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CHEVY NCS AT LAS VEGAS: Kurt Busch Teleconference Transcript

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Official Release
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NASCAR CUP SERIES
LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
PENNZOIL 400
TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
MARCH 2, 2021

KURT BUSCH, NO. 1 MONSTER ENERGY CAMARO ZL1 1LE, Teleconference Transcript:

TALK ABOUT YOUR WIN AT LAS VEGAS LAST YEAR AND WHAT IT MEANT TO YOU
“It was a huge win for me, personally. Las Vegas Motor Speedway had been a thorn in my side over the years. I left there every year more and more displeased and frustrated. Sometimes you don’t win at a track. Daytona took me 17 years to win the 500. I felt differently leaving Daytona. I know it’s going to happen. It’s going to happen. It will happen. Vegas, I don’t think it is ever going to happen. Vegas was that tough on me. It was an emotional tie of growing up there and having all my friends and family and people there, rooting me on, and just not being able to get the job done just felt weird. And so, it was really a spiritual moment of winning last September in the Playoffs at the South Point 400, and then not having fans and having people at the race track. I missed them and it was like boom, they zoomed in on me and we all celebrated through the TV lens. So, it was just a pretty big moment for me last year and I was just happy to win for Ganassi and to help us advance to through the Playoffs. It was a very impactful win las year.”

THERE ARE THREE UNUSUAL WINNERS TO START THE SEASON. IS IT MORE THAT THE THREE TRACKS ARE NOT TRADITIONAL TRACKS AS OPPOSED TO WHERE TEAMS ACTUALLY ARE RIGHT NOW?
“Yeah, I think you’re on the right path that it’s three unique tracks with a superspeedway, a road course, a 1.5-mile. But then the rules have stayed the same, primarily. And yet also my crew chief, Matt McCall, was telling me how some of the tech procedures have changed and different things are being enforced differently than what they have been in years past. Some of the aero advantages that some teams had, they might not be at full strength or there’s just different ways that we’re all adjusting to the sequences. And so there’s adjusting to the new but there’s also the impounds or lack of practice and the other things that it seems like other teams are finding better patterns for. I’m enjoying the start of the season and watching different guys lead leaps, passing different guys, different guys are passing me; it’s a very unique time right now. And then you have all manufacturers have won. Ford won the big 500, Toyota’s got a road course, a Chevy wins this weekend at a 1.5-mile, so we’ve got everything going for us right now. You don’t see a clear advantage for anybody.”

TYPICALLY, THE THOUGHT IS THAT WHEN NASCAR MOVES TO THE TRADITIONAL 1.5-MILES, THAT’S WHEN THE SEASON REALLY STARTS. WITH THE CHANGE IN THE SCHEDULE THIS YEAR THERE ARE STILL EIGHT 1.5-MILES. IS THE IMPORTANCE STILL THERE AND IS IT STILL AN INDICATOR OF WHERE TEAMS ARE RIGHT NOW?
“It’s hard to really put a thumb on everything all at once. I’ve always looked at the start of the year is the chunk of races before the Easter break. And that’s how a team evaluates what direction they need to go. The schedule that I’ve seen this year for everything, you have all these road courses that are part of the regular season and they can fill up with different winners towards who is going to be in the Playoffs or not. We might have somebody, new first-time winners with these road courses, that changes the way that points are accumulated to work your way in to the Playoffs. But then when you see the traditional ten races that are in the Playoffs go through those 1.5-miles, and the short tracks, too, that we haven’t even been to. And that’s how you win the championship. You win it at Phoenix. So, it’s still a lot of variety and no set patterns right now.”

DOES IT CHANGE YOUR MINDSET OR YOUR TEAM STRATEGY WHEN IT COMES TO HOW YOU APPROACH THE REST OF THE REGULAR SEASON WITH THREE SURPRISING WINNERS?
“Again, you can’t put the cart before the horse. You’ve just got to let things play out here a little bit and see how things shake out with guys that have the wins. Are they going to go after these Stage points only now to help them once the Playoffs start? You have the tracks still, that we need to, that balance out all of the off-season changes. Vegas is a high-grip 1.5-mile. Phoenix will be next week. The short tracks will start popping up. We’re going to go sling some mud at Bristol. So, a quality team like ours, we have to be in the Playoffs. We know we will. The important thing for us is to stick to our strength and that’s to gain points, methodically, through the Stages of each race, with race finishes, and if we’ve got the chance to gamble for a win at the end, we of course need to grab it. But right now, I think we’re only like four points out of being third overall with the wreck at Daytona. So, we’ve just got to keep chiseling away at getting our points built up. Then that will give us more options to do things.”

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON BRISTOL? ARE YOU OKAY WITH A DIRT TRACK ON THE SCHEDULE?
“Yeah, I think it’s going to be fun. It’s something different. Bristol Motor Speedway has done an incredible job of marketing the difference and putting dirt on it I think January 1. And then it’s like March 1st, they’re on their social. I heard the race is sold out. There’s going to be all types of other divisions racing. It’s got a bunch of hype. And they’ve done a really good job with it. And so, we’ll see how the race plays out. I think the track is going to go dry-slick and the cars are going to be super slow and sensitive. But hey, there’s points. You’ve got to get them. And there’s a chance to win and to get into the Playoffs. So, some guys are going to absorb it. Some guys are going to dread it.”

WITH THREE DIFFERENT WINNERS, IS IT GOOD FOR THE SPORT HAVING A SITUATION WHERE ALMOST NOW WE DON’T EVEN KNOW WHO HAS A CHANCE TO WIN EVERY WEEK?
“It’s like the beginning of the Kentucky Derby. You have all horses that have a shot at it. One guy leads. One guy drops back. Then by the end of those two minutes, the fastest two minutes in sports, you see your front-runners. You see who has jumped to the lead and who will get there. It’s just this is a great start to the year with the variety of tracks, the rules in place. You’re still going to have your front-runners. There’s no way that Denny (Hamlin) is not going to win multiple races. Harvick. I hope we’re in that click. I still think you’ll have your front-runners and then you’re going to have your guys that have won and then they’re going to get complacent.”

HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN TO THE RACE FANS HOW YOU TALK ABOUT A TRACK LIKE ATLANTA AND SAY IT’S WORN OUT, IT’S COMING APART, AND THE DRIVER SMILES AND SAYS, WE LOVE IT?
“The easiest way to explain it is the lap times. When you have fresh tires at a track like Homestead or California Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway, you get to just barrel it down in there. And you’re running just as fast as you can go and then by lap 3, the tires go, we can’t hold that grip. What are you going to do now? And then by lap 20, you’re sliding all around and you’re like oh, this is great because I’ve still got 20 more laps to go before we get to a pit window. And so, the driver really has to work at the worn-out asphalt tracks to keep up with changing track conditions and tire wear. Some of the other tracks (like) Michigan, some of the other hybrid 1.5-miles, we basically run the same lap time the whole time. And there’s nothing we can do to manipulate the car’s speed to catch the other guy in front of us.”

SO, THERE’S NO POINT IN SLIDING AROUND WHEN IT DOESN’T BECOME FUN? OR, IS IT FUN ANYMORE?
“Oh, it’s fun of course. And that’s what makes the lower grip tracks the bigger challenge. Like Bristol going to dirt, that’s going to be the least amount of grip we’ve ever seen. So, here we go.”

TELL US ABOUT THAT MONSTER VIDEO. WHAT WAS THE PRODUCTION LIKE? IS THERE A HIDDEN MESSAGE BEHIND THAT ABOUT YOUR FUTURE?
“To me, it was a blast to assemble a quality car from Ganassi and from Hendrick engines, and to take a NASCAR car out on the open road. And to have free reign, to work with Florida and the Dept. of Transportation, the Tourism Bureau, and to work with the Highway Patrol, it was a dream of mine to do something different, to create the Monster lifestyle that I enjoy every day with the employees, with the workers, with our fans. And to see a NASCAR car going 200 mph over the seven-mile bridge to Key West, it was a theme of what is the Monster lifestyle about? And then with the Harley riders, the moto guys doing backflips over the ramps, the bridge, cameos from Monster athletes, Vanilla Ice, who is a friend of mine down in South Florida. It just tied in a story of mine as well, on my career; with race wins, the good and the bad, and just the race journey that I’ve been on. I wanted to create those moments with such a scenic drive. And then yes, at the end is my racing career fulfilled? Is it complete? There are always those things that keep drawing any racer back. And there are those subliminal messages I sprinkled in throughout it. So, it was just a blast working with everybody and having fun down in Florida. I was trying to just put together something fun.”

SO, IS THAT A RETIREMENT VIDEO OR NOT?
“It’s left to your interpretation. Replay it and watch it again and have everybody else open it up and watch for more views.”

WHEN YOU HAVE A VIBRATION, WHAT GOES THROUGH A DRIVER’S MIND? HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT?
‘I have flashbacks of 2004 when my wheel came apart. The center section came apart from the outer rim. You go through your memory bank of moments when there are vibrations. Is it a tire rub? Is it a loose lug nut? Is it damage from something else? You go through all these checklists and then if it keeps getting worse, you’re like man, it’s not going to make it with the amount of laps that are left based off of how the vibration feels in the car. It’s the worst feeling in the world when you pull in and they go yeah, everything was tight. And my crew, now that I’ve learned a little bit more of what was going on after that pit stop, it was loose. They just didn’t want to tell me. They were just hoping that it would go the distance because that was the end of the race. It went green all the way to the end. And the pit crew is gambling, trying to give me that track position to go for the win because we ran in the top 5 all day. And those are those moments where a team has to be on their game, but also truthful and work through the situation together. And I. said this is enough. We’re going to hit the fence and have a problem. And I did it early enough in the run to where we could still work our way back. My hope was to just get back to the lead lap and then if a yellow came out, at least we gave ourselves a chance without damage. So, there are a lot of things to evaluate. And you’ve got to go on past experience; and we pulled it together to come back and finish eighth.”

DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU SORT OF KNOW FROM ALL YOUR EXPERIENCE? YOU KNOW TIRES AS WELL AS A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WORK ON THE CAR. DO YOU KNOW IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY OR IS IT JUST A SHOT IN THE DARK, OR WHAT?
“I’m not going to say I’m an expert in problem solving with crappy problems (laughs) but, having loose wheels or having vibrations and understanding where they’re coming from, I’m going to give myself a report card of eight out of 10 times I’ve been right. And if you’re wrong on those other two times, you’ve just got to take it. And so, I pitted, running in the top 5, with a chance to win. But at the end of the day, if that thing would have vibrated apart and tore the fender off and we had hit the fence, we would have finished 35th instead of where we rallied back and finished eighth. Points at the beginning part of the year are very important. And you’ve just got to stick with your gut and make the call.”

FOR BRISTOL, YOUR BROTHER, KYLE BUSCH, SIGNED UP TO RACE THE DIRT RACE THE WEEK BEFORE ALONG WITH (JOEY) LOGANO AND (KYLE) LARSON. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT? DO YOU THINK IT WILL GIVE HIM A LEG-UP?
“Yeah, I’ve been researching the Bristol Dirt Race with what cars are running, when they’re running, how many laps will they get; and to me, with NASCAR somewhat unveiling our schedule now, we’re going to have practice on Friday. We’re going to have heat races on Saturday. And then race on Sunday. That helps me feel more confident that I’ll drive my Cup car on that track and go through the track’s changing conditions with the same car. If we didn’t have all that and just went in cold turkey, then I’d be looking to run other cars. And yet when you go to run other Late Models or Modifieds, wheel travel is different; side-force and downforce, everything is different. And I don’t want to develop bad habits leading into the Cup car. So, my most and best preparation and approach to this is to stick with my team, our car, and talk with Truck Series guys that have run Eldora. That’s where you’re going to learn the most in prep for Bristol Dirt.”
Team Chevy high-resolution racing photos are available for editorial use.

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 75 countries with nearly 4 million cars and trucks sold in 2019. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found www.chevrolet.com.

DOGECOIN BETS WITH SPRINGRATES ON PARSONS IN VEGAS

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Mooresville, N.C. (March 2nd, 2021) – Stefan Parsons and BJ McLeod Motorsports (BJMM) announce today that Dogecoin, the cryptocurrency company, will ride along with primary sponsor Springrates and driver Stefan Parsons at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) Alsco Uniforms 300.

Sean Taylor, founder and CEO of Springrates immediately saw a significant and relevant opportunity to bring back Dogecoin in NASCAR, as popularity and traction has increased on social media platforms through significant figures positively acknowledging cryptocurrency, such as Elon Musk.

“Lately, I have been obsessed with learning more about blockchain and the future of decentralized currency. I had the idea of including Dogecoin on the car for this race while chatting with Stefan following the season opener in Daytona,” said Taylor. “It was ironic because at the time, I wasn’t aware his dad’s team previously ran the Dogecoin car in 2014. Maybe it was fate.”

Fate it was. Although this will be the cryptocurrency’s debut in the NXS, it will not be the first time that Dogecoin has adorned a race car in NASCAR. In 2014, an online Dogecoin community on Reddit brought attention to the lack of sponsorship for Josh Wise, who at the time drove for Phil Parsons Racing then in the No. 98 Sprint Cup Series. Within a week, over 55K in funds were produced for Wise to be sponsored by Dogecoin for the Aaron’s 499 race in Talladega. After earning his second-best finish in the Dogecoin car, Wise announced that if he was able to win the Sprint Showdown or win the fan vote, requiring him to defeat Danica Patrick, he would run the ‘Moonrocket’ car for free at the 2014 All-Star Race. After Wise won the fan vote and was in the All-Star Race, it was clear that the Dogecoin community has a NASCAR interest.

“Dogecoin has such a great community and there is so much interest surrounding it. I’m drawn to it because it’s affordable, gaining a lot of traction, and has endless potential. Plus, who doesn’t love memes?” Taylor added.

“Having the opportunity to run a scheme that has an incredible story from my Dad’s race team is something I am so proud to do. When Josh ran the Dogecoin car in 2014, I was much younger and remember being so excited at the fact that the Dogecoin community and Reddit came together to make it happen. At the time, I also wished it were me in the seat. So, to have the chance for Dogecoin to ride along with Sean and me in Las Vegas is a dream come true,” Parsons added.

In 17 starts in the NXS, Parsons has an average start of 26.9 and an average finish of 22. His best finish of the 2021 season was at Daytona International Speedway, where he finished in the 13th position after racing his way up and avoiding on-track incidents.

Coverage of the Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube begins Saturday, March 6th at 4:00 p.m. ET. Live coverage will be on FS1, Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM. Race time, 4:30p.m. ET.

About Springrates

Springrates was founded in 2005 to provide the automotive tuning industry with a trustworthy company that specializes in high performance suspension including aftermarket coilovers, lowering springs, air ride, sway bars and more. To learn more about Springrates visit www.springrates.com or via social media on   Facebook, Instagram  and Twitter.

About BJ McLeod Motorsports

BJ McLeod Motorsports, Inc. is owned by current NASCAR Cup driver, BJ McLeod and his wife Jessica. The team is located in Mooresville, North Carolina and operates out of a 15,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility, fielding three full-time NASCAR XFINITY Series entries and one part-time NASCAR Cup Series entry. To learn more about BJ McLeod Motorsports, visit www.bjmcleodmotorsports.com. Follow along with the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Stefan Parsons Racing

Follow Stefan Parsons news and updates on www.stefanparsons.com  and keep track of the latest announcements via social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

Ford Performance NASCAR: Ford’s Logano Looking To Extend Vegas Win Streak

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FORD PERFORMANCE NASCAR: LAS VEGAS ADVANCE

NASCAR’s top three national series move from Florida to Nevada for this weekend’s tripleheader at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Ford has 29 combined wins in the NASCAR Cup, NASCAR XFINITY and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series since the track began hosting events in 1996. One year ago, Joey Logano and Chase Briscoe took Ford to Victory Lane with Logano successfully defending his win from 2019.

This Week’s Schedule:
Friday, March 5 – NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, 9 p.m. (FS1)
Saturday, March 6 – NASCAR XFINITY Series, 4:30 p.m. (FS1)
Sunday, March 7 – NASCAR Cup Series, 3:30 p.m. (FOX)

FORD IN THE NASCAR CUP SERIES AT LVMS

· Ford leads all manufacturers with 13 series wins in 26 all-time events.
· Roush Fenway Racing tops all organizations with 7 victories, including the first three.
· Ford has won four of the last six at LVMS (Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano twice).

FORD IN THE NASCAR XFINITY SERIES AT LVMS

· Ford has 11 NASCAR XFINITY Series wins at LVMS.
· Chase Briscoe won both races last season.
· Jack Roush leads all car owner with 6 series victories at LVMS.

FORD IN THE NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES AT LVMS

· Ford has 5 series wins at LVMS.

· Ford’s last win came by Grant Enfinger, who won the 2018 playoff race.

· Joe Ruttman, Greg Biffle, Travis Kvapil and Tyler Reddick also have one Ford win each.

BRISCOE COMPLETES VEGAS FIRST

Chase Briscoe became the first driver to win both NASCAR XFINITY Series races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway since the track began hosting two events a year in 2018. Briscoe won spring event, which had to be run over the course of two days due to rain, after leading a race-high 89 laps. The key to his victory, however, was the pit crew, which got Briscoe off pit road first and allowed him to lead the final 36 circuits to post his first win of the season. He followed that up in the playoff opener with a dominating performance that saw him lead 164-of-200 laps. Briscoe won all three stages and left the track with the points lead and a guaranteed spot in the Round of 8.

VEGAS PROVES TO BE LOGANO’S BEST TRACK

When you win back-to-back races at any track like Joey Logano has done the past two years at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, you’re going to improve your career average. For Logano, those wins have helped make Las Vegas his best track on the circuit statistically as he sports an 8.4 average finish in 15 career starts. In fact, it’s the only track in which he’s made more than 10 career starts where his average finish is in single digits. Besides his two victories, Logano has 6 top-5 and 10 top-10 finishes at LVMS since joining the circuit in 2009. He had his streak of nine consecutive top-10 efforts end the last time the series visited in September when he finished 14th.

ROUSH RULES

There have been two Roush Fenway Racing drivers who have posted consecutive NASCAR Cup Series victories at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Jeff Burton won in 1999 and 2000 while Matt Kenseth did it in his championship season of 2003 and 2004. In fact, Roush Fenway Racing has been a force in both the NASCAR Cup and NASCAR XFINITY Series at the 1.5-mile facility. The organization has posted seven NCS wins and six NXS victories for a total of 13 overall, which includes back-to-back weekend sweeps in 1999 and 2000. In addition, RFR has three NASCAR Camping World Truck Series triumphs.

TEAM PENSKE ON VEGAS ROLL

Team Penske has had great success at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and will be looking to extend its years of winning at least one Cup race to four this weekend. Joey Logano is the two-time defending winner of Sunday’s scheduled Pennzoil 400 while teammate Brad Keselowski has three wins at the 1.5-mile track since coming to Ford in 2013. Overall, Team Penske has five wins in the last 11 series starts on the Cup side while also producing three victories in the NASCAR XFINITY Series during that same stretch of time.

SWEEP DELIGHT FOR KESELOWSKI

Brad Keselowski completed a weekend sweep in 2014 after taking the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR XFINITY Series events on consecutive days. Even though Keselowski led the most laps in the NCS race, he needed a little bit of luck and got it on the final lap when Dale Earnhardt Jr., who was in conservation mode, ran out of gas on the back straightaway. That enabled Keselowski to win going away and post the first of his six victories that season.

MARTIN LEADS FORD CHARGE IN INAUGURAL VEGAS CUP EVENT

Ford took the checkered flag at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the inaugural race at the 1.5-mile facility on March 1, 1998 as Mark Martin led a manufacturer runaway that saw 13 of the top 14 finishers driving a Taurus. The win was the first for Taurus, which became the first full-time four-door entry in NASCAR, after Ford decided to use it in the NASCAR Cup Series starting with the 1998 season. Martin bested Roush Fenway teammate Jeff Burton by 1.605 seconds to win the Las Vegas 400 with Rusty Wallace, Johnny Benson and Jeremy Mayfield rounding out the top-five. The only non-Ford to finish in the top-10 was the late Dale Earnhardt, who was eighth.

FORD NASCAR CUP SERIES WINNERS AT LAS VEGAS
1998 – Mark Martin
1999 – Jeff Burton
2000 – Jeff Burton
2003 – Matt Kenseth
2004 – Matt Kenseth
2008 – Carl Edwards
2011 – Carl Edwards
2014 – Brad Keselowski
2016 – Brad Keselowski
2018 – Kevin Harvick (1) and Brad Keselowski (2)
2019 – Joey Logano (1)
2020 – Joey Logano (1)

FORD NASCAR XFINITY SERIES WINNERS AT LAS VEGAS
1999 – Mark Martin
2000 – Jeff Burton
2002 – Jeff Burton
2005 – Mark Martin
2009 – Greg Biffle
2012 – Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
2013 – Sam Hornish Jr.
2014 – Brad Keselowski
2017 – Joey Logano
2020 – Chase Briscoe (Sweep)

FORD NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES WINNERS AT LAS VEGAS
1997 – Joe Ruttman
1999 – Greg Biffle
2007 – Travis Kvapil
2016 – Tyler Reddick
2018 – Grant Enfinger (2)

Kyle Busch – No. 51 Cessna Tundra Camping World Trucks Las Vegas Preview

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Official Release
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Kyle Busch: Driver, No. 51 Cessna Toyota

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Overview:
Event: Bucked Up 200, Race 3 of 22, 134 Laps – 30/30/74; 201 Miles
Location: Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway (1.5-mile tri-oval)
Date/Broadcast: March 5, 2021 at 9 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR 90

The Report on ‘Rowdy’:

  • Owner-driver Kyle Busch gets behind the wheel of the No. 51 Cessna Tundra Friday night for his first of five NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts in 2021. Busch will also pilot the No. 51 at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway (March 20), Richmond (Va.) Raceway (April 17), Kansas Speedway in Kansas City (May 1) and Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa. (June 26). Since Textron Aviation became a partner in 2017, Busch has recorded 12 victories, 1,350 laps led and an average finish of 5.7 in 20 starts with the Cessna and Beechcraft brands adorning his Tundra.
  • Busch, the winningest driver in series history, enters Friday’s event having won 38.1% (59/155) of the Truck Series races he has entered and finished first or second in 55.5% (86/155). He has won multiple races in each of the last eight seasons (2013-2020). The talented wheelman in recent years had scored a victory at every active NASCAR Camping World Truck Series venue that he had made a start at, but with Richmond being added to the schedule this year he will need to win there to keep that stat intact. He’s made two starts at Richmond (2001 and 2005), with a best finish of 22nd.
  • The Las Vegas native has won the last three spring Camping World Truck Series events at his hometown track (2018-2020), leading a combined 43.5% (175/402) of the total laps in those races. More impressively, Busch has won each of those races with a different crew chief. Mike Hillman Jr. was atop the pit box for his first Truck Series win at Las Vegas in 2018, Rudy Fugle called the shots in 2019 and Danny Stockman led the No. 51 team to victory last year. In addition to his three truck wins at Las Vegas, the 35-year-old driver has two XFINITY Series triumphs (2016 and 2019), and a Cup Series win (2009) at the 1.5-mile tri-oval.
  • ‘Rowdy’ will have the chance to make it four Camping World Trucks victories in a row at Las Vegas with four different crew chiefs on Friday night. Mardy Lindley is in his first season as a crew chief at Kyle Busch Motorsports. Lindley has guided his drivers to 32 wins and four ARCA Menards Series East championships since 2013, including back-to-back titles with Sam Mayer the last two seasons. Additionally, he earned the ARCA Menards Series Sioux Chief Showdown championship with Mayer in 2020. Friday night’s race will be the first time that Lindley has called the shots for a Camping World Trucks event on a mile-and-a-half track.
  • Busch’s three career wins at Las Vegas are the most by a Camping World Truck Series driver. His 273 laps led at the Nevada track rank third, behind Jack Sprague (298) and Ron Hornaday Jr. (282).
  • After two events, the No. 51 team sits 17th in the Camping World Trucks owner standings. Drew Dollar finished 10th in the season opener at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway and Parker Chase was 23rd at the Daytona Road Course.
  • For more than 90 years, Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. company, has empowered our collective talent across the Beechcraft, Cessna, and Hawker brands to design and deliver the best aviation experience for our customers. With a range that includes everything from business jets, turboprops, and high-performance pistons, to special mission, military trainer and defense products, Textron Aviation has the most versatile and comprehensive aviation product portfolio in the world and a workforce that has produced more than half of all general aviation aircraft worldwide. Customers in more than 170 countries rely on our legendary performance, reliability, and versatility, along with our trusted global customer service network, for affordable and flexible flight. For more information, visit www.txtav.com.

Kyle Busch, Driver Q&A:

Are you looking forward to your five races in the Camping World Truck Series this year?
“Competing in the Truck Series in my own equipment is something I really enjoy doing, and as long as I’m allowed to race and my name is on the door, I’ll be running as many as I possibly can. Marcus (Lemonis) and all the folks at Camping World have really done a great job to promote the series over the years and have a lot of cool incentives on the line this year for the drivers and teams. Competition wise, the racing is as good as it has ever been — it is not as easy as everyone thinks it is to go out there and win races on a consistent basis. This if our fifth year partnering with Textron Aviation and having the Cessna logo on the hood of my Tundra for my Truck Series races. It has been a really successful partnership — we’ve been able to get them to victory lane multiple times in each of the first four seasons. Our goal this year is to go out there and be a perfect five for five like we were able to do a couple years ago.”

Talk about working with a new crew chief in trucks this year.
“I’m looking forward to working with Mardy (Lindley, crew chief) and the guys he’s put together on the No. 51 team this year. Mardy came onboard at KBM at the end of last year just before the Snowball Derby, so we brought him along to the Derby to observe down there in an effort to get a head start on things knowing that he was going to be my crew chief for the truck races this year. He was able to sit in on all our post practice debriefs down there and listen in on the radio during practice and the race to get a feel for my communication and my terminology. I think without having any practice on Friday, that little bit of being around each other at track will be very beneficial. He’s won a lot of races in K&N and ARCA with several different drivers, and I’m confident that he’ll be able to continue those winning ways here at KBM. I’ve been to victory lane in the Truck Series at Las Vegas with three different crew chiefs the last three years, so I’m looking forward to the opportunity to keep that streak alive with a fourth different crew chief Friday night and at the same time hopefully add another victory to my resume at my hometown track.”

Kyle Busch Camping World Truck Series Career Highlights:

  • Busch has a total of 155 Camping World Trucks starts and is ranked first in wins (59) and second in laps led (7,305)
  • The 35-year-old driver has won 38.1% (59/155) of the NCWTS races he has entered and finished first or second in 55.5% (86/155). He has won multiple races in each of the last eight seasons (2013-2020).
  • Busch has a total of 102 top-five and 123 top-10 finishes with an average start of 7.1 and an average finish of 6.8.
  • Busch stands alone as the leader in all-time career wins in NASCAR’s national touring series with 213 total victories. He has earned 57 NASCAR Cup Series wins, 97 NASCAR XFINITY Series wins, and 59 NGROTS wins.
  • In August of 2010, Busch made history when he won the NGROTS, NXS and NCS races at Bristol Motor Speedway, becoming the only driver to sweep all three of NASCAR’s top three series at one track on the same weekend. He then repeated the feat in August of 2017.

Kyle Busch’s No. 51 Cessna Tundra:

KBM-069: The No. 51 Cessna team will unload KBM-069 for Friday’s Bucked Up 200 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Chandler Smith finished third at Phoenix Raceway last November in the Tundra’s maiden voyage.

KBM Notes of Interest:

  • KBM drivers have collected four wins, four poles, 12 top-five and 19 top-10 finishes across 36 starts at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. They have earned a collective average starting position of 7.9 an average finish of 12.2 and have led 540 laps.
  • Erik Jones won the 2014 event while owner-driver Kyle Busch won in the spring of 2018, 2019 and 2020.
  • KBM holds the Camping World Truck Series records for most career wins (80) and most wins in a single season (14 in 2014). In addition to collecting a series-record seven Owner’s Championships, the organization has produced two championship-winning drivers: Erik Jones (2015) and Christopher Bell (2017).
  • With 34 victories, the No. 51 is the winningest number in KBM’s Truck Series fleet.

TERRY DEASE READYING FOR 2021 SEASON AT SOUTH BOSTON SPEEDWAY

By
Official Release
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Terry Dease of Oxford, North Carolina is pictured with the Late Model Stock Car he will compete in during the 2021 season at South Boston Speedway. South Boston Speedway will open its 2021 season on Saturday, March 20. Photo Courtesy Joe Chandler/South Boston Speedway

By Joe Chandler

South Boston Speedway Public Relations Director

South Boston, VA…. It has been four years since Terry Dease has raced a full season at any speedway. That will change in 2021.

Dease broke the long silence of winter at South Boston Speedway last Thursday when he arrived at “America’s Hometown Track” to do some testing with his Late Model Stock Car. He is the first driver to test at South Boston Speedway in 2021.

The Oxford, North Carolina resident was preparing to compete at South Boston Speedway in 2021, starting with the track’s season-opening NASCAR Late Model Twin 75s racing program on Saturday afternoon, March 20.

“I plan to run every race up here this year, if we can,” Dease remarked.

“We haven’t raced a full season anywhere since 2017 when I won the track championship at Orange County Speedway. I really want to do that again.”

The last race Dease competed in at South Boston Speedway was South Boston Speedway’s big pre-July Fourth 200-lap race in 2019.

“I miss this place,” Dease said of South Boston Speedway.

“I’ve always wanted to come back and race here some more, but finances wouldn’t let us. We run longer races here, and still do. Now, South Boston Speedway has gone to the two-tire rule. I like that, and that is kind of what brought us back.”

Dease has been racing for 35 years and is no stranger to followers of racing at South Boston Speedway. He has won three South Boston Speedway Limited Sportsman Division championships and has raced in the Late Model Stock Car Division at South Boston Speedway from time-to-time after that. The desire to compete and be competitive remains very much alive for Dease.

“I’m 57-and-a-half years-old and still have the passion for racing,” he remarked with a smile.

“I still love to get behind the wheel and I like to turn wrenches on this thing. I still enjoy it and I’m looking forward to running with the guys up here this year.”

One of the things that excites Dease about returning to competition at South Boston Speedway this season is that he has family ties in Halifax County, Virginia where South Boston Speedway is located.

“My dad (Pete Dease, a former racer who once won more than 30 races in one season) is originally from Halifax County,” he pointed out.

“We’ve got a lot of family up this way. They’re excited we’re going to race up here.”

Dease was pleased with the progress he made with his car during the testing session.

“We’re picking up a little more speed than this car had in it last year,” he pointed out.

“I’ve done a bunch of things on the car and we’re picking up speed here and there. There’s no rubber on the track but I’m getting comfortable with the car. I just wanted to make sure that I what I put on the car didn’t fall off and that there are no leaks or anything like that going on.”

Dease has set modest goals as he looks ahead to the 2021 South Boston Speedway racing season.

“I just want to come out here and run in the top 10 the first couple of races and get used to the track and the people that are racing here,” he explained.

“I want to be competitive. I want to be in the hunt. I want to be in the top five at the end of the year. I’m not looking to win the championship. It’s not out of the question, but you’ve got to be consistent, and you’ve got to outrun a lot of good people. We’ll just see what plays out.”

The first action on South Boston Speedway’s 2021 season calendar is the track’s annual Open Practice Day on Saturday, March 13. Practice begins at 10 a.m. and will conclude at 4 p.m.

South Boston Speedway will kick off its 64th season of racing on Saturday, March 20 with the 2 p.m. running of the NASCAR Late Model Twin 75s racing program. Twin 75-lap races for the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series Late Model Stock Car Division highlight the afternoon’s six-race card.

The latest news and updates about South Boston Speedway and its racing events can be found on the new South Boston Speedway website at www.southbostonspeedway.com and on the speedway’s social media channels. Fans can also subscribe for e-mail updates on the speedway’s website.

XPEL NAMED TITLE SPONSOR OF SECOND RACE OF INDYCAR SERIES DOUBLEHEADER AT TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY

By
Official Release
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Official Race Name will be XPEL 375

FORT WORTH, TX (March 2, 2021) – XPEL, Inc. (NASDAQ: XPEL) – a leading provider of protective films and coatings today announced a multi-year sponsorship at Texas Motor Speedway. The second race of the 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES doubleheader, scheduled for Sunday, May 2, will be called the XPEL 375. The race will be televised live on NBCSN with coverage beginning at 4 p.m. CT.

XPEL is a leading provider of protective films and coatings offering high-quality products, world-class customer support and a global network of trained installers. By securing the naming rights for the XPEL 375, the company expects to generate significant brand exposure among core marketing segments including authorized dealers as well as consumers. The race sponsorship is the Company’s second major professional motorsports activation in as many years.

“Last year we became the ‘Official Protective Film Partner’ of Team Penske and embarked on our sponsorship journey with Josef Newgarden and his No. 2 Chevrolet,” said XPEL President and Chief Executive Officer, Ryan Pape. “Our new partnership with Texas Motor Speedway solidifies our investment in the sport and we are excited to see how the race sponsorship will drive increased brand awareness to benefit our business.”

The speedway’s early May race date is new for 2021, replacing its traditional June INDYCAR SERIES race date which began and ran continuously since its inaugural season in 1997. Texas Motor Speedway held a same-day INDYCAR SERIES doubleheader on June 11, 2011, with each race paying half points toward the season championship. Each race of this season’s doubleheader races will pay full points.

“The XPEL 375 will be a second fantastic day of NTT INDYCAR SERIES excitement to kick off Texas Motor Speedway’s 25th Season of Speed,” said Texas Motor Speedway President and General Manager Eddie Gossage. “We’re thrilled to be working with yet another industry leader, with roots firmly established in Texas, to bring the best in open-wheel racing to race fans from across Texas and throughout the country.”

Texas Motor Speedway hosted two events annually from 1998-2004, with the second race held in either September or October and which served as the season finale in all but 1998. The Great American Speedway has hosted a total of 32 NTT INDYCAR SERIES races.

TICKETS:
Tickets for Texas Motor Speedway’s 2021 major event season, including the NTT INDYCAR SERIES Genesys 300 (May 1) and XPEL 375 (May 2), on are sale now at https://www.texasmotorspeedway.com/nascar-indycar-tickets/.

MORE INFO:
Keep track of all of Texas Motor Speedway’s events by following on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Keep up with all the latest news and information on the speedway website and TMS mobile app.

About XPEL
XPEL is a leading provider of protective films and coatings, including automotive paint protection film, surface protection film, automotive and commercial/residential window films, and ceramic coatings. With a global footprint, a network of trained installers and proprietary DAP software, XPEL is dedicated to exceeding customer expectations by providing high-quality products, leading customer service, expert technical support and world-class training. XPEL, Inc. is publicly traded on Nasdaq under the symbol “XPEL.” https://www.xpel.com/

About Texas Motor Speedway
Texas Motor Speedway is among the largest sports stadiums in the United States and features an array of amenities such as the world’s largest TV that make it one of the premier venues in the world of sports. The 1.5-mile superspeedway located in Fort Worth hosts all three NASCAR national series as well as the NTT IndyCar Series among its various races and specialty events throughout the year. Since opening in 1997, Texas Motor Speedway has generated an annual economic impact of approximately $300 million to the North Texas region. Texas Motor Speedway is owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports, LLC, a leading marketer and promoter of motorsports entertainment in the United States. For more information, please visit texasmotorspeedway.com.

5 Interstate Car Moving Tips to Remember

By
SM
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Whether you’re moving to a new home in another state because of job opportunities there or for any other reason (like your kid going to college or buying a nice property for cheap), transporting your vehicle poses some unique challenges.

Sure, you can always drive your car across states on your own and treat it as a great road trip adventure. However, if you have considerations that automatically leave out this option, you have no choice but to have it transported by a moving company.

While this may seem an all too easy remedy, it requires a lot of planning and some legwork before you can safely move your car to your new place. Here are five tips you should remember to make your car’s interstate transport uneventful:

Hire a reliable mover.

Since your vehicle will be loaded onto a carrier and travel several miles from point A to point B, there are a lot of things that could go wrong if you settled for a mover with shady credentials. The cheapest doesn’t necessarily mean the best option; at times, you really get what you pay for.

As such, be sure to do some research to determine that you are, indeed, hiring a reliable automotive transport service there is. Among other things, you should check if the company has a license to operate or if it has different trucks that are suited for particular transport requirements. The mover should also present insurance coverage options to ensure that potential damages or even loss of vehicle are fully covered. Additionally, see whether the moving company has a sterling record (including reliable time frame and satisfied clients) to gauge whether they are worthy of trust in transporting your prized vehicle.

In short, hire the company because it has the best credentials among all your options and not because it offers the lowest rates.

Consider your budget.

Your budget should be among your top considerations when scouting for a professional auto mover. If you have limited money for the transport, you’re likely to afford an open carrier as it is the cheapest option there is. However, take note that it comes with its share of caveats, with the chief one being that your car is exposed to the elements, as well as small debris like loose road rocks that can dent your car’s paint job.

Meanwhile, if you have the budget for it or if your car is rather expensive or rare (or both), then a closed auto carrier is the right pick. It is fully enclosed and can protect your car from everything that could compromise its parts during transport. Of course, it would cost you considerably more than an open transporter but it’s the best option for total protection for your vehicle.

Prepare your car’s documents.

Several weeks or months ahead of your scheduled move, you have to secure and prepare all relevant documentation of your car for hassle-free transport. These documents include the registration papers, a copy of your driver’s license, and insurance policy. Your moving company will surely ask for copies of them, so be sure to have them ready for submission. Just don’t forget to have them sign your copies to acknowledge that they have indeed received them.

Have your trusted mechanic service your car before transport.

Before the big day comes, be sure to take your car to your mechanic to have it serviced. This might seem like just another expense that you can forego but it offers some benefits that you’ll surely find hard to pass on.

First, you can be sure that your car is in perfect running condition, which means that you can immediately use it when you arrived at your new place. Secondly, it will give you the chance to obtain a paper trail showing that your car is in perfect shape, which could come in handy if anything goes wrong with your car during the move.

Document your car before the move.

Before the scheduled moving date, be sure to take pictures or videos of your car from the outside to have proof that its exterior and interior parts are not damaged (or if they are, that the damages are easily identifiable). Also, take videos of your car as you’re starting up the engine, so you can prove that it runs perfectly well.

Should your car encounters any damage while being transported, you can use your digital proof to file for a claim to have the damages covered.

With these five tips, moving your car should be safe, efficient, and hassle-free.

NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Homestead

By
Jeffrey Boswell
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Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin finished 11th at Homestead despite starting at the back of the field and suffering a late pit road speeding penalty.

“It was odd to be racing at Homestead in the third race of the season,” Hamlin said. “Honestly, I thought I was racing for the championship. That’s probably why I finished 11th.

“So, Kyle Petty says I should be worried about my job security. I guess being the son of the ‘King’ only makes you a ‘royal’ pain in the ass.”

2. Kevin Harvick: Harvick finished fifth at Homestead as the lone Stewart-Haas Racing driver in the top 10.

“The words ‘Dixie Vodka’ were plastered all over the track,” Harvick said. “And speaking of ‘plastered all over the track,’ Clint Bowyer’s been that as a driver, as an announcer and as a fan.”

3. Michael McDowell: McDowell finished sixth at Homestead and is fourth in the points standings, 33 out of first.

“Kevin Harvick is the only other driver with three top 10s,” McDowell said. “That puts me in fast company. That’s just a bit different than that ‘speed company,’ which is what happens when you’re in the presence of anyone with the last name ‘Mayfield.'”

4. Chase Elliott: Elliott came home 14th at Homestead and is fifth in the points standings.

“Homestead is the first of nine 1.5-mile tracks on the 2021 schedule,” Elliott said. “That’s nine too many in the opinion of most. The perfect NASCAR schedule would be four super speedway races, 10 road course races, and one Cannonball Run-style cross-country race to close the season.”

5. William Byron: Byron led 102 laps and controlled the race late, to win the Dixie Vodka 400 at Homestead.

“Crew chief Rudy Fugle called a heck of a race for the No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet,” Byron said. “And he deserves all the praise from everyone. So, I ‘Ax-al-ta‘ rise and give it up to Rudy.”

6. Joey Logano: Logano finished a disappointing 25th on a tough day for Penske Racing. Logano is still second in the points standings, 12 behind Denny Hamlin.

“Three races into the season,” Logano said, “and Penske Racing doesn’t have a win yet. But there’s no need to panic. We of all teams know that fortunes can change in the blink of an eye. For example, Penske was running 1-2 on the last lap in the Daytona 500 and didn’t win.”

7. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex led 37 laps and finished third at Homestead.

“The No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota was strong on long runs all day,” Truex said, “until the last one. But I still finished third, so I think we’ll be all right, ironically, in the ‘long run.'”

8. Kurt Busch: Busch finished eighth at Homestead and is eighth in the points standings.

“Chip Ganassi wasn’t allowed to attend the race,” Busch said. “He was suspended for violating COVID-19 protocols last week at Daytona. In medical terms, Chip ‘flu the coop.’

“But in all seriousness, Chip’s actions weren’t anywhere near the dumbest in Ganassi Racing history. Heck, it didn’t even make the top 10. That’s because 1 through 10 are occupied by Juan Pablo Montoya for crashing into a Jet Dryer at Daytona in 2012.”

9. Kyle Larson: Larson finished fourth at Homestead as Hendrick Motorsports placed three cars in the top 10, led by race winner William Byron.

“Congratulations to William Byron,” Larson said. “If you would have told me before the race that ’24’ would be in Victory Circle, I would have guessed it was the age of the winner.”

10. (tie):Christopher Bell: Bell finished 20th at Homestead and is seventh in the points standings.

“Obviously,” Bell said, “I would have liked to have won back-to-back races. But it was not to be. Winning on Daytona’s road course was a dream come true. Finishing 20th at Homestead was the first of 34 wake-up calls.”

10. (tie): Brad Keselowski: Keselowski finished 16th at Homestead.

“It’s not the result we were looking for,” Keselowski said. “On the bright side, my teammate Joey Logano didn’t wreck, which leads to an even brighter side, which is the fact that I’m not obligated to talk to him.”

TR3 Racing Returns to GT World Challenge America with Lamborghini

By
Official Release
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FORT LAUDERDALE, FL (1 March 2021) – After making a dramatic change to its program in the off-season, TR3 Racing is eager to go racing again in 2021 as the Florida-based team prepares for its return to the Fanatec GT World Challenge America Powered by AWS.

The team will now field a Lamborghini Huracan GT3 for its assault on the 2021 World Challenge America championship. The team has engaged a dynamic Pro-Am class driving line up as Ziad Ghandour returns to the team to pair with young up and coming Lamborghini specialist Giacomo Altoe.

A six-year veteran of Ferrari Challenge competition, Ghandour first made the move to GT World Challenge America with TR3 Racing in 2020, contesting a partial schedule of events.

Ghandour made progress with every outing, scoring fifth in the opening race of the year at Circuit of The Americas before moving up to a podium result in the second race. The move to World Challenge followed Ghandour’s best season in Ferrari Challenge, taking three poles as well as winning four of eight race wins in 2019 on his way to scoring second in the North American championship.

The native of Lebanon is currently based in California, and has eight career triumphs in international Ferrari Challenge competition.

“I am looking forward to my first full season in World Challenge America and to continue to develop my racing career with TR3 Racing,” said said Ghandour. “The Lamborghini is really exciting to drive, and we have a lot of potential working with this new car. It will be a lot of good teams and drivers this year. I am eager to go racing with this package along with Giacomo (Altoe) as my co-driver.”

Altoe is a 20-year-old Italian who captured the 2019 International GT Open GT3 Pro championship, after winning the 2018 title in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo World Final Pro division. He has 23 victories and 50 podium finishes in 137 races during his five-year career.

“I’m really motivated to be racing for the first time a full championship in the USA this year with TR3 Racing and my mate Ziad,” said Altoe. “It will be my first season in America and we will try to fight for the PRO-AM title with our Lamborghini GT3 Evo.

It will be a challenging season, competing in the most popular category and I’m really looking forward to it. Can’t wait for the 1st race weekend in Sonoma!”

Altoe raced in the 2019 Rolex 24 At Daytona in the Ebimotors Lamborghini, finishing 17th.

In 2020, TR3 Racing also finished second in the Amateur Teams championship in 2020 GT World Challenge America. The team entered two races, winning both rounds at VIR, with John Megrue and Bill Sweedler leading the class in the No. 31 Ferrari 488 GT3.

The move to the Lamborghini platform is being bolstered by a partnership with Lamborghini Miami, one of the oldest Lamborghini dealer in the United States. Lamborghini Miami has a new state of the art showroom and service center in North Miami Beach that has attracted customers from all over the world. The dealership offers customers a buying experience that is different than the traditional dealership, with a focus on building and maintaining relationships with every one of our customers.

Brett David, the CEO of Prestige Imports and Lamborghini Miami was excited to collaborate on this unique partnership, and said “I believe that Lamborghini is the most dynamic luxury brand on the market today, with innovative technology and a cutting edge esthetic. Joining the TR3 Racing, challenges the senses and excites the heart and with my personal relationship with family behind TR3, I have the full confidence that this is the winning team to take us to the finish line and to the checkered flag, we are ready.”

“We are very exited to start this new venture with Lamborghini, Giorgio Sanna and Chris Ward really have made it a flawless transition from what we were running last year,” said TR3 Racing CEO Gregory Romanelli. “We worked hard in the off-season to put together this program. The car is in is built with such a high standard and the support behind it is like nothing else. We look forward to Sonoma and to a great season together with Ziad and Giacomo, being Giacomo‘s first year Racing in United States and Ziad’s first full season in World Challenge.”

The 2021 Fanatec GT World Challenge America Powered by AWS season is set to open March 7-5 at California’s Sonoma Raceway.

About TR3 Performance:

TR3 Performance was founded by Arthur, Oliver, and Gregory Romanelli in August 2012. Frustrated with the rising costs and plummeting quality from local shops, the brothers saw an opportunity to establish a shop of their own that would live up to their high standard of excellence, where they could hold themselves to the caliber of workmanship they had sought out in the marketplace as enthusiasts. In 2015, TR3 Racing was established as the team stepped into racing at the professional level. What started out as a modest 2,300-sq.ft. enterprise has now exploded into the premier performance shop in South Florida.

THE FOURTH ANNUAL PENNZOIL 400 PRESENTED BY JIFFY LUBE WILL IMMERSE FANS IN A LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE

By
Official Release
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Fans are invited to the Pennzoil Virtual Proving Grounds to engage in track weekend activities

Houston, TX–March 1, 2021. Pennzoil®is back at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to host the fourth annual Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube as part of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series(NCS) race season. Continuing this season’s heart-pounding racing, the Pennzoil 400 will once again headline an action-packed, triple-header motorsports weekend, with a virtual experience for fans and on-track excitement. The green flag will wave at the Pennzoil 400 on Sunday, March 7th at 12:30 PM PST and will be broadcast live on FOX.

“We at Shell-Pennzoilare eager to see what the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series race season has in store for both the fans and motorsport’s most entertaining drivers,” said Machteld de Haan, CEO, Pennzoil Quaker State Company and Vice President, Shell Lubricants Americas. “The Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube has been held at Las Vegas Motor Speedway since 2018 and is always one of the most anticipated, premiere races to drivers. Our team is proud to be a part of such winning history with Team Penske and its drivers at this event, and we hope to continue to make history at this year’s race as well. In lieu of physical attendance at the track, we are hosting fans from far and wide to join us virtually through the Pennzoil Virtual Proving Grounds and experience the track like never before. While our virtual experience will be unforgettable, we are certain that the on-track action will be another race to remember.”

The Pennzoil Virtual Proving Grounds allows fans to experience the Pennzoil 400 and as Vegas Motor Speedway in ways not possible before, with more than a dozen virtual ‘hotspots available for race fans around the world to experience from the comfort of their homes. Fans can access the Pennzoil Virtual Proving Grounds through the link below, also located on the Las Vegas Motor Speedway website in their Virtual Fan Zone, and on Pennzoil.com. It is recommended to access the Pennzoil Virtual Proving Grounds via a desktop computer using Chrome as the web browser.

Pennzoil Virtual Proving Grounds: pennzoil400.pixelhublive.com

2021 Pennzoil Virtual Proving Grounds Hotspot Highlights:

  • Virtual Las Vegas Show: Fans can tune in to watch a previously-recorded live show with many familiar Las Vegas faces! The variety show will include a performance from Shin Lim, a two-time America’s Got Talent champion and star of his own show at The Mirage in Las Vegas! Also headlining is Max Major, named Washington D.C.’s Best Performance Artist four years in a row and much more. Fans can view the show within the Pennzoil Virtual Proving Grounds on Friday, March 5th.
  • NASCAR Cup Series Car Walkaround with Larry McReynolds: America’s Crew Chief takes fans on a virtual walkaround of Joey Logano’s NASCAR Cup Series car, demonstrating the important components of a car and its team.
  • Shell Racing App: Fans can race incredible cars including the Shell Motorsports Collection on a variety of custom tracks! Users can race against one another or try and beat Joey’s game time. The app is available for download now in the App Store and Play Store and is free to users.
  • Create Your Own Track: Fans can design their own Pennzoil-branded racetrack inside the Shell Racing app. Customization includes the choice to build an extreme ‘Arcade’ track or a speedy and smooth ‘Motorsport’ track. After designing, fans can then race around their newly created track!
  • Planet Fitness® Workout: Fans can experience the desert heat and work up a sweat by participating in a Joey Logano-led Planet Fitness workout. Tune in to the live workout on Tuesday, March 2nd at 7:00 PM EST. The workout will be available to access for fans at its designated hotspot after the workout concludes on Tuesday.
  • Hauler Experience: Larry McReynoldswilltake fans on a virtual tour inside Team Penske hauler to see how teams can bring their garage with them to every racetrack. Fans can see where the racecars are stored, the various storage for spare parts, the mobile office for the crews, even the kitchen for meals on the road!
  • Pennzoil National Promotion: Within the Pennzoil Virtual Proving Grounds, fans can choose to participate in the brand’s national promotion, where purchasers of Pennzoil Platinum®Full Synthetic motor oil are eligible to receive a $22 Shell Gift Card. The offer is valid through March 14, 2021 at participating locations. For more details on the promotion, please visit www.Pennzoil.com/oilchangeoffer.

Team Penske driver and current back-to-black Pennzoil 400 champion, Joey Logano, will return to Las Vegas Motor Speedway in his No. 22 Pennzoil Ford Mustang sporting a Pennzoil primary paint scheme while attempting to capture his third straight Pennzoil 400 victory. Meanwhile, teammate Ryan Blaney will pilot hisNo. 12Ford Mustang Pennzoil/Menardsco-primary paint schemes as the two look to punch their ticket to the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. Team Penske drivers will have the cutting-edge technology of Pennzoil, the first synthetic motor oil made from natural gas, under their hood for unbeatable engine protection1as the green flag waves for a 267-lap sprint to the finish line in the Nevada desert. Pennzoil engineers continuously work on the motor oil that goes into the race cars on the track. The Pennzoil 400 is just one example of how Pennzoil is able to innovate and support winning teams and drivers like Joey Logano and Team Penske. The on-track performance and data serve as a laboratory for the motor oil Pennzoil introduces for passenger cars, helping make sure that drivers get the most out of their vehicle.

“Jiffy Lube is proud to continue its presenting sponsorship of the Pennzoil 400,” said Edward Hymes, President, Jiffy Lube International, Inc. “While the race and its surrounding events will look different this year, the virtual nature of the weekend allows us to significantly extend our reach and connect with our audience in a new and interactive way. We are able to engage with race fans on their own terms, whether they are streaming content on their digital device or watching the action live on FOX. There truly will be something for everyone.”

The relationship with Speedway Motorsports Incorporated (SMI), owner and operator of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, provides Pennzoil a stage to cultivate relationships with fans, partners and customers and put the spotlight on a shared appreciation for motorsports.“We are excited for the Pennzoil 400 to be the first race on the west coast in the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series,” said Las Vegas Motor Speedway President, Chris Powell. “Shell and Pennzoil strive to be the standard in motorsports and we are thrilled to help set that standard by helping Pennzoil host one of the most exciting races of the season at our world-class facility.”

For more information about technical relationships between Pennzoil and motorsports teams, visit www.Pennzoil.com/en_us/performance. To stay up-to-date on the latest activities, be sure to ‘like’ the official 1Based on Sequence IVA wear test using SAE 5W-30

Pennzoil Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/Pennzoil) and follow @Pennzoil on Twitter (www.twitter.com/Pennzoil) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/Pennzoil) using #Pennzoil400.

About Shell Motorsports

Shell Oil Company is an affiliate of the Royal Dutch Shell plc, a global group of energy and petrochemical companies with operations in more than 70 countries. In the U.S., Shell operates in 50 states and employs more than 20,000 people working to help tackle the challenges of the new energy future. The Shell downstream organization manages a portfolio of top-quality brands, including the No. 1 selling premium gasoline, Shell V-Power NiTRO+ Premium Gasoline, No. 1 selling gasoline, Shell Nitrogen Enriched Gasolines, and Pennzoil®, the most trusted motor oil brand in America1.

Shell’s motorsports technical alliances around the world provide a testing ground for fuel and lubricant technologies and products in demanding road conditions. The knowledge Shell and Pennzoil gain through these alliances help address tomorrow’s world mobility energy challenge with efficient solutions that power and protect motorists around the globe. http://www.shell.com, http://www.shell.us, http://www.pennzoil.com.

About Jiffy Lube

Jiffy Lube International, Inc. (“Jiffy Lube”), serves 20 million customers each year at more than 2,000 franchised service centers across North America. Jiffy Lube pioneered the fast oil change industry in 1979 with the first drive-through service bay to provide customers with convenient, professional service that remains core to its model today. The company is focused on digitizing and personalizing the vehicle maintenance experience to best support customers’ expectations, and with Jiffy Lube Multicare, it is able to service all the vehicle’s maintenance needs, from oil change to brakes, batteries and tires, all under one roof. Headquartered in Houston, Jiffy Lube is a wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Shell Oil Company. Visit www.JiffyLube.com to learn more about Jiffy Lube.

About Speedway Motorsports, Inc.

Speedway Motorsports, Inc. is a leading marketer, promoter and sponsor of motorsports entertainment in the United States. The Company, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates the following premier facilities: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Kentucky Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Sonoma Raceway, and Texas Motor Speedway. The Company provides souvenir merchandising services through its SMI Properties subsidiaries; manufactures and distributes smaller-scale, modified racing cars and parts through its U.S. Legend Cars International subsidiary; and produces and broadcasts syndicated motorsports programming to radio stations nationwide though its Performance Racing Network subsidiary.

INQUIRIES: Jeremy Tsonton, Coyne Public Relations +1 (973) 588-2000, Shell Media Relations +1 (832) 337-4355

Cautionary Note

The companies in which Royal Dutch Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this press release “Shell”, “Shell Group” and “Royal Dutch Shell” are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Royal Dutch Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” are also used to refer to Royal Dutch Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These terms are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular entity or entities. ‘‘Subsidiaries’’, “Shell subsidiaries” and “Shell companies” as used in this press release refer to entities over which Royal Dutch Shell plc either directly or indirectly has control. Entities and unincorporated arrangements over which Shell has joint control are generally referred to as “joint ventures” and “joint operations”, respectively. Entities over which Shell has significant influence but neither control nor joint control are referred to as “associates”. The term “Shell interest” is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect ownership interest held by Shell in an entity or unincorporated joint arrangement, after exclusion of all third-party interest.

1 Based on a survey of licensed drivers conducted by a leading research firm, full year 2020

This press release contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) concerning the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Royal Dutch Shell. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Royal Dutch Shell to market risks and statements expressing management’s expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as “aim”, “ambition”, ‘‘anticipate’’, ‘‘believe’’, ‘‘could’’, ‘‘estimate’’, ‘‘expect’’, ‘‘goals’’, ‘‘intend’’, ‘‘may’’, ‘‘objectives’’, ‘‘outlook’’, ‘‘plan’’, ‘‘probably’’, ‘‘project’’, ‘‘risks’’, “schedule”, ‘‘seek’’, ‘‘should’’, ‘‘target’’, ‘‘will’’ and similar terms and phrases. There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Royal Dutch Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this press release, including (without limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for Shell’s products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) drilling and production results; (e) reserves estimates; (f) loss of market share and industry competition; (g) environmental and physical risks; (h) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions; (i) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions; (j) legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments including regulatory measures addressing climate change; (k) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (l) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects and delays in the reimbursement for shared costs; (m) risks associated with the impact of pandemics, such as the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak; and (n) changes in trading conditions. No assurance is provided that future dividend payments will match or exceed previous dividend payments. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional risk factors that may affect future results are contained in Royal Dutch Shell’s Form 20-F forthe year ended December 31, 2019 (available at www.shell.com/investor and www.sec.gov). These risk factors also expressly qualify all forward-looking statements contained in this press release and should be considered by the reader. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this press release, March 1, 2021. Neither Royal Dutch Shell plc nor any of its subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

We may have used certain terms, such as resources, in this press release that the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) strictly prohibits us from including in our filings with the SEC. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F, File No 1-32575, available on the SEC website www.sec.gov.

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