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JR Motorsports — NXS Mid-Ohio Preview

By
Official Release
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JR MOTORSPORTS TEAM PREVIEW:
TRACK: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
RACE: B&L Transport 170 (75 laps / 169.35 miles)
DATE: Saturday, June 5, 2021

Broadcast Information – TV: 1 p.m. ET on FS1 / Radio: 12:30 p.m. ET on MRN and Sirius XM Ch. 90

Michael Annett
No. 1 Pilot Flying J Summer Is a Go Chevrolet
• In four starts at the 2.258-mile Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Michael Annett has improved his results in each event, his best coming in 2019 when the Iowa native finished 13th.
• In two road-course starts so far this season, Annett has finished 15th on the Daytona road course and 11th in the debut at Circuit of the Americas.
• Annett will carry a new scheme this weekend to kick off Pilot Flying J’s Summer Is a Go Road Trip Giveaway, which runs through Sept. 5. Three monthly winners will be chosen at random to receive a $250 Pilot Flying J gift card and one grand-prize winner will be randomly selected to win $5,000 in free Pilot Flying J fuel.

Miguel Paludo
No. 8 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet
• Miguel Paludo will make his third and final start of 2021 for JR Motorsports in the BRANDT Professional Agriculture No. 8 this weekend at Mid-Ohio.
• In two previous starts for JRM throughout the 2021 season, Paludo has a best finish of seventh coming at the Daytona Road Course.
• In five road course starts between the NXS and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Paludo has accumulated one top five and two top 10s.
• Paludo returned to the seat of his No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Porsche last weekend at Velocitta (Brazil) where he qualified and finished first on Saturday.

Noah Gragson
No. 9 Bass Pro Shops / TrueTimber / Black Rifle Coffee Chevrolet
• Noah Gragson has been spectacular on road courses in his NXS career, posting six top-five and eight top-10 finishes in his 10 starts on such tracks.
• In his only start at Mid-Ohio in 2019, the Nevada native finished fifth and led a lap.
• Last season, Gragson finished second on the Roval at Charlotte, third at both the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Daytona International Speedway road courses and sixth at Road America, which works out to an average finish of 3.5. The previous season, he averaged 5.8 in four roadPR Manager: KC Heschel course starts.

Justin Allgaier
No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet
• Justin Allgaier has one previous victory in five NXS starts at Mid-Ohio, with the win coming in 2018.
• Overall, in 34 starts on road courses in the NXS, Allgaier has scored a total of three wins, 10 top fives and 22 top 10s.
• Two of Allgaier’s three career victories on road courses came in 2018 with JRM at Mid-Ohio and Road America. Allgaier additionally visited Victory Lane at Montreal in 2012.
• For the final time this season, Allgaier will pilot the No. 7 BRANDT Camaro featuring the white base with familiar bright red accents as teammate Miguel Paludo will be behind the wheel of the red and green BRANDT No. 8.

Driver Quotes

“Our Pilot Flying J Chevrolet was pretty good in the rain at COTA, and we were solid at Daytona on the road course, so this weekend’s race at Mid-Ohio is a good chance for our No. 1 team to post a solid finish. We have had good pace and the finishes will come. Bummy (crew chief Mike Bumgarner) and the team has been giving me really good cars. We just need to get the finishes from here on out.” – Michael Annett

“I’ve always really enjoyed racing at Mid-Ohio. It’s a challenging, but fun road course. We had a strong run just a couple weeks ago on the road course at COTA and I feel extremely confident that we will have that same kind of speed with our BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet on Saturday. It’s a big weekend for BRANDT with Miguel (Paludo) back in the No. 8, so hopefully we can both have a strong day and battle it out for the win in the end.”– Justin Allgaier

“I can’t wait to get to Mid-Ohio this weekend with our No. 8 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet. Taylor (Moyer, crew chief) and all the guys on this team have given me great cars during our first two races and I know we will be just as fast this weekend. I can’t thank everyone at JR Motorsports enough for this opportunity and hopefully we can go out there and race for the victory with our BRANDT teammate Justin (Allgaier) on Saturday. I’m ready to go.” – Miguel Paludo

“I’m really looking forward to Mid-Ohio this weekend. We’ve always had fast cars here and this track really suits my driving style as you have to be aggressive with the car. We didn’t get a chance to race here last year but in 2019 we raced to a fifthplace finish after suffering a lot of damage part of the way through. This entire team is really putting in the work to make sure this Bass Pro Shops/TrueTimber/Black Rifle Coffee Camaro is fast enough to secure our way into the playoffs and there’s no better weekend to do it than this one.” – Noah Gragson

JRM Team Updates:
• JR Motorsports at Mid-Ohio: JR Motorsports has competed at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course a combined 22 times in the NXS. Over the course of those 22 starts, JRM has totaled two wins (2015, 2018), seven top fives, and 12 top 10s, while pacing the field for 35 circuits. The average finish for JRM at Mid-Ohio is 13.4, the fifth best average among all road courses, placing behind the Roval, Road America, Indianapolis Road Course and Watkins Glen. Additionally, the 22 starts at Mid-Ohio ranks third for JRM at road courses, trailing only Watkins Glen (37) and Road America (33).
• JRM on Road Courses: JRM has competed on road courses a total of 137 times and has totaled four wins, 33 top fives and 70 top 10s. The most recent winner for JRM on a road course was Justin Allgaier, who won at Road America during the 2018 NXS season.
• Pilot Flying J Summer is a Go!: Pilot Flying J kicked off its Summer Is a Go! campaign over the Memorial Day weekend, traditionally the time that travelers get back on the road, with its third annual National Road Trip Day on May 28. Pilot Flying J Road trippers, professional drivers and Pilot Flying J guests are encouraged to share their road trip adventures on its Facebook page or post their best trip photos on Instagram and Twitter with the #SummerIsAGoGiveaway hashtag and tagging @PilotFlyingJ. Participants who share a photo with any Pilot branded cup will receive an additional entry, provided they use the hashtag,

FedEx Racing Express Facts – Sonoma Raceway

By
Official Release
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Denny Hamlin
11 FedEx Express Toyota
Joe Gibbs Racing

Race Info:
Race: Toyota Save Mart 350
Date/Time: Sunday, June 6/4:00 p.m. ET
Distance: 90 laps/226.8 miles
Track Length: 2.52 miles
Track Shape: Road Course
2020 Winner: N/A

Express Notes:

Press Kit: Download the 2021 FedEx Racing press materials at www.fedexracing.com/presskit, including bios for Denny Hamlin, Chris Gabehart and Joe Gibbs Racing leadership, program highlights and statistics.

Charlotte Recap: Hamlin started the race in 14th and quickly learned the handling of the FedEx Freight Toyota was going to be challenging for the NASCAR Cup Series’ longest race of the season. The car responded differently depending on what line Hamlin ran and whether he was in traffic, and the day-into-night track conditions affected the handling, too. The #11 team was able to lead three laps in Stage 2, but the car wasn’t strong enough to maintain a spot up front. With track position difficult to come by, the team was able to use pit strategy and fast pit stops to move up the leaderboard at various points of the race. But it wasn’t enough to get close to Kyle Larson, who led 327 of the 400 laps and scored the victory.

Sonoma Preview: The NASCAR Cup Series returns to the road course of Sonoma Raceway after a year off (due to COVID) on Sunday, June 6. With 12 turns and 160 feet of a total elevation change on the track, Sonoma will be the third test of the FedEx team’s road racing program this season. Hamlin seeks his first career victory at Sonoma and first of the 2021 season.

Hamlin Statistics:
Track: Sonoma Raceway
Races: 14
Wins: 0
Top-5: 4
Top-10: 6
Laps Led: 100
Avg. Start: 17.1
Avg. Finish: 17.7

Hamlin Conversation – Sonoma:

Your team has faced adversity, especially these past few races. How does your team remain confident week in and week out?

“We have a talented squad and some things just haven’t gone our way. Looking at Charlotte, our FedEx Camry wasn’t quite handling the way we needed it to that night. But considering the challenges our team has faced, we have still remained the points leader and are continuing to learn from each race.”

How are you preparing for the road course and elevation changes at Sonoma?

“Road courses are never easy and always tough no matter where you race. But JGR has a strong road course program, and I will be preparing myself to handle the conditions so I can give our team the best chance to win.”

FedEx Express Along for the Ride at Sonoma: Amid increased safety and security risks stemming from civil unrest, dedicated team members in the Minneapolis, Minn., market spent months navigating emotional crowds, street closures and other obstacles while on the road providing service to FedEx customers. Safety and security are top priorities at FedEx Express. That is why they are pleased to recognize the extraordinary efforts of the Minneapolis employees at MSPR, AELA, BRDA, DLHA, EAUA, FBLA, JDTA, MICA, and STCA with the letters MSP on the B-post of the Toyota #11 at the Sonoma Raceway Toyota/Save Mart 350.

FedEx Office – Closest to Sonoma Raceway: 901 E Washington St, Petaluma, CA 94952, (707) 763-6553

Starrett and Roush Yates Engines Renew Partnership

By
Official Release
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MOORESVILLE, NC – June 2, 2021 – Roush Yates Engines and L.S. Starrett Co. are pleased to announce an extension of their partnership agreement.

Since 2017 Roush Yates Engines and Starrett, located in Athol, Massachusetts, have teamed up to make one of the most successful metrology partnerships. For over 140 years, Starrett has been an industry leader in metrology tools and equipment. Starrett measuring and inspection devices are vital elements in our ability to deliver championship level products to our customers.

“Starrett’s brand is iconic and known world-wide. Their support to our race programs has provided competitive advantages to win races,” said Todd English, VP Strategic Partnerships and Marketing, Roush Yates Engines. “We rely on their employee’s workmanship in their manufacturing facilities in Athol and across the globe. We look forward to expanding our valued partnership and leveraging Starrett’s metrology hand tools, force measurement, vision measurement systems, and DataSure 4.0 to acquire metrology data.”

Starrett’s craftmanship and standard of quality is world-class, their accuracy and product performance exceed international standards. It is essential to have a partner that performs to this level of excellence when machining products for the motorsports, aerospace, defense, and industrial markets, where precision is critical.

We utilize a wide array of Starrett metrology equipment from hand gages and micrometers to top of the line Vision machines (AV450, HDV 400, AVR 300). In addition, force and material testers, are critical pieces of equipment for the development and analysis of automotive and motorsports components, giving us crucial information for making time sensitive decisions.

For collecting and recording precision data measurements, the DataSure® 4.0 system has been a recent addition to our metrology toolbox. This is the industry’s latest data acquisition solution from Starrett. Measurements are directly recorded into our quality database system. This wireless based system helps to streamline our data collection and eliminate multiple step processes.

“Starrett has been a partner like no other,” commented Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “We rely on their accuracy in both of our facilities. Whether it’s a part going to the track in a FR9 engine or components for the aerospace or defense markets, it’s a necessity to have the best equipment in the metrology business.”

“Starrett is glad to work with a high demanding customer such as Roush Yates Engines, as they use precision with everything they do,” said Emerson Leme, Vice President Industrial Products North America of Starrett. “Starrett has been a long-standing premier supplier to Roush Yates Engines for many years and extending this partnership is a win for all of us.”

With a shared passion to deliver the best products to our customers, it is our honor to partner with Starrett and their experienced team to continue to build on our strong partnership we have built over the last four years.

About L.S. Starrett Co. (NYSE: SCX):
The L.S. Starrett Co. was founded in 1880, in Athol, Massachusetts. Starrett, a leader who has set the standard for fine precision tools in the industry for over 140 years, has rightfully earned the title, “World’s Greatest Toolmakers”.

Manufacturing more than 5,000 variations of precision tools, gages, measuring instruments and saw blades for industrial, professional and consumer markets worldwide. Starrett operates manufacturing locations and sales offices worldwide. For more information about L.S. Starrett visit Starrett.com

About Roush Yates Engines:
Roush Yates Engines is a leading-edge engine development company based in Mooresville, NC consisting of two state-of-the-art facilities – Roush Yates Engines and Roush Yates Manufacturing Solutions, a world class ISO 9001 / AS9100 certified CNC manufacturing facility. The company’s core business includes designing, machining, building, and testing purpose-built race engines.

Ford Performance in partnership with Roush Yates Engines is the exclusive engine builder for the NASCAR FR9 Ford V8 engine and Ford Mustang 5.2L V8 engine, used in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge series.

With an unparalleled culture of winning and steeped in rich racing history, Roush Yates Engines continues to follow the company’s vision to lead performance engine innovation and staying true to the company’s mission, provide race winning engines through demonstrated power and performance. To learn more, go to: RoushYates.com

ARCA Menards Series Race Advance: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

By
Official Release
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Friday, June 4
Track: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, 13-turn, 2.258-mile road course
Race: 7 of 20
Event: Dawn 150 (42 laps, 152.624 kilometers)

Schedule
Practice/Qualifying: 2:45 p.m. ET
Race: 6:00 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 1)

Thad Moffitt, No. 46 Dirteeze Ford Fusion

  • Moffitt enters his seventh race of the 2021 ARCA Menards Series season on Friday evening at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington.
  • The Ford driver is coming off of a seventh-place run at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway last Saturday night. The result marked his fifth straight top-10 of the season.
  • With his two top-five and five top-10 finishes, Moffitt sits third in the series standings, 47 points behind point leader Corey Heim and 37 points behind second place Ty Gibbs.
  • Friday will be the first career visit to the 13-turn road course for the 20-year-old. His only career road course start came last season at the Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway Road Course where he and Derek Smith guided the No. 46 to an 11th-place finish.
  • Dirteeze will make their debut as primary partner on the No. 46 Fusion in the Dawn 150. Dirteeze provides wipe solutions to the retail, industrial, safety and janitorial markets.
  • Click here for Moffitt’s career statistics.
  • Moffitt on Mid-Ohio: “I don’t really have any experience on road courses other than Daytona last year, so I’m looking forward to gaining experience in that aspect of racing this weekend. Mid-Ohio is a completely new track for me as I’ve never even seen the place before, but we’ve had a lot of speed lately in our No. 46 Ford Fusion and we are hoping that carries over into this race.”

NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Charlotte

By
Jeffrey Boswell
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Photo by Ted Seminara

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Kyle Larson: Larson started on the pole at Charlotte, led the most laps, swept all four stages and won the Coca-Cola 600.

“You can buy gear commemorating my impressive win in many places,” Larson said. “Just search the internet for ‘dominating fashion.’

“The ‘Hendrick 1-2-3-4’ almost happened again. Soon, the ‘Hendrick Broom’ could become a phrase used for more than just sweeping Hendrick scandals under the rug.”

2. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin finished a solid seventh at Charlotte, scoring his 11th top-10 result of the year.

“We never found the right balance for the car,” Hamlin said. “But if you can finish seventh on a bad day, then things aren’t really that bad. Actually, my status hasn’t changed, because I’m still the points leader, and I’m still the best driver never to have won a Cup championship.

“I’ve never won the Coca-Cola 600. And I’m certainly not the only NASCAR driver to ever be ‘Coked out.'”

3. Chase Elliott: Elliott ran up front all day as the four-car Hendrick Motorsports team battled for the win.

“I employed a new spotter for the Coca-Cola 600,” Elliott said. “Trey Poole is my cousin, and he replaces Eddie D’Hondt, who was indefinitely suspended. Actually, he was definitely suspended. We told Eddie to ‘give it arrest.'”

4. William Byron: Byron came home fourth in the Coca-Cola 600 as Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson won convincingly.

“Kyle has lost several races in which he led the most laps,” Byron said. “It almost happened again, but Kyle held on for the win. Clearly, Kyle doesn’t want history repeating itself just as much as he doesn’t want himself repeating itself.”

5. Alex Bowman: Bowman finished 5th at Charlotte as Hendrick Motorsports took four of the top five spots.

“Jay Leno served as one of the grand marshals for the race,” Bowman said. “And fittingly, the race was won by the team that made the right adjustments to maximize car performance after the sun set. In other words, the most important part of the race was the ‘Tonight Show.'”

6. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex finished 29th at Charlotte and now has three consecutive finishes of 19th or worse.

“I had a flat tire late in the race,” Truex said. “And if that wasn’t bad enough, my pit crew had trouble removing the tire from the rim. It’s a helpless feeling sitting in your car knowing you can’t go anywhere. It must be the same feeling Quin Houff gets every week.”

7. Kevin Harvick: Harvick finished 10th at Charlotte.

“We had to make an early pit stop due to a loose wheel,” Harvick said. “And speaking of ‘early pit stops,’ the Hunt Brothers Pizza logo was prominent on the No. 4 Chevy. And like loose wheels, Hunt Brothers Pizza is also a reason for having to make early pit stops.”

8. Kyle Busch: Busch started from the rear but quickly established himself as a frontrunner on the way to a third-place finish.

“I was solely responsible for preventing the Hendrick 1-2-3-4 sweep,” Busch said. “It may be the first time I’ve ever taken responsibility for anything.”

9. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski posted an 11th-place finish at Charlotte.

“The Coca-Cola 600 is a long, grueling race,” Keselowski said. “To put it into perspective, 600 miles is approximately one-tenth the distance that me and Penske Racing are apart in contract negotiations.”

10. Joey Logano: Logano finished 17th at Charlotte.

“It certainly wasn’t a banner day for Penske Racing,” Logano said. “Our lack of performance has really opened my eyes to some things, like how much better Hendrick is than us, and how much work we need to do, and why Brad Keselowski might want to leave Penske.

“Trackhouse Racing co-owner and rap superstar Pit Bull was at the race. Let’s be real, though. Kyle Larson led 327 laps and won every stage. He may be the real ‘pit bull,’ because he grabbed the lead and wouldn’t let go.”

Nashville Superspeedway Announces June 18 Anthem Finalists, Opens Fan Voting for ‘NashCar Superstar’ Sweepstakes

By
Official Release
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LEBANON, Tenn. (June 1, 2021) – Nashville Superspeedway today announced the top 3 finalists in its “NashCar Superstar” Sweepstakes, which invited musicians to audition for a chance to sing the national anthem prior to the “Rackley Roofing 200” NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Friday, June 18.

Nashville Superspeedway is now looking to the community to vote for their favorite from these finalists: Brenna Bone, Craig Wayne Boyd and Jerry Holt. Finalist videos can be viewed and voted on by visiting NashCarSuperstar.com. Voting closes Tuesday, June 8 with the winner to be announced Wednesday, June 9.

Contestants were asked to upload a video of themselves singing the national anthem via the contest site. Entry videos were live on the “NashCar Superstar” website for the public to enjoy. To narrow down the top entries, videos were vetted by the Nashville Superspeedway staff and the top 3 finalists were chosen for fan voting.

The “Rackley Roofing 200” (7 p.m. CT, FS1) on Friday, June 18 is the 12th race of the 2021 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season and the first race of Nashville Superspeedway’s Father’s Day Weekend tripleheader, which also includes the sold-out inaugural “Ally 400” NASCAR Cup Series race (2:30 p.m. CT, NBCSN) on Sunday, June 20 and the “Tennessee Lottery 250” NASCAR Xfinity Series race (2:30 p.m. CT, NBCSN) on Saturday, June 19. The “Ally 400” will be the first Cup Series race in Nashville Superspeedway’s history and the first in Middle Tennessee in 37 years.

Tickets are available in the main grandstand for the “Tennessee Lottery 250” NASCAR Xfinity Series race and the “Rackley Roofing 200” NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race.

Fans can order tickets by visiting NashvilleSuperSpeedway.com or calling 866-RACE-TIX.

Keep track of Nashville Superspeedway’s latest news and updates at NashvilleSuperSpeedway.com via social media at Facebook.com/NashvilleSuperspeedway, on Twitter at @nashvillesupers and Instagram @nashvillesuperspeedway. For questions about media relations, employment, or other inquiries, interested parties are encouraged to email info@nashvillesuperspeedway.com.

About Dover Motorsports, Inc.

Dover Motorsports, Inc. (NYSE: DVD) is a promoter of NASCAR sanctioned motorsports events whose subsidiaries own and operate Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del., and Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn. The company also plays host to the Firefly Music Festival, produced by AEG Presents. For more information, visit www.DoverMotorsports.com.

Chris Buescher – Sonoma Advance

By
Official Release
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Team: No. 17 Fastenal Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Luke Lambert
Twitter: @17RoushTeam, @RoushFenway and @Chris_Buescher
Race Format: 226.8 miles, 90 laps, Stage Lengths: 20-20-50
Save Mart 350 – Sunday, June 6 at 4 p.m. ET on FS1, PRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Buescher at Sonoma Raceway

  • Buescher makes his fifth Cup start at Sonoma on Sunday. He has an average finish of 19.3 in four prior starts, including a best finish of 12th in the 2018 race.
  • Most recently he ran 16th in 2019 after starting 10th. This will be Buescher’s first race at Sonoma with the No. 17 team after COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the event last season.
  • So far in road course races in 2021, Buescher has finishes of 11th (Daytona Road Course) and 13th (COTA).

Luke Lambert at Sonoma Raceway

  • Lambert will call the shots for his seventh Cup race at Sonoma this weekend, where he carries a 17.3 average finish.
  • Lambert’s best run came back in 2016 when he and Ryan Newman ran eighth. The two also finished 11th the year prior, and most recently Lambert led Daniel Hemric to a 15th-place finish in 2019.

QUOTE WORTHY
Buescher on racing at Sonoma:
“It’s been a while since we’ve been out west to Sonoma, but we feel good about our chances given our focus and success on road courses as of late. It’s another chance for us to make up a lot of ground in the points standings, and the later we go into the summer obviously the more important that conversation becomes. We’re looking forward to another good day in the Fastenal Ford, and can’t wait to turn left and right again this weekend.”

Last Time Out
Buescher continued his momentum in NASCAR’s longest race of the season this past weekend at the Coke 600, securing his third-straight top-10 in the event. He finished eighth in the Fifth Third Ford and picked up stage points along the way, aiding his playoff push.

Where They Rank
Buescher is 14th in points through 15 races, and in a tight battle for the 13th spot as just six points separate he and the No. 8, while a 20-point gap separates Buescher from 15th.

On the Car
Fastenal is in its 11th season with Roush Fenway, having first joined the fold in 2010 as the primary partner on the No. 60 NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team and driver Carl Edwards. That team went on to win the owners championship with Edwards in 2011. Fastenal later served as a primary on Buescher’s No. 60 Ford that captured the NXS Championship in 2015.

Fastenal will feature top suppliers KCP, MCR, Weiler and Brennan Industries on Buescher’s Mustang as he competes this weekend. For more information on these suppliers, visit Fastenal.com, and stay up-do-date on social @FastenalRacing, @Fastenal.

About Fastenal
Fastenal helps its business partners strengthen their supply chains, remove unnecessary costs, and focus more resources on what they do best. The company’s distribution system centers on 3,200+ in-market locations, each providing tailored inventory, flexible service, and custom solutions to support the unique local needs of our customers. This customer-centric service network is supported by 15 regional distribution centers, a captive logistics fleet, multiple teams of industry specialists, a suite of e-business and automated supply technology solutions, and robust sourcing, quality, and manufacturing structures – all focused on helping customers reduce costs, capture time, and achieve their business goals.

Ryan Newman – Sonoma Advance

By
Official Release
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Team: No. 6 Guaranteed Rate Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Twitter: @Roush6Team, @RoushFenway and @RyanJNewman
Race Format: 226.8 miles, 90 laps, Stage Lengths: 20-20-50
Save Mart 350 – Sunday, June 6 at 4 p.m. ET on FS1, PRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Newman at Sonoma Raceway

  • Newman will make his 19th start at Sonoma on Sunday, a track where he has an impressive average finish of 12.8, his best among road courses and second-best mark across all active tracks.
  • Newman has eight top-10s and two top fives at Sonoma all-time, including three top-10s in the last five events at the 12-turn road course. Newman’s best finish came in the 2006 race when he placed second to Jeff Gordon.
  • Newman most recently finished seventh in 2019 as the NASCAR Cup Series did not visit wine country in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Newman has an average starting position of 13.6 with seven starts inside the top-10, the best of which came in 2006 where he lined up fourth.

Scott Graves at Sonoma Raceway

· Graves will be on the box for his fifth Cup start at Sonoma. In four prior races, he has a 16.3 average result, with a best finish of seventh with Newman in 2019.

· Two of his other three races came with Daniel Suarez in 2017-18 with a best finish of 15th, and his first Cup race at Sonoma came in 2013 with Ricky Stenhouse Jr., in the No. 17 for Jack Roush.

QUOTE WORTHY
Newman on racing at Sonoma:
“Obviously road course racing is a key focus within our series this year, and something we’ve been hard at work on. Last time we ran Sonoma we put together a pretty good day, I remember it was really hot but we fought through it and came away with a top-10. Strategy and attrition will come into play Sunday for sure, and we’ll give it our best shot in the Guaranteed Rate Ford.”

Last Time Out
Newman was in good position for a solid run in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600, sitting inside the top-15 for a majority of the first 200 laps, before a cut tire with just over 100 to go spoiled his night, relegating him to a 27th-place finish.

Where They Rank
Newman is 20th in points through 15 events.

On the Car

Guaranteed Rate returns to Newman’s machine for its fifth points race of 2021.

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.

Wright Motorsports Aims to Continue Podium Streak at VIRginia International Raceway

By
Official Release
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ALTON, Vir. (June 1, 2021) – This weekend, the 2021 Fanatec GT World Challenge America and GT America series will return to VIRginia International Raceway, and Wright Motorsports storms into the wet weekend with the points lead in both championships. With a podium finish in all eight SRO America-sanctioned races that have taken place so far this year, the Porsche customer racing team has started off the season with strong and consistent execution.

The weekend will be an exciting one, as not only are the series offering free admission to active-duty service members and 50% off to veterans but fans will again be allowed in the paddock for the first time since spring 2020.

Fanatec GT World Challenge America
After moving up from the Am to the Pro/Am class for the new season, Fred Poordad, Jan Heylen, and the crew of the No. 20 Porsche 911 GT3 R are on a roll this year in the GT World Challenge America series, currently on a four-straight podium streak that started at the season opener at Sonoma Raceway. Their Pro/Am combination makes for a strong driver lineup, as evidenced by their on-track success in the first half of the season. The pair also hold one overall podium from the opening race, and after a recent two-day test earlier last month, look to be strong contenders in the highly competitive Pro/Am class. The No. 20 Wright Motorsports Porsche holds a seven-point lead over the No. 04 Mercedes AMG GT3 of George Kurtz and Colin Braun, lining the competitors up for an exciting weekend battle for coveted championship positions. Sixteen cars are set to compete across the three classes: Pro, Pro/Am, and Am, and with rain in the predicted forecast all four days that the series is present, the on-track action will be sure to deliver excitement for the fans in attendance. Poordad and Heylen will have two opportunities to score extra championship points, with a race each on Saturday and Sunday, June 5 and 6, respectively. Each driver will get a turn to compete in the 90-minute doubleheaders, each starting one race and finishing the other.

Fred Poordad
I am looking forward to getting back to racing at VIR. That is a great track, technical and fast, and set in beautiful rolling hills. We are looking to come out strong and set the tone for the rest of the season before our summer break. Should be fun!

Jan Heylen
I’m looking forward to race at what has to be one of the most fun tracks on the schedule! It is a great facility with great people running it, so we all enjoy going to VIR. Our goal is to extend our points lead and hopefully we can do so by scoring another podium finish. We’re well prepared after a productive two-day test earlier this month. The car felt the best it has felt all year and Fred is more and more comfortable in the car as well.

GT America Powered by AWS
This weekend’s festivities at VIRginia International Raceway are special for Charlie Luck whose hometown is Richmond, Virginia. Luck continues to also lead the championship in his class, with a 30-point lead over Jeff Burton of Rearden Racing. With three wins in four races, Luck’s debut in the new GT America series has been nothing short of impressive, moving up from a Porsche one-make competition to race the No. 45 Porsche 911 GT3 R in the series made for only bronze rated drivers. In the previous round at Circuit of the Americas, luck battled in both wet and dry conditions to earn a second and first-place finish in Austin, Texas, continuing his podium streak into his home race at VIRginia International Raceway. This weekend, he’ll have two 40-minute races between Saturday and Sunday, competing against 23 other cars.

Driver Quote

Charlie Luck
I’m looking forward to VIR. This is a home track for me and we have a lot of laps on the track, going back to four years of Cup racing, plus testing with Jan and the 911 GT3 R. It’s a very technical track, and a track that requires a lot of precision and a lot of focus and execution as a driver. I’m looking forward to it.
Schedule of Events: All Times U.S. Eastern
Friday, June 4
9:05AM – 9:30AM GT America Practice 1
10:30AM – 11:15AM GT World Challenge America Practice 1
1:45PM – 2:15PM GT America Practice 2
4:00PM – 4:45PM GT World Challenge America Practice 2

Saturday, June 5
8:50AM – 9:05AM GT World Challenge America Qualify Race 1
9:10AM – 9:25AM GT World Challenge America Qualify Race 2
10:10AM – 10:25AM GT America Qualifying
1:15PM – 2:45PM GT World Challenge America Race 1
4:50PM – 5:30PM GT America Race 1

Sunday, June 6
9:10AM – 9:50AM GT America Race 2
1:45PM – 3:15PM GT World Challenge America Race 2

All qualifying and race sessions will stream live on YouTube.com/GTWorld, and live timing will be available via TSL.

Wright Motorsports
Wright Motorsports is the premier Porsche race engineering facility in Ohio and a multi-series, international racing team known for superb car preparation, expert race strategy and driver development. Located in Batavia, Ohio, it is owned and directed by John Wright, a certified Porsche factory-trained technician. As a crew chief John Wright has played a key role in winning eight driver and seven team championships in World Challenge, IMSA (ALMS) and the Grand-Am Rolex Series. Wright Motorsports won the team championship in Porsche GT3 Cup USA in 2012, 2013 and 2015, and went on to win the Pirelli World Challenge Overall, Sprint, Team and Manufacturer’s titles in 2017. The 2020 season will see the team return to IMSA Weathertech SportsCar Championship. For more information, visit wrightmotorsports.com

DRIVE YOUR CAR AROUND AMS AND HELP LOCAL KIDS AT ‘LAPS FOR DAD’

By
Official Release
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HAMPTON, Ga. -(June 1, 2021)- Speedway Children’s Charities Atlanta is giving you a chance to give dad a Father’s Day gift he’ll never forget while helping local kids in need.

Atlanta Motor Speedway’s famous 1.54-mile oval will host “Laps for Dad” on Friday, June 18th. The event provides an opportunity for anyone to take their personal vehicle onto the track to make three laps on the 24-degree banked turns. Proceeds will benefit the Atlanta Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities and its ongoing mission to help children in need.

“Driving on these steep turns is an unforgettable experience and one any father would enjoy,” said AMS Executive Vice President and General Manager Brandon Hutchison. “Laps for Dad is sure to be a fun event for Father’s Day weekend and a great way to help kids in the Atlanta area.”

With a donation of $50 per vehicle participants will drive three laps around the Speedway. First laps around the speedway will begin at 5 p.m. and continue through 9 p.m.

Tickets for the event must be purchased online; admission will not be sold on-site.

Attendees will access the event by entering the track through the main tunnel located off Speedway Boulevard. Drivers must be at least 18 years old and have a valid driver’s license. Additionally, drivers will be required to complete a waiver and present it upon arrival. Seatbelts must be worn by all participants.

To learn more about Laps for Dad and to purchase tickets to the event, go to https://www.speedwaycharities.org/events/atlanta/laps-for-dad/.

About Speedway Children’s Charities

The mission of Speedway Children’s Charities remains true to the ideals it was founded upon in 1982: To care for children in educational, financial, social and medical need in order to help them lead productive lives. SCC provides funding for hundreds of nonprofit organizations throughout the nation that meet the direct needs of children. Our vision is that every child has the same opportunities no matter what obstacle they are facing.

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

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