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Toyota Racing – NXS Phoenix Post-Race Report – 03.13.21

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Official Release
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GIBBS EARNS ANOTHER SOLID RESULT IN SECOND XFINITY RACE
Gibbs scores runner-up finish in Phoenix

PHOENIX (March 13, 2021) – Ty Gibbs drove his Toyota Supra to the runner-up finish in the Call 811 Before You Dig 200 at Phoenix Raceway on Saturday evening.

Toyota Racing Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Phoenix Raceway
Race 5 of 33 – 200 miles, 200 laps

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, Austin Cindric*
2nd, TY GIBBS
3rd, Brandon Brown*
4th, Riley Herbst*
5th, AJ Allmendinger*
12th, HARRISON BURTON
14th, TIMMY HILL
15th, SANTINO FERRUCCI
18th, STEFAN PARSONS
23rd, DANIEL HEMRIC
28th, DAVID STARR
33rd, BRANDON JONES
40th, JESSE LITTLE
*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

TY GIBBS, No. 54 Pristine Auction.com Toyota Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 2nd

Describe your race, another great finish at Phoenix.

“It was really hard with the PJ1 and how it was sprayed, a little bit higher than last year, so it was more of a one lane track. (I learned) lane position, kind of letting people go and move some people out of the way. (I) definitely figured it out and helped me at the end of the race. I was too far to kind of bump the 22 (Austin Cindric), but it was a fun time. It was a learning experience more than anything. I’m just learning how these things race on the ovals, but I’m very thankful to be here. I can’t thank Pristine Auction enough. Just one spot short.”

BRANDON JONES, No. 19 Toyota Racing Toyota Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 33rd

What happened between you and AJ Allmendinger?

“It’s such a tough deal. I know the sun was in our eyes pretty bad off of turn two, but I just got ran over. I’ll look to rebound next weekend. I thought we had a really phenomonal run going. It was still a little bit off balance for that final stage, but all-in-all, we had a really good Toyota Supra. I hate it for everybody who puts effort into it, but it looks like I just got ran over by AJ (Allmendinger). I’ll keep a notebook of all of this stuff and use it in the future.”

# # #

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.

Cindric nabs his second win of the season at Phoenix Raceway

By
Michelle Lippold
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Austin Cindric, driver of the #22 Car Shop Ford, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Call 811 Before You Dig 200 presented by Arizona 811 at Phoenix Raceway on March 13, 2021 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

One driver was better than the rest Saturday during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Before You Dig 200 presented by Arizona 811 and that was Austin Cindric in his No. 22 Team Penske Ford.

He spent most of the race up in the front and led the most important lap, the last one. It was a battle for the lead and it bit some drivers, but it was Cindric bringing home the trophy.

Cindric stated, “I think it was a role reversal from the last time we were here. He (Justin Allgaier ) obviously got a good restart and stuck on top of three there fighting for track position. I came away with a win here with Carshop Ford Mustang.” He added, “It’s awesome to have them on board for this season, keep pink and white colors in Victory Lane.”

Coming in second with another great run was Ty Gibbs in his No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Ford. Having a great finish in third was Brandon Brown in his No. 68 Brandonbilt Motorsports Chevrolet.

Stage 1:

Stage 1 was rather uneventful with no actual cautions. However, on the last lap, Josh Berry had issues and Jesse Little smacked into the wall, but the stage was already over. Cindric would win this stage.

Stage 2:

Stage 2 had a couple of incidents that pretty much involved only one car such as Dexter Bean hitting the wall and Noah Gragson, who had a fire underneath his car. Daneil Hemric won the stage.

Stage 3:

Stage 3 is where chaos would hit but again in mostly one car incidents. Harrison Burton spun and then Brett Moffitt spun. Brandon Jones hit the wall and Alex Labbe also spun. One thing never changed though and that was the leader. The last lap had cars bouncing off the wall and each other, but Cindric made it through with no issues after battling with Ty Gibbs who finished second.

Brandon Brown, Riley Herbst and AJ Allmendinger rounded out the top five. Jeb Burton, Bayley Currey, Justin Allgaier, Brett Moffitt and Jeremy Clements finished sixth through 10, respectively.

In the NASCAR Series standings, Cindric leads with 248 points, Hemric is second with 201 points, in third is Jeb Burton with 172 points, in fourth is Allmendinger with 162 points, and rounding out the top five is Harrison Burton with 162 points.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series head next to Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sat., March 20.

Capps, Torrence, Anderson, Sampey earn No. 1 qualifiers for GatorNationals

By
Briar Starr
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Photo Courtesy of NHRA

On the eve of the 2021 NHRA season, the final two rounds of qualifying were held Saturday afternoon at the GatorNationals located in Gainesville, Florida.

Funny Car

After putting up a quick time Friday night of 3.895 seconds and 329.02 mph, NAPA Auto Parts driver Ron Capps was looking to keep his No. 1 spot for the two Saturday qualifying sessions. The time Capps set Friday night was against his Don Schumacher Racing teammate and 2020 Funny Car Champion Matt Hagan. On Saturday afternoon in the second round of qualifying, the San Luis Obispo, California native faced Tim Wilkerson and put up a time of 3.948 and 320.66 mph over Wilkerson’s 5.052 seconds and 150.28 mph.

The run was still fast enough for Capps to hold the No. 1 qualifying spot through Round No. 3. In Round 3, Capps was up against Wilkerson again. As the Christmas tree lights went out, Capps ended up going 4.082 seconds and 163.65 mph. Despite the tire smoke coming to the line, the Don Schumacher Racing driver earned his 26th career No. 1 qualifier spot. Oddly enough, Capps is the defending race winner where he faced Wilkerson in the final round last year.

“I’m just a small link and I just didn’t want to mess up,” said Capps, who has three wins at the historic facility. “I’ve got my first Camping World hat (for a No. 1 qualifier) and it’s great. It’s been fun and we’re excited, but tomorrow is race day. We’ve got a great crowd here, and I’m feeling good and I don’t want the dream to end, so hopefully, we can finish the job on Sunday.”

While Capps stole the show in qualifying, all eyes were on John Force who, after Friday’s qualifying session, was 13th in the running order. In the first two attempts, Force was not locked in at all, meaning the 16-time Funny Car Champion had to make the third and final round count the most and he did. Force rocketed to 3.934 and 323.66 mph to lock into the show. Force will be making his first start since Arizona of last year. The Yorba Linda, California native has a total of eight career victories at the GatorNationals with his last win coming four years ago in 2017.

Funny Car Round 1 Eliminations Ladder:

No. 1 Ron Capps vs No. 16 Jim Campbell, No. 8 Matt Hagan vs No. 9 Bob Tasca III, No. 4 Robert Hight vs No 13 Bobby Bode, No. 5 John Force vs No. 12 Paul Lee, No. 2 Alexis Dejoria vs No. 15 John Smith, No. 7 Cruz Pedregon vs No. 10 Chad Green, No. 3 Tim Wilkerson vs No. 14 Dave Richards and No. 6 J.R. Todd vs No. 11 Blake Alexander.

Top Fuel

To no surprise to anyone, Steve Torrence was the quickest out of the Top Fuel category. The three-time Top Fuel champion put up a time of 3.699 to earn his 28th career No. 1 qualifier. His teammate and father Billy Torrence was the closest competitor as Billy ended up with a time of 3.735. Steve Torrence will be looking for a repeat, as the Texas native won this race last year after defeating Tony Schumacher, Doug Foley, Leah Pruett and his father Billy Torrence. He will face No. 16 qualifier Joe Morrison in the first round.

“We need to maintain our focus and concentration on going laps and going rounds because there’s a lot of people targeting us,” said Torrence, a 40-time event winner. “We’re going to have to step up. Brittany (Force) is back, some other people are back and it’s going to be a competitive field, just as it always is. Getting in these things, you get jacked up and that run (Friday) was stout. We made a good run this afternoon and we’re excited to stay on top. The yellow (No. 1 qualifier) hats are nice, but we’re trying to get some of those winner’s hats, so we’ll see what we can do.”

Krista Baldwin, who is a third-generation racer, and is the daughter of Top Fuel racer Bobby Baldwin and the granddaughter of NHRA racer Chris Karamesines, attempted to make her debut. On Friday afternoon, Baldwin had a time of 5.343 seconds and 125.74 mph meaning she had to make Saturday count if Baldwin wanted to race on Sunday. In the second round, she was a bit better at 181.81 and 4.503 seconds.

Baldwin would need help in the final round, but unfortunately, she failed to qualify after veteran Doug Foley posted a time of 3.849 and 322.11 mph. Baldwin will have to wait another day to make her Top Fuel debut.

Top Fuel Round 1 Eliminations Ladder:

No. 1 Steve Torrence vs No. 16 Joe Morrison, No. 8 Josh Hart vs No. 9 Clay Millican, No. 4 Doug Kalitta vs No. 13 Arthur Allen, No. 5 Brittany Force vs No. 12 Justin Ashley, No. 2 Billy Torrence vs No. 15 of Scott Palmer, No. 7 Mike Salinas vs No. 10 Antron Brown, No. 3 Leah Pruett vs No. 14 Mike Bucher and No. 6 Shawn Langdon vs No. 11 Doug Foley.

Pro Stock

Veteran Pro Stock racer and four-time Gainesville winner Greg Anderson was the quickest after three rounds of qualifying Friday and Saturday but earning the top spot wasn’t easy. Anderson faced 2020 Pro Stock Champion Erica Enders in the final round late Saturday afternoon. Both Anderson and Enders put on quite an epic battle but in the end, Anderson’s speed of 211.36 mph gave him his 107th No. 1 qualifier over his 23-year career.

“It feels great,” Anderson said. “It’s been a long five months with no racing and that drives us crazy. This is what it’s all about, racing at the Gatornationals, and so far my car has just been flawless. We got the spot we wanted and we’re going to come out tomorrow – on my birthday – and see if we can get a blue (winner’s) Camping World hat.”

Pro Stock Ladder for Sunday eliminations – Numbers represent where the driver qualified.:

No. 1 Greg Anderson vs No. 16 Cristian Cuadra, No. 8 Chris McGaha vs No. 9 Alex Laughlin, No. 4 Deric Kramer vs No. 13 Val Smeland and No. 5 Kyle Koretsy vs No. 12 Dallas Glenn.

Pro Stock Motorcycle

The Pro Stock Motorcycle class quite possibly had the most interesting story out of qualifying Saturday. Four drivers, Angie Smith, Angelle Sampey, Hector Arana Jr. and Matt Smith all reached 200 mph for the first time ever at Gainesville. Angie Smith was the first to do so when she reached 200.47 mph and 6.880 seconds while facing Lance Bonham in the second round.

However, at the end of the final qualifying session, the No. 1 qualifier went to the Matthews, Louisiana native, Angelle Sampey. Sampey put the Vance and Hines Mission Foods Suzuki Motorcycle on the pole with an ET of 6.742 and 200.00 mph. The No. 1 qualifier is Sampey’s 52nd of her career. This is Sampey’s second Gainesville No. 1 qualifier as her first came in 2007.

“This is amazing. I posted a video of my team celebrating on the starting line because I don’t get to see them celebrate very often,” said Sampey. “I’m so proud to have Mission Foods on board this year. This feels like mission accomplished already, but I feel like I have so much more ahead of me. I’m just the lucky rider of this Suzuki. I’m still learning this motorcycle. It’s been a struggle but I’m still going.”

Pro Stock Motorcycle Ladder for Round 1:

No. 1 Angelle Sampey vs No. 16 Michael Phillips, No. 8 Scotty Pollacheck vs No. 9 Corey Reed, No. 4 Ryan Oehler vs No. 13 Jerry Savoie, No. 5 Karen Stoffer vs No. 12 Kelly Clontz, No. 2 Matt Smith vs No. 15 James Underdahl and No 7 Hector Arana Jr. vs No. 10 Angie Smith.

Eliminations begin at 10 a.m. ET and can be seen on NHRA.TV with a subscription before switching over to FOX later in the morning.

Motorsports Icon Lyn St. James Named Honorary Starter for Instacart 500 at Phoenix Raceway

By
Official Release
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PHOENIX (March 13, 2021) – Iconic race car driver, writer, broadcaster, entrepreneur and motivational speaker Lyn St. James will serve as the honorary starter when she waves the green flag for the start of Sunday’s Instacart 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway. The Instacart 500 is set for Sunday at 12:30 p.m. PT on FOX, MRN Radio and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.

“It’s an honor to have Lyn at our event and waving the green flag for the start of Sunday’s Instacart 500,” said Phoenix Raceway President Julie Giese. “Lyn is a motorsports icon and a pioneer for women in this industry. With March being Women’s History Month, it’s only fitting that we have Lyn be a major part of this weekend’s action at Phoenix Raceway.”

St. James is one of only nine women to have qualified for the Indianapolis 500 and became the first woman to win the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year award in 1992. In 1985, St. James became the first woman to eclipse 200 mph on a race track when she reached 204.233 mph at Talladega Superspeedway. In 1995, during Indianapolis 500 qualifying, she again set a closed-course world record for women, reaching 225.722 mph. St. James was also named by Sports Illustrated as one of the “Top-100 Women Athletes of the Century.”

Sunday’s Instacart 500 Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway is at capacity, but fans can catch St. James waving the green flag on FOX at 12:30 p.m. PT. Fans at home can also participate in race day activities through Phoenix Raceway’s Virtual Experience available online at PhoenixRaceway.com/VirtualExperience and on the NASCAR Mobile App.

About Phoenix Raceway

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

About NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 16 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR consists of three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series™), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour), one local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series) and three international series (NASCAR Pinty’s Series, NASCAR Peak Mexico Series, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’).

Sioux Chief Showdown Gets New Look

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

DGR ARCA Menards Series Recap: Phoenix Raceway

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

Taylor Gray, No. 17 Ripper Coffee Company Ford Fusion

Start: 4th
Finish: 9th

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

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

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

Thad Moffitt, No. 46 CleanPacs Ford Fusion

Start: 9th
Finish: 3rd

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Driver Brett Moffit: 

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

Driver Blaine Perkins:

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

Past Results at Las Vegas for Our Motorsports: 

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

Tune in: 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Notes of Interest:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Joe Graf Jr. Pre-Race Quotes:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SAFETY PROTOCOLS:

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

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

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

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

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

TICKETS:

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

FOLLOW US:

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

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