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Bayley Currey – Circuit of the Americas Race Advance

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Official Release
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COTA 225 | Circuit of the Americas Race Advance

Team: No. 45 Chasco Constructors/PlainsCapital Bank Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Bayley Currey
Follow the Team: @NieceMotorsport; @BayleyCurrey

Currey on Racing at COTA: “I always love racing in my home state,” said Bayley Currey. “This weekend will be a new challenge for all of us, racing at COTA for the first time. I’m thankful that we’ll be able to get some practice laps in our PlainsCapital Bank/Chasco Constructors Chevrolet. I know everyone at Niece Motorsports has been working hard to get a solid piece ready for Saturday’s race.”

Currey at COTA: Saturday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Circuit of the Americas marks the Series’ first visit to the road course.

Currey has six NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at road courses, with his best finishing position of 14th coming at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course in 2020.

On the Truck: Currey’s No. 45 Chevrolet Silverado will race with support from Chasco Constructors and PlainsCapital.

Chasco Constructors is an award-winning General Contractor and Construction Management firm serving the Central Texas area. Formed in Round Rock, Texas in 1979 as a four-man shop, today Chasco is a full-service commercial construction company with over 300 employees.

PlainsCapital was founded in 1988 by former Hilltop Holdings Vice Chairman and Co-CEO Alan White and a group of investors who raised the capital to acquire Plains National Bank, a Lubbock financial institution with one branch and $198.8 million in assets.

Thirty years later, PlainsCapital Bank is the fourth-largest bank in Texas based on deposit market share. PlainsCapital has a statewide presence with more than 60 locations in markets such as Austin, the Coastal Bend, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Lubbock, San Antonio, and the Rio Grande Valley.

PlainsCapital has a diverse range of services, including commercial banking, treasury management, private banking, and wealth management, as well as consumer banking.

About Niece Motorsports:

Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2021, Niece Motorsports enters its sixth season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as Twitter @NieceMotorsport.

RCR Event Preview – Circuit of the Americas

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Official Release
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Richard Childress Racing at Circuit of the Americas… This weekend marks NASCAR’s inaugural event at Circuit of the Americas. All three national touring series will hold their debut race at the 3.426-mile road course this weekend.

Catch the Action… The NASCAR Xfinity Series’ COTA 200 at Circuit of the Americas will be televised live Saturday, May 22, beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET on FS1 and will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

The NASCAR Cup Series’ COTA 400 at Circuit of the Americas will be televised live Sunday, May 23, beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET on FS1 and will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

This Week’s Workrise Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE at Circuit of the Americas … This weekend marks the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series appearance to Circuit of the Americas, but Austin Dillon does have limited experience at the track competing in a World Racing League endurance race last December. He has also enjoyed COTA as a fan at a Moto GP race.

About Workrise… Workrise is the leading workforce management solution for the skilled trades. Workrise makes it easier for skilled laborers to find work and for companies to find in-demand, trained workers. Workrise operates across the solar, wind, construction, defense and oil & gas industries. Through people and technology, they provide the staffing, training, and professional services to empower the people who get hard work done. For more information visit workrise.com.

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:
Where do you think the best passing zones are going to be at COTA?
“I think the best passing zones are probably on all the big straights. The esses’s are pretty tight; you can’t really gain anything there. Obviously, lengthening the straightaways as much as you can is huge and in the final corner. Turn One, up the hill, you can out-brake someone into there, but it gets tight quick. In Turn One, it can be a struggle to really get off of the corner sometimes, from what I’ve noticed. You can maybe get someone on entry, but it’s probably going to put you in a bad position leaving.”

This weekend, we’re racing in Austin, Texas, where your primary sponsor for the weekend, Workrise, is located. How cool is that to be able to race in their backyard?
“It’s awesome to race for Workrise this weekend. They are the leading workforce management solution for the skilled trades. I’m pumped that the race is in their hometown of Austin, Texas. It’s awesome to be having a race at COTA, in Austin, where they are based out of. I can’t wait to get there and hopefully put on a good showing for everyone at Workrise. They are there for the people that get stuff done and we’re pumped to be working hard for them this weekend.”

Do you expect chaos going into Turn One at COTA?
“Yeah, I think Turn One will be aggressive, for sure. I have to qualify into the NASCAR Xfinity race, so luckily, we’ll have some experience after Saturday to see how that goes. But Turn One is a tough corner for any type of car to race on and not just our cars in NASCAR. It’s difficult because it kind of falls away from you. You’re going uphill and then it flattens out; just a lot of stuff going on there and it gets tight quick. There’s definitely going to be some chaos. If you miss Turn One on the bottom, that outside lane is probably really going to check up.”

Tyler Reddick and the No. 8 Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE at Circuit of the Americas… This weekend marks the NASCAR Cup Series’ debut at Circuit of the Americas (COTA), but Tyler Reddick does have some experience at the road course. During the off-season, Reddick, alongside RCR teammate Austin Dillon, competed in an endurance race at the 3.426-mile course to get some valuable on-track time.

Cheddar’s Salutes… In conjunction with NASCAR Salutes, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen is debuting a patriotic paint scheme for this weekend’s race at COTA as a way to honor everything military servicemen and women have done and continue to do for our country. The red, white and blue scheme features the names and hometowns of 40+ Cheddar’s Veteran Team Members who on both sides of Reddick’s Chevrolet.

“As the son of a decorated combat Veteran, I’m proud that Cheddar’s is honoring our Team Members in this way because I know firsthand the sacrifices they took to protect and serve our country,” said John Wilkerson, president of Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen.

About Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen … Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen is the homestyle casual dining restaurant where guests always Get a lot. For not a lot™. The restaurant offers a variety of scratch-made meals and generous portions served up in a warm, welcoming atmosphere – all at an unbelievable price. After being welcomed with a signature Honey Butter Croissant on the house, guests can enjoy signature entrées like hand-breaded Chicken Tenders, Homemade Chicken Pot Pie and Fall-off-the-Plate Baby Back Ribs. Cheddar’s operates more than 170 restaurants in 28 states and employs more than 15,000 friendly and passionate team members. For more information or to locate the nearest restaurant, visit Cheddars.com. Fans can like or follow Cheddar’s on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

When Tyler Wins, You Win Tenders! Like Reddick, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen is hungry for his first Cup Series win to come in 2021. So all season long, when Reddick takes the checkered flag in the Cup Series, all NASCAR fans will win a FREE No. 8 Special Chicken Tender Platter at Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen the Monday following the race. Offer is valid both dine-in and To Go. See cheddars.com/offer/race-day for full details.

Cheddar’s Croissant Clash… Tune in for the Cheddar’s Croissant Clash via RCR’s Facebook page on Wednesday, May 19, at 8:30 p.m. ET to see if iRacers across the country can beat Reddick in a 25-lap race at the iRacing Superspeedway. Fans tuning in can also submit questions during the evening on Cheddar’s Facebook or Twitter pages for a chance to have Reddick answer them during an exclusive post-race Q&A on the livestream.

TYLER REDDICK QUOTES:
With NASCAR heading to COTA for the first time, what are expecting out of the race this weekend?
“COTA will be a very interesting weekend. It’s a fun course. During the endurance race I ran during the off-season, one thing I noted was how it almost has four different sections that are nothing alike, so you need to be diverse as a driver on how to attack each one. One approach will only work in for one part of the track. There is a lot of run-off, so drivers should be able to be aggressive and not pay a massive penalty by ending up in a gravel pit like other road courses. As for the race, it’s going to be a mixed bag of strategies. Guys who are going for the win are going to try to flip the strategy for track position at the end of the race. You’re also going to see guys going for stage points on a different strategy, so we’ll see how our team falls in the mix, knowing we are now above the cut line for Playoffs. I hope we have the freedom to choose on what to focus on, but man, the weather may come into play too, which would throw a whole other wrench into the race.”

You also have a unique paint scheme with Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen this weekend. What can you say about that?
“It’s a really special scheme we’re running with Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen this weekend. When we get around this time of year during each season, you see some patriotic schemes start to come out and I’m really honored that Cheddar’s chose to participate in the NASCAR Salute window. There will be 40+ Cheddar’s team members who have served in the military whose names and hometowns are going to be riding along with me at COTA. I just thought that was a really cool, personal touch on the paint scheme. Those team members have done a lot for this country, and I’m going to do everything I can to get them a good run this weekend.”

Myatt Snider and the No. 2 Louisiana Hot Sauce Chevrolet Camaro at Circuit of the Americas… This weekend marks the inaugural NASCAR Xfinity Series event at Circuit of the Americas (COTA). Myatt Snider has not competed at the track previously in any other motorsports series and will log his first laps at the Texas road course on Friday afternoon during practice.

About Summit Hill Foods… Summit Hill Foods is a fourth-generation, family-owned food company headquartered in Rome, Georgia. Founded in 1941, the company’s core strength is the development and manufacture of ingredient systems used to deliver texture and superior flavor. Summit Hill Foods is an ingredient supplier to food service manufacturers and restaurants. The company also markets nationally distributed brands including Better Than Bouillon®, Louisiana Brand Hot Sauce™, Southeastern Mills®, Shore Lunch® and Better Than Gravy®. Southeastern Mills operates six manufacturing facilities located in Rome, Georgia; New Iberia, Louisiana; and Salt Lake City, Utah. To learn more, visit www.SHFoods.com.

MYATT SNIDER QUOTES:
What is your outlook for this weekend, heading to a track that is new for NASCAR and new for most of the drivers?
“I’m pretty optimistic honestly. Last year when I went to new race track, especially road courses at Indianapolis and Daytona, we ran really well. We had a strong performance earlier this season at the Daytona Road Course, so I feel like that run will bode well with us going to COTA. I have all the confidence in the world heading into it.”

How do you prepare for a racetrack that you’ve never been to before?
“You try to find whatever videos exist online and run it on iRacing and the simulator as much as possible. You do anything you can to learn how the race track actually is, that will help give you a feel for what it’s like to run a lap. Andy Street and my RCR team have a good job of prepping for this weekend and I’m excited to get there.”

How will practice and qualifying impact the weekend as a whole?
“I think it’s a good thing for us to have practice and qualifying this week especially. It allows us to know as a team where we are going to start for the race and what the car will feel like when the green flag drops. Qualifying puts it a little more back in the drivers hands to know and help determine where your starting position will be, instead of relying on the metrics. Our Louisiana Hot Sauce Chevrolet Camaro should be fast.”

Outwest Express Rolls with Love’s Travel Stops and Daytona 500 Champion

By
Official Release
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Top Transportation Service Company Partners with McDowell in Austin

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (May 19, 2021) – Returning to Front Row Motorsports (FRM), Outwest Express, one of the top providers of transportation services in the southwest, will be the primary partner of Michael McDowell and the No. 34 Ford Mustang team during the inaugural EchoPark Texas Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. Outwest Express will join their partner, Love’s Travel Stops on the car.

Headquartered in El Paso, Texas, Outwest Express provides cost-effective and dependable transportation services, including 24-hour dispatch, expedited freight transit and company-owned tractors and trailers. Featuring performance-based engine monitoring systems and aerodynamic equipment designed to promote fuel efficiency, Outwest Express’s top-of-the-line fleet is ready and well-equipped for all types of transportation situations.

“We’re proud to partner with Love’s Travel Stops, Front Row Motorsports and the Daytona 500 Champion, Michael McDowell, for what will be one of the most exciting races of the season. Love’s has been a valuable partner of ours and the stop of choice for our drivers on the road, so what better place to highlight our partnership than at The Circuit of The Americas,” said Zachary Chilson, VP of Outwest Express. “We’re excited to bring Outwest Express to Austin, and to a national audience this weekend on the No. 34 Ford Mustang. We’re all excited to watch Michael race.”

FRM and McDowell come into Austin for this inaugural event with the goal of another top-10 finish or more. McDowell and the team are hoping to break their best mark of top-10 finishes in a season and feel confident heading into the road course.

“I always feel good heading into a road course with my past experience,” said McDowell. “But our team is also much stronger the past two seasons, so it gives me more confidence that we can have a good day. “We’re coming off some not-so-great races, but we’ve circled COTA as a place where we can have a good finish. We just need to go out and execute.

“It’s great to have Outwest Express come back to the team and partner with Love’s again on the track. They’ve had a longstanding partnership on the highway, and this is a great way to continue it. Outwest Express is a Texas-based company and this is going to be a big race, a lot of fans, a lot of excitement. It’s cool to have them coming with us.”

About Outwest Express
Outwest Express is an award winning, top provider of transportation services in the United States that consistently delivers transportation solutions on time and on budget. With a strong focus on employee safety, support for our communities and a “Driver-1st.” corporate culture, Outwest Express has grown to become one of the most attractive employers in the industry. Visit outwestexpress.com [outwestexpress.com] for more information on services and driver opportunities.

About Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores is the nation’s leading travel stop network with more than 550 locations in 41 states. Founded in 1964 and headquartered in Oklahoma City, the company remains family-owned and operated and employs more than 30,000 people. Love’s provides professional truck drivers and motorists with 24-hour access to clean and safe places to purchase gasoline, diesel fuel, fresh coffee, restaurant offerings and more. Love’s has over 410 truck service centers, which include Speedco and Love’s Truck Care locations. Love’s and Speedco combined is the largest oil change, preventive maintenance and total truck care nationwide network with over 1,500 maintenance bays and 1,200 emergency roadside vehicles available for customers. Love’s is committed to providing customers with “Clean Places, Friendly Faces” at every stop. To learn more, visit loves.com.

About Front Row Motorsports
Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Camping World Truck Series and the 2021 Daytona 500 champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 34 and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 38 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team– from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

Jordan Anderson Racing Team’s Up with Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que for NASCAR’s Inaugural Visit to Austin, Texas

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Official Release
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STATESVILLE, N.C. (May 19, 2021) – Jordan Anderson Racing (JAR) and Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que announced today a partnership that will make Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que Austin the official hospitality partner of JAR throughout NASCAR’s Inaugural visit to Austin, Texas.

As a part of the new partnership, Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que Austin will serve as an associate sponsor on the No. 31 Bommarito Automotive Group Chevrolet Camaro SS during the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) Pit Boss 250, and on the I Heart Mac & Cheese No. 3 Chevrolet Silverado during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) Toyota Tundra 225 on May 22nd at Circuit of the Americas (COTA).

Since 1965, the Wootan & Cooper Families have provided its World-Famous Pit Barbecue to hundreds of thousands of hungry diners over the years at its family-owned and operated restaurant in Llano, Texas.

Expanding to the Texas State Capital in 2016, Cooper’s Old Time Pit-Bar-B-Que celebrates the history of Congress Avenue in the early 20th century, by bringing Texas Hill Country BBQ, live music and local flare to downtown Austin.

Cooper’s serves brisket, ribs, sausage, chicken and cabrito, but is most well-known for its two-inch-thick pork chop, sold as “The Big Chop”. Smoking its meats in large rectangular pits, Cooper’s uses fast-burning mesquite wood to provide a more subtle smoky flavor opposed to slow-smoked barbecue.

Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que has six restaurants throughout Texas including Austin. Other locations include Llano, Fort Worth (Stockyards), College Station, Katy, and New Braunfels.

“Being team owner and driver, it is crucial to keep the crew and myself fed properly throughout a race weekend, just like the racecar we need premium fuel,” stated Jordan Anderson.

“Texas is famous for outstanding BBQ, and Cooper’s Old-Time Pit Bar-B-Que is the best of the best. I would like to welcome them to the team. It is going to be an exciting weekend in Austin, and we have an excellent opportunity of bringing home a pair of great finishes in both the Camping World Truck and Xfinity Car.”

For more information on Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que Austin, visit them online at CoopersBBQAustin.com, and stay updated with concerts and comedy shows by following Cooper’s Austin on social media; Facebook, Twitter, YouTube.

Tickets for the Pit Boss 250 & Toyota Tundra 250 are still available for purchase by visiting Circuit of the Americas online at NascarAtCOTA.com/Tickets/

If you are unable to make it to Austin for the NCWTS Toyota Tundra 225 or the NXS Pit Boss 250, both races will be broadcast LIVE on Fox Sports 1 and the Fox Sports App starting at 1:00 PM EST. The pair will also be aired LIVE on radio with the Toyota Tundra 225 being heard on the Motor Racing Network (MRN), while the Pit Boss 250 can be heard on the Performance Radio Network (PRN), and both found on SIRIUS/XM NASCAR radio Channel 90.

For more information on JAR, visit JordanAndersonRacing.com, and be sure to follow the team all season on the JAR social channels on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

About Jordan Anderson Racing
Jordan Anderson Racing (JAR) is a NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) team, owned by owner/driver Jordan Anderson. Established in 2018, JAR has competed full-time in the last three NCWTS seasons earning multiple top ten finishes and scoring a career best second place finish in the 2020 season opening NextEra 250 at Daytona International Speedway. JAR fields a full-time entry in the NXS Series; the No. 31 Chevrolet Camaro SS driven by Jordan Anderson. JAR also fields the No. 3 Chevrolet Silverado for select drivers in the NCWTS.

JR Motorsports — NXS COTA Preview

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Official Release
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JR MOTORSPORTS TEAM PREVIEW:
TRACK: Circuit of the Americas
RACE: Pit Boss 250 (46 laps / 156 miles)
DATE: Saturday, May 22, 2021

Broadcast Information – TV: 4 p.m. ET on FS1 / Radio: 3:30 p.m. ET on PRN and Sirius XM Ch. 90

Michael Annett
No. 1 No. 1 Pilot Flying J/myRewards Plus™ Chevrolet
• Michael Annett will be going for his third straight top-10 finish this weekend as the NASCAR Xfinity Series visits Circuit of the Americas for the first time. The Iowa driver has five such finishes in 10 races this season, including three of the last five events.
• On road courses in 2020, Annett logged three top-10 finishes in four starts, with a pair of ninth-place results at Indianapolis and the Charlotte Roval as his best.
• The Iowa native’s best road-course finish is second, at Road America in 2017 during his first season as driver of the Pilot Flying J Chevrolet for JR Motorsports.

Miguel Paludo
No. 8 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet
• Miguel Paludo will make his second NXS start with JRM at Circuit of the Americas this weekend in the No. 8 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet.
• Paludo’s first race with JRM came at the Daytona Road Course. He started 35th and finished eighth in his first NXS start since 2012.
• In three road course starts in the NXS, Paludo has an average finish of 16.3 and has paced the field for eight laps. Paludo has also competed in one NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on a road course where he started fifth and finished third at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park during the 2013 season.

Noah Gragson
No. 9 Bass Pro Shops / TrueTimber / Black Rifle Coffee Chevrolet
• Noah Gragson will enter this weekend’s inaugural race at Circuit of the Americas having only one finish outside of the top 10 on road courses. Last season he finished second, third (twice) and sixth in the road circuit events.
• In 2019, his first full season in the NXS, Gragson had three
top-five and four top-10 finishes on road courses.
• In the two inaugural road courses that were added onto the 2020 schedule at Daytona and Indianapolis, Gragson scored respective finishes of fifth and third.

Justin Allgaier
No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet
• In 33 previous starts on road courses in the NXS, Justin Allgaier has scored three wins, nine top fives and 21 top 10s.
• Two of Allgaier’s three road course victories came in 2018 with JRM at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and Road America. Allgaier had previously gone to Victory Lane at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal in 2012.
• Allgaier’s No. 7 Camaro will have a different look for this weekend. As one of two BRANDT Chevrolets on the road course at COTA, the Illinois native’s paint scheme will have a white base with the familiar bright red accents.

Driver Quotes

“Going to Circuit of the Americas for the first time will be interesting, never having raced there before. Our road course program has been very strong over the years here at JR Motorsports, and I don’t expect anything different this weekend. The key to success on a road course in a stock car is to keep it on the pavement, and that is what we’ll do. Our No. 1 team has had a couple of good runs in a row and we want to keep that momentum building.” – Michael Annett

“COTA is going to be very interesting this weekend for sure. With it being a new track, I’m really looking forward to seeing what we can learn during practice on Friday. It’s such a unique road course that has a lot of variables to it, but I feel extremely confident that we will unload with not one, but two fast BRANDT Professional Agriculture Camaros as we have Miguel (Paludo) back this weekend as my teammate in the No. 8 car. Hopefully we can both have smooth days and be in contention at the end to get BRANDT back to Victory Lane.” – Justin Allgaier

“I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel of this No. 8 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet this weekend at COTA. We had a really fast car earlier this year at Daytona and I know that we will have that same kind of speed when we get to the track on Friday. I just can’t say thank you enough to BRANDT and JRM for this opportunity. It’s really special to get the chance to do this and to have the opportunity to race with my teammate Justin (Allgaier) and everyone in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. I’m ready to go.” – Miguel Paludo

“Going to COTA is going to be tough since we’ve never been to this track but luckily we will have a full round of practice in order to learn the place. Road course racing really fits my style of driving so I am looking forward to getting out there and seeing what this Bass Pro Shops/TrueTimber/Black Rifle Coffee Camaro can do. Dave (Elenz, crew chief) and the No. 9 team will bring a fast car like usual, so that has our confidence at a high level as we head into this weekend.” – Noah Gragson

JRM Team Updates:

• JRM on Road Courses: JRM has competed on road courses a total of 133 times and has totaled four wins, 32 top fives and 69 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.
• Circuit of the Americas: For the first time in NASCAR history, all three National Touring Series will make an appearance at the 20-turn, 3.41-mile long road course in Austin, Texas. Opened in October of 2012, COTA hosted its first Formula 1 race that same year, and has since hosted IndyCar, MotoGPm and Endurance Races. Now, the facility welcomes the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Xfinity Series and Cup Series.
• Pilot Flying J myRewards Plus™ App: Save time and money on the road at Pilot Flying J Travel Centers and One9 Fuel Network locations with the myRewards Plus™ app, the rewards program made for drivers™. The app offers more of what matters on the road: more savings, more convenience and more time-saving features to plus-up your next stop. Professional drivers can earn up to four points per gallon only in the myRewards Plus™ app by activating the tiered points program every month. It has a trip planner, which has exclusive offers to find the best places to stop and save along the road with clean, fast and friendly service at Pilot Flying J Travel Centers.

GMS Racing Camping World Trucks COTA Preview

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Official Release
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Sheldon Creed, No. 2 Chevrolet Silverado
Circuit of the Americas Camping World Trucks Stats

  • No prior Camping World Trucks starts at COTA.

2021 Camping World Trucks Stats

  • Starts: 8, Best start: 2, Best finish: 1, Top 5s: 3, Top 10s: 4, Laps led: 111

Notes:

  • Road course stats: Sheldon Creed has three top-five finishes in three Camping World Trucks starts on road courses, including winning the inaugural race at the Daytona Road Course in August 2020. Creed also made two NASCAR Xfinity Series road course starts in 2017 as well as the ARCA West event at Sonoma where he finished ninth.
  • Chassis history: Creed and the No. 2 team will utilize chassis no. 138 at COTA this weekend. This chassis is a brand new addition to the GMS stable.
  • Playoff outlook: Creed is currently third in the championship standings, 82 points behind the leader. Creed is locked into the playoffs with his win at Darlington.
  • Crew chief corner: Jeff Stankiewicz has called seven Camping World Trucks events on road courses, including the inaugural Daytona International Speedway Road Course win with Sheldon Creed in 2020.

Quote:

“I’m excited to get to a new race track and I’m definitely going to enjoy having practice and qualifying again. There’s possible rain in the forecast so we have a ton of unknowns going into the weekend.”

Zane Smith, No. 21 Michael Roberts Construction Chevrolet Silverado
Circuit of the Americas Camping World Trucks Stats

  • No prior Camping World Trucks starts at COTA.

2021 Camping World Truck Stats

  • Starts: 8, Best start: 3, Best finish: 6, Top 10s: 4

Notes:

  • Sponsor spotlight: Michael Roberts Construction returns to sponsor Zane Smith’s No. 21 Silverado for the weekend’s events at Circuit of the Americas.
  • Chassis history: Smith and the No. 21 team will compete with chassis no. 140 this weekend at COTA. This chassis is a brand new addition to the GMS stable.
  • Playoff outlook: Smith is currently ninth in the championship standings, 138 points behind the leader and 35 points above the playoff cutoff line.
  • Crew chief corner: Kevin “Bono” Manion has called six Camping World Trucks races on road courses and has one road course victory in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Martin Truex Jr. in Mexico City in 2005.

Quote:

“I’m looking forward to COTA. We got to mess around in some cars last week and I fell in love with the track right away. I was worried at first on how the trucks would race there, but after going I think it’s going to be an awesome race. I feel like the track suits me well. I’m happy to have Michael Roberts Construction back on board this week and it’s great to have more and more fans back every week.”

Chase Purdy, No. 23 Bama Buggies Chevrolet Silverado
Circuit of the Americas Camping World Trucks Stats

  • No prior Camping World Trucks starts at COTA.

2021 Camping World Trucks Stats

  • Starts: 8, Best start: 4, Best finish: 18, Laps led: 4

Notes:

  • Road course stats: Chase Purdy’s lone road course start in the Camping World Trucks was February’s event on the Daytona Road Course. Purdy had one previous NASCAR sanctioned start on a road course at Watkins Glen in 2017 where he started 13th and finished 15th.
  • Chassis history: Purdy and the No. 23 team will compete with chassis No. 121 this weekend at COTA. GMS has utilized this chassis six times and has five top-10 finishes in those events with this chassis including a win at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in 2019.
  • Championship Outlook: Purdy is currently 23rd in the championship points standings, 107 points back from the playoff cutoff line.
  • Crew chief corner: Jeff Hensley has called nine Camping World Trucks races on road courses and has two top-five and five top-10 finishes in those events. Quote:

“I’m excited about COTA. I think it will be a challenge for everyone since nobody has run a truck there. It’s going into the great unknown. We’ll just need to be smart and patient all day and hopefully we’ll come home with a solid finish.”

Jack Wood, No. 24 Chevy Accessories Chevrolet Silverado
Circuit of the Americas Camping World Trucks Stats

  • No prior Camping World Trucks starts at COTA.

2021 Camping World Truck Stats

  • No prior Camping World Trucks starts.

Notes:

  • New kid on the block: Jack Wood will make his NASCAR Camping World Trucks Series debut at Circuit of the Americas on Saturday. Wood has one top-five and two top-10s in four ARCA Menards Series starts for GMS in 2021. The Loomis, CA native competed part-time in the ARCA Menards Series West in 2019 and 2020 for his family-owned team.
  • Chassis history: Wood and the No. 24 team will compete with chassis no. 123 this weekend at COTA. This chassis last competed in 2018 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park where it finished seventh with a GMS affiliate team.
  • Crew chief corner: Chad Walter has called two Camping World Trucks races on a road course. Walter has one road course victory at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in 2008 with Ron Fellows.

Quote:

“I have never been so excited about a race before. COTA is probably one of the most challenging racetracks in the world. I have put in countless laps on iRacing so hopefully that translates to speed this weekend. Just going to go out and try to compete all the laps in my first race.”

Tyler Ankrum, No. 26 Circle B Diecast Chevrolet Silverado
Circuit of the Americas Camping World Trucks Stats

  • No prior Camping World Trucks starts at COTA.

2021 Camping World Truck Stats

  • Starts: 8, Best start: 11, Best finish: 3, Top 5s: 1, Laps led: 6

Notes:

  • Sponsor spotlight: Tyler Ankrum’s No. 26 Chevrolet Silverado will carry a special Circle B Diecast scheme this weekend at Circuit of the Americas.
  • Chassis history: Ankrum and the No. 26 team will utlize chassis no. 124 this weekend at COTA. This chassis has five top-10 finishes in six outings with GMS.
  • Playoff outlook: Ankrum enters the COTA weekend 16th in the championship standings, 70 points back from the playoff cutoff line.
  • Crew chief corner: Charles Denike has called two Camping World Trucks races on road courses.

Quote:

“I’m very excited for COTA with it being our debut there in the truck series. I think it’s going to be a fun, but very challenging, racetrack. We have practice and qualifying, which I am pumped about. I’ve missed those two things the most in this series and I am ready to get after it this weekend.”

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/.

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FedEx Racing Express Facts – Circuit of the Americas

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

Race Info:
Race: EchoPark Texas Grand Prix
Date/Time: Sunday, May 23/2:30 p.m. ET
Distance: 68 laps/231 miles
Track Length: 3.41 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.

Dover Recap: Hamlin started second for the 400-mile event at the Monster Mile, but the start of the race would be indicative of how restarts would go the rest of the day – the #11 FedEx Office Toyota was not strong on the short run. The car hovered around the top five for most of the 400-lap race, and passes for position were hard to come by. The FedEx Racing team made improvements that helped the car’s handling later in the race, but it wasn’t enough to get to the front. The team tried some pit strategy in Stage 3, pitting for tires under a Lap 313 caution while the leaders stayed on track. Despite being the first car with fresh rubber and restarting ninth, the #11 team could only gain two more spots over the remaining laps. Hamlin crossed the finish line seventh while Hendrick drivers Alex Bowman, Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott and William Byron swept the top four.

COTA Preview: The NASCAR Cup Series heads to the Lone Star State this weekend for its first run at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. Hamlin and team will look for their first win of the season at the 20-turn, counterclockwise circuit designed for Formula One racers. This marks the first running for Hamlin on the 3.41-mile course.

Hamlin Conversation – COTA:

What are your thoughts on the track that you’ll be racing on this weekend at COTA?

“I’ve never raced there, so there are a lot of unknowns. But it’s a first-class facility, and it’s in a great market. It checks all the boxes for a new venue.”

In your career you have one win at a road course. How will you approach racing at a new one?

“Road courses are tricky, and this one specifically I’ve never raced on. I know our team is going to bring a fast car again this week. From there, it’s all about execution and making the least amount of mistakes.”

FedEx Ground Along for the Ride at COTA: The Delta District leads the FedEx Ground Gulf region in Safety metrics, and “DLTA” will appear on Hamlin’s #11 Toyota to recognize their accomplishment for the May 23 Circuit of the Americas race.

FedEx Office – Closest to COTA: 600 E Ben White Blvd, Austin, TX 78704 (512) 383-0348

Early Miscue Means 14th-place Finish for Rebel Rock at Mid-Ohio

By
Official Release
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LEXINGTON, Ohio (15 May 2021) – An early spin made for a long day for Rebel Rock Racing Saturday in the Mid-Ohio 120, Round 3 of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Coming off a victory in the most recent race at Sebring International Raceway in March, Frank DePew and Robin Liddell finished 14th in the No. 71 Urban Grid Chevrolet Camaro GT4 on Saturday.

Looking to make a pass on a slower GS class competitor, DePew’s attempt to go around the outside didn’t pan out as he slid wide and off track in turn 11 on the fifth lap, falling to the back of the field although he was able to continue.

“I got into the slippery stuff,” he told his team on the radio. “It was a shame to have that off earlier in the race, and then we lost more ground with the pit stop penalty,” DePew said afterwards. “This wasn’t what we wanted for the weekend, but hopefully we can get back on a good note at Watkins Glen next month”

As a result of the spin DePew pitted one lap down from the leader, with Liddell rejoining just ahead of the leader again under green flag conditions. Unfortunately IMSA penalized the team for a pit infraction and the resulting drive through penalty put the Rebel Rock Camaro down a further lap. This was a result of being boxed in during the pit stop by another car and in the ensuing scramble unfortunately one too many crew members pushed the car back to allow Robin to pull around the parked car ahead.

Liddell drove the final one-hour, 19-minutes, and managed to pick up five positions to finish 14th – five places better than the season-opening event at Daytona.

“My goal coming into this weekend was simply to stay consistent and minimize our errors; unfortunately we did not execute well today as we made too many mistakes and were therefore unable to capitalize on some of our competitors incidents and maximise our points haul,” Liddell said. “It’s frustrating but hopefully we can bounce back in the next two races when we go back to the Glen.”

Entering the race sixth in the GS standings, Rebel Rock Racing is now tied for sixth, 280 points behind the class leader with the revised IMSA point structure.

The IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge returns to endurance mode for its next event, the four-hour Tioga Downs Casino Resort 240 – the first of back-to-back weekends competing at historic Watkins Glen International.

MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY NAMED GRAND MARSHAL OF ECHOPARK AUTOMOTIVE TEXAS GRAND PRIX

By
Official Release
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Country platinum recording artist Cody Johnson to sing National Anthem and 159th Fighter Wing unit will perform pre-race flyover in NASCAR’s much-anticipated first visit to famed Circuit of The Americas

AUSTIN, Texas (May 18, 2021) – Texas native Matthew McConaughey, an award-winning actor, bestselling author, co-owner of Austin FC and a professor and Minister of Culture at the University of Texas, has been named the Grand Marshal for the NASCAR Cup Series EchoPark Automotive Texas Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas, it was announced today by race officials.

McConaughey, known for his Academy Award-winning performance in Dallas Buyers Club as well as memorable roles in other classics such as Dazed and Confused, The Lincoln Lawyer and The Wolf of Wall Street, will give the command for the 40 NASCAR Cup Series stars to fire their engines at the start of the historic race on Sunday, May 23 (FS1, PRN Radio, 2:30 p.m. ET), the first time NASCAR has visited the immaculate 3.41-mile, 20-turn road course near the Texas capital city of Austin.

“We are thrilled to have Matthew McConaughey serve as the Grand Marshal for the much-anticipated inaugural EchoPark Automotive Texas Grand Prix here at Circuit of The Americas,” said Bryan Hammond, executive director for NASCAR at COTA. “Matthew is beloved here in the state of Texas and makes his home right here in Austin when he’s not traveling around the world for work and passion projects. As a motorsport enthusiast of NASCAR and other forms of racing, we couldn’t think of anyone better to give the command to start engines for this historic race.”

Last year McConaughey took his talents to another arena by releasing his first book, Greenlights, which offers stories and insights from McConaughey’s life in a chronological order and proves that life often is stranger than fiction. The book was an instant New York Times No. 1 Bestseller, with more than a million copies sold worldwide.

It’s the second time McConaughey has served in a Grand Marshal role for a NASCAR race as he also gave the command to start at the Daytona 500 in 2005.

“I’m honored to be the Grand Marshal for NASCAR’s first visit to Circuit of The Americas here in my hometown of Austin,” said McConaughey. “There’s nothing more American than NASCAR racing and it’s wonderful to see the sport make its first visit to this challenging road course.”

Prior to McConaughey’s command, which will be given virtually, COJO Music & Warner Music Nashville platinum recording artist Johnson, who climbed the charts with the hit “On My Way to You,” will perform a live rendition of the National Anthem as four F-15s from the 159th Fighter Wing stationed in New Orleans will soar high over the venue in the pre-race flyover. Tino Caballero, head of sales for EchoPark Automotive San Antonio, will be positioned in the flagstand to wave the green flag while serving as the race’s Honorary Starter. Kirk Franklin, an American choir director, Grammy award-winning gospel singer and author, will provide the virtual invocation for the Cup race.

The Grand Marshals for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Pit Boss 250 will be Pit Boss executives Jeff, Dan and Jordan Thiessen. Jordan, the company’s COO, also will serve as the Honorary Starter, while Jeff, the Pit Boss president, also will provide the virtual invocation. The National Anthem for the Pit Boss 250 will be performed virtually by noted trumpeter and vocalist Jennifer Hartswick.

Trey McDaniel, Toyota owner and a paramedic from Grapevine, Texas, will serve as Grand Marshal for the Toyota Tundra 225 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race. Austin-based Toyota Ambassador for Hiring Heroes, Dakota Meyer, will drop the green flag as the Honorary Starter, while Elliott Peck, one of the most sought-after female vocalists on the West Coast, will perform a virtual rendition of the National Anthem. Billy Mauldin of Motor Racing Outreach will provide the virtual invocation prior to the Truck race.

Race weekend action gets underway on Friday with practice sessions scheduled for the NASCAR Xfinity and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. On Saturday, qualifying will be held for both Xfinity and Truck teams to set the starting lineups for their races later that day. The Toyota Tundra 225 Camping World Truck Series race starts at noon CT (FS1, MRN Radio) and will be followed by the Pit Boss 250, which takes the green flag at 3 p.m. (FS1, PRN Radio). On Sunday, the NASCAR Cup Series teams will qualify at 10 a.m. to set the field for the EchoPark Automotive Texas Grand Prix, which takes the green flag at 1:30 p.m. (FS1, PRN Radio).

Tickets are available for all three races during the NASCAR at COTA weekend and can be purchased online at www.NASCARatCOTA.com.

Buying a new car? Consider these tips

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SM
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Photo by Sarah Brown on Unsplash

Buying a new car is one of the biggest purchases you can make. These days cars can cost as much as houses. Whether you are buying a new car or a second-hand one, there are always things to look out for. This article will help you navigate the tricky world of buying a motor so that you can get to the negotiation table confident that you are not only buying the car you want but at a price that is worth it. 

Picking a reputable dealer

Before you even get to look at a car, you need to look at which car dealer you are going to buy from. Looking online for car dealerships in your local area can be a handy way of discovering which dealers you should be negotiating with. King of Cars in Houston can provide you with a great option for a dealer especially if you are struggling with credit. Check out this recommendation of cars that has the cheapest car insurance that might help you save money.

What do you want your car for?

Deciding what you want your car for will massively impact your decision on the car that you purchase. If you live in a city, then you may want a smaller and more compact car so that you can park easier. However, if you live in the countryside, you may want a more heavy-duty vehicle that can tackle trickier roads like dirt roads or single-pass country lanes. Equally, a larger car like a Lincoln Aviator Las Vegas will be needed for you if you have a family.

Inspect the car

When you have decided on the car that you like, inspect it thoroughly. Preferably you should do this in the daylight and in good weather. Rain can hide a multitude of damages whilst you may not be able to appreciate any of the interiors if you inspect the car at the night. On the interior, check that all of the accessory’s work and that there is no cosmetic damage that detracts your attraction to it. 

Test drive

Always make sure to go for a long test drive. This will ensure that you get the full experience of driving the car and will allow you to notice any underlying problems. This can come from extra sounds that the car makes or if you feel any drifting of steering on your journey. 

Negotiation

The price is one of the most important parts of buying a car. Make sure that you know the value of the car you want to purchase so that you have evidence for the offer you would like to put in. It is pointless going in with a ridiculously low offer as you will not succeed in lowering the price but rather ignore the seller. As well as this make sure any faults you have noticed are considered for your offer so that you can get the best price. 

Buying a car

Buying a car is a difficult process and can be stressful when you don’t know what to do. Take your time and pick a car that will suit all of your needs. When you have done this, test the car and make a researched offer. It’s as easy as that. 

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