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

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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

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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

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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

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Official Release
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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

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Official Release
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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

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Official Release
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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.

Weekend schedule for Michigan and Gateway

By
Angie Campbell
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Kevin Harvick wins the NASCAR Cup Series Consumers Energy 400 at Michigan International Speedway on August 09, 2020 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

This weekend the NASCAR Cup Series and the Xfinity Series travel to Michigan International Speedway. The Camping World Truck Series will compete at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway for the first race in their Playoffs.

There are five regular-season races left in the Xfinity Series.

Justin Allgaier, AJ Allmendinger, Jeb Burton and Myatt Snider have already clinched a spot in the Xfinity postseason 12-driver field.

Xfinity Series drivers who can secure their spot with a win include Brandon Brown, Harrison Burton, Jeremy Clements, Noah Gragson, Justin Haley, Riley Herbst, Daniel Hemric, Brandon Jones and Ryan Sieg.

Landon Cassill, Alex Labbe, Tommy Joe Martins and Josh Williams could clinch a spot in the Xfinity Playoffs with a win and some help.

There are only two open spots in the Cup Series postseason. Aric Almirola, Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, Alex Bowman, Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch, William Byron, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Michael McDowell and Martin Truex Jr. have each qualified for the Playoffs.

Kevin Harvick, Tyler Reddick, Austin Dillon, Matt DiBenedetto, Chris Buescher, Ross Chastain, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Darrell Wallace Jr., Chase Briscoe, Daniel Suarez, Erik Jones, Ryan Newman, Ryan Preece, Cole Custer, Corey Lajoie, Anthony Alfredo can clinch with a win.

Harvick, the defending race winner, can also earn a spot in the Playoffs with 44 points.

All times are Eastern.

Friday, August 20 – Michigan

4 p.m.: ARCA Menards Series practice – No TV
6 p.m.: ARCA Series Henry Ford Health System 200 at Michigan
100 Laps/200 Miles
Trackpass/MRN

Friday, August 20 – WWT Raceway at Gateway

8:50 p.m.: Driver Intros
9 p.m.: Truck Series Toyota 200 presented by CK Power at Gateway
Stages 55/110/160 laps = 200 Miles
Pole: Austin Hill
FS1/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Saturday, August 21 – Michigan

3:05 p.m.: Driver Intros
3:30 p.m.: Xfinity Series New Holland 250 at Michigan
Stages 30/60/125 Laps = 250 Miles
Pole: Austin Cindric
NBCSN/NBC Sports App/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio/TSN

Sunday, August 22 – Michigan

2:30: Driver Intros
3 p.m.: Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan
Stages 60/120/200 Laps = 400 miles
Pole: Kyle Larson
NBCSN/NBC Sports App/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio/TSN

Michigan Intl. Speedway Data

Track Size: 2-miles
Banking/Turn 1 & 2: 18 degrees
Banking/Turn 3 & 4: 18 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 5 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 2 degrees
Frontstretch Length:  3,600 feet
Backstretch Length:  2,242 feet

Michigan Qualifying Data

Track qualifying record: Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet (206.558 mph, 34.857 secs.) on August 17, 2014.
2020 Michigan pole winner: Qualifying canceled due to COVID-19.  The starting lineup was decided by a random draw.

  • Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch lead all active NCS drivers in Michigan starts with 40 each.
  • Tyler Reddick leads all active NCS drivers in average starting position at with an 8.500 in two starts.
  • Seven of the 50 NCS Michigan pole winners are active this weekend.  Joey Logano (4), Kurt Busch (3), Brad Keselowski (2), Denny Hamlin (1), Kevin Harvick (1), Kyle Larson (1), and Ryan Newman (1).
  • Joey Logano (2013, 2016 sweep, 2019) leads all active NCS drivers in poles at Michigan with four; followed by Kurt Busch (2010, 2011 and 2018) with three.
  • The youngest series Michigan pole winner is Joey Logano (August 16, 2013 – 23 years, 2 months, 23 days).
  • Nine different manufacturers have won a pole at Michigan in the NCS.  Ford leads the series in poles at Michigan with 31, followed by Chevrolet (27), Mercury (10), Dodge (nine), Pontiac (eight), Toyota (six), Buick (three), Plymouth (two) and Oldsmobile (one).

Michigan Race Data

Track race record: Dale Jarrett, Ford (173.997 mph, 2:17:56) on June 13, 1999.
2020 Michigan race winner: Kevin Harvick, Ford (124.712 mph, (02:34:55) on August 8, 2020.

  • A total of 38 different drivers have won in the NCS at Michigan with seven of the 38 race winners are active this weekend.  Kevin Harvick (5), Joey Logano (3), Kurt Busch (3), Kyle Larson (3), Denny Hamlin (2), Ryan Newman (2), and Kyle Busch (1).
  • Kurt Busch (2003, 2007, 2015), Matt Kenseth (2002, 2006, 2015), Joey Logano (2013, 2016, 2019) and Kevin Harvick (2010, 2018, 2019) lead all active series drivers in wins at Michigan with three each.
  • The youngest series Michigan winner id Joey Logano (August 18, 2013 – 23 years, 2 months, 25 days).
  • Martin Truex Jr. (30), and Michigan native Brad Keselowski (23) lead all active drivers in the series in starts without a win at Michigan.
  • The first starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (22 of 103, 21.36%) than any other starting position at Michigan.
  • The deepest in the field that an active race winner has started at Michigan is 24th, by Kurt Busch in the June of 2015.
  • Roush Fenway Racing leads the series in wins at Michigan with 13.  Mark Martin (four), Greg Biffle (four), Carl Edwards (two), Matt Kenseth (two) and Kurt Busch (one).
  • Eight different manufacturers have won in the NCS at Michigan.  It’s led by Ford with 41 victories, followed by Chevrolet with 26, Mercury (12), Dodge (nine), Toyota (five), Buick (four) Pontiac (four) and Oldsmobile (two).

Top 12 Michigan Driver Ratings

Kevin Harvick……………………… 102.5
Joey Logano………………………… 99.1
Chase Elliott…………………………. 99.1
Brad Keselowski……………………. 97.3
Kyle Larson………………………….. 96.1
Denny Hamlin……………………….. 92.6
Ryan Blaney…………………………. 92.5
Kurt Busch…………………………… 91.8
Kyle Busch…………………………… 90.7
Christopher Bell…………………….. 89.6
Martin Truex Jr……………………… 89.3
Erik Jones……………………………. 86.6
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2020 races (32 total) among active drivers at Michigan International Speedway.

Young’s Motorsports World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway Team Preview

By
Official Release
-

Young’s Motorsports | NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway | Toyota 200
Fast Facts

No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Team:
Driver: Kris Wright
Primary Partner(s): Wright
Chevrolet | WrightChevy.com
Manufacturer: Chevrolet Silverado
Crew Chief: Eddie Troconis
Toyota 200 Starting Position: 22nd (Based on event formula)
2021 Driver Points Position: 31st
2021 Owner Points Position: 19th
Chassis Intel: YMS Chassis No. 022
Engine: Ilmor Racing Technologies

Notes of Interest:

Double Digits: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year candidate Kris Wright will pilot the No. 02 Wright Chevrolet | WrightChevy.com Chevrolet Silverado this weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway for his 11th career start.

In addition to his nine Truck Series races this season at Daytona, Las Vegas, Richmond, Kansas, Darlington, Charlotte, Texas, Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway, and most recently at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, Wright also made his NCWTS debut last summer at the Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway Road Course.

Welcome Aboard: For the 16th Truck Series race of 2021, Young’s Motorsports welcomes Wright Chevrolet and WrightChevy.com as the primary marketing partner on Wright’s No. 02 Chevrolet Silverado for the Toyota 200.

Wright Chevrolet is also a part of WrightCars.com, which has been serving the Pittsburg area’s automotive needs featuring its Buick, GMS, Hyundai, Honda, Nissan, Lotus, Genesis and Explorer Vans brands since 1927.

Wright Chevrolet offers an extensive selection of new and pre-owned inventory in Pennsylvania.

Kris Wright Truck Series Gateway Stats: Friday night’s Toyota Tundra 200 will mark Wright’s first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at the 1.25-mile World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.

Wright does, however, have prior experience at WWTR competing in the ARCA Menards Series last season at Gateway in the Dutch Boy 150 driving for Chad Bryant Racing. He started eighth in the race but had electrical issues which relegated him to an 18th place finish with 109 of the 120 laps complete.

Kris Wright Truck Series Speedway Stats: At NASCAR Camping World Truck Series tracks classified as a speedway, Wright has made six starts throughout his career, while also carrying an average finishing position of 29.0.

Driver Intel: Road racing standout Kris Wright continues his rookie season with Young’s Motorsports with Friday night’s Toyota 200 at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.

The former IMSA and Formula 3 driver invades the Truck Series scene this season after spending much of the 2020 season competing in the ARCA Menards Series competing for Chad Bryant Racing and GMS Racing, respectively.

Wright earned three top-10 finishes in six races, including a career-best seventh in the season finale at Kansas Speedway last October.

Solid Pace For Young’s Motorsports: With seven races remaining in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series this season, Young’s Motorsports sits a solid 19th in the series owner standings with a handful of drivers.

In addition to Kaz Grala and Wright, NASCAR Xfinity Series winner Josh Berry, NASCAR Cup Series’ standout Daniel Suarez and USAC Triple Crown champion Chris Windom have all piloted the No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet in the 15 races thus far of 2021.

In one of the most competitive Truck Series seasons on record, the team has collected one top-five, two top-10s, five top-15s and 10 top-25 efforts collectively.

Calling the Shots: Guiding Wright as crew chief of the No. 02 Wright Chevrolet | WrightChevy.com Chevrolet Silverado is longtime crew chief Eddie Troconis.

Troconis is a two-time winning crew chief in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and comes to Young’s Motorsports after tenures at ThorSport Racing, AM Racing and Sam Hunt Racing (Xfinity Series) respectively.

He will crew chief his 138th NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Friday night. In his previous 137 races, he has two wins, 23 top-five and 46 top-10 finishes to his resume.

Troconis touted as a gifted engineer will make his sixth crew chief start at Gateway this weekend.

Follow on Social Media: For more on Kris Wright, please visit, kriswrightmotorsports.com, like him on Facebook (Kris Wright Racing) and follow him on Twitter (@KrisOnNASCAR).

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports) and follow on Instagram (youngsmotorsports) and Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

Kris Wright Pre-Race Quote:

On Gateway: “I’m pumped about being back in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with Young’s Motorsports this weekend at Gateway. I’ve missed the team and competing in the Truck Series.

“I’m hoping my prior experience at Gateway even though it was in an ARCA will prove to have some value on Friday night. I am approaching the race with an open mind with the goal of continuing to get valuable seat time but also bring home everyone at Young’s Motorsports a competitive finish that helps us for our next race.”

No. 12 Young’s Motorsports Team:
Driver: Tate Fogleman
Primary Partner(s): Solid Rock Carriers
Manufacturer: Chevrolet Silverado
Crew Chief: Ryan “Pickle” London
Toyota 200 Starting Position: 24th (Based on event formula)
2021 Driver Points Position: 21st
2021 Owner Points Position: 30th
Chassis Intel: YMS Chassis No. 017
Engine: Ilmor Racing Technologies

Notes of Interest:

Back To Familiar Territory: In his sophomore season of Truck Series competition, Fogleman returns to World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway eyeing his second career top-10 for Young’s Motorsports.

Solid As A Rock: Solid Rock Carriers continues their long-term presence with Young’s Motorsports and Fogleman and will return as the primary marketing partner of the team’s No. 12 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet for the Toyota Tundra 200.

Solid Rock Carriers Inc. is a licensed and bonded freight shipping and trucking company running freight hauling business from Lagrange, North Carolina. Serving the eastern United States for over 20 years, Solid Rock Carriers provides on-time delivery and superior customer service.

Tate Fogleman Truck Series Gateway Stats: Friday night’s Toyota 200 presented by CK Power will mark Fogleman’s third NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at the 1.25-mile track.

In his previous two efforts, the Durham, N.C. native delivered a track-best of 18th during the 2020 Truck Series race, while earning a track best starting position of 15th in the 2018 edition of the Villa Lighting Delivers The Eaton 200.

Tate Fogleman Truck Series Speedway Stats: At NASCAR Camping World Truck Series tracks classified as a speedway, Fogleman has made 24 starts throughout his career carrying an average finishing position of 24.0.

Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International | United Rentals 176 Race Recap: In the most recent NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International, Tate Fogleman made his 41st NCWTS start.

Starting 13th based on the metrics set by NASCAR without practice or qualifying, Fogleman battled back from early race contact in a very physical road course event to claim 26th in the lightning shorten event.

To The Point(s): Entering Gateway, Fogleman sits 21st in the championship standings with 173 points earned. Fogleman is one point behind Christan Eckes for 20th.

134 points separate Fogleman from 15th in the championship standings currently held by Austin Wayne Self with seven races remaining.

Young’s Motorsports’ No. 12 team maintains 30th in the NCWTS owner standings.

Did You Know?: 21-year-old Fogleman is the son of Jay Fogleman a former competitor in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and a 10-time winner in what is now known as the CARS Tour Series.

He is also a business major at High Point University and has a strong passion for fishing.

Calling the Shots: Guiding Fogleman as crew chief of the No. 12 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado is crew chief Ryan London.

He will crew chief his 40th NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Saturday afternoon. In his previous 39 races, he has one top-five and three top-10 finishes to his resume.

This weekend marks his first race as crew chief at Gateway.

Follow on Social Media: For more on Tate Fogleman, please like him on Facebook (Tate Fogelman Racing) and follow him on Instagram (tatefogleman) and Twitter (@tate_fogleman).

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports) and follow on Instagram (youngsmotorsports) and Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

Tate Fogleman Pre-Race Quotes:

On Gateway: “Gateway is going to be a competitive race on Friday night. Without the luxury of practice or qualifying, we’re going with a comfortable setup and we will make adjustments after the first stage.

“Gateway is a track that races like both a short track and a speedway. With its tight turns, you have to make sure you can rotate freely, but also make sure you have the speed to carry you through the straightaways.

“Our goal is another top-10 finish on Friday night and I think with a little luck, it’s definitely obtainable.”

On 2021 Season: “I’m proud of everyone on this Young’s Motorsports team – we are finally going in the right direction.

“We had a hiccup in the most recent race at Watkins Glen, but I’m proud of the heart and determination of this Young’s Motorsports team. We are going to be working hard to keep making gains and turn some more heads before the finale at Phoenix in November.”

No. 20 Young’s Motorsports Team:
Driver: Spencer Boyd
Primary Partner(s): Hans Wiemann
Manufacturer: Chevrolet Silverado
Crew Chief: Joe Lax
Toyota 200 Starting Position: 32nd
(Based on event formula)
2021 Driver Points Position: 26th | 2021 Owner Points Position: 37th
Chassis Intel: YMS Chassis 112
Engine: Ilmor Racing Technologies

Notes of Interest:

Back To Familiar Territory: Fan favorite Spencer Boyd returns to World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway eyeing his first top-10 of the season for Young’s Motorsports.

No. 105: This weekend at Gateway, Boyd will make his 105th career NASCAR start. Boyd has three starts in the NASCAR Cup Series, 42 starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and will make his 60th start in Trucks when the green flag waves Friday night.

The highlight of his NASCAR career is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in October 2019 driving for Young’s Motorsports.

Welcome Back To The Team: This weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, Young’s Motorsports welcomes back HairClub’s St. Louis brand Hans Wiemann as the primary partner on the No. 20 Chevrolet Silverado.

Located in St. Louis, Ill., Hans Wiemann has been in the hair replacement and restoration business since 1965. We utilize the very latest cutting-edge technology to help people solve their hair problems.

When you are ready to address your hair loss, we are here to help. Hans Wiemann provides a wide array of services to fit your needs.

As one of the largest hair loss treatment centers in the country, we’ll find the right solution for you, starting with a free hair and scalp analysis.

Hair Wars Round II: St. Louis native Spencer Boyd will be racing the No. 20 Hans Wiemann Chevrolet Silverado in part 2 of HairClub’s Hair Wars at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway this Friday, August 20.

The race within the race pits Spencer Boyd against Tyler Hill for the second consecutive year. Hill will be sponsored by HairClub, the same company that owns Hans Wiemann.

No wager is at stake, just a pride battle of which “Hair Wars” truck can get to the start-finish line first in the 160-lap event.

Both HairClub and Hans Wiemann are offering NASCAR fans $250 off select solutions and a free hair health checkup as a part of Hair Wars. Find a location near you at hairclub.com/find-a-center or hanswiemann.com.

Spencer Boyd Truck Series Gateway Stats: Friday night’s Toyota 200 presented by CK Power will mark Boyd’s fourth NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at the 1.25-mile track.

In his previous three efforts, the Creve Coeur, MO native delivered a track-best of 19th during the 2016 Truck Series race, while earning a track best starting position of 16th in the 2019 edition of the Carshield 200.

Spencer Boyd Truck Series Speedway Stats: At NASCAR Camping World Truck Series tracks classified as a speedway, Boyd has made 36 starts throughout his career carrying an average finishing position of 23.9.

To The Point(s): Entering Gateway, Boyd sits 26th in the championship standings.

56 points separate Boyd from 20th in the championship standings currently held by Christian Eckes with seven races remaining this season.

Young’s Motorsports’ No. 20 team also secures 36th in the NCWTS owner standings.

Chasing That W: Boyd is eyeing his second career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory for himself and Young’s Motorsports.

In 2019 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, Boyd pulled an upset during the Truck Series Playoffs by winning the Sugarland Shines 250 at the 2.66-mile superspeedway edging Todd Gilliland by 0.027 seconds.

Truck Series Rundown: In five years of Truck Series competition, Boyd has 59 career Truck Series starts with one win, two top-five and two top-10 finishes and a championship best of 17th in 2019.

Calling the Shots: Guiding Boyd as crew chief of the No. 20 Hans Wiemann Chevrolet Silverado is veteran crew chief Joe Lax.

He will crew chief his 70th NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Friday night. In his previous 69 races, he has one pole and six top-10 finishes to his resume.

This weekend marks his third race as crew chief at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.

Follow on Social Media: For more on Spencer Boyd, please like him on Facebook (Spencer Boyd Racing) and follow him on Instagram (SpencerBoydpr) and Twitter (@SpencerBoyd).

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports) and follow on Instagram (youngsmotorsports) and Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

Spencer Boyd Pre-Race Quotes:

On Gateway: “I am excited to be back on an oval and racing at World Wide Technology Raceway, my hometown. It is a fun place to race and I’m proud to be carrying the Hans Wiemann colors on Friday night.

“It is always great to race in front of friends and family. Hopefully, we can have a clean and competitive race and bring everyone who supports me and this Young’s Motorsports team a great finish.”
Race Information:

The Toyota 200 presented by CK Power (160 laps | 200 miles) is the 16th of 22 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races on the 2021 schedule. The 40-truck field will take the green flag on Fri., Aug. 20, 2021, shortly after 9:00 p.m. ET with live coverage on FOX Sports 1, the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM Satellite Radio NASCAR Channel 90.

NTT INDYCAR SERIES Returns to Iowa Speedway for 2022 Doubleheader

By
Official Release
-

Hy-Vee To Sponsor NTT INDYCAR SERIES Races on July 23-24, 2022, in Newton, Iowa

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021) – The NTT INDYCAR SERIES and Hy-Vee, a grocery chain based in the Midwest, have announced a new multiyear agreement, which returns the excitement of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES to the Iowa Speedway. Hy-Vee will provide broad support for next year’s doubleheader event set for July 23-24, 2022, through a wide-ranging partnership that will bring INDYCAR racing back to the 0.875-mile oval after a one-year hiatus.

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES was among the first to race on the D-shaped layout when it made its debut in Newton, Iowa, in 2007. Quickly known as a favorite of fans and drivers alike, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES has held 15 races at the track known as “The Fastest Short Track on the Planet” since it opened in 2006.

Drivers will now have another chance to race at Iowa Speedway as Hy-Vee and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES announced that the Hy-VeeDeals.com 250 will take place Saturday, July 23, and the Hy-Vee Salute to Farmers 300 will occur Sunday, July 24.

“We’re extremely pleased to return Iowa Speedway to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES calendar,” said Roger Penske, founder and chair of the Penske Corporation and owner of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. “Over the years, Iowa has proven to be a fitting showcase for North America’s premier open-wheel series. A key oval and a hallmark on our schedule, we deeply missed seeing our fans in Iowa this year and look forward to what’s ahead.”

Plans for the 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES event include several additional entertainment activities, making for a festival-like atmosphere throughout the weekend.

“With our strong connection to local communities and involvement in the state, we plan to host an event that will receive national attention and make Newton an annual destination for racing fans,” said Randy Edeker, chairman, CEO and president of Hy-Vee. “The weekend will be filled with multiple attractions and events that celebrate everything that is great about Iowa and NTT INDYCAR SERIES racing.”

West Des Moines, Iowa-based Hy-Vee was first involved in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES when the supermarket chain was the primary sponsor for Rahal Letterman Lanigan (RLL) Racing’s No. 15 car in Race 2 of the 2020 Iowa Speedway doubleheader. Driven by Graham Rahal, the Hy-Vee Honda finished third. It later sponsored the team’s No. 45 car driven by Spencer Pigot in the 2020 Indianapolis 500. In 2021, Hy-Vee provided primary sponsorship of RLL’s No. 45 car, driven by 2019 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Santino Ferrucci, for the Indianapolis 500 and other selected events, and was the primary sponsor of Rahal’s entry at Road America as well as this Saturday’s race in Madison, Illinois.

“The state of Iowa made a commitment to the sport of racing when the Iowa Speedway was built, and today’s exciting announcement of Hy-Vee’s partnership with the NTT INDYCAR SERIES reaffirms that,” said Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds. “Iowa is well suited to be an INDYCAR destination for racing fans nationwide, and I encourage Iowa businesses and organizations to support the success of this event in whatever way they can.”

“The state is rich with racing history and has a strong appreciation for INDYCAR and its terrific drivers and teams,” Penske said. “The fantastic addition of Hy-Vee and their commitment to our sport underscores the added value. Thanks to Hy-Vee and the State of Iowa for welcoming the return of INDYCAR racing to Iowa Speedway.”

Two-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Josef Newgarden is a three-time winner at Iowa Speedway and the most recent to celebrate in victory lane. Other champions at the track include four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves along with “500” and NTT INDYCAR SERIES champions Simon Pagenaud, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Tony Kanaan and Dario Franchitti.

The entire 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule will be announced at a later date. For more details about this event and to sign up for ticketing information, visit www.INDYCARatIowa.com.

Toyota Clinches 2021 ARCA Menards Series Manufacturer’s Championship

By
Official Release
-

PLANO, Texas (August 19, 2021) – Toyota captured its sixth manufacturer’s championship in the ARCA Menards Series and its fifth-consecutive ARCA title following Corey Heim’s fifth victory of the season at Watkins Glen International on August 6.

Toyota began the season with nine consecutive wins and has won 12 of the 13 races completed this season. In 2020, Toyota clinched the title with 13 victories in 20 ARCA Menards Series events.

“Everyone at Toyota is pleased to have clinched our fifth-consecutive ARCA Menards Series manufacturer’s title,” said Paul Doleshal, Group Manager, Motorsports and Assets, Toyota Motor North America (TMNA). “We have witnessed thrilling racing throughout the ARCA season with the future stars of NASCAR. Ty (Gibbs) and Corey (Heim) are delivering a great championship battle and we look forward to watching them compete for the title over these last seven events.”

Toyota supports four ARCA Menards Series teams, including Venturini Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, Hattori Racing Enterprises and Bill McAnally Racing. All season it has been an exciting title race between two teenagers – Heim and Ty Gibbs – for victories and the championship lead. Gibbs currently has the upper hand with seven wins, but Venturini Motorsports’ Heim closed the championship battle to just two points with his victory in his Toyota Camry at Watkins Glen.

Toyota first entered the ARCA Racing Series in 2007 and has captured six manufacturer’s titles (2013, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021) and six driver’s titles (2009, 2010, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019). Heim also delivered Toyota’s 100th ARCA Menards Series victory last fall at Kansas Speedway. Toyota now sits at 112 national ARCA Menards Series wins.

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands plus our 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota has created a tremendous value chain and directly employs more than 47,000 in North America. The company has contributed world-class design, engineering, and assembly of more than 40 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants, 15 including our joint venture in Alabama that begins production in 2021.

Through its Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.

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