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LESSARD SWEEPS SUNSET FOR WIGHT MOTORSPORTS

By
Official Release
-

(August 2, 2021) Following a strong showing in their first year of competition in the NASCAR Pinty’s Series, Wight Motorsports Inc (WMI) expected to collect their first team victory this season. WMI kicked off the 2021 season this past Sunday at Sunset Speedway in Innisfil, Ontario and with Raphael Lessard at the wheel the #80 Theetge Chevrolet/Buick/GMC/Cadillac Camaro took the checkered flag first in each of the 125-lap races.

Lessard was filling in for Donald Theetge who was forced to miss the event at Sunset Speedway due to a hand injury. Lessard posted the fourth quickest time in qualifying in the #80 Theetge Chevrolet/Buick/GMC/Cadillac Camaro for the First Responders 125. The race would get underway but after only seven laps be stopped due to rain.

After waiting over four hours the track was dry and the action resumed with Lessard taking his time moving forward in the #80 Theetge Chevrolet/Buick/GMC/Cadillac Camaro. With fewer than 20 laps remaining Lessard made his move to the front on a restart. “I said we had to get a little aggressive so that’s what I did,” said the driver. “We got three-wide there for a bit and I was able to get to the lead”.

Lessard would score the victory by a margin of .685 seconds ahead of the second-place driver and claim the first victory for the WMI team.

The field for the second race, The General Tire 125 was based on lap times in race one and Lessard would line up on the outside of the front row for the start. He quickly powered the #80 Theetge Chevrolet/Buick/GMC/Cadillac Camaro into the lead and maintained that position without serious challenge for much of the race. However, an aggressive bid for the lead by the second-place challenger though unsuccessful brought about a yellow flag that sent the race into NASCAR overtime.

On the final restart Lessard once again held off a challenge and brought the #80 Theetge Chevrolet/Buick/GMC/Cadillac Camaro first to the checkers and claimed his second victory of the night, and third win in his third Pinty’s Series oval events.

“It was a perfect night, I can’t thank WMI and Theetge Chevrolet and everyone enough for this opportunity” said Lessard afterwards. “That’s three for three on the ovals now”.

WMI Principal David Wight was proud of his entire team. “What a job the whole team did, not just tonight, but throughout the off season to prepare for this season. We had fast cars last year and we learned a few things. Now we’ve broke through and we expect to be challenging for wins at every event. Great job by Raphael tonight” he stated.

Of note:
WMI driver Mark Dilley also had strong moments in his #64 Leland Industries / RGC Sports / NTN Chevrolet during both races. Dilley just missed the top ten in race one and scored an eighth-place finish in the night cap.

TJ Rinomato in the #2 RGC Sports / IHL Chevrolet Camaro placed 16th in race one and 16th in race two.

TV & Live Streaming
Race fans can watch the race one broadcast on TSN August 8, 1:00PM ET, the second race will air August 15, 11:00AMET. Race one on RDS2 is August 13, 9:30PM ET, August 23, 7:00PM ET. Race Two will be shown

The 2021 NASCAR Pinty’s Series will consist of 11 total races in Ontario and Quebec. Next up for the series will be the Grand Prix of Trois-Rivieres in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec on August 15th.

Race fans can get the latest information regarding WMI and the drivers on these social media channels:

Wight Motorsports Inc Twitter @Wightmotorsport Instagram @wightmotorsport

Donald Theetge: Twitter @DonaldTheetge

Raphael Lessard: Twitter raphael_lessard Instagram @raphael_lessard

J.F. Laberge: Instagram jf_laberge https://www.facebook.com/jflracingmtl

Mark Dilley: Twitter @MarkDilley9 Instagram @markdilley

CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION: POMONA – WINTERNATIONALS POST-RACE RECAP & QUOTES

By
Official Release
-

CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
LUCAS OIL NHRA NATIONALS PRESENED BY PROTECTTHEHARVEST.COM
AUTO CLUB RACEWAY IN PPMONA, CALIFORMIA
AUG. 1, 2021

Chevrolet wraps up Western Swing with momentum

• Aaron Stanfield earns second Pro Stock victory in a row
• Brittany Force earns third consecutive Top Fuel No. 1 qualifier
• John Force advances to Funny Car semis, moves to 3rd in standings

POMONA, Calif. (Aug. 1, 2021) – Aaron Stanfield, one of Chevrolet’s rising young stars in the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), claimed his second consecutive Pro Stock victory and third in the past four races in the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

Stanfield, 26, of Bossier City, Louisiana, defeated reigning Pro Stock champion and Elite Motorsports teammate Erica Enders in the semifinals and dispatched No. 1 qualifier Greg Anderson in the final with a pass of 6.652 seconds to Anderson’s 6.660.

“Back-to-back finals, I couldn’t have dreamt of this,” said Stanfield, the No. 6 qualifier in the Janac Brother’s Camaro SS.

Brittany Force completed a sweep of the Top Fuel No. 1 qualifier honors for the three-race NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Western Swing in the Flav-R-Pac Chevrolet dragster with a run of 3.741 seconds. Force has earned the top qualifier in five of the 10 races to push her career total to 25. Force lost in the second round of eliminations.

John Force advanced to the semifinals in Funny Car, driving the PEAK/BlueDEF Chevrolet Camaro SS from the No. 12 qualifier spot. Force, who has two victories and a runner-up this season, moved to third in the standings through 10 races.

Teammate Robert Hight, who picked up his 53rd career Wally and second of the season a week earlier at Sonoma Raceway, was the No. 2 qualifier in the Automobile Club of Southern California Camaro SS. Hight fell in the second round on a holeshot. He is fourth in the standings.

Stanfield, earning his fourth win in 30 career Pro Stock races, prevented Anderson from tying Wasrren Johnson’s 97 career wins for most in the category and second to John Force’s NHRA-record 153. Anderson registered his eighth No. 1 qualifier honor in nine Pro Stock races in the HendrickCars.com Camaro SS and became the first Pro Stock driver to clinch a spot in the Countdown to the Championship.

Stanfield, the 2020 Constant Aviation Factory Stock Showdown champion in the Janac Brother’s Chevrolet COPO Camaro, is confident he’ll be a title contender in the Countdown.

“I have some great guys working on my hot rod and if I can do my job behind the wheel I think we have a really great shot,” he said. “It’s cool to be able to race against him and that milestone he trying to accomplish, but I’m glad we got him stopped today.”

Anderson, the points leader, advanced to his fifth final round of the season and 163rd of his career. He defeated KB Racing teammate Kyle Koretsky, the No. 5 qualifier in the Lucas Oil Camaro SS, in the semifinals.

Chevrolet Nitro and Pro Stock drivers will be joined by COPO Camaro competitors in the Constant Aviation Factory Stock Showdown Aug. 13-15 at the Menards NHRA Nationals presented by PetArmor at Heartland Motorsports Park in Topeka, Kansas.

An interview with Pro Stock winner AARON STANFIELD, ELITE MOTORSPORTS, JANAC BROTHER’S CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 6 qualifier):

WHY ARE YOU GOING TO BE A THREAT IN THIS COUNTDOWN?
“I have some great guys working on my hot rod and if I can do my job behind the wheel I think we have a really great shot.”

WALK US THROUGH YOUR RACE DAY.
“It was a tricky racetrack today. The crew chiefs really had their work cut out for them. Right before that final round they studied, did a lot of work, made a lot of changes and obviously it seemed to work out really well.”

WHAT’S IT LIKE BEING IN THE MIDDLE AS ELITE MOTORSPORTS REVELS IN PREVENTING GREG ANDERSON FROM GETTING THAT MILESTONE?
“Our drive is to keep him away from it as long as possible. I would imagine that one day he is going to get it, but we want to make it as hard as possible. But the KB-Elite rivalry is great. They’re both very competitive teams and it’s cool to be in the middle of it and have the chance to win. I’m very grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given.”

WHAT DID YOU DO MENTALLY TO PREPARE FOR THE CHANGING TRACK CONDTITIONS?
“That’s definitely something as a young driver that I’m still figuring out. It was really loose for us out in the middle of the racetrack, so it definitely was an adjustment. I just went in with the mindset of not get too complacent and expect anything because you never know what could happen the first 700 feet. They did a great job with the car today.”

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE REASON YOU’VE BEEN ABLE TO ADAPT TO THESE CARS SO QUICKLY?
“I’m extremely hungry and I have a lot of great people around me. I want to do well and continue to do well. I’m just thankful for the people I’m around and for the people who have given me these great opportunities.”

WHAT DID GREG SAY TO YOU AT THE TOP END?
“He told me congratulations. He’s obviously competitive just like I am so I’m sure he’s frustrated; he wanted to win just like we did.”

WHAT COMMUNICATION HAVE YOU HAD WITH YOUR DAD, A FOUR-TIME SUPER STOCK CHAMPION, OVER THIS RUN?
“I text with him every single round. He might give me advice here and there on what I might need to look for driving, and things of that nature. He’s taught me everything I know in this sport and I’m very grateful to have him by my side. He wasn’t able to make it here this weekend. He was home at the shop doing my job so I could come out and go Pro Stock racing. He’s been a huge help to me in my career.”

CHEVROLET FROM THE COCKPIT

TOP FUEL:

BRITTANY FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, MONSTER ENERGY/ FLAV-R-PAC CHEVROLET DRAGSTER (No. 1 qualifier, fell in second round): “These weekends only make you tougher as a team. We go another No. 1 qualifier but had a second-round exit on race day. Going into Sunday we knew going rounds was going to be a challenge. We missed our shot at Q2, which was a crucial run in the heat to set us up for race day. Luckily, we had a bye in the first round and we laid down a 3.84 in round one, which was an amazing pass on a hot racetrack. In round two, we had holes out at the step and had no chance next to Justin Ashley, who was on a clean run. As a team we pack up and head to Norwalk for Night Under Fire. Match racing will give us an opportunity to go testing and have a little fun. Maybe having a little fun will help us win in Topeka.”

FUNNY CAR:

JOHN FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, PEAK/BLUEDEF PLATINUM CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 12 qualifier, fell in semifinals): “Today was good. Improved from qualifying. Denny Hood, Tim Fabrisi, they learned from qualifying and that’s what you’re supposed to do. Really had to work hard today, teams and drivers. The conditions made it tough, the track made it tough. The PEAK Chevy, these guys, they put in the work. They love it and I still love it. I’m still in it. Not letting the old man in, he’s creeping on me though.”

ROBERT HIGHT, JOHN FORCE RACING, AUTO CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 2 qualifier, fell in second round): “This Auto Club team has worked hard, not just this weekend, but all year. We have a good car, Jimmy Prock and Chris Cunningham figured some things out in Sonoma and we were doing well. To go out on a holeshot, I’m just not very happy. I missed the mark. Luckily, we only have one weekend off and then we head to Topeka. I’ve done well in Topeka and I’m looking forward to putting this one behind me.”

PRO STOCK:

GREG ANDERSON, KB RACING, HENDRICKCARS.COM CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 1 qualifier, runner-up, points leader, clinched spot in Countdown): “It’s everybody that works on this KB Racing team and all the support we get from the folks at Hendrick, Summit and Chevy. Can’t thank them enough. I’ve got a great car, but I need to win more, no question about that. I’ve got an opportunity to win at every race I go to, and that’s something you don’t get every year. I expect I’ll have that the rest of the year, but I still have to make it pay off, I have to get the job done on Sunday. Even though I’ve had these No. 1 qualifiers, we’re talking about a half a hundredth (of a second) or a few thousandths; it’s not a huge gap. Anyone can win, and it all comes down to that starting line and how good a job the guys do with the car on Sunday. Out of the 16 cars, legitimately 14 to 16 of them can win, and every round is like the final round anymore, and anybody can beat anybody. So that’s great, the class is fantastic. It makes it hard to win. And I feel great that I’ve got a great car, but you have to have everything else perfect, too; the driver’s got to be perfect, the car’s got to be perfect, and the engine’s got to be perfect, too.”

KYLE KORETZKY, KB RACING, LUCAS OIL CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 5 qualifier, fell in semifinals): “I think the weekend overall went well. That last round we just missed a little on the setup. I felt good driving. I thought I was hitting the Tree really good. Just kind of spun out there, the track got really hot. It was 148 degrees and just spun a little bit out of first gear and that was all she wrote. Couldn’t keep in front of Greg in the semis. We’ll go to Topeka with our heads high and a good car.”

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 79 countries with more than 3.2 million cars and trucks sold in 2020. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

GMS Racing ARCA Winchester Recap

By
Official Release
-

Daniel Dye, No. 21 Race to Stop Suicide Chevrolet

START: 4th

FINISH: 13th

Race Notes:

  • In his fourth career ARCA Menards Series national start, and first-ever laps at Winchester Speedway, Daniel Dye qualified the GMS Racing Chevrolet fourth.
  • The 17-year-old Daytona Beach, Florida driver, would advance into the third spot during the opening stages of Saturday’s ARCA Calypso Lemonade 200.
  • Chad Bryant and the GMS Racing ARCA crew had the No. 21 Race to Stop Suicide Chevrolet dialed in from the drop of the green flag, with Dye battling with and matching lap times with the leaders.
  • After the first scheduled caution at lap-75, the GMS crew made very minor adjustments to No. 21 Solar-Fit Chevy, as Dye was pleased with the overall balance of his car.
  • While battling for the third position on lap 83, Daniel was turned into the outside wall by another competitor, resulting in extensive front and rear damage, ending the strong run Dye and the team had going through the race’s opening stages.

Quote:

“Extremely disappointed how our night was ended here at Winchester. Chad and the GMS guys brought another really fast Chevrolet to the track, and I believe we would’ve had a car capable of competing for the win. Huge thank you to GMS Racing, Chevy, Solar-Fit, and all our partners and crew guys for all their support and hard work. Milwaukee can’t come soon enough.”

Next:

— Daniel will return to the GMS Racing No. 21 Race to Stop Suicide Chevrolet SS on Sunday, August 29, at the Milwaukee Mile.

Capps, Pruett, Stanfield and Matt Smith win Pomona Nationals

By
Briar Starr
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Photo Courtesy of Auto Imagery

The famous NHRA WinterNationals held in Pomona, California, took place this past weekend thanks to some rescheduling done by NHRA officials and Los Angeles county. The originally scheduled date this past February was postponed due to COVID-19.

When NHRA returned to Pomona, victory lane saw some familiar faces and saw some first-time 2021 winners. Both Don Schumacher Racing drivers, Ron Capps (Funny Car) and Leah Pruett (Top Fuel), grabbed their elusive victories in the finals Sunday afternoon. It was Capps’s 67th win and Pruett’s ninth victory of her career.

Funny Car

Ron Capps began his weekend earning his 29th No. 1 qualifier following the three rounds of qualifying Saturday night. The No. 1 qualifier was his third of the season and his second consecutive qualifier following Sonoma last weekend.

With a run of 3.941 seconds and 321.35 mph, the NAPA Auto Parts driver was squared up with No. 16 qualifier Bobby Bode in the first round. Capps advanced running an ET of 4.020 seconds and 309.77 mph to face Funny Car Championship Points leader Bob Tasca in the second round.

Capps won again over Tasca posting a time of 4.151 seconds and 296.50 mph that would see him in his 107th semi-final appearance racing against NHRA legend John Force. Both drivers got off the starting line, but the semi-final win went to Capps who would face Kalitta Motorsports driver, JR Todd.

Todd had victories over Jeff Diehl, Robert Hight and Jim Campbell which set him up for a match-up with Capps.

Todd got off the staging lane first before Capps in the finals, but Capps rallied ahead of Todd just barely for the victory as the cylinders began to go out on the NAPA Auto Parts/Gearwrench Dodge.

“I was hoping a win was coming,” Capps said. “This team, time and time again, they’ve given me one of the coolest cars to drive and this (weekend) was one of the most extreme conditions we’ve ever had. To do it at Pomona in the summer, with all my friends and family here, I can’t even tell you how amazing it is. We’re going to have a blast (celebrating).”

Todd’s runner-up finish was the 19th of his Funny Car career.

“We didn’t run spectacular, but we ran good enough to get to the final,” said Todd. “We had a problem dropping cylinders today and that’s what cost us in the final. I’m just glad to get there. The Western Swing was a struggle until we got to Pomona and then the track was real tricky this weekend. So hats off to Todd Smith, Jon Oberhofer and all of the DHL Toyota guys who made it happen today. I just wish we could have gotten a win to finish off the Swing, but all in all, it was a good points day.”

“We did ourselves some good today, so it definitely shows that we’re back in the hunt,” said Todd. “We just need to stay consistent in starts and qualifying, then go to the later rounds on race day. That’s where we’ve been lacking and today we made that up.”

Funny Car Results

  1. Ron Capps
  2. J.R. Todd
  3. Jim Campbell
  4. John Force
  5. Robert Hight
  6. Bob Tasca III
  7. Cruz Pedregon
  8. Alexis DeJoria
  9. Matt Hagan
  10. Bobby Bode
  11. Blake Alexander
  12. Jeff Diehl
  13. Tim Wilkerosn
  14. Paul Lee
  15. Terry Haddock
  16. Jason Rupert

Funny Car Championship Points Standings

  1. Ron Capps, 734 points
  2. Bob Tasca III, -5
  3. John Force, -36
  4. Robert Hight, -37
  5. Matt Hagan, -45
  6. J.R. Todd, -57
  7. Alexis DeJoria, -102
  8. Tim Wilkerson, -172
  9. Cruz Pedregon, -197
  10. Blake Alexander, -391

Top Fuel

In Top Fuel, the No. 1 qualifier wasn’t Leah Pruett but instead, it went to Brittany Force. Force qualified with a time of 3.714 seconds and 330.72 mph to put her John Force Racing dragster to the top spot. Pruett qualified second after going 3.780 seconds and 321.88 mph.

Pruett faced Steve Chrisman in Round 1 and was victorious, defeating Chrisman with a time of 3.906 seconds and 311.77 mph. She then had a bye run in Round 2 which easily put her into a semi-final match-up with Mike Salinas. The Don Schumacher Racing driver won in the semi-final over Salinas with a time of 3.927 seconds and 311.05 mph. She was originally scheduled to race against Justin Ashley in the finals.

Unfortunately for Ashley, he became ill and heat exhaustion took over prior to getting to the staging lane. Ashley made the decision to step out of his dragster and was unable to compete against Pruett in the finals.

With Ashley out of the car, the finals gave Pruett another bye run and a simple victory that saw Pruett win her first race of the 2021 season.

“This is about the perseverance of this team,” said Pruett, who moved to fourth in Top Fuel points on Sunday. “We’ve had a lot of dedication and to do this at our home track, it’s phenomenal. Thank you to everyone who has stuck with us and we dug deep. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a Wally and today has just been incredible. We’re going to enjoy this.”

Even though Ashley was unable to compete, he says he will be ready to go for Topeka in a couple of weeks.

“These race cars are too powerful to drive if you aren’t 100 percent,” said Ashley, from his hauler after the event. “I was drinking water throughout the day but before the final round I just didn’t feel right. I talked with my crew chief Mike Green and my father (Mike Ashley) and they encouraged me to do what was in my personal best interest. There will be more races and I take this as a learning experience. I congratulate Leah and look forward to racing her in a final very soon.”

“I want to thank the entire racing community and especially my sponsors Smart Sanitizer, Strutmasters.com, Auto Shocker and KATO Fastening Systems for the outpouring of support I received today,” added Ashley. “I especially want to thank Tony Stewart and Leah Pruett for their concern and interest in my health. I have known NHRA as my racing family for a long time but today it really showed how special our sport is and I thank everyone that stopped by, texted or posted well wishes on social media. I will be ready to go for Topeka.”

Top Fuel Results

  1. Leah Pruett
  2. Justin Ashley
  3. Antron Brown
  4. Mike Salinas
  5. Clay Millican
  6. Brittany Force
  7. Shawn Langdon
  8. Doug Kalitta
  9. Steven Chrisman
  10. Steve Torrence
  11. Jim Maroney
  12. Brandon Welch
  13. Buddy Hull

Top Fuel Championship Points Standings

  1. Steve Torrence, 1,014 points
  2. Antron Brown, -313
  3. Brittany Force, -389
  4. Leah Pruett, -435
  5. Shawn Langdon, -500
  6. Mike Salinas, -501
  7. Justin Ashley, -548
  8. Doug Kalitta, -560
  9. Billy Torrence, -566
  10. Clay Millican, -611

Note – Steve Torrence has clinched a spot in the Countdown to the Championship.

Pro Stock

In the Pro Stock category, the finals saw a veteran facing a youngster who is making a name for himself.

The final round match-up featured veteran and No. 1 qualifier Greg Anderson going up against the young Aaron Stanfield. Anderson had a bye run in the first round with victories over Chris McGaha and Kyle Koretsky. Stanfield won against Kenny Delco, Matt Hartford and four-time champion Erica Enders that put him in the final round.

The race was a dead heat, but the victory ultimately went to Stanfield who is now victorious three times against the legendary Anderson.

“I’ve got some great guys working on my hot rod and if I can stay doing my job behind the wheel, I think we’ve got a great shot (to compete for a championship),” Stanfield said. “To win back-to-back races, I couldn’t have dreamed of this. It’s cool to race against Greg and that milestone he’s trying to accomplish, but I’m glad we got him stopped today.”

Anderson had to settle for his 67th runner-up finish.

I”t’s everybody that works on this KB Racing team and all the support we get from the folks at Hendrick, Summit and Chevy,” Anderson said about the runner-up finish. “Can’t thank them enough. I’ve got a great car, but I need to win more, no question about that. I’ve got an opportunity to win at every race I go to, and that’s something you don’t get every year. I expect I’ll have that the rest of the year, but I still have to make it pay off, I have to get the job done on Sunday. Even though I’ve had these No. 1 qualifiers, we’re talking about a half a hundredth (of a second) or a few thousandths; it’s not a huge gap. Anyone can win, and it all comes down to that starting line and how good a job the guys do with the car on Sunday. Out of the 16 cars, legitimately 14 to 16 of them can win, and every round is like the final round anymore, and anybody can beat anybody. So that’s great, the class is fantastic. It makes it hard to win. And I feel great that I’ve got a great car, but you have to have everything else perfect, too; the driver’s got to be perfect, the car’s got to be perfect, and the engine’s got to be perfect, too.”

Pro Stock Results

  1. Aaron Stanfield
  2. Greg Anderson
  3. Erica Enders
  4. Kyle Koretsky
  5. Troy Coughlin Jr
  6. Aaron Strong
  7. Chris McGaha
  8. Matt Hartford
  9. Dallas Glenn
  10. Val Smeland
  11. Kenny Delco
  12. Alan Prusiensky
  13. Deric Kramer
  14. Rob Tucker
  15. Mason McGaha

Pro Stock Championship Points Standings

  1. Greg Anderson, 832 points
  2. Aaron Stanfield, -147
  3. Erica Enders, -184
  4. Matt Hartford, -266
  5. Dallas Glenn, -308
  6. Kyle Koretsky, -311
  7. Mason McGaha, -314
  8. Troy Coughlin Jr, -344
  9. Deric Kramer, -345
  10. Chris McGaha, -475

Note – Following today’s race, Greg Anderson clinched a spot in the Countdown to the Championship.

Pro Stock Motorcycle

Despite losing out last week in Sonoma in the second round, Matt Smith returned to victory lane for the fourth time this season in just eight races and the 30th of his career.

Smith qualified No. 1 for the third time in 2021 and the 46th of his career by posting an ET of 6.760 seconds and 201.91 mph. He ended up having a bye run in Round 1 but wound up facing his wife Angie Smith in the second round. He was victorious there as he went 6.838 seconds and 199.82 mph to advance to the semi-finals.

In the semi-finals, Smith faced Scotty Pollacheck and emerged to the finals after going 6.919 seconds and 197.31 mph to face Angelle Sampey.

Sampey was set to face James Underdahl in the first round but had a bye run instead that easily put her in the second round. She won over Joey Gladstone in Round 2 and Eddie Krawiec in the semis for her 75th final round appearance.

The victory went to Smith who posted an ET of 6.828 seconds and 199.52 mph over Sampey’s 6.911 seconds and 173.96 mph run.

“It was hot out there and that was the biggest thing, just fighting the track with it being this hot,” said Smith, who now has 30 career wins. “But we got it done, qualified No. 1 and were almost low every round. I knew what we had to do in the final and we laid down a great run (in the final). I can’t say enough about the people who help us. We’ve got a great team.”

Sampey finished second and was given her 32nd runner-up finish of her career.

Note – Matt Smith is now in the Countdown to the Championship after clinching a spot following today’s event.

Pro Stock Motorcycle Results

  1. Matt Smith
  2. Angelle Sampey
  3. Eddie Krawiec
  4. Scotty Pollacheck
  5. Angie Smith
  6. Jerry Savoie
  7. Joey Gladstone
  8. Freddie Camarena
  9. Karen Stoffer
  10. Ryan Oehler
  11. Steve Johnson
  12. Jianna Salinas
  13. Cory Reed
  14. Andrew Hines
  15. Jim Underdahl

Pro Stock Motorcycle Championship Points Standings

  1. Matt Smith, 813 points
  2. Steve Johnson, -262
  3. Scotty Pollacheck, -322
  4. Angelle Sampey, -370
  5. Ryan Oehler, -372
  6. Angie Smith, -384
  7. Karen Stoffer, -385
  8. Eddie Krawiec, -404
  9. Joey Gladstone, -424
  10. Andrew Hines, -432

Up Next: The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series will take a week off before heading to Topeka, Kansas August 13-15 for the 32nd annual Heartland Menards Nationals at Heartland Motorsports Park.

DGR ARCA Menards Series Race Recap: Winchester Speedway

By
Official Release
-

Saturday, July 31
Track: Winchester Speedway, .5-mile oval
Race: 12 of 20
Event: Calypso Lemonade 200 (200 laps, 100 miles)

Taylor Gray, No. 17 Ripper Coffee Ford Fusion

Start: 5th
Finish: 5th

  • Gray qualified fifth for the Calypso Lemonade 200. A caution on lap 34 for a spinning car moved him into fourth, where he would stay until the competition caution waved on lap 75.
  • The driver reported he was sliding the tires too much and the team would pit for right-side tires, fuel and trackbar adjustments to gear up for the next 50 laps.
  • After restarting in fourth, the Ford driver quickly moved into third. Contact with the 21 resulted in a red flag on lap 84 and the No. 17 Fusion sustained damage to the left front fender.
  • Gray settled into fifth when the race resumed and was running there when the second competition caution came out on lap 125.
  • A four-tire pit stop and damage repair by the Ripper Coffee crew was in order during the break and Gray restarted in fifth.
  • The 16 year old was running in fourth when caution waved with two laps remaining to set up a green-white-checkered finish. He would battle hard on the restart and bring home a fifth-place result.

Thad Moffitt, No. 46 Clean Harbors Ford Fusion

Start: 10th
Finish: 4th

  • Moffitt earned the 10th starting position for his first ever race at Winchester Speedway.
  • A caution on lap 34 saw the No. 46 up to the eighth position. He would restart in seventh and advance one additional spot to sixth before the competition caution on lap 75.
  • The team made a two-tire stop with fuel and adjustments to help with center turn and restarted the second stage in sixth.
  • The Clean Harbors Fusion moved into fifth on the restart and after the lap 84 red flag, took command of the third position.
  • During the second competition caution, the team changed four tires and added fuel. On the restart, the Clean Harbors Fusion would settle into fifth.
  • A yellow with two laps remaining set up a green-white-checkered finish and Moffitt would drive to a fourth-place run.

Next event: Clean Harbors 100 at Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, New York on August 6 at 6 p.m. ET.

Kris Wright and Rette Jones Racing add Winchester Speedway to ARCA schedule

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Official Release
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MOORESVILLE, N.C.: Rette Jones Racing (RJR) confirmed today the addition of this weekend’s ARCA Menards Series (AMS) race at Winchester (Ind.) Speedway to the team’s 2021 schedule with NASCAR rookie Kris Wright at the helm.

Wright will tackle his fourth career ARCA Menards Series short track race, but first with the Mooresville, N.C.-based team, and overall eyes a career-best finish in his ninth career start.

“Anytime you add a race to your schedule that you weren’t planning to be a part of it is a good day,” said Wright.

“I’ve heard a lot about Winchester not only from Mark (Rette, crew chief and co car-owner) but other drivers who just really embrace the track.

“I’m excited to get to Indiana and experience the racetrack for myself. We had a fast car at Pocono Raceway last month but had some bad luck. Hopefully, we can bounce back on Saturday night and give our team some momentum for the ARCA Menards Series race next weekend at Watkins Glen.”

While expected to be a favorite for the series’ return to the Finger Lakes region of New York on Aug. 6, Wright is eager to continue his development in stock cars since transitioning from Sports Car Racing during the 2020 season.

Wright doesn’t have any experience at Winchester’s historic half-mile oval, but he does have laps at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway in an ARCA car. Bristol’s “Thunder Valley” often is compared to Winchester with its extremely fast lap times and the demeanor required to negotiate passing and even lap traffic.

“I’ve heard that Winchester is a high-banked half-mile with some similarities to Bristol and last fall I had a blast there,” added Wright. “Unfortunately, we had some battery problems in the race that hindered our finish – but I’m thankful now more than ever for the experience and hope it will be beneficial for our race on Saturday night.”

Long-time Wright partner Wright Automotive Group will serve as the primary marketing partner for Wright’s third ARCA start of the season.

Since 1927, family-owned and operated Wright Automotive Group and WrightCars.com has been serving the Pittsburg area’s automotive needs featuring its Chevrolet, Buick, GMS, Hyundai, Honda, Nissan, Lotus, Genesis and Explorer Vans brands.

They offer an extensive selection of new and pre-owned inventory in Pennsylvania.

Find the perfect vehicle for your lifestyle at Wright Automotive Group.

“We’ve had speed just not the results for things that were completely out of Kris’s control,” offered Rette. “He has done everything we’ve asked of him and then some. Hopefully, the bad luck ends on Saturday night.

“Even though he doesn’t have any laps at Winchester, I think he will adapt quickly and have a chance of a strong night and finish in our No. 30 Wright Automotive Group Ford Fusion.

“I am thankful Kris has chosen Rette Jones Racing to help further his stock car development and the team is looking forward to Winchester and Watkins Glen for sure.”

In his previous eight ARCA Menards Series races, Wright has four career top-10 finishes, including a career-high seventh twice at Lebanon I-44 Speedway in 2020.

In addition to Wright Automotive Group, iHeart Radio, Ford Performance, Goodridge Fluid Transfer Systems, Jones Group Demolition and Abatement and JRi Shocks join the Mooresville, N.C.-based team as partners this weekend.

RJR is co-owned by Canadian entrepreneur and former race car driver Terry Jones.

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

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

The Calypso Lemonade 200 (200 laps | 100 miles) is the 12th of 20 races on the 2021 ARCA Menards Series schedule. Practice begins Sat., Jul. 31 with a forty-five-minute practice session from 4:15 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. General Tire pole qualifying is set for a short time later at 6:00 p.m. The race is set to take the green flag shortly after 8:00 p.m. The event will be televised live on MAVTV and NBC Sports Gold Pass. ARCARacing.com will also stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire weekend festivities. All times are local (ET).

About Rette Jones Racing:

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

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

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

Chevrolet COPO Camaro Brings Back the Big Block for 2022

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Official Release
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The COPO Camaro returns to the drag strip and its roots with a 572-cubic-inch Big Block V-8

DETROIT – The COPO Camaro returns to the drag strip for 2022 with a newly available 572-cubic-inch engine. The Big Block V-8 channels the spirit of the original 1969 COPO Camaro, a purpose-built drag racer created by dealers using the Central Office Production Order system to equip cars with Chevrolet’s largest V-8.

The COPO 572 uses a cast-iron block with four-bolt main caps, aluminum heads, a forged steel crankshaft, forged steel connecting rods and forged aluminum pistons. Pricing for the COPO Camaro with the 572 starts from $105,500 (excluding tax, title, license, and dealer fees).

The 2022 COPO Camaro is also available with LSX-based Small Block engines –
a supercharged 350-cubic-inch V-8 rated by the NHRA at 580 horsepower and a naturally aspirated 427-cubic-inch V-8 with an NHRA-rated 470 hp. All 2022 COPO Camaros use an ATI Racing Products TH400 three-speed automatic transmission.

Engineered for drag racers, the COPO Camaro is sold as a Chevrolet Performance part and cannot be registered for street use. It competes in NHRA Stock and Super Stock eliminators and comes standard with a carbon fiber hood and wheelie bars. Buyers can customize their cars with options such as a trunk-mounted weight box and parachute.

Owning a COPO Camaro places drag racers in rare company – Chevrolet has built fewer than 700 examples since the program restarted in 2012. In past years, interested customers have entered a lottery to win an allotment for one of 69 cars. Chevrolet will not limit production for 2022, and orders will be filled on a first come, first served basis. Buyers may also participate in a private tour of the COPO Build Facility in Oxford, Michigan, where each car is custom made. The order form for the 2022 Chevrolet COPO Camaro can be found at www.chevrolet.com/performance-parts/copo-camaro.

Read more about the history of the COPO Camaro here.

ABOUT CHEVROLET
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 79 countries with more than 3.2 million cars and trucks sold in 2020. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

TPC Racing Brings Four-Car Porsche Sprint Challenge Lineup To Road America Doubleheader

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Official Release
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Rob Lorndale, Pedro Torres, Jordan Wallace and Vernon McClure Competing Under the TPC Racing Banner in Doubleheader

ELKHART LAKE, Wisconsin (July 30, 2021) – TPC Racing has brought a full slate of cars and drivers to this weekend’s Porsche Sprint Challenge North America doubleheader at Road America, including one 991.2-generation Platinum Cup car (for Vernon McClure), two 991.1-generation cars in the Gold Cup (Rob Lorndale and Pedro Torres), and a 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport in the Silver Cup (Jordan Wallace).

The Road America doubleheader comprises rounds 10 and 11 of the 14-race Championship in each class. The 40-minute races, at 2:15 p.m. CDT on Saturday, July 31 and at 10 a.m. CDT on Sunday, August 1, can be seen live through the subscription service at FloRacing.com.

The team enters the weekend on a variety of strategies, with Lordale, Torres and Wallace all steadily improving throughout their first seasons amidst increased competition. McClure, meanwhile, is both racing for wins and in a pseudo-test session for the Porsche Carrera Cup North America race at Road America one week later.

Despite the learning curve, Lorndale currently sits fourth in the championship hunt for the Gold Cup class. Coming off of a successful test at Road America in the past couple of weeks, Lorndale’s confidence in the No. 6 TPC Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup has skyrocketed.

“I like Road America a lot,” Lorndale said. “It is fast with a couple technical sections and a lot of fun! I had a tough outing at VIR in the last rounds, due to mechanical issues. At the Road America test last week, I was back in a solid car and felt very comfortable. I drove with a new level of commitment, especially in the brake zones. The plan is to keep this approach rolling into the race weekend.”

Torres joins Lorndale as both a teammate and competition in the Gold Cup class, and has two podiums already this season in the No. 16 Stoneleaf/TPC Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup – both at Barber Motorsports Park in rounds three and four.

Wallace returns to the track in the No. 35 Dasbold/TPC Racing Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport in Silver Cup competition. Wallace ran in the top-five in the last round, and is searching for more in his first visit to Road America.

“I’ve never been to Road America, and I’ve only seen it a few times on the simulator so it’s going to be an interesting and fun time for me getting to learn the track and getting to know how everything works out there,” Wallace said. “I’m really excited though. I feel like I’m getting a lot more comfortable in the car and we’re starting to feel like we know what we want out of the setup to get to the pace of the front runners and hopefully be very competitive this coming weekend. I’ve been training hard and working really hard and I’m excited to get out there and get more seat time in the car. We’ve only had two weekends in the car so far and I believe with seat time, especially, we’re going to be very competitive and very consistent. I’m looking forward to working with the TPC guys and putting that Dasbold car up front!”

McClure, a series regular in the Porsche Carrera Cup North America championship for the newest generation of Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars, returns to the Sprint Challenge in the No. 101 Main Street Homes/TPC Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. McClure ran the VIR rounds and challenged for the podium before fading, but this weekend’s doubleheader comes just one week in advance of the Carrera Cup effort at the same track.

“It’s been a busy few weeks for our TPC Racing crew guys, and once again they’ve come through and have everything ready to go,” Harris Levitas, Director of Race Operations, said. “Our goals with each driver are to continue to improve, and if we each do our parts and make that happen I think we’ll see some strong results this weekend at Road America.”

The event weekend begins on Friday, July 30 with nearly two hours of practice to learn the 4-mile Road America layout. A pair of 20-minute qualifying sessions on Saturday morning set the grids for the two 40-minute sprint races, the first of which takes the green flag on Saturday afternoon at 2:15 p.m. CDT. Sunday’s race begins at 10 a.m. CDT, with both streamed live through the subscription service at FloRacing.com.

About TPC Racing:
TPC Racing is the Mid-Atlantic’s premier maintenance, service, tuning and modification center dedicated solely to Porsche sportscars. TPC Racing specializes in R&D and sales of high-performance modifications for Porsche sports cars and race cars, offering a wide range of vehicle upgrades. Best known for a line of forced induction solutions for the Porsche 911, Cayman and Boxster, a long-time focus on only one make, Porsche, has enabled TPC Racing to become experts in Porsche service, tuning, and racing. In 2000, TPC Racing began entering races under its own banner, scoring an SGS-class Championship in 2004 in the Grand-American Rolex Series and was a class winner in the 2006 Rolex 24 At Daytona, and captured the 2013 and 2016 IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA Gold Cup Championships. More information can be found at www.TPCRacing.com.

Greg Van Alst adds Winchester Speedway to ARCA Menards Series schedule

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Official Release
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WINCHESTER, Ind: Determined to pick up the pieces of an unfortunate weekend at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway last month, Greg Van Alst Motorsports today announced the addition of Saturday night’s ARCA Menards Series race at Winchester (Ind.) Speedway to his 2021 schedule.

The addition of his first short track race of the season brings a new race car to the Greg Van Alst Motorsports fleet, purchased from the former potent Chad Bryant Racing team.

Van Alst had hoped to make his “Tricky Triangle” debut at Pocono Raceway, but a crash in the opening laps of practice at the 2.5-mile triangle forced the Anderson, Indiana-based team to withdraw and regroup.

While disappointed with the outcome of Pocono, the team led by interim crew chief Donnie Richeson has worked harder than ever to prepare not only for Saturday night’s Calypso Lemonade 200 but upcoming races on the 2021 premier ARCA Menards Series schedule.

“I am blessed to be able to add another ARCA Menards Series race to our schedule,” said Van Alst. “Winchester is such a historic place, but I have a love-hate relationship with the track. But I think that’s the tempo when it comes to racing at Winchester. Some races you love it, others you hate it. Hopefully, we’re on that good side when the checkered flag waves on Saturday night.

“I can’t thank Chad Bryant enough for offering us a stout short-track car.

“Pocono was certainly tough to swallow, but we are determined to turn a positive out of a negative and adding Winchester Speedway – a race that was not on our schedule just shows the drive and determination of our race team.”

Van Alst has plenty of experience at Winchester’s half-mile high banks and while the track is dubbed as his hometown ARCA Menards Series race, the 2019 ARCA CRA champion is hoping to put on a show and contend for his first career top-five finish in the highly anticipated 200-lap barn burner.

“I’ve never won a race at Winchester, but I won a championship there,” added Van Alst. “There is definitely an opportunity for us to win on Saturday. It is not going to be easy, but it is possible.

“Whatever happens on Saturday though, it will be a good test for Bristol later this year for our team. We have a lot to look forward to this summer and fall. I’m just so appreciative to everyone who helps make this happen.”
CB Fabricating, a longtime partner with Greg Van Alst Motorsports has boosted its commitment to the team and will continue its role as the primary marketing partner of Van Alst’s No. 35 Ford.

Headquartered in Anderson, Ind., CB Fabricating offers a complete list of fabricating from design, laser cutting, CNC punching, forming, welding, powder coating, and assembly.

Their 26,000 square foot facility allows them to service the needs of many different industries. Everything from the Automotive, agricultural, aquatic, medical, transportation, electrical enclosures, and much more.

For the second consecutive race, not only is Van Alst racing for his second top-10 finish of the year on Saturday, but awareness too.

CB Fabricating president Chris Barkdull was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer and will utilize the ARCA event to bring attentiveness and awareness to the disease as Barkdull continues treatment.

“We would not be racing at Winchester – heck any of these ARCA races this season without Chris,” added Van Alst. “He’s just not an investor or a partner in this thing – he’s family. When he was diagnosed, he was determined to do his part to educate the public and that is exactly what he is going to do.”

In addition to CB Fabricating, Top Choice Fence, Norton Transport, KRJ Race Products and Lintz Creative will serve as associate marketing partners for Van Alst’s eighth career ARCA start.

Earlier this month, Van Alst turned heads with a spirited fourth-place ARCA | CRA Super Late Model run in the historic 55th Greg Hubler Automotive Group Redbud 400 presented by Mitch Smith Auto Service and Perfecto at Anderson (Ind.) Speedway.

Throughout the 400 laps, Van Alst improved nine positions after his 13th place qualifying effort in the No. 35 CB Fabricating | Top Choice Fence Chevrolet.

Following Winchester, Van Alst’s next ARCA Menards Series race with regular crew chief Jim Long is nestled in the Irish Hills of Brooklyn, Mich. at Michigan International Speedway for the Michigan 200 on Fri., Aug. 20, 2021.

For more on Greg Van Alst and Greg Van Alst Motorsports, please stay tuned for a new website, but like them on Facebook (Van Alst Motorsports) and follow him on Twitter (@GregVanAlst35).

For more on CB Fabricating, please visit CBFabricating.com and like them on Facebook (CB Fabricating).

The Calypso Lemonade 200 (200 laps | 100 miles) is the 12th of 20 races on the 2021 ARCA Menards Series schedule. Practice begins Sat., Jul. 31 with a forty-five-minute practice session from 4:15 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. General Tire pole qualifying is set for a short time later at 6:00 p.m. The race is set to take the green flag shortly after 8:00 p.m. The event will be televised live on MAVTV and NBC Sports Gold Pass. ARCARacing.com will also stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire weekend festivities. All times are local (ET).

Motorsport Betting | Tips for Motorsport Betting

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SM
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Photo credit Ron Olds for Speedwaymedia.com

Motorsport Betting: What You Need to Know

Those who are passionate about motorsports should definitely consider joining the world of motorsport betting. With hard-fought competitions, such as Formula 1, Moto GP, Indycar, or NASCAR, entertainment is just a couple clicks away! Betting operators offer a wide range of markets to pick from for these races. The following are five tips that will increase your chances of a positive online motorsport betting experience. Using these tips, you may gain the upper hand in motorsport betting.

Impact of Weather Conditions

The impact of weather conditions can not be underestimated. Quite often in motorsports, you will find racing cars, and drivers themselves, that deliver better performances in specific conditions. Depending on these conditions, the car will increase its performance or struggle from beginning to end. It is crucial to bet on the best bookmakers online in order to make use of great odds when weather changes throw the race into chaos.

In addition, it is important to note the tires being used. There are two main categories of tires: slick and rain. If a driver is caught with a specific tire in an unfavorable weather condition, this will lead to catastrophic performance and possibly an untimely end to the race for the driver. This is particularly important for online betting enthusiasts.

As the weather changes during a race, knowledge of weather affecting the cars can provide opportunities for massive live betting odds. 

Financial Power and Car Performance

The general idea regarding motorsports is that the best driver will nearly always win. Whilst a great driver can definitely have a great impact when dealing with cars of equal value, this does not necessarily mean that the driver will win the race itself. 

If we take Formula 1 as an example, one would immediately focus on world-renowned title winners Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso, and Kimi Räikkönen. However, due to the fact they are driving cars that have far less financial power than the likes of Mercedes and Red Bull Racing, their great ability will not suffice in giving them the win. 

Financial power and car performance go hand in hand in motorsport racing. The cost involved in dealing with motorsport racing can be extremely high, and the right financial support is fundamental in providing a car with great quality, as well as a fantastic team to back the driver. When betting on motorsport, this is something to consider.

Having a Good Teammate

Whilst we have already discussed the importance of the team as a whole, it is important to know that a major contribution can be given by a teammate.

On numerous occasions, teammates will give a helping hand to the main driver of the team, whether it’s letting the main driver pass by or slowing down opponents. 

On the other hand, if a teammate is not up to standard, the team will not be able to make use of such strategies to gain the upper hand. Even worse, if drivers are not on good terms, they could end up hindering rather than helping each other. Getting to know more about the relationship between drivers of the same team can give you a better idea of what could happen in a given race or during a tournament as a whole.

Track Differences

In most sports, the ground on which the participants play is generally always the same. This is not the case with motorsports, where tracks differ throughout the year.  This is an important factor to keep in mind.

The material track is made from can help or hinder particular racing cars, something which can be recognized when researching previous winners of a track. Other factors that can influence are whether the race is long or short, whether it has tricky corners, or whether it is being carried out at the light of day or at night. 

Taking into account these factors and checking previous race results may give a better idea on which driver or car to bet on, effectively minimizing the risk of losses.

Match-up Bets

Getting to know the most favorable markets for a given motorsport will help you find the best way to make a profit. As previously stated, betting operators do provide a huge list of markets to pick from. However, there are specific bets that tend to be more profitable than others such as matchup bets. 

A match-up bet lowers the probability of a loss by a considerable margin. In such a bet, you will pick a driver between two and simply hope that your driver ends the race in a better position than the other. In other words, a race that is carried out between a huge number of competitors will be brought down to only two for the sake of the bet.

Few sports out there can beat motorsport betting with regards to the adrenaline involved, whether it is on the racetrack or on a betting site. With the right strategies at hand and proper research done, motorsport betting can be a very entertaining and profitable experience.

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