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Car Maintenance Tips To Keep Your Vehicle In Running Order

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The most important factors in a motor vehicle’s life are engine health and fuel economy. While there are many car care tips available, not all of them can help car owners spot potential problems and prevent irreparable damage. Below are some tips and things to keep an eye out for to make sure your car is always in working order and safe from breakdowns.

  1. Don’t Go Over The Octane Rating

High-octane fuel packs more power. However, this mainly caters to engines that run on extremely high compression ratios, such as sports cars. These cars require high-octane fuel to prevent combustion in their specially-built engines. Unless specified by the automaker, don’t load premium gasoline to your car because the engine doesn’t need it and may cause unnecessary issues.

  1. Blow Your Tires Up

Proper tire maintenance not only ensures your safety on the road but also helps your car’s fuel economy. Under-inflated tires waste more fuel because they have higher rolling resistance that overtax the engine. Ideally, you should rotate your tires every 5,000 miles to prevent them from wearing out. You can always check the automaker’s manual for the recommended pressure for front and rear tires. It will also tell you when to rotate, balance, and align your tires according to the mileage.

  1. Don’t Wear Out Your Drive Belts

Drive belts transfer mechanical power from the engine to other parts and accessories for your car to run. These belts are typically made of materials that easily degrade such as polymer or rubber. Thus, it’s crucial to always check for hairline cracks or signs of wear on your timing belt, serpentine belt, and V-belt every 50,000 miles at the very least. 

When these belts lose integrity, your car will be at risk of an engine breakdown which will require intensive rebuilding or even replacement. If you need to replace belts, hoses, or other auto-parts, you may check Parts Avatar for great deals and industry-leading coverage for all car brands in North America.

  1. Replenish Fluids

If you hear loud noises coming from your car, it’s your engine telling you that you need to replenish the oil. Your engine has many mechanical parts that brush against each other when your car runs. This creates friction and builds up heat that cause loud noises. Oil is very important in your car’s life because it lubricates the motor and disperses heat. When the oil level drops, there is greater strain on the moving parts and the engine runs hotter, which could lead to bigger problems.

Other fluids that you should always keep at recommended levels include the radiator coolant, brake fluid, power steering fluid, and transmission fluid.

  1. Watch Out For Sludge

Apart from checking the oil levels, you should also check the color. Engine oil should always be amber-colored. If you see some dark-colored greasy deposits, it’s an indication of sludge. Sludge is a petroleum byproduct that forms when engine oil thickens or oxidizes. It’s one of the worst enemies a motor vehicle could have as it blocks oil lubrication, clogs the engine, and causes it to breakdown. Changing the engine oil at intervals recommended by your automaker can reduce sludge build-up.

StemGen Announces Ian Dawson to Lead Energy Division

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Official Release
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HOUSTON, TX, Jan. 26, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

via NewMediaWire— StemGen (OTC: SGNI), a leading broad automotive engineering and esports technology company, today announced longtime motorsports innovator and engineer Ian Dawson will lead the energy division of the company. 

“I am obviously excited and proud to announce that Ian will spearhead the Energy Division of StemGen,” said Simon Dawson, president and chief executive officer of StemGen. “He will focus on the innovation and technology subsidiary. Needless to say, his strong background as a disruptor in motorsport engineering is a huge asset to the company. Not only has he been building and developing a new hypercar for race competition for over a year, but he has been a visionary for decades, such as the development of the first diesel-powered race car that entered the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in France, back in the 2004. Soon after Ian entered a test and development program with Rousch Yates on the Ford Eco Boost V6 Twin Turbo. His knowledge, innovation and network of contacts will be immeasurable to the growth of StemGen’s Energy Division and future strategic partnerships.”

“Innovation and technology are certainly topics that interest me greatly,” said Ian Dawson, of Houston, Texas. “Working with Simon and StemGen, Inc., towards the growth of one of the pillars of the business, energy, was a natural fit. When your son asks you to be involved with a company as exciting as StemGen, and the ability to further work on the development of projects in sustainability energies and fibre products around hydrogen fuel technologies, I couldn’t say no. It’s truly one of the most thrilling concepts I’ve worked on in my long career. I also look forward to collaborating with companies looking at the future of hypercars as one of the main goals.”

Ian Dawson, a native of the South Shields in England, started an engineering apprenticeship at age 17, which steered him into racing and motorsports. His career eventually took him to Formula One, where he worked with standout drivers like Emerson Fittipaldi and Mario Andretti. He crossed the globe working on various programs with Ferrari and Porsche factory teams to name a few before settling in Houston a decade ago. He and son, Simon, have been business partners in past motorsport ventures, including the Radical Texas dealership. Ian commenced in early 2019 on development work with an energy partner evaluating a hydrogen-powered Hypercar program as a proof of concept to be ready for regulations under the Le Mans Prototype class in 2023.

For more information about StemGen, Inc., please visit https://stemgeninc.com/

ABOUT STEMGEN, INC.

StemGen, Inc. (OTC: SGNI) is a broad automotive engineering and esports technology company focused on the digital transformation of motorsports, gaming, and education. The Company generates revenues through the licensing of in-house developed hydrogen-fueled automotive technologies, audience and education monetization programs delivered through virtual motor sports events platform, and Direct to Consumer (DTC) sale of purpose-built racing simulators and esports retail products. StemGen manages racing and gaming operations on a global basis from the corporate headquarters located in Houston, Texas. Visit www.stemgeninc.com for more information. 

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements – Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements that include the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipate” or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition, description of anyone’s past success, either financial or strategic, is no guarantee of success. This news release speaks as of the date first set forth above and the Company assumes no responsibility to update the information included herein for events occurring after the date hereof.

SCOTT MCLAUGHLIN TO RACE IN PPG COLORS DURING ROOKIE INDYCAR SEASON

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Official Release
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New Zealand Driver Will Compete in the No. 3 PPG Chevrolet for 10 Races in 2021

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (January 25, 2021) – Team Penske announced today that PPG (NYSE: PPG) – a global manufacturer of paints, coatings, and specialty materials – will be featured as the primary sponsor on the No. 3 Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet driven by Scott McLaughlin for 10 races during the 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season.

McLaughlin, the reigning and three-time Australian Supercars champion, made his NTT INDYCAR SERIES debut when he raced for Team Penske in the 2020 season finale on the streets of St. Petersburg. The 27-year-old native of Christchurch, New Zealand, will embark on a new challenge this season as he transitions to open-wheel racing with a full-season INDYCAR program. For his rookie season in 2021, McLaughlin will represent one of Team Penske’s longest-active partners as the team celebrates its 37th season with PPG, a Fortune 200 company with headquarters in Pittsburgh, Penn., and operations in nearly 70 countries around the world.

“PPG is a global, industry-leading brand that has been a terrific partner with Team Penske for more than three decades,” said Roger Penske. “Our relationship with PPG has continued to grow and reach across all areas of our business. We are excited about the newest racing opportunity in our partnership as PPG teams up with the No. 3 team and Scott for his first full season competing in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.”

McLaughlin enjoyed an incredibly successful four-year run with the DJR Team Penske Supercars program, helping secure three team championships and winning the driver’s title in each of the last three seasons. Over the course of his nine-year Supercars career, McLaughlin won 56 races and 76 poles. He and co-driver Alex Premat also earned Team Penske’s first win in the legendary Bathurst 1000 race in 2019. As he begins his fifth season with Team Penske in 2021, McLaughlin already ranks among the team’s all-time leaders in career victories (third) and poles (second). He is excited for the opportunity to add to those totals in 2021.

“It is surreal to think my first full season in the INDYCAR SERIES is almost here,” said McLaughlin. “I am truly living out my dreams and to have PPG on board as our primary partner is amazing. I watched the beautiful blue and white PPG cars compete over the last few years, and they look amazing on track. It is going to be an honor to represent PPG in the No. 3 Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet this season.”

The relationship between Team Penske and PPG officially began in 1984 when the company first provided paint for the Team Penske racecars that competed in the former CART Series. The iconic blue and white PPG cars have become some of the most popular designs in both INDYCAR and NASCAR competition in recent years. Team Penske drivers have produced eight wins in the distinctive PPG livery with the most recent INDYCAR SERIES victory coming in 2017 at World Wide Technologies Raceway with driver Josef Newgarden.

In addition to the partnership with McLaughlin and the No. 3 team in 2021, PPG will also continue to serve as a sponsor for Team Penske’s NASCAR Xfinity Series program with 2020 series champion Austin Cindric. Cindric will pilot the No. 22 PPG Ford Mustang in races this season at the Daytona Road Course, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Mid-Ohio and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course.

“The relationship with Team Penske has been extremely successful for PPG, both on and off the track,” said Bill Shaw, PPG director, strategic accounts, automotive refinish. “We are excited to add another chapter to our history with Scott McLaughlin and the No. 3 PPG Dallara/Chevrolet team. Scott has proven himself to be one of the most talented racecar drivers in the world, and we know success in his new opportunity with the team is just around the corner. PPG is excited to be a part of that.”

The 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season will begin for McLaughlin and the No. 3 PPG Dallara/Chevrolet team on April 18 at Barber Motorsports Park, located just outside Birmingham, Alabama. The race will be seen live on NBC. McLaughlin will also drive the PPG Chevy during the doubleheader race weekends at Texas and Detroit, as well as races this season at Mid-Ohio, Toronto, Portland, Laguna Seca and Long Beach.

PPG: WE PROTECT AND BEAUTIFY THE WORLD™

At PPG (NYSE:PPG), we work every day to develop and deliver the paints, coatings and materials that our customers have trusted for more than 135 years. Through dedication and creativity, we solve our customers’ biggest challenges, collaborating closely to find the right path forward. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, we operate and innovate in more than 70 countries and reported net sales of $13.8 billion in 2020. We serve customers in construction, consumer products, industrial and transportation markets and aftermarkets. To learn more, visit www.ppg.com.

We protect and beautify the world is a trademark and the PPG Logo is a registered trademark of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.

About Team Penske
Team Penske is one of the most successful teams in the history of professional sports. Cars owned and prepared by Team Penske have produced more than 550 major race wins, over 650 pole positions and 40 Championships across open-wheel, stock car and sports car racing competition. Over the course of its 55-year history, the team has also earned 18 Indianapolis 500 victories, two Daytona 500 Championships, a Formula 1 win, overall victories in the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring along with a win in Australia’s legendary Bathurst 1000 race. In 2021, Team Penske will compete in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series. For more information about Team Penske, please visit www.teampenske.com.

CHASE, CARLY BRASHEARS JOIN SOUTH BOSTON SPEEDWAY STAFF, WILL TAKE LEADERSHIP ROLES AT ‘AMERICA’S HOMETOWN TRACK’ IN 2022

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Official Release
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Chase Brashears (left) and his wife, Carly Brashears (right), are pictured with South Boston Speedway General Manager Cathy Rice (center). The Brashears have joined the South Boston Speedway staff, with Chase Brashears serving as assistant general manager and Carly Brashears serving as assistant office manager through the 2021 season. In 2022 Chase Brashears will become the speedway’s general manager and Carly Brashears will become the speedway’s office manager. Photo Courtesy Joe Chandler/South Boston Speedway

By Joe Chandler

South Boston Speedway Public Relations

South Boston, VA…..A talented young husband-wife team with wide-ranging experience in NASCAR racing has joined the South Boston Speedway staff to help lead the historic speedway into the future.

Chase and Carly Brashears will serve as assistant general manager and assistant office manager respectively through the 2021 season. Chase Brashears will become the speedway’s general manager in 2022, with his wife, Carly, becoming the track’s office manager, which will include involvement in marketing, sales and digital platforms.

The Brashears will be working alongside South Boston Speedway General Manager Cathy Rice and Office Manager Helen Barksdale throughout the 2021 season learning the speedway’s operations.

“I’m very excited about this opportunity to come to South Boston Speedway,” said Chase Brashears.

“South Boston Speedway is a nationwide, if not internationally known name in short track racing. It’s a huge honor to have the opportunity to lead the speedway. I’m very thankful to the Mattioli and Igdalsky families, everybody at Pocono Raceway and everybody here at South Boston Speedway to have this unusual and awesome opportunity, and I thank God for placing me here to be able to work alongside my wife, who will be my right hand as we go along through this.

“Cathy Rice, Nick Igdalsky and the entire Pocono Raceway family have done a tremendous job here,” he added.

“It’s something that we’re going to continue to build on in the future. We want to take this place and continue to grow it, grow with the community and continue to have a successful program and events.”

“This opportunity came knocking at a perfect time,” remarked Carly Brashears.

“We are really excited to be here. Chase and I have always said we want to get back to our short track roots. We’ve been involved in racing for a number of years. It’s in our blood, and we’ve always wanted to get back where it all began, so an opportunity at South Boston Speedway is amazing.

“We felt very fortunate to be thought of,” she added.

“We really thought we could come to the table, bring a lot of ideas and hopefully watch this track continue to grow and live its legacy.”

South Boston Speedway CEO Nick Igdalsky said the Brashears are a good fit for the speedway.

“It is rare to find just one person with the experience, reputation and passion needed to oversee a historic racing venue like South Boston Speedway,” Igdalsky pointed out.

“We believe we have found not only one, but two, in the husband-and-wife team of Chase and Carly Brashears! Both Chase and Carly bring with them a tremendous level of racing knowledge and experience from their previous positions with NASCAR and with several nationally known short tracks. The future of South Boston Speedway looks as bright as ever, and I am excited to see how Chase and Carly’s vision takes shape over the next few years.”

Rice says she welcomes the couple into the South Boston Speedway family.

“We are very fortunate to have Chase to fill this position and his wife, Carly, that will be filling the assistant office manager position,” Rice remarked.

“I am glad we have somebody that will be stepping in that is younger that can be here many years.”

A native of Kentucky, Chase Brashears comes to South Boston Speedway from NASCAR’s competition division where he has served as one of NASCAR’s three national race directors. After graduating from East Tennessee State University in 2017, he was immediately hired by NASCAR to work in touring and weekly series racing operations, planning marketing events and traveling to grassroots racetracks across North America.

He was moved to NASCAR’s competition division in 2019 and became one of NASCAR’s three national series race directors. In June 2019 he directed his first race at Michigan International Speedway, becoming the youngest person to direct a national series race at age 23.

Chase Brashears has worked in various capacities at Lonesome Pine Raceway in Coeburn, Virginia, Kingsport (Tennessee) Speedway and Bristol Motor Speedway including competition, marketing, public relations and working with website and social/digital platforms.

Tennessee native Carly Brashears comes to South Boston Speedway with a strong background in marketing, sales and digital platforms. She served as a member of NASCAR’s Event Marketing Team for the past two years. In that role she was a liaison for NASCAR-sanctioned national series tracks, assisting all tracks in promoting their event weekends, driver appearances and industry meetings such as driver/crew chief meetings, pre-race festivities and victory lane celebrations.

In 2018-2019 she joined The NASCAR Foundation as Coordinator, directing the Foundation’s relaunch of their grassroots racing initiatives and assisting in Foundation marketing initiatives and events. That work included working in a variety of aspects connected with annual Humanitarian Award processes. Among them were outreach initiatives, website design, social media takeovers and brand management across all mediums.

Prior to that, Carly Brashears created and managed social and digital platforms at Kingsport Speedway and managed marketing and public relations for both Kingsport Speedway and Lonesome Pine Raceway. In 2018 she served as Director of Marketing and Sales at New Smyrna Speedway in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.

The couple point out that 2021 will be a learning year, and they are grateful to have Rice to help them learn and transition into leadership roles in 2022.

“We’ve got the privilege of Cathy sticking around with us for the full season before she slows down,” Chase Brashears pointed out.

“It’s quite a big advantage, and it’s an unusual advantage for somebody in this situation when you’ve got an outgoing individual and an incoming individual in a general manager role. Having Cathy here to walk hand-in-hand with us is going to be quite the advantage because we can use that to learn the community, grow with the community and take Cathy’s contacts hand-in-hand day-by-day and run with that and use all of that. We’re not having to write our own playbook, so to speak.

“Another good thing is Cathy is still going to be around in 2022, as she is going to do some consulting work for us,” he added.

Carly Brashears agreed.

“This year is a good year for myself and Chase to step in and see how South Boston Speedway has been run for the past 30-plus years, see where we can fit in and help this year and learn as much as we can,” she said.

“This year I will be seeing and learning all of the things Helen Barksdale has seen throughout the years. That is a very heavy load, and I am happy to help lighten her load this year and help where I can.”

The Brashears have experience in tackling the various tasks involved in operating a speedway but need to learn the system of operations at South Boston Speedway.

“It’s all stuff that we have done before,” Carly Brashears pointed out, “but each track has its own unique aspects as to how they do things. We are happy to learn the South Boston way and see if we can enhance it.”

The Brashears feel South Boston Speedway has a bright future ahead and they look forward to helping move the speedway forward.

“We have a lot of neat ideas and a few things we want to try as we go through and grow the racetrack,” Chase Brashears pointed out.

“We want to get out into the community, meet people and get them involved in the speedway,” added Carly Brashears.

“We want to be listening to the community, hearing what people want to see. We love the weekly shows. We love the big tours that come in, but we want to know what else does the community want to see. We want to see how we can get the fans involved. We want fans to have fun when they come to the track.”

Increasing family involvement is among the future goals.

“We have some ideas swirling around in our heads to make it fun for all of the families, maybe getting kids involved in extra things,” remarked Carly Brashears.

“I come from a place where I like to do as much youth activation as possible. They are our next generation of race fans, and we want to get them involved in racing. It’s all about the fans and the community.”

Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing Teams Complete Productive Roar Before the Rolex 24 At Daytona Test

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Official Release
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Roar Before the 24, IMSA, Daytona, January 2021(Photo by Brian Cleary/bcpix.com)

along with Inaugural Motul Race for The Pole 100 at Daytona International Speedway

Winward Racing No. 57 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Co-Drivers Russell Ward and Philip Ellis Secure Top-Five Rolex 24 Starting Position with Fifth-Place Qualifying Finish Sunday

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida – This weekend, seven Mercedes-AMG Motorsports Customer Racing teams successfully completed three days of testing and qualifying at the annual 2021 Roar Before the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway (DIS). The teams will compete in two different IMSA sports car racing series at the season opening IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Rolex 24 at Daytona this week.

An annual tune-up for IMSA racing teams prior to each year’s season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona, this year’s Roar featured the traditional schedule of day and night practice sessions, along with the first modern-era qualifying race for this weekend’s 59th running of the twice around the clock race.

Sunday’s Motul Race for The Pole 100 saw three Mercedes-AMG GT3 teams lock in starting positions for this weekend’s Rolex 24 At Daytona, scheduled to start at 3:40 p.m. EST. Live Rolex 24 coverage on NBC begins this Saturday, January 30th at 3:30 p.m. EST.

The highest finishing Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing team in Sunday’s 100-minute qualifying race was the No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3, co-driven by Russell Ward and Philip Ellis.

A single pitstop strategy, combined with top driving by Ward and Ellis, secured a top-five qualifying race finish that will see the No. 57 start from fifth on the grid in the GT Daytona (GTD) class at the Rolex 24 next Saturday.

Starting driver Ward didn’t let a steady rain in the opening stages of the qualifying race stop him from turning in one of the best drives of his career. He moved from third to second in GTD during the opening minutes of his rain-soaked run, then took the race lead with one hour remaining.

Ward led three laps but soon gave way to other front-running competitors as he and the Winward team began to conserve fuel as part of the one-stop strategy.

Eventually pitting from fourth place, Ward handed the No. 57 off to Ellis for the final 50-minute run to the finish.

Ellis returned to the race in eighth and steadily began to reel in the competitors ahead. On the final lap, Ellis made a pass for fifth to secure the top-five result and fifth place starting position in what will be Winward’s first Rolex 24 start this weekend.

Ward and Ellis co-drive the No. 57 in the Rolex 24 with Indy Dontje and Maro Engel.

Mercedes-AMG GT3 competitors Alegra Motorsports and SunEnergy1 Racing also completed the qualifying race to secure Rolex 24 starting positions, but both teams were among eight competitors assessed penalties early in the race for improper yellow flag pass-arounds.

Despite losing several laps to the leaders after serving the penalties, both teams picked up positions while persevering to the finish.

Kenny Habul and Raffaele Marciello recovered for an 11th place finish in the No. 75 SunEnergy1 Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3, while Daniel Morad and Michael de Quesada rebounded for 15th in the No. 28 Alegra Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3.

Habul and Marciello co-drive the No. 75 in the Rolex 24 with Luca Stolz and Mikael Grenier. Alegra’s full Rolex 24 driver line-up includes Maxi Buhk and Billy Johnson joining de Quesada and Morad in the No. 28.

Four Mercedes-AMG GT4 competitors at the Roar made the most of their three days of testing, preparing thoroughly for Friday’s season-opening IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge series four-hour race.

The Roar pacesetter was the No. 56 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4 of co-drivers Jeff Mosing and Eric Foss, which was fastest in one session and top three in two others, including Sunday morning’s fifth and final test run of the weekend.

Mosing and Foss return for the 2021 season competing alongside Murillo Racing’s sister car, the No. 65 Mercedes-AMG GT4 entry of Brent Mosing and Tim Probert. Kenny Murillo co-drives with the full-season teammates in the four-hour Daytona opener.

In addition to their Rolex 24 debut, Ward and Dontje pull double duty at Daytona, also competing in the No. 4 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4. Ward and Dontje finished third in the entry in last year’s four-hour race at Daytona.

Another three driver Mercedes-AMG GT4 entry testing at the Roar in preparation for next Friday’s race was the No. 10 LAP Motorsports/Bluff City Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4. The No. 10 is co-driven by Anton Dias Perera, Scott Andrews and Colin Braun.

Russell Ward, Driver – No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 and No. 4 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4: “It’s amazing to be here in the big show. Everyone here is pushing hard to win, and this is where the most professional guys in GT racing in America come to race. I felt quite at home out there. I think the importance of the Roar is just to keep the car in one piece, particularly because it’s such a tight turnaround this year. That was the number one goal. It was good that it rained a little bit and we got to see that. That was the first time in the rain for me at Daytona. It’s quite a fun track in the rain, you’ve got to watch out in a couple of places, but we managed to get a lot done without damaging the car, so it’s really, really good. It’s rest and relaxation for Monday and Tuesday and then we’re right back at it. We’ll come back for the big event and see what we can do.”

Raffaele Marciello, Driver – No. 75 SunEnergy1 Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3: “It was a good three-day test for us. Our Mercedes-AMG GT3 is handling well. I think we’re ready for the big one next weekend, all of the team is settling well, and I am looking forward to my first Rolex 24. We took a penalty in the qualifying race and it was unfortunate, but we don’t care so much about it past today. We’re in a good position and we can do well in the 24-hour race either way. There are not so many corners at Daytona, so that’s not really challenging, but with all the traffic it’s quite challenging! With all the traffic, strategy-wise it’s quite interesting. You need to always be focused and not make any silly mistakes.”

Daniel Morad, Driver – No. 28 Alegra Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3: “The way we were treating this qualifying race was just to iron out the kinks. We’re just documenting everything, taking the data and putting it toward next week. There are a few new members of the team we’re just trying to learn how to work with, and communication is how you win 24-hour races. Not making mistakes, like today’s, was just a communication error with an improper pass around. It’s a good that it happened now and not in the 24 hours because that’s something that will kill your race. Unfortunately, that penalty just ruined Sunday’s qualifier, otherwise we would have had a good race. It was a hectic race for being a qualifier! A lot of guys were being overly aggressive, and I just didn’t want any part of it and risk damaging the car.”

Eric Foss, Driver – No. 56 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4: “The Murillo Racing guys worked extremely hard in the off season. They went through the car with a fine-toothed comb and refreshed a lot of the components. We’re at the Roar so it is a test session, but I think we have the best Mercedes-AMG GT4 we can have right now for the race weekend. There are a lot of positives from the weekend. Jeff did a phenomenal job driving, as did my teammates in the 65 car. They were all up to speed and really strong, the crew was just flawless in all of their practice stops and we’re ready for the four-hour.”

Kenny Murillo, Driver – No. 65 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4: “It was a really good Roar. I know the Murillo Racing guys really worked hard all off-season long with some solid goals, and they definitely accomplished them. When they’re working that hard, it inspires us as drivers to work just as hard. As a whole, the test went really well for us as a team and drivers. For me, I took huge strides in my driving ability. The Roar offers a good opportunity for us to do that. Brent and Tim did an awesome job showing improvement. Their coachability is amazing. They just got quicker throughout the weekend and Brent set his personal best in the last session, so we’re walking away from this really happy. Eric is a really good mentor, he’s one of the fastest Mercedes-AMG GT4 guys out there right now and a really good benchmark for us to look at. We’re really confident that we’re maximizing the car and maximizing ourselves as a team, and that’s all we can ask for.”

Anton Dias Perera, Driver – No. 10 LAP Motorsports/Bluff City Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4: “We started the weekend with some problems, but we sorted through that and yesterday afternoon we got caught up with the rest of the pack in terms of pace. We’re still working on making the car faster and some strategy, and Mercedes-AMG has been super supportive. We’re happy with it. We are back at Daytona for the first time with LAP Motorsports, and they have a good pedigree and real legacy in high-level motorsports. They are a motorsports team that is in the high echelon of performance, and it’s been a nice transition with them. The level of engineering and the level of crew is in keeping with a professional motorsports program. Our whole campaign has moved on along with them and with the addition of the two pro drivers we have with Colin and Scott.”

RISI COMPETIZIONE BACK IN EARNEST FOR 2021 ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA

By
Official Release
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Risi Competizione Ferrari 488 GTLM No. 62:
James Calado (GBR)
Alessandro Pier Guidi (ITA)
Davide Rigon (ITA)
Jules Gounon (FRA)

(Houston, Texas, January 25, 2021)…The No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari team from Houston, Texas participated with all four drivers in this past weekend’s Roar Before the 24 activities at Daytona International Speedway. The event was the start of the 2021 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season and the official test days for the upcoming Rolex 24 At Daytona, January 28-31.

The Risi Competizione team cycled through all their Ferrari drivers, Brit James Calado, Italians Alessandro Pier Guidi and Davide Rigon, and Frenchman Jules Gounon, with Calado and Pier Guidi taking on the 100-minute qualifying race duties on Sunday. In the new IMSA format, the finishing spot in the qualifying race set the grid for the race and add points to top qualifiers. The No. 62 Ferrari is now slated to start from the fourth position in the GTLM class and 21st on the grid at the 3.56-mile (5.73 km), 12-turn Daytona speedway road course.

The Risi Ferrari is the only Ferrari 488 GTE in the GTLM class and one of six class entries in the 2021 Rolex 24 At Daytona running. There are two GTD-class Ferrari 488 GT3s and currently a total of 48 cars entered for this 59th annual twice-around-the-clock endurance race.

Team owner Giuseppe Risi has long sought a GTLM class victory at the Daytona 24-hour race as he makes his 20th Risi Competizione entry at the Florida circuit for the endurance classic this year. With three second-place finishes (1999, 2003, 2019) and a third-place finish in 2017, his drivers and team are earnestly determined to bring that elusive win to him.

Calado will be starting his sixth Rolex 24 race, five of those with Risi and three finishes in the Top 5. Pier Guidi will be making his eighth Daytona 24-hour appearance and captured the victory in 2014. Rigon will also be making his eighth Rolex appearance and sixth time with the Risi team. This year marks Gounon’s third Rolex 24 run, both previous in the GTD class including a second-place finish in 2017, and 2021 is his first with Risi. He has two 24 Hours of le Mans appearances with Risi Competizione in 2019 and 2020.

Rick Mayer, Risi Competizione Race Engineer:
How did the Roar weekend go and what will the team be working on to prep for the race next weekend?
“All the drivers got up to speed and the weather cooperated. The car seems to be well-balanced. We went through our test plan and checked every box. We just hope we can get a little more power for the race so we can be competitive.”

Jules Gounon joined the trio of Ferrari Competizioni GT drivers. How did that go?
“Jules did fantastic. The factory drivers accepted him and helped him learn. He’s been quick every session. I think everyone is on pace. There’s no weak links here and we’re happy to have him.”

You’ve had Gounon on the Le Mans 24 driver line-up the past couple of years. What made him a selection to join Risi at Daytona this year?
“He did such a good job for us at Le Mans and he’s such a good team player, and so easy to work with that we thought he’d be perfect for Daytona.”

How important is winning and competing at the 24 Hours of Daytona to Giuseppe Risi and the Risi team?
“Giuseppe is undoubtedly very interested in winning at Daytona. We’ve been second here a few times but never won it in GT. It’s an important milestone that Giuseppe would like to have.”

Team Principal Giuseppe Risi (left) and Risi Competizione Race engineer Rick Mayer (right)
during the Roar Before the 24 test days
James Calado, driver No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 488 GTLM:
You just completed the Roar Before the 24. Share how you think things look and are shaping up for next weekend’s 24-hour race?
“We participated in the Roar and all managed to get a few laps in so everything seems good. The car is behaving quite well and we’re happy with the balance. The new format was quite enjoyable. We pushed to the absolute limit, so the car was at its maximum, and I think the others have a lot more in hand, so I’m not sure about the race. It’s good to be back here in Daytona. Obviously, without the fans it’s a shame. We’re looking forward to the race. It’s obviously a long one, first race of the year.”

You’re returning to the Risi team for the fifth year for the Rolex 24 and are part of a stellar line-up. Tell us about your teammates and working with the Risi team again.
“Like every year, it’s always a pleasure to come back to Daytona with Risi. It’s always our first race of the season so it’s nice to be in America, especially with guys I’ve driven with for many years now and we’ve got a nice bit of experience under our belts. Let’s hope we can get a good result.”

Alessandro Pier Guidi, driver No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 488 GTLM:
You’re back with Risi at Daytona for the 4th time. Share your thoughts on returning and how things look after this past weekend’s Roar activities.
“It’s always nice to be here at Daytona and the start of a new season. Risi is a historic team and very strong. We have a good line-up so it’s always good to be here. We look forward to having a good result next week.”

You’ve got a new co-driver this year with Jules Gounon. How has he done working with you and the other Ferrari Competizioni GT drivers this week?
“It’s gone well so far. I knew him before but I never drove with him on a team. He’s doing very well. I know he’s quick, he’s available, and I expect good results from him. I obviously know the other guys very well so let’s see how we do.”

How does the GTLM competition look this year?
“Even if there are a few less cars, it doesn’t mean the level is lower. Sometimes the level of the competition is not made by the number of the cars, but by the level of the cars, and all the cars are strong and the competition level is very high again this year.”

Davide Rigon in the cockpit of the No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 488 GTE
Davide Rigon, driver No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 488 GTLM:
You are back for your sixth time at the Rolex 24 with Risi. What is special about working with Mr. Risi and the team?
“It’s amazing to be back with this team that is like a family. The passion you feel when you are working with everyone is amazing and very special. I really hope we put together a very good result. Personally, I have prepared very well for this race and after some laps at the Roar we were pretty happy. We want to keep working like this and we hope to end up in the top position, so let’s push!

Talk about the line-up with your fellow Competizioni GT drivers and the additional of Gounon.
“I know James and Ale very well, so no problem working with them. I had an opportunity to do some laps and driver change with Jules and actually he’s a very clever guy and I like him. Hopefully, we have a very good line up and I’m happy to be part of it. I think we just need to stay out of trouble but as a driver line-up I think we are in good shape.

How does the GTLM field look this year and what should you be mindful of at the wheel and what should fans watch for?
“GTLM is a very strong class like every year. Even with six cars this time it will be very tight, like always. We just want to look forward and do our best with the team and the car. We will fully concentrate on that. I think GTLM is the best GT class at the moment so to win with this car would always be amazing. Hopefully the fans support us.”

Jules Gounon, driver No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 488 GTLM:
Welcome back to the Risi team and for your first time with them for the Daytona 24. Tell us about getting the call to be asked to drive the Rolex 24 with Risi for this year and how that felt?
“I feel very proud and privileged to be able to drive for the Risi team again. To be honest, every time I have seen the name Giuseppe Risi calling my phone, it has always been good news. This one was another good one because he called me when I was at Paul Ricard in the last race of the GT World Challenge. He said, ’Hi Jules, I hope you’re doing good. Would you like to drive for me and my team with three Ferrari factory drivers?’ and I was like, ‘Oh, hell yes!’, so that was one of the best calls from 2020 and I’m feeling really good to be part of the Roar and the race with Risi.”

This is your first time working with the three Ferrari Competizioni GT drivers (Calado, Pier Guidi, Rigon). How has that been and what have you been learning?
“We have been fighting a lot, especially with Alessandro, Davide and James in GT World Challenge Europe the last few years so we know each other, but this is the first time we are actually working together toward a singular target, which is winning the Daytona 24-hour race together. It’s been really great and I’m learning every single trick they can tell me to go quicker in the Ferrari to try to help them as much as possible. I think we are forming a great team and a great line-up and hopefully we will have a good result at the end.”

This is just your third time to Daytona. What do you think is the most challenging part of the circuit and what do you like best?
“I finished second in 2017, missing the victory by two-tenths in the Audi in the GTD class so I really want to have a revenge on that. I love this track, I love the atmosphere, even if it’s a bit different this year as we have no fans. But Daytona is a very powerful word and meaning in world racing and I would really love to be able to win with this team and with Giuseppe Risi, who gave me my first chance at Le Mans. I will always be grateful about that to Giuseppe. I’m really looking forward to the race. The Roar has been great and I feel like home every time I’m driving with the team. The guys are so passionate, the mechanics are doing a fantastic job, Rick Mayer, our engineer, is also doing a great job, and everyone on the team is amazing.”

The Risi Competizione crew making a pit stop at Daytona International Speedway during the Roar
Three practice sessions take place Thursday, January 28, 11:05-12:05 AM, 3:35-4:35 PM for DPi and GTLM class only and night practice from 7:15-9:00 PM. Friday will feature a practice session for one hour, starting at 11:20 AM. The race starts at 1:35 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 25 and runs for 24 hours.

Tune-In Information:
NBC carries live network coverage of the Rolex 24 At Daytona beginning at 3:40 PM on Saturday, Jan. 30, in America and is broadcast across several NBC channels, including NBC, NBCSN, the NBC Sports App and TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold.

Rolex 24 At Daytona Broadcast Schedule:
Saturday, January 30:
3:30 PM ET on NBC; then 5:00 PM ET on NBCSN
Sunday, January 31st:
1:00 – 3:00 AM ET on NBCSN and 6:00 AM – 2:00 PM ET on NBCSN; Final 2:00-4:00 PM on NBC.

IMSA Radio will have live coverage throughout the weekend on
RadioLeMans.com and SiriusXM Radio. Also see imsa.com for live timing and scoring.

For more information, please go to www.risicompetizione.com and follow us on Facebook/RisiCompetizione and Twitter @RisiComp and on Instagram/RisiComp.

TIMOTHY PETERS TO DRIVE FOR RACKLEY W.A.R.

By
Official Release
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Rackley W.A.R. to Field the No. 25 Chevrolet Silverado in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series

Centerville, Tenn. (January 25, 2021)—Rackley W.A.R., co-owned by Willie Allen and Curtis Sutton, announced today
that their newly-formed team will field the No. 25 Chevrolet Silverado in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS)
with driver Timothy Peters. The team will begin full-time series competition at the Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.

“It has always been a dream to be a NASCAR owner,” Allen said. “We are excited about the all-star team we have assembled. I am thankful to have partnered with Curtis Sutton, as we both are driven to succeed. Our team is assembled with very humble and hungry individuals, and we are a close family who want to achieve greatness.”

In December, the duo announced a partnership to form Rackley W.A.R., a new team in Tennessee with an unparalleled portfolio of experience in motorsports and marketing.

“I am excited and looking forward to this opportunity as an owner to help lead the No. 25 Rackley Roofing Chevrolet Silverado team to be competitive every single week,” Sutton said. “After being a sponsor (Rackley Roofing) for the last two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series seasons, I felt an obligation to my family, my co-workers and my friends to help build a competitive team.

“The pieces have been put together for our first season. Our focus was to find humble individuals that are proven winners
at the highest level to join our team. There is a lot of excitement around bringing experienced crew chief Chad Kendrick and
driver Timothy Peters to the team. I am confident Rackley W.A.R. has been assembled as leaders in each of our fields of
expertise. Our goal is to be competitive in 2021, and the years to come with the goal towards bringing a championship to
Tennessee.”

Peters has signed a deal to drive for the single-entry NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team. He enters his 17th season
in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season. In 248 series starts, Peters has amassed 11 wins, 59 top-five finishes,
and 129 top-10 finishes. In addition, the accomplished driver has one start in the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and eight
starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS).

“The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series has always been special, and to have the opportunity to return to full time
competition is a blessing,” Peters said. “I am very grateful to Willie Allen and Curtis Sutton for the opportunity to represent
Rackley Roofing and W.A.R. Shocks. Both gentlemen are top-notch people with a singular determination to win on and off
the track.”

The 40-year-old Virginia native has been humble throughout his career. Now, he has secured a ride and will be a full-time
competitor in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for the first time since 2016.

Rackley W.A.R. will enter its inaugural NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season with an integrated technical and
operational partnership with the reigning championship-winning team GMS Racing. The agreement with GMS Racing will
allow Rackley W.A.R. to purchase chassis and other services developed over their years of championship-caliber
competition. As is the case with many other alliances within NASCAR, technical information and communication amongst
the teams will be encouraged to help improve performance.

“Mike Beam (president of GMS Racing) and I have been friends for a long time,” Allen said. “I could not imagine a better
team and program to be aligned with.”

The Centerville, Tenn.,-based team will be powered by Ilmor.

Kendrick will join the organization as crew chief of the No. 25 Rackley Roofing Chevrolet Silverado for Peters. In 2009,
Kendrick and Peters shared a career-first series NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory at the Martinsville (Va.)
Speedway. That season, the pair earned five top-five finishes and 13 top-ten finishes, while leading 143 laps. Together for
three seasons (2008, 2009, and 2017), they have collected one win, six top-five finishes, and 18 top-ten finishes and one
pole award (Nashville).

“This season is going to be a dream come true,” Kendrick said. “Being paired with a winning driver and two of the most
successful, humble owners, the expectations are high, but also realistic. Rackley W.A.R. is building from the ground up,
and while we may hit some tough times ahead, I am sure we will be able to make it through anything.”

Kendrick has previously manned the helm for drivers Ryan Blaney, Austin Cindric, Austin Dillon, Daniel Hemric, Brad
Keselowski, and Joey Logano. As a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series 13-year veteran crew chief, Kendrick is credited
with six victories.

With Peters behind the wheel, Rackley W.A.R. makes its official NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start in the NextEra
Energy 250 at the Daytona International Speedway on February 12.

Jordan Anderson and Bommarito Automotive Group to Run for 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year

By
Official Release
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Statesville, N.C. (January 25, 2021) – Jordan Anderson Racing (JAR) announced today that the team will expand operations to race full-time in the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) competing for Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors with owner/driver Jordan Anderson from Forest Acres, SC in the No. 31 Bommarito Automotive Group Chevrolet Camaro SS.

The team will operate under the Chevrolet banner with cars acquired from Richard Childress Racing powered by ECR engines. Artie Haire will serve as crew chief for the organization after joining the team during the summer of 2020.

With a previous season that saw NASCAR teams fight through many obstacles pertaining to COVID-19, JAR was able to come away from 2020 with various positives; collecting multiple top-ten finishes, nearly claiming its first victory with a photo finish at Daytona, and the ability to build momentum and garner new partner relationships.

After competing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) for the last three seasons, 2021 was the right time for JAR to grow, and set its sights on the next level.

“It is absolutely amazing to see the doors that God has opened for us and this journey continues as we expand our organization to compete within the NASCAR Xfinity Series this year” said JAR owner/driver Jordan Anderson.

“Our team has been incredibly blessed to have an amazing support group behind us that believe in what we are trying to build and develop for the future. Everyone within our team has worked tirelessly to put all these pieces together and I have faith that the effort will show when we compete at Daytona – and beyond. I am thankful to John Bommarito and the entire Bommarito family for their vision in making this new chapter possible, along with every single one of our team partners, as well as everyone at RCR and Chevrolet for their help in assisting us assemble a solid foundation for our team to start with.”

The JAR entry will carry the No. 31 on both sides of the sleek red, white, and black Chevrolet Camaro SS. Bommarito Automotive Group will return for the sixth consecutive year as a primary marketing partner of Anderson. Details of other partners on the JAR No. 31 to be announced at a later date.

The No. 31 is a special combination of the No. 3, JAR and Anderson have competed with in the NCWTS the last three years, and the No. 1 from when the Bommarito Automotive Group joined Anderson’s efforts in 2017 full time while racing in the NCWTS as well.

Based in St. Louis, Mo., Bommarito Automotive Group has been a mainstay in the St. Louis marketplace for 50 years. Led by President John Bommarito, and his over 900 team members, the Bommarito Automotive Group operates 20 automotive franchises and multiple collision centers throughout St. Louis making a Bommarito purchase experience possible in every St. Louis neighborhood.

“At the Bommarito Automotive Group we firmly believe in the power of teamwork and the unstoppable force it creates” stated Bommarito President, John Bommarito.

“To be a part of the growth and journey that Jordan Anderson and his team has been on is very special – his team exemplifies everything our family of employees prides itself in – a strong and continuous work ethic, honesty, integrity, a desire for excellence, and a never give up attitude. Our family of employees and customers are honored, and excited, to have the Bommarito brand carried upon his No. 31 Chevrolet Camaro SS this season. We have an amazing group of strategic corporate partners that are joining us as we bring this vision to life and put a fast Chevrolet on the race track.”

Look for the No. 31 Bommarito.com Chevrolet Camaro SS to make its debut on track in the NXS season opening Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner 300 at Daytona International Speedway, February 13, 2021. Coverage of the race will be shown LIVE on Fox Sports 1 (FS1), and the FoxSports App at 5:00 PM ET.

In addition to the full NXS schedule, JAR will continue to field the No. 3 Chevrolet Silverado with leadership from Bruce Cook in the NCWTS for select drivers throughout the season, starting with Jordan Anderson at the season opening NextEra Energy 250 at Daytona International Speedway. Plans for other drivers competing in the JAR No. 3 will be announced at a later date.

For more information on JAR visit jordanandersonracing.com, and be sure to follow along all season on the JAR social channels at facebook.com/jordanandersonracing, Twitter @j66anderson, and on Instagram @jordanandersonracing.

About Bommarito Automotive Group

Bommarito Automotive Group is celebrating its 50th year in the St. Louis marketplace, the Bommarito Automotive Group currently operates 20 automotive franchises throughout every St. Louis neighborhood led by president John Bommarito and the over 900 dedicated team members. Bommarito is recognized by the St. Louis Business Journal as Missouri’s No. 1 selling automotive group and is currently ranked 52nd in the nation. What once started as a vision to have one Bommarito vehicle in every driveway, is today a reality thanks to the family’s ‘Where Price Sells Cars” mission.

For more information on the Bommarito Automotive Group, visit them online at Bommarito.com, and follow their social channels at Facebook.com/BommaritoAuto, Twitter @BommaritoAuto, and on Instagram @BommaritoAuto

About Jordan Anderson Racing

Jordan Anderson Racing (JAR) is a NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) team, owned by owner/driver Jordan Anderson. Established in 2018, JAR has competed full-time in the last three NCWTS seasons earning multiple top ten finishes and scoring a career best second place finish in the 2020 season opening NextEra 250 at Daytona International Speedway. JAR fields a full-time entry in the NXS Series; the No. 31 Chevrolet Camaro SS driven by Jordan Anderson. JAR also fields the No. 3 Chevrolet Silverado for select drivers in the NCWTS. To learn more about the JAR, visit JordanAndersonRacing.com.

SCM Shows Race Pace at Daytona

By
Official Release
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Fuel pickup issues prevent the team from taking the Motul Pole Award 100 win, but plenty of positives from the Roar Before the 24

DAYTONA, Fla. (25 January 2021) – A solid run at the front of the LMP3 class field in Sunday’s Motul Pole Award 100 showed the Sean Creech Motorsport team that its No. 33 Ligier PS320 has the race pace to contend, as attention now turns toward next weekend’s Rolex 24 At Daytona.

The driving quartet of João Barbosa, Lance Willsey, Wayne Boyd and Yann Clairay put the new car through its paces through three days of testing at Daytona International Speedway’s 3.56-mile road course. The quickest time of the weekend came during night practice Saturday, a 1:43.764-second lap that bodes well for next weekend’s race. Willsey and Barbosa, the team’s two full-season drivers, were tapped for Sunday’s qualifying race. The 100-minute sprint is a new event on the IMSA calendar, with the results of the race being used to set the grid for the start next Saturday.

Sunday morning’s warm up saw warming temperatures, but a sudden shower just one hour before the green flag meant that Willsey would start the race on Michelin rain tires. Taking the green in fifth and moving into fourth at the start, Willsey made a good move through the grass to avoid cars spinning in the wet conditions.

A pair of restarts saw the nearly 50-car field scramble through the tight turn one as the drivers fought for both position and grip on the changing track surface. Willsey was able to make progress in concert with the rapidly drying surface ahead of turning the car over to Barbosa as the race neared the halfway mark.

In short order, the four-time Rolex 24 winner had placed the car in the lead – by nearly a lap and a half. But the run out front came to an early end as a fuel pressure problem caused a significant loss of pace. With the big focus being on the 24, the team made the call not to risk the engine as Barbosa took to the garage before the checkered flag flew.

Despite the setback, the entire team leaves the Roar knowing they have the pace to keep the car up front.

“The start went as close to perfect as it could have,” said Willsey. “I got by six or seven cars in the first few corners, but there was a multi-car incident ahead of me in Turn Six and I had to roll through the grass to get by safely. The car was good throughout the stint, the strategy was good, but it was hard to find standing water for the rain tires, so it was good to pit and get Joao in the car. He went to P1 in no time, but we ran into some electrical problems with the fuel pump system and had to retire out of the lead, which is very frustrating – but, better now than next week.

“The weekend was a series of ups and downs, working through the characteristics of the car, as this is a new car for us, but (engineers) Kevin (Doran), Mark (Schomann), Sean and the team worked through it and gave us a good car last night and today,” said Willsey, who is making his 10th Rolex 24 campaign. “The car felt pretty solid for a long run, and that bodes well. I have full confidence that the team will get this sorted out – we’re close to where we need to be to run up front next weekend.”

“It’s always tough when you don’t finish the race, but obviously it’s good that it happened now,” said Barbosa. “The team did a super job on strategy, but we have an issue with fuel pickup or engine that we haven’t had before, and we need to figure that out. It’s a shame, because the car was running so well, and we were in a strong position to win. I know the team will figure it out and hopefully we’ll have a smooth race next weekend.”

The list of new items for the team includes getting everyone as familiar with the systems and feel for the all-new Ligier machine ahead of the big race next weekend.

“It’s disappointing to have a finish like that in the qualifying race,” said Boyd, “But for me, I try to stay positive – and it’s better happening now than next week! Our pace has been strong so hopefully we’ll get this ironed out. The team worked hard on the setup all weekend, and it’s a comfortable to drive for the distance of the race. We worked through a lot of things this weekend, so I believe we look quite strong for next week.”

“The car was pretty strong by the end of the weekend,” said Clairay. “We had some problems with the balance early, but we worked through that and found a good car. I think we have the car to win the race, but we have to figure out the technical problems we encountered today. It’s better to win the race when you are leading, but the qualifying race is not the real race. It’s not far from last to first over 24 hours, we just need to stay problem-free.”

“We had a few issues early in the run as the track began to dry,” said Team Owner, Sean Creech. “But the strategy was good. Joao did a great job to put the car out front, but then we got let down by the car in the end. We had an issue this morning and changed everything – the pumps, the filters, the regulator, everything in the fuel system, and it came back. It’s obviously something else, but we’ll dig into it and fix it.”

The Rolex 24 at Daytona – race one of the 2021 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season – takes the green flag at 3:40pm Eastern next Saturday, live on NBC. The race will be broadcast live in the U.S. between NBC and NBCSN (check local listings), while international viewers can watch via IMSA.tv. IMSA Radio will also be available at IMSA.com.

Sean Creech Motorsport
Team leader Sean Creech has competed in a multitude of sports car series from 1990 until the present day, including Group C, IMSA GTP, WTSCC, Grand-Am, SRO World Challenge, and IMSA. SCM moves to the WeatherTech Series in 2021 with Joao Barbosa and Lance Willsey.

Sokal Digital to partner with Stefan Parsons and BJMM in Daytona

By
Official Release
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22-year-old adds NXS opener race in Daytona to schedule

MOORESVILLE – N.C. (January 25, 2020) – Stefan Parsons and BJ McLeod Motorsports announced today that Sokal Media Group (Sokal Digital), a leader in automobile advertising from North Carolina, will adorn the No. 99 Chevrolet Camaro as a primary sponsor for the February 13th NXS opener at Daytona International Speedway. Springrates Automotive Suspension is also onboard the car for the season’s opener in Daytona as an associate sponsor.

“I can’t thank Sokal Media Group and Sean Taylor from Springrates Automotive Suspension enough,” said Parsons. “I’m really looking forward to representing the Sokal Media Group this season, and what better way to kick it off than at Daytona! Sokal came onboard my car last year at Las Vegas (Motor Speedway) and we were able to give them a solid run, finishing in the top 20. I scored my career best finish of P12 in 2019 at Daytona, I believe we can better that this year!”

“We are so happy to be partnering with Stefan Parsons this coming season and really looking forward to seeing him compete for BJ McLeod Motorsports,” said Mark Sokal, owner of Sokal Media Group.”

With headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina, and offices stretching from up and down the east coast to Texas, Sokal is the area’s largest advertising agency focusing on automotive advertising. Sokal is dedicated to growing business for their clientele through multiple marketing and advertising services. As a full-service agency, they manage the entire project from start to finish. The company executes everything from media buying, radio and television production, ad design, direct mail, search engine marketing, website design, website maintenance, and much more, while currently managing well over 350 clients across the country.

In addition to a primary sponsorship at Daytona International Speedway on February 13th, Sokal Media Group will be onboard as a primary sponsor throughout the season, with their next primary at the spring race in Martinsville Speedway.

The 33-race NXS season will begin with the NASCAR Racing Experience 300 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida on Saturday, February 13, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. ET live on FS1 and MRN Radio.

About Sokal Media Group (Sokal Digital)

For more information on Sokal, please visit their website at: https://www.gosokal.com  or follow them on Facebok, Twitter, and Instagram.

About Springrates

To learn more about Springrates visit www.springrates.com or via social media on Facebook, Instagram  and Twitter.

About BJ McLeod Motorsports

B.J. 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 Live Fast Motorsports, a new NASCAR Cup Series team. 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 . 

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