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Texas Motor Speedway’s Eddie Gossage to Step Down Following June 13 NASCAR All-Star Race

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Fort Worth, Texas (May 13, 2021) – After more than three decades of service to race fans on behalf of Speedway Motorsports, including the last 25 years at Texas Motor Speedway, Eddie Gossage will step down as President of The Great American Speedway following the June 13 NASCAR All-Star Race.

“The timing just feels right after 32 years with the company,” Gossage stated. “The Smith family and Speedway Motorsports changed my life and I will forever be appreciative and grateful.

“Before my wife Melinda and I chart our next adventure, I’m thankful that I get to come full circle as a promoter with the NASCAR All-Star Race.”

After working for Nashville International Raceway, Bristol International Raceway and Miller Brewing Company in motorsports management and public relations capacities, Gossage joined Speedway Motorsports in 1989 as the Vice President of Public Relations at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He honed his skill for promotional flair under the guidance of Speedway Motorsports Executive Chairman Bruton Smith and then Charlotte Motor Speedway President Humpy Wheeler. During one Gossage produced press conference in 1992 to promote the first NASCAR All-Star Race to run at night, the young promoter rigged a giant light switch to highlight the innovative new lighting system at the superspeedway. When Smith threw the switch, sparks flew, setting the speedway founder and owner’s hair on fire.

“I thought I was headed for the unemployment line for sure,” laughed Gossage. “But for some reason, Bruton kept me around, and it wasn’t long after that he gave me an opportunity I could have only dreamed of.”

Smith took Gossage under his wing as he began to purchase property in North Texas and design plans for what would become not only the finest motorsports facility in Texas, but also one of the most spectacular entertainment venues in the world. The 1,500-acre complex includes a 1.5-mile superspeedway,194 luxury suites, 76 condominiums, a nine-story Speedway Club, Class A office space and the 11,000-seat, four-tenths-mile Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track. Smith named Gossage General Manager of Texas Motor Speedway in 1995 and added the title of TMS President in 2004. Now 62, Gossage is one of the longest-tenured employees at Speedway Motorsports.

“When I built Texas Motor Speedway, I had plenty of architects, accountants and attorneys, but what I really needed was promotion,” said Smith. “That’s where Eddie came in. They say ‘everything’s bigger in Texas’, and I needed a big personality in Dallas/Fort Worth. Eddie’s become a shrewd businessman over the years, but he’s remained a publicist at heart, and he never forgot what the entertainment business is about—having FUN.

“I am grateful for all that Eddie has done for our company. He’s been a promoter, friend and an asset to the entire motorsports industry.”

“In my career, I’ve been blessed to meet presidents, world leaders, astronauts, scholars, world-famous athletes, actors and musicians, millionaires and billionaires,” said Gossage. “Of them all, Bruton Smith is the greatest man I’ve ever met. I thank God I met Bruton and that he selected me to head up Texas Motor Speedway. His continued trust in me is an honor I consider part of one of the most cherished relationships two men could enjoy.”

Under Gossage’s leadership, Texas Motor Speedway has hosted millions of fans at NASCAR, IndyCar and World of Outlaw races, produced car shows and concerts with The Rolling Stones, ZZ Top and Willie Nelson, and in 2015, built the world’s largest LED high-definition television, the 22,704 square-foot ‘Big Hoss’.

“Eddie Gossage has been synonymous with Texas Motor Speedway’s success, and his contributions to our company and the speedway’s impact on the state of Texas during his career are immeasurable,” said Speedway Motorsports President and CEO Marcus Smith. “Beyond the big events, wild pre-race shows and publicity stunts, Eddie has always been the biggest fan of the fans. No one has more desire to give them a memorable experience. I’ll always be thankful for his dedication to our company and the inspiration he’s given our staff to always put the fans first.”

“The NASCAR All-Star Race was one of the first major events I promoted at Charlotte,” Gossage said. “I’ve wanted to bring it to Texas for years. I’m glad Marcus made it happen, and I’m thankful for each and every opportunity he’s continued to give me since becoming CEO. Like with his dad, Speedway Motorsports is in good hands with Marcus.

“I’m not sure what my next adventure will be. I do know Melinda and I are looking forward to some more fun with the grandkids,” Gossage said with his trademark smile. “But first, we’re going to corral some Texas-size fun one last time with the fans at the NASCAR All-Star Race!”

Speedway Motorsports will launch a nationwide search for Gossage’s successor.

Tickets for Texas Motor Speedway’s 2021 major event season, including the June 13 NASCAR All-Star Race, are on sale now at texasmotorspeedway.com. For more information, fans can keep track of all of Texas Motor Speedway’s events during the 25th Season of Speed by following on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Keep up with all the latest news and information on the speedway website and TMS mobile app.

CURO Doubles Down at Dover

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Official Release
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Speedy Cash and Revolve Finance Support Both FRM Ford’s

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (May 13, 2021) – Speedy Cash and Revolve Finance will be giving their full support to Front Row Motorsports (FRM) this Sunday at the Dover International Speedway. Revolve Finance, which enables straightforward online banking, will make their debut as the primary partner of the 2021 Daytona 500 Champion Michael McDowell while Speedy Cash continues its primary support of Anthony Alfredo. Speedy Cash and Revolve Finance are both brands of CURO Group Holdings Corp.

“It’s been great to see the success that Front Row Motorsports has been having this season,” said Ryan Rathje, Chief Product Officer at CURO. “The excitement of winning the Daytona 500 has resonated with our customers and this is a great opportunity to partner with Michael McDowell with our newest brand, Revolve Finance. This will be the first time we’ve had both Revolve Finance and Speedy Cash on the track together and it’s exciting for our company.”

Speedy Cash and Revolve Finance have been season-long associate partners of all FRM entries this season with multiple primary schemes on the No. 38 of Alfredo.

“It’s great to have the Speedy Cash colors back on our car at Dover this weekend,” said Alfredo. “And, it’s really cool to see them on the No. 34 Ford Mustang, too. We’re ‘one team’ at FRM and our partners benefit from all our success from our NASCAR Camping World Truck Series program to both our Cup cars. It’s awesome to see them taking this opportunity this weekend to have both Speedy Cash and Revolve Finance on our cars.”

Speedy Cash has a major presence in NASCAR. They are an official sponsor at the Texas Motor Speedway and sponsor their victory lane. Now, with McDowell, they have the opportunity to showcase Revolve Finance this weekend.

“We have a new partner for our No. 34 team this weekend at Dover, but they are no stranger to FRM,” said McDowell. “Revolve Finance has been supporting Anthony all season and it’s cool to see them step up to be our primary partner this weekend. It’s just cool to see them get excited about our season and the direction we’re headed. We can’t do it without them and we want to have a great race this weekend.”

For more information about Speedy Cash and Revolve Finance, visit SpeedyCash.com and RevolveFinance.com.

About Speedy Cash
Speedy Cash is an omni-channel lender that specializes in financial services such as installment loans, title loans, payday loans, personal lines of credit, check cashing, money transfers and money orders. The company was founded in 1997 in Riverside, California by three friends from Wichita, Kansas to meet the growing consumer need for accessible credit. Speedy Cash has brick & mortar locations across the U.S. (operating as Rapid Cash in Nevada, Oregon and Washington) and offers loans online. Speedy Cash is owned and operated by CURO Group Holdings Corp (NYSE: CURO).

About Revolve Finance
Revolve Finance was founded in 2019 with the mission to create a straightforward online banking experience that is accessible and convenient for everyone. Revolve Finance’s Visa® debit card and user-friendly mobile app allows accountholders to easily manage their money and their account anywhere. Banking services provided by Republic Bank of Chicago, Member FDIC. Revolve Finance is owned and operated by CURO Group Holdings Corp (NYSE: CURO).

About CURO
CURO Group Holdings Corp. (NYSE: CURO) serves the evolving needs of the financial consumer. In 1997, the Company was founded in Riverside, California by three Wichita, Kansas childhood friends to meet the growing consumer need for short-term loans. Their success led to opening stores across the United States, later expanding to offer online loans and financial services in the United States and Canada and now broadening into a full-spectrum consumer lender through the point-of-sale / buy-now-pay-later channel. CURO combines its market expertise with a fully integrated technology platforms, an omni-channel approach and advanced credit decisioning to provide an array of credit products across all mediums. CURO operates under a number of brands including Speedy Cash®, Rapid Cash®, Cash Money®, LendDirect®, Flexiti®, Avío Credit®, Opt+® and Revolve Finance®.

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.

NASCAR’S ROUSH FENWAY RACING TO BECOME FIRST US SPORTS TEAM TO LAUNCH FAN TOKEN ON SOCIOS.COM

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Official Release
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CONCORD, N.C. (May 13, 2021) – Roush Fenway Racing, in partnership with Socios.com – the leading blockchain platform for the global sports and entertainment industry, have announced plans to launch a $ROUSH Fan Token.

Fan Tokens are collectible digital assets, minted on the Chiliz blockchain, that provide owners with access to voting rights in polls, VIP rewards, exclusive promotions, AR-enabled features, chat forums, games and competitions on the mobile app Socios.com.

Roush Fenway Racing fans can look forward to the opportunity to influence a wide range of decisions through $ROUSH Fan Tokens, starting with the chance to select racecar paint schemes, team uniforms, pit signage and other assets for the RFR Fords at Watkins Glen on August 8th for both Ryan Newman and Chris Buescher.

Roush Fenway Racing will become the first US sports team to launch a Fan Token on Socios.com.

MMA promotion company UFC® announced plans to launch a Fan Token on Socios.com last week, while NHL side New Jersey Devils recently became the first U.S. sports franchise to partner with Socios.com.

The North Carolina based team joins a network of 29 major international sporting properties on the Socios.com roster, which also includes European soccer giants FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, AC Milan and Manchester City. 

Socios.com is a direct-to-consumer (D2C) platform that leverages blockchain technology to provide the world’s leading sporting organizations with the tools to engage with their fanbases. 

Created by Chiliz, the leading blockchain provider for the global sports and entertainment industry, Socios.com has major global expansion plans for 2021 and will increase their existing presence in Europe, while targeting many more Fan Token launches in the U.S, U.K, Asia and South America. Socios.com has multiple office locations around the world and will open new European, U.S. and South American headquarters in Madrid, New York and Sao Paulo in 2021.

Steve Newmark, President of Roush Fenway Racing said:  “We are excited to provide fans with the opportunity to play a real role in selecting what our cars and other assets will look like, and believe it will resonate very well throughout the industry,” said Roush Fenway president Steve Newmark. “We’re appreciative of everyone at Socios.com for their interest and trust in Roush Fenway and can’t wait to kick off a fun partnership that brings our goals and objectives to life.”

Alexandre Dreyfus, CEO of Chiliz and Socios.com said:  “We’re proud to welcome Roush Fenway Racing to our fast growing global roster of partners and delighted that they will become the first US based sports team to launch a Fan Token. 

“Transitioning passive fans into active fans is essential to the future of sport. Our vision is for an extensive network of the world’s leading sporting organizations to achieve this through Fan Tokens and transactional fan engagement on Socios.com.

“Roush Fenway Racing have already laid out an impressive first round of fan engagement activity on Socios.com that will give their fans levels of influence unprecedented in NASCAR. These are exciting times for RFR and we’re looking forward to raising their profile on a global scale.”

$ROUSH Fan Tokens will be priced at $2. Details on the launch date will be revealed soon.

About Socios
Transitioning passive fans into active fans is essential to the future of sport. Our vision is for an extensive network of the world’s leading sporting organizations to achieve this through Fan Tokens and transactional fan engagement on Socios.com. Fan Tokens, collectible, digital assets minted on the Chiliz blockchain, and the Socios.com fan engagement platform enable the world’s biggest sporting properties to plug into a fan influence and fan reward ecosystem. Socios.com has already generated $120M in revenues for sports teams in 2021. To date, 29  major sporting organisations, including UFC® , FC Barcelona, Juventus, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City  have partnered with Socios.com. Leading esports organizations Team Heretics, NAVI, OG and Alliance have all launched Fan Tokens on the platform.NHL side New Jersey Devils recently became the first US sports franchise to partner with Socios.com. Many more leading sports and entertainment properties from around the world are set to launch Fan Tokens in the near future.  Chiliz, the crypto unicorn behind the Socios.com platform  has 110+ employees, multiple office locations around the world and will open new offices in Spain, US and Brazil  in 2021.  For more information please visit www.socios.com

About Roush Fenway Racing
Roush Fenway Racing is one of the most successful teams in NASCAR history, fielding multiple teams in NASCAR Cup Series. In its 34th season of competition in 2021, Roush Fenway is a leader in driver development, having launched the careers for many of the top drivers in the sport. Off-track, Roush Fenway is a leader in NASCAR marketing solutions, having produced multiple award-winning Social Media, digital content and experiential marketing campaigns. Roush Fenway is co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Fame team owner Jack Roush and Fenway Sports Group, parent company of Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox and English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C. Visit RoushFenway.com, become a fan on Facebook and Instagram, and follow on Twitter at @roushfenway.

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Launch Video: https://youtu.be/aPU1dME4q04

Roush Fenway/Socios Message Points:

  • RFR will become the first US sports team to launch a Fan Token in partnership with Socios.com – the world’s leading blockchain provider for the sports industry.
  • Fan Tokens are collectible digital assets that provide owners with access to voting rights, VIP rewards, promotions, AR (augmented reality) features, chat forums, games and competitions on the mobile app Socios.com.
  • RFR have already given fans an insight into the type of engagement they can expect on the platform with fans set to use $ROUSH Fan Tokens to influence a wide range of decisions including the chance to select team uniforms, racecar paint schemes, pit signage and other assets for the RFR Fords at Watkins Glen on August 8th for Ryan Newman and Chris Buescher.
  • RFR will join a global network of 29 elite sporting organizations including FC Barcelona, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City and AC Milan.
  • RFR are the first team to announce the forthcoming launch of a Fan Token following Socios.com’s announcement of a $50M investment into the US sports industry to target Fan Token launches in US sports and across the 5 major leagues. NHL side New Jersey Devils have agreed a partnership with Socios.com to ‘explore common blockchain and digital initiatives’ while MMA organization the UFC will launch a Fan Token.

Young’s Motorsports | Connor Mosack ARCA East General Tire 125 Dover Team Preview

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Official Release
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Young’s Motorsports | ARCA Menards Series East
Dover (Del.) International Speedway | General Tire 125

Fast Facts

No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Team:
Driver: Connor Mosack
Primary Partner(s): Nic Tailor Custom Fit Underwear
Manufacturer: Chevrolet SS
Crew Chief: Eddie Troconis
Chassis Intel: YMS Chassis No. 97
Engine: Ilmor Racing Technologies

Notes of Interest:

Expanding Our Horizon: Earlier this week, Young’s Motorsports announced that they have expanded their ARCA Menards Series program to now include the ARCA Menards Series East beginning with Friday’s General Tire 125 at Dover (Del.) International Speedway with rookie Connor Mosack at the wheel.

Meet Connor: Connor Mosack, 22, will drive the No. 02 Nic Taylor Custom Fit Underwear Chevrolet SS in Friday afternoon’s General Tire 125.

A veteran of Motorsports, Mosack is a recent graduate of High Point University where he was on a presidential scholarship and earned a degree in business entrepreneurship.

Behind the scenes, Mosack is also a leader in his community. He organized a fundraiser for ContainIt, a student-led initiative that takes used shipping containers and turns them into transitional housing units. In its first year with Covenant Day School, it raised over $50,000.

He is also involved with the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation supporting kids with pediatric cancer.

Mosack’s Racing Career At A Glance: Mosack’s racing career began in 2017 in the INEX U.S. Legend Car ranks. Entering his first full season in 2018, the young driver needed just four races to earn his first victory, taking the fourth of five events in the 2018 Winter Nationals at Citrus County (Fla.) Speedway.

Racing in the Semi-Pro and Open Divisions, Mosack competed at Concord (N.C.) Speedway, the Summer Shootout Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway among other events. In 42 starts, Mosack earned 20 victories, 34 top-five and 37 top-10 finishes. Among those was a sweep of the National events at Las Vegas, including the Road Course World Finals and Asphalt Nationals.

In 2019, Mosack joined JR Motorsports to compete in the CARS Late Model Stock Tour Series and competed for the championship in 2020. In 10 starts, he earned three top-five, eight top-10s and finished sixth in the championship standings. With an average finish of 8.5, Mosack also earned Rookie of the Year Honors.

He is also a veteran of the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway.

On The Car: For Mosack’s debut with Young’s Motorsports, Nic Tailor Custom Fit Underwear will serve as the primary partner of the No. 02 Chevrolet SS.

Nic Taylor Custom Fit Underwear is the first custom fit underwear for men. Short for “tailored knickers,” Nic Tailor is superior quality underwear made to your specific body shape. We take into consideration butt size, groin size and everything that makes you, you.

When your underwear fits better, it feels better. Experience comfortable luxury underwear for all body types and dimensions.

Learn more at nictailor.com.

Calling The Shots: Guiding Mosack as crew chief of the No. 02 Nic Taylor Custom Fit Underwear Chevrolet is longtime crew chief Eddie Troconis.

Troconis is a two-time winning crew chief in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and joined Young’s Motorsports at the beginning of the season after tenures at ThorSport Racing, AM Racing and Sam Hunt Racing (Xfinity Series) respectively.

He has 130 races as crew chief in Trucks, including last Friday night’s race at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway. In those races, he has two wins, 22 top-five and 45 top-10 finishes to his resume.

Dover will mark his first race as crew chief in the developmental NASCAR-owned ARCA Menards Series East.

Young’s Motorsports 2021 ARCA Season: Mooresville, N.C.-based Young’s Motorsports has competed in the first four events of the flagship ARCA Menards Series tour with female driver Toni Breidinger at the wheel.

The team has captured back-to-back 12th place finishes in the two most recent events at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway and Kansas Speedway respectively.

Mosack looks to earn the team’s first top-10 finish in ARCA competition in the fourth race of the 2021 ARCA Menards Series East season.

Follow on Social Media: For more on Connor Mosack, please visit, connormosackracing.com like him on Facebook (Connor Mosack Racing) and follow him on Instagram (@connormosack) and Twitter (@connormosack).

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports) and follow on Instagram (youngsmotorsports) and Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

Connor Mosack Pre-Race Quotes:

On Joining Young’s Motorsports: “I am really excited about this opportunity to join Young’s Motorsports and make my ARCA Menards Series East debut at Dover.

“Tyler (Young, team principal) and the team build fast cars and I’m looking forward to working with the whole team.”

On Dover International Speedway: “Dover is a pretty wild race track and should be a lot of fun. It’s also a tough place to get around and making my first ARCA start there will be tough, but I know I will gain a lot of valuable experience running there.”

On Goal For General Tire 125 At Dover International Speedway: “My goal for the race at Dover would be a top-five finish. I would be really happy with that for my first start especially at a place like Dover, and I am confident in myself and the team that we can make that happen.”
Race Information:

The General Tire 125 (125 laps | 125 miles) is the fourth of eight races on the 2021 ARCA Menards Series East schedule. A combined practice and qualifying begins for the one-day show on Friday, May 14 from 1:45 p.m. – 2:55 p.m. The event will take the green flag just after 5:00 p.m. with live television coverage on TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold and SiriusXM Channel 391 (Online and the SiriusXM App: Channel 981). All times are local (ET).

The event will be rebroadcasted on a tape-delayed basis on NBCSN on Fri., May 21, 2021, at 12:30 a.m. ET.

Acura Sports Car Challenge Presented by TLX Type S opens 60th season of racing at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

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Helio Castroneves named grand marshal for the race weekend

LEXINGTON, Ohio (May 13, 2021) – The 60th season of racing begins at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course tomorrow (May 14) with premier sports car racing, the type of action the legendary road course was built to showcase when it opened in 1962. The Acura Sports Car Challenge Presented by TLX Type S brings the world-class IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship to compete on the 2.258-mile, 13-turn permanent road course in Lexington, Ohio.

A four-time winner at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and three-time Indianapolis 500 champion, Helio Castroneves will join the weekend festivities as the honorary grand marshal and give the command for drivers to start their engines on Sunday for the Acura Sports Car Challenge Presented by TLX Type S. Castroneves won at Mid-Ohio in INDYCAR in 2000 and 2001 and also was a double winner in IMSA sports cars for Acura Team Penske in 2018 and 2020.

“Having Helio (Castroneves) as an integral part of our season-opening event during this historic season is very fitting with his many past accomplishments at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and his great connection with our fans,” said Craig Rust, president of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. “We are looking forward to an exciting Acura Sports Car Challenge Presented by TLX Type S weekend and showcasing all the outstanding racing that IMSA brings to the track.”

Five races will take the green flag during the race weekend. The weekend’s headliner is the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship on Sunday (May 16) at 2:40 p.m. ET in a two-hour, 40-minute race to start off IMSA’s Sprint Cup season after two endurance races at Daytona and Sebring to begin 2021. The Acura ARX-05 DPi prototypes will look to continue their dominance at Mid-Ohio after being the overall winners the last three years. This time Pataskala, Ohio-based Meyer Shank Racing and multiple Daytona 24 Hour winning team Wayne Taylor Racing will look to put Acura back on the top of the podium in the Acura Sports Car Challenge Presented by TLX Type S.

Saturday’s feature is the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge at 3:35 p.m. ET in a two-hour timed race. Also, in store for race fans is a doubleheader for the Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup and an IMSA Prototype Challenge race on Sunday morning.

Fan activities include Acura Motorsports driver meet and greets at Acura’s full model lineup display in the infield of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on Saturday (May 15) at 11:30 a.m. and 3:15 p.m., and a Fan Forum also on Saturday in Mid-Ohio’s Super Pavilion along the front-straight in the infield at 2:50 p.m. ET with Meyer Shank Racing’s Dane Cameron and Olivier Pla and Wayne Taylor Racing’s Felipe Albuquerque and Ricky Taylor, the defending race winner. Helio Castroneves will also have a fan meet and greet at the Acura display on Sunday (May 16) at 1:45 p.m. ET.

Tickets will only be sold in advance to the Acura Sports Car Challenge Presented by TLX Type S. No gate sales will occur due to COVID-19 event protocols. Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course offers one of the best family values in all of live sports and entertainment. Children 12 and under always receive free general admission when accompanied by a ticketed adult. All the ticket options and pricing are posted online at midohio.com.

About Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course:
A comprehensive motorsports facility in Lexington, Ohio, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course sits on 380 acres and features a permanent road-racing circuit with two primary race track configurations: 2.4-mile, 15-turn or 2.258-mile, 13-turn layout. Located 60 miles north of Columbus and 75 miles south of Cleveland near Mansfield, the natural terrain road course is commonly referred to as the “Most Competitive in the U.S.” and annually hosts a diversity of locally, regionally and nationally sanctioned race events for amateur, club and professional drivers and riders. It is also home to The Mid-Ohio School, featuring over 20 driving and riding courses, for teenagers to professional racers using Honda vehicles. Opened in 1962, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course has been owned and operated by Green Savoree Mid-Ohio, LLC since 2011, just the raceway’s third private ownership group in its history.

For more information, visit midohio.com, ‘like’ its Facebook page @MidOhioSportsCarCourse or follow updates on Twitter @Mid_Ohio and Instagram @officialmidohio.

Atlanta Speedwerks Ready for Mid-Ohio in Michelin Pilot Challenge Honda Civic TCRs

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Official Release
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Honda Civic TCR photos credit Daylon Barr Photography; Scott Smithson photo credit Brian Cleary

Eversley and Smithson Ready to Keep No. 94 Dinner With Racers/Lemons of Love Honda Civic TCR Up Front, while Brian Henderson and Robert Noaker are Looking for Redemption in the No. 84 Pagid/Sabelt Honda Civic TCR at Honda’s Home Track

LEXINGTON, Ohio (May 13, 2021) – Atlanta Speedwerks defending Honda’s adopted home turf this weekend during the two-hour IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Mid-Ohio 120 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, part of the Acura Sports Car Challenge presented by TLX Type S.

The team brings a two-car effort to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, led by Honda factory driver Ryan Eversley and new co-driver Scott Smithson in the No. 94 Dinner With Racers/Lemons of Love Honda Civic TCR. Eversley currently sits second in the drivers’ championship with the No. 94 holding the same position in the team championship after two races. Eversley opened the season at Daytona and Sebring sharing the car with Greg Strelzoff, with Smithson taking over for the first time during this weekend’s race.

Smithson was a TCR class winner a season ago in TC America competition, also driving a Honda Civic TCR. It is the IMSA debut for the Holladay, Utah resident.

Brian Henderson and Robert Noaker are still searching for results in the No. 84 Pagid/Sabelt Honda Civic TCR. Through two races, both Henderson and Noaker have earned Motul Pole Awards and led the most laps on the season but contact and a mechanical gremlin have cost the duo any strong finishes.

Mid-Ohio may just be the place to turn the season around. In addition to the four plants that build Honda street cars in the state of Ohio, both Henderson and Noaker have had success at the 2.258-mile road course.

Noaker won in Mazda MX-5 Cup as a 14-year-old in 2018, a race win that placed him in the Guinness Book of World Records as the youngest to win an IndyCar-sanctioned race. In that same race, Henderson started from the rear of the field after an issue in qualifying and advanced 17 places on the grid in the 45-minute race.

Young Noaker backed that up with another win in the series in 2019, while Henderson qualified third in the No. 84 Honda Civic TCR for Atlanta Speedwerks in Michelin Pilot Challenge – setting the table for a strong run this weekend at the Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio.

The Mid-Ohio 120 can be seen live on the NBC Sports app via TrackPass on Saturday, May 15 at 3:35 p.m., or through your satellite and cable provider on NBCSN on tape delay on Tuesday, May 25 at 4 p.m. ET. The Acura Sports Car Challenge gets underway on Friday morning, May 14 with an hour-long practice at 9:15 a.m. ET, followed by a second practice at 1:15 p.m. ET. Qualifying is Friday afternoon at 5:50 p.m. to set the grid for Saturday’s race.

Todd Lamb, Owner: “I’ve been coming to Mid-Ohio as both a driver and a team owner for several years, and the race track has been good to us. This driver line-up and our pace this season gives us an excellent chance to represent Honda well, and I’m optimistic for both the No. 94 and the No. 84 Honda Civic TCRs this weekend.”

Ryan Eversley, Driver, No. 94 Honda Civic TCR: “Every race on the IMSA schedule is important for us as we’re fighting for the TCR Championship; however, Mid-Ohio is a bit of a homecoming for all of the Honda teams. American Honda has one of its headquarters in nearby Marysville, Ohio and we usually see 1000’s of Honda associates and employees at this event cheering us on. This race is the Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio presented by TLX Type-S and since I just spent a week driving the all-new TLX Type-S with the top executives from Acura, I can tell you how important of a weekend this is. Doing well at this track is no easy feat but getting on the podium in a Honda is a big deal at Mid-Ohio.”

Scott Smithson, Driver, No. 94 Honda Civic TCR: “I’m really looking forward to getting back into the Honda Civic TCR and pushing it. It will be my first time driving with Ryan, but I’m hoping to get up to speed quickly and bring back a win for Atlanta Speedwerks. I know Mid-Ohio is a pretty technical track, but not having driven there before I know there will be a learning curve. It’s going to be a challenge, but I’m ready for it.”

Brian Henderson, Driver, No. 84 Honda Civic TCR: “Last time we were at Mid-Ohio, we were in contention. We led a little bit of the race and we had a fast car. Hopefully it will rain a little bit and we’ll have some fun! Robert is really good there, so I think we’re all going to be strong. The car is going to be strong. It’s Honda’s home track. Hopefully we’ll pull it off and get the win for Atlanta Speedwerks, the win for Honda, and the win for us.”

Robert Noaker, Driver, No. 84 Honda Civic TCR: “I’m looking forward to getting back into the car at Mid-Ohio and driving with Brian. The track is very slick and worn down, which works with my driving style. We have a strong car and I’m very comfortable there having finished on the podium six out of the eight races in MX-5 Cup. We are one of the fastest cars, if not the fastest, every time we are on track. It’s just unfortunate how the last two races ended. Hopefully all of our bad luck is out of the way, and let’s see if we can get the win!”

About Atlanta Speedwerks
Atlanta Speedwerks is a professional road racing team and prep shop, providing road racing services, car builds, roll cages, arrive and drive programs, and performance parts. Headquartered near Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, the company runs winning arrive & drive programs in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, Mazda MX-5 Cup, Porsche Club of America and SCCA Spec Miata, among others. Professional coaching and driver development round out the company’s offerings.

Nostalgic NASCAR Video Games That Will Get You Back Into Your Childhood

By
SM
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The National Association for Stock Car Racing (NASCAR) Video Games are motorsport games whereby the stock cars race in rotation in a circular speedway. Most of these games were released during the NASCAR’s video games years of popularity and go back to more than a decade ago. Any philanthropic NASCAR gamer can definitely attest that the games highlighted below bring about a lot of memories and are the absoluteNASCAR Video Games classics! 

Richard Petty’s Talladega 1984

The game’s developer was Cosmi, and it had 3D graphics putting it on the map. However, the game did not have NASCAR drivers due to the lack of a license. The turbo boost feature proved a bit sketchy for stock cars traveling at extremely high speeds.

Bill Elliot’s NASCAR Challenge 1990

The game’s developer was Distinctive Software. It was the first NASCAR game. It had a midi soundtrack, 8-bit graphics, and laser scanned copies of accurate NASCAR tracks that changed with the weather and tire wear dynamics. 

NASCAR Racing 1994

Papyrus Design Group was the developer. It had more realistic graphics and motions than its predecessors, and multiple gameplays were enabled using LAN. 

NASCAR Racing 1999 Edition

EA Sports developed it. It was among the first games that initiated the addition of Craftsman Truck vehicle and Busch series. It provided more realistic car sets.

NASCAR Heat 2000

Monster Games developed the game and it was among the first NASCAR titles to offer Flips, Drafting, and Allen Bestwick features. 

NASCAR Rumble 2000

EA Sports developed it, and the game allowed the gamer to trick out the cars. Its features included six craftsman trucks, Winston Cup Teams, and hidden vehicles. The tracks mainly were fantasy ones, such as open highways and racing around a large fountain characterized with shortcuts. 

NASCAR Heat 2002

Monster Games developed it. It possessed good graphics and gave the gamers an alternative to the many available EA Sports.

NASCAR: Dirt to Daytona 2002

Monster Games developed it. It was the first game to embrace the idea of going up from the bottom sports tiers, local dirt tracks to getting to Daytona for the game’s biggest race (the highest level). 

NASCAR Racing 2002 Season

It depicted massive car model improvement. Cars could now get to speeds of 250, and one could create accidents on YouTube. It featured a Coca-Cola speedway which was a fictional track. 

NASCAR Racing 2003 Season

Gamers can argue that it was one of the most popular NASCAR racing games since Talladega by Richard Petty. It was the most successful but the last of the Papyrus game series before EA Games acquired NASCAR rights. 

NASCAR Racing 4

The game was the Papyrus game seriesgroundbreaker. For the first time, cars could flip, and the resolution went from 256 to 24K. It made a 43-car field first to appear.

NASCAR Thunder 2003

EA Sports developed the game. Gamers were able to manage driver aspects and go into battle against a field of forty-three cars. The race field would go down to18 from 43 when multiple players were involved.

NASCAR Thunder 2004

EA Sports was the game’s developer.It introduced a new feature, alliances and grudges whereby drivers worked together with their allies to eliminate their enemies.

NASCAR 06: Total Team Control

EA Sports developed it.The game introduced the radio ability for teammates incase they needed help. Blocking for your teammate to switch the user control was now attainable. 

NASCAR 2005: Chase for the Cup

EA Sports developed it. The creator’s added Craftsman trucks, Flight to the Top, and FeatherliteModified to the cars. The players were given four ranks to progress. It featured The Intimidate Button, which enabled one to pull behind another vehicle to allow the car in front to lose control and get out of line. 

NASCAR remains a popular motorsport in the United States and has continually worked with video game developers like EA Sports, Monster Games, iRacing.com, and many more to design video games with the hope to create better quality games. Many of the games from the NASCAR series are favorites among many gamers and recreate memories from a long time ago.

Can Mandir Explains Dropshipping During The Pandemic

By
SM
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E-commerce has been one of the only industries that have benefited from the pandemic. The conditions that were brought by the pandemic worked in favor of e-commerce. Thus, the industry grew throughout the year. 

Can Mandir, in his recent interview, explained how e-commerce benefited through the pandemic. Being a successful dropshipper himself, he talked of the state of dropshipping and its possible future. Below are the important bits of the interview.

The state of dropshipping during the pandemic

Dropshipping grew as e-commerce grew as dropshipping is the part of e-commerce. If you aren’t familiar with dropshipping, it is a type of online retail that eliminates the need for keeping stock inventories. 

The changing market proved favorable for dropshipping. As a result, dropshippers grew out of their businesses and online retail. In reference to the state of dropshipping, Can Mandir quotes, “We in e-commerce are among the few in this world who have seen great opportunities in sales due to the crisis or who can still see such opportunities.” 

In addition to that, Can Mandir also addressed the shipping anxiety of many sellers. In doing so, he claimed that the restrictions of shipping aren’t many. Thus, dropshipping ventures can relieve themselves of shipping stress.

Possible barriers to dropshipping

One of the most major barriers to dropshipping is the mindset of the people. Many people regard dropshipping to be too difficult of a trade to venture into. However, Can Mandir believes that “It has never been easier to shop or sell online.” There will always be people who will migrate back to the offline market, but these conditions can be worked upon. 

Aside from the mindset of people, someone who isn’t ready to give in efforts every single day is not suitable for dropshipping. One should also have an eye for analyzing market trends. It can give them an edge over other competitors. Moreover, since the marketplace keeps on changing, one should possess a foresight for future market demands.

Requirements for being a dropshipper

Being a dropshipper is less risky than other trades of e-commerce. However, there are still requirements that one needs to fulfill to become a dropshipper. From his experience, Can Mandir lists these requirements that can help both the old as well as new dropshippers.

There requirements or pieces of advice are:

  • Since e-commerce trades online, one must have electronic devices such as laptops, phones, and computers. 
  • One must also have a good internet connection. It is one of the most basic requirements for being a dropshipper.
  • One should have patience and the habit of working regularly. 

Thus, there are both mental and physical requirements that need to be fulfilled to become a dropshipper. 

Future of dropshipping

The end of the pandemic will not be the end of dropshipping. It is true that the growth of dropshipping has been catalyzed by the pandemic. However, dropshipping’s success is not limited to the pandemic only. Thus, it’ll continue to grow despite the situation. 

One should also focus on consumer behaviors as it determines how e-commerce will perform. Consumer behavior, as of today, supports online trade as it provides them more convenience than offline markets. Moreover, consumer habits can last for quite a long time. 

Can Mandir also believes in the future cryptocurrency. He believes that the future of e-commerce can facilitate the dealing of crypto. Can Mandir’s stance on crypto is influenced by both his foresight as well as the recent announcement made by Tesla. Thus, dropshipper can expect to deal with crypto in the near future.

That was all! Now you know all about dropshipping, along with how you can be a dropshipper. 

Making NASCAR More Likeable For Everyone

By
SM
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If you ask any true fan of NASCAR racing, they will definitely without a shadow of a doubt tell you that there is no sport that compares to it. Stock car racing has everything a NASCAR odds fan of high octane and adrenaline-filled sports wants. You would think that an impressive blend of skill, technology, speed, and furiousness, with some really cool-looking cars too, would make NASCAR a sure-fire all-around hit in the sporting realm, yet NASCAR racing has always fallen victim to being more of a specialty fan activity. 

Now let’s not shy away from NASCAR’s sports worth. Winning races require a lot of work from team engineers, mechanics, pit crews and of course their drivers, all things that make for great sports action. So what can NASCAR do to break out of their specialty sports world and take a bigger spot in the sporting scenario? 

Understanding The Problems In Order To Make NASCAR Cool For Everyone

NASCAR races have been an entertainment point for generations for almost 80 years in the United States. From colorful beginnings that have tie-ins with the US prohibition era until becoming the billion-dollar sporting event that it is, NASCAR is still delivering some top high octane action for racing fans around the world doing this while racing through times and changing trends in our world.

In the last 5 years though NASCAR has recorded a staggering 50% viewership drop along with a substantial decline in admissions to races that has varied from 12 to 30%, all these being figures that have the sport of stock racing looking for ways to reinvent themselves before losing the race against time and popularity. Changes need to happen, that’s a given, and finding more suitable ways to still remain relevant nowadays should be the biggest focus, their first place checkered flag finish.

Making Races More General Fan Friendly

Watching a NASCAR race is as much of a commitment for a sports fan as watching a baseball game or a golf event, you know you’re in for a long haul. While racing fans are ok with this, other sports fans favor more time crunching, action-packed activities, something that NASCAR is not necessarily known for. Yes, it is a sport that relies on blasting speed, but at the same, it’s one of patience. Simply put new and casual fans that might be looking into taking up NASCAR racing as a new interest are not necessarily looking to be invested in such long races. Also, take into account that a regular race is usually a 500-mile event.

While shortening races has been done and met with apprehension from regular fans, the irony in it all is that the races that have already been shortened have become more exciting and meaningful events. Yes, stock car racing is a sport but it’s also an entertainment event and offering the best value both in the sport and entertainment fields can only mean better results and revenue for NASCAR.

Time To Let Technology Take The Lead

If there’s one thing that different sports teams, leagues and organizations have understood plentifully is the fact that in order to succeed moving forward then technology and all it offers needs to be embraced. While NASCAR is sometimes seen as a sport for older fan bases, given that the majority of its fans are usually over the 40-year-old mark, with the constant and non-stop rise of the internet, social media and other platforms of communication, entertainment, and engagement this is a safe haven where NASCAR should be focusing.

By having the NASCAR organization as well as race teams and racers be more present on social media platforms, allowing fans to feel more in touch with the sport and its competitors it can bring in a whole new wave of fans. Let’s face the facts like they are, car racing is cool, stock racing is cool, so why not continue to make a bigger effort to show that to the general population. 

The social media equation is quite simple, if you want your product to be seen and you want to profit from it then you have to have a very strong social media game. Giving die-hard NASCAR fans as well as emerging fans the opportunity to feel as much of a part of the action as possible in the commodity of their cell phones, computers or pads will bring the people in and give NASCAR the credit it deserves.

JR Motorsports wins appeal; Gragson’s finish and Dash 4 Cash bonus reinstated

By
Angie Campbell
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Austin Cindric and Noah Gragson race during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Steakhouse Elite 200 at Darlington Raceway on May 08, 2021. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

The penalties assessed on JR Motorsport’s No. 9 team after Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Darlington Raceway, have been rescinded.

National Motorsports Final Appeals Officer, Roger Werner, heard the appeal Wednesday, overturning the penalties and reaffirming Noah Gragson’s fourth place result. He will receive the $100,000 Dash 4 Cash bonus for scoring the highest finish among the eligible drivers at Darlington.

The penalties were a result of the post-race inspection of the No. 9 Chevrolet where it was determined that the team had violated Rule 20.14.c in the NASCAR Rule Book. The rule states that “all suspension mounts and mounting hardware must not allow movement or realignment of any suspension and/or drivetrain component beyond normal rotation or suspension and/or drivetrain travel.”

Gragson has won all three of the previous Dash 4 Cash prizes at Martinsville Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway and Darlington Raceway and will now be eligible for the final Dash 4 Cash Xfinity Series race this weekend at Dover International Speedway.

Justin Allgaier, Josh Berry and Brandon Jones will join Gragson at Dover to compete for the Dash 4 Cash prize Saturday at 1:30 p.m. ET in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Drydene 200.

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