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CorvetteParts.net Season Schedule Announced with LFM

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Mooresville, N.C. (March 22, 2021) – Live Fast Motorsports rolls out today the team’s scheduled races with Keen Parts, under the CorvetteParts.net umbrella, on-board the No. 78 Ford Mustang for the 2021 NCS.

Between the team co-owner BJ McLeod, and Tom and Tj Keen, the partnership for the 2021 NCS is a continuation of a longtime relationship. The Corvette parts supplier has been a proud partner of McLeod’s team in the Xfinity Series, B.J. McLeod Motorsports, since their debut season in 2016.

The schedule for CorvetteParts.net in the 2021 NCS is as follows, with broadcast information noted in the graphic.

April 10 – Martinsville Speedway
May 9 – Darlington Raceway
Aug 22 – Michigan International Speedway
Sept 5 – Darlington Raceway
Sept 11 – Richmond Raceway
Oct 31 – Martinsville Speedway

Tom and Tj are no stranger to supporting drivers in NASCAR’s top series. 2021 marks ten years of the Keens sponsorship and involvement in the sport. Over the last five seasons, their company served as a primary partner at Go Fas Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series. The 2021 schedule announcement with Live Fast Motorsports finds McLeod and CorvetteParts.net both seeking to move forward throughout the season and continuing to grow together, as a new NCS team and a long-time partner to NASCAR.

“Racing season is upon us here at Keen Parts! Tom and I are super excited to be back with BJ in the Xfinity Series running four races with Ryan Ellis who we just think so much of and want to help him fulfill his desire to back in a race car,” said Tj Keen. “This year we are also teaming up with BJ, Matt Tifft and Joe Falk for six cup races which we are super excited to be a small part of this new and upcoming cup team. Working with BJ and his crew in the past, we have formed a friendship and knowing the crews makes it a lot easier integrating with a new team for Keen Parts. We cannot wait to be able to get back into the garage and to be a part of this new adventure.”

“Live Fast Motorsports is so excited to join the relationship with Keen Parts, continuing the relationship that BJ and Keen Parts have had over the years,” said team co-owner Matt Tifft. “The love and passion of racing and all things cars is something that Live Fast and Keen Parts share, which is what makes this partnership so fun. We cannot wait to run the 2021 season races with the #78 Mustang and Keen Parts together and look forward to success this year!”

CorvetteParts.net will make its first appearance on the No. 78 Ford Mustang with BJ McLeod behind the wheel at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday, April 10, 2021 at 7:30 p.m. ET live on FS1 and MRN radio.

About Live Fast Motorsports

Live Fast Motorsports is a single-car team based in Mooresville, N.C., competing in the NASCAR Cup Series. The team is co-owned by B.J. McLeod and former Matt Tifft. McLeod also serves as the team’s driver. Stay connected to the team on Twitter (@teamlivefast) and website www.teamlivefast.com.

About Keen Parts/CorvetteParts.net:

Keen Parts is a leading retailer of Corvette parts and accessories. With over thirty years of happy customers all over the world, they stock over 22,000 parts for Corvettes from 1953 to the present. If you own a Corvette, you’ll find the Corvette parts and accessories that you need. Give their knowledgeable Corvette staff a call at 1-844-Tom-Keen, visit CorvetteParts.net or stop by the shop located in Cleves, Ohio.

CHEVY NCS AT BRISTOL DIRT: Austin Dillon Teleconference Transcript

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Official Release
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NASCAR CUP SERIES
BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY
FOOD CITY DIRT RACE
TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
MARCH 23, 2021

AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 BASS PRO SHOPS/TRACKER OFF ROAD CAMARO ZL1 1LE, Press Conference Transcript:

I WAS TALKING TO KYLE LARSON AND I SAID ‘KYLE, TELL ME WHY YOU’RE NOT THE GUY THAT’S GOING TO WIN BRISTOL’. AND HE SAID, YOU’D BE REALLY SURPRISED – AUSTIN DILLON IS A GUY WHO COULD PROBABLY WIN. WHAT MAKES YOU GOOD AT THE BRISTOL DIRT TRACK?
“I think just dirt racing, in general, I’ve got a little bit of a background in it. From Eldora, winning the first Truck race there, I’d say that’s what he’s talking about. Kyle (Larson), he’s good at anything he gets in and I’m just glad that he mentioned me; that’s pretty awesome, really. It makes my day, so now I have to step-up and perform. Last weekend, I was able to win that crate race there in a late model and I think that was good experience, just to see the track. We were pretty dominate in all three of the races that we were in. I think from the knowledge side of things, I can probably do a pretty good job of getting what we need, when it comes to down to race time. 250-laps around a dirt track, you don’t really get that many laps on a track in a race on dirt. So, it’ll be a learning curve and I think we’ll be as prepared as anyone for it; that’s the one advantage, I think.”

DOES THE WEIGHT OF THE CARS PLAY INTO YOUR FAVOR?
“From sprint cars to late models, I definitely think there’s some experience there that helps. Kyle (Larson), he’s driving late models now and doing really well. He about won the big race this past weekend in the super. The weight in those late models, they drive so much different than our Cup cars or a truck. A truck, from what I know in the past, the history that I have in my mind is that they are heavier. You don’t really drive them, I would say, like a late model or a sprint car. Definitely the weight is the biggest thing in the difference in how you drive.”

“Side force, too, I’ll throw that in there. Our cars don’t have the bodies that the late models and sprint cars have wings; they’re just built a lot different to rely on downforce.”

LET’S GO BACK TO THE FIRST ELDORA RACE. YOU WIN THAT ONE AND I REMEMBER AFTER THE FIRST COUPLE OF PRACTICE SESSIONS, THERE WERE A LOT OF GUYS WHO DIDN’T PREP FOR THE RACE; THEY WERE COMPLETELY LOST. YOU WIN THAT RACE; YOU GO BACK IN 2014 – DID YOU SEE AN EVOLUTION IN HOW MUCH GUYS TOOK IT MORE SERIOUSLY OR STRIVE TO GET BETTER AT IT? DO YOU THINK THAT THE BRISTOL RACE IS GOING TO BE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT BECAUSE YOU DO SEE SO MANY GUYS DOING MODIFIEDS, LATE MODELS, JUST TO GET SOME DIRT EXPERIENCE?
“Yeah, the competition in the Cup Series is just, all-in-all, a higher level. I think it’s the highest form of motorsports; the best drivers in the world. All of them are doing their job, preparation-wise, off the track; running other cars that they aren’t comfortable running in, just to get on dirt and understand what the transition of the track is. There’s a lot of smart dirt crew chiefs out there, also, that people are probably bringing in trying to understand how they can make their cars drive better on dirt.”
“The biggest difference from 2014 – I just stepped in another truck and the difference between the truck we took the first time to the second time, there was a difference and we weren’t ever really able to find that feel that we had the first race around. So, going this time, I think there’s some guys obviously with less dirt experience that are going to be surprised; it’s just an experience thing. But there’s so many good race car drivers at the Cup level that have dirt experience, or some sort of dirt experience, that they’ll be able to lean on. Not many of the guys at this point at the Cup level, maybe a couple, that have not ever been on dirt. I think everybody has some sort of dirt racing experience at this point.”

ONE THING THAT I’VE HEARD CONSISTENTLY ENOUGH THAT ONCE THE TRACK TAKES ENOUGH RUBBER, IT MIGHT BE A SLOWER VERSION OF WHAT BRISTOL USED TO BE WHEN IT WAS KIND OF BOTTOMING-FEEDING, BUMP-AND-RUN. IS THAT KIND OF FAIR TO SAY?
“I think there’s definitely going to be a point where there’s going to be a dominate line everybody is going to be fighting for. The one thing, though, that I noticed at the dirt track last weekend was that you can kind of move around, momentum-wise, to find speed, which is nice. That’s what’s great about dirt racing. As the track goes through transitions, it’s always going to change. There might be a point in the race where, ultimately, you have to be on the bottom and you’ll be fighting for it. But the great thing about dirt racing is that the track is always changing. So, it’ll go through so many transitions throughout the race and that’s what’s cool about dirt racing. You have to be comfortable with change because it changes throughout the race and to be good at it, you have to search constantly. Even when you’re the leader, the leader is always kind of a moving target. They have to be comfortable; they can’t just get in a line and think that line is going to win them the race. We’re going 250 laps on a dirt track. After 25, the dirt track changes drastically with a lot of cars out on it. So, that’s the great thing about it. It’ll go through so many transitions and the team that is willing to change and move will be the best by the end of it.”

TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PRACTICE SESSION AT BRISTOL. YOU GUYS HAVEN’T HAD A LOT OF PRACTICE AND THAT IS CERTAINLY GOING TO BE AN UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT THAT NOBODY KNOWS WHAT TO EXPECT. AND THEN THE HEAT RACES, HOW DO YOU LOOK AT THE PRACTICE AND HEAT RACES?
“It will be nice to have some practice to just test and tune. I think the difference between an asphalt track and a dirt track is we have so many notes on things that we don’t do. A dirt track is where you can go to it with an open mindset and do things that you wouldn’t normally do to find speed and that’s what’s going to be fun for all of the crew chiefs, car chiefs and mechanics out there to really do things opposite. The thought process has to be so open-minded when we get there to the track. Not only are you worrying about the setup, but you’re worried about the car. Make sure the heights are right, you’re not rolling the nose under – there’s a lot of things that we do at a dirt track to just make the car go around the track. And then it might not always be like ‘hey, we needed just a little more wedge to be perfect’. It might be ‘we need more clearance so I don’t hit the track right here and get tight’. There’s a lot of fun stuff about the practice.”

“The heat races – they’ll be challenging. It’s a short amount of time and you’ll want to get as many passing points as you can. Your starting position matters at any type of racing level. The draw – I haven’t really looked into how that’s going to go down or where we start in the heat races yet. But I think the whole process is going to be fun. I was hoping we would go off of a regular race weekend and go off of the past race, because we would have a pretty good starting position after our run at Atlanta this past weekend, and I think starting up front would be really good for us. I’m not really worried about where we start in the dirt race because I feel like if you do your job and practice that you should be able to move forward through the race.”

“I watched the stock car race and I felt like the stock car race was probably one of the best races this past week when I was there at the Dirt Car Nationals, and that’s what I’m hoping you guys get to see from the Cup level. All the guys that are preparing the track – I’ve been in touch with some of those people, trying to just give feedback to give it the best show we can put on for all the fans out there. I think they’re prepared; I think the knowledge they gained form the Dirt Car Nationals last week will really go a long way when it comes down to it of what you see this coming week.”

ISN’T THAT HIT OR MISS THEN, IF PEOPLE ARE TRYING STUFF. AREN’T WE TALKING ABOUT HIT OR MISS ON THE PRACTICE WHEN IT COMES TO THE RACE AND THE HEAT RACES?
“For sure. There’s definitely going to be some guys that hit it or miss it; go forward or have to make some drastic changes to try and get the car better. But I think the biggest thing you’ll see, when it comes to movers or guys that are falling back, is the transition with the track is going to be the same. When somebody’s car is too tight at the beginning, they might be really good at the end. Somebody might be really fast at the beginning and really slow at the end. So, you’ll go through those transitions throughout the race. Somebody that doesn’t look good at the beginning and might just stay on the lead leap that, all of a sudden, just comes forward.”

KYLE LARSON SAID THAT YOU’RE A FAVORITE, BUT IT SEEMS GOING INTO THIS RACE, A LOT OF FOLKS OUTSIDE THE GARAGE HAVE SETTLED ON HIM AND CHRISTOPHER BELL AS THE TWO BIG FAVORITES. WITH THAT IN MIND, DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU’RE GETTING SHORT-CHANGED IN THAT CONVERSATION, THAT YOU SHOULD BE CONSIDERED THAT THIRD BIG FAVORITE? OR ARE YOU CONTENT PLAYING DARKHORSE GOING INTO IT?
“I feel like I’m playing that role a lot. It’s a good role to be in; like the spoiler side of it. But it does mean a lot to me that Kyle (Larson) said that. I really respect his opinion on a lot of things and his talent level, everybody talks about it in the media center. He’s a very talented driver, so for him to throw me in there means a lot and drives me to want to get after it even more this weekend than I already do.”

THE HIGH-BANKS ON THE BRISTOL DIRT, THE CONFIGURATION STANDS OUT. WHAT ARE SOME OTHER PARTS OF THIS TRACK THAT STRIKES YOU AS EITHER VERY SIMILAR OR VERY DIFFERENT FROM DIRT TRACKS THAT YOU’VE RACED IN THE PAST?
“Well, I think the dirt itself is interesting. The type of dirt they choose to lay down on Bristol is not a dirt that you see in the Midwest; it’s a sandy-dirt. When you really get into the dirt track racing world, you start talking about the type of dirt that you’re racing on and certain dirt puts on better races, and certain dirt goes through different transitions than the other. The good thing is that the dirt, I feel like, came from a track that I kind of grew up racing around and I kind of know the transitions and what it takes, I think, to create speed throughout the transitions that it’s going to go through. So, if anything, maybe that helps me. But it’s not a dirt that I believe you’re going to see a cushion built; it doesn’t do that. This stuff kind of creates a fluff and it gets up there; you can gain grip because it might be wet up there for a while, but it’s not something that you can use as a curb to catch you, which is different. And I’m glad that it came from around here because I feel like I’ve ran on it a lot and know when it has grip and when it doesn’t.”

Team Chevy high-resolution racing photos are available for editorial use.

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 75 countries with nearly 4 million cars and trucks sold in 2019. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found www.chevrolet.com.

Chandler Smith – No. 18 JBL Tundra Camping World Trucks Bristol Dirt Race Preview

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Official Release
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Chandler Smith: Driver, No. 18 JBL® Toyota

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Overview:
Event: Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt, Race 5 of 22, 150 Laps – 40/50/60; 75 Miles
Location: Bristol Motor (Tenn.) Speedway (half-mile dirt oval)
Date/Broadcast: March 27, 2021 at 8 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR 90

Mr. Smith Goes Dirt Racing:

  • Chandler Smith and the No. 18 JBL team tackle the dirt track at Bristol Motor Speedway in Saturday’s Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt. For Smith, who cut his racing teeth on pavement, it will be his first start in any on a dirt track. Knowing that he didn’t have any dirt experience, the 18-year-old rookie headed to Cherokee (S.C.) Speedway earlier this month and turned over 400 laps in a Sportsman Late Model in order to prepare for this race.
  • Smith will also get two 50-minute practice sessions on Friday and a 15-lap heat race on Saturday to dial in his JBL Tundra before Saturday night’s 150-lap race. While the lineups for the heat races will be determined by a random draw, the starting grid for the race will be determined by a formula that weighs finishing position plus positions gained during each heat race. Drivers finishing first in their heats earn 10 points, second place earns nine, third place earns eight and so forth. Additionally, drivers earn one passing point for each position gained in their heat; there are no points deductions or “negative points” for drivers who lose positions in their heats. One other noticeable difference you will see during Saturday’s race is that there will not be live pit stops. The only time that teams will be permitted to change tires, add fuel or work on their vehicles will be during the stage breaks. Scoring will be frozen during stage breaks, but those who elect not to pit will be scored ahead of those who elect to hit pit road during the break for the ensuing restart.
  • While this will be the first dirt race at Bristol Motor Speedway for the Camping World Truck Series, the series competed at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio from 2013 to 2019. Kyle Busch Motorsports captured two victories at Eldora. Darrell Wallace Jr. led a race-high 97 laps en route to victory in the 2014 event and Christopher Bell led a race-high 106 laps in his 2015 triumph. The truckers will race a second dirt race July 9 at Knoxville (Iowa) Speedway.
  • Smith is coming of a disappointing race at Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS) in Hampton, Ga. The Georgia native, who grew up racing on the quarter-mile track at AMS, suffered a parts failure in his first career NASCAR start at his home state track and after two trips to pit road to fix it under green-flag conditions was relegated to a 35th-place finish. The poor finish caused Smith to fall six spots to 11th in the Camping World Truck Series championship standings. He also fell to second in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings, where he trails Carson Hocevar by one point. Smith has been awarded the rookie of the race award in two of the four events this season.
  • The Toyota Development Driver has finished inside the top five in eight of his 20 career Camping World Truck Series starts, including a career-best runner-up finish at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway in 2019.
  • Veteran crew chief Danny Stockman will call the shots for Smith and the No. 18 team this season. Stockman led the No. 51 team to four wins in his first season atop the pit box at KBM in 2020. He came to the organization with experience as a crew chief in all three national series, including a Truck Series championship with Austin Dillon in 2011 and an XFINITY Series championship with Dillon in 2013. Stockman has crew chiefed one NASCAR dirt race, a fifth-place finish with Ty Dillon in the 2014 race at Eldora.
  • JBL, the authority in engineering superior sound, will be the primary sponsor for the No. 18 team this week at the Bristol dirt race and at the series next stop April 17 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway. Safelite AutoGlass – the nation’s largest provider of vehicle glass repair, replacement, and recalibration services – returns to Smith’s Tundra May 1at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City.

Chandler Smith, Driver Q&A:

Do you have any experience racing on dirt?
“I did a sportsman late model test down at Cherokee Speedway in South Carolina. I’m not sure what the specs are of the late model. I know that it is the same body style of the dirt super late model. It went really well. I loved it. I think it was a bad idea that I did it because I opened a new can of worms. I enjoyed it a lot.”

Have you and your crew chief talked about a strategy for Saturday’s race?
“We already talked about it. It’s going to be all about survival. Being there at the end, I feel like we will be in contention for the win.”

Do you have any expectations for this weekend?
“I just want to put together race. We’ve had some bad luck here the past few weeks I feel like. I’m looking forward to getting my No. 18 JBL Tundra back out front.”

Are you looking forward to having two practice sessions this week?
“Yes, I’ve missed practice. Once it gets taken away, it’s like everyone takes it for granted when it’s actually here and everybody wants it back. I am definitely looking forward to having practice.”

Chandler Smith Career Highlights:

  • Across 20 career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts has recorded 115 laps led, eight top-five and 10 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 13.6.
  • Posted an average finish of 7.7 across his final seven of 12 total Truck Series starts in 2020, including third-place finishes in the series finale at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway and his first career superspeedway start at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in October.
  • Produced three top-five and four top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 4.2 across his first four career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts in 2019. He led 55 laps and finished eighth in his Gander Trucks debut at Iowa Speedway last July and then posted top-five finishes in his final three starts, including a runner-up finish at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.
  • Has collected nine wins, 10 poles, 1761 laps led, 22 top-five and 29 top-10 finishes en route to an average finish of 5.2 across 33 career ARCA Menards Series starts. Set an ARCA Racing Series record by winning four consecutive poles to start his career and earned his first victory after leading a race-high 102 laps at Madison (Wis.) International Speedway in his fourth series start.
  • Chandler Smith’s No. 18 JBL Tundra:
  • KBM-25: The No. 18 JBL team will unload chassis number KBM-25 for Saturday’s Pinty’s Truck Race on dirt. In its most recent outing, Todd Gilliland won with this Tundra at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway in October of 2019. The truck has two other career wins, 2017 with Noah Gragson at Martinsville and 2016 at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Ill. with Christopher Bell. In its lone dirt outing, Gilliland finished fifth with KBM-25 in 2019 at Eldora Speedway.

KBM Notes of Interest:

  • KBM drivers have collected two wins, one pole, 302 laps led, six top-five and 12 top-10 finishes resulting in an average finish of 11.8 across 20 starts on dirt tracks, all coming at Eldora Speedway. Darrell Wallace Jr. led a race-high 97 laps en route to victory in the 2014 event at Eldora and Christopher Bell led a race-high 106 laps in his 2015 triumph.
  • KBM holds the Camping World Truck Series records for most career wins (82) and most wins in a single season (14 in 2014). With his victory at Las Vegas earlier this season, John Hunter Nemecheck became the 15th different driver to win a Truck Series event for KBM. In addition to collecting a series-record seven Owner’s Championships, the organization has produced two championship-winning drivers: Erik Jones (2015) and Christopher Bell (2017).
  • The No. 18, the number which was on the first Tundra that went to victory lane for KBM in 2010, has 21 career victories.

Wright Motorsports Takes Points Lead after Sebring Podium

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Official Release
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Team closes out triple race weekend with pair of second place finishes

BATAVIA, Ohio. (March 23, 2021) – On Saturday evening, Wright Motorsports wrapped up a busy race week at Sebring International Raceway, celebrating a second-place finish in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s Twelve Hours of Sebring. The day prior, the team made their Michelin Pilot Challenge debut, also netting a second-place result.

“All in all, it was a strong weekend for us,” said Team Owner John Wright. “It took a lot of work by everyone on the team to get the WeatherTech, Michelin Pilot, and Porsche Cup programs up and running for this weekend, and I’m proud of how well everything was executed. We had our challenges on track, but we earned some solid points in two of the championships.”

IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
For the second consecutive year, Jan Heylen captured the pole position in the No. 16 1st Phorm Porsche at the Twelve Hours of Sebring. The team showed dominant pace throughout the entire race as drivers Heylen, Patrick Long, and Trent Hindman worked through the driver rotation. Through fuel saving, competitive driving, and smart calls in pit lane, the Porsche showed itself to be a strong contender for all twelve hours of the race on the incredibly demanding course. Each of the three drivers had their turns at the front of the field, commanding the Porsche through multiple classes and lapped competitors, at one point, leading the field by over twelve seconds. In the end, after twelve tense hours, multiple full course caution periods, and several pit stop competitions later, the race for the lead came down to the final moments, just as it had the year prior. A late-race full course brought the field back together, ready to fight for a final sprint to the checker flag with less than 20 minutes to go. In the end, it was a battle of the Porsches, with the Wright Motorsports Porsche behind the Pfaff Motorsports machine. In the end, the Wright car finished second, giving the manufacturer a one-two finish, and catapulting the 1st Phorm car to the top of the GTD class point standings. The team also secured the win in the Michelin Endurance Cup, in which points are awarded at various race intervals throughout each of the four endurance races on the calendar. Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course will host the third round of the 2021 championship, which will also be the first sprint race of the season. The race will have a runtime of two hours and 40 minutes and only include the DPi, LMP3 and GTD classes.

Driver Quotes | No. 16 Porsche 911 GT3 R

Patrick Long
“It was a great end result. The final restart was timing with traffic. Once we got into clear air, I thought we had something to fight for the win with the Pfaff car but in the end, it was just where the traffic caught you. Ultimately, a Porsche one-two is a great result. It is awesome to get the Wright car up into the championship lead and push forward into the rest of the season.”

Jan Heylen
“That is a good result, and for the championship, it was a great race. At the end of the day, it was a good weekend. Of course, you always want to win and it doesn’t always come your way. Well-deserved for the nine-car. I am happy that one of the Porsches won. I want to thank Ryan [Hardwick] and the whole team for their support. I look forward to coming back and doing it again.”

Trent Hindman
“Huge ‘thank you’ to the Wright Motorsports team, Johnny Wright, Ryan Hardwick,1st Phorm and Mountain Motorsports for giving me the opportunity to run once again with these guys. It is an absolute pleasure. That was so close to a great result. We had a super-fast race car. At the end of the day, second puts these guys in a fantastic championship position. Of course, we always want to win but it is just good to see a Porsche upfront and to have Wright Motorsports in the hunt.”

Michelin Pilot Challenge
After an impressive qualifying session where he secured pole position by almost a full second in his Michelin Pilot Challenge debut, Max Root led the field to green on Friday morning. In the No. 16 1st Phorm Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport, he wasted no time in pulling away, leading his entire stint with no pressure from behind. He finished his run and passed the driving duties off to Jan Heylen, joining in second behind Bill Auberlen, but quickly passing to take the lead back from the BMW. He held position to the final rounds of pit stops, and rejoined in the top three, as the cars ahead of him decided not to make a second stop for fuel. With five minutes remaining, Heylen pushed forward in second place, and the race leading No. 71 Camaro began to have issues, dropping oil over the track, forcing Heylen to slow and take extra caution to avoid any calamity. Although the competitor was given a mechanical black flag, meaning the car had to pit, it stayed out and took the checker flag in first place. No post-race penalty was assessed, and the Wright Motorsports entry finished second. The podium result in the team’s first Michelin Pilot Challenge race rewarded the team with a solid points weekend, offering momentum to take to the next event. Round three of the two-class series will take the competitors to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, May 15th, where full-season driver Ryan Hardwick will resume his driving duties alongside Heylen.

Driver Quotes | Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport

Jan Heylen
“I am disappointed we didn’t win the race, obviously. We led most of the race and it looked like we were going to come out on top. We saw toward the end that the Camaro was going to go long [on a fuel stint] without making an extra stop. It was a good effort on their part. Certainly not something that was in the cards for us. At the end we started chasing them and I think we still could have won the race but the Camaro started spitting oil. I lost the car at three big moments behind them, almost going off track as they were dumping oil. It wasn’t worth the risk to get too close to them and potentially damage our race and the result. So we just hung back there. Good points for the championship. I’m very happy to have done the race with Max, and happy to be on the podium with him.”

Max Root
“It was a good race. I had a strong opening stint. The Wright boys set up the car pretty amazing. I handed it off to Jan and he did a great stint there. I think we did everything we could. Thank you to everyone at Porsche and Wright Motorsports.”
Porsche Carrera Cup North America
While no podiums were secured in the debut of the Porsche Carrera Cup North America, each driver made a strong debut, despite moments of attrition. Hutton McKenna earned a top ten finish in the inaugural event while racing a livery that paid homage to the Alex Job Racing Porsche his dad raced in the 2000s. The young racer was able to consistently improve over the course of the weekend and will surely prove to be a competitive force in the one-make series as the season progresses.

Pro-Am driver John Goetz also kicked off his first race of the Porsche Carrera Cup North America well, earning a fifth-place finish in the Pro-Am class. While his second race didn’t go as planned, Goetz and the No. 57 Porsche still had a strong debut and will look to be a contender in the next rounds.

Although he had a strong pre-race performance and solid starting position for race one, Max Root fell victim to a punctured tire at the start, which immediately deflated and caused a spin. Another competitor collected his car as the field drove by, resulting in Root being unable to finish the race. In race two, his poor luck continued when another competitor drove across the nose of his car, removing the car’s splitter. Further damage occurred upon trying to recover, and the No. 7 retired from the race.

The next round of the 2021 Porsche Carrera Cup North America is slated to held May 20-23, pending any changes to the IMSA schedules that may occur. To stay up to date on all the latest news and information, visit wrightmotorsports.com to subscribe to our distributions.

Driver Quotes

John Goetz
No. 57 Porsche GT3 Cup
“It was wonderful to part of the excitement of the first Carrera Cup North America race. I didn’t have the best of runs and I’m still adapting to this new machine. It is a great new Cup car that clearly has potential. Thanks to the Wright team for their great support and quick mechanical work. And thanks to my teammates Hutton and Max for great conversations about the car and driving.”

Hutton McKenna
No. 88 Porsche GT3 Cup
“I can’t thank the Wright Motorsports team enough for their support in my first Carrera Cup race. The car is very dialed in, and I only hope to advance in the field as the season goes on.”

Max Root
Moorespeed-Wright Motorsports No. 7 Porsche GT3 Cup
“It was a tough weekend to start out the first round here. I definitely learned a lot, and I’m grateful for the team for putting everything together and keeping us quick while we were on track. I’m looking forward to the next one. Thank you to everyone on the team for all their hard work. .”‌

1st Phorm
1st Phorm is a sports nutrition company based in St. Louis, MO. In 2009, CEO Andy Frisella and his business partner Chris Klein started the brand, and since then, it has become the fastest growing supplement company in the world. 1st Phorm has set the standards in the industry for quality and helping people reach their goals. This new racing partnership is not their first time in the exotic car scene either. 1st Phorm has been the title sponsor for the Gold Rush Rally for six years running. With over a million followers across social media, 1st Phorm has amassed a huge cult-like following known as, “The Legion of Boom.” They stand for a movement in the fitness world. To turn it back to what it was meant to be. Helping others improve their lives, to be a good human… and to drop the excuses and do the work. 1st Phorm is a winning brand and they don’t expect anything less when it comes to their race team. For additional info: www.1stphorm.com

Mountain Motorsports
Mountain Motorsports is a group of motorcycle and powersports dealerships with multiple locations in the southeastern United States. The company was founded by lifelong friends Ryan Hardwick and Justin Price when they opened their first location as a single-line Honda dealership in Sevierville, Tennessee in 1999. The company has since grown into one of the largest retailers of motorcycle and powersports vehicles in the nation, spanning nine dealership locations representing eleven of the industry’s most well-known brands. For additional info: www.mountainmotorsports.com

Una Vida Tequila
Una Vida translates to One Life. That is how this brand started. By people who want to live their “One Life” to the absolute fullest and to their highest potential. A group of guys from the Midwest who love great quality tequila, and want their One Life to have meaning and impact others.

One Life, One Tequila is our CORE BELIEF. We’re building the only tequila brand you will ever need to drink. Una Vida is bigger than just tequila we’re also building a culture of people who want to live their life to their utmost potential.

Our story begins and continues to grow bottle by bottle. It’s a life mission for us to create a community of people who all raise a glass knowing they’re living their ONE LIFE! For more information, visit unavidatequila.com

Wright Motorsports
Wright Motorsports is the premier Porsche race engineering facility in Ohio and a multi-series, international racing team known for superb car preparation, expert race strategy and driver development. Located in Batavia, Ohio, it is owned and directed by John Wright, a certified Porsche factory-trained technician. As a crew chief John Wright has played a key role in winning eight driver and seven team championships in World Challenge, IMSA (ALMS) and the Grand-Am Rolex Series. Wright Motorsports won the team championship in Porsche GT3 Cup USA in 2012, 2013 and 2015, and went on to win the Pirelli World Challenge Overall, Sprint, Team and Manufacturer’s titles in 2017. The 2020 season will see the team return to IMSA Weathertech SportsCar Championship. For more information, visit wrightmotorsports.com

JEFF DYER HEADS TO MOJAVE VALLEY RACEWAY FOR POWRi SOUTHWEST LIGHTNING SPRINT CAR NATIONALS!

By
Official Release
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(March 22, 2021, Yucca Valley, CA) After a weekend off from racing, Jeff Dyer will be back in the cockpit this coming Friday and Saturday nights, March 26th and 27th, for the POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Nationals at Arizona’s Mojave Valley Speedway.  It will be the series and Dyer’s first ever time on the racy high-banked 1/3-mile banked clay oval located minutes from the Colorado River.

For Dyer, who celebrated his 38th birthday this past Saturday, it will be his second Lightning Sprint Car race of 2021.  On March 13th, the Yucca Valley, California based driver contested the California Lightning Sprint Car Series season opener at the Bakersfield Speedway.  On that night, things started bright enough when he was the sixth fastest qualifier in the 20-car field.  He backed that up with a third-place finish in his eight-lap heat race.  Early in the 25-lap main event, Dyer turned in the sixth fastest lap of all the competitors in the entire race and he looked to be a contender for the win.  However, all hopes dissipated on the fifth lap when his steering box broke ending his night with a disheartening 15th place finish. Jeff Dyer last weekend with the birthday gift he got from his wife Christina, baby goat Chad.

Twenty-four hours before the CLS race at the Bakersfield Speedway, Dyer raced on the other side of town in the USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series opener on the Dirt Track at Kern County Raceway Park.  Pitting his 360-sprint car in a field dominated by more powerful 410’s, the likeable racer performed very well.  He qualified 24th in the 30-car field and led the first eight-laps of his heat race, before finishing fourth to earn his ticket into the main event.  He started 22nd in the 30-lapper and advanced forward to a 14th place finish.  Unfortunately, he hurt the engine in the car, and it will be sidelined for the next few USAC/CRA races.

Dyer will not be the only member of the family racing this week.  On Saturday, his teenage son Seth will be competing in his GM powered Speedway Sprint Car at Wheel2Wheel Raceway on the San Bernardino County Fairgrounds in Victorville.  Dyer’s brother, John Nelson, will be Seth’s crew chief for the race. 

For Fans who would like to attend this weekend’s races in Arizona, the spectator gates will open at 6:00 p.m. with racing at 7:00 on Friday.  On Saturday night, gates will open at 5:00 p.m. with racing at 6:00.  The track is located at 2550 Laguna Road in Fort Mojave (86440).  The track website is https://www.mohavevalleyraceway.com/ and the office phone number is (928) 346-3000.  In addition to the Lightning Sprints, the Western States Dwarf Car Nationals and IMCA Northern Sport Mods will be in action both nights.

Throughout the 2021 campaign, Dyer will be racing in memory of his grandfather, Glenn Sels. 

Dyer Motorsports would like to thank the following sponsors for making the 2021 racing season possible.  John Springstead Racing, T Shirts By Timeless, LDS Investigations, Hair Cuts by Susie and Amsoil.  If you would like to be a part of the team in 2021, call or send an E-mail to the contact information at the top of this page. 

SOUTH BOSTON SPEEDWAY GM CATHY RICE HONORED WITH FIRST-EVER LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD BY HALIFAX COUNTY CHAMBER

By
Official Release
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South Boston Speedway General Manager Cathy Rice received a big surprise when she opened a gift bag containing the Halifax County Chamber of Commerce’s Lifetime Achievement Award during the chamber’s annual awards event on Thursday, March 18. Photo Courtesy Joe Chandler/South Boston Speedway

By Joe Chandler

Public Relations Director, South Boston Speedway

South Boston, Va…..Service to the South Boston-Halifax County, Virginia community has taken several forms for South Boston Speedway General Manager Cathy Rice.

As a school bus driver, as an EMT with the Cluster Springs Volunteer Fire Department and the Halifax County Rescue Squad, as a member of community organizations and through her efforts in making South Boston Speedway a gem among NASCAR’s short tracks, Rice has made many contributions to her community.

The Halifax County (Virginia) Chamber of Commerce honored Rice Thursday night March 18 for her many contributions to the community and her achievements by presenting her the chamber’s first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award.

“This is the first time we have given a Lifetime Achievement Award, and with Cathy’s pending retirement our nomination committee felt there was no better honor than to honor her with a Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Halifax County Chamber of Commerce President Mitzi McCormick.

“Cathy has done so much for our community, not just at South Boston Speedway, but by serving on our chamber board and the (county) tourism board. She has been a member of the South Boston Rotary Club for a number of years and has participated on subcommittees there and served on the executive committee. She has been involved in so many capacities.”

McCormick noted that when people think about South Boston Speedway, they also think about Rice.

“Cathy has been the mainstay there, and she needs to be honored for that,” McCormick remarked.

“South Boston Speedway contributes to our quality of life. Cathy has done a great job to make sure that our speedway has remained viable through the years, through the pandemic and into years to come.”

The award came as a complete surprise to Rice, who watched the chamber’s annual awards ceremony online at the speedway with speedway staff members.

“I was shocked,” Rice said.

“This is a great honor, and I thank the chamber’s nomination committee, chamber members and everyone involved for this honor.”

Rice, who will be stepping down as the speedway’s general manager at the end of the year, said one of the biggest things she has tried to create and foster throughout her 21 years as the speedway’s GM is a family atmosphere.

“I’ve always said from Day One when you walk through the gates at South Boston Speedway, I want you to feel like you’re at home,” Rice pointed out.

“We’re from such a small county that everybody knows everybody. This is a family sport. We have worked hard over the years to create a family-friendly atmosphere for both our fans and the competitors that race here at South Boston Speedway. That family atmosphere is something we will always strive to have here at South Boston Speedway.”

South Boston Speedway and Pocono Raceway CEO Nick Igdalsky was among those that watched the Chamber of Commerce’s annual awards online. Igdalsky was happy to see Rice receive the award.

“Cathy absolutely deserves this honor, and I am so happy for her,” Igdalsky said.

“I am so proud of Cathy and what she has accomplished through the years, and especially the 17 years I have worked with her! Everyone in racing knows that coming in first is the ultimate prize, so it makes it even more special knowing that she was the first person ever to receive this honor in Halifax County.”

The latest news and updates about South Boston Speedway and its racing events can be found on the new South Boston Speedway website at www.southbostonspeedway.com and on the speedway’s social media channels. Fans can also subscribe for e-mail updates on the speedway’s website.

What People Love to Do While Traveling

By
SM
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Photo by Andreea Chidu on Unsplash

When growing up as little children, the travel journey from one point to another used to be an excruciatingly impatient one. “Are we there yet?” is the funny line that every kid would sing in the car. But fast forward into adulthood, where that mere 5 minutes on the toilet seat feels like a relaxing moment to yourself. 

Every second does count in this fast-paced life that we live in. So, traveling feels like a moment to relax and unwind while you let your journey and destination embrace you in all its glory. Let’s take a moment to give Kristoffer Haagensen credit, an incredible asset to this analysis. If you’re looking for an expert that can sum up everything associated with traveling and its highlights, his content is what every traveler should look out for.

The tourism industry makes up the most significant part of the global economic sector, with tourism making up 10% of its gross domestic product. In this piece, we look into some of the entertaining things that people get up to while traveling and also explore fun ideas that you may not have known. Read along and, who knows, maybe you’ll end up with some great ideas in what to add to your “To-Do List.”

Gambling

More and more gamblers are gravitating towards online casinos over the years simply because of their convenience and ability to assist players in exploring various gaming avenues in the comfort of their own homes. Players now seek guidance on sites such as beste norske casino to find some of the best online Norwegian casinos. No matter the way, gamblers will always find a way to make it work.

But what about travelers? Many travelers still find a travel casino experience as a must to add to their “To-Do List.” Travelers add to their social experience by spending a night out with the gang and feel the excitement and thrill that comes with a land-based casino rendezvous.

Whatever the plan, adding a visit to the casino is an essential pitstop to any travel experience.

Sightseeing

Sightseeing is all about visiting interesting places located in specific areas, such as the Pulpit Rock and the Lofoten Islands in Norway. Travelers can take advantage of this activity while traveling from point A to point B or exploring the actual destination itself. Either way, beauty is always in the eye of the beholder, and finding something unique about a place outside of the home is not that difficult.

Testing Your Palette

Food is important while on holiday. Anything novel and new tastes fantastic, so why not try out different cuisines and test your palette with traditional meals such as pickled herring and lutefisk and other foods that one can find while on holiday. Travelers have the chance to learn the history of certain foods and ingredients that make up a plate, and through this have the opportunity to understand the culture.

Traditional markets, small business food hotspots, and cuisine restaurants have a vibe of their own. Either way, no travel experience is complete without trying something new and tasting the local food.

Taking Photographs

Travelling is about fun and memories. Photographs store those special moments so you can have something beautiful to reflect on in the future.

A Night Out

We have to mention the likes of Norwegian nightclubs such as Bla and Stratos. We’ve already addressed the casino visit, but no night out is complete without visiting the big local nightclubs. It’s all about drinks, good music, and great company where groups come together and have a fun night out to remember and find out how to find someone on venmo.

Extra-Ordinary Activities

This is more to do with the travelers that are seeking to check off their bucket list. On this list, we find crazy and outrageous activities that individuals wish to do, such as bungee jumping at Trolljuv Bridge, mountain climbing at Stetind, shark diving, and some fear-facing stuff that people wouldn’t normally do on an average day.

Whatever the task, why not test your limits? 

Meeting With the Locals

Many communities worldwide have successfully managed to preserve their heritage, giving traveling tourists something to discover. Every location has a history that makes it stand out from the rest. 

Meeting with the locals gives travelers a memorable experience with that location. Take advantage of that and, if possible, submerge yourself fully by wearing their local attire and participating in traditional fun activities such as dances.

Conclusion

No matter the personality, there’s always something fun and exciting to do when traveling. Whether you indulge in some local delicacies, go out on the town, sightsee, take photos, or hit the local casino, traveling somewhere new is always exciting. Research your activities and be ready for a memorable experience.

Why Scottsdale Leads Arizona in Windshield Replacements

By
SM
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Photo by Don Stouder on Unsplash

Being just a little biased, I was disappointed in the 2020 study of “Best and Worst Places to Retire,” published by the personal finance website Wallethub.com. In this most recent report, Scottsdale dropped from the third to the sixth-best place to retire behind four cities in Florida and Charleston, South Carolina. I’m a bit of a weather snob who detests humidity but loves the dry heat and prefers the desert Southwest to anywhere else in the world, so I’ll stay right here. And, oh, by the way, Scottsdale ranked second in the “quality of life” metric to only Fremont, CA. More on California in a moment. 

In this most bizarre of years, it seems there are a lot of like-minded people around the country.

The ScottsdalePopulation Explosion – Continues

With more than 265,000 residents in 2021, Scottsdale achieved its highest population ever, growing by over 22% since the 2010 census. During the ongoing pandemic, Scottsdale was the top city in the U.S., with 68% more people moving in than moving out. Where did they all come from? People exited more populated states, with a higher spread of COVID-19, such as New York, California, and Illinois. California alone saw 64% more people relocate out of state. It seems they all moved to Scottsdale – driving up home prices in the Valley by 11.7% in the past year. It hasn’t been unusual for certain highly desirable areas to see home prices go up by more than 20% – 30%. 

Scottsdale’s Quality of Life & Activities

In addition to “Quality of Life,” Scottsdale also scored very well on the “Activities” metric in the Wallethub study. Without exhibiting too much prejudice, I challenge the finding that any of the cities ranked ahead of Scottsdale have over 200 golf courses, access to the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, the charm of Old Town, and our unique activities:

  • Although CDC guidelines prevail this year, the Waste Management Open was played – albeit to a socially-distanced, mask-wearing, limited crowd. 
  • The Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auto Auction will also take place with some limited access and temperature readings upon entry. 
  • Spring training will come to the Salt River Fields, although occupancy will be restricted and masks required.

Scottsdale’s Sunny Skies and Warm Temperatures

We enjoy nearly three hundred days per year of the sun in Scottsdale. All the better to hit the links or the many hiking trails and take in a Spring Training game. The combination of sunny days and warm Spring temperatures adds to Scottsdale’s allure, referred to as the “Most Livable City in the U.S.” for years by the City Council. 

In 2020 it was Scottsdale’s Sunny Skies and Searing Temperatures

Unfortunately, those warm Spring days can turn into searing Summer temperatures. That phenomenon was certainly in evidence in the record-setting heat wave of 2020. Consider the following, July was the hottest month ever in the Valley, only to be outdone by August, the new hottest month ever with an average temperature of 99.1°. Other fun facts about last summer in Arizona:

  • 172 days at 95° plus, a new record.
  • 145 days at 100° or more, a new record.
  • 102 days at 105° plus, a new record.
  • 53 days at 110° or more – 110° plus is really hot even in the dry heat. A new record.
  • 14 days at 115° plus – what can we say other than it was a new record, and it was hot.

Even for the most devout desert-dwellers, 110° or more is hot. At 110°, the inside of a car can reach 160° – 170° or more, and the combined effect of sun and heat can wreak havoc on your auto glass. Perhaps that’s the reason Arizona leads the country in windshield replacement – and why Scottsdale leads Arizona in auto glass repair. 

The excessive sun and heat in Scottsdale, nearly every other day throughout the year, put your auto glass at considerable risk.

Scottsdale Risk Factors for Windshield Replacement

In 2015 the local Fox News channel did a piece on “Arizona Leading the Nation in Auto Glass Repairs” and coined a favorite phrase about state highway 101, “it’s like driving through an asteroid belt.” Highway 101 is the primary semi-beltway that runs through Scottsdale, connecting I-17 in the north and west to 202 in the south and east. 

Photo courtesy of Arizona Republic

The 101 features some of the state’s most creative Native American artwork on its retaining walls and an endless supply of rocks, stones, and gravel along its roadways. Note the photo above; almost as prevalent as the artwork are rocks, a lot of rocks ready to be projected at your windshield. 

Other factors contributing to Scottsdale’s auto glass dilemma include our seemingly endless number of construction projects, both residential and on our roadways. All those transplants in 2020 need places to live and more traffic lanes to ease congestion. In Scottsdale, construction equals debris and more fodder for windshield projectiles. 

We also have more than our fair share of big rigs adding to the nearly 200,000 vehicles on 101 each day. Follow an oversized vehicle too closely, and your odds of needing a windshield replacement increase exponentially. 

An informal and unofficial survey indicates that the 101 in Scottsdale has more debris falling from construction vehicles (or landscaping pickup trucks) and more torn and shredded tires on the pavement during the summer months than any highway in the U.S. 

What to Do in Scottdale When Your Windshield is Damaged 

Note, we didn’t say if your windshield is damaged in Scottsdale. If you drive in Scottsdale long enough, and a damaged windshield joins death and taxes as a sure thing. Although fourteenth in population, Arizona leads the nation in windshield insurance claims. 

A major issue compounding windshield damage in Scottsdale is the propensity for any chip or ding to rapidly expand due to our heat, cracking, or shattering the windshield to where a replacement is necessary. The prudent thing to do with any glass damage in Scottsdale is to contact an experienced, reputable, and local auto glass company such as SunTec Windshield Replacement Scottsdale.

Why SunTec Windshield Replacement?

Experience in the industry should be one of your first considerations in selecting an auto glass company. Professional local companies, like Scottsdale’s SunTec, have been online for long periods of time and understand the state process for auto glass repairs. Fraudulent windshield claims are a significant issue in Arizona, so a reputable company is paramount to ensure you and your insurance provider get what you pay for. Scottsdale’s sun and heat present unique challenges in the materials and adhesives required for a windshield replacement. SunTec is locally owned and operated, with technicians who are trained specifically for Arizona windshield installations.

SunTec services in Scottsdale include:

  • Mobile service anywhere in the Valley – often the same day as requested, and never a service charge.
  • SunTec technicians are experienced in more than just windshields and can handle any auto glass repair. We also do window tinting.
  • SunTec is a preferred partner of the insurance companies in Arizona – we handle the entire process for you.
  • SunTeconly uses OEM and OEM Equivalent glass and materials to ensure a perfect fit and finish for your vehicle.
  • SunTec offers cashback rebates for those with comprehensive insurance – and the best prices in the market for those without glass coverage.

Hopefully, this information will help Scottsdale drivers stay safe and reduce their auto glass and vehicle repairs. Avoid freeways in many areas of Scottsdale if you can and know what to look for in a local professional windshield replacement company.

Things to note for the first time NASCAR fans

By
SM
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Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

The NASCAR or National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a governing body that sanctions and control stock racing within America, Europe, and Mexico. Stock car racing as a sport is popular among several people. Each year NASCAR events pull in hundreds of thousands of people within their large racing community. If you want to be a part of this action, you must learn the sport’s intricacies from here. If you want to find more information about this Click here,

Quick cheats about NASCAR rules

The series: NASCAR has its three top series. The Cup Series is where the big star race, cars weigh 3,450 pounds, and the engine horsepower(hp) is 850. Next is the Xfinity Series. The Xfinity cars weigh 3,400 pounds with 750hp. The last one is the Camping World Truck series with pickup trucks with 750hp.

The flags: NASCAR races have several flags, but they are not just for show. Each flag has a unique purpose and basic knowledge of each flag will help you understand what each one means during a race.  

  • The green flag is used to start or restart the race.
  • The yellow flag is used by the officials to state that the field is unsafe for driving.
  • The red flag is used to stop the drivers when the weather conditions are unsafe or the track conditions are unsafe.  
  • The black flag is used to send a driver to the pits.
  • The blue with yellow diagonal strip tells a driver to give way for a faster lead lap car.
  • The white flag is a signal that the leader has one lap left.
  • The checkered flag identifies that the race is over after the leader passes the start-finish line.

How to prepare yourself for a NASCAR event

These races are generally filled with thousands of people, and they last for several hours. This is why you need to get yourself prepared for race day. Seasoned fans already know from experience, but since you are new, here are some preparation tips to help you fit in better.

  • Get binoculars for better viewing. They will come in handy to see the field better from far distances.
  • If you like to see the action much closer and get good pictures of it, you should bring along a good camera with a long lens.
  • Get earplugs. These races are generally noisy so use protections to dull the noise.
  • Bring along a raincoat because umbrellas are not allowed. They will come in handy for wet weather.
  • Prepare yourself for the weather.
  • Use sunscreens and shades. If the event is held in the summer, the weather conditions can get harsh. Protect yourself.
  • You may need a seat and backrest cushion to enjoy the race.

Tips to becoming a true fan

  • Watch as many NASCAR races as you possibly can.
  • Learn about all of the drivers and select your favorite ones.
  • Learn about the commercial partners of NASCAR and the drivers.
  • Pick up the language of the race, it’s complicated at first, but you’ll eventually get the concept.
  • Accustom yourself to sitting five to six hours just to watch the race.
  • Get involved in the community, join clubs, sites, and boards and get a fan club feel.

NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Atlanta

By
Jeffrey Boswell
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Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images.

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin finished fourth at Atlanta, posting his fifth top-five of the season.

“I accidentally sent Kurt Busch into the wall on a restart,” Hamlin said. “Hopefully, Kurt will understand that just as I had no intentions of wrecking him, I have no intentions of apologizing.”

2. Kyle Larson: Larson swept the first two stages at Atlanta, but couldn’t hold off Ryan Blaney, who passed Larson with eight laps to go. Larson held on for second and is second in the points standings.

“I did everything but win,” Larson said. “It hurts. Luckily, I have a crew chief in Cliff Daniels who will let me complain all I want. And he also knows that when I’m done, the last three words I want to hear are, ‘I hear you.'”

3. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex finished ninth at Atlanta, joining Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch in the top 10.

“We’re off to Bristol for the next race,” Truex said. “I don’t think anyone really knows how it will turn out. It could be a circus, or it could be the greatest show on ‘earth.'”

4. Joey Logano: Logano finished 15th at Atlanta.

“Xfinity drivers Noah Gragson and Daniel Hemric traded punches after their race on Saturday,” Logano said. “I’m not sure if either really connected, but if Tim Richmond was alive today, he would surely give them credit for ‘swinging.'”

5. Brad Keselowski: Contact with Martin Truex Jr. damaged the front of Keselowski’s No. 2 Penske Mustang and Keselowski limped home with a 28th-place finish.

“I’m in the middle of contract renewal negotiations with Penske Racing,” Keselowski said. “Roger Penske has assured me he wants me to stick around, so much like my performance at Atlanta, ‘I’m not going anywhere.'”

6. Ryan Blaney: Blaney passed Kyle Larson with eight laps to go and pulled away to win the Folds Of Honor Qwik Trip 500 by over two seconds.

“I gave the checkered flag to a young fan in the stands,” Blaney said. “That’s something he’ll treasure for the rest of his life, or, at the very least, as long as the funds from its sale on eBay will last.”

7. Kevin Harvick: Harvick finished 10th at Atlanta despite having to make a green flag pit stop due to a flat tire.

“Tony Stewart is engaged to NHRA drag racer Leah Pruett,” Harvick said. “When she walks down the aisle, it will be ¼-mile long. If you would have mentioned ‘tying the knot’ to Tony 10 years ago, he would have adamantly refused to undergo lap-band surgery.”

8. Chase Elliott: Elliott’s engine blew 220 laps into the Folds Of Honor Qwik Trip 500. He finished 38th.

“When NASCAR’s most popular drivers blow an engine,” Elliott said, “it’s a big deal. When he does it in his home state of Georgia, it sends shock waves throughout the sport. And the sound it makes is ‘GA boom!'”

9. Christopher Bell: Bell finished 21st at Atlanta, only his second result outside of the top 10 this season.

“My Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch won the Trucks Series race on Friday night,” Bell said. “That was his 60th Trucks win. That means that 60 times, Kyle won a race against inferior competition that he was supposed to.”

10. William Byron: Byron came home eighth at Atlanta as Hendrick Motorsports placed three cars in the top 10.

“NASCAR used COVID-19 sniffing dogs to test team members at Atlanta,” Byron said. “It may very well be the first time anyone at a NASCAR race has passed the ‘smell test.'”

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