Home Blog Page 2663

Mazda Commits to Women’s Initiative for MX-5 Cup Shootout

By
Official Release
-

March 8, 2021 – Following the introduction of Mazda’s Women in Motorsports Initiative at the 2020 MX-5 Cup shootout, the Japanese auto brand has committed to keeping the program in place for the foreseeable future.

Mazda has long recognized the ongoing need for programs that support female drivers. The concept of using the MX-5 Cup shootout to support emerging women in the sport was an ideal way for Mazda to contribute to this directive.

“It’s fantastic to see the motorsports industry creating more and more opportunities for women to advance their racing careers,” said Mazda North American Operations Motorsports Program Manager Jonathan Applegate. “With the MX-5 Cup shootout, we saw the perfect method to contribute to the movement with a scholarship recognizing the top female participant. I’m happy to say that Mazda has committed to continuing this program moving forward.”

The Women in Motorsports Initiative is the newest chapter in the long-running story of support that Mazda has generated to help deserving talent connect with opportunity in motorsport.

The Mazda MX-5 Cup shootout was created in 2008 to give grassroots Mazda drivers the opportunity to earn a scholarship for a full-season of MX-5 Cup competition. Last year, Mazda added a $75,000 scholarship for an outstanding female driver that takes part in the shootout. Last year’s winner was Savanna Little, who currently drives the No. 63 Hixon Motor Sports car.

“Earning the scholarship from Mazda Motorsports was the kick start I’ve been needing for years to begin my career in professional sports car racing,” Little said. “Many aspiring pros know that it’s a game of hundreds of ‘noes’ trying to break into pro racing without being self-funded or coming from a racing family. Sometimes all it takes is one ‘yes’, or a few people believing in you.

“There is no other manufacturer supporting club racing in the way Mazda does, and I believe whole heartedly you have to support the brands and organizations that support your passions,” added Little, who hails from Austin, Texas. “So, I put my faith in the Mazda grassroots racing ladder system to help me develop the fundamental skills (not only on track, but off track as well) to one day be able to sustain a career in professional racing. I am still on cloud nine every time I step behind the wheel of my ND2 Global MX-5 Cup Car and I am looking forward to every challenge and opportunity to develop myself further this season.”

Mazda’s Women in Motorsports Initiative is about more than just funding, it is equally important to provide recipients with resources to improve their driving, data analysis and media presence. The Mazda family is rich with experienced coaches and mentors to prepare drivers for professional racing.

“In my opinion, support in the grassroots to the semi-professional racing is vital for women to get to the next level,” said Hixon Motor Sports Team Manager Shea Holbrook. “Mazda remains focused on fostering development, working with the driver, team, even providing mentorship, coaching and media. There’s been wonderful opportunities for women in racing but, the disconnect has also been, it stops where it started. Mazda furthering their support shows the commitment they have not just to women but to grow the industry.”

In the 2021 MX-5 Cup season opener at Daytona, Hixon Motor Sports fielded four female drivers and Mazda hopes to see this trend continue. Next on the schedule is Sebring International Raceway March 17 – 19.

About: The Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich® Tires is the signature spec series for Mazda Motorsports. Mazda-powered grassroots champions earn a Mazda scholarship to advance their career. The Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup champion earns a $250,000 scholarship.

Find out more at http://www.mx-5cup.com.

Wright Motorsports Takes Points Lead in Sonoma Raceway Double Header

By
Official Release
-

SONOMA, Calif., (March 8, 2021) – After a successful weekend for the first two rounds of the GT World Challenge America and GT America, Wright Motorsports takes the points lead for each series, earning three wins and one podium finish in four races.

In the Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by aws, Fred Poordad and Jan Heylen made their Pro/Am class debut in the No. 20 Porsche 911 GT3 R, securing a first and second place finish in races one and two, respectively. Poordad competed in the Am class last year, and after securing the 2020 championship with co-driver Max Root, he advanced to the Pro/Am class with longtime Wright Motorsports driver Jan Heylen.

Fred Poordad started race one from eighth overall and fourth in class behind the Compass Acura NSX and a pair of DXDT Racing Mercedes AMG GT3s. Contact ahead between the two Mercedes in the opening turns sent one spinning off course, which Poordad was safely able to avoid. He lost a position to the TR3 Racing Lamborghini on the start, but after the early race incident between the two Mercedes, he was able to take back his spot and pull away to create a 0.5 second gap. Jeff Burton and the Reardon Lamborghini joined the fight, putting heavy pressure on Poordad. He led a train of four cars, running sixth overall, eventually creating a nice cushion for the No. 20. The chase between the Porsche and the Lamborghini lasted for almost the Am’s entire stint, with Poordad acquiescing in the final laps of his stint. Poordad pitted from seventh, and true to Wright Motorsports form, quick work in pit lane moved the Porsche up to rejoin in fifth position overall with a five second lead over Dakota Dickerson. He gained another overall position before a full course caution was declared, grouping the entire field back together. The race returned to green, and Heylen and the No. 20 Porsche drove to victory, securing the Pro/Am class win, and a third-place overall podium position. The pair currently leads the 2021 Pro/Am championship, with a six-point lead over Braun and Kurtz.

Since he finished the previous day’s race, Heylen started race two for the No. 20 Porsche, taking the green flag from second in class and fourth overall. The pole sitting Lamborghini had an issue on the start, and Heylen took advantage, sliding into second place overall behind the new race leader, Colin Braun in the No. 04 Mercedes. The pair ran 1-2 for the entirety of their stint, and Heylen pitted during the mandatory pit window for the No. 20 Porsche to get a new set of tires, a tank of fuel, and have Fred Poordad take over. Poordad rejoined behind the No. 04 Mercedes, which now had George Kurtz at the wheel. The pair held position to the checker flag, with the Wright Motorsports entry finishing fourth overall and second in the Pro/Am class.

Charlie Luck made his GT America powered by aws race debut Saturday morning, starting from pole position in the Masters class and third place overall in the No. 45 Porsche 911 GT3 R. He had a clean start and took second place with some pressure from behind until the car in second place spun, giving Luck a little breathing room. The race leading Mercedes of George Kurtz created a 21 second lead but was forced to serve a drive through penalty for leading the field to green two slowly. Luck assumed the class lead with 14 minutes remaining, though Kurtz, running in the faster class, took the position back in the final laps. In his first race with the Porsche 911 GT3 R, Luck secured the victory in the Masters class, setting a fast lap to start from third overall on Sunday.

Again taking the green flag from the class pole position, he quickly created a sizeable gap over the competition, and then made the pass over Jason Howard for second place overall. A full course caution closed the one second lead George Kurtz had over Luck, and they went back to green with eight minutes remaining. Luck maintained his position to the checker flag, taking second place overall and securing his second win of the season. His back-to-back victories give him a 17-point lead in the Masters class heading into the next rounds of the championship.

Circuit of the Americas will host the next two rounds of the two championships April 30-May 2. The series raced at the Austin, Texas circuit twice last year, where Wright Motorsports earned two wins and two podium finishes. Until then, the team will continue to test in preparation for the remainder of the season. For series information, visit sro-america.com.

Fred Poordad
Well that was a heck of a race one, and a great way to start the season at Sonoma Raceway. We struggled with car set up all weekend., but the team put it together for us and gave us a great car. Happy with the outcome of race one, finishing first in Pro/Am. We took our chances and opportunities when we could, and this is a good building block for the season. As for race two, I came out behind the 04 Mercedes, and didn’t have the pace to keep up. That was really the difference. Overall, given how quickly this season came about and how little we tested, I’m happy with my results and the rest of the season. Wright gave us a great car today, and I know they will for the whole season, so it’s up to the drivers.

Jan Heylen
We’re here to win the championship, so this is a good start to the season. We had enough pace to win in class in race one, and all that matters is we got the win and we got the points. It was not a perfect race for us but things came our way and it was sell deserved. We stayed out of trouble and gave Fred his first win of the season. Race two was a little more tough, but we did the best with what we had. We finished second and came away as the points leaders, that’s what we’re here for. Overall it was good. We had a good race weekend, especially when you consider we only had one test in the off season. I’m happy with the results and looking forward to Circuit of the Americas.

Charlie Luck
Coming from a Cup series, I didn’t know if I was going to be competitive here. The car is totally different than the Cup car. So a big thanks goes out to Bob Viglione, John Wright, and Jan Heylen. Those guys have given me such a good set up and have done a great job coaching me, even on nutrition and exercise. The support from my wife, Lisa and our family is incredible. This weekend absolutely exceeded expectation. I didn’t make any major mental mistakes, and in race two, I pushed even harder and was closer to Kurt’s pace than before. I have so much more to learn, and so much more to grow. We’re so fortunate and blessed to do this and get in the cars to compete like this. I think we have a phenomenal start.

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

Sunday grandstand tickets sold out for Atlanta’s March NASCAR weekend

By
Official Release
-

Grandstand seats for the NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway Sunday, March 21, are sold out. Limited grandstand seats are still available for the Fr8Auctions 200 and EchoPark 250 doubleheader on Saturday, March 20.

HAMPTON, Ga. (March 8, 2021) – Grandstand seats for the March 21 Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway are sold out.

The Speedway sold the last of its available grandstand tickets for the NASCAR Cup Series event today, reaching the capacity currently permitted by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s executive order. While the grandstands have reached their approved capacity for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500, fan experiences like infield camping, trackside camping, climate-controlled fan suites, and Club One access for Sunday, March 21, are still available for purchase.

“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome race fans back to the track later this month, especially considering it’s been two years since we’ve had our grandstands open for a NASCAR race,” said AMS Executive Vice President and General Manager Brandon Hutchison. “We’re thankful for our local and state leadership, colleagues at NASCAR, and of course all the fans that are joining us for making this event possible.”

AMS estimates 20,000 fans will be in attendance in its socially-distanced grandstands and suites for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500.

Some grandstand seats remain for the Fr8Auctions 200 and EchoPark 250 doubleheader on Saturday, March 20, and are currently available starting at $40 for adults. Kids 12 and under are free with a paid adult on Saturday.

For more information about the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 weekend March 20-21, visit www.AtlantaMotorSpeedway.com.

About the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 weekend:

Since 2015 the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 has been the main event in Atlanta Motor Speedway’s spring NASCAR weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

The annual 500-mile race showcases some of the fastest and most thrilling action NASCAR has to offer. This storied race also brings awareness to Folds of Honor and its mission to help families of military servicemen and women who have fallen or been disabled while on active duty in the United States Armed Forces.

The race weekend also features Atlanta’s same-day NASCAR doubleheader on Saturday, March 20, which has been part of the spring NASCAR weekend since 2015. The thrills of the FR8 Auctions 200 Camping World Truck Series race and the EchoPark 250 Xfinity Series race all happen in one action-packed day that race fans look forward to every year.

More information on the March 20-21, 2021 Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 weekend and ticket availability can be found online at AtlantaMotorSpeedway.com or by calling 877-9-AMS-TIX.

Follow Atlanta Motor Speedway:

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

Riley Dickinson, Efrin Castro Join Team Hardpoint EBM Porsche Carrera Cup North America Effort

By
Official Release
-

Dickinson to Drive No. 53 Porsche Austin Porsche 911 GT3 Cup in Pro; Castro the No. 65 Fine Fare Supermarkets Porsche 911 GT3 Cup in Pro-Am Class

DANVILLE, Virginia (March 8, 2021) – Team Hardpoint EBM enters its inaugural season in the 2021 Porsche Carrera Cup North America with a pair of championship contenders in both the Pro and the Pro-Am classes. Riley Dickinson will pilot the No. 53 Porsche Austin/Team Hardpoint EBM Porsche 911 GT3 Cup in the Pro Class and Efrin Castro competing in the Pro-Am Class behind the wheel of the No. 65 Fine Fare Supermarkets/GoDominicanRepublic.com Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.

The two-car effort plays to the strengths and heritage of Team Hardpoint EBM. Team Hardpoint founder Rob Ferriol got his racing start in the IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA, the precursor to the Porsche Carrera Cup North America, while Earl Bamber Motorsport – the EBM in Team Hardpoint EBM – was a successful Porsche Carrera Cup Asia team founded by brothers Will Bamber and Earl Bamber. Ferriol and Earl Bamber currently co-drive a Porsche 911 GT3 R for Team Hardpoint EBM in IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GT Daytona (GTD) competition.

“This is yet another exciting chapter for Team Hardpoint EBM and we’re ready to get started,” Ferriol said. “Riley and Efrin are both talented drivers but also good guys, which is important to our culture as we develop Team Hardpoint EBM. Porsche’s single make series is where I got my start, and was important to Will and Earl as they formed Earl Bamber Motorsport. With their knowledge and our drivers, we have high hopes for the season.”

Dickinson and Castro come to Team Hardpoint EBM as race winners in Porsche single-make competition.

Dickinson, 18-years-old, is a five-time race winner in the Platinum Class Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA. The young driver, who was also the 2020 Hurley Haywood Scholarship award winner, finished third in the season-long championship as a rookie in 2019 and was the runner-up a season ago. Dickinson will participate in the Porsche Junior Program North America for up-and-coming drivers under the age of 24 competing in the Porsche Carrera Cup North America championship.

“This is going to be an exciting year for Porsche in North America, and I’m excited to be a part of it with Team Hardpoint EBM,” Dickinson said. “Not only does the North American market have its first ever Carrera Cup, but we also have the opportunity to showcase the all-new Porsche 992 GT3 Cup Car. As a Texas native who lives in close proximity to Austin, I’m really proud to have Porsche Austin as a partner this season. Having a Texas-based Porsche dealership involved with the first ever Carrera Cup North America is something that is a perfect fit. I can’t thank everyone enough at Porsche Austin for their support. It truly means a lot and I’m looking forward to having a great year with them on the car.”

Castro finished as the runner-up in the Gold Cup class for previous generation cars in 2020. The Dominican Republic-born driver just missed out on the Championship, earning six class wins and 15 podium finishes in the 16-race season.

“I’m looking forward to the Porsche Carrera Cup North America season with Team Hardpoint EBM,” Castro said. “Last year was successful for me as a driver, but this season is going to be even more challenging. To get to work with Team Hardpoint EBM and the crew, have a great driver like Riley as my teammate, and represent my home in the Dominican Republic through GoDominicanRepublic.com and Fine Fare Supermarkets is so much fun. I’m ready to start this season.”

Porsche Carrera Cup is one of the preeminent one-make racing series in the world, due in no small part to the emphasis placed squarely on the driver’s skill. Every single car competing in Porsche Carrera Cup is an identical Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car. The 2021 championship consists of 16 races at race tracks spanning the United States and Canada. The season-opening doubleheader takes place at Sebring International Raceway, March 17-19.

About Team Hardpoint EBM:
Hardpoint Motorsports was founded by Rob Ferriol in 2018 with the vision of combining his experience as a successful entrepreneur with his passion for racing. Team Hardpoint EBM is a joint venture between Team Hardpoint and Earl Bamber Motorsport formed in late 2020 to combine the resources of EBM and co-owners Earl Bamber and Will Bamber and the early success of Team Hardpoint. Headquartered at VIRginia International Raceway, the team’s 2021 plans include a full-season effort in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship in a Porsche 911 GT3 R and a multi-car effort in the IMSA Porsche Carrera Cup North America. More information on Team Hardpoint EBM can be found at www.hardpoint.com or through its strong social media presence on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Advantages of Installing Leather Seat Covers

By
SM
-

Driving a car on a daily basis is something that many people have to do. At the same time, a car is a very important asset. Because of this, you should look for ways to improve the appearance, condition, and comfort of your vehicle. One great way that you can do this is by having leather seat covers installed onto your car. These are covers that are made of leather and will sit on top of your existing car seats. These seat covers provide a variety of benefits to users.

Improved Comfort

One of the advantages of having leather covers installed is that it can make your vehicle much more comfortable to ride in. Leather seats are often a preferred option for drivers due to their luxury and comfort. When you have new seat covers put in, they will be made of soft genuine leather upholstery that looks great and will feel great for the driver and all passengers.

Protect Original Interior

An added benefit of having leather seat covers installed in your car is that it will add leather or protection to your original interior. Anyone that is going to purchase a car will soon find that the number of people climbing in and out of your car can also come with a lot of debris and wear and tear. Over time, this could cause your existing interior to wear down. The installation of your new leather covers for your seats will also provide a level of protection for the initial seats. These can protect against wear and tear, stains, and even UV rays that can cause sun damage.

Personalization

If you are going to purchase a vehicle, it will be a big investment that you will want to enjoy as much as possible. Those that choose to have leather seat covers installed will get to personalize the interior of their vehicle. The leather covers come in a range of different colors and styles, which ensures that anyone will be able to make their interior look exactly the way that they want.

Size Customization to Ensure Fit

You will also enjoy these seat covers because they will be perfectly customized to fit your vehicle. When you come in to have a new seat of seat covers installed, full measurements of your vehicle and existing seats will be taken. They will then be able to pick a set of covers that fit perfectly into your car, which ensures they will remain tight and continue to be in place for your enjoyment for as long as you want them.

Functionality

With the installation of seat covers, you can also keep your interior as functional as possible. The shape of the seats allows you to enjoy your seat movement controls, access to armrests, and ensure no vents are blocked. Further, the covers come with built-in pockets that provide additional storage.

If you are looking to improve your vehicle, installing leather car seat covers is a great option. Having a set of leather covers installed is a great option for a variety of reasons.

Rick Hendrick’s belief in Larson vindicated with emotional win at Las Vegas

By
Angie Campbell
-
Kyle Larson celebrates in Victory Lane after winning at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images.

Kyle Larson’s NASCAR Cup Series win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was another step forward on the road to redemption.

He competed in only four races last year after his use of a racial slur during an iRacing event led to an indefinite suspension by NASCAR. A week later he was fired by Chip Ganassi Racing.

Larson was immediately contrite, telling the Associated Press, “I was just ignorant and immature. I didn’t understand the negativity and hurt that comes with that word.”

He completed the NASCAR mandated sensitivity training as well as taking further steps to better understand the implications of what he said and how they related to racial injustice in society.

In October of last year, he signed with Hendrick Motorsports and NASCAR announced that Larson had been reinstated in January 2021.

While some may have questioned Rick Hendrick’s decision to give Larson a second chance, Hendrick never doubted Larson’s potential. Fast forward to the fourth race of the season and Larson has already made it to victory lane. Hendrick was, however, surprised at how rapidly the team has come together.

“I didn’t really expect for it to come this quick because I just thought it would take “more time to gel. But our cars are fast. He’s a champion really. I’m so lucky to have him. Cliff (Daniels, crew chief) is just a great young man. To win in the fourth race, especially when you don’t have any practice, you just show up and race, it’s really been awesome.

“I think they’re going to have a lot of success together this year,” Hendrick reiterated. “If you look back at the road course he had a shot to win that. If you show up and you run well, that’s half the battle. Nobody doubts Kyle’s ability.”

What made the victory at Las Vegas even more poignant is that Larson was driving the No. 5 Chevrolet with a paint scheme that was evocative of the car driven by Hendrick’s late son, Ricky.  

“My wife and I were watching. Hendrick said. “It was emotional. It was joy. It was so many things. I love those colors. When we were going to be on the car, I mean, I wanted to run that paint scheme with that number. That meant a ton to me today and to my family just to honor our son. I love the paint scheme anyway. But Kyle made us proud today.”

Hendrick went on to express his faith in Hendrick Motorsports, crediting Larson with bringing a new intensity to the organization.

“I think the energy that he has brought to our company, along with the energy to see all the cars run as good as they’re running, that has got the whole organization on their toes. It just looks like at every race we’re in we’ve got cars in there that can win it. That’s what you want. You want an opportunity to win.

“I just feel like the chemistry is so good right now,” Hendrick said. “I don’t know if I ever remember it being any better across the board with all four cars. Two cars sometimes, then one car winning them all. But now we’ve got a really good balance.

“Everybody’s excited. I’m excited.”

If Hendrick’s enthusiasm is any indication of what is to come, Hendrick Motorsports could very well be in contention for another championship title this November.

Newman Finishes 18th at Las Vegas

By
Official Release
-

LAS VEGAS (March 7, 2021) – Ryan Newman drove his Wyndham Rewards Ford Mustang to an 18th-place finish Sunday afternoon at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

The 20-year Cup veteran started the day from the 13th position and rebounded from early handling issues in the 400-mile race. Just three non-planned cautions flew all day, as the second stage ran all green, and the final segment – the longest of the afternoon – featured just two yellows.

Newman finished 22nd in the opening 80-lap stage, and fired off 26th for the second segment as the team worked to provide more stability for his machine on a four-tire pit stop.

The second stage ran caution-free for the full 80 laps, and Newman patiently worked his way forward to finish 21st. Following more service under the stage break, he rolled off 20th for the final stage.

Two quick yellows were displayed in the ensuing laps, and the team elected to stay out twice to put Newman ninth for the race’s final restart at lap 184. Newman held on to his position until fresher tires prevailed later in the run. He ultimately went on to pit one final time under green at lap 218, before battling back from outside the top-20 to record an 18th-place result.

The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Phoenix Raceway next weekend. Race coverage next Sunday afternoon is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, and can also be heard on MRN and SiriusXM Channel 90.

MoneyLion Joins Paretta Autosport as First Sponsor of the First Female INDYCAR Race Team at the Indianapolis 500

By
Official Release
-

MoneyLion Launches Its “Women Who Roar” Campaign in Partnership with Paretta Autosport Focused on Leveling the Playing Field for Women Across Finance, Science and Technology

Indianapolis, Ind. (March 8, 2021) – Paretta Autosport and MoneyLion announced today that the financial platform, where hardworking Americans can bank, borrow, save and invest – all within one app, will become the first team sponsor of the No. 16 Chevy-powered INDYCAR at this year’s Indianapolis 500. Paretta is the first female owned, female driven, and female forward race team in the sport.

To further the INDYCAR’s “Race for Equality and Change” initiative announced last year, and in honor of International Women’s Day, MoneyLion and Paretta Autosport are also partnering to launch MoneyLion’s “Women Who Roar” campaign to advance financial empowerment, support women’s careers and level the playing field for women across a number of areas in finance, science and technology.

Paretta Autosport will enter the 105th running of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 30, with 2010 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Simona De Silvestro behind the wheel.

MoneyLion’s “Women Who Roar” campaign features:

  • Play Like a Girl Mentorship Program: MoneyLion and Paretta Autosport have committed to creating a unique Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) mentorship program for nonprofit, Play Like a Girl. This program will connect middle and high school girls with female leaders in the fintech and motorsports industries. It will also include a new “Here Women Roar” female executive leadership chapter of the organization focused on mentoring teenage girls about technology through customized fintech challenges. Not only will the partnership offer students career guidance, but it will bring them on-site to see their mentors in action, broadening their horizons on potential future careers. MoneyLion mentors will also participate in Play Like a Girl’s Women’s Leadership Summit on March 19.
  • “Women Who Roar” LinkedIn Group: Launching on March 16, MoneyLion is creating a space where women in the workforce can have candid conversations about issues such as financial wellness, mentorship and the wage gap.
  • “Women Who Roar” Conversation Series: MoneyLion is also launching a special conversation series, which includes in-depth interviews with eight influential female leaders, starting with Beth Paretta, CEO and Team Principal of Paretta Autosport, and Simona De Silvestro. The “Women Who Roar” series will air on Cheddar.com beginning on March 16 and explores women trailblazers’ career paths and advice for the next generation of female leaders.

“MoneyLion is committed to providing the financial products, educational resources and mentorship that’s much needed to level the playing field for today’s workforce and future generations of female leaders,” said Samantha Roady, MoneyLion Chief Operating Officer. “Beth Paretta has built an incredible, inspiring team with Simona as the driver. We’re proud to support a female-owned and operated business and to shine a light on inspiring women’s professional achievements through our sponsorship. We look forward to working closely with the team to bring ‘Women Who Roar’ to life.”

After decades of progress, COVID-19 lockdowns have forced many working women to stay home, fundamentally challenging their responsibilities as professionals and primary caregivers. For the first time in modern history, women are losing more jobs and have higher unemployment than men – exacerbating the existing wage gap.

“MoneyLion can contribute to the recovery from this she-cession by standing for ‘Women Who Roar,’” said Roady. “This partnership with Paretta is a first step in that wider campaign.”

“We’re thrilled to align with MoneyLion because of our shared ideals,” said Beth Paretta, CEO/team principal of Paretta Autosport. “MoneyLion’s focus on empowering women through improved financial access and literacy is a direct parallel to our mission of helping women advance their careers. We’re pleased that MoneyLion sees the value of our women-forward racing program and greatly look forward to being a part of their ‘Women Who Roar’ campaign.”

Automotive and motorsport executive Beth Paretta has a long history in leadership roles with some of the most respected automotive and performance brands, including FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles), Aston Martin and Volkswagen Group. She led successful racing programs and earned three national championships during her tenure at FCA. She is also a board member of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.

“We welcome the support of finance and technology giants like MoneyLion to help us advance our mission to drive diversity and meaningful change for girls and women,” says Dr. Kimberly Clay, founder & CEO, Play Like a Girl. “Building a diverse pipeline of young women in STEM is a major priority for us. We’re thrilled to partner with MoneyLion and Paretta Autosport to support this work and our community.”

To learn more, please visit www.MoneyLion.com, www.ParettaAutosport.com and www.iplaylikeagirl.org.

About MoneyLion
MoneyLion is a mobile banking and financial membership platform that empowers people to take control of their finances. Since its launch in 2013, MoneyLion has engaged with 7.5 million hard-working Americans and has earned its members’ trust by building a full-service digital platform to deliver mobile banking, lending, and investment solutions. From a single app, members can get a 360-degree snapshot of their financial lives and have access to personalized tips and tools to build and improve their credit and achieve everyday savings. MoneyLion is headquartered in New York City, with offices in San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Sioux Falls, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. MoneyLion has achieved various awards of recognition including the 2020 Forbes FinTech 50, Aite group best digital Wealth Management Multiproduct offering, Finovate Award for Best Digital Bank 2019, Benzinga FinTech Awards winner for Innovation in Personal Finance 2019 and the Webby Awards 2019 People’s Voice Award. For more information, please visit www.moneylion.com or download the app.

About Paretta Autosport
Paretta Autosport is a new team competing in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. With a technical alliance with Team Penske, they will attempt to qualify and compete in the 2021 Indy 500 and beyond. More than racing, Paretta Autosport is an initiative to encourage and mentor young girls and women to pursue careers in STEM-related fields. The team will incorporate women in key roles: mechanics, engineers, marketing, business operations, and more. Created by female automotive and motorsports executive Beth Paretta, the team is part of the INDYCAR series’ “Race for Equality & Change” initiative.

At Paretta Autosport, the competitive spirit drives us. We work hard and always strive for better: for ourselves, for our team, and for others. For more information, go to www.ParettaAutosport.com.

About Play Like a Girl
Play Like a Girl!® is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded on the belief that girls provided with the opportunity to play on a team become women with the confidence to stand on their own. We envision a world where the playing field is level and every girl reaches her full potential and are creating programs to leverage the skills girls gain from sport to propel them into competitive, male-dominated careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). We collaborate with schools, corporations and other partner organizations to deliver a coordinated, multi-year program model through which middle school girls experience practical lessons in leadership and engage in hands-on STEM education through the lens of a confidence-building curriculum, while being exposed to inspiring women coaches, mentors and role models. Since its founding in 2004, Play Like a Girl has benefited more than 50,000 girls and women across the world. Learn how you can get involved with this Nashville-based organization at iplaylikeagirl.org, and connect with us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Buescher Earns Solid 14th-place Finish at Las Vegas

By
Official Release
-

LAS VEGAS (March 7, 2021) – Chris Buescher drove his Faste­­­­­nal Ford Mustang to a solid 14th-place finish Sunday afternoon at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Buescher rolled off the grid 18th but was shuffled back to 21st just seven laps into the race. Reporting a tight Ford Mustang, the driver pitted at the competition caution for four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment. Buescher worked his way up to 15th when a caution at lap 46 waved for debris. The team elected to pit again under the caution for four tires, fuel and adjustments. The stop helped Buescher maintain track position as he took the green-white checkered flag for stage one in 15th.

The team visited pit road at the stage break for fresh tires, fuel and a small adjustment. After restarting 21st, Buescher remained quiet on the radio and drove his way up to 19th, right behind teammate Ryan Newman. The stage ran caution-free, and the team pitted for fuel, tires and a track bar adjustment at lap 124 under green. Pit stops cycled through and Buescher settled into the 22nd position before gaining three more positions to finish the stage in 19th.

At the stage break, the team pitted for four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment. Buescher restarted 15th, but reported a vibration in his car. Just a few laps later, the caution flag flew, giving the No. 17 team the chance to pit for fresh tires to address the vibration. Buescher had settled into the 21st position when another caution for debris came out shortly after. The team stayed out under yellow and fired off 11th at the next restart. At lap 220, Buescher visited pit road from the 18th position for a scheduled green flag pit stop for fuel and tires. He then gained four spots after driving up through traffic to finish 14th.

Buescher and the No. 17 team return to the track next weekend at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday, March 14th at 3:30 p.m. EST on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM Channel 90.

No. 04 DXDT Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Driven by George Kurtz Victorious in Inaugural SRO GT America Powered by AWS Doubleheader at Sonoma Raceway

By
Official Release
-
SRO America Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma, CA, March 2021. (Photo by Brian Cleary/SRO)

SONOMA, California – George Kurtz and the No. 04 DXDT Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 team swept the inaugural SRO GT America powered by AWS doubleheader at Sonoma Raceway on Saturday and Sunday. The pair of overall victories anchored a strong two-day performance for Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing teams in the season-opening weekend of SRO America Championships competition on the 2.358-mile Napa Valley road course. Kurtz and co-driver Colin Braun also secured a Sunday Fanatec GT World Challenge powered by AWS Pro-Am class win in the No. 04. In Pirelli GT4 America competition on Sunday, Kenny Murillo and Christian Szymczak secured a Silver-class victory in the No. 72 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4.

Starting from the pole for the second-straight day, Kurtz built a comfortable lead on the GT America field from the drop of the green flag in Sunday’s second and final 40-minute race of the weekend.

Avoiding the penalty drama that nearly derailed his Saturday win, Kurtz had an uneventful run to his second straight GT America victory on the debut weekend of competition for the new racing series. A late restart erased a comfortable lead on the field, but Kurtz held the competition off and crossed the finish line with a 1.649-second margin of victory.

In Sunday’s 90-minute Fanatec GT World Challenge finale, Braun picked up the race-leading momentum right where Kurtz left off in the GT America race.
Starting from the outside front row in the No. 04, Braun jumped to the overall lead at the race start and stayed up front for every lap of his race-opening stint.

While a pair of all-Pro competitors moved to first and second overall during mid-race pit stops, Braun handed the No. 04 off to Kurtz who extended the Pro-Am class lead straight to the checkered flag. The No. 04 duo won the Pro-Am class and finished third overall.

The debuting DXDT duo of Erin Vogel and Michael Cooper rebounded from a frustrating race Saturday to secure a fourth-place Pro-Am finish Sunday in the No. 19 DXDT Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3.

Closing driver Vogel held off a persistent and close challenge from Russell Ward in the No. 33 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the race’s final minutes. Ward and co-driver Philip Ellis ended up reaching the all-Pro podium with a third-place class finish.

In Sunday’s second 60-minute Pirelli GT4 America race of the weekend, co-drivers Kenny Murillo and Christian Szymczak improved on Saturday’s second-place finish with a convincing Silver-class victory in the No. 72 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4.

Starting driver Szymczak stayed in close touch with the other leaders in his race opening stint before handing the No. 72 off to Murillo at half distance.

The Murillo Racing team executed a fast and mistake-free pit stop that put the No. 72 back into the race in the top five. Murillo began a steady climb to the front, taking the Silver-class lead with 15 minutes remaining and then breaking into the overall top three.

Murillo moved to second overall in the race’s closing minutes and was closing on the overall race leader as time ran out. Murillo took the checkered flag just 2.370 seconds behind the race winner to seal the second-place overall finish and Silver victory.

In the Pirelli GT4 America Am class, John Allen and Kris Wilson co-drove the No. 16 Capstone Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT4 to a second-place class finish Sunday for the second straight day. The pair of weekend runner-up showings have moved Allen’s and Wilson’s championship pursuit off to a strong start with the new and debuting Capstone Motorsports team.

Next up for Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing teams in North America is the 12 Hours of Sebring IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge races at Sebring International Raceway, March 17 – 20.

Next up for Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing teams in the SRO America Championships is Circuit of The Americas (COTA), April 30 – May 2.

George Kurtz, Driver – No. 04 DXDT Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3: “It feels great. Our Mercedes-AMG GT4 cars were great, and the DXDT Racing team did a good job of getting the cars ready for today. We just put the effort in. We had the pace. We prepared in the off season and everyone did a great job. In the GT World Challenge race, Colin just took it from the top and put me in a great spot to succeed.”

Colin Braun, Driver – No. 04 DXDT Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3: “It’s great. On the whole, I’m really proud of the DXDT Racing guys. They had a lot of ups and downs this weekend and certainly they just kept working and working. We had a fast Mercedes-AMG GT3 all along. The GT America side of things went super smooth. George crushed the whole weekend over there. Today, there was good pace from both No. 04 cars. I got a good start and we got George in there and he pulled out a big lead. Life was pretty good! I’m just really happy!”

Erin Vogel, Driver – No. 19 DXDT Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3: “I spent the last couple of laps fighting off the other Mercedes-AMG GT3, who put up a really great fight. It was really fun to race with them. I was able to just hold them off for a photo finish and come in fourth place, which we’re happy with for just our second race of the year.”

Russell Ward, Driver – No. 33 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3: “It’s good to be back in California. I love Sonoma Raceway, it’s one of my favorite tracks. I think the Mercedes-AMG GT3 is pretty good here. Unfortunately, we couldn’t really do anything against the Pro-class winners, but congratulations to them. I’m really looking forward to the next race, which is at Circuit of The Americas. It’s kind of a home track for me. The Mercedes-AMG GT3 is also really, really strong there.”

Kenny Murillo, Driver – No. 72 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4: “It’s really no surprise because we worked exactly for this result, and I’m just so happy to bring it to Murillo Racing. They totally kicked it all weekend. I knew we were going to be quick in the end. Christian handed over a great car and things were just coming to us. All we had to do was focus, hit my marks and stick to the plan. I came across the line and they were like, ‘you’re P2 overall.’ That’s pretty cool! We are just grateful to not only have a Mercedes-AMG GT4 but also to be able to put it on the Pirelli tires. It is a match made in heaven. I can’t thank everybody enough. So thankful.”

Christian Szymczak, Driver – No. 72 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4: “It wasn’t shaping up to be that great early on, but it turned out a lot better than I thought it would when I got out of the car. We put Kenny in the car and he turned some really, really good laps and was consistent. The race kind of came to us again. We managed to keep the Mercedes-AMG GT4 under us the entire time, which is kind of the theme with this car. We just waited for it to do its thing and eventually we ended up in a great spot.”

John Allen, Driver – No. 16 Capstone Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT4: “It just feels great to get our new program, Capstone Motorsports, off to this kind of a start. Two podium finishes are just fantastic. The Mercedes-AMG GT4 is a fantastic car. We’re looking forward to being able to develop setups. We’ve got a pretty good setup for racing, but I think we’re really going to fine tune it for qualifying. If we can qualify a few steps up the field, it’ll really make a difference. We love the car.”

Kris Wilson, Driver – No. 16 Capstone Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT4: “For a new team, two second place finishes is not a bad way to start. We’re on the podium and we have a good base for moving forward. We learned a lot of things this weekend. We have a really good race car with our Mercedes-AMG GT4 but need to work on our qualifying setup. Our race pace is great, but now we have to figure out the qualifying aspect of it.”

1...2,6622,6632,664...6,764Page 2,663 of 6,764