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Ryan Truex – United Rentals 176 Race Advance

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Official Release
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Watkins Glen International Race Advance
United Rentals 176

Team: No. 40 Niece/Marquis Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Ryan Truex
Follow the Team: @NieceMotorsport; @Ryan_Truex

Truex on Racing at Watkins Glen: “I’m excited to get back to the track after a few weeks off,” said Truex. “Road course racing presents a fun and unique challenge. We’re going to do our best to run a solid race, stay out of trouble and complete all of the laps.”

Truex at Watkins Glen: The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series returns to Watkins Glen International for the first time since 2000.

Truex has four Truck Series starts on road courses, with his best finish of fifth coming at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in 2017.

The New Jersey native has two NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Watkins Glen, with his most recent coming in 2018.

Truex also has one NASCAR Cup Series start at the New York road course, coming in 2014.

On the Truck: Truex will race with support from Niece Equipment and Marquis this week at Watkins Glen International.

For over 40 years, Niece Equipment has provided clients with water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity, and dependability.

Marquis, an employee-owned company founded in 1980, builds world-class hot tubs in the USA. Designed with cutting-edge features, Marquis hot tubs deliver the ultimate hydromassage experience, costing less to operate, and requiring the least amount of maintenance. Marquis is proud to craft spas designed to enhance health and well-being. For more information, visit: www.marquisspas.com.

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

CarParts.com Carries McDowell and No. 34 Team into Month of August

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Official Release
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ZF Aftermarket to Co-Sponsor Daytona 500 Champion at Watkins Glen with TRW Brand

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (August 4, 2021) – Returning to the No. 34 Front Row Motorsports team, CarParts.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: PRTS) (“CarParts.com”) kicks off their first of three primary races in the month of August, leading Michael McDowell into the NASCAR Playoffs in September. CarParts.com will be the primary partner this Sunday at the Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International road course with ZF Aftermarket and the TRW brand serving as the major associate partner.

CarParts.com offers an easy-to-navigate, mobile-friendly shopping platform, connecting drivers with the parts they need to get from point A to point B with confidence. The company has delivered over 50 million parts across America and recently announced plans to open its sixth distribution center in Jacksonville as part of its overall goal to get closer to customers. CarParts.com is proud to count the 2021 Daytona 500 champion as a loyal customer as well as a close partner.

TRW is one of the largest global brake pad manufacturers in the independent aftermarket and follows the pillars of ZF Aftermarket’s standards of safety, engineering excellence, innovation, partnership, and perfectly tailored product lines. With over 100 years of experience, TRW ensures all brake components are optimally matched to their respective passenger cars and meet the quality of each vehicle’s original equipment.

“This is an important month in our race schedule as we prepare for the playoffs,” said McDowell. “CarParts.com is stepping up this month to partner with us for three of our next four races and we know we have some great opportunities for them. Watkins Glen is a track where we know we can run well at and get us back headed in the right direction. I’m looking forward to getting back on the track this weekend with CarParts.com and TRW.”

McDowell will head to Watkins Glen with five consecutive finishes in the top-20, dating back to 2015. He’s made 11 previous starts at the track with a best finish of 12th.

Sunday’s 90-lap race will be televised live on NBC at 3:00 p.m. ET.

For more information about CarParts.com, visit www.carparts.com. For more information about TRW, visit www.trwaftermarket.com/itsaboutthepart.

About CarParts.com
With over 25 years of experience, and more than 50 million parts delivered, we’ve streamlined our website and sourcing network to better serve the way drivers get the parts they need. Utilizing the latest technologies and design principles, we’ve created an easy-to-use, mobile-friendly shopping experience that, alongside our own nationwide distribution network, cuts out the brick-and-mortar supply chain costs and provides quality parts at a budget-friendly price.

CarParts.com (NASDAQ: PRTS) is headquartered in Torrance, California.

About Front Row Motorsports
Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Camping World Truck Series and the 2021 Daytona 500 champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 34 and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 38 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team– from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

Golden Nugget Online Gaming Paves New Partnership with Front Row Motorsports

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Official Release
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Official Sponsor of No. 38 Ford Mustang

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (August 4, 2021) – Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is pushing all-in with Golden Nugget Online Gaming (NASDAQ: GNOG) for two primary races with the No. 38 Ford Mustangs team this season. GoldenNuggetCasino.com will be the primary sponsor of the No. 38 car, driven by Anthony Alfredo, at the NASCAR Cup Series race on August 22 at Michigan International Speedway, and again on September 11 at Richmond Raceway. GNOG will also be an associate partner of FRM for the 2021 season with branding on the No. 38 Mustang, the team hauler and online.

“The NASCAR Cup Series is one of the premier sports leagues in the country with a passionate fan base of online casino and sportsbook patrons,” said Samir Banerjee, Marketing Director of GNOG. “Our partnership with Front Row Motorsports and Anthony Alfredo will introduce both Golden Nugget Online Gaming’s casino and sportsbook digital platform to millions across the nation and the world as we continue to grow in the rapidly expanding iGaming industry.”

GNOG’s No. 38 Ford Mustang is designed with an inspiring patriotic theme and their traditional black and gold colors. The Golden Stars and Stripes car will make its debut at Michigan International Speedway, and again at Richmond Raceway, commemorating September 11th.

“I am proud to help welcome Golden Nugget Online Gaming to the NASCAR Cup Series,” said Anthony Alfredo, driver of No. 38 Mustang. “Online gaming and sportsbooks continue to grow in popularity and NASCAR fans are always looking for diverse ways to engage with the sport and have fun. This is another exciting and innovative avenue for them to do it.”

Visitors to GNOG’s sites can enjoy the sportsbook, which offers variety of boosted odds through Golden Lines and Notorious VIG promotions. GNOG also offers a wide selection of casino slots and table games, including Live Dealer. For more information about Golden Nugget Online Gaming, visit GoldenNuggetCasino.com; or download the app, available on iOS, Android, and Google Play.

ABOUT GNOG
Golden Nugget Online Gaming is a leading online gaming company that is considered a market leader by its peers and was first to bring Live Dealer and Live Casino Floor Roulette to the United States online gaming market. GNOG was the past recipient of 17 eGaming Review North America Awards, including the coveted Operator of the Year award in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS
Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Camping World Truck Series and the 2021 Daytona 500 champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 34 and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 38 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team– from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

GMG Racing ready to Rock the Inaugural Music City Grand Prix

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Official Release
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Concluding a 2-month break in the SRO racing season, the team at GMG Racing is eager to again fire up our engines for the Music City Grand Prix, held in the storied city of Nashville, Tennessee. GMG has a long history of success at technical street courses with multiple wins over the years, so seeing this first-time event through the city streets of one of the most exciting metropolis’s in the country, we’re eager to hit the track in the first practice session this coming Friday at 2pm.

Leading the team in a full-season campaign is Jason Bell, who will be piloting his venerable Aston Martin Vantage AMR in GT America action. Jason is a force to be reckoned with on the street circuits, as his home race resides on the Streets of St. Pete in Florida and is looking forward to the challenge in Tennessee. He’ll be fast and looking to gain some ground in the championship points battle as we head into the busy part of the racing season.

“I love street circuits. I am going to Nashville with one goal. Win.” - Jason Bell

Taking on a new car and new category in Nashville is GMG Racing veteran Elias Sabo, as he’ll be piloting the all new Audi R8 LMS GT2 at the Music City Grand Prix. The GT2 category has seen tremendous growth in North America and Elias is looking to capitalize on the highly contested field to take full advantage of the seat time and experience. During the recess, GMG Racing have spent countless hours developing and testing setups for the new Audi, and as expected, will be serious contender for this weekend’s podium.

“I wasn’t originally anticipating to do this race when we planned out the year, but after a trip to Nashville and spending time in the GT2 car I decided that I wanted to just go out and have some fun while gaining a ton of experience! GMG has put together a great package for me and I can’t wait to get out race on these streets!” - Elias Sabo

Building off his early season momentum is relative newcomer to Sportscar racing, Kyle Washington. He’ll hit the streets of Nashville in his Porsche 911 GT3R. Though this will be a new challenge for Kyle having never raced on a street circuit previously, Kyle’s ongoing training and racing experience will see him very competitive this weekend. Keep an eye on the #32 GT3R to be near the front and in the mix for victory here!

“I love this city! So excited to have the opportunity to race here. The guys at GMG have done a ton of work to get the car ready since VIR and I am just counting the days until we can get out there and see this track! The first time across the bridge is going to be something special!” - Kyle Washington

Rounding out the lineup for the weekend will be series veteran and GMG Team Owner, James Sofronas. James will be driving his Audi R8 GT3 LMS Ultra for this event. GMG’s championship winning history with Audi speaks for itself, and we know he’ll be ready to do whatever it takes to bring home some hardware here in Nashville. James is no stranger to street circuits, having taken victory multiple times on the famed streets of Long Beach. Look for the #14 to be leading the way to victory lane!

“I’m very excited to not only be racing here myself, but to be bring a strong customer lineup with the GMG Racing team. My guys have just been flat out with testing and prep all leading up to this. I want to do well for them for sure”- James Sofronas

The Music City GP Kicks off on August 6th with official practice and qualifying. GMG will unveil a patriotic livery for a few team cars in Nashville as a show of respect to the Americana that runs deep in the heart of the country. Keep track of the action all weekend long by following us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook where we’ll keep you up to date with all the latest times and racing info. We’ll see y’all down at the Honky Tonk!

READ THE STORY
About The Thermal Club
Established in 2012, The Thermal Club is a private motorsports country club surrounding one of the longest and most distinct racing circuits in North America. Located near Palm Springs CA, the exclusive club offers members access to three racetracks, kart track, autocross, skid pad, tuning shop, garage, detail shop, clubhouse restaurant and spa. One of the defining attributes of The Thermal Club are the luxury villa-homes that are built next to the track and overlook the facility.
Learn more at www.thethermalclub.com

About Mobil 1
Conventional oil is simply refined crude oil. Mobil 1 synthetic oil, however, is not only refined, but it is also distilled, purified, and broken down into its basic molecules. It is then rebuilt and added to, so that it can better protect against wear, high heat, cold weather and sludge buildup. Ultimately, this process helps your car’s engine run better for longer. You can explore more about these benefits below.
Learn more at www.mobiloil.com.

About CrowdStrike
With an extensive client base of leading global brands, CrowdStrike will be utilizing the Pirelli World Challenge as a hub for experiential entertainment, B2B networking, and as a forum for meeting with a litany of customers, prospects and partners. Race weekends will include executive-level security industry roundtables, combined with VIP access to the most compelling aspects of each racing venue. With a premium on forging and solidifying relationships, the utilization of both the series and GMG offers a great opportunity for the company to extend their platform.
You can learn more about CrowdStrike’s involvement in motorsports at crowdstrikeracing.com.

About 5.11 Tactical
5.11 Tactical. 5.11 Tactical is an Irvine, California-based brand of clothing consisting of uniforms and tactical equipment for military, law enforcement and public safety personnel. The company also operates a chain of retail stores, with 13 locations as of January 2017.
Learn more at www.511tactical.com.

About AWS
In 2006, Amazon Web Services (AWS) began offering IT infrastructure services to businesses in the form of web services — now commonly known as cloud computing. One of the key benefits of cloud computing is the opportunity to replace up-front capital infrastructure expenses with low variable costs that scale with your business. With the Cloud, businesses no longer need to plan for and procure servers and other IT infrastructure weeks or months in advance. Instead, they can instantly spin up hundreds or thousands of servers in minutes and deliver results faster. Today, Amazon Web Services provides a highly reliable, scalable, low-cost infrastructure platform in the cloud that powers hundreds of thousands of businesses in 190 countries around the world.
Learn more at https://aws.amazon.com/

About BN3TH: RADICALLY BETTER UNDERWEAR
We started BN3TH in Vancouver, BC, to radically change how men think about underwear. No one performs at their best when they’re adjusting. Or shifting. Or sweaty. We were the first to create underwear with a three-dimensional pouch, and our patented MyPakage Pouch Technology™ remains the key to our uniquely supportive fit. We engineer underwear and base layers that keep you comfortable for full days on the mountain, on the water, in the gym or in the office. Over time, we evolved as a company to begin championing a full range of apparel for any and every consumer, endeavour, occasion, climate and style. We work hard to minimize the environmental impact of our business and contribute to causes that help preserve our planet.
Learn more at https://www.bn3th.com/

About EBOOST
In 2007 Josh Taekman and John McDonald set out to find a cleaner way to fuel their busy days, and today EBOOST is changing the way people energize, replenish, and feed their well-being. EBOOST is for people who live to do more every day—who thrive on the go and always have a new goal on the horizon. We create products that help you take on the day—wherever the day takes you. Keeping it clean is everything. We don’t compromise because you shouldn’t have to. And we plan to push harder and go farther to keep you bold, focused, and naturally driven.
Learn more at https://www.eboost.com/

Chad Chastain – United Rentals 176 Race Advance

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Official Release
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Watkins Glen International Race Advance United Rentals 176

Team: No. 45 Buckle Up New York/Protect Your Melon Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Chad Chastain
Follow the Team: @NieceMotorsport; @ChadChastain36

Chad Chastain on Racing at Watkins Glen: “I was excited to get the call to come race with Niece Motorsports in this great ‘Protect Your Melon’ Chevrolet,” said Chad Chastain. “I’m thankful to everyone at Niece Motorsports for their hard work and our great partners with Buckle up New York and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. This will definitely be a new challenge, but I’m so excited for the opportunity and will do my best to make the most of it.”

Chad Chastain at Watkins Glen: The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series returns to Watkins Glen International for the first time since 2000.

While Saturday’s race marks Chad Chastain’s debut in the Truck Series, the Alva, Florida native is no stranger to racing.

He has amassed over 40 feature wins across the southeastern United States running everything from Late Models to FASCAR Pro-Trucks.

He was crowned the FASCAR Pro-Truck and Pro Late Model Champion at Desoto Speedway in 2015. He followed that up with the 2016 Pro Late Model Championship at 4-17 Southern Speedway. In addition, he has won on famed road course venues including Homestead-Miami Speedway and Sebring International Raceway.

On the Truck: Chad Chastain will race the Protect Your Melon No. 45 Chevrolet in conjunction with the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and their Buckle Up New York initiative.

The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee is giving New Yorkers a chance for a virtual meet and greet with Ross Chastain, who promotes the use of seat belts with the “Protect Your Melon” theme.

“I take a lot of pride in representing the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and promoting seat belt usage in New York,” said Ross Chastain. “From growing up on a farm to now racing at 200 mph, safety is key, and sometimes people need a simple reminder to buckle up. I am looking forward to visiting the Watkins Glen area before the race to remind people to buckle up and promoting the “Protect Your Melon” message with Niece Motorsports.”

Cutouts featuring Ross Chastain’s image are in 100 Tops Stores throughout New York. These cutouts will include a QR code. If customers scan the code, they will be entered to win a personal, one-on-one interview with Ross Chastain. Contestants will be asked to explain why wearing seat belts is important. Two winners will be selected later this summer.

The contest runs June 15- August 15. The zoom sessions for the two winners will be conducted on August 18.

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

Preece to make 100th Cup career start at The Glen

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Ted Seminara for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Competing in his third full-time season in the NASCAR Cup Series, Ryan Preece is within reach of a milestone start. By competing in this weekend’s Cup event at Watkins Glen International, the driver of the No. 37 JTG-Daugherty Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE will achieve 100 career starts in NASCAR’s premier series.

A native of Berlin, Connecticut, Preece made his Cup debut at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in September 2015. By then, he was a veteran and a former champion in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. Driving the No. 98 car for Premium Motorsports, Preece started 37th and finished 32nd in his series debut. He returned for the final four Cup races of the season, where he finished 42nd, 36th, 37th and 38th in the following races at Martinsville Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, Phoenix Raceway and at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

In September 2018, Preece was named a full-time Cup driver of the No. 47 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for JTG-Daugherty Racing for the 2019 season, replacing AJ Allmendinger. By then, Preece was coming off two strong part-time seasons in the Xfinity Series with Joe Gibbs Racing, where he earned one victory apiece in each season.

Making his debut with JTG-Daugherty Racing in the 2019 Daytona 500, Preece dodged a series of late multi-car incidents to finish in eighth place, which also marked his first top-10 result in NASCAR’s premier series. After finishing no higher than 16th during the following eight races, Preece notched a career-best third-place result at Talladega Superspeedway in April. He went on to earn another top-10 result, seventh, at Michigan International Speedway in August before finishing in 26th place in the final standings and in the runner-up spot for the 2019 Cup Rookie-of-the-Year title behind Daniel Hemric.

Preece continued to drive for JTG-Daugherty Racing for the 2020 season, but he transitioned from the No. 47 car to the No. 37 car formerly driven by Chris Buescher. During the season-opening Daytona 500, Preece was in position for a strong result until he was eliminated in a multi-car wreck in the final laps. His best results throughout the season were ninth place at Bristol Motor Speedway in September and 10th place at Talladega Superspeedway in October before finishing in 29th place in the final standings.

Though he remained at JTG-Daugherty Racing for the 2021 season, Preece’s team entered this season without a charter and a guaranteed entry for all Cup races. In addition, Preece’s team only had sponsorship guarantees for 24 of the 36-race schedule. Uncertain of the future, Preece commenced the season on a strong note by finishing in sixth-place in the Daytona 500 despite being involved in a multi-car wreck on the final lap. He went on to finish ninth the following week at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course.

Through the first 22 Cup events of this season, Preece has recorded three top-10 results, an average-finishing result of 22.1 and is ranked in 26th place in the regular-season standings, with plans on completing the remaining 14 events of 2021.

Through 99 previous starts in the Cup circuit, Preece has achieved one top-five result, eight top-10 results and 25 laps led.

Preece is primed to make his 100th NASCAR Cup Series career start at Watkins Glen International on Sunday, August 8, at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

Spencer Boyd Announces NASCAR Xfinity Series Races with MiniDOGE

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Official Release
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Mooresville, NC (August 4, 2021) – NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Regular, Spencer Boyd revealed a multi-race campaign with DGM Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The primary sponsor for these races will be MiniDOGE, a cryptocurrency developed by DevTeamSix. Boyd’s first race in the No. 90 Chevrolet Camaro will be at Richmond Raceway on September 11, 2021.

“I’m a racer,” laughed Spencer. “I want to race everything and anything…shoot, I’ll race lawnmowers! This deal gets me more seat time allowing me to improve as a driver. I appreciate Mario (Gosselin) giving me the opportunity to race with his team alongside my good buddy Josh Williams. I think DevTeamSix will love the exposure for MiniDOGE as we look to the future with their great team of forward thinkers.”

Boyd had previously announced on July 23 that MiniDOGE would be coming on board in 2021.

“I’ve watched Spencer’s career for some time now,” mentioned team owner Mario Gosselin. “We even raced each other a few times back in 2017. He is a hard worker with a promising career ahead of him. We are happy to have him at DGM for a few races together this year.”

Spencer Boyd made one NASCAR Xfinity Series start at New Hampshire Motor Speedway earlier this year, but is no stranger to the series. In fact, Boyd has nearly as many laps in an Xfinity car as he does in Trucks highlighted by his full-time effort in 2018 with SS Greenlight Racing.

Deven Hammond, Chief Communications Officer for DevTeamSix, commented on the look of the MiniDOGE Chevrolet Camaro, “We know engines are all about horsepower, but we wanted to get some dog power in there too! There aren’t too many purple cars out there and know MiniDOGE will shine brightly with Spencer behind the wheel.”

The schedule for MiniDOGE’s additional primary races will be released at a later date.

Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 24 car to achieve 1,000 Cup career starts at The Glen

By
Andrew Kim
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HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 28: William Byron, driver of the #24 Axalta Chevrolet, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Dixie Vodka 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on February 28, 2021 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images).

A significant milestone start is in the making for the Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 24 car, which is currently competing in its 29th full-time season in the NASCAR Cup Series and being piloted by William Byron. By taking the green flag in this weekend’s event at Watkins Glen International, the No. 24 HMS car will reach 1,000 career starts in NASCAR’s premier series.

The No. 24 car competing under the Hendrick Motorsports banner made its debut at Atlanta Motor Speedway in November 1992, the final event of the season, with Jeff Gordon, a California-Indiana native who was competing in the Xfinity Series, piloting the car after being recruited by team owner Rick Hendrick. Starting 21st, Gordon finished 31st in his series debut after retiring due to an accident. Gordon’s Cup debut was one of three headlines highlighting the 1992 Atlanta event, with the others being seven-time NASCAR champion Richard Petty making his 1,184th and final career start in NASCAR and driver/owner Alan Kulwicki capturing the season’s championship over Bill Elliott.

Gordon competed as a full-time HMS competitor in the 1993 Cup season, driving the No. 24 HMS Chevrolet Lumina led by crew chief Ray Evernham. Despite the season being a winless one, Gordon achieved a pole, seven top-five results and 11 top-10 results before finishing in 14th place in the final standings. In addition, Gordon captured the 1993 Cup Rookie-of-the-year title.

The following season, it took the first 11 races of the schedule for Gordon to capture his first victory in NASCAR’s premier series, which occurred in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway following a late two-tire pit stop call from Evernham that gave Gordon the track position to win. The victory was also the first for the No. 24 overall in NASCAR history. Eight races later, Gordon achieved his second Cup career win in the inaugural Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In addition to his first two NASCAR Cup career victories, Gordon recorded a pole, seven top-five results and 14 top-10 results before finishing in eighth place in the final standings.

In 1995, Gordon won seven of the 31 races in the schedule and he managed to beat seven-time Cup champion Dale Earnhardt by 34 points to capture his first NASCAR Cup Series championship, which was also a first for Hendrick Motorsports.

From 1996 to 2000, Gordon and the No. 24 HMS car achieved 43 race victories, 23 poles, 98 top-five results and 118 top-10 results. They also captured back-to-back Cup championships in 1997 and 1998 along with two Daytona 500s (1997 and 1999), a second Brickyard 400 title (1998), four Southern 500s (1995-98), two Coca-Cola 600s (1997 and 1998) and two All-Star Races (1995 and 1997). By then, Gordon surpassed 50 Cup career victories. During the 2000 season, the No. 24 team was led by crew chief Brian Whitesell, who won three races with Gordon.

In 2001, Gordon and the No. 24 HMS team received a new crew chief, Robbie Loomis, a former crew chief for Richard Petty and Petty Enterprises. During the season, Gordon drove the No. 24 Chevrolet to six victories, six poles, 18 top-five results and 24 top-10 results. He also added a third All-Star title and a third Brickyard 400 victory to his resume. When the season concluded, Gordon went on to claim his fourth Cup championship.

From 2002 to 2004, Gordon and HMS’ No. 24 team earned 11 victories, 13 poles, 44 top-five results, 65 top-10 results and top-five results in the final standings, with a best result of third place in 2004. By then, Gordon surpassed 60 Cup career victories.

In 2005, Gordon kickstarted the season on a high note when he drove the No. 24 Chevrolet Monte Carlo to his third Daytona 500 victory, which marked his 70th career win in the Cup circuit. Despite winning two more times during the following eight races, Gordon failed to make the Playoffs following an inconsistent regular-season stretch. He managed to achieve a win at Martinsville Speedway in October before settling in 11th place in the final standings. By then, the driver and team welcomed Steve Letarte as their new crew chief.

Following the 2006 season, where Gordon won twice, made the Playoffs and finished sixth in the final standings, Gordon and the No. 24 HMS Chevrolet team achieved a productive 2007 Cup season, where the driver won six races and notched seven poles, 21 top-five results, a modern-era record 30 top-10 results and an average-finishing result of 7.3. The victories in 2007 totaled Gordon’s career victories to 81 as he also surpassed the late Dale Earnhardt for sixth place on the all-time wins list. Despite leading the standings for the majority of the season, Gordon settled in the runner-up position in the final standings and 77 points shy of a fifth Cup title to teammate Jimmie Johnson and the No. 48 team.

In 2008, Gordon and the No. 24 HMS team went winless for the first time since 1993, with the driver managing four poles, 13 top-five results, 19 top-10 results and a seventh-place result in the final standings. He rebounded the following season by winning at Texas Motor Speedway in April, which snapped a 47-race winless drought for Gordon and the No. 24 team. Gordon went on to record a pole, 16 top-five results, 25 top-10 results and an average-finishing result of 10.2 before finishing in third place in the final standings behind teammates Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin. During the 2010 season, however, Gordon and the No. 24 team went winless for the second time in three seasons. The four-time Cup champion only achieved a pole, 11 top-five results and 17 top-10 results before settling in ninth place in the final standings.

Entering the 2011 season, Hendrick Motorsports reshuffled its crew chief lineup that saw Letarte paired with Dale Earnhardt Jr. while Gordon and the No. 24 Chevrolet team were led by crew chief Alan Gustafson. It only took the first two races into the 2011 season for Gordon, Gustafson and the No. 24 team to snap a career-long 66-race winless drought and return to Victory Lane at Phoenix Raceway in February following a late battle with former teammate Kyle Busch. The driver and team went on to win at Pocono Raceway in June and at Atlanta Motor Speedway in September. By then, Gordon achieved his 85th Cup career victory and was ranked in third place on the all-time wins list behind Richard Petty and David Pearson. Including the three victories, Gordon and the No. 24 team achieved a pole, 13 top-five results, 18 top-10 results and a spot in the Playoffs before finishing in eighth place in the final standings.

The 2012 Cup season was a roller coaster season for Gordon and the No. 24 HMS team, which started the season with a harrowing rollover accident in the Shootout at Daytona in February followed by an engine failure in the Daytona 500 and seven results outside of the top 20 through the first 11 scheduled events. After finishing in the top 10 in six of the following nine events, Gordon notched a rain-shortened victory at Pocono Raceway in August and placed himself in contention to make the Playoffs. Despite finishing 21st and 28th the following two weekends, Gordon earned three consecutive top-three results and secured the final spot in the Playoffs. While he achieved another round of three consecutive top-three results through the first four races of the Playoffs, Gordon’s title hopes came to an end midway by October. The low point of his career occurred at Phoenix in November, when Gordon intentionally wrecked championship contender Clint Bowyer in the closing laps as a result of an earlier on-track contact between the two. The incident led to a brawl in the garage as Gordon was fined $100,000 and docked 25 points. Gordon, though, rebounded the following week at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the final event of the 2012 season, when he held off Bowyer in a fuel-mileage battle to win and claim his 87th Cup career victory. When the season concluded, Gordon managed to claim 10th place in the final standings.

After finishing in sixth place in the final standings in 2013 while recording a single victory at Martinsville in October, Gordon and the No. 24 HMS team won four races in 2014 (Kansas Speedway in May, Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July, Michigan International Speedway in August and at Dover International Speedway in September). By then, Gordon surpassed 90 Cup career victories. He went on to record three poles, 14 top-five results and 23 top-10 results as he entered the Playoffs as a title favorite. A late incident and brawl with Brad Keselowski at Texas in November, however, prevented Gordon and the No. 24 team from earning a spot in the Championship Round at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November as Gordon concluded the season in sixth place in the final standings. 

Coming off a strong 2014 season, Gordon announced in January 2015 that the upcoming Cup season would be his last as a full-time competitor. Gordon kickstarted his final NASCAR season by winning his second pole award for the Daytona 500. The achievement also marked Gordon’s 23rd consecutive season of winning a pole in a Cup season. Despite finishing 33rd in the 500 following a last-lap wreck and earning 13 top-10 results throughout the 26-race regular-season stretch, Gordon managed to secure a spot in the Playoffs for the 11th and final time in his career. At Martinsville in November, Gordon secured the lead late and fended off veteran Jamie McMurray in a two-lap shootout to score his 93rd Cup career win and earn a one-way ticket to the Championship Round at Homestead. His final hopes for a fifth time, however, came to an end after Gordon finished sixth in the finale and third in the final standings in his 797th and final start in HMS’ No. 24 car.

Following Gordon’s retirement, Chase Elliott, the 2014 Xfinity Series champion from Dawsonville, Georgia, took over the driving responsibilities of the No. 24 HMS Chevrolet SS with continuous support from Alan Gustafson for the 2016 season. In his first laps in the No. 24 car, Elliott won the pole position for the season-opening Daytona 500 and became the youngest pole-sitter of the 500 at age 20. During the main event, however, Elliott finished 37th following an early accident. He rebounded the following week at Atlanta by finishing eighth and recording his first top-10 result in the Cup Series. While he did not achieve a victory in his rookie season, Elliott achieved his first two Cup career poles, 10 top-five results, 17 top-10 results and a spot in the 2016 Cup Playoffs before finishing in 10th place in the final standings. Elliott also claimed the Rookie-of-the-Year title in his first season piloting the iconic No. 24 HMS car.

In a similar fashion to the previous season, the No. 24 HMS car commenced the 2017 Cup season on pole position for the Daytona 500 as Elliott achieved his second consecutive 500 pole. Finishing in 14th place in the 500, Elliott and the No. 24 team went on to achieve 12 top-five results, 21 top-10 results and a spot in the Playoffs before finishing in fifth place in the final standings. By then, Elliott had collected seven runner-up results in his first two Cup seasons.

For the 2018 season, William Byron, the reigning Xfinity Series champion from Charlotte, North Carolina, took over the No. 24 HMS Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 as a full-time Cup rookie while Elliott transitioned to sport his father Bill’s famous number, 9. In addition, former Cup championship-winning crew chief Darian Grubb was named crew chief for Byron and the No. 24 team while Gustafson remained as Elliott’s crew chief. In his first full-time Cup season while piloting the No. 24 car, Byron recorded four top-10 results before finishing in 23rd place in the final standings. Despite an inconsistent season, Byron managed to capture the 2018 Cup Rookie-of-the-Year title over Bubba Wallace as he became the third competitor to achieve the rookie title as driver of Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 24 car.

In 2019, Byron and the No. 24 team received a new crew chief as Chad Knaus, seven-time Cup championship-winning crew chief who was a pit crew member of the No. 24 car in the mid-1990s, inherited the leadership role for the team following a 17-year run with Jimmie Johnson and the No. 48 HMS team. The new relationship between Byron and Knaus commenced on a high note when Byron rocketed the No. 24 Chevrolet to pole position for the Daytona 500. Despite finishing 21st in the 500 following a late multi-car wreck, Byron earned nine top-10 results throughout the 26-race regular-season stretch, which were enough for him to make his first appearance in the Playoffs. His title hopes, however, came to an end following the second round as Byron and the No. 24 team finished in 11th place in the final standings. While he did not record a victory, Byron earned a career-high five poles, five top-five results. 13 top-10 results and an average-finishing result of 14.9.

The No. 24 car commenced the 2020 season on a strong note when Byron won the second Bluegreen Vacations Duel event at Daytona prior to the Daytona 500. The 500 event, however, ended on a disappointing note for Byron, who wrecked early and settled in 40th, dead last. Through the first 25 regular-season event, Byron recorded eight top-10 results and was above the top-16 cutline to the Playoffs by a mere margin. Everything changed, though, during the following event at Daytona in August when Byron notched his first Cup career victory and secured his spot in the Playoffs. By then, he joined Jeff Gordon as the only competitors to achieve a victory in the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports car. Byron also snapped a two-year winless drought for crew chief Chad Knaus, who appeared in the Playoffs for a 17th consecutive season. Following an early exit in the Playoffs following the first round, however, Byron went on to finish 14th in the final standings.

This season, Byron and the No. 24 team received a new crew chief as Ryan “Rudy” Fugle joined Hendrick Motorsports and replaced Knaus, who became HMS’ vice president of competition. The move was a reunion for Byron and Fugle, who guided Byron to seven NASCAR Truck Series wins in 2016 when Byron competed for Kyle Busch Motorsports. Three races into this season, Byron and Fugle captured a dominating win at Homestead, which marked Byron’s second Cup career triumph following two consecutive results outside of the top 20 to start the new season. The victory was also a first for Fugle in the Cup circuit.

Through the first 22 Cup events of this season, the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports car piloted by Byron has achieved a win, a pole, eight top-five results and 14 top-10 results, with the team currently ranked in sixth place in the regular-season standings.

Through 999 previous starts, HMS’ No. 24 car has achieved four championships, 95 victories, 90 poles, 364 top-five results, 558 top-10 results and 26,514 laps led with three different competitors.

The No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports car is set to make its 1,000th career start in NASCAR’s premier series at Watkins Glen International on Sunday, August 8, with the race scheduled to start at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

Toyota Racing – Weekly Preview – Watkins Glen International – 08.04.21

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Official Release
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This Week in Motorsports: August 2-8, 2021

· NCS/NXS/NCWTS/ARCA: Watkins Glen International – August 6-8

PLANO, Texas (August 4, 2021) – After two weeks off, NASCAR is back on track turning left and right at Watkins Glen International. All three national series and the ARCA Menards Series will take on the Upstate New York road course after the 2020 NASCAR race weekend was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

NASCAR National Series – NCS| NXS| NCWTS

Truex strong at Watkins Glen… Martin Truex Jr. has continued to run strong at road courses and he has been stellar the last three races at Watkins Glen. Truex scored his first win at the track in 2017 and followed it up with back-to-back runner-up finishes in 2018 and 2019.

Hamlin continues to lead… After another top-10 finish at the series’ last race in New Hampshire, Denny Hamlin extended his points lead to 13 points with just four races remaining in the regular season. Hamlin is a previous winner at Watkins Glen, scoring the victory in 2016 after leading the final 10 laps in the No. 11 Camry.

Toyota Supra drivers look to continue streak… Since the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) race at Circuit of the Americas in May, Toyota drivers have been on a winning streak – scoring victories in seven of the last nine events to climb within two points of the NXS manufacturer’s championship lead. Toyota looks to continue the streak with five Supras in the field this weekend, including Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Daniel Hemric, Brandon Jones, Harrison Burton and Ty Gibbs, along with Sam Hunt Racing’s Kris Wright.

Nemechek, regular season champion… Regardless of the results this weekend at Watkins Glen, John Hunter Nemechek has clinched the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) regular season championship. In his first season for Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM), Nemechek has scored five victories, eight top-five and 11 top-10 finishes. With the 15 Playoff points earned for the NCWTS regular season champion, Nemechek currently has 49 Playoff points, more than double of any other driver.

Playoff Bound… Watkins Glen is this season’s final regular season event for the Truck Series, and Toyota has already secured four of the 10 berths with Nemechek, Ben Rhodes and Austin Hill qualifying on race wins, while Matt Crafton has clinched based on his points position. Toyota drivers Stewart Friesen and Chandler Smith are ninth and 10th, respectively, on the Playoff points board with fellow Tundra racer Derek Kraus in 11th – just 40 points back. The final Playoff-eligible Toyota driver, Johnny Sauter, will need a win at Watkins Glen to secure a spot in the 2021 Playoffs.

NASCAR Regional Series – ARCA

Heim and Gibbs continue championship battle… The battle continues between Ty Gibbs and Corey Heim in the ARCA Menards Series. After late-race contact at Winchester (Indiana) Speedway, Gibbs earned his seventh win of the season and grew his points lead to seven points over Heim. Both Gibbs and Heim will compete in two races this weekend. Heim will run his second-career Truck Series event on Saturday, while Gibbs will race in the Xfinity Series race later that afternoon.

National series drivers competing in the ARCA race… Both Brandon Jones and Austin Hill will look to continue to learn about racing on road courses as both will compete in Friday’s ARCA Menards Series event to gain additional experience. Hill will compete for his current Truck Series team – Hattori Racing Enterprises, while Jones will be behind the wheel of a Venturini Motorsports Toyota Camry.

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

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

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

Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing to Race at Road America for Rounds Seven and Eight

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Official Release
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Brownsburg, Ind. (August 4, 2021) – The 2021 Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America season resumes this weekend at Road America for Rounds seven and eight. The Wayne Taylor Racing stable includes four cars and five drivers across three different classes in the PRO, PRO|AM, and AM category. At the halfway point of the 2021 season, the entire team has one victory and six podiums amongst the four cars.

Drivers of the No. 1 Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing, Kyle Marcelli and Daniel Formal are currently sixth in the championship and just 37 points behind second and third position in the PRO class. The veteran racing drivers with minimal experience in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo cars have showcased their skills during their first year in the season.

Ashton Harrison, the driver of the No. 25 Harrison Contracting with Wayne Taylor Racing Lamborghini Super Trofeo Huracan enters the second half of the season in fourth place in the AM class, just five points shy of her third-place competitor. The American driver has finished on the podium for three out of four race weekends with a season opening victory at Circuit of the Americas showcasing her strong abilities as a driver.

The 2020 LB Cup champion, Randy Sellari, driver of the No. 03 JG Wentworth with Wayne Taylor Racing LST, is coming off his best weekend yet with two top-five finishes at Watkins Glen. He has continuously progressed as he gains more experience in the AM Class and is currently fifth in the AM championship.

After missing Rounds five and six of the 2021 championship due to a racing conflict in the Formula Regional Americas Championship, Jordan Missig sits fifth in the championship standings. The American truly exemplified his talents after finishing on the podium in his first race while driving in the PROAM Lamborghini Super Trofeo championship and continuing the pace at VIRginia International Raceway.

Practice for the IMSA SportsCar weekend begins this Thursday at 4:35 p.m. ET. The first race of the weekend will begin this Saturday at 1:40 p.m. ET with race two following on Sunday at 11:50 a.m. ET. All race coverage will be available on IMSA. TV.

Kyle Marcelli, No. 1 Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo (PRO)
“First off, I love Road America. It’s one of the country’s greatest circuits. I’ve enjoyed a lot of success there over the years in various categories. The circuit itself is a joy to drive, it’s fast and offers a variety of corner types and corner speeds and makes for great racing with multiple heavy brake zones and drafting opportunities. I think all of us at WTR expected the #1 to be challenging for the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Pro championship this year. These DNF’s have really minimized our chances of challenging for a points championship, but we can still challenge for race wins. And that’s what I’d like to see us accomplish in the second half of this season. WTR is the best in the business. This team is known for winning on and off track. We’ve got all the right people and all the right resources. I want to get the #1 Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing Lamborghini into victory lane!”

Daniel Formal, No. 1 Prestige Performance with Wayne Taylor Racing Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo (PRO)
“I am super excited to go to Elkhart Lake in Road America as it’ll be my first time racing there and it’s one of the tracks that I’ve always looked up to. I’m really looking forward to competing again after a promising weekend at Watkins Glen last month. After Road America I have one of the biggest karting challenges of the year where I’ll have to be extremely light, so I’ve been working out quite a lot. We enter the second half of the season with three podiums out of six races, I think it could have been a lot more. But I’m very motivated and I’m so grateful to be part of the WTR family. I’ve been looking up to this team since I began karting when I was younger. The team is just a big family, and they all work together to get the best out of everyone. “

Ashton Harrison, No. 25 Harrison Contracting with Wayne Taylor Racing Lamborghini Super Trofeo (AM)
“I’m really looking forward Road America. Being also part of Wayne Taylor Racing’s DPi program this year, I’m learning so much each weekend watching and learning from Ricky, Filipe, Alex and the engineers. Having both the Lamborghini Super Trofeo and the DPi program competing at Road America, I’m looking forward to hopping between both programs and continuing to expand my knowledge. We’re in the middle of a tight championship battle in the AM class, so I’m hoping to get a points lead and lock up the championship on one of my favorite tracks of the season.”

Randy Sellari, No. 03 JG Wentworth with Wayne Taylor Racing (AM)
“Road America is arguably my favorite place to race, and I love visiting Wisconsin. Everything from the track to the people, to the local food, have always been extremely enjoyable for me and it’s an event that I look forward to. As we enter the second half of the season, I’m hoping to secure a few podiums before the end of the year. Now that the team and I are fully understanding of each other again after a few years apart, I think they can call a race that puts me in striking distance to achieve this goal. My jump to the AM class has been big but I’m enjoying the learning process and continue to see improvements to my pace and race craft every time out.”

Jordan Missig, No. 53 Wayne Taylor Racing (PRO|AM)
“I am very excited to be back with Wayne Taylor Racing for the Lamborghini Super Trofeo weekend up at Road America. I truly missed being with the team out at their last event up at Watkins Glen, but really looking forward to getting back together with the whole team as we make the trip up to Wisconsin. It’s known as a home track for me. As I only live three hours away from the track, so I know my way around that place. It also marks the start of the second half of the season since we just passed the midway point. My goals remain the same from the first half, but now that I am used to the car and the driving styles of my competitors, I am looking to expound on that and push myself for better results for the rest of the season. I would like to thank Autobahn Country Club for coming on board with me throughout the season and since this race is close to home, I will be having some executives from the Autobahn joining us, so this has given me a boost of confidence going into the weekend.”

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