Home Blog Page 2566

Carl Rydquist Continues Trans Am Winning Streak at Thunderhill

By
Official Release
-

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
-

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
-

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.

Is Spray Wax Bad For Your Car?

By
SM
-

If you are looking to add extra shine to your car, wax is usually the go-to product. The good thing is, car wax comes in many different forms, some easier to apply than others. As far as effortless application goes, though, spray wax takes the cake!

This type of wax keeps you from having a methodical, time-consuming approach in waxing, which, admit it, is something we all dread when it comes to the activity. So, let’s cut to the chase, shall we? Why would anyone ever question the efficacy of spray wax on cars? Today, we will dig deeper into that and why spray wax actually proves an excellent choice for improving your ride’s shine.

Spray Wax and Its Benefits

Just when you think you have done a good job shining your car, these annoying tiny spots show up and take you down from your high. This is when spray wax comes in for the rescue. Here’s how the product can help:

Gets Rid of Dust and Debris

Sometimes, even the most thorough washing sessions fail to get rid of stubborn dirt and grime. Other times, it is you who failed to pay attention to areas in your car most in need of it. With the washing all done, do you have to wait until next time to take care of these matters? Chances are, you won’t be able to.

This is what spray wax manufacturers, in particular, had in mind when they formulated their products. Spray wax helps get rid of any spots, marks, and dust that washing may have failed to remove. As a result, your ride gets the shine it deserves. It also helps mask physical imperfections in certain exterior areas of your car.

Safe

One of the best things about spray wax is that it is safe to use on your car’s outer parts. Therefore, there is no need to worry about it coming in contact with paint, clear coat, exterior sections made of plastic, or fiberglass. Metals such as stainless steel, aluminum, and chrome also stand to benefit from being on the receiving end of spray wax. 

Has Protective Qualities

Spray wax isn’t just safe for your car’s exterior; it also protects these areas from wear and tear and helps make their shine last. Applying high-quality wax on your ride will usually mean a whole month’s worth of UV protection, making the paint job look phenomenal for an entire month.

Residue-Less

Other types of vehicle wax might leave residue behind, but not spray wax. As such, using it on your car gives your ride a spotless and shiny look the moment you finish. It’s something to consider if you are entering a car show and looking to do some last-minute touches. Alternatively, you could simply want it handy to keep your car looking impeccable at all times.

Helps Get Things Done in No Time

One of our favorite things about the spray wax is that it doesn’t take nearly as much work to apply as other types of car wax. While you could spend close to an hour or more with ordinary liquid wax, 10 minutes max could be all it takes to shine your car using spray wax. How’s that for speed waxing? 

Quick Steps for Applying Spray Wax

If you want to breeze through a wax application, you have to keep in mind that it is not just the application’s quickness that matters. It is also the type of wax you are using or choose to use. Here’s how to apply spray wax in two easy steps:

Step #1: Make sure your car is clean.

Of course, this is another process entirely, so we won’t get into that here. Basically, you just want to inspect how clean your car is. It won’t matter if you start applying while the vehicle is wet or dry as long as it’s been washed thoroughly. 

Step #2: Spray wax per area.

Like regular liquid wax application, applying spray wax also requires you to do one section at a time. After spraying wax on one area, spread the wax over it evenly using a microfiber towel. Then, grab an unused microfiber towel and use it to remove the product from the surface. The shine should be instantaneous.

The Truth About Spray Wax

Now that we have talked about the perks of spray wax, let’s get to the bottom of why some have been saying it isn’t good for your car. The thing is, this notion stems from the fact that many think the product can be used as a primary protectant.

With this in mind, some forego using other protective products, relying only on spray wax to do the job. You can probably imagine their disappointment when the result isn’t quite what they expected.

Use Spray Wax Correctly

At the end of the day, even with its protective qualities, spray wax is really just an extra layer meant to bond with your car’s existing wax. This means it is a filler and is not recommended to be used alone.While you can still use it as the lone shining product on your car (after all, what are the steps above for?), you will find it much more beneficial when used as part of a combined wax application.

Can You Beat A 2nd DUI?

By
SM
-
Photo by Jan Kronies on Unsplash

In the span of our lives, there is a high possibility that we will be caught with a DUI offense. As a matter of fact, we are more likely to be caught in a DUI crime at any point in our lives. In reality, we are more likely to be charged with DUI than to be involved in a car accident. Obviously, this statistic varies from state to state, as dui in Arizona might be more frequent than in another state, for example. This is because, as humans, we love going to parties and enjoying a fun time.

Unfortunately, parties and alcohol, as well as any other CBD-containing drugs, are inextricably linked. Therefore, every party will always have booze and party drugs, which is why you will be charged with a DUI if you drive home from the party and are stopped by the police.

Getting caught once seems fine, and the court would be too harsh on you, depending on your case. However, others get caught with a DUI offense for the second time around. When you get caught drunk driving or driving under the influence of any harmful substance for the second time, you will be charged with a second DUI offense. 

You were offered a second chance after your first conviction, but you still did it, so you better expect harsher fines, punishments, and repercussions, and the court will not take you lightly. After knowing this, many people are asking whether a second DUI offense is beatable or not. I am a bit curious too, so let’s answer our question through this article. 

Can you beat a second DUI?

Yes, you can overcome a second DUI charge. However, the response to this question depends on how fair your DUI lawyer is when representing you in court. But for the record, a second DUI is winnable under certain conditions. 

1.If you have an experienced and professional DUI attorney

It would help if you first employed a qualified and experienced DUI lawyer, like the specialists at AZ Defenders, for example. These legal experts can represent you in court and negotiate your case. Furthermore, they can use every tactic available to ensure that you are not guilty of the charges against you.

The attorney would raise concerns about the assessments that the arresting officer forced you to take, claiming that they are too arbitrary. He may even inquire about how you were apprehended and challenge the legitimacy of the breath control system, such as whether
the arresting officer used it properly or whether it was maintained.

2.If the arresting officer did not arrest you properly

Second, if the police officer failed to follow proper protocol, the counsel will point this out to you, increasing the odds of winning. Of course, there are some exceptions, such as when a person passes the arresting officer’s tests but is still apprehended and put on trial in court.

3.You were not caught in the act

Your lawyer might have a slight advantage if you were not caught in the act. For example, suppose you were stopped by a police car for other reasons and started doing tests for a DUI offense. In that case, your lawyer will point this out and challenge the arresting officer that would overturn the validity of the arrest and invalidate the results of the field sobriety tests. 

If at least one of these conditions applies to your case, you have a better chance of winning in court for a second DUI charge. Instead of going to prison, you could get probation, which is the worst possible outcome if you have a lawyer.

5 best racing slots games that make you smell the burnt rubber of the track

By
SM
-

You are craving an adrenaline rush but you can’t get to the race track? No need to illegally alter your car and endanger the streets of your neighborhood, you can find the excitement on some thrilling motorsports-themed racing slots instead! These slots will get your blood rushing through your veins and have your heart racing by 170 beats per hour, making you practically smell the burnt rubber from the track!

For even more excitement, online casinos also give casino bonuses to new players. This usually gives them extra bonus money to play with as well as their own money. This is great as you can try out the different racing slots below with the extra bonus money to see which is your favorite.

So, if you are a true thrill seeker, check out these adrenaline-fueled slots to find your ideal match:

1. Fast street races and screaming engines with Drive: Multiplier Mayhem by NetEnt

This 5-reel, 15-pay line slot has beautiful effects with a city background that remind you of the streets of Tokyo. Jette, a fearless lady street racer, is the main character in this race. Your goal is to work together and beat the 3 shady-looking rivals in the thrilling race.

The bonus game is where the real street racing starts! The further you drive, the bigger your winnings! Each time you beat an opponent, you win free spins in which you can win loads more. 

We must say, even the intense music creates a suspenseful atmosphere. You can hear the engine revs increasing and the rubber burning into the concrete with every spin!

2. Adrenaline thrills and turbo boosts on Street Racer by Pragmatic Play

Just like all other street races, the goal in Street Racer is to pass the finish lines before your rivals do so. But before you can participate, you must qualify for it. After this, you can hit the gas pedal and go!

The 5×4 reels slot has 40 pay lines with absolutely stunning graphics. It features the unbeatable racers Bolt, Alpha, Firefly, Ignite, and the team’s leader, Vapor. The background is the famous Las Vegas strip with two bolides on the side, impatiently waiting to be driven at high speed. 

Although we must say that the base gameplay is a little reserved and could have a little more action in it, the quality of the design and the suspenseful bonus round easily make up for it. 

3. Retro street racing with Speed Cash from Play’n GO

Truth be told, this is clearly a rather basic slot that reminds you of the classic fruit slots. Speed Cash’ graphics are very simple and feature 3 rows and 1 pay line. 

Cars, gold, and money are the symbols on the reels. If 1 car appears on one of the reels, you win twice your stake amount. 2 cars on the reels will get you 6 times your bet amount. If 3 cars appear on the rolls, the progressive jackpot is yours!

What stands out is the lack of background music in this game. The background is almost quiet, which allows you to fully enjoy the magic sound of a revving engine and spinning tires at each spin. Craving to hear this beautiful sound can easily be a reason why any motorsports enthusiast wants to keep playing Speed Cash!

All in all, we can recommend this slot if you love old-school slots and can’t stop listening to the typical auto racing noises. 

4. Racing to fortune with Rally 4 Riches from Play’n GO

Screeching tires and tons of horsepower are waiting for you in Rally 4 Riches! 

Its design is fairly simple: it features 3 x 3 symbols with 5 fixed pay lines. On top of that, a bonus reel features multipliers, wilds, and bonus symbols. 

Falcon, Wolf, and Cheetah are your opponents in this race to win the Championship Race Bonus. Each round will increase your speed level: 1st gear will make your move at snail’s pace, 6th gear will make you drive at absolute lightning speed! Of course, the higher you score on the board, the bigger your bonus amount will be.

5. Chase the thief in your fast sports car with Hotline by NetEnt

Although this is not a motorsports-themed slot, this game features speeding cops in beautiful sports cars which will captivate you. In Hotline, you submerge into the 80’s Miami Vice-atmosphere with flashy neon lights and iconic palm trees. You are partnering up with Rivera and his buddy Quinn and chase the mysterious Kittie Weiss, who just committed a jewelry robbery in Miami. 

The hotline has 5 reels and 30 pay lines and you can choose to play with 1, 2, or 3 hotlines. It’s recommended to play with 3 hotlines since the Return to Player percentage will be a whopping 97.04%. 

Although Hotline does not offer a jackpot, its maximum win on bets is well worth it. The maximum win on a single line is 2,000 coins but the maximum simultaneous win is a massive 60,000 coins!

How to Make Profit from Different Types of Online Casino Bonuses

By
SM
-

When you decide to invest in an online casino, be sure to enjoy various types of bonuses in your betting journey. However, with different kinds of bonuses, many punters tend to have confusion and misunderstand. Thus this leads to unnecessary stress for those who do not know how to use them. Here different types of bonuses that can see you cash out handsome winnings if well used.

Online Casino Loyalty Bonus

The more you play with particular online casinos, the more you grow your trust with them. Once you reach a certain status, some online casinos may give you loyalty bonuses. The amount of money players get is not fixed. The bonus varies from casino to casino, depending on many factors. Some of those factors include your frequency of playing online casino and the duration you have been a member of that casino. Bonuses are free money, and why don’t you use them wisely to generate income. At some level, you will only need to make any deposit and get 100 thb. However, you will need to meet a particular token requirement before you could cash out any loyalty bonus.

Casino Exclusive Bonus

Exclusive bonuses are bonuses where the casino has made a whole deal with the website owner to offer his members. You will often see these offers on certain websites. Such bonuses may come in different variants. So before signing up with any online casino, always make sure you read to understand the offer’s details, including the general casino terms and conditions.

Welcome Bonus

The welcome bonus is one of the easiest to get of all the rewards. Unlike other rewards, you do not need to deposit anything to get it with a welcome bonus. Anyone can receive the money as long as they register their account at the casino offering this kind of bonus. The money is often credited to your account. However, some casino requires that you claim it through an email or on their website. But essentially, it is a hustle-free approach. As long as you read to understand their terms and conditions, you may not face any challenge accessing this bonus. You should know the maximum amount you may withdraw using the compensation and work towards attaining the limit. However, you will need to make a token deposit before withdrawing your bonus winnings in some rare cases.

Online Casino Deposit Bonus

You will receive a deposit bonus when you deposit at a casino. The amount of money you will receive varies depending on your total stake. The machine automatically calculates your reward with a certain percentage of your deposit. When a particular casino offers a 100% match bonus up to $200, it implies that you will receive 100% in free money on any deposit amount you make up to $200. In many cases, this is often given to new players. You only need to make your very first deposit and get 100 thb at an online casino. However, the main factor to note when it comes to depositing bonuses is the percentage amount used to the value bonus you get for your initial deposit.

John Force, Torrence, Glenn and Johnson take victories at Charlotte Four-Wide Nationals

By
Briar Starr
-
Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), John Force (Funny Car), Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock) and Steve Johnson (Pro Stock Motorcycle) celebrate their wins at NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway on Sunday. (CMS/HHP photo)

Funny Car

After securing his 161st No. 1 qualifier Saturday night at the Charlotte Four-Wide Nationals, John Force gained his first NHRA victory in over two years, his first since the 2019 US Nationals at Indianapolis. Force rocketed his Peak/BlueDEF Chevrolet to the win after defeating Cruz Pedregon, Alexis DeJoria, and JR Todd for his first victory of the 2021 season.

“I pulled it off,” said Force, who dedicated the victory to track owner Bruton Smith. “I ran my big mouth, said I can do this, I’m going to win this. I love this guy and everything he’s done for the sport. I don’t have much time left, but when you have a crew chief like Danny Hood and Tim Fabrisi and all these guys who take this old man and give him strength, what a run.”

Force advanced by winning in Round 1 over Dale Creasy and Dave Richards. In the semi-final, Force defeated McIntire and Terry Haddock to secure his final round spot. The other three advancing were JR Todd, Alexis DeJoria and Cruz Pedregon. Pedregon was runner-up in the semi-final while DeJoria got the victory. Todd was runner-up in the semi-round with Force, to advance. In the end, the victory went to Force who gained his 152nd career victory. Todd gained his 18th runner-up finish and finished second in the Funny Car class.

“It is early in the season but you want to be at the top of the points or within striking distance,” Todd said about the runner-up finish. “This DHL Funny Car team has been awesome to start the season and we need to keep the pressure on the rest of the teams.”

Funny Car Results

  1. John Force
  2. J.R. Todd
  3. Cruz Pedregon
  4. Alexis DeJoria
  5. Mike McIntire
  6. Matt Hagan
  7. Bob Tasca III
  8. Terry Haddock
  9. Ron Capps
  10. Dave Richards
  11. Jim Campbell
  12. Robert Hight
  13. Cory Lee
  14. Tim Wilkerson
  15. Blake Alexander
  16. Dale Creasy Jr
  1. Bob Tasca, 360 points
  2. J.R. Todd, -17
  3. John Force, -31
  4. Matt Hagan, -101
  5. Ron Capps, -125
  6. Alexis DeJoria, -132
  7. Tim Wilkerson, -142
  8. Cruz Pedregon, -144
  9. Robert Hight, -145
  10. Blake Alexander, -210

Top Fuel

After John Force extended his win count in the Funny Car class, he turned his attention to the Top Fuel final where his teammate Brittany Force was looking for her first win of the season. Brittany got off on the right foot Saturday night when she earned her 22nd No. 1 qualifier by posting an ET of 3.662 seconds and 330.08 mph. In Round 1, she was up against Justin Ashley, Joe Morrison, and Clay Millican.

Brittany won in round 1 and was runner-up in the semi-final to advance to the final round. In the final round, she was joined by Steve Torrence, Josh Hart, and Antron Brown. The four drivers squared off and it was the 2020 Top Fuel champion Torrence who fended off Force for the victory. This victory marked Torrence’s second of the season and his 42nd career victory.

“At first, admittedly, I was not a fan of the four-wide but Bruton Smith and Marcus, thank you guys, I love it,” said Torrence. “I mean, we do really well I don’t know why but I like to keep doing it. It’s the only thing that I’ve got a winning record, and so I’m proud of that. It makes us as a driver step up more, I think that it takes you out of your body, your wheelhouse of thinking makes you concentrate and focus a lot more.”

Meanwhile, Brittany would have to wait another race to get her first victory of the season. She had to settle with her second runner-up of the year and 24th of her career.

“Great weekend for this team. We came out Friday Q1, set track record at 3.66 and stole that No. 1 spot. Then, going into Saturday, we struggled. We didn’t get down the racetrack and that was tough for this team. We had a run that was in the cold and the best track conditions and now we needed to reset for race day. So, this team found that. David Grubnic and Max Savage set up this race car and it ran killer runs all day. Consistent all day long.

“We ended up runner-up. We made it to a final; that’s huge for this team. I’m so proud of all my Flav-R-Pac guys and proud to be teamed up with David Grubnic. I struggled on the second run and just messed up on the Christmas Tree and was so in my head about it, and Grubnic pulled me aside and told me to stop messing with it, I’m overthinking it and go out and drive the car because I know how to do it and rip their throats out. And that’s what we went out there doing. We brought everything to the line the best we could. Unfortunately, it wasn’t our day, but this will carry us into next weekend.”

Top Fuel Finishing Results

  1. Steve Torrence
  2. Brittany Force
  3. Antron Brown
  4. Josh Hart
  5. Doug Foley
  6. Doug Kalitta
  7. Krista Baldwin
  8. Clay Millican
  9. Billy Torrence
  10. Mike Salinas
  11. Shawn Langdon
  12. Joe Morrison
  13. Justin Ashley
  14. Arthur Allen
  15. Kyle Wurtzel
  16. Leah Pruett
  1. Steve Torrence, 408 points
  2. Antron Brown, -76
  3. Brittany Force, -134
  4. Shawn Langdon, -160
  5. Josh Hart, -163
  6. Billy Torrence, -193
  7. Doug Kalitta, -211
  8. Justin Ashley, -214
  9. Leah Pruett, -232
  10. Clay Millican, -244

Pro Stock

Dallas Glenn got his first career victory in just his fourth Pro Stock start for KB Racing. Glenn qualified his machine in the No. 10 spot after Saturday’s qualifying. In the first round, he was paired with Aaron Stanfield, Matt Hartford, and Fernando Cuadra. Glenn was victorious in the first round after he set an ET of 6.535 and 210.64 mph. In the semi-final, Glenn continued to win as he won over Strong and Stanfield to help him advance to the final round. There, he would face Mason McGaha, Troy Coughlin Jr, and Fernando Cuadra Jr. Glenn won in a close race and posted a time of 6.540 seconds and 209.88 mph.

“To be honest, I don’t even think it’s hit me yet,” Glenn said. “I’m just trying to enjoy everything I can. I’ve never experienced it on this side. It’s super emotional. This is a whole new perspective for me and these cars are so much fun, but they’re hard to drive. The results just came a little sooner than we were expecting.”

Pro Stock Results

  1. Dallas Glenn
  2. Mason McGaha
  3. Troy Coughlin Jr
  4. Fernando Cuadra Jr
  5. Greg Anderson
  6. Aaron Strong
  7. Aaron Stanfield
  8. Chris McGaha
  9. Kyle Koretsky
  10. Erica Enders
  11. Deric Kramer
  12. Matt Hartford
  13. Val Smeland
  14. Kenny Delco
  15. Fernando Cuadra
  16. Cristian Cuadra

Pro Stock Standings

  1. Greg Anderson, 377 points
  2. Erica Enders, -106
  3. Mason McGaha, -107
  4. Deric Kramer, -115
  5. Aaron Stanfield, -131
  6. Troy Coughlin Jr, -143
  7. Dallas Glenn, -149
  8. Kyle Koretsky, -174
  9. Matt Hartford, -193
  10. Chris McGaha, -200

Pro Stock Motorcycle

In a continuation of firsts, Steve Johnson ended up getting his first victory in over seven years. In fact, you would have to look at Gainesville 2014 when Johnson got his last victory.

Johnson qualified second in his Suzuki Saturday night when he posted a speed of 6.738 seconds and 197.62 mph. Johnson got victories in the first round over Chip Ellis and Kelly Clontz. However, in the second round, Johnson had to get into the final round by being a runner-up in the semi-final. When it came to the final round, Johnson hit on all cylinders and defeated Matt Smith, Karen Stoffer and Joey Gladstone.

“When you have a career path and you reach a goal, it can be euphoric,” Johnson said. “We are committed to this sport and I’m so excited about the emotion of our sport. I feel like our sport is really doing well. This trophy is so cool and this is the most special (win).”

Matt Smith was the event’s runner-up winning the 33rd runner-up finish of his career.

Pro Stock Motorcycle Results

  1. Steve Johnson
  2. Matt Smith
  3. Karen Stoffer
  4. Joey Gladstone
  5. Hector Arana Jr
  6. Eddie Krawiec
  7. Jim Underdahl
  8. Andrew Hines
  9. Angelle Sampey
  10. Cory Reed
  11. Chip Ellis
  12. Scotty Pollacheck
  13. Ryan Oehler
  14. Jerry Savoie
  15. Kelly Clontz
  16. Angie Smith

Pro Stock Motorcycle Standings

  1. Matt Smith, 377 points
  2. Scotty Pollacheck, -61
  3. Steve Johnson, -74
  4. Ryan Oehler, -84
  5. Angelle Sampey, -147
  6. Karen Stoffer, -183
  7. Cory Reed, -190
  8. Joey Gladstone, -197
  9. Angie Smith, -197
  10. Kelly Clontz, -250
  11. Eddie Krawiec, -250

Up Next: NHRA will head to Houston Raceway Park May 21-23 for the annual Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals.

CHEVY NCS AT DOVER: Alex Bowman Captures the Win at Dover

By
Official Release
-
Alex Bowman, driver of the #48 Ally Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE races to victory Sunday, May 16, 2021 winning the NASCAR Cup Series Drydene 400 at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Delaware. It’s Bowman’s second win of the season and fourth of his career. (Photo by Garry Eller/HHP for Chevy Racing)

NASCAR CUP SERIES
DOVER INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
DRYDENE 400
TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT
MAY 16, 2021

ALEX BOWMAN CAPTURES THE WIN AT DOVER
Hendrick Motorsports Gives Camaro ZL1 1LE a 1-2-3-4 Finish

DOVER, DEL. – (May 16, 2021) – Alex Bowman led the charge to the checkered flag in the Drydene 400 at Dover International Speedway to score his second win of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) season in his No. 48 Ally Camaro ZL1 1LE. It was Bowman’s fourth career victory in NASCAR’s premier series, and fourth top-10 finish in 11 races at the popular one-mile concrete oval track.

The 28-year-old Hendrick Motorsports driver’s trip to victory lane at the Monster Mile gave Chevrolet its fourth win on the season, bringing the Bowtie Brand’s all-time win record to 799 victories in the NASCAR Cup Series. The triumph gives Hendrick Motorsports its 21st win at Dover, the most of all teams at the venue, and the team’s 267th all-time in the Series. The victory brings Car Owner, Rick Hendrick, and Hendrick Motorsports just two race wins away from breaking Petty Enterprises’ all-time win record and becoming the winningest team in NASCAR history, one of stock car racing’s greatest achievements.

It was more than just a win for Hendrick Motorsports as the organization’s drivers swept the top-four finishing positions, becoming just the third organization in NASCAR Cup Series history to finish 1-2-3-4 in a single event. Hendrick Motorsports joins an elite list to accomplish that feat, including Peter DePaolo Racing (1956 at Titusville; 1957 at North Wilkesboro) and Roush Fenway Racing (2005 at Homestead-Miami).

While the win was Bowman’s first visit to Victory Lane at the Monster Mile, it was a familiar finishing place for the No. 48 Chevrolet. Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, Jimmie Johnson, captured a record-11 wins at the wheel of Hendrick’s No. 48, including the final win of his career in 2017.

Bowman’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Kyle Larson, crossed the finish line in the runner-up position, after sweeping Stage One and Stage Two wins and leading a race-high 263 laps in his No. 5 NationsGuard Camaro ZL1 1LE. The impressive run gave the California-native his 10th top-10 finish in 13 races at Dover and his eighth top-10 this season. Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Camaro ZL1 1LE, finished third and William Byron, No. 24 Axalta Camaro ZL1 1LE, finished fourth to round out the historic top-four sweep. Tyler Reddick, No. 8 Cat Linkage Pins Camaro ZL1 1LE, finished eighth; and Daniel Suarez, No. 99 CommScope Camaro ZL1 1LE, finished ninth, giving Team Chevy six of the top-10 in the final running order.

Joey Logano (Ford) rounded out the top-five in the 400-lap, 400-mile event.

The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series continues with Race #14 on the season, the EchoPark Texas Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas, on Sunday, May 23. FS1 will telecast the race live at 2:30 p.m. ET. Live coverage can also be found on PRN and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

ALEX BOWMAN AND GREG IVES (CREW CHIEF), NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1 1LE, PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT:

THE MODERATOR: We are joined by our race-winning driver, Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 ally Chevrolet. I believe we will also have his crew chief Greg Ives joining us.

ALEX BOWMAN: Greg is yelling through this glass. He’s right outside the window looking like an idiot (laughter).

THE MODERATOR: We’ll start with questions for Alex.

Q. This was a track position game. How confident were you after you got the lead on the pit stop?
ALEX BOWMAN: I think straight up the 5 was a little bit better than us. I knew that track position was key. Clean air was tough today, tougher than previous races here I feel like a little bit.

I just felt like if I could keep the bottom closed off, it would pretty hard for him to get to me. If he did get to me, he would have to wear stuff out pretty bad.

My pit crew I feel like won the race getting us off pit road there first. Man, just really cool to get to race Kyle, have such a great day for Hendrick Motorsports.

Q. Mr. H said it’s pretty much a formality for you to sign an extension for multiple years. Do you feel any more comfortable in your future now than your typical you never know what’s going to happen?
ALEX BOWMAN: Yeah, I mean, I think so. Just being at Hendrick Motorsports is obviously where I want to be. I want to continue to work with ally and drive the 48 car. Like he said, we’ve been working on it. I think I want to be there, they want me to drive their race car.

It’s cool to have a guy like Rick Hendrick say he wants you to continue driving his race car. It means a lot to me. Just a really special place to be. Appreciative for the opportunity.

THE MODERATOR: To let everyone know, we’re also joined by crew chief Greg Ives. Questions for both Alex and Greg.

Q. Alex, you had a runaway train with the four guys finishing in the top four, but you were the locomotive, not the caboose. How did it feel being the locomotive pulling that train to a 1-2-3-4 finish?
ALEX BOWMAN: It’s pretty amazing. I feel like we’ve been off for a couple weeks, but we’re still the same race team that won in Richmond. We’ve been probably a little down on ourselves. Just tried to get the guys back motivated after a rough week last week in Darlington. Our pit stops were incredible today.

To run 1-2-3-4 for HMS, so cool. I don’t know when the last time that happened was, but it’s been a long time. Really, really cool to see it.

Q. Back to the pit stops and the pit crew. What was the reaction when you did the burnout in front of them? Was that for them because of what they were able to do today?
ALEX BOWMAN: Yeah, for sure. I mean, if we don’t beat the 5 off pit road, we probably don’t beat him in the race. I give them all the credit for the win there. I think without them we wouldn’t have gotten it done. So, appreciate Greg and all those guys working so hard throughout the week to continue to get better. They’ve been super-fast all year.

It’s cool to win a race that you can really point back to them and say they’re who got it done. It was cool to be able to do that. I feel like other guys do that all the time. Their pit crews come to the wall. I go to do burnouts, I can’t even see any of my guys.

I yelled at them, You guys got to come to the wall. It was really cool to get to do that.

Q. What is the significance to you obviously for yourself in Victory Lane but also the 48, getting Rick closer to the record for most wins by one team?
ALEX BOWMAN: Yeah, I just want to be the guy that ties them and beats them, right? All four of us want to be that guy. It’s cool to put us one closer. Yeah, I mean, I want to be the guy that gets those wins for Mr. H because I feel like — not that any win is not special, they’re all really special, especially when you only have four of them, but I feel like I really want to be the guy that gets that done for him.

Q. Did it take them long to get that fire out?
ALEX BOWMAN: I don’t know. I stopped paying attention. It’s a long way from when I was on fire in New Hampshire, that’s for sure.

Q. Alex, certainly Greg has talked about in the past about pit road. You talked about what the pit crew did today. How has Greg helped, what you’ve done to be better on pit road so far?
ALEX BOWMAN: Greg, yells at me whenever I don’t maximize my lights and my segments, my rolling times, average speed. At Hendrick Motorsports we really like charts. In our meetings we talk about charts. There’s a lot of charts. Sometimes I look bad on those charts, and that’s when Greg yells at me (smiling). There’s a lot of different pit road charts and ways to look at it.

He’s tries to do whatever he can to help me maximize each and every area. I feel like I’m gaining on it. There are definitely guys that do a little bit better of a job than me right now still. But that 48 pit crew makes up for it a little bit because they are super-fast each and every week.

Q. Greg, you talked a couple weeks ago about the pit crew, your philosophy. You talked more about consistency. Talk about how you came to that philosophy. How does that philosophy work in a situation where it’s a winner-take-all pit stop?
GREG IVES: Yeah, I mean, for me it’s all about, as Alex said, the details of it, but also letting the guys kind of play in their own space. They want to play at a high level. It’s all about creating comfort in that high level stress environment.

The last couple weeks I’ve been putting them in a lot of changes, high stress environments, trying to get them to go fast when they have to make a lot of adjustments. I think it’s kind of like a batter swinging a heavier bat. I created some uncomfortable situations. Weren’t really looking good as far as times on pit road. Ultimately, I feel like for the adjustment stops we were doing a good job of making up time and figuring out where we had some deficit.

It’s all about going down and talking. I talked to them this week. I broke down how well or how bad I was doing. Rolling that left front tire, I wasn’t doing it right last weekend, opened it up. We all worked through it. They’re not scared to tell the crew chief that I need to get better in the situation.

I think ultimately being on the same platform as them, allowing them to make some mistakes, when mistakes come learning from them rather than scolding them.

I really appreciate what they do, the family we’ve become. We’ve been together for five, six years now. It’s easy to work through complications when you have that open communication.

Q. Obviously you won in the No. 48 car. Obviously, Jimmie Johnson has dominated for years here. What does that mean to you?
ALEX BOWMAN: Yeah, it means a lot to me. I was terrible here when I would come here for other teams. I got a little better when I started driving for (indiscernible) Motorsports. Had some okay runs here and there. My first or second time here for Hendrick Motorsports, I was struggling in practice. I would text Jimmie, bug him all night before the race trying to ask him what he does, how he approaches this place, what kind of line he runs. I just stuck to that, really tried to run like Jimmie did, run the Jimmie Johnson line, be tight against the black, super disciplined, super patient, kind of do some of the same things that he does with the throttle.

Next year we came here, we ran second and third. Last year we had a solid top five. We’ve kind of been good here ever since. To win here with the 48 car is special, but to do it using I guess tips that Jimmie taught me is pretty cool.

Q. Greg, Alex has described his relationship with you, it seems like you have similar personality, but how would you describe your relationship with Alex?
GREG IVES: This question always is fun for Alex to pick on me a little bit.

Yeah, I mean, we have a great relationship. That’s all because we love race cars, we love cars, we love racing and getting better.

The number one thing when it comes to a driver and my philosophy is the ability to learn. There’re things that go on in my head, sometimes it’s hard for me to talk about them or tell Alex. That’s why he calls me the riddler. Ultimately, I get to the point where I just tell him what I want and he does it.

Today we were working through some brake pressure stuff, talked him through it. He didn’t get upset about it. I wasn’t trying to make him upset, I was trying to make him aware.

Ultimately you have to that have relationship of trust. If he understands and knows what I’m looking at, he has the ability to respond the proper way in the car. When we get out, there’s no hard feelings. We just go on our way and have fun again the next week trying to overcome either a bad race or a race win.

He talked about Darlington. We were up in the lounge. We were trying to figure it out. Right after a race, if you have a bad one, sometimes you don’t want to talk, but we were able to. I told him, Hey, pump the guys up. Get involved and pump them up. He did. I was in a situation where I was upset and frustrated with the car’s performance. You needed him to do what he needed to do.

He did a good job overcoming the last few weeks. Ultimately that’s because we have a relationship not only with him and I but throughout the full race team.

Q. Greg, I know the dynamic of the team has been a little bit different with Rowdy’s passing. What has Alan brought to the team from your standpoint? How has he changed or uplifted the dynamic?
GREG IVES: When you’re going through that, one of the biggest things you have to do is find a connection not only with the team but you have to find that connection with the person that Rowdy was. Alan and Rowdy had a friendship and a relationship prior. He was somebody that understood Rowdy and his attitude towards everyday working. He understood Rowdy’s personality from a team aspect, how valuable he was to us, keeping us motivated every day and every week. That’s where I found comfort with the guys around us.

The pit crew had a big say in how they replaced one of their fallen guys. How was he going to mesh with the team? I would take meshing with the team over talent. Alan and Rowdy came in close together, they stayed friends. They had a similar work ethic. Ultimately it felt like the right choice for him to step into a position that was very difficult to endure and go through. He helped us find a little bit of peace in it all.
Yeah, very difficult, but ultimately that’s kind of how it all worked out.

THE MODERATOR: Greg, we’ll let you continue on with your obligations. Thanks for joining us and congratulations on the win.

GREG IVES: Thank you, guys. Appreciate everybody.

Q. You mentioned your crew guys were able to hop up on the wall. With everything opening up this weekend, were you able to celebrate with them a little bit more than the Richmond victory?
ALEX BOWMAN: Yeah, for sure. They were all in Victory Lane which is really cool. Means the world when I get to share that with them when I think so much of it was influenced by them. Really, really cool. Appreciative of getting to do that with them. Really neat.

Q. What has Allen brought to the team? The stop was brilliant at the end. I think the fastest of anybody this season to get you out front.
ALEX BOWMAN: Yeah, for sure, I think Rowdy had a really big outgoing personality in a sea of awkwardness that is the 48 team. I think Allen brings a really similar personality, outgoingness. He’s just a big personality, a lot of fun to be around, a lot of fun to talk to. Can talk to anybody. Always having a good time. Always upbeat and positive.

Rowdy was that guy. You have a lot of really awkward people on the 48 team, between Greg and I, some of the other pit crew guys, some of the team itself. We’re kind of a bunch of weirdos. It gets the job done. I feel like Alan brings it all together a little bit.

Q. All four teams are running at a really high level right now. Can you circle anything specific that maybe has changed or improved that has got all four of you hitting on eight cylinders at the right time? Is it communication?
ALEX BOWMAN: I don’t think there’s one thing you can pinpoint. I think it’s everybody in the whole shop working super well together, all four race teams working well together. Marshall Carlson is doing a really good job kind of getting everybody together. Chad Knaus is doing a really good job of taking lead in the shop.

From the top down, Jeff Andrews has a big part in everything, the four crew chiefs, all the way to guys that sweep the floor at night. It’s a team effort. Everybody is all in. It’s a good atmosphere right now. All the cars are fast. The 48 team, we’ve had our struggles, our races that have gotten away from us. Everybody has been really fast. That’s just brought a great atmosphere and continuing to go well.

Q. Looking forward to the Coke 600. With that extra hundred miles, your fast pit crew, the speed that the Hendrick cars have, you’re going to be one of the favorites going into that race. How do you feel being in that tier of drivers?
ALEX BOWMAN: Yeah, I mean, I think we probably could have won both races there last year. We won a bunch of stages. The green-white-checkered didn’t really go our way the first one. I crashed all by myself when we should have won the second one.

Probably my favorite oval we go to as far as the mile-and-a-half stuff. It’s got a lot of character. Some guys don’t like it, but I think it’s because they haven’t figured it out. Once you figure out turns three and four, it’s a lot of fun. You can manipulate your race car to do what you want it to do.

I enjoy it. A lot of different grooves. It gets slick. A long, grueling, fun race. Looking forward to 600 miles, being as prepared as I can be for it.

Q. Is there anything to that extra hundred miles for a driver?
ALEX BOWMAN: I think this race feels longer than that race does. Next week will probably be more physically challenging than the 600 is. Charlotte is not a place that really beats you up too bad. This place is really hard on you. A road course in Texas in the middle of May is going to be pretty rough as well.

I think all these races kind of strung together that are difficult physical days for us probably prepare us a little bit extra for the next weeks.

Q. I know the short tracks haven’t been your best friend. Now you have two this year. Throughout 2021 what have you learned about Greg and this team that might be new to you?
ALEX BOWMAN: I don’t really think there’s been a new thing for us. I think we definitely improved our short track program a ton. Richmond was a place we struggled at tremendously. Dover was one of our best racetracks, has been for a long time.

I don’t know if we’re really learning new things. We’re definitely gelling really well. Probably doing a little better job of overcoming the rough weeks in between Richmond and here than I would have previously. Just trying to be a little better leader, be a little more upbeat.

Bristol, Martinsville, Kansas, Darlington, 2019, 2020, I probably would have been pretty mad all week, miserable to be around, angry about it. Just trying to stay really positive and be a good leader for those guys, do what I can to keep them pumped up.

We go to a lot of good places for us. Our weaknesses are shrinking, we’re getting better at the places we struggle at. I feel like we can go about anywhere and win right now.

Q. A couple of your teammates had issues with their brakes. Was it an issue of too much tape, track temp or anything like that?
ALEX BOWMAN: I haven’t really talked to my teammates to know what they were fighting with. We had massive brake issues. Pretty much had no brakes. Spent a lot of 400 laps pumping the brake pedals up, hoping they were going to work in the next quarter. They worked when it counted.

We’ll have to address what was wrong there, what we missed. Never had brake issues before here. Obviously, we had really fast race cars to be able to overcome it. Definitely struggled with that a little more than we would have expected.

Q. You’re going to the Circuit of the Americas next week. How tough is it going to be to get a setup for that place, the limited amount of practice time?
ALEX BOWMAN: I don’t even know how much practice we do or don’t have. It’s the same for everybody. We just got to go there and try to hit it off the bat. Chase has been there. That’s a big help. It will be crucial to learn from him. It’s crucial to learn from him any time we go to a road course, he’s so good at them.

Just trying to improve. I feel like our weak point is going to be me as a race car driver. I feel if I do my job, do a good job for the team, we’ll have a good, solid day.

Q. This time last year the No. 48 was one of the most talked about rides in terms of who was going to fill that seat. How does it feel to vindicate the faith that Mr. H had in you?
ALEX BOWMAN: Yeah, it’s really cool. To come to a place like Dover, the 48 has had so much success, get a win here, never won here with Mr. Hendrick here, so it’s so cool to be able to do that. Just really neat.

I feel like throughout my career I’ve had my fair share of doubters. To be able to get two wins here to start off the season, be having a good start to the year, is really cool.

Q. Mr. H said he took you aside before the season started and said, you can’t be Jimmie Johnson light, we want you to be Alex Bowman. In your words who is Alex Bowman?
ALEX BOWMAN: Race car driver/weirdo, awkward human (laughter).

I don’t know. I feel like I’m just a regular guy. I obviously really enjoy what I get to do. Put a lot of time and hard work into trying to be the best race car driver I can be. I don’t have any, like, extravagant hobby. I don’t have, like, this super big personality. I’m not a villain like you see some of the other guys. I guess I don’t have that. I just kind of am myself.

I like to spend time at home with my dogs. I have a small group of friends. Spend a ton of time at my shop working on the Sprint car stuff. Every day that I’m not at Hendrick Motorsports, I’m in the simulator, at the shop, laying underneath a race car working on it.

Yeah, that’s about all there is to it for my life.

Q. COTA and the Coke 600, NASCAR will hold practice and qualifying sessions those weekends. Have you missed the extra time at the racetrack? Are you and the drivers ready for the potential to add more sessions onto the schedule now that restrictions are getting lifted?
ALEX BOWMAN: I really enjoy the lack of practice. I feel like growing up, you’d show up, get one hot lap session, qualify, heat race, race. Your whole day was like 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and you were done.
I enjoy kind of the compact schedule. Mostly looking forward to be able to work with my race team and maximize our race car for Sunday’s race, something we haven’t done in quite a while. It’s going to be cool to be able to do it.

I’m not going to lie, I definitely like the schedule we have now for sure.

THE MODERATOR: Alex, thanks for joining us this evening. Congratulations on the win. We will see you next week for that practice and qualifying.

ALEX BOWMAN: Yeah, thank you.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports

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 75 countries with nearly 4 million cars and trucks sold in 2019. 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 www.chevrolet.com.

Alex Bowman leads Hendrick sweep to win “Drydene 400” at Dover International Speedway

By
Official Release
-

DOVER, Del. (May 16, 2021) — On a historic day at Dover International Speedway, Alex Bowman gave Monster Mile fans a very familiar sight.

Heading a top-four made up entirely of Hendrick Motorsports cars, Bowman led the final 97 laps and put the No. 48 Chevrolet back in Victory Lane after winning the “Drydene 400” NASCAR Cup Series race.

The 28-year-old from Tucson, Ariz., took over the iconic No. 48 Chevrolet from 11-time Dover race winner Jimmie Johnson in February. Sunday’s run gave Bowman his second victory of the young season and he became the 39th different Cup Series winner at Dover across 103 events.

“I was terrible when I came here for other teams,” Bowman said. “I texted Jimmie and asked how he approaches this place. I just stuck to that and ran the Jimmie Johnson line, tight against the black, super disciplined, super patient.

“We’ve been good here ever since. To win here with the 48 car is special but to win with tips that Jimmie gave me is pretty cool.”

Bowman’s win was part of a spectacular day for Hendrick Motorsports, which became the first team since 2005 (Roush Racing, Homestead) to sweep the top four spots in a Cup Series race. Kyle Larson placed second, Chase Elliott finished third and William Byron was fourth.

Hendrick Motorsports is also just one win from tying Petty Enterprises for the all-time NASCAR Cup Series lead. Bowman’s victory was the 267th for Hendrick, one behind Petty’s 268.

“Every time you enter a race you’d love to see them go 1-2-3-4,” said team owner Rick Hendrick. “It was probably the longest last 100 laps that I’ve seen in a race. So proud of all the guys and it was a great day for the organization.

“Richard [Petty] is a good friend and he’s the king of the sport. Anytime there’s a record out there you want to break it. I would have told you it was impossible back in 1984 when we started. It’s really hard to do.”

Hendrick Motorsports is already the all-time team leader with 21 Dover International Speedway Cup Series victories. Aside from Johnson’s 11, other Hendrick race winners at the Monster Mile include Jeff Gordon (5), Geoff Bodine (1), Ken Schrader (1), Ricky Rudd (1), Elliott (1) and now Bowman.

“We know that [victory] milestone is out in front of us,” said Larson. “[Rick] mentions it almost every time we talk to him. I hope I’m the driver to do it.”

For much of Sunday’s race it appeared that Larson would be the driver who would bring home the win for Hendrick. Larson won the first two stages and led a whopping 263 laps overall, but came out of pit road second behind Bowman following a round of yellow-flag pit stops and couldn’t muscle past his teammate the rest of the way.

“I don’t know what we could have done differently after we came out second in pit road,” Larson said. “I’m not disappointed or upset about this second. I feel like there wasn’t anything else I could do.

“All of us [Hendrick] cars were pretty equal. I felt like whoever got to the lead toward the end would end up winning. We would have liked to be one spot better but what a day for Hendrick Motorsports.”

After failing two inspections before the green flag, Elliott was penalized by starting toward the back of the 37-car field. Elliott quickly made his way near the top of the chart, but was the only one of his teammates not to lead a lap.

“Everyone in our company is really motivated right now to provide fast cars,” Elliott said. “Everybody is pulling in the same direction as well as we have since I’ve been here.”

Among other former Dover winners, Kevin Harvick finished sixth, Martin Truex Jr. struggled after leading 16 early laps to finish 19th and Kyle Busch suffered spark plug trouble and ended up seven laps down in 27th.

Bowman completed the 400 miles in 3 hours, 19 minutes and 55 seconds, averaging 120.05 mph across the high-banked, one-mile concrete oval. Five drivers exchanged the lead 10 times and 41 laps were run under seven caution flags.

“If we don’t beat [Larson] off pit road we probably don’t beat them in the race,” Bowman said. “My pit crew, I feel like won the race. I appreciate the guys working so hard throughout the week to get better.

“It feels right to put the 48 back in Victory Lane here after so many wins before. Best race track on the schedule in my opinion.”

Follow Speedway news and updates on DoverSpeedway.com and via social media at Facebook.com/DoverInternationalSpeedway, or on Twitter and Instagram at @MonsterMile.

About Dover Motorsports, Inc.

Dover Motorsports, Inc. (NYSE: DVD) is a promoter of NASCAR sanctioned motorsports events whose subsidiaries own and operate Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del. and Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn. The company also plays host to the Firefly Music Festival, produced by AEG Presents. For more information, visit www.DoverMotorsports.com.

1...2,5652,5662,567...6,760Page 2,566 of 6,760