Austin Dillon to Drive No. 3 The Cowboy Channel Chevrolet in The Go Bowling at the Glen

WELCOME, NC (August 5, 2021) – Richard Childress Racing announced today that The Cowboy Channel, the first 24-hour television network totally dedicated to western sports and the western lifestyle, has partnered with Richard Childress Racing for the NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International. Dillon will drive the No. 3 The Cowboy Channel Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE in The Go Bowling at the Glen.

Headquartered in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards, The Cowboy Channel features content focused on ProRodeo, bull riding, roping, reining, barrel racing, and other western sports genres, along with western fashion and music. The programming lineup also features a wide variety of “live” coverage from major western events showcasing the world’s toughest and most talented PRCA cowboys and cowgirls and is home of the National Finals Rodeo in December.

“I grew up watching old Western movies, spending Christmas at my grandfather’s place in Montana, and overall embracing the western lifestyle so it’s really special to be able to unite two important interests of mine by featuring The Cowboy Channel on the No. 3 Chevrolet at Watkins Glen International,” said Dillon, a two-time NASCAR Champion and the 2018 Daytona 500 Champion. “We even have John Wayne riding along with me this weekend on the car – one of my heroes. I hope that the race allows NASCAR fans to learn about The Cowboy Channel and subscribe to The Cowboy Channel + if they aren’t already.”

The Cowboy Channel enjoys distribution into 42 million homes on cable/satellite systems on Altice, Charter Spectrum, DISH, DIRECTV®, AT&T U-Verse, Cox, Comcast, Mediacom, Verizon FIOS TV, and many other rural cable systems. In addition, The Cowboy Channel can be streamed online via The Cowboy Channel Plus at cowboychannelplus.com, DIRECTV NOW, Roku, iOS, Android, Firestick, Apple TV, and Sling TV’s Heartland Extra package. The Go Bowling at the Glen airs live on NBC Sports Network at 3 p.m. ET Sunday, August 8^th.

For more information, please visit rcrracing.com and thecowboychannel.com.

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

About The Cowboy Channel: The Cowboy Channel is the official network of ProRodeo and the first 24-hour television network totally dedicated to western sports and the western lifestyle. Headquartered in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards, The Cowboy Channel features content focused on ProRodeo, bull riding, roping, reining, barrel racing, and other western sports genres, along with western fashion and music. The programming lineup also features a wide variety of “live” coverage from major western events showcasing the world’s toughest and most talented PRCA cowboys and cowgirls and is home of the National Finals Rodeo in December. The network enjoys distribution into 42 million homes on cable/satellite systems on Altice, Charter Spectrum, DISH, DIRECTV®, AT&T U-Verse, Cox, Comcast, Mediacom, Verizon FIOS TV, and many other rural cable systems. In addition, The Cowboy Channel can be streamed online via The Cowboy Channel Plus at cowboychannelplus.com, DIRECTV NOW, Roku, iOS, Android, Firestick, Apple TV, and Sling TV’s Heartland Extra package. For more information, please visit thecowboychannel.com.

Watkins Glen International
Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021
2.45-Mile Road Course
3:00 PM ET
Location: Watkins Glen, New York
TV: Fox
Event: NASCAR Cup Series (23 of 36)
Radio: SiriusXM, PRN

5 KYLE LARSON

Age: 29 (July 31, 1992)

Hometown: Elk Grove, California

Resides: Mooresville, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Cliff Daniels

Standings: 2nd

No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION: On July 31, Kyle Larson celebrated his 29th birthday with a trip to victory lane. Competing in the World of Outlaws dirt late model Prairie Dirt Classic at Fairbury Speedway in Illinois, Larson led the final 70 laps en route to his first World of Outlaws Late Models feature win. The Elk Grove, California, native is the only driver ever to win a feature event in both the World of Outlaws Late Models and World of Outlaws Sprint Cars.

FINAL FOUR: In four races following the 26th race of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season, playoff points will be awarded to the top 10 drivers in the standings with 15 markers awarded to first place, 10 to second, eight to third, seven to fourth, and so on. Larson currently is ranked second in the regular-season standings, just 13 points behind the leader. If he can erase that deficit in the four remaining regular-season races, it would be worth an additional five playoff points – the equivalent of an extra race win – in Larson’s favor heading into the playoff stretch.

NEW YORK STATE OF MIND: In six Cup Series starts at Watkins Glen International, Larson has one top-five finish and three top-10s. In six NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at the 2.45-mile New York road course, the 29-year-old driver has one top-five result – a third-place finish in 2016.

TOP LEVEL: Through 22 of 36 Cup Series races, Larson leads the series in wins (four), second-place finishes (five), stage wins (12), playoff points (32), and laps led (1,441). He is tied for most top-five finishes (11), most top-10s (15) and most pole positions (one).

GOLDEN STATE WIN: In June at Sonoma Raceway, Larson won both stages and led 57 of 92 laps to capture his first Cup Series road course victory. Overall, he has 18 starts on road courses in the Cup Series with one win, three top-five finishes, six top-10s and four stage victories (second-most all-time). In sports cars, Larson competed in the Rolex 24 at DAYTONA for Chip Ganassi Racing from 2014 through 2016 and was victorious in 2015.

NOT SO AVERAGE: At 13.66 seconds, the No. 5 pit crew owns the quickest average time for four-tire pit stops in 2021. The over-the-wall crew is comprised of gasman Brandon Harder, jackman Brandon Johnson, tire carrier R.J. Barnette and tire changers Donnie Tasser (front) and Calvin Teague (rear).

YOUR CAR NEEDS: This weekend, Larson will drive the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE. From the convenience of home, customers can select the category, make, model and vehicle packages that are important to them from the nearly 30,000 new, high-quality pre-owned and certified cars, trucks and SUVs available at HendrickCars.com. The website also makes it easy for customers to find one of Hendrick Automotive Group’s 93 dealership locations nationwide.

WE’RE HIRING: Hendrick Automotive Group is hiring more than 300 technicians at its dealerships throughout the country. Positions are open for all skill levels and offer tuition and training reimbursement. Interested people can apply at HendrickCars.com.

9 CHASE ELLIOTT

Age: 25 (Nov. 28, 1995)

Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia

Resides: Dawsonville, Georgia

Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson

Standings: 6th

No. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE

ROAD COURSE REVIEW: Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, is set to make his 17th NASCAR Cup Series road course start Sunday at Watkins Glen International. He has garnered seven road wins across five different tracks with a combined nine top-five finishes, 11 top-10s and 326 laps led. On road courses in 2021, Elliott has led the most laps of all drivers (86).

MAKING MOVES: Elliott’s seven road course wins are the most of all active drivers and the third-most all-time road course wins behind only Jeff Gordon (nine) and Tony Stewart (eight). The Dawsonville, Georgia, native also leads the way for the most wins on different road courses in the series (five).

NOTEWORTHY NUMBERS: Elliott’s wins account for seven of the last 11 road course victories. He holds the second-best all-time win percentage on road courses (43.75%) and remains the youngest road course winner at 22 years, 8 months, 8 days. Elliott has led laps in the last nine road course races, the Cup Series’ longest active streak and sixth longest all-time. The driver of the No. 9 also holds the best average finish (8.25) of active drivers and the third-best all-time average of drivers with at least five starts. Elliott has garnered the most stage wins (six) of all time at road courses, as well.

SEASON RUNDOWN: With only four races remaining in the 2021 regular season, Elliott’s two wins and 12 top-10 finishes are tied for career bests for him through 22 races. His four runner-up finishes, nine top-fives and 12.0 average finishing position are all career bests for him through 22 races. Elliott has spent 1,815 laps inside the top five – he has run the second-most laps in the top five over the last 10 races with 1,146 – and has 3,340 laps running in the top 10. Elliott currently sits sixth in the driver point standings, 163 points behind leader Denny Hamlin.

RETURN TO THE GLEN: On Sunday, the NASCAR Cup Series will make its return to Watkins Glen International. The series last tackled the road course in 2019 before the Covid pandemic altered the 2020 schedule. In Elliott’s previous four starts at The Glen, he won back-to-back races (2018, 2019), which is tied with Stewart and Marcos Ambrose for the third-most consecutive wins at the track. The 25-year-old driver has led 141 laps at the road course – the fifth-most all time and second-most of active drivers – and averages a starting position of 7.0.

GUSTAFSON AT ROAD COURSES: Crew chief Alan Gustafson will call his 39th road course race from atop the pit box this Sunday at Watkins Glen. In his previous 38 starts, the Florida native has garnered seven wins – the most of active crew chiefs – 13 top-five finishes, 19 top-10s and 383 laps led.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Gustafson will celebrate his 46th birthday on Thursday, Aug. 5. In 2018 and 2019, the crew chief enjoyed birthday celebrations in victory lane at Watkins Glen. He grew up down the road from the historic Daytona International Speedway, where he got his start in racing turning wrenches on the go-karts of childhood friend Casey Yunick. Yunick is the grandson of legendary car builder and mechanic Smokey Yunick.

SHOWING SPEED: The No. 9 team owns the third-best average time for four-tire pit stops at 13.77 seconds through 22 races. The NAPA pit crew is comprised of jackman T.J. Semke, gasman John Gianninoto, tire carrier Jared Erspamer and tire changers Chad Avrit and Nick O’Dell.

NAPA AT THE GLEN: Elliott will pilot the blue, white and yellow NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet at Watkins Glen on Sunday. The Atlanta-based company is serving as majority sponsor for the driver and the No. 9 team for a total of 25 NASCAR Cup Series races this year.

24 WILLIAM BYRON

Age: 23 (Nov. 29, 1997)

Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina

Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle

Standings: 3rd

No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE

BEST YEAR YET: Entering the back half of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season, William Byron is having his best season yet at the highest level of competition in the No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE. So far, Byron has collected one win (Homestead-Miami Speedway), one pole award (Road America), eight top-five finishes and 14 top-10s (tied for the fourth-most by a driver this season) all while leading 245 laps and collecting three stage wins. His eight top-five finishes are the most the 23-year-old driver has had in a full season at the Cup level and his 14 top-10s tie his previous best in a season, as well.

BEFORE THE BREAK: Before the two-week Olympic break in the Cup season, Byron was running in the front of the field consistently every race. The Charlotte, North Carolina, native has spent 4,013 laps inside the top 10 – the second-most in the series – and 2,166 laps in the top five – the third-most throughout the field. In the last 10 races, Byron has run within the top five for 1,064 laps – the third-most behind Hendrick Motorsports teammates Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott. Byron maintains the second-best average running position in the Cup Series of 8.90 and an average finishing position of 11.91, placing him third in the driver points standings.

ROAD COURSE RESULTS: Despite limited road course racing in his background, Byron has stepped up his road course racing skills throughout his time in the Cup Series, finishing in the top 10 in three of the last seven races. In five of the last nine road course events, Byron has led the field at one point, including leading the most laps during last year’s race at the Charlotte ROVAL. Byron also has led the fourth-most laps on road courses during the 2021 season (20). Two of his Cup Series stage wins have come during road course races, as well.

WATKINS GLEN WIZ: Sunday’s race will mark Byron’s third Cup Series start at Watkins Glen International and his fifth overall NASCAR national series start at the road course. In the Cup Series, Byron has a track-best qualifying effort of second (2019) and a best finish of eighth (2018) at the 2.45-mile course. Prior to his two Cup Series starts, Byron made his debut at Watkins Glen in the 2015 NASCAR ARCA Menards Series East race, starting second and finishing seventh. He returned to the road course in 2017 with the NASCAR Xfinity Series, qualifying 17th and crossing the line in 10th. In his four previous national starts at Watkins Glen, Byron has finished outside the top-10 running order only once, which occurred during the 2019 Cup Series race when he was collected in an on-track incident while running second.

HOMEWARD BOUND: While No. 24 crew chief Rudy Fugle has limited experience at Watkins Glen, the Livonia, New York, native is excited to head to his hometown track for Sunday’s race. Already in 2021, Fugle and Byron have four road course starts together. The duo is looking to turn their luck around Sunday after suffering some misfortunes in the previous road course races this season, despite running up front. Aside from four road course starts in the Cup Series, Fugle has seven other road course races under his belt, all coming in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. In those seven starts, he has one win (Erik Jones, 2015), three top-five finishes and five top-10s. One of those seven truck starts was also with Byron – the duo raced to a 10th-place finish at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park in 2016.

ALL ABOUT AXALTA: When the Cup Series returns after a two-week hiatus, Byron will climb behind the wheel of the No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE as he takes on the 2.45-mile road course of Watkins Glen. Now in its 29th year of partnership with Hendrick Motorsports, Axalta has returned as primary partner on Byron’s No. 24 for 14 races in 2021. For a better look at Byron’s No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, click here.

48 Alex Bowman

Age: 28 (April 25, 1993)

Hometown: Tucson, Arizona

Resides: Concord, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Greg Ives

Standings: 11th

No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE

LOOKING BACK AFTER 22: So far in the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season, Alex Bowman has three wins (Richmond Raceway, Dover International Speedway and Pocono Raceway), six top-five finishes and 12 top-10s, which are tied for the seventh-most top-10 results this year among active drivers. The 28-year-old driver’s six top-five results are currently tied for the second-most top-five finishes in a single season for Bowman. In 2019, Bowman secured seven top-five results. His eight top-10 finishes in the last 10 events are tied for the most with teammate Kyle Larson. The Ally driver has run 1,354 laps inside the top five, which ranks 11th, and he has run 704 laps in the top five in the last 10 races, which ranks seventh. Bowman has led 151 laps this season and is currently ranked seventh in the Cup Series playoff standings after 22 events. His three wins this year are tied for second with Martin Truex Jr. in the Cup Series. All five of Bowman’s career Cup victories came at different venues and all three of his wins in 2021 occurred in the last 14 events.

EMPIRE STATE STATS: The driver of the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet has four previous Cup Series starts at Watkins Glen International. Bowman’s best finish of 14th came during the 2018 and 2019 seasons after 90 laps. In 2013, Bowman made one start in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at the 2.45-mile road course and finished 13th after qualifying 19th.

TURNING LEFT AND RIGHT: In the Cup Series, Bowman has 16 starts at road courses and has two top-five finishes and seven top-10s. He finished inside the top 15 in 11 of 12 road course starts while behind the wheel for Hendrick Motorsports and has an average finish of 10.5, which is the fifth-best among active drivers since the start of 2018. The No. 48 team has placed inside the top 10 in three of the four road course events so far this season and has finished inside the top 10 in five of the last seven road course races.

IVES AT THE GLEN: Crew chief Greg Ives will call the shots for the sixth time at the New York-based road course venue this weekend. The Bark River, Michigan, native’s résumé includes four top-15 finishes, and his best result at the track came in 2015 when Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished 11th after starting seventh in the 90-lap event. Ives has two starts as a crew chief in the Xfinity Series at the track, capturing one top-five result and two top-10s. Ives was a race engineer for the No. 48 team from 2006-2012 and captured one pole (2009), two third-place results and four top-10s at Watkins Glen.

FROM CUP CARS TO SPRINT CARS: For the last two weeks, the Cup Series has had a break in the race schedule due to the Olympics. How did Alex Bowman spend his days off? The Ally driver tried his hand at sprint car racing for the first time at Circle City Raceway, Attica Raceway, Fremont Speedway and Tri City Speedway. Bowman was scheduled to run seven events over the course of 11 days, but weather delays forced the Alex Bowman Racing team to compete in only five events. Bowman captured two top-five finishes in his first five starts behind the wheel of the No. 55 Ally sprint car.

BACK HOME IN NEW YORK: Andrew Seamans, the interior specialist for the No. 48 Ally team, is going back to his home state of New York this weekend when the Cup Series visits Watkins Glen. Seamans grew up in Syracuse, New York, which is approximately 94 miles away from the 2.45-mile road course. The 35-year-old attended college at SUNY Oswego in Oswego, New York. Prior to joining Hendrick Motorsports, Seamans worked with Kasey Kahne Racing and Kyle Larson Racing in the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series.

PIT ROAD STATS: After 22 events this season, the No. 48 pit crew ranks fifth for the fastest four-tire pit stop average in the NASCAR Cup Series with a time of 13.83 seconds. The team had the fastest single stop at Dover International Speedway (12.18 seconds) on May 16 and had the third-fastest stop at Atlanta Motor Speedway (12.25 seconds) on July 11. The No. 48 pit crew includes fueler Jacob Conley, tire carrier Allen Stallings, jackman Dustin Lineback, and tire changers Scott Brzozowski (front) and Devin DelRicco (rear).

HOGGING THE ROAD: Hendrick Motorsports holds the NASCAR Cup Series record for all-time road-course victories with 23, which is 10 more than next-best Joe Gibbs Racing. The organization has won on road courses with a series-high seven different drivers: Jeff Gordon (nine wins), Chase Elliott (seven), Tim Richmond (three), Kyle Larson, Jimmie Johnson, Ricky Rudd and Geoff Bodine. Hendrick Motorsports also has the most road-course stage wins of any team with 11.

ALL THE (ROAD) RAGE: In NASCAR Cup Series road races since 2018, Hendrick Motorsports has gone to victory lane in eight of 12 events, won 10 of 24 stages, led 475 of 1,050 laps (45%), and posted three 1-2 finishes.

WIN AT THE GLEN: With eight trips to victory lane at Watkins Glen International, Hendrick Motorsports is the venue’s all-time leader in NASCAR Cup Series wins. The team also holds the track records for pole positions (seven) and laps led (632).

SEVEN OF 10: Over the last 10 NASCAR Cup Series points races, Hendrick Motorsports has won seven times (the most), finished 1-2 on four occasions (most), won 10 of 21 stages (most), and led 1,308 of 2,131 laps raced (61%). With 40 total entries across the most recent 10 events, the team has scored 19 top-five finishes (most) and 26 top-10s (most).

THROUGH 22: After 22 of 36 points-paying races in 2021, Hendrick Motorsports has won 10 times to tie its most ever at this time of the year. Its 16 stage wins are the most in history by any organization going into the 23rd points race. Hendrick Motorsports has tied its most top-five finishes (34) and posted its fourth-most laps led (2,056) at the 22-event mark. The four-car stable has recorded 53 top-10s in 2021, which represent the second-most ever by any team at this point in a season.

QUOTABLE /

Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, on racing at Watkins Glen: “Watkins Glen isn’t my best road course track, but I enjoy racing there. It’s fun because it’s fast-paced. With little fall off (in times), you have to be aggressive the whole run and it seems you have to make some hairy passes in the braking zones to get by people.”

Cliff Daniels, crew chief of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, on Watkins Glen compared to other road courses: “Watkins Glen is unique because it’s so fast and there’s not a lot of fall off (in lap times due to tire wear). Some of the other road courses we’ve been to like Circuit of The Americas and Road America are fast in some areas, but there’s a lot of fall off. We’ve been fortunate to look back through the (No.) 9 team’s notes from ’18 and ’19 when they won and make the best decisions we can based on that.”

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, on returning to Watkins Glen: “We are excited to get back to Watkins Glen. Any time you run well and can win somewhere, it’s always nice to go back. Winning in the Cup Series, in general, is something to be proud of in my opinion, regardless of where it is or who you beat. The last couple of trips to The Glen I have enjoyed battling against Martin (Truex Jr.). I feel like we share a lot of mutual respect and have for many years, so I have enjoyed those battles with him.”

Alan Gustafson, crew chief of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, on racing at Watkins Glen: “Watkins Glen is different from other road courses. The really high speeds are one reason – the average speed is high, probably in the 140-150 mph range. Aerodynamics is also a huge part, and the braking zones are really important. I think those are the biggest things that stand out. The other thing that is really important is that there are a couple key places in the track, up to the esses and in through the inner loop where you have to change directions really, really fast. The car having stability to change directions really fast is super important to be successful there. I think that’s what makes Watkins Glen so different from the other road courses.”

William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, on why he enjoys racing at Watkins Glen: “Honestly, Watkins Glen is one of the most fun racetracks we go to as a driver because it’s so fast. It gives you a chance as a driver to really get through the gears and feel the speed. That is unique for a road course but fun to do in our cars. Where when we go to these road courses that other series run on, we have to brake a lot more because our cars are so much heavier. Watkins Glen just really feels like a superspeedway for road courses. It makes it fun, fast-paced and exciting as a driver, and I’m ready to get back after we’ve had a year off from there.”

Rudy Fugle, crew chief of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, on returning to racing after the two-week break: “It was nice having a couple weeks off from racing but I’m ready to get back after it. We went into the break without the momentum that we hoped, so I think that the time off allowed us all to reset so we can come back even stronger for this final stretch before the playoffs. Road course racing is a strong suit of not only William but also Hendrick Motorsports. We don’t have the results on those tracks that we anticipated having but we’re going back to the basics Sunday. We’re going to go there and execute what we need and put ourselves in contention to get another win. I grew up close to there and it was the first race track I ever attended as a kid. I’ll have friends and family at the track supporting us, so ending up in victory lane would be even more special.”

Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, on what he looks forward to at Watkins Glen: “I’m looking forward to going back to Watkins Glen this weekend. We didn’t get to go there last season, so it should be a lot of fun. It is a really fast track and it’s extremely tough. I still have a lot to learn there, but I feel like we are gaining on it. Going back there, I think we can unload really strong. I’m really excited to see fans back at The Glen this weekend. It is always a great crowd there and it is a really fun atmosphere every time we go. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Greg Ives, crew chief of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, on preparing for Watkins Glen: “With the uptrend of road courses on the schedule, we have been putting a lot of emphasis on fine tuning our setups. Alex has been doing a great job in dry and wet conditions and giving us great feedback to help develop the setups. I’m definitely looking forward to getting to Watkins Glen.”

WATKINS GLEN, NY (August 4, 2021) – Kyle Busch Motorsports driver John Hunter Nemechek was made available to media prior to the Watkins Glen race weekend today:

JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK, No. 4 Mobil 1 Toyota Tundra, Kyle Busch Motorsports

Do you think the Truck Series drivers are getting better at road courses?

“Well, I hope we make it through turn one, first of all. I feel like a lot of guys that are in the Truck field haven’t been to Watkins Glen. I feel like there is quite a lot of inexperience there with no practice and no qualifying is going to be a little bit different. I feel like COTA was a definitely a lot of fun in the rain, but I feel like guys are starting to get more aggressive. I think it’s coming down to that Playoff cutoff and Watkins Glen being the cutoff race for the Playoffs, I think there are going to be a lot of guys that are being aggressive trying to win, doing different strategies and being aggressive on the racetrack as well. I think everyone is getting better at road course racing. We see the Cup Series have, I think, seven road course races on the schedule this year so you have to become accustomed to it, I feel like. Back in the day, road course ringers could come in and kind of steal the show away and now, I don’t feel like they have as much of an advantage anymore because all of the drivers are putting forth a lot of time and effort into maximizing their road course program.”

Can you be more aggressive at Watkins Glen because you have nothing to lose?

“We don’t have anything to lose, that’s for sure. We are focused on seven Playoff points – is pretty much what our goal is. Go out, win the stages, and try to win the race. It’s really the only thing that matters to us this weekend having locked up the regular season championship, this race doesn’t mean much for points for us. We are going to go out there and give it our best shot. We know the circumstances that we are racing around on people that are going to be aggressive to try to get a win and people who are on the bubble trying to get in. There’s going to be a lot going on this weekend for sure.”

Since you’ve locked the regular season championship, can you try something out of the box this weekend?

“I don’t know much about next year, but I feel like Eric (Phillips, crew chief) and all of my guys have put in a lot of work. We ran really well, I felt like, at Daytona Road Course. We sucked at Circuit of the Americas. We didn’t have a very good day there, so we kind of went back to the drawing board on what we feel like we need to run package wise and tried to figure some things out and put a lot of work into it. Hopefully, it’s going to go well. I have faith in them, and I feel like that they have faith in me. We just have to go out there and do our job.”

How much time you spent preparing or has the focus already gone to the Playoffs?

“We are treating it as if it was another race. You have to go through Watkins Glen to get to the Playoffs, first of all. We have spent quite a lot of time preparing for it. The guys have done a tremendous amount of work to bring a completely different package than I feel like what we have run in the past in the Truck Series or what KBM (Kyle Busch Motorsports) has run in the Truck Series in the past. There is a lot of work, a lot of effort. It’s a new truck for us this weekend going to Watkins Glen as well, so we are #Here4Wins. We want to win every week, and we are going to put the effort in to do so, just because the Playoffs are going to start in a few weeks at Gateway doesn’t mean we are going to just sit on our hands. We are going to go try and win a race.”

How do you feel the narrative around you has changed this season with the success you have had on track?

“That’s a very good question. Honestly, I haven’t paid a lot of attention to it. It’s been great to have success this year. When we announced coming back to the Truck Series, I felt like this was my best opportunity to get back with Toyota, to be surrounded by a great organization that Kyle (Busch), everyone at Toyota, TRD, has assembled. With having Eric Phillips (crew chief) come back this year, we wanted to win races. That’s the reason we came back. Before that, I hadn’t won in two years. I was kind of getting frustrated. I was down on myself some. I felt like I could do this at a high level, but you can only do it with how good your equipment is and how hard you push yourself, and your team and everyone around you. You are only as good as the people you surround yourself with. I felt like this was the best opportunity for me. I feel like we have definitely turned some heads this year, I would say, but as far as all the chatter, or banter, or whatever goes on behind the scenes, we haven’t paid attention to it. We are trying to win races, win the championship and do the best that we can every single week.”

How has that success meant to you and how has this success impacted how you will look for opportunities going forward?

“I have had success in the Truck Series and the Xfinity Series. Having a Cup opportunity, I was super grateful for. At the end of 2019, filling in, and all of last year with Front Row (Motorsports). I don’t regret going Cup racing, I don’t regret going to Front Row Motorsports. I was blessed with the opportunity from Bob Jenkins (team owner, Front Row Motorsports) and all of our partners involved to be able to go there and run races. I learned a ton. There is so many characteristics that go into the Cup Series that you can maximize it in different ways and kind of optimize your potential and you don’t really realize that in the Truck Series or the Xfinity Series. When you go to the Cup level, it’s hard to win. It’s hard to run top-15. It’s hard to run top-10. It’s hard to run top-five. You are running as hard as you can, battling for 20th to 25th as you are making a run for fifth place in the Cup Series. Everyone is the best of the best up there, and when it comes down to it, I don’t feel like I will put myself in a position to not win races again. I think for me, being able to win races and know that I can show up to the racetrack every single weekend and know that I have a shot is the biggest thing for me. When you are running 15th to 25th, and you can knock off a couple of top-10’s, it’s great. It’s great for the organization, kind of like we did last year. I definitely feel like it plays into a factor of helping the guys work for something in the shop. For me, I’m not one to say that I want to be in the Cup Series. I want to be a Cup Series driver to just ride around. I’m here to win races and that’s what I want to do.”

Would it make sense for you to look at Cup next season with everyone on the same starting point with NextGen?

“I feel like a lot of people say that the new car is going to equal things out or that it’s a great time to move up because it’s a new car coming in, but you are going to see the guys at the top of their level, the guys who run up front every single week and optimize everything continue to do so in the new car. Yes, you see the bigger teams like a Hendrick (Motorsports), or a Joe Gibbs (Racing), or (Team) Penske, or Stewart-Haas (Racing), they all kind of go through dominating at different times of the year. Hendrick was on a roll earlier this year, and now I feel like the tide has kind of shifted. I feel like it’s going to be the same way with the new car. I feel like that a lot of guys are saying that’s a great time to move up to the Cup Series to learn the new car and everyone is going to be on a level playing field, but I don’t necessarily think that that is the case. For myself as a driver, it kind of goes back to putting yourself in the best opportunity to win races and that’s where I feel like I will be.”

What would you grade your season?

“I would say B+ or A-. I feel like we left a couple of races out there on the table that we should have won. Hindsight is always 20-20, but you can kind of go back and look at different things, if I would have done this different, we should have won the race, and a couple of things on that standpoint. We probably could have salvaged a better finish at Bristol dirt if we didn’t get wrecked. We lost quite a bit of points that day. There have been a couple races that I kind of feel like stand out. Yes, our year has been good with five wins, but not perfect. I feel to give yourself an A or A+, you kind of have to be perfect. We’ve led a lot of laps, we’ve won and all of that kind of stuff, but at the same time, we want to win every single week. I know that is not necessarily realistic, but you can definitely be in contention, and I feel like we have been able to do that so far as well.”

What would you want to say to your competitors about the aggression level in the series or would it just be yelling into the wind at this point?

“I think a lot of it is yelling into the wind, but at the same time, we’ve all made mistakes. We’ve all ran over each other. We’ve all done that coming up the ranks, but as you continue to move up the ranks, you learn respect and how to respect other drivers and race how you want to be raced kind of thing. I think that comes from the Cup Series level as well. You don’t see a lot of the Cup guys running each other over or wrecking each other or anything like that sort. I’ve had my share in my day of wrecking trucks and battling and getting over my head and making mistakes and what-not, but it comes back to respect and just trying to run every single lap as hard as you can without making those mistakes and without running over the competition. It will all kind of turn around. They will learn, and that just comes with experience, and knowledge, and being able to race around certain guys.”

How different is the aggression level in the series now versus what it was when you started out?

“I think when I came in the Truck Series you still had guys like Ron Hornaday. Johnny Sauter was another one, Matt Crafton’s still here. You had quite a few veterans that were in the Truck Series. You also had Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, Cole Custer, you had a lot of the guys that are in the Cup Series now, and they are in the Cup Series for a reason. When you are able to race around those guys and you are able to kind of get, not necessarily brought up in a certain way, you have respect for your equipment. You work on your own equipment and do things of that sort; I feel like you race different. If I would have wrecked Ron Hornaday or Johnny Sauter, they would have come over to beat my butt after the race, no matter if I was 16 or 18 years old. It doesn’t matter. They are the type of guys that instill that respect like they had back in the day. I definitely feel like we need more of that today. I feel like the kids that come from short-track racing; everyone is super aggressive. They move each other and I’m not taking anything away from my past, but you definitely learn a lot and you continue to grow as you get older and wiser and you continue to gain that valuable experience.”

How do you think having track time at Watkins Glen will play to your advantage this weekend?

“I hope it plays to our advantage quite a bit. I hope we can go out there and try to get the lead early and kind of set sail from there. Hopefully, we can have a dominating day, but I feel like Watkins Glen can be a tricky place, especially with no practice and everything. I feel like there are some key areas to make up lap time, and some key areas that can definitely hinder your lap time and cause trouble as well. We will see how it goes. There are quite a few guys that haven’t been there in the past. I’m sure they’ve been on the sim and what-not, but when you go to a new racetrack for the first time and have to learn it the first laps on the racetrack, it definitely can kind of get a little hairy or sketchy, so hopefully, we keep our heads on straight, all of us, myself included and go out there and put on one heck of a show.”

About Toyota

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Aric Almirola
Watkins Glen Advance
Go Bowling Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview
● Event: Go Bowling at The Glen (Round 23 of 36)
● Time/Date: 3 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Aug. 8
● Location: Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International
● Layout: Seven-turn, 2.45-mile road course
● Laps/Miles: 90 laps / 220.5 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 20 laps / Stage 2: 20 laps / Final Stage: 50 laps
● TV/Radio: NBCSN / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Three weekends ago at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, Almirola claimed the victory after leading 46 laps at the 1.058-mile flat oval to earn his third career NASCAR Cup Series win in 374 starts. After a year full of adversity and bad luck, the victory earned 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, put itself 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 best finish of 12th at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International came in his most recent start in 2019. Due to COVID-19 protocols, the Cup Series did not visit The Glen in 2020.

● Road-Course History: Aric Almirola has 26 road-course starts in the NASCAR Cup Series. He has two top-10 finishes with a best of eighth at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway, four top-20s at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International with a best finish of 12th, three top-20s on the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval with a best finish of 14th, and a top-12 finish in the Feb. 9 Busch Clash on the Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway road course – his best road-course finish of the year.

● Crew chief Mike Bugarewicz is no stranger to visiting a road-course victory lane. In 2016, Bugarewicz won at Sonoma with Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) co-owner and NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart during his final year as a fulltime driver in the NASCAR Cup Series.

● In 2019, Almirola and professional bowler Jason Belmonte created the “World’s Fastest Strike” by throwing a bowling ball out of the No. 10 Go Bowling Ford at 140 mph at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Click here to watch the strike, and dive deeper into the day with the full video here.

● The No. 10 Go Bowling car is already on a “roll.” On August 3, Stewart-Haas Racing Esports driver Graham Bowlin won the Coca-Cola iRacing Series race from Watkins Glen International in the No. 10 Go Bowling Ford Mustang. See the full article here.

● Go Bowling will adorn the No. 10 Ford this weekend at Watkins Glen for the first time this season. Almirola has worked with Go Bowling and the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America (BPAA) since 2013. Bowling has been a top activity in the Almirola household and is a favorite activity across the NASCAR fan base, striking the perfect partnership.

● The NASCAR Cup Series, which began its 38-race season on Feb. 11 with the non-points paying Duel at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway and ends Nov. 7 at Phoenix Raceway, is coming off a two-week break in the schedule as broadcast partner NBC and its family of networks has been immersed in coverage of the Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Almirola and his family took the time to head south for a vacation in Key West, Florida, where they spent the week lobster hunting. Coincidentally, Almirola’s prize for winning at New Hampshire was the coveted Lobster Trophy, providing some humor on his social media channels and the NASCAR spoof account @nascarcasm.

● 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 374 NASCAR Cup Series starts.

● “Go Bowling America” provides bowlers of all age groups the opportunity to bowl in a fun, non-competitive league and receive a new entry-level performance bowling ball for completing the league. National Bowling Day is Aug. 14, and Go Bowling is celebrating by giving everyone in America who registers at GoBowling.com a free bowling game coupon. For details and to find a participating bowling center, visit www.GoBowling.com. At GoBowling.com, consumers can also register to win a bowling experience of a lifetime with Tony Stewart. He’ll be hosting the grand prize winner and a guest at his home for a private, in-person bowling experience they’ll never forget.

● 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 22 points-paying events, Almirola and the Go Bowling Ford team sit 14th in the playoff standings with 377 points, 497 behind leader Denny Hamlin.

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

You’ve partnered with Go Bowling since 2013. Why is it such a great fit for you personally, as well as with Stewart-Haas Racing?

“I grew up bowling in Tampa as a kid. Those summers were so hot down there, and you never knew what the weather was going to do, so bowling was something that was always available if we wanted an indoor activity. Fast forward to today, I have a family that loves to bowl and it’s one of our favorite activities to do together. When it comes to this partnership in racing, you couldn’t ask for more fan crossover from one sport to the other. Everyone loves bowling and NASCAR fans and families are bowling fans. Everyone at Go Bowling does such an incredible job with spreading the word and making it fun and inviting at the track for the fans. I’m excited that I get to be a part of spreading the word again driving the No. 10 Go Bowling Ford at the Go Bowling at The Glen.”

You and Jason Belmonte threw a bowling ball out of your car at 140 mph to execute the World’s Fastest Strike. How was that?

“That was one of the most insane events I’ve ever been a part of. So much technology and effort went into making that happen. We had to get a special ball and pins created that didn’t explode upon impact. We missed four times before finally getting the strike on the fifth throw. We didn’t even know we would get it. One of the bowling balls even jumped over the tire barrier Charlotte Motor Speedway built for us. The ball ended up in turn two. We were on the frontstretch. Thank goodness we hit it on the fifth try because we went back to try again to get more camera angles and the engine died on us just three tries later. Good thing Jason Belmonte is the No. 1 bowler in the world. All I had to do was drive straight.”

Are you excited to get to the road course at Watkins Glen after your win and a two-week break?

“I’m really looking forward to getting to Watkins Glen. It’s one of my most confident road courses of all the ones we go to, now. I’m looking forward to going there and being competitive with a little extra incentive coming off the win, and it’s the Go Bowling at The Glen and we’re in the Go Bowling car, so I’m even more excited to go out and give it my all.”

What is it like coming off a win at such a pivotal point in your season?

“It’s such a feeling of relief, joy and excitement all at once. The coolest thing about the win is that we’ve just been through such a tough year, and to be able to keep fighting and grinding with this 10 team that is doing its job to bring the best racecar it can each weekend is all you can ask for. We want to keep this moment going and win some stages and get some playoff points and we really want to win another race to peak at the right time for the playoffs. We have to take advantage of this momentum we have and I’m excited to be heading to a road course with less pressure.”

No. 10 Go Bowling 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

Roush Fenway Weekly Advance | Watkins Glen

Coming off a rare two-week break in its long season, NASCAR is back on track this weekend at Watkins Glen for the first of two-straight road course races. It makes the first of four straight races in a final run to the 2021 NASCAR Playoffs. RFR has six wins all-time at The Glen, including three in the Cup Series.

NASCAR Cup Series Race at Watkins Glen
Sunday, August 8 at 3 p.m. ET
NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

· Ryan Newman, No. 6 Socios Ford Mustang
· Chris Buescher, No. 17 Socios Ford Mustang

Loudon Recap, Watkins Glen Preview

· Looking back a couple weeks to the last event at Loudon, Buescher finished 29th after getting caught up in someone else’s incident.

· Newman ran 24th in the last race at Loudon.

· Socios will be the primary for both RFR machines at Watkins Glen this weekend, with an Ice theme on the No. 17, and a Fire theme on the No. 6.

There’s Nothing You Can’t Do, Now You’re in New York
In 105 NCS starts at WGI, Roush Fenway has three wins, 23 top-five and 41 top-10 finishes along with four poles. All three of RFR’s victories came with former driver and NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin (1993, 1994, 1995).

Top of the List, King of the Hill

Martin secured three-straight wins for Roush Fenway at the famed New York road course from 1993-95. He started on the pole for each of the three races and led a combined 183 laps during the three-year streak.

Tale of the Tape – Road Courses

In 226 road course starts all-time in the NCS, Jack Roush’s Fords have won five races and tallied 38 top-five and 77 top-10 finishes, along with six poles. In those 226 starts, an RFR Ford has led 577 laps for an average finish of 17.7.

Socios Makes Debut in New York This Weekend

It was announced back in May that Socios – the leading blockchain platform for the global sports and entertainment industry – announced the $ROUSH Fan Token. Fan tokens are collectible digital assets, minted on the Chiliz blockchain that provide owners with access to voting rights in polls, VIP rewards, exclusive promotions, AR-enabled features, chat forums, games and competitions on the mobile app Socios.com.

Through the $ROUSH Fan Tokens, fans were given the opportunity to vote on and help influence all assets associated with the race team at WGI, including the paint scheme for both RFR machines. A ‘Fire and Ice’ theme was decided on, with the No. 6 receiving the fire theme, and ice on the No. 17 team. Roush Fenway was the first U.S. sports team to launch a fan token on Socios.com.

Roush Fenway Watkins Glen Wins
1993 Martin Cup
1994 Martin Cup
1995 Martin Cup
1998 Ruttman Truck
2000 Biffle Truck
2012 Edwards NXS

Matt DiBenedetto and the No. 21 Menards/Moen team are headed to Watkins Glen International hoping to pick up where they left off when NASCAR took a two-week break so broadcast partner NBC could focus on the Tokyo Olympics.

In their most recent run, at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, DiBenedetto and the team finished 11th, their third-straight finish of 11th or better. That came after finishes of ninth at Atlanta Motor Speedway and 10th at Road America.

The Road America result – and the layout at the Glen – have DiBenedetto optimistic heading into Sunday’s 200.5-mile race on the fast, 11-turn Watkins Glen course.

“The Glen is fun,” he said. “It’s way different than any other road course since it’s so high speed.

“After our speed we had at Road America I’m way more encouraged to go to Watkins Glen.”

DiBenedetto said he and the Menards/Moen team have been putting in extra effort on their road course cars as the elite Cup Series is running seven road course races this season.

“We have been working hard on the road courses,” he said. “And we have a lot of good momentum on our side.” DiBenedetto said.

There will be no qualifying or pre-race practice at Watkins Glen, and DiBenedetto will line up 14th for the start. The line-up is set by a metric based on performances in the most recent race.

Sunday’s 90-lap Go Bowling at the Glen is set to get the green flag just after 3 p.m. Eastern Time with TV coverage on NBCSN. Stage breaks will come at Laps 20 and 40.

Menards

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Wood Brothers Racing

Wood Brothers Racing was formed in 1950 in Stuart, Va., by Hall of Famer Glen Wood. Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team and one of the winningest teams in NASCAR history. Since its founding, the team won 99 races (including at least one race in every decade for the last seven decades) and 120 poles in NASCAR’s top-tier series. Fielding only Ford products for its entire history, the Wood Brothers own the longest association of any motorsports team with a single manufacturer. Glen’s brother, Leonard, is known for inventing the modern pit stop. The team currently runs the Ford Mustang driven by Matt DiBenedetto in the famous No. 21 racer.