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Kaulig Racing Partners with Pit Boss® Grills

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Official Release
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AJ Allmendinger to Pilot the No. 16 Pit Boss Chevrolet for Pit Boss 250 at Circuit of the Americas

LEXINGTON, N.C. (May 17, 2021) – Kaulig Racing is proud to announce that it has partnered with Pit Boss® Grills, the fastest growing brand in the grilling industry, for the inaugural NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) race, the Pit Boss® 250 at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas.

“We are blessed to partner with A.J. Allmendinger and the entire No. 16 team for the Pit Boss 250,” said Dansons President Jeff Thiessen. “AJ is arguably the best road course driver on the Xfinity Series circuit, so we are thrilled to have someone of his caliber wheeling the No. 16 Pit Boss Chevy in the inaugural Pit Boss 250. We are very excited for a great day of racing at the iconic Circuit of the Americas in the heart of barbecue country in Austin, Texas.”

Allmendinger, nicknamed a “road-course ringer,” has four road-course wins and nine top-five finishes in the NXS to date.

“I’m pumped to have such a big brand like Pit Boss Grills come on board for our race at COTA,” said Allmendinger. “I’m excited to join the Pit Boss team and I’m thankful for the opportunity to hopefully put on a good show for them at COTA.”

The Pit Boss 250 will be part of the inaugural NASCAR at COTA weekend, as the nation’s top racing circuit visits Austin for the first time. The NXS showdown will feature NASCAR’s rising stars battling on the 3.41-mile long course at the world-renowned, 20-turn counterclockwise circuit. COTA is America’s only facility that annually hosts both Formula 1 and MotoGP races, and is also the only FIA-certified Grade 1 track in the United States.

“We couldn’t be more excited to have Pit Boss Grills with us at COTA!” said Kaulig Racing team president, Chris Rice. “This is a track we have circled on our calendars at Kaulig Racing, and we are confident AJ will be able to put on a good show for everyone at Pit Boss.”

Allmendinger’s No. 16 Pit Boss Chevy will hit the track on Saturday, May 22 at 4:00PM EST to kick off the first-ever NASCAR weekend at COTA.


About Kaulig Racing™
Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time multi-car NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, owned by award winning entrepreneur, Matt Kaulig. Established in 2016, Kaulig Racing™ has made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started and made the Championship 4 round for the first time in 2020. Kaulig Racing fields three full-time entries; the No. 10 Chevrolet driven by Jeb Burton, the No. 11 Chevrolet driven by Justin Haley, and the No. 16 Chevrolet driven by AJ Allmendinger. Kaulig Racing™ earned five wins in 2020 and have come to be one of the top competitors on track each weekend. The team also made its second NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) start in the 2021 Daytona 500 with Kaz Grala, as well as a limited NCS schedule this season. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

About Pit Boss® Grills
Pit Boss® Grills, the fastest growing brand in the grilling industry, offers the best value per square inch in the pellet grill market, doing so with innovation, excellence and a distinctly customer-driven approach. Pit Boss® takes pride in delivering the best possible products, at an affordable price, crafting grills that are Bigger. Hotter. Heavier.® than the competition. For more information, please visit us online at PitBoss-Grills.com, on Facebook, on Twitter, on Instagram, on Pinterest and on YouTube.

FAN VOTE UNDERWAY FOR ALL-STAR RACE AT TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY

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Official Release
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FORT WORTH, Texas (May 17, 2021) – A unique aspect of the June 13 NASCAR All-Star Race is the opportunity for race fans to vote for their favorite driver who hasn’t won their way into the $1 million-to-win showdown to be held for the first time at Texas Motor Speedway.

Race fans can participate in the All-Star Race Fan Vote by visiting here to vote for their favorite driver. Only one eligible NASCAR driver can be voted for per submission, and fans may only submit one ballot per day per each unique email address. Sharing your vote on Twitter and Facebook adds a bonus entry for your favorite driver each day.

Drivers currently eligible for the Fan Vote are: Aric Almirola, Anthony Alfredo, Chris Buescher, Josh Bilicki, Chase Briscoe, Ross Chastain, Austin Cindric, Matt DiBenedetto, Joey Gase, Timmy Hill, Quin Houff, Erik Jones, Corey LaJoie, BJ McLeod, Ryan Preece, Tyler Reddick, Garrett Smithley, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Daniel Suarez, Bubba Wallace and Cody Ware.

All drivers who attempted to qualify for the 2021 Daytona 500 are eligible for the Fan Vote. Should a Fan Vote candidate win a 2021 NASCAR Cup Series race at the three Speedway Motorsports-promoted events before the All-Star Race – the EchoPark Texas Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas, the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway and Toyota/SaveMart 350 at Sonoma Raceway — that driver is automatically added to the field.

A driver wining a stage in the NASCAR Open qualifying race immediately preceding the All-Star Race will be locked into the field and not eligible to be the Fan Vote winner. In order to win the Fan Vote, a driver must finish the NASCAR Open with his respective vehicle in a raceable condition at the time called as determined by the NASCAR Cup Series Managing Director.

One Fan Vote winner has gone on to win the All-Star Race in the event’s history: Kasey Kahne in 2008.

Seventeen drivers are already locked into the All-Star Race. The criteria for eligibility include NASCAR Cup Series race winners in 2020-21 and full-time drivers who are either past All-Star winners or past Cup Series champions. Those drivers are: Alex Bowman, Austin Dillon, Brad Keselowski, Chase Elliott, Cole Custer, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Blaney, William Byron, Michael McDowell, Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson and Ryan Newman.

Voting will end at noon ET on Friday, June 11.

TICKETS:
Tickets for Texas Motor Speedway’s 2021 major event season, including the June 13 NASCAR All-Star Race, are on sale now at http://www.texasmotorspeedway.com.

MORE INFO:
Keep track of all of Texas Motor Speedway’s events by following on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Keep up with all the latest news and information on the speedway website and TMS mobile app.

Logan Bearden joins Niece Motorsports for Circuit of the Americas

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Official Release
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MOORESVILLE, N.C.: Austin, Texas native Logan Bearden will join Niece Motorsports for the highly anticipated Toyota Tundra 225 at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) on Sat., May 22, 2021.

Bearden, 25, a Super Late Model standout from the West Coast will drive the team’s No. 44 Chevrolet Silverado in the inaugural event with support from Bearden Automotive and Parker Electric.

“I’m very thankful for this opportunity with Al Niece and Niece Motorsports for COTA this weekend,” said Bearden. “Cody (Efaw, general manager) and the rest of the Niece Motorsports have been very attentive making sure we are well prepared for the biggest opportunity of my racing career so far.

“I have some road course experience and have even turned some laps at COTA in the past, so I’m hoping that will be a benefit for us not only during practice on Friday but leading up to qualifying and the race. Our goal is to go out there and leave nothing on the table and bring the team and partners home with a satisfying finish.”

Niece Motorsports will field four trucks for the 41-lap event. In addition to Bearden, the Mooresville, N.C.-based team will have fulltime drivers Carson Hocevar and Ryan Truex with Bayley Currey aboard the team’s No. 45 Chevrolet Silverado to complete the lineup.

With COTA marking the first Truck Series race outside of the Fort Worth area and Texas Motor Speedway, Niece Motorsports has circled the 3.4-mile road course as an opportunity to shine, especially in the home state of team owner Al Niece.

“We are excited to have Logan join Niece Motorsports this weekend at Circuit of the Americas,” added Efaw. “This is a really special weekend for our team owner Al Niece, being based so close by in Texas. I know he’s excited to have a few drivers from Texas on the team this weekend.

“We are looking forward to the challenge of a new racecourse and seeing what Logan can do on track.”

For more on Logan Bearden, please visit LoganBearden.com, like his Facebook page (Logan Bearden Racing) or follow him on Twitter @LoganBearden66.

Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as Twitter @NieceMotorsport.

The Toyota Tundra 225 (41 laps | 139.81 miles) is the ninth of 22 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races on the 2021 schedule. Practice begins on Fri., May 21st from 2:05 p.m. – 2:55 p.m. Qualifying is set for the following morning beginning at 8:05 a.m. The field will take the green flag later in the day shortly after 12:30 p.m. CT with live coverage on FOX Sports 1, the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM Satellite Radio NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (CT).

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.

Fifth Place Finish for SCM in Acura Sports Car Challenge

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Official Release
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SCM also takes the LMP3-2 victory in the IMSA Prototype Challenge race but a drive-through penalty in the main event spoils the day

LEXINGTON, Ohio (16 May 2021) – The Sean Creech Motorsport (SCM) team entered the Acura Sports Car Challenge weekend at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course with high hopes, following a two-day test at the 2.258-mile circuit that put extensive information into the No. 33 Sean Creech Motorsports Exelixis Ligier JS P320’s database.

But an early drive-through penalty put the car a lap down and despite a valiant effort, the team had to settle for a fifth-place finish in Round Four of the 2021 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

Drivers João Barbosa and Lance Willsey knew the weekend would pose a number of challenges for everyone in the 25-car field, but especially for the LMP3 class. Racing at Mid-Ohio emphasizes the balancing act required for the LMP3 field: staying clear of the quicker DPi cars while also managing the slower GTDs on the tight road course.

Race day began in the winner’s circle as the SCM team also fielded an entry in the one hour and 45-minute IMSA Prototype Challenge race, with their earlier generation Ligier LMP3. Willsey shared the wheel with Francesco Melandri, and the duo combined for an emphatic victory in the LMP3-2 class, taking the checkered flag with a nearly 60-second lead.

As the green flag flew on the main WeatherTech event later in the afternoon, Willsey – starting P4 – settled in quickly, posting times within a second of the leaders and maintaining pace. Pushing for more speed, he found the edge of the envelope on Lap 12 with a quick spin in Turn One. Staying on the paved racing surface, Willsey was swiftly back up to speed.

Willsey handed the wheel to Barbosa with just under two hours remaining, but unfortunately, the team was assessed a drive-through penalty for wheel spin while up on the air jacks during the stop. Barbosa worked hard to reach the class leader just ahead in order to get back on the lead lap but was beset by the aforementioned balancing act: dealing with a continuous wave of GTD cars, while being cognizant of the DPi protagonists coming through.

The team brought Barbosa into pit lane early in order to reset strategy, but the streak of bad luck continued, as a caution flag came out just as Barbosa and the class leader came in for service, thus removing the opportunity to get the lap back. The final 50-minutes of racing saw flat out green flag running and Barbosa was unable to regain the lead lap and took the checkered flag in fifth position.

“That was such bad luck, to have the leader pit at the same time that we did,” said Barbosa. “We couldn’t make our lap back and get back into contention. It’s frustrating for sure, because in a sprint race, anything that goes wrong will cost you. But the team did a great job all weekend and the car was good, so hopefully in the next one, we’ll have a bit of luck.”

“We had a good car, but I struggled in that first stint,” said Willsey. “That dug a big hole that João had to try and dig us out of. He worked his tail off out there, but it was too tough a position. I feel badly for the team, because the guys did a great job and gave us a great car, it was definitely capable of running up front. We’ll regroup, we’ll think it through, we’ll figure out what we can do better and see what happens at Watkins Glen.”

“If we hadn’t lost the lap with the penalty, we’d have been right in the thick of it,” said team principal Sean Creech. “We rolled the dice to come in early on that pit sequence, but the leader came in as well, and then the caution came out. There are so many things out of your control, but that’s racing. Sometimes you have a string of bad luck, but good luck will come, we’ll keep plugging away. That’s why we keep coming back.”

Sean Creech Motorsport will return to IMSA action for Round Four of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship/Round Three of the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup at the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen June 24 to 27.

McDowell Finishes 25th and Alfredo 28th

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Official Release
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A Recap of the Weekend Past

The NASCAR Cup Series headed to Dover International Speedway on Sunday, while the Truck Series had the weekend off.

Michael McDowell and his No. 34 RevolveFinance.com Ford Mustang brought home a 25th-place finish.

Anthony Alfredo and his No. 38 Speedy Cash Ford Mustang crossed the finish line in the 28th position.

MICHAEL MCDOWELL. NO. 34 REVOLVEFINANCE.COM FORD MUSTANG. FINISHED 25.

The No. 34 RevolveFinance.com Ford Mustang of Michael McDowell started Sunday’s Drydene 400 at Dover International Speedway from the 21st position.

Early in Stage 1, McDowell would tell the team that his race car was “free on entry, tight in the middle and good on exit” and would be scored in the 22nd position at the Competition Caution, to which he would pit for 4 tires and fuel. Shortly after the pit stop, McDowell would radio to the team to say “my brakes will pump up and then go to the floor” and would return to pit road for the team to inspect the issue. As racing continued, McDowell noted that his brake troubles had gone away, however others drivers would also begin reporting the same issue and McDowell would go on to finish Stage 1 from the 25th position. During the Stage 1 Caution, McDowell would bring his No. 34 RevolveFinance.com Ford Mustang to pit road 4 tires, fuel and a trackbar adjustment after reporting that his race car had built loose on exit of the corners.

In Stage 2, McDowell would pit under caution on Lap 170 for 4 tires and fuel as he noted that his race car was free to start the second Stage, but then started to tighten up as the track began to widen and would go on to take the second green-white-checkered flag from the 25th position. During the Stage Break Caution, the No. 34 RevolveFinance.com Ford Mustang pitted for 4 tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment.

The Final Stage of Sunday’s Drydene 400 would see a total of three caution flags, to which McDowell would pit during the first one on Lap 301 for 4 tires and fuel and would then stay on-track for the remaining two (Lap 314 and Lap 325) to regain track position and would take the checkered flag from the 25th position.

MCDOWELL ON DOVER:

“It was a hard fought day for our No. 34 RevolveFinance.com team at Dover. The Monster Mile wasn’t very kind to us, but that’s just racing; you’ll have your good weekends and you’ll have your not so good ones. I felt like race our car was pretty decent on the long run, but with the amount of lengthy green flag runs that we had, there weren’t a whole lot of opportunities for us to make the necessary adjustments that we needed to keep up with the changing track conditions that Dover goes through.

“I really appreciate RevolveFinance.com for coming on board with us for their first primary race in the NASCAR Cup Series and hopefully we’ll have them back on the car soon.

“We have a big week ahead of us as we get ready to head to COTA and I can’t wait to be back on a road course for the second time this season. Hopefully we’ll be able to get our No. 34 Ford Mustang back in Victory Lane on Sunday.”

ANTHONY ALFREDO. NO. 38 SPEEDY CASH FORD MUSTANG. FINISHED 28.

Anthony Alfredo and the No. 38 Speedy Cash Ford Mustang team finished 28th in Sunday’s 400-lap race at Dover. And, although it wasn’t a top finish for the team, Alfredo brought the car home under the checkered flag to best his fellow rookie competitor to win the Sunoco Rookie of the Race award.

The race for Alfredo was defined by two moments. The first was the opening 35 laps of the race before a Competition Caution. Alfredo just went one lap down by early leader Kyle Larson who was setting a torrid pace. With Alfredo going a lap down early, it handicapped him with track position for the remainder for the race.

Alfredo spent the majority of the Stage 1 and 2 on his own lap and racing 26th or 27th. And, because Alfredo was on his own lap, he couldn’t advance position- even as he was running fast laps throughout the race. Alfredo was able to pass cars inside the top-25, but wasn’t able to move up the leaderbaord.

The second moment that defined the team’s outcome was on Lap 315 when Alfredo was spun into the inside wall. Alfredo did an amazing job of minimizing the damage to his Speedy Cash Ford and the team made quick repairs on pit road. Alfredo only lost a couple of laps, but didn’t lose much in track position.

Alfredo made sure the car made it to the checkered flag and salvaged his day with the 28th-place result.

ALFREDO ON DOVER:

“It was an unfortunate day for us. We had a fast SpeedyCash.com Ford Mustang. The guys worked hard to get the car better. We were having a good run, developing our notebook, but got turned on a restart and we spun into the inside wall. There was no reason for that and it’s frustrating. We got back out there and finished 28th. The team doesn’t quit and we’ll move onto COTA.”

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.

CINDRIC WINS AT DOVER

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Official Release
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*Photo courtesy of NASCAR Media & Getty Images

DOVER, DE – May 17, 2021 – Austin Cindric worked his way through the field to win at Dover International Speedway, marking his third NASCAR Xfinity Series win of the 2021 season and extended his championship lead to 62 points over second place.

“Congratulations to Austin, Brian, Roger, and the entire No. 22 crew,” said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “Austin and Brian showcased their maturity and patience as they worked their race strategy and drove to the front of the field for the win. Dover is a unique and challenging track, but Austin was able to conquer the Monster Mile.”

Cindric started the race in 16th position, but was able to maneuver the No. 22 Team Penske Ford Mustang through the field to finish Stage 1 in eighth, after a remarkable save on lap 44. After four fresh tires, at the Stage 1 caution, he continued moving forward to finish Stage 2 in third place. On lap 150, Cindric passed the race leader and never looked back while finishing 3.786 in front of second place.

“There are just very few places that really have the same intensity throughout a lap,” commented Cindric. “It is quite challenging to race here. We were able to make it back from 16th starting position today which I knew would be our biggest challenge throughout the course of the race.”

Ford Performance teammates Ryan Sieg with RSS Racing finished P8 and Riley Herbst with Stewart-Haas Racing in P17.

The NASCAR Cup Series raced on Sunday while Ford Performance teammates Joey Logano with Team Penske finished P5, Kevin Harvick with Stewart-Haas Racing in P6, and Cole Custer with Stewart-Haas Racing finished in P10.

The NASCAR Cup & Xfinity Series is headed for the inaugural Circuit of the Americas (COTA) race in Austin, Texas this weekend.

33 CHAMPIONSHIPS – 419 WINS – 380 POLES!

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

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

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

Winward Racing Secures First Mercedes-AMG GT4 Podium Finish of the IMSA Pilot Challenge Season Saturday at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

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Official Release
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LEXINGTON, Ohio – The first Mercedes-AMG GT4 podium finish of the IMSA Pilot Challenge season was secured by Bryce Ward and Alec Udell in the No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4 to highlight a competitive run of three Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing teams in the top-10 of Saturday’s Mid-Ohio 120. The No. 57’s third-place finish was backed up by a sixth-place result by the sister No. 4 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4 of Russell Ward and Indy Dontje and a 10th place finish by the debuting No. 11 FCP Euro Mercedes-AMG GT4 of Michael Hurczyn and Nate Vincent.

The podium showing by the No. 57 team and drivers came in the third Michelin Pilot Challenge race of the season and was the second-straight top-three finish at the 2.258-mile Mid-Ohio circuit for the Winward team. Russell Ward and Dontje finished third in the No. 4 last year in the first of two Pilot Challenge races held at Mid-Ohio.

This year, Bryce Ward and Udell stepped up to secure the podium honors in what was the first race of the season for both drivers and the No. 57 team after skipping the year’s opening rounds in Daytona and Sebring.

​Bryce Ward qualified the No. 57 Mercedes-AMG GT4 in 11th place on Friday and put in one of the best drives of his career in the opening stint of

Saturday’s two-hour race. He passed for several positions on track before pitting to hand the No. 57 off to Udell at the race’s halfway point.

A great pit stop by the Winward crew put the No. 57 back on track in sixth and Udell took over from there. Keeping the pressure on, Udell took advantage of other competitor’s mistakes and pulled off some key passes of his own to move to third by the checkered flag.

Russell Ward and Dontje overcame more than one on-track scuffle to charge back to sixth at the finish in the No. 4 Mercedes-AMG GT4.

Another hard-earned result was secured by Hurczyn, Vincent and the FCP Euro team that were all making their IMSA debuts, and their first race starts in a Mercedes-AMG GT4.

Saturday’s Pilot Challenge race was followed by the weekend’s featured IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Challenge race on Sunday.

The No. 28 Alegra Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3 team and co-drivers Daniel Morad and Michael de Quesada moved off to a fast start with Morad qualifying third Saturday for Sunday’s two-hour and 40-minute race.

Morad held third at the race start and eventually moved up to second before pitting to hand the No. 28 off to de Quesada 47 minutes into the race.

Following quick pit service by the Alegra team, de Quesada cycled back to fourth place after the entire field completed opening stops. De Quesada then held off more than one challenge throughout his nearly 50-minute stint to run in the top five the entire time.

Unfortunately, de Quesada was hit by a competitor that spun off course moments later, but that didn’t stop him from leading three race laps at the end of his driving shift as the field cycled in for final pit stops.

Morad returned to the wheel of the No. 28 and soon realized the contact had crimped the exhaust on the Mercedes-AMG GT3. The damage put the car down on power, and Morad spent his final stint running out the laps before crossing the finish line in 10th place.

Next up for Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing teams in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship is a 100-minute sprint at the Detroit Grand Prix, June 11 – 12.

The WeatherTech Championship will then be rejoined by the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge for back-to-back races at Watkins Glen International later in June and into the first two days of July.

The traditional Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen takes place June 24 – 27 and will be followed later that week by a new Thursday and Friday two-day event featuring races for both series July 1 – 2.

Bryce Ward, Driver – No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4: “It was really awesome. I think we got everything out of the car. We were just hanging tough, the Mercedes-AMG GT4 brakes really well and it corners pretty good too. So, you could stay ahead of competition. Even if they got to you on the main straightaway, you could out-brake them. I had a lot of fun, I really did. For me, it was probably one of my best races that I’ve driven. The karting that Russell and I have been doing, and the work I’ve been doing with Alec, has been amazing and really paid off. I’m really, really stoked. It was a super race, and I really want to thank Russell, our Team Manager Alberto Pena and the whole crew. They really do put it all together. The race is won at the shop. If you can’t get it done there, you can’t get it done here, and they get it done at the shop. I’m really appreciative of what they make happen.”

Alec Udell, Driver – No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4: “Bryce did awesome to start the race off and made some passes in his opening stint. He put us in a perfect position, and I think we jumped a few cars in the pit stop as well, so the crew did an amazing job. I’m super happy with that. For me, I got in the car and just put consistent laps down. We are really good in the twisty bits and we are really good on the brakes. I watched a bit of mayhem in front of me. I had a lesson in that here last year and was able to take advantage of the opportunities as they came up at the end of the race. I just kept a clean car and I think that was the key today. We have virtually no damage on the car and that’s hard to say looking at some of the other cars coming out of this race. I’m happy to be able to come in and contribute to the team points, because that’s important as well. For all of us, it’s our first race back this year, our first race of 2021. I had an awesome time, I’m really appreciative for the call up again. We’d rather be on the top step, but it feels like a win today.”

Nate Vincent, Driver – No. 11 FCP Euro Mercedes-AMG GT4: “We had a top-10 finish, I’m really happy with that, and the car is in one piece. We have just a few things to change on it. We learned a whole lot this weekend. Having that wheel- to-wheel time with all those cars, at a track like Mid-Ohio that’s really technical and really difficult, allowed us to get a feel for the Mercedes-AMG GT4. Not only to get a feel for the car through a stint but to figure out ways overall we can make the car faster. The biggest eye opener is that the level of competition through the field is really solid. Whether you’re battling for first or 10th, everyone is putting the fight in. It makes the racing really good as a driver and it makes the racing really fun to watch as a spectator. Kudos to IMSA for that, we love it. I had some of the best battles I’ve had in a while here, and I’m looking forward to coming back. We’re really excited to go to Watkins Glen next, a track we know really well. I think we will just put our heads down there and do really well.”

Daniel Morad, Driver – No. 28 Alegra Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3: “It was looking very promising coming into the race. We started on the second row in P3, had a good opening stint and got up to second when the leader had trouble. Everything was looking great for us. Unfortunately, we had a little bit of contact from one of the other drivers out there when Michael was in the car. There was nothing we could really do. We were just in the wrong position at the wrong time and couldn’t make it back to the pits before they closed. We cycled to the back of the line and then just followed the leader, nursing the car with the left side damage and the exhaust nearly closed up all the way from the hit. That put us down on power, down on track position and basically down and out. We’re going to keep our heads up and head to the next one and get a good result.”

Carl Rydquist Continues Trans Am Winning Streak at Thunderhill

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Official Release
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John Schweitzer finishes top in class in first SGT win of the season

WILLOWS, CALIF. (15 MAY 2021)- In an intense last lap battle to the checkered that generated the closest finish in Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli West Coast history (and in recent national Trans Am history), Carl Rydquist extended his championship points lead with his third consecutive victory on Sunday.

Series rookie Greg Tolson caught Rydquist in Turn 1 of the final circuit, but the pass didn’t stick, as Rydquist reclaimed first place the following turn. Then in Turn 14, Tolson got a good run on Rydquist to take the lead. The pair barreled down the front straight side-by-side with Tolson in the No. 33 GT Auto Lounge Chevrolet Camaro crossing the stripe ahead of Rydquist by 0.381-seconds.

Tolson’s result was later nullified after technical inspections concluded that the car was not running the required restrictor for the TA2® class, promoting Rydquist to first.

“Not a straight-forward first TA2® win but I’ll take it,” Rydquist said. “Down on power second half and carefully managing engine heat caused by the exhaust contraptions required to meet the noise limits here, I fully relied on the quick MCR chassis and Pirelli tires to stay in the lead through the very last turn. Tom, Tony and the whole crew gave it everything last night to make it fast and legal and it paid off big time. With bonus points for fastest lap and most led laps, the Nelson Motorsports team earned this win 100 percent.”

Rydquist started the race in nearly last place after not turning a qualifying lap due to mechanical issues. Rydquist’s No. 47 Racecars4Rent/GroupWholesale Ford Mustang charged from 12th to second before the mid-point of the 100-mile race, trailing pole-starter Darrell Anderson in the No. 45 Park Place Constructors Dodge Challenger by more than three seconds.

On Lap 14, Michele Abbate spun exciting Turn 3, as she restarted her No. 30 Lucas Oil Products Chevrolet Camaro, the flames from the exhaust caught the dry grass on fire. A full course caution was issued for safety crews to put out the fire and tow Abbate to the pits so she could refire her engine safely. Abbate was running in third before the incident, she continued the race two laps down, and finished with a ninth-place result.

The full course caution was a blessing for Rydquist. With the cars grouped up, Rydquist could challenge race leader Anderson. The California resident took the lead on the restart with an outside pass into Turn 1 after Anderson lost power and fell down the running order. Anderson retired the race on Lap 19, blowing an engine, the same fate he suffered just 10 days prior during his race at WeatherTech Laguna Seca.

“It’s really disappointing,” Anderson said. “The crew worked really hard this weekend. We’ve led every session and to lose the race like this again is just devastating.”

Laguna Seca winner Tim Lynn suffered an incident on Friday during testing. His team replaced the full rearend of the No. 17 Roof Options Ford Mustang before Saturday’s qualifying. Lynn started the race in sixth place and worked his way to third, winning a race long battle with 2019 Thunderhill TA2® winner Nick Rosseno in the No. 03 Burretc Waste Ind/Amsoil Chevrolet Camaro.

Rosseno crossed the line in fourth, but was later promoted to third following Tolson’s disqualification. Jeff Holden rounded out the top five in the TA2® class.

With Lynn’s overall second-place finish, he is now second in the West Coast TA2® class points.

“I would like to thank my team, they worked all night on Friday to replace the rear end and get me on the gird for qualifying,” said Lynn. “We are second in points now and we are going to take the championship fight with Carl (Rydquist) to the very end.”

John Schweitzer in the No. 00 Superior Builders Inc Ford Fusion nearly ran out of gas battling Rudy Revak for the SGT class win. Schweitzer got a bit of relief when Revak spun after another car made contact with his No. 60 Racecars4Rent Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Revak continued but during the yellow went to the pits to refuel, putting him a lap down.

Schweitzer crossed the line first in class and eighth overall. Schweitzer was second in the SGT class championship behind series newcomer Rob Crocker. Crocker missed Round 3, and the victory today at Thunderhill for Schweitzer put him within striking distance to take the championship lead at The Ridge.

“This is my first time at Thunderhill and overall it was a great experience,” said Schweitzer. “Thunderhill offered a lot of new experiences for me and we are going to try and make a run for the championship this season.”

The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli West Coast series will continue their journey up the Pacific Northwest to The Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton, Washington, supporting SVRA in the first Ridge SpeedTour event June 12-14.

DiBenedetto Finishes 24th at Dover

By
Official Release
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For Matt DiBenedetto and Motorcraft/Quick Lane team, Dover International Speedway lived up to its Monster Mile nickname in Sunday’s Drydene 400.

DiBenedetto’s No. 21 Mustang had handling issues from start to finish, leaving him with a 24th-place finish, five laps behind the leaders.

DiBenedetto lined up 18th for the start of the 400-lap grind on the one-mile concrete oval. He was able to move up in the initial laps, gaining three spots in the first five laps. He was running 20th when the Competition Caution flag flew after 36 laps. But from that point on, he ran mostly outside the top 20 for the remainder of the race.

DiBenedetto said his team tried some different things set-up wise after failing to meet their expectations at Dover last year.

“We tried to throw some things at our Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang going into this weekend, and unfortunately it didn’t work out,” DiBenedetto said, adding that he pushed the ill-handling car as hard as he could without taking undue risks. “We just had to be smart.”

Eddie Wood said he and the entire team are disappointed but will move on.

“We had string of good finishes going, but we’ve stumbled the past two weeks,” he said. “We are a better team than this, and we’ll turn it around.”

Despite the recent struggles, DiBenedetto remains 17th in the Cup Series standings, nine points behind 16th place Michael McDowell.

Next up for DiBenedetto and the Wood Brothers team is the first-ever NASCAR race on Circuit of the Americas, a road course in Austin, Texas. The weekend opens for the Cup Series with practice next Saturday morning. Qualifying is set for Sunday morning, followed by the 68-lap EchoPark Texas Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon.

About Motorcraft:

Motorcraft offers a complete line of replacement parts that are recommended by Ford Motor Company. From routine maintenance to underhood repairs, Motorcraft parts offer value with high quality and the right fit at competitive prices. Motorcraft parts are available nationwide at Ford and Lincoln Dealers, independent distributors and automotive parts retailers, and are backed by the Service Parts Limited Warranty of Ford Motor Company. For more information, visit www.motorcraft.com.

About Omnicraft:

Omnicraft is part of the Ford lineup of parts brands: Ford Parts, Motorcraft and Omnicraft. Omnicraft is the exclusive non-Ford/Lincoln parts brand of premium aftermarket parts. With over a century of parts heritage to build upon, Omnicraft provides excellent quality and fit and is a preferred choice of professional automotive technicians. To find out more about Omnicraft, visit www.omnicraftautoparts.com or contact your local Ford or Lincoln Dealership.

About Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center

Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center offers extraordinary service for routine vehicle maintenance including tire repair and replacement with a Low Tire Price Guarantee and a full menu of automotive services including oil and filter, brakes, alignments, batteries, and shocks and struts on all vehicle makes and models. Service is performed by certified technicians at more than 1,000 locations worldwide while you wait, and no appointment is necessary. For more information about Quick Lane, please visit www.quicklane.com.

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs, electrified vehicles and Lincoln luxury vehicles, provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification, autonomous vehicles and mobility solutions. Ford employs approximately 200,000 people worldwide. For more information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.

Wood Brothers Racing

Wood Brothers Racing was formed in 1950 in Stuart, Va., by Hall of Famer Glen Wood. Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team and one of the winningest teams in NASCAR history. Since its founding, the team won 99 races (including at least one race in every decade for the last seven decades) and 120 poles in NASCAR’s top-tier series. Fielding only Ford products for its entire history, the Wood Brothers own the longest association of any motorsports team with a single manufacturer. Glen’s brother, Leonard, is known for inventing the modern pit stop. The team currently runs the Ford Mustang driven by Matt DiBenedetto in the famous No. 21 racer.

Buescher Earns Stage Points, Finishes 17th at Dover

By
Official Release
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DOVER, Del. (May 16, 2021) – After earning stage points in the first stage of racing, Chris Buescher and the No. 17 Fastenal team finished 17th at Dover International Speedway on Sunday afternoon.

Buescher rolled off the grid in 10th and was up to ninth when the competition caution flag waved at lap 35. The team took four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment before getting back on track to restart fifth. The driver stayed inside of the top-10 for the majority of the stage, falling to ninth with 11 laps left in the stage. Buescher took the green-white checkered flag for stage two in ninth, earning two stage points.

At the stage break, Buescher pitted for four tires and more adjustments to free up his car. The driver restarted fifth after the choose cone and was quickly shuffled back to ninth when a caution flag waved at lap 171. The team restarted eighth, but fell down to 14th as the No. 17 machine handled tighter as the laps of the stage wound down. The Prosper, Texas native finished stage two in 15th.

The 2015 Dover Xfinity Series winner pitted at the stage break for a track bar adjustment, fuel and more fresh tires, holding track position until dropping back to 19th around lap 267. The stage’s first caution flag waved a few laps later and the team elected to stay out for track position to restart 15th.

Soon after the race went back to green, another caution flag waved for debris. Buescher came down pit road for fuel, air pressure adjustment and more tires before restarting 15th. The final caution of the day came soon after going green again at lap 325. Scored 18th, the team pitted for four fresh tires and restarted 18th. As the final 75 laps ticked by, the driver was able to pick up one more spot to take the checkered flag in 17th.

Buescher and the No. 17 team return to action next Sunday, May 23 for the inaugural Cup race at Circuit of the Americas at 2:30 p.m. EST on FS1, PRN and SiriusXM Channel 90.

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