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One Day Car Insurance: How it Works

By
SM
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Sometimes, you end up in situations where you will be driving a car that you don’t own for a day. Maybe you don’t own a car and are renting one for errands. In these situations, it’s essential to know how to take on temporary car insurance.

One day car insurance is an interesting type of personal car insurance that many drivers are not familiar with. Since most drivers own or lease a vehicle and pay for car insurance continuously, the need to try this type of car insurance doesn’t also come up.

Today, learn how one day car insurance works and what you should consider when taking out a temporary car insurance policy.

When You Need One Day Car Insurance

If you’ve never needed to get temporary car insurance before, you might wonder when you might need to get this type of coverage. There are a few situations that are more common than you might think, which require quick, short-term coverage.

Renting A Vehicle

You might want to get temporary car insurance coverage if you are renting a vehicle for a specific amount of time or borrowing a friend’s car for a few days because yours isn’t working. While their personal coverage would likely still cover you as a driver, having your own coverage would be more comprehensive.

Taking A Driving Test

Drivers who are taking their driving test for the first time may want to get a one-day policy to take their test without needing to commit to a long-term policy.

Test Driving Vehicles

If you don’t have a personal coverage policy and want to test drive different vehicles, short-term coverage for those days is a good option. You can get a non-owner insurance policy to protect you and the vehicle should anything occur, even if you don’t own the vehicle.

Infrequently Driven Cars

Some people own cars that they do not drive very frequently, such as a large moving van or a sports car. Drivers often choose to only insure these cars for short periods of time when you will be using the car. Otherwise, it can sit in storage uninsured.

Another option in this situation is to use usage-based insurance rather than time-based insurance, but it’s up to you to determine if one-day or usage-based fits your situation better.

How One Day Car Insurance Works

How exactly does one day car insurance work?

When it comes to coverage types and options, the policy types that you can choose from are often similar or precisely the same as what is offered in long-term plans. Most drivers are used to browsing plans that renew every three, six, or twelve months, but those are not the only plans out there.

Many companies do not offer one-day options, but they may have other comparable short-term options to consider. To find cheap one day car insurance, it’s best to find companies that specialize in temporary coverage.

Do I Need To Take A Driving Test To Get Temporary Insurance?

Some drivers mistakenly believe that they need to take a driving test for one day insurance coverage, but that is not true. Whether you are getting a non-owner policy or a car-specific policy, your driver’s license is proof of your ability to drive.

Do I Have To Get Insurance Just To Drive One Day?

It is in your best interest to get car insurance when driving, even if you will not be driving for more than one day. Even during one day of driving, an accident could occur. Having insurance makes sure that you are financially protected in that situation.

However, before you look into one day plans, find out if you are covered under another type of plan. Rental cars, for example, often include insurance coverage in the rental fee. If you’re driving a friend’s car, their policy may cover you as well. If you’re already covered, you don’t need to look for one day insurance.

Insurance often follows the car, not the driver. You may not need to get one day car insurance if the car itself already has insurance. If you are the owner and do not have the car insured, you should look into temporary insurance solutions.

Other Temporary Car Insurance Solutions

While one day car insurance might be a solution that works for you, remember that it is not your only short-term or temporary option.

When renting a car, for example, you can typically make sure that your personal coverage will extend to count for your rental car. If it will not, you can either purchase supplemental coverage through your insurer or buy coverage through the rental car agency. However, this type of coverage is often overpriced, so it is best to consider other options first.

If you have a car in storage that is not driven frequently, you might want to get non-collision coverage on it long-term. Then, you can add the necessary coverage for short periods whenever you are going to drive it.

Before investing in one day coverage, it’s a good idea to consider what will be most affordable. One day car insurance can be expensive and hard to find in some areas, so it’s important not to feel like it is your own option. It’s a great option when available, but there are other ways to insure your driving when necessary.

Performance Enhancing Aftermarket Accessories for Your Ford Territory

By
SM
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After a couple of years of driving through the rough Australian roads and a few hundred kilograms of added 4×4 equipment and accessories, your Ford Territory may not feel as if it’s new anymore. Fortunately, when it comes to “freshening up” your Territory and getting the most out of its performance, there are a few proven methods guaranteed to make it perform better than it did when you bought it from the dealership. Regardless of whether you think about performance as pure horsepower, better fuel economy, or a bit of both, there are Ford Territory accessories that can improve every aspect of your vehicle’s performance.

But why should you consider aftermarket performance Ford Territory accessories? Well, there are many reasons why Australians nationwide modify their vehicles with aftermarket 4×4 equipment, the most common of which are to improve their towing capacity, off-road capabilities, protection against curious ‘roos, etc. People towing heavy loads and conquering rugged off-road trails need the extra engine power to push through obstacles. Some of the most popular power enhancements include throttle controllers and aftermarket exhaust systems.

Throttle Controllers

Throttle controllers are small, affordable devices that tweak the voltage signal sent from the accelerator pedal to the vehicle’s engine control unit in order to reduce throttle lag and improve acceleration. Throttle lag is the delay that you experience when you press the accelerator pedal and the time it takes for your vehicle to start moving forward. There are many different types of throttle controllers available, and the iDrive is one of the most popular ones. iDrive throttle controllers let you choose between multiple different settings, allowing you to adjust your throttle response based on the type of driving you do. 

For instance, if you need the extra responsiveness, you can set it to ultimate mode and your throttle will be fully opened even before you press 50% of the accelerator pedal. However, this means that your vehicle will spend more fuel. Fortunately, iDrive throttle controllers also feature a normal mode and even economy mode. The normal mode replicates the vehicle’s stock settings, whereas the economy mode reduces the throttle response, allowing for slower, more controlled acceleration and thus, better fuel economy. Throttle controllers are relatively easy to install if you’re handy with some basic tools, and they can be removed just as easily should you figure out it’s not the modification for you.

Exhaust Systems

While exhaust systems aren’t necessarily considered 4×4 equipment, they are very popular amongst 4×4 owners for the aforementioned reasons. An aftermarket exhaust system differs from a stock exhaust system in a few different ways. For starters, aftermarket systems are made using higher-grade materials such as stainless and aluminized steel, whereas stock exhausts are usually manufactured using mild steel. 

Stainless and aluminized steel are more durable and resistant to corrosion, impact and the elements in general. Stainless steel is the stronger out of the two materials, but it’s also heavier. The added weight of stainless steel exhausts can hurt your fuel economy rather than improve it, which is why most 4×4 owners who are looking to improve their vehicle’s performance AND fuel economy opt for aluminized exhausts. However, this also means that aluminized steel exhausts are generally more expensive. 

Besides the materials aftermarket exhausts are made of, they also differ in how the parts, particularly the exhaust pipes are made. Generally, stock exhaust pipes are manufactured using what’s called crush-bending. Crush-bending is a pipe bending technique that involves using a radius die and backing shoes. This technique results in bends that have a slight depression, which can negatively impact the flow of gases throughout the entire system.

On the other hand, aftermarket exhaust pipes are typically manufactured using mandrel-bending. Mandrel-bending involves using a mandrel inside the pipe while it’s getting swept through the backing shoes and die, resulting in bends that are smooth and free of profile and diameter changes. Mandrel-bent pipes don’t have the gas restrictions that crush-bent pipes do, resulting in significant performance and fuel economy gains.

Engine Kits

No matter how great your exhaust system upgrade may be, the engine still has its limits. In fact, it can make more sense from a financial point of view to just start from scratch. That being said, engine conversion kits have their own place in the 4×4 scene. Rebuilding your engine from scratch is quite the task, as you’ll need to take it out of the bonnet, disassemble it, reassemble it, and put it back into place. There are professional mechanics who can do all of this for you at a cost. However, since the engine is the heart of your vehicle, having some who knows what they’re doing complete the job for you is paramount. 

You may think that having the mechanic source individual parts of the engine that needs replacing is more affordable, but it’s quite opposite. Not only is it more expensive, but it’s more time-consuming. Depending on your vehicle and the kit you get, engine kits may include pistons, piston rings, bearings, freeze plugs, gasket set, and sealing set. 

Maintenance Is Important

No matter how new or how high-performance your vehicle is, if you don’t maintain it, you can’t expect it to be in good shape, just like how you can’t expect to be in good shape if you don’t take care of your body. Basic things like wrong oil, clogged air filters, dirty sensors and loose cables can rob your Ford Territory of performance. So before you spend money on upgrades and modifications, it’s important to make sure everything you already have is working to the best of its ability. Anything else is just a waste of money and time. 

You’ll be surprised how well your vehicle can perform after proper servicing and maintenance. Once you’re confident your vehicle is in top-notch shape, only then should you consider how you can increase its performance ceiling with aftermarket 4×4 equipment. Most aftermarket parts are made to last, and there are many different brands to choose from, so you can rest assured you’ll be able to find exactly what you need.

4 Practices Of Safe And Responsible Drivers

By
SM
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drive safely: yellow road sign with a blue sky and white clouds

After receiving a driver’s license and the right to drive, you must demonstrate that you are a responsible and reliable driver. When entrusted with such an enormous responsibility, one of the first steps toward becoming a responsible driver is to understand the risks associated with vehicle operation and exercise rational, thoughtful, and prudent behavior.

The safest course of action is to practice safe and responsible driving. Everyone would all be safer on the road if there were more cautious drivers. 

Here are some safe practices you should remember as a responsible driver.

1. Do Not Exceed Speed Limits

Not only is exceeding a posted speed limit illegal, but it’s also dangerous. For example, while driving at 60 kilometers per hour on the road with a speed limit of 50 kilometers per hour can save you twenty minutes, it also increases your risk of being involved in an accident.

The longer the car reacts to your application of the brakes, the faster you are driving. Additionally, it reduces the amount of time required to respond to the unexpected, such as a vehicle losing control or an animal crossing the road. A high-speed collision’s dynamics should be sufficient to serve as a deterrent. Increased momentum causes horrific injuries as a result of the increased energy transfer in the mechanism of your vehicle.

Additionally, suppose you’ve been stopped for speeding. In that case, the police will arrest you, resulting in a fine the first time and a more permanent penalty for repeat offenders, especially if you’re driving under the influence. If you ever encounter a DWI case, you can visit www.dwiguy.com  or other law firms to assist you through the proceedings.

Remember to maintain a consistent speed with the rest of the traffic while staying within the speed limit. If the traffic is moving faster than you prefer, stay in the left lane to avoid colliding with the cars. If you need to pass a slower-moving vehicle, pass on the right. Utilize the indicators to communicate your intentions to other drivers before overtaking.

2. Always Wear Your Seat Belt

In this day and age, when advertisements and reminders about the importance of wearing a seat belt are constantly being broadcasted across all forms of media, it seems strange that some drivers and passengers still consistently fail to buckle up. Moreover, do not be lulled into complacency solely because your vehicle is equipped with airbags. Automobile collisions continue to pose a risk of death, even with improved safety features.

It is especially critical for rear-seat passengers. For example, if a fast-moving vehicle hits your car’s rear-end, the passenger becomes a projectile that could strike the driver or pierce the windshield. Any of these scenarios should be sufficient to convince you to buckle up immediately upon entering the vehicle.

3. Maintain Your Composure While Driving

A vehicle is a 4,000-pound steel piece of machinery. It is a technological marvel of engineering. It has the potential to instill a sense of control and invincibility in the consumer. Behind the scenes, the human organism exerts complete control over all computer processing and gadgetry in your vehicle. As a result, your vehicle will operate in the manner specified by you.

As a result, road rage and physical altercations have become almost ubiquitous. Their sense of power influences specific drivers’ decisions. It is not worth your time nor energy to seek out ways to respond positively to another driver’s disrespectful behavior toward you. Not every motorist is rational. Ensure that you do not become one of them.

Keeping your composure is the prudent course of action. Avoid conflict at all costs. If you wish, you may report the erring driver to the appropriate authorities. It is especially effective if you have dashcam footage to back up your point.

4. Do Not Attempt To Multitask While Driving

There is a market for applications that prevent drivers from texting or answering their phones. Why is this the case? Multitasking while driving is hazardous because it diverts your attention away from the road. It also impairs your ability to maneuver your vehicle correctly.

As a result, several countries have enacted legislation prohibiting drivers from using cell phones. Additionally, certain countries and states impose severe penalties. They include an indefinite suspension of the driver’s license, a monetary fine, and, most likely, prison time.

Grooming while driving is another example of irresponsible multitasking. Women are frequently seen applying makeup or fixing their hair while their cars are still moving. Men, while rare, are also caught putting on their ties or shaving while driving. When driving, your full attention should be directed toward the road ahead of you.

Takeaway

Having a car entails more than simply having the freedom to drive it whenever and wherever you please. Although modern automobiles incorporate high-performance computer chips and enhanced safety features, the vehicle is still controlled by a human being. Therefore, when operating a motor vehicle on the road, leave your ego at home and always put safety first.

Benefits of Casino Verification Websites

By
SM
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Online casinos being in demand, choosing the best might not be easy. Gamblers are daily researching ways of getting the online casino according to their demands. So many processes can help you find the best online casinos, and some are mentioned below. One of the ways of getting a trusted site is visiting the verification sites. These are a site that helps in knowing the verification of all the online casinos or gambling sites. Using the websites will help you in getting all the information about different gambling sites. Therefore, look at some of the benefits of using such websites when looking for the best online casino.

It Is Safe and Secured

Note that there are private websites that can inform you of the reliability of the online casino. When using online platforms, one of the things that must be considered is privacy and security. Everything provided during the sign-up must be protected. The verification website can show if the gambling site you are using is safe or not. Read all the information about the different sites that are offered on the verification websites. Visit mt-boss.com to identify some of the top reviewed online casinos.

Services Availability Awareness 

A gambler can know all the services that are offered by the online casino or the gambling sites. The websites will make you aware of the sites that can offer the best services. If you are looking for an online casino offering the best services, then be sure to look at the information provided on the verification websites. On these websites, all the services available on these online casinos will be provided and the collections of games found on the site.

Information in Promos And Bonuses

Also, get to know about the promotions and bonuses by reading the information provided on the verification websites. Gamblers are keen when it comes to promos and bonuses. Most of the gamblers will want to know about the promos and bonuses before deciding on the online casino they will work with. Most people depend on free spins and other bonuses to make them play or gamble for a long time. With the websites, know everything to do to increase your chances of winning the bet.

Customer’s Reviews 

It is easy to read the reviews about the site through the verification websites. Note that there are more than one online casinos or gambling site that are posted on the website. By clicking on a specific site, you will read everything about the online casino, including the customer reviews. By reading the reviews, you can tell which site will offer you the best services. Always go for the online casino that has most of the positive reviews from potential customers. 

From the points mentioned above, using the verification websites can help gamblers in different ways. In short, if you want to know more about gambling sites, these are the websites to consider. For instance, most of the information about the best online casinos has been posted on mt-boss.com. by login into the page, and you will find various things about the best online casinos posted for you. In mind, always think of getting the best verification websites since many of them might be on the internet.

Power Paces Opening Day of Practice in Heavy Traffic at Indy

By
Official Release
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INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, May 18, 2021) – Will Power led a busy, compressed opening day of practice for the 105th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Tuesday, turning a top lap of 226.470 mph at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

2018 Indy 500 winner Power’s fastest lap in the No. 12 Verizon 5G Team Penske Chevrolet came in the final session of the day, an open practice lasting one hour, 50 minutes between 4:10-6 p.m. (ET) on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval. Delays due to late-morning rain compressed the final session from three hours to one hour, 50 minutes, so drivers wasted no time clustering in packs of thick traffic and swapping positions in the aerodynamic draft.

“Just a big tow,” Power said of the aerodynamic pull of leading cars. “It’s as simple as that – trying to catch that train. But as far as in traffic, I felt pretty good. Running with two or three cars in front, I felt as comfortable as I have in a while.”

2014 “500” winner Ryan Hunter-Reay was second at 226.371 in the No. 28 DHL Honda, while two-time and reigning winner Takuma Sato was third at 226.132 in the No. 30 Panasonic/PeopleReady Honda.

Sage Karam was the fastest non-“500” winner on the speed chart, fourth at 225.942 in the No. 24 DRR-AES INDIANA Chevrolet. Conor Daly rounded out the top five at 225.640 in the No. 47 U.S. Air Force Chevrolet.

INDYCAR introduced a regulation in 2021 that requires teams to fill in the front half of the “hole” in the underwing of the Dallara chassis with a carbon fiber clam-shell piece. This increases downforce and reduces the reliance on the front wing, which will create more passing. After just one day in traffic, 2014 NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Power thinks the changes will generate even more action on Race Day, Sunday, May 30.

“It’s promising,” Power said. “I think adding that downforce is certainly going to help the racing. I think you’re going to have one of the old-style races where the front three are just swapping positions constantly because you can follow so close now. I think it will be good. It’s good for the fans.”

Power was the busiest and fastest of the 35 drivers on track today, turning 87 laps. The field combined to turn 2,369 laps overall.

Graham Rahal led the morning session for veteran drivers, which was interrupted by three times by light rain. His top lap was 223.449 in the No. 15 United Rentals Honda, and that stood as his top speed of the day.

After a rain delay of two hours, 20 minutes, the track opened for two hours for the Rookie Orientation Program and veteran refresher tests.

JR Hildebrand and Stefan Wilson completed their refresher tests in the No. 1 ABC Supply Foyt Stewart Racing Chevrolet and No. 25 LOHLA SPORT/Cusick Motorsports Honda, respectively. RC Enerson was the only one of the three rookies assigned to cars who didn’t complete his rookie test during testing in April, and he was nearly finished with the second of the three phases of his test when mechanical trouble struck his No. 75 Top Gun Racing Chevrolet.

Enerson will return to the track at 11 a.m. Wednesday to try and finish the second and third phases of his rookie test. The track is scheduled to be open from noon-6 p.m. for open practice.

GRANT SEXTON MAKES IT TWO IN A ROW IN THE LUCAS OIL POWRi SOUTHWEST LIGHTNING SPRINT CAR SERIES AT THE BARONA SPEEDWAY

By
Official Release
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(Lakeside, CA, May 18, 2021) Lakeside, California’s Grant Sexton warmed up for the end of the month Lucas Oil POWRi Lightning Sprint Car Nationals when he won his second straight Southwest Series main event last Saturday at the Barona Speedway. The victory propelled the 16-year-old high school student into the SWLS series point lead for the first time in 2021.

Sixteen lightning sprint cars turned up on the chilly night to contest the first non-wing race of 2021 on the San Diego County quarter mile dirt Oval. Sexton started the March towards his second straight triumph by winning his heat race. The other two heat races were captured by the talented rookie duo of Braden Chiaramonte of El Cajon and Alpine’s Matt Sotomayor.

Veteran Jim Squire of El Cajon started the 20-lap main event on the pole with Norco’s Rudy Padilla alongside. The second row was made up of Peter Benker of Alpine and San Diego’s Jason Arnolde. El Cajon’s D.J. Dumas and Sexton opened the race in row three. Padilla’s white car screamed into the lead at the drop of the green flag and was chased into turn one by Squire and Benker. Benker went wide going into turn three on the first lap and was quickly overtaken by Dumas and Sexton.

By the end of the second lap, Padilla had built an impressive lead. Dumas tapped Squire and momentarily bobbled as they came off turn four on the same go around. By the time he recovered, Sexton had shot past for third place. It took the teenager four more laps before he knifed his way to the inside of Squire coming off turn four on the sixth lap for the runner up position. By the end of the eighth lap, Sexton had eaten up the once sizeable lead Padilla had established and was breathing down his neck for the top spot. As they exited the second turn on lap nine, Sexton again used the inside and this time he took the lead and relegated Padilla to second.

Once out front, Sexton, in the Sexton Fire Protection/BK Wings/Troy Dirt/Victory Graphix/Swift Powdercoat/Maxima Oil/Infiniti Shocks/Scotty and Jimmy Keys/2020 XXX/Kawasaki ZX10, put on a clinic and ran away from the pack and was into lapped traffic on lap 11. That all went for naught when one lap later Dumas biked the car, slammed the wall and rolled over in turn four. While Dumas was not injured, his tumble forced a red flag and it also wiped-out Sexton’s huge lead.

For the restart with nine laps to go, Sexton was the leader, and he was being followed by Padilla. Right behind them was the trio of Squire, Sotomayor, and San Diego’s Darren Brent. They had been waging a torrid battle for the third spot before the red flag came out. Sexton immediately pulled away from Padilla on the restart. Simultaneously, Sotomayor continued his forward march when he took the third-place spot from Squire. Less than a lap later, the rookie continued with his impressive run when he flew to the inside of Padilla and commandeered second.

Sotomayor was fast, and he pulled away from Padilla. However, he was not fast enough to chase down Sexton who won by nearly a full straightaway. Sotomayor and Padilla had best ever SWLS finishes in second and third. San Diego’s Parker Dumas, who came from ninth to challenge Padilla for third at the finish, placed fourth. Squire came home fifth.

Sexton was also the main event “Hard Charger,” and he took over the point lead from teammate David Bezio, who did not start in the main event. Bezio is second in the championship standings and trails Sexton by 83-points. Rookies Sotomayor and Chiaramonte are third and fourth. Parker Dumas rounds out the top five.

The Lucas Oil POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Cars return to action when they put the wings back on their cars at the Barona Speedway on June 12th.

The Lucas Oil POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series would like to thank the following sponsors for making the 2021 season possible. Lucas Oil, Sexton Fire Protection, RTL Traffic Control & Equipment, Victory Graphix, United Cleaning Company, BK Wing, and A.M. Ortega Construction Inc. If you or your company would like to become part of the series, please contact Brent Sexton at (619) 454-6945 or mailto:sextonfire@cox.net

For up to the minute updates on the Lucas Oil POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series, please visit the series website at raceswls.com or the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Southwest-Lightning-Sprints-101419131399196

Lucas Oil POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Cars Barona Speedway May 15th Results

  1. Grant Sexton – Lakeside, CA – 6th
  2. Rudy Padilla – Norco, CA – 2nd
  3. Matt Sotomayor – Alpine, CA – 7th
  4. Parker Dumas – San Diego, CA – 9th
  5. Jim Squire – Lakeside, CA – 1st
  6. Braden Chiaramonte – El Cajon, CA – 8th
  7. Darren Brent – San Diego, CA – 10th
  8. Jason Arnolde – San Diego, CA – 4th
  9. Kevin Bates – 13th
  10. Jon Squire – El Cajon, CA – 11th
  11. Peter Benker – Alpine, CA – 3rd
  12. D.J. Dumas – El Cajon, CA – 5th

DNS Ryan Dumas – San Diego, CA
DNS Robert Early – Riverside, CA
DNS David Bezio – San Diego, CA
DNS Wyatt Boczanowski – San Diego, CA

2021 Lucas Oil POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series Point Standings

  1. Grant Sexton – Lakeside, CA – 619
  2. David Bezio – San Diego, CA – 536
  3. Matt Sotomayor – Alpine, CA – 528
  4. Braden Chiaramonte – El Cajon, CA – 503
  5. Parker Dumas – San Diego, CA – 478
  6. Wyatt Boczanowski – San Diego, CA – 443
  7. Rudy Padilla – Norco, CA – 430
  8. Dalton Sexton – Lakeside, CA – 421
  9. Jim Squire – Lakeside, CA – 387
  10. D.J. Dumas – Fl Cajon, CA – 382

2021 Lucas Oil POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Schedule

March 26 Mohave Valley Raceway (Winged) – James Turnbull
March 27 Mojave Valley Raceway (Winged) – Brent Sexton
April 3 Barona Speedway (Winged) – Parker Dumas
April 17 Barona Speedway (Winged) – Dalton Sexton
May 1 Barona Speedway (Winged) – Grant Sexton
May 15 Barona Speedway (Wingless) – Grant Sexton
May 29 Missouri Speedway (POWRi Nationals)
May 30 Missouri Speedway (POWRi Nationals)
June 12 Barona Speedway (Winged)
June 26 Barona Speedway (Wingless)
August 7 Barona Speedway (Winged)
August 21 Barona Speedway (Wingless)
September 4 Barona Speedway (Winged)
September 18 Barona Speedway (Wingless)
October 2 Barona Speedway (Winged)

Day 1: Meyer Shank Racing Indianapolis 500 Practice Report

By
Official Release
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#60: Jack Harvey, Meyer Shank Racing Honda

Indianapolis, ind. (18 May 2021) – Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) completed its first official day of Indianapolis 500 practice on Tuesday. MSR – which will be entering its fifth consecutive Indianapolis 500 – comes into the week of preparation for the first time with its two-car assault .

MSR veteran, Jack Harvey will continue his Indianapolis 500 hunt in the No. 60 AutoNation/ SiriusXM Honda. While new to MSR but certainly not new to the Indy 500, Helio Castroneves will make his MSR debut in the No. 06 AutoNation / SiriusXM Honda as he looks to claim his fourth victory in the 105th Running of the iconic race.

With practice opening at 10:00am on Tuesday, Harvey wasn’t able to take to the track right away after unfortunately got off to a slow start when the team diagnosed as issue with the engine following the install lap. But quickly getting to work, the team replaced the No. 60 Honda engine in just three-hours time, and Harvey was sent back out into afternoon practice. Harvey closed out the day 30th and posted his fastest speed of 222.113 mph.

Castroneves was fast right off the bat with the team right on target during the morning’s two hour ‘oval veterans’ session. Although onboard a new car and sporting a new color suit, Castroneves showed no rust as he clocked in 63 total laps and finished out the day 22 with a fast lap speed of 223.059 mph.

INDYCAR practice will continue through the week with open practice set for 12:00pm – 6:00pm. Live streaming will be available on Peacock TV or on SiriusXM Ch. 205.

Driver Quotes:

Jack Harvey: “I think we made good progress throughout the day. It’s always hard on a day like today to see how everyone shakes out. I don’t think the time sheet necessarily reflected how we were at the end of the day. I was just happy that the car got back out on track and that we made progress on the race car.”

Helio Castroneves: “This is the first official day with Meyer Shank Racing and I thought it went really well. We collected a lot of data today and that was the goal. We were able to get through our program, and found some areas that we can improve on to get us through the rest of the week. As of right now the speed may not be up there, but we are focusing on a lot of things and hopefully that will translate at the end of the week. The AutoNation / SiriusXM car, it was good and it’s always great to be back at the Indianapolis 500.”

CHEVY NCS AT COTA: Austin Dillon Press Conference Transcript

By
Official Release
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NASCAR CUP SERIES
CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS
ECHOPARK TEXAS GRAND PRIX
TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
MAY 18, 2021

AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 WORKRISE CAMARO ZL1 1LE, Press Conference Transcript:

WHERE DO YOU THINK THE BEST PASSING ZONES ARE GOING TO BE?
“I think the best passing zones are probably on all the big straights. The S’s are pretty tight; you can’t really gain anything there. Turn 11 is probably the best.”

“I’m not very good at the numbers of each corner; I’d have to have a map in front of me. But I think Turn 11 is onto the main backstretch; that one before you get to the stadium section. Obviously, lengthening the straightaways as much as you can is huge and in the final corner. I’m just not good with the numbers, but into the stadium section on the downhill braking zone, leaving the last corner, and then the one before the big straightaway are the three that I see that will be the most important. Turn One, up the hill, you can out-brake someone into there, but it gets tight quick. I think the first three I named are probably the big ones. But Turn One is a struggle to really get off of that corner sometimes, in 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 WORKRISE, YOUR PRIMARY SPONSOR FOR THE WEEKEND, IS LOCATED. HOW COOL IS THAT TO BE ABLE TO RACE IN THEIR BACKYARD?
“Yeah, I encourage everyone to go to Workrise.com. They are the leading workforce management, solutions and skilled trades. They are an awesome company to be working with. I’m pumped that it’s in their hometown of Austin, Texas. You can check out Workrise’s social media. There are some cool stuff coming up this week promoting the race. It’s awesome to have them. Last year, we had them on our car one race and this year, they changed their brand to Workrise and it’s awesome to be having a race at COTA, in Austin, where they are based out of. 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 pump to be working hard for them this weekend.”

AJ ALLMENDINGER WAS SAYING THAT HE EXPECTS IT TO BE CHAOS GOING INTO TURN ONE AT COTA. WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS FOR THIS RACE, GIVEN THAT IT’S A NEW TRACK FOR THE SERIES?
“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.”

I’VE HEARD THIS TRACK DESCRIBED AS TWO OR THREE DIFFERENT ROAD COURSES IN ONE. DO YOU FEEL IT’S LIKE THAT OR DOES IT REMIND YOU OF ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU’VE EVER HAD TO DEAL WITH?
“I would say the only thing lately that we’ve done is the Daytona Road Course; a lot of different types of cornering. Obviously, Daytona has that banking that you deal with off of Turn Four and it’s flatter, but just a lot of different challenges. The tight section on the back and then you have a big sweeper after that. So, you want to be able to turn as good as you can through that stuff. But then you know you have to carry a lot of speed through a corner that being free probably isn’t the best thing for. So, having a balance for all that’s going on is going to be tough. You’re going to see guys that really excel in certain corners and struggle in others.”

THIS STARTS A STRETCH OF FIVE OF THE NEXT ELEVEN POINTS-RACES ON ROAD COURSES. WHAT KIND OF A CHALLENGE, OR MAYBE IT’S OPPORTUNITY, IS THIS STRETCH FOR YOU?
“I think it’s definitely challenging, knowing that we’re going to some places for the first time. I know it looks like there could be rain this weekend at COTA; I’ve never really done that. But we’ll just take it and do the best we can. We’ve been solid all year long. Daytona (Road Course) was a positive for me, as a road course racer. I got stage points in both stages and we were on our way to running a top-10 finish. We just have to go out there, attack, be aggressive, and try to take the things that I’ve learned in the off-season and use them to my advantage. And just try to get better at each and every road course that we go to. We know that there’s going to be some challenges ahead, but we’ll do the best with what we have.”

HOW DO YOU FEEL THAT YOUR TEAM HAS DONE THIS YEAR AND BUILT TO THIS POINT?
“We’ve been pretty consistent week in and week out. Just showing up and doing our job; keeping all four tires on the ground and working hard to make the car better throughout the race. I thought last weekend was a bit disappointing because we ran inside the top-10 all day and ended up with a 14th-place finish. But we were able to get some stage points and that’s what we need to do is keep collecting stage points. Without a win, you have to have those. Hopefully we get a win here soon. There’s a lot of guys out there hunting for that and we’re one of them. There are some good tracks sprinkled in with tracks that we know that we have to do our best at to have good runs. Charlotte (Motor Speedway )is right after COTA and Charlotte is a great one for me. We’ll get to COTA and see what we have. I was able to do that race in the off-season; I think that was pretty big. If it rains this weekend, it will be a new challenge, so we’ll see how it goes.”

WITH THE PRACTICE SESSION YOU’RE GETTING THIS WEEKEND, THE FIRST PRACTICE SESSION THAT HAVEN’T BEEN ON A SUPERSPEEDWAY OR DIRT TRACK IN 14 MONTHS: WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS YOUR TEAM SHOULD BE WORKING ON DURING THAT 50-MINUTE PRACTICE THAT YOU HAVEN’T BEEN ABLE TO FOR WELL OVER A YEAR?
“That’s a good point. We have to execute during practice and try and gain as much time on the track as we can. Get in a bunch of laps and you can try and make adjustments if you have some things that you haven’t gone out and done, just because of the unknown, and try and get through those. I think everybody is going to be in a position where, how do you practice and how do you communicate well to get your stuff better after each run. It’ll be like back in time like, what feels like forever ago, where we had a practice session where we could adjust on the car and try to get it better. We’re going to a new track, so there’s a lot of things, like heights, that are going to be so important. Just to get the heights right, it could take 50 minutes. 50 minutes isn’t really a long time. We used to have two, long practices and a happy hour to go along with it. It’s still going to feel quick, as far as the timing passing. It takes such a long time to make a lap at COTA that you’ll probably run out of time pretty quick.”

TALK ABOUT HOW LIFE-CHANGING FATHERHOOD HAS BEEN FOR YOU?
“It’s been awesome. I enjoy my time with Ace and Whitney. I’ve always been close with my family and it’s awesome to have a family of my own. Anytime you get to see Ace do something new is just special. We’re having a lot of fun right now. I’m glad they get to come to the track with me and Ace is getting to experience some of that. While he’s really young and doesn’t really know what’s going on all the time, he still enjoys just being with his mom and dad. It makes the good days better and the bad days good, too. It’s awesome having a kid and I’ve enjoyed it.”

YOU AND TYLER REDDICK ARE BOTH IN THE TOP-16 IN POINTS. AT THIS POINT, YOU BOTH WOULD MAKE IT INTO THE PLAYOFFS. IT’S BEEN THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2015 THAT TWO RCR CARS HAD BEEN THERE. WHAT DO YOU POINT TO FOR THE TURNAROUND?
“I think we’re doing a good job of just being consistent, week in and week out. I’m asking for more from our group, just trying to figure out where that next little bit of speed is because Chevrolet is so good right now. Obviously, Hendrick Motorsports has kind of carried the banner, but we’ve been right there at a lot of places and been able to compete with those guys. We’ve kind of held ourselves to them because the partnership that we have and we have to pick it up just like this much. I feel like every weekend, we’re an eighth to 12th-place car. We need to make that next jump to a fourth to eighth-place car, and then you’re looking at having chances to win races when everything lays out with pit stops and strategy. But if you’re in that fourth to eighth, you’re getting opportunities to win races quite often. We’ve got to make that next little jump, where our bad days aren’t 14th, but our bad days are 10th or eighth. And then, you’re really out there challenging for wins and you feel confident where you’re at each and every weekend. RCR, ECR and Chevrolet are doing a good job bringing good cars to the track. Tyler (Reddick) and I both work hard at everything we can during the week and so do our teams. We’re pumped to get to the track and see what we can gain on each and every week.”

DO YOU GET EXCITED GOING INTO A PLACE, LIKE CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY, WHERE YOU’VE WON BEFORE?
“Yeah, I am. I’ve got Nashville (Superspeedway) after that, too. Nashville, I won the last Truck race there and finished third in the Xfinity race before they closed it down. So, Charlotte and Nashville are two really big places that we know we have to go there with guns loaded and see if we can pop off a win. They’re places we can do it, so we’re pumped to get to those two tracks. You never know, maybe we’ll do something spectacular at a road course, too.”

THE COCA-COLA 600 OBVIOUSLY HAS A LOT OF MEANING TO YOU, BEING YOUR FIRST CUP SERIES WIN, YOUR HOMETRACK, MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, COCA-COLA; ALL OF THE TIE-IN’S ARE THERE FOR YOU. EMOTIONALLY, IT’S A BIG RACE. WHAT MAKES THAT RACE AS CHALLENGING NOW AS IT DID BACK IN THE DAY WHERE ‘CAN MY CAR SURVIVE’ WAS PREDOMINANT?
“Having a clean race is challenging; making no mistakes. You’re just in the car for a long period of time; it’s hot. You come down pit road a lot and there’s just a lot of moment for error; more than what we’re used to. My goals going into that race is to have a clean race and find yourself in a great position toward the end. Obviously, if you have the speed to win it, that’s even better. But having a clean race is part of having a chance to win it. I think a lot of people have taken themselves out of that race with early mistakes. We’ll do our best to be there at the end. I think the long races have suited me in the past. We’ll see what we got. I think we’ve got some good history there and a good baseline setup. Our 550-horsepower package has been pretty strong I think for the most part. Charlotte takes a little different mechanical idea than some of the 1.5-mile tracks that we go to. I always look forward to that track.”

FOR THE COTA RACE THIS WEEKEND, WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU’RE LOOKING FOR IN PRACTICE?
“The first run out will be about the travels; making sure we get our travels right so we’re not on the track or too high. We usually error towards the higher side. The curbing is obviously something that we’ll look at before we hit the track, but what can we take advantage of and what can we not. If there’s a corner that’s just really difficult for us mechanically, we’ll start working on that, and making sure my brakes feel good. We’ll be checking the brake temperatures because this track is going to be very hard our cars, as far as trying to get stopped. The amount of speed you’ll be carrying at some of these straightaways is going to be a lot, so trying to keep the brakes underneath the car will be big.”

COTA HAS ALSO HOSTED FORMULA 1 RACES. DOES THAT MAKE THIS RACE ANY MORE SPECIAL TO YOU?
“I think it’s just a cool venue. Watkins Glen used to have Formula 1 races a long time ago. The history of any kind of track is awesome. That’s why I thought the Brickyard is so special, getting to race on the oval with so many historical races there. I was talking to one of my old engineers, trying to get some notes from him. Even though it probably doesn’t apply to anything, it’s just cool to see his track notes that they used when they raced at COTA.”

WITH YOU DOING DOUBLE DUTY THIS WEEKEND, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT THE LEADERSHIP AT RCR HAS GIVEN YOU, LIKE A CHECKLIST OF THINGS YOUR TEAM NEEDS TO HELP PREPARE FOR SUNDAY? WHAT’S THE COMMUNICATION GOING TO BE LIKE BETWEEN THE TWO DIFFERENT OPERATIONS YOU’RE GOING TO BE RACING WITH THIS WEEKEND?
“I think anything I can learn, driving-wise, and anything I’ll bring to the table to our Cup team after practice. Just the laps on the track will probably be the biggest thing. But mechanically, it’s a little different, because they have a different right-height rule and it’s just different. So mechanically, probably not a whole lot. Maybe air pressure – if there’s something we learn there, I could apply it.”

LOOKING AT THE COCA-COLA 600, WHAT DID THAT WIN MEAN FOR YOUR CAREER?
“I think it was just confidence, more than anything, that I have a win in the NASCAR Cup Series. Driving the No. 3 car means a lot to me to be able to put that number back into victory lane for RCR and for my family. The first win means so much to so many. It goes a long way. It gave me confidence leading into some of the other wins that we’ve gotten to know that we’ve been in those situations, been able to make something happen and finish it off. Finishing it off I think is a big part of some of the NASCAR drivers; the guys that finish it when it matters.”

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

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

A string of freakishly bad luck can’t shake Joe Graf Jr.’s mental toughness

By
Official Release
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MOORESVILLE, N.C.: After a blazing fast start to his sophomore NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) season with SS GreenLight Racing (SSGL), Joe Graf Jr. heads to Circuit of the Americas (COTA) hoping to shake off a month-long stretch of freakishly bad luck.

“It is during times like this that all your mental discipline and training really come to the forefront,” said Graf. “I can’t stress enough the importance of mental toughness in overcoming obstacles you don’t control.

“We have an amazing pit crew, but two weeks in a row they have suffered late-race problems that ruined our day.

“SSGL team builds great cars and never have had a parts failure, but when we were running seventh at Talladega, we have a front-end component break with only a few laps left in the race. At Martinsville, we brought a completely new car setup and were running very strong when a competitor intentionally wrecked us.

“Those were actually four really solid performances by the SSGL team that were tainted by a dash of bad luck.”

While the performances may not back it up recently, Graf said his program at SSGL is stronger than his rookie season in 2020.

“When I look at the speed and balance of our cars this year they are much better than last year,” added Graf who started the season with a career-high 11th at Daytona International Speedway. “That isn’t from luck. That is from the hard work and grind it out mental toughness of this team.

“It’s such a shame that we have had such a rough month or so, but this is no different from life. We all experience highs and lows in life. Like anyone at a low point, we are going to remain mentally tough and keep moving forward. We embrace the suck. We know it can’t last.

“The SS GreenLight Racing team led by Bobby (Dotter), Mike (Tyska, crew chief), and the rest of the team have been super troopers getting our cars prepared and staying positive even through this rut.”

The bad luck began at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway last month, where Graf was wiped out of the rain-delayed Cook-Out 250 by Gray Gaulding. Graf, who was running inside the top-20 at the time of the incident, entered the race being the only driver in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2021 without being involved in an accident.

In the following race, a superb run at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway which saw his No. 07 Z Grills Chevrolet Camaro draft from the rear of the field to post one of the fastest laps of the race, as well as spending numerous laps inside the top-10 was foiled by a front suspension failure with just a few laps remaining in the race – resulting in a disappointing 33rd place finish.

Two weeks ago, during NASCAR throwback weekend at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, Graf raced smart and carefully maneuvered himself into the top-20 until a late-race caution sent teams to pit road for service. An unfortunate error during the pitstop left Graf’s wheel with only three lug-nuts. On the restart, a tire issue forced Graf to lose control of his race car and end the race with a dejecting 37th place finish.

This past weekend at Dover (Del.) International Speedway, the 22-year-old battled back from being one lap down to getting his No. 07 Z Grills Chevrolet back on the lead lap and slicing and dicing his way through the field before an unscheduled pit stop under green for a loose wheel ruined any hopes of a satisfying finish. Instead, he finished 29th in his third Monster Mile start.

Because of the unfortunate setbacks, the team has dropped to 35th in the Xfinity Series owner points and 26th in the driver standings with the current New York University student determined to climb his team out of this hole and forge ahead with an upbeat, realistic approach.

With just 10 races in the book thus far in 2021, Graf said he and his team are prepared to leave nothing on the table looking ahead.

“Going forward we are going to focus on what we can control and continue to execute at our highest level,” he said. There are a ton of races left in the season and hopefully, we have shaken the bad luck. I would be worried if our cars lacked competitiveness, but they don’t. We have a lot of racing left and we are due for some good luck.”

The former ARCA Menards Series winner marketing partner support throughout the 2021 season has been amazing despite the bad luck the team has endured. However, the interest in Graf, SSGLR and the NASCAR Xfinity Series continues to be favorable for the distant future.

For more on Joe Graf Jr. visit JoeGrafJr.com, like him on Facebook (Joe Graf Jr.), follow him on Twitter (@JoeGrafJr) and Instagram (@joegrafjr).

The COTA 250 (46 laps | 156 miles) is the 11th of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2021 schedule. Practice is set for Fri., May 21 from 3:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m. Qualifying is set for race day, Sat., May 22 beginning at 10:05 a.m. The inaugural race will take the green flag later in the day shortly after 3:00 p.m. (4:00 p.m. ET) with live coverage on FOX Sports 1, the Performance Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (CT).
About SS Green Light Racing:

As one of the most tenured teams in all of NASCAR, SS GreenLight Racing led by team owner and former driver Bobby Dotter has been a mainstay in the sport fielding entries in either the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series or the Xfinity Series competition since 2001.

SS GreenLight Racing will continue with a two-car program in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2021.

LIMITED NUMBER OF ECHOPARK AUTOMOTIVE TEXAS GRAND PRIX COMMEMORATIVE SOUVENIR PROGRAMS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE

By
Official Release
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NASCAR fans at Circuit of The Americas can keep up with the action on the NASCAR at COTA website featuring the Race Week Preview Guide and through NASCAR at COTA social media channels

AUSTIN, Texas (May 18, 2021) – A limited number of printed commemorative souvenir programs will be available for purchase during the EchoPark Automotive Texas Grand Prix race weekend at Circuit of The Americas. Fans who want to have a copy as a keepsake of this historic NASCAR racing weekend will need to grab a copy as soon as possible, as they are expected to go fast. Programs will be available for purchase at track souvenir locations Friday-Sunday, while supplies lasts.

The commemorative program, titled “Keep Austin Wheeled,” offers a beautiful cover design featuring two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch’s red, white and blue Toyota Camry as the center art element.

The program is full of informative feature stories, including “Fast 5” storylines for the weekend’s Cup, Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series races; a NASCAR 101 feature; a history piece on Cup Series drivers who hail from the great state of Texas; a breakdown of Circuit of The Americas’ challenging 3.41-mile course by Cup champions Chase Elliott, Martin Truex. Jr. and Brad Keselowski; a feature on the gorgeous event trophies; and a story highlighting some of the fun things to do when visiting Austin.

The program also provides driver photos for the Cup, Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series, track history, hero pages, driver rosters, stats and so much more.

“We wanted to create a printed souvenir program for this historic inaugural event so fans would have a memento to remember the weekend,” said Scott Cooper, senior vice president of communications for Speedway Motorsports. “But fans better act fast, because after seeing that beautiful cover design, I have a feeling that the limited number that we have available aren’t going to last for long.”

The NASCAR at COTA souvenir program was designed by Learfield-IMG College Publishing in Lexington, Ky.

Race fans can also look forward to NASCAR at COTA’s fresh take on the virtual souvenir program with the introduction of the Race Week Preview Guide, a free, digital hub of engaging fan content, available to fans at the track as well as those who are tuning in from home. The NASCAR at COTA Race Week Preview Guide contains everything fans need to know about race weekend, including quick links to the on-track schedule, fan safety information and mobile ticket information, plus feature stories, driver lineups, NASCAR 101 and ideas for those visiting Austin for the first time.

Click here to view the NASCAR at COTA Race Week Preview Guide. https://www.NASCARatCOTA.com/Fans/Race-Week-Preview-Guide/

Finally, fans can keep up with all the action by visiting the NASCAR at COTA website at www.NASCARatCOTA.com and by following all of the NASCAR at COTA social media channels, Facebook: NASCARatCOTA ; Twitter: @NASCARatCOTA; Instagram: @NASCARatCOTA.

The 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 Trucks to set the starting lineups for their races later that day. The Toyota Tundra 225 Truck Series race starts at noon CT (FS1, MRN Radio) and will be followed by the Pit Boss 250 Xfinity Series race at 3 p.m. CT (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. CT (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.

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