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Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Unilever Honor 9/11 Victims with No. 8 United for America Chevrolet at Richmond

By
Official Release
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MOORESVILLE, N.C. (May 4, 2021) – Never forget. That was the vow made by Americans following the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001. JR Motorsports and long-time partner Unilever are standing united in that promise. Today, through a video release, JRM revealed Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s 2021 return to the No. 8 Chevrolet will come in the NASCAR Xfinity Series event at Richmond Raceway on Sept. 11 – the 20th Anniversary of the terror attacks – where the NASCAR Hall of Famer will drive a special United for America paint scheme honoring the victims of 9/11.

In the spirit of remembrance and reverence, Earnhardt Jr.’s United for America Chevrolet will mirror the 9/11 Memorial and Museum’s Tribute in Light, a powerful tradition that began in 2002 in New York. On the night of Sept. 11, from dusk to dawn, twin beams extend four miles into the sky above Manhattan, reflecting the shape and orientation of the Twin Towers. The No. 8’s blue-and-white paint scheme similarly features four spotlights representing the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and the Flight 93 Memorial site in Shanksville, Pennsylvania with the axiom “Never Forget” on the lower-rear quarter panel, paying tribute to the brave souls lost during the terror attacks.

“It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years since that terrible day,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “The spirit of unity and togetherness our country felt on Sept. 11 is just as relevant now as it was then. I’m honored to be driving this car, and championing Unilever’s United for America program.” 

This marks the third paint scheme associated with Unilever’s United for America campaign. The company also teamed up with JRM drivers Justin Allgaier and Noah Gragson to call attention to the fight against COVID-19 in the Carolinas and to acknowledge the first responders essential to the care needed in the wake of the pandemic. Earnhardt Jr.’s car will pay tribute to all those lost on Sept. 11, 2001, including first responders.

Created in May of 2020, United for Americais part of Unilever’s continued commitment to serve the people and communities most impacted by the pandemic. In 2021, Unilever will take continued action to support women and families – particularly in Black and LatinX communities. As part of this support, Unilever will continue to provide millions of products and supplies to frontline partners like Feeding America, use its platforms to promote vaccine education in partnership with the Ad Council, and take continued action to support organizations that provide resources to female small business owners and youth, including Luminary and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

“We are happy to be working with JR Motorsports, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and NASCAR to honor those lost on Sept. 11, as part of our United for America initiative,” said Fabian Garcia, president of Unilever North America. “We are continuing to address the COVID pandemic issues and wish to inspire collective action to provide services and products to our hardest-hit communities.”

Additionally, the Never Forget Fund will be featured on the decklid of Earnhardt Jr.’s Chevrolet. Created by the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, the Never Forget Fund aims to raise awareness and educate the next generation on America’s capacity to unify, heal and show gratitude in the aftermath of the 9/11 tragedy.

Earnhardt Jr.’s most recent NXS victory came at Richmond in 2016, giving the two-time champion 24 career NXS wins and four at the .75-mile oval. His return to the NXS in the No. 8 United for America Chevrolet will air on NBCSN on Saturday, Sept. 11 at 2:30 p.m. ET. 

ABOUT UNILEVER UNITED STATES:
Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Beauty & Personal Care, Home Care, and Foods & Refreshment products, with sales in over 190 countries and products used by 2.5 billion people every day. We have 149,000 employees and generated sales of €50.7 billion in 2020. Over half of our footprint is in developing and emerging markets. We have around 400 brands found in homes all over the world. In the United States and Canada, the portfolio includes iconic brand such as: Dove, Knorr, Hellmann’s, Lipton, Magnum, Axe, Ben & Jerry’s, Degree, Dollar Shave Club, Q-tips, Seventh Generation, St. Ives, Suave, TRESemmé, and Vaseline.

Our vision is to be the global leader in sustainable business and to demonstrate how our purpose-led, future-fit business model drives superior performance. We have a long tradition of being a progressive, responsible business. It goes back to the days of our founder William Lever, who launched the world’s first purposeful brand, Sunlight Soap, more than 100 years ago, and it’s at the heart of how we run our company today.

The Unilever Compass, our sustainable business strategy, is set out to help us deliver superior performance and drive sustainable and responsible growth, while:

·        improving the health of the planet; 

·        improving people’s health, confidence and wellbeing; and 

·        contributing to a fairer and more socially inclusive world.

While there is still more to do, we are proud to have been recognized in 2020?as a sector leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index?and – for the?tenth-consecutive year – as the top ranked company in the?2020 GlobeScan/SustainAbility?Sustainability Leaders survey.

For more information on Unilever U.S. and its brands visit: www.unileverusa.com

ABOUT JR MOTORSPORTS:
JR Motorsports is the racing operation co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Fame member and 15-time Most Popular Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kelley Earnhardt Miller and NASCAR Hall of Famer Rick Hendrick. Now in its 20th year of overall competition, JR Motorsports competes in multiple divisions, including the NASCAR Xfinity Series where it currently fields four full-time teams and earned championships in 2014, 2017 and 2018. The company also races in Late Model competition and owns four championships in regional Late Model divisions and added a prized national title in 2020. To learn more about the organization, its drivers and its sponsorship opportunities, visit www.jrmracing.com.

Porsche and Team Penske to collaborate in motorsports

By
Official Release
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Building up worldwide network – works Porsche LMDh prototypes will be operated by one team

Porsche and Team Penske to collaborate in motorsports

Stuttgart. Porsche Motorsport and Team Penske have agreed to collaborate closely in fielding the new LMDh vehicle commencing in 2023. The successful US team will work together with the experts from Weissach to run factory entries in the FIA WEC World Endurance Championship and the North American IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IWSC). Under the name of Porsche Penske Motorsport, two of the spectacular LMDh prototypes will compete for overall victories in the top class of each of the two racing series. The contract between the sports car manufacturer from Stuttgart and the US racing team, which was founded in 1966, will run for a number of years. A statement to this effect was signed by Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG, Michael Steiner, Member of the Executive Board for Research and Development and Roger Penske, Chairman of Team Penske. Beginning in 2023, the LMDh vehicles will represent the very best in endurance racing together with so-called hypercars (LMH). The prototypes will also be entered by Porsche customer teams in both championships as early as 2023. The cars, which weigh approximately 1,000 kilograms and are based on an LMP2 chassis, are powered by a 500 kW (680 PS) hybrid drivetrain.

“We are delighted that we were able to get Team Penske to form this partnership,” says Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG. “For the first time in the history of Porsche Motorsport, our company will have a global team competing in the world’s two largest endurance series. To this end, we will be setting up team bases on both sides of the Atlantic. This will enable us to create the optimal structures we will need to take overall victories at Le Mans, Daytona and Sebring, for example.”

“As of 2023, Porsche will compete in the major endurance racing series. Our intention is to support and shape the new era with our LMDh prototypes,” Dr. Michael Steiner, Board Member for Research and Development, emphasizes. “Not only will we be keeping our fingers crossed for the four factory cars we have in total, but also for our customer teams. The new LMDh vehicle will also be entered as a customer car in both series as early as the 2023 season. These partner teams will be given our full support. Whatever insights we gain from our factory effort will also be shared with them.”

“Porsche and Penske share a proven track record of success. This partnership had a lasting impact from 2006 to 2008 on what was then the American Le Mans Series,” says Fritz Enzinger, Head of Porsche Motorsport, delighted about the renewed collaboration with the US team. “Team Penske has made a name for itself with an almost unparalleled success story in motorsport. In the long list of victories to date, however, the name Le Mans has been missing. I hope that we will finally be able to chalk up this success as of 2023 with Porsche Penske Motorsport. This would then mark Porsche’s 20th overall victory at the Sarthe – a dream come true.”

With the Porsche RS Spyder, Team Penske had taken all the titles in the LMP2 class for three years in succession between 2006 and 2008, beating the faster LMP1 prototypes multiple times. Back in the 1970s, the US-based team had already been extremely successful with the legendary Porsche 917 in the Can-Am series.

“This is a proud day for our entire Penske organization. We have represented Porsche on the track or in our businesses for more than six decades. The heritage and success we have enjoyed together is unparalleled throughout our history,” comments Roger Penske. “I can’t wait to get started as we build a global racing program with Porsche that will compete for wins and championships well into the future.”

Porsche Motorsport will be operating a team base in the USA together with Team Penske at the American team’s headquarters in Mooresville in the State of North Carolina.

Brandonbilt Motorsports Gives Nod to Dale Jarrett with Throwback Paint Scheme for Darlington Raceway

By
Official Release
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Track: Darlington Raceway | 1.37 Mile Oval
Race: 10 of 33
Event: Steakhouse Elite 200 | Saturday, May 3 | 1 p.m. ET | FS1 & MRN

Brandon Brown | Xfinity Stats | Darlington Raceway
Starts: 5
Best Start: 6
Best Finish: 13

Brown on Darlington Throwback Weekend:
“After an off-weekend, I can’t wait to get back to racing this Saturday at Darlington (Raceway). Doug (Randolph), RB (Bracken), Lance (Elliot) and the entire Brandonbilt Motorsports organization have put together a stout race car, and coming off of a 7th-place run at Talladega (Superspeedway), I feel confident that our No. 68 team can deliver another strong run this weekend.

“Darlington’s old and rough surface makes tire management an important part of team’s strategies and combined with trying to run up against the wall, the goal is to try and keep the right side on the car, without getting too much of a Darlington Stripe that comes with the territory.

“Unfortunately, we’re heading into the race weekend unsponsored; but instead of running a blank car, we decided to try and make the most of the throwback weekend and it’s exposure to hopefully draw attention to our car and continue to build on funding for our race program.

“This weekend, we’ll be paying tribute to Dale Jarrett and his 2002 UPS paint scheme that won at both Pocono and Michigan and is arguably my favorite throwback scheme that I’ve ever run. It’s an honor to recognize Dale (Jarrett) because he’s been such a great ambassador of our sport and I’ve always been a big fan of his; so, this will be a pretty cool paint scheme to have on-track this Saturday.”

About Brandonbilt Motorsports

Brandonbilt Motorsports is a family-owned, professional stock car team competing full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS). Owned and operated by Woodbridge, Virginia native, Jerry Brown, Brandonbilt Motorsports has quickly become a household name in the NASCAR Xfinity Series through hard work and determination. As a smaller team in the NXS, Brandonbilt Motorsports’ goal has always been to do the most with less, while also becoming a contending organization in every race that it enters. Brandonbilt Motorsports shocked the racing world in 2020 as driver, Brandon Brown, secured the team’s first playoff berth in only its second, full-time season in the NXS, before going on to finish the year 11th in the overall points standings. On the horizon in 2021, Brandonbilt Motorsports looks to pick up where it left off as a playoff-caliber team at each event it enters. To learn more, visit bmsraceteam.com.

Darlington Throwback Weekend will be ‘a walk down memory lane’

By
Angie Campbell
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Chase Elliott (9) and Denny Hamlin (11) lead the field to the green flag in the NASCAR Cook Out Southern 500, September 6, 2020 at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. Photo by David Yeazell.

As soon as I drive through Darlington Raceway’s Turn 3 tunnel, I feel like I’ve stepped back in time and entered another era. The walls feature a collage of the track’s historic moments through the decades and the legends that have conquered the unforgiving surface of the track “Too Tough to Tame.”

As the 1.66-mile track prepares to host the Throwback Weekend with all three national series competing, track President Kerry Tharp promises a weekend reminiscent of days gone by with special guests, activities and surprises.

I asked him what will put the biggest smile on his face when he steps outside and looks around on race day.

“I want the fans to enjoy it,” he said. “They can take a walk down memory lane and relive some great moments in the sport.”

The decision was made to move the Throwback Weekend to the May event because, Tharp said, “We wanted it to stand on its own.”

Along with the Throwback paint schemes, fans can enjoy a variety of events that will add to the nostalgic atmosphere.

The Darlington Raceway Stock Car Museum and National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame will re-open after being closed since last spring due to the pandemic. It’s a must see for NASCAR history buffs and will be open on Friday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The track will also have several merchandise trailers on site, there will be cardboard cutouts of past and current drivers that fans can take pictures with, and if you look up, Tharp said, “We’ll have the Goodyear Blimp; I can’t even remember the last time I saw it overhead.”

“You’ll see heroes and Hall of Famers this weekend,” Tharp added.

Greg Biffle, a three-time Darlington race winner, will drive parade laps before the start of the Camping World Truck Series race Friday night. Saturday afternoon before the Xfinity Series Steakhouse Elite 200, Dale Earnhardt Jr. will take his father’s restored No. 8 Chevrolet Nova for a few laps around the track.

On Mother’s Day NASCAR and Darlington Raceway will hand out carnations to the first 1,000 mothers who enter the track for the Cup Series Goodyear 400. Mothers who are accompanied by their children will have an opportunity to take a photo together to commemorate the special day.

Look for more announcements from Darlington Raceway throughout the week on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. And, don’t forget to visit the Darlington Raceway Virtual Fan Zone to vote for your favorite paint scheme.

Tickets for all races are still available.

Team Hardpoint EBM Earns Three Porsche Carrera Cup Podiums at COTA With Efrin Castro, Riley Dickinson

By
Official Release
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Castro Scored a Pair of Runner-Up Finishes in Pro-Am, Dickinson Earns Pro Class Podium at His Home Track

AUSTIN, Texas (May 3, 2021) – Team Hardpoint EBM scored three Porsche Carrera Cup North America podiums on Sunday, with Efrin Castro earning a pair of second-place finishes in the Pro-Am class and Riley Dickinson scoring a third-place finish overall and in the Pro Class.

Rounds Three and Four of the 16-race championship both took place on Sunday at the 3.4-mile Circuit of the Americas, opening the day on a very slick, wet track and finishing in the heat of the Texas afternoon. The grid for the morning race was set based on championship points after qualifying was washed out on Saturday.

Electing to start the morning race on slicks, both Dickinson and Castro skated through the early stages as the track continued to dry throughout the 45-minute race.

Castro was running second in the Pro-Am class in the No. 65 Fine Fare Supermarkets /GoDominicanRepublic.com Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, but couldn’t hold onto the position in the final lap. He crossed the line in third, but was elevated to second-place by race officials following the race when the unofficial winner was moved to the rear of the field for a technical infraction.

Dickinson started the No. 53 Porsche Austin/Team Hardpoint EBM Porsche 911 GT3 Cup in fourth position overall and in the Pro class, then held serve for the duration at his home race to finish fourth. Perhaps more importantly, Dickinson ran the second-quickest lap of the race in 2:15.901 (90.065 mph) to start the afternoon race on the outside of row one.

The starting position allowed Dickinson, with the track dry in the afternoon and the hot Texas sun beating down, to hold steady in third place on the opening lap and get clear of any challengers from behind. Dickinson made a strong run at the runner-up position in the closing laps, but ended the day with his second podium position of the young season.

“Overall, we are pretty pleased with this weekend even though we were aiming for better results,” Dickinson said. “Sunday morning’s race might have been the most difficult conditions I’ve ever raced in due to the combination of dry tires on a wet track. Sunday afternoon was the opposite with regards to the track conditions. The circuit was completely dry and in true Texas fashion, extremely hot. This made the second race all about tire management. I had a great car at the end of the race, but it was too little too late on my end. While we are striving to earn better results, a positive from the weekend is that we continued learn even more about the all new 992 Porsche GT3 Cup Car. Essentially building from where we left off at Sebring, and steadily improving. In that sense, I’m very much looking forward to what the rest of the season has in store. I also had the opportunity to spend time with my partners at Porsche Austin, both at the their facility and at the track, which was great and I can’t thank them enough for coming out this weekend and all of their support. Huge thank you as well to everyone at Team Hardpoint EBM for all their hard work and effort behind the scenes this week, it was a mammoth effort day in and day out.”

Castro gave chase to the Pro-Am leader throughout the race, holding steady second in class for the race distance after starting in the same position.

The double podium weekend elevated Castro to second early in the season-long championship. Dickinson holds at fourth in the point championship but has elevated Team Hardpoint EBM to third in the Entrant Championship standings.

The Porsche Carrera Cup North America returns to action June 24-27 at Watkins Glen International for another doubleheader in conjunction with the IMSA Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen weekend. The next challenge for Team Hardpoint EBM is with the IMSA WeatherTech Championship GT Daytona Porsche 911 GT3 R program at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, May 14-16.

About Team Hardpoint EBM:
Hardpoint Motorsports was founded by Rob Ferriol in 2018 with the vision of combining his experience as a successful entrepreneur with his passion for racing. Team Hardpoint EBM is a joint venture between Team Hardpoint and Earl Bamber Motorsport formed in late 2020 to combine the resources of EBM and co-owners Earl Bamber and Will Bamber and the early success of Team Hardpoint. Headquartered at VIRginia International Raceway, the team’s 2021 plans include a full-season effort in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship in a Porsche 911 GT3 R and a multi-car effort in the IMSA Porsche Carrera Cup North America. More information on Team Hardpoint EBM can be found at www.hardpoint.com or through its strong social media presence on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Tanner Berryhill to drive the No. 23 in Darlington

By
Official Release
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STATESVILLE, N.C. (May 3, 2021) – Our Motorsports announced today the addition of Tanner Berryhill to its driver roster for the No. 23 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Berryhill will pilot the entry for three races, starting with this weekend’s Steakhouse Elite 200 at Darlington Raceway.

The Bixby, Oklahoma native will have sponsorship from Realty Connect. “I’m genuinely excited to join Our Motorsports,” Berryhill said. “I can’t wait to work with the team and I’m confident that the car will deliver great results. I’m proud to represent my sponsors at one of my favorite racetracks! Thanks to Realty Connect, Eclipse Claims, and everyone who has supported my career.”

Realty Connect, an exclusive real estate brokerage company for ‘referral only’ agents will be on the hood of the No. 23 Chevrolet for the race at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina.

Berryhill made his NXS debut in 2012. The 27-year-old driver has amassed 40 starts in the NXS. Berryhill also has two starts in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Berryhill will also pilot the Our Motorsports entry at Texas Motor Speedway in June and the fall Texas Motor Speedway in October.

“We are looking forward to having Tanner pilot the Realty Connect number 23 at Darlington this week. Our Motorsports is looking to continue building the 23,” said Our Motorsports GM Joe Williams. “Tanner brings a lot of experience in all forms of racing and I believe that will help us at the track too tough to tame. We are also excited to be partnered with Realty Connect.”

The Steakhouse Elite 200 at Darlington Raceway will take the green flag on Saturday, May 8 at 1 p.m. ET. The 147- lap event will be broadcast on FS1.

About Our Motorsports

Our Motorsports competes full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, fielding the No. 02 Chevrolet Camaro for Brett Moffitt, and the No. 23 Chevrolet Camaro for multiple drivers. To find out more information about our team, please visit ourmotorsportsgroup.com.

Dramatic Finish in Trans Am Gives Tomy Drissi the Win at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

By
Official Release
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Joiner, Oakes, Goldman and Crocker finish first in class at Laguna Seca

MONTEREY, CA (2 May 2021) – Tomy Drissi won his sixth race in two decades in the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli round at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on Sunday.

Trans Am driver Humaid Masaood in Dyson Racing’s No. 21 Amamos LaVida Tequila Mustang placed second with Erich Joiner from the XGT class posting third overall in the provisional Trans Am SpeedFest results.

Boris Said crossed the line in first after making an aggressive move to get by Chris Dyson in Turn 1 on a restart with 10 laps remaining. The contact tore off the left-rear valve stem on Dyson’s dominant No. 20 ALTWELL CBD Ford Mustang, sending him to the pits for a new tire.

The pass went to Stewards’ review post-race, and the penalty issued for that move and additional contact with Drissi early left Said with a 40-second penalty, shuffling him back to a fifth-overall, fourth in class. Said intends to protest, leaving the results provisional.

“I didn’t want to win the race like this, but I’ve had my times where the same thing has happened to me, so I will take it,” said Drissi. “It was such a battle out there today, we recovered from a mid-race spin, and I am just so happy for the whole Burtin Racing team and Lucas Oil Slick Mist to get our first victory of the season. Thank you for the support from the series, from all my friends and family who made the trip from L.A. to watch the race, to my team and my sponsors for making this possible.”

Drissi pulled double duty this weekend, competing earlier in the day in the Historic Trans Am race with SVRA. Drissi won in the same original factory Jim Hall Chaparral 1970 Trans Am Chevy Camaro that was raced by both Jim Hall and Vic Elford in the early 70s. Elford took home a win at Watkins Glen that season driving the Camaro.

“The win in Trans Am today was a bonus,” Drissi continued. “We won the Historic Trans Am race earlier today. We are raising awareness for Vic’s ongoing health issues and I know he was riding along with me in both cars today. Fans can donated to the cause by visiting the GoFundMe page set up by Brian Redman.”

TA newcomer and 2020 XGT champion Ken Thwaits completed a double-duty weekend by placing third in class, and fourth overall in TA driving the No. 5 Franklin Road Apparel Chevrolet Camaro, and also winning the Masters class. Thwaits was also the Masters winner in Saturday’s TA2® event – his debut in the series.

Dyson came back from his pit-lane restart to cross the line in seventh after leading the opening 35 laps. He was later promoted to sixth overall, and fifth in class.

“I am not going to comment on the restart, but I can tell you we were thrilled to have ALTWELL car up front all weekend,” said Dyson following the race. “We were dominating today and I had the race in my hand. I am just really proud of our guys. I think we put on two spectacular weekends out here on the West Coast. I’m sure we had the measure of everyone out there today.”

After chasing Dyson for 14 laps, Francis’ No. 98 Future Star Racing Ford Mustang suddenly slowed and the defending seven-time champion limped to the pits.

“We were having a good run and the car was really quick,” Francis said. “We were just keeping the pressure on Chris. Waiting for an opportunity to get by. Coming out of the last turn, something broke in the rear end. I’m not sure what, but I can’t fix it right now, so we’re out of the race.”

Simon Gregg finished the race in third, driving No. 59 The Peter Gregg Foundation Chevrolet Camaro, but was issued a 40-second penalty after making race-ending contact with Amy Ruman.

Masaood crossed the line fourth overall but was promoted to second following the series of penalties issued to Said, Gregg and Marks. The result marks Masaood’s second runner-up finish in two weekends. The CD Racing driver finished second behind his teammate Dyson at Sonoma the weekend before in the West Coast race.

The first caution – including a brief red flag – came after Lou Gigliotti’s No. 28 G2 Motorsports Corvette went up in smoke on lap 19, sending Gigliotti into the Turn 4 gravel trap. Gigliotti, who was running second in SGT, was unhurt in the incident. Dyson pulled away on the restart, while Said had slight contact with Drissi while fighting for second.

A major turning point came on lap 33 of 45, when David Pintaric was tapped by Justin Marks at the top of the Corkscrew, sending both cars spinning to a stop. Pintaric, looking for his second-straight fourth-place finish in the No. 57 Kryderacing Ford Mustang, was done for the day. Marks lost two laps in the No. 99 Ave Motorsports Corvette and was issued a 40-second penalty for the incident to slot him into a 10th overall finish, seventh in class. The incident brought out the second caution and bunched the field for the climactic final restart.

Joiner became the first XGT winner in National competition in 2021, placing third overall in the No. 10 Good Boy Bob Coffee Roaster Porsche 991 GT3 R. It was his fourth victory in six National races over the past two seasons. Joiner came out a double winner, also scoring the West Coast Championship victory.

“I have to say it was a really fun race,” said Joiner. “It’s fun to bring a GT car with 400hp out here and play on a tight track with TA cars. I got to test my skills in another way. It was a big weekend for us and Good Boy Bob Coffee.”

In his Trans Am debut, Mike Weathers finished second in the West Coast XGT class in the No. 48 GSpeed Chevrolet Corvette. Weathers GSpeed team built the car in two weeks so Weathers could make his first race competition at Laguna Seca.

SGT saw Justin Oakes win for the third time in four races since the 2020 finale doubleheader at Road Atlanta, driving the No. 11 Droneworks Corvette. The class battle went all the way to the checkered flag, with Oakes holding off West Coast SGT rookie Rob Crocker by 2.065-seconds.

Oakes keeping cool under considerable pressure earned him the ChillOut Moment of the Race.

“I feel so fortunate to be able to come out with my team who built this incredible car, we just keep dominating, and I love it,” said Oakes. “I love this track. It’s our first time here. I can’t wait to come back. I am going to race here every chance I get. I’m really bummed about Lou [Gigliotti], wish we could have battled it out a bit more, but I am sure he’s going to come knocking soon.”

Crocker was the West Coast Championship SGT winner, despite having to make a pit stop in the No. 77 KRYPTAURI Cybersecurity Porsche Cayman. He needed a rare pit for fuel during the opening caution, due to not having a large enough fuel cell for a 100-mile race. Also during the caution, the No. 00 Superior Builders Holden Commodor stopped and needed a tow. With Rudy Revak’s No. 60 Racecars Chevrolet Monte Carlo also on the sidelines, opened the door for Crocker’s victory.

“We are running the stock sized fuel pump in this Cayman,” explained Crocker on his untraditional Trans Am pit stop. “It’s only 16.5 gallons, and this thing devours fuel, not like a six cylinder but more like an eight cylinder. We got lucky at Sonoma with the weather, we didn’t really have to be on throttle a lot and we could take a higher gear. But, unfortunately here, there was just no way around it if I wanted to keep competitive pace. We pulled in, got the fuel into the car during the first yellow we took the opportunity, got all squared back out and tried to push as hard as we could, but the grip was just not there for us at the end.”

Steve Goldman celebrated his first Trans Am finish by winning West Coast Championship honors with a 12th-place overall finish in the No. 13 LIG Racing Corvette. Goldman is an experienced SVRA driver and decided to make the transition into Trans Am last year in Portland.

Next up for the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli is Lime Rock Park’s traditional Memorial Day weekend. The TA/XGT/SGT/GT divisions will practice and qualify on Friday, May 28, and will race at 1:20 p.m. on Saturday. The next TA2 ® race will be on Monday at 1:15 p.m. ET.

The West Coast Championship will have one weekend off before returning to action at Thunderhill Raceway Park May 14-16.

*Report based on Revised Provisional Results

Erik Darnell Makes his Return to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Darlington

By
Official Release
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Darnell will race in the No. 45 Northern Tool + Equipment Chevrolet Silverado

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (May 3, 2021) – NASCAR Camping World Truck Series winner Erik Darnell will make his return to the Series at Darlington Raceway. Darnell will race the No. 45 Northern Tool + Equipment Chevrolet Silverado for Niece Motorsports.

Darnell, a two-time winner in the Truck Series at Kansas Speedway and Michigan International Speedway, is set to make his first start in the Series since 2008.

“I’m excited to get back behind the wheel in the Truck Series, especially with an organization of this caliber,” said Darnell. “The support from Northern Tool + Equipment means so much to me. Darlington is a tough, but fun track, so Friday night should be a good time. Thank you to Al Niece for the opportunity.”

Darnell has 76 starts in the Truck Series, between 2004-2008 with two wins, three poles, 16 top-five and 32 top-10 finishes. In addition to his Truck Series experience, Darnell has 52 starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series from 2008-2012, with one pole, two top-five and five top-10 finishes.

“I’m so excited to have Erik behind the wheel of one of these Niece Motorsports Chevrolets,” said Niece Motorsports General Manager Cody Efaw. “We’ve been trying to get him in a truck for the past few years, so I’m thrilled that we were finally able to do it.”

Both of Darnell’s wins in the Truck Series came with Northern Tool + Equipment on board. The No. 45 Chevrolet Silverado will carry a Northern Tool + Equipment throwback scheme to commemorate those wins.

Family owned and operated Northern Tool + Equipment is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2021 — the company started in the garage of its founder Don Kotula, who had a vision from the beginning of building lasting relationships by providing the right solution for every customer.

Today, Northern Tool continues its legacy of offering high quality tools and equipment for serious work across 120-plus stores and online at northerntool.com to support hardworking pros and DIYers. In addition to offering its exclusive brands such as Klutch, NorthStar and Powerhorse, Northern Tool offers STIHL, Milwaukee, Lincoln and Honda.

“We are proud to have our colors riding along with Erik, especially as Northern Tool marks our 40th anniversary this year,” said Wade Kotula, owner of Northern Tool + Equipment. “We appreciate the team at Niece Motorsports for all their work, and we are excited to have Erik at the wheel with us in Darlington.”

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will take the green flag at Darlington Raceway on Friday, May 7 at 7:30 p.m. ET, airing live on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

About Niece Motorsports:

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

Kaulig Racing Surprises AJ Allmendinger with Darlington Throwback Scheme

By
Official Release
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LEXINGTON, N.C. (May 3, 2021) – Kaulig Racing surprised AJ Allmendinger, driver of the No. 16 Hyperice Chevrolet, on Monday morning with a special throwback scheme commemorating his first-ever NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) win.

Allmendinger, who had a 12-year NCS tenure, won the Cheez-It 355 at Watkins Glen International in 2014, while driving for JTG Daugherty Racing. Throughout his NCS career, Allmendinger recorded one win, 11 top five and 57 top-10 finishes before retiring from full-time competition in 2018.

“This was unexpected for sure,” said Allmendinger. “It’s definitely something that means a lot to me. That Cup win was really special at that point in my life for so many reasons. I spent a long time in the sport, and had many ups and downs. Looking at this car brings back great memories to think about what that day meant for me and everything that came along with it. Hopefully we can do the same thing and go out there, win the race, and burn it down.”

Following his retirement from full-time competition, Allmendinger joined Kaulig Racing to drive part-time in the 2019 and 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) seasons where he earned three wins, eight top five, and 10 top-10 finishes. He then inked a deal with the team to drive full-time for the 2021 NXS season, including a limited NCS schedule.

“AJ is very special to us at Kaulig Racing,” said team president, Chris Rice. “He has done so much for all of us, both on and off the track, so we wanted to do something special in return to show our appreciation.”

The Steakhouse Elite 200 at Darlington Raceway will take place on Saturday, May 8 at 1PM ET with coverage on FS1.

About Kaulig Racing™

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

About Hyperice

Hyperice is an Inc. 500 global recovery and movement enhancement technology company specializing in vibration, percussion and thermal technology. Hyperice’s technology is used by the world’s most elite athletes in professional and collegiate training rooms, as well as rehabilitation facilities and fitness facilities globally. Hyperice has applied its technology and know-how to industries such as fitness, esports, healthcare, massage, and workplace wellness. In March 2020, Hyperice acquired Normatec, innovators of cutting-edge dynamic compression systems, and in December 2020 acquired RecoverX, pioneers of intelligent thermal technologies, to deliver world-class performance and wellness solutions. For more information, visit www.hyperice.com.

Dirteeze Partners with Moffitt for Mid-Ohio

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Official Release
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Best Trade Wipe Available Joins Moffitt for Race Partnership

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (May 3, 2021) – David Gilliland Racing (DGR) announced today that Dirteeze will serve as the primary partner of Thad Moffitt’s No. 46 Ford Fusion for the Mid-Ohio 150 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, when the ARCA Menards Series tackles the 13-turn, 2.258-mile road course on June 4.

“We are thrilled to partner with Thad and the lineage he represents of a solid and proven winning tradition,” Roy Scharrer, Dirteeze director, said. “Thad and David Gilliland Racing embody the same drive and winning principles of the Dirteeze brand and products: toughness and tenacity. Equally, we feel this opportunity serves as a great platform to leverage awareness of our brand to a broader consumer base. We look forward to evolving and sustaining this partnership with Thad as a representative of the Dirteeze brand.”

Dirteeze, the originator of agitation technology built into a wet wipe, was launched in the UK market in 2007. Now, Dirteeze-US is bringing their most popular line of wipes to the US market, led by a team with over 30 years of experience providing wipe solutions to the retail, industrial, safety and janitorial markets. With products ranging from industrial wet wipes to non-woven industrial wipes, Dirteeze develops their products to service a unique range of needs. From engineering and production environments, to construction and automotive markets, for contractors and mobile workers, the Dirteeze range of products has the answer.

“I am super excited to bring Dirteeze into the sport. They have an awesome product, and they are a growing brand like myself,” Moffitt said. “I believe they are a great fit for not only me, but for the sport of auto racing as a whole. I am grateful for the opportunity to represent their company and I look forward to building our partnership.”

Moffitt is aiming to compete in the full 20-race ARCA Menards Series schedule for DGR in 2021. In four starts this season, the North Carolina-native has one top-five and three top-10 finishes with a career best third-place result at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway in March.

The Mid-Ohio 150 will be televised live on FS1 at 6:00 p.m. ET on June 4.

About Dirteeze

Launched in the UK in 2007, Dirteeze is the originator of agitation technology built into a wet wipe. The Dirteeze product range covers everything from industrial wet wipes to non-woven industrial wipes. Dirteeze products combine high quality, with affordable cost that will impress your customers, differentiate your company from the others and grow your business within these market segments. Dirteeze products have been developed by focusing on finding the best solution for the wiping task at hand, not by following what others have already done. For more information, email info@dirteezeus.com or visit www.dirteezeus.com.

About David Gilliland Racing

David Gilliland Racing (DGR) is a race team owned by NASCAR veteran David Gilliland and businessman Johnny Gray. The team specializes in driver development, competing full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, multiple ARCA Menards Series divisions and CARS Tour with factory support from Ford Performance. In its first four years of operation, DGR has achieved success in each series tallying up multiple wins and championships. The team operates out of three buildings totaling 60,000 square feet in Mooresville, N.C.

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