelievable opportunity,” said Lewis. “I can’t thank Rette Jones Racing, Austin (Theriault), the Hornaday family, Mr. Ken Schrader and everyone who has been incredibly helpful and instrumental in helping make my ARCA Menards Series debut possible.

“I don’t know what to expect on Sunday, but I have a ton of confidence thanks to all the advice from everyone around me. My goal is to have a smooth practice and an even better qualifying session and make progress during the 100-lap race.

“I know Mark (Rette) and the entire Rette Jones Racing Development team has been working hard on our No. 2 L&A South Toyota Camry and I think a top-10 finish or better is definitely in our potential.”

Hornaday, a former winner in ARCA Menards Series competition says Lewis is ready for the opportunity that awaits him at the Springfield mile.

“I have been working with Landen since he was 12 and he reminds me a lot of myself when I was that young,” explained Hornaday. “He’s ambitious and eager to learn and always excels when given a new challenge. It’s awesome to work with Landen.

“I’m a true believer in order to be the best you must be hands-on and understand everything about your car and Landen is always one of the first to jump in and help on his car and his teammates’ cars and always appreciates the things that people do for him.

“This is going to be awesome for Landen getting experience in a heavier car and continue his development to be a more well-rounded driver.”

Theriault who has taken on a management role with Lewis is a former ARCA champion and earned a pole at Springfield in 2017 before finishing second to fellow ARCA champion Grant Enfinger.

“Landen is an aggressive, but smart driver who I know can be successful at this level,” explained the eight-time ARCA winner. “Despite it being a big step for him, his previous dirt experience combined with the people who have mentored him along the way will allow him to adapt quickly to the opportunity that is before him.”

Team owner and former ARCA championship crew chief Rette is no stranger to working with a flow of young drivers and hopes to guide Lewis to Victory Lane.

“I enjoy giving young drivers the chance to showcase their talents,” sounded Rette. “When Austin (Theriault) and Ron (Hornaday) spoke highly of Landen and what he has accomplished at his age, I knew that we needed to put something together to allow him to make his debut with us.

“We look forward to the opportunity to put Rette Jones Racing in Victory Lane for the second time in 2021.”

In addition to L&A South and LouLou’s Waterfront Restaurant, Calabash Seafood Hut, CARQUEST Auto Parts, Crystal Babson Century 21, Goodridge Fluid Transfer Systems, Joe Ryan Race Cars, Jones Group Demolition and Abatement, L & A Auto North, Quality Auto Body & Collision, Reeves Complete Auto Center Inc., Simpson, Skyline Sign and Team Hornaday join the team as partners this weekend.

RJR Development is co-owned by Canadian entrepreneur and former race car driver Terry Jones.
For more on Landen Lewis, please visit, like him on Facebook (Landen Lewis Motorsports) and follow him on Instagram (@lrlewis99).

For more on Rette Jones Racing Development, please visit RetteJonesRacing.com, like them on Facebook (Rette Jones Racing) or follow them on Twitter (@RetteJones30).

The Allen Crowe 100 (100 laps | 100 miles) is the 14th of 20 races on the 2021 ARCA Menards Series schedule. A half-hour practice is set from 10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. General Tire pole qualifying is slated for an hour later at 11:30 a.m. The event will be televised live on MAVTV beginning at 1:30 p.m. CT. ARCARacing.com will also stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire weekend festivities. All times are local (CT).

About Rette Jones Racing:

Headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, Rette Jones Racing (RJR) was founded in 2015 with the intent of building a successful racing operation built around the fundamentals of hard work and a never give up attitude.

Owned by racers Terry Jones and Mark Rette, RJR plan to field a full-time entry in 2021 in the ARCA Menards Series East, while also hopeful to field vehicles in the ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS).

The winning ARCA East team also offers technical and setup intel as part of its technical alliance partnership program.

AmericanTrucks Wants to Show Off Your Wheels + Tires

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Parts Authority Builds its Community | Free Gear Included

PAOLI, Pa. (August 16th, 2021) – Aftermarket parts authority, AmericanTrucks (AT) invites truck enthusiasts to share images of their wheel and tire setup. The program seeks to help truck owners shop for wheels and tires by delivering inspiration from others in the community. As an incentive, AT will send out a free decal and garage banner (valued at $25) whether the owner purchased the wheels and tires from AT’s website or not.

The submission form asks truck owners to share some general information on their ride, including specs on their specific wheel and tire setup. The form allows users to upload up to 8 images which will then be shared with AT’s community to help them as they shop for wheels and tires. The final page asks for basic contact details so that AT can send out the free gear as a ‘thank you’ for each submission.

Truck owners who would like to show off their wheels and tires can fill out the submission form below. AT will send out a free decal and garage banner to existing AT customers and others who submit the form successfully. AT seeks to build its community by leveraging user-generated content to inspire novice and experienced truck owners alike. In addition to selling parts, AT provides a meaningful customer experience through ongoing educational videos, installation guides, and one-on-one customer services support.

Submit the form here: https://www.americantrucks.com/setupsubmission

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

About AmericanTrucks

AmericanTrucks is regarded as one of the best, most reliable online aftermarket retailers providing parts and accessories for F150, F250, Ranger, Silverado, Sierra, and RAM. Catering to the needs and demands of late-model truck owners and enthusiasts, AmericanTrucks provides the best parts with support from genuine truck experts. Located just outside of Philadelphia, AmericanTrucks is dedicated to offering the truck community with the highest quality of parts and customer service. Please visit https://www.americantrucks.com for more information.

Ford Performance NASCAR: Ford Looking to Extend MIS Cup Win Streak

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FORD PERFORMANCE NASCAR: MICHIGAN/WWTR ADVANCE

NASCAR’s top three series will be in action at two different facilities this weekend. The NASCAR XFINITY and NASCAR Cup Series are scheduled to run at Michigan International Speedway on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, while the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series kicks off its playoff season Friday night at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.

This Week’s Schedule:
Friday, August 20 – NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, 9 p.m. (FS1)
Saturday, August 21 – NASCAR XFINITY Series, 3:30 p.m. (NBCSN)
Sunday, August 22 – NASCAR Cup Series, 3 p.m. (NBCSN)

FORD IN THE NASCAR CUP SERIES AT MIS

  • Ford has 41 all-time series wins at MIS, which is the most at any track currently on the circuit.
  • Ford comes into this weekend having won six straight at MIS.
  • Jack Roush has the most wins among car owners at MIS with 13 while the Wood Brothers are next with 11.

FORD IN THE NASCAR XFINITY SERIES AT MIS

  • Ford has 6 all-time series wins at MIS.
  • Car owner Jack Roush has 5 of those 6 wins.
  • This will mark the series return to MIS after a one-year absence.

FORD IN THE NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES AT WWTR

  • Ford has 2 all-time series wins at WWTR.
  • Greg Biffle and Terry Cook have Ford victories at the track.

FORD ALL-TIME MICHIGAN WINS LEADER

No manufacturer has had more success at Michigan International Speedway than Ford, which has swept both races in each of the last three seasons. Since the track opened in 1969 there have been 103 NASCAR Cup Series races and Ford Motor Company has won more than half of them. Overall, the company has 53 MIS victories with 41 being Ford and 12 Mercury. David Pearson is the track’s all-time leader in wins with nine (all Mercury) while Bill Elliott has the most Ford wins with seven.

FORD AND HARVICK LOOK TO EXTEND MIS WIN STREAKS

There will be a couple of streaks on the line in the NASCAR Cup Series this weekend at Michigan International Speedway. First, Ford comes into Sunday’s scheduled race having won the last six series races at the two-mile facility while the last three of those have come courtesy of Kevin Harvick. The Stewart-Haas Racing driver became the first driver in NASCAR history to win races on back-to-back days at the same track when he did it during last year’s weekend doubleheader.

TEAM PENSKE REGISTERS 50TH WIN WITH FORD

Joey Logano started and won from the pole for the second time in his career at Michigan International Speedway when he captured the June race in 2016. Logano finished ahead of Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson with Penske teammate Brad Keselowski ending up fourth. The new aerodynamic package, promising to produce lower downforce, didn’t disappoint as there were 14 lead changes with Logano leading six times for 138 total laps. The win gave Team Penske its 50th Cup win with Ford and produced the 100th victory for Roush Yates Engines in the NASCAR Cup Series.

MERCURY AND FORD SWEEP MIS OPENING SEASON

Ford Motor Co. swept the inaugural season of NASCAR Cup Series races at Michigan International Speedway in 1969 when Cale Yarborough (Mercury) and David Pearson (Ford) took turns going to victory lane. Yarborough won an intense battle in the track opener on June 15 after passing Lee Roy Yarbrough with three laps to go to take the Wood Brothers to victory lane. That capped a finish which saw Yarborough, Pearson and Yarbrough swap the lead 20 times over the final 146 laps. The second date took place on Aug. 17 and this time it was Pearson and Holman-Moody taking the checkered flag. Pearson sat on the pole and led 79 of the 165 laps completed. The race, which was originally scheduled to be a 600-mile event, was halted at that point and declared official due to rain. Pearson went on to win a record nine times at MIS, which puts him as the speedway’s all-time MENCS winner.

FOUR STRAIGHT FOR AWESOME BILL

Bill Elliott is the only driver to win four straight NASCAR Cup Series races at Michigan International Speedway, sweeping both events in 1985 and ’86, and he capped that impressive streak in dominating fashion. Elliott led 125-of-200 laps on Aug. 17, 1986 to beat Tim Richmond to the finish line and win the Champion Spark Plug 400. Elliott went on to win seven career races at MIS and currently ranks third on the all-time list, trailing only David Pearson (9) and Cale Yarborough (8).

JARRETT WINS FIRST CUP RACE

Dale Jarrett registered his first NASCAR Cup Series victory in memorable fashion at Michigan International Speedway on Aug. 18, 1991. Jarrett, who was in second season driving for the Wood Brothers, found himself in furious battle with Davey Allison, who stalked him over the final dozen laps in his No. 28 Texaco Havoline Thunderbird. Allison made a move to the outside coming off turn four and got alongside Jarrett as the two took the white flag together. They took turns exchanging the lead, but never left each other’s side. As they came off turn four both Fords made contact, but it was Jarrett who ended up edging Allison by eight inches at the finish line.

BIFFLE WINS FORD’S 1,000TH

Greg Biffle posted Ford’s 1,000th NASCAR victory when he took the checkered flag on June 16, 2013 in the Quicken Loans 400. The milestone win, which included combined victories in the NASCAR Camping World Truck, NASCAR XFINITY and NASCAR Cup Series, was Biffle’s second straight at MIS and fourth overall. The race was shaping up to be a battle between Biffle, who was leading, and a hard-charging Jimmie Johnson, but a flat tire ended Johnson’s chances with two laps to go.

HERITAGE TROPHY FIRST

When Joey Logano won the Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway on Aug. 18, 2013 it represented his first win with Ford and new car owner Roger Penske. But it also marked the first time the speedway awarded the Michigan Heritage trophy, which goes to the winning manufacturer of every NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at MIS. Logano, who won the pole and led a race-high 51 laps, passed Mark Martin for the lead with four laps to go after Martin’s car ran out of gas.

FORD NASCAR CUP SERIES WINNERS AT MICHIGAN

1969 – David Pearson (2)
1984 – Bill Elliott (1)
1985 – Bill Elliott (Sweep)
1986 – Bill Elliott (Sweep)
1987 – Bill Elliott (2)
1988 – Davey Allison (2)
1989 – Bill Elliott (1)
1990 – Mark Martin (2)
1991 – Davey Allison and Dale Jarrett
1992 – Davey Allison (1)
1993 – Mark Martin (2)
1994 – Rusty Wallace and Geoffrey Bodine
1996 – Rusty Wallace and Dale Jarrett
1997 – Ernie Irvan and Mark Martin
1998 – Mark Martin (1)
1999 – Dale Jarrett (1)
2000 – Rusty Wallace (2)
2002 – Matt Kenseth and Dale Jarrett
2003 – Kurt Busch (1)
2004 – Greg Biffle (2)
2005 – Greg Biffle (1)
2006 – Matt Kenseth (2)
2007 – Carl Edwards (1)
2008 – Carl Edwards (2)
2012 – Greg Biffle (2)
2013 – Greg Biffle and Joey Logano
2016 – Joey Logano (1)
2018 – Clint Bowyer (1) and Kevin Harvick (2)
2019 – Joey Logano (1) and Kevin Harvick (2)
2020 – Kevin Harvick (Sweep)

FORD NASCAR XFINITY SERIES WINNERS AT MICHIGAN

1993 – Mark Martin
1995 – Mark Martin
1998 – Jeff Burton
2001 – Ryan Newman
2008 – Carl Edwards
2011 – Carl Edwards

FORD NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES WINNERS AT WWTR

1999 – Greg Biffle
2002 – Terry Cook

DGR NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race Advance: WWT Raceway

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Official Release
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Friday, August 20
Track: World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Ill., 1.25-mile oval
Race: 16 of 22
Event: Toyota 200 presented by CK Power (160 laps, 200 miles)
Schedule
Race: 9:00 p.m. ET (FS1)

Hailie Deegan, No. 1 Monster Energy Ford F-150

  • Deegan is making her 17th career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) start in this weekend’s event at World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR) in Madison, Ill.
  • This weekend marks Deegan’s second time at the facility. Last year, she competed in one ARCA Menards Series event at the 1.25-mile track. The California native started seventh and finished ninth in the August 2020 race.
  • Deegan heads into Friday night’s 160-lap race after most recently racing at the Watkins Glen International road course two weeks ago for the first time in her young career. The Ford driver started the NCWTS event 18th and finished 19th after the event was ended prematurely due to lightning.
  • Crew chief Mike Hillman Jr. has called 10 races at WWTR in his career. In total, he’s been the leader behind one win with Todd Bodine in 2006, and four top-fives and eight top-10 finishes. Hillman’s drivers have completed 99.4 percent of the laps and led a total of 72.
  • WWTR is the first 1.25-mile track the NCWTS has raced on this season.

Tanner Gray, No. 15 Ford Performance F-150

  • Gray makes his 42nd career start with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) and 16th of the 2021 season at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Ill.
  • The Ford Performance driver has one career Truck Series start at the Illinois track coming last season where he started 14th and earned a 10th-place result. In his lone ARCA Menards Series start at the facility in 2019, mechanical issues forced him to retire from the race after 57 laps.
  • Gray had a strong showing at Watkins Glen International two weeks ago, but lightning ended the race early and prevented him from continuing his drive forward late in the race.
  • Marcus Richmond has called nine races at the 1.25-mile racetrack with four top-fives and seven top-10s. He has finished second twice with Dennis Setzer in 2008, and Todd Gilliland in 2018.

Taylor Gray, No. 17 Ford Performance F-150

  • Taylor Gray made his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at Watkins Glen International two weeks ago. The young driver had just cracked the top-10 when he began to experience fuel pump issues and had to spend time in the garage for a replacement. He was credited with a 35th-place finish.
  • Gray has one career start at Gateway with the ARCA Menards Series in 2020. He started fourth and finished eighth in the 120-lap event.
  • It will be another busy weekend of racing for the 16 year old. After competing in his second ever Truck Series race on Friday night, he will make the 1.5 hour trek north to the Springfield Mile at the Illinois State Fairgrounds to drive the No. 46 Fusion on the dirt with the ARCA Menards Series.

Carson Hocevar Returns to Niece Motorsports Full Time in 2022

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MOORESVILLE, N.C. (August 17, 2021) – Carson Hocevar will once again race full time for Niece Motorsports in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2022. The announcement comes on the heels of Hocevar advancing to the Truck Series playoffs in his rookie campaign.

“I’m so excited and thankful for the chance to race full time again with Niece Motorsports in 2022,” said Hocevar. “The support of Al [Niece], Cody [Efaw], Phil [Gould] and every single employee at Niece Motorsports has meant the world. We are still 100 percent focused on chasing that Championship this year, but it’s definitely a relief to have next year’s plans already in place. Thanks to everyone at Premier Security, GM Parts Now and Scott’s Coins, Jewelry & Sports for their support this year. We wouldn’t be able to do any of this without them.”

Hocevar has shown an impressive ability to quickly adapt to the varying style of tracks on the circuit, with little to no practice time or qualifying. The Portage, Michigan native has led laps on dirt tracks, road courses, intermediate tracks and short tracks.

Through the first 15 races of the 2021 season, Hocevar has earned three top-five finishes and five top-10 finishes. In addition, Hocevar has earned 10 top-15 finishes. The 18-year-old driver has led laps in four races this season, and has finished on the lead lap in 13 of 15 starts.

“It’s a huge win for our organization to have Carson back behind the wheel of our Chevrolets again next season,” said Niece Motorsports General Manager Cody Efaw. “Sometimes I forget that Carson is only 18-years-old because he races with such maturity. I’m excited to see what Carson can accomplish next year – going back to a lot of these tracks for the second or third time. He’s been so impressive in his first full season behind the wheel in the Truck Series. As an organization we are focused on giving him the best possible chance to close out this season on a high note and compete for a championship.”

Hocevar enters round one of the Truck Series Playoffs in eighth-place. In addition, Hocevar leads the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings with seven races remaining in the 2021 season.

The first race in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs will take the green flag at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway on Friday, August 20 at 9 p.m. ET, airing live on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

About Niece Motorsports:
Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2021, Niece Motorsports enters its sixth season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as Twitter @NieceMotorsport.

Chandler Smith – No. 18 Safelite AutoGlass Tundra Camping World Trucks WWTR Preview

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Chandler Smith: Driver, No. 18 Safelite AutoGlass® Toyota

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Overview:
Event: Toyota 200, Race 16 of 22 (Race 1 in the Round of 10), 160 Laps – 55/55/50; 200 Miles
Location: World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway in Madison, Ill. (1.25-mile oval)
Date/Broadcast: Aug. 20, 2021 at 9 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR 90

Mr. Smith Goes World Wide:

  • Chandler Smith and the No. 18 Safelite AutoGlass team head to World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR) at Gateway for the first of three races in the Round of 10 in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series playoffs. Smith finished the regular season 10th on the playoff grid, 10 points above the cutoff line for qualifying for the post season, after posting three top-five and five top-10 finishes across 15 races. With the points reset and his playoff point for winning a stage earlier this season at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway added in, the 19-year-old driver begins the Round of 10 ninth on the playoff grid, one point below the cutoff line for advancing to the Round of 8. Smith and fellow Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender Carson Hocevar, the eighth seed, are the only two drivers who will be competing for a championship for the first time. The other eight contenders have all competed for the Truck Series championship at least one time in previous seasons.
  • While this will be Smith’s first time taking part in the driver’s portion of the NASCAR Camping World Serie playoffs, he has been a part of the owner’s playoffs for the No. 51 team each of the last two seasons. Last year, he recorded top-five finishes in all three races of the Round of 10 (Bristol Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway) advancing the No. 51 team to the Round of 8. He opened the Round of 8 up with another top-five finish at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City before an accident relegated him to a 21st-place finish at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth in the second race of the round and then after Brandon Jones finished 17th in the final race in the Round of 8 the No. 51 team was eliminated from playoff contention. In 2019, Smith opened the 51 team’s owner’s-championship season up with a runner-up finish at Bristol Motor Speedway in the first race of the playoffs, his only playoff start that year.
  • Smith has at least one Truck Series start at all seven tracks that will be contested during the 2021 playoffs, including two starts at World Wide Technology Raceway. In just the second start of his Truck Series career, the Georgia native came from the 25th starting position to finish fourth in the 2019 event at the 1.25-mile track. Last year, he was involved in a mid-race accident that relegated him to a 24th-place result. He has also made two ARCA Menards Series starts at the Illinois track, including a runner-up finish in the 2020 event.
  • The talented teenager ranks second to his KBM teammate John Hunter Nemechek among full-time Truck Series drivers with 165 laps led this season. The Georgia native has accumulated 119 of those laps led over the last four races of the regular season. He and Kraus were tied for the most laps led (48) at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway and Smith led a race-high 71 laps at Knoxville.
  • The Toyota Racing Development driver has 11 top-five, and 14 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 15.2 across 31 career Camping World Truck Series starts. His runner-up finish at Knoxville (Tenn.) Raceway earlier this season equaled the career-best finish he achieved at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway in 2019.
  • Veteran crew chief Danny Stockman calls the shots for Smith and the No. 18 team this season. Stockman led the No. 51 team to four wins in his first season atop the pit box at KBM in 2020. He came to the organization with experience as a crew chief in all three national series, including a Truck Series championship with Austin Dillon in 2011 and an Xfinity Series championship with Dillon in 2013. Stockman’s Truck Series drivers have two starts at WWTR, with Dillon’s seventh-place finish in 2010 being the best result.
  • Safelite AutoGlass – the nation’s largest provider of vehicle glass repair, replacement, and recalibration services – will serve as the primary sponsor on Smith’s Tundra this weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway and for 16 races total this season. Smith General Contracting and Fortune-Johnson, a premier building contractor for multifamily projects in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, will be associate partners on the bedtop of the No. 18 Toyota for Friday’s 160-lap event.

Chandler Smith, Driver Q&A:

Does having some prior experience at Gateway give you confidence heading into Friday?
“I feel like Gateway is one of my better tracks on the Truck Series schedule. It’s a short track in my opinion. I’ve had really strong runs in a truck and I’m definitely looking forward to going there again.”

Evaluate your regular season.
“Overall, I would say our regular season has been very up and down. We’ve had a lot of bad luck and a little good luck. We’ve had some pretty decent runs. We’ve had races where we were really good, and something happened. I’m looking to flip all that going into the playoffs. Trying to flip all this luck around and hopefully we have our dividends paid in for this luck deal going into the playoffs.:

Do you feel like your team can win the Truck Series championship this year?
“I don’t think there is any excuse of anything keeping us from winning the championship. I think the only thing holding us back is beating ourselves or having bad luck. These last few races we’ve been really, really good and we haven’t been able to show it because something happens – mechanical failures or something happens on pit road, get caught up in someone else’s mess – that’s all part of racing. At the same time, when is enough enough? Do these things that you can’t control justify how good your team is and kind of question can this team win a championship?

Chandler Smith Career Highlights:

  • Across 31 career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts has recorded 258 laps led, 11 top-five and 14 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 15.2.
  • Posted an average finish of 7.7 across his final seven of 12 total Truck Series starts in 2020, including third-place finishes in the series finale at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway and his first career superspeedway start at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in October.
  • Produced three top-five and four top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 4.2 across his first four career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts in 2019. He led 55 laps and finished eighth in his Gander Trucks debut at Iowa Speedway last July and then posted top-five finishes in his final three starts, including a runner-up finish at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.
  • Has collected nine wins, 10 poles, 1783 laps led, 22 top-five and 29 top-10 finishes en route to an average finish of 5.4 across 34 career ARCA Menards Series starts. Set an ARCA Racing Series record by winning four consecutive poles to start his career and earned his first victory after leading a race-high 102 laps at Madison (Wis.) International Speedway in his fourth series start.

Chandler Smith’s No. 18 Safelite AutoGlass Tundra:
KBM-60: The No. 18 Safelite AutoGlass team will unload KBM-060 for Saturday’s 160-lap event at World Wide Technology Raceway. Smith has raced KBM-60 twice this season, with a best result of fourth at Richmond (Va.) Raceway in April. Brandon Jones picked up his first career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway with the same Tundra last June and KBM owner-driver Kyle Busch was victorious with this chassis at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway last March.

KBM-60 Performance Profile
KBM Notes of Interest:

  • KBM drivers have collected two wins, 363 laps led, six top-five and 12 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 13.6 across 23 starts at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.
  • Christopher Bell was victorious at the 1.25-mile track in 2016 and Darrell Wallace Jr., won the 2014 event.
  • KBM holds the Camping World Truck Series records for most career wins (88) and most wins in a single season (14 in 2014). With his victory at the Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt Track, Truex Jr. became the 16th different driver to win a Truck Series event for KBM. In addition to collecting a series-record seven Owner’s Championships, the organization has produced two championship-winning drivers: Erik Jones (2015) and Christopher Bell (2017).
  • The No. 18, the number which was on the first Tundra that went to victory lane for KBM in 2010, has 21 career victories.

Derek Griffith – No. 51 JBL/Hudson Speedway Tundra Camping World Trucks WWTR Preview

By
Official Release
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Derek Griffith: Driver, No. 51 JBL/Hudson Speedway Toyota

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Overview:
Event: Toyota 200, Race 16 of 22 (Race 1 in the Round of 10), 160 Laps – 55/55/50; 200 Miles
Location: World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway in Madison, Ill. (1.25-mile oval)
Date/Broadcast: Aug. 20, 2021 at 9 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR 90

The Details on Derek:

  • Derek Griffith will make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut behind the wheel of No. 51 Tundra Friday at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway. The 24-year-old driver’s Toyota will carry co-primary sponsorship from JBL, the authority in engineering superior sound and Griffith’s NASCAR Home Track, Hudson International Speedway. Friday’s 200-lap race will be the first race of three races in the Round of 10 in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series owner’s playoffs. The No. 51 team qualified for the owner’s portion of the playoffs by finishing the regular season ranked fifth in the point standings. They enter the playoffs seventh on the playoff grid, four points ahead of the cutoff line for advancing to the Round of 8. Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) has won a series-record seven owner’s championships, including three by the No. 51 team (2013, 2014 and 2019).
  • Griffith has posted three top-five and eight top-10 finishes across 10 ARCA Menards Racing Series starts the last two seasons. Griffith has also made three ARCA Menards Series East starts, picking up one pole, one top-five and two top-10 finishes. In his East Series debut at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway in 2020, he captured the pole and led a race-high 144 laps, before being relegated to a runner-up finish after falling back a spot on a late-race restart.
  • The New Hampshire native cut his racing teeth in the four-cylinder class at Hudson Speedway, a quarter-mile oval, located near his hometown, Nashua, N.H. He graduated to the Super Late Model Division at the track in 2012 and the New Englander has been on the rise ever since. Griffith has been recognized with such prestigious honors as being part of the Kulwicki Driver Development Program (2018-2019) and being selected as the No. 1 top prospect in short-track racing by a panel of industry experts, racers, media members and more in the 2021 Speed51 Short Track Draft.
  • Behind the wheel of a Super Late Model Griffith has numerous wins, including the Motor Mountain Masters 150 at Jennerstown (Pa.) Speedway (2021), back-to-back World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing championships at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway (2020-2021), a sweep of the PASS Easter Bunny 150s at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway (2021), the Thompson Icebreaker 75 at Thompson (Conn.) Speedway and the Freedom 300 at Lee (N.H.) USA Speedway (2020).
  • Mardy Lindley has guided the No. 51 team to three victories across 15 races is in his first season as a crew chief at KBM. Owner-driver Kyle Busch was victorious at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway in Kansas City while Martin Truex Jr. won the inaugural Truck Series event at the Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway Dirt Track. Truex Jr. became the 16th different driver to win a Truck Series event for KBM and the 12th to collect their first-ever victory in NASCAR’s third division. Before arriving at KBM, Lindley guided his drivers to 32 wins and four ARCA Menards Series East championships since 2013, including back-to-back titles with Sam Mayer the last two seasons. Additionally, he earned the ARCA Menards Series Sioux Chief Showdown championship with Mayer in 2020. Behind the wheel, the second-generation driver won 11 races on the Pro Cup Series from 2000 to 2006 and was crowned the series champion in 2001. His ARCA Menards Series drivers have posted two top-five finishes across three starts at Gateway, including third-place results with Mayer in 2019 and 2020.

Derek Griffith, Driver Q&A:

How do you feel about getting the opportunity to make your NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut?
“I can’t put into words how thankful I am to KBM, JBL and Hudson Speedway — this is really a dream come true. Just being here at KBM the last couple days and checking everything out and having it all settle in is pretty amazing.”

How are you preparing for your Truck Series debut?
“Definitely taking as much time as I can to watch as much footage as possible. I know going in that I’m going to have the best Toyota Tundra that I can have with Mardy (Lindley, crew chief) and the crew working on it. I have a lot of confidence in what they can do. Coming into Gateway it’s going to be a big thing for me for sure.”

Have you set any goals for your Truck Series debut?
“It’s hard to set goals with the circumstances that are at hand because I have such a lack of experience compared to the other drivers. If we go out there and have a good run and it shows good, that’s all I am hoping for. I don’t want to tear anything up, I want to have a good finish and I know that I have a truck that is capable of winning. I’m very excited to get out there, but don’t have anything as far as goals yet other than to keep it clean and do what I can.”

What does it mean to be carrying your hometrack’s logo on your Tundra for your Truck Series debut?
“The whole story from start to finish has just been amazing. I started racing at Hudson Speedway when I was 12 years old in a little Volkswagen Gulf. To come from there to be stepping into a Tundra prepared by KBM with Hudson Speedway on the side all these years later, I never thought I would be here. Especially with carrying Hudson Speedway on the side, it’s very fulfilling, very special to me to be able to do that.”

Derek Griffith Career Highlights:

  • Across 10 career ARCA Menards Series starts has three top-five and eight top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 9.4.
  • Has made three ARCA Menards Series East starts, picking up one pole, one top-five and two top-10 finishes. In his East Series debut at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway in 2020, he captured the pole and led a race-high 144 laps, before being relegated to a runner-up finish after falling back a spot on a late-race restart.
  • Behind the wheel of a Super Late Model Griffith has numerous wins, including the Motor Mountain Masters 150 at Jennerstown (Pa.) Speedway (2021), back-to-back World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing championships at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway (2020-2021), a sweep of the PASS Easter Bunny 150s at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway (2021), the Thompson Icebreaker 75 at Thompson (Conn.) Speedway and the Freedom 300 at Lee (N.H.) USA Speedway (2020).
  • Has been recognized with such prestigious honors as being part of the Kulwicki Driver Development Program (2018-2019) and being selected as the No. 1 top prospect in short-track racing by a panel of industry experts, racers, media members and more in the 2021 Speed51 Short Track Draft.
  • Derek Griffith’s No. 51 JBL/Hudson Speedwy Tundra:
  • KBM-62: The No. 51 team will unload KBM-62 for Friday’s race at World Wide Technology Raceway. KBM owner-driver Kyle Busch led 26 laps and finished second to KBM driver John Hunter Nemechek with the Tundra at Richmond (Va.) Raceway in April. Raphael Lessard drove KBM-62 in last year’s event at WWTR and came home with a sixth-place finish.

KBM Notes of Interest:

  • KBM drivers have collected two wins, 363 laps led, six top-five and 12 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 13.6 across 23 starts at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.
  • Christopher Bell was victorious at the 1.25-mile track in 2016 and Darrell Wallace Jr., won the 2014 event.
  • KBM holds the Camping World Truck Series records for most career wins (88) and most wins in a single season (14 in 2014). With his victory at the Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt Track, Truex Jr. became the 16th different driver to win a Truck Series event for KBM. In addition to collecting a series-record seven Owner’s Championships, the organization has produced two championship-winning drivers: Erik Jones (2015) and Christopher Bell (2017).
  • With 37 victories, the No. 51 is the winningest number in KBM’s Truck Series fleet.

Indianapolis 500 Gains Distinction with Responsible Sport Certification

By
Official Release
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INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021) – The Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, the largest single-day sporting event in the world, is now a certified responsible event by the Council for Responsible Sport (Council).

This is the first time a motorsports event has achieved the distinction and marks a key milestone for one of sports’ most iconic events. Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) also announced today the venue will become among the earliest adopters of the newly released responsible sport standard that applies to the year-round activities of sport hosting organizations and venues. In addition to the Indy 500 and the GMR Grand Prix in May, this new standard of operation at IMS will include the three races of the NASCAR/INDYCAR Brickyard Weekend – the Big Machine Spiked Coolers Grand Prix, the Pennzoil 150 at the Brickyard and the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard.

The achievement of silver-level responsible sport certification of the 2021 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge was awarded to IMS and Penske Entertainment Corp. by the Council earlier this week after confirming the May 30 NTT INDYCAR SERIES race had successfully implemented all mandatory standards and a total of 37 of the social and environmental impact considerations recommended in the Responsible Sport Standards for Events.

“This is an impressive first-time certification level and clearly shows the dedication of IMS, Penske Entertainment Corp. and their partners to building an increasingly sustainable approach for their famed event,” said Shelley Villalobos, managing director, Council for Responsible Sport.

Responsible Sport Certification provides a structured approach for event hosts and organizers to measure, implement, validate and improve the social and environmental sustainability of their events and is earned by taking actions spanning five categories: planning and communications, procurement, resource management, access and equity, and community legacy.

“This is an important milestone for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as we work toward our goal of becoming carbon negative,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “As the world’s largest single-day sporting event, we know we have an opportunity to be a leader in encouraging other major events to strive toward sustainability and positive social impact. We are grateful that the Council for Responsible Sport has helped provide us with a road map to accomplish this important task and mission, which aligns with the goals and values of IMS and Penske Entertainment.”

Credit toward the silver certification was achieved in all five categories and was guided by a social and environmental responsibility plan for the event that coordinated activities between departments and supporting partners, Shell and Waste Management among them, and will serve as a blueprint for future performance improvement against set criteria.

Elements of the plan ranged widely; from venue upgrades completed this spring that increase the efficiency of energy and water use on site, such as LED lighting, water-conserving faucet retrofits and paper-free hand dryers in all public restrooms, to growing the “Bike to the 500” event, which gathers spectators to cycle – rather than drive – to “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

The social responsibility initiatives earning credit included physical accessibility services for spectators, serving as a COVID-19 vaccination site and the ongoing partnership with NXG Youth Motorsports Inc.

Additional credit toward the recognition was earned by waste prevention efforts such as donating 2,562 unserved meals to Second Helpings for redistribution and donating used banners to People for Urban Progress, which makes them into products such as messenger bags.

In another first for the event, a greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) inventory completed in collaboration with Waste Management Sustainability Services provides a baseline for the development of new approaches alongside partners around on-site energy and fuel use, team travel and spectator travel, which for most sporting events is the largest source of event-related GHG emissions. All the electricity used at the venue on race weekend was carbon-neutral through the purchase of Green-e® Certified Renewable Electricity.

“IMS and Penske Entertainment Corp. impressed the Council with their effective management toward the important milestone of certification of the famed Indy 500, and the commitment to being an early adopter of the new Responsible Sport Standard for Organizations over the coming year will only increase the opportunities to create real change,” Villalobos said. “We are delighted to engage with such a proactive team that is demonstrating leadership at an organization-wide scale toward ever greater social and environmental responsibility.”

About Indianapolis Motor Speedway:

At 112-years-old, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the oldest continually operating racetrack in the United States and is known as the Racing Capital of the World. IMS is the world’s largest sports seating facility and hosts the largest single-day sporting event in the world, the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, also known as “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” The Speedway also hosts the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series annually and has played host to many of the greatest champions, pioneers and innovators in auto racing, motorcycle and aviation competition history. For more information, visit IMS.com.

About Council for Responsible Sport:

The Council for Responsible Sport is a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization with a vision of a world where responsibly produced sports events are the norm. It has been helping people measure, manage and verify the social and environmental impacts of their events since 2007. Responsible Sport Certified events are some of the world’s leading examples of sport going beyond competitions to generate positive impacts. For more information, visit www.CouncilforResponsibleSport.org.

Dr Pepper and 23XI Racing Announce New Tuition Giveaway Program to Boost Motorsports’ Future Workforce

By
Official Release
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FRISCO, Texas, and MOORESVILLE, NC (August 17, 2021) — Dr Pepper, a founding partner of 23XI Racing, announced today the launch of a new tuition program in collaboration with 23XI Racing’s SPEED Institute. The program will provide tuition awards, as well as internship opportunities, to support the next generation joining the motorsports industry.

Supporting academic excellence through sporting events is a longstanding tradition for Dr Pepper, which has given away more than $10 million in tuition since 2008 through its annual college football initiatives.

“Tuition giveaways have been a rewarding part of the Dr Pepper mission for over a decade, and this new program with 23XI is a natural complement to our longstanding efforts to support students’ educational goals,” said Andrew Springate, Chief Marketing Officer of Keurig Dr Pepper. “We are thrilled to be part of an effort that will shape the future of motorsports for years to come.”

Created to amplify the efforts of the recently announced 23XI SPEED Institute (Scholarship, Professional Education, Executive Development), Dr Pepper will award $5,000 scholarships to 23 students, and 23XI’s SPEED Institute will award two tuition recipients with internships.

“We’re excited for our first partner collaboration for the SPEED Institute with Dr Pepper,” said Steve Lauletta, 23XI Racing President. “Dr Pepper is a great partner of 23XI Racing and has become a staple among college tuition programs with their college football initiatives. Together we are creating the ability for students to pursue their dreams and introduce new students to motorsports through tuition assistance or internship opportunities at 23XI. Our goal is to continue to collaborate on programs like this as we continue to grow the SPEED Institute and focus on increasing our diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and enhancing opportunities for students seeking to have a career in motorsports. We hope this is just the first of many successful programs with the SPEED Institute.”

Students interested in applying for the tuition program must be between 18 and 24 years old. Candidates should be pursuing a career in any the following fields: marketing, communications, human resources, finance, engineering, or trade disciplines in the automotive industry. Individuals meeting these qualifications can apply via a simple video submission process, sharing their story and explaining why they deserve a tuition award. Dr Pepper and 23XI will announce the winning recipients on Sept. 26 at the South Point 400 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

For more information about the new tuition program, including the Official Rules, please visit https://www.23xispeedinstitute.com/drpepper.

About Dr Pepper

Dr Pepper, a brand of Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP), is the oldest major soft drink in the United States. Since 1885, the 23 flavors of Dr Pepper have earned legions of fans that enjoy its unique, refreshing taste. The brand is available in Regular, Diet, Caffeine Free, Cherry, and Cream Soda varieties. For more information, visit DrPepper.com or keurigdrpepper.com. For the brand’s latest news and updates, follow Dr Pepper at Facebook.com/DrPepper or Twitter.com/DrPepper.

About 23XI Racing

23XI Racing – pronounced twenty-three eleven – was founded by NBA legend Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin in 2020. Rising NASCAR star Bubba Wallace is the single car team’s driver. 23XI Racing’s No. 23 Toyota Camry made its NASCAR Cup Series debut at the Daytona 500 on February 14, 2021, at Daytona International Speedway.

About 23XI Racing’s SPEED Institute

SPEED Institute is 23XI Racing’s educational and professional development initiative, launched in 2021. The initiative expands on the team’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in sports, specifically in the motorsports industry. 23XI Racing, along with its partners under the SPEED Institute program, will provide educational opportunities as well as diversity recruiting and professional development in the motorsports field.

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