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THE QUAKER STATE 400 PRESENTED BY WALMART BRINGS A DECADE OF RACING TO ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY

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Official Release
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The 11th annual Quaker State 400 has a new home this year with racing at Atlanta Motor Speedway commencing Sunday, July 11 at 3:30PM EST

Houston, TX – July 6, 2021. Quaker State® is shifting gears and beginning a new chapter in the brand’s storied racing history, hosting the 11th annual Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart at its new home, Atlanta Motor Speedway. Part of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) season, the Quaker State 400 will headline a double-header weekend of motorsports. The green flag will wave on Sunday, July 11 at 3:30PM EST and will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network.

“Quaker State has celebrated motorsports for decades and this year, we are celebrating a new home for the Quaker State 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway,” said Machteld de Haan, CEO, Pennzoil Quaker State Company and Vice President, Shell Lubricants Americas. “At one of the most action-packed tracks on the circuit, race fans will witness on-track strategy and heart-pounding racing during the 400-mile chase for the checkered flag. As one of the longest running entitlement races in the NASCAR Cup Series, we are eager to bring fans another year of exhilarating racing for fans.”

Action kicks off outside the track beginning July 6, leading up to the big event. Quaker State and Walmart are teaming up to host events at local retail locations around the Atlanta area in anticipation of Sunday’s race. Fans will have the opportunity to visit select Walmart locations to see custom vehicles and race memorabilia including this year’s Quaker State 400 trophy, two Tommy Pike Customs truck builds, Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Quaker State 400 pace car and a chance to walk away with Quaker State gear!

Quaker State and Walmart Retailtainment Event Dates and Locations:

  • Tuesday, July 6, 2:00PM – 6:00PM EST
    • Walmart Store #594
    • 125 Pavilion Pkwy, Fayetteville, GA 30214
  • Wednesday, July 7, 2:00PM – 6:00PM EST
    • Walmart Store #3201
    • 135 Willow Ln, McDonough, GA 30253
  • Thursday, July 8, 2:00PM – 6:00PM EST
    • Walmart Store #932
    • 1569 N Expy, Griffin, GA 30223
  • Friday, July 9, 10:00AM – 2:00PM EST
    • Walmart Store #5363
    • 11465 Tara Blvd, Hampton, GA 30228

For fans who think they can race around Atlanta Motor Speedway as fast as NASCAR drivers, they will have the chance to prove it! Within the Shell Racing App, Quaker State is giving fans the opportunity to race at Atlanta Motor Speedway and compete against Matt DiBenedetto, driver of the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Quaker State/Menards Ford Mustang! Fans can also race other incredible cars including the Shell Motorsports Collection on a variety of custom tracks, available at user’s fingertips. The app free to download now in the App Store and Play Store.

Coming off a third-place finish in last year’s Quaker State 400, DiBenedetto is seeking to capture the team’s historic 100th win in the NASCAR Cup Series. As the team travels to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the track’s first Quaker State 400, DiBenedetto will look to build on a strong season and be behind the wheel of his No. 21 Quaker State/Menards Ford Mustang co-primary paint scheme for the race. Looking to secure his spot in the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, DiBenedetto is aiming to improve on his 11th place finish in the spring race at Atlanta and earn his first victory of the season.

With the Quaker State 400 remaining at a Speedway Motorsports Incorporated (SMI) track, Atlanta Motor Speedway provides Quaker State the opportunity to share its rich racing history with fans, partners and customers throughout motorsports.

“We have been looking forward to the Quaker State 400 all season long,” said Brandon Hutchison, Executive VP and GM of Atlanta Motor Speedway. “Quaker State has been in motorsports for more than 100 years and being able to host one of the longest running entitlement races in the NASCAR Cup Series is an honor for our track. We’re ready to welcome back race fans to our track for a second time this season and can’t wait to see all the action on Sunday, July 11.”

Quaker State encourages motorists to be unconventional and provides a full line of Full Synthetic products that offer everything you need and nothing you don’t. To stay up-to-date on the latest Quaker State activities, be sure to ‘Like’ the official Quaker State Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/QuakerState) and follow Quaker State on Twitter (www.twitter.com/QuakerState) using #QS400.

About Quaker State®

Quaker State® motor oil has a 100-year history as a leader in consumer automotive products and vehicle care.  Quaker State is among the industry’s hardest working motor oil brands and offers a range of products to help meet various types of vehicle engine needs. For more information about the full line of Quaker State motor oils, visit www.quakerstate.com.

About Shell Motorsports

Shell Oil Company is an affiliate of the Royal Dutch Shell plc, a global group of energy and petrochemical companies with operations in more than 70 countries. In the U.S., Shell operates in 50 states and employs more than 20,000 people working to help tackle the challenges of the new energy future. The Shell downstream organization manages a portfolio of top-quality brands, including the No. 1 selling premium gasoline, Shell V-Power NiTRO+ Premium Gasoline, No. 1 selling gasoline, Shell Nitrogen Enriched Gasolines, and Pennzoil®, the most trusted motor oil brand in America.

Shell’s motorsports technical alliances around the world provide a testing ground for fuel and lubricant technologies and products in demanding road conditions. The knowledge Shell and Pennzoil gain through these alliances help address tomorrow’s world mobility energy challenge with efficient solutions that power and protect motorists around the globe. www.shell.com, www.shell.us, www.quakerstate.com.

About Speedway Motorsports
Speedway Motorsports is a leading marketer, promoter and sponsor of motorsports entertainment in the United States. The Company, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates the following premier facilities: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Sonoma Raceway, Texas Motor Speedway and Kentucky Speedway. Speedway Motorsports provides souvenir merchandising services through its SMI Properties subsidiaries; manufactures and distributes smaller-scale, modified racing cars and parts through its U.S. Legend Cars International subsidiary; and produces and broadcasts syndicated motorsports programming to radio stations nationwide through its Performance Racing Network subsidiary.

Jim Pace Will be Remembered at Chattanooga Motorcar Festival

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Official Release
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Photo credit Chattanooga MotorCar Festival

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (July 6, 2021) – The late Jim Pace, an accomplished race-car driver and the Event Chair and Chief Operating Officer of the inaugural 2019 Chattanooga Motorcar Festival, will be honored in a pre-race ceremony during this year’s Festival at the Pace Grand Prix at the Bend on Saturday, Oct. 16. The three-day Festival runs from Oct. 15-17, 2021.

Named after the personable driver and coach who spent more than three decades competing successfully in a variety of series and cars, the Pace Grand Prix will celebrate the life of this respected racing veteran who passed away on Nov. 13, 2020, from COVID-19.

The all-new purpose-built two-mile race course in downtown Chattanooga will be dedicated to Jim Pace’s memory. Notable supporters, industry leaders and friends will reflect on Pace’s contributions to the Festival and the sport. A number of other special events surrounding the celebration will be announced at a later date.

“It is hard to imagine that, after living the perilous life of a race-car driver with all its dangers, a healthy man like Jim could be taken away by a virus called COVID-19,” said Festival founder Byron DeFoor, in a heartfelt statement in 2020. “We all feel that we wish we had more time, more instruction, more of life’s racing adventures with him.

“We are privileged to have known him and worked with him, and this tribute is just a small gesture to honor the man whose Southern charm, talent and grace were unequalled.”

Jim Pace was born in 1961 in Monticello, Mississippi, and his racing career began in the Barber Saab Pro Series in 1988. He soon moved to sports car racing and won the GTU class at the 1990 24 Hours of Daytona. Along with co-drivers Scott Sharp and Wayne Taylor, Pace drove the Riley & Scott Mk III to victory in the 1996 24 Hours of Daytona. Later that season he competed for the same team in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. After years of only driving at Daytona, Pace returned to regular drives in the Rolex Sports Car Series GT class in 2007. In 2008 he drove a Porsche 911 for The Racer’s Group and in 2009 drove for Farnbacher Loles Racing.

At one time in his young life, Pace had decided to become a doctor. He majored in pre-med at Mississippi State, then entered the University of Mississippi Medical School in 1983. After three years and three days into medical school, he decided that racing cars would be his life and career. Pace resided in Ridgeland, Mississippi.

Events on the Pace Grand Prix at the Bend course during Friday and Saturday will include class races among a limited number of 12 competitors at a time. The new track replaces the Time Trials course used in 2019. Class designations may be found when registering at chattanoogamotorcar.com/pacegrandprix.

The 2021 Festival features the Concours d’Elegance, West Village Road Rallye, Mecum Auctions and The Pace Grand Prix at the Bend. Other family-friendly events will be scheduled and announced later. Additional information may be found at chattanoogamotorcar.com.

Event tickets will be available soon.

About Chattanooga Motorcar Festival:
Proceeds from the Chattanooga Motorcar Festival support neuroscience research through Fifty Plus Foundation, Inc. Approaching a decade of supporting Alzheimer’s Disease and neuroscience research, Fifty Plus Foundation, Inc., created the Chattanooga Motorcar Festival to bring that support to a local level while funding research that will make a global impact. Learn more at chattanoogamotorcar.com.

FIRECRACKER 40 FOR SPORTSMAN SET FOR SATURDAY AT GRANDVIEW, MODIFIEDS SECOND PART OF SHOW

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Official Release
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BECHTELSVILLE, PA JULY 6, 2021 . . . Because of the rainout last Saturday the doubleheader show of racing, topped by the Firecracker 40 for Sportsman, will be offered on Saturday, July 10. The T.P.Trailers Modifieds will also be part of the exciting night of racing which is all part of the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series which includes tracks from across the nation. With $2,000 being offered to the winner of the Firecracker 40 interest is running high.

Veteran racing talent Kenny Gilmore, the current T.P.Truck Equipment point leader, will be looking to make it two feature wins in a row and take home the big bucks. Defending T.P. Truck Equipment Sportsman champion Brian Hirthler, a two time champion, will be ready to challenge Gilmore as will Cole Stangle, Kyle Lilick, Dylan Hoch and a host of others including some visitors being attracted by the increased purse.

The T.P. Trailers Modifieds will be the second part of the show. Adult admission is $22 while youngsters 6 thru 11 pay $10. Under 6 are admitted free. Pit admission is $35. Spectator gates open at 5:30 p.m. Action gets the green at 7:30 p.m.

Dirt Track Digest will be carrying the action live.

Modified racer Bobby Gunther Walsh will have his #65 on display and will be giving out American flags, Mike & Ike plus Hot Tamales candy (both are sponsors on his race car), rising star Joey Vaccaro and veteran racing talent Ryan Beltz. It happens at 5 p.m. at the main admission gate area. Chapel on the Hill takes place in first turn pavilion at 4:30 p.m.

On Friday, July 9th Outlaw Racing Series Enduro and Vintage racing will be the attraction with action scheduled to start at 7 p.m.

The popular Capital Renegade Rapid Tire United Racing Club sprint cars will join the T.P. Trailers Modifieds and T.P.Truck Equipment Sportsman on Saturday, July 17th creating an action packed tripleheader.

Sprint car action at Grandview always provides excitement racing and a strong field of racers is expected for the only appearance of the season. Mike Thompson, Ryan Stillwagon, Jason Shultz and other top talents are expected to be on hand.

Adult admission for July 17th tripleheader is $25 for adults, $10 for youngsters 6-11 and those under 6 are admitted free.

The Meet and Greet session will feature Modified racer Jordan Henn along with Sportsman talents Chris Esposito and Matt Clay. It gets started at 5 p.m. at the main entrance area.

Additional information on racing at Grandview Speedway is available at www.grandviewspeedway.com, Facebook or telephone 610.754.7688.

Bridget Battles at Irwindale Speedway in front of a HUGE Crowd

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Official Release
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TOOELE, UT, July 5, 2021 – True to form Bridget spent her time in the BMI Racing race shop helping prepare her HMH Construction Chevrolet ARCA car for round 3 of the ARCA Menards West Series being held at Irwindale Speedway in Southern California.

In the heat of the day, the cars rolled out on track for the combined practice/qualifying session. While this was Bridget’s second time racing at Irwindale Speedway, it was the first time racing at that track in her new chassis. The team worked on the car, and Bridget continued to work on her braking points and drive off the corner. The session wrapped up with Bridget being 14th fastest.

This was the first race of the season with no restrictions on spectators, and Irwindale Speedway put on show for the fans with their Night of Destruction. Activities included a driver autograph session, the ARCA Menards West Race, jet car burndown, trailer destruction races and the largest fireworks of the year, just to name a few items!

The green flag waived and Bridget speed across the start/finish line in the HMH Construction Chevrolet. Working hard to find her rhythm, Bridget continued to work with her spotter on her lines, and braking points.

At the halfway mark at 75 laps there was a 5 minute break for teams to service the cars. The crew from BMI Racing serviced the car with Sunoco Race Fuel and tires, and making a track bar adjustment to improve the handling.

The green flag dropped once again for the second half of the race. The changes made by crew chief Sarah Burgess helped with the handling and Bridget continued to improve. An incident on lap 119 caused Bridget to take evasive action to avoid the 2 car crash, unfortunately her car backed into the wall. The car was brought back down pit road, and the team went to work on it and managed to get Bridget back out on track. The HMH Construction Chevrolet finished 13th.

A replay of Saturday’s NAPA Auto Parts 150 presented by the West Coast Stock Car Racing Hall of Fame will air on NBCSN on Thursday, July 8, starting at 4 p.m. ET.

Bridget’s next race will be the ARCA Menards West Series at Colorado National Speedway July 31st.

Bridget is powered by these great companies:
HMH Construction, GEARWRENCH, Rugged Radios, Cometic Gasket, Circle Track Warehouse, Ferrea Racing Components, FK Rod Ends, Fragola Performance Systems, GC Cooling Fan, GT Radial, Hawk Performance, Impact Race Products, K&N Filters, Kellerstrass, Konig, Lucas Oil, Miller Electric, ProAm, PSC Motorsports, Streamline Customer Designs, Sunoco Race Fuel, Tilton, XS Power

Facebook page: BridgetBurgess8
Instagram: BridgetBurgess8
Twitter: 8BridgetBurgess

6 Ways to Keep Your New Car in Optimal Condition

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SM
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If you are lucky enough to purchase a new car, you will be well aware that they are not cheap to buy or to run.  A new car is a considerable investment, so you will want to do everything you can to keep it looking good, running well, and for it to retain its value. Here are 6 ways to keep your new car in optimal condition.

Look After the Battery

If you do not drive your car on a regular basis, the battery will degrade and may go flat. Experts recommend that a car battery is replaced every four years – it does not pay to try to extend the life beyond this period as you may be halfway through a long journey when your battery gives up the ghost.

To maintain the battery, you should check the acid levels every six months or so. If you continuously drive short distances and use lots of battery-draining devices in the car, the battery life will be compromised. Water levels should be topped up regularly with distilled water, especially if the battery is stratified.

Drive Safely and Sensibly

Obviously, it makes sense to drive your car as safely and sensibly as possible to avoid accidents that can cause damage to you, other drivers, and the car.  Avoid potholes and bumps on the road that can ruin the car’s suspension and tires. You should also be gentle with your steering wheel, gearbox, brakes, and accelerator to decrease mechanical wear and tear. 

Although you should not be heavy on the gas, you should rev your car to the red line limit at least every hundred miles as carbon deposits can build up in the valves and reduce efficiency. In addition, diesel cars should be taken on long motorway journeys at least once a month to prevent the particulate filters from becoming clogged with harmful emissions.

Check and Change the Fluids

Fluids such as water, brake fluid, and coolant should be checked at least once a fortnight. Check your oil by looking at the level with the dipstick and top up if required. Oil should be light brown/yellow in color – if it is dark or dirty, your car will require a complete oil change.

Keep it Covered

If you have a garage, you should keep your car in there to protect it from extreme weather conditions that can cause it to rust or the paintwork to fade.  Keeping it inside will protect it from theft and vandalism too. If you do not have a garage, you may want to consider renting one nearby or buying a fabric cover for it.

Lose Weight

Don’t carry too much cargo in your new car as you can damage the suspension. Also, too much weight in the car puts extra pressure on the breaks and tires and causes them to wear down quickly.

Have it Serviced Regularly

Like you visit a doctor for a medical regularly, you should have your car serviced at least once a year to ensure each and every component is in optimal condition.

Young’s Motorsports tabs Michael Annett for Knoxville Raceway showdown

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Official Release
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MOORESVILLE, N.C. (July 5, 2021) – Young’s Motorsports announced today that the iconic black and gold colors of Des Moines, Iowa-based TMC Transportation will make their return to Knoxville Raceway with full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Michael Annett at the helm of the No. 02 Chevrolet Silverado this weekend.

Annett, a Des Moines, Iowa native, is making his return to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS), which last saw him compete in 2014 at Eldora Speedway.

Annett also competed in eight NCWTS events in 2008.

Knoxville Raceway holds precious memories for Annett and TMC Transportation, as TMC Chairman Harrold Annett, who passed away earlier this year, owned the No. 12 Mickow Sprinter that raced at Knoxville Raceway during the ’70s and ’80s on a weekly basis.

Driver Mike Brooks won the track title for Annett in 1980, off the strength of eight feature wins. Annett had great success in the ’80s and ’90s with driver Sammy Swindell amassing numerous wins at the track behind the wheel of the No. 1 TMC Sprint Car.

The No. 02 will carry a decal on the decklid honoring Harrold’s 2007 induction into the Knoxville Raceway Hall of Fame.

Annett is proud to bring the TMC Transportation colors back to Knoxville on Friday night.

“It’s been my dream to race at Knoxville ever since I can remember, I can’t thank Tyler (Young, team principal) and Young’s Motorsports enough for giving me the opportunity.”

Young’s Motorsports which will field three entries in the inaugural event is thrilled to welcome Annett to their team lineup.

“Michael is a huge addition to the Young’s Motorsports team this weekend at Knoxville,” said team principal Tyler Young. “We believe he has the capabilities of delivering our organization another top-10 finish this season in such a prestigious race which also holds a lot of sentimental value to not only himself but the entire Annett and TMC Transportation family.”

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports) and follow on Instagram (@youngsmotorsports) and Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

For more on Michael Annett, please visit MichaelAnnett.com, like him on Facebook (Michael Annett), and follow him on Twitter (@MichaelAnnett).

The Corn Belt 150 presented by Premier Chevy Dealers (150 laps | 75 miles) is the 14th of 22 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races on the 2021 schedule. The lone practice begins on Thurs., Jul. 8, 2021, at 6:05 p.m. – 7:25 p.m. Qualifying heat races begin on race day, Fri. Jul. 9, beginning at 6:00 p.m. The 40-truck field will take the green flag later that night shortly after 8:00 p.m. CT with live coverage on FOX Sports 1, the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM Satellite Radio NASCAR Channel 90.
About TMC Transportation:

TMC Transportation is the nation’s largest employee-owned open deck transportation company. TMC provides expert transportation services and supply-chain management solutions throughout the 48 contiguous states.

Founded in 1972, TMC is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, and is known for its integrity, innovation, superior safety record and dedication to quality and customer service. The company’s claim-free, on-time delivery record is the best in the business and is consistently recognized by its customers.

To learn more about TMC Transportation, visit tmctrans.com.

Damon Racing Team Shows Impressive Recovery at Road America

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Official Release
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Elkhart Lake, WISCONSIN – July 5, 2021 – The Trans Am presented by Pirelli driver Tom Sheehan and the No. 97 LTK Ford Mustang team are coming fresh off a strong performance at Road America from an impressive race climb on Saturday, July 3. The Damon Racing driver came all the way from a race starting position of 25th to claim a 12th place finish in Round 6 of the 2021 Championships.

A big difference for the TA2 class this weekend was that the entire race was caution free, in spite of there being no fewer than 38 cars in competition at the picturesque Wisconsin circuit and no shortage of drama and instances on-track. At the checkered flag the LTK Insulation Technologies Ford Mustang edged out Elias Anderson in the No. 31 Mustang by just 0.067 seconds in a super tight battle to maintain his challenge among the top ten TA2 drivers.

Mechanical issues early in the weekend meant starting from an unpromising position of P25 on the grid, but Tom steadily picked his way through the field, putting rivals behind him with regularity all the way to the finish line. It was another fine drive in difficult circumstances by the New Hampshire pilot on a day when the temperatures dictated by a midsummer heatwave also played a part.

“Overall it was a rough weekend but a great way to end it. It was great racing and that’s what it’s all about,” stated Tom when we spoke to him in the paddock after the race. “It was hot out there and a big slippery mess. We were focused on a top 15 finish. It was hot and that made it hard to stay focused.”

“We have a close team and we kept digging through the weekend, I have to credit my team for putting out a race car we could drive today. We have to thank Mike Cope for building a great car. On to Brainerd.”

The 14 Championship points Tom scored for finishing in P12 at Road America put him on 80 for the season, which provisionally keeps him in P8 in the TA2 Drivers Classification.

It’s another quick turnaround for the Trans Am presented by Pirelli roadshow, with just one fallow weekend before the action resumes at Brainerd International Raceway in Minnesota on July 16 with an action packed weekend that includes Formula Regional Americas, the F4 US Championship and Sportscar Vintage Racing.

Keep up with Trans Am driver Tom Sheehan on social media – Facebook page is Damon Racing, Instagram @TomSheehanTA97 and Twitter @TomTA2_97.

For more information on LTK Insulation Technologies please visit the website online at https://ltkinsulationtechnologies.com/

About LTK Insulation Technologies:
Putting LTK insulation jackets & covers to work on your project saves your firm real money and time. The LTK Insulation products are so fast and easy. Installation is as fast as identification. Our carefully designed products line allows; fast, sure fit, 100% clean, no tool installation. Product designed for; balance valves, control valves, flex hoses, in line specialties, couplings, quick connects, unions, zone pumps. Your imagination is the only limit….GOLTK!

DGR NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race Advance: Knoxville Raceway

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Official Release
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Friday, July 9
Track: Knoxville Raceway, .5-mile dirt oval
Race: 14 of 22
Event: Corn Belt 150 (150 laps, 75 miles)

Schedule
Thursday, July 8
Practice: 7:05 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 1)
Friday, July 9
Qualifying Races: 7:00 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 1)
Race: 8:00 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 1)

Hailie Deegan, No. 1 Toter Ford F-150

  • Deegan is making her 15th career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) start for the inaugural race at Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway. Deegan will have the opportunity to practice and qualify for Friday night’s event with qualifying heat races on Friday evening.
  • The NCWTS has completed one dirt race so far this season – Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. Deegan started 22nd and finished 19th in her first go-around in a truck on dirt at the half-mile track.
  • Deegan has experience on a dirt oval in an ARCA car. In February 2019, she won the ARCA West event at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Dirt Track.
  • The California native has competed at Knoxville one previous time. Last month, she participated in the SRX Racing Series at the Iowa dirt track. Deegan finished second in the event to Tony Stewart.
  • Two weeks ago at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, Deegan finished 26th after a flat tire forced her to unexpectedly pit and trapped her one lap down.

Tanner Gray, No. 15 Ford Performance F-150

  • Gray makes his 14th start of the 2021 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) season at the Knoxville Raceway in Iowa.
  • At Pocono (Pa.) Raceway two weekends ago, Gray battled inside the top-10 early in the final stage, but tight handling on his F-150 continued to get worse during the long run and he finished in the 16th position.
  • The 22-year-old already has one truck start on dirt this season. At Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway in March, Gray started 18th and finished 13th at the short-track.
  • Marcus Richmond will crew chief Gray’s No. 15 truck beginning this weekend at Knoxville. Richmond, a NCWTS veteran takes over the role from interim crew chief Seth Smith. Richmond has 10 wins and 17 pole awards in the series.

Donny Schatz, No. 17 Little Giant Ford F-150

  • Donny Schatz will make his first career NASCAR national series start at “The Sprint Car Capital of the World” on Friday night behind the wheel of the Little Giant Ford F-150.
  • The Fargo, North Dakota native has an incredible resume at the half-mile dirt oval with 27 career wins, 17 of them with the World of Outlaws, and 10 Knoxville Nationals victories in 22 Nationals A-Main appearances.
  • The 10-time Outlaw champion scored his historic 300th series victory on June 18th at the Dubuque (Iowa) Fairgrounds Speedway. So far in 2021, Schatz has one win, 20 top-fives and 28 top-10s in 40 starts.
  • The Truck Series rookie will be paired with Chad Johnston for this weekend. Johnston has worked with David Gilliland and Ryan Preece in the No. 17 truck this season and earned his first career Truck win at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway with Preece.

AMS ANNOUNCES PRE-RACE DIGNITARIES FOR QUAKER STATE 400 PRESENTED BY WALMART WEEKEND

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Official Release
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HAMPTON, Ga. (July 5, 2021) – Before stock car racing’s best hit the track, several dignitaries will get fans and racers alike ready for NASCAR racing at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart (Sunday, July 11) Dignitaries:

  • Grand Marshal: Employees of the College Park, Ga., Walmart store will serve as Grand Marshals for the Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart on Sunday, July 11. The team earned the opportunity through a contest between Walmart locations to say the most famous words in motorsports and kick off 400 miles of racing at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
  • Honorary Starter: Waving the green flag to kick off the Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart is Samuel Wilson, otherwise known as “NASCAR Sammy”. An avid NASCAR fan and an advocate for autism awareness, Wilson went viral when he tweeted his desire to play a role in the start of Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race in Atlanta. AMS is proud to welcome NASCAR Sammy up into the flagstand to kick off 400 miles of racing in Atlanta.
  • Honorary Pace Car Driver: The driver of the Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart pace car is no stranger to Georgia sports fans; former Bulldog D’Andre Swift will lead the field to the green flag on Sunday. Swift logged 25 touchdowns and more than 3,500 yards from scrimmage over three seasons at UGA and reached the end zone 10 times for the Detroit Lions in his rookie season in 2020.
  • National Anthem Singer: Sunday’s national anthem will be performed by country singer and songwriter Corbette Jackson. Jackson grew up in Newnan, Ga., before moving to Nashville to pursue a career as a country music artist. Currently one of the most played independent artists on country radio, Jackson is currently preparing for the release of a new fundraiser single “Small Town Kid”, with profits from the song going to the Coweta Community Foundation tornado relief fund.
  • “God Bless America” Performer: Atlanta Operatic Tenor Timothy Miller will perform “God Bless America” during pre-race festivities for the Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart. Miller is well known for his performances before Atlanta Braves home games and brings his powerful and legendary voice to NASCAR for the first time on Sunday.
  • Flyover: Streaking across the sky above Atlanta Motor Speedway during the national anthem on Sunday will be a C-130 and two HH60 gunner helicopters piloted from Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, Ga.
  • Pre-race concert: As previously announced, breakout star BRELAND will get race fans revved up for the Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart with a live concert on the pre-race stage at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday, July 11. Pre-race track passes w with stage-front access to BRELAND’s concert and NASCAR Cup Series driver introductions on Atlanta Motor Speedway’s frontstretch are available. Insiders Club members can get pre-race track passes for a discounted price of $39; all other fans can experience the pre-race festivities up close for $49.

Credit Karma Money 250 (Saturday, July 10) Dignitaries:

  • Grand Marshal: Giving the command to start engines for Saturday’s Credit Karma Money 250 is Adam Ragan. An avid racing enthusiast, Adam is the son of former NASCAR Cup Series competitor Ken Ragan and brother of 2-time NASCAR Cup Series winner David Ragan. The Georgia native is no stranger to Atlanta Motor Speedway; when NASCAR isn’t racing on the 1.54-mile oval, Adam is typically found helping his father Ken during AMS Legends events at the speedway.
  • Honorary Pace Car Driver: Saturday’s honorary pace car driver will trade his two-wheel ride for four when he hops behind the wheel of the Credit Karma Money 250 pace car. Supercross racer Cameron McAdoo had an unforgettable trip to Atlanta earlier this year, rebounding from multiple accidents to earn a pair of podium finishes during the series’ Atlanta tripleheader in April. McAdoo will aim to have a less spectacular ride around the speedway when he leads the Xfinity Series field to the green flag.
  • National Anthem Singer: Douglasville, Ga., native Megan Danielle will sing the national anthem during Saturday’s pre-race festivities. Danielle was a contestant on Season 18 of NBC’s The Voice, ultimately reaching the top-9 of the competition.
  • Flyover: Saturday’s flyover will be performed by the Full Throttle Formation Team, with nine aircraft flying together over AMS before the start of the Credit Karma Money 250.

Tickets and camping for the July 10-11 Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart weekend are available at www.AtlantaMotorSpeedway.com.

About the Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart:

New for 2021 the Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart headlines the summer slate of NASCAR racing at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

The Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart will be the first NASCAR Cup Series race held at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the month of July since 1974. The 400-mile race is sure to be one of the most challenging races of the summer for NASCAR’s best.

Accompanying the Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart is the Credit Karma Money 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday, July 10. The summer race will challenge the rising stars of the sport to stand out and succeed on one of the circuit’s most challenging tracks.

More information on the July 10-11, 2021 Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart and ticket availability can be found online at AtlantaMotorSpeedway.com or by calling 877-9-AMS-TIX.

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Fast But Unlucky, Jak Crawford Scores best F3 finish at Austria’s Red Bull Ring

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Official Release
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SPIELBERG,AUSTRIA,04.JUL.21 - MOTORSPORTS, FORMULA 1 - Grand Prix of Austria, Red Bull Ring, FIA Formula 3. Image shows Jak Crawford (USA/ Hitch Grand Prix). Photo: GEPA pictures/ Manfred Binder

SPIELBERG, Austria (4 July 2021) – Jak Crawford had his most competitive weekend in FIA Formula 3 competition, scoring a career-best finish at the Red Bull Ring.

But it could have been even better. With a little luck, the 16-year-old Red Bull Junior Team driver from Houston might have had a pole, a race win, and another podium.

“Ever since the free practice, when I was second, I was up there,” Crawford said. “The speed was always top three, top five, but we only walked away with a few points. Quite sad, a bit unlucky, but at least we know the pace is there.”

After being placed eighth and fifth in first two the opening weekend races, he ran near the front in the following two 24-lap events, only to suffer heartbreaking problems in both of them.

Job one was qualifying, which was Crawford’s Achilles heel in both of his opening weekends in Barcelona, Spain and Le Castellet, France, where tire strategy kept him out of the top 12 in qualifying and came back to hurt him in all three races both weekends.

At Red Bull Ring, he had his best qualifying effort, leading the Hitech Grand Prix squad with his fifth-place result after being third until the closing moments of the session when traffic on a final flyer kept him from pushing for the front row.

“I was on a lap for pole when I got blocked,” he said. “But we knew the potential was there. We got fifth, which was good, but the potential for a pole was definitely there, for sure.”

Starting eighth in the opening 24-lap race Saturday morning, Crawford was held up on lap one in turn three and slipped back to 10th in the early laps. He then began working his way back to the front. He took fifth on lap 21, and nearly took fourth with two laps remaining before apparently finishing fifth. However, he was penalized for an incident when he was forced off track by another driver who also received a penalty or pushing Jak off the track, and was classified eighth – his best result of the season.

“The first was difficult, for sure, because I was in a DRS train and trying to be smart and strategic,” he said. “Unfortunately, I ended up getting a time penalty when I got bumped off the track and I kept my position. That was unfortunate, because even though I finished fifth in the race, there were a lot of penalties for track limits and I would have ended up second in the race.”

Starting fifth for the second race Saturday afternoon, Crawford gained two positions on the opening lap and took second on lap nine. Gaining on the leader only 1.2 second ahead and preparing to use the DRS to try for first, Crawford suddenly lost all the compression in his engine and pulled off to the side.

“I started the second on new tires, and the others in front of me were on new tires as well,” Crawford said. “I was catching the leader, and then my engine just gave in and wasn’t running at all. We really had the pace to win, for sure. At least we showed our potential.”

Crawford ran a steady race in Sunday’s finale. Lining up fifth per his initial qualifying time, Crawford ran fourth on the opening lap and then settled into fifth, where he remained for most of the event. Unfortunately, he had contact while fighting for position, resulting in a lost front wing and a 26th place finish.
“The third race was more difficult because we started on the used tires from the second race and I was very vulnerable,” Crawford explained. “Also, my new engine was not as good. I was getting lucky with the positions I was gaining. After the last safety car restart I lost the DRS I had and I got into a big battle, and it ended with contact – not the best move by me.”

The next F3 event will be at the Hungaroring in Budapest, Hungary on July 30-August 1. However, Crawford will compete at that circuit this weekend in the Euroformula Open Championship, where he won two races and finished second in his most recent weekend of competition.

“Running the Euroformula Open race is definitely going to help, because I’ve never been to Budapest,” Crawford said. “It’s definitely a new track for me. I get a test day this week on Thursday before the real weekend starts, so that track time should be good for learning the track. Also, I’ve done quite well on the simulator there, so hopefully I will be able to put it on the track as well.”

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