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Fans can make the first laps of Atlanta’s race weekend to help kids in need

By
Official Release
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HAMPTON, Ga. (March 10, 2021) – Before NASCAR’s best race for glory, Atlanta Motor Speedway is inviting fans to take the first laps of the race weekend and help children in need.

Speedway Children’s Charities Atlanta is hosting Laps for Charity on Atlanta’s famous 1.54-mile oval under the lights on Friday, March 19, as part of the NASCAR weekend festivities. Participants will get to drive their personal vehicle onto the 24-degree banked turns and make three laps around the historic speedway. Proceeds will benefit the Atlanta Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities and its ongoing mission to help children in need.

With a donation of $40 per vehicle participants will drive three laps around the Speedway. Gates will open for the event at 4:30 p.m. Donations for admission must be made online; admission will not be sold on-site. Additionally, drivers will be required to complete a waiver and present it upon arrival. Seatbelts must be worn by all participants.

Attendees will access the event by entering the infield through the service tunnel located just off Richard Petty Boulevard and Lower Woolsey Road. Participants will then follow signage to check-in.

Throughout the event attendees will be required to remain inside their vehicles and observe guidelines for safety and social distancing.

To learn more about Laps for Charity and to purchase tickets to the event, go to https://www.speedwaycharities.org/events/atlanta/laps-for-charity/.

About Speedway Children’s Charities

The mission of Speedway Children’s Charities remains true to the ideals it was founded upon in 1982: To care for children in educational, financial, social and medical need in order to help them lead productive lives. SCC provides funding for hundreds of nonprofit organizations throughout the nation that meet the direct needs of children. Our vision is that every child has the same opportunities no matter what obstacle they are facing.

Follow Atlanta Motor Speedway:

Keep track of all of Atlanta Motor Speedway’s events by following on Twitter and Instagram or become a Facebook fan. Keep up with all the latest news and information with the Atlanta Motor Speedway mobile app.

JR Motorsports — NXS Phoenix Preview

By
Official Release
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JR MOTORSPORTS TEAM PREVIEW:
TRACK: Phoenix Raceway
RACE: Call 811 Before You Dig 200 (200 laps / 200 miles)
DATE: Saturday, March 13, 2021

Broadcast Information – TV: 5:30 p.m. ET on FS1 / Radio: 5 p.m. ET on MRN and Sirius XM Ch. 90

Michael Annett
No. 1 Pilot Flying J Chevrolet
• The last time Michael Annett raced at Phoenix Raceway, he came away with a fourth-place finish in the 2020 season finale. It was his best finish at the 1-mile oval in 17 starts.
• Tracks measuring 1 mile in the NASCAR Xfinity Series have been good for Annett. In three of his last four races on such tracks, Annett has finished in the top 10.
• At Phoenix, Annett has been fast and consistent, completing 98.6 percent of the laps in his 17 starts with the top-five in 2020 and seven finishes inside the top 10.
• Racing out West agrees with Annett. In his last seven starts west of the Mississippi, Annett has averaged a finish of 6.2 with a pair of top-five finishes and seven top-10s.

Josh Berry
No. 8 Chevrolet Accessories Chevrolet
• Josh Berry will make his first NXS start at Phoenix on Saturday afternoon.
• Berry enters this weekend fresh off a seventh-place result last weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which tied his career best.
• In three previous starts in the NXS on short tracks, the 2020 NASCAR Weekly Series National Champion has scored two top 10s with a best finish of seventh coming at Richmond Raceway in September 2015.
• In 10 career starts in the NXS, Berry has recorded four top 10s, including two in three starts this season.

Noah Gragson
No. 9 Bass Pro Shops / TrueTimber / Black Rifle Coffee Chevrolet
• Noah Gragson has four starts in the NXS at Phoenix Raceway with a best finish of second coming in the 2020 season finale.
• During the 2020 spring Phoenix race, Gragson led 27 laps en route to a seventh-place finish.
• At tracks that are 1 mile in length, Gragson has an average finish of 8.3 and has paced the field for 67 laps.
• After four races in the 2021 season, Gragson sits 12th in the standings with one top five, one top 10 and 34 laps led.

Justin Allgaier
No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet
• Justin Allgaier is a two-time winner at Phoenix in the NXS. It’s the site of his first of 11 victories since joining JRM in 2016. He took the checkered flag there in the spring of 2017 and most recently in the fall of 2019.
• The veteran driver holds an impressive 8.7 average finish in 21 starts at the track. He’s led 461 laps on the desert oval, including 127 across two starts in 2020.
• Of his 14 career NXS victories, eight have come on tracks measuring 1-mile in length or less. Three of those came in 2020 with a victory at Dover International Speedway and a weekend sweep at Richmond Raceway.

Driver Quotes

“We were pretty good at Las Vegas and got our first top 10 of the season after some pretty awful luck so far. The Pilot Flying J Chevrolet was fast when it counted, the same way it was last year at Phoenix, and we scored points in both segments for the first time this year. That’s a good track for us and we need to do well to keep the momentum building. I’m proud of Mike Bumgarner (crew chief) and all the No. 1 guys for giving me great Chevrolets every week. It’s all about momentum now.” – Michael Annett

“I’m really looking forward to getting to Phoenix. It’s a track that just really suits my driving style and we’ve had a lot of success there as a team. We’ve been fortunate enough to visit Victory Lane twice there and lead a lot of laps with our BRANDT Professional Agriculture Camaro. I have confidence we can go there and have a good, solid weekend and continue our climb up in the points.” – Justin Allgaier

“Phoenix will be interesting this weekend. This is a track that is definitely closer to my background of racing on the short tracks. Hopefully we can continue to build off of everything we have learned over these last couple of weeks and come away with another strong run with our Chevrolet Accessories Camaro. I know that Taylor (Moyer, crew chief) and all the guys on this No. 8 team have been working their tails off this week and I’m ready to go.” – Josh Berry

“Our No. 9 Bass Pro Shops/TrueTimber/Black Rifle Coffee Camaro has been fast all year but we haven’t had the finishes to show. We finally had a race go our way last weekend in Vegas and hopefully we can continue the momentum this weekend in Phoenix. We almost walked away with the win last year in the season finale, so hoping to be one position better this time around.” – Noah Gragson

JRM Team Updates”
• JRM in the Valley of the Sun: JR Motorsports has collected three victories, 20 top fives and 42 top 10s in 76 NXS starts at Phoenix Raceway. Justin Allgaier earned the most recent victory at the 1-mile oval, scoring the win after starting fifth and leading 85 laps in the November 2019 event. The organization’s additional two victories came in 2017 when JRM swept both events at the desert track with Allgaier and William Byron.
• Virtual Coffee with Noah: Black Rifle Coffee is offering a special discount for all JR Motorsports fans. Add the code COFFEEDATE20 when purchasing your coffee order March 6th through April 3rd for 20% off at blackriflecoffee.com. It also enters you a chance for a virtual coffee meet-and-greet with Noah Gragson!
• Walmart+: Meet Walmart+ – the membership that helps you save more time and money. Free shipping, no order minimum and free delivery from your store at the low prices you love. Stock up on all your race day favorites like Hellmann’s, Klondike, Good Humor and more at https://www.walmart.com/plus. Give it a try and cancel at any time.
• GREAT OUTDOORS SALE: Save up to 40 percent at Bass Pro Shops now during their GREAT OUTDOORS SALE: now through March 10. Stock up on all your outdoor needs from lures to apparel to rods and reels.

CARSHOP™ JOINS TEAM PENSKE AS NEW PARTNER WITH AUSTIN CINDRIC AND THE NO. 22 FORD MUSTANG IN THE NASCAR XFINITY SERIES

By
Official Release
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Leading-Edge Used Car Retailer to Sponsor Defending Series Championship Team in 2021

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (March 10, 2021) – CarShop, an easy and fun way to buy like-new vehicles in-store or online, will partner with Team Penske’s reigning NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) Champion Austin Cindric and the No. 22 Ford Mustang team for the 2021 season. Beginning with this weekend’s NXS race at Phoenix Raceway, CarShop will be featured as the primary sponsor of the No. 22 Ford at several events this season, as Cindric and the team look to defend their series title.

CarShop, a wholly owned subsidiary of Penske Automotive Group, offers high-quality used vehicles with upfront, no-haggle pricing and a money-back guarantee. Originating in the United Kingdom, CarShop became a global brand on March 1, 2021 after adopting the successful CarSense used-car buying experience in the United States.  Online customers can use the innovative digital tools available at www.carshop.com and www.carshop.co.uk to choose from thousands of vehicles, obtain customized, personalized payments and schedule a home delivery. 

“We are excited to partner with Team Penske as we expand the CarShop brand globally and transform the used-car buying experience into something fun, easy and exciting,” said Tracy Cassady, Executive Vice President of Marketing for Penske Automotive Group. “Whether shopping hassle-free in our stores, or online with our innovative online buying tools, customers can confidently and comfortably buy their dream car from virtually anywhere. We look forward to a great season with Austin (Cindric) racing the No. 22 CarShop Ford in 2021.”

Cindric has enjoyed a strong start to the 2021 NXS season following last year’s championship performance. The 22-year-old driver won the season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway on February 13, as he secured a spot in the NXS Playoffs and became the first defending series champion since 1997 to open the following season with a victory. Cindric currently leads the Xfinity Series point standings with four-consecutive top-five finishes to start the season. The talented young racer also made his NASCAR Cup Series debut in February at the Daytona 500, where he led laps and was in position for a top-10 result before a multi-car accident on the final lap took him out of contention.

“It’s a great opportunity to welcome a new brand to our sport and I’m excited to represent Penske Automotive Group and carry the CarShop colors on our No. 22 Ford for some of our biggest races this season,” said Cindric. “CarShop offers a unique car buying experience and we hope to deliver some strong results in the CarShop Mustang in 2021.”

About Team Penske
Team Penske is one of the most successful teams in the history of professional sports. Cars owned and prepared by Team Penske have produced more than 580 major race wins, over 650 pole positions and 40 Championships across open-wheel, stock car and sports car racing competition. Over the course of its 55-year history, the team has also earned 18 Indianapolis 500 victories, two Daytona 500 Championships, a Formula 1 win, overall victories in the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring, along with a win in Australia’s legendary Bathurst 1000 race. In 2021, Team Penske will compete in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

About CarShop

CarShop offers high-quality used vehicles with upfront, no-haggle pricing and a money-back guarantee.  Customers shopping online can use the innovative digital tools available on www.carshop.com and www.carshop.co.uk to choose from thousands of vehicles, obtain customized, personalized payments on every vehicle, and schedule a home delivery.  Whether purchasing in-store at one of our 17 worldwide SuperCenters or completely online, CarShop offers a seamless car buying experience. CarShop is a wholly owned subsidiary of Penske Automotive Group (NYSE: PAG).

The CarShop logo is a trademark of Penske Automotive Group, Inc.

Toyota Racing Weekly Preview – 03.10.21

By
Official Release
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This Week in Motorsports: March 8-14, 2021
· NCS/NXS/ARCA: Phoenix Raceway – March 12-14

PLANO, Texas (March 10, 2021) – Three series take on Phoenix Raceway this weekend as the ARCA Menards Series West kicks off their season while the Cup and Xfinity Series visit the track where the championship trophy will be lifted at later this year.

NASCAR National Series – NCS| NXS

Points leader Hamlin looking for first win of the season… Denny Hamlin scored another top-five finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to extend his NASCAR Cup Series points lead. Hamlin has yet to win this season as the Virginia-native looks to add to his Phoenix Raceway trophy collection. Hamlin owns two victories at the track (March 2012, November 2019).

Back-to-back Busch… Kyle Busch comes into Phoenix off his best finish of the season, a third-place effort in Las Vegas on Sunday. Busch has three victories at Phoenix, winning the last two in back-to-back fashion in November 2018 and March 2019.

Jones delivers big for Toyota… Brandon Jones delivered a milestone for Toyota in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) event at Phoenix Raceway one year ago. Jones drove to his second-career victory, which was also Toyota’s 500th NASCAR win. Jones has since added two additional victories and is coming off his third straight top-five finish this season.

Hemric continues strong start… Daniel Hemric has continued to run strong in the opening parts of the 2021 season. In Vegas, Hemric led over 70 laps in the No. 18 Supra and drove to a runner-up finish. He has finished each of the first four races inside the top-10.

Ferrucci impresses in early efforts… Santino Ferrucci scored a top-15 finish in just his second career NASCAR start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday. Ferrucci will race in the No. 26 Supra this weekend in Phoenix with the Sam Hunt Racing team, which holds a top-15 spot in the overall Xfinity Series owner standings.

Gibbs back behind the wheel… Ty Gibbs is back for his second Xfinity Series start this weekend in Phoenix after an impressive victory in his Xfinity Series debut on the road course at Daytona International Speedway last month. Gibbs will also compete for another win in the ARCA Menards Series race on Friday evening.

NASCAR Regional Series – ARCA

Love looking to repeat… The ARCA Menards Series West kick off its season on Friday evening and Toyota development driver Jesse Love is the defending champion. The 16-year-old driver became the youngest champion in NASCAR history last fall when he clinched the title at Phoenix Raceway in November.

Heim plans to continue strong start… Friday’s ARCA Menards Series race is also the second race of the national ARCA schedule, where Corey Heim comes in on a two-race winning streak. Heim scored Toyota’s 100th ARCA victory in Kansas last fall in the 2020 season finale and followed that up with a dominating performance at Daytona International Speedway in February.

Stay Connected

https://www.toyota.com/racing @ToyotaRacing.com @ToyotaRacing

facebook.com/ToyotaRacing Camera With Flash on Apple iOS 11.3 ToyotaRacingMedia.com

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands plus our 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota has created a tremendous value chain and directly employs more than 47,000 in North America. The company has contributed world-class design, engineering, and assembly of more than 40 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants, 15 including our joint venture in Alabama that begins production in 2021.

Through its Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.

New Partnership Announcement with Mass Finishing Inc. and Roush Yates Engines

By
Official Release
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MOORESVILLE, NC – March 10, 2021 – Roush Yates Engines announced today it has reached a multi-year partnership agreement with Mass Finishing Inc.

Mass Finishing Inc. (MFI) was founded in 1995, in Howard Lake, MN. In 2016 it was acquired by Innovance, but continues to operate sales and production out of its Howard Lake plant and is 100% employee owned.

For the past two decades MFI has been providing the best in class polishing and deburring equipment to the aerospace, medical, and automotive industries. Their experience coupled with their product innovations created a natural partnership with Roush Yates Engines and Roush Yates Manufacturing Solutions.

“We are always looking for ways to improve our processes and products,” commented Dan Keenan, Chief Technical Officer at Roush Yates Manufacturing Solutions. “The HZ Barrel Finisher will reduce our overall cycle time and produce a superior isotropic finished part. The MFI team has been outstanding to collaborate with and has made it a true win – win for us and our customers.”

We are excited to take delivery of our HZ-160 High Energy series Centrifugal Barrel Finishing (CBF) system from MFI. The HZ series is the fastest and most economical form of finishing machine available. They are the industry workhorse in polishing, deburring and de-flashing parts. From engine components in the motorsports industry to mission critical military components, this tumbling machine is the versatile and cost-saving solution we have been looking for to polish and deburr our world-class precision components.

“MFI is proud to partner with such a prestigious racing name and looking forward to the rewards the partnership will bring for both companies on the sales floor and racetrack,” said MFI Sales and Marketing Manager, Cole Mathisen. “Having access to a premiere engine shop to help provide performance data related to our surface finishing capability is huge.”

About Mass Finishing

Mass Finishing, Inc. is an industry leader in polishing and deburring machines based in Howard Lake, Minnesota. MFI’s Tumbling and Vibratory machines are designed to finish and deburr parts in mass quantities in a fraction of the time it would take to finish just one part by hand.

With over two decades of experience, Mass Finishing has developed thousands of processes to handle any troublesome job. For more information about Mass Finishing visit Massfin.com or contact them at (888) 260-6277.

About Roush Yates Engines

Roush Yates Engines is a leading-edge engine development company based in Mooresville, NC consisting of two state-of-the-art facilities – Roush Yates Engines and Roush Yates Manufacturing Solutions, a world class ISO 9001 / AS9100 certified CNC manufacturing facility. The company’s core business includes designing, machining, building, and testing purpose-built race engines.

Ford Performance in partnership with Roush Yates Engines is the exclusive engine builder for the NASCAR FR9 Ford V8 engine and Ford Mustang 5.2L V8 engine, used in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge series.

With an unparalleled culture of winning and steeped in rich racing history, Roush Yates Engines continues to follow the company’s vision to lead performance engine innovation and staying true to the company’s mission, provide race winning engines through demonstrated power and performance.

About Roush Yates Manufacturing Solutions

Out of the passion for power and performance excellence, Roush Yates Manufacturing Solutions (RYMS) was formed. RYMS machines high performance engine components to support engine design and development. Although rooted in motorsports and the automotive industries, RYMS has leveraged their passion for CNC manufacturing excellence and applied it to the aerospace, defense, and medical industries.

We have created a world-class facility, staffed by a diversified professional team from the aerospace, defense, motorsports, power generation, and high-tech sectors from around the United States.

Our dedication to quality is exhibited by our commitment to meet AS9100 Rev D certification and ITAR registration standards. This is paramount to our continued success and growth.

Michael McDowell Ready for Homecoming Weekend Anthony Alfredo Talks About Early Season Expectations and Results

By
Official Release
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A Look Ahead to the NASCAR Weekend in Phoenix

You can’t find a better jewel in the desert than the Phoenix Raceway. The 1 mile, tri-oval shaped track is always a popular visit on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule. Phoenix Raceway hosts two events- this weekend and the season finale in November. The track recently went through major renovations making it one of the premier facilities on the circuit.

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) comes into Phoenix concentrating on continued progression at the track. Heading into this season, Phoenix Raceway was marked as a track where the organization wanted to make improvements. Michael McDowell has a best finish of 16th for FRM while Anthony Alfredo will be making his first Cup Series start at the track.

McDowell and Alfredo will race 312 laps on Sunday. The race will be televised on FOX at 3:30 p.m. ET.

For McDowell, coming to the Phoenix Raceway this weekend as the 2021 Daytona 500 Champion is a dream homecoming. The Glendale native left from Las Vegas last weekend and made the drive with his family to the city he grew up. He spent the early week with family and friends before he makes an appearance at the go-kart club (Phoenix Kart Racing Association) where he started racing and other media appearances.

“It’s always nice to go home, but it’s special this time,” said McDowell. “Just to spend the week to thank and celebrate with everyone that helped make all this happen since I was a kid. There are so many people in Glendale and the Phoenix-area who were a part of my journey when I was getting started. I just wanted to be here with my family and thank a lot of people, see them and just enjoy it while we’re together.

“I didn’t think about being the Daytona 500 Champion when it all started here,” continued McDowell. “I wanted to race. It started with karting and I went from there. I’m thankful for it all and really just grateful to take this time with family and friends.”

But, McDowell knows the next task at hand.

“I’ve said it before, but we really wanted to think about this track and where we can get better. We know we’ve made a step forward, but our next step is really getting better at this track. We need to be consistent at every track. That will make us a real threat.”

McDowell will again climb behind the wheel of the No. 34 Love’s Travel Stops Ford Mustang this weekend.

Alfredo comes to the Phoenix Raceway ready to make his second NASCAR start at the track, but the first in his Cup car. That will be the case many times this season. Alfredo has experience at many tracks and the Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate knows the challenges. But, he also has expectations, too.

“We all know that I have to learn the car and in some cases, the track,” said Alfredo. “That’s what will happen a lot this year, but that doesn’t mean the expectation is to just drive around. No way. I think we’ve proven we have good speed, especially once I get 20 or 25 laps into the race. I’ve been comfortable getting into the groove and just trying to get better and better as the race goes along.

“So, I think we have our expectations of getting better, but also racing hard, racing for position and getting better results I look at Las Vegas last weekend and we’re probably running lap times around the top-15 guys or so. The same at Homestead. So, now it’s just closing down and getting those finishes at the end. I have confidence we can do that.”

Alfredo comes into Phoenix with three consecutive top-25 finishes.

“We want those to be top-20, then top-15, and then top-10 finishes,” continued Alfredo. “I don’t know how quick that will all happen, but I’m excited to keep learning and getting better. We’ve created a solid base the past few weeks and now we can build on top of it.”

Alfredo will race the No. 38 MDS Trucking Ford Mustang this weekend.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

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

NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Las Vegas

By
Jeffrey Boswell
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Photo by Jim Fluharty/HHP-Chevy Racing

Note: The quotes in the article are fictional.

1. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin claimed fourth at Las Vegas and remained atop the points standings.

“Joe Gibbs Racing put all four cars in the top 10,” Hamlin said. “And Kyle Busch had the best finish of us all. We’re all telling Kyle he ‘finished first’ just to make him feel better.

“I think we’re all looking forward to racing on the dirt at Bristol in a few weeks. I guess you could say it’s ‘grounds’ for excitement.”

2. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski won Stage 1 and finished second at Las Vegas.

“I knew we had a car good enough to finish in the top five,” Keselowski said. “If you were a gambler, I’d have told you to bet the house on a top five. If you were a NASCAR fan, I’d have told you to bet the trailer.”

3. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex finished sixth in the Pennzoil 400.

“Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer have great chemistry in the announcer’s booth,” Larson said. “Their years of experience plus their witty banter is on-air magic. You could call it ‘mic joy.'”

4. Kevin Harvick: Harvick started on the pole at Las Vegas but struggled from the start, suffering a tire rub and a flat tire early that eventually resulted in extensive handling problems. He finished 20th.

“We had a fast car,” Karvick said. “The only problem was, it went downhill fast.

“Hopefully, our trouble in Vegas will stay here, and won’t follow us to Phoenix. As the saying goes, ‘What Happens In Vegas Stays In Vegas.’ Hopefully, that’s true. The following is also true: if there was a Vegas show reboot of a 1970s sitcom about three working-class African-Americans in Watts that had an unlimited run on the Strip, it would be called, ‘What’s Happening (In Vegas) Stays In Vegas.'”

5. Kyle Larson: Larson led a race-high 103 laps and pulled away on the final green-flag run to win the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas.

“Frankly,” Larson said, “I’m ‘shocked,’ mostly because I overcame lengthy ‘suspension’ problems to get the win.

“Honestly, I don’t know what to say, which means I’ve done something right.”

6. Chase Elliott: Elliott spun with 99 laps remaining at Las Vegas, but recovered to salvage a 13th-place finish.

“I’m so happy for Kyle Larson,” Elliott said. “He’s in the playoffs, which is the first step in becoming a NASCAR champion. Kyle will probably be the favorite when we return to LVMS. We’ll be back in Nevada in September, which Kyle calls being ‘reinstated.'”

7. William Byron: Byron came home eighth at Las Vegas as Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson took the win.

“Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr served as the race’s Grand marshal,” Byron said. “Many Las Vegas citizens were saying if that was his last job as a ‘starter,’ things are looking up for the Raiders.”

8. Joey Logano: Logano finished ninth at Las Vegas.

“Hiring Kyle Larson was a brilliant move for Hendrick Motorsports,” Logano said. “Larson is a team player, unlike that other Kyle that used to drive the No. 5 for Hendrick. With Kyle Busch, the team was all about ‘me, me, me.’ That kind of selfishness is called ‘I Racing,’ and Kyle Larson wants no part of that.”

9. Kyle Busch: Busch finished third in the Pennzoil 400 at his hometown of Las Vegas.

“Did I spin intentionally in the Trucks Series race on Friday?” Busch said. “That’s a question I’m unable to answer under oath, or with my hand on a bible, or honestly. Suffice it to say I’d answer with the sincerity of a Teresa Earnhardt wedding vow.”

10. (tie) Christopher Bell: Bell finished seventh at Las Vegas as Joe Gibbs Racing placed all four cars in the top 10, led by Kyle Busch’s third.

“That race just flew by,” Bell said. “That’s often not the case. Most times, I find myself saying, ‘I didn’t think that race would ever end.’ That’s in contrast to viewers at home watching Fox’s pre-race coverage, who find themselves saying, ‘I didn’t think that race would ever start.'”

10. (tie) Ryan Preece: Preece finished 15th at Las Vegas.

“Four races,” Preece said, “four different winners. And only one of those four winners made the playoff field last year. I think a precedent has been established: ‘anybody can win.’ And that’s the only reason I can find that would keep Quin Hoff, B.J. McLeod, Garrett Smithley, Cody Ware, Joey Gase, Josh Bilicki, and Timmy Hill motivated to continue embarrassing themselves week after week.”

BRODY ROA IN USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SEASON OPENERS THIS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AT KERN COUNTY RACEWAY PARK

By
Official Release
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Brody Roa, and the BR Performance crew including baby Addison, at a recent practice session. Charles Fawcett Photo

(Cypress, CA, March 9, 2021) Veteran sprint car racer Brody Roa will open his 2021 sprint car campaign this Friday and Saturday, March 12th, and 13th, when the USAC/CRA Series kicks off the season on the dirt track at Kern County Raceway Park in Bakersfield.  The two races on the Kern County clay oval will not only be the first for the series at the track, but they will also be the first appearances for the driver of the familiar #91R.  Gates will open at 4:00 P.M. each day with racing at 6:45.

For Roa, who turned 30-years-old in January, hopes are not only high for a successful season, but for a busy one as well.  Like most others on the West Coast, the Garden Grove, California racing ace saw most of his 2020 season canceled due to the Covid crisis. His main focus, the USAC/CRA Series, only saw four races total last year.  The first two events for the series were in Arizona in early April and the last two were also in the Copper State eight months later.  Sandwiched in between was an appearance at Indiana Midget Week and three appearances in Jayson May’s #8M sprint car in the CAS Series at Central Arizona Speedway.  The first night Roa teamed with May they brought home the winner’s trophy in September. 

Anyone who knows Roa knows that he likes to race a lot.  But if there ever was a season to get some extra time off, 2020 was it for the affable racer.  Last September he and wife Tailor welcomed their first child, Addison Leanne, into the world and he needed some extra time at home.  Since then, baby Addison has made her debut at the track and will be around to see her dad race a lot in 2021. As the schedule stands right now, Roa will contest 24-races on nine different tracks in the USAC/CRA Series between now and November.  Following this weekend’s debut, the tour will head to the famous Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, California for a night of action on March 26th. 

In addition to the ambitious USAC/CRA schedule, Roa will also contest some races for May in the USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series.  He also plans on doffing a wing for the first time to race with the Northern California based King of the West Series. If that is not enough, he is open to making some appearances in the Midwest with the USAC National Sprint Cars if the opportunity for a ride materializes.  

For the season debut at KCRP this weekend, the BR Performance team will wheel out a brand-new Eagle chassis powered by one of its fire-breathing 410 Shaver Specialties engines. 

For fans who would like to attend the races at Kern County Raceway Park, the track is located at 13500 Raceway Boulevard, Interstate 5 and Enos Lane, in Bakersfield (93311).  The track website is at https://www.kernraceway.com/ and the office phone is (661) 835-1264.  This weekend’s races, which will also include the IMCA Racesaver Sprint Cars, will follow all COVID-19 Protocol – Per Industry Guidance from the California Department of Public Health. 

Roa and the team would like to thank the following for being part of the 2021 campaign.  HD Industries, Burris Racing, Competition Suspension, Sander Engineering, Biker Bruce Fisher, Inland Rigging, The Golden Vibe Boutique, K-1 Race Gear, Molecule, Rod End Supply, Baldwin Filters and Jambo BBQ Pits.  If you or your company would like to jump on board and receive recognition throughout the year, please give the two-time USAC champion racer a phone call or drop him a note at the contact information at the top of this release. 

To view Roa’s online portfolio and learn more about the team, please click on the following link https://www.teamwithbrody.com/.  Fans can also check out the team website at  https://www.brodyroa.com/ and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/br91r/.

Ryan Newman – Phoenix Advance

By
Official Release
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Team: No. 6 Guaranteed Rate Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Twitter: @Roush6Team, @RoushFenway and @RyanJNewman
Instacart 500 – Sunday, March 14 at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Newman at Phoenix Raceway

  • Newman makes his 37th Cup start at Phoenix this weekend, the site of his most recent NCS win four seasons ago. Overall, he has 12 top-10s, 10 top fives and an average finish of 16.9. He also won the 2010 spring race at the 1-mile track.
  • His 2017 win came after starting 22nd, and in 2010 he won from the 14th starting spot. Additionally, he has a pair of runner-up results (2004, 2010) and two third-place finishes (2003, 2015).
  • Most recently, Newman finished 24th last fall after missing the spring race following his Daytona incident.
  • Newman has four Cup poles at Phoenix and an average starting position of 14.3. His most recent pole came in 2008.
  • He also made a pair of Xfinity starts at Phoenix with a best finish of fourth in 2011.

Scott Graves at Phoenix Raceway

  • Graves will be atop the box for his ninth Cup event at Phoenix on Sunday, a track he has an average finish of 16.4 at with one top-10. Most recently, he and Newman finished 24th last fall.
  • Graves’ best result came in 2018 in the spring, when he ran fourth with Daniel Suarez. He and Newman also ran 12th in the 2019 spring race.
  • Graves also called seven Xfinity events at Phoenix with a pair of top fives. He led Suarez to a third-place run in 2016, and followed that with a fifth-place finish last fall.

QUOTE WORTHY
Newman on racing at Phoenix:
“Phoenix races much like a short track in the way it’s laid out and the way you have to treat it. We’ve been on both ends of the spectrum there lately, but looking to get our Guaranteed Rate Ford dialed in come Sunday. It will always be a special place for me and is the site of my last victory, so we’re hoping for some of that good luck on our side this weekend.”

Last Time Out
Newman finished 18th a week ago at Las Vegas in a race that featured just three unscheduled cautions.

Where They Rank
Ryan Newman is 21st in the driver standings through four races.

On the Car
Guaranteed Rate returns to Newman’s Ford Mustang for its first points race of 2021. The brand was on board Newman’s machine for 12 races last season, and is back as an anchor partner again in Newman’s 20th full-time Cup season.

About Guaranteed Rate
The Guaranteed Rate Companies, which includes Guaranteed Rate, Inc., Guaranteed Rate Affinity, LLC, and Proper Rate, LLC, has more than 9,000 employees in over 750 offices across the United States. Headquartered in Chicago, Guaranteed Rate Companies is one of the largest retail mortgage lenders in the United States, funding over $73 billion in 2020. Founded in 2000 and located in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., Guaranteed Rate Companies has helped homeowners nationwide with home purchase loans and refinances. The company has established itself as an industry leader by introducing innovative technology, offering low rates and delivering unparalleled customer service. 2017 marked the launch of Guaranteed Rate Affinity, LLC, a mortgage origination joint venture between Guaranteed Rate, Inc. and Realogy Holdings Corp. (NYSE: RLGY), a global leader in residential real estate franchising and brokerage. In 2020, the company launched Proper Rate, LLC, a mortgage origination joint venture between Guaranteed Rate, Inc. and @properties, one of the nation’s largest residential brokerage firms. Collectively, the Guaranteed Rate Companies have earned honors and awards including: Top Lender for Online Service for 2018 by U.S. News & World Report; Best Mortgage Lender for Online Loans and Best Mortgage Lender for Refinancing by NerdWallet for 2021; HousingWire’s 2020 Tech100 award for the company’s industry-leading FlashCloseSM technology; No. 3 ranking in Scotsman Guide’s Top Retail Mortgage Lenders 2019; Chicago Agent Magazine’s Lender of the Year for five consecutive years; Chicago Tribune’s Top Workplaces list for seven consecutive years. Visit rate.com for more information.

Chris Buescher – Phoenix Advance

By
Official Release
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Team: No. 17 Roush Performance Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Luke Lambert
Twitter: @17RoushTeam, @RoushFenway and @Chris_Buescher
Instacart 500 – Sunday, March 14 at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

Buescher at Phoenix Raceway

  • Buescher will line up for his 11th Cup event at Phoenix on Sunday, where he has a best finish of 16th (twice).
  • Last season at the 1-mile track, Buescher ran 17th in the spring and 20th in the fall race.
  • In four NXS races, Buescher had a best result of 12th in 2014 in the No. 60, with his best qualifying effort coming in 2015 (seventh).

Luke Lambert at Phoenix Raceway

  • Lambert returns to the site of his lone Cup win, which came four years ago with Newman in the No. 31 machine. Overall Lambert has an average finish of 13.9 in 16 races atop the box, his second-best average of any track on the circuit.
  • Lambert led Jeff Burton to a fourth-place run in his first-ever race in Phoenix back in 2011, and went on to also finish seventh (2014) and third (2015) with Newman.
  • Lambert also visited victory lane in the NXS with Elliott Sadler in 2012 after starting eighth, one of his two starts.

QUOTE WORTHY

Buescher on racing at Phoenix:
“Any time we get to go short-track racing, even though Phoenix isn’t traditionally known as one, we’re excited as we feel confident in program there. We had the ship pointed in the right direction a couple weeks ago, and that got our confidence going as a team, we’ve just got to keep it headed that direction moving forward. We’ve got a pretty cool scheme going this weekend with the Roush Performance Ford, one I think that looks sharp and will shine out in the desert.”

Last Time Out
Buescher finished 14th last week at Las Vegas in the Fastenal Ford.

Where They Rank
Through four races, Buescher is 16th in driver points.

On the Car
Buescher will sport a bright Roush Performance look this weekend in Phoenix, a scheme he debuted a season ago at Texas that became a fan favorite.

About ROUSH Performance
ROUSH Performance was founded in 1995 by motorsports legend Jack Roush, the winningest name in racing. Combining performance engineering with entrepreneurship, ROUSH began selling designs he had created for his own team to the wider world of motorsports. Based out of Plymouth Township, Michigan, ROUSH Performance, a division of Roush Enterprises, designs, engineers and manufacturers completely assembled pre-titled vehicles, aftermarket performance parts, and superchargers for the global performance enthusiast market. For more on ROUSH, please visit ROUSHperformance.com or call 800.59.ROUSH.

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