Home Blog Page 2595

Record 10 Mercedes – AMG Motorsport Customer Racing Entries Across Three SRO America Championships Compete This Weekend at Sonoma Raceway

By
Official Release
-
SRO America Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma, CA, March 2021.

AUSTIN, Texas – Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing teams bring a record entry roster to this weekend’s SRO America Championships competition at Circuit of The Americas (COTA). A combined 10 Mercedes-AMG GT3 and Mercedes-AMG GT4 teams compete across three SRO racing series on the 3.427-mile COTA Formula 1 circuit, April 30 – May 2. The Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS, Pirelli GT4 America and GT America powered by AWS series each run doubleheader race schedules Saturday and Sunday in the second event weekend of the 2021 SRO America season.

The record COTA entry follows a previous record entry of eight Mercedes-AMG Motorsport customer competitors, which entered the season-opening SRO America Championships event weekend at Sonoma Raceway in California nearly two months ago.

Once again anchoring the record Mercedes-AMG Motorsport customer entry is a five-strong lineup of Mercedes-AMG GT3 teams competing in the top-tier Fanatec GT World Challenge and the new GT America series. The stout GT3 presence is joined at COTA by five Mercedes-AMG GT4 teams – two more than Sonoma – competing in Pirelli GT4 America and GT America.

Fifth year Mercedes-AMG Motorsport customer team DXDT Racing arrives at COTA with a four-car Mercedes-AMG GT3 entry and the momentum of a winning weekend at Sonoma.

In Fanatec GT World Challenge, co-drivers George Kurtz and Colin Braun secured a Pro-Am class victory at Sonoma in the No. 04 DXDT Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the second of the weekend’s two 90-minute races.

Kurtz and Braun compete alongside DXDT Racing teammates David Askew and Ryan Dalziel in the No. 63 DXDT Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 for the third-straight GT World Challenge season in 2021.

Team owner Askew and Dalziel co-drove to a second-place Pro-Am finish in Sonoma’s first GT World Challenge race and target their first victory of the season this weekend at COTA.

A third DXDT Racing entry competes in GT World Challenge this year with the duo of Erin Vogel and Michael Cooper in the No. 19 DXDT Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3. Vogel and Cooper finished fourth in Pro-Am in Sonoma’s second race and look for their first World Challenge podium showing together at COTA.

Winward Racing and team drivers Russell Ward and Philip Ellis secured a GT World Challenge Pro-class podium showing in race two at Sonoma in the No. 33 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3.

The Texas-based Winward team seeks a “home” victory this weekend at COTA with a Mercedes-AMG GT3 updated to the latest specifications.

In only its second race, the new GT America powered by AWS series is a single driver championship made up of primarily amateur (“Am”) or bronze rated drivers. The championship, which runs a pair of 40-minute races each weekend, is open to both GT3 and GT4 competitors.

Kurtz returns to GT America this weekend after dominating the series debut doubleheader at Sonoma in a second No. 04 DXDT Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3. Kurtz won both 40-minutes Sonoma races overall from the pole in the single-driver series and set the fastest race laps in both sprints.

Completing DXDT’s GT3 lineup at COTA is team driver CJ Moses, making his 2021 racing debut and first career race start in a Mercedes-AMG GT3. Not competing in the Sonoma opener, Moses takes the wheel of the No. 58 DXDT Mercedes-AMG GT3 for the first time during a race in this weekend’s GT America doubleheader.

The five Mercedes-AMG GT4 teams entered at COTA is the most to ever compete in an SRO America Championships weekend.

Christian Szymczak and Kenny Murillo come to COTA after a Pirelli GT4 America victory and second-place finish in the Silver class in the No. 72 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4 at the Sonoma opener.

Capstone Motorsports and co-drivers John Allen and Kris Wilson also bring some podium momentum to COTA. Allen and Wilson scored a pair of Pirelli GT4 America Am-class second place finishes at Sonoma in the No. 16 Capstone Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT4.

Ross Chouest and Aaron Povoledo made their Pirelli GT4 America co-driving debut at Sonoma in the No. 89 RENNtech Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT4.

RENNtech expands to a two car and two series program this weekend with the addition of a second No. 39 Mercedes-AMG GT4, for Chris Cagnazzi and Guy Cosmo in Pirelli GT4 America. Cosmo secured Pirelli GT4 race wins and a string of podium finishes in a RENNtech Mercedes-AMG GT4 in 2019.

The RENNtech team is also set for the GT4 class in the single driver GT America doubleheader at COTA, with Chouest in the No. 89 and Cagnazzi in the No. 39 in both races.

Jeff Courtney, a former series champion in SRO Americas competition, makes his 2021 debut at COTA in his No. 999 RecStuff Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4. Courtney finished third in the Am class in 2020’s final race last October at Indianapolis and looks for even better results this weekend in his first start in the new GT America series.

Following a full day of practice Friday and qualifying for all series Saturday morning, the weekend’s schedule of six races begins Saturday afternoon at COTA.

Pirelli GT4 America’s first 60-minute sprint kicks the racing off at 11:30 a.m. CDT. The first 90-minute Fanatec World Challenge race of the weekend follows with a 1:15 p.m. CDT race start while the opening 40-minute GT America sprint race closes out the first day of racing action with a 4:45 p.m. CDT green flag.

Sunday’s schedule begins with the final Pirelli GT4 America race at 11 a.m. CDT. The GT World Challenge series closes out its weekend with a 1 p.m. CDT start for its second 90-minute race before the GT America finale brings the weekend to a close with a 3:50 p.m. CDT scheduled start time.

Saturday morning qualifying and all six weekend races livestream free on the SRO GT World YouTube channel.

Additional coverage airs on the CBS Sports Network (CBSSN) with a GT World Challenge highlights and live racing package this Sunday, May 2, at 2:00 pm EDT. An encore presentation airs that evening at 10:00 p.m. EDT. that evening.

The weekend schedule, live timing and scoring, as well as session reports and one-stop video viewing for GT World Challenge, are available at gt-world-challenge-america.com.

Ryan Dalziel, Driver – No. 63 DXDT Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3: “Circuit of The Americas has always been a good track for me and it’s for sure a great track for the Mercedes-AMG GT3. A couple of cars were pulled back on performance since the Sonoma opener. The Mercedes-AMG GT3 is one of them, so it will be interesting to see where our speed is after these recent rules adjustments, but we had a really good test at COTA in Austin about a month ago. So, hopefully the hard work from that test translates into a fast car straight off the truck. As always, the Mercedes-AMG GT3 shines in braking and high-speed corners, and COTA has plenty of both. The track just changes so much with the weather, so it’s always tough to stay ahead of the conditions at COTA, but rain or shine we’ve put in the hard work. Now it’s time to execute.”

Russell Ward, Driver – No. 33 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3: “The older car did its job really well for us in our first GT World Challenge races. We still have it, and have some plans for it, but it is really important to be on same playing field. We have the Evo update on this new car, it is a fantastic upgrade, and we took it out for a rollout last week in Houston. It’s good to go, it’s fast and we are looking forward to getting back at it at COTA. The Mercedes-AMG GT3 likes COTA a lot, it’s a really good track for the car with a lot of high speed and flowing turns. It suits the Mercedes-AMG GT3 very well. In my opinion, COTA is the most beautiful racing facility in the United States. It’s a home race, only about a three-hour drive for us, and I am looking forward to getting back out there.”

CJ Moses, Driver – No. 58 DXDT Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3: “I’m really looking forward to getting into the GT America powered by AWS fight. The competition at Sonoma looked very strong, and of course George had a great weekend. I’m excited to race the Mercedes-AMG GT3 with our DXDT team in this new sprint series! Stepping up from TCR to GT3 this year is a big jump, and my expectation is for a lot of personal growth and to gain experience. My wife and I have daily driven Mercedes-AMGs for the past decade, and one has even been credited with saving her life, therefore I have confidence in the platform and the engineering behind it. I was excited to jump into the Mercedes-AMG GT3 and it did not disappoint! It has already been very successful, and it is my intention to add to that success. A podium and a good haul of championship points would be a great way to start.”

Guy Cosmo, Driver – No. 39 RENNtech Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT4: “I’m thrilled to be back with RENNtech Motorsports in the Mercedes-AMG GT4, pairing with Chris Cagnazzi. I have a lot of experience with the Mercedes-AMG GT4, and in the short period of time I was last with RENNtech we had great success straight away. The Pirelli GT4 America grid is looking highly competitive, but we are up for the task and ready for action.”

Ryan Truex – Wise Power 200 Race Advance

By
Official Release
-

Wise Power 200 | Kansas Speedway Race Advance
Team: No. 40 Niece/Marquis Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Ryan Truex
Follow the Team: @NieceMotorsport; @Ryan_Truex

Truex on Racing at Kansas: “Kansas is a fun track, and I’m excited about Saturday night’s race,” said Ryan Truex. “Our team is working hard every single day to make our Niece Chevrolets better. I’m hoping our luck can turn around this weekend and we can have a solid run in our Niece/Marquis Chevrolet.”

Truex at Kansas: Saturday night’s race at Kansas Speedway marks Truex’s fourth start at the track in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Truex has a best finish of sixth, coming in 2016 and 2017.

Truex has four NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Kansas Speedway, with one top-10 and three top-15 finishes to his credit.

In addition, Truex has one NASCAR Cup Series start at Kansas Speedway, coming in 2014.

On the Truck: Truex will ride with his Marquis Hot Tub on the bed top of the No. 40 Chevrolet at Kansas Speedway.

Marquis, an employee-owned company founded in 1980, offers creative and innovative designs that provide the ultimate soaking experience, cost less to operate, and require the least amount of maintenance. Marquis spas are designed with cutting-edge features for supreme comfort and long-lasting enjoyment. Marquis is proud to craft a spa designed to enhance health and well-being.

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.

RACKLEY W.A.R. HONORS BOBBY HAMILTON WITH THROWBACK SCHEME FOR DARLINGTON

By
Official Release
-

Centerville, Tenn. (April 29, 2021)—Rackley W.A.R., co-owned by Willie Allen and Curtis Sutton, pay tribute to Tennessee native Bobby Hamilton with a throwback paint scheme that will appear on the No. 25 Rackley Roofing Chevrolet Silverado, driven by Timothy Peters, in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) LiftKits4Less.com 200 at the Darlington (S.C.) Raceway on May 7.

For the Official Throwback Weekend of NASCAR, the Tennessee-based team located in Centerville, will honor the 2004 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion. Hamilton, a Nashville, Tenn.-native, became a full-time driver-owner in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2003 with Bobby Hamilton Racing based about 20 miles east of Nashville.

“Our team is honored to run this Bobby Hamilton throwback paint scheme,” Allen said. “He is a NASCAR icon – especially, in the middle Tennessee-area. I looked up to Bobby, big time. He was a hardcore racer that worked hard to be the best. Not only was he a great driver, but he was an industry innovator who was always looking for a way to improve his race car. A lot of the time he found speed in areas that other teams didn’t. He thought outside of the box.

“Our team reminds me a lot of the original Bobby Hamilton Racing team. A small team with a ton of passion.”

The Rackley W.A.R. No. 25 Rackley Roofing Chevrolet Silverado will feature the iconic blue-and-yellow colors of the Bobby Hamilton Racing No. 4 in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Hamilton collected a victory on March 14, 2003 at the Darlington Raceway with this paint scheme. It was his second series victory at the Darlington Raceway.

The team sought the approval from Lori Hamilton Rollins for the tribute paint scheme to her late husband Hamilton.

“It is so great that people who were friends with Bobby Sr. would want to honor him,” Rollins, former co-owner of Bobby Hamilton Racing, said. “To know him was to love him. Bobby built his business by treating people like family. We all joke that ‘Bobby Hamilton Racing was not a job; it was a way of life.’ Many people viewed him as a second dad or a brother they never had. He treated people the way he wanted to be treated in return. To honor him with this paint scheme at one of his favorite tracks, Darlington Raceway, is so special.

“The years building his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team into the program it was, took a lot of endless hours from everyone involved. He never liked the spotlight and always pointed it towards his employees. It is a blessing to remember one of the greats and honor him in this way. I know all of his Bobby Hamilton Racing team members would definitely agree.”

Chad Kendrick, crew chief of the No. 25 Rackley Roofing Chevrolet Silverado, worked at Bobby Hamilton Racing, located in Mount Juliet, Tenn., from 2004 to 2007. Kendrick held various titles at Bobby Hamilton Racing including jackman, engine tuner, and underneath mechanic.

“As soon as I heard the team was paying tribute to Bobby Hamilton with this throwback, I got goosebumps,” Kendrick said.
“I have never been on a team that has done a throwback paint scheme. This tribute was on a truck that I was able to physically touch and be around, which is very special. Then, to factor in the man who was like a second father and a mentor, someone that has shaped me so much, that makes it extra special for me.

“Bobby Hamilton was a class act, and I miss him every day.”

Peters made his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut with Bobby Hamilton Racing on April 9, 2005 at the Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. He has three top-10 finishes in 33 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts with Bobby Hamilton Racing in 2005 and 2006.

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series LiftKits4Less.com 200 at the Darlington Raceway will be broadcast live on FS1 on Friday, May 7 at 7:30 p.m. (ET). It will also broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Ross Chastain – Wise Power 200 Race Advance

By
Official Release
-

Wise Power 200 | Kansas Speedway Race Advance
Team: No. 44 Circle B Diecast Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Ross Chastain
Follow the Team: @NieceMotorsport, @RossChastain

Chastain on Racing at Kansas: “Our CircleBDiecast.com Watermelon Chevrolet looks incredible,” said Chastain. “Thank you to Chip and everyone at Ganassi for allowing me to come play in the Truck Series. This is a special track for me and the whole Niece Motorsports organization, with our win here in 2019. Obviously, it is always fun to come back to a track that you have won at before. I’m looking forward to Saturday night’s race.”

Chastain at Kansas: Saturday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Kansas Speedway marks Chastain’s fifth start in the Series at the track. Chastain earned his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win at Kansas Speedway in 2019. The win was also the first in the Series for Niece Motorsports.

Chastain has seven NASCAR Xfinity Series starts to his credit at the 1.5-mile track, with five top-15 finishes.

In addition, Chastain has four NASCAR Cup Series starts at Kansas Speedway.

On the Truck: The No. 44 Chevrolet will carry the CircleBDiecast.com colors at Kansas Speedway.

Plan B Sales was founded in 2010 with the goal of bringing service to dealers that carry licensed motorsports products. Plan B Sales started as a Lionel diecast and Chase Authentics apparel distributor. Over the last few years Plan B Sales has grown to be the largest account for Lionel, servicing the motorsports market and has expanded its product offerings.

Plan B Sales has quickly become the choice of dealers for a one-stop stocking distributor. Its product offering also includes Auto World, Greenlight Collectibles, BrandArt and are the exclusive distributor for University of Racing product lines.

In September of 2020, Plan B Sales decided to split its wholesale and retail business into two different websites to better serve each segment of customers, effectively launching CircleBDiecast.com.

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.

Bayley Currey – Wise Power 200 Race Advance

By
Official Release
-

Wise Power 200 | Kansas Speedway Race Advance
Team: No. 45 Sharky’s Pub & Grub Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Bayley Currey
Follow the Team: @NieceMotorsport; @BayleyCurrey

Currey on Racing at Kansas: “I’m thankful to Mr. Niece and everyone at Niece Motorsports for the opportunity to come race their Chevy this weekend in Kansas,” said Currey. “The truck looks phenomenal – it’s a neat tribute to the organization’s first win here two years ago. I’m looking forward to Saturday night’s race in our Sharky’s Chevrolet.”

Curry at Kansas: Saturday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Kansas Speedway marks Currey’s third start at the track.

In three NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Kansas Speedway, Currey has a best finish of 18th, coming in October 2020.

Currey also has one NASCAR Cup Series start at Kansas Speedway, coming in 2019.

On the Truck: The No. 45 Chevrolet Silverado will carry a throwback paint scheme – like the one Ross Chastain took to victory lane at Kansas Speedway in 2019. The win was the first for Niece Motorsports in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

Sharky’s Pub & Grub is located in Fort Scott, Kansas and offers a wide array of delicious fare.

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.

Carson Hocevar – Wise Power 200 Race Advance

By
Official Release
-

Wise Power 200 | Kansas Speedway Race Advance
Team: No. 42 Luther’s BBQ Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Carson Hocevar
Follow the Team: @NieceMotorsport; @CarsonHocevar

Hocevar on Racing at Kansas: “I’m looking forward to Saturday night’s race at Kansas Speedway in our Luther’s BBQ Chevrolet,” said Hocevar. “This is my first time at Kansas Speedway, but I feel confident that Niece Motorsports has a strong notebook to fall back on here. I’ve spent time in the sim and will be asking my teammates lots of questions.”

Hocevar at Kansas: Saturday’s race at Kansas Speedway is Hocevar’s first time at the 1.5-mile track.

On the Truck: The No. 42 Chevrolet will carry the Luther’s BBQ colors at Kansas Speedway.

Luther’s BBQ is a lively restaurant with a scratch kitchen in Fort Scott, Kansas. Smoking BBQ low and slow, Luther’s BBQ uses the best ingredients and provides a great atmosphere.

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.

‘EXPLORE THE POCONO MOUNTAINS 350’ NASCAR CUP SERIES RACE ANNOUNCED AND SPECIAL, FAN-DRIVEN SWEEPSTAKES COMING SOON

By
Official Release
-

LONG POND, Pa. (April 29, 2021) – Pocono Raceway has partnered with the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau for the Explore the Pocono Mountains 350 NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, June 27. In addition to the race name, Pocono Raceway and the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau will host a giveaway where fans can enter for a chance to win a VIP experience and the opportunity to wave the green flag to start Sunday’s race. More details about this giveaway, in addition to more fan-driven programs, will be announced soon.

“We love being part of the Pocono Mountains community,” said Ben May, Pocono Raceway President. “Whether you are coming to the NASCAR Doubleheader Weekend, The Great Pocono Raceway Air Show or one of our other incredible events at the track, we hope guests will make the most out of their trips this summer. The Pocono Mountains has so much to offer, enjoy and explore!”

The Explore the Pocono Mountains 350 will also highlight the indoor and outdoor attractions, activities, events, lodging and restaurants within the 2,400 square miles encompassing northeast Pennsylvania’s Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne counties. Guests visiting the Pocono Mountains each summer can explore over 350 hiking and bike trails, over 35 golf courses, whitewater rafting, boating, fishing and open access to nine state and two national parks. The Pocono Mountains is home to a plethora of indoor and outdoor waterpark resorts, hotels, restaurants and activities for all ages.

“Pocono Raceway is a major part of the region’s success through the years and the destination is a perfect match for this NASCAR race on a historic doubleheader weekend,” said Chris Barrett, Pocono Mountains President/CEO. “We’re proud of the fact that so many businesses have upheld the Pocono Promise for guests, employees and residents and we’re confident visitors will find our region is committed to their health, safety and happiness all year round.”

The Pocono Mountains is the ideal destination for families, couples or adventure-seekers any day of the week with trails for hiking and biking, rivers for fishing and boating and tons of attractions to keep everyone active and on the go. Plenty of resorts and spas offer the ultimate relaxation experience as well! Plus, events are returning to the Poconos this year and each season has its own distinct appeal whether it is the vibrant fall foliage, thrilling winter sports or a summer night around the campfire. PoconoMountains.com has everything you need to plan a trip for the entire family.

Kids, ages 12 and under can attend all NASCAR events at Pocono Raceway for free in 2021. Grandstand parking is also free and coolers are welcome. Pocono Raceway offers a variety of Grandstand ticketing options, with adult tickets start at $10 on Friday and $45 for Saturday or Sunday, and camping options, starting at $200. Grandstand and Camping ticket options are only available on a limited basis, in accordance with capacity guidance and protocols. To purchase tickets, visit www.poconoraceway.com or call 1-800-722-3929 (1-800-RACEWAY.)

Pocono Raceway, located in Monroe County, Pa., will host five NASCAR and ARCA races in three days during the 2021 NASCAR Doubleheader Weekend. The jam-packed weekend starts with the General Tire #AnywhereIsPossible 200 ARCA Menards Series race on Friday, June 25th. A NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the first of two NASCAR Cup Series races will be held on Saturday, June 26th. The weekend ends with the Pocono Green 225 Recycled by J.P. Mascaro & Sons NASCAR Xfinity Series race and the Explore the Pocono Mountains 350 NASCAR Cup Series races on Sunday, June 27th.

###

About Pocono Raceway

Pocono Raceway, also known as ‘The Tricky Triangle,’ is family-owned and situated in the beautiful Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. In business for over 50 years, the Raceway hosts multiple, national motorsports events including two NASCAR Cup Series, one NASCAR Xfinity Series, one NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and one ARCA Menards Series events each year. The facility’s calendar also consists of over 200 events including a wide range of car clubs and racing schools. Pocono Raceway is recognized as the world’s first, privately-owned solar-powered sports facility. Their 25-acre, three-megawatt solar farm provides the energy needs of the Raceway, as well as, adds electricity to the local power grid. Each member of our raceway staff is committed to creating exciting experiences and lifelong memories. For more information, please visit www.poconoraceway.com.


About the Pocono Mountains
With 2,400 square miles encompassing Pennsylvania’s Wayne, Pike, Monroe, and Carbon counties, the Pocono Mountains region is home to rolling mountain terrain, breathtakingly beautiful waterfalls, thriving woodlands, and 170 miles of winding rivers. Winters offer guests the opportunity to ski, snowboard, snow tube, and even snowshoe their way through snowy wonderlands encompassing over 163 ski trails, while summers also cater to the active traveler allowing exploration of 261 miles of hiking and biking trails, over 30 golf courses, whitewater rafting, boating, fishing, and open access to nine state and two national parks. 

Pocono Mountains visitor information is available online at PoconoMountains.com or by phone at (570) 421-5791. Follow @PoconoTourismPR on Twitter to stay current with up-to-date information. Established in 1934, the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau is a private, non-profit membership organization. The PMVB is the official destination marketing organization for the four counties of Wayne, Pike, Monroe, and Carbon in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Toyota Racing – NCWTS Kansas Quotes – Austin Hill – 04.29.21

By
Official Release
-

Toyota Racing – Austin Hill
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Quotes

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (April 29, 2021) – Hattori Racing Enterprises driver Austin Hill was made available to media via videoconference prior to the Kansas race earlier today:

AUSTIN HILL, No. 16 Gunma Toyopet Toyota Tundra, Hattori Racing Enterprises

What is your comfort level with Kansas Speedway?

“Kansas is just one of those racetracks from the first time that I was there I just found myself getting around the place pretty good. I had really good speed and ever since I’ve been with Hattori Racing out Toyota Tundras have been really fast there. I feel like setup-wise; Scott (Zipadelli, crew chief) and the guys have a really good setup there and it works for me and other than that, I always love tracks that are worn out, that you can move around, you can run the bottom, you can run the middle, you can run the top. I’m more of a bottom-feeder, but at the same time, I’m able to move around the racetrack, make things happen and actually, the first race at Kansas that we won I actually was running the top, so it just makes it so it’s in the driver’s hands. You can move around, a lot of maneuverability. It’s just a really fun racetrack to race at. You can race each other really hard. Tire wear is big, so really don’t want to kill the right front or the right rear. It’s just something that I’ve done really well at and if you look at my stats at all of the racetracks where the race surface is worn out, we always to have really good long-run Tundras, so I think it goes back to the guys in the shop giving me some really fast Toyota Tundras to drive.”

How are the restarts like at Kansas Speedway?

“The restarts there are crucial. Track position is key in the Truck Series and especially at a place like Kansas. If you can get out front and get in the clean air, I feel like you have the advantage. Restarts are really big. It seems like Kansas is one of those places where a guy will kind of give you the bottom sometimes and if they do give you the bottom, sometimes you don’t always want to take it just because you could possibly get bound up on the bottom and the grip is not as much there, especially on late race restarts when you have laps on your tires. It seems like tire spin is really big. It seems like if you can, you want to get to the outside of somebody and get on their right rear corner and kind of suck them back and get that top lane rolling. It seems like that’s been best for me and what has worked for me in the past. There are still things that I can do better on restarts, but that is kind of something that has worked for me in the past and has kind of gotten us to finish up at the front like we have at all of these Kansas races.”

What did you have to learn about Kansas?

“I just think that something about that racetrack clicked for me from the first time I went on the track to practice. It seemed like I found pretty good speed. It just seemed like I could get around the place pretty well. The biggest thing for me that I had to learn was I had to learn different lines throughout a run. It seemed like I would stay on the bottom a lot and really want to wrap the bottom and stay on that white line. I had to kind of learn to move up the racetrack and when to move up the racetrack. I don’t want to move up to early, but at the same time you don’t want to move up too late. I kind of think that is something that I’ve done fairly decent at, especially last year with all of the times that we went to Kansas. If the truck is not really working for us, just be able to move around, find different lines, find different things that work for our Tundra, and then when we come down pit road, we can adjust on it and make it better. That way we can start running the bottom again or the middle or the top or whatever. Kansas is just one of those places that you need a truck that can move all over the racetrack and run different lines and for whatever reason, I’ve been able to do that, especially this last couple years.”

What has made Toyota so good in the Truck Series season?

“One of the things is we have more Toyota Tundras on the racetrack this year, that obviously helps. I just think that Toyota Racing, TRD (Toyota Racing Development), everybody back at Toyota – they are putting a lot of work into this season. They’ve put in a lot of work in years’ past, but this season it seems like there is a lot going on with things that I’ve been doing this year. We just have a lot of stuff going on this season it seems like. They are really trying to take Toyota to the next level. I’m glad to be a Toyota driver and us being undefeated is cool and all, but at the same time, I want to win too. Hopefully, we can put our name on that list of being a Toyota driver that gets another win and hopefully it happens at Kansas. Kansas is one of my best racetracks statistically, so hopefully we can go there and keep that momentum rolling with Toyota and we can finally get a win and get in that win column with all of the other Toyota drivers.”

Kyle Busch Motorsports has won the last four races. What’s the main key on trying to beat them?

“Just throughout the race being a little bit better. Just maybe being a little more aggressive with what I say on the radio to give Scott (Zipadelli, crew chief) the information he needs to make the adjustments that we need to be that much better. I feel like Tundra to Tundra wise, truck to truck, I feel like we are just as good as KBM (Kyle Busch Motorsports). It’s just fine tuning it a little bit at the end of the race to be that much better. There are things that we’ve been wanting to be a little bit better at and there’s things that we’ve touched up on that we want to improve on to give us a little more drive ability in the Tundras. I think that’s the biggest thing for us. When it comes down to the end of the race, just being able to make that extra little adjustment that makes us that much better that way we can go out there and outrun them.”

Looking ahead to Darlington, have you thought about a Playoff race could go there if the race in Canada gets cancelled?

“I don’t think it’s really going to change how we look at Darlington. We are still going to go there with the setup that we feel like we are confident that we can win with. Maybe after the race, if we feel like there is something that we needed to be better at, that we could improve on, we will obviously look at that. If it’s a track that we could possibly go back to, then the debriefing might be a little more in depth.- like if we come back here later in the year, what is the track going to look like, what are the track conditions possibly going to look like, stuff like that – just see what we can do to maybe be a little bit better. Darlington was a track that we were pretty good at last year. We needed to be a little bit better to win the race, but we felt like we were really good on the long run, we just needed to be a little bit better on the short run, so that is one of the key things we are going to work on this Darlington and see where it goes. I’d love to run Darlington again if we can. It’s one of those fun racetracks that we get to go to.”

Do you have any plans to run any Xfinity races this season?

“We are planning on running a few Xfinity races. I don’t know the number yet. I don’t really know exactly when the first one is going to be. We are going to run here, hopefully, in the next couple of months. We are planning on running a handful of them. I don’t know the number yet. It is probably going to be out of the HRE (Hattori Racing Enterprises) stable, which is awesome. I think I’m going to end up having Scott (Zipadelli, crew chief) and a lot of the guys from the truck side of it coming over to the Xfinity side to help with that, which is going to be cool. Just to be able to work with the same guys, we know the lingo we have with each other, we know what we need to say on the radio to make the right changes. I think we can run up front in the Xfinity Series. I think we can really compete and run inside the top-10 and potentially top-five. We actually did it last year I think it was at Kansas actually, running up front. We are capable of doing it, and hopefully, whenever we go out there for our first weekend, we can run up front and have a good showing.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands plus our 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota has created a tremendous value chain and directly employs more than 47,000 in North America. The company has contributed world-class design, engineering, and assembly of more than 40 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants, 15 including our joint venture in Alabama that begins production in 2021.

Through its Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.

Ford Performance NASCAR: Matt DiBenedetto Kansas Media Availability

By
Official Release
-

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Cup Series
NASCAR Zoom Media Availability | Thursday, April 29, 2021

MATT DIBENEDETTO, No. 21 Dickies Ford Mustang — WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS THIS WEEKEND AT KANSAS? “I’m looking forward to it. We have some good momentum as everybody has seen, so that’s encouraging. At the start of the season we had a lot of things out of our control that happened. There’s nothing we could do about that, and now we’re kind of on a roll and showing the strength that we do have as a team, that we’ve known that we had, so that’s awesome. It’s super encouraging. I’m feeling good about it. Obviously, we had a shot to win at Talladega, which is great, and a top 10 the week before, so a top 10 and a top five and going on to Kansas we have Menards and Dickies on our Mustang this week, so the car looks good — nice and bright — and our mile-and-a-half program is really strong.”

THOUGHTS ON RACING AT DARLINGTON ON MOTHER’S DAY? “I’m looking forward to that one. It’s gonna be neat to race there on Mother’s Day. It’s cool. It’s neat. It’s also cool we’re gonna be able to have some limited guests back at the track. I still wish we could have all of them. That would be preferred, but it will be nice. I’m looking forward to Throwback Weekend. Obviously, anytime that we run a paint scheme or do anything with the Woods we can run Darlington for 50 years and have throwbacks for every single one of them just because of the history of the Wood family and that 21 car, so that’s a special one to us.”

HAVE YOU WATCHED THE FINAL RESTART FROM TALLADEGA? “Yeah, I finally pulled through and watched it.”

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WISH YOU WOULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY? “It’s a good question. I’ve got that a lot this week, and the first part I would answer is, am I beating myself up over it? No, absolutely not because you may have seen a video I put out on social media because a lot of people have talked about it and rightly so, no, not because it just as well could have been — from my perspective — it just as well could have been the race-winning move if circumstances happened differently behind us with the 8 car. The 12 car kind of got shuffled and that line broke apart, so the circumstances could have been where it was, ‘Oh man, Matt. You made a great move taking that run and that momentum from the 12 car. You got shoved out, stayed out in the lead and won the race.’ You could be saying that same thing, so, no, I’m not beating myself up. Of course, hindsight is 20/20 and I’m like, ‘Oh, I wish I would have stayed on the bottom because if I would have known that lane and all that momentum broke up on the back straightaway and the 8 car pulled out of line and all of that, but I didn’t. So, no, I’m not beating myself up over it. I think my spotter, Doug, and I and our whole team did an excellent job all day. I’m really proud of them and the hard work we’ve put in on the superspeedways to make sure knowing we have such good cars, places the Fords are really fast with Roush Yates power. Our Penske teammates, all that, we run so good we want to make sure we damn sure do the best job we possibly can and have the best shot at winning and two years in a row we’ve been leading on the white flag and need circumstances to work out. To answer your question, I haven’t beat myself up over it. Obviously, it stinks. I want to get that win so bad, but I can’t live every second beating myself up over it.”

WHAT GOES THROUGH YOUR MIND IN MAKING THAT DECISION AT THE END OF THE RACE AND HOW FAST DOES IT HAPPEN? “I talked about that a good bit is just out of defense of all the drivers on superspeedways how fast things happen. Out of defense of my spotter, all the spotters, is that it’s hard for people to understand how fast those things happen. I feel like where people were missing a little bit is how much your race is also dictated off of what people do, not only with cars directly behind you, but two cars behind you, three cars behind you, so it’s circumstances is what I call it. I made that video on social media to kind of give people an understanding of, ‘Hey, you’re making these decisions at 200 miles an hour when the runs are happening like the snap of your fingers and making these decisions.’ You’re driving 95 percent out of your mirror, you have a little mirror up here and a little side mirror and you’re trusting your spotter 100 percent. He’s making these decisions and calling them so fast. It’s like, ‘Up, up, up.’ Stuff happens in a split-second, and it’s really easy for people to just watch and be like, ‘Oh, why didn’t you pick this lane?’ And I just wanted to do it more so not in a negative way, I wanted to do it in an encouraging way and just to give an understanding of how fast the stuff happens, how hard these superspeedways are and how much it’s a chess game and how much we study for these things, how perfect you have to be and how much also, on top of all that, is based on what happens with guys around you and behind you. So, I hope I gave people an understanding of how tough it is. It’s like watching an NFL game and being like, ‘Oh, man. That quarterback, why didn’t you throw it to this guy instead of this one there,’ when they’ve got 300-pound guys running at him and the stuff happens in three seconds.”

HOW DO YOU LOOK AT KANSAS? “I kind of look at the restarts like a superspeedway at Kansas, so the restarts are wild and it stays pretty crazy for a bit with the way racing is. I think there are actually similarities in the restarts at Kansas and Talladega because those get two, three, four-wide. People are all over the place pushing each other, but Talladega is its own animal, so it’s kind of nice to go to a mile-and-a-half, where we have to study hard for the restarts in the race and to be the best we can be and track position, restarts are huge. That’s a big deal at those places. We couldn’t do superspeedway racing every week, to answer your question. That would be too mentally stressful.”

HAS YOUR TEAM APPLIED ANYTHING FROM LAS VEGAS FOR THIS WEEK OR ARE THERE DIFFERENCES YOU HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT? I think there are a lot of similarities, to answer your question. That’s probably one of the strongest points in our program are the mile-and-a-halves. For whatever reason, our cars just run really well at those places and at a variety of them, so there are definitely some similarities between Kansas and Vegas, and places where we run really well they just seem to be tracks that suit our race car. We have strong race cars pretty much everywhere, but I have a lot of confidence in the fact that we usually start with our setups pretty darn close. Our engineers and team do a great job of starting close and it’s nice that we have the track position to go along with that and we can start our day up front and be in front of the mess and hopefully keep it up there and have a good, solid day. It’s a big deal. Even though I know it’s a long race, starting up front is a big deal on top of having fast cars on these mile-and-a-halves.”

IS THERE EXTRA PRESSURE TO COME OUT STRONG AT KANSAS AND GET THOSE STAGE POINTS RIGHT OFF THE BAT? “I don’t know if pressure is a good word. I feel like I’m almost numb to pressure because of my whole career path and some of the obstacles we’ve overcome, so I look at it as more it’s encouraging and exciting that we have so much momentum on our side. We’ve gained so many points in such a short time and recovered at a level that I didn’t even know we could recover that quickly in such a short time, and we’re still on the up. I feel like we’re just getting started, so instead of pressure I probably look at it more as exciting like, ‘Heck yeah, we’ve got a top five starting position.’ We’ve got great momentum. We’re putting together smooth races. We know we have fast race cars, a great team. All of that would probably be — right or wrong — that would just probably be my personal perspective in how I look at it and approach it.”

HAVE YOU NOTICED THE KANSAS TRACK DEVELOPING SOME CHARACTER 10 YEARS AFTER THE REPAVE? “Oh yeah, 100 percent because I remember racing on the surface when it was pretty newly paved and it just had tons of grip. You were barely letting off all the way around there and the groove was just kind of the bottom or the middle maybe, pretty narrow. Fast forward when you look from then what I remember with the racetrack to now is when we’re looking at our race cars people put a lot of downforce into them because with our package you’ve got to choose whether you want to be more trimmed out or more downforce, so guys will put more downforce into them or searching for grip. We can run from the very bottom of the track all the way up to against the wall. The tires wear out. Lap times fall off. It’s very sensitive to heat and temperature. If the sun is out, all that stuff, so that’s just a short glimpse as to how much that track has changed and aged over time, which makes it better and more fun every year that we go there and just continues to become a better track with more character.”

IT WILL BE IN THE UPPER 70s TO EARLY 80s. HOW IMPORTANT IS A SLICK TRACK FOR YOU? “Yeah, that’s big. I like it when it’s hotter. If I could make it 90 and sunny, I probably would, and if I could put low downforce on the cars as well. Drivers are wanting to slip and slide around. That makes it the most fun, so the fact it’ll be warmer and the character that the track has makes it to where we will be searching around. You know what interesting is at that place I found you may find the groove and be like, ‘Oh man, I’m ripping the top and we’re flying and we’re fast,’ but it can also go away where you’re like, ‘Oh man, I was fast on the top, but now it’s kind of rubbered in,’ and you start having to search and be like, ‘Oh, all of a sudden I’m faster running the middle,’ so it actually continues to change throughout the race so it almost applies to some of the dirt racing characteristics, where you’re searching for grooves and it doesn’t always stay consistent.”

HOW DO YOU GAUGE YOUR PERFORMANCE AGAINST YOUR PENSKE TEAMMATES? “I think we’re fortunate to have them to lean on, and their information. We are still our own team, technically, but we’re very lucky to have a strong alliance with Team Penske and our teammates to lean on, notes, all that stuff. It’s very open book, which is great, so I think we really, in no comparison to anybody, we just had rougher circumstances than anybody starting off the season. Us and guys like Aric Almirola, things that were just out of our control, but you look at our recent performance and we want our entire camp to be strong — all of the Penske cars and us on the Wood Brothers side. We want us all to be strong and lately I think we’ve had the best average finish or something over the last few races or whatever it may be, but it just is a testament to how great our alliance is with Penske, how lucky we are to have that and the support from Ford. What makes our team great is because when we have those smooth races like we’ve had, we have incredible strength as a team and more so this year I feel better about it than last because we have all that time under our belt. Last year, we were a new group working together, trying to figure each other out and we had no practice, no qualifying, no nothing, no track time, so we had a lot to figure out and learn, so this year with all of that under our belt, these last few races I think are a better reflection of the strength and ability that we do have as a team.”

IS THERE A SCENARIO YOU COULD ENVISION WHERE YOU WOULD STAY WITHIN THE TEAM PENSKE ORGANIZATION IN SAME REALM? “I don’t know. Honestly, I’m pretty clueless about next year, not in a bad way, just as far as my focus is so heavily on right now and being the best that we can be and letting the performance speak for me. To answer your question better, so I’m not giving a runaround answer, I’m just being completely an open book and honest, you guys know me and that’s how I am. My whole career I’ve had to just become more accepting and OK with the unknown and rolling with it, so that’s my best answer to you is I know nothing. Is there a scenario where I envision that happening? I don’t know. Anything is possible, I guess. Heck, getting the 21 ride I didn’t even envision that in the slightest bit. I had no clue it was even a possibility because I had no clue Paul Menard was retiring. And going back to the 95 car, I had no clue that Kasey Kahne was gonna step out of that thing and retire as well, so my career has been full of so many unknowns and I couldn’t have envisioned any of the things that have happened to get me here, but it’s also trained me and groomed me to just focus, be better at focusing on what’s in my control and that’s why I don’t even stress the slightest bit about it is because of my past experience and knowing how I got here and reflecting back on that, so your guess is as good as mine. If I give you an answer, it’s literally just a guess, exactly the same as yours would be because I know nothing more than any of you guys do, so I’m thankful my career has taught me just, ‘Hey, go out. I’ve got a heck of a good ride. I love driving the 21 car. Go out there and keep doing what we did. Keep positioning ourselves to have a shot to win and one of those wins will come, and run up front, run well, let the performance do the speaking for me and things will work out for next year.”

Five Things To Watch at Genesys 300/XPEL 375 Doubleheader

By
Official Release
-

INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, April 29, 2021) – After staging a race on a permanent road course and another on a temporary street circuit, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES is ready to ramp up the speed with its first oval event of the season this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway.

Call it a Texas two-step as the Genesys 300 opens the show at 7 p.m. (ET) Saturday followed by the XPEL 375 at 5 p.m. (ET) Sunday. The first race is 212 laps, the second 248 on the 1.5-mile oval. Both races will air live on NBCSN and the INDYCAR Radio Network.

Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon won last year’s event, leading 157 of the 200 laps in the first of three consecutive victories to open his title-winning season. It was the third consecutive year that the Texas winner went on to capture the championship. But Dixon figures to have plenty of challengers in the first doubleheader at Texas since 2011.

These two races also help set the stage for a busy Month of May – two races each at TMS and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, plus NTT P1 Award qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. It’s possible, though unlikely in this competitive sport, that a driver could collect a staggering 274 points this month alone!

Given the two-day format at Texas, there is only one practice, a 75-minute session at 12:45 p.m. (ET) Saturday (live on Peacock Premium, NBC’s streaming service). Qualifying is at 4 p.m. (ET) Saturday (live on Peacock and NBCSN), with the starting grid for both races set in the session. Sign up for Peacock Premium at www.peacocktv.com for $4.99 per month to get all the INDYCAR action, Indy Lights races and shoulder programming.

Here are five things to look for this weekend in Fort Worth:

Ch-ch-changes
Let’s start with which drivers will be in the 24-car field and which cars they will drive. Two of the more noteworthy additions are former Texas race winners.

Tony Kanaan, who won at the track for Andretti Autosport in 2004, will drive the No. 48 Bryant Honda of Chip Ganassi Racing in the Genesys 300 and the No. 48 American Legion Honda for the Ganassi team in the XPEL 375.

2004 series champion Kanaan is sharing the entry this season with seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, who is focusing on the road courses and street circuits. These will be two of Kanaan’s four races this year, the others being the Indianapolis 500 on May 30 and the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 on Aug. 21 at World Wide Technology Raceway.

The other former Texas race winner making his season debut is Ed Carpenter, who in recent years has driven only on the oval tracks. Carpenter will drive the No. 20 U.S. Air Force Chevrolet, a seat held in the season’s first two races by Conor Daly. Like last year, Daly has moved to the No. 59 Carlin Chevrolet that Max Chilton usually drives. Chilton will be back in the car for both the GMR Grand Prix at IMS on Saturday, May 15 and the “500.”

Like Johnson, Formula One veteran Romain Grosjean is not competing on the ovals as an INDYCAR newcomer, and his seat in the No. 51 Nurtec ODT Honda of Dale Coyne Racing with RWR will be taken on the ovals by rookie Pietro Fittipaldi. The 24-year-old Brazilian competed in three oval races in his six-race 2018 INDYCAR season cut short by injuries suffered in a World Endurance Championship sports car event in Belgium.

This isn’t the first time Fittipaldi has stood in for Grosjean. He drove the last two races of the 2020 Formula One season for the Haas F1 Team after Grosjean suffered burned hands in a fiery crash at Bahrain.

Former Texas Winners Aplenty
The next important factor to consider is which drivers have enjoyed success on Texas’ 1.5-mile oval. There are six who have won there, the highest number of former winners in an INDYCAR race this season until the “500,” when there could be up to nine.

Dixon dominated last year’s event in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Honda, one of his four wins at the track. Dixon’s other wins came in 2008, 2015 and 2018, which means he has won two of the past three outings and three of the past six. Only Helio Castroneves, who is not in this field, has won four INDYCAR races at Texas.

Team Penske’s Will Power (No. 12 Verizon 5G Chevrolet) has a pair of Texas wins, in 2011 and 2017. Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Graham Rahal (No. 15 Fleet Cost & Care Honda) won in 2016 and Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden (No. 2 XPEL Team Penske Chevrolet) won in 2019.

INDYCAR’s Youth Movement
Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou (No. 10 NTT DATA Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) is the series points leader as a 24-year-old series sophomore, and a pair of 21-year-olds – Arrow McLaren SP’s Pato O’Ward (No. 5 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet) and Andretti Autosport’s Colton Herta (No. 26 Gainbridge Honda) – won the NTT P1 Award as pole winner at the season’s first two races. Herta led 197 of the 200 laps in winning last weekend’s Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

Also off to a strong start this season is Ed Carpenter Racing’s Rinus VeeKay (No. 21 Sonax/Autogeek Chevrolet). VeeKay, 20, has finished sixth and ninth in the season’s opening races, respectively, good for eighth in the standings.

Here’s an interesting fact about INDYCAR’s youth movement: Herta and VeeKay were 3 years old when Dixon scored his first top-three finish at Texas in the season-ending 2003 race. O’Ward was 4.

Parity on the Podium
The first two races of the INDYCAR season have seen six different drivers earn top-three finishing positions. In fact, the top four finishers in the two races have been represented by eight different drivers.

Consequently, the point totals are tighter than normal. Palou leads with 67, but Power and Dixon have 65 and Herta 62. Given the point structure, it is likely that any driver currently in the top nine will be the series leader – at least for a night – with a win Saturday.

Not surprisingly, there is congestion in the middle of the pack, too. Only four points separate fifth from ninth place, and three drivers – AJ Foyt Racing’s Sebastien Bourdais (No. 14 ROKiT AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet), Meyer Shank Racing’s Jack Harvey (No. 60 AutoNation/Sirius XM Honda) and VeeKay — are tied with 51 points. Chip Ganassi Racing’s Marcus Ericsson (No. 8 Huski Chocolate Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) has 50 points.

Title Hopefuls Need Help
And then there are those especially eager to climb in the standings.

Newgarden (10th place with 47 points), O’Ward (11th with 45), Rahal (13th with 41) and Andretti Autosport’s Alexander Rossi (16th with 31) are ones to watch in this race. Newgarden and Rahal have combined for three wins, with Newgarden third last year and Rahal second in 2012 and 2019.

Rossi has had strong cars at Texas – he finished third in 2018 and was second in 2019 – and is desperate for a good points day after finishing ninth at Barber Motorsports Park and 21st in St. Petersburg, the latter due to his car suffering a flat right front tire in Turn 4 contact with Rahal. A slow start to last season cost Rossi a chance at the championship, and he had vowed to begin better this year. So far it hasn’t happened, but Texas could be his turnaround.

1...2,5942,5952,596...6,762Page 2,595 of 6,762