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Joe Graf Jr. adds PowerWeld to Xfinity Series lineup

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Official Release
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MOORESVILLE, N.C. (June 23, 2021): NASCAR driver Joe Graf Jr.is adding his fourth new marketing partner to his sophomore season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with the addition of PowerWeld as the primary partner of his No. 07 Chevrolet Camaro for the upcoming race at Michigan International Speedway on Aug. 21, 2021.

PowerWeld is a leading brand in the industrial welding products market across North America. Its core areas of focus include welding filler metals, arc, MIG and TIG welding accessories and equipment, gas welding and cutting accessories and equipment, and welding safety.

PowerWeld products are designed to withstand the daily rigors of industrial applications, including manufacturing, metalworking, oil and gas, construction, fabrication, shipyards, automotive repair, and more.

PowerWeld products are available at quality distributors and retailers in the United States and Canada.

“It’s awesome to welcome another new marketing partner to the NASCAR Xfinity Series,” said Graf Jr. “I cannot thank PowerWeld enough for not only believing in me but our program and expanding their marketing horizons.

“Michigan International Speedway is one of the fastest venues we race at in North America and I hope we are able to deliver PowerWeld a strong finish in their primary partnership debut.”

In addition to Michigan, PowerWeld will be an associate marketing partner on Graf’s No. 07 SS GreenLight Racing Chevrolet for the remainder of the Xfinity Series season.

“We are extremely excited to partner with Joe Graf Jr. and the SS GreenLight Racing team,” said PowerWeld manager Jeff Sinchak. “We know Joe and his team work hard on the track and in the garage and PowerWeld products work just as hard for welders across North America, so we couldn’t be happier to support them.

“It’s a thrill to join the NASCAR community and to be with Joe and his team throughout the remainder of the NASCAR Xfinity season.”

For more on Joe Graf Jr. visit JoeGrafRacing.com, like him on Facebook (Joe Graf Jr.), follow him on Twitter (@JoeGrafJr) and Instagram (@joegrafjr).

Visit PowerWeldinc.com to explore the full range of PowerWeld products.

The New Holland 250 is set for Saturday, Aug 21, 2021, at 3:00 p.m. live on NBCSN, the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (ET).
About PowerWeld:

PowerWeld is a leading brand in the industrial welding products market across North America. Its core areas of focus include welding filler metals, arc, MIG and TIG welding accessories and equipment, gas welding and cutting accessories and equipment, and welding safety.

PowerWeld products are designed to withstand the daily rigors of industrial applications, including manufacturing, metalworking, oil and gas, construction, fabrication, shipyards, automotive repair, and more.

PowerWeld products are available at quality distributors and retailers in the United States and Canada.

About SS Green Light Racing:

As one of the most tenured teams in all of NASCAR, SS GreenLight Racing led by team owner and former driver Bobby Dotter has been a mainstay in the sport fielding entries in either the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series or the Xfinity Series competition since 2001.

SS GreenLight Racing will continue with a two-car program in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2021.

TPC Racing Porsche Carrera Cup, Lamborghini Super Trofeo Entries Ready For Watkins Glen

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Official Release
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Vernon McClure Returns in the No. 10 Main Street Homes Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, With Scott Schmidt and Trevor Andrusko in the Lamborghini Sterling/Erin Levitas Foundation Lamborghini Huracan

WATKINS GLEN, New York (June 23, 2021) – TPC Racing is traveling north for two IMSA-sanctioned doubleheaders this week at Watkins Glen International, with series regulars Vernon McClure in Porsche Carrera Cup North America and Scott Schmidt and Trevor Andrusko co-driving in Lamborghini Super Trofeo.

Both championships will run a race on Friday, June 25 and Saturday, June 26. Porsche Carrera Cup’s 45-minute races are at 1 p.m. EDT on Friday and 9:35 a.m. on Saturday, while the 50-minute Lamborghini Super Trofeo contests are at 2:10 p.m. EDT and 10:40 EDT on Friday and Saturday, respectively. All four races can be seen via TrackPass on the NBC Sports app or at IMSA.tv.

Vernon McClure sits eighth in the Porsche Carrera Cup Pro-Am Driver’s Championship despite missing rounds three and four that were rescheduled for Circuit of the Americas after moving from Canadian Tire Motorsport Park due to pandemic-related restrictions. McClure scored a fourth-place finish in class the last time out in the No. 10 Main Street Homes Porsche 911 GT3 Cup during the season-opening weekend at Sebring.

McClure has not been idle since the event, challenging for a podium finish in the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America at VIR in the previous-generation Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car. Though this is the first IMSA visit to Watkins Glen since 2019, McClure ran a pair of solid races then in the 991.2-generation car to finish both races in seventh place against stiff competition.

“Vernon felt great coming out of VIR just a couple of weekends ago, and did well at Sebring in the 992 Porsche his first time out, and we’re going to carry that momentum over to this week at Watkins Glen,” Harris Levitas, Director of Race Operations, said. “All of us at TPC Racing are excited to get Vernon back in the Carrera Cup race and to be able to do that with fans in the paddock for the first time in since the 2019 season.”

Schmidt and Andrusko will co-drive the No. 38 Lamborghini Sterling/Erin Levitas Foundation Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo Evo in the Am class once again with assistance from Wayne Taylor Racing at Watkins Glen. That collaboration comes following contact at Virginia International Raceway for the original TPC Racing No. 38 car just two weeks ago.

“We have to thank Wayne Taylor Racing for helping us out in a big way this week at Watkins Glen,” Levitas said. “Our Lamborghini is stripped down to a bare chassis right now to be repaired, so Scott and Trevor are going to drive a back-up car that WTR owns. It’s a true collaboration using both Wayne Taylor Racing and TPC Racing crew, and we’re truly grateful they were able to help us keep Scott and Trevor on track in a way that works out for everyone involved.”

Schmidt and Andrusko currently sit seventh in the Am Class Driver’s Championship after four of 12 rounds, though the duo hold two class poles so far this season.

The Watkins Glen event, run in conjunction with the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen IMSA WeatherTech Championship race, actually begins with practice for both championships on Thursday, June 24. Each will get a pair of 30-minute sessions prior to Friday’s qualifying, at 9:15 a.m. EDT for Porsche Carrera Cup and at 10 a.m. EDT for Lamborghini Super Trofeo. Those qualifying sessions will set the grid for Friday and Saturday’s races. All races can be seen on TrackPass on the NBC Sports app or on IMSA.tv.

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

John Hunter Nemechek – No. 4 Power Up Tundra Camping World Trucks Pocono Preview

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Official Release
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John Hunter Nemechek: Driver, No. 4 Power Up Toyota

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Overview:
Event: CRC Brakleen 150, Race 13 of 22, 60 Laps – 15/15/30; 150 Miles
Location: Pocono Raceway (Pa.) in Long Pond (2.5-mile tri-oval)
Date/Broadcast: June 26, 2021 at noon ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR 90

Neme’chek’ the Facts:

  • John Hunter Nemechek and the No. 4 Power Up team head into Pocono Raceway for the CRC Brakleen 150. So far in 2021, Nemechek leads the NASCAR Camping World Trucks Series in wins (four), stage wins (eight), top fives (seven), and laps led (473). Nemechek continues to lead Ben Rhodes by 70 point standings.
  • Nemechek will be looking to accomplish Saturday what he has done twice already this season, beat KBM owner-driver Kyle Busch head-to-head. Nemechek bested his boss at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway in March and at Richmond (Va.) Raceway in April. Busch finished second to his pupil in both of those events. Busch was victorious at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway in March and Kansas Speedway in May. Saturday’s 60-lap event at Pocono will be Busch’s fifth and final Truck Series start of 2021.
  • Across three career Camping World Trucks starts at The Tricky Triangle, Nemechek has collected one top five, two top 10s, nine laps led and an average finish of 8.7. Across two NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, Nemechek has a best finish of seventh and an average finish of 9.5. Across two NASCAR Cup Series starts in 2020, Nemechek’s best finish was 19th.
  • Nemechek is a 10-time winner in Camping World Truck Series action, winning at least one race each season from 2015 to 2018 for his family-owned team, NEMCO Motorsports, and returning to victory lane this year with KBM. Across 114 career starts in NASCAR’s third division, the second-generation driver has compiled two poles, 1082 laps led, 35 top-five and 60 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 12.6. The North Carolina native qualified for the Camping World Truck Series playoffs in each of his two full-time seasons, finishing eighth in the championship standings in both 2016 and 2017. He was voted the series most popular driver in 2015.
  • Eric Phillips returns to KBM to lead the No. 4 team this season. Phillips led the No. 18 team at KBM in its debut season in 2010 and helped build the organization into one of the premier teams in all of NASCAR before departing at the end of the 2014 season. Under his guidance, the No. 18 team won eight races in its inaugural campaign and became the first team in Truck Series history to capture an owner’s championship in its first season of competition. In 2014, the Illinois native led the No. 51 team to an owner’s championship and his team’s 10 wins spearheaded KBM to a single-season Truck Series record of 14 wins. His 41 career Truck Series victories make him the winningest crew chief in Truck Series history, with 31 of those coming while at KBM. Across four starts at Pocono, Phillips has collected three top fives, four top 10s and an average finish of 3.8. His driver’s have finished in the runner-up finish twice; Kasey Kahne (2010) and Kyle Busch (2011).
  • Saturday’s race will mark the 12th time that the Camping World Truck Series has raced at Pocono. Across 26 starts, KBM has collected five wins (Kyle Busch: 2015 & 2018; William Byron: 2016; Christopher Bell: 2017; Brandon Jones: 2020), 12 top fives, 20 top tens, 244 laps led and an average finish of 9.1.
  • The Power Up® Brand evolved out of the ethos of the Gourmet Nut company, which upholds that good health and great taste should always go hand-in-hand and be easily accessible. All of our mixes are crafted from carefully selected ingredients and packaged in premium, small batch blends that provide the nutrients your body needs to keep you going and feeling your best. Perfect for after an intense workout or when you’re racing the kids to soccer practice, Power Up Premium Trail Mixes provide real fuel for everyday life. Made using wholesome, simple ingredients, our unique blends provide the nutrition and satisfaction your body craves and elevates flavors your taste buds will love.

John Hunter Nemechek, Driver Q&A:

Pocono is known as The Tricky Triangle. What’s the trickiest part of Pocono?

“The trickiest part of the Tricky Triangle is getting your truck to handle in all three corners. What Turn 4? There is no Turn 4 there. Turn 1 is completely different from Turn 2 and Turn 2 is completely different from Turn 3 and Turn 3 completely different from Turn 1. There are a lot of differences, but you have to make your truck go around the racetrack and handle in all three in order for it to be fast. There are a lot of handling characteristics this weekend. There is a lot a driver can do as well in trying to manipulate what the truck can do handling wise trying to get speed out of it, especially for the long run.”

It’s a short race this week. Do you think with your playoff spot solidified it will give you an advantage over those racing for points?

“I think being able to pull some different strategy with having four wins now and being the points leader. Obviously, we don’t want to lose a ton of points with three races left in the regular season. We want to go out and close on that regular season championship, but if it comes down to a strategy call, then I’m sure Eric will be on top of it, whether that’s pitting early, pitting late or whatever it may be. It opens the window of opportunity for us to gamble a little bit more and go out and get that race win. We want to go out and win stages and gain as many points as we possibly can, but we also want to win the race. Whatever it comes down to, winning the race is more important to us right now.”

Kyle is running his final truck race of 2021 this weekend. What would it mean for you to come out with three wins over Kyle’s two Saturday?

“Well, the series is tied 2-2. Hopefully I can end up on top. Out of five races, it would be really cool for us to bring home three of those victories and Kyle only two. I think before I came this year to KBM, Kyle had either finished first or second in 19 of the last 20 races out of what he’s run. I’m OK with him finishing second, but I need to beat him. It would be amazing to be able to accomplish that. I feel like we have the best team in the garage. We just have to continue to push through, work hard, keep our head down, and race the racetrack.”

John Hunter Nemechek Career Highlights:

  • Ten-time winner in Camping World Truck Series action, winning at least one race each season from 2015 to 2018 for his family-owned team, NEMCO Motorsports. Across 114 career starts in NASCAR’s third division, has compiled two poles, 1,082 laps led, 35 top-five and 60 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 12.6.
  • Qualified for the Camping World Truck Series playoffs in each of his two full-time seasons, finishing eighth in the championship standings in both 2016 and 2017.
  • Produced three top-10 finishes and an average result of 22.4 while competing for rookie of the year honors in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2020. He recorded a career-best eighth-place finish twice, both coming at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, earned the Sunoco Rookie of the Race award four times and finished 23rd in the championship standings.
  • Across 52 career XFINITY Series starts, has totaled one win (Kansas Speedway, 10/20/18), one pole, 225 laps led, 12 top-five and 30 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 12.0.

John Hunter Nemechek’s No. 4 Power Up Tundra:

KBM-056: The No. 4 Power Up team will unload KBM-56 Saturday at Pocono for its maiden voyage in 2021. Last season, Raphael Lessard ran the chassis three times with a best finish of 11th at Homestead-Miami Speedway in June and again at Kansas Speedway in July. Overall, the chassis has been run eight times with an average finish of 12.9.

KBM Notes of Interest:

  • Across 26 starts at Pocono Raceway, KBM drivers have earned five wins, two poles, 244 laps led, 12 top-five and 20 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 8.1 and an average finish of 9.1.
  • Brandon Jones picked up his first career Truck Series victory in last year’s race. Busch won in 2015 and 2018, William Byron was victorious in 2016, and Christopher Bell brought home the hardware in 2017.
  • KBM holds the Camping World Truck Series records for most career wins (87) and most wins in a single season (14 in 2014). With his victory at the Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt Track, Martin Truex Jr. became the 16th different driver to win a Truck Series event for KBM. In addition to collecting a series-record seven Owner’s Championships, the organization has produced two championship-winning drivers: Erik Jones (2015) and Christopher Bell (2017).
  • The No. 4 has 15 career victories at KBM and was the number for both of the organization’s driver championships.

NASCAR LEGEND JEFF GORDON NAMED VICE CHAIRMAN OF HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS

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Official Release
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CONCORD, N.C. (June 23, 2021) – Jeff Gordon, the four-time NASCAR champion, television broadcaster and NASCAR Hall of Fame member, has been named vice chairman of Hendrick Motorsports, which will make him the second-ranking team official to chairman and majority owner Rick Hendrick.

As vice chairman and co-owner, Gordon will maintain a daily presence at Hendrick Motorsports with a focus on the organization’s competition and marketing groups. The Vallejo, California, native will report to Hendrick and work alongside president Marshall Carlson and general manager Jeff Andrews. In addition, he will join Hendrick on NASCAR’s team owner council and assume Hendrick Motorsports’ seat on the sanctioning body’s diversity, equity and inclusion committee.

Gordon, 49, will formally assume the strategic executive management role on Jan. 1, 2022.

“I cannot put into words what Hendrick Motorsports means to me,” Gordon said. “In many ways, it’s my home and the people here are my family. I’ve never lost my passion for the organization, for our sport, and for the sheer challenge of racing and winning at the highest level. Being part of the competition is where I’m happiest and feel I can make the biggest contribution to the continued, long-term success of the team. Rick and I have a shared vision, which is based on the values he’s instilled, the culture he’s built and our desire to be the very best in all categories, on and off the track.”

In October 1999, Gordon became an equity owner of Hendrick Motorsports. He remains Hendrick’s only partner in the 13-time NASCAR Cup Series championship-winning organization, for which Gordon won 93 races and four titles as a driver from 1992 until his retirement from full-time racing in 2015.

“Jeff and I have talked about this for many years, and I feel it’s a natural evolution for him and our company,” said Hendrick, 71, who is also chairman and CEO of Hendrick Automotive Group. “I’ve always been impressed with his business instincts. On some level, he’s been involved in every major decision we’ve made over the last two decades, and his influence has continued to grow since he stopped driving. He understands our culture, our values, and the importance we place on our people and our partnerships.

“I love racing and competing, and Jeff is the only person I know who hates to lose as much as I do. I feel great physically and have no plans to go anywhere anytime soon, which is exactly why it’s the right time. In the years to come, I couldn’t be more energized about working arm-in-arm with him and cementing the future of Hendrick Motorsports together.”

Gordon joined FOX Sports as an analyst in 2016 and has been a mainstay of its NASCAR Cup Series race telecasts and other programming. He will continue to work as a FOX broadcaster through the end of the 2021 calendar year.

“I cannot thank the entire FOX Sports family enough for the incredible opportunity I’ve had over the past six seasons,” Gordon said. “I’ve come to truly appreciate the responsibility of bringing the sport to our fans and the tremendous work that goes into our broadcasts each and every week. I’m certainly going to miss it, but I will forever be grateful to FOX for the experience and for the trust they’ve placed in me. It’s been a privilege to work with such a talented group of people.”

ABOUT HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS:
Founded by Rick Hendrick in 1984, Hendrick Motorsports is the winningest team in NASCAR Cup Series history. At the sport’s premier level, the organization holds the all-time records in every major statistical category, including championships (13), points-paying race victories (271) and laps led (more than 72,000). It has earned at least one race win in a record 37 different seasons, including an active streak of 36 in a row (1986-2021). The team fields four full-time Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE entries in the NASCAR Cup Series with drivers Alex Bowman, William Byron, Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson. Headquartered on more than 100 acres in Concord, North Carolina, Hendrick Motorsports employs approximately 600 people. For more information, please visit HendrickMotorsports.com or interact on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

JR Motorsports — NXS Pocono Preview

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Official Release
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JR MOTORSPORTS TEAM PREVIEW:
TRACK: Pocono Raceway
RACE: Pocono Green 225 (90 laps / 225 miles)
DATE: Sunday, June 27, 2021

Broadcast Information – TV: 12 p.m. ET on NBCSN / Radio: 11:30 a.m. ET on MRN and Sirius XM Ch. 90

Michael Annett
No. 1 Pilot Flying J Chevrolet
• Michael Annett heads to Pocono Raceway this weekend coming off his best career finish on the 2.5-mile triangular track in 2020. Annett finished fifth in last year’s event there.
• Pocono has been good to Annett the past couple of seasons, as he’s earned a top-five and two top-10 results there.
• Annett celebrates his 35th birthday on June 23, just four days before this weekend’s race at Pocono.
• Annett’s recent surge has him 10th in the playoff standings, 53 points above the cut line to advance.

Sam Mayer
No. 8 Tire Pros Chevrolet
• Sam Mayer turns 18 on June 26th and will make his NXS debut the following day at Pocono in the Tire Pros Chevrolet.
• The Franklin, Wisconsin native has only one start on a track measuring greater than two miles in length in the ARCA Menard’s Series. Mayer started 18th at Pocono and finished third during the 2020 season.
• In 29 starts across the ARCA Series the last two seasons, Mayer has accumulated 11 wins, 26 top fives and 26 top 10s. He was the 2019 and 2020 ARCA Series champion and won the inaugural Sioux Chief Showdown Championship.

Noah Gragson
No. 9 Bass Pro Shops / TrueTimber / Black Rifle Coffee Chevrolet
• Noah Gragson heads to Pocono this weekend with a pair of
top-10 finishes over the last two races.
• On 2.5-mile tracks, Gragson has had much success in his NXS career. At Daytona, the young driver won his first NXS event in 2020 and finished third in his only start at the oval at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2019. At Pocono, Gragson notched a sixth-place result in 2019, his best finish there.
• So far this season, the young Nevada driver has four top five and seven top-10 finishes and ranks ninth in series

Justin Allgaier
No. 7 Hellmann’s Make Taste, Not Waste Chevrolet
• In five previous NXS starts at Pocono, Justin Allgaier has earned a best finish of second, coming in 2017.
• In this event last season, the Illinois native led nine laps and came home with a sixth-place finish.
• Overall, on tracks two miles or greater in the NXS, Allgaier has recorded one win (Indianapolis – 2018), 14 top fives and 30 top 10s.
• This weekend at Pocono, Allgaier’s No. 7 Chevrolet will carry the colors of Hellmann’s and the Make Taste, Not Waste campaign. Head over to hellmanns.com for tips, tricks and recipes that use the ingredients and food in our fridges and pantries to minimize food waste.

Driver Quotes

“We ran really well last week at Nashville and had at least a top-five finish within our reach until we got caught in that crash. I like the momentum we’ve got going with our No. 1 Pilot Flying J Chevrolet heading into Pocono, which is a really fun track to drive. Momentum is very important at this stage of the season, and we need to keep earning stage points and good finishes to get ready for the playoffs.” – Michael Annett

“I’ve always really enjoyed racing at Pocono. It’s such a unique racetrack that has seemed to suit our No. 7 team well over the last couple of years. I feel like we are hitting a good stride right now and hopefully that can continue on Sunday and we can improve that one position to go to Victory Lane with this Hellmann’s Make Taste, Not Waste Chevrolet. I’m really looking forward to getting there and see what will happen.” – Justin Allgaier

“I’m really excited to finally get behind the wheel of the Tire Pros Chevrolet this weekend. The last year has gone by so slow but the last month has gone by super fast and I’m really thankful that I have this opportunity with JR Motorsports. Josh Berry proved that this No. 8 team could win and that is what I plan on doing every time I am in the car.” – Sam Mayer

“We had another pretty good run last weekend in Nashville which helps our confidence as we head to Pocono this weekend. We had a fast Bass Pro Shops/TrueTimber/Black Rifle Coffee Camaro last year in Pocono but got caught up in a wreck late in the race that put us back around 20th. I know Dave (Elenz, crew chief) and this entire No. 9 team are working their butts off to bring a fast Camaro each week and I know this weekend will be no different.” – Noah Gragson

JRM Team Updates:
• JR Motorsports at Pocono: JR Motorsports has competed at Pocono Raceway a combined 19 times in the NXS. Over the course of these 19 starts at the “Tricky Triangle”, JRM has tallied four top fives and 11 top 10s while pacing the field for 57 laps. JRM’s best finish of second came during the 2017 season after Justin Allgaier led 13 laps en route to the runner-up result.
• Hellmann’s Make Taste, Not Waste: Did you know 43 percent of food waste happens in people’s homes? It’s true. Life is often to blame, causing us to see “nothing” in a fridge full of food—but Hellmann’s is a magical ingredient and it can help transform all that “nothing” into a delicious something. Join the mission to #MakeTasteNotWaste and make the most of your food with our easy tips and tricks. Visit www.hellmanns.com to find tasty recipes using foods that are already in your fridge and pantry.
• Pilot Flying J Summer is a Go!: Pilot Flying J kicked off its Summer Is a Go! campaign over the Memorial Day weekend, traditionally the time that travelers get back on the road, with its third annual National Road Trip Day on May 28. Pilot Flying J Road trippers, professional drivers and Pilot Flying J guests are encouraged to share their road trip adventures on its Facebook page or post their best trip photos on Instagram and Twitter with the #SummerIsAGoGiveaway hashtag and tagging @PilotFlyingJ. Participants who share a photo with any Pilot branded cup will receive an additional entry, provided they use the hashtag

DGR NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race Advance: Pocono Raceway

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Official Release
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Saturday, June 26
Track: Pocono Raceway, 2.5-mile triangle
Race: 13 of 22
Event: CRC Brakleen 150 (60 laps, 150 miles)

Schedule
Race: 12:00 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 1)

Hailie Deegan, No. 1 Toter Ford F-150

  • Deegan is making her 14th career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start and her first in the series at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway. Without practice and qualifying this weekend, the Ford driver will start 19th based on NASCAR’s metric qualifying system.
  • Deegan has two ARCA Series starts at Pocono Raceway, one in 2019 and one in 2020. She started inside the top-10 both times and finished seventh in each event.
  • Last Friday’s race at Nashville, Deegan qualified 14th for her first start at the 1.33-mile track. The Ford driver had a loose-handling truck and ultimately finished 21st in the Monster Energy F-150.
  • Crew chief Mike Hillman Jr. has one win at Pocono, earned in 2018 with Kyle Busch behind the wheel. Busch started from the pole position and captured the victory with a 1.4 second lead over runner-up Erik Jones.
  • After last Friday night’s race at Nashville (Tenn.) Superpeedway, Deegan went to Knoxville, Iowa, to participate in her first race in the SRX Racing Series on Saturday night at Knoxville Raceway. She scored a second-place finish in her inaugural race.

Tanner Gray, No. 15 Ford Performance F-150

  • Gray makes his 13th start of the 2021 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season at the Pocono (Pa.) Raceway. He will start from the 17th position.
  • At Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway last Friday night, an uncontrolled tire penalty at the end of Stage 2 mired the No. 15 deep in the field and the Ford driver would ultimately finish 18th in the series return to the 1.33-mile oval.
  • The 22-year-old has one career start at the “Tricky Triangle” coming last season where he started 15th and finished 12th.
  • Seth Smith has called one previous race at Pocono with Hailie Deegan in the ARCA Menards Series in 2020 finishing seventh.

Ryan Preece, No. 17 Morton Buildings Ford F-150

  • Coming off of a win last Friday night at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway, Ryan Preece will return to the seat of the No. 17 F-150 with support from Morton Buildings. He will start from the eighth position.
  • Preece’s Nashville victory was his third career NASCAR national series win and first in the Truck Series in his series debut. It also marked the second ever win in the series for David Gilliland Racing.
  • The Connecticut native has six career starts at Pocono: four in the Cup Series with a best finish of 20th and two in the Xfinity Series with a best finish of fourth.
  • Chad Johnston has been atop the pit box for eighteen races at the 2.5-mile track with three top-five and seven top-10 finishes. His best finish was a second with Kyle Larson in 2018.

Bayley Currey – CRC Brakleen 150 Race Advance

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Official Release
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Pocono Raceway Race Advance
CRC Brakleen 150
Team: No. 45 CircleBDiecast.com Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Bayley Currey
Follow the Team: @NieceMotorsport; @BayleyCurrey

Currey on Racing at Pocono: “I’m thankful for another chance to get behind the wheel of one of these Niece Motorsports Chevrolets,” said Currey. “A huge thank you to Al Niece, everyone at the team, and CircleBDiecast.com for making this possible. I think Pocono is a fun track, even though it has a reputation as a tough track. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Currey at Pocono: Currey will make his fourth NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start this weekend at Pocono Raceway. In his three previous starts, he has a best finish of 16th, which came last season.

The Texas-native has one NASCAR Xfinity Series start at ‘The Tricky Triangle’, coming in 2020.

Currey also has one NASCAR Cup Series start at Pocono Raceway, coming in 2019.

On the Truck: The No. 45 Chevrolet will race with support from CircleBDiecast.com this weekend at Pocono Raceway.

Plan B Sales was founded in 2010 with the goal of bringing service to dealers that carry licensed motorsports products. Plan B Sales started as a Lionel diecast and Chase Authentics apparel distributor. Over the last few years Plan B Sales has grown to be the largest account for Lionel, servicing the motorsports market and has expanded its product offerings.

Plan B Sales has quickly become the choice of dealers for a one-stop stocking distributor. Its product offering also includes Auto World, Greenlight Collectibles, BrandArt and are the exclusive distributor for University of Racing product lines.

In September of 2020, Plan B Sales decided to split its wholesale and retail business into two different websites to better serve each segment of customers, effectively launching CircleBDiecast.com.

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

Carson Hocevar – CRC Brakleen 150 Race Advance

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Official Release
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Pocono Raceway Race Advance
CRC Brakleen 150
Team: No. 42 Sparco Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Carson Hocevar
Follow the Team: @NieceMotorsport; @CarsonHocevar

Hocevar on Racing at Pocono: “We’re heading to another track that I’m going to be seeing for the first time when we take the green flag,” said Hocevar. “I know Pocono definitely has a well-earned reputation as a tough track, but I’m looking forward to the challenge. Phil and Ross were able to bring home a win there in 2019, and I’m hoping that Phil and I can try and do the same thing on Saturday.”

Hocevar at Pocono: Hocevar will make his first Pocono Raceway start this weekend.

In the Points: Hocevar remains 10th in the driver point standings after last week’s race at Nashville Superspeedway. In addition, Hocevar retained the lead in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year Standings.

On the Truck: The No. 42 Chevrolet will race with support from Sparco.

Since 1977 Sparco S.p.A. has developed and produced equipment for the racing environment. Sparco has more than 300 partner teams throughout the world in various motorsport competitions including, F1, Indy, WRC, NASCAR, Dakar and many others.

Since 2000, The Sparco Group has diversified its activities, entering the carbon fiber automotive components’ industry for super sports car and luxury car manufacturers. In addition, Sparco has expanded its business to the gaming-simulation racing industry as well as the safety clothing industry (safety footwear and workwear).

Sparco is headquartered in Volpiano, Italy, and has more than 1,000 employees that operate in eight production plants (four in Italy, three in Tunisia and one in the USA).

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

DiBenedetto Ready for Two Tries at the Tricky Triangle

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Official Release
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Having a fast Mustang in Music City, Matt DiBenedetto and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team are headed to the Tricky Triangle feeling a little optimistic.

Pocono Raceway, the three-turn, 2.5-mile track, is hosting a double-header for the Cup Series with the Pocono Organics CBD 325 on Saturday and the Explore The Pocono Mountains 350 on Sunday.

DiBenedetto, who finished 13th and sixth in the two Pocono races last year, said he believes he and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team are capable of backing up – or even bettering – their performances of a year ago.

“We had a fast car at Pocono last year, so hopefully that same speed carries over,” he said, adding that speed isn’t the only factor to be considered this weekend. “Track position is everything with the high-downforce package.”

Track position could be a challenge, at least initially for the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team. DiBenedetto and the No. 21 Mustang are set to start Saturday’s opener from 21st place. The line-up was set based on recent results, and DiBenedetto wound up 24th in the most recent race, at Nashville Superspeedway.

DiBenedetto also said the chemistry between him and his new crew chief is beginning to build.

“I’ve really enjoying working with Jonathan Hassler,” he said. “Although we had electrical issues last weekend, we had a good car and great communication, so we are looking forward to these upcoming races.”

Saturday’s 130-lap, 325-mile race is set to start just after 3 p.m. and will have Stage breaks at Laps 25 and 77. Sunday’s 350-mile finale will see the green flag just after 3:30 with Stage breaks at Laps 30 and 85.

NBCSN will carry the telecast of both races.

About Motorcraft:

Motorcraft offers a complete line of replacement parts that are recommended by Ford Motor Company. From routine maintenance to underhood repairs, Motorcraft parts offer value with high quality and the right fit at competitive prices. Motorcraft parts are available nationwide at Ford and Lincoln Dealers, independent distributors and automotive parts retailers, and are backed by the Service Parts Limited Warranty of Ford Motor Company. For more information, visit www.motorcraft.com.

About Omnicraft:

Omnicraft is part of the Ford lineup of parts brands: Ford Parts, Motorcraft and Omnicraft. Omnicraft is the exclusive non-Ford/Lincoln parts brand of premium aftermarket parts. With over a century of parts heritage to build upon, Omnicraft provides excellent quality and fit and is a preferred choice of professional automotive technicians. To find out more about Omnicraft, visit www.omnicraftautoparts.com or contact your local Ford or Lincoln Dealership.

About Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center

Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center offers extraordinary service for routine vehicle maintenance including tire repair and replacement with a Low Tire Price Guarantee and a full menu of automotive services including oil and filter, brakes, alignments, batteries, and shocks and struts on all vehicle makes and models. Service is performed by certified technicians at more than 1,000 locations worldwide while you wait, and no appointment is necessary. For more information about Quick Lane, please visit www.quicklane.com.

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs, electrified vehicles and Lincoln luxury vehicles, provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification, autonomous vehicles and mobility solutions. Ford employs approximately 200,000 people worldwide. For more information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.

Wood Brothers Racing

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

MEGUIAR’S PROVIDES ESSENTIAL CAR CARE TIPS FOR BEGINNERS

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Official Release
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Irvine, Calif. (2021) – Have you ever wanted to master cleaning your own car, but didn’t know where to start? With summer approaching, now is the perfect time to learn how to properly wash and detail your car right from home, just like a professional would. Investing in the right car care products will quickly turn your driveway into a personal at-home car detailing center, which could save you time and money over the course of the year. Meguiar’s, a global leader in car care, has put together a list of key steps and product recommendations to ensure washing your car at home is as easy as ever, even for novices.

1. Thoroughly Wash Exterior: Washing your car’s exterior removes all loose surface dirt, salt, and road film, and will prevent additional contaminants from building up on the surface. This can be accomplished by using a premium car wash product such as the popular Meguiar’s® Gold Class Car Wash. In just one easy step, this product gently washes and conditions at the same time, and will leave your paint looking radiant. Don’t forget to have some quality microfiber towels on hand for both washing and drying. Next, get your windows clean using a streak free glass cleaner like Meguiar’s® Perfect Clarity Glass Cleaner. When starting out with car care, be sure to thoroughly read all manufacturer product instructions to ensure you will always achieve the best application possible.

2. Clay the Car: Creating a smooth surface on your vehicle is a great place to start. Since  we recommend placing a good coat of wax on your car after washing, it is vital to first “clay” your car as well. Claying your vehicle will not only create this smooth surface, but will maximize the gloss and protection obtained from the polish and wax that are to be applied afterward. Be sure to look for Meguiar’s® Hybrid Ceramic Quik Clay Kit which will easily remove those hard-to-see, above surface bonded contaminants that have accumulated through the seasons. The Hybrid Ceramic Detailer in this kit will allow the Synthetic Clay Pad to glide with ease for enhanced slickness and shine.

3. Apply a Coat of Wax: Once the clay has been applied and the exterior is clean, it’s time for that wax layer. In the summer, it is often a good idea to apply two thin coats of Meguiar’s® Ultimate Liquid Wax to the horizontal surfaces to make sure you have maximum coverage, protection, and reflectivity. And remember, always use a microfiber towel for quick and easy removal of wax. This product is formulated with Meguiar’s ThinFilm technology to deliver the easiest application and removal, even if you have to wax in full sun!

3. Deep Clean Interior: Your interior is subject to various debris throughout the year, whether a drink was spilled, or dirt was tracked in from shoes. Cleaning and rejuvenating your interior is one of the easiest ways to spruce up your vehicle and make it feel new again. In order to revive the look, begin by thoroughly vacuuming all cloth and carpeted areas, including mats, and then utilize a premium carpet and upholstery cleaner. Meguiar’s Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner features a deep cleaning formula that removes stains and odors, and even comes with a carpet scrubber top that helps make cleaning even easier. Lastly, the easy-to-use Meguiar’s® Quik Interior Detailer Wipessafely clean all interior surfaces and contain UV protection to help preserve your vehicle’s interior from sunlight. These wipes will clean everything from interior plastic, vinyl, leather, rubber, metal, and even stubborn fingerprints on LCD and navigation screens.

5. Don’t Forget the Wheels and Tires: Before choosing a wheel cleaner, make sure you are aware of the type of surface you are working on (i.e., whether your wheels are steel, chrome, painted, polished aluminum, etc.) and be sure to choose the right type of wheel cleaner that matches that surface. When in doubt, go with a wheel cleaner that is safe for every type of wheel finish out there like the Meguiar’s® Ultimate All Wheel Cleaner, which provides a fantastic, yet safe one-step solution to use on any type of wheel. Additionally, the brand-new Meguiar’s Ultimate Insane Shine Foam has the ability to power through tough road grime and leaves behind a glossy finish on tires. This convenient and easy-to-use foam allows you to simply spray and walk away.

About Meguiar’s

For more than 120 years, Meguiar’s has provided Car Crazy® people with specialized state-of-the-art formulations for making every car’s appearance show perfect. Meguiar’s provides high performance car care products for every automotive surface. To learn more visit www.meguiars.com.

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