TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE
NASCAR ALL-STAR RACE
TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
FORT WORTH, TEXAS
JUNE 13, 2021

NASCAR ALL-STAR RACE: TEXAS
Chevrolet drivers in all three NASCAR national series will converge at Texas Motor Speedway this weekend.

Next up for the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) is the All-Star Race on Sunday, June 13, where NASCAR’s stars will battle under the lights for the $1 million grand prize. The annual, non-points paying race will make its debut at the 1.5-mile Texas oval for the first time in the event’s history. Of the 36 previous editions of the race, 34 have been held at Charlotte Motor Speedway and one each at Atlanta Motor Speedway (1986) and Bristol Motor Speedway (2020).

Chase Elliott won last year’s NASCAR All-Star Race at Bristol Motor Speedway for the first time, giving Chevrolet its 19th victory in the prestigious All-Star Race. The victory made Chase Elliott and Bill Elliott, who won the 1986 All-Star Race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, just the second father-son duo to win the NASCAR All-Star Race, joining Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Chevrolet and Hendrick Motorsports are coming off their fourth consecutive 1-2 finish, which tied a NASCAR record set in 1956, as Kyle Larson dominated on the Sonoma Raceway road course in the No. 5 Camaro ZL1 1LE. Larson’s teammate, Chase Elliott, was runner-up. Larson has recorded five consecutive top-two finishes. Chevrolet last won four races in a row to close the 2014 season.

Team Chevy NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) drivers, led by Mid-Ohio winner AJ Allmendinger, will compete in the 167-lap/250.5-mile Alsco Uniforms 250 on Saturday, June 12. Allmendinger moved up one spot to second in the Driver Standings. Chevrolet continues to top the NXS Manufacturer Standings.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) drivers will return to action in the 147-lap/220-mile Speedycash.com 220 on Saturday, June 12. Reigning NCWTS champion Sheldon Creed is fourth in the Driver Standings. Chase Elliott, who has two wins in five NCWTS starts, will make his 2021 debut in the No. 24 Chevrolet Silverado for GMS Racing.

IN THE SHOW
Team Chevy drivers Alex Bowman, Kurt Busch, William Byron, Austin Dillion, Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson are among the 17 drivers locked-in to the NASCAR All-Star Race lineup by virtue of a win in 2020-21 or as a full-time driver who is a previous All-Star winner or past Cup champion. The starting positions for the 100-lap race have been determined by random draw, putting Kyle Larson on the pole to lead the field to the green in his No. 5 HendrickCars.com Camaro ZL1 1LE.

Team Chevy NASCAR All-Star Race Starting Lineup:
1st Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Camaro ZL1 1LE
5th Austin Dillon, No. 3 Andy’s Frozen Custard Camaro ZL1 1LE
6th Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Camaro ZL1 1LE
8th William Byron, No. 24 Axalta Camaro ZL1 1LE
13th Kurt Busch, No. 1 GEARWRENCH Camaro ZL1 1LE
15th Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Camaro ZL1 1LE

Drivers not already qualified will have a chance to join the All-Star field by competing in the NASCAR Open, in which there are 11 Team Chevy entries. Four additional drivers will be added to the NASCAR All-Star Race following the NASCAR Open, including the Open Stage 1 and 2 Winners, Open Race Winner, and the Fan Vote winner.

CHEVROLET TOPS IN STANDINGS
Chevrolet retains the top spot in the NCS Manufacturer Standings. Team Chevy drivers have recorded a field-high seven victories and earned all three poles.

Kyle Larson remained second in the Driver Standings, but closed to 47 points of the lead. Hendrick Motorsports teammates Chase Elliott moved to third and William Byron is fourth, giving the Bowtie Brand three of the top-four in the Driver Standings.

BOWTIE BULLETS
· The victory at Sonoma Raceway was the 802nd for Chevrolet, the most of any manufacturer in NCS history.

· Chevrolet leads all other manufacturers with 19 victories in the prestigious All-Star race.

· Current Chevrolet drivers that have recorded NASCAR All-Star race wins include:
Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Camaro ZL1 1LE (2020)
Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Camaro ZL1 1LE (2019)
Kurt Busch, No. 1 GEARWRENCH Camaro ZL1 1LE (2010)

· Chevrolet has recorded 14 victories, 71 top-five and 167 top-10 finishes in points-paying NCS races at Texas Motor Speedway.

· Career Chevrolet driver Jimmie Johnson is the all-time leader with seven wins at Texas Motor Speedway.

· Hendrick Motorsports leads all other NASCAR Cup Series teams with nine All-Star victories: Jimmie Johnson (4), Jeff Gordon (3), Terry Labonte (1), and Chase Elliott (1).

· Kyle Larson earned maximum stage points in his consecutive victories at Charlotte Motor Speedway and Sonoma Raceway.

· Kurt Busch and Ross Chastain finished in the top-10 at Sonoma Raceway for Chip Ganassi Racing.

TUNE IN
FS1 will telecast every race this weekend from Texas Motor Speedway. The NASCAR All-Star Race will be telecast live at 8 p.m. ET Sunday, June 13, preceded at 6 p.m. by the NASCAR All-Star Open. Live coverage can also be found on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. The NCWTS’ SpeedyCash.com 220 will be telecast at 1 p.m. ET Saturday, June 12, followed by the NXS Alsco Uniforms 250 at 4 p.m.

QUOTABLE QUOTES
KYLE LARSON, NO. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 2nd IN STANDINGS
LARSON ON STRATEGY FOR THE ALL-STAR RACE:
“I haven’t studied the format yet, but the plan is to get the best possible finish in each segment to give us the best possible starting spot when it matters. It’s a short race, so you have to be aggressive, and you have to be really aggressive on each restart. Our mile-and-a-half program has been solid all year, so I’m really looking forward to this Sunday.”

CLIFF DANIELS, CREW CHIEF, NO. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM CAMARO ZL1 1LE
DANIELS ON WHAT HE CAN LEARN IN THE ALL-STAR RACE:
“This is a track that is in the playoffs, so we’ll want to learn as much as we can this weekend. (No. 24 crew chief) Rudy (Fugle) said it best earlier when he said anytime your car is on track you’re learning. We want to take full advantage of this opportunity. One of the best takeaways from this weekend’s format is the way the rounds are set up; you’ve got to be able to pass.”

CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 3rd IN STANDINGS
“With this year’s format, there’s obviously a lot going on. I think it’ll be hard to play games to try and set yourself up for the next round, that may end up hurting you more than helping. It’s going to be of those deals where you just have to race as hard as you can the whole time and let the inverts play out on their own. I think it will be entertaining for the fans and hopefully we can put on a good show. I know I’ve said it before, but I am happy to see the All-Star Race moving around to different tracks. I think it’s a race that is meant to change locations.”

WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 AXALTA CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 4th IN STANDINGS
BYRON ON WHAT HE THINKS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE WILL BE AT THE NASCAR ALL-STAR RACE:
“I think the biggest thing is that you’re going to have the low horsepower, even lower than the horsepower we have currently. It’s going to put us closer together, more nose-to-tail, and probably will be drafting constantly. That’s going to make it tough. You’re going to have to have a good handling car to try drive away from people, but I feel like it’s still going to be hard to really ever get away. We’re focusing on getting the handling right, and I think we’re in the ballpark. We’ll just have to see what happens.”

BYRON ON THE ALL-STAR RACE FORMAT:
“With short segments and low downforce, there’s a good chance you’re going to see constant action. There’s no time to just ride around or save your stuff. It’s going to be about getting up on the wheel and the strategy you use. I don’t know what to tell you about that last segment other than to expect insanity. It’s going to be a lot of aggressive moves and racing in those final laps. I’m excited for it. It’s an All-Star Race, so it’s going to take everything you’ve got.”

RUDY FUGLE, CREW CHIEF, NO. 24 AXALTA CAMARO ZL1 1LE
FUGLE ON HIS PREDICTION FOR THE ALL-STAR RACE:
“There’s a lot of unknowns for Sunday’s All-Star Race. I think gaining track position and maintaining it is going to be the biggest key to having a good run and being in contention for the win during that last stage. With the aero package and horsepower we’re running, it may be easy to pull up on someone, but passing them is going to be a different challenge. It helps that we’re already locked into the race though so we can watch the Open and get a general idea of how this package is going to run at Texas seeing as right now it’s all speculation. While there is some strategy involved for this event, you can only guess what the inverts may be. To me, the biggest thing strategy-wise is determining when to use your tires and when to save them. With five stage breaks but only four sets of tires and a mandatory four tire-pit stop during stage five, you have to decide when you’re taking tires and when you’re staying out. We’ll have a general plan going in, but scenarios change so quickly that you have to be ready for anything.”

ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 11th IN STANDINGS
“This weekend’s All-Star race is going to be interesting. It is going to be a big pay day for someone on Sunday and I sure hope it is this No. 48 team. We have been strong at Texas in the past, but I guess the rules in the All-Star race are a bit different. Strategy is going to be key in trying to be out front. Our Ally pit crew has been really fast this year. Hopefully, our pit crew can continue doing what they do best on pit road and maybe even get their own pay day after Round 5!”

GREG IVES, CREW CHIEF, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1 1LE
“For me, numbers is a fun Rubik’s cube. I like the potential of the numbers and the more intricate that it gets. The invert following the round throws in a lot more details and unpredictability that you can’t really solve in a simple math calculation. Ultimately, our job is to go out there and perform at a high level. I am pretty sure at the end of each round, they are going to figure out what the invert is and we are going to line up and go as fast as we can again. Hopefully have a chance to lead and have a chance at won’t being in traffic. Hopefully we can cross the finish line first at the end of the day. That is really all we can focus on. The uniqueness of the format for this event is what is creating all of the buzz and ultimately it is what it is and hopefully we can have some fun.”

AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 ANDY’S FROZEN CUSTARD CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 12th IN STANDINGS
THE ALL-STAR RACE TAKES PLACE AT TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY THIS YEAR. YOU HAVE TO BE EXCITED ABOUT THAT…
“I can’t wait. We’re definitely looking forward to getting the chance to run for a million dollars. After winning at Texas Motor Speedway last year, I feel pretty good about having the All-Star race there. It gives us a legitimate shot at locking ourselves into the All-Star race for a long time if we win the race. It’s a crazy format. It’s going to be tough with all of the different stuff we have to do and go through, but man ONE MILLION DOLLARS! Somebody’s going to get it, why not us?”

TYLER REDDICK, NO. 8 ICASHAUTOS / I AM SECOND CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 13th IN STANDINGS
“I hope it’s a good race at Texas Motor Speedway this weekend, with them hosting the All-Star Race event for the first time. I’ve come close to winning at Texas Motor Speedway a lot in my career, even finishing second behind my teammate Austin Dillon last July, so I’m excited at another shot there. Getting into the All-Star Race either by racing my way in or with the Fan vote is the first goal, and then from there I know my iCashautos / I Am Second team will do everything we can to win the million-dollar prize. It’s going to be tough though, especially with the horsepower change. It’s already hard to pass in these Cup cars, and this creates another challenge for us. Everyone has learned how to work the air with this package, so you’re going to have to be really smart on how to get up front. It’s a little bit of an unknown going into the weekend with the change in horsepower, but I know my team and I will make the most of it and try to put on a good show for the fans.”

KURT BUSCH, NO. 1 GEARWRENCH CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 18th IN STANDINGS
“You’re going to see guys taking risks, not giving an inch. There are going to be some wrecks, cause guys will be pushing that hard to go for the million dollars. Texas Motor Speedway is obviously a different track than what we have had in years past for the All-Star Race. It’s the first time for the race to be hosted at TMS and there are things that work at that track that don’t work at others. Everyone will be going in there guns blazing, no pun intended, going for that million-dollar payday!”

DANIEL SUAREZ, NO. 99 COMMSCOPE CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 22nd IN STANDINGS
HOW IMPORTANT IS RACING FOR $1 MILLION?
“Money comes and goes, but the trophies don’t. I’m hoping I can get a trophy for Justin Marks, Pitbull and everyone at Trackhouse Racing. This would be a cool first trophy. These guys and most racers don’t race for the money, they do it for the trophies. The All-Star Race is one of the few times in the season when we don’t have to think about points and different things like that. All we really care about is crossing the start-finish line first.”

ERIK JONES, NO. 43 PETTY’S GARAGE CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 25th IN STANDINGS
“I always look forward to the NASCAR All-Star Race. Obviously, Richard Petty Motorsports has to race our way in, but I am excited to get down there and have a shot at it. It is a cool weekend and being at Texas (Motor Speedway), it will be a new experience for all of us. I think it will be a fun one, nonetheless. Just to have the opportunity to go down there, race our way in and try to go out and go for a million dollars is pretty fun every single year.”

Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series Statistics

Manufacturers Championships:
Total (1949-2020): 39
First title for Chevrolet: 1958
Highest number of consecutive titles: 13 (2003-15)

Years Won: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015

Drivers Championships:
Total (1949-2020): 32
First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)
Highest number of consecutive titles: 7 (2005-11)
Most Recent: Chase Elliott (2020)

Years Won: 1957, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020

Event Victories:
Record for total race wins in single season: 26 (2007)

2021 STATISTICS:
Wins: 7
Poles: 3
Laps Led: 1,792
Top-five finishes: 34
Top-10 finishes: 73

CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:
Total Chevrolet race wins: 802 (1949 to date)
Poles won to date: 720
Laps led to date: 238,497
Top-five finishes to date: 4,099
Top-10 finishes to date: 8,475
Stage wins: 13 – Chase Elliott (Daytona RC), William Byron (Homestead), Kyle Larson (Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Atlanta x2, Kansas, Dover x2, Charlotte x3, Sonoma x2)

Total NASCAR Cup wins by corporation, 1949 to date

       General Motors: 1,136
       Chevrolet: 802
       Pontiac: 154
       Oldsmobile: 115
       Buick: 65

       Ford: 808                                                         
       Ford: 708
       Mercury: 96
       Lincoln: 4

       Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467
       Dodge: 217
       Plymouth: 191
       Chrysler: 59

       Toyota: 157

Team Chevy high-resolution racing photos are available for editorial use.

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

Matt DiBenedetto and the No. 21 Quick Lane Tire and Auto Service team enter this weekend’s NASCAR All-Star Open looking to repeat their Open victory from last year at Bristol Motor Speedway. However, in 2021 the non-points event has been moved from Bristol, one of DiBenedetto’s best tracks, to Texas Motor Speedway, which is hosting the All-Star race for the first time.

DiBenedetto said he still feels good about his chances, as the Quick Lane team has had some of its best runs on intermediate-length tracks like Texas.

“Texas has been a pretty good track for us as far as speed,” said, DiBenedetto, who is set to take the green flag for the Open from the third starting position following a random draw.

Like last year, DiBenedetto will need to either win one of the three stages of the Open or prevail in the fan vote to earn a starting spot in the All-Star race, which will be run Sunday evening once the preliminary events are completed.

“We raced our way in last year, which was awesome,” he said. “It’s a great accomplishment to be a part of the All-Star race.”

This weekend will mark the second appearance atop the Quick Lane pit box for crew chief Jonathan Hassler. He filled in for Greg Erwin on an interim basis earlier this year at Martinsville Speedway and now takes over full-time crew chief duties for the No. 21 Mustang starting with this weekend’s event.

“We welcome Jonathan to the 21 team, and we wish Greg nothing but the best going forward,” Wood said. “Greg will always be a valued part of our team’s history.”

The All-Star Open is set to get the green flag Sunday at 5 p.m. (6 p.m. Eastern Time). The 50-lap race will be divided into three stages, two 20-lappers followed by a 10-lap finale.

The three stage winners, along with the fan’s choice, will advance to the All-Star Race, which is scheduled to start just after 8 p.m. Eastern Time. That race will consist of 100 laps divided into six rounds. FOX Sports 1 will carry the telecast.

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.

NASCAR CUP SERIES
NASCAR ALL-STAR RACE
TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
JUNE 9, 2021

ROSS CHASTAIN, NO. 42 MCDONALD’S CAMARO ZL1 1LE, Teleconference Highlights:

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK AT NASHVILLE, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE RACING THERE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO GET READY?
“It’s been a while. I’ve been there in two different truck tests, myself. But my last lap on the track, I crashed. That was a long time ago and I learned a lot since then. It sounds like there were some issues in finding the right Goodyear Eagle tire that we’re going to use. It sounds like the three manufacturers and my teammate, Kurt Busch, was the guy for Chevrolet to be there a couple of different days over the last few months. I think they found what not to run, for sure, and it sounds like settled in on a good race tire. I’ve heard rumors about a resin, or something put on the race track, but I haven’t seen any paperwork on that, for sure. I’m curious if they do something on the track. But as long as they have a tire that can go the distance and falloff and do all the things that we’re used to right now, I think it’ll be fine.”

THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF CHATTER ABOUT THE MOVE YOU MADE AT SONOMA. DID YOU KNOW WHAT YOU COULD DO OR WHAT WAS YOUR THOUGHT PROCESS THROUGH THAT?
“Yeah, it all happened really fast. But I’ve looked up before and know the rules, and if there’s a wreck down there, the odds of being able to turn ahead of time are pretty slim. But once I was facing backwards, I knew I couldn’t turn right unless I let the whole field go by. So, I was just turning left to get one out of the way and I was still on the racing line. I was on the curbing. And then I saw the front stretch there and the exit of (Turn) 11 and I was like well, I’m just going to grab some gears here. I never heard if there was a caution out or anything. I saw to my left accelerating, so I just grabbed gears as fast as I could and re-blended in right in front of the No. 14 (Chase Briscoe) and thought that might be where it was at. I guess the way the scoring worked, it was different than that. I wasn’t trying to do anything. I wasn’t trying to make it look that bad. Once I saw the replay, I was like oh, that looks bad coming at that angle. But I was in control and was just re-merging behind where I entered the corner. I definitely didn’t gain time, for sure. I saw there backwards for a few seconds, and I didn’t gain any spots. I was just trying to get back on track.”

IS IT A COINCIDENCE, OR IS THERE SOMETHING ABOUT THESE ROAD COURSES THAT ARE MAKING YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE COMFORTABLE?
“It’s funny. I actually have been more comfortable on the road courses. I think a lot of it goes back to all the years of Xfinity racing and four road courses a year at four totally different style tracks. And we ran in the rain, I ran on scuffed tires, I ran on stickers, I ran on low horsepower motors compared to the field, I ran in good cars. So, I’ve kind of done that through Xfinity for four or five years. The Cup series is a whole other level, but I didn’t expect it, going into it. And the Daytona Road Course the second race of the year. I wasn’t comfortable there and how to hustle the car, but now I’ve found a good level inside the car and finding those brake zone limits and finding the tire fall-off limits for a place like Sonoma, wheel spin versus lap time, so yeah, as crazy as it is, I have felt more comfortable even though I don’t feel like I’m a good right-hand turner. As simple as that sounds I don’t turn right well. Like I didn’t do it growing up. So, road course racing wasn’t high on my list, but I’ve put a lot of time into it over the years and a lot of just mental thinking through it and looking back through video and iRacing. Just making laps at all these tracks just where I can do it without thinking all right, this is a left-hand and this is a right-hand and this is a big curve, little curve, sharp apex, late apex like where all that stuff is just natural like it is on the ovals. That took time and it took a lot of effort.”

SO FAR THIS SEASON, THE COMPETITION IS CLOSER IN THE FIELD. WHAT IS YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THE TEMPERAMENT OF THE FIELD? YOU ARE MAYBE CLUSTERED TOGETHER MORE THAN IN YEARS PAST. AND WHAT MIGHT THAT TEMPERAMENT BE LIKE WITH MORE ROAD COURSES COMING UP IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS?
“Actually, I would say for me, it’s a lot calmer and cooler than my years in the past with Xfinity and Trucks. In those years and those two series, I was pushing the limit on every past and every lap and every restart. Those races are shorter. I felt like clean air was even more keen, especially in the Truck Series like in 2019 and even last year in the Xfinity Series. It was just go. And I really didn’t have any friends. And I tried to table that and put it aside to start this year, but I still, in those instinctive moments of to block or not, or to punch a guy or not, or to let him go. I was still making those same moves and I didn’t realize it. A few guys sat me down. Kurt, my teammate and Joey Logano, we had a good conversation after a race, and it was kind of eye-opening. It was like okay I’ve got to pay up for it here a little bit. So, I’m racing anywhere from eighth to 15th now, and we want to be a little bit better. But our group there, coming from the back, guys point me by, and I point guys by and it’s crazy. So, for me, it’s actually been really eye-opening to work with these guys and like, oh let’s both go faster. We’re still racing. Even though I told myself I was going to be better, I wasn’t until I really had honest conversations with some of my competitors and a teammate and realized there’s a lot better way to go about it.”

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT YOUR SEASON RIGHT NOW WITH 10 REGULAR SEASON RACES LEFT?
“If you would have asked me about this after Las Vegas, which is a place where I should have been humble enough to realize like, I’ve spent time in the booth with you guys before for the Xfinity race, but I would have said it was terrible. I was not doing my job in the car. But ever since Las Vegas, we’ve been on the upswing of just getting these cars figured out for me. Me figuring myself out. And betting in a better spot mentally and not so down. If we finish a few spots worse than I think we should, I’m not just totally out of my mind on Sunday night and Monday morning and how do I reset and trying to get ready for the next one. It’s been tough. And with 10 to go in the regular season, I just try to do my job. Everybody looks at points. Anybody that says they don’t is not telling the truth. But we want to just score as many points as we can and run as good as we can and everything else will take care of itself. So, I wouldn’t grade myself very high this year. It’s progressively getting better and it’s exponentially rising right now. There’s still a lot of work to do though.”

ON TEAMMATE KURT BUSCH, WOULD IT BE A BIG BLOW TO LOSE HIM? IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU’VE LEANED ON HIM SOME.
“Yeah, I’ve leaned on him a ton. Just, how do I interact with other drivers from truly on-track to set-up and driving comparisons, but I have no idea what else is going on. He’s my teammate and all heads forward.”

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO PICK-UP FROM KURT BUSCH AS A MENTOR?
“it’s been incredible. I’ve been around CGR for a few years, and we’ve passed. I’ve sat in on meetings and debriefs and pre-race meetings and conference calls and all that, but I was never the driver of the Cup car. And I was worried about how that might change. It did change, but it truly did change for the better. I didn’t realize how much more there was there to get. He’s truly forgotten more things at his age that I’ve ever learned. It’s just like, how he articulates things is just not how I’ve ever been able to do that. Maybe I wasn’t taught at an early age how to truly articulate my feelings and my thoughts and put them out there in a way within a group of people listening can understand. I’ve struggled with that. They way he walks in the shop and approaches people like when you step back in COVID restrictions, our cars are prepared halfway across the shop from each other so the two teams can be socially distanced. And you watch him walk 20 feet and nobody sees him coming and he walks up to his guys. How he walks up to them and approaches them and interacts with them is different than how I’ve done it. Just watching little things like that, let along asking him, how do I talk to this driver, hey can I have this phone number, what should I say when I call this guy and all that stuff. It’s endless what I’ve gotten out of him.”

WHAT IS YOUR MINDSET HEADING INTO THE NASCAR ALL-STAR OPEN AND HOW DO YOU APPROACH THAT RACE?
“I’ll learn a lot from the Truck race. Fortunately, I’m running the No. 45 truck for Niece Motorsports. Anytime I get to run that thing, I’m excited and it’s like a family to me. We are family, basically. From there, I’ll get to go right into the Open the next day. So, I’ll already have time in the PJ1 and spray and the track and pit road. Not that in our Open we’ll be making green flag pit stops, but just all the little things. Just clean-up on Texas. We do DIL Simulators with the team. IRacing has come so far. Now that I have a real rig, it’s truly giving me better feedback. That’s been a game-changer. All that said, it’s still on-track stuff that gets me the most. That’s where I feel like I just learn so much on the actual track I’m about to race. Expectations are we start fifth in the Open, drive up to the lead, win the Open, get in the All-Star race, and go race with my heroes.”

HOW MUCH OF A CONFIDENCE BUILDER CAN THAT TRUCK RACE BE FORE YOU?
“It’s big. What we’ve been able to do over the years with Niece Motorsports was nothing short of incredible in 2019, and now we expect that. But it’s still our same group of boys and girls there. When they’d go to the track there’s hardly anybody left at the shop. Now there is. They’ve done a lot for me over the years. Anytime I get to race together it feels like it was when I was growing up and my family, I had an uncle doing decals and I had my granddad jacking the truck up, the fast truck up to change the tire before qualifying. It’s just family and that’s now Niece feels.”

HOW MUCH DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO BE AGGRESSIVE IN THE ALL-STAR OPEN? WOULD YOU BE EVEN MORE AGGRESSIVE TO MAKE IT TO THE ALL-STAR RACE?
“I want to go race with my heroes. I want to race with the guys I’ve looked up to. But I can only do what the car can do, and I can only do what my capabilities are. Low power, I know some of the guys, I know (Tyler) Reddick has been down in the dumps about this package. Like, I’m good. It’s the same for everybody. I know we’re bringing the best race car we can. We’re not shorting anything. We’re not taking it lightly this week. My guys are still there early. They were still there early Monday morning getting ready. We got home from Sonoma at 4 am and they’re there earlier than I could have gotten there. And they’ve stayed late. I’m going to go drive the best I can. I can’t drive any harder though. Aggressive or not, I would say I have been and I’m trying to find a happy spot with that.”

WAS IT HARD TO FIGURE OUT TO FIGURE OUT THE FORMAT?
“I do not know. I will not lie to you. I do not know what the All-Star format is.”
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Texas Motor Speedway
Sunday, June 13, 2021
1.5-Mile Oval
8:00 PM ET
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
TV: Fox
Event: NASCAR All-Star Race
Radio: SiriusXM, PRN

5 KYLE LARSON
Age: 28 (July 31, 1992)
Hometown: Elk Grove, California
Resides: Mooresville, North Carolina
Crew Chief: Cliff Daniels
Standings: 2nd

No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE

POINTS BREAK: Heading into the annual non-points NASCAR All-Star Race, Kyle Larson has been racking up points recently. Following the season’s 11th race at Kansas Speedway in May, the driver of the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE ranked ninth in the driver standings, 144 markers behind the leader. Larson since has wins in the last two races along with three second-place finishes for a 1.6 average result in the last five events. In that span, he has moved up seven spots to second in the standings and now trails by only 47 points.

HEY NOW, YOU’RE AN ALL-STAR: Larson, who has three victories so far in 2021, has an automatic berth into the NASCAR All-Star Race at the 1.5-mile Texas Motor Speedway. In 2019 when the annual event was held at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the Elk Grove, California, native won the Open qualifier to gain entry into the All-Star Race, then led the final 13 laps to capture the victory in the exhibition event. Larson also won the Open in 2016.

FAMILIAR SIGHT: Five Cup Series races have occurred on 1.5-mile tracks in 2021 for a total of 1,526 laps. Larson has led 836 of those for a 55% share: Homestead-Miami Speedway (five laps led), Las Vegas Motor Speedway (103), Atlanta Motor Speedway (269), Kansas (132) and Charlotte (327).

LONE LONE STAR VICTORY: In November 2016, Larson led 30 laps to capture the win in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. The 28-year-old driver has three top-five finishes and four top-10s in 13 Cup Series starts at the Texas venue with his best finish of second occurring in 2017.

MORE THAN JUST A DREAM: This week at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, Larson will compete in the 26th and 27th running of the Dirt Late Model Dream. Last year’s event was postponed due to the pandemic and was rescheduled for Friday and Saturday while the 27th running is scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday. Larson has competed in eight dirt late model events in 2021 with two victories, three runner-up finishes and a pair of third-place finishes. He did not start the April 17 heat races at Hagerstown Speedway due to an engine failure after setting fast time.

YOUR CAR NEEDS: This weekend, Larson will drive the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE. From the convenience of home, customers can select the category, make, model and vehicle packages that are important to them from the nearly 30,000 new, high-quality pre-owned and certified cars, trucks and SUVs available at HendrickCars.com. The website also makes it easy for customers to find one of Hendrick Automotive Group’s 93 dealership locations nationwide.

9 CHASE ELLIOTT
Age: 25 (Nov. 28, 1995)
Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia
Resides: Dawsonville, Georgia
Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson
Standings: 3rd

No. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE

PARTY LIKE AN ALL STAR: Last season at Bristol Motor Speedway, Chase Elliott drove his No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE to take the checkered flag after dominating the field during the 2020 NASCAR All-Star Race. Elliott won stages two and three before crossing the finish line first in the final stage to earn the $1 million prize. The victory was the first All-Star Race win for Elliott and crew chief Alan Gustafson. The driver of the No. 9 was the third-youngest all-star winner at 24 years, 5 months, 17 days. Elliott is also one of three Hendrick Motorsports drivers to win the exhibition race and the NASCAR Cup Series championship in the same year. The others are Jeff Gordon (1995, 1997 and 2001) and Jimmie Johnson (2006 and 2013).

FATHER-SON DUO: With Elliott’s 2020 victory, he and his father, NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott, joined Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. as the only father-son combinations to win the NASCAR All-Star Race. The Elliotts have won the only two all-star events not held at Charlotte Motor Speedway – Bill Elliott won it driving his No. 9 car at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 1986 when he led all but one of 83 laps.

ALL-STAR STATS: Elliott, driver of the No. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, heads into his sixth career NASCAR All-Star Race locked into the main event. He secured his way into last year’s show with his win at Charlotte (May 2020). Elliott’s 2020 NASCAR Cup Series championship and All-Star Race win have locked him into the event for life under current rules. In his five previous All-Star Race starts, he has a 6.6 average finish – tied for the second-best of active drivers with at least two starts.

LONE STAR STATE STATS: Elliott has made 10 NASCAR Cup Series start at Texas Motor Speedway. Although Sunday’s race is not for points, Elliott has garnered two top-five finishes, five top-10s and led a total of 44 laps in those previous starts. He collected his first career NASCAR Xfinity Series victory at the 1.5-mile track in April 2014. In five Xfinity Series starts there, Elliott accumulated three top-five finishes and five top-10s.

DOUBLE DUTY: In addition to his full-time duty driving the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE in the Cup Series, Elliott will compete in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race in the No. 24 A SHOC Chevrolet Silverado for GMS Racing on Saturday at Texas Motor Speedway. This event will be A SHOC’s first primary NASCAR race.

CHECK OUT THAT CAN: Last week, A SHOC announced the release of Elliott’s signature can that will commemorate the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion. The limited-edition can features Elliott celebrating alongside the No. 9 A SHOC Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE that he will pilot next month at Atlanta Motor Speedway and in the playoff race at Talladega Superspeedway.

24 WILLIAM BYRON
Age: 23 (Nov. 29, 1997)
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina
Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle
Standings: 4th

No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE

LOCKED IT IN: Sunday will mark William Byron’s third start in the NASCAR All-Star Race, but this year Byron already is locked into the event due to his wins at Daytona International Speedway last August and at Homestead-Miami Speedway in February. However, needing to race his way into the All-Star Race in the past, Byron has gotten the job done in the Open qualifier race the last two years. In 2019, he won the opening stage of the qualifier at Charlotte Motor Speedway, automatically locking himself into the main event where he finished ninth. In 2020, the Charlotte, North Carolina, native captured the win in the second stage of the Open race at Bristol Motor Speedway, advancing himself to the All-Star Race where he raced to a 12th-place result.

TRUCKIN’ IT IN TEXAS: Byron’s success at Texas Motor Speedway started almost five years ago in his first start at the 1.5-mile oval with crew chief Rudy Fugle on the pit box. Starting from the sixth position, the then-NASCAR Camping World Truck Series rookie led six laps before capturing the checkered flag becoming the youngest to ever win a Truck Series race at Texas.

TEXAS TOUGH: Texas Motor Speedway is a track where Byron has always run well throughout his entire NASCAR career, even if that isn’t always reflected in the statistics. In six Cup Series starts at the Lone Star State track, Byron has two top-10 results, including a track-best finish of sixth in March 2019. Byron also has four other starts at the 1.5-mile oval, with an average finish of 3.5 in two Truck Series starts and an 8.0 average finish in two NASCAR Xfinity Series races.

FUGLE HAS ‘NO LIMITS’: While Sunday will mark crew chief Fugle’s first NASCAR All-Star Race, the Livonia, New York, native is no stranger to success at Texas Motor Speedway. With 15 starts at the 1.5-mile oval, all coming in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Fugle has visited victory lane at the “No Limits” track five times – the most for him at any venue on the circuit. He celebrated a win there most recently in 2019 when he swept both Texas races, first with Kyle Busch in March and then in June with Greg Biffle. Of those five wins, one is with Byron in June 2016. In his 15 previous starts, Fugle’s drivers have also racked up seven top-five finishes and 11 top-10s with 493 laps led.

ALL ABOUT AXALTA: With the NASCAR All-Star Race moving to Texas this year, Byron will climb behind the wheel of the No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE for the exhibition event. Now in its 29th year of partnership with Hendrick Motorsports, Axalta will return as primary partner on Byron’s No. 24 for 14 races in 2021. For a better look at Byron’s new No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, click here.

48 Alex Bowman
Age: 28 (April 25, 1993)
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Resides: Concord, North Carolina
Crew Chief: Greg Ives
Standings: 11th

No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE

SONOMA REWIND: On Sunday, Alex Bowman brought home a ninth-place result after a green-white-checkered flag finish at Sonoma Raceway. In addition to tying his best finish at the 2.52-mile road course, the driver of the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE captured points in each stage during the 92-lap event. Bowman has now finished inside the top 10 in five of the last six road course events in the NASCAR Cup Series. The No. 48 team was tied for the fourth-most points earned during the race.

LOCKED-IN ALL-STAR: This weekend, the NASCAR Cup Series heads to Texas Motor Speedway for the NASCAR All-Star Race. Bowman clinched his position in the non-points event by his win earlier this year at Richmond Raceway. This is the second year that the 28-year-old driver has clinched a spot in the All-Star Race by virtue of a victory. In 2019, Bowman made it into the event after winning the fan vote. During last season’s All-Star Race, he rolled off second and finished eighth after 140 laps. He has finished eighth (his best finish) in two of the last three All-Star Races he participated in.

BOWMAN AT TMS: Since 2014, Bowman has 11 points-paying NASCAR Cup Series starts at Texas Motor Speedway. The driver’s best finish of fifth came twice: in the 2019 and 2020 fall events. Bowman has led 57 laps at the 1.5-mile venue. He also has two starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series from 2013. Bowman qualified on pole for both events and led a combined seven laps.

TEXAS STATS FOR IVES: Crew chief Greg Ives has called the shots 12 times at Texas Motor Speedway. The Bark River, Michigan, native’s résumé includes five top-five finishes and six top-10s there. His best finish at the track came in 2016 when driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished second after 334 laps. The crew chief also has four starts in the Xfinity Series at Texas, which include one win when Chase Elliott led 38 laps in 2014. As a race engineer for the No. 48 team at Hendrick Motorsports from 2006-2012, Ives was part of two wins, nine top-10 finishes and one pole award with driver Jimmie Johnson at Texas Motor Speedway.

TIME TO SHINE: During this weekend’s NASCAR All-Star Race, each team will have to make a mandatory four-tire pit stop during round five of the six-round format. Over the last 16 weeks, the No. 48 pit crew has had the fastest average four-tire stops in the NASCAR Cup Series at 13.64 seconds. The team includes fueler Jacob Conley, tire carrier Allen Stallings, jackman Dustin Lineback and tire changers Scott Brzozowski and Devin DelRicco.

ALL-STAR RACING: Hendrick Motorsports has won the exhibition event a record nine times with four different drivers: Jimmie Johnson (four victories), Jeff Gordon (three), Terry Labonte (1999) and defending winner Chase Elliott (2020). Hendrick Motorsports also holds the All-Star Race records for starts (115), top-five finishes (39), top-10s (64) and laps led (775).

LARSON MAKES 22: At Texas, Kyle Larson will become the 22nd Hendrick Motorsports driver to appear in the NASCAR All-Star Race. He will join Gordon (22 starts), Johnson (19), Labonte (11), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (10), Ken Schrader (seven), Kasey Kahne (six), Elliott (five), Ricky Rudd (five), Geoff Bodine (five), Darrell Waltrip (four), Alex Bowman (three), Mark Martin (three), William Byron (two), Casey Mears (two), Kyle Busch (two), Brian Vickers (two), Joe Nemechek (two), Jerry Nadeau (two), Ricky Craven, Benny Parsons, and Tim Richmond.

FOUR STARS: On Sunday, Hendrick Motorsports will have all four of its Chevrolets appear in the NASCAR All-Star Race for the 20th time. Including 2021, the team has put four cars into the field in 18 of the last 20 years and has placed at least three in the All-Star Race for a record 22 consecutive seasons.

CARRYING MOMENTUM: Hendrick Motorsports is on a roll heading into the all-star break. The organization has won four consecutive points-paying NASCAR Cup Series races, sweeping at least the top-two positions in each, leading 842 of 946 laps (89%) and recording an average result of 5.7. Its finishes include 1-2-3-4 at Dover, 1-2-8 at Circuit of The Americas, 1-2-4-5 at Charlotte Motor Speedway and 1-2-9 at Sonoma Raceway. At NASCAR’s top level, no team has ever finished in both the first and second positions in five consecutive points races.

TMS EXPRESS: Although Texas Motor Speedway will host its first NASCAR All-Star Race this Sunday, Hendrick Motorsports has plenty of history at the venue. With nine points-paying wins, the team is tied with Joe Gibbs Racing and Roush Fenway Racing for the track record.

QUOTABLE /

Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, on strategy for the All-Star Race: “I haven’t studied the format yet, but the plan is to get the best possible finish in each segment to give us the best possible starting spot when it matters. It’s a short race, so you have to be aggressive, and you have to be really aggressive on each restart. Our mile-and-a-half program has been solid all year, so I’m really looking forward to this Sunday.”

Cliff Daniels, crew chief of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, on what he can learn in the All-Star Race: “This is a track that is in the playoffs, so we’ll want to learn as much as we can this weekend. (No. 24 crew chief) Rudy (Fugle) said it best earlier when he said anytime your car is on track you’re learning. We want to take full advantage of this opportunity. One of the best takeaways from this weekend’s format is the way the rounds are set up, you’ve got to be able to pass.”

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, on strategy for the All-Star Race: “With this year’s format, there’s obviously a lot going on. I think it’ll be hard to play games to try and set yourself up for the next round; that may end up hurting you more than helping. It’s going to be one of those deals where you just have to race as hard as you can the whole time and let the inverts play out on their own. I think it will be entertaining for the fans and hopefully we can put on a good show. I know I’ve said it before, but I am happy to see the All-Star Race moving around to different tracks. I think it’s a race that is meant to change locations.”

Alan Gustafson, crew chief of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, on the All-Star Race at Texas: “The All-Star Race is always an exciting event, and the new format is sure to add even more excitement. We are still figuring it all out. There are a lot of unknowns with it that we will all just roll with as the come. It will be a challenge, but we are really looking forward to it.”

William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, on what he thinks the biggest challenge will be at the NASCAR All-Star Race: “I think the biggest thing is that you’re going to have the low horsepower, even lower than the horsepower we have currently. It’s going to put us closer together, more nose-to-tail, and probably will be drafting constantly. That’s going to make it tough. You’re going to have to have a good handling car to try drive away from people, but I feel like it’s still going to be hard to really ever get away. We’re focusing on getting the handling right, and I think we’re in the ballpark. We’ll just have to see what happens.”

Byron on the All-Star Race format: “With short segments and low downforce, there’s a good chance you’re going to see constant action. There’s no time to just ride around or save your stuff. It’s going to be about getting up on the wheel and the strategy you use. I don’t know what to tell you about that last segment other than to expect insanity. It’s going to be a lot of aggressive moves and racing in those final laps. I’m excited for it. It’s an All-Star Race, so it’s going to take everything you’ve got.”

Rudy Fugle, crew chief of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, on his prediction for the All-Star Race: “There’s a lot of unknowns for Sunday’s All-Star Race. I think gaining track position and maintaining it is going to be the biggest key to having a good run and being in contention for the win during that last stage. With the aero package and horsepower we’re running, it may be easy to pull up on someone, but passing them is going to be a different challenge. It helps that we’re already locked into the race though so we can watch the Open and get a general idea of how this package is going to run at Texas seeing as right now it’s all speculation. While there is some strategy involved for this event, you can only guess what the inverts may be. To me, the biggest thing strategy-wise is determining when to use your tires and when to save them. With five stage breaks but only four sets of tires and a mandatory four tire-pit stop during stage five, you have to decide when you’re taking tires and when you’re staying out. We’ll have a general plan going in, but scenarios change so quickly that you have to be ready for anything.”

Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, on strategy at the All-Star Race: “This weekend’s All-Star Race is going to be interesting. It is going to be a big pay day for someone on Sunday and I sure hope it’s this No. 48 Ally team. We have been strong at Texas in the past, but I guess the rules in the All-Star Race are a bit different. Strategy is going to be key in trying to be out front. Our Ally pit crew has been really fast this year. Hopefully, our pit crew can continue doing what they do best on pit road and maybe even get their own pay day during round five.”

Greg Ives, crew chief of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, on the NASCAR All-Star Race format: “For me, numbers are a fun Rubik’s Cube. I like the more intricate that it gets. The invert following the rounds throws in a lot more details and unpredictability that you can’t really solve in a simple math calculation. Ultimately, our job is to go out there and perform at a high level. I am pretty sure at the end of each round they are going to figure out what the invert is and we are going to line up and go as fast as we can again. Hopefully, we have a chance to lead and won’t being in traffic. Hopefully, we can cross the finish line first at the end of the day. That is really all we can focus on. The uniqueness of the format for this event is what is creating all of the buzz and, ultimately, it is what it is and hopefully we can have some fun.”