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Sioux Chief Showdown Gets New Look

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Official Release
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2021 Showdown Set to Kick Off May 22 at Toledo Speedway 

Toledo, Oh. (March 12, 2021) – During MAVTV’s live broadcast of Friday’s General Tire 150 at Phoenix Raceway, the Automobile Racing Club of America and Sioux Chief Manufacturing unveiled a new logo for the Sioux Chief Showdown, ARCA’s “Series within the greater ARCA Menards Series” for 2021.  

The new Sioux Chief Showdown logo represents a modernized look, updated from the original “Short Track Challenge” logo that carried over prior to 2020, when the Showdown was formed upon inclusion of the ARCA Menards Series East and West into the overall ARCA Menards Series platform. 

“The new logo symbolizes an evolution and extension of the original series,” stated Joe Ismert, President of Sioux Chief Manufacturing. “The partnership with ARCA, Menards, and NASCAR has been tremendous. Last year the series went coast to coast and allowed ARCA Menards East, West, and Premier series drivers and teams to compete at 10 select races as the series became the Sioux Chief Showdown. We are proud to likewise unveil a new logo for the series.” 

The Sioux Chief Showdown is a 10-race championship designed to allow drivers not eligible to run the entire ARCA Menards Series the chance to race for a championship. Showdown events are held at oval tracks one mile in length or shorter and road courses. Drivers must be 18 or older to run at most tracks larger than one mile, while drivers as young as 15 can compete on oval tracks one mile in length and under and road courses. Sioux Chief’s involvement within the ARCA Menards Series has been almost exclusively tied to the series’ short track events. In 2015 and 2016, Sioux Chief served as the event entitlement sponsor for ARCA’s annual visit to Lucas Oil Raceway in suburban Indianapolis, as well as supporting ARCA TV broadcasts.  

In 2017, Sioux Chief made a significant increase in support to the series, taking over the naming rights for what was then named the Sioux Chief Short Track Challenge, followed by another significant increase in support in 2020 when teams participating in the Showdown races competed for nearly $1 million in race purses, point fund awards, and bonus programs. 

The 2021 Sioux Chief Showdown kicks off with the May 22 race at Toledo Speedway. Other Showdown events are June 4 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, July 10 at Elko Speedway, July 17 at Berlin Raceway, July 24 at Iowa Speedway, July 31 at Winchester Speedway, August 6 at Watkins Glen International, August 29 at The Milwaukee Mile, September 16 at Bristol Motor Speedway, and October 2 at Salem Speedway. Please visit ARCARacing.com for complete event schedule, race ticket, and broadcast information.  

Sioux Chief Manufacturing is a family-owned American corporation that designs and manufactures rough plumbing products, parts, and accessories for residential, commercial, industrial and government applications. Sioux Chief is based in Peculiar, Missouri, and also sells products under the Tomahawk brand. Sioux Chief was founded in 1957 by Martin E. Ismert, Jr. (Ed). The company’s promotional and packaging designs typically feature the bust of Red Cloud, an historic prominent leader of the Native American Oglala Lakota Sioux Tribe. Red Cloud is Sioux Chief’s current official logo. The logo was created and drawn by Ed’s brother, Cornielius “Bud” Ismert, a commercial artist. 

Sioux Chief first partnered with ARCA and series sponsor Menards in 2015. The business-to-business relationship between Menards, the country’s third-largest home improvement retail chain, and Sioux Chief, a leading rough plumbing manufacturer and supplier of cutting-edge products for plumbing and mechanical contractors, brings opportunities for Sioux Chief to promote its products to the Menards contractor and customer base.   

“Sioux Chief is an important partner to both Menards and ARCA,” commented Jeff Abbott, Menards Spokesperson and Promotions Manager. “Sioux Chief is a great vendor supplier for our contractors, and a terrific sponsor within the ARCA Menards Series.” 

Sioux Chief’s product line is divided into three core groups: Supply, Drainage and Support. Sioux Chief’s customers also include various building industry professionals such as engineers and builders, and…Menards contractors. 

Sioux Chief is a Buy American Compliant company which manufactures more than 90% of the products it sells. Sioux Chief designs, builds, and maintains its own machines, tools and dies, and equipment, including copper tube forming tools and machines, plastic injection molds, packaging, and testing equipment.[1] 

DGR ARCA Menards Series Recap: Phoenix Raceway

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Official Release
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Friday, March 12
Track: Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway, one-mile paved tri-oval
Race: 2 of 20
Event: General Tire 150 (150 laps, 150 miles)

Taylor Gray, No. 17 Ripper Coffee Company Ford Fusion

Start: 4th
Finish: 9th

Qualifying was rained out and the field was lined up by practice speeds, thus slotting the No. 17 in the fourth starting position.
Gray held steady in fourth for the opening 57 laps before caution flag waved. On the ensuing restart, he would launch from the outside front row to first and lead the remaining 11 laps until the lap 75 caution break.

The Ripper Coffee Fusion came down pit road for four tires and fuel, but ARCA officials ruled that the team changed tires and fueled the car at the same time and assessed a 2-lap penalty. After restarting 18th, Gray advanced up to the 10th position as the first car two laps down when caution waved on lap 120.

A lap 143 yellow allowed the team to gain one lap back for the final dash to the end, but ultimately Gray was credited with a ninth-place finish, one lap down.

Thad Moffitt, No. 46 CleanPacs Ford Fusion

Start: 9th
Finish: 3rd

With qualifying rained out, Moffitt’s No. 46 CleanPacs Fusion started the race from the ninth position as a result of practice speed.
Moffitt quickly moved to sixth in the opening laps of the race and was running there when caution waved on lap 57. The team elected to stay out and vaulted to second on the restart behind teammate Taylor Gray and would ultimately be third when the yellow flag came out for the lap 75 break.

The CleanPacs team opted to take fresh tires and fuel during the break, but received a penalty for removing equipment from the pit box and had to restart at the tail end of the lead lap in ninth.

When the caution came out on lap 120, Moffitt was up to fourth. The leaders came down pit road and the No. 46 stayed out and inherited the lead for the restart. Fresh tires quickly prevailed and when caution waved again on lap 143, Moffitt was in fourth.
On the final restart, the green and white flag were waved simultaneously setting up a one lap dash to the finish and Moffitt brought the No. 46 CleanPacs Fusion across the stripe in third.

Next event: General Tire 200 at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama on April 24 at 1 p.m. ET.

Blaine Perkins Makes Xfinity Debut with Our Motorsports as Moffitt Looks to Continue Strong Season

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Official Release
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Our Motorsports is headed west for the second week in a row as they bring the duo of Brett Moffitt and Xfinity Series newcomer Blaine Perkins to Phoenix Raceway. The “Call 811 Before You Dig 200 presented by Arizona 811” will be a 200 lap, 200-mile race around the 1-mile tri-oval based in Avondale, Arizona for the NASCAR Xfinity Series competitors.

Saturday, Blaine Perkins straps into the No.23 Chevy for his first Xfinity Series start representing Raceline Wheels, Team Chevy, and the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation on his Chevy Camaro racecar. Raceline Wheels is a market leader in the design and manufacturing of wheels for off-road, street, and track use. The Martin Truex Jr. Foundation focuses on programs to generate awareness and funding for childhood and ovarian cancers. Perkins will start from the 28th starting position on Saturday for his series debut.

Meanwhile, Brett Moffitt and the No.02 Our Motorsports Chevy will start from the 20th starting position when the green flag drops. The No.02 team enters the weekend ninth in owners’ points standings and will be representing #TeamChevy on their Chevy Camaro.

Driver Brett Moffit: 

“We’ve had a really strong start to the year at Our Motorsports. We struggled a little bit at Phoenix last year but the amount of speed we’ve shown all year is very promising heading into this weekend. I know our guys have worked really hard at continuing to improve our program over the offseason and I think this weekend will be representative of that.”

Driver Blaine Perkins:

I’m excited to make my debut this weekend at Phoenix with Our Motorsports. I’ve been training, mentally, and physically over the past few months to prepare me for this opportunity, and now I’m ready! I have to thank Our Motorsports for this opportunity, along with Team Chevy, but also Raceline Wheels and the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation for their support.

Past Results at Las Vegas for Our Motorsports: 

Last year, Moffit piloted the No.02 for both races in Phoenix. The team earned a 19th place finish in the spring race and repeated the result with another 19th place finish in the fall event.

Tune in: 

Tune in for the “Call 811 Before You Dig 200 presented by Arizona 811” at Phoenix Raceway this Saturday to watch the Our Motorsports team compete. Fans can catch the action on FS1, MRN/Sirius XM NASCAR, and other local radio affiliates at 5:30pm ET and by following Our Motorsports on social media. 

Team Hardpoint EBM Joined by Bia Figueiredo, Trenton Estep For IMSA WeatherTech Championship 12 Hours of Sebring

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Figueiredo Joins All-Female Line-up With Legge and Nielsen in the No. 88 Richard Mille Porsche 911 GT3 R, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Champion Estep to Co-Drive With Bamber and Ferriol in No. 99 GridRival Porsche 911 GT3 R

SEBRING, Florida (March 12, 2021) – Brazilian Bia Figueiredo and American driver Trenton Estep will join Team Hardpoint EBM for the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, March 17-19, at Sebring International Raceway. Figueiredo will team with Katherine Legge and Christina Nielsen in the No. 88 Richard Mille Porsche 911 GT3 R to complete the all-female line-up, while Estep joins Earl Bamber and Rob Ferriol in the No. 99 GridRival Porsche 911 GT3 R for the second round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GT Daytona (GTD) season.

The Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring begins at 10:10 a.m. EDT on Saturday, March 19 and can be viewed in its entirely through TrackPass on the NBCSN app, with the opening stanza (10 a.m. EDT to noon EDT) and the run to the checkered flag (7 p.m. EDT to 10:30 p.m. EDT) shown live on NBCSN. International viewers can see the entire race at IMSA.tv.

Sebring was the site of Team Hardpoint’s best finish in their inaugural season of 2020, but much has changed since that fifth-place finish in the rescheduled race last November. Only Ferriol remains from the driver line-up and the now two-car team has coupled with Earl Bamber Motorsport to run as Team Hardpoint EBM and campaigns the pair of Porsche 911 GT3 Rs for the full season.

The race is Team Hardpoint EBM’s first as a two-car program, as the team’s four regular drivers combined for a 10th-place finish at the season opening endurance race at Daytona International Speedway.

The season-long line-ups are joined by a pair of talented racers at Sebring to fill both cars.

Estep comes to the program at home in a Porsche. Just 21 years old, Estep won the 2018 IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA championship with four wins, including the season-opener at Sebring. Estep opened the IMSA season driving at the 24 Hours of Daytona in the LMP3 class.

With the addition of Estep, the No. 99 GridRival Porsche 911 GT3 R is filled with graduates of Porsche’s single-make championship. Ferriol also got his start in the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge USA where he finished runner-up in the 2018 and 2019 championship, while Bamber was the 2013 and 2014 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia drivers’ champion.

The No. 99 car partners with fantasy motorsports platform GridRival for Sebring. GridRival provides private and public fantasy Formula One and MotoGP leagues and is the only fantasy sports platform dedicated solely to motorsports.

“GridRival and Team Hardpoint EBM have a long relationship and we’re thrilled to continue that with the 12-hour race this week at Sebring,” GridRival CEO Ross Fruin said. “The race fans at Sebring and watching at home are the same people who play fantasy sports on the GridRival platform. With the Formula One and MotoGP seasons right around the corner, they’ll be able to compete with friends and fellow fans to see who can win the bragging rights in their group.”

Figueiredo reunites with Legge and Nielsen after sharing a ride with them at endurance events in 2019, where the trio finished eighth at Sebring. Figueiredo has most recently been racing stock cars in her native Brazil after previously making 29 IndyCar starts and winning twice in Indy Lights in her open-wheel career. Nielsen was on the podium during the race in 2015, 2016 and 2017, including a win in 2016.

The Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring gets underway on Thursday, March 18 with three practice sessions, including the famous “night practice” from 7:30 p.m. EDT to 9 p.m. EDT. Qualifying is at 11:45 a.m. EDT on Friday, March 19 to set the grid for Saturday’s 12-hour race, with the green flag at 10:10 EDT.

Rob Ferriol, No. 99 GridRival Porsche 911 GT3 R: “Sebring is a special place for me, so it’s only fitting to have our biggest event to date there as a team. My first IMSA start, first IMSA podium, and best finish in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship all came at Sebring. I just love the character of the track, the challenges it represents, and the history behind it. I recently discovered my grandfather learned to fly the Douglas DC-3 aircraft there during World War II when it was still Hendricks Airfield, bringing the connection even closer to home.
“Fielding a pair of Porsche GT3R’s for the first time, we’ll certainly have our work cut out for us. But I’m confident the team, the driver lineups, and the support from our partners at Porsche Motorsport North America will allow us to continue building on the momentum from Daytona. We have a lot of great lessons learned from last year’s race, so we’ll put our heads down, focus on executing, and see what Lady Luck has in store for us.”

Earl Bamber, No. 99 GridRival Porsche 911 GT3 R: “We’re all really excited for Sebring. We had a good performance at Daytona as a team and I think we’re ready to build from there with the time between Sebring and Daytona. It’s an awesome addition to have Trenton Estep joining us as a past champion of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, and alongside Rob I think it’s going to be a really strong combination with everyone coming from Porsche Cup and now in one line-up. I can’t wait to get back on track.”

Trenton Estep, No. 99 GridRival Porsche 911 GT3 R: “I’m honored to be a part of the Team Hardpoint EBM program. I have known Rob and Earl for a while now and have seen how they run things. It is definitely one of the best run programs in the paddock. This is definitely a defining moment in my career. It’s not every day you get an opportunity to run this caliber of racing, much less with a team of this standard. Hopefully their faith in me doesn’t go to waste and we can have a good showing in Sebring. The Porsche 911 GT3 R is a beast of a car and Sebring is a tough track. It will definitely be a challenge to get up to pace but I have a good support system with the guys at Team Hardpoint EBM to do just that.”

Katherine Legge, No. 88 Richard Mille Porsche 911 GT3 R: “It’s going to be great to get back in the Richard Mille Porsche 911 GT3 R with Christina. To also have Bia join us for this race is outstanding for our team, especially during Women’s History Month. Sebring is one of those races that is a bucket list race and one that you’re desperate to win. I’m really grateful that we’ve been given that opportunity. I love the 12 Hour, it’s one of those races that has eluded me and I hope we can rectify that this weekend.”

Christina Nielsen, No. 88 Richard Mille Porsche 911 GT3 R: “I’m very much looking forward to being back at Sebring. I have good memories there and I’m excited to be back. It seems like every year the saying ‘you’ve got to respect the bumps’ becomes even more true. It’s always good to be back in a unique place that is like nothing else and is an iconic American track. I’m looking forward to having Bia join us to push for the result we’re capable of.”

Bia Figueiredo, No. 88 Richard Mille Porsche 911 GT3 R: “I can’t express how excited I am to be back to race in IMSA with Katherine and Christina driving for Team Hardpoint EBM. My birthday is March 18, so being back in IMSA is the best gift for me. My 2019 experience in the series were one of the best of my career. I really enjoyed it. Sebring is a challenging track with the bumps but is really fun to drive. I can’t wait to drive the Richard Mille Porsche 911 GT3 R on this track.”
Noteworthy: In addition to the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, Team Hardpoint EBM has entered a two-car effort in Porsche Carrera Cup North America’s debut season. Riley Dickinson will drive the No. 53 Porsche Austin/Team Hardpoint EBM Porsche 911 GT3 Cup in the Pro class, with Efrin Castro driving the No. 65 Fine Fare Supermarkets/GoDominicanRepublic.com Porsche 911 GT3 Cup in Pro-Am.

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.

SS GreenLight Racing | Joe Graf Jr. Phoenix Raceway Spring Event Preview

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Official Release
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SS GreenLight Racing | NASCAR Xfinity Series
Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway | Call 811 Before You Dig 200

Fast Facts
No. 07 SS GreenLight Racing Team:
Driver: Joe Graf Jr. (@JoeGrafJr)
Primary Partner(s): Z Grills
Manufacturer: Chevrolet Camaro
Crew Chief: Mike Tyska
Call 811 Before You Dig 200 Starting Position: 16th (Based on event formula)
2021 Driver Points Position: 14th | 2021 Owner Points Position: 18th
Chassis Intel: SSGLR Chassis No. 709; competed last at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway on Nov. 7, 2020 (Start: 23rd | Finish: 27th).
Chassis No. 709 also competed in the spring 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series event at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway on March 7, 2020 (Start: 19th | Finish: 31st).
Engine: Earnhardt-Childress Racing Engines (ECR)

Notes of Interest:

It’s Your Turn: This weekend at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway, SS GreenLight Racing and Joe Graf Jr. welcome Z Grills as the primary partner of the team’s No. 07 Chevrolet Camaro for Saturday afternoon’s Call 811 Before You Dig 200.

Phoenix marks the first of a multi-race deal where Z Grills, one of the most respected names in pellet grills will be the primary partner.

About Z Grills: As an industry-leading manufacture for more than 30 years, Z Grills manufactured grills, kitchen equipment and outdoor products for several top brands in the industry.

Five years ago, Z Grills launched its own brand. With more than 500% yearly sales growth, Z Grills has quickly become the best pellet grills in the market and received tons of great reviews among mass media sites, BBQ influencers and Z Grills customers.

Now, Z Grills has grew into one of the most respected brands in the pellet grill industry.

Z Grills 8 in 1 pellet grills can grill, smoke, bake, roast, sear, braise, barbecue or char-grill.

See how Joe Graf Jr. cooks with Z Grills by clicking here.

Saving You Some Money: To celebrate the partnership, Z Grills Racing (ZGrillsRacing.com) is offering a 10 percent discount on every item online, using the code JoeGraf07 at checkout.

Year of the Underdogs: Heading to Homestead-Miami Speedway two weeks ago, Buffalo Bills running back Antonio Williams and a personal investor in Joe Graf Jr.’s racing career launched a video on Twitter offering an exclusive glimpse into his personal life and his reason for wanting to be a part of NASCAR – exclusively with Graf Jr.

Since its release on Feb. 25, 2021, the video has gone viral with over 125,000 views and feedback from some of the sports’ icons including retired NASCAR Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson and current 23XI Racing driver Darrell Wallace Jr.

The video has since been uploaded on YouTube and can be seen clicking here.

Joe Graf Jr. Xfinity Series Phoenix Raceway Starts: Sophomore NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Joe Graf Jr. will make his third start at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway on Saturday, Mar. 13, 2021.

Having to qualify his No. 08 Chevrolet Camaro on-time last March, Graf Jr. impressed with a 19th-place qualifying effort but was collected in a late-race accident.

In the season finale last November, Graf Jr. contented for a top-20 finish until gremlins late in the race resulted in a 27th place result.

Joe Graf Jr. Xfinity Series Career Intermediate Nuggets: At tracks greater than 1.0-mile in size, Graf has competed in 20 NASCAR Xfinity Series races. He holds an average starting position of 23.9 and an average result of 22.1.

Las Vegas Motor Speedway Race Recap: In last weekend’s Alsco Uniforms 300 at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway, Graf was able to overcome a loose No. 07 Bucked Up Chevrolet to bolt towards the top-20 in Stage 3 and quickly maneuvered himself inside the top-20 in the closing laps, claiming 18th at the checkered flag.

The result was the team’s third top-20 finish of 2021 and moved Graf Jr. up one position in the Xfinity Series standings to 14th.

Last year after four races, he sat a distant 29th in the championship standings.

Put Me In Coach: In an effort to strengthen his physique, Joe Graf Jr. began working with new trainer and former NASCAR Cup Series Josh Wise during the offseason.

In addition to Wise, Graf has also been working with former NASCAR driver and open wheel driver Scott Speed on being more discipline behind the wheel of his No. 07 Z Grills | Bucked Up Energy Chevrolet Camaro.

Sneaker Mania: Along with the adrenaline of Motorsports competition, Joe Graf Jr. also has a vogue for hype sneakers. In his current collection, he owns and wears at least 80 limited edition sneakers – and his collection continues to grow every month.

From the Pit Box: Industry veteran Mike Tyska is Joe Graf Jr.’s crew chief.
He will crew chief his fifth NASCAR Xfinity Series race as crew chief on Saturday afternoon.

Tyska joined SS GreenLight Racing in January after honing his skills in all three of NASCAR’s national divisions and working for teams like Germain Racing, GMS Racing and Rick Ware Racing.

Tyska was a part of Todd Bodine’s 2006 championship season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Germain Racing.

Hello From The Other Side: Graf Jr. has a teammate at SS GreenLight Racing. Veteran JJ Yeley will drive the No. 17 Ford Mustang on Saturday afternoon.

Yeley is set to make his 337th career NASCAR Xfinity Series start and 21st at the 1.0-mile speedway. At his hometown race track, Yeley has earned three top-10 finishes, including a track best of sixth in 2006 driving for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Follow on Social Media: For more on Joe Graf Jr. visit JoeGrafJr.com, like him on Facebook (Joe Graf Jr.), follow him on Twitter (@JoeGrafJr) and Instagram (@joegrafjr).

For more on SS GreenLight Racing, please like them on Facebook (SS GreenLight Racing) and follow them on Twitter (@SSGLR0708) and visit their website at SSGreenLight.com.

Joe Graf Jr. Pre-Race Quotes:

On Phoenix Raceway: “I’m looking for redemption this weekend at Phoenix Raceway. I particularly like the race track, but do not have the results to show for it.

“We had a fast car last November but unfortunately cut down a tire and didn’t get the finish we deserved.

“Hopefully, we can continue our momentum of a solid start to the 2021 season and deliver Z Grills a hot finish in their debut.”

On First Races Of 2021 Season: “The mentality around the team is good and we’re continuing to learn. We had a strong recovery from Homestead with a top-20 at Las Vegas and the race last weekend proved that we were able to overcome adversity early in the race and contend for a solid finish when it counted most.

“We’re heading in the right direction and we hope we can end the west coast swing on another positive.”

On New Z Grills Partnership: “I am thrilled to welcome Z Grills to NASCAR and to our SS GreenLight Racing team. Grilling at race tracks has always been a staple of the environment whether you are up close and personal with the race team or race fans bonding in the infield talking about their race track experience.

“I’m excited about all the levels we can make the partnership grow throughout the season.”
Race Information:

The Call Before You Dig 200 (200 laps | 200 miles) is the fifth of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2021 schedule. The 40-car field will take the green flag on Sat., Mar. 13, 2021, shortly after 3:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m. ET) with live coverage on FOX Sports 1, the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90.
About SS Green Light Racing:

As one of the most tenured teams in all of NASCAR, SS GreenLight Racing has been a developmental hub for drivers looking to climb the ranks. Led by owner and former driver Bobby Dotter, the team has fielded entries in either the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series or the Xfinity Series competition since 2001.

SS GreenLight Racing will continue with a two-car program in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2021.

zMAX Dragway to Welcome Limited Fans For NGK NTK NHRA 4-Wide Nationals May 14-16

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Official Release
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For the first time in nearly 18 months, the NHRA's best will fire up their 11,000-horsepower machines when the NGK NTK NHRA 4-Wide Nationals return to zMAX Dragway May 14-16. (CMS/HHP photo)
  • Due to social distancing requirements, seating capacity to be limited and new safety protocols to be put in place to ensure safety and well-being of fans and competitors
  • NGK NTK NHRA 4-Wide Nationals weekend packages start at just $99 for adults, while kids 13 and under get in free; Tickets for the are available at charlottemotorspeedway.com

CONCORD, N.C. (March 12, 2021) – After a 579-day hiatus amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the NHRA’s 11,000-horsepower, nitro burning machines will once again roar to life at the Bellagio of drag strips when the NGK NTK NHRA 4-Wide Nationals return to zMAX Dragway May 14-16. In accordance with state and local restrictions, seating capacity will be limited and new safety protocols will be in place to ensure the safety and well-being of fans, drivers, teams and staff in attendance.

“Hosting marquee events is what we do; it’s in our DNA and we are tremendously excited to be able to get back to that in 2021, starting with the NGK NTK NHRA 4-Wide Nationals,” said Charlotte Motor Speedway Executive Vice President and General Manager Greg Walter. “Every time the drivers step on the throttle at our four-wide events, it’s something unique, but given what fans have endured over the past 12 months, this year’s event promises to be extra special as we take another important step back toward ‘normal’.”

SAFETY PROTOCOLS:

Race weekend fan protocols will include health screenings for fans, contactless ticketing, socially distanced grandstand seating and cashless souvenir and concession purchases. Fans and staff will also be required to wear approved face coverings at all times, except while actively eating and drinking. Limited grandstand seating will be in groups of up to six people properly socially distant from any other group. There will be no access to trackside viewing along the fence at the front of the grandstands.

zMAX Dragway’s modified race day protocols also include: social distancing in concession and bathroom lines; enhanced cleaning and sanitation in high-touch, high-traffic public areas; added hand-sanitizer stations; and limited guests in suites.

Fans will be allowed to bring food and unopened beverages in a soft-sided clear bag no larger than 14 inches on its longest side. Standard coolers will be prohibited to limit interpersonal contact at security checkpoints. To limit contact, cash will not be accepted. Credit/debit cards and Apple Pay will be the accepted forms of payment at concession and souvenir locations.

Due to COVID-19 protocols, only RV camping will be allowed during the weekend. No tent camping will be permitted. Camping arrival will begin on May 13, 2021. Additional information will be published to www.charlottemotorspeedway.com and sent directly to campers as event information is finalized.

“Through our successful efforts to bring NASCAR back to Charlotte Motor Speedway and with additional key learnings from several of our sister tracks, we feel confident, with the fans’ help, we can once again execute a safe race weekend and bring NHRA drag racing back in a big way,” Walter said.

TICKETS:

Based on the limited capacity allowed by the state of North Carolina, limited tickets remain for the NGK NTK NHRA 4-Wide Nationals. Three-day adult ticket packages are just $99, with single-day tickets starting at only $20. Fans can purchase tickets at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or by calling 800-455-FANS (3267). Kids 13 and under get in free.

FOLLOW US:

Keep track of all of the latest news and information from zMAX Dragway by following on Twitter and Instagram or become a Facebook fan. Keep up with all the latest news and information with the Charlotte Motor Speedway mobile app.

THWAITS GEARS UP FOR CHARLOTTE WITH CHEVROLET CAMARO TA DEBUT

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Official Release
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Franklin, TENNESSEE – March 12, 2021 – Fresh from making his Dodge Challenger debut in the Trans Am TA Class at Sebring last month, 2020 Trans Am Xtreme GT Champion Ken Thwaits is set to unveil a TA Class competition car, new to his stable, at the Trans Am Pro Am event at Charlotte Motor Speedway March 19 – 21.

The No. 5 Franklin Road Apparel Chevrolet Camaro is one of 15 cars entered at Charlotte Motor Speedway and Ken was understandably excited about the development when we spoke to him last week.

“We had an absolute blast down at Sebring. I’d like to have been a second or two quicker but that’s motor racing. Every driver always wants to go quicker!”

From his hugely impressive base in Tennessee, where he has a collection of classic Camaros, Ken went on, “For me to say that I’m a Camaro fan would be something of an understatement. But the machine I’m driving now in Trans Am is as different from a vintage Z28 street car as chalk is from cheese! This new Trans Am track car is by far the most powerful Camaro I’ve ever sat in to date. In fact, it must be just about the most powerful Camaro ever made!”

Ken went on to explain his decision, “I’ve acquired this Camaro to compete in the TA Class for the rest of the 2021 Trans Am presented by Pirelli Championship season. Charlotte is only six hours from our HQ, so it makes sense to go there and get some valuable track time ahead of Road Atlanta. It will be fun, but it will be very competitive which is perfect. I’m looking forward to the weekend immensely and grateful to Trans Am for staging the racing schedule that they’ve put together.”

The 2021 Trans Am Pro Am Challenge is a new event organized in conjunction with the SVRA.

Charlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsport complex located in Concord, North Carolina, 13 miles outside Charlotte. The complex features a 1.5 mile quad oval track that is probably best known for hosting NASCAR racing, including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend, and the Bank of America Roval 400.

The speedway itself is now 62 years old, having been built in 1959 by Bruton Smith. It is considered the home track for NASCAR with many race teams located in the Charlotte area. The track is owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports with Marcus G. Smith (son of Bruton) as track president.

Tickets are now on sale for the Charlotte SpeedTour event at SpeedTour.net/events. Fans not attending the event can follow live Timing and Scoring on GoTransAm.com/livetiming starting on Friday, March 19.

Visit the team’s website for Showtime Motorsports showtimemotorsports.net. Learn more about the Showtime Motorsports team partner, Road Apparel, at franklinroad.com and keep up to date with the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli at gotransam.com. #GoTransAm

Check out the Showtime Motorsports Facebook page: facebook.com/showtimemotorsp/ and @ShowtimeMotorsp on Instagram.

About Showtime Motorsports:

The Showtime Motorsports brand includes Ken Thwaits’ racing team and racecars, and an outstanding classic Camaro collection. Showtime Motorsports brings together a dynamic staff who employ diverse talents and share a passion for cars, racing and caring for clients like they are our own family members.

Busch Beer Joins Phoenix Raceway as Official Beer Sponsor

By
Official Release
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Sponsorship Includes Naming Rights on Busch Light Beer Garden

PHOENIX (March 12, 2021) – Phoenix Raceway today announced a new Official Beer Sponsor in Busch Beer. As part of the sponsorship, Busch Beer receives naming rights on the popular Beer Garden hospitality lounge area located within Phoenix Raceway’s famed INfield Experience. The new-look Busch Light Beer Garden will be unveiled during the upcoming Instacart 500 NASCAR Cup Series Weekend, March 12-14, as part of the safe and socially distanced INfield Hub.

“We cannot wait to welcome Busch to Phoenix Raceway and showcase the freshly accented Busch Light Beer Garden to fans in attendance this weekend,” said Phoenix Raceway President Julie Giese. “Already the Official Beer of NASCAR, Busch is a favorite amongst racegoers and we’re ecstatic to be able to showcase this sponsorship at the home of the NASCAR Championship.”

Busch Beer returned as the Official Beer of NASCAR in 2019. A mainstay in the sport, Anheuser-Busch’s history in NASCAR dates back decades to 1978, when it first sponsored the Busch Pole Award.

“Busch is thrilled to be working with Phoenix Raceway, one of the premier NASCAR racetracks. We look forward to welcoming race fans to the Busch Light Beer Garden starting this weekend,” said Kody Babb, Busch Sports Director, Anheuser-Busch.  “As the Official Beer of NASCAR, we’re excited to now be the official beer sponsor of Phoenix Raceway, this year’s host of the NASCAR Championship Weekend. This is another great way to further our commitment to the dedicated fans of NASCAR.”

A limited number of grandstand tickets and INfield Hub reserved tables remain for Friday evening’s General Tire 150 ARCA Menards Series race as well as INfield Hub reserved tables for Saturday’s Call 811 Before You Dig 200 presented by Arizona 811 NASCAR Xfinity Series race. Camping for the entire event weekend is also still available. Fans looking to lock in their access may do so by visiting PhoenixRaceway.com, calling 866-408-RACE (7223) or by visiting the Phoenix Raceway ticket office during regular business hours.

About Phoenix Raceway

Home to the 2021 NASCAR Championship Weekend, Phoenix Raceway has been the premier motorsports venue in the Southwest since 1964 and hosts two NASCAR race weekends each year. In 2021, the spring event weekend, March 12-14, kicks off the race season at Phoenix Raceway, featuring the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and ARCA Menards Series. For only the second time in the history of the sport, Phoenix Raceway will host the NASCAR Championship Weekend, November 5-7. Over the three-day event, champions will be crowned in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the ARCA Menards Series West. Phoenix Raceway also hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including corporate meetings and conferences, charity events, holiday events, sport and endurance competitions, driving schools and Segway tours. For more information, visit www.PhoenixRaceway.com.

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’).

About Anheuser-Busch

For more than 165 years, Anheuser-Busch has carried on a legacy of brewing great-tasting, high-quality beers that have satisfied beer drinkers for generations. Today, we own and operate 23 breweries, 14 distributorships and 23 agricultural and packaging facilities, and have more than 18,000 colleagues across the United States. We are home to several of America’s most recognizable beer brands, including Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob ULTRA and Stella Artois, as well as a number of regional brands that provide beer drinkers with a choice of the best-tasting craft beers in the industry. From responsible drinking programs and emergency drinking water donations to industry-leading sustainability efforts, we are guided by our unwavering commitment to supporting the communities we call home. For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com or follow Anheuser-Busch on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Trans Am Returns to the Charlotte Roval after 21-year Hiatus

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Official Release
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (12 March 2021) – The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli will visit Charlotte Motor Speedway for the third time when the new Trans Am ProAm Challenge debuts during the SVRA Charlotte Speed Tour on March 19-21.

Trans Am opened its 1981 season on the high-blanked circuit with an infield road course. George Follmer made a strong return to the series by leading 27 of the 45 laps in the Cooke/Woods Camaro. However, he was penalized 15 seconds for jumping a restart. Al Holbert was another contender to encounter problems, dropping out with a broken turbocharger.

That opened the door for Eppie Wietzes, who averaged 101.25 mph in a Corvette in the 101-mile race. He was followed by Bob Tullius in a Jaguar XJ-S, Doc Bundy in a Porsche 924 turbo, and Follmer. Current competitor Greg Pickett took 15th in his Corvette.

Trans Am next visited what was then known as Lowe’s Motor Speedway on April 1, 2000. Brian Simo was coming off an unlikely victory in the opening round at Sebring, with Johnny Miller and Leighton Reese both leading on the final lap before crashing.

Paul Gentilozzi captured the pole for the 75-minute race on the 10-turn, 2.25-mile superspeedway/infield road course layout in a Jaguar XKR. Gentilozzi led the opening 12 laps, trailed by Brian Simo in the Tommy Bahama Qvale Mangusta. Stu Hayner then passed both drivers on Lap 13 of 44, with Simo following Hayner to remain second. Simo then passed Hayner on a restart and led the final 18 circuits. Hayner crashed out with 14 laps remaining, with Gentilozzi rebounding to challenge Simo in the closing laps.

The 36-car field included current competitors Tomy Drissi (fifth), Lou Gigliotti (sixth) and Simon Gregg (14th), plus broadcaster Chris Neville (fourth), Bob Ruman (11th) and legends John Paul Jr. (21st) and Willy T. Ribbs (26th).

Tickets are now on sale for the Charlotte SpeedTour event at www.SpeedTour.net/evetns. Fans not attending the event can follow live Timing and Scoring on www.GoTransAm.com/livetiming starting on Friday, March 19.

Ford Performance NASCAR: Joey Logano Phoenix Media Availability

By
Official Release
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Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Cup Series
Phoenix Media Availability | Friday, March 12 2021

Joey Logano, driver of the No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang, is sixth in the NASCAR Cup Series point standings and coming off a ninth-place finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He was a guest today on a NASCAR-hosted Zoom call and talked about this weekend’s race in Phoenix.

JOEY LOGANO, No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang — DO YOU LIKE HAVING A RACE AT THE CHAMPIONSHIP RACE EARLIER IN THE SEASON AND SHOULD NASCAR CHANGE THE CHAMPIONSHIP TRACK ON A REGULAR BASIS? “I do like racing there. I don’t mind if it’s racing there once or racing there twice in the championship racetrack. Homestead, we only went to once a year and that was fine, and last year we went to Phoenix twice and that went OK too, so I don’t think I have an opinion on that. As far as changing the championship racetrack I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, I think it should move every year. I think it should be like the Super Bowl, where it’s something that moves around. The cities should bid on it, just like the Super Bowl. I don’t see why we couldn’t do that. Now, obviously it being late in the year, it probably ties our hands to some of the more northern racetracks that probably can’t do that, unfortunately, but I think it should move around. That’s something the fans would like to see. I think bringing the championship race to them is pretty cool. As we add more and more racetracks to the schedule that are bringing the races to the fans, let’s bring the championship race to the fans, too. If you’re not from Phoenix and you can’t afford to travel all the way out there, it’s kind of cool to be able to do that.”

PHOENIX WAS THE LAST REGULAR RACE YOU HAD LAST YEAR. WHAT IS IT YOU MISS MOST BESIDES FANS AND FAMILY AT THE TRACK? “There’s a lot that I miss. It’s such a loaded question when I get that one. I miss a lot. Obviously, the fans not being at the racetrack, the energy that they bring is second to none, so that quietness is awful. I like hearing the cheering, the booing and everything in between. I like that. I like having our sponsors at the racetrack and people walking through the garage thinking it’s the coolest thing they’ve ever seen when they see these cars up close. I remember my first time that I went in the garage as a kid and I thought, ‘Oh my gosh. That’s Jeff Gordon’s car or Dale Junior’s car. That’s the one I see on TV.’ It’s the coolest thing and I want people to have that same experience that I had, so I want fans back desperately and we’re doing that. Don’t get me wrong, we’re definitely adding as much as we safely can, so I like that we’re pushing the boundaries there. I miss practice. I miss qualifying. I don’t miss it every week, but I miss working on the car and talking to your crew chief and the engineers about how can we be better for the race. The moments when you go out there to qualify and your adrenaline is going so hard that you’re shaking after a lap because you’re pushing so much harder than you feel comfortable. I miss that feeling. Like I said, we don’t need that every week, but I do think — and we’re gonna have some of that this year as we go to new racetracks, but I miss some of that going to work on things.”

WHAT IS YOUR CONFIDENCE LEVEL HEADING TO PHOENIX THIS WEEKEND? “We’ve been close to a few victories already, so I feel like you look at on the road course, the Daytona 500 we were really close to winning those races. We had a struggle in Miami. We had a mediocre day at Vegas, and I think we’ve learned something at each one of those racetracks so far. I think that we’re gonna be competitive. I’d like to think that. It’s been a great racetrack for us as you just pointed out. The 750 rules package was our strength last year, so I’d like to think that we’re gonna be competitive when we get down there and we’ll see what we’ve got. It’s hard to say exactlly how you’re gonna feel without practice and knowing for sure, but if we go off of the way we’ve run there the last couple of times we should be good.”

WHAT WOULD YOUR IDEAL CHAMPIONSHIP TRACK BE? “I don’t know if I have that answer for you. I don’t know that I have the ideal. I think the ideal would be it moves around and it’s somewhere different every year. I think that would be something pretty neat.”

CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE DAYS LEADING UP TO THE ATLANTA RACE AND WHERE YOU WERE WHEN YOU FOUND OUT THERE WOULD BE NO ATLANTA RACE? “Absolutely. I remember flying down to Atlanta with Daniel Suarez, that we were gonna do the Coca-Cola family dinner that we have every year, so we flew down there Thursday and was supposed to have dinner Thursday night. Of course, that got cancelled as soon as we landed, and then we went to sleep — my wife is there, Hudson, our oldest, was there and Brittany was pregnant and I remember the next morning everything started happening. That’s when the NBA shut down and it was like, ‘OK, what’s going on here?’ And I remember being on the phone with Travis Geisler and I was talking to him and I asked him, ‘Are you guys coming down?’ He was like, ‘Well, we’re all waiting at the airport trying to figure out what we’re gonna do.’ I’m like, ‘What?’ We might not practice. We might just race, and all the trucks were lined up ready to park and all of a sudden there’s no truck race, it’s just gonna be a Cup race this weekend. OK. And then an hour-and-a-half later it’s, ‘We’re not racing this weekend.’ ‘Wait, what? We’re not racing? We race. That’s what we do.’ It was just a weird feeling. My wife and I were just talking like, ‘What do we do?’ We just went to the beach. I mean, it’s like where do you go? And that obviously started the challenge of how do we get back to the racetrack as soon as possible? How do we keep our industry alive and strong and how do we look at this crisis and make it an opportunity to become stronger and I feel like our industry looked at all those questions very seriously and was able to come out ahead on the whole thing.”

DOES IT FEEL LIKE IT’S BEEN A YEAR? “Gosh, it feels like it’s been three years. It feels like it’s been a long time. It’s crazy to think about how long we’ve been living this way. I don’t think anyone would have ever guessed it. I would have never thought this. Even when it started it was like, ‘OK, maybe this is three weeks worth of lockdown and then we’ll be good to go.’ I’m sure we’ll figure out a way past this since then because we never lived through this before and now here we are a year into it and I think we’re obviously closer to the end than the beginning, but, boy oh boy, how much longer can it be? You just want to go live freely. You want to breathe without wearing protection. You want to be able to go to your local restaurant or store or wherever and not be worried about anything. You just live our own life like we used to. It’s crazy to think that, but the things that we took for granted so much is what we miss the most.”

WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT PHOENIX THAT FITS YOUR RACING STYLE? “Phoenix is just a fun track. It’s one of those tracks that has a decent amount of speed, but is still considered a short track, and then you have the PJ1 that they put down on the track that is a little bit unpredictable, depending on how it’s laid down and we’ll figure that out as we get there and I’ll see it from the XFINITY booth as I broadcast it for Fox on Saturday, so I’ll get a good idea of what that PJ1 looks like, but that’s definitely an interesting variable to this racetrack and the way they have the start-finish line there off of turn four and you have that d-shaped front straightaway to a really wide, flat turn one just makes restarts chaotic, which I think is exactly what they were going for when they moved the start-finish line and mission accomplished, if you ask me.”

HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE TRACK AT ATLANTA WITH THE WAY TIRES GO AWAY? “Driving down a gravel road. That’s kind of what it feels like. Not that you should be trying to go fast on a gravel road, but it feels a lot like that, that you’re just sliding around. There’s no grip at all. There’s more now than there used to be because we have a bunch of downforce and we don’t have as much horsepower, and it used to be when we had all the big power and the small spoiler it would be hard to get wide-open down that front straightaway, and you’re going 170 miles an hour or so on old tires and lighting them up all the way down the straightaway if you choose to. That’s awesome. It’s just cool, so now the race has changed some. There’s still a ton of tire wear, but the way you run the racetrack has changed a lot. To be successful there you have to look for different things, but it’s a fun racetrack, out of control feeling on old tires where you’re just slipping and sliding. It’s the slide for life all the way around the track. It never grips up. You have a ton of grip for about a lap-and-a-half, and then it’s like a constant cheese grater on your tires from there.”

HOW MUCH CHANGE IS THERE IN THE TRACK AT PHOENIX BETWEEN THE SPRING AND FALL RACE? “I didn’t feel anything much different. Like I said, the biggest thing that probably changes from time to time is how the PJ1 is applied to the racetrack, how thick they lay it down, how it’s worked in, all those things kind of change the way the race goes. It seems like the temperature this time of year and when we go back in the fall is pretty close to the same, so there’s not a whole bunch of changes out there. It’s not like they go through a rough winter or anything like that, where the track develops big huge bumps and things like that because of winter freeze. That doesn’t happen there, so it stays fairly consistent. Maybe a little bit more tire wear over time as the sun bakes on it, but nothing drastic. It’s slowly progressing that way, but nothing quick.”

HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO USE YOUR NOTES FROM LAST YEAR? HAS IT CHANGED ANY WITHOUT PRACTICE? “You really end up setting your car up fairly similar to last year because you might change one or two things here and there, but without practice how confident can you be coming off of something that was pretty decent? If you weren’t very good, then it’s, ‘OK, we might as well try something completely different,’ but if you have a competitive race car where you think you can compete to win, it’s really hard to come off of that and say, ‘We need to change three or four different things and this will make us better.’ Without trying it in practice? I don’t know how confident we’d feel in doing that, so it’s a lot different these days. Where we used to say what won last year won’t win this year, well, that might be the case still, but not as much as it used to be because you can really take yourself out of the running by changing too much.”

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