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DGR NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race Advance: Kansas

By
Official Release
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Saturday, May 1
Track: Kansas Speedway, 1.5-mile oval
Race: 7 of 22
Event: Wise Power 200 (134 laps, 200 miles)

Schedule
Race: 7:30 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 1)

Hailie Deegan, No. 1 Toter F-150

  • Deegan makes her seventh start of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season in the No. 1 Toter F-150 on Saturday evening at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City. The rookie driver will start from the 20th position.
  • Deegan has three starts and top-10 finishes at Kansas in the ARCA Menards Series. Her best finish of sixth was earned in October 2020.
  • Kansas is the site of Deegan’s first ever Truck Series start. In October of last year, the young driver started 34th and finished 16th while piloting the No. 17 Ford F-150. This weekend marks the first time Deegan is returning to a venue for the second time in the Truck Series.
  • Kansas will be the third mile-and-a-half track Deegan has raced on this season in the Truck Series. The California native earned a best finish of 21st at Atlanta Motor Speedway in March.
  • Since the April 17 race at Richmond (Va.) Raceway, Deegan participated in a rookie development test at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway with David Gilliland Racing. In preparation for the May 22 Truck Series event at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, Deegan also spent time at Skip Barber Racing school to hone her road racing skills.
  • Veteran crew chief Mike Hillman Jr. has one win with Todd Bodine in 2005, five top-five and 10 top-10 finishes at Kansas.
  • Click here for Deegan’s career statistics.

Check out Deegan’s YouTube channel for her vlog which covers her Charlotte Motor Speedway rookie test. She mentions doubt, gaining confidence and gets advice from David Ragan and David Gilliland.

Tanner Gray, No. 15 Ford Performance F-150

  • Gray makes his seventh start of the 2021 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season on Saturday and will start the 134-lap event from the 18th position.
  • Dating back to 2019, the 22-year-old driver has made five career starts at Kansas Speedway between the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the ARCA Menards Series. In ARCA action, he recorded a sixth-place finish in 2019 and a fifth-place run last season.
  • The Truck Series visited Kansas three times in 2020. Gray earned his first career top-five on the second day of the July doubleheader with a fourth-place result. He finished 18th on day one of the doubleheader, and 36th due to a crash on lap 37 when the series returned in October.
  • On tracks between 1-2 miles in length, the New Mexico native has 19 starts in the Truck Series with two top-five and six top-10 finishes.
  • Seth Smith will serve as crew chief of the No. 15 Ford Performance F-150 this weekend. A veteran in the ARCA ranks, Smith has called the shots for nine NCWTS races in his career including the first three truck races of Tanner Gray’s career in 2019. This season he has worked primarily on the No. 17 entry with David Gilliland, Riley Herbst, Kevin Harvick and Bill Lester.
  • Click here for Gray’s career statistics.
  • Gray on Kansas:

“Kansas is one of the few tracks on the Truck Series schedule where I actually have a good amount of experience heading into it. With racing there three times last season, I feel like we have a good notebook and I know what I need out of the truck to run well. It was cool to get a top-five there last year and I think we have a really good chance of breaking into the top-five or top-10 this weekend.”

12 Essentials You Should Keep in Your Car

By
SM
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Driving a car can be an enjoyable experience for some, but it might not always be the case. Many people have to spend hours behind the wheel every day. The problem is, you never know when your car will stop working well or when you’ll get in trouble, and there’s no solution around. That’s why it’s crucial to keep certain essentials with you at all times- even if it’s just a short drive.

There are twelve essentials that should always be packed in your car, regardless of how long the drive is:

  1. A spare tire:

You don’t want to break down hundreds of miles away from home without any help because something as simple as a flat tire has ruined your day. The spare tire and the jack should always be in tow, whether you think you’ll need them or not. It will save you a lot of time when something happens on the road. Buying new tyres is very expensive so carrying spares with you is an easy way to avoid any headaches down the line (and money).

  1. An emergency kit:

The kit should contain:

  • A flashlight.
  • Battery-powered radio.
  • First-aid supplies.
  • A roadside emergency kit with some essential tools.

If you’re stranded on the side of the highway at night without any light or in an unknown place, then it’s essential that you have a reliable source to provide illumination when necessary. The same goes for if there is no cell phone reception or internet access; having your own form of communication will help tremendously in getting out of those sticky situations where GPS might not be working because something happened to WiFi service. It can also prove handy if someone needs medical attention while on the road too. And, to be able to help before the professionals arrive, get a First Aid certificate, so you will know what to do.

  1. Jumper cables:

Jumper cables are required not just in case of accidents, but they are also helpful when the car battery dies. They are usually helpful as an emergency kit for all sorts of reasons, and it’s a good idea to always have them handy. They are generally necessary items that make sense to keep around at all times, so don’t forget them!

  1. Extra fluids:

You never know when you are going to run out of essential fluids. It is important to keep them stocked at all times. There are many things that can happen when driving a car, and having these essentials on hand will give you peace of mind while they may or may not be needed. It is always good to think about the worst-case scenario before it happens, mainly because most of the time, there’s no way of knowing what might have happened without practice and luck! So ensure to keep oil, antifreeze, and windshield wiper fluid always up to the mark while going out on a drive.

  1. Basic tools like screwdrivers and pliers:

Be sure that if your car has one, its tools for changing tires- including a spare wheel and jack- must be at hand as well! Keep them all together in their own bag or case inside the trunk because just having these essentials on top of other clutter can make it difficult to find what’s needed when there isn’t enough light available.

  1. Road maps of the area you’ll be driving in:

You’ll be surprised how many people don’t know the roads in and out of their own towns, much less have a map to drive on unfamiliar terrain. In this case, having a clear-cut idea of the location will give you a peaceful driving experience. You can take the help of GPS or any other apps like https://carbridgeapp.com to stay connected with your phone without any distractions. Having access to technical support helps you stay on track and carry on a safer ride.

  1. Portable batteries:

A car can break down at any time, and when this happens, you need to have a plan in place. Portable batteries are an absolute necessity for drivers who don’t want to end up stranded with no power source. They’re also great if someone had decided to take their battery off the charger before they left home that morning. These little devices can come in handy when it comes down to emergency situations, so having one on hand is always recommended!

  1. Tire Pressure Gauge:

It’s important to know your tire’s pressure and make sure that it is always in the safe zone. In order to do this, you need a tool like Tire Pressure Gauge, which you can find at any auto parts store or gas station for cheap!

  1. Tire Plug Kit:

A plug kit may seem excessive, but if you ever find yourself out on the road with a flat tire, then these are necessary. This little device will help keep you moving, so having one handy just makes sense! The best way to prevent many of these problems from occurring in the first place is by simply taking care of our cars before leaving them outside overnight (or during long stretches).

  1. Essential Documents:

It’s always a good idea to keep your identification, insurance papers, and other important documents in the glove compartment. This will help you get back on the road with minimal lag time!

Bowman to make 200th Cup start at Kansas

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images.

Competing in his sixth full-time season in the NASCAR Cup Series, Alex Bowman is set to achieve a milestone start. By taking the green flag in this weekend’s event at Kansas Speedway, the driver of the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE will reach 200 starts in NASCAR’s premier series.

A native from Tucson, Arizona, Bowman made his inaugural presence in the Cup Series a month prior to the 2014 season. By then, he was coming off a full-time Xfinity Series season with RAB Racing and was testing for BK Racing during Dayton’s Preseason Thunder leading up to the Daytona 500. Bowman’s testing session was enough for him to earn a full-time ride with BKR for the 2014 Cup season and in the No. 23 Toyota Camry.

Qualifying for the 2014 Daytona 500, Bowman finished 23rd in his first Cup career race. Throughout his first full-time season in the Cup circuit, he achieved a season-best 13th-place result at Daytona in July, an average result of 32.6 and a 35th-place result in the final standings. He also settled in sixth place in the Cup Rookie-of-the-Year standings.

In 2015, Bowman departed BKR and joined Tommy Baldwin Racing as driver of the No. 7 Chevrolet SS. He started the season on a low note by failing to qualify for the Daytona 500 after wrecking in his Daytona Duel event. From the second race of the season at Atlanta Motor Speedway, where he raced, through the season-finale event at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November, Bowman achieved a season-best 16th-place result at Talladega Superspeedway in April, a total of three top-20 results, an average result of 31.6 and a 33rd-place result in the final standings.

A month prior to the 2016 season, Bowman was replaced by Regan Smith at Tommy Baldwin Racing, thus leaving Bowman without a full-time ride for the first half of the Cup season. Everything changed in July, though, when Bowman was named driver of the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet SS for the Cup event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in July, replacing third-generation star Dale Earnhardt Jr. after Earnhardt Jr. was ruled out from competing after being diagnosed with concussion-like symptoms. During the main event at New Hampshire, Bowman was competitive and was in position for a strong result until a cut tire sent him into the wall late in the event and relegated him to a 26th-place result.

With Earnhardt Jr. sidelined, Bowman ended up sharing the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet SS with four-time NASCAR Cup champion Jeff Gordon for the remaining 18 Cup events of the 2016 season. Competing in 10 events, Bowman recorded his first three top-10 career results in the Cup circuit, including a season-best sixth place at Phoenix Raceway in November, where he notched his first Cup career pole and led a race-high 194 of 324 laps. Bowman’s pole at Phoenix guaranteed him a spot for the 2017 Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona. Despite entering the 2017 season without a full-time ride, he drove Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 88 Chevrolet SS in the Clash, where he drove the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet SS to a third-place result following a side-by-side battle with Kyle Busch on the final lap.

Three months after Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced his retirement from full-time Cup competition after 2017 in April, Bowman was named a full-time driver of the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet for the 2018 Cup season, a move that was endorsed by Earnhardt Jr.

In his first run as a full-time HMS competitor, Bowman claimed the pole position for the 2018 Daytona 500. During the main event, he led 13 laps and was a top contender until he was collected in a late multi-car accident and finished 17th. He went on to earn a season-best third-place result at Pocono Raceway in July and a total of nine top-10 results throughout the 26-race regular-season stretch. Despite recording zero victories throughout the regular season, Bowman was able to make the 2018 Cup Playoffs based on consistency.

In the Playoff’s Round of 16, Bowman earned results of 19th, 12th and fourth, which were enough for him to advance to the Round of 12. During the Round of 12, however, he recorded results of 28th, 33rd and ninth, which eliminated from title contention. Bowman went on to conclude the season in 16th place in the final standings. By then, he surpassed 100 Cup career starts.

Bowman commenced the 2019 Cup season by starting on the front row for the season-opening Daytona 500 and finishing 11th in the main event. Nine races later, he earned a career-best second-place result at Talladega Superspeedway in April. He went on to record two additional runner-up results the following two races at Dover International Speedway and at Kansas Speedway in May. 

Five races later, Bowman prevailed in a late battle with Kyle Larson to claim his first Cup career win at Chicagoland Speedway in June. In becoming the 18th competitor to win while driving for Hendrick Motorsports, Bowman recorded the first victory for HMS’ No. 88 Chevrolet team since Phoenix in November 2015.

Returning to the Playoffs, Bowman advanced to the Round of 12 following results of sixth, 23rd and second during the Round of 16. Despite recording results of third, 37th and 11th in the Round of 12, his title hopes came to an end. Nonetheless, Bowman went on to conclude the season in 12th place in the final standings and with a career-high seven top-five results.

Remaining at HMS for a third consecutive season, Bowman opened the season with a 24th-place result in the Daytona 500 despite starting on the front row. Two races later, however, he notched his second Cup career victory at Auto Club Speedway after leading a race-high 110 of 200 laps. 

Following his victory at Fontana, Bowman went on to earn a total of eight top-10 results before entering the Playoffs as a title contender. He transferred to the Round of 12 for the third consecutive season and following results of sixth, ninth and 16th in the Round of 16. For the 2020 season, though, he was also able to advance to the Round of 8 following results of fifth, 14th and eighth during the Round of 12. Bowman remained competitive during the Round of 8 while logging in results of third, fifth and sixth. They were not enough, however, for him to advance to the Championship Round at Phoenix. Ultimately, Bowman concluded the season in a career-best sixth place in the final standing and with a career-best 15 top-10 results. 

This season, Bowman pilots the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, a ride driven by seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, who retired from full-time NASCAR competition following the 2020 season. His first run in the No. 48 car started off on a high note as Bowman claimed his second Daytona 500 pole of his career. In doing so, he became the first competitor to start on the front row for the 500 for four consecutive seasons. His bid for a first Daytona 500 victory, though, came to an end after being involved in an early multi-car wreck.

Through the first eight Cup events of the 2021 season, Bowman’s best result was a third-place run at Atlanta Motor Speedway in March. The following event at Richmond Raceway in April, he overtook Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano following a late restart to claim his third Cup triumph and return the No. 48 HMS car to Victory Lane since June 2017 at Dover International Speedway.

In 199 previous Cup starts, Bowman has achieved three career victories, three poles, 18 top-five results, 45 top-10 results, over 900 laps led and an average result of 21.7. He is currently ranked in 14th place in the 2021 Cup Series regular-season standings.

Bowman is slated to make his 200th Cup career start at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, May 2, at 3 p.m. ET on FS1.

NASCAR and Texas Motor Speedway announce All-Star Race format

By
Angie Campbell
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Texas Motor Speedway. Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images.

NASCAR and Texas Motor Speedway announced the All-Star Race format Wednesday evening. This will be the first time the event has been hosted at the 1.44-mile track. The exhibition race will be held on June 13 and will air at 8 p.m. ET on FS1 and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

This is a non-points event but the stakes are high as the race winner will earn a $900,000 prize with $100,000 going to the fastest pit crew in a mandatory pit stop.

There will be six rounds for a total of 100 laps and the starting lineup for Round 1 will be determined by a random draw. The first four rounds will consist of 15 laps each, the fifth round will be 30 laps and the final round will be a 10-lap shootout.

Texas Motor Speedway president and GM Eddie Gossage said, “Drivers and pit crews better pack their lunch pails because they are going to have to work extremely hard to earn the honor of celebrating in Victory Lane.” Gossage also indicated that he has planned a Wild West theme for pre-race ceremonies, saying, “This is a full metal rodeo for a big ole bag of dough.”

The race format will also include inverted fields and only green flag laps will count.

FORMAT:

  • Round 1 – 15 laps. After this round, the field will be inverted using a random draw and will start between the eighth and 12th positions.
  • Round 2 – 15 laps. The entire field will be inverted after this round.
  • Round 3 – 15 laps. The field will be inverted again using a random draw and starting between the eighth through 12th positions.
  • Round 4 – 15 laps.
  • Round 5 – 30 laps. The lineup for this round will be determined by the cumulative finish from the first four rounds. The driver with the best cumulative finish will start on the pole. This round also features a mandatory four-tire pit stop. The crew with the fastest pit stop will claim the $100,000 bonus.
  • Round 6 – 10 lap Shootout. The cars will line up by their finishing position in Round 5.

The NASCAR Open will be run before the NASCAR All-Star Race at 6 p.m. ET on FS1. It will consist of three segments of 20/20/10 laps. The winner of each segment will race their way into the All-Star event. NASCAR fans will also be able to vote for a driver in the Fan Vote which will open Thursday, May 13 on NASCAR.com.

The drivers that are eligible for the NASCAR All-Star Race have won a points race in 2020 or 2021, have previously won an All-Star Race and currently compete full-time and drivers who have won a NASCAR Cup Series Championship and currently compete full-time.

Drivers who are currently eligible to participate in the All-Star Race:

  1. Christopher Bell
  2. Ryan Blaney
  3. Alex Bowman
  4. Kurt Busch
  5. Kyle Busch
  6. William Byron
  7. Cole Custer
  8. Austin Dillon
  9. Chase Elliott
  10. Denny Hamlin
  11. Kevin Harvick
  12. Brad Keselowski
  13. Kyle Larson
  14. Joey Logano
  15. Michael McDowell
  16. Ryan Newman
  17. Martin Truex Jr.

NASCAR, Texas Motor Speedway Announce Format for NASCAR All-Star Race

By
Official Release
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NASCAR Fan Vote Opens on Thursday, May 13

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 28, 2020) – NASCAR and Texas Motor Speedway today announced the format, technical elements, eligibility and pre-race festivities for the 2021 NASCAR All-Star Race. The event, which moves to TMS for the first time in its 36-race history, will have a Fort Worth feel as the pre-race festivities will feature an Old Western theme during driver introductions.  

The race format is as follows:

  • The race will feature six rounds, totaling 100 laps.
  • Starting lineup for Round 1 will be determined via random draw.
  • Rounds 1 through 4 will be 15 laps each; Round 5 will be 30 laps; the Final Round will feature a 10-lap shootout. 
  • At the beginning of Round 2, the field will be inverted via random draw (minimum of eight/maximum of 12) live on FS1.
  • The round 2 random draw will also be seen live by fans attending the race on Big Hoss TV.
  • Before the start of Round 3, the entire field will be inverted.
  • At the beginning of Round 4, the field will be inverted via random draw (minimum of eight/maximum of 12).
  • Starting positions for Round 5 will consist of the cumulative finish from Rounds 1-4. The lowest cumulative finisher starts on the pole, second-lowest starts second, and so forth. All cars must enter pit road for a mandatory four-tire pit stop during Round 5.
  • The starting positions in the Final Round are set by finishing positions of Round 5.
  • Only green flag laps will count in the NASCAR All-Star race.
  • The fastest team on pit road during the mandatory pit stop will earn $100,000.
  • The race winner will be awarded $1,000,000.  

From a technical side, all elements of the car remain the same except for the tapered spacer which will be 57/64ths. 

“Texas has always felt like an All-Star market; it is a big-event market and Texas Motor Speedway thrives under a bright spotlight,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. “The entire Speedway Motorsports and TMS team has done an incredible job embracing and elevating this event, creating a fun, must-see show for fans at the track and watching from home on FS1.”

“I call this ‘NASCAR All-Star Race: Texas Edition,’” said Texas Motor Speedway President and General Manager Eddie Gossage. “Drivers and pit crews better pack their lunch pails because they are going to have to work extremely hard to earn the honor of celebrating in Victory Lane. This is a full metal rodeo for a big ol’ bag of dough.”

The NASCAR Open will run immediately prior to the NASCAR All-Star Race and will include three segments (20 laps / 20 laps / 10 laps). The winner of each segment will earn a spot in the All-Star Race as well as the winner of the Fan Vote. Fans may vote for their favorite driver by visiting www.NASCAR.com for details.

Those eligible for the NASCAR All-Star include drivers who won a points event in either 2020 or 2021; drivers who won a NASCAR All-Star Race and compete full-time; and drivers who won a NASCAR Cup Series Championship and compete full-time.

Drivers who have already clinched an All-Star Race spot: Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, Alex Bowman, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, William Byron, Cole Custer, Austin Dillon, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Michael McDowell, Ryan Newman and Martin Truex Jr.

Coverage of the NASCAR All-Star Race – which is sponsored by NASCAR’s Premier Partners Busch Beer, Coca-Cola, GEICO and Xfinity – will begin on June 13 at 5 p.m. ET on FS1. The NASCAR Open will air at 6 p.m. and the NASCAR All-Star Race begins at 8 p.m. on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Tickets start at $35 for adults, $10 for kids and FREE parking. Visit www.texasmotorspeedway.com for further information. 

About NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 16 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR consists of three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series™), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour), one local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series) and three international series (NASCAR Pinty’s Series, NASCAR Peak Mexico Series, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’).

CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION: Atlanta Pre-race Advance and Quotes

By
Official Release
-

CHEVROLET AT ATLANTA

What: Lucas Oil NHRA Southern Nationals
When: Saturday, May 1-Sunday, May 2
Where: Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, Georgia
TV: FS1 will telecast eliminations at 11:30 p.m. ET May 2

Chevrolet looks to close Atlanta Dragway with multiple victories
Team Chevy entries looking strong in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock

DETROIT (April 28, 2021) – Positive results build momentum, which translates into short- and long-range objectives being met.

Team Chevy Funny Car driver Robert Hight, who has been flexing 11,000 horsepower of muscle in the Auto Club of Southern California Camaro SS, will aim to attain his immediate goal of winning the final Lucas Oil NHRA Southern Nationals on May 2 at Atlanta Dragway.

The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) announced that the 40th Southern Nationals at the track, which opened in 1975 and has been owned by the NHRA since 1993, would be the final NHRA national event. The 2020 event was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hight, a three-time NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Funny Car champion, is a three-time winner in six final-round appearances and a two-time No. 1 qualifier. He holds the Funny Car track elapsed time record of 3.880 seconds set in 2017.

In the first two events of the season, Hight has recorded a runner-up finish at Gainesville and the No. 1 qualifier and low elapsed time at the Las Vegas Four-Wide Nationals as he transferred to the final quad.

“This Auto Club car has what it takes. We’ve been working out some gremlins, did some testing Monday after the Vegas race,” said Hight, who is third in the Funny Car standings. “We had some bad luck, but things are falling into place. I have no worries at all that we’ll be going rounds and picking up wins starting this weekend at Atlanta Dragway.

“We’ll keep doing what we know how to do, being quick and fast. Jimmy Prock and Chris Cunningham will have this thing tuned in.”

Teammate and 16-time Funny Car world champion John Force will make his 38th appearance at Atlanta Dragway. The driver of the PEAK / BlueDEF Chevrolet Camaro has won seven times in 14 final-round appearances and notched eight top qualifier honors.

“Atlanta Dragway has a lot of history for me. We’ve been racing there for a long time. It’s going to be sad to see it go but I have a lot of good memories there,” said Force, who from 1992-2000 advanced to the finals.

Brittany Force, driving the Monster Energy/Flav-R-Pac Chevrolet dragster, also takes momentum to Atlanta as she seeks her initial Top Fuel victory at the dragstrip. At Las Vegas, Force recorded the 21st No. 1 qualifying position of her career and registered the top speed (330.80 mph) and lowest elapsed time (3.722 seconds) in eliminations.

“This team wants to take home the last and final win at Atlanta Dragway this weekend,” she said.

Pro Stock was added to the lineup and competition through the field is tight. Reigning Pro Stock champion Erica Enders won at Las Vegas in the Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro SS for her 30th career victory in her 300th Pro Stock start. Another four-time Pro Stock champion, Greg Anderson, won the season opener and has been the No. 1 qualifier in both races in the KB Racing Chevrolet Camaro SS.

FS1 will telecast eliminations at 11:30 p.m. ET May 2.

CHEVROLET FROM THE COCKPIT

TOP FUEL:

BRITTANY FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, MONSTER ENERGY/FLAV-R-PAC CHEVROLET DRAGSTER (No. 1 qualifier in last race): “Overall, we’ve started the season running well. We looked good in testing and at the Gatornationals and qualified No. 1 in Vegas. We did some testing on Monday and the team, David Grubnic and Mac Savage, they’re feeling good. Worked out some things so we’re looking forward to Atlanta next. Winning Atlanta this year would be so much more significant since we won’t be returning. This team wants to take home the last and final win at Atlanta Dragway this weekend.”

FUNNY CAR:

JOHN FORCE, JOHN FORCE RACING, PEAK/BLUEDEF CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (seven-time winner at track): “All of John Force Racing is looking good. Just two races in with some testing and we’re going to continue to be in the hunt this season. This PEAK / BlueDEF Chevy is right there with Robert (Hight) and Auto Club and Brittany (Force) with Monster and Flav-R-Pac are just as fast and quick as ever. We’re going to get to Atlanta and do our job, qualify well and make our fans and sponsors proud. They all stuck by us and I owe them that.”

ROBERT HIGHT, JOHN FORCE RACING, AUTO CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (No. 1 qualifier in last event; runner-up in season opener; holds track Funny Car elapsed time record): “This Auto Club car has what it takes. We’ve been working out some gremlins, did some testing Monday after the Vegas race. Vegas went really well for us, we looked great through qualifying and that first round. We ran into some trouble at the end of that low ET run and these guys, myself included, had to put in the work for the next round and it just wasn’t quite enough.”

PRO STOCK:

GREG ANDERSON, KB RACING, CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (winner in season opener; No. 1 qualifier in both events this season): “Can’t wait after it this weekend and see what we can do at the last NHRA Southern Nationals. We started out with a bang and the car is running great. My Chevrolet has been flawless the first couple races and looking forward to a lot more tangles with the Pro Stock crowd. There are a lot of cars that can win. We’re absolutely one of them and it’s exciting going to the races these days and I’m enjoying it more than ever.”

ERICA ENDERS, ELITE MOTORSPORTS, MELLING PERFORMANCE/ELITE MOTORSPORTS CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (reigning and four-time class champion; winner at last event; surpassed 350 rounds wins at last event): “I’m really excited to have one last opportunity to hopefully get a win there. I’ve never won there.”

KYLE KORETSKY, KB RACING, LUCAS OIL CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (competing in 11th Pro Stock race and first time at track; No. 3 qualifier in last race): “I’ve never been to Atlanta Dragway, so I’m looking forward to racing there in the final race. Being my first time in a four-wide (at Las Vegas) I was pretty happy. Still getting a feel for the car. I always feel the more I race the better I do, so the races so close together gets my confidence up and gets me more comfortable in the car.”

TROY COUGHLIN JR., ELITE MOTORSPORTS, JEGS.COM/ELITE MOTORSPORTS CHEVROLET CAMARO SS (runner-up in season opener): “We need to have the car set up just right because there’s no room for error. I think it adds a lot to the excitement of the race having just two qualifying sessions because it puts a big premium on preparation. I know for sure there isn’t another team in the world I would rather have to rely on then this Elite group. Everyone on this crew is extremely knowledgeable at what they do. Mark, Eric Luzinski, Kelly Murphy, Steven Hurley and Kyle Bates — we’re talking about the best of the best. I know we’ll arrive for Q1 with a car capable of qualifying in the top three. I just need to do my job.”

DiBenedetto Riding Momentum Into Kansas

By
Official Release
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After finishes of ninth at Richmond and fifth at Talladega, Matt DiBenedetto and the No. 21 Dickies Apparel/Menards Mustang are set to keep the good times rolling in Sunday’s Buschy McBusch Race 400 at Kansas Speedway.

DiBenedetto’s strong run at Talladega has earned him the fifth starting spot for Sunday’s 267-lapper at Kansas, which puts him in a good position to compete for Stage points and thereby continue his climb in the points standings. He’s already moved from 37th after the second race of the season (on the road course at Daytona) to 17th following Talladega, and is looking to keep on climbing.

“I’m really glad we have a good starting position for Kansas,” DiBenedetto said. “That sets us up for a shot at Stage points if we hit the setup close.”

He said he’s confident that the Dickies Apparel/Menards team, led by crew chief Greg Erwin, will have the No. 21 Mustang up to speed despite no qualifying or practice prior to the green flag on Sunday.

“Our mile-and-a-half program has been very strong, so hopefully we can keep it up front,” DiBenedetto said.

DiBenedetto and his Wood Brothers team enter Kansas just 12 points behind Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Chris Buescher, who are tied for 15th place. After climbing up seven positions in the standings over the past three weeks, DiBenedetto is hoping to continue to work his way into a Playoff spot.

“We have really rebounded in points, so we have great momentum to keep climbing up to where we belong,” he said.

“We are looking forward to getting back to Kansas Speedway,” Eddie Wood said. “It’s been a good track for our family and for our race team.

“We’ve had some good runs there in the past and have come really close to winning.

“Maybe we can break through with a victory out there this weekend.”

Sunday’s 400-mile race, which will have Stage breaks at Laps 80 and 160, is set to get the green flag just after 2 p.m. (3 p.m. Eastern Time) with TV coverage on FOX Sports 1.

Menards

A family-owned and run company started in 1958, Menards is recognized as the retail home center leader of the Midwest with 236 stores in 15 states. Menards is truly a one-stop shop for all of your home improvement needs featuring a full-service lumberyard and everything you need to plan a renovation or build a home, garage, cabin, shed, deck, fence or post frame building. Menards is known for friendly Customer Service and as the place to “Save Big Money” with low prices every day, and sales too! For more information, please visit Menards.com to learn about our store locations, offerings and services.

Wood Brothers Racing

Wood Brothers Racing was formed in 1950 in Stuart, Va., by Hall of Famer Glen Wood. Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team and one of the winningest teams in NASCAR history. Since its founding, the team won 99 races (including at least one race in every decade for the last seven decades) and 120 poles in NASCAR’s top-tier series. Fielding only Ford products for its entire history, the Wood Brothers own the longest association of any motorsports team with a single manufacturer. Glen’s brother, Leonard, is known for inventing the modern pit stop. The team currently runs the Ford Mustang driven by Matt DiBenedetto in the famous No. 21 racer.

Hendrick Motorsports Media Advance: Kansas

By
Official Release
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Kansas Speedway
Sunday, May 2, 2021
1.5-Mile Oval
3:00 PM ET
Location: Kansas City, Kansas
TV: Fox
Event: NASCAR Cup Series (11 of 36)
Radio: SiriusXM logo PRN logo

5 KYLE LARSON
Age: 28 (July 31, 1992)
Hometown: Elk Grove, California
Resides: Mooresville, North Carolina
Crew Chief: Cliff Daniels
Standings: 9th

No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE

FIRST TIMER: Kyle Larson led a race-high 103 laps en route to his victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway earlier this season. Prior to the win, he had scored nine runner-up finishes – the most all-time without a NASCAR Cup Series victory – in 71 career starts on 1.5-mile tracks. One of his second-place finishes came at Kansas Speedway in 2014.

JUST A LONER: The 28-year-old Larson is the lone driver to post top-five finishes in all three Cup Series races on 1.5-mile tracks this year. Along with his win at Las Vegas, Larson finished second at Atlanta Motor Speedway and fourth at Homestead-Miami Speedway – an event won by Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron.

LEADER OF THE PACK: On intermediate tracks in 2021, Larson leads the series in average finish (2.33), stage wins (three) and laps led (377), which represent 44% of all laps run on 1.5-mile tracks this season. The driver of the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE is tied for the most wins (one), second-place finishes (one) and top-10s (three) in those three events.

I SECOND THAT: Through 10 races in 2021, Larson has one win, four top-five finishes, secured eight playoff points and has led 379 laps – all second-most in NASCAR’s premier series. He currently sits ninth in the Cup Series driver point standings.

FOUR SCORE: In his last four Cup Series starts at Kansas Speedway, Larson has finished in the top 10 three times and led 161 of a possible 1,082 laps (15%). Overall, he has three top-five finishes and five top-10s in 12 starts at the Midwest track.

YOUR CAR NEEDS: This weekend, Larson will again drive the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE. From the convenience of home, customers can select the category, make, model and vehicle packages that are important to them from the nearly 30,000 new, high-quality pre-owned and certified cars, trucks and SUVs available at HendrickCars.com. The website also makes it easy for customers to find one of Hendrick Automotive Group’s 93 dealership locations nationwide.

9 CHASE ELLIOTT
Age: 25 (Nov. 28, 1995)
Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia
Resides: Dawsonville, Georgia
Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson
Standings: 8th

No. 9 UniFirst Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE

TEN-RACE MARK: With the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season at the 10-race mark, Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 UniFirst Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, has posted two runner-up results, four top-10 finishes and has led a total of 76 laps. He has spent 618 laps inside the top five and 1,421 laps running in the top 10.

KANSAS STATS: On Sunday, Elliott is set to make his 11th Kansas Speedway start at the NASCAR Cup Series level. In his previous 10 races at the track, he garnered one win, four top-five finishes, six top-10s and led 145 laps. He has finished inside the top 10 in four of the last five races at the 1.5-mile venue. Elliott also holds the third-best average finish (11.0) at Kansas, behind only Kevin Harvick (9.3) and Cole Custer (10.5).

LAST FIVE: In the last five events at Kansas, Elliott is tied for the most top-10 finishes (four) and averages the best finishing position of all drivers (5.0).

1.5-MILE STATS: This weekend, Elliott will make his 60th start on a 1.5-mile track in the NASCAR Cup Series. In his previous 59 races, Elliott has led 764 laps. Last season, he scored his second career 1.5-mile track win at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 28. Along with two victories, Elliott has collected 18 top-five finishes – five of which are runner-up results – and 29 top-10s on 1.5-milers.

UNIFIRST IS BACK: This weekend, UniFirst Corporation (NYSE: UNF), a North American leader in providing customized work uniform programs, corporate attire and facility service products, will serve as the primary sponsor on the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE. It will be the second of three races (Phoenix, Kansas and Daytona) that UniFirst will be the primary partner and have its newly revamped green corporate logo adorning the No. 9 Chevrolet. In 2016, Unifirst and Hendrick Motorsports announced an eight-year partnership. UniFirst will continue to serve as the Official Workwear Provider of Hendrick Motorsports, supplying work clothing and uniforms to the team and sister company Hendrick Automotive Group, the largest privately held retail automotive organization in the United States.

BACK HOME: No. 9 team jackman T.J. Semke hails from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, less than 40 miles from Kansas Speedway. Before stepping on the football field at the University of Kansas in 2012, Semke was a part-time bounty hunter. The 28-year-old was a defensive lineman for the Jayhawks for three years, earning Academic All-Big 12 Second Team honors twice. Semke signed with Hendrick Motorsports in October 2016.

24 WILLIAM BYRON
Age: 23 (Nov. 29, 1997)
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina
Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle
Standings: 4th

No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE

ON A ROLL: Dating back to his win at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Feb. 28, William Byron has been on a hot streak of top-10 finishes. The 23-year-old driver has now extended his consecutive top-10 results to eight races – the longest active streak in the NASCAR Cup Series. Byron’s eight total top-10s in 10 races is tied for the most by a driver this year. In fact, Byron has the longest top-10 streak by a Hendrick Motorsports driver since Dale Earnhardt Jr. between 2013 and 2014. He is also the third-youngest driver of all time to reach an eight-race top-10 streak in his Cup career behind only Richard Petty and Ricky Rudd. If Byron collects a top-10 finish at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, he will become the youngest driver to reach a nine-race top-10 streak – a record currently held by Jeff Gordon.

FIRST 10: So far in the 2021 Cup Series season, Byron and the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE team have been a model of consistency. After 10 races, the Charlotte, North Carolina, native has spent 2,186 laps running inside the top 10 – the second-most in the field behind only points leader Denny Hamlin (2,407). Of those top-10 laps, 879 have been inside the top five, which is the sixth-most of all drivers. Currently, Byron has led 150 laps across five races, also good for sixth in the Cup Series. He has the fourth-best average running position of 8.99 so far in 2021.

1.5-MILE MOMENTUM: With three races on 1.5-milers so far in the 2021 season, Byron is one of four drivers who have finished in the top 10 for all three. He captured the win at Homestead-Miami Speedway, finished eighth at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and scored an eighth-place result at Atlanta Motor Speedway. In those three 1.5-mile races, Byron has led the second-most laps (129) behind only Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson (377).

HOT START AT KANSAS: Right out of the gate, Byron found success at Kansas Speedway in his first two NASCAR national series starts. With one NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start in 2016 and one NASCAR Xfinity Series start in 2017, Byron started from the pole position in the Truck Series race and sixth in the Xfinity Series race, finishing no worse than fourth in both events. In fact, in his debut at the intermediate oval in 2016 – just his fifth truck race – Byron started from the top spot, led 34 laps and collected his first win, kickstarting the most successful season by a rookie in the history of the series.

MIDWEST MOJO: Byron has six Cup Series starts at Kansas Speedway. While he faced bad luck in his first three races, which included a mechanical failure, a late-race on-track incident and a pit road penalty, he has since turned that bad fortune around. In his last three starts at the 1.5-mile track, Byron has collected one top-five finish and three top-10s. His three-consecutive top-10 results at Kansas are tied for the longest active top-10 streak at the intermediate venue. Kansas Speedway is also tied for second of the tracks where Byron has the most top-10 finishes behind Phoenix Raceway and Pocono Raceway, where he has four top-10 results.

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE KANSAS: Heading to Kansas Speedway for his first start as a Cup Series crew chief, Rudy Fugle has 10 previous appearances at the 1.5-mile oval, all coming in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. In those events, Fugle’s drivers have started from the pole four times, led 391 laps, and collected two wins (2016 and 2018), five top-five finishes and six top-10s. His 2016 win came with Byron, who captured his first truck victory in the duo’s fifth start together.

ALL ABOUT AXALTA: Returning for this Sunday’s race at Kansas, Byron will have Axalta on board his No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE. Now in its 29th year of partnership with Hendrick Motorsports, Axalta returns as primary partner on Byron’s No. 24 for 14 races in 2021. For a better look at Byron’s new No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, click here.

WELCOME VALVOLINE: On Tuesday, long-time partner Valvoline expanded its partnership with Hendrick Motorsports to add primary sponsorship of the Nos. 5 and 24 teams for a combined five races. The Valvoline colors will be on board Byron’s Chevy for the upcoming race at Darlington Raceway on May 9 and will return in the playoffs for his hometown race at the Charlotte Roval on Oct. 10. In conjunction with the announcement, Valvoline also unveiled its Darlington throwback scheme that Byron will pilot, which pays tribute to legendary driver Neil Bonnett.

48 Alex Bowman
Age: 28 (April 25, 1993)
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Resides: Concord, North Carolina
Crew Chief: Greg Ives
Standings: 14th

No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE

1.5-MILE STATS: Alex Bowman has 63 starts in the NASCAR Cup Series on tracks measuring 1.5-miles in length. The Ally-sponsored driver captured his first career victory at Chicagoland Speedway on June 30, 2019, after leading 88 laps. Bowman has seven top-five finishes, 17 top-10s and has led 458 laps total at 1.5-mile facilities. In his last seven appearances at these venues, he has four top-five results, which are tied for the most in that timeframe, and six top-10s, which are tied for second-most among drivers.

NO PLACE LIKE KANSAS: Bowman will make his 12th start at Kansas Speedway on Sunday afternoon. Last season, the Tucson, Arizona, native brought home an eighth-place result in the spring race and a fifth-place finish during the fall playoff race at the venue. The driver of the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE is tied for first with five drivers for the most top-10 finishes (four) at Kansas in the last five events and was the highest-finishing Hendrick Motorsports driver in three of the last four races there. Bowman has two top-five finishes, five top-10s and has led 76 laps at the 1.5-mile track. He made one start at the venue in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2013 and finished 11th at the end of the 200-lap event. Bowman made two Kansas starts in the ARCA Series and brought home the win in both races, including from the pole position in 2012.

START NO. 200: When the field takes the green flag on Sunday, Bowman will be making his 200th career NASCAR Cup Series start. Since his first race in 2014, the 28-year-old driver has three wins, 18 top-five results and 45 top-10s. Bowman has captured three pole positions, including two for the DAYTONA 500, with Hendrick Motorsports since 2016 and has led 925 laps total. Only four drivers have claimed a victory in their 200th start, with the most recent winner being Kevin Harvick in 2006.

2021 AT A GLANCE: After 10 races in 2021, Bowman has one win, two top-five finishes, four top-10s and one pole award (the DAYTONA 500). The No. 48 Ally team has spent 1,313 laps running inside the top 10 – the 12th-most in the series. Out of those laps, 649 have been inside the top five, which is eighth-most of current drivers. Bowman led the final 10 laps during the event at Richmond Raceway en route to his first short-track victory in the NASCAR Cup Series.

IVES IN KANSAS: Crew chief Greg Ives has called the shots 12 times at Kansas Speedway in the Cup Series. The Bark River, Michigan, native’s drivers have three top-five results, seven top-10s and have led 78 laps at the 1.5-mile facility. Ives’ best finish of second came in the spring of 2019 after the team rolled off fifth and led 63 laps. The crew chief’s résumé includes one top-five finish and two top-10s at the venue in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. In 2013, Ives’ driver led 81 laps en route to a third-place result at the facility. Ives was a race engineer for the No. 48 team at Hendrick Motorsports from 2006 until 2012. During that time, he was part of two wins, two pole awards and eight top-10 finishes at Kansas.

HOME-TRACK FEELS: The fueler for the No. 48 team, Jacob Conley, grew up approximately 204 miles from Kansas Speedway in Omaha, Nebraska. Conley went to Doane University in Crete, Nebraska, and graduated with a degree in sociology in 2012. While at the university, Conley played offensive tackle for the Tigers and was a starter during all four years of college.

PIT PERFORMANCE: Just 10 events into the 2021 season, the No. 48 pit crew continues to be the fastest in the NASCAR Cup Series based on average four-tire stop times. The five-man over-the-wall crew has an average four-tire stop time of 13.59 seconds. The team includes fueler Conley, tire carrier Allen Stallings, jackman Dustin Lineback and tire changers Scott Brzozowski and Devin DelRicco

KANSAS CHIEFS: Entering Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at the 1.5-mile Kansas Speedway, Hendrick Motorsports owns the track records for wins (seven), runner-up finishes (six), top-fives (36) and top-10s (66). Its average finish of 13.14 is the best of all teams.

RECENT HISTORY: In three of the last four Cup Series races held at Kansas, Hendrick Motorsports has placed three cars inside the top-10 finishers. In fact, the organization has placed at least three cars in the top 10 there on 14 different occasions. No other team has done it more than six times.

WE’RE STREAKING: At least one of Hendrick Motorsports’ Chevrolet race cars has finished inside the top 10 in each of the last 28 NASCAR Cup Series events – the longest active streak. Team Penske is second with top-10 results in the last seven races.

CHECK THE RECORD: Hendrick Motorsports is the winningest NASCAR Cup Series team on 1.5-mile tracks. It holds the all-time record with 62 victories on intermediates – nine more than next-best Joe Gibbs Racing.

INTERMEDIATE MASTERS: Thirteen different Hendrick Motorsports drivers have recorded at least one Cup Series victory on a 1.5-mile track. The list is led by seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson with 28 and four-time champ Jeff Gordon with 17. They are joined by Darrell Waltrip (three wins), Chase Elliott (two), Kasey Kahne (two), Terry Labonte (two), Ken Schrader (two), Alex Bowman, William Byron, Kyle Larson, Mark Martin, Casey Mears and Jerry Nadeau.

AFTER 10: Three different Hendrick Motorsports drivers have gone to victory lane in the first 10 races of 2021, marking only the eighth time in NASCAR Cup Series history a team has done so. Hendrick Motorsports also accomplished it in 2007 and 2009, while Joe Gibbs Racing did it in 2016 and 2019. Other teams with three different winners in the first 10 events: Roush Fenway Racing in 2005, Peter DePaolo Racing in 1957 and Carl Kiekhafer Racing in 1956. The earliest in a single season a team has won with four different drivers is race No. 12 by Hendrick Motorsports in 2007 and JGR in 2016.

TWO TO TIE: Hendrick Motorsports entered the 2021 season within striking distance of one of stock car racing’s most enduring achievements: Petty Enterprises’ all-time team record for NASCAR Cup Series victories. The legendary Petty organization captured the wins record from Carl Kiekhafer Racing more than 60 years ago when Lee Petty took the checkered flag at Orange Speedway on May 29, 1960, for the team’s 53rd victory. Its 268th and final win was delivered by driver John Andretti on April 18, 1999. Hendrick Motorsports has earned 266 points-paying Cup Series wins since Rick Hendrick founded the team in 1984 and currently needs just three to break the record at NASCAR’s highest level.

QUOTABLE /

Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, on 1.5-mile success: “I’m excited to get to Kansas. It’s a track I’ve run well at in the past. It seems I’ve always had speed there. Our Hendrick Motorsports Chevys have had really good speed on the mile-and-halfs this year, so that’s makes me even more excited to get there. Kansas is the track that I feel is the most similar to Las Vegas where we won earlier this year.”

Cliff Daniels, crew chief of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, on 1.5-mile success this year and characteristics of Kansas Speedway “Kansas is unique. It’s getting some age, which is interesting to say about Kansas since it’s new compared to other tracks. But while it has aged, it’s still relatively flat and not super bumpy, and that’s unique to the shape and geometry of the track. We have a strong intermediate program and there are some things learned this year that will apply this weekend at Kansas.”

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE on Kansas: “We had a pretty good run at Kansas last fall, so we should have some notes that we can bring back this weekend. Kansas is a track, to me, that just feels different compared to other mile-and-a-half tracks. With the way the corners are shaped and with it being progressively banked, the top side is going to become dominant and, in my opinion, those tracks typically put on good shows.”

Elliott on varying tracks coming up on the schedule: “We are looking forward to all the tracks coming up – new and old. It doesn’t matter to me where we go, where we race or what style of racetrack. I always enjoy the challenge of everything that comes with it and trying to run well. I feel like that’s how our entire team approaches it. We are looking forward to all these places coming up, especially with the diversity of tracks over the next month or so. We expect there to be challenges. We’ve certainly had some this year, but we look forward to trying to improve on all those things and make ourselves better as we go along.”

William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, on the racing at Kansas: “All 1.5-mile tracks are definitely not the same. Kansas is probably the most similar to Las Vegas but, even in that aspect, Kansas has less grip. It’s a very temperature-sensitive racetrack. You have to be able to run the bottom effectively but then be able to run the top lane just as strong the longer the race goes along. I think we were good in both races last year, but I think the June race was the best shot we have had at winning there. I’m excited to get back and see what we can do this time.”

Byron on his connection and success with crew chief Rudy Fugle: “Everyone talks about the drivers being the stars, but it takes more than just us to be successful. If you look at the top five or six teams, they’ve all been together with their crew chiefs and having success for multiple years now. It’s important to find those guys that can really click for you and that you can have success with long term. I feel like Rudy and I are just building the foundation for what is next to come when it comes to us working together. We’re in a really good place right now. We’re just starting to get our rhythm which is definitely a good thing for us. We have started the year strong and we’re only going to continue to build momentum from here.”

Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, on strong runs at Kansas: “Kansas is a track where I feel like we have a really good notebook. We have been great here in the past and our intermediate program at Hendrick Motorsports is strong. I feel like we always have a chance to win when we come here and that is credited to the No. 48 team. Last week didn’t end how we would have liked it to, so we are hoping for some redemption on Sunday.”

Greg Ives, crew chief of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, on what makes Kansas unique: “The ability to move around multiple grooves makes Kansas Speedway a track where we look forward to running. Goodyear does such a good job with the tire there. There is fall-off, and pit strategy definitely comes into play there. Do you short pit or go long? Unlike some tracks, I think all the drivers say that they can’t wait to get back to Kansas. Not like you can’t put any extra effort into races, but I think a lot of guys circle that on the calendar and think they can have a lot of fun there.”

Team Hardpoint EBM Ready for Dickinson’s Home Porsche Carrera Cup Race at Circuit of the Americas

By
Official Release
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Photos credit Sideline Sports Photography

Riley Dickinson and Efrin Castro Gunning for More Podiums In Rounds Three and Four of the Championship

AUSTIN, Texas (April 28, 2021) – Team Hardpoint EBM and drivers Riley Dickinson and Efrin Castro are ready for rounds three and four of the Porsche Carrera Cup North America this weekend at Circuit of the Americas, the home race for Dickinson and his Porsche Austin partner.

The weekend is a doubleheader for the championship, April 30 – May 2, with both 45-minute races on Sunday. The first is at 8 a.m. CDT, followed by a 3:05 p.m. CDT start for race two. Both can be streamed live on IMSA.tv.

For Dickinson, a New Braunfels, Texas, resident, it marks his first professional race experience at the track just 45 minutes from his home. He does have experience at the track, however, as a member of the Hill Country Region of Porsche Club of America and through test sessions – including this past week in the No. 53 Porsche Austin/Team Hardpoint EBM Porsche 911 GT3 Cup he’ll race this weekend.

“There’s nothing like having a home race,” Dickinson said. “Being able to sleep in your own bed is so nice, and the track is one of my favorites anyway. I’m really looking forward to it, because it is my first professional race at COTA. I did a test in the 991.2 Porsche Cup car in February of 2020 and I’ve worked with Hill Country PCA members as well. But being here for a Porsche Carrera Cup North America event is long overdue. It’s going to be a great week.”

The event was a late addition to the Porsche Carrera Cup calendar, replacing a scheduled May event at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Ontario, Canada. The trip north of the border was pulled from the schedule for logistical reasons amongst the current pandemic. The replacement allowed for a home race for both Dickinson, who scored a podium finish in the season-opening doubleheader at Sebring International Raceway, and his primary partner for the 2021 season in Porsche Austin.

“Adding this event is a nice addition for Porsche Austin,” Dickinson said. “Coming to COTA is something that we weren’t really expecting this year until the last minute. They’re very excited about it this event, as it’s their home race as well. This is the first real partnership they’ve had with a professional motorsports team, so it’s really special to be able to show them the paddock as part of Team Hardpoint EBM.”

Dickinson sits fourth in the championship standings overall and in the Pro class after the opening weekend, as does his teammate Castro in the Pro-Am standings. Castro and the No. 65 Fine Fare Supermarkets/GoDominicanRepublic.com Porsche 911 GT3 Cup scored a runner-up finish in the opener, narrowly missing the win.

Like his teammate, Castro had a successful test at Circuit of the Americas and will race for the first time as a professional at the track.

“I’m really looking forward to racing again,” Castro said. “We had a really great test here and the Team Hardpoint EBM guys helped me find the pace. It’s going to be really fun to race on a Formula One track. I think we have a chance for a good finish and we all really want to do well at my teammate Riley’s home race.”

Team Hardpoint EBM and the Porsche Carrera Cup North America field begin the weekend on Friday, April 30 at 8 a.m. CDT with the first of two Friday practice sessions. Qualifying takes place on Saturday, followed by Sunday’s 45-minute races. Both races can be seen live on IMSA.tv.

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.

Jak Crawford Ready to Launch Big 2021 Season

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Official Release
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FIA Formula 3 and Euroformula Open Championship Programs for Red Bull Junior

(28 April 2021) – Racing into Formula 1 is one of the biggest challenges in motorsport, but young American Jak Crawford is ready to take on the task, one race at a time.

And this season, there will be a lot of races. The Texas native will take on two different championships in 2021 as he deepens his European experience with two campaigns in two highly competitive categories.

Crawford, who moved to Europe more than a year ago to fully commit to his pursuit, will take the next steps up international open-wheel racing’s ladder this year. The 15-year-old Red Bull Junior Team driver is set to compete in both the FIA Formula 3 Championship for Hitech Grand Prix, and in the Euroformula Open Championship for Motopark.

The 2021 season will see Crawford race on several new tracks as he builds his racing resume, getting the chance to deliver results on the biggest platform of his career so far.

All seven rounds of the FIA Formula 3 championship will be staged as part of Formula 1 events in 2021, with three races each weekend. The F3 championship will close the season in Crawford’s home state at the Circuit of the Americas in October.

Having impressed in pre-season testing on board both the Euroformula Open and F3 machines, Crawford will get is first taste of competition this weekend as he travels to Portugal for the Euroformula Open season debut at the Autodromo Internacional Algarve in Portimao.

But the event will have an unusual schedule for Crawford, who will take part in the practice on Friday but will have to stand down on Saturday for qualifying and the two races. The regulations require that the drivers are 16 years old to compete. Fortunately for Crawford, his 16th birthday is on Sunday.

“I wish I could get to qualify and run the two races on Saturday, but I will just try to learn as much as I can from the pit wall and put it to use on Sunday in the race,” said Crawford. “I know Portimão from having tested there in the rain, so hopefully I can get off to a quick start on Friday and then be able to have a good race on Sunday.”

The 2021 Euroformula Open Championship will feature 24 races across eight weekends, utilizing the Dallara 320 platform with teams selecting between a range of engine options.

“Of course this is a big step up from F4, the car has way more downforce and it’s quicker,” said Crawford. “The car is light, so it’s fast. The F3 has a lot more power, and I enjoy driving them both so I think it’s going to be a great year.”

The following weekend, it’s off to Barcelona, Spain for the F3 opener, held in conjunction with the FIA Formula 1 World Championship. While Crawford is poised to race his way to the top of the sport, he’s long approached his career one race at a time.

“My goal as a kid was always to win the next race, that was what my dad always taught me,” said Crawford. “Other kids would say they wanted to be F1 drivers or IndyCar drivers, but I just have the goal to win my next race. It is not always possible in racing, but you still have to feel that way every time you strap down in a car. Winning makes everything else fall into place, so we will see what will happen in 2021!”

Crawford will look to see if he can keep making things fall into place starting this weekend.

To watch live, visit: https://www.euroformulaopen.net/en/.

Additional information:

https://jakcrawfordracing.com
https://www.fiaformula3.com
https://www.euroformulaopen.net/en/
https://www.redbull.com/int-en/juniorteam/drivers/jak-crawford

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