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Drew Dollar – No. 51 Sunbelt Rentals Tundra Camping World Trucks Charlotte Preview

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Official Release
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Drew Dollar: Driver, No. 51 Sunbelt® Rentals Toyota

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Overview:
Event: N.C. Education Lottery 200, Race 10 of 22, 134 Laps – 30/30/74; 200 Miles
Location: Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway (1.5-mile quad-oval)
Date/Broadcast: May 28, 2021 at 8:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR 90

The Data on Dollar:

  • Drew Dollar will make his second career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start behind the wheel of the No. 51 Tundra in Friday night’s 134-lap event at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway as part of an eight-race schedule with Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) in 2021. Sunbelt Rentals, the premiere rental company in North America, will serve as the primary sponsor on Dollar’s Tundra Friday and for five more races this season. In addition to Friday night’s race, the remaining six races on Dollar’s schedule in the No. 51 Tundra this season are Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth (June 12), Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway (June 18), Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway (Sept. 16), Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway (Sept. 24), Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway (Oct. 2) and the series finale at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway (Nov. 5).
  • Friday will be Dollar’s first-ever start in any series at Charlotte, but he logged 30 laps and posted the third fastest time of the day in an ARCA Menards Series test at the 1.5-mile quad-oval on May 11. The Georgia native will be pulling double duty this weekend, as he will pilot the No. 20 Camry for Venturini Motorsports in Saturday’s night’s ARCA Menards Series event. While Friday night will be Dollar’s first mile-and-a-half start in the Truck Series, he has recorded an average finish of 5.8 across five career starts on 1.5-mile circuits in the ARCA Menards Series, including a runner-up finish in his most recent outing at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City on May 1.
  • In his Camping World Trucks debut in February, Dollar exited Turn 4 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway in the third position on the final lap before getting clipped from behind and getting swept up in a last-lap crash. Despite the incident, the 20-year-old driver brought the JBL Tundra home in the 10th position.
  • In addition to his part-time schedule with KBM in the Truck Series, Dollar is competing in a limited schedule in the ARCA Menards Series this season. Despite not being scheduled to compete in the series most recent event, the 20-year-old driver ranks sixth in the standings behind the strength of an average finish of 3.8 across his four starts this year.
  • The Toyota Racing Development driver finished fourth in the ARCA Menards Series championship standings in 2020 after recording one win, four top-five and 14 top-10 finishes across 20 starts. Dollar led 40 laps en route to his lone series victory at Talladega Superspeedway last June. He also finished inside the top 10 in both of his ARCA Menards Series starts in 2019, including a sixth-place finish in his series debut at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.
  • After nine events, the No. 51 sits second in the Camping World Truck Series owner standings, 31 tallies behind KBM’s No. 4 team. The No. 51 team leads the series with three victories, with owner-driver Kyle Busch collecting victories at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Ga., and Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, while Martin Truex Jr. picked up first-ever Truck Series victory at the Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway Dirt Track.
  • Mardy Lindley is in his first season as a crew chief at KBM. Before arriving at KBM, Lindley guided his drivers to 32 wins and four ARCA Menards Series East championships since 2013, including back-to-back titles with Sam Mayer the last two seasons. Additionally, he earned the ARCA Menards Series Sioux Chief Showdown championship with Mayer in 2020. Behind the wheel, the second-generation driver won 11 races on the Pro Cup Series from 2000 to 2006 and was crowned the series champion in 2001. Friday night will be Lindley’s first time calling a race at Charlotte.

Drew Dollar, Driver Q&A:

What has it been like waiting to get back in a truck?
“I’ve been really excited to get back behind the wheel of the Tundra. I’ve had a lot of races in the ARCA car in the meantime, so that’s kept me sharp. I’ve had a lot of simulator time as well and a lot of time to study for the races coming up. I’m really excited to get back behind the wheel of the Tundra this weekend.”

You participated in the ARCA test at Charlotte a couple weeks ago. How did that go? How will that help you this weekend?
“The ARCA test a couple of weeks ago I feel like will be beneficial just to have already seen the track in person in the Camry. The speeds are going to be a little bit different, but I think the lines are going to be similar. Obviously, the track is the exact same, so that will be good. It will be good for me to have some notes going into the race. We have practice so that will help me get up to speed.”

How important will it be for you to have practice this weekend at Charlotte?
“Having 50 minutes of practice is going to be pretty big for me. I’ve never been in a truck before on a 1.5-mile track. Daytona is so different. Just to be able to familiarize myself with my Sunbelt Tundra and kind of figure out how to run it around a mile-and-a-half will be really beneficial for me.”

What does it mean to have Sunbelt on your Tundra this weekend?
“We’ve always had Sunbelt Rentals on the Camry in ARCA, so it’s really exciting to have them on a Tundra this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. That’ll be really cool to see it on a truck. I look forward to having a good run with them.”

Drew Dollar Career Highlights:

  • Across 26 career ARCA Menards Series starts has one win, 47 laps led, seven top-five and 20 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 7.8.
  • Picked up his first career ARCA Menards Series victory at Talladega Superspeedway June 20, 2020.
  • Finished fourth in the ARCA Menards Series championship standings in 2020 after recording one win, four top-five and 14 top-10 finishes across 20 starts.
  • Recorded two top-five and seven top-10 finishes with 49 laps led across eight NASAR K&N Pro Series East starts in 2019.
  • Began his racing career in Bandoleros at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway in 2016 and in 2018 moved up to Legend Cars where he won 20 races across the country and was crowned the INEX Semi-Pro National Points champion.

Drew Dollar’s No. 51 Sunbelt Rentals Tundra:

KBM-059: The No. 51 JBL team will unload KBM-59 for Friday night’s race at Charlotte. It will be the first start in 2021 for this particular Tundra. Raphael Lessard finished fourth with KBM-59 in its most recent outing last October at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. The chassis best result was a third-place finish with Chandler Smith in November of 2019 at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway.
Click Here for KBM-059 Performance Profile:

KBM Notes of Interest:

  • Across 30 starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway, KBM drivers have earned six wins, three poles, 13 top-five and 21 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 9.2 and an average finish of 9.0.
  • Owner-driver Kyle Busch has collected all six of his organization’s wins (2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2018).
  • KBM holds the Camping World Truck Series records for most career wins (85) and most wins in a single season (14 in 2014). With his victory at the Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt Track, Martin Truex Jr. became the 16th different driver to win a Truck Series event for KBM. In addition to collecting a series-record seven Owner’s Championships, the organization has produced two championship-winning drivers: Erik Jones (2015) and Christopher Bell (2017).
  • With 37 victories, the No. 51 is the winningest number in KBM’s Truck Series fleet.

Justice Brothers set for 76th Consecutive Indianapolis 500

By
Official Release
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Family Eager to continue tradition in person this year

INDIANAPOLIS (25 May, 2021) – The Indianapolis 500 is an event laden with traditions. For the 106th running of the event next Sunday – back where it belongs on Memorial Day weekend – race fans can be sure to experience the Purdue Marching Band, “Back Home Again in Indiana,” the balloon launch, “Start your engines,” the Borg-Warner Trophy and the cold bottle of milk in Victory Lane.

And, for the 76th time, the Justice family will be part of the event, returning to participate in the Greatest Spectacle in Racing as sponsors of cars entered by two teams-Meyer Shank Racing and Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. The two teams have driver line ups that are a fantastic mix of youth, speed, and winning experience with Sage Karam returning to Dreyer & Reinbold Racing while three-time winning driver Helio Castroneves has joined up with Jack Harvey as part of MSR’s expanded two-car effort for 2021.

The Justice family involvement at the Brickyard goes all the way back to 1946, when Zeke Justice was a member of George Robson’s winning team. While brothers Gus, Zeke and Ed worked to establish the family business in Jacksonville, Florida, Zeke made the Indy 500 an annual stop to bring added exposure to the products sold and promoted by the family. Bayless Everett drove the first Justice-sponsored entry in 1949, finishing 24th. The following year, Johnny Parsons drove a Justice-sponsored car to Indianapolis 500 victory, earning the Justice Brothers and the product they were selling world-wide prominence.

While the Justice Brothers moved back to California in the late 1950s, launching a successful line of automotive products branded with the family name, the Brickyard remained their second home for the month of May. Jim Rathmann followed up Parsons’ victory with a second-place finish in the 1952 Indy 500, driving a Justice Brothers-sponsored car entered by the Granatelli brothers.

Over the following years, drivers and teams sponsored by the Justice family reads like a “who’s who” in American motorsports, including legendary car builder A.J. Watson, Johnny Rutherford, A.J. Foyt, P.J. Jones, Andretti Autosport, Eddie Cheever, Steve Kinser, Buddy Rice, Buddy Lazier, Jeff Ward, Townsend Bell and Sage Karam. Foyt won his fourth Indy 500 in 1977 in a Justice-sponsored Coyote, and carried the family logo on the side of his 30th Indy 500 entry in 1987.

This weekend, Castroneves attempts to make history for the Justice Brothers when he seeks his fourth Indianapolis 500 victory in the No. 5 Honda for Meyer Shank Racing, with support from Ed Justice Jr. and his two daughters. Meyer Shank has also entered the No. 60 Honda for Jack Harvey. Dreyer & Reinbold Racing has the No. 24 Chevrolet for Sage Karam.

After after missing out on the chance to be on site for the 500 last year due to the pandemic, the Justice family is not only looking forward to supporting MSR and DRR this year, but also very much relishing the opportunity to do so in person again in 2021.

“All indications show this will be a very interesting year for the Indy 500, particularly when you look at how the season has started,” said Justice Brothers President & CEO Ed Justice Jr “We’re proud to have three excellent drivers representing us this year; Helio Castroneves, Jack Harvey and Sage Karem. Each of them has their own unique story and if Helio were to win a 4th that would be very special. I was lucky to be with A.J. Foyt the year he won his 4th, which was considered an impossible achievement at that time.”

Justice Brothers opened 2021 on a winning note, as factory team Wayne Taylor Racing clinched its fourth Rolex 24 At Daytona victory in five years, with Castroneves part of the winning lineup. The company has also backed winning cars in drag racing, off-road racing and rally cross in recent years. This weekend at Indianapolis, Justice Brothers looks to continue that winning legacy.

Connect with us on:
Facebook: JusticeBrothersInc
Twitter: @JusticeBrosInc
Instagram: justicebros

About Justice Brothers:
Justice Brothers, Inc. is a manufacturer and worldwide distributor of over 100 car care products, fleet, farm, and industrial lubricants and cleaners. Since their beginnings in the additive industry, the Justice Brothers Corporation has been an innovator in the development of new and better products to solve problems in the automotive service industry. During their over 85 years in the automotive industry, Justice Brothers has built a large and loyal customer base that encompasses quick lubes, dealerships, and independent auto stores.

GMS Racing Camping World Trucks Charlotte Preview

By
Official Release
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Sheldon Creed, No. 2 Chevrolet Silverado
Charlotte Motor Speedway Camping World Trucks Stats

  • Starts: 2, Best start: 10, Best finish: 5, Top 5: 1

2021 Camping World Trucks Stats

  • Starts: 9, Wins: 1, Best start: 2, Best finish: 1, Top 5s: 4, Top 10s: 5, Laps led: 125

Notes:

  • Track history: In addition to his two Camping World Trucks starts at the track, Sheldon Creed has two top-three finishes in two ARCA Menards Series starts at the track in 2018 and 2019.
  • Chassis history: Creed and the No. 2 team will utilize chassis no. 335 this weekend in Charlotte. This chassis is a brand new addition to the GMS stable.
  • Playoff outlook: Creed is currently third in the championship standings, 69 points behind the leader. Creed is locked into the playoffs with his win at Darlington.
  • Crew chief corner: Jeff Stankiewicz has called eight Camping World Trucks races at Charlotte Motor Speedway and has collected two top-five and four top-10 finishes in that time. Stankiewicz called Creed’s 20189 ARCA Menards Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Quote:

“I’m excited for practice again to try to work on our 1.5-mile stuff a little bit. We have a new truck this weekend so optimistic about that to see if we’ve made any improvements. Last shot at The Trip this weekend so I’m ready to get out there this weekend with my team and get after it.”

Zane Smith, No. 21 Good Sam Chevrolet Silverado
Charlotte Motor Speedway Camping World Trucks Stats

  • Starts: 1, Best start: 30, Best finish: 3, Laps led: 15

2021 Camping World Truck Stats

  • Starts: 9, Best start: 3, Best finish: 6, Top 10s: 5

Notes:

  • Sponsor spotlight: Good Sam returns to sponsor Zane Smith for Friday night’s North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
  • Chassis history: Smith and the No. 21 team will compete with chassis no. 325 this Friday in Charlotte. Smith has five top-10 finishes in eight starts with this chassis, including his third-place finish last May at Charlotte.
  • Playoff outlook: Smith is currently eighth in the championship standings, 137 points behind the leader and 44 points above the playoff cutoff line.

Quote:

“I’m super excited about Charlotte. I feel like this race last year really changed my life. It helped me grow an awesome fan base and changed a lot about myself as a driver. This was our first really stand out race. We finished right behind Chase (Elliott) and Kyle (Busch) and were the best of the regular truck guys. They’re not in the race this time so hopefully we can go do that again and win this one.”

Chase Purdy, No. 23 Bama Buggies Chevrolet Silverado
Charlotte Motor Speedway Camping World Trucks Stats

  • No prior Camping World Trucks starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

2021 Camping World Trucks Stats

  • Starts: 9, Best start: 4, Best finish: 18, Laps led: 4

Notes:

  • Track history: Chase Purdy will make his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The rookie has one ARCA start at the track in 2018 where he started seventh.
  • Chassis history: Purdy and the No. 23 team will compete with chassis No. 321 this weekend in Charlotte. GMS has led 111 laps and collected three top-10 finishes in six starts with this chassis.
  • Championship Outlook: Purdy is currently 23rd in the championship points standings, 122 points back from the playoff cutoff line.
  • Crew chief corner: Jeff Hensley has called 17 Camping World Trucks races at Charlotte Motor Speedway and has collected two top-five and 10 top-10 finishes in that time. Quote:

“I’m excited about Charlotte this weekend. It’s a track I’ve raced at before so that gives me some confidence heading into the race. It’s a home race for all of us and I’m excited about getting practice and qualifying.”

Jack Wood, No. 24 Chevy Accessories Chevrolet Silverado
Charlotte Motor Speedway Camping World Trucks Stats

  • No prior Camping World Trucks starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

2021 Camping World Truck Stats

  • Starts: 1

Notes:

  • Seeing double: Jack Wood will pull double duty this weekend, competing in Friday night’s North Carolina Education Lottery 200 as well as Saturday night’s ARCA Menards Series event in the No. 21 for GMS Racing.
  • Chassis history: Wood and the No. 24 team will compete with chassis no. 301 this Friday in Charlotte. This chassis went to victory lane at Charlotte in 2018 with the 21 team for GMS and has 11 top-10 finishes in 17 starts with the organization.
  • Crew chief corner: In addition to the 2020 Camping World Trucks race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Chad Walter has called 13 NASCAR Xfinity Series races at the track, collecting three top-five and five top-10 finishes.

Quote:

“My first 1.5-mile start in a truck is going to be very challenging. I’ve been able to spend time on the Chevrolet simulator this week and worked on some really good things that will translate over to the race this weekend. I’m looking forward to the challenge, and very excited to get behind the wheel of the 24 truck once again.”

Tyler Ankrum, No. 26 LiUNA! Chevrolet Silverado
Charlotte Motor Speedway Camping World Trucks Stats

  • Starts: 2, Best start: 2, Best finish: 13

2021 Camping World Truck Stats

  • Starts: 9, Best start: 1, Best finish: 3, Top 5s: 2, Laps led: 10

Notes:

  • Sponsor spotlight: LiUNA! returns this week to feature on Tyler Ankrum’s No. 26 Silverado with a white scheme for the first time this season.
  • Chassis history: Ankrum and the No. 26 team will utlize chassis no. 326 this weekend in Charlotte. Ankrum has three top-10 finishes in nine starts with this chassis dating back to Texas in July 2020.
  • Playoff outlook: Ankrum enters the Charlotte weekend 14th in the championship standings, 47 points back from the playoff cutoff line.
  • Crew chief corner: Charles Denike won last year’s Camping World Trucks race at Charlotte Motor Speedway with Chase Elliott.

Quote:

“I’m pumped up for Charlotte. I’ve had speed and success there before. Ready to keep the momentum rolling after COTA last week. I’m very excited about the summertime scheme we have revisited with LiUNA. It should be a good, hot weekend and I’m ready to get after it!”

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. The team also competes in the ARCA Racing Series with Jack Wood. Since the team began in 2014, GMS Racing won the 2016 and 2020 Camping World Trucks Championship, the 2015 ARCA Racing 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://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.

GMS Racing ARCA Charlotte Preview

By
Official Release
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Jack Wood, No. 21 Chevy Accessories Chevrolet
Charlotte Motor Speedway Stats

  • No prior starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway. 2021 ARCA Menards Series Stats
  • Starts: 4, Best start: 4, Best finish: 4, Top 5s: 1, Top 10s: 2

Notes:

  • Jack Wood will be pulling double duty this week at Charlotte Motor Speedway, competing in Friday night’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race in the No. 24 Silverado for GMS as well as Saturday night’s General Tire 150.
  • Wood and the No. 21 team will compete with chassis no. 410 this weekend at Charlotte. This is the same chassis that Wood placed fourth with at Kansas and the 21 team earned two top-five finishes with in 2020.
  • Wood enters the Kansas weekend eighth in series points.

Quote:

“We tested at Charlotte earlier this month and we found some speed in our Chevy. I think it will be a difficult race because Charlotte is a lot more challenging compared to Kansas, but running the truck race Friday night will definitely help me be prepared for Saturday’s ARCA race. I’m excited to get back to the track with my GMS team.”

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. The team also competes in the ARCA Racing Series with Jack Wood. Since the team began in 2014, GMS Racing won the 2016 and 2020 Camping World Trucks Championship, the 2015 ARCA Racing 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

‘Controlled Chaos’ with Ron Capps

By
Briar Starr
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2021 NHRA Southern Nationals, Photo Courtesy of Auto Imagery

In this week’s interview, Speedway Media caught up with Funny Car veteran and Don Schumacher Racing driver, Ron Capps.

During the interview, the San Luis Obispo, California native discussed what he thinks his best season was, his favorite Countdown to the Championship win, his “Welcome to NHRA moment” and if someone were to play him in a movie, who would that person be?

SM: You’ve competed in 571 races since 1995. During your 26 years of racing, which season did you feel was your best and why?

RC: “I would say my best season would definitely have to be, 2016 (the year Capps won the 2016 Funny Car championship,” Capps said. “Looking back, I had some great seasons and memories with different teams such as the Copenhagen team with Don Prudhomme and the years we’ve come close to winning a championship. I would have to say the consistency and the grittiness we had to win the 2016 Championship is the best season I can remember.”

SM: An additional follow-up to that question, since 2007 when the countdown started, you’ve gained six wins and six runner-up finishes. Out of those six wins in the countdown, what’s the most special win you’ve achieved?

RC: “I’m not even sure. It’s funny you ask about those six wins in Countdown (NHRA’s version of a playoff championship). “Honestly, I don’t really remember (those victories). It’s funny because I only remember the races that we lost and the ones we lost I really thought we should have won were close races, to be honest with you.”

SM: At one moment during a driver’s career, they usually experience an explosion in the car whether it’s the body flying off or the motor blowing up, etc. What would you say is the most violent or wildest crash you’ve experienced?

RC: “The SKOAL explosion in Dallas (in 2002) the car body imploded on me, was probably one of the scariest explosions. The explosion trapped my arms in the car,” Capps said. “For sure, not an explosion, but the time (my car) went into the sand traps at Indy upside down and into the net, NHRA’s people (Safety Safari) could not get the net undone. They could not get me out of the car and that was probably two and a half minutes the scariest I’ve been in a Funny Car, just because the only way out of these things are the roof hatch and I couldn’t get out of that or the side windows. A lot of thoughts go through your head when you’re laying upside down with fuel, oil, and all the other stuff making weird noises.”

SM: Has there ever been a moment where you’ve gotten lost at the track? If so, where did you get lost and how did you get back to the right destination?

RC: “There’s been plenty of times where I have almost gotten into the wrong tow vehicle where we run special paint schemes and different colored cars and different things for NAPA, especially with cars you’re not used to,” he said. “I’m used to the original color. There’s been cars where I’ve seen change their color and other times like that where I’ve gotten a little bit lost at the track.”

SM: Most drivers have their “Welcome to NHRA moment.” For you, when did you have that moment and how did you take that learning lesson moving forward?

RC: “The first time I felt like I made it was in Topeka, Kansas with (the late) Al Hoffman (NHRA drag racer and team owner),” Capps said. Al Hoffman invited me to go back and hang out at the bar and offered to buy me a beer. I sat and had beers with Al Hoffman, which was one of those cool moments.”

SM: If your driving career was over tomorrow, but you had the option to stay in the sport whether it’s as a crew chief, engineer, specialist, in marketing, etc., what would your other career choice be if you stuck around in motorsports, but were not racing in the Funny Car?

RC: “If I stuck around the sport and had another job of sorts, eventually I would love to be a team owner and that’s my goal,” he said. “If I had another job at the track, I would love to work with younger drivers or be some sort of coach or maybe a team manager type of thing.”

SM: Sometimes people get mistaken for other people and that especially happens in racing a lot. Have you ever been mistaken for someone while at the drag strip and if so, who?

RC: “The funniest thing is and it happened to him, I would get called Jimmie Johnson,” Capps said. “I would be walking out of a Supercross race in Anaheim or at another event or something and I had people yell out Jimmie Johnson! He (Johnson) has had it done as well to him. My wife always laughs about it because she always sees the comparison between us.”

SM: If you could relive a moment in your career, what moment are you choosing to relive?

RC: “Some of those wins at the races when the kids were young and I have plenty of pictures around the house that we’ve been going through,” he said. “You take it for granted, especially when the kids are that young. Gosh, Sonoma with the kids in my arms in the winner circle. The first double with Don Prudhomme against Larry Dixon. I had my kids in my arms during the interview area, which was 1998.”

SM: You have 26 No. 1 qualifiers with your first coming in ‘97 at Seattle. Favorite No. 1 qualifier?

RC: “Honestly, this year in Gainesville,” Capps said. “We had John Medlen (veteran tuner who works for Don Schumacher Racing) and a lot of new stuff and getting used to new things. It was a lot like starting over. That was a big moment to come out with a brand new team and win the pole at the very first Camping World race.”

SM: I am sure there are many achievements that you would like to cross off the list before you retire, however, is there a checklist or bucket list item that you want to complete before retirement?

RC: “I’ve talked about it before, but going back to Top Fuel, would be one of them,” he said. “Going back to where I started as a professional, I someday would love to go back there (Top Fuel) and get to race with some of these drivers and teams who I don’t get to compete against in Funny Car. Teammate Antron Brown, Leah (Pruett), of course, (Billy and Steve) Torrence, Doug Kalitta. It would be fun to do that before I get out of the car completely. I know a lot of drivers in the past have done that and went back and forth (between classes). That (going back to Top Fuel) would be a big thing I would like to check off the list.”

SM: For someone who doesn’t know what it is like sitting in a Funny Car, can you describe the feeling of going 330 mph in a matter of seconds?

RC: “Luckily, I wore those glasses and posted the view on my social media pages inside a Funny Car,” Capps said. “It’s an amazing thing to go back and watch that (Funny Car runs during a camera view). Trying to describe it, the time you step on the gas in a Funny Car, it’s complete and utter controlled chaos. It’s like the world is flying apart for 3.8 seconds and you’re doing everything you can to keep it in the middle of the track, knowing you have everybody behind you. Controlled chaos is the best description I have.”

SM: Wrapping this interview up, let’s say someone is going to play you in a racing movie. What would the title of the movie be and who is going to play Ron Capps?

RC: “Shoot, I think Controlled Chaos like I said earlier, kind of a catchy thing,” he said. “I think it would be cool for somebody to have a breakout role, somebody that is up and coming that nobody really knows and their career takes off for some small movie about me.”

Throughout Capps’s career, the Don Schumacher Racing driver has 571 starts, 66 career wins (second on the all-time win list to John Force), 61 runner-up finishes, 104 semi-final round appearances, 124 quarter round and 200 first-round appearances. He has 26 No. 1 qualifiers and 19 DNQs with a win-loss record of 772 to 486.

Fans of Ron Capps can follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Additionally, you can follow Don Schumacher Racing on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out their website here.

Walmart and Stringer Performance partnering with Spire Motorsports and Justin Haley for Three-Day Vaccine Event at Charlotte Motor Speedway

By
Official Release
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Event is Part of Walmart’s Mobile Wellness Program to Focus on Education in Vaccination Efforts

Concord, N.C. (May 25, 2021) – In a nationwide effort to help expand COVID-19 vaccine uptake, Walmart today announced a partnership with their Walmart mobile wellness program, Stringer Performance and Spire Motorsports for a three-day vaccination and education event at Charlotte Motor Speedway leading up to Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600.

Walmart’s licensed pharmacists will be onsite to vaccinate eligible attendees of the event Friday, May 28 from 4:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m., Saturday, May 29 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Sunday, May 30 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The event will take place at the speedway’s Fan Zone near sections O5-O7. Attendees 12 and older can walk up to get the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine while allocation lasts. Information on where to get a second dose of the vaccine will be available onsite. Insurance is not required and there is no cost to receive the vaccine, however patients should bring their insurance card if they have one.

Spire Motorsports’ driver and NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship contender Justin Haley, and six-time World Champion and Top Fuel Driver, Clay Millican will be available to sign autographs at the Walmart event. Millican will be available for a meet and greet with fans on Saturday, May 29 at 3 p.m. Haley and Millican will be onsite Sunday May 30 at 3 p.m. to greet fans ahead of the race. Stringer Performance and Millican have been promoting vaccination education and hosting events with Walmart over the past month.

“Walmart is so excited for this opportunity to partner with Spire Motorsports and Justin Haley for this vaccine event. Our mobile wellness vehicles allow us to be out in the community and help provide vaccines to as many eligible community members as possible. We want to help the country re-open and can only achieve that through widespread COVID-19 vaccination. This event helps us get one step closer to our goal,” said Nick Infante, vice president state and local government relations at Walmart.

As part of these events and in addition to the vaccine clinic, the Mobile Wellness program will generate education and awareness of Walmart’s wellness services, in tandem with the program sponsor products from Clorox, Kleenex, and GSK.

Walmart and Sam’s Club pharmacies will continue supporting states and the federal government to help increase the accessibility and availability of COVID-19 vaccines. To stay up to date on how Walmart and Sam’s Club are supporting the vaccine rollout, visit https://corporate.walmart.com/covid-vaccine.

About Walmart in North Carolina …
Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better – anytime and anywhere – in retail stores, online and through their mobile devices. In North Carolina we serve customers at 217 retail units and online through Walmart Online Grocery, http://Walmart.com and our family of brands. We are proud to employ 59,047 associates in North Carolina. Walmart supports local businesses, spending $13.2 billion with North Carolina suppliers in FYE18 and supporting 87,596 North Carolina supplier jobs. Walmart continues to be a leader in employment opportunity, sustainability, and corporate philanthropy. In FY18, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation contributed more than $68 million in cash and in-kind donations to local nonprofits in North Carolina and our North Carolina associates volunteered more than 16,000 hours with local causes. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting our corporate website and our Instagram, Facebook and Twitter channels.

About Stringer Performance …
Stringer Performance is a marketing and management company specializing in the operations of professional drag racing entities. The company is committed to practicing corporate social responsibility for its actions, and through its activities, with the goal to positively affect society, consumers, employees, and other stakeholders. Their professional drivers include Clay Millican (NHRA Top Fuel Dragster), Paul Lee (NHRA Nitro Funny Car), and Jeff Lutz (Street Outlaws/No Prep). For more information visit: www.stringerperformance.com

About Spire Motorsports …
Spire Motorsports was established in 2018 and is co-owned by longtime NASCAR industry executives Jeff Dickerson and Thaddeus “T.J.” Puchyr. Spire Motorsports earned an upset victory for the ages in its first full season when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 7, 2019.

Absolute Wall & Ceiling Systems and Fire Wall Signs joining Jeremy Clements Racing at Charlotte

By
Official Release
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Spartanburg, SC – Jeremy Clements Racing is extremely excited to continue building the JCR family with two new partners: Absolute Wall & Ceiling Systems and Fire Wall Signs. They will both make their debut into the NASCAR XFINITY Series in the Alsco Uniforms 300 as Co-Primary sponsors at the Charlotte Motor Speedway this coming Saturday, May 29th.

“I’m stoked to have Fire Wall Signs and Absolute Wall & Ceiling coming on board this weekend. They are totally new to NASCAR and we are fortunate to have them as sponsors and can’t wait to put on a good show for them and the Fans this weekend at Charlotte.” Clements said.

Joining as associate sponsors will be: Whitetail Smokeless, Fox Sports Spartanburg, Chalew Performance, ELITE Towing & Recovery LLC, Circle Body Shop, Mechanix Wear, Wix Filters, Carolina Driveline, Cometic and ZMAX

RACE PREVIEW
Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway
Race: Alsco Uniforms 300
Date: May 29th, 2021
Broadcast Information – TV: 1:00 pm EST on FS1

FAST FACTS:
• Best Start 17th – 5/2019
• Best Finish 13th – 5/2019
• 23rd career start at Charlotte

JCR TEAM
Team: No. 51
Crew Chief: Mark Setzer
Manufacturer: Chevrolet
Engine: Clements Racing Engines
Twitter: @JClement51 @JCR_Clements51
Instagram: @jclements51 @jeremyclementsracing
Facebook: Jeremy Clements Racing

ABOUT FIRE WALL SIGNS INC

Fire Wall Signs, Inc. was founded in 2004 by Jimmy and Beverly Moore as a family owned and operated fire-rated sign company out of Wilmington, NC

Since its inception, Fire Wall Signs has continued to create and develop signs used to identify the actual fire-rated integrity of walls, both residential and commercial, in compliance with the International Building Code.

Today, Fire Wall Signs has become one of the largest nationwide suppliers of fire-rated signs to contractors and building owners. In addition to customers having the ability to purchase directly from Fire Wall Signs via its website, it has created more than 200 local distributors throughout the United States to better serve its customers.

Over its 17 years of existence, Fire Wall Signs has become one of the most widely recognized and accepted sign companies for marking and identifying fire-rated walls.

ABOUT ABSOLUTE WALL & CEILING SYSTEMS

Absolute Wall & Ceiling Systems, Inc. out of Wilmington, NC is a family operated commercial subcontractor providing metal stud, drywall and acoustical ceiling services throughout Southeast NC, Northeast SC and surrounding areas since 1999. We specialize in office up-fits, commercial build-outs, multi-family housing, assisted living developments, municipal projects, educational and healthcare facilities. As a certified woman business enterprise and veteran owned contractor, we are positioned to attend to private, state and federal contracting requirements. Our employees are family and have a vested interest in the professional execution of each and every project. Basically, our mission is simple – to provide top quality commercial wall and ceiling systems while working within the partnership and framework of customers, employees and vendors.

How to Find the Right Football Betting Platform

By
SM
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Football betting is gaining popularity today. In the past, most people could go to a betting shop to place their bets. But today, there are online platforms that are offering different services to gamblers. If you want to take the work to the next level, there are few things to consider. Opting for online betting sites is the best if you want to increase your betting experience. But before this, getting the right football betting platform should be the main thing to consider. So many sites are being developed, but most of them might not offer the services required. That is why you must seek the best site to offer all the benefits a gambler should enjoy. Websites like 188loto.com are one of the trusted betting sites for both beginners and experts. If you are looking for a good football betting company, here are some essential things to keep in mind.

Questions You Must Ask:

  1. Is the Football Betting Platform Legal? 

The first thing is checking on the legality of the site you are working with. Note that there are several betting sites seen on the internet today. To be safe, it is vital to research the legalities of the site. Therefore, read about the licensing of the online gambling platform and see if the one you are going for is fully licensed. All the information about football betting platform licensing is always given on various websites. When reading about this, it is essential to know about the reputation of the site. Look at the duration that the sites have been operating.

  1. Can the Site be Trusted? 

A gambler can only benefit from the trusted site. Checking the legality of the site will tell you if the site can be trusted or not. But other additional things can be sure to check if the site can be trusted. Since most of the research will be done on the internet, take advantage of the information provided about the football betting platform. When on the internet, the following must be done to make the result appealing.

  • Read about the site 
  • Read the comments of the past users of the site
  • Read the terms and conditions

Most of the information about the site is provided under the about category. Ensure reading everything to know if the site suits what you are looking for or not. Also, by reading the comments of the people who have used the site, it is easy to know if the services offered are genuine. For the football betting platform’s manager to put the comments public, they must trust the services of their sites. Reading the terms and conditions is crucial since you do not want to waste time using a site that will not benefit you.  Therefore, it is always important to read the reviews before choosing the online football betting platform.

  1. What is the Process of Depositing and Withdrawing Money?

This is important to the gamblers because the main aim is making cash through online betting platforms. A site such as 188loto.com is providing the best ways of deposit and withdrawing money. Almost all type of banks is supported when using such sites. At the same time, you should see if they can support your preferred payment option to make work easier. Since you will provide your information and bank details, ensure going for a secured football betting site.

NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: COTA

By
Jeffrey Boswell
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Chase Elliott races during the NASCAR Cup Series EchoPark Texas Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas on May 23, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin finished 14th in the EchoPark Texas Grand Prix, only his fourth finish outside the top 10 this season.

“I’m just happy to make it out of there alive,” Hamlin said. “Like Kevin Harvick said, it was too dangerous to be racing in those conditions. Obviously, visibility was a factor for the drivers and for NASCAR officials, because they apparently couldn’t see jack. But what better place to be shielded from treacherous elements than an ivory tower.”

2. Kyle Larson: Larson finished second at the Circuit of The Americas as Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott took the win.

“The track at the Circuit of The Americas was built for Formula 1 racing,” Busch said. “Prior to 2014, F1 cars were distinguishable by their engines’ high-pitched whine. Many NASCAR drivers are distinguishable by their high-pitched whines about racing in the rain.”

3. Chase Elliott: Elliott won the rain-shortened EchoPark Texas Grand Prix after 54 laps, giving Hendrick Motorsports its 268th win, tying Petty Enterprises for most all-time by an organization.

“I like HMS’s chances to take the top spot outright,” Elliott said. “Why? As you know, Petty Enterprises is defunct. That’s not to be confused with ‘de-funk,’ which is how NASCAR fans sanitize their campers after a weekend at a NASCAR infield.”

4. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex’s day at Cota ended early on Lap 24 when Cole Custer rear-ended him as rain severely limited visibility.

“Visibility was terrible,” Truex said. “If I had to give it a grade, I would give visibility a ‘C minus.'”

5. William Byron: Byron suffered an early flat tire at COTA, but recovered to salvage a 12th place finish..

“I also got rear-ended by Matt DiBenedetto,” Byron said. “There seemed to be a lot of that happening at COTA—drivers wildly ramming into the back of another. And talk about an awkward situation, when the rammee confronts the rammer and asks, ‘How’d your front end get into my back end?'”

6. Kevin Harvick: Harvick crashed hard in the rain on Lap 19 at COTA in a chain-reaction wreck also involving Ryan Blaney, Bubba Wallace, and Christopher Bell. Harvick finished 37th. Afterward, Harvick decried NASCAR’s decision to race in the severely wet conditions.

“That was the most dangerous racing I’ve ever been involved in,” Harvick said. “Correction. Second-most dangerous. I’ve raced against Kyle Busch when he was mad at me.”

7. Joey Logano: Logano won Stage 1 in the EchoPark Texas Grand Prix and finished third, posting his sixth top-five of the season.

“I think NASCAR fans love wet-weather racing,” Logano said. “They actually cheered when they saw the grooved tires go on. It may be one of the only times you’ll see NASCAR fans fly the ‘Do Tread On Me’ flags.”

8. Alex Bowman: Bowman finished eighth at COTA as Hendrick Motorsports teammates Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson finished 1-2.

“This was the first NASCAR Cup race at the Circuit of The Americas,” Bowman said. “Say what you will about treacherous conditions, a rain-shortened race and disgruntled drivers, but we certainly ‘made a splash.'”

9. Kyle Busch: Busch won Stage 2 at COTA and finished 10th.

“I led 12 laps,” Busch said, “and eclipsed the 18,000 laps led mark. Now, I don’t see myself catching Richard Petty. He led over 51,000 laps in his career. That’s okay, because no one’s ever going to mistake me for a king. The closest I’ve ever come to royalty is being called a ‘princess.'”

10. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski finished a disappointing 19th in the Texas Grand Prix at COTA.

“Matthew McConaughey served as grand marshal for Sunday’s race,” Keselowski said. “McConaughey is a superstar, so when he said, ‘Drivers, start your engines,’ the crowd went wild. In other words, the ‘joint was lit.'”

Technological Innovations in Automotive Travel

By
SM
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The technological progress from the inception of the automotive vehicle to what it is right now is outstanding. In just a span of a little over a century, we have reached unimaginable heights regarding cars. The car was an invention made primarily to transport goods and heavy loads. The automobile has a hazy beginning, as most consider the steam-powered engine built by Nicolas Joseph Cugnot in 1769 the first-ever car. Some also attribute the first-ever vehicle to Robert Anderson in 1832, even if it was powered electrically.

Nevertheless, the credit went to Karl Freidrich Benz in 1885. In a move that is innovative, practical, and mainly for profit, the invention of the vehicle was pioneered by him. Mainly gas-powered by definition, the first-ever car was made with an internal combustion engine – only three-wheeled and has an integrated body.

Now, car travel is centered around the comfort and convenience of the passenger. The freedom the car brings is one of man’s greatest luxuries. Almost all modern activities are made possible because of the modern vehicle. Transportation has been key in all the progress man has made through the decades. International and local economies are not possible without the transportation methods we have right now.

Transportation has been so efficient that the focus has shifted to the comfort and convenience of the people being transported. We became so successful with transporting people with cars that car manufacturers have added lots of accessories and perks to the modern car to make their products more attractive.

What new technological innovations in automotive travel do we have at the moment?

Electrical Vehicles

To cut down on carbon emissions, electric vehicles are finally making their mark in the automotive industry. Electric vehicles are those which do not rely on any gas for fuel. They need to get charged by electricity to run for a set amount of time. Through the years, more and more car manufacturers are joining in the trend of electric car creation. To date, there are thousands of charging stations for electric vehicles in North America alone. The outlook is that by the year 2050, all vehicles will not rely on gas anymore. For example, in the United Kingdom, 6.5 million households plan to buy electric cars for their consumption by the year 2030. These cars take only a few hours to charge and emits zero carbon emissions.

Self-driving Cars

The future is now. There are also self-driving cars available for commercial use in this decade. Ever since the birth of efficient integrated circuit boards, self-driving cars powered by very smart and intuitive artificial intelligence became available for even the most common cars. You can easily buy a new Subaru car that is straight-up self-driving. The new models automatically press on the brakes when you approach another vehicle, a wall, or a person. Its cruise control isn’t completely autonomous, but it will allow you to stay on your lane while on a long drive. Most cars have artificial intelligence that puts safety above all else. While it is slightly more expensive than regular cars, it will keep your costs down on physical repairs. It also helps you park in any terrain and any position.

Integrated Home Computer

Modern vehicles now almost have a mini-computer in the system. Like a computer, you can install all the available applications you desire through its Wi-Fi and internet-ready systems. The computers act as a monitoring system for your car’s fluid levels, as well as your tires’ pressure levels. Integrated home computers allow the user to use the car like a tablet. While parked, the driver or its passengers can use the computer in whatever manner they want.

Automotive Navigation Systems

Navigation may be one of the earliest tools integrated into the car during the digital age. While the technology isn’t new, navigational systems have gone so precise for many car computer systems. Triangulation and GPS have become so accurate in our era that you can track the position of your car by the meter. It also allows the driver to find the fastest path available towards the destination. Navigation is the technology in which all other innovations rely on their inventions. For example, self-driving cars rely on automotive navigation systems to clearly press the right buttons when a decision point needs to be made.

Cars have come a long way since Karl Benz. As technology improves, we will see more improvements to cars in the upcoming decades.

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