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Almirola defies the odds with a wild, weather-shortened win at New Hampshire

By
Andrew Kim
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Aric Almirola celebrates in victory lane after winning the Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 18, 2021. Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images

In a race mired with precipitation, an early accident eliminating two former Cup champions and a 10-lap reduction due to darkened skies, Aric Almirola erased his difficult regular-season stretch by scoring an upset win in the weather-shortened Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the 50th event at the Magic Mile, on Sunday, July 18.

The Tampa, Florida, native capitalized late to lead twice for 25 laps and fend off a hard-charging Christopher Bell to return to Victory Lane in the NASCAR Cup Series following a 98-race winless drought.

The starting lineup was based on a performance metric formula, weighing the driver’s and owner’s results from a previous Cup event, the owner points position and the fastest lap recorded from a previous Cup race. With that, Kyle Busch started on pole position and was joined on the front row with teammate Martin Truex Jr.

Prior to the event, Quin Houff, Corey LaJoie, Ryan Preece and BJ McLeod dropped to the rear of the field due to multiple pre-race inspection issues. Bubba Wallace also started at the rear of the field due to unapproved adjustments.

When the green flag waved and the race commenced, Kyle Busch launched his No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry ahead of teammate Truex and the field through the first two turns.

With the field fanning out to two lanes through the backstretch, Kyle Busch led the first lap and was able to retain the lead despite an early challenge from teammate Truex. Behind, Chase Elliott was in third followed by Kurt Busch, winner of last weekend’s Cup event at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and Alex Bowman. Denny Hamlin, the regular-season points leader, settled in sixth ahead of Ryan Blaney and Christopher Bell, winner of Saturday’s Xfinity event at New Hampshire.

On the fifth lap, the caution flew when both Kyle Busch and Truex, the two leaders, wrecked in Turn 1 after both got loose entering the turn due to the slick conditions on the track as a result of rain falling on the track. Behind, Hamlin got loose while battling Bowman and spun, though he continued without sustaining any serious damage. While Hamlin remained on the track, Busch and Truex pitted to have their respective Toyota Camrys assessed for the damage.

Not long after, the field was brought to pit road and the race was red-flagged on the eighth lap as the rain picked up around the circuit and the cloudy skies. At the time of the caution and delay, Elliott emerged as the leader followed by Kurt Busch, Bowman, Bell and Ryan Blaney while Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, Tyler Reddick, Kyle Larson and Kevin Harvick were in the top 10.

During the delay, Kyle Busch and his crew retired from the event due to the damage on the car.

“We started the race under a mist,” Kyle Busch said on NBCSN. “It never should have gone green to begin with, but then it kept getting worse and worse lap over lap. The lap before, I went into [Turn] 1 and it shoved the nose really bad, and I was able to keep it under control. It wasn’t bad enough. The next time I went down there, hell, I lifted at the flag stand, maybe a little past the flag stand, don’t get too dramatic, and just backed it in. We’ve been talking about it for two laps that it was raining. There’s no sense in saying what I want to say, it doesn’t do you any good. We’re done, we’re going home. It’s over. There’s no fixing that thing.”

Nearly two hours later amid the track-drying process, the red flag was lifted and the field returned to the track under the competition caution, which was initially scheduled for Lap 30. Prior to the start, NASCAR announced that Joey Logano, who pitted under the caution period while the pit road was closed, will be held two laps on pit road due to his crew working on the car during the red flag period. 

Under caution, some led by Hamlin pitted while the rest led by Elliott pitted. During the pit stops, Ryan Preece was penalized for speeding while exiting pit road. Meanwhile, Truex was able to remain in the race following repairs to his No. 19 Reser’s Toyota Camry from his pit crew.

When the race restarted on green on Lap 23, Elliott was challenged by Kurt Busch for the lead, which the latter succeeded the following lap. Two laps later, however, Elliott returned the favor entering the backstretch and reassumed the lead as Christopher Bell joined the party.

By Lap 30, Elliott was leading by nearly half a second over Bell, who was followed by Blaney, Kurt Busch and Brad Keselowski. Reddick was in sixth followed by Bowman, Chastain, Larson and Harvick.

A few laps later, the caution returned due to rookie Anthony Alfredo spinning in Turn 4 following contact with Bubba Wallace. Under caution, some like Bowman, Larson, William Byron, Aric Almirola, Chris Buescher, rookie Chase Briscoe and Daniel Suarez pitted while the rest led by Elliott remained on the track.

When the race restarted on Lap 38, Elliott and Bell battled for the lead for one full lap until Elliott’s No. 9 NAPA Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE managed to clear Bell’s No. 20 Rheem Toyota Camry through Turns 1 and 2. Behind, Cody Ware spun in Turn 2, but the race remained under green.

As the field fanned out and the competitors battled for positions, Team Penske’s Blaney and Keselowski were in third and fourth followed by Kurt Busch and Kevin Harvick.

On Lap 42, Blaney overtook Bell for the runner-up spot. By then, Harvick moved into the top five while Kurt Busch fell back to sixth ahead of Reddick and Matt DiBenedetto.

Through the first 50 laps of the event, Elliott was leading by nearly half a second over Blaney while Bell, Keselowski and Harvick were in the top five. Reddick was in sixth followed by Chastain, DiBenedetto, Kurt Busch and Hamlin. Austin Dillon was in 12th behind Cole Custer, teammates Bowman, Byron and Larson were in 14th, 15th and 16th, Aric Almirola was in 19th in front of Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Truex was mired back in 22nd, Ryan Newman and Briscoe were in 24th and 25th ahead of Wallace and Daniel Suarez was in 27th. Logano, meanwhile, was in 33rd and a lap behind.

By Lap 60, Elliott continued to lead by a tenth of a second over Blaney. Behind, Keselowski moved up to third while Bell and Harvick battled for fourth ahead of Tyler Reddick.

Two laps later, Blaney overtook Elliott for the top spot as he became the fourth different leader of the race. In the ensuing laps, Blaney started to extend his advantage to more than a second.

Amid the overcast weather and the bizarre start, Blaney was able to remain in the lead with a comfortable advantage and claim the first stage victory on Lap 75, thus claiming his fourth stage victory of 2021. Behind, Keselowski prevailed over a late battle with Elliott to settle in second while Harvick and Reddick were scored in the top five. Scored in the top 10 were Bell, Hamlin, Chastain, DiBenedetto and Larson.

Under the stage break, the leaders pitted and Harvick exited with the lead followed by Hamlin, Reddick, Keselowski, Elliott and Blaney.

The second stage started on Lap 82 with Harvick and Hamlin on the front row. At the start, Harvick rocketed away from the field on the outside lane while Hamlin struggled to launch on the inside lane, which allowed Reddick to move into second place and the field to stack up and fan out to multiple lanes through the first two turns. 

The following lap, Elliott battled Reddick for the runner-up spot while Hamlin was locked in a battle with Keselowski for fourth. Meanwhile, Harvick was out in front by more than half a second.

By Lap 90, Harvick was leading by more than a second over Elliott while Keselowski, Reddick and Hamlin were in the top five. Blaney was mired back in sixth followed by Larson, Chastain, Bell and Almirola.

At the Lap 100 mark, Harvick remained as the leader by more than one second over Elliott while third-place Keselowski was trailing by less than three seconds. Hamlin retained fourth place ahead of Blaney, Reddick, Chastain, Larson, Almirola and Bell. Bowman was in 11th ahead of Kurt Busch, DiBenedetto, Custer and Stenhouse. Byron was in 16th followed by Truex and Austin Dillon, Wallace was in 19th ahead of Chris Buescher, Newman was in 21st ahead of Suarez and Erik Jones, Michael McDowell was in 25th behind Ryan Preece and Briscoe was back in 29th. Logano, meanwhile, was in 30th and still a lap behind.

Ten laps later, Harvick continued to lead by more than a second over Elliott and nearly three seconds over Keselowski, who had Hamlin challenging him for a top-three spot. Another 10 laps later, Harvick stabilized his advantage to eight-tenths of a second over Elliott and more than three seconds over the new third-place competitor, Hamlin.

On Lap 128, the caution flew due to Quin Houff spinning and making contact with the Turn 3 outside wall following contact with Ryan Newman. At the time of caution, Austin Dillon pitted despite pit road being closed at the time of his service.

Under caution, the leaders returned to pit road and Harvick retained the lead after exiting pit road ahead of Hamlin, Keselowski, Elliott and Almirola. During the pit stops, Blaney, who dropped from first to fifth during the first stage caution period, dropped from fifth to ninth under the recent caution.

When the race restarted under green on Lap 135, Harvick and Hamlin, both of whom were seeking their first victory of the season, pulled ahead while Almirola challenged Keselowski for third place.

A lap later, a three-wide battle ensued between Almirola, Elliott and Larson through Turns 1 and 2 before Larson prevailed ahead of the two for fourth place entering Turn 3. Behind, Blaney, Chastain and Bell battled for seventh while Harvick retained the lead ahead of Hamlin.

Shortly after, the caution returned due to a two-car spin through the backstretch involving Wallace and Chris Buescher. In the midst of the incident and the caution, Logano received another free pass to return to the lead lap.

When the race restarted on Lap 144, Harvick received another strong start to muscle away with the lead ahead of Keselowski while Hamlin was mired back in third ahead of the field after he struggled at the start.

Two laps later, Keselowski, sporting a sleek blue and black scheme to his No. 2 eCascadia Ford Mustang, took over the lead ahead of Harvick and Hamlin.

By Lap 150 and right at the halfway mark, Keselowski was leading by more than a second over Harvick while Hamlin, Blaney and Almirola were in the top five. Scored in the top 10 were Elliott, Larson, Chastain, Reddick and Bell.

By Lap 175, Keselowski continued to lead by less than two seconds over Harvick, with Blaney and Hamlin in third and fourth. Almirola, meanwhile, continued to run in fifth ahead of Elliott.

While Harvick started to close back in on Keselowski for the lead, Keselowski was able to retain a reasonable advantage over Harvick and claim his second stage victory of the season after winning the second stage on Lap 185. Harvick settled in second followed Blaney, Hamlin, Almirola, Elliott, Larson, Reddick, Chastain and Kurt Busch.

Under the stage break, the leaders returned to pit road and Keselowski retained the lead after exiting with the lead followed by Harvick, Blaney, Almirola, Larson and Hamlin. Following the pit stops, however, Hamlin returned to pit road due to a missing lug nut.

With 109 laps remaining and the skies above the track darkening, the final stage started as teammates Keselowski and Blaney started on the front row. At the start, Keselowski peaked ahead of Blaney and Harvick to retain the lead. While Penske’s Keselowski and Blaney battled for the lead, Stewart-Haas Racing’s Harvick retained third ahead of teammate Almirola, Larson, Bell and Chastain.

Six laps later, Blaney, who kept teammate Keselowski in his sights, took the lead, though Keselowski refused to give in and with a potential dark weather-ending race looming.

Down to the final 100 laps of the event, teammates Blaney and Keselowski battled for the top spot while Harvick narrowed the deficit to half a second. Meanwhile, Logano, who was two laps behind earlier in the race, was in 10th.

Under the final 100 laps, both Blaney and Keselowski refused to surrender as they continued to battle intensely for the lead through every turn and corner, but with neither prevailing over the other. Harvick, meanwhile, continued to close in behind the two Penske Ford competitors.

With 90 laps remaining, the top-three competitors were separated by six-tenths of a second as Blaney continued to lead by less than half a second over teammate Keselowski and six-tenths of a second over Harvick. Not far behind, Almirola was behind by more than a second while Larson was in fifth. Logano, meanwhile, was in eighth. 

Ten laps later, Blaney, who earlier prevailed over his intense battle with teammate Keselowski, was ahead by less than nine-tenths of a second over Keselowski. Behind, Almirola moved up to third place ahead of teammate Harvick while Larson remained in fifth. Logano was up in seventh, Reddick was in ninth ahead of Bowman, Kurt Busch and Elliott were back in 13th and 14th, Truex was in 16th and Hamlin was mired back in 18th in between William Byron and Daniel Suarez.

Another five laps later, the advantage for Blaney over teammate Keselowski grew to more than a second while third-place Almirola was trailing by two seconds.

Under the final 65 laps of the event, Almirola overtook Keselowski for the runner-up spot while Blaney continued to lead by more than a second. Harvick, meanwhile, was more than three seconds behind while Larson remained in fifth, but behind by less than five seconds.

Approaching the final 60 laps of the event, Almirola caught Blaney and started to challenge him for the lead. Despite repeated attempts from Almirola, Blaney managed to remain in front of Almirola’s No. 10 Smithfield Ford Mustang. 

Then with 55 laps remaining, Almirola emerged with the lead following a pass on Blaney through Turns 2 and 3 before clearing him for good in Turn 4. 

Just then, pit stops under green ensued as Elliott pitted along with Austin Dillon, Kurt Busch Keselowski, Newman and others. Harvick also pitted along with Bell, Logano, Larson, Blaney and race leader Almirola.

Under the final 45 laps of the event and with most of the leaders having made a pit stop, DiBenedetto, who has yet to pit, was leading ahead of Byron and Keselowski, who had fresh tires and enough fuel to the finish. Almirola was mired back in fourth while Wallace was in fifth ahead of Bell.

Not long after, Almirola overtook Keselowski for third place, but he was more than 18 seconds behind race leader DiBenedetto.

With 36 laps remaining, Almirola overtook Byron for the runner-up spot while DiBenedetto continued to lead by more than 13 seconds. Behind, Keselowski and Bell overtook Byron for spots in the top five while Blaney was in sixth ahead of Harvick, Logano, Larson and Reddick.

Down to the final 30 laps of the event, DiBenedetto, who drives for the legendary Wood Brothers Racing team but has no current racing plans established for 2022, continued to lead by less than six seconds over a hard-charging Almirola. Bell, meanwhile, was in third, less than eight seconds behind, while Keselowski and Blaney were in the top five.

Three laps later, DiBenedetto, who was aiming for a shortened event and for his first Cup victory, surrendered the lead to pit for two tires and fuel. With DiBenedetto out of contention, Almirola returned to the lead with Bell behind by less than two seconds.

With 20 laps remaining, Almirola was leading by more than a second over Bell. Keselowski remained in third while Blaney and Harvick battled for fourth. DiBenedetto, meanwhile, was in 13th.

Just then, NASCAR declared that the event will be shortened to a final 10-lap dash to the checkered flag due to darkness looming around the track and with no lights installed around the Magic Mile. By then, Almirola continued to lead by more than a second over Bell with third-place Keselowski trailing by more than four seconds as the race remained under green.

Down to the final five laps of the event, Almirola, who was struggling to lap Austin Dillon, was leading by more than six-tenths of a second over a hard-charging Bell. Meanwhile, Logano was up in fourth ahead of teammate Blaney and Harvick.

When the final lap of the darkened event started, Almirola continued to lead by eight-tenths of a second over Bell. Despite Bell’s final lap effort for the win, Almirola remained ahead and he was able to come back around to claim his first checkered flag in more than two seasons.

With the win, Almirola, who came into the event in 27th place in the regular-season standings and a long shot in the Playoff battle, scored his third NASCAR Cup Series career victory and he achieved his first win in NASCAR’s premier series since October 2018 at Talladega Superspeedway. In addition, he became the 13th different competitor to be guaranteed a spot in the 2021 Cup Playoffs based off of winning throughout the regular-season stretch and he recorded the first victory of the season for Stewart-Haas Racing.

“This is by far one of my favorite racetracks,” Almirola said on NBCSN. “I love coming up to the New England area and racing. I love this racetrack. I had this race won a couple years ago and I gave it away. I lost it, and I am so glad to win a race here with this race team. God is so good. We’ve been through so much and I’ve just stood the test and kept the faith. The team, everybody, they’ve just been working so hard. There have been so many people that have just continued to support us through the crappiest year ever, and, man, this feels so good for them. My pit crew, they did a phenomenal job on pit road. All the guys that work on this car, they just keep fighting. They just keep digging, bringing the best race car they can bring every week and it is no doubt, we have struggled, but, guess what? We’re going Playoff racing!”

Bell, who was aiming for a weekend sweep after winning Saturday’s Xfinity event at New Hampshire, settled in second place for his second runner-up result in three weeks.

“I didn’t know how may laps [NASCAR] cut it short, but definitely whenever I saw the board and saw that we were eight laps short, it stings man,” Bell said. “I felt like I probably had a little better pace than [Almirola] and I was able to get to him. I know lapped cars were giving him a bad time, but I was able to get to him. It was going to be a heck of a race, but really proud of everyone on this Rheem Pristine Auction Camry. They did really good. Everyone on this 20 crew, we didn’t start out the greatest and then we were really good, probably the best we were all day right there at the end of the race. That’s all you can ask for is to have a shot at it and just wish we had eight more laps.”

Keselowski, who led 53 laps, came home in third place followed by teammates Logano, who rallied from two laps behind, and Blaney, who led 64 laps.

Harvick, who led 66 laps, ended up in sixth followed by Larson, Chastain, Bowman and Hamlin.

DiBenedetto, who pitted late for fuel, settled in 11th in front of Truex, Reddick, Cole Custer and Stenhouse. Kurt Busch came home in 16th, Elliott ended up in 18th behind Austin Dillon, Byron finished 21st behind Daniel Suarez, Wallace ended up in 26th behind Michael McDowell and rookie Chase Briscoe finished 27th.

There were 14 lead changes for 10 different leaders. The race featured six cautions for 47 laps. 

With four races remaining until the 2021 Cup Playoffs commences, Denny Hamlin continues to lead the regular-season standings by 13 points over Kyle Larson. Currently, 13 competitors (Kyle Larson, Martin Truex Jr., Alex Bowman, Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, Aric Almirola, Kurt Busch, William Byron, Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, Brad Keselowski, Christopher Bell and Michael McDowell) are guaranteed Playoff spots based on winning at least once throughout the regular season. Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick and Tyler Reddick occupy the remaining three vacant spots to the Playoffs as winless competitors, with Reddick ahead by five points over teammate Austin Dillon, 121 over Chris Buescher, 143 over Matt DiBenedetto, 144 over Ross Chastain, 170 over Bubba Wallace, 172 over Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and 195 over Daniel Suarez.

Results.

1. Aric Almirola, 25 laps led

2. Christopher Bell

3. Brad Keselowski, 53 laps led, Stage 2 winner

4. Joey Logano

5. Ryan Blaney, 64 laps led, Stage 1 winner

6. Kevin Harvick, 66 laps led

7. Kyle Larson

8. Ross Chastain, three laps led

9. Alex Bowman

10. Denny Hamlin, one lap led

11. Matt DiBenedetto, 20 laps led

12. Martin Truex Jr.

13. Tyler Reddick

14. Cole Custer

15. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

16. Kurt Busch, one lap down

17. Austin Dillon, one lap down

18. Chase Elliott, one lap down, 53 laps led

19. Erik Jones, one lap down

20. Daniel Suarez, one lap down

21. William Byron, one lap down

22. Ryan Preece, one lap down

23. Corey LaJoie, one lap down

24. Ryan Newman, one lap down

25. Michael McDowell, one lap down

26. Bubba Wallace, one lap down

27. Chase Briscoe, two laps down

28. Justin Haley, two laps down 

29. Chris Buescher, three laps down

30. BJ McLeod, five laps down

31. Cody Ware, eight laps down

32. Anthony Alfredo, eight laps down

33. Garrett Smithley, 10 laps down

34. Josh Bilicki, 13 laps down

35. Quin Houff – OUT, Accident

36. James Davison – OUT, Clutch

37. Kyle Busch – OUT, Accident

The NASCAR Cup Series will be taking the next two weekends off for the Tokyo Summer Olympics before returning to action at Watkins Glen International on Sunday, August 8, which marks the series’ fifth road course event of 2021. The event is scheduled to occur at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN. 

Hagan, Torrence and Matt Smith take victories in Mile High Nationals

By
Briar Starr
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Photo Courtesy of Ron Olds/Speedway Media

NHRA returned to action this past weekend at Bandimere Speedway in Colorado for the Mile High Nationals and we saw former champions in the winner circle following Sunday’s on-track action.

Last year’s champions in Funny Car, Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcycle all claimed their respective class victories. Matt Hagan finally earned his elusive win of the season in Funny Car. Steve Torrence continued his Top Fuel dominance by scoring his fifth victory and Matt Smith collected his third Wally of 2021, his first since Atlanta.

Funny Car

Matt Hagan had not won yet this season through the first seven races after being dominant in the Funny Car category last year. The Don Schumacher Racing driver earned his 42nd No. 1 qualifier Saturday night after posting an E.T. of 3.966 and 319.22 mph during Friday’s session which paired him with No. 14 qualifier Chris King in the first round.

King was a Funny Car newcomer but was eliminated by Hagan after Hagan won with a time of 4.045 seconds and 317.49 mph that helped him have a bye run in the second round. Hagan easily advanced to the semis facing his Don Schumacher teammate Ron Capps. Hagan roared to a time of 4.022 seconds and 314.53 mph to face Alexis DeJoria in the finals.

The final for DeJoria was her first since returning to the sport a couple of years ago. DeJoria scored victories over Jack Wyatt, championship points leader Bob Tasca and a tire-smoking Tim Wilkerson in the semis to face off against Hagan.

When the two fired off the starting line, it was Hagan who outraced DeJoria to his 37th career victory by setting the E.T. of 4.105 seconds and 305.70 mph.

“This mountain has chewed me up and spit me out several years in a row. I’m just so glad to pull this win out,” said Hagan, who jumped to third in points. “I’ve been trying to get this trophy for so long. It’s an important race and it’s one of those things where we finally got it done. I just cannot say enough about my team. I’m so proud of each one of them and those guys love doing what they do. My heart was beating out of my chest there in the finals. 

“It felt like I was running for a championship. When you see all these fans in the stands, it gives me chill bumps. We love Denver and we love the fans that are here. I’m glad we got it done in front of them. Every win that you can get, you’re grateful for and I’m just blessed here today.”

For DeJoria, Sunday was solid for her, but the second-place finish would be her first runner-up of the season and the fourth runner-up of her career.

“This is definitely the best race weekend I have ever had at Bandimere Speedway,” said DeJoria. “We qualified No. 2.  We had a pretty consistent car during eliminations and we made it to my team’s first final round since I came back into the sport last year. We are just so hungry. We have had so many semifinals leading up to this. We have had great success in qualifying. We were just missing those final rounds. Now that we have tasted it we are going to have more of these. It is just a matter of time and I know I keep saying that but it is true.”

“In the final round we dropped cylinders right at the start,” said DeJoria. “My car was down on power. I saw Hagan move ahead and I was on his tail the whole way down. If he slipped up at all we had him. It is just one of those things. We are going to go to Sonoma with our heads held high.”

Funny Car Results

  1. Matt Hagan
  2. Alexis DeJoria
  3. Ron Capps
  4. Tim Wilkerson
  5. John Force
  6. Bob Tasca III
  7. Paul Lee
  8. Jack Wyatt
  9. Terry Haddock
  10. Cruz Pedregon
  11. Robert Hight
  12. Jim Campbell
  13. Chris King
  14. J.R. Todd

Funny Car Championship Point Standings

  1. Bob Tasca, 643 points
  2. John Force, 593
  3. Matt Hagan, 558
  4. J.R. Todd, 532
  5. Ron Capps, 529
  6. Robert Hight, 517
  7. Alexis DeJoria, 498
  8. Tim Wilkerson, 477
  9. Cruz Pedregon, 450
  10. Terry Haddock, 274

Top Fuel

Top Fuel was certainly the most interesting class of the afternoon. There were two “new” drivers in the category. Former Pro Stock driver Alex Laughlin was making his Top Fuel debut this weekend while Top Fuel and Funny Car nostalgia driver, Joey Haas, also made his debut.

Meanwhile, Colorado local, Greg Carrillo, defeated Antron Brown in the first round going 3.860 seconds and 316.23 mph to win over Brown.

However, when the action all was said and done, Steve Torrence was standing with his head held high for his fifth victory of the 2021 season.

Torrence qualified second and faced Rob Passey in the first round. Torrence got the victory over Passey in Round 1, a bye run in the second and a semi-final win over Mike Salinas that propelled him to the finals.

The debuting Joey Haas also was solid through his rounds with victories over Alex Laughlin and an upset over Leah Pruett in Round 2. He then coasted to a victory in the semis after Clay Millican’s car shut off leaving the staging lanes.

As Torrence and Haas left the lanes, Steve Torrence easily won over Haas posting an E.T. of 3.860 seconds and 320.36 mph to win the 45th victory of his career.

“I was pulling for him all day,” said the three-time reigning World Champion, “and I know there were a lot of people hoping he could get past us in the final. That’s a guy with a lot of heart and I hope I get to race him a lot more. I have complete respect for that whole (Terry) Totten team. It was fun to watch them.

“But these Capco Boys are just so bad to the bone,” Torrence continued. “Those guys were having one of those races where it’s just your day and, after they got past Clay (Millican), I was a little concerned. But Richard Hogan and Bobby Lagana, my whole team, they just did what they do and fortunately, I was able to do my job, too.”

Top Fuel Results

  1. Steve Torrence
  2. Joey Haas
  3. Mike Salinas
  4. Clay Millican
  5. Brittany Force
  6. Greg Carrilo
  7. Leah Pruett
  8. Shawn Langdon
  9. Antron Brown
  10. Buddy Hull
  11. Rob Passey
  12. Doug Kalitta
  13. Alex Laughlin

Top Fuel Championship Point Standings

  1. Steve Torrence, 858 points
  2. Antron Brown, 551
  3. Brittany Force, 505
  4. Billy Torrence, 448
  5. Shawn Langdon, 418
  6. Mike Salinas, 395
  7. Doug Kalitta, 367
  8. Leah Pruett, 362
  9. Justin Ashley, 337
  10. Clay Millican, 328

Pro Stock Motorcycle

No. 1 qualifier Matt Smith earned his third win and the 29th victory of his career Sunday afternoon after eliminating Eddie Krawiec. Matt Smith won with a time of 7.118 seconds and 189.04 mph in the final round to secure the victory.

“This place is hard to run at, but I love this racetrack and I was successful here in the early part of my career,” said Smith, who made the quickest run in all three qualifying sessions and three of the four rounds of eliminations this weekend. “What an awesome facility and I’m so glad to get to come out here. My bike was fast all weekend and it was just super impressive. We’ve got a tough field, so it’s always going to be tough, but this bike is on kill right now.”

It was an easy start for Smith as he had a bye run in the first round which got him to the second round. Smith then won over Cory Reed in the second round going 7.147 seconds and 189.26 mph. A victory over Andrew Hines in the semis got him to the finals.

Krawiec qualified sixth with a time of 7.182 seconds and 189.18 mph and faced Jerry Savoie in the first round. He won with a time of 7.150 seconds and 185.15 mph. Krawiec then faced Charlotte winner Steve Johnson in the second round and won with a time of 7.166 seconds and 189.73 mph to advance to the semis.

In the semis, Krawiec got a victory over Angie Smith after Smith fouled on the Christmas tree.

When the two Pro Stock Motorcycles raced down the track, Krawiec obtained his first runner-up of the season with Matt Smith getting the win.

Pro Stock Motorcycle Results

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

Pro Stock Motorcycle Championship Standings

  1. Matt Smith, 626 points
  2. Steve Johnson, 463
  3. Scotty Pollacheck, 381
  4. Ryan Oehler, 377
  5. Angelle Sampey, 318
  6. Angie Smith, 315
  7. Eddie Krawiec, 300
  8. Joey Gladstone, 288
  9. Karen Stoffer, 278
  10. Cory Reed, 270

Up Next: The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series will continue to head west to visit Sonoma Raceway on July 23-25, live on NHRA.TV (with a subscription) and FOX networks.

CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION: DENVER – MILE-HIGH NATIONANLS TEAM CHEVY POST RACE RECAP

By
Official Release
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CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
DODGE/SRT MILE-HIGH NHRA NATIONALS
BANDIMERE SPEEDWAY IN MORRISON, COLORADO
JULY 18, 2021

Chevrolet moves to second leg of Western Swing

• Brittany Force sets track record in recording third No. 1 qualifier
• Stephen Bell wins Factory Stock Showdown in COPO Camaro

MORRISON, Colo. (July 18, 2021) – There won’t be a sweep of the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Western Swing for John Force Racing in 2021, but the three-car team started the series of three races in three weeks with solid efforts at Bandimere Speedway.

Brittany Force reset the track Top Fuel elapsed time record with a pass of 3.717 seconds in the Monster Energy Chevrolet dragster to earn her third No. 1 qualifier honor of the season, 21st of her career and first at the strip.
Bandimere Speedway is the 18th different track at which Force has qualified No. 1 and it is the ninth track where she holds the elapsed time record. Force won her first-round match but fell in the second round by a scant four-thousandths of a second.

“Leaving Mile-High Nationals in third (in standings) and on a high note. This Monster Energy team picked up another No. 1 qualifier, a track record and six qualifying bonus points,” she said. “This weekend is not slowing us down. It’s only pushing us to the edge of wanting it more.”

Teammate and team patriarch John Force, an eight-time winner at the mountain venue, lost in the second round of Funny Car competition. Force, a two-time winner this season, was the No. 5 qualifier in the PEAK/BlueDEF Platinum Camaro SS.

In the first round, Force dispatched teammate Robert Hight, the No. 10 qualifier in the Auto Club of Southern California Camaro SS. Hight is a four-time winner at the strip southwest of Denver.

“It sucks racing a teammate; you’re supposed to do that at end of the day,” Force’s crew chief, Danny Hood, said. “We had to get after it because you know Jimmy (Prock, Hight’s crew chief) is going to do the same.”

John Force is the only Funny Car driver to sweep the Western Swing, earning the distinction in 1994. John Force Racing has a combined sweep to its credit in 2016 when Hight won in Denver, Courtney Force prevailed in Sonoma and John Force wrapped up the victory in Seattle.

Chevrolet Pro Stock drivers will rejoin the schedule July 23-25 at Sonoma Raceway in California for the NHRA Sonoma Nationals. Greg Anderson sits atop the standings with reigning champion Erica Enders in second. Both have two wins. FS1 will telecast eliminations live at 4 p.m. ET July 25.

Stephen Bell, driving the Stanfield Racing Engines Chevrolet COPO Camaro, won the Constant Aviation Factory Stock Showdown final. A COPO Camaro has won three of the four events this season.

Scott Libersher of Wilmington, Illinois, advanced to the semifinals of Super Stock in his COPO Camaro.

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): “Leaving Mile-High Nationals in third (in standings) and on a high note. This Monster Energy team picked up another No. 1 qualifier, a track record and six qualifying bonus points. We hit our marks, our numbers. The team did their job, I did my job, and the car did exactly what we wanted it to do. We just got beat. It was a great drag race for the fans. This weekend is not slowing us down. It’s only pushing us to the edge of wanting it more.”

FUNNY CAR:

JOHN FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, PEAK/BLUEDEF PLATINUM CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 5 qualifier, fell in second round): “The mountain is always as struggle for any team coming up here with the altitude. But this PEAK/BlueDEF team survived it. Only went a couple rounds but still good. Now we go down to Sonoma, and we’ll see how that goes. I’m happy with this team, young team, to me at least. They’re really good, really coming around with Daniel Hood and Tim Fabrisi and Joe Barlam. I’m really enjoying being with these guys.”

ROBERT HIGHT, JOHN FORCE RACING, AUTO CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 10 qualifier, fell in first round to John Force): “Little bit of a rocky weekend for the Auto Club team. We’re used to getting after it and we just missed it a couple times whit weekend. Luckily, we are right on to the next race, and we can turn things around. Sonoma has been good to this team in the past. Hopefully, that’s the case this year, too.”

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.

Toyota Racing NCS Post-Race Recap — New Hampshire 7.18.21

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Official Release
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BELL ROUNDS OUT NEW HAMPSHIRE WEEKEND WITH RUNNER UP FINISH
In a wild race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Christopher Bell finishes second

LOUDON, NH (July 18, 2021) – Christopher Bell scored a runner-up finish in Sunday afternoon’s darkness-shortened NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. After a red flag for rain on lap eight for rain, NASCAR was forced to shorten the 301 lap race by eight laps to 293.

Toyota Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Race 22 of 36 – 293 laps, 318.458 miles

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, Aric Almirola*
2nd, CHRISTOPHER BELL
3rd, Brad Keselowski*
4th, Joey Logano*
5th, Ryan Blaney*
10th, DENNY HAMLIN
12th, MARTIN TRUEX JR.
26th, BUBBA WALLACE
37th, KYLE BUSCH
*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

CHRISTOPHER BELL, No. 20 Rheem – Watts Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 2nd

What was it like trying to chase down Aric Almirola in the closing laps?

“How many laps did we run? 293 – so eight laps, that sucks. Really proud of everyone on this No. 20 Rheem Pristine Auction Camry. We did good. We kind of struggled early and made the car the best it was right there at the end. That’s all you can ask for and felt like we gave him (Almirola) a run for his money, that’s for sure.”

Had the race gone the distance, did you feel you could have passed Aric Almirola for the win?
“I didn’t know how may laps they cut it short, but definitely whenever I saw the board and saw that we were eight laps short, it stings man. I felt like I probably had a little better pace than him and I was able to get to him. I know lapped cars were giving him a bad time, but I was able to get to him. It was going to be a heck of a race, but really proud of everyone on this Rheel Pristine Auction Camry. They did really good. Everyone on this 20 crew – we didn’t start out the greatest and then we were really good, probably the best we were all day right there at the end of the race. That’s all you can ask for is to have a shot at it and just wish we had eight more laps.”

Where do you feel like you were better than the other cars throughout the race?

“I don’t know. I fought a little bit of everything – was a little loose in, a little loose off. I feel like my car cut the center probably better than theirs and that’s where my speed was. I’m happy for Aric (Almirola), that’s cool for him to win. He’s been close a couple times. Building on our program too so hopefully we can knock off a couple more wins here soon.”

At any point, did you feel like it was getting too dark towards the end of the race?

“Well, I don’t know, I had a dark shield on so I had to flip that thing up 50 laps ago. It was pretty dark for the last however many laps of the race. What’s eight more?”

Were you ever concerned about getting today’s race in due to the weather?

“Looking at the forecast, it looked like we weren’t going to take the green at all today. Then all of the sudden in cleared up and said it wasn’t going to rain. They dropped the green and it started raining. I didn’t really know what to expect, but I’m happy we got it in for sure.”

DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 10th

How much damage did you sustain from the incident with the rain on the track?

“A little bit, but I don’t think it’s detrimental or anything like that. We were fortunate. I think we were just far enough up the field to be in the wreck, but far enough back to where I saw the leaders wrecking and were able to check up and brake 100 feet which kept us out of the wall. It was fortunate and unfortunate, but we’re going to be fine.”

What was the condition like behind the wheel as the rain was falling?

“It’s wet. We run slick tires and these cars don’t have any grip on slick tires and wet asphalt. To me, that’s the job of the corner spotter has in NASCAR. They’re sitting over there, they can feel when it’s raining and see when it’s raining. That’s their job to tell NASCAR that it’s raining and we have to stop so we don’t have that situation. You always in these situations , you want them to air on the side of not looking bad and this is just a bad look.”

How quickly did the rain coming about?

“But we had a 30-second warning or more because there were cars that were sliding up the race track the lap before. The rain had not slowed down, it had picked up. It’s only going to get worse, as you saw.”

How does this communication improve with NASCAR?

“You just rely on NASCAR to do their part and that is to rely on the corner spotters to tell them when the surface is unsafe whether that be for debris, rain, whatever it is. That is their job to do. They can’t see from the tower. They can see the rain, but they don’t know how damp the surface was. That’s the job of the corner official to tell them that. Be interesting to see what communication was being had during that 30 to 40-second period.”

MARTIN TRUEX JR., No. 19 Reser’s Fine Foods #LetsPicnic Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 12th

What did you feel going into turn one when you spun in the rain?

“It’s just ice. Slicks don’t stick to water. I think the 18 (Kyle Busch) and I had it the worst because we were out front. We’re a half-a-lap ahead of the back of the field so it’s the wettest when we get there. The lap before I went into (turn) one and about did the same thing and I hollered on the radio that the track is wet. Like wet, wet. I tried to back it down and I got in there and it just kept going. I couldn’t even slow it down. At some point you have to turn the wheel and that’s when it spins out. I don’t know. I hate it for Reser’s Fine Foods. We only have a few races with them and they have a lot of people here. We were excited for the opportunity to race here at one of my favorite tracks. Now we’re out. We’ll be able to get some work done on it, but it’s not pretty.”

What is the extent of the damage to the race car?

“The rear is not bad, the suspension isn’t bad, but the splitter is on the earth under caution. A lot of stuff bent up under the left front splitter. Obviously, that’s a critical, important part of the car to get around here fast. Try to get it off the race track and soldier on, but we felt like we were going to have a good car today. It’s a real shame.”

KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 37th

Had you reported rain to NASCAR or your team over the radio prior to the accident?

“We started the race under a mist. It never should have gone green to begin with, but then it kept getting worse and worse lap over lap. The lap before I went into (turn) one and it shoved the nose really bad and I was able to keep it under control. It wasn’t bad enough. The next time I went down there, hell, I lifted at the flag stand – maybe a little past the flag stand, don’t get too dramatic – and just backed it in. We’ve been talking about it for two laps that it was raining. There’s no sense in saying what I want to say, it doesn’t do you any good.”

How frustrating is this at a track where you started from the pole and have a strong history?

“We’re done, we’re going home. It’s over. There’s no fixing that thing.”

Is there a way to improve communication with NASCAR?

“That’s going to get me in trouble.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. and North America for more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands. During that time, Toyota has created a tremendous value chain as our teams have contributed to world-class design, engineering, and assembly of more than 38 million cars and trucks in North America, where we have 14 manufacturing plants, 15 including our joint venture in Alabama (10 in the U.S.), and directly employ more than 47,000 people (over 36,000 in the U.S.). Our 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.) sold 2.8 million cars and trucks (2.4 million in the U.S.) in 2018.

Through the 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 ToyotaNewsroom.com

Toyota Racing NCS Race Quotes — New Hampshire 7.18.21

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Official Release
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NOTE: Quotes below from Toyota drivers Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. following an on-track incident as rain started to fall at New Hampshire Motor Speedway resulting in an accident involving the three drivers. The race is currently under a red flag for rain on lap 8.

DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

How much damage did you sustain from the incident with the rain on the track?

“A little bit, but I don’t think it’s detrimental or anything like that. We were fortunate. I think we were just far enough up the field to be in the wreck, but far enough back to where I saw the leaders wrecking and were able to check up and brake 100 feet which kept us out of the wall. It was fortunate and unfortunate, but we’re going to be fine.”

What was the condition like behind the wheel as the rain was falling?

“It’s wet. We run slick tires and these cars don’t have any grip on slick tires and wet asphalt. To me, that’s the job of the corner spotter has in NASCAR. They’re sitting over there, they can feel when it’s raining and see when it’s raining. That’s their job to tell NASCAR that it’s raining and we have to stop so we don’t have that situation. You always in these situations , you want them to air on the side of not looking bad and this is just a bad look.”

How quickly did the rain coming about?

“But we had a 30-second warning or more because there were cars that were sliding up the race track the lap before. The rain had not slowed down, it had picked up. It’s only going to get worse, as you saw.”

How does this communication improve with NASCAR?

“You just rely on NASCAR to do their part and that is to rely on the corner spotters to tell them when the surface is unsafe whether that be for debris, rain, whatever it is. That is their job to do. They can’t see from the tower. They can see the rain, but they don’t know how damp the surface was. That’s the job of the corner official to tell them that. Be interesting to see what communication was being had during that 30 to 40-second period.”

KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

Had you reported rain to NASCAR or your team over the radio prior to the accident?

“We started the race under a mist. It never should have gone green to begin with, but then it kept getting worse and worse lap over lap. The lap before I went into (turn) one and it shoved the nose really bad and I was able to keep it under control. It wasn’t bad enough. The next time I went down there, hell, I lifted at the flag stand – maybe a little past the flag stand, don’t get too dramatic – and just backed it in. We’ve been talking about it for two laps that it was raining. There’s no sense in saying what I want to say, it doesn’t do you any good.”

How frustrating is this at a track where you started from the pole and have a strong history?

“We’re done, we’re going home. It’s over. There’s no fixing that thing.”

Is there a way to improve communication with NASCAR?

“That’s going to get me in trouble.”

MARTIN TRUEX JR., No. 19 Reser’s Fine Foods #LetsPicnic Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

What did you feel going into turn one when you spun in the rain?

“It’s just ice. Slicks don’t stick to water. I think the 18 (Kyle Busch) and I had it the worst because we were out front. We’re a half-a-lap ahead of the back of the field so it’s the wettest when we get there. The lap before I went into (turn) one and about did the same thing and I hollered on the radio that the track is wet. Like wet, wet. I tried to back it down and I got in there and it just kept going. I couldn’t even slow it down. At some point you have to turn the wheel and that’s when it spins out. I don’t know. I hate it for Reser’s Fine Foods. We only have a few races with them and they have a lot of people here. We were excited for the opportunity to race here at one of my favorite tracks. Now we’re out. We’ll be able to get some work done on it, but it’s not pretty.”

What is the extent of the damage to the race car?

“The rear is not bad, the suspension isn’t bad, but the splitter is on the earth under caution. A lot of stuff bent up under the left front splitter. Obviously, that’s a critical, important part of the car to get around here fast. Try to get it off the race track and soldier on, but we felt like we were going to have a good car today. It’s a real shame.”

Toyota NCS New Hampshire Quotes — Pre-Race Media Availability 7.18.21

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Official Release
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Toyota Racing – Pre-Race Media Availability|
NASCAR Cup Series Quotes

LOUDON, NH (July 18, 2021) – Joe Gibbs Racing drivers Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr. and Christopher Bell and 23XI Racing driver Bubba Wallace were made available to media prior to the New Hampshire race today:

DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

Did you get any feedback after last week’s comments?

“Sure, it always gets some attention. It was good and we had some great conversations. Marcus (Smith, SMI) and Steve Phelps (NASCAR) and those guys. Collectively, we understand that we’re better together than we are separate.”

Did they appreciate you speaking out?

“I think that we understand that we’re better together. Whenever there’s input from all the stakeholders or certainly all sides get heard then I believe we can make the sport better if we all work together. They agree.”

Do you have any desire to try the SRX Series if there’s a second season?
“Yeah, I do. Nashville is actually on my radar six months ago as one I would have liked to have done, but a few conflicts and couldn’t do it. It’s a good series, looks like it’s growing and has a lot of enthusiasm. It’s a good balance of competition and show I guess.”

Where do things stand in signing the second driver for 23XI Racing for 2022?

“Still working on it. For us, it’s different because we don’t have a charter. You have to have that in place. There’s just so many moving parts, you’re trying to do them all at one time. I still feel confident no matter what, we like where we’re at on expanding in the future.”

How do you feel the 23XI Racing team is progressing?

“Good. We’ve progressed. We started the year with the first 10 races running 16th to 22nd and we’re now running 12th to 16th, that’s kind of right where we’re at these last few weeks. It’s about taking the next step at this point. I think my question to the team is, ‘What’s next? How do we now move that up?’ When you look at data and everything, the car has a ton of potential and how can we optimize Bubba (Wallace), the entire team’s performance, pit crew and everything to get better. Now, to get in the top-10 consistently, gaining those three to four spots we need to get in the top-10 consistently, that’s a big step. I want to see them get there by the end of the year.”

Has it felt like a lot for you this year juggling both responsibilities?

“It’s a lot. I do prioritize the time. I do compartmentalize when I need to be working on certain things. I feel like I’m high-functioning enough to where I can turn one switch on and turn the other one off. I can do that. I’ve done it for so many years. I can be on the phone five minutes before the race and I’m like, I’ve got to go do my job now. I’ve done it for a very long time so I think some people can handle it different than others and I have a good balance of it right now. Although, in the future, would I love to get my hands off of it a little bit? Yeah, but we’re in the building process so I’m going to be a little more hands-on.”

Do you look at the regular season title differently due to the amount of bonus points on the line?
“We do. We certainly do. It’s an extra win. It’s the difference between 15 and 10. Not only that, we could almost consider it a short competition between us and the 5 (Kyle Larson). The five races we’re basically even, certainly whoever can win between the two of us is going to feel pretty pumped. It’s five races to out-run them. We gave up huge chunks when he was on that big run and now we’re just maintaining each other. When he makes a mistake, I make a mistake. It’s just going back and forth. I would say certainly there’s some inner competition there and we both want it really bad.”

How do you think you stack up for the next five races?

“I look at the tracks and I’m like, it’s 50-50. It just depends on the week and who can hit it on any given week. I think this, when I look at tracks like New Hampshire, probably I think it’s advantage us. Maybe not, we might get our ass kicked today. It’s advantage us. You look at some of the road courses, they’ve been a little stronger than us so maybe advantage them. Michigan, Kyle’s (Larson) been very good there so maybe advantage them. We ran first and second there last year and Daytona, crap shoot, but I like my chances. We have a mix. It will go down to the end in Daytona I think to decide it.”

How difficult is it for drivers to battle for top-10s when they’re used to racing for top-20s?

“It’s different because you have to drive differently. You’re racing against guys you haven’t raced against for your whole career. You’re battling (Kevin) Harvick and (Joey) Logano at Atlanta and these are not guys that he’s (Bubba Wallace) been battling against for position very much in his career so you have to understand and learn how they race and what they expect. That’s how you optimize your passes with them. That is a learning curve that we can certainly improve on and he can improve on. Again, he is improving and I’m seeing it in the data, I see it on track. He’s improving and that’s all I can ask for.”

How key will track position be today with no practice and qualifying?

“I think it will be bigger today, more so without the PJ1. I thought yesterday passing was a little more difficult because the lanes were slightly narrower. I think track position will be big today for sure. Hopefully we can keep it. We’re going to have some conditions here that are going to be treacherous at this track with no rubber on it, cold, clean. It’s going to be loose. You’re going to see a lot of sideways cars to start the race.”

Are you happy there is no PJ1 here today?
“I’m indifferent. I thought this was one of the race tracks actually that benefitted pretty good from it. Essentially, indifferent. I think that there’s probably a chance for more accidents really with this type of format because everyone is fighting for a lane or two. You don’t have three lanes of cars spread out. It’s equally a challenge. We’re up for it and I think it’s going to be a learning curve. I think a lot of crew chiefs were panicking come Thursday or Friday when they found out that there was going to be no spray and now they’re looking at notes from three or four years ago versus the last couple.”

How did you feel about this race when you came from the back to the front of the field?

“That was a better example of the fastest race car dominating. That car made me look so good, it was incredible. You just do not get cars like that often, but I just remember running in practice thinking, there is nobody even going to touch this car. I read very, very few articles before races, but one popped up in my feed and it was like, ‘Denny (Hamlin) will essentially be a two touchdown favorite in this race.’ I’m like, I’m going against 40 other people not just one, but the lap times supported it and I didn’t believe that. When I raced, they were right. This car was really fast.”

Are you still frightened of lobsters?

“Probably not as much. Trust me, if they give me one today, I’ll hold it. I might look scared, but I’ll hold it. It’s interesting that the phobia does have a name and I’m in Wikipedia.”

KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

“You always try to race everybody hard, but race everybody as clean as you can. Then see how it plays out. Spaces get tighter as the race winds down and gets closer to the end, guys trying to pinch you, block you, you trying to put it in a hole that ain’t quite there or whatever it might be and contact will happen. That’s just racing. Race it out.”

Did you want to have practice and qualifying at this track?

“It’s not about whether or not we want it, it’s we’re not getting it. It is what it is and we just show up and run. With not having the practice time, it’s the same for everybody so we just try to come out here and for me, it’s remembering what I did two years ago because last year we only made 10 laps and crashed. It’s been a while since we’ve run a full race here.”

How hard has it been adapting to all the changes this past year?

“Obviously, it’s adapting, but last year there were guys that were good that won a lot of races and they were fast and this year those guys aren’t winning and now you’ve got different guys that are kind of winning. It’s just mixed up, it’s weird, it’s different. It doesn’t matter which form or fashion you come to the race track in, you always want to be fast, you want to be good, you want to be winning. Honestly, with as easy as everything is with just show up and race, it’s the perfect storm for anyone as long as you’re good. When you’re winning, it’s like it doesn’t matter, we’re good.”

Are you comfortable with no PJ1 being down today?

“It doesn’t matter. I think it’s just going to play out to be a normal, typical Loudon. Tough to pass, figure it out as you go type of race. I didn’t even see a lap of the Xfinity race yesterday. We’ll see what happens.”

Will you miss getting to race Xfinity with this lack of practice? How much has it helped?

“No, not really. You only get five anyway and it’s not like those five are really giving you a whole extra lot more than what you would without running. We picked the races that we chose for strategic purposes of getting laps at tracks I’d never been to and that seemed to help us I feel like. Overall, it was a good experience. Now that it’s done pretty much the rest of the year with places we’ve already been to other than Indy road course. That’s just a matter of just trying to learn as you get there.”

Are you seeing some of your traits in Brexton’s racing?

“No doubt, I think that he (Brexton Busch) enjoys racing. He would race every day, he’s always asking about going to the race track and when we’re going again. When we do get the chance to go and get the chance to race and he wants to qualify first. He wants to finish first in every heat race, he wants to win every feature. Just yesterday, he qualified first, he started fourth in his heat and he didn’t pass anybody in his heat so he was very visibly upset, angry, mad, crying, screaming for not passing anybody in the heat race and then in the main, the main didn’t go very well either. He was visibly upset on that. It’s just a matter of trying to harness all of that and figure out how to use that to his advantage going forward.”

Is this two week break a good idea?

“I think so. Whether it’s one or two weeks, three weeks, whatever it is. Having an off-week is good. I think it’s about time for us, a good summer break anyways to be able to go out and do things in the summertime that typically you’d always have to wait for the winter time. I can’t tell you how many winter vacations I’ve been on and places that I’ve gone in December, January versus actually being able to go somewhere far away in July.”

MARTIN TRUEX JR., No. 19 Reser’s Fine Foods #LetsPicnic Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

How does it feel to be back in New England?

“It feels good. Haven’t been able to do much because we just got here late last night. Excited about the race today. Still looking for that first win here in the Cup car. Hopefully, today is our day.”

What is the challenge at this track for you to close the deal for that elusive win?

“It’s just a tricky place. Flat corners, a lot of bumps getting into turn three. Both ends are a bit different even though they look the same. Those little banking transitions, flat apron, a little bit of banking, a little bit of banking – it changes your car so drastically when you cross those seams and how you cross them. It just changes. Now no PJ1 today after planning on racing on PJ1 and the car leaving the shop to race on PJ1, it’s been a challenge to try to make some tweaks to it since then. The challenge is that it’s unique, it’s tough and difficult. Very sensitive to small changes.”

Can you talk about how close you’ve been to three wins in a row at Watkins Glen?

“I think the last two second place finishes, it was just track position. Somehow the 9 (Chase Elliott) ended up in front of us and we couldn’t pass him. That’s a really, really fast place and it can be difficult to pass. His car was better in different spots than mine. From lap times, we were faster both years – I could get to him, but he was just fast in the right places where I couldn’t pass him. I will have to hopefully figure out how to get faster in a few key areas. But I love going there, it’s a fast place and it would have been awesome if we could have won three in a row out there.”

How frustrating is it when you feel you have a better car and just can’t find a way to pass?

“It’s always frustrating. It’s always tough to deal with and tough to keep focused on what you’re doing and not make mistakes and hit your marks and hope they make a mistake. That’s usually, at the end of the day, how you get by a guy at a place like that or when you’re in that kind of situation. Here today, it’s going to be that kind of situation. It’s going to be tough to pass and track position is important. You have to do everything right, you have to execute to win these races. The smallest little details, you lose one spot and you might run second. That’s what you need to focus on.”

Are you as disappointed as Kevin Harvick that you’re not running the oval track at Indy?

“I don’t know. I hadn’t really thought about it that much. I’m not going to throw up. I haven’t won two in a row there or whatever like he (Kevin Harvick) has. That’s probably a little bit of that. It is a historic track, but I don’t know. I don’t really think about things like a lot of people. I’m looking forward to the road course and another opportunity to get a win.”

Can you feel the gap closing between Joe Gibbs Racing and Hendrick Motorsports?

“I did last week at Atlanta. I felt like 20 more laps we were going to be in the fight for the win. Maybe 15. Really happy last weekend with our car and how things went. I do still think Atlanta is a totally unique race track and it’s kind of a one-off. I don’t know, it’s really hard to say these days where you stack up because through the summer here you’re at so many different tracks and things are changing. There’s really no consistency to anything. It’s more just guys show up one week and they’re gone for two. It’s hard to be consistent a little bit is what I’m saying. I feel good about our team and where we’re at. We’ll see if we can keep that going.”

How much do you circle this race on your calendar with your family’s success at this track?

“Honestly, we put a lot of effort in every week. It’s not like we say that we’re really going to try this weekend or this one’s important. They’re all important so we try hard every week. For me personally, this is a big one. I’d love to check it off the list. Been so close here a lot of times. We’ve got great numbers and great runs here and a lot of laps led and things, just haven’t been able to close the deal. Just trying to figure out how to do that and hopefully today is the day.”

What are you going to do during the two week break?

“Chilling, fishing, whatever. Just hanging out.”

How does this race track change throughout the race?

“Just as the rubber goes down, it loses grip in certain areas. Track position is definitely a big part of that. If you lose it, your car handles worse. That kind of compounds things and you can get off on those long runs.”

Does it hurt to not have practice and qualifying at this track?

“It hurts everywhere to really get your car feeling the way you want it to, but it’s the same for everyone. It really just puts a lot more pressure on the engineers and crew chiefs to make the right decisions to have the perfect setup, which is very, very difficult. It’s hard to come up with that with just computers. There’s a lot of guesswork involved and a lot of things going off past history and trying to make good decisions based on that. It’s a big challenge for those guys and I don’t know that they get enough credit for what they’re able to do and the stuff they have to work on.”

Could today’s race come down to strategy?

“Anytime you’re dealing with track position it comes down to strategy. You have to pit at the right time, you have to be in the right place with the right tires at the right time. It’s always easier to pass them in the pits on pit calls than it is on the race track. Making the right pit calls is huge, but your car has to be good as well or they’ll just pass you.”

CHRISTOPHER BELL, No. 20 Rheem – Watts Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

How do you feel about your chances for today now that we’ve had rain on the track?

“I don’t think it really changes. It will definitely affect the way the car drivers, but that’s probably more on the crew chief than on the driver. As long as my car is good, it won’t be a big change inside the car from my standpoint. From the crew chief’s standpoint, yeah absolutely, but not from my standpoint.”

How many laps will you lead today after 151 yesterday?

“I hope at least one and that one is the last one. I don’t know, we’ll have to see.”

BUBBA WALLACE, No. 23 McDonald’s Toyota Camry, 23XI Racing

How would you assess the first part of this season with 23XI Racing?

“It’s coming together. I think we’ve wanted more top-fives, top-10s. We’ve had the speed for a little bit, but there are certain things that have taken us out or put us behind a little bit. It’s just a matter of perseverance and coming back and just trying to get the best results. It seems like we’ve been on a pretty good streak here the last few weeks. Just need to keep it going.”

Is the two week break a good thing or does it interfere with momentum?

“Off weeks are much needed. This is a high stress job for all of us. It will be nice to have a mental reset. Doing nothing is fun.”

How do you prepare for this track to be green from the rain now with no PJ1?
“I went back and watched the 2014 truck race just to see. Should be fine. The Xfinity race was fine yesterday.”

How important is track position at New Hampshire?

“Track position is key everywhere in these race cars. No different than any other track.”

Are you looking forward to having a second team next season?

“It will be beneficial. Everybody is hitting the reset button next year with the new car. Having whatever comes through, getting another opinion will be vital for moving the organization forward.”

About Toyota

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

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

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

Hamilton achieves eighth victory at Silverstone following early collision with Verstappen

By
Andrew Kim
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Only one victory separates Sir Lewis Hamilton from reaching a major milestone in his Formula One racing career after the reigning seven-time champion snapped a five-race winless drought to win the British Grand Prix at Silverstone Circuit on Sunday, July 18.

The victory was Hamilton’s fourth of the 2021 F1 season, an all-time eighth victory at Silverstone and the 99th of his career, the most victories all-time in Formula One history.

Hamilton’s victory, however, did not come without controversy following a first-lap collision between himself and title rival Max Verstappen in the first corner, where contact between the two sent Verstappen’s Red Bull Racing machine spinning and making hard contact against the infield tire barriers, knocking him out of the race and costing the Dutchman a bevy of points in the championship standings. Though he climbed out of his battered car, Verstappen, who retired in 20th place, was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation.

Following the incident, Hamilton was given a 10-second penalty, which he served on Lap 28 of 52 while pitting. Falling back to fifth, the Stevenage, England, native, who is a hometown hero at Silverstone, was able to methodically work his way back to the podium spots and overtake Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc on Lap 50 to return to the lead. From there, Hamilton pulled away and was able to claim the checkered flag by nearly four seconds over Leclerc.

With the turn of events and the collision between the two championship contenders, Hamilton, who started the event trailing Verstappen by 33 points, is behind by eight points as he continues his pursuit for an record-setting eighth F1 title.

“I thought I was gonna have a heart attack, to be honest,” Hamilton, who shared the victory with his home crowd, said. “When I got out of the car, it was very emotional. The whole parade lap with the British flag, really proud moment for me. And the emotions just build up more and more as you come around to the end. And then, you just wanna go and hug everyone…What a beautiful day, what a blessing it is…Hopefully, [the win] brought some joy for England.”

While addressing the incident with Verstappen, Hamilton withstood his ground and his focus to battle Verstappen and Red Bull Racing to the end for the title.

“I’m open to [a conversation with Verstappen],” Hamilton said. “I don’t have any issues. I don’t know what really to say. Just game on. We’re just gonna keep on attacking. There needs to be respect on the track and if not, then this [incident] will happen more often. I’ve tried my hardest to stay as clean as possible.

Verstappen was not available for comment, but Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing’s team principal, expressed his frustration towards Hamilton over the incident.

“It’s disappointing for a driver that’s won seven world championships to make a desperate error like that,” Horner said. “We’re just lucky today that it didn’t have a worse consequence. I don’t think that Lewis can take any real satisfaction out of that victory today because it was unacceptable what he did to Max.”

Behind Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, who led a race-high 49 of 52 laps compared to Hamilton’s three and who dealt with engine issues throughout the event, settled in the runner-up spot for his first podium result of the 2021 season and his first since last year’s British Grand Prix. Valtteri Bottas, Hamilton’s teammate, came home in third place for his sixth podium result of this season.

“I don’t really know how I feel,” Leclerc said. “I’ve got 50 percent of me that is super happy, 50 percent of me that is extremely disappointed to lose the win so close to the end. If you look at the overall picture, coming to the weekend, we did not expect to be fighting for a win. I thought it was over in the first stint when he had those engine cuts…I gave 200 percent of me, and it was very, very close.”

“We can take positives,” Bottas said. “I think, today, we worked well as a team. We got really good points, especially against Red Bull. So that is good.”

McLaren’s Lando Norris, who had a slow pit stop on Lap 22, and Daniel Ricciardo finished in fourth and fifth followed by Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz. Fernando Alonso recorded a strong seventh-place result followed by Lance Stroll, Esteban Ocon and rookie Yuki Tsunoda.

Pierre Gasly settled in 11th, the first competitor outside of the top-10 points-scoring positions, followed by George Williams. Antonio Giovinazzi came home in 13th followed by Nicholas Latifi and Kimi Räikkönen.

Sergio “Checo” Perez, who started at the rear of the field and made a late pit stop for soft tyres, ended up in 16th followed by Haas drivers Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher. Sebastian Vettel, who spun early, retired in 19th place.

Results:

1. Lewis Hamilton, 27 points

2. Charles Leclerc, 18 points

3. Valtteri Bottas, 16 points

4. Lando Norris, 12 points

5. Daniel Ricciardo, 10 points

6. Carlos Sainz, eight points

7. Fernando Alonso, six points

8. Lance Stroll, four points

9. Esteban Ocon, two points

10. Yuki Tsunoda, one point

11. Pierre Gasly

12. George Russell, +1 lap

13. Antonio Giovinazzi, +1 lap

14. Nicholas Latifi, +1 lap

15. Kimi Räikkönen, +1 lap

16. Sergio Perez, +1 lap, one point

17. Nikita Mazepin, +1 lap

18. Mick Schumacher, +1 lap

19. Sebastian Vettel, Retired

20. Max Verstappen, Retired, three points

Despite his early incident and exit from the event, Verstappen continues to lead the drivers’ standings by eight points over Hamilton. In addition, Red Bull Racing continues to lead the constructors’ standings by four points over the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team.

Next on the 2021 Formula One schedule is Hungaroring for the Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday, August 1.

Atlanta Speedwerks Works Overnight For Sixth, Eighth Place Finishes at Lime Rock in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge

By
Official Release
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Photo credit Daylon Barr Photography

Brian Henderson and Robert Noaker Led in No. 84 Sabelt/Pagid Honda Civic TCR, No. 94 Qelo Capital/Dinner With Racers Honda Civic TCR of Ryan Eversley and Scott Smithson Recovered from Practice Crash For Top 10

LIME ROCK, Connecticut (July 18, 2021) – A challenging night turned to a challenging day for Atlanta Speedwerks on Saturday at Lime Rock Park, but the team persevered for a pair of top-10 finishes in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge TCR-class competition.

Brian Henderson and Robert Noaker led the way for the team with a sixth-place finish in the No. 84 Sabelt/Pagid Honda Civic TCR. Henderson started second and led 30 laps in his stint before, during, and after the third full course caution of the race. Using the those long, multiple cautions in the first hour of the race as a guide, Henderson stayed in the car for an extended one-hour, 20-minute stint. Unable to find one last caution, the team made its driver-change and pit stop under green with 40 minutes to go, falling a lap down as Noaker climbed behind the wheel. Noaker fought to hang on for the finish on the lead lap.

The more heroic effort came from the Atlanta Speedwerks crew, who worked through the night to prepare the team’s third Honda Civic TCR after the No. 94 Qelo Captial/Dinner With Racers/Lemons of Love machine crashed in Friday’s practice. The car, which was essentially meant to be a parts car and needed functional parts from the original car to race, was finished – without fully functioning anti-lock brakes – less than five minutes prior to the field pulling onto the track for pace laps.

By rule, the team started the race at the end of the field from pit lane and immediately served a drive through penalty, then went to work. Scott Smithson, through clean, steady driving and attrition from other drivers, climbed as high as eighth before stopping with one hour, 15 minutes remaining. Eversley rejoined in 10th but was assessed a pit lane penalty that left the car two laps behind the leaders.

Eversley, like Smithson driving without a cool suit on a 90-degree day because it didn’t make the change to the new car, fought his way up one additional position for a stellar finish under the circumstances.

The effort leaves Eversley second in the Michelin Pilot Challenge Driver Championship, and the No. 94 Atlanta Speedwerks car second in the team points. Henderson and Noaker are seventh in the Driver points as well as the Team standings, and the finish today keeps Honda atop the Manufacturers Championship after six of 10 rounds in the 2021 season.

Atlanta Speedwerks and the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season resumes at Road America, August 5 – 8, for round seven of the season.

Ryan Eversley, Driver, No. 94 Honda Civic TCR: “I can’t say thanks enough to the crew guys. This Atlanta Speedwerks team, all year, if there’s something that needs to be done then someone will pick it up and do it. That came to the forefront this weekend when we needed everybody to jump in and get the spare car built up. We didn’t have a great race, but we did finish. I didn’t think we were going to make the grid just because the time was running out. We didn’t have anything we couldn’t overcome. We had a car that I think could have been in the top five if we didn’t have some on-track issues to overcome. That was monumental. I have to thanks to Honda/HPD and JAS Motorsports for building such a safe car. Scott was fine after the incident and was able to race competitively. It’s a testament to Honda in general. This car starts as a street car and he was able to race after a crash like that, that’s a huge deal. It was tough on track. With the extra weight we’re now carrying, the degradation was so bad and no tire could run with that much weight. But we’re not going to give up and still leave here second in the points.”

Scott Smithson, Driver, No. 94 Honda Civic TCR: “That was a rough weekend. With the crash yesterday, the crew worked all night and got the car going but we ran without ABS. In my stint, usually I can gut through things pretty well but I’m pretty banged up with my ribs and all the right hand corners. We did what we could do. Ryan had a really good stint. But we don’t want to have any more of these.”

Brian Henderson, Driver, No. 84 Honda Civic TCR: “The start of the race was wild. We got up in there and worked our way to the lead. We managed to hold onto the lead for a while and chose to stay out. We got our lap back and got up to sixth and Robert was able to hold off the guys behind him and secure that sixth place finish. Obviously, we would have loved to finish a little higher than that, maybe on the podium, but overall it’s not terrible. We finished the race and are looking for the next one at Road America.”

Robert Noaker, Driver, No. 84 Honda Civic TCR: “It was hot at first. The Cool Shirt was having issues, so I didn’t have that. The nature of this track, you never get a break. I was just running laps, running laps, and it was getting hotter and hotter. I got pretty worn out. But the extra weight killed us at the end, we just didn’t have the grip. The team did whatever they could and we still came out in sixth.”

About Atlanta Speedwerks
Atlanta Speedwerks is a professional road racing team and prep shop, providing road racing services, car builds, roll cages, arrive and drive programs, and performance parts. Headquartered near Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, the company runs winning arrive & drive programs in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, Mazda MX-5 Cup, Porsche Club of America and SCCA Spec Miata, among others. Professional coaching and driver development round out the company’s offerings.

How Often Should You Get Motorcycle Serviced

By
SM
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Photo by Harley-Davidson on Unsplash

Having a motorcycle and riding is an exciting experience, and you can’t compare it with any other activity. When you are using a motorcycle, its maintenance is also essential. If you compare it with a car, the maintenance of a motorcycle is quite simple. But it does not mean that you take it for granted and do not pay attention. Every machine requires maintenance and hence motorcycle too so that it runs at optimum performance and finally gives you a pleasurable riding experience, and does not break down when you are on the road. The service of a motorcycle is especially vital to keep it running for a long time. Regular motorcycle service is also essential to keep yourself safe.

Care for your Motorcycle – To keep it in good condition:

You have to make sure that all the parts of your motorcycle are in good condition and working fine. When talking about motorcycle maintenance, there are two types; one solo, which you can do yourself; the other, which are more technical and require the skills of a mechanic, which involves higher costs. For example, you can check engine oil yourself, but you have to go to your mechanic when the chain is broken. There are many things to be checked routinely to resolve smaller problems before growing into bigger faults. However, any motorcycle, old or new, requires servicing.

How often a motorcycle should be serviced depends on the model. Motorcycle manufacturers provide the owner’s manual, answering this question and other useful information about the motorcycle. But there are certain general guidelines discussed below: 

Oil Change

Change of oil is due when the oil light starts blinking or when the engine burns the oil. Change the oil when your motorcycle has traveled 4000 miles or every six months, whichever comes first.

Tire Air Pressure

It is important because you are on two wheels and imagine that you are going on a highway at a speed of 80 miles an hour, and one of the tires bursts. In such a case, you may face a horrible accident. According to a survey, about 78% of lives in motorcycle road accidents are lost due to tire blasts. Tire air pressure should be checked twice a month but, if not possible, necessarily once a month. The type pressure should be between 27 and 30 psi. If you have a tire with a tube, the tube must also be checked once in two months. If the tube has too many punctures, it must be replaced with a new one. However, tubeless tires are getting common nowadays.      

Chain:
Motorcycle riders often ignore this part, and consequently, they have to face inconvenience when it is broken on a busy road or a highway. Maintenance of chain requires “lubing” and “checking the tension of the chain.” It should be done after 4,000 miles or every six months, whichever comes first. You can easily remember this schedule because it is the same as an oil change, and you can go for the service of both at the same time. The exact chain tension your motorcycle requires is given in your owner’s manual, as each type of motorcycle has a different one. 

Carburetor

This requires “tuning” and “flushing the cooling system,” which is performed every two years. If there is a carburetor in your motorcycle, its regular service and repair are necessary because it saves a lot of money and time. In some motorcycles, there is a water-cooled engine. In such a case, the cooling system should get flushed after every two years. A mechanic does the service of a carburetor or water cooler. Moreover, you can visit twelvmag.com for a great variety of motorcycle repairing tools.

Clutch Wire

It is a metallic cable used to change gears. It also has a specific setting (tension) so that you should be able to change gears during your ride. A motorcycle owner will know their motorcycle clutch, but whenever you feel difficulty operating the gears, consult your mechanic. This is also one of the services which you can’t do yourself. Finally, you have to rush towards your mechanic.

Gears and Gear Box

It is an expensive part, and it is damaged when the clutch is not operated properly. When this problem arises, you can’t handle it yourself. You have to take your motorcycle to a professional who can do it. The clutch wire causes an abruption in gears. Either the life of a clutch wire is going to end, or the tension of the clutch wire is not proper. Your mechanic can check and correct this problem.   

Engine Tuning

Tuning is what only an experienced motorcycle engine expert can do. The professional mechanic has the tools as well as relevant experience required for this task. It can be done at the time of changing oil for convenience.

Electrical Parts

Make sure that headlights, hazard lights, indicators, and horns are working fine before you go on the road. The headlight beams with both high and low intensity must work properly. Make sure that the front and rear indicators are functioning well. You may also need a functioning horn to warn other vehicles in case of unusual happenings. 

Seized Engine

In case of a seized engine, your motorcycle will not start. It happens when you constantly run your motorcycle for a long time without its maintenance. There is no engine oil left inside, or it is too black; that is, it has not been changed for a long time or maybe that its cooling system is not checked and failed. Other reasons for being an engine seized are old and dull oil and rust and stain built-up.

In case of a seized engine, you have to take the motorcycle to an expert mechanic. He opens the complete engine and has to change rings and pistons. It’s a time-consuming task, and if a mechanic works full time on your motorcycle, it takes about four to six days and involves a lot of labor and expense.       

How often does a motorcycle needs service?

On average, a motorcycle will require servicing once a year. For determining the exact mileage or time frame of service, consult the user manual that comes with your motorcycle. Basic maintenance is an ongoing process, and the more you look after your motorcycle, the better it will perform. 

Basic maintenance will include oil changing, battery changing, chain tightening, and tire checking. You can install a motorcycle TPMS to keep a check on your tires all the time. According to Rev Corner, it is good to have a motorcycle TPMS before going on a journey to ensure the tires are safe. 

For a comprehensive service, you should rely on professionals. But the type and amount of your motorcycle use will determine how much service your motorcycle needs. A motorcycle exposed to salt, grit, and rains will need more servicing and battery change than a motorcycle that runs smooth roads in summer. Similarly, servicing needs of a racing motorcycle is different from that you use to commute to work. 

Conclusion

Motorcycle riding is an exciting experience, but its service and maintenance are very imperative. There are some check-ups and repairs with your motorcycle that need a proper routine. If you don’t pay attention to your motorcycle, the smaller problems may be converted to bigger ones leading to more expense and inconvenience. You may have a breakdown of your motorcycle on the road, and then you have to spend a hefty amount on replacing the worn-out parts or their repair.   

Buying a car for a road trip – what you need to know

By
SM
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Photo by Holden Baxter on Unsplash

Whether you are planning an 11-months’ worth of road trip and spending a year out of state or traveling at home and cross country, making sure you have a car to drive is an essential part of a road trip.

The most popular option in fanatics of road trips is renting a car. However, if you often travel through the seasons, then buying a car is the most cost-effective and feasible option in the long run. It can also save you the hassle of renting a vehicle every time you want to go for a drive. So, before buying the first car you see and jumping the gun, consider some of these tips and tricks you need to know when making your purchase.

Check your credit score.

The first step is checking your credit score when you’re ready to buy a car and take the plunge for your road trip. So that you can save hundreds of dollars; you can negotiate a great deal if you have a good credit score. A credit score that is above 700 in the USA is considered good. Anything above 850 is excellent.

Boosting your credit report makes financial sense if your score is lower than this. To get a better credit score, stick to owning just one credit card, making payments pertain to one credit card on time, and paying off any debts that you might owe.

Remember that purchasing a car is a considerable investment that can cost a significant amount of money. So, it’s advisable to have a good credit score if you don’t plan on paying the total cost of a vehicle upfront.

Checking for the History of the Car

Start checking the car’s history as soon as you narrow down your search to a handful of cars. Certain repairs and accident histories are often left out, especially when you buy used cars from private owners. You can use CARFAX services to determine the accidents that the car had been put through. Then, take matters into your own hands! When checking the vehicle’s history, also confirm its mileage and model. Some essential parts of older cars may no longer be available, making them difficult to maintain. Hence, if you don’t want to go through the trouble looking for car parts, buy a vehicle that’s not too old.

Whether you’re looking for an RV in Pembroke Pines, a used Mercedes for sale in San Diego, or a Limo Find, taking time to research the history of the car you are planning on buying will ensure that you will face no car trouble down the road.

Taking it for a test drive

After driving to your friends’ homes, going to the dealerships, and scoring the internet, you may finally find the one car that you have been looking for. However, once you begin driving it, it may not live up to your expectations.

It’s incredibly important to take the car you’re planning on getting for a test run. Do the heating and air conditioning work? Is there room for cargo? Is it comfortable? How are the safety features? When test driving a potential car, all of these are questions which you should be asking. The joys of your journey will be taken away when your drive a car you hate for weeks on end. Therefore, you should feel comfortable behind the wheel. Furthermore, the car you’ll buy should have all the features you need.

So, before your take off for your expedition and put the pedal to the metal, make sure you run a vehicle check!

Test the brakes

Spot any scraping or squeaking noises in the brakes when you are taking the car on a test run. Do the pedals completely hit the floor, or is there a burning smell? This means that the brake pads are worn out and making this purchase may cost you more down the road. Always remember to give the brake pad area a good check-up.

It’s better to pick a car without any brake problems than one with a faulty one. After all, you may need to pay extra costs to repair the vehicle before you can go for a drive.

Learn the features of the car

Whether you are planning on buying a used car or a new one, reading up about it is always helpful. Make a list of all of the features which come equipped with the vehicle, so you’re not caught off guard.

If you’re not too familiar with the different features of various car models, you can ask the assistance of a car broker. They can help you find the right vehicle depending on your preferred features.

Determining the trade-in value of your car

When we’re making purchases on a large scale, such as a car, we all want to make as many savings as we can. You can cut down the upfront cost of your car through a trade-in car value. To get a rough estimate, use a depreciation calculator for your car. This will allow you to estimate the worth of your car.

When road tripping, some people prefer not to use their current car. You, too, can sell your current car or trade it in or buy an affordable used car if you are in the same boat.

Your total expenses will be cut down for your road trip, and the car you currently own will be in tip-top condition.

Financing a car

When looking for a road trip car and not wanting to buy a used one, you can always look into buying a new one. You will have peace of mind with a new car knowing that you will face no mechanical issues along the way. You can consider this option if you’ll go on long drives frequently.

Also, for safety, most newer cars have advanced features and are more gas efficient. Consequently, with all these great benefits, you get an even greater price tag to match. When buying a new car, financing is a great option. Your dealer can devise a monthly loan plan with financing to meet budgetary needs regularly. If you want to lessen your monthly bills, you can save up as early as possible so that you can pay a large down payment. This way, your total loan amount isn’t too expensive.

Renew all the documents and plan ahead

Before you take off on your trip, review the expiration date on your drivers’ license, your passport, your insurance, and your license plate stick. So that you are positive that the road has been covered out, you might also want to take a look into travel insurance and CAA membership of your newly bought car.

Making a schedule

Figure out when you have to pull off the road and when you will be driving. Ensure that you take snaps, have food, and find lodging. Without sleep, do not plan on driving for extended periods. It’s a bonus if you’ve got an alternate driver for your ride since everyone will get rest.

Get a tune-up of your car.

Before you set out on the road, spending the time for a tune-up can save you from shelling out for a major repair, especially on vacation. All essential filters and fluids can be checked by your mechanic to see if any of them need to be topped up or changed completely. Replacements of any belts or hoses can also be looked at. Before your road trip, the busy time would be to take your car in at least three weeks before. That way, you will still have time to fix any issues that the mechanic finds.

Final Thoughts

Before beginning, you’re adventurous; make sure you take your time going through these. This way, you will enjoy and relax knowing that your car is ready for the road ahead.

Drive off into the sunset of your rear-view mirror once the deal has been signed and your road trip essentials have been packed in the trunk.

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