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

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Official Release
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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

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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

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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.

CAMDEN GULLIE FEELS A WIN IS CLOSE AT HAND AS NASCAR RACING RETURNS TO SOUTH BOSTON SPEEDWAY WITH SATURDAY’S ITALIAN DELIGHT FAMILY RESTAURANT NIGHT AT THE RACES

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Official Release
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Camden Gullie intently watches the action on the track while he relaxes during a break in practice for one of this season’s NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series Late Model Stock Car Division events at South Boston Speedway. Gullie is among a group of talented young NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series Late Model Stock Car Division drivers making a strong showing at South Boston Speedway this season. Photo Courtesy Joe Chandler/South Boston Speedway

By Joe Chandler
Director, Public Relations
South Boston Speedway

SOUTH BOSTON, Va. (Aug. 17, 2021)…Camden Gullie feels a win is coming his way soon.

The Durham, North Carolina resident, one in a group of talented young NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series Late Model Stock Car Division drivers making an impact at South Boston Speedway this season, has scored a pair of Top-Five finishes and has finished no worse than seventh in four of his last five starts at “America’s Hometown Track.”

Gullie’s consistency in the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series Late Model Stock Car Division this season gives him the feeling a win could come any time now. He has recorded three Top-Five finishes and 10 Top-10 finishes in his 14 starts heading into the twin 75-lap NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series Late Model Stock Car Division races that will headline Saturday night’s Italian Delight Family Restaurant Night at the Races event at South Boston Speedway. His best finish of the season has been a second-place finish in the second race of a twin-race event on May 15.

“We’ve been really consistent,” Gullie pointed out. “We put a lot of hours in at the shop during the week. We feel like if we keep that up, we have a shot at a win. Races are won during the week at the shop with all of the hard work. Our team puts in a lot of hard work, and I definitely feel like a win is coming soon.”

Gullie enters Saturday night’s twinbill sitting in fourth place in the South Boston Speedway NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series Late Model Stock Car Division point standings. He is 26 points out of third place and has an opportunity to climb higher in the division point standings.

Gullie’s statistics and his top-five standing in the track point standings reflect his successful effort.

“I think it’s just hard work, dedication and consistency,” Gullie said when asked about the key to his success this season. “I think it’s hard work every week at the shop by all of the guys helping me on the car and all of the hard work that my crew chief, J.D. Jones, has put in. I couldn’t do without these guys, and, of course, my mom and dad who support me each week.”

Gullie feels the season is a successful one.

“I feel like we’ve had a really good season here at South Boston Speedway,” said Gullie. “We’ve had very consistent finishes. We finished second one weekend and have had consistent finishes. If we stay on top of our game and keep having these consistent finishes, I feel a win will follow.”

Gullie, now in his third season of racing in the Late Model Stock Car Division ranks, is competing in his first full season of racing at South Boston Speedway. In 2019 he finished 10th in points competing on the CARS Tour and had Top-10 finishes in two starts at South Boston Speedway. He logged one Top-10 finish in three starts on the CARS Tour in 2020.

The young driver says he is a little surprised at the level of success he has enjoyed at the .4-mile oval this season.

“I feel like we have surprised ourselves just in how consistent we have been up here against some of the best Late Model Stock Car drivers,” Gullie remarked. “We came into the season hoping to get some consistent finishes. That’s what we’ve done. That is what has put us in contention for the championship at the end of the year. It’s going to be hard to catch Peyton Sellers, but I feel we have a chance to at least finish second in the points if we can continue having consistent finishes.”

The battle for South Boston Speedway’s four division championships and positions in the upper tier of the point standings in each division is entering its final stages. Saturday night’s Italian Delight Family Restaurant Night at the Races presented by Southside Disposal event is the next-to-last track points event of the season at “America’s Hometown Track.”

Six races are set on Saturday night’s card with twin 75-lap races for the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series Late Model Stock Car Division competitors headlining the action. The Limited Sportsman Division competitors will battle it out in a 50-lap race. Twin 15-lap races are set for the Budweiser Pure Stock Division drivers and the Budweiser Hornets Division drivers will compete in a 15-lap race.

Registration and pit gates will open at 2 p.m. Practice will begin at 3:45 p.m. and grandstand gates will open at 5:30 p.m. Qualifying begins at 6 p.m. and the first race of the night will get the green flag at 7 p.m.

Advance adult general admission tickets for Saturday night’s Italian Delight Family Restaurant Night at the Races event are priced at $10 each and may be purchased online on South Boston Speedway’s website, www.southbostonspeedway.com, through Friday night, August 20. Adult general admission tickets online and at the gate on race day are priced at $15 each. Kids ages 12 and under will be admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult.

Fans and competitors are urged to visit the South Boston Speedway website and the speedway’s social media channels for the latest news and updates about the speedway and events at “America’s Hometown Track.”

CENTRAL TRANSPORT GLASS CITY 200 AT TOLEDO SEPT. 18; DRIVER BONUS PROGRAMS ANNOUNCED

By
Official Release
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Toledo, Ohio—August 17, 2021: Central Transport will return as the title sponsor of the 33rd running of the Glass City 200 at Toledo Speedway. The prestigious race is set for Saturday, September 18 at the fast ½ mile paved oval. The Hampton Inn and Courtyard by Marriott, and DTS Drive Train Specialists, will be the presenting sponsors for the track’s signature event.

A rain date of Sunday, September 19 has been established should weather be an issue.

Advance ticket information will be released in the next week. Tickets will be available online at www.toledospeedway.com or by calling the track at 419-727-1100. All seating is general admission for the event. Add $1 per ticket for online purchases.

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

Spectator gates open will open at 1 p.m. Race time is set for 5 p.m. The complete time schedule for the day will be announced soon.

Current NASCAR Truck Series driver Carson Hocevar (ARCA/CRA Super Series Late Models) and Steve Needles (Outlaw Super Late Models) are the defending race winners of the Glass City 200.

SAFETY KLEEN/CLEAN HARBORS WINNERS BONUS

With the support of Safety Kleen through their parent company Clean Harbors, a Winner’s bonus program will award $250 to the winners of four (4) Outlaw Super Late Model events in the Midwest leading up to the Glass City race; The Kalamazoo Klash at Kalamazoo Speedway August 18; the Mudslinger 100 at the Auto City Speedway in Clio, MI August 28; the Harvest 100 at the Corrigan Oil (Lansing, MI) Speedway September 5 and the Dixie Classic at the Birch Run, MI Speedway September 11.

The winners of each of these races will receive a $250 bonus, should they file a paid pre-entry and compete at Toledo in the Glass City Outlaw Super Late Model race September 18. Safety Kleen/Clean Harbors will also be doing a special prize giveaway to race fans that day. Details will be announced soon.

FLAT ROCK TOP 10 BONUS PROGRAM SET

The top 10 in the final point standings for the ARCA Moran Chevrolet Outlaw Super Late Models at Flat Rock Speedway, Toledo’s sister track, will each collect a $150 bonus should they file a paid pre-entry and compete at Toledo for the Glass City 100.

LV Enterprises boss Larry Varney has posted a $300 bonus to the Fast Qualifier in both the Outlaw Super Late Models and the ARCA/CRA Super Series Late Models.

DTS Drive Train Specialists will award a total of five (5) product certificates for the Outlaw Super Late Models in a random draw.

Lap money at $5 per lap for each of the 100 lap events is being taken for the Glass City 200. Call 419-727-1100 or 734-782-2480 to become a lap sponsor today!

The Outlaw Super Late Model entry form and additional bonus programs and information will be available in the next few days.

Interstate Batteries Racing: Kyle Busch Michigan Advance

By
Official Release
-


KYLE BUSCH
Final Stop of the Midwest Road Trip

HUNTERSVILLE, North Carolina (Aug. 17, 2021) – Many families across the United States use the summer months to take a road trip and make memories along the way.

Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), his wife Samantha and 6-year-old son Brexton decided they were going to take a summer road trip of their own as they toured the Midwest so Brexton could try out multiple tracks during his budding racing career.

The “Midwest Road Trip,” as the Busch family called it, has included stops in Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin, with stopovers in New York for the NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International and Indianapolis for the inaugural Cup Series road-course race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Their voyage has included a few trips in the family moterhome, as well as a few airplane rides. While the Busch family returned home this week to the Charlotte, North Carolina, area, they have one more Midwest stop on the docket as NASCAR’s top series makes its way to Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn for Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400 for the annual late-summer visit to the Irish Hills that means fall is on the horizon.

With Interstate Batteries returning to the No. 18 car this weekend while continuing to celebrate their 30th anniversary together in 2021, Busch is encouraging fans to stop by a local Interstate dealer to get their vehicle batteries checked before taking off on their late-summer vacation, much like they did before their own Midwest racing tour. Hot weather has a far greater effect on batteries than the cold, so this weekend’s race at a popular summer tourist destination like the Great Lakes State is the perfect setting to remind fans to have their batteries checked.

The Michigan race signifies not only the end of summer, but the winding down of the Cup Series regular season. Busch has been consistent during this year’s summer stretch. In the last nine races on the schedule, starting with the June event at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway through last weekend’s race on the Indianapolis road course, Busch has a win at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway highlighting an impressive six top-five finishes.

In the Irish Hills of Michigan this weekend, Busch will look to keep running up front at a place where he initially struggled following the 2012 repave of the 2-mile oval. The Las Vegas native has scored eight consecutive top-10s and no finish worse than sixth in his last six starts there.

Busch’s lone career Cup Series win at Michigan came on Aug. 21, 2011, when he found himself outdueling seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson in a late-race shootout.

So, as Busch and the Interstate Batteries team head back to the Midwest this weekend with an “Outrageously Dependable” Interstate Battery under the hood, the confidence built from a summer spent running up front will do them well this weekend. But Busch also knows chances are he’ll need to outduel several others in order to capture his second career Cup Series victory in the Irish Hills, which would be a perfect way to cap off an enjoyable family road trip around the Midwest.

KYLE BUSCH, Driver of the No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing:

What are you expecting at Michigan this weekend?

“Michigan has been a hit-or-miss place for us. I remember winning there on the final race of the old pavement and that was super cool. Ever since the repave, it’s been stuck up there in lane number two and where everyone wants to run. Last year, we got to put on more side-by-side racing and I ended up third. Looking forward to coming back there with a fast Interstate Batteries Camry. Our 550-horsepower race package has been pretty good for us this year, so hope it bodes well for us there this weekend. (Kevin) Harvick and (Joey) Logano and, really, the Ford’s in general have been really quick over the last few years there. It seems like they either have their engine or aero packages squared away there a little bit more than us. This year, it’s been more about the Hendrick guys, so they are probably the group you have to race to win there, as opposed to what it’s been at Michigan the last few years.”

What is it about Michigan that separates it from other tracks?

“Michigan just being a 2-mile speedway, it’s not like a Daytona and Talladega, where it has the banking like those tracks do, but it is medium banking, so it’s all about speed. You just have to be fast and willing to go through the corner fast. The faster you can get through the corner, the better you are going to be down the straightaways. That’s just a product that we all understand. A couple of years ago, we tried to get better straightaway speed and it made us not as good in the corners, so we re-did our philosophy a bit for both getting off the corner and down the straightaway.”

What is the atmosphere like at Michigan as opposed to other tracks?

“The camping and the infield there always seems really full. They put on a good event weekend. They have concerts and they have some late-night fireworks, and hopefully they will be doing stuff for all the campers who will be there all weekend. We just come there on Sunday this year, and we run our race and we go back out. We just want to put on a good show for the fans and hopefully get our Interstate Batteries Camry up front during our 30th year with JGR and Interstate as great partners.”

As you close in on the playoffs, what is the most important goal in your mind?

“Winning – no different than any other part of the year. You want to win. You want to pick up those bonus points and get yourself a little bit better situated for the playoff run. I feel like we are a little bit behind on that. We are not terrible. We are way ahead of where we were last year, but it would certainly be nice to have one or two more wins and collect more stage points. I think we would be good with that.”

How do you feel going into Michigan and what does that track mean for you on the schedule?

“We just try to figure out what we can continue to do to evolve and get better there. The setup there equates nothing to anything that we race throughout the playoffs, so really it’s just a track that we have to go to and do the best we can. But, beyond that, you never want to give away any opportunities to go out there and win a race, or to excel, or to take momentum away from what you’re doing with our Interstate Batteries Camry. We’ve put a focus on that track for the last three, four years and we’ve gained. We’ve certainly made improvements. I think we’ve run well there but our finishes may not have shown it, as far as the win column goes. We just need to be able to not have to race at 100 percent at Michigan all the time to finish third. We need to be able to run 90 percent to win, and that would allow us to then make up time if certain situations happen to us if we have a loose wheel, a bad pit stop, whatever. You can make time and pass people, things like that.”

Event Overview:

● Event: FireKeepers Casino 400 (Round 25 of 36)
● Time/Date: 3 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Aug. 22
● Location: Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn
● Layout: 2-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 200 laps/400 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 60 laps / Stage 2: 60 laps / Final Stage: 80 laps
● TV/Radio: NBCSN / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Meet the No. 18 Interstate Batteries / Joe Gibbs Racing Team

Primary Team Members:

Driver: Kyle Busch
Hometown: Las Vegas

Crew Chief: Ben Beshore
Hometown: York, Pennsylvania

Car Chief: Nate Bellows
Hometown: Fairfax, Vermont

Spotter: Tony Hirschman
Hometown: Northampton, Pennsylvania

Over-The-Wall Crew Members:

Gas Man: Matt Tyrrell
Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Front Tire Changer: Blake Houston
Hometown: Enochville, North Carolina

Jackman: T.J. Ford
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Joe Crossen
Hometown: Salisbury, North Carolina

Rear Tire Changer: Jeff Cordero
Hometown: Salem, Connecticut

Road Crew Members:

Race Engineer: Seth Chavka
Hometown: Soldotna, Alaska

Truck Driver: Chris Miko
Hometown: Bronx, New York

Truck Driver: Tom McCrimmon
Hometown: Spicer, Minnesota

Mechanic/Tire Specialist: Justin Peiffer
Hometown: Lebanon, Pennsylvania

Mechanic: Scott Eldridge
Hometown: Warsaw, Indiana

Notes of Interest:

● 30th Anniversary Celebration: This season, JGR and Interstate Batteries are celebrating quite the milestone in their 30th year together in NASCAR’s top series. No other sponsor has been with the same team for as long of a run as this strong partnership. In fact, Interstate Batteries has brought home 32 all-time Cup Series wins as a primary sponsor and countless others as associate sponsor on JGR cars. Interstate Batteries and JGR brought home their first win together in the 1993 Daytona 500 with Dale Jarrett behind the wheel. Jarrett won twice in Interstate Batteries colors, Kyle Busch nine times, and Bobby Labonte leads the way for the Dallas-based company with 21 all-time Cup Series wins in its colors.

● 30-Year Giveaway: In celebration of the 30-year partnership with JGR, Interstate Batteries is hosting a Twitter giveaway on the 30th day of each month. Fans can follow Interstate on Twitter (@interstatebatts), Facebook (@interstatebatteries), Instagram (@interstatebatteries), and YouTube (@interstatebatteries) for giveaways, how-to tips, NASCAR updates, and even more car-related content most people never knew they needed.

● Green Machine: In addition to Busch’s nine victories in Interstate Batteries colors over the years for JGR, Busch brought home two Xfinity Series victories for Interstate Batteries. Both came at Phoenix Raceway, in 2008 and 2011.

● Michigan Stats: Busch has one win, nine top-five finishes and 14 top-10s and has led a total of 266 laps in 32 career Cup Series starts at Michigan. Busch’s average Michigan finish is 16.7.

● Playoff Points: Busch has accumulated 14 important playoff points he can take with him through each round. Busch also currently sits third in the point standings with 11 top-five finishes and 15 top-10s with just two regular-season races remaining before the playoffs begin.

● Alone in Ninth: With his win in June at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, Busch sits at 59 career wins in NASCAR’s top series as he moved past Kevin Harvick into sole possession of ninth on the all-time win list. Next up on the win list is Dale Earnhardt, the seven-time Cup Series champion and NASCAR Hall of Famer who won 76 races during his storied career.

● 222 and Counting: Busch will be aiming to add to his record 222 overall wins among NASCAR’s top three series this weekend at Michigan. In addition to his 59 Cup Series wins and 102 in the Xfinity Series, Busch has 61 wins in the Camping World Truck Series.

CORVETTE RACING AT LE MANS: Eight Winning Retrospectives

By
Official Release
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LE MANS, France (Aug. 17, 2021) – Corvette Racing is back at the 24 Hours of Le Mans this week with its eye toward a ninth class victory in one of the world’s greatest endurance races. Debuting at Le Mans in 2000, the program quickly established itself as an annual contender in the production-based GT categories. This year should be no different with the mid-engine Corvette C8.R.

Ahead of this week’s track action, let’s visit with current and past Corvette Racing drivers to recap each victory from 2001 to 2015:

2001
Following an overall victory in the Rolex 24 At Daytona earlier in the year, hopes were high for Corvette Racing as it headed to Le Mans for the second time in 2001. The program finished third and fourth in GTS the previous year during its Le Mans debut, but the lessons and experiences from that initial run set the table for what happened in a chaotic 2001 race, thanks to Mother Nature.

Ron Fellows, Johnny O’Connell and Scott Pruett claimed the GTS victory in the No. 63 Corvette C5-R during a rain-soaked 24 Hours to lead a Corvette Racing 1-2 result.

Ron Fellows: “The 2001 season was really a breakout one for Corvette Racing. We won our first race in Texas the year before, we won Petit Le Mans and then won the Rolex 24 overall in 2001. Things were really, really coming together. As a team, we felt like we were more prepared than we ever had been. We had been to Le Mans for the first time in 2000 and learned a lot. The only obstacle we had in 2001 was the weather. My recollection is that I think I did a total of three laps in the race on slick tires. Everything else was in the rain or an intermediate track. It was a race of survival, which we did and then some. I think we ran fourth overall at some point. It was just an outstanding effort and complete relief at the end that we had accomplished – to that point – more than expected. Winning the Rolex 24 was on the list, but getting it overall was above and beyond. Achieving a class win at Le Mans was huge for all of us. I can’t say enough positives about the whole Corvette Racing effort.
“We kept plugging away, making adjustments each race and each year to get better – whether it was pit stops, the chassis, the engine guys. They all plugged away at it to get better. We weren’t getting any breaks. We were up against a dominant Viper team. You throw in Ferrari, Porsche and others… it was an incredible moment to be up there on that podium. The event is so amazing and I feel fortunate to be part of such a great team.”

2002
Fellows and O’Connell repeated as GTS winners, aided by a debuting Oliver Gavin in the No. 63 Corvette C5-R. It was another 1-2 finish as the winning Corvette triumphed by four laps over its sister Corvette entry. It was a little more straight-forward than the year before as the biggest threat to victory – a Prodrive Ferrari – retired just past the halfway point.

Still, the victory laid down the marker of excellence that continues to define Corvette Racing, according to one of its most successful drivers…

Johnny O’Connell: “The 2002 race was important. The reason is that there was a little bit of an aspect of luck in 2001. In that race at the start, you didn’t know if you needed to go out on rain tires because it was a wet track or slicks. Ron chose to do rain tires and there was a big shunt at the beginning… a lot of guys falling off on entry into the Porsche Curves. So we got a break there and lost a couple of guys who might challenge us. 2002 was legit. It was important because we were trying to set ourselves up as the standard. There was still a question mark on if we were that good and was the car that good. We executed everything we needed to do. The team gave us a bullet-proof car. I don’t think we had any moments where we had an issue that had to overcome. It was Oliver’s first Le Mans with us and had a lot to prove. Now through his history, he has more wins for Corvette Racing than anyone. But when I look at Corvette’s involvement at Le Mans, it’s really the strength of the cars. In my time driving 10 times at Le Mans with Corvette, I got on the podium eight times with only one DNF. The challenge that Corvette Racing brings to everyone else is the understanding that the car is wicked strong, it can do 24 hours, and the team is so strong that rare are the mistakes. For anyone to beat Corvette Racing, they have to get to a whole other level. You just don’t see that at all.”

2004
Corvette Racing put a dismal 2003 appearance behind itself with a resounding victory for Gavin, Olivier Beretta and Jan Magnussen in the No. 64 Corvette C5-R. It was the fifth-generation Corvette’s final race at Le Mans with the factory squad as Corvette Racing celebrated another 1-2 finish.

Survival was the name of the game in this edition as numerous pieces of bodywork and other parts needed to be replaced on the winning Corvette. The team event raided the Corvette showcar in the fan area for enough bodywork to finish the race!

Oliver Gavin: “From what I remember from 2004, it was our first race at Le Mans with the Michelin tire. We were really making some big strides forward in performance. Fundamentally, the race was a big of crashfest! There were many incidents and accidents. Our car seemed to get caught up in numerous things – some of them out of our control but also some it was driver-induced. I remember the car being fixed in the middle of the night and we were searching for bodywork a little bit. I was told no more mistakes or no more screw-ups; I think I had just done a nose in on the car! We were battling hard to catch the Ferrari. At some point after that when the sun came up, we were in a pretty good spot but there was a huge pile of bodywork in the tent behind the garages. It was the biggest I’d ever seen, and we had no more left to use at all. We ended up finishing and winning the race with the showcar rear deck and rear bodywork, which was extraordinary! It was the first win for us there with Michelin and the first of three in a row with Jan, Oliver and myself.”

2005
The first appearance for the Corvette C6.R resulted in a second straight victory for the Beretta/Gavin/Magnussen trio in the No. 64 Corvette. A fourth win for Corvette Racing also brought a fourth 1-2 finish in the GT1 category. The winning Corvette finished fifth overall, a remarkable result for a production-based entry.

The 2005 edition was the first of many titanic duels with Aston Martin. Things weren’t decided until the 19th hour as the bulletproof Corvettes roared past their challengers, proving reliability – as well as speed – wins at Le Mans.

Jan Magnussen: “This was the first year of GT1 and the C6.R, both significant steps. I don’t remember the race very clearly, but it was another big fight between our team and Aston Martin. They had beaten us at Sebring and we really wanted to get back at them in Le Mans. It was great competition and we had a lot of respect for each other. Things went back and forth quite a lot. We had a couple of punctures in the race, but one of their cars ran out fuel and they had some technical problems, too. I think our reliability was just a little bit better and that made the difference. We won by two laps over the other Corvette, took our second straight win in the 64 and finished fifth overall. It was a great result with a new car in a new category.”

2006
Beretta, Gavin and Magnussen were victorious again in another tough Le Mans fight for Corvette Racing’s fifth Le Mans win and third in a row. The No. 64 Corvette C6.R finished fourth overall and won by five laps over the closest Aston Martin, which again was beset by mechanical problems late.

The two contenders ran within a lap of each other much of the race before Corvette Racing gained the advantage inside the final three hours.

Oliver Gavin: “It was an exceptionally hot year. The car was very quick. It was the second year against the Prodrive Aston Martins, and it was very close for a lot of it. They had three cars that were all very quick and very good. I think it was the Darren Turner car that was giving us the hardest race. It was super-tough. I think it was Jan who eventually got us into the lead with only a few hours to go. I also think that was the race where we were the highest a GT car has ever finished overall at Le Mans when we were fourth in our class. It was a great one and three in a row for the 64 Corvette – Jan, Olivier and myself. It was very special to get that win. Those are very fond memories, great times and brilliant racing. Prodrive was one of the best teams that we ever raced against, and the respect between the two teams was always very high. Those were very special times.”

2009
The end of the GT1 era saw Corvette Racing return to the top step of the Le Mans podium. O’Connell, Magnussen and Antonio Garcia – making his Corvette Le Mans debut – took victory in the No. 63 Corvette C6.R and won the class by six laps.

The race mainly was a fight between the two Corvette Racing entries. The No. 63 ran flawlessly throughout and never made a visit to the garage.

Antonio Garcia: “It was the first time I went to Le Mans as a Corvette driver, so that makes it a year to remember. The GT1 cars were really fun to drive. It was a nice to have a last chance to drive around Le Mans in a GT1 car before we moved on to the GT2. That’s always a good thing going around Le Mans. Everything you have available makes this track nicer and nicer. It was good to run there. From the next year onward, we lost quite a few seconds per lap. Even if now we are probably running faster than what GT1 used to be, it was cool to have that chance to run the GT1 Corvette around Le Mans for the final time.
“The race was pretty straight-forward. It was a classic 63 vs. 64 Corvette battle. I think the 64 ran into some issues with about one-third of the race to go. Up to that point, we were pretty close. Back then, there were no slow zones so at some point we lost one safety car train to the 64 so it was difficult to catch back up; it was pretty easy to fall down a third-of-a-lap. The whole race was a little like that. It was a good challenge to be there in those years… very special.”

2011
Chevrolet’s 100th anniversary year and the 10th anniversary of Corvette Racing’s first Le Mans win ended in fitting style with a drama-filled GTE Pro win for Beretta, Garcia and team newcomer Tommy Milner in the No. 73 Corvette C6.R. A methodical march up the standings culminated with Milner’s race-winning pass inside three hours to go to give Corvette Racing its seventh Le Mans victory.

Changing weather conditions inside the final three hours added to the challenge, but Milner remained unphased in the critical moments.

Tommy Milner: “We weren’t slow but we weren’t as fast as the other Corvette. They had a lap on the field basically and had an unfortunate accident. I think at that point we were sixth and maybe a half-lap behind the leader. As the race continued on, one by one our competitors were having trouble or slower stints and we made up some time. It looked like it was going to be hard to beat the Ferrari. But then suddenly they slowed considerably. The gap started to come down, then it would stabilize and then it would come down more. We couldn’t figure out what was going on. We thought maybe it was traffic at first but as time went, more often than not they were having some slow laps. I think I was finishing my second stint of a triple and slowly seeing the Ferrari down the Mulsanne Straight get closer, and then the next lap significantly closer and finally passing him after going down to Indianapolis. That is a moment I can remember pretty vividly. It was one of the easiest passes I’ve ever had to make in my career! I can remember getting out of the car and being physically and mentally drained from the experience. I was excited, for sure. It seemed like we were in good shape, and Antonio only had to drive for another hour-and-a-half to go to the end.
“That’s a dream come true… to start my career with Corvette Racing with a win like that at Le Mans. I don’t remember much about being on the podium. There was so much emotion of that race, the experience of it all and getting the win, you don’t remember hardly any of it. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy it; I certainly did. But you don’t remember the little moments. Fortunately I had the chance to win it again in 2015 with the team and have that same experience again on the podium and to appreciate more the little nuances of being up there versus the first one where everything is a blur. It definitely was a great moment to be in the garage with my dad and to have him there to be a part of that was really, really cool.”

2015
Of all the Le Mans wins for Corvette Racing, the win in 2015 might be the special. Gavin, Milner and Jordan Taylor won in GTE Pro with the No. 64 Corvette C7.R only days after the sister car was withdrawn following a crash in qualifying.

Instead of folding, Corvette Racing marshaled all its effort around the remaining Corvette C7.R. The Gavin/Milner/Taylor trio moved from seventh to the start into the lead at the end during the sixth hour. The No. 64 won by five laps.

Jordan Taylor: “Winning the 2015 race was a super emotional week with our team car going out in qualifying. We entered the race with just one car, which was the first time in history for Corvette Racing at Le Mans. The pressure that everyone felt going into the race – not just the drivers but the crew, the engineers and everyone else on the team – was substantial. To come away with the win in those circumstances made it super emotional. Standing on the podium, I get goosebumps just thinking about it. That’s a huge motivator no matter who you are. The goal in sports car racing and almost any kind of in motorsports in general is to win Le Mans. To win with Chevrolet and Corvette Racing as an American driver doesn’t get any better than that.”

Corvette Racing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (wins in bold)
2000
No. 63 Corvette C5-R: Ron Fellows/Chris Kneifel/Justin Bell – 4th in GTS
No. 64 Corvette C5-R: Andy Pilgrim/Kelly Collins/Franck Freon – 3rd in GTS

2001
No. 63 Corvette C5-R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell/Scott Pruett – 1st in GTS
No. 64 Corvette C5-R: Andy Pilgrim/Kelly Collins/Franck Freon – 2nd in GTS

2002
No. 63 Corvette C5-R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell/Oliver Gavin – 1st in GTS
No. 64 Corvette C5-R: Andy Pilgrim/Kelly Collins/Franck Freon – 2nd in GTS

2003
No. 53 Corvette C5-R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell/Franck Freon – 3rd in GTS
No. 50 Corvette C5-R: Oliver Gavin/Kelly Collins/Andy Pilgrim – 2nd in GTS

2004
No. 63 Corvette C5-R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell/Max Papis – 2nd in GTS
No. 64 Corvette C5-R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin/Jan Magnussen – 1st in GTS

2005
No. 63 Corvette C6.R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell/Max Papis – 2nd in GT1
No. 64 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin/Jan Magnussen – 1st in GT1

2006
No. 63 Corvette C6.R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell/Max Papis – 7th in GT1
No. 64 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin/Jan Magnussen – 1st in GT1

2007
No. 63 Corvette C6.R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell/Jan Magnussen – 2nd in GT1
No. 64 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin/Max Papis – 14th in GT1

2008
No. 63 Corvette C6.R: Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell/Jan Magnussen – 2nd in GT1
No. 64 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin/Max Papis – 3rd in GT1

2009
No. 63 Corvette C6.R: Jan Magnussen/Johnny O’Connell/Antonio Garcia – 1st in GT1
No. 64 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin/Marcel Fässler – 4th in GT1

2010
No. 63 Corvette C6.R: Jan Magnussen/Johnny O’Connell/Antonio Garcia – 12th in GT2 (DNF)
No. 64 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin/Emmanuel Collard – 10th in GT2 (DNF)

2011
No. 73 Corvette C6.R: Olivier Beretta/Tommy Milner/Antonio Garcia – 1st in GTE Pro
No. 74 Corvette C6.R: Oliver Gavin/Jan Magnussen/Richard Westbrook – 14th in GTE Pro (DNF)

2012
No. 73 Corvette C6.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia/Jordan Taylor – 5th in GTE Pro
No. 74 Corvette C6.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner/Richard Westbrook – 6th in GTE Pro

2013
No. 73 Corvette C6.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia/Jordan Taylor – 4th in GTE Pro
No. 74 Corvette C6.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner/Richard Westbrook – 7th in GTE Pro

2014
No. 73 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia/Jordan Taylor – 2nd in GTE Pro
No. 74 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner/Richard Westbrook – 4th in GTE Pro

2015
No. 63 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia/Ryan Briscoe – DNS (Qualifying crash)
No. 64 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner/Jordan Taylor – 1st in GTE Pro

2016
No. 63 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia/Ricky Taylor – 7th in GTE Pro
No. 64 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner/Jordan Taylor – 10th in GTE Pro (DNF)

2017
No. 63 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia/Jordan Taylor – 3rd in GTE Pro
No. 64 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner/Marcel Fässler – 8th in GTLM

2018
No. 63 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia/Mike Rockenfeller – 4th in GTE Pro
No. 64 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner/Marcel Fässler – 15th in GTE Pro (DNF)

2019
No. 63 Corvette C7.R: Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia/Mike Rockenfeller – 8th in GTE Pro
No. 64 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner/Marcel Fässler – 16th in GTE Pro (DNF)
Team Chevy high-resolution racing photos are available for editorial use.

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.

No. 10 Smithfield Ford Racing: Aric Almirola Michigan Advance

By
Official Release
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Aric Almirola
Michigan Advance
Smithfield Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview
● Event: FireKeepers Casino 400 (Round 25 of 36)
● Time/Date: 3 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Aug. 22
● Location: Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn
● Layout: 2-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 200 laps / 400 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 60 laps / Stage 2: 60 laps / Final Stage: 80 laps
● TV/Radio: NBC SN/ MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Almirola is officially locked into the 2021 NASCAR playoffs. This is the fourth consecutive playoff appearance in Almirola’s four years at Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) and fifth playoff appearance of his 12-year career.

● History at Michigan: In 17 NASCAR Cup series starts at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Almirola has two top-10 finishes and 13 laps led. He has three NASCAR Xfinity series starts there with a best finish of eighth and has one win in the NASCAR Camping World Truck series in only two starts. Last year, the speedway hosted its first doubleheader weekend. Almirola finished 16th and sixth in the Saturday and Sunday races, respectively.

● Crew chief Mike Bugarewicz is no stranger to visiting victory lane at Michigan. On June 10, 2018, Bugarewicz won the rain-shortened race with former SHR driver Clint Bowyer.

● Smithfield Foods celebrates 10 years of partnership with Almirola this season with a special campaign called Taste Victory. As one of the most active partners in NASCAR, Smithfield engages fans all year long by hosting a microsite that provides the opportunity to win when Almirola wins or finishes inside the top-10. When Almirola wins, one fan wins $10,000, and 10 fans win a gift card for each top-10 finish. The microsite also doubles as an Aric Almirola fan page and entertainment source where fans can get behind the wheel of the No. 10 Smithfield Ford with a custom racing game, and learn more about Almirola with fast facts, favorite recipes and custom content about his life on and off the track. Visit www.tastevictory.com to learn more. Thanks to Almirola’s Feb. 11 win in his Duel qualifying race for the Daytona 500 and his July 18 win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, two lucky fans have already won $10,000 each.

● On July 18 at New Hampshire, Almirola claimed the victory after leading 46 laps on the flat, 1.058-mile oval to earn his third career NASCAR Cup Series win. After a year full of adversity and bad luck, the victory put the No. 10 team, which was 27th in the standings and facing a must-win situation if it was going to compete for this year’s Cup Series championship, in prime position to earn one of the 16 coveted berths in the 10-race playoffs that begin Labor Day weekend. Almirola’s award-winning YouTube series “Beyond the 10” captured his entire race day here.

● Almirola’s 2020 season proved successful when he earned a career-high 18 top-10 finishes, six top-fives and led 305 laps. During the season, Almirola went on a five-race streak of top-five finishes and earned nine consecutive top-10s.

● Career Stats: Almirola has career totals of three wins, two poles, 26 top-five finishes, 82 top-10s and 893 laps led in 376 NASCAR Cup Series starts.

● Beyond the 10 YouTube Series:In 2021, Almirola continues to share his life beyond the No. 10 Ford with season three of his award-winning YouTube series. Fans and media can subscribe on YouTube to see Almirola’s personality on and off the track. Episodes have already featured life as a dad, a husband and an athlete, and it gives fans a unique perspective on what goes on in the life of a professional NASCAR driver. Fans can also follow Almirola’s social media channels: @Aric_Almirola on Twitter and Instagram, and @AricAlmirola on Facebook. Almirola’s latest Beyond the 10 episode addresses the question “are NASCAR drivers athletes” in honor of the Olympic break.

● After the season’s first 24 points-paying events, Almirola and the Smithfield Ford team sit 14th in the playoff standings with 416 points, 537 behind leader Kyle Larson.

Aric Almirola, Driver of the No. 10 Smithfield Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing:

How does having a win under your belt this year change your mindset heading into the race weekend?

“It changes everything because now we are showing up to racetracks wanting to win versus having to win. There is a big difference in that. There is a lot of pressure when you show up to races and feel like your only shot is to have to win. We were that way for the last several months. To be able to pull off a clutch win like we did at New Hampshire, and to get that victory and now have the rest of the regular season going to racetracks with just the desire and want to win is a big change. It is nice. It makes it more fun to go to the track.”

You’re officially locked into the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. What does that mean to you after such a crazy year?

“Man, if you look back at the year we have had, being in the NASCAR playoffs is everything. I relate not getting into the playoffs like not getting picked on a team to play pickup basketball when you’re back in school. You feel left out while everyone else is playing the game to win even though you know you’re good enough. To be so far back in the standings and finally capitalize in a must-win situation is a highlight of my career. We hope we’re peaking at the right time – especially since the first round hosts the 750 (horsepower) package, which seems to be some of our best tracks this year.”

How crazy are the restarts at Michigan, and are they the best times to take advantage of someone?

“I feel like restarts are definitely the time to gain or lose track position, so you have to be on offense and defense at the same time. Michigan is very wide and you want to be aggressive and go take spots away, but you can easily give up four or five spots that are really hard to get back once we get single file.”

Some tracks are very line-sensitive on restarts. Is Michigan one of them?

“Yes, Michigan is very line-sensitive on restarts. The outside lane is usually the dominant lane. The inside lane – the cars on the inside usually lose sideforce – they lose the air on the side of their car – and they are very loose down there in turns one and two on the restart. The outside lane usually has the momentum and is the preferred lane going through (turns) one and two on the restarts.”

Do you feel confident heading to Michigan?

“Michigan is always a weird place for me because, in my mind, I feel like I run well there. I won a Truck race there years ago and, from that point forward, I just always loved going to Michigan. My wife’s family is from Michigan, so I go to Michigan with such a great attitude. I felt like in our first race there last year we had a lot of speed. I felt we had a top-five car there at Michigan and didn’t execute and things didn’t go our way with the restarts and I didn’t get the result. I’m excited about going back. Going to Michigan, there’s always a lot of pride for the manufacturers. I’d love to go there and keep the trophy in Ford’s backyard.”

No. 10 Smithfield Ford Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Aric Almirola
Hometown: Tampa, Florida

Crew Chief: Mike Bugarewicz
Hometown: Lehighton, Pennsylvania

Car Chief: Jerry Cook
Hometown: Toledo, Ohio

Engineer: Lee Deese
Hometown: Rockingham, North Carolina

Engineer: James Kimbrough
Hometown: Pensacola, Florida

Spotter: Joel Edmonds
Hometown: Dobson, North Carolina

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Ryan Mulder
Hometown: Sioux Center, Iowa

Rear Tire Changer: Michael Johnson
Hometown: Andover, New York

Tire Carrier: Tyler Bullard
Hometown: King, North Carolina

Jack Man: Sean Cotton
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Fuel Man: James “Ace” Keener
Hometown: Fortuna, California

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Tony Silvestri
Hometown: Sylvania, Ohio

Mechanic: Robbie Fairweather
Hometown: Westbrookville, New York

Engine Tuner: Matt Moeller
Hometown: Monroe, New York

Tire Specialist: Russel Simpson
Hometown: Medford, New York

Transporter Co-Driver: Dale Lackey
Hometown: Taylorsville, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Wayne Smith
Hometown: Melbourne, Australia

Meyer Shank Racing Ready to Race Under the Lights at World Wide Technology Raceway

By
Official Release
-

Pataskala, Ohio (17 August 2021) – Ready to race for the third consecutive weekend as the 2021 INDYCAR season hits its stride, Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) will make a return to oval competition for the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR) on Saturday (8:00pm ET, NBCSN).

After a strong sixth place finish at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course last weekend, Jack Harvey is set to make his second INDYCAR start at WWTR, formerly known as Gateway, onboard the No. 60 AutoNation / SiriusXM Honda.

Last year saw Harvey make a head-turning debut for the doubleheader race weekend at WWTR. Harvey had two strong qualifying runs, putting the No. 60 Honda seventh and fifth for each of the weekend’s races.

Unfortunately Harvey was caught on the wrong side of a caution during Race 1, forcing him to finish 11th. MSR was hoping to redeem itself for Race 2, but unfortunately a three stop strategy put Harvey 13th at the finish. The visit to the St. Louis-area oval will feature practice, qualifying and the race all on one day, making for a busy buildup on Saturday.

“It’s maximum attack when you have a one day show,” said Harvey. “Gateway was good to us last year. I hope that we can go there and have a great weekend. We had a good finish last weekend at Indy and hopefully we can take some of the race strategy with us to Gateway.”

Practice, qualifying and the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 will be staged on Saturday, August 21st. MSR will race under the lights in St. Louis with a green flag start time of 8:00pm ET with coverage on NBCSN and SiriusXM Ch. 205.

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