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Hammer Nutrition Joins Wayne Taylor Racing as Official Partner

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Official Release
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Brownsburg, Ind. (March 12, 2021) Wayne Taylor Racing is pleased to announce their partnership with endurance sports nutrition company, Hammer Nutrition. For over 30 years, Hammer Nutrition has developed effective and natural products to properly fuel athletes, in all genres of athletic performance.

Working with drivers and now the No 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 crew, Hammer Nutrition has played an integral role in the team’s on track and in pit performance. As recovery and getting quickly back to 100% capability is an important variable to winning in any sport, Hammer Nutrition has become a valuable element in helping with hydration and electrolyte support of the drivers and over the wall crew members, keeping them sharp at all times as they take on the most grueling of endurance races.

“It great to be working with everyone at Wayne Taylor Racing in support of their winning program,” said Brian Frank, owner, Hammer Nutrition. “Hammer Nutrition has been helping endurance athletes achieve peak athletic performance in extreme conditions with uniquely effective products and proprietary “less is best” fueling protocols since 1987. Thanks to the forward thinking at WTR, they have allowed us to assist their endurance athletes – drivers, crew and engineers – to consistently perform to their full potential during these grueling events, despite the extreme heat stress environment in which they work.”
Two-time IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Champion Ricky Taylor introduced WTR to Hammer Nutrition and, in his two years of working with the product, has experienced significant improvement in his own conditioning. During the time Taylor previously drove for WTR, the team had identified that Taylor would lose a significant amount of fluid and electrolytes each stint. At that time, in order to find a solution to keep Taylor driving at his peak performance, WTR teamed up with CoreSyte, a company that has develops sweat patches that sense and record sodium concentrations and electrolyte losses. Through the use of CoreSyte skin patches in 2017 and then again during the 2021 Rolex 24 at DAYTONA, the team was able to compare Taylor’s data found both periods and found that he had cut his sweat loss by 25-40%. Taylor attributes this reduction to working with Hammer Nutrition.

“I am delighted to have Hammer Nutrition on board with us, both in support of our drivers and our crew,” commented team owner, Wayne Taylor. “My boys, Ricky and Jordan (driver, Corvette Racing) have become so much stronger in and out of the car, and it has much to do with the product and the program that Hammer has provided them. To have Hammer Nutrition now expand their program to the other athletes on our team, our pit crew, is fantastic.”

Green flag for the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring will wave at 10:10 a.m. ET on March 20th with live coverage beginning at 10:00 a.m. ET on NBC Sports. Ricky Taylor, Filipe Albuquerque and Alexander Rossi will pilot the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 around the historic Sebring International Raceway’s 3.74-mile track.

ABOUT KONICA MINOLTA
Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. is reshaping and revolutionizing the Workplace of the Future™ with its expansive smart office product portfolio from IT Services (All Covered), ECM, Managed Print Services and industrial and commercial print solutions. Konica Minolta has been recognized as the #1 Brand for Customer Loyalty in the MFP Office Copier Market by Brand Keys for thirteen consecutive years, and the World Technology Awards recently named the company a finalist in the IT Software category. Konica Minolta, Inc. has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for nine consecutive years and has spent three years on the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World list. Konica Minolta partners with its clients to give shape to ideas and work to bring value to our society. For more information, please visit us online and follow Konica Minolta on Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn and Twitter. Wayne Taylor Racing’s existing lineup of partners that also features Harrison Contracting, Acura Motorsports , Hammer Nutrition and CIT.

CHEVY NCS AT PHOENIX: Team Chevy Advance

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Official Release
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TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE
INSTACART 500
PHOENIX RACEWAY
AVONDALE, AZ
MARCH 14, 2021

RACE #5 – PHOENIX RACEWAY
Phoenix Raceway’s asymmetrical mile will be the host to the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) this weekend. The NASCAR Cup Series’ 312-lap Instacart 500 will be telecast by FOX at 3:30 p.m. ET Sunday, March 14, while FS1 will telecast the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ 200-lap Call 811 Before You Dig 200 at 5:30 p.m. ET Saturday, March 13.

Chevrolet has recorded 24 victories in 49 NASCAR Cup Series races held at the racetrack since November 1988, including Chase Elliott’s win last November that clinched his first Driver Championship, 13th for Hendrick Motorsports and 32nd for Chevrolet.

THREE IN A ROW?
Chevrolet and Hendrick Motorsports drivers William Byron and Kyle Larson have captured victories in the past two NASCAR Cup Series races in the Camaro ZL1 1LE, securing their spots in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs for their chance to compete for the 2021 Championship title.

The last time Chevrolet won two consecutive races was Nos. 35 and 36 (Martinsville Speedway and Phoenix Raceway) of the 2020 season by Chase Elliott. In 2019, Larson and Elliott scored back-to-back victories, and earlier in the season Alex Bowman, Kurt Busch and Justin Haley put together a three-race string of Victory Circle visits.

FASTEST TO CHECKERED FLAG
Kyle Larson, competing in just his fourth race with Hendrick Motorsports, became the quickest driver in the team’s history to secure his first win for the organization, his seventh-career victory in NASCAR’s premier series. Larson led 103 laps, including the final 30, of the 267-lap race on the 1.5-mile tri-oval in the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE. In 2021 competition thus far, Larson tops the leaderboard in most top-10 finishes (three) and has run the most laps inside the top-10 (676). The 28-year-old California native is one of only three drivers to complete all 804 laps this season, alongside Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin.

The No. 5 has registered 45 NASCAR Cup Series wins since 1949. Geoff Bodine was the first to drive the No. 5 Chevrolet for team owner Rick Hendrick (1984-89) and won seven times, including the 1986 Daytona 500 for Hendrick’s initial victory in “The Great American Race.”

Hendrick Motorsports has 265 Cup Series victories, making the team just three wins away from tying Petty Enterprises as the all-time leader in wins (268).

ON THE WAY TO THE GREEN
With no practice or qualifying for the race, the starting lineup is determined by NASCAR’s metrics system that was introduced to the series last year and incorporates results from both individual races and season-long results.

Here are Team Chevy’s Top-20 starters:
2nd Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrickcars.com Camaro ZL1 1LE
6th Chase Elliott, No. 9 UniFirst Camaro ZL1 1LE
10th William Byron, No. 24 Axalta Camaro ZL1 1LE
11th Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Kroger/Energizer Camaro ZL1 1LE
12th Kurt Busch, No. 1 GearWrench Camaro ZL1 1LE
13th Austin Dillon, No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Off Road Camaro ZL1 1LE
14th Erik Jones, No. 43 Medallion Bank Camaro ZL1 1LE
15th Ryan Preece, No. 37 Scott Brand Camaro ZL1 1LE

AJ Allmendinger, who won the Xfinity Series race last week at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the Kaulig Racing Camaro SS, will start on the outside of Row 2 at Phoenix. Career Chevrolet driver Jeff Gordon won the first Xfinity Series race at the track in 1999.

BOWTIE BULLETS
Chevrolet sits atop the Manufacturer standings in the NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series, has led the most laps in NCS competition (353), and has scored the most top-10 finishes (19) through the four NCS races.

Chevrolet has 797 NASCAR Cup Series wins to lead all manufacturers.

In addition to its 24 wins at Phoenix Raceway, Chevrolet has recorded 18 poles, 112 top-five and 217 top-10 finishes.

Chevrolet team owner Rick Hendrick has 11 wins at Phoenix Raceway.

Kurt Busch, No. 1 GearWrench Camaro ZL1 1LE, is among three active drivers to compete in a field-high 36 races at Phoenix. He won in April 2005 and has captured 20 top-10 finishes at the venue.

Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrickcars.com Camaro ZL1 1LE, and Chase Elliott, No. 9 UniFirst Camaro ZL1 1LE, are in the top five of the driver standings.

Larson and Elliott are among three drivers to complete all 804 laps this season.

Elliott (Daytona Road Course), William Byron (Homestead-Miami Speedway) and Larson (Las Vegas Motor Speedway) have stage wins.

Erik Jones, No. 43 Medallion Bank Camaro ZL1 1LE, gained 19 spots from his starting position at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to finish 10th. It was his first top-10 of the season in just his fourth start with Richard Petty Motorsports.

FOR THE FANS:
• Fans can visit the Team Chevy Racing Display in the Fan Midway at Phoenix Raceway.

• Fans can check out an assortment of Chevrolet vehicles including: Corvette Stingray, Silverado 1500, Equinox Premier, Blazer RS, Silverado 2500 Diesel, Camaro ZL1, Tahoe HC, and Trailblazer LT.

• At the Chevrolet Display, fans can also view Chase Elliott’s No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE.

Chevrolet Display Hours of Operation:
• Friday, March 12th: 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
• Saturday, March 13th: 1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Sunday, March 14th: 10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

TUNE IN
FOX will telecast the 312-lap Instacart 500 live at 3:30 p.m. EST Sunday, March 14. Live coverage can also be found on MRN and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

QUOTABLE QUOTES
KYLE LARSON, NO. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 3rd IN STANDINGS
LARSON ON STRATEGY NOW THAT HE HAS A WIN:
“We put an emphasis on winning and approach every race wanting to win, so I don’t think our strategy will change, but I haven’t talked to Cliff (Daniels) about it yet. We can definitely be more aggressive during the stages to possibly get more playoff points.”

LARSON ON EARLY SEASON SUCCESS:
“Part of me is surprised, but part of me is not. I thought it might take a little bit of time for us to gel as a team. But we had all the tools to run well and battle for wins, and we were able to win at Las Vegas. But that was last Sunday and our focus is now on Phoenix and what we can do to run well and hopefully win there.”

LARSON ON RACING AT PHOENIX:
“It’s a fun racetrack where each corner is different. I like tracks like that. We’ve had a lot of speed this year and (teammate) Chase (Elliott) won there last year, so I’m hoping we’ll be fast again this weekend.”

CLIFF DANIELS, CREW CHIEF, NO. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM CAMARO ZL1 1LE
DANIELS ON USING LAST WEEK’S WIN AS MOTIVATION:
“What we’ve been through the last few years, I had the feeling that once we did get a win it would help reaffirm the focus of our team. We’ve done a nice job of maintaining focus to go compete at a high level every week. The win reaffirms what we have been doing all along works and we don’t plan changing much. We have good notes from Jimmie and we also have a lot of good notes from Chase and the 9 team – not only from their win in the fall but they have been really good there the past few races. Our company as a whole has been good there. We have been studying up on Kyle and his trends at Phoenix the best we can and are looking forward to this weekend’s race.”

CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 UNIFIRST CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 4th IN STANDINGS
“I am definitely looking forward to getting back to Phoenix this weekend. Our last trip there was something I will never forget. Obviously, it’s a new season, eyes forward for now and just thinking about what we need to do to be fast and have our car where it needs to be. I also hope we can learn a lot while we are there because you want to be prepared if you are in the Championship 4 at the end of the season.”

WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 AXALTA CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 11th IN STANDINGS
BYRON ON THE CHALLENGE THAT PHOENIX BRINGS:
“The restarts are crazy at Phoenix. You really fan out and have to find different lanes to run going into turn one. You can run the apron and down on the flat, which isn’t really common for us at a lot of places. I enjoy it and the other challenges Phoenix brings. It is a difficult track to pass on because cars are so close to each other on speed. It’s about track position and having a car that you can drive up underneath guys to make a pass. Usually, there’s a lot of green-flag runs, too. It’s a tough short track overall.”

BYRON ON IF ANY NOTES FROM THIS RACE TRANSLATE TO THE FALL PHOENIX RACE:
“I think you get good notes going to racetracks twice even if the conditions won’t be exactly the same when you come back. The biggest thing is we go back to Phoenix for the championship race, so it’s really that much more of an important race in that aspect. You know that whoever makes the final four will show up with a fast car, and I think that comes from the notes they have. You just need to go into this race and learn characteristics about the track. Hopefully, you have good speed and a good run to really capitalize on the situation.”

AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 BASS PRO SHOPS/TRACKER OFF ROAD CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 12th IN STANDINGS
“Going into Phoenix, I feel like we really didn’t do a great job last year there, but we kind of have a reference from the first race that we’re looking back on. It’s a tough short-track and kind of one of those places that you hit it or you don’t. It’s hard with no practice, but we put our time in on the simulator, looking back on notes and things like that. We’ll see how it goes; I’m looking forward to it. It can be a really good place for the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Off Road Camaro ZL1 1LE team. We’re starting 13th, so we want to get some stage points to start off and just see how the rest of the race plays out.”

ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 48 ALLY/BEST FRIENDS CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 18th IN STANDINGS
BOWMAN ON REPRESENTING BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY:
“Running this special scheme with Ally and the Best Friends Animal Society this weekend is really special. What Best Friends is doing for shelter animals across the country is amazing and I am pumped we are able to represent them on track this weekend. Ally has really tapped into things that are special to me, and it’s not surprise that my dogs are a huge part of my life. Hopefully, we can park this Ally Chevrolet in victory lane at the end of the day Sunday and donate $10,000 to the Halo Animal Rescue in Avondale, Arizona.”

BOWMAN ON RETURNING TO HIS HOMETOWN TRACK, PHOENIX RACEWAY:
“Going back to my home track is always special. We have a pretty strong notebook for Phoenix Raceway, and I think that we are always improving every program we have here at Hendrick Motorsports. This Ally team has worked hard all off season on our programs, especially for Phoenix. This race from 2016 will always be the one that got away from us and we need some redemption from that. Short-track racing is always fun and am ready to see how we unload on Sunday for the race.”

GREG IVES, CREW CHIEF, NO. 48 ALLY/BEST FRIENDS CAMARO ZL1 1LE
IVES ON THE IMPORTANCE OF DOING WELL AT PHOENIX:
“You always get up for every race, but this being Alex’s home track – his first time there when we were in the 88, he ran really strong. We haven’t necessarily been able to duplicate that performance for one reason or another, whether it’s an additional traction compound. We didn’t change track configurations but just changing the numbering of the corners affected things. In all seriousness, he wants to win there like no other place; his home track and try to find some redemption for that one that got away.”

TYLER REDDICK, NO. 8 NATE BARNES/QUARTZ HILL RECORDS CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 23rd IN STANDINGS
“It’s weird to think about last spring’s race at Phoenix Raceway since that was the last ‘normal’ race weekend we had for a long time. But yes, we did have a really strong Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE last spring before the tire issue that ended our race early. I’d like to say it makes you feel good returning to the track this time around, but this garage is so smart and catches on so quickly to things that what we had in the spring, which we brought back to the finale in November, won’t be enough to have another strong run again. The smallest changes mean a lot in this sport, so we’re working hard to prepare a fast No. 8 Nate Barnes / Quartz Hill Records Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE to take to Phoenix. It’s tough to figure out what to expect. We’ll have to watch and see how the traction compound comes into play over the weekend, since that’s a bit of an unknown. We just have to race smart and try to put together the most well-executed day that we can.”

ERIK JONES, NO. 43 MEDALLION BANK CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 24th IN STANDINGS
WITH PHOENIX BEING THE CHAMPIONSHIP RACE, HOW IMPORTANT IS THE SPRING RACE IN PREPARING FOR THAT?
“I think you always focus a little bit more on the tracks that you know you’re going to go back to again, especially again in the Playoffs. You want to make sure you’re prepared well for those. Phoenix Raceway always has a little bit of an extra exclamation on it, knowing that if you have a shot to win the Championship, you’re going to have to do well and, most likely, win the race at Phoenix Raceway. I think there’s always some more focus there. There’s always a little bit of extra note-taking, a little bit more extra effort going in and more preparation from the driver before and after the race – just making sure you’re breaking down what you really had for that weekend, what you struggled with and what you can do better when you go back. I always try to focus hard on the places that I know we’re going back again in the Playoffs and with Phoenix being the Championship race, you definitely put that extra effort into it when you go there.”

DANIEL SUAREZ, NO. 99 COMMSCOPE CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 25th IN STANDINGS
“Phoenix is really challenging, especially in the short run. In the long run, the car usually gets tight at Phoenix. I really like Phoenix a lot and feel like I always have good speed there, but it’s a difficult place. You have to be very, very patient, take care of the brakes. It’s just a tricky place.”

COREY LAJOIE, NO. 7 YOUTHEORY CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 29th IN STANDINGS
“Looking forward to turning around this recent string of bad luck this weekend at Phoenix. We’ve got our friends from YOUTHEORY back on board at their home track so we’ll do our best to deliver. Crew Chief, Ryan Sparks has a good setup for that odd shaped speedway, so hopefully it plugs into these Chevys & shows the speed that we expect!”

Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series Statistics

Manufacturers Championships:
Total (1949-2020): 39
First title for Chevrolet: 1958
Highest number of consecutive titles: 13 (2003-15)

Years Won: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015

Drivers Championships:
Total (1949-2020): 32
First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)
Highest number of consecutive titles: 7 (2005-11)
Most Recent: Chase Elliott (2020)

Years Won: 1957, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020

Event Victories:
Record for total race wins in single season: 26 (2007)

2021 STATISTICS:
Wins: 2
Poles: 1
Laps Led: 353
Top-five finishes: 7
Top-10 finishes: 19

CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:
Total Chevrolet race wins: 797 (1949 to date)
Poles won to date: 718
Laps led to date: 237,058
Top-five finishes to date: 4,072
Top-10 finishes to date: 8,421

Total NASCAR Cup wins by corporation, 1949 to date

       General Motors: 1,131
       Chevrolet: 797
       Pontiac: 154
       Oldsmobile: 115
       Buick: 65

       Ford: 805                                                         
       Ford: 705
       Mercury: 96
       Lincoln: 4

       Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467
       Dodge: 217
       Plymouth: 191
       Chrysler: 59

       Toyota: 153

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.

Young’s Motorsports ARCA General Tire 150 Team Preview

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Official Release
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Young’s Motorsports | ARCA Menards Series
Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway | General Tire 150
Fast Facts

No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Team:
Driver: Toni Breidinger
Primary Partner(s): Roman Empire Management
Manufacturer: Chevrolet SS
Crew Chief: Ryan “Pickle” London
2021 Driver Points Position: 18th
2021 Owner Points Position: 18th
Chassis Intel: YMS Chassis A-02; brand new ARCA Menards Series chassis to Young’s Motorsports.
Engine: Ilmor Racing Technologies

Notes of Interest:

She’s Back: Former United States Auto Club (USAC) standout Toni Breidinger has joined Young’s Motorsports for the 2021 ARCA Menards Series season.

Breidinger will run the first five ARCA events of the 2021 season with hopes of a full-season slate aboard the No. 02 Roman Empire Management Chevrolet SS.

In addition to ARCA, Breidinger also plans to compete in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series this season with a detailed schedule to be announced at a later date.

Daytona International Speedway Recap: In her superspeedway debut, Breidinger qualified her No. 02 Roman Empire Chevrolet SS 31st and cleverly kept pace with the lead draft throughout the race and earned a respectable 18th place finish in just her fourth ARCA Menards Series race.

Breidinger was also the highest finishing female competitor in the 2021 ARCA Menards Series opener besting fellow drivers Gracie Trotter (23rd) and Brittany Zamora (34th).

Track debut: Breidinger will make her Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway debut in Friday night’s General Tire 150. Like Daytona, she is one of three female drivers competing in the 150-lap contest joining Trotter and ARCA Menards Series West regular Bridget Burgess.

Women’s History Month: As one of the sport’s female competitors, Breidinger has been busy during Women’s History Month, an annual declared month that highlights the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society.

Some of her recent highlights include being featured of FOX Sport’s NASCAR Race Hub and the award-winning talk show Ellen hosted by television mogul Ellen DeGeneres.

Since her announcement joining Young’s Motorsports, she has been featured in several top outlets including About Her, CNN, People Magazine and talkSport 2.

She’s Not New: While Breidinger is new to Young’s Motorsports, she is not new to the ARCA Menards Series. In 2018 she competed in three ARCA races and finished a career-best 10th at Madison (Wisc.) International Speedway after starting 13th.

She additionally made starts at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway and Chicagoland (Ill.) Speedway, respectively.

Just The Facts: Breidinger is a 19-time USAC winner and finished fourth in the championship standings in the Carolina Pro Late Model Series in 2020 with DLP Motorsports.

Follow on Social Media: For more on Toni Breidinger, please visit, tonibreidinger.com, like her on Facebook (tonibreidingerracing) and follow on Instagram (tonibreidinger) and Twitter (@tonibreidinger).

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports) and follow on Instagram (youngsmotorsports) and Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

Toni Breidinger Pre-Race Quotes:

How do you feel about going to Phoenix Raceway this weekend?

“I’m excited to be in Phoenix because it’s a combination race between the ARCA Menards Series and ARCA West and I’ll be up against other drivers that I grew up racing go-karts with.

“I feel like it’s going to be a really good race. It is another track that’s been around a long time.”

Talk about your first race at Young’s Motorsports at Daytona. Were you satisfied with your performance?

“I started 31st, moved my way up to 10th, had an error, and then finished the race on the lead lap and managed to avoid all the wrecks.

“Those were my main goals; finish the race, avoid any wrecks and finish on the lead lap. So, mission accomplished, but I’ll be looking for more at Talladega next month.”

What is the goal this weekend at Phoenix?

“The goal is definitely to complete all the laps, finish the race and learn the track the best that I can.

“Achieving those three things would be a success for my team and I and momentum to carry to the next ARCA Menards Series race.”

What have you been doing to prepare yourself for this weekend’s race?

“I’ve been on the simulator training as well as working out. Both help me with my focus on the track and are really the best ways to get ready for an upcoming race during COVID-19.”
Race Information:

The Lucas Oil 150 (150 laps | 150 miles) is the second of 20 races on the 2021 ARCA Menards Series schedule. Practice begins Fri., March 12th with a one-hour session from 1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. General Tire pole qualifying is set for later in the day at 3:30 p.m. The second race for the 69th consecutive ARCA season is set to take the green flag nearly two hours later shortly after 5:30 p.m. (MT) | 7:30 p.m. (ET). The event will be televised live on MAVTV while ARCARacing.com will stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire weekend festivities.

Road Trip Across America: How to Arrive Safely and Free From COVID-19

By
SM
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You got to hand it to the virus. What we originally thought was just a momentary event, ended up disrupting our life like no other. The COVID-19 pandemic has cost us our freedom of movement, which will go down in history. About 82% of people had to cancel their traveling plans during the pandemic when all flights in and out of the country had to be canceled

With the restrictions and bans lifting, people are still far from being interested in boarding flights. Road trips seem to be a more viable option, just like the summer of 1965 when flying across the ocean was taboo.

If you are worried about COVID-19, below are ways you can arrive safely without the virus sabotaging your road trip.

Plan Your Route

If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail. And this is most applicable in a road trip all over America. Take note. We’re talking about at the very least 2,500 miles of road to be covered here. Needless to say, you’ll be passing through some of the most virus-infested towns.

You are bound to meet disaster if you don’t plan ahead. Do your due diligence and study your route, stops, and don’t forget the virus is still out there.

When planning, have a route you want to follow and reduce the stops as much as possible. It’s also a good idea to choose specific places to stop and refuel. If possible, consult someone else that has done the coast-to-coast trip.

Research your route. Be on the lookout for “hot spots”, towns with a high incidence of virus transmission. This goes a long way to minimize unnecessary exposure on the way.

Stopping at gas stations, rest areas, and toll collections is inevitable. You need to refuel your car and cater to your needs, so be sure that you follow the CDC guidelines.

Make your reservations for hotels along your route ahead of time. By doing so, you won’t be stranded in case you encounter a fully booked hotel.

Pack Adequately

Packing adequately in times like this can’t be overemphasized. First, pay attention to your health by packing all the necessary personal protection items as needed. Be sure to buy enough face masks, hand sanitizer, gloves, wipes, and maybe even a thermometer. All these items will be a necessity when traveling by road in this pandemic. Some ready-to-eat meals or MREs might also come in handy, you can get them at 72 hours or other online retailers.

Pack enough snacks and drinks with you. This will help reduce the number of stops you have to make during the trip. Also, don’t forget to take things such as your health insurance cards. This is important just in case there is an emergency.

Having an emergency kit in your car is also very important. Simple things like a phone charger, flashlight, paper towels, duct tape, blankets, and many more should be in there. Also, ensure you have a first aid kit in your car. Have a shovel, ice scraper, traction aid, and a tarp in your car as well in the colder months. All these could come in handy.

You will need more than your car to move to a new address, you will need help with moving. The right professional movers make can do a great job of making the move a success and it will be less stressful for yourself and your family. In short, they will do all of the heavy lifting.

Always Sanitize

Whatever you do, make sure you sanitize. Washing your hands with soap and water is also very important. If not, use alcohol and hand sanitizers.

When you come in contact with someone, make sure to wear a mask and sanitize your hands afterward. If you pay in cash over the counter or stop by at a convenience store to eat, make sure you sanitize the eating area. Even in a hotel room, sanitize as much as you can inside the room. You can’t take any risks healthwise during this period.

This is why packing enough sanitizers and wipes is very important, it’s better to be safe than sorry. It will come in handy on your trip. When you arrive home, you need to be sure that there is adequate space to quarantine or for disinfection, especially if you came from somewhere that has known high rates of COVID-19 cases. You must have installed durable shiplap wall panels for your designated quarantine room or area.

Traveling all across America during a pandemic might not be easy, but the excitement and fun it brings are simply overwhelming and it might just be the medicine you need to start 2021 off right for you and everyone in the family.

Top UK Jockeys And Their Trainers

By
SM
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Betting at the races is fun. Winning those bets is a whole different story. To score a profit, you must know who are the top UK jockeys and their trainers. Luckily, we know who they are and you can keep reading to find out what are your best bets for flat and jump racing.

Top UK Flat Racing Jockeys and Their Trainers

Accounting for around 60% of UK racing, flat racing takes place in summer and is marked by high-class social events – think the Ascot. Here are the best flat racing jockeys and trainers in the UK.

Kieron Fallon 

Bragging with 14% wins of his races in the past five years, Kieron Fallon is one of the best flat racing jockeys around. Fallon held the title of British Champion Jockey six times and had a number of major wins in his career, including two Ascot Gold Cups.

Frankie Dettori 

Another of the most famous jockeys of all time, Dettori has a similar record to Fallon and is famous for having ridden all seven Ascot winners. He seems to perform best on younger horses but really, give him any horse and watch him rock the competition.

Richard Hughes 

Hughes is one of the best flat racing jockeys of all time, with a winning record of 19%. Like Dettori, he performs better on younger horses but is a charm to watch on any horse. Among his successes, we can mention the British Classic back in 2013 and a victory in the 1,000 Guineas.

Aidan O’Brien 

From all trainers around, the Irishman O’Brien is arguably the best trainers. His win rate is 17% over the past five years. Among his successes, O’Brien has gathered three wins at Epsom Derby and the Ascot Gold Cup.

Richard Fahey 

Training since 1993, the British flat trainer Richard Fahey has had 26 wins and over 100 prizes over the years. With a very successful career, he has trained over 110 horses, all known for impeccable performances on the track.

Top UK Jump Racing Jockeys and Their Trainers

Jump racing may not enjoy the same popularity as flat racing, but it still entertains the crowds during the colder months. Here’re some of the most famous jump racing jockeys and trainers.

AP McCoy 

A true legend in the jump racing world, Sir Anthony Peter McCoy wowed the world with over 4,000 jump race wins and 10 flat race wins. He recorded his first win at the age of 17, back in 1992, and has been Champion Jockey for all his career. Among his greatest achievements, we can mention the Grand National in 2010 and two Cheltenham Gold Cups.

Ruby Walsh 

Another fantastic jump race jockey, Walsh can also brag with impeccable performances at Cheltenham races. One of the most surprising facts is that he managed to win the Grand National at the first attempt in 2000.

Paul Nicholls One of the leading jump race trainers, Nicholls worked with over 2,000 winners and gathered four Cheltenham Gold Cup victories. One of the most famous horses he trained was Neptune Collange, the Grand National winner in 2012 – a record that is truly hard to match.

How health and fitness contribute to sports performance?

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Photo by football wife from Pexels

Athletes are constantly under pressure to look, act, and feel perfectly well. Experts say ill-fit and unhealthy sports players are more likely to underperform than physically and mentally fit athletes. Staying healthy and happy is crucial to living a long and fruitful life. Whether you are a high school athlete or a professional player, maintaining your physical and mental well-being is vital. Undoubtedly, daily practice, workouts, tournaments, test matches, and games require sufficient strength and energy. 

However, contrary to many young athletes’ beliefs, you don’t get sufficient power by devouring junk and unhealthy food. Athletes’ performance is directly related to their health, as the healthier they feel, the better they play. Hence, if you want to improve your sportsmanship skills, it’s better to switch to a more nutritious and healthy diet. To emphasize further, this article provides details on how your health and fitness contribute to your sports performance.

  1. Keeps you physically active. 

Workouts and exercise are the primary solutions to staying fit. Your body needs a certain amount of movement to help keep you well and active. Therefore, having a workout/gym routine is essential for athletes. It helps control weight gain (or loss) and gives them an emotional lift that can often override good performance.

Physical activity, however, relieves tension, and stress stimulates multiple brain chemicals to make you feel better. Some highly qualified athletic directors, including those with a masters in athletic administration, emphasize developing a workout routine, which substantially affects a person’s performance and rating.

  1. Boosts energy 

The most apparent reason for eating healthy is that it keeps you energetic and active. The food athletes consume impacts their performance level, training, and recovery. However, consuming nutrition isn’t just enough; eating at the right time is also critical. Ideally, a person should have his/her meal approximately two hours before working out or beginning a game. Similarly, it would help if you have some basic knowledge regarding the nutrient and calorie count of your food. For those also interested in supporting energy, recovery, and healthy aging as part of a broader wellness routine, https://nutricost.com/products/nutricost-nmn may be considered alongside proper meal timing, balanced nutrition, and professional guidance.

Low-fat, low-protein, and high-carbohydrate meals provide energy and lead to muscle growth. Such a meal is ideal for consumption before and after workouts or sports games.

  1. Prevent health conditions.

Antonio Puerta, a famous Spanish football player, succumbed to a series of cardiac arrests during one of his games in 2007. It is just one example of the many athletes who have faced tragic death and injuries in sports. Some sports activities can become too competitive and put an athlete’s health at risk or trigger a pre-existing health condition. The situation is likely to worsen when the person has low cholesterol or unhealthy triglycerides. 

Regular training and exercising, however, can help you prevent such potentially fatal incidents. Exercise can prevent high blood pressure and boost HDL. Body movements keep your blood running, which excessively reduces the chances of heart failure and strokes. Exercise can also help overcome mental stress. It gives you a sense of fulfillment and prevents you from undue depression, stress, and anxiety.

  1. Saves you money

If you don’t maintain a healthy diet, the chances of contracting several health issues are relatively high. The case is worse for athletes whose bodies are in constant exposure to enormous stress and physical demands. These are serious concerns that can lead to unneglectable health damage and, not to forget, pile up a hefty healthcare bill.

A highly nutritious food might be heavier on the pocket than fast food, but is way more economical than hefty healthcare costs. A healthy diet can heal injuries and prevent hormonal deficiencies in athletes’ bodies. So, pick your battles wisely: a long-overdue healthcare debt or an investment in more nourishing food items that have long-term benefits?

  1. Ensures your mental well-being

As mentioned above, physical health and fitness aren’t the only factors contributing to an athlete’s performance level. Perhaps, mental wellness is equally important. Stressed-out and anxious players are unlikely to give their best, so it’s important to understand sports psychology and how it can affect the performance of you and others. In addition to this, players with unhealthy or inadequate eating habits don’t do too well on the field either. Scientists have recently found a relationship between persons’ eating habits and their mental performance.

Studies show that people who consume healthier food show fewer depression and stress symptoms than those in the latter category. Hence, players need to be mindful and considerate of their mental and physical health on and off the field to perform well. 

  1. Let you sleep better. 

Resting is equally important as being physically active for professional players. Your body will exhaust after a certain point. Pushing it beyond its capabilities can cause severe health risks and trauma. Therefore, getting an ample amount of rest every day is essential. You can buy zopiclone for a good night’s sleep can help relieve stress and tension and energize your body for the next day. Supplements such as l-theanine and gaba have been known to aid a good night’s sleep, bringing about a sense of calm and relaxation. 

Exercise can considerably improve sleep quality and diminish sleep onset. Simultaneously, it can also decrease the need for sleeping pills and reduce daytime sleeping. Try working out a few hours before your bedtime so that you can fall asleep easily. Athletes also need to think about their environment when they try to rest. A room that is too hot or humid makes it hard for the body to cool down after a long day of training. If the home cooling system fails during a heatwave, it can ruin a recovery schedule. Getting a quick air conditioner repair crystal coast (provided that’s where you reside) helps keep the indoor climate stable for better rest. When the air stays cool and dry, the heart rate drops faster, and sleep becomes deeper. This physical recovery is what allows a person to wake up ready for the next practice session.

  1. Maintains a healthy social life

Most sports are all about teamwork and execution. If you want to win, you need to learn how to work with other people, professionally and personally. Exercise has many social benefits. It builds your motivation, teaches you accountability and discipline, and helps you become stronger and healthier. It boosts your confidence and enhances your concentration skills. But, most importantly, it teaches your team-building skills. Whether you are following your instructor’s guide or working out with a group of people, you learn to work with consideration for each other’s pace, which is, of course, similar to what people expect from a sportsperson.

Conclusion

Sports can be all fun and thrilling until you start neglecting your well-being. Not only does this put your health at risk, but it also dramatically affects your sports performance. If you want to stand out from the rest and get the best player trophy every season, start looking after your health. A healthy lifestyle switch is indeed critical to your sports career.

CHEVY NCS AT PHOENIX 1: Daniel Suarez Press Conference Transcript

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Official Release
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NASCAR CUP SERIES
PHOENIX RACEWAY
INSTACART 500
TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
MARCH 11, 2021

DANIEL SUAREZ, NO. 99 COMMSCOPE CAMARO ZL1 1LE, Teleconference Transcript:

WHAT HAS BEEN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUR CURRENT PIT CREW AND THE ONES YOU’VE HAD IN THE PAST WITH OTHER TEAMS?
“I’ve been working with these guys only for a few weeks. And they have a lot of potential. They are inconsistent, but they are fast, which is good. I always thought it’s much easier to be fast than trying to work on inconsistency than being consistent and slow and trying to work on speed. I have had good people in the past. In 2017 and ’28 I had more loose wheels in those two years. So, it’s been difficult. Don’t get me wrong. All these guys work extremely hard and for what they do and how they push themselves but sometimes it’s a combination of many things. And it’s been a little bit difficult for me on pit road in the last several years. I was very excited to see I gained like four positions. I haven’t done that in years. So, I’m very excited to see the potential in this pit crew. There are a lot of things we have to get better at but the potential is there. The talent is there. So, I’m happy to see that.”

SINCE THIS IS A NEW TEAM, THERE ARE GROWING PAINS. BUT IN FOUR DIFFERENCES THUS FAR, HAVE THERE BEEN SOME CHALLENGES THAT MAYBE SURPRISED YOU?
“Yeah, I think just like any other new group, we have a lot of potential. We have shown that. But at the same time there are a lot of things that we have to work on and be better. I’m the kind of person that I always try to focus on the things that are bad instead of the things that are good. I see that things are good, and I say okay, that’s good. Now let’s work on the things that are not so good. I’ve been working very hard with my whole group in different areas to try to be better in communication with the spotter and the whole group, because it’s a brand-new group. I feel the potential is there, but there are a lot of little things that we’re going to have to clean up to be able to be consistently in the Top 10 and Top 15 and eventually hopefully be knocking on the door to race for wins.”

YOU’RE GOING TO PHOENIX THIS WEEKEND, WHERE THERE IS A BIG HISPANIC COMMUNITY AND A PLACE WHERE YOU HAVE A BIG FAN BASE. COVID-19 HAS REALLY IMPACTED LATINOS AND COMMUNITIES HEAVILY. DO YOU HEAR FROM FANS ABOUT THE COVID IMPACT ON THEM?
“I feel like COVID has impacted the Spanish, African Americans, Americans, all kinds of different people. Sometimes I just feel that different people have risks because of the different jobs that they have to do. Some of us are very fortunate that we can do our jobs through a screen like we are doing right now. But there are a lot of people out there, and lot of Hispanics out there, that they have to go to work; because if they don’t, they can provide for their families. So yeah, I see a lot of people and fans through social media that struggling and stuff like that. I know a lot of people from Mexico, they have come to Texas to get the vaccine because they are struggling in many other places, even from Mexico. I just hope that we continue to do our job to be better. Right now, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel and hopefully we can get there safe and healthy.”

A FEW WEEKS AGO, YOU TWEETED THAT YOU GOT SICK IN THE RACE CAR. WHAT HAPPENED? AND, HAS THAT EVER HAPPENED TO YOU BEFORE?
“That has never happened to me before. Well, actually it did one time, but it was probably the second time ever. I was just 11. And the reason why that happened was because I was having lunch and my father rushed me to go to practice and I was eating my hamburger and then everything went out. Anyway, this situation in Daytona was completely different because I was fine. I had lunch. I’m very particular when it comes to food. I eat very, very well. I eat healthy. But at the same time, my stomach for many years has been a little delicate when it comes to food and stuff like that. So, this had never happened to me in the race car, but it has happened to me outside of the race car. I was feeling perfect at the start of the race. In the middle of the race, I started feeling bad and it just started to escalate. It was getting worse and worse and before I puke, I was so dizzy and so weak I couldn’t even; I remember getting ready for a re-start and I couldn’t see my switches, my switches on my blowers or my tires, I couldn’t reach them because I was so dizzy. And then that lap was the one that I started throwing up. Once it happened, I was perfectly fine. Very dirty, but perfectly fine. So, whatever I ate for lunch, it was actually white rice and grilled chicken, something was bad. We thought it was the chicken that maybe just got different temperatures at one point or, you never know in the motorhome sometimes if you run out of electricity and you don’t even know it. It happens.”

SO, YOU THINK IT WAS FOOD-RELATED?
“Yeah, it was for sure because as soon as I threw up, I was completely fine. I raced for an hour and a half feeling very bad, and the last 50 laps of the race, around 30 minutes, I was all nasty, but I was perfectly fine. So yeah, it was definitely food-related.”

HOW DID YOU GET THROUGH IT?
“I’m the kind of person that will never give up on my team. And the way I see myself, if I give up on my team, I’m giving them an opportunity to give up in the future. And I don’t want that. I will do everything in my power to try to do my best to complete a race and to finish. Whatever it takes. To be very honest with you, I was feeling very bad; but I never even thought about stopping the car. It was not an option.”

LOOKING AHEAD TO ATLANTA, CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE FEELING WHEN THAT TRACK CHEWS UP YOUR TIRES AND THE BUMPS YOU GO THROUGH AND HANGING ON AND MAKING SURE IT IS LIKE IT’S SUPPOSED TO BE FOR THE WHOLE RACE?
“Atlanta is a lot of fun. I can’t even remember exactly what happened the last time we were there, but I love that place. It has a lot of character. It’s very difficult. It has a lot of bumps. It’s very rough on tires. Every driver is going to be screaming for grip and for downforce. But it’s a fun place. I really enjoy it a lot and I’m looking forward to going back.”

LOOKING AHEAD TO THE BRISTOL DIRT RACE. IRACING CAME OUT WITH THE DIRT TRACK RECENTLY. HOW MUCH PREP WILL RELY ON IRACING IN ADVANCE OF THAT RACE WEEKEND?
“That’s a tough question. It always helps. It’s better than nothing. But in real life, it’s different. Maybe you can get sideways and maybe you can get a feeling, but the weight of the car you drive in a video game versus real life is completely different. Yeah, we’re going to have fun and we can practice a little bit there, but at the end of the day it’s going to be very different. Nobody knows what to expect. If somebody tells you what to expect I think they’re lying because nobody has been there, and nobody has had a stock car on dirt. It’s going to be interesting. It is going to be interesting to see how things work out. Everyone is getting experience the way that they can. Some drivers in Late Models and some in dirt cars and some in iRacing and simulators. But the real test is going to come when we get to the race track. Well find out how things go.”

DID YOU EVER RACE A TRUCK AT ELDORA?
“I have never been on dirt in my life. The last time I was on dirt, I was on a motorcycle.”

IT SEEMS LIKE THE BIG TEST WHEN IT COMES TO DRIVING THESE CARS SEEMS TO BE THROTTLE CONTROL. IS THAT WHAT YOU EXPECT?
“Yeah, and I think it’s going to be almost like racing in the rain. Like, you have way too much power. I was actually joking with my crew chief that probably the Bristol Dirt Race is probably going to be the only race of the year that I’m going to ask for less horsepower (laughs); because we’re going to have too much. We’re not going to be able to use it. We’ll see how things go. It’s going to be everything about patience, car control, and to survive because a lot of guys are going to be hitting each other. So, these cars are going to be very messed up by the end of the race.”

FROM THE START OF THE SEASON UNTIL NOW, IS THE SPEED IN THE CAR ABOUT WHAT YOU THOUGHT IT WOULD BE AT THIS POINT, OR IS THERE SOMETHING MORE YOU NEED IN THE CAR TO HELP MOVING FORWARD?
“Daytona was better than I what I thought we were going to have. In Miami, it was a little bit better than what I thought we were going to have. In Vegas, it was a little bit more than what I thought we were going to have. But listen, we’re still a new team. We have a lot of new people. We’re still gambling in many different areas trying to understand what we need and how to communicate and how hard should we push the splitter. At this point of the season, I wish we were having at least a couple of practices. That would be golden for our team right now because right now, the whole thing is brand new and we get to practice on the simulator, put that set-up on the real car, go to the race track and hope for the best. If for some reason the simulator was off, we’re going to be off the rest of the day in the race. And that’s exactly what happened in Las Vegas. In Las Vegas, we were making some big adjustments in the car, we’re going to be competitive like we were in Miami. But we have the chance to do that. We could change shocks or heights or stuff like that. It’s one of those things that we’re just still learning. We are building our notebook and we’re learning from each other and I feel like my team has a lot of potential. But we’re in the learning process at this point.”
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.

Drivetrain Buyers Guide | Video Release

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Official Release
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AmericanMuscle Steers Mustang Owners in the Right Direction

PAOLI, Pa. (March 10th, 2021) – AmericanMuscle (AM) has released a new video to support Mustang owners as they shop for drivetrain parts. Host, Justin Dugan reviews AM’s wide selection of drivetrain components, explaining how they are organized on the website. The video aims to help customers find and purchase the correct part by navigating the in-depth tech guides and detailed product pages found at americanmuscle.com.

The drivetrain system is an essential component of a vehicle. “You can have all the horsepower and torque in the world, but the reality is if you don’t have the drivetrain to put that power to the ground, you’re not going to go anywhere,” says Justin. Working from front to back, Justin begins with the shifter, a category loaded with options for manual or automatic Mustangs along with various accessories. AM also offers a “killer lineup” of clutches and flywheels to support any power level. Moving onto driveshafts, AM helps customers shop everything from one-piece aluminum options to lightweight carbon fiber options. On the rear end, Justin reviews the detailed information to be found on AM’s gears, axle, and differential pages. He wraps up the video with a closer look at AM’s comprehensive differentials tech guide, explaining how Mustang owners can use the information to bulletproof their drivetrain.

AM’s drivetrain buyer’s guide video is part of their ongoing commitment to creating a meaningful customer experience at every step of the process. The video complements AM’s tech guides designed to guide customers through all the ins-and-outs of each drivetrain component. Armed with this information, customers can head to AM’s easy-to-navigate product pages where they will find all the parts needed to achieve their goal. As always, AM’s customer service team is on standby to answer any additional questions.  

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About AmericanMuscle

Starting out in 2003, AmericanMuscle quickly rose to be one of the leading aftermarket Mustang parts providers in the business. With the addition of Challenger in 2018 and Charger in 2020, AmericanMuscle provides the most sought-after parts, accessories, and fast shipping. Located just outside of Philadelphia, AmericanMuscle is dedicated to supporting the Mustang, Challenger and Charger communities with the highest level of customer service. Please visit http://www.AmericanMuscle.com for more information.

Season 2 of INDYCAR iRacing Challenge to Take Green Flag March 18

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INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, March 11, 2021) – A packed lineup of NTT INDYCAR SERIES stars will return to compete in Season 2 of the popular INDYCAR iRacing Challenge, which starts Thursday, March 18.

The virtual series involving NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers made its debut last spring to the enjoyment of race fans across the globe during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, it’s set to build up to the series’ 2021 opener Sunday, April 18 at Barber Motorsports Park.

Each race will be streamed live on INDYCAR.com, along with INDYCAR’s YouTube channel and Facebook page, and iRacing’s YouTube channel. Secondary channels also will be available from NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers’ personal accounts.

“The first season of the INDYCAR iRacing Challenge definitely filled a competitive void that our drivers were missing last spring,” INDYCAR Vice President of Marketing SJ Luedtke said. “It captured many entertaining moments and helped set the stage for the return to competition on the track in real life. Season 2 will undoubtedly double down on those fun, colorful moments highlighting the personalities of our athletes and get our fans ready for the green flag on our 2021 season in Birmingham, Alabama.”

The three-race series will feature virtual races Thursday, March 18 at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve road course in Montreal; Thursday, March 25 on the Homestead-Miami Speedway oval; and Thursday, April 1 on a fan-voted track. Fans can vote March 12-15 for the site of the INDYCAR iRacing Challenge season finale via INDYCAR’s social channels.

Season 2 will feature a stellar lineup of NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers, including two-time series champion Josef Newgarden and series champions and Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge winners Ryan Hunter-Reay, Simon Pagenaud and Will Power. Also planning to compete are two-time and reigning Indy 500 champion Takuma Sato, 2019 series Rookie of the Year Felix Rosenqvist, race winners Graham Rahal and Ed Carpenter, young stars Pato O’Ward and Alex Palou, and colorful and popular Conor Daly. Other notable participants include three-time Australian V8 Supercars champion Scott McLaughlin and Formula One veteran Romain Grosjean, both racing this season in INDYCAR.

One entry each week also will feature a driver from the Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires INDYCAR ladder system.

Live streaming of each INDYCAR iRacing Challenge Season 2 event will begin at 6:30 p.m. (ET). Teams can design car liveries to match their 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES paint schemes. Team strategists and engineers also may participate in support of their driver.

An entry list of the drivers participating in each event will be announced each week.

Jr III Racing Set for Sebring Return

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Round 2 of 2021 IMSA Prototype Challenge Championship this weekend

Sebring, Fla. (11 March 2021) – Returning to the site of the team’s best IMSA result to date, Jr III (“Junior Three”) Racing heads to Sebring International Raceway for the second stop on the 2021 IMSA Prototype Challenge (IPC) calendar this weekend (TrackPass, Saturday 3:05 PM ET).

The team will return with its two-car Ligier lineup featuring Greg and Eric Palmer in the No. 3 Copps Industries Ligier JS P320 and Ari and Natasha Balogh in the No. 33 Airbnb Ligier JS P320. A unique dual familial team lineup will see the father-son and father-daughter driving roster take on the 3.74-mile, 17-turn course in a one hour, 45-minute sprint race.

The 2020 edition of the race saw Greg and Eric Palmer navigate prototype traffic to earn a fifth place result – their highest result in the 2020 IPC season. The Palmers continued that momentum as they secured five consecutive top-ten finishes in their rookie IMSA season.

Having recently completed a two-day test at Sebring, the Palmers are locked in on besting their previous success.

“Sebring was good to us last year and we want to replicate, if not better those results this year,” said Eric Palmer. “The new Ligier’s performance suits the technical and sweeping corners that make Sebring what it is. My dad (Greg) and I have been studying data from our recent test and have found the areas that we need to focus on in order to get another top-five finish.”

Ari and Natasha Balogh will wheel the No. 33 Airbnb Ligier at Sebring International Raceway for the first time together as IPC rookies.

The father-daughter duo opened their season at Daytona International Speedway in dramatic fashion, recovering from an early-race incident to fight to the finish and close out the 2021 inaugural event with a 12th place finish.

Natasha Balogh will make her first start at Sebring when the green flag flies on Saturday.

“Having the chance to race at an iconic track like Sebring International Raceway is exciting,” said Natasha Balogh. “During our test, the Jr III Racing team was incredibly knowledgeable about how to best drive the Ligier over the bumps. The bumps are a signature feature of the track and it brings a new challenge for me as a driver. I am looking forward to getting on track this weekend and taking on the challenge.”

Round Two of IMSA Prototype Challenge competition goes green Saturday, March 13th at 3:05PM ET with live streaming of flag-to-flag coverage available on TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold.

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