Home Blog Page 2502

Trans Am Matches Five-Year High Entry Record for Mid-Ohio

By
Official Release
-

TA, XGT, SGT, GT classes set to deliver 100-mile action-packed sprint race at Mid-Ohio

LEXINGTON, OHIO (22 June 2021)- The product of more than 30 years of continuous development and improvement, the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli has firmly established itself as one of the most competitive series in North America. Growing that rich legacy into the modern era, Trans Am returns to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course this weekend (June 25-27) with a 53-car lineup, matching a five-year high for the event.

“Last season, the Vintage Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio was the first event back for Trans Am after the pandemic put racing on hold,” said Trans Am Race Company President John Clagett. “We were happy to be racing again, but Mid-Ohio felt a bit different without spectators. What a difference a year makes. We are extremely excited to return to Mid-Ohio with one of the largest fields we’ve had since 2016, and we get to do it in front of fans.”

Mid-Ohio is the first leg of back-to-back events for the Trans Am drivers. Trans Am will host a pair of 100-mile races on the 2.4-mile, 15-turn Northern Ohio circuit before traveling to Road America to celebrate Independence Day weekend as part of the NASCAR Cup Series JOCKEY Made in America 250. (How to stream Mid-Ohio race weekend)

Notching his second win of the season at Lime Rock Park on Memorial Day Weekend, Chris Dyson jumped to the top of the championship standings in the TA class, edging out WeatherTech Raceway winner Tomy Drissi by 12 points. Building off his winning momentum, Dyson is predicting another first-place finish for CD Racing.

“We’ve been really fast and in contention to win Mid-Ohio the last couple years, so I’m really excited to go back there,” said Dyson. “Mid-Ohio is one of my favorite tracks and we’ve had some big successes there in the past. The team has been on excellent form this year, the car has been super-fast and reliable and we are leading the points championship tables. We are taking it one session and one race at a time, but I’m feeling confident we will get another great result with the No. 20 ALTWELL CBD Ford Mustang.”

While Dyson and Drissi are building off a pair of podium finishes coming into Mid-Ohio, they will still have to get through the winningest driver at Mid-Ohio in Trans Am history, Ernie Francis Jr.

Francis Jr. has captured the championship every year since joining the series fulltime in 2014 – and has included a victory at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course all seven years. Though he’s collected the most wins at Mid-Ohio, this year is different than any other season for Francis Jr. For the first time, the SRX podium-finisher will enter the weekend without a victory. Francis Jr. will also be pulling triple duty racing in three open-wheel rounds for FR Americas Championship at Mid-Ohio and an SRX race at Eldora Speedway on Saturday.

Driving the No. 98 Future Star Racing Ford Mustang, Francis Jr. is third in the TA championship and only trails second-place Drissi by two points after four rounds.

Two-time Trans Am champion Amy Ruman comes into the weekend with home track advantage. The Stow, Ohio, native has logged the most laps of her racing career at Mid-Ohio. Ruman is confident that competitive edge will get her No. 23 McNicholsCo/CornertechCNCSolut Chevrolet Corvette to the podium for the first time this season.

“I have spent a lot of time at Mid-Ohio, from spectating as a kid, to racing consistently here over the years,” said Ruman. “Mid-Ohio is a particularly challenging, unique course. Track conditions can change at any given moment and that’s part of its uniqueness. There is no time for rest either, its remarkably busy. I am determined to have a good finish this weekend, preferably a win, and would love to move up in the standings – we have had a bit of a rough season thus far so I would love to turn it around at my home track.”

Other TA drivers entered for the weekend who’ve topped the podium at Mid-Ohio include two-time winner Simon Gregg in the No. 59 The Peter Gregg Foundation Chevrolet Camaro (2012 and 2016) and Paul Fix in the No. 4 StopFlex.com/CarCoachReports Chevrolet Corvette (2015).

The Trans Am production classes are also set to deliver an action-packed race on Sunday with a 13-car field.

Winning on a road course at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta and on the Charlotte Motor Speedway roval earlier this season in the new Trans Am Pro Am Challenge, Mark Brummond is back to challenge national points leader Justin Oakes in the No. 24 GarageDoorDoctor/DynamicAutoTune BMW M4 GT4. (VIDEO: 2020 Race Recap)

“After winning Mid-Ohio’s race last year, Tons Of Gas Motorsports is thrilled to be back here racing again,” said Brummond. “Winning both Road Atlanta and the Charlotte Roval this year, we are looking for our third straight win at Mid-Ohio to add to our leading points race in the Trans Am Pro Am Challenge.”

After missing the last three rounds due to mechanical issues that stemmed from his outing at Road Atlanta, reigning GT Champion Billy Griffin is back in the No. 14 GriffinAutoCare/SheehansTowing Ford Mustang GT4 to recover his SGT rookie season.

Philip Di Pippo (No. 94 Sasco Sports Ford Mustang) will go up against a team of brothers Michael and Sean Young in the GT class, while Erich Joiner and Mike Weathers will get a Lime Rock rematch in the XGT class.

The weekend kicks off for Trans Am drivers with optional testing on Thursday for TA2®. The official weekend for TA2® starts on Friday morning with practice followed by qualifying at 5:40 p.m. Eastern. The TA/XGT/SGT/GT classes will also hold an unofficial test on Friday.

Saturday the TA/XGT/SGT/GT drivers will host an optional test session before the 45 laps (or 65 minutes) TA2® Feature Race (1:05 p.m. Eastern). The day will conclude with a split TA/XGT/SGT/GT qualifying at 5:15 p.m. Eastern. The weekend wraps up on Sunday with TA2® taking the green at 1:10 p.m. Eastern.

The full weekend will be live streamed for subscribers on the Trans Am by Pirelli Racing App: https://bit.ly/35EAnND

*Note that only SpeedTour events featuring Trans Am will be live streamed. The Road America event will not be available on the Trans Am by Pirelli Racing App.

ERIC WINSLOW LOOKING FOR REPEAT LIMITED SPORTSMAN RACE WIN IN JULY 3 THUNDER ROAD HARLEY-DAVIDSON 200 PRESENTED BY GRAND ATLANTIC OCEAN RESORT 200 RACING PROGRAM AT SBS

By
Official Release
-
Eric Winslow smiles as he poses with the winner’s trophy in Victory Lane following the first of his two Limited Sportsman Division wins at South Boston Speedway this season. Photo Courtesy Joe Chandler/South Boston Speedway

By Joe Chandler
Director, Public Relations
South Boston Speedway

South Boston, Va…..Eric Winslow’s road to success has been a long one. Sure, there has been some success for the Pelham, North Carolina resident along the way in both Late Model Stock Car Division and Limited Sportsman Division competition. Only over the course of the last two to three years has that success been more sustained.

Winslow drove to victory in South Boston Speedway’s pre-Fourth of July 50-lap Limited Sportsman Division event in 2019. It was Winslow’s only victory among his five Top-Five finishes at South Boston Speedway that season. The 28 laps he led in that race were the only laps he led in his six starts at “America’s Hometown Track” that year.

Winslow will have an opportunity to back up his 2019 pre-Fourth of July race victory when South Boston Speedway hosts its biggest event of the season, the Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 Presented by Grand Atlantic Ocean Resort racing program on Saturday night, July 3.

Based on his record at South Boston Speedway this season, Winslow could be considered as one of the top contenders entering the 50-lap Limited Sportsman Division race that will be part of this year’s pre-Fourth of July event.

Thus far in 2021, Winslow has won two of his four starts in the Limited Sportsman Division at South Boston Speedway, has finished in the Top Five in all four starts, and has led 77 laps, more than double what he tallied at South Boston Speedway in 2019.

“It’s been year-after-year trying to make this happen, and this year it has just clicked,” Winslow pointed out.

“I couldn’t do it without everybody that helps me. It’s not just me. I couldn’t do it without the help.”

Winslow pointed out that while he is running a limited schedule of races at South Boston Speedway this season, he is well-prepared when he shows up at the track.

“We’re not running a lot of races, but the races we’re running we’re trying to come fully loaded to win,” said Winslow.

“I’ve raced here at South Boston a lot of years running junk and it is so nice to be in good equipment now. I’ve been able to drive some of Matt Bowling’s cars and some of Peyton Sellers’ cars. I always knew I had the ability, but I needed to figure out a way to get the funding to do it.”

Winslow points out that being able to win races and be successful at South Boston Speedway is special.

“I’ve had good years at other places,” he noted.

“I won three or four races at Wake County Speedway in North Carolina a couple of years ago and a championship. I wanted to win here at South Boston Speedway. This is home to me.”

The North Carolina resident credits changes made to South Boston Speedway’s Limited Sportsman Division rules package as part of his ability to succeed at the .4-mile oval.

“The Limited Sportsman rules package they came up with this year is a great opportunity for me,” Winslow said.

“The rules get the expense down a little bit, get some of the knowledge with the bump stops gone and gets it back to old school racing where driving matters. It’s a big feather in our hat to win and make it happen at South Boston Speedway.”

The July 3 Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 Presented by Grand Atlantic Ocean Resort racing program is the biggest event of the season at South Boston Speedway. A 200-lap race for the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series Late Model Stock Car Division competitors, the first race of the Virginia Late Model Triple Crown series, headlines the action.

A 50-lap race for the Limited Sportsman Division, a 30-lap race for the Budweiser Pure Stock Division and a 20-lap race for the Budweiser Hornets Division will round out the night’s racing action.

The July 3 Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 Presented by Grand Atlantic Ocean Resort racing program will conclude South Boston Speedway’s Celebrate America Campaign. There will be patriotic pre-race ceremonies and fans will be treated to a dazzling Fourth of July fireworks show following the conclusion of the night’s final race.

Fans will also be treated to a pre-race driver autograph session on the track at 5:15 p.m., giving them the opportunity to meet the drivers and get an up-close look at the cars that will be in action during the event.

Grandstand gates will open at 4 p.m. and qualifying will begin at 4:30 p.m. Pre-race ceremonies will start at 6:35 p.m. and the first race of the night will get the green flag at 7 p.m.

Advance adult general admission tickets for the July 3 event are priced at $15 each and may be purchased online on South Boston Speedway’s website, www.southbostonspeedway.com, through Friday night, July 2.

Adult general admission tickets at the gate on race day are priced at $20 each. Kids ages 12 and under will be admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult. Seniors ages 65 and older, military personnel, first responders, healthcare workers and students, with ID, will be admitted for $15 on race day.

The latest news and updates about South Boston Speedway and its racing events can be found on the South Boston Speedway website and through the speedway’s social media channels.

Chris Buescher – Pocono Advance

By
Official Release
-

Team: No. 17 Acronis Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Luke Lambert
Twitter: @17RoushTeam, @RoushFenway and @Chris_Buescher
Race Format: Saturday: 325 miles, 130 laps, Stages: 25-52-53
Sunday: 350 miles, 140 laps, Stages: 30-55-55

NASCAR Cup Series Race at Pocono – Saturday, June 26 at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90
Explore the Pocono Mountains 350 – Sunday, June 27 at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Pocono Format

· For the second year in a row, NASCAR will feature a doubleheader format for the Cup Series events at Pocono. The series mirrored the same format a season ago, which served as the first doubleheader in the modern era (1972-present). This weekend’s races feature 325 miles of action on Saturday, followed by 350 miles on Sunday.

· To add to the drama of the doubleheader itself, teams are slated to use the same car for both days, unless forced to a backup car from an incident during Saturday’s action.

· The starting lineup for Saturday will be determined by NASCAR’s formula, with Sunday’s lineup set by an inversion of the top-20 cars at the end of race one.

Buescher at Pocono Raceway

· Pocono marks the site of Buescher’s lone Cup win, which came in 2016 while driving at Front Row Motorsports. After weather played a factor with 133 laps completed, NASCAR red-flagged and ultimately called the race early, giving Buescher his first-career victory in NASCAR’s top series.

· Overall at Pocono, Buescher has two top-10s in 10 starts with an average result of 20.3. Last season he finished 10th in the first race of the doubleheader, and a year prior ran 14th and 16th.

· Buescher also made four ARCA starts at Pocono in 2011-12, recording one runner-up finish followed by a third-place run and two fifth-place finishes.

Luke Lambert at Pocono Raceway

· Lambert will call his 17th and 18th Cup events at Pocono this weekend, a track he has an average finish of 15.8 with five top-10s.

· Overall he has five top-10 results, including a best finish of seventh which happened twice. He first ran seventh with Ryan Newman in 2014, and again in 2019 with Daniel Hemric.

QUOTE WORTHY
Buescher on racing at Pocono:
“This weekend is all about rebounding for our 17 team, and we have double the opportunity to win a race and make up some ground in the playoff picture. Pocono is obviously a place that’s been good to me in the past, and we had a good run in the first race there a year ago. It will take some finesse in keeping our stuff straight and in prime shape for the second race, but we’re looking forward to what I hope is a solid weekend in the Acronis Ford Mustang.”

Last Time Out
Buescher had a solid start to his afternoon at Nashville Superspeedway, advancing well into the top-15 in the early laps, before a cut tire resulting from a car with issues in front of him in the opening stage ended his day early in 36th.

Where They Rank
The race for the playoffs continues in a heated battle, as Buescher maintains the 15th position just above the cut line.

On the Car
Acronis makes its 2021 debut this weekend at Pocono. They first joined the Roush Fenway fold in 2019 as a primary on both the No. 6 and No. 17 machines at Watkins Glen. They were the primary on Newman’s Ford in last season’s race at Kentucky, and will ride with Buescher this weekend at ‘The Tricky Triangle.’

About Acronis

Acronis leads the world in cyber protection – solving safety, accessibility, privacy, authenticity, and security (SAPAS) challenges with innovative backup, security, disaster recovery, and enterprise file sync and share solutions that run in hybrid cloud environments: on-premises, in the cloud, or at the edge. Enhanced by AI technologies and blockchain-based data authentication, Acronis protects all data, in any environment, including physical, virtual, cloud, mobile workloads and applications.

With 500,000 business customers, and a powerful worldwide community of Acronis API-enabled service providers, resellers and ISV partners, Acronis is trusted by 100% of Fortune 1000 companies and has over 5 million customers. With dual headquarters in Switzerland and Singapore, Acronis is a global organization with offices worldwide and customers and partners in over 150 countries. Learn more at acronis.com.

Jack Wood – GMS Racing ARCA Pocono Preview

By
Official Release
-

Jack Wood, No. 21 Chevy Accessories Chevrolet
Pocono Raceway Stats

  • No prior starts at Pocono Raceway. 2021 ARCA Menards Series Stats
  • Starts: 5, Best start: 4, Best finish: 4, Top 5s: 1, Top 10s: 3

Notes:

  • Jack Wood will be pulling double duty this weekend at Pocono Raceway, competing in Friday night’s General Tire #AnywhereIsPossible 200 as well as Saturday’s NASCAR Camping World Trucks Series event in the No. 24 Silverado for GMS Racing.
  • Wood and the No. 21 team will compete with chassis no. 410 on Friday at Pocono. This is the same chassis that Wood earned a fourth-place finish with at Kansas and a sixth-place finish with at Charlotte.

Quote:

“I have a lot more confidence heading into this weekend after the run we had at Nashville in the Truck Series. I’ve never been to Pocono, but we have a lot of track time on Thursday so it should be plenty of time to get the feel of the track. I feel like it’s going to be a good race for this No. 21 team and good seat time to prepare for the truck race on Saturday.”

ABOUT GMS RACING

GMS Racing competes full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with drivers Sheldon Creed, Zane Smith, Tyler Ankrum and Chase Purdy and Jack Wood. The team also competes in the ARCA Menards Series with Jack Wood and Daniel Dye. Since the team began in 2014, GMS Racing won the 2016 and 2020 Camping World Trucks Championship, the 2015 ARCA Menards Series championship as well as the 2019 & 2020 ARCA East championship and 2020 Sioux Chief Showdown Championship. GMS has grown to occupy several buildings located in Statesville, N.C. The campus also includes operations for GMS Fabrication. More information can be found at https://www.gmsracing.net/

SOCIAL MEDIA

To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, follow GMS Racing on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Ryan Newman – Pocono Advance

By
Official Release
-

Team: No. 6 Wyndham Rewards / Guaranteed Rate Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Twitter: @Roush6Team, @RoushFenway and @RyanJNewman
Race Format: Saturday: 325 miles, 130 laps, Stages: 25-52-53
Sunday: 350 miles, 140 laps, Stages: 30-55-55

NASCAR Cup Series Race at Pocono – Saturday, June 26 at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

Explore the Pocono Mountains 350 – Sunday, June 27 at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Pocono Format

· For the second year in a row, NASCAR will feature a doubleheader format for the Cup Series events at Pocono. The series mirrored the same format a season ago, which served as the first doubleheader in the modern era (1972-present). This weekend’s races feature 325 miles of action on Saturday, followed by 350 miles on Sunday.

· To add to the drama of the doubleheader itself, teams are slated to use the same car for both days, unless forced to a backup car from an incident during Saturday’s action.

· The starting lineup for Saturday will be determined by NASCAR’s formula, with Sunday’s lineup set by an inversion of the top-20 cars at the end of race one.

Newman at Pocono Raceway

· Newman will make his 39th and 40th starts at Pocono this weekend, a track where he has an average finish of 13.3, his third-best among active NASCAR tracks.

· He won from the pole back in 2003, and finished runner-up in the spring of 2007 after starting from the pole. Overall Newman has 15 top-10s and nine top-fives. Dating back the last five events, he has an average finish of 14.2, including finished of 15th and 18th in last season’s doubleheader.

· Newman has 20 top-10 starts all-time, 10 of which were inside the top five.

Scott Graves at Pocono Raceway

· Graves will be on the box for his 11th and 12th starts at Pocono this weekend, where he carries an average 17.1 finish. He has two top-10s and one top five.

· Graves led Daniel Suarez to the pole in 2018 and together they finished second. A year prior the duo also ran seventh. Most recently, Graves and Newman have finished no worse than 18th in the last four events, including two inside the top-15.

· He also called one Xfinity event at ‘The Tricky Triangle’ with Suarez in 2016, finishing ninth after starting third.

QUOTE WORTHY
Newman on racing at Pocono:
“Running back-to-back races like this is not something we’re accustomed to, but I think it’s yet another great challenge for both us as drivers and the teams. Keeping the fenders clean and everything in order will be crucial for a combined 675 miles of racing. Pocono has been a pretty good track for me over the years, and one I like with as much speed as it carries, but also requires a certain technicality with the differing corners. Looking forward to two good days with Wyndham Rewards and Guaranteed Rate on board.”

Last Time Out
Newman crossed the line 14th in last weekend’s race at Nashville Superspeedway, and was later bumped up to 13th following a disqualification of the No. 9 car.

Where They Rank
Newman is 23rd in points through 17 events.

On the Car Saturday

Wyndham Rewards returns to the No. 6 for its third race of 2021. They will debut a new-look scheme this weekend that highlights the Wyndham Rewards Earner Card.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts and Barclays is pleased to offer an updated credit card suite designed with road trippers and road warriors in mind: the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card, the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card and the Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Card, the first Wyndham credit card created specifically for small business travelers.

Built to help maximize points earned on the road as well through everyday purchases, the new cards offer up to 8x earn on gas purchases and Wyndham hotel stays, up to 5x earn on marketing, advertising and utility purchases (Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Card only), and up to 4x earn on restaurant and grocery purchases. Other benefits include Wyndham Rewards membership upgrades, anniversary bonuses and more. Cardmembers also receive a 10 percent points discount on free night redemptions and exclusive savings when booking stays with the Wyndham Rewards Earner Cardmember Rate.

On the Car Sunday
Guaranteed Rate returns for its fifth points race aboard Newman’s Ford Mustang.

About Wyndham Rewards
Recently named the number one hotel rewards program by readers of USA TODAY, Wyndham Rewards® is the world’s most generous rewards program with more than 50,000 hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals worldwide. Designed for the everyday traveler, members earn a guaranteed 1,000 points with every qualified stay and may redeem points for a wide range of rewards, including free nights at over 8,900 hotels or thousands of vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally through affiliation with Wyndham Destinations and others. Wyndham Rewards has 86 million enrolled members around the globe. Join for free today at www.wyndhamrewards.com. You’ve earned this.®

About Guaranteed Rate

The Guaranteed Rate Companies, which includes Guaranteed Rate, Inc., Guaranteed Rate Affinity, LLC, and Proper Rate, LLC, has more than 9,000 employees in over 750 offices across the United States. Headquartered in Chicago, Guaranteed Rate Companies is one of the largest retail mortgage lenders in the United States, funding over $73 billion in 2020. Founded in 2000 and located in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., Guaranteed Rate Companies has helped homeowners nationwide with home purchase loans and refinances. The company has established itself as an industry leader by introducing innovative technology, offering low rates and delivering unparalleled customer service. 2017 marked the launch of Guaranteed Rate Affinity, LLC, a mortgage origination joint venture between Guaranteed Rate, Inc. and Realogy Holdings Corp. (NYSE: RLGY), a global leader in residential real estate franchising and brokerage. In 2020, the company launched Proper Rate, LLC, a mortgage origination joint venture between Guaranteed Rate, Inc. and @properties, one of the nation’s largest residential brokerage firms. Collectively, the Guaranteed Rate Companies have earned honors and awards including: Top Lender for Online Service for 2018 by U.S. News & World Report; Best Mortgage Lender for Online Loans and Best Mortgage Lender for Refinancing by NerdWallet for 2021; HousingWire’s 2020 Tech100 award for the company’s industry-leading FlashCloseSM technology; No. 3 ranking in Scotsman Guide’s Top Retail Mortgage Lenders 2019; Chicago Agent Magazine’s Lender of the Year for five consecutive years; Chicago Tribune’s Top Workplaces list for seven consecutive years. Visit rate.com for more information.

No. 10 Smithfield Ford Racing: Aric Almirola Pocono Doubleheader Advance

By
Official Release
-

Aric Almirola
Pocono Doubleheader Advance
Smithfield Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview

● Event: NASCAR Cup Series Doubleheader at Pocono (Rounds 18 and 19 of 36)
● Time/Date: 3 p.m. EDT on Saturday, June 26, and 3:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, June 27
● Location: Pocono (Pa.) Raceway
● Layout: 2.5-mile triangle
● Race 1 Laps/Miles: (130 laps/325 miles)
● Race 1 Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 25 laps / Stage 2: 52 laps / Final Stage: 53 laps
● Race 2 Laps/Miles: (140 laps/350 miles)
● Race 2 Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 30 laps / Stage 2: 55 laps / Final Stage: 55 laps

● TV/Radio: NBCSN / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● History at Pocono: Almirola will make his 18th start in the NASCAR Cup Series at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway this weekend. Almirola will race for his third consecutive top-five finish at Pocono. Last year, the Smithfield Ford driver earned third- and fifth-place finishes, respectively, to add to his four career top-10s at the 2.5-mile triangle.

● Almirola has one start at the “Tricky Triangle” in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in June 2016, which resulted in an 11th-place finish. He’s also made one start in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in July 2010 and earned a fourth-place finish.

● Crew chief Mike Bugarewicz grew up just 25 miles south of Pocono Raceway in Lehighton, Pennsylvania. In 10 starts at his home track, he’s earned an impressive four top-five finishes. Only three of his finishes were outside of the top-11.

● At last weekend’s inaugural Cup Series race at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway, Almirola won the pole position and raced to a fourth-place finish. It was his best performance of 2021 and his first top-five.

● Almirola’s season has been mired by bad luck and unfortunate finishes. The Tampa, Florida, native started the year off with a win in his Duel qualifying race to start on the front row of the Daytona 500. Since then, Almirola has been dealt five DNF’s (did not finish) due to contact by other cars, cut tires, or involvement in multicar accidents. In 17 races, he has two top-10 finishes and one top-five. However, his luck seemed to turn around when he won the All-Star Open two weekends ago at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. He went on to finish eighth in the All-Star Race. With another solid result at Nashville, Almirola and the No. 10 team feel they are gaining momentum quickly.

● Almirola’s 2020 season proved successful when he earned a career-high 18 top-10 finishes, six top-fives and led 305 laps. During the season, Almirola went on a five-race streak of top-five finishes and earned nine consecutive top-10s.

● Career Stats: Almirola has career totals of two wins, two poles, 25 top-five finishes, 81 top-10s and 843 laps led in 369 NASCAR Cup Series starts.

● Smithfield Foods celebrates 10 years of partnership with Almirola this season with a special campaign called Taste Victory.As one of the most active partners in NASCAR, Smithfield plans to engage fans all year long by hosting a microsite that provides the opportunity to win when Almirola wins or finishes inside the top-10. When Almirola wins, one fan wins $10,000, and 10 fans win a gift card for each top-10 finish. The microsite also doubles as an Aric Almirola fan page and entertainment source where fans can get behind the wheel of the No. 10 Smithfield Ford with a custom racing game, and learn more about Almirola with fast facts, favorite recipes and custom content about his life on and off the track. Visit www.tastevictory.com to learn more. Thanks to Almirola’s Feb. 11 win in his Duel qualifying race for the Daytona 500, one lucky fan has already won $10,000.

● Beyond the 10 YouTube Series: In 2021, Almirola continues to share his life beyond the No. 10 Smithfield Ford with season three of his award-winning YouTube series. Fans and media can subscribe on YouTube to see Almirola’s personality on and off the track. Episodes have already featured life as a dad, a husband and an athlete, and it gives fans a unique perspective on what goes on in the life of a professional NASCAR driver. Fans can also follow Almirola’s social media channels: @Aric_Almirola on Twitter and Instagram, and @AricAlmirola on Facebook.

● After the season’s first 16 points-paying events, the Smithfield Ford team sits 28th in the championship with 240 points, 444 behind leader Denny Hamlin.

Aric Almirola, Driver of the No. 10 Smithfield Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

All four Stewart-Haas Racing cars finished in the top-12 at Nashville. What does this say about the organization’s progress?

“It means we’re working hard. We’ve had a lot of races where the No. 4 has been a 10th-place car and the other three of us have run 25th, it seems like, so we’ve been working hard. When you run bad, it’s 10 times as much work because you’re going down every single different avenue trying to figure out what’s going to make speed in the racecars, and when you have fast racecars it’s easy because you just massage on it and polish it and keep going to the racetrack with what you know is fast. We’ve been working so hard. I’m proud of everybody back at the shop and specifically this No. 10 Smithfield team. We’ve been off and it’s been nice to get it back and go on here in the right direction after two weeks in a row of running up front.”

What does this do for your confidence level after such a challenging first half of the season?

“It just feels good. It’s been such a tough year and it’s easy to get down on yourself and not have a lot of confidence. Confidence is something that comes with results. You can’t fake it, so it’s been nice to have two good weeks now and it certainly makes everybody have a little pep in their step and things are going in the right direction.”

What are your thoughts on bringing this momentum to Pocono? Is it a good track to bring momentum to for you?

“Basing off of last year’s performance, you almost can’t think of a better track to come to than Pocono after finding speed the last few weekends. Last year, we had such an incredible run at Pocono on back-to-back days. Pocono is historically a track I wasn’t super confident in and now I’m heading there with a completely different mindset. We don’t have practice or qualifying, so we’ll have to unload fast again but, after finishing well at Nashville, we’ll have a better starting spot than in recent weeks, which will give us an opportunity to massage the car in cleaner air and see what we’ve got. I’d say Pocono is a great place for us to bring this momentum.”

No. 10 Smithfield Ford Team Roster
Primary Team Members Driver: Aric Almirola Hometown: Tampa, Florida Crew Chief: Mike BugarewiczHometown: Lehighton, Pennsylvania Car Chief: Jerry CookHometown: Toledo, Ohio Engineer: Lee DeeseHometown: Rockingham, North Carolina Engineer: James KimbroughHometown: Pensacola, Florida Spotter: Joel EdmondsHometown: Dobson, North Carolina
Over-The-Wall Members Front Tire Changer: Ryan MulderHometown: Sioux Center, Iowa Rear Tire Changer: Michael JohnsonHometown: Andover, New York Tire Carrier: Tyler Bullard  Hometown: King, North Carolina  Jack Man: Sean CottonHometown: Mooresville, North Carolina Fuel Man: James “Ace” KeenerHometown: Fortuna, California
Road Crew Members Mechanic: Tony SilvestriHometown: Sylvania, Ohio Mechanic: Robbie FairweatherHometown: Westbrookville, New York Engine Tuner: Matt MoellerHometown: Monroe, New York Tire Specialist: Russel SimpsonHometown: Medford, New York Transporter Co-Driver: Dale LackeyHometown: Taylorsville, North Carolina Transporter Co-Driver: Wayne SmithHometown: Melbourne, Australia 

‘Pikes Peak Live presented by Mobil 1’ returns for 2021 with more for fans

By
Official Release
-

Those who tune in early will be able to win limited-edition race-themed giveaways

SPRING, Texas – Following the incredible response to the inaugural broadcast last year, and the outpouring of fan inquiries this year, “Pikes Peak Live presented by Mobil 1™” will return for a second year to bring the racing action live from 14,115 feet to your mobile device.

Since 1934, Mobil™-branded products have brought innovation to the racers who choose to take on the extremes of America’s Mountain. In 2020, the challenge was different, but the team behind Mobil 1 synthetic worked closely with the organizers of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb to connect fans across the world like never before. Building on that success, key elements from last year’s livestream will continue this year, including John Hindhaugh once again providing live commentary, special guests, and more limited-edition giveaways for fans of all kinds.

For Porsche owners, a limited-edition run of 156 special “Pikes Peak Hill Grind” Porsche x Mobil 1 coffee sets will be available for those who provide their VIN for validation of ownership. Meanwhile, O’Reilly Auto Parts customers will be able to enter to win exclusive 2021 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb collectibles that commemorate the 99th running of the race.

More details around prizes and special guests will be announced closer to the stream, and those details will be announced in the same place the stream will take place – the Mobil 1 Facebook page. The broadcast will begin on Sunday, June 27 at 7 a.m., and conclude at 2 p.m. MDT, and will also be available to stream on the Mobil 1 YouTube channel. Those tuning in early will have the chance to enter to win any of the limited-edition giveaways before anyone else, and even have their questions answered by Mobil 1 partners and guests during interviews.

“We were thrilled at the glowing response from fans after last year’s livestream event, so of course we had to be back,” said Andrew Hanna, global motorsports and sponsorship advisor at ExxonMobil. “We all needed to adapt to changes last year, and we’re thankful that our fans appreciated the hard work our team and those at Pikes Peak put in to bring race fans a good show. As anyone who’s been to Pikes Peak knows, the mountain decides. This year, we’re hoping that the fans who tuned in last year decide to join us again as we look to one-up ourselves, and that new fans tune in to see what’s so special about the race to the clouds.”

Not solely presenting the livestream, Mobil 1 advanced synthetic motor oil also returns as a technology partner within the Porsche Pikes Peak Trophy by Yokohama division. All vehicles competing in the class rely on off-the-shelf Mobil 1 FS 0W-40, the same motor oil available at Porsche dealers. Continuing the legacy of Mobil 1 factory-filled vehicles claiming world records on America’s Mountain, Bentley will again return with multi-time Pikes Peak champion Rhys Millen piloting a Bentley Continental GT3 protected by Mobil 1 FS 0W-40.

“It’s a tradition here at Pikes Peak that we’re a fan-driven organization, and when we listened to the feedback from last year’s stream, mission number one became partnering with the Mobil 1 team to deliver an even better stream in 2021,” said Megan Leatham, executive director of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. “The Mobil brand has been a partner of the hill climb since 1934, and has more records here than any other motor oil brand. So we couldn’t be more thankful to build on that legacy with the livestream giving back to our fans, and our partners like Porsche and O’Reilly Auto Parts. For fans who enjoyed the experience last year, they’re in for a treat this year – but all I’m going to say is they better tune in early.”

For more information on the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, visit PPIHC.org.

About Mobil 1

Mobil 1, the world’s leading synthetic motor oil brand, is factory fill in many of the world’s most powerful production vehicles. In fact, more than 1,000,000 Porsche engines have trusted Mobil 1 from day one. Mobil 1 advanced synthetic features anti-wear technology that provides performance beyond our conventional motor oils. This technology allows Mobil 1 advanced synthetic to meet or exceed the toughest standards of vehicle manufacturers like Porsche and Bentley, to provide exceptional protection against engine wear, under normal or even some of the most extreme conditions.

For more information, visit mobil1.us and follow @Mobil1 on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Chase Briscoe Hopes to Capture a NASCAR Cup Victory at Road America

By
Official Release
-

-Plan Ahead, Buy Your Tickets Early, Print at Home, Arrive Early and Expect Delays-

ELKHART LAKE, Wis., June 22, 2021 – Chase Briscoe is a rookie in the NASCAR Cup Series this season, but he’ll arrive at Road America with a decent amount of experience at the 4.048-mile permanent road course.

Drivers in the top-tier Cup level will run at the Elkhart Lake track for the first time in 65 years in the Jockey Made in America 250 presented by Kwik Trip on July 4. The stop at Road America is one of several events on the Cup circuit that will have practice and qualifying.

Briscoe, a nine-time race winner in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2020, had two previous Xfinity starts at Road America. He also drove a GT Ford for PF Racing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship last year.

“It’s going to be nice to, right away, know what I need in the race car and the feel I’m looking for, and just know the track,” said Briscoe, whose first laps at Road America occurred behind the wheel of a Trans-Am during a testing day in 2018.

“I don’t have to go there and learn it. I’ve already been there plenty of times,”

Briscoe finished third in 2020 at Road America, in a race that Austin Cindric edged AJ Allmendinger with a 1.318-second margin of victory. A red flag flew during the marathon event for 93 minutes due to persistent lightning.

Cindric, who is also a 2021 Cup Series rookie, won the 2019 Xfinity race at Road America. Briscoe earned a seven-place finish in that event.

Briscoe has embraced competing on road courses throughout his career and appreciates the additions that NASCAR Cup officials have made to the schedule. He posted a sixth-place finish at Cup’s first road course race at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas on May 23.

Briscoe appreciates the unexpected situations that can arise with road course racing. “I feel it’s one of the areas where, as a race-car driver, you can kind of out-do your equipment sometimes on the road courses,” he said. “It’s kind of an equalizer. I’ve grown to love road courses.”

“I just have always loved going up there,” Briscoe said of the 14-turn racetrack. “I think it’s one of the best turnouts from a crowd standpoint in the Xfinity series. It’s just a beautiful part of the country.”

Johnny Klausmeier, who is crew chief for the No. 14 Ford Mustang with Stewart-Haas Racing and never been to Road America, sent Briscoe a note with a track map in early June to find out what crucial corners and passing zones the team needs to focus on.

Briscoe said he expects that crew chiefs will work hard on strategies at the Elkhart Lake venue compared to other road course circuits. Tire fall-off is a factor with any event at Road America.

“Tires are going to be huge, and fuel is definitely going to be a concern in that final stage,” he said. “It’s something that the crew chiefs will try to figure out is how early can you pit versus your tires being able to be there at the end.”

Briscoe said he’s spent a huge chunk of off-track time navigating and soaking in the atmosphere at Road America.

The area on the backstretch after the kink is one of Briscoe’s favorite spots to watch an event and be a spectator. “You’re there in the trees — and the sounds and how fast the cars are going — is really incredible,” he said.

The race weekend at Road America is always circled on the Briscoe family calendar. A large contingency from the 26-year-old’s hometown of Mitchell, Indiana makes a point of trekking north to camp at the Wisconsin track that’s nestled in the Kettle Moraine forest.

“I’ve been able to do all the trails, and do disc golf,” he said. “I’ve done a lot of things at Road America and got to see parts of the racetrack that if you just show up as a driver on race weekend and don’t explore, you would never even know what’s there.

“I think I have hidden areas figured out, but the place is so big, it seems like you find something new every time.”

Briscoe will also be in competition on Thursday evening, July 1, as the regional Bumper To Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Series will headline an all sprint car show on the 1/3 mile Plymouth Dirt Track located at Sheboygan County Fair Park, just five miles from Road America.

The Stewart / Haas #14 NASCAR Cup Series Ford driver, has already added his name to the entry list, and more drivers are expected to round out the list as the event draws closer. The Bumper To Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Series is widely known as one of the most respected regional series in the country. In recent years NASCAR Cup stars Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, and Kyle Larson have all revisited their sprint car roots and raced their way to IRA Sprint Car Victory Lane, with Stewart and Larson both notching wins at Plymouth.

An entire field of 900 horsepower Bumper To Bumper IRA winged outlaws is also expected, as well as a significant entry list of PDTR/MSA 360 winged sprints to make up an incredible sprint car doubleheader evening.

Race day at Road America on July 4th will feature NASCAR Cup incredible wheel-to-wheel racing when the green flag drops for the Road America 250 presented by Kwik Trip. Fans will have the opportunity to watch NASCAR’s future stars such as Cole Custer, Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell and Erik Jones battle it out with superstars such as Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., and 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Champion, Chase Elliott, on the storied 4-mile, 14-turn road circuit.

Tickets are available, and additional event details, ticket pricing, and camping information can be found at www.roadamerica.com or by calling 800-365-7223.

Anyone 16-years-old and under is FREE with a paying adult at the gate.

Racing runs rain or shine.

On race day, July 4th, fans should anticipate congestion while traveling to/from and around Road America. Remember to arrive early, (by 9 a.m.), and carpooling is highly recommended.

Fans are also encouraged to park for FREE at the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds. A FREE shuttle will be available to transport fans to/from Road America on SUNDAY ONLY. No trailers, campers, or overnight parking is permitted at the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds. Any items on shuttles must be able to fit on one’s lap. No large coolers will be permitted on the shuttles.

On Sunday, fans who have purchased on-site parking passes for $10 in advance are encouraged to arrive early at the gate closest to where they intend to park to help facilitate their entry and exit. Upon entry, attendants will be directing fans to the parking areas closest to their entry gate to park for the event.

To plan your visit, check out Road America’s Frequently Asked Questions webpage at www.roadamerica.com/faq

Tickets for The Bumper To Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Series are available at this link https://bit.ly/2Pzn7VX

About Road America: Established in 1955, Road America is conveniently located between Milwaukee and Green Bay in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. The world’s best racers have competed at this legendary four-mile, 14-turn road circuit for over 65 years. Along with over 500 events held seasonally at the 640-acre facility, several major weekends are open to the public, which include the IndyCar Series, the MotoAmerica Series, three vintage racing events, numerous Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) events, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, and NASCAR. Road America’s park-like grounds offer amazing viewing opportunities, numerous camping options, fantastic concessions, and high-speed excitement to hundreds of thousands of spectators each year. Fans can also stay and play in cabins conveniently on the grounds and find all sorts of souvenirs, collectibles, and apparel at the 7,500 sq. ft Paddock Shop. Affectionately known by many as America’s National Park of Speed, Road America can accommodate groups of all sizes, including weddings and corporate events in the Tufte Conference Center. In addition to public race weekends, Road America offers various group event programs, including geocaching, disc golf, and off-road adventure tours, karting, and the Road America Motorcycle and Driving Schools. For more information, visit www.roadamerica.com Follow Road America on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube or call 800-365-7223

Georgia NASCAR champs to be immortalized at AMS

By
Official Release
-

HAMPTON, Ga. (June 22, 2021) – Atlanta Motor Speedway will honor Georgia’s NASCAR Cup Series champions – including Dawsonville native and 2020 Cup Series champion Chase Elliott – starting with the July 10-11 Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart weekend.

Championship banners for 1988 Cup Series champion Bill Elliott and 2-time Cup title winner Tim Flock will all be hanging in the concourse underneath the Champions Grandstand when fans arrive for the NASCAR weekend. A fourth banner – representing Chase Elliott’s 2020 championship winning season – will be unveiled for the first time during the July race weekend. All four championship banners will be on display during every NASCAR weekend in Atlanta for years to come.

“The state of Georgia has played a tremendous role in the growth and evolution of stock car racing, from the bootleggers who raced their tuned-up cars, to the incredible racing here at AMS, to the immensely talented drivers who called Georgia home as they raced for glory across the country,” said AMS Executive Vice President and General Manager Brandon Hutchison. “We’re proud to add to the meaning of our Champions Grandstand and give Georgia’s most successful racers the recognition they’ve earned.”

AMS already recognizes the three most accomplished champions in NASCAR racing with its Earnhardt, Petty, and Johnson Grandstands, named for 7-time champions Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty, and Jimmie Johnson. These grandstands flank the Champions Grandstand, where drivers who called Georgia their home during championship seasons will now be immortalized.

The Georgia champion recognition will be part of an historic weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway, which is hosting its first July NASCAR race in 47 years. The winner of the Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart will the short list of legendary drivers – Fireball Roberts, Fred Lorenzon, Bobby Allison, David Pearson, and Richard Petty – who have visited AMS victory lane in the month of July.

Tickets for the Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart start at just $39. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit 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 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.

Follow Atlanta Motor Speedway:

Keep track of all of Atlanta Motor Speedway’s events by following on Twitter, Instagram, and become a Facebook fan. Keep up with all the latest news and information with the Atlanta Motor Speedway mobile app.

Thwaits and Franklin Road Bidding to Maintain Momentum at Mid Ohio

By
Official Release
-

Lexington, OHIO – June 22, 2021 – Ken Thwaits is undoubtedly enjoying his Rookie season in the Trans Am TA Class, but his standing in the Drivers’ Championship table is a stunning indication of his progress to date. After four races, Ken sits in P4 out of 15 starters, a terrific achievement for someone in their first season in the prestigious 850BHP TA Class. What’s more, he’s done it in two different cars! Round 5 of the 2021 Trans Am presented by Pirelli Championship season gets underway at Mid Ohio Sportscar Course June 25 – 27 and Ken will be keen to maintain the momentum he’s already built up.

However, staying in P4 will be a challenge, with David Pintaric and former Champions Simon Gregg and Amy Ruman all breathing down his neck and just a few points behind him in the classification, but Ken is familiar with the layout at Mid Ohio, having finished runner-up there last year in the XGT Class en route to the Championship.

Ken swapped out the XGT Class Audi R8 LMS Ultra this year, first for the Pancho Weaver Dodge Challenger and then the newly acquired No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro that races under his Showtime Motorsports Franklin Road Apparel banner and which he will be piloting at this year’s Mid Ohio Trans Am.

“If you’d told me back in February that I’d be arriving at Mid Ohio in fourth place in the Driver’s Championship, to say I’d have been delighted is an understatement,” said Ken, when we spoke to the popular driver at his smart Tennessee base last week.

“I feel I’m still learning about these big beasts so to be competitive among some really great and very experienced drivers is a thrill for me. My aim now is to do justice to the car and get quicker and quicker.”

Opened in 1962 by Les Griebling and several Mansfield-area businessmen as a location for weekend sports car racing, the Mid Ohio circuit where Ken is racing this weekend originally had 16 turns, with a left turn in what is today known as “thunder valley,” but the turn was straightened after just one year of operation. Nevertheless, it’s still a particularly twisty and rural circuit, and while its picturesque views are enchanting, it presents a tremendous challenge to car and driver. The configuration being used by all the TA racers this year is 2.258 miles with 13 turns and no chicane.

Ken’s first taste of the track is at 4:55 p.m. on Friday for testing, with official practice scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. The qualifying session for the 12 TA Class cars competing at Mid Ohio is at 4:55 p.m. on Saturday with the combined TA/XGT/SGT/GT race starting at 1:10 p.m. on Sunday over 45 laps of the circuit.

Ken’s involvement with Trans Am is underscored by his flagship partner Franklin Road Apparel presenting some terrific Trans Am branded gear for the 2021 season. Franklin Road has super high quality t-shirts, polo shirts, button shirts and caps bearing smart renditions of the famous Trans Am logo. Go and find them at https://www.franklinroad.com/search/trans+am/

Visit the team’s website for Showtime Motorsports, showtimemotorsports.net. Learn more about the Showtime Motorsports team partner, Franklin Road Apparel, at franklinroad.com and keep up to date with the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli at gotransam.com. #GoTransAm

Check out the Showtime Motorsports Facebook page: facebook.com/showtimemotorsp/ and @ShowtimeMotorsp on Instagram.

About Showtime Motorsports:
The Showtime Motorsports brand includes Ken Thwaits’ racing team and racecars, and an outstanding classic Camaro collection. Showtime Motorsports brings together a dynamic staff who employ diverse talents and share a passion for cars, racing and caring for clients like they are our own family members.

1...2,5012,5022,503...6,756Page 2,502 of 6,756