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NHRA Spring Nationals at Houston in rain delay

By
Briar Starr
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Photo Courtesy of NHRA

After five races in the first round of Top Fuel category, Mother Nature returned to Houston Raceway Park interrupting the action and causing a delay in the action.

In the first round so far, Clay Millican defeated Arthur Allen when Millican went 3.759 and 323.50 mph. Billy Torrence won over Mike Salinas after a time of 3.694 seconds and 329.50 mph and Don Schumacher Racing driver Antron Brown defeated Lee Callaway. Others advancing to the second round include Steve Torrence who won against Mitch King and Justin Ashley, after eliminating Leah Preutt in Round 1.

The next scheduled match-up is slated to be No. 6 qualifier Brittany Force against Doug Kalitta who qualified ninth.

When the rest of the first-round matchups of Top Fuel occur, here is how they’ll play out – No. 6 qualifier Brittany Force vs No. 9 qualifier Doug Kalitta.

Additionally, Funny Car and Pro Stock classes are yet to run their first rounds.

Funny Car:

1. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 3.908, 331.53 vs. 16. Jim Campbell, Dodge Charger, 7.603, 83.55; 2. Alexis DeJoria, Toyota Camry, 3.912, 307.44 vs. 15. Todd Simpson, Chevy Camaro, 5.712, 125.16; 3. Ron Capps, Charger, 3.941, 315.42 vs. 14. Paul Lee, Charger, 4.133, 250.13; 4. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.943, 323.12 vs. 13. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 4.072, 312.21; 5. Robert Hight, Camaro, 3.954, 324.05 vs. 12. Bobby Bode, Mustang, 4.030, 313.58; 6. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.961, 324.12 vs. 11. Chad Green, Mustang, 4.011, 323.81; 7. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.975, 319.07 vs. 10. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 4.009, 314.46; 8. J.R. Todd, Camry, 3.994, 322.58 vs. 9. John Force, Camaro, 4.000, 275.84.

Pro Stock:

1. Dallas Glenn, Chevy Camaro, 6.549, 210.01 vs. 16. Cristian Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.640, 208.52; 2. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.549, 208.97 vs. 15. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Mustang, 6.621, 208.46; 3. Kyle Koretsky, Camaro, 6.552, 208.68 vs. 14. Rodger Brogdon, Camaro, 6.602, 209.26; 4. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.554, 210.14 vs. 13. Val Smeland, Camaro, 6.595, 208.62; 5. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.566, 210.41 vs. 12. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.591, 204.88; 6. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.567, 209.69 vs. 11. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.580, 209.36; 7. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.570, 208.97 vs. 10. Bruno Massel, Camaro, 6.574, 209.69; 8. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.570, 208.84 vs. 9. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.571, 209.01.


Did Not Qualify:

17. Fernando Cuadra, 6.684, 207.53; 18. Shane Tucker, 6.788, 204.20; 19. John Callahan, 7.125, 197.88; 20. Alan Prusiensky, 7.304, 202.76.

There have been no updates as of this writing for when NHRA will return to on-track action.

TYLER REDDICK EARNS POLE FOR ECHOPARK AUTOMOTIVE TEXAS GRAND PRIX AT CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS

By
Official Release
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AUSTIN, Texas (May 23, 2021) – Tyler Reddick earned the first pole position of his career in the NASCAR Cup Series Sunday morning during group qualifying for today’s EchoPark Automotive Texas Grand Prix, which is scheduled to take the green flag at 1:30 p.m. CT (FS1 and PRN Radio).

Reddick posted the fastest lap around Circuit of The Americas’ 3.41-mile, 20-turn course with a performance of 132.911 seconds at 92.363 mph in his No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevy. Reddick, who finished eighth in yesterday’s Pit Boss 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race after starting fifth, says he’s worked hard to better his road racing skills.

“It’s pretty well known that I haven’t been very good on road courses and I didn’t want that to be my weakness anymore,” Reddick said. “I just focused during the off-season at being better. I put a lot of work into this, being better and this whole team did a great job to help me get better. I had to get my confidence up and getting a top 10 in the Xfinity race with Jordan Anderson Racing and running that car yesterday really helped. As crazy as it sounds, I want this track to be my next Homestead (-Miami Speedway); I really want to put a lot into it. When I walked the track here on Friday morning the surface reminded me a lot of Homestead, it lays a lot of rubber down. I have no wall to pack air on, but hopefully I can search around and find grip in this race today and give this team the good run that it deserves.”

Reddick will start on the front row alongside Kyle Larson, who was second with a speed of 92.293 mph in his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy. Full-time Xfinity Series driver Austin Cindric, making one of his limited starts in the NASCAR Cup Series with Team Penske, qualified third and was followed by Joe Gibbs Racing driver Kyle Busch, yesterday’s Xfinity Series race winner, and William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports in the top five.

Chase Elliott, winner of four of the last five Cup Series road course races, qualified ninth in his No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy, and Christopher Bell, who won the season’s first road course race in Daytona, will start 10th in his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.

Should rain fall during today’s race, Goodyear will provide wet weather tires to the teams if necessary. NASCAR Cup teams were challenged by racing in the rain most recently last November during the Charlotte ROVAL™ Playoff event. NASCAR’s road course rain rule does not allow competition during thunderstorms with lighting in the area or heavy downpours.

Racing Pioneer Lyn St. James Honored with Spirit of Ford Award

By
Official Release
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AMELIA ISLAND, Fla., May 22, 2021 – Lyn St. James, a pioneer in sports car and Indy car racing who has since become a tireless promoter for opportunities for women and minorities in the sport, was presented the prestigious Spirit of Ford Award in a surprise ceremony today as part the 26th annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.

The Spirit of Ford Award is Ford Motor Company’s highest honor in auto racing, recognizing lifetime achievement and contribution to the industry both on and off the race track. St. James becomes the 27th recipient, joining an international list of honorees from all forms of racing and racing media.

St. James began her professional racing career with Ford in the early 1980s, competing in more than 100 SCCA Trans-Am and IMSA races. She won her class twice at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the 12 Hours of Sebring once, and became the first and only woman to win an IMSA GT sports car race solo in 1985 at Watkins Glen.

She went on to run the Indianapolis 500 seven times, including being the first woman to win Rookie of the Year honors in 1992. St. James held 21 international and national closed circuit speed records for women over a 20-year period, including 225.722 mph during qualifying for the 1995 Indy 500.

She was recognized during a tribute dinner in her honor at Amelia Island by Jim Farley, CEO of Ford Motor Company.

“Lyn’s achievements on the track are special, but what she has done off the track is just as important to us in defining her legacy,” said Farley. “Lyn, while racing for us, was also a consumer advisor to Ford on women’s issues, including educating women on the car-buying process and how to maintain their vehicles during their ownership.

“Today, she is channeling the same drive she had in breaking through barriers in her racing career to become a tireless promoter of opportunities for women and minorities in the racing world. And the sport and industry is better for it.”

“Lyn has always been an exceptional advocate for Ford, and I’m proud to call her a friend,” said Edsel B. Ford II, who has been involved in Ford’s racing efforts for decades. “I have always been impressed by how hard she worked to be a successful driver. She has worked just as hard to give so many young drivers the same kind of mentorships that she had in her career. Lyn is a very worthy honoree of the Spirit of Ford Award.”

Automotive News named St. James one of the Top 100 Women in the Automotive Industry, and Working Woman Magazine named her one of “The 350 Women who changed the world between 1976-96.” She also was president of the Women’s Sports Foundation, and founder of Women in the Winner’s Circle Foundation, a 501c3 organization for the education, training, and advancement of women in automotive fields. This included her hosting training sessions for up-and-coming women race car drivers for many years.

Currently, she is part of NASCAR’s Diversity Council, the A.C.C.U.S. North American Representative on FIA Women in Motorsports Commission, and part of the A.C.C.U.S. Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Panel.

Spirit of Ford Award Winners
-Bill Stroppe, 1988
-Bob Glidden, 1989
-Chris Economaki, 1990
-Richard Petty, 1992
-Bob Bondurant, 1993
-Mario Andretti, 1994
-Jackie Stewart, 1994
-Bud Moore, 1995
-Parnelli Jones, 1996
-Jim Clark, 1997
-Phil Hill, 1998
-Stirling Moss, 1998
-Bill France, Sr., 1998
-Bill France Jr. 1998
-Junie Donlavey, Jr., 1999
-Glen Wood, 1999
-Leonard Wood, 1999
-Dan Gurney, 1999
-Denise McCluggage, 2000
-Bill Elliott, 2000
-Carroll Shelby, 2001
-Wally Parks, 2001
-Ned Jarrett, 2003
-Mose Nowland, 2005
-Jack Roush, 2006
-John Force, 2010
-Kevin Kennedy, 2011
-A.J. Foyt, 2017
-Lyn St. James 2021

# # #

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford trucks, utility vehicles, and cars – increasingly including electrified versions – and Lincoln luxury vehicles; provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company; and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification; mobility solutions, including self-driving services; and connected vehicle services. Ford employs approximately 186,000 people worldwide. For more information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company, please visit corporate.ford.com.

DGR ARCA Menards Series Race Recap: Toledo Speedway

By
Official Release
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Saturday, May 22
Track: Toledo Speedway, .5-mile oval
Race: 5 of 20
Event: Herr’s Potato Chips 200 (200 laps, 100 miles)

Thad Moffitt, No. 46 Clean Harbors Ford Fusion

Start: 5th
Finish: 5th

  • Moffitt started the Herr’s Potato Chips 200 from the fifth position and quickly moved into fourth on the opening restart. On lap 36, he would be scored in the fifth position and was running there when the caution waved on lap 75 for the first pit break.
  • The North Carolina driver reported that his Clean Harbors Fusion was too free on entry and exit. He would pit for right side tires, fuel, trackbar and wedge adjustments.
  • Moffitt restarted in fifth as the last car on the lead lap. He battled hard throughout the second stint of the race and managed to maneuver into fourth on lap 121 and was scored there when the caution waved for the second pit break on lap 125.
  • The No. 46 came down pit road for four tires, fuel and further adjustments to aid with the balance of the car. Moffitt restarted the race in fourth with 70 laps remaining. He lost one position to fifth on lap 151 and held steady there for the remaining 24 laps.
  • The fifth-place result is Moffitt’s second top-five and fourth top-10 finish of the 2021 ARCA Menards Series season.

Next event: General Tire 150 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina on May 29 at 7 p.m. ET.

Paretta Autosport Qualifying Day One Notes and Quotes

By
Official Release
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INDIANAPOLIS (Saturday, May 22) – Day one of qualifying for the 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge took place today at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The No. 16 Paretta Autosport/Rocket Pro TPO Chevy entry had fans on their feet as Swiss driver Simona De Silvestro attempted to qualify with her mostly female pit crew team preparing the car.

Having drawn the qualifying position of number 33, the popular team knew they had their work cut out for them with the mid-afternoon spot, where temperatures rose 25 degrees from the start of the session. De Silvestro went into qualifying confident after four productive days of testing this week at the 2.5-mile speedway. After four laps, she held the 31st position out of 35 cars attempting to make the 2021 field.

The Paretta Autosport team, who has a technical alliance with Team Penske, returned to the garage to make a few adjustments, knowing they would discard their earlier time and make another attempt to make the Top 30, whose effort to qualify would be solidified today for a berth in the Indy 500, May 30th.

When the times were not as strong as the team hoped, the “Iron Maiden” stayed on pit lane and the team hurried the Rocket Pro TPO Chevy back to the qualifying lane for a third effort as the clock was running out. With just 35 second remaining, Simona was released for a final four-lap qualifying attempt to improve her position while fans in the stands shouted her name and cheered her on. In the end, she did not break the Top 30, with her average time at 228.173 mph, classified in the 32nd position of the 33-car field. Qualifying outside of the Top 30 means the team must make another qualifying attempt tomorrow during last chance qualifying for the final three positions on the grid.

All eyes will be on this brand new female-forward team whose historic attempt to qualify for this year’s Indy 500 is going to run down to the final hours on Sunday’s “Bump Day”.

Tomorrow will feature two highly competitive battles – for the last three starting positions in the field of 33, including Paretta Autosport, and the pole-deciding Fast Nine Shootout to determine the starting order of the first three rows. Practice of nearly three hours with cars running in race setup while driving in groups will also be part of the schedule.

INDYCAR’s Day Two qualifying will be aired on NBCSN/Peacock in the U.S. from 1:00-2:30 p.m. with 2:30-4:30 continued on NBC/Peacock. All times Eastern.

Quotes follow:

Simona De Silvestro, Driver, No. 16 Paretta Autosport Rocket Pro TPO entry
“We just couldn’t find the balance of the car for some reason today. We’re close, but it’s definitely not where we thought we would be when we looked at the practices. We just need to see what’s happening, keep our heads down and try to qualify for tomorrow.

Beth Paretta, Team Owner/CEO, No. 16 Paretta Autosport Rocket Pro TPO entry
“The first attempt was planned so therefore your second and third attempts basically cascade from that first decision. It came down to the wire with the clock this afternoon. I will say that I was only nervous about if we were going to be able to get the attempt because once it’s underway there’s nothing I can do, I’m pretty confident for tomorrow. The great thing is it’s a two-day event. We’re going to work overnight. We always have the never give up attitude because that’s what got us here. So it is obviously going to continue because that’s what’s at our core.”

“Michael Nelson, Strategist, No. 16 Paretta Autosport Rocket Pro TPO entry
“After the first qualifying attempt, we came back in and made some big changes to the car and got back out in time to make two more runs. We were fighting right on that bubble the whole time to make it in today but were just shy. So, we’ll go back tonight to look at the information and get it ready to go to get it into the show tomorrow.

Regarding having just 35-seconds remaining to make the final qualifying round:
“We laughed about it. We put the pressure on Madison Conrad, the starter in the back. If she didn’t hit it right, we wouldn’t have gotten to go out. So she did a really good job to get the car started under an enormous amount of pressure today.”

For more information, please visit www.parettaautosport.com or the team’s social media channels.

Moffitt, Lally battle dramatic twists and turns of Circuit of the Americas

By
Official Release
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Our Motorsports teammates Brett Moffitt and Andy Lally competed in the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ inaugural visit to Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, scoring 12th and 18th place finishes, respectively. During a soaked qualifying session early Saturday morning, Moffitt qualified 21st in the No. 02 Sokal Chevy. Lally qualified 13th in his No. 23 Chevy sponsored by The A-Team, falling just below the cutoff to advance to Round 2 of qualifying to compete for the pole position.

In the opening laps of the 156-mile contest, Lally settled into 12th while Moffitt was scored 17th on lap seven. During the 1st stage Lally moved up to 11th during a caution on lap 11. Under the yellow flag, Moffitt told his No. 02 crew that he needed front turn and pitted for service in preparation for the restart. Lally, who did not pit, restarted third and Moffitt took the green in 26th for the short sprint to the end of Stage 1. Lally held on to cross the stripe in 4th while teammate Moffitt rallied to a 20th-place finish in the opening segment.

Lally took his first pit stop during the stage break to get fresh tires and fuel. During his appearance on pit road, he was hit with a speeding penalty and had to start at the rear in 32nd. Moffitt restarted in the 15th position. During a lap-19 caution, The A-Team driver Lally reported to his team that his car was “lacking a little more drive off” while Moffitt continued to run steady inside the top-15. The duo returned to the 3.41-mile track’s pit road on lap 27 for four tires and fuel just short of the green-and-white checkered flag for Stage 2, where Moffitt eventually finished 20th and Lally finished 21st. Having just received service, Moffitt and Lally stayed out during the stage break and took the green flag in 10th and 11th for the third and final stage.

With 10 laps to go, Moffitt showed speed in the No. 02, charging up to ninth place on the leaderboard. As the laps clicked away, Moffitt lost a few positions slipping to 12th while Lally held the 18th spot. When the checkered flag flew, Moffitt crossed the finish line in the 12th position with Lally behind him in 18th. During the race the No. 23 gained stage points, which helped gain four spots and up to 23rd in the owner’s points battle. The No. 02 Chevy driven by Moffit is currently 14th for owner points.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series returns to action next weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. The Alsco 300 is set for Saturday, May 29 at 1 p.m. ET on FS1.

KYLE BUSCH RACES TO PIT BOSS 250 VICTORY IN NASCAR XFINITY SERIES AT CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS

By
Official Release
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AUSTIN, TEXAS - MAY 22: Kyle Busch, driver of the #54 Skittles Gummies Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Pit Boss 250 at Circuit of The Americas on May 22, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

AUSTIN, Texas (May 22, 2021) – Kyle Busch essentially went to school Saturday afternoon in the NASCAR Xfinity Series to learn the challenging Circuit of The Americas road course in preparation for Sunday’s much-anticipated NASCAR Cup Series race there. The result, however, was that Busch absolutely schooled the field – earning an 11-second victory in the Pit Boss 250, NASCAR’s Xfinity Series debut on the famed 3.41-mile, 20-turn circuit in the Lone Star State’s capital city.

It marked the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion’s record 98th win in the Xfinity Series. His No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota led a race-best 36-of-46 laps. No other driver led more than three laps.

“It’s really really cool to come here for the first race at a new track and to win,’’ Busch said. “Real proud of the effort.

“I think the biggest thing is just all the resources and stuff we have and being able to get laps on the track today, feel the tire, everything like that and then being able to get back out there tomorrow and do everything all over again with the Cup car,’’ the Las Vegas native added. “Thanks to Toyota and TRD, we’ve got some really cool tools we’ve been able to use and I feel like it was a plus for us today.’’

NASCAR Xfinity Series championship contender A.J. Allmendinger – one of NASCAR’s best on road courses – finished second to Busch. Justin Allgaier placed third. Another NASCAR Cup Series champion, Kevin Harvick was fourth, also getting some laps in preparation for Sunday’s race. NASCAR Xfinity Series championship leader Austin Cindric was fifth.

Harrison Burton, Cup regulars Cole Custer and Tyler Reddick and Allmendinger’s Kaulig Racing teammates Justin Haley and Jeb Burton rounded out the Top 10.

Allmendinger and Haley won Stage 1 and Stage 2, respectively. Championship contenders, they opted to stay on track and earn the points rather than join in Busch’s strategy of pitting just prior to the stage breaks. What he conceded in points, he made up for winning the inaugural trophy.

The only laps Busch, 36, didn’t lead were when he pitted or when he made a brief rally after stage breaks. Following the first stage break, for example, he restarted fourth and was leading the field two laps later.

“It’s shocking, Kyle Busch is actually pretty good,’’ Allmendinger said smiling. “It’s always fun to race Kyle. Did everything we could, got a stage win, got a lot of points and finished second. That was as good as we were going to do.’’

The victory marked the 17th season Busch has won an Xfinity Series race and the 27th different NASCAR track where he has hoisted a trophy.

While the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, held hours earlier, had some light rain and was run on rain tires, the weather had cleared nicely by the drop of the Xfinity Series green flag. The vast majority of the field opted to pit for slicks (dry tires) during the parade laps and by the race’s midpoint, it was a sunny afternoon. 

Busch will have a chance to earn another COTA victory when he competes in the inaugural EchoPark Texas Grand Prix (2:30 p.m. ET, FS1, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) tomorrow at the sprawling purpose-built road course.

The Xfinity Series next races, Saturday May 29 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the Alsco Uniforms 300 (1 p.m. ET, FS1, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

–Story by NASCAR Newswire

NASCAR Xfinity Series Race – Inaugural Pit Boss 250
Circuit of The Americas
Austin, Texas
Saturday, May 22, 2021

1. (1)  Kyle Busch(i), Toyota, 46.
2. (7)  AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 46.
3. (9)  Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, 46.
4. (12)  Kevin Harvick(i), Ford, 46.
5. (8)  Austin Cindric, Ford, 46.
6. (10)  Harrison Burton, Toyota, 46.
7. (3)  Cole Custer(i), Ford, 46.
8. (5)  Tyler Reddick(i), Chevrolet, 46.
9. (6)  Justin Haley, Chevrolet, 46.
10. (11)  Jeb Burton, Chevrolet, 46.
11. (35)  Michael Annett, Chevrolet, 46.
12. (21)  Brett Moffitt, Chevrolet, 46.
13. (17)  Austin Dillon(i), Chevrolet, 46.
14. (22)  Preston Pardus, Chevrolet, 46.
15. (18)  Jade Buford, Chevrolet, 46.
16. (29)  Riley Herbst, Ford, 46.
17. (19)  Brandon Jones, Toyota, 46.
18. (13)  Andy Lally, Chevrolet, 46.
19. (16)  Spencer Pumpelly, Chevrolet, 46.
20. (4)  Alex Labbe, Chevrolet, 46.
21. (23)  Myatt Snider, Chevrolet, 46.
22. (30)  Landon Cassill, Chevrolet, 46.
23. (33)  Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 46.
24. (31)  Ryan Ellis, Toyota, 46.
25. (34)  Ryan Sieg, Ford, 46.
26. (14)  Brandon Brown, Chevrolet, 46.
27. (25)  Gray Gaulding, Chevrolet, 46.
28. (27)  Colby Howard, Chevrolet, 46.
29. (26)  Daniel Hemric, Toyota, 46.
30. (2)  Ross Chastain(i), Chevrolet, 36.       
31. (24)  Boris Said, Toyota, 35.
32. (36)  Kris Wright(i), Toyota, Engine, 29.
33. (28)  Timmy Hill(i), Toyota, Engine, 29.
34. (15)  Miguel Paludo, Chevrolet, Rear Gear, 25.
35. (32)  Tommy Joe Martins, Chevrolet, Engine, 19.
36. (20)  Noah Gragson, Chevrolet, Engine, 13.

Average Speed of Race Winner:  72.723 mph.
Time of Race:  2 Hrs, 9 Mins, 25 Secs. Margin of Victory:  11.024 Seconds.
Caution Flags:  4 for 7 laps.
Lead Changes:  6 among 5 drivers.
Lap Leaders:   K. Busch(i) 1-11;A. Allmendinger 12-14;J. Allgaier 15-17;A. Cindric 18-19;K. Busch(i) 20-27;J. Haley 28-30;K. Busch(i) 31-46.
Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  Kyle Busch(i) 3 times for 35 laps; Justin Allgaier 1 time for 3 laps; Justin Haley 1 time for 3 laps; AJ Allmendinger 1 time for 3 laps; Austin Cindric 1 time for 2 laps.
Stage #1 Top Ten: 16,31,19,23,51,7,5,77,22,8
Stage #2 Top Ten: 11,1,48,77,54,51,7,16,5,15

Team Penske NASCAR Xfinity Series Race Report – COTA

By
Official Release
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Team Penske NASCAR Xfinity Series Race Report
Track: Circuit of the Americas
Race: Pit Boss 250
Date: May 22, 2021

No. 22 Menards/Richmond Ford Mustang – Austin Cindric

Start: 8th
Stage 1: 9th
Stage 2: 15th
Finish: 5th
Status: Running
Laps Completed: 46/46
Laps Led: 2
Driver Point Standings (ahead of second): 1st (+77)

Notes:

  • Austin Cindric and the Menards/Richmond racing team scored their eighth top-five finish of the 2021 season with a fifth-place finish Saturday afternoon at Circuit of the Americas. Cindric led two laps at the 20-turn Texas Road Course and showed impressive poise behind the wheel, rallying back from a slow final stop, which dropped him to the 15th position, where he’d fight forward through the closing laps to claim the top-five result. Cindric remains the leader in the series driver standings, stretching his lead to 77 points ahead of Harrison Burton.
  • Cindric qualified his Ford Mustang eighth Saturday afternoon during a qualifying session that consisted of heavy rain. At the drop of the green flag the reigning NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion steadily worked his way to fifth before the first caution fell on lap 10. Cindric communicated his Menards/Richmond Mustang was lacking drive. Crew chief Brian Wilson called his driver to pit road for four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment. Cindric restarted the one-lap dash to the Stage 1 finish 24th and sliced through traffic to claim a ninth-place finish when the segment concluded on lap 14.
  • Cindric restarted the second stage third, claiming the race lead in turn 1. The 54 of Kyle Busch charged hard recapturing the lead from Cindric two laps later. Wilson called his driver to pit road from the third position with four laps remaining in the second stage for four fresh tires, fuel and adjustments and finished the second stage 15th.
  • Cindric stayed out during the stage caution, lining up eighth when the race went green on lap 32. During the next run, Cindric said the No. 22 Menards/Richmond Ford was still lacking drive but the Mooresville, N.C. native powered through the conditions and was able to drive his Mustang to the fifth position by the end of the 46-lap event.

Quote: “We just didn’t execute today. We had a really bad pit stop and lost a lot of track position and we weren’t quite good enough to make it up. I didn’t have anything for the 54, but that’s the way it goes.”

RCR Post Race Report – COTA 250

By
Official Release
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Myatt Snider and the Louisiana Hot Sauce Chevrolet Fight to the Finish in the Inaugural Race at Circuit of the Americas

Finish: 21st
Start: 23rd
Points: 10th

“Our Louisiana Hot Sauce Chevrolet not only looked fast with the flames on the sides, but Andy Street and the guys prepared a really fast Camaro. During the first run, we needed more drive out of the car and once Andy made a chassis adjustment, I was able to post consistent lap times. We spent almost the entire second and third stages inside the top-10, which is a testament to our team at a new track. Unfortunately with only four laps to go, I spun around with Riley Herbst which cost a ton of spots and track position at the end. Although our result doesn’t show, our car had top-five speed and that’s encouraging heading into future road course races. It was a great experience coming here to Circuit of the Americas and our Richard Childress Racing team will rebound next weekend in Charlotte.” -Myatt Snider

Dixon Fastest, Power Drops to Last Chance in Qualifying Drama

By
Official Release
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INDIANAPOLIS (Saturday, May 22, 2021) – Chip Ganassi Racing flexed its muscle Saturday during Crown Royal Armed Forces Qualifying for the 105th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, as Scott Dixon led all four of the team’s cars into the Firestone Fast Nine Shootout with the fastest qualifying run on the first attempt overall of the day.

There also was drama at the opposite end of the field, as 2018 Indy 500 winner Will Power was relegated to Last Chance Qualifying on Sunday after his two runs were too slow to make the top 30.

Six-time and reigning NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Dixon was the first driver on track when qualifying started at noon (ET) after his team earned the first spot in the qualifying draw Friday night, and he delivered in the best track and air conditions of the five-hour, 50-minute session. Dixon produced a four-lap average speed of 231.828 mph in the No. 9 PNC Bank Grow Up Great Honda, and his car number stayed atop the iconic Scoring Pylon for the rest of the day despite 58 attempts to topple it.
“You forget how stressful this is,” Dixon said. “It’s the first time I’ve ever gone first. It’s pretty interesting. Huge credit to everyone on the PNC Bank Grow Up Great car.

“It was a fairly smooth run. I made a mistake on Lap 2, which probably cost us a tenth or two from the average.”

2008 Indianapolis 500 winner Dixon will make the last attempt in the Firestone Fast Nine Shootout, which determines the NTT P1 Award winner for pole and the starting order for the first three rows, as the nine fastest cars from today start in inverse order in the one-shot format. The Shootout takes place from 3-3:45 p.m. on the 2.5-mile oval and will be televised live on NBC and Peacock.

Dixon will be the favorite to earn his fourth Indy 500 pole, but the powerful Ganassi team will have four chances to take the coveted top spot. CGR drivers Tony Kanaan (third, 231.639, No. 48 The American Legion Honda), Alex Palou (seventh, 231.145, No. 10 NTT DATA Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) and Marcus Ericsson (ninth, 231.104, No. 8 Huski Chocolate Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) also made the Shootout.

“Tomorrow will be a different day; it’s going to be different conditions,” Dixon said. “Hopefully all four of us can hit it right.”

But Ganassi’s day lost some of its sparkle at 3:35 p.m., when Palou crashed in Turn 2 while making his second qualifying attempt. Palou didn’t withdraw his first run, preserving his spot in the Shootout, but still was trying to improve his position when the rear of his car got loose and made heavy right-side contact with the SAFER Barrier, inflicting significant damage.

Palou climbed from his car without injury, but the Ganassi team will face a long night repairing the car for the Shootout on Sunday.

Other drivers participating in the Shootout are Colton Herta (second, 231.648, No. 26 Gainbridge Honda), Ed Carpenter (fourth, 231.616, No. 20 SONAX Chevrolet), Rinus VeeKay (fifth, 231.483, No. 21 Bitcoin Chevrolet), three-time “500” winner Helio Castroneves (sixth, 231.164, No. 06 AutoNation/SiriusXM Honda) and 2014 Indy winner Ryan Hunter-Reay (ninth, 231.139, No. 28 DHL Honda).

Cloud cover broke shortly after the first trip through the original 35-car qualifying draw, and the sunshine raised track temperatures nearly 25 degrees, decreasing traction and engine efficiency. That prevented any successful attempts at bumping into the Fast Nine from multiple drivers after the first run through the draw, but there was plenty of suspense and tension at the back end of the grid in the final hour.

2014 series champion Power will be one of the five drivers trying to take one of the three last-row spots during Last Chance Qualifying, which takes place from 1:15-2:30 p.m. and will be televised on NBCSN and Peacock. Power, winner of 62 poles in his INDYCAR SERIES career, failed to record a speed in the top 30 in two attempts in the No. 12 Verizon 5G Team Penske Chevrolet.

Power’s first run, at 1:21 p.m., averaged 229.052 and ended up outside the top 30. But he withdrew that attempt to jump a long line of cars in the “normal” lane and make his second attempt from the “fast” lane, ensuring he got another shot. That run, at 5:33 p.m., 17 minutes before the end of qualifying, averaged 229.228 and also wasn’t fast enough.

“You need to be scientist to work this one out,” Power said. “I guess we have to go tomorrow. We gave it our best shot today. I think if we just do a conservative run tomorrow, we should be OK.”

Joining Power in the Last Chance Qualifying will be Sage Karam (No. 24 DRR-AES INDIANA Chevrolet), Charlie Kimball (No. 11 Tresiba/AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet), Simona De Silvestro (No. 16 Rocket Pro TPO/Paretta Autosport Chevrolet) and RC Enerson (No. 75 Top Gun Racing Chevrolet).

Dalton Kellett exhaled most deeply among the drivers toward the rear of the field, as he avoided the Last Row Shootout and will start 30th in the No. 4 K-Line Insulators/AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet.

A 30-minute practice for the five Last Chance Qualifying participants will take place from 11-11:30 a.m. Sunday, followed by a 30-minute session for Firestone Fast Nine Shootout participants from 11:30-noon. An open practice will follow the Last Chance Qualifying and Shootout, from 5-7 p.m. All three of those sessions will be broadcast on Peacock.

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