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Star-Studded Motorsports Hall of Fame of America “Heroes of Horsepower” Event September 28 at The Henry Ford to be Presented by Ford Performance

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Official Release
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  • Special Guest Edsel B. Ford II to Welcome the Celebrity-Filled Gathering
  • Guests will Enjoy a Strolling Dinner at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation and Experience the Internationally Acclaimed New Driven to Win: Racing in America Exhibit
  • Middle Event of this Year’s Unprecedented MSHFA Dual Induction Extravaganza, September 27-29 at M1 Concourse in Pontiac, Michigan Features Inductees and Presenters from Both the Class of 2020 and 2021

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 3, 2021) — On Tuesday, September 28 the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHFA) will take over the world-renowned Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation for the MSHFA’s annual “Heroes of Horsepower” event. The strolling dinner and plaque unveiling will take place at The Henry Ford and be Presented by Ford Performance. Event tickets can be reserved now at www.mshf.com for $300 each.

The Heroes of Horsepower event comes on the middle night of the MSHFA’s three-day dual induction celebration at M1 Concourse in Pontiac, Michigan. The Class of 2020 will be inducted there Monday night, September 27, the Class of 2021 on Wednesday night, September 29, and inductees and presenters from both will come together on the 28th at the Heroes of Horsepower at The Henry Ford.

“We’re honored to be able to help present this truly unique gathering of some of the greatest names in auto racing history,” said Rob Johnston, global marketing manager, Ford Performance. “And to be able to do it in the Driven to Win: Racing in America exhibit area makes it even more special. The exhibit features every major form of racing in America, but just as important to us, it features some of the greatest race cars in Ford history. It’s just a fantastic setting for this event.”

Special guest Edsel B. Ford II (pictured above) will welcome the celebrity-filled gathering to the event that will bring together am amazing assemblage of motorsports royalty. This is the first time ever that inductees and presenters from two different induction classes (2020 and 2021) will be at the same Heroes of Horsepower event, so it will be an even bigger gathering of stars than usual.

A longstanding tradition of each year’s MSHFA induction celebration, the Heroes of Horsepower event is a high-end but more casual gathering of motorsports royalty than the accompanying black tie induction ceremonies. Attendees can mingle and meet-and-greet each year’s induction class while enjoying the finest food and beverages in the middle of a major motorsports attraction. A highlight of the evening is the unveiling of each inductee’s bronze plaque that will be displayed permanently at the MSHFA Museum in Daytona Beach.
“To have so many stars in one place and for that place to be The Henry Ford among all of these landmark racing treasures will make for an absolutely unforgettable evening,” said MSHFA president George Levy. “The Heroes of Horsepower evening has become a highlight of our annual induction celebrations over the last few decades but this September’s edition will be unlike any other and is a can’t miss event for all motorsports enthusiasts.”

The MSHFA Class of 2020 includes NASCAR’s first-ever champion Robert “Red” Byron (Historic), flat-track impresario Chris Carr (Motorcycles), early motorcycle racer, promoter and publisher Floyd Clymer (At Large), driver, official and safety advocate Wally Dallenbach, Sr. (Open Wheel), Rick Hendrick, one of NASCAR’s most successful owners (Stock Cars), Daytona 500 champion Tiny Lund (Historic), Can-Am and Rolex 24 At Daytona champion Jacky Ickx (Sports Cars), quarter-mile racing legend “Ohio George” Montgomery (Drag Racing) and multi-time Baja 1000 and SCORE Champion Ivan “Ironman” Stewart (Off-Road).

The MSHFA Class of 2021 includes one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers Davey Allison (Stock Cars), three-time land speed record holder John Cobb (Historic), three-time NHRA Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon Jr. (Drag Racing), Indy and NASCAR trailblazer Janet Guthrie (Open Wheel), 2006 MotoGP World Champion “Kentucky Kid” Nicky Hayden (Motorcycles), legendary Indy correspondent Robin Miller (Media), seven consecutive APBA Gold Cup winner Fran Muncey (Powerboats), multi-time USAC and NASCAR champion Ray Nichels (Historic) and world class timer/scorer Judy Stropus (Sports Cars).

In addition, there will be many more motorsports notables in attendance as either guests or presenters.

The Driven to Win: Racing in America presented by General Motors exhibit is drawing rave reviews. It features vehicles, videos and artifacts relating to many MSHFA inductees, including the Ford-powered “Malco Gasser” 1933 Willys made famous by Class of 2020 inductee George Montgomery, who will be one of many legends in attendance, and the bright red No. 1 Ford Mark IV that inductees Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt raced into the history books at the 1967 24 Hours of Le Mans.

For more information on the MSHFA Museum and this year’s dual induction celebration and Heroes of Horsepower event, visit the MSHFA at www.mshf.com or contact George Levy at (248) 895-1704 or glevy@mshf.com. For MSHFA tickets, call 1-800-PIT-SHOP.
The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America is on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MotorsportsHOF/ and Instagram and Twitter at @MotorsportsHOF.

About the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America: The MSHFA is the only hall that honors all American motorsports: cars, motorcycles, airplanes, off road and powerboats. Its mission is to celebrate and instill the American motorsports values of leadership, creativity, originality, teamwork and spirit of competition. Founded by Larry G. Ciancio and Ronald A. Watson, it held its first induction in 1989. Watson spent the next 30 years tirelessly building it into the nation’s premier such hall until his passing in 2019. The original museum in Novi, Mich., relocated to Daytona Beach, Fla., in 2016 and greets more than 100,000 guests a year. MSHFA is operated by the nonprofit Motorsports Museum and Hall of Fame of America Foundation, Inc.

Ford Performance NASCAR: Darlington Throwback Weekend Advance

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Official Release
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FORD PERFORMANCE NASCAR: DARLINGTON NOTES

It’s Throwback Weekend at Darlington Raceway, where the NASCAR XFINITY and NASCAR Cup Series will compete for the first time in 2021. Kevin Harvick and Chase Briscoe each posted victories a year ago as Ford ran its total of all-time wins in the two series combined to 51 at NASCAR’s first superspeedway. Here’s a look at some Ford notes going into this weekend’s action.

This Week’s Schedule:
Saturday, May 8 – NASCAR XFINITY Series, 1 p.m. (FS1)
Sunday, May 9 – NASCAR Cup Series, 3:30 p.m. (FS1)

FORD IN THE NASCAR CUP SERIES AT DARLINGTON
· Ford has 31 all-time series wins at Darlington.
· NASCAR Hall of Famer Curtis Turner won Ford’s first race at Darlington in 1966.
· Brad Keselowski and Kevin Harvick are the only active Ford drivers with Darlington Cup wins.

FORD IN THE NASCAR XFINITY SERIES AT DARLINGTON
· Ford has 20 series wins at Darlington.
· Mark Martin holds the record for most series wins at Darlington with eight.
· Jack Roush leads all owners with 15 Darlington series wins.

FORD ON TOP OF CUP MANUFACTURER’S STANDINGS

There’s still a long way to go in the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season and the manufacturer’s championship battle is a close one with Ford holding a five-point lead over Chevrolet. Ford, which is tied for the most wins this season with four, is looking for its third manufacturer’s title in the last four years after winning in 2018 and 2020. Ford has gotten victories this season from Michael McDowell (Daytona), Ryan Blaney (Atlanta), Joey Logano (Bristol Dirt) and Brad Keselowski (Talladega).

CINDRIC STILL ROLLING IN 2021

Austin Cindric has picked up in 2021 right where he left off in 2020 as he sits on top of the NASCAR XFINITY Series standings after eight events. Cindric, who has two wins already this season, has a 59-point lead over second-place Daniel Hemric going into this weekend’s race at Darlington Raceway and much of that is due to his early-season consistency. The Team Penske driver has finished in the top 10 all but once, leads the series in top-five finishes with six, and has an average finishing position of 4.3. The 2020 series champion has 10 career victories, but is still looking for his first at Darlington.

HARVICK CELEBRATES RETURN TO RACING IN STYLE

Nobody enjoyed a return to Darlington in 2020 more than Kevin Harvick, who celebrated the sport’s return to competition by winning his 50th career series race in what turned out to be the first of three NASCAR Cup Series races held at the track dubbed ‘Too Tough to Tame.’ Harvick led 159-of-293 laps and continued a streak that has seen him win at least one time in 11 straight seasons. He passed fellow Ford driver Brad Keselowski on lap 216 and never gave up the lead, which included a restart with 34 laps to go. That marked the first of two Darlington wins on the season for Harvick, who captured the annual Southern 500 in the fall.

WOOD BROTHERS LEAD THE WAY

It comes as no surprise that the Wood Brothers are Ford’s all-time winningest team at Darlington Raceway, posting eight career victories. All but one of those triumphs came in a Mercury, which the team ran in the 1960’s and 70’s. David Pearson, who holds the record with 10 career Darlington Cup victories, led the way with six while Cale Yarborough captured the team’s first in 1968. The last Darlington win for Wood Brothers Racing came in 1981 when Neil Bonnett took the Southern 500 in 1981 behind the wheel of a Ford.

DARLINGTON MASTER

As noted above, David Pearson holds the record for most NASCAR Cup Series wins at Darlington Raceway with 10 and eight of those came in Ford Motor Co. products. He won six times driving the famed No. 21 Wood Brothers Mercury (1972,’74,’76-2,’77), winning the Southern 500 twice in that span (1976-77), and two more times in a Holman-Moody Ford (1968 and ’70). Pearson won three Southern 500 titles overall, capturing his third in 1979.

FIELD OF 70

The first time Ford won a NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway was when Curtis Turner took the Southern 500 on Sept. 3, 1956. Unlike today, where the field is set at a maximum of 40 cars, there were 70 vehicles in the race that saw Turner lead 224 of the 400 laps. He beat Speedy Thompson to the finish line by more than two laps, and did it in record fashion with an average race speed of 95.167 mph.

DALE AND BUD

The first of Dale Earnhardt’s three NASCAR Cup Series wins with Ford and car owner Bud Moore came on April 4, 1982 when he won the CRC Chemicals Rebel 500 at Darlington Raceway. Earnhardt, who drove two seasons for Moore in 1982 and ’83, dominated a race that saw 20 of the 37 cars not finish due to a variety of issues. Earnhardt led 181-of-367 laps and beat Cale Yarborough to the finish line for his seventh career victory. Earnhardt eventually went on to win two more races with Moore the following season at Nashville and Talladega.

FORD NASCAR CUP SERIES RACE WINNERS AT DARLINGTON
1956 – Curtis Turner
1960 – Joe Weatherly (1)
1961 – Fred Lorenzen and Nelson Stacy
1962 – Nelson Stacy and Larry Frank
1963 – Fireball Roberts (2)
1964 – Fred Lorenzen (1)
1965 – Junior Johnson and Ned Jarrett
1968 – David Pearson (1)
1969 – Lee Roy Yarbrough (2)
1970 – David Pearson (1)
1981 – Neil Bonnett (2)
1982 – Dale Earnhardt (1)
1985 – Bill Elliott (Sweep)
1988 – Bill Elliott (2)
1992 – Bill Elliott (1)
1993 – Mark Martin (2)
1994 – Bill Elliott (2)
1997 – Dale Jarrett (1)
1998 – Dale Jarrett (1)
1999 – Jeff Burton (Sweep)
2001 – Dale Jarrett (1)
2005 – Greg Biffle
2006 – Greg Biffle
2018 – Brad Keselowski
2020 – Kevin Harvick (1) and (3)

FORD NASCAR XFINITY SERIES RACE WINNERS AT DARLINGTON
1993 – Mark Martin (2)
1994 – Mark Martin (Sweep)
1995 – Mark Martin (2)
1996 – Mark Martin (1) and Terry Labonte (2)
1997 – Jeff Burton (2)
1999 – Mark Martin (2)
2000 – Mark Martin (Sweep)
2001 – Jeff Green (1) and Jeff Burton (2)
2002 – Jeff Burton (Sweep)
2004 – Greg Biffle
2005 – Matt Kenseth
2009 – Matt Kenseth
2018 – Brad Keselowski
2019 – Cole Custer
2020 – Chase Briscoe (1)

Todd Gilliland to Race Black’s Tire and Auto Service Championship Scheme

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Official Release
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Orange and Black Colors Throwback to Myrtle Beach Speedway Championship

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (May 4, 2021) – Todd Gilliland and Black’s Tire and Auto Service will honor grassroots racing this Friday night during NASCAR’s Throwback Weekend at the Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.

Gilliland will race the No. 38 Black’s Tire Service Ford F-150 in the livery of the 1998 NASCAR Atlantic Seaboard Regional Champion, Charles Powell III. Powell III was the first Late Model Stock driver from Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Speedway to win a regional title. He did it racing for Ricky Benton and the Black’s Tire and Auto Service team. The black base and bright orange logo and number mirror the No. 22 Late Model that Powell III won the championship in.

“It’s really cool to race a scheme that is such a big part of Black’s Tire racing history,” said Gilliland. “The truck looks great with the original Black’s Tire logo and the orange number. I know it brings back a lot of great memories for Ricky (Benton, President of Black’s Tire) and I hope we can make more memories this Friday night.”

Black’s Tire has a long-standing history in NASCAR, and more specifically, with the Gilliland family. Todd is the second-generation driver to carry the Black’s Tire colors. The Ricky Benton-owned company has sponsored Gilliland’s father, David, in numerous races throughout his career in both the NASCAR Camping World Series and the NASCAR Cup Series.

ABOUT BLACK’S TIRE AND AUTO SERVICE
Black’s Tire and Auto Service was formed as Black’s Service Station by W. Crowell Black in Whiteville, N.C. in 1929. Now, with 46 locations in both North and South Carolina, Black’s remains a local, family owned/operated tire sales and service and vehicle repair business. In addition to the retail and commercial locations, Black’s also operates four warehouse/distribution centers, BTS Tire & Wheel Distributors, a commercial sales division and a tire-retreading business, Carolina Retreads. The Black’s Tire family includes more than 700 highly skilled, service-minded team members and ASE certified technicians.

To learn more about Black’s Tire or to find a location, visit www.blackstire.com. Follow Black’s Tire and Auto Service on social media: Twitter at @BlacksTire, Instagram at @BlacksTire and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/blackstire.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS
Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Camping World Truck Series and the 2021 Daytona 500 champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 34 and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 38 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team– from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

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

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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

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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

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