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AVX Partners with the DRAGON / PENSKE AUTOSPORT Formula E Racing Team for the Third Consecutive Season

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AVX is proud to join Mouser Electronics and TTI, Inc. in a strategic partnership with the newly rebranded DRAGON / PENSKE AUTOSPORT racing team for the 2020/21 season of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, the world’s premier all-electric automotive racing series.

FOUNTAIN INN, S.C., Jan. 26, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AVX Corporation, a leading manufacturer and supplier of advanced electronic components and interconnect, sensor, control, and antenna solutions, proudly announces its continued support of the newly rebranded DRAGON / PENSKE AUTOSPORT Formula E racing team. The seventh season (2020/21) of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is currently scheduled to kick off with a double-header in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its desert landscape, and marks the third consecutive season that AVX has aligned with Mouser Electronics and TTI, Inc. in supporting the all-electric DRAGON racing team. The Diriyah races will also mark the series’ first night races, which will be lit with the latest, lowest-energy-consumption LED technology and exclusively powered by renewable energy sources to maintain the series’ net-zero carbon footprint, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, will take place on Friday and Saturday, February 26 and 27.

The double-header originally scheduled for January 16 and 17 in Santiago, Chile, has been postponed and the new dates for that race, as well as the dates and locations for the rest of the 2020/21 season, will be released later this year. The pre-season test races in Valencia, Spain, spanned three days, five sessions, and some 6,000 laps in late November and early December, and revealed the likelihood of a hotly contested season, with all 24 drivers finishing the fifth, final, and most competitive session within just 0.761 seconds of one another, setting a new record for the tightest spread times in pre-season Formula E test races.

The DRAGON / PENSKE AUTOSPORT team earned positions two and three in the pre-season test races, with new driver Sérgio Sette Câmara closely followed by returning driver Nico Müller. Other team updates for the 2020/21 season include the new name, which highlights the involvement of team principal Jay Penske, son of legendary team boss and entrepreneur Roger Penske, and a striking new color scheme: matte white with chrome red livery.

“We’re delighted to be co-sponsoring the DRAGON / PENSKE AUTOSPORT Formula E racing team for another exciting season in partnership with Mouser, TTI, and Molex,” said Alex Schenkel, AVX’s senior vice president of Global Sales. “The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is an especially thrilling way to promote global environmental sustainability and stewardship and to showcase the latest high-performance automotive EV technologies. It’s also wildly entertaining and interactive, even for viewers watching from home, which we hope will bring some much-needed joy and fast-paced excitement to the millions of fans affected by quarantines, closures, and curfews. We’re all in this together and we’re very grateful for the opportunity to share some good, clean fun with auto racing enthusiasts around the world.”

The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is the fastest-growing series in motorsport and the first sport with a net-zero carbon footprint since inception. Firmly rooted in three core values: energy, environment, and entertainment, the championship serves as an Apollo-like proving ground, driving the development of innovative EV technologies from the drawing board through to the production line, promoting sustainable human progress, and — through the power of ultra-competitive, unpredictable, and edge-of-your-seat exciting, all-electric racing in the center of the world’s most iconic cities — fueling the adoption of electric vehicles to help counteract climate change.

AVX supports the design and development of cutting-edge EV technologies with a robust portfolio of advanced passive component, interconnect, sensor, control, and antenna solutions expertly engineered to provide peak performance in powertrain, active body control, lighting, power conversion, drive control, and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS).

To support the DRAGON / PENSKE AUTOSPORT Formula E racing team throughout the 2020/21 season, please visit FANBOOST to vote for drivers Sérgio Sette Câmara and Nico Müller, and follow the #AVXFormulaE and #FANBOOST hashtags on social media.

For more information about the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, please visit https://www.fiaformulae.com/. For more information about the AVX components and capabilities that contribute to the safety and performance of the DRAGON / PENSKE AUTOSPORT Formula E racing team, please visit E/. For all other inquiries, please visit www.avx.com, email inquiry@avx.com, follow them on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram, like them on Facebook, call 864-967-2150, or write to One AVX Boulevard, Fountain Inn, SC 29644.

About AVX
AVX Corporation is a leading international manufacturer and supplier of advanced electronic components, interconnect, sensing, control, and antenna solutions with 33 manufacturing facilities in 16 countries around the world. AVX offers a broad range of devices including capacitors, resistors, filters, couplers, sensors, controls, circuit protection devices, connectors, and antennas.

About Mouser
Mouser Electronics, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is an authorized semiconductor and electronic component distributor focused on New Product Introductions from its leading manufacturer partners. Serving the global electronic design engineer and buyer community, the global distributor’s website, Mouser.com, is available in multiple languages and currencies and features more than 5 million products from over 1,100 manufacturer brands. Mouser offers 27 support locations worldwide to provide best-in-class customer service in local language, currency and time zone. The distributor ships to over 630,000 customers in 223 countries/territories from its 1 million-square-foot, state-of-the-art distribution facilities in the Dallas, Texas, metro area. For more information, visit https://mouser.com.

About TTI
TTI, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway company, is an authorized, specialty distributor of electronic components. Founded in 1971, the emphasis on a broad and deep product portfolio, available-to-sell inventory and sophisticated supply chain programs have established TTI as a distributor of choice to manufacturers in the industrial, defense, aerospace, transportation, medical, and communications sectors worldwide. TTI and its wholly owned subsidiaries, the TTI Family of Companies, Mouser Electronics, Sager Electronics and TTI Semiconductor Group, employ over 7,000 people in more than 133 locations throughout North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. Globally, the company maintains over 2 million square feet of dedicated warehouse space housing over 850,000 component part numbers. For more information about TTI, visit www.ttiinc.com.

About DRAGON / PENSKE AUTOSPORT
DRAGON / PENSKE AUTOSPORT is an American racing team founded in 2007 by Jay Penske. After many successful years competing in IndyCar, DRAGON / PENSKE AUTOSPORT became one of the founding teams of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. The team is headquartered in Los Angeles, California – the largest single metropolitan EV (electric vehicle) market in the world – and has additional operations in Silverstone, U.K. DRAGON / PENSKE AUTOSPORT is one of the leading teams in the Formula E Championship, with the Penske-led team finishing 2nd (runner-up) in the inaugural 2014/2015 Formula E season, and 4th in the second 2015/2016 ABB Formula E championship. DRAGON has one of the most experienced teams in the Formula E paddock. Collectively, DRAGON team members have over 180 years of racing experience, with over 275 race wins, 24 Indy 500 victories, and 17 series championships. DRAGON / PENSKE AUTOSPORT’s team motto is the Latin phrase “E Pluribus Unum” – meaning “out of many, there is one.”

NASCAR, iRacing Announce Return of eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series

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Official Release
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Building upon overwhelming success in 2020, star-studded virtual racing series featuring NASCAR Cup Series drivers will return to action in late March

DAYTONA BEACH, FL (Jan. 26, 2021) – After a historic debut season that set the high watermark in viewership for televised esports programming, the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series is set to return in 2021.

NASCAR and iRacing jointly announced today that a new-look Pro Invitational will see NASCAR Cup Series stars compete virtually in a 10-race schedule that will complement NASCAR’s real-life racing schedule, offering fans a new mid-week competition featuring NASCAR’s top drivers. FOX Sports, which helped NASCAR and iRacing set viewership records with the inaugural Pro Invitational last season, will broadcast the first five races of the series live in primetime on FS1. NBC Sports will air the final five races of the series, with its schedule and details to be announced at a later date.

With the NASCAR Cup Series set to visit new tracks and new markets in 2021, this year’s Pro Invitational will feature a mix of tracks designed primarily to preview the upcoming weekend’s “real life” race – a feature that will be particularly beneficial in giving fans an idea of what to expect as the real-life drivers take on challenging new circuits throughout the season.

“The success of our eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series was underscored by an industry-wide effort to entertain fans during the early months of the global pandemic,” said Tim Clark, NASCAR senior vice president and chief digital officer. “This year the Pro Invitational will return with a schedule of midweek races that will bridge the gap between our real-world races each weekend.”

“After last year’s Pro Invitational success, we’re proud that our partners at NASCAR, FOX, and the race teams view the series as an integral part of their marketing and fan engagement strategies for 2021,” said Steve Myers, iRacing executive producer. “It’s even more fulfilling that the industry has rallied around our platform not only as the most authentic re-creation of the sport, but also a terrific tool to help grow NASCAR’s audience and generate revenue to strengthen the entire ecosystem.”

The first five mid-week events will air on FS1 on select Wednesday nights beginning March 24th, featuring an exciting mix of races that include Bristol Motor Speedway’s new dirt configuration, fan-favorites such as Talladega Superspeedway and Darlington Raceway, and Austin, Texas’ famed Circuit of the Americas’ facility. NBC Sports will pick up the second half of the 10-race season once the network’s broadcast window begins in June.

“FOX Sports embraced the eNASCAR iRacing Invitational Series in the spring as a way to keep race fans entertained, but we quickly realized it was a product and collaboration that we would continue to explore,” said FOX Sports Executive Producer, EVP/Head of Operations and Production Brad Zager. “The product is best-in-class, it delivers NASCAR to an even broader audience and, let’s face it, it’s a heckuva lot of fun.” 

Details around the fifth race in the FS1 window, plus further plans for the second half of the ’21 Pro Invitational schedule, will be announced at a later date.

For more information on the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series, along with other esports initiatives, visit www.eNASCAR.com.

2021 eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series (First Five-Races)
DateVenueNetworkTime (ET)
Wednesday, March 24Bristol – DirtFS18-9:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 21TalladegaFS17-8:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 5DarlingtonFS18-9:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 19COTAFS17-8:30 p.m.
Wednesday, June 2Track-TBDFS18-9:30 p.m.

About NASCAR

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

GMC HUMMER EV Teams Up for Off-Road Extreme E Racing Series

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Official Release
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Chip Ganassi Racing showcases GMC’s first all-electric supertruck in 2021 international series

DETROIT – GMC announced today a new multiyear sponsorship with Chip Ganassi Racing for the team’s first electric racing venture in the inaugural Extreme E season in 2021. CGR’s 550-horsepower electric SUV, which features a unique grille, graphics and bodywork, was inspired by the GMC HUMMER EV, the world’s first all-electric supertruck.

“I can’t think of a better fit than showcasing the look of GMC’s HUMMER EV in Extreme E with Chip Ganassi Racing,” said Jim Campbell, General Motors U.S. vice president, Performance and Motorsports. “Both GMC HUMMER EV and the Extreme E series are designed to be revolutionary – to challenge perceptions of electric vehicles and to showcase their true capability.”

Noted GMC Trucks off-road racers Kyle LeDuc and Sara Price will serve as drivers for CGR in the series.

“It’s truly an honor to represent GMC, especially during such an exciting time in auto racing,” said Chip Ganassi, CGR team owner. “The new GMC HUMMER EV is going to be a game changer in terms of how the world views off-road EV capability, and we couldn’t be more proud to represent GMC in such an innovative new series.”

The Extreme E five-race global championship will take place in some of the world’s most remote locations and promotes the adoption of electric vehicles. Fans can follow along on GMC’s social channels.

Season 1 Calendar
Desert X Prix: AlUla, Saudi Arabia: April 3-4, 2021
Ocean X Prix: Lac Rose, Senegal: May 29-30, 2021
Arctic X Prix: Kangerlussuaq, Greenland: Aug. 28-29, 2021
Amazon X Prix: Para, Brazil: Oct. 23-24, 2021
Glacier X Prix: Patagonia, Argentina: Dec. 11-12, 2021

“We feel very proud to welcome GMC and its iconic GMC HUMMER EV to the Extreme E family, as it joins forces with our Chip Ganassi Racing team,” said Alejandro Agag, founder and CEO of Extreme E. “Not only will Extreme E be a thrilling motorsport, it will also showcase the performance and benefits of electric vehicles.”

Reservations are being accepted for select trims of GMC’s new supertruck, the 2022 GMC HUMMER EV, which will launch with initial production this fall. The HUMMER EV will be a fully electric addition to GMC’s portfolio powered by General Motors’ new Ultium battery system. The HUMMER EV Edition One will offer a three-motor e4WD propulsion system with GM-estimated best-in-class 1,000 horsepower and a GM-estimated 11,500 lb-ft of torque. With 800-volt DC fast charging capability, the GMC HUMMER EV is expected to have industry-best charging capability at any of the new 350-kilowatt high-output public DC fast charging stations — the fastest method supported by current charging standards.

CGR Making History
While celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2020, Chip Ganassi Racing has compiled historic victories in some of the most iconic races around the globe. CGR has claimed eight wins in the Rolex 24 At Daytona, four Indianapolis 500s, the Daytona 500, the Brickyard 400, the 12 Hours of Sebring and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, making Chip Ganassi the only owner in history to score wins in those iconic races. In total, CGR has now tallied 20 series championships and more than 225 race victories.

About GMC
With a strong foundation of manufacturing trucks since 1902 and now selling in a dozen countries across the world, GMC offers purpose-built vehicles designed and engineered to the highest standard. From the all-new compact SUV Terrain to the Sierra HD, our trucks and crossovers deliver GMC’s signature combination of intuitive technologies and premium execution, with the popular Denali representing the pinnacle of GMC design, performance and amenities. Details on all GMC models are available at www.gmc.com, on Twitter at @GMC or at www.facebook.com/gmc.

About Chip Ganassi Racing
Chip Ganassi has been a fixture in the auto racing industry for over 30 years and is considered one of the most successful, as well as innovative, owners the sport has anywhere in the world. Today, his teams include four cars in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, two cars in the NASCAR Cup Series and one car in both the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and Extreme E. Overall, his teams have 20 championships and more than 225 victories, including four Indianapolis 500s, a Daytona 500, a Brickyard 400, eight Rolex 24 At Daytonas, the 12 Hours of Sebring and 24 Hours of Le Mans. Ganassi boasts state-of-the-art race shop facilities in Indianapolis, and Concord, N.C., with a corporate office in Pittsburgh. For more information, visit, www.chipganassiracing.com.

About Extreme E
Extreme E is a groundbreaking new motorsport series which aims to highlight the impact of climate change and human interference in some of the world’s most remote locations and promotes the adoption of electric vehicles in the quest for a lower carbon future for the planet.
The Championship takes a climate positive approach and will pioneer many sustainable technologies and techniques. For more information, visit www.extreme-e.com.

Youtheory Partners With LaJoie, Spire Motorsports for Daytona 500

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Official Release
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CONCORD, N.C. (January 26, 2021) – Spire Motorsports announced today Youtheory® will be the primary sponsor aboard the No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro with driver Corey LaJoie in the 63rd running of the Daytona 500.

The southern-California based manufacturer and lifestyle brand will promote its acclaimed Ashwagandha dietary supplement which, when used over time, combats stress and provides numerous benefits for the body and brain. Ashwagandha (commonly called Indian Ginseng) is one of the most highly prized botanicals in the ancient Ayurvedic system of India. It is often described as an “adaptogen” because it helps the body successfully adapt to stressful conditions.

The Ashwagandha livery will be displayed across the hood, upper-rear quarter panels, deck lid, roof and TV panel of LaJoie’s No. 7 entry. Youtheory Ashwagandha has been clinically proven to reduce stress and anxiety naturally, while also providing mental clarity and focus.

“Corey LaJoie shares the same values as Youtheory and we’re proud to support him once again as he competes at the highest level of the sport,” said Darren Rude, CEO of Youtheory. “As innovators in the health and wellness industry, Youtheory is excited to unveil the new Youtheory Ashwagandha No. 7 Chevrolet which will help educate NASCAR fans everywhere on this breakthrough product which is designed to ease stress, anxiety and provide clarity and mental focus.”

LaJoie finished eighth in last year’s Great American Race and earned a career-best sixth-place finish at The World Center of Racing in the 2019 Coke Zero Sugar 400. The Concord, N.C., native has logged nine total starts at Daytona International Speedway (DIS) on NASCAR’s senior circuit, including eight on the traditional 2.5-mile superspeedway and one on the daunting 3.61-mile road course.

“Youtheory played a key role in helping me continue my driving career as far back as 2016,” explained LaJoie. “It’s a privilege having them back on board for the best Cup opportunity I’ve ever had. I’m eternally grateful to Darren and Patty Rude for their continued support of my career. We’re going to give the Youtheory Ashwagandha No. 7 Camaro a heck of a run in the Daytona 500.”

The Concord, N.C., team co-owned by longtime NASCAR industry executives Jeff Dickerson and Thaddeus “T.J.” Puchyr announced in November that it inked the 29-year-old driver to a multi-year agreement to pilot the No. 7 machine. LaJoie will be flanked by teammate and 2010 Daytona 500 winner Jamie McMurray in the No. 77 Advent Health Chevy in the 2021 edition of the Great American Race.

The team earned its first win in NASCAR’s premier series in an upset of practically unprecedented proportions, when Justin Haley took the checkered flag at DIS on July 7, 2019.

“We’re thrilled that Youtheory has come aboard the No. 7 for the Daytona 500,” said Spire Motorsports co-owner T.J. Puchyr. “Corey has a long-standing relationship with Darren and Patty Rude and we’re grateful they’ve chosen to continue that relationship when he signed with Spire Motorsports. The car looks incredible and Corey does a great job on Superspeedways. We can’t wait to get to Daytona and see the Youtheory Ashwagandha Chevy in the Great American Race.”

The 63rd running of the Daytona 500 will be televised live on FOX, Sunday, February 14 beginning at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The first of 36 races on the 2021 NCS schedule will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

About Spire Motorsports …
Spire Motorsports was established in 2018 and is co-owned by longtime NASCAR industry executives Jeff Dickerson and Thaddeus “T.J.” Puchyr. Spire Motorsports earned an upset victory for the ages in its first full season when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 7, 2019. The team will field the Nos. 7 and 77 Chevrolet Camaros in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2021. Over the 2019-2020 seasons, Spire Motorsports logged 72 starts on NASCAR’s senior circuit and provided an entry for multiple drivers.

About Youtheory® …
Youtheory® is a Southern California based lifestyle brand on a mission to inspire wellness in all. Our goal is to develop pure, safe, and innovative supplements that improve one’s health, beauty and overall well-being. We believe that our products are only as good as our ingredients, so we travel the world to source the highest quality raw materials from the places where they are cultivated best. From farm to retail shelf, we’re committed to best-in-class manufacturing processes, guarantee purity, potency and traceability of every product that is made and put on the shelf. Learn more at www.youtheory.com. Follow on social at https://www.facebook.com/youtheorybeauty and https://www.instagram.com/youtheory/.

About Ashwagandha …
Youtheory® Ashwagandha, also called Indian Ginseng, has been used in Ayurvedic practices for thousands of years to improve both physical and mental well-being. This stress remedy contains 1,000 mg of a full spectrum ashwagandha blend and 20 mg of ginger root, helping to promote a healthy response to everyday stressors. The apoptogenic botanical is revered as nature’s antidote to modern stress because it counteracts stress by responding to and balancing out your body’s cortisol levels. The time-tested plant not only helps boost overall well-being and quality of life, but also helps to boost mental and physical performance. Youtheory Ashwagandha is now available to purchase online at www.youtheory.com.

BRODY ROA’S CHILI BOWL WRAP UP AND 30TH BIRTHDAY

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Official Release
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(Cypress, CA, January 25, 2021) Veteran Southern California racer Brody Roa opened his 2021 racing schedule with an appearance at the prestigious 35th Annual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  The “Pride of Garden Grove” contested his preliminary night on Thursday, January 14th, and the finale two nights later on the 16th.

Roa’s Chili Bowl effort did not get off to an awesome start when he drew pill #98 for his Thursday heat race.  That meant he would have to start last (eighth) in the heat.  Compounding the issue was the fact that early on, the tiny track was proving extremely hard to pass on.  When the checkered flew on the eight lapper, he advanced one spot to finish seventh.  That meant he had to go to one of the C mains where he started and finished third.  That was good enough to transfer to a B main.

Going into the B, Roa had only passed one car on the night.  That may not sound so great, but on the bright side, no cars had passed him!  Things looked harsh in the B as it was providing the toughest field he had yet to face on the night.  And he was starting inside the last row in 13th!  The friendly driver needed to get all the way to fourth the transfer to the night’s A main.  Simply put, once the green flag flew, he was the show!  He sliced and diced his way past nine cars to finish fourth to earn his ticket into the main event.  For the A, he once again had to start in the back row in 24th and ended up finishing 20th. 

Roa’s name showed up in one of Saturday’s D mains and you guessed it, he was coming from near the back once again.  He started inside the eighth row in 16th and made some quick moves early on to advance all the way to 11th.  He got shuffled back a couple of spots and then had to take evasive action to avoid someone else’s mess.  That meant he would have to go to the back for the restart.  With everyone scrambling to get to the front in a short amount of time, somebody else’s mess cost Roa again and before he knew it, the checkers ended the race and his Chili Bowl effort with a 13th-place finish. 

Today, January 25th, Roa celebrated an incredibly special 30th birthday as it was his first-ever birthday as a father.  If you would like to send him birthday wishes, please do so on his Facebook page at the following link https://www.facebook.com/br91r.

In addition to his season-long personal sponsors, HD Industries, Burris Racing, Biker Bruce Fisher, Norma Leonard, Molecule and K1 RaceGear, Roa would also like to thank Iron Dome Motorsports, Moonshine Motorsports, Jambo’s BBQ Pits, Race Jugs, Burkham Concrete, Precise Racing Products, Deaton’s Water Front Services, Industrial Instrument, Graham’s Wrecker Service, 380 Pawn, 777 Graphics, D&S Motorsports, Approach Marketing, Bell County Electrical Supply, Pro Tech Services, Express Car Wash of Texas, Mow Time, Texas Star Concrete, Abilene Powder Coating, Lil Mo’s Pizza, Sun Electric, Elliot’s Trailers, GPA Paper and Top Level Ink for being part of the Chili Bowl effort.   

For anyone who is looking for a championship and main event winning driver for their car during the 2021 season, contact Roa at the phone number and E-mail in this release.  He will be available to race on nights that do not conflict with the USAC/CRA schedule.

To view Roa’s online portfolio and learn more about the team, please click on the following link https://www.teamwithbrody.com/

Fans wishing to stay completely up to date with Brody Roa and the BR Performance squad can do so on the team’s website http://www.brodyroa.com/ and Facebook page at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/br91r/

Car Maintenance Tips To Keep Your Vehicle In Running Order

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SM
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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

By
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

By
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

By
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.”

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