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Fun and Fulfilling Pastimes Your Child Should Try Out

By
SM
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How has your life been? It’s been almost a year since stay at home orders were issued across the country because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This means that you and your kids haven’t been able to go outside and do your usual pastimes like practicing a sport or attending art workshops.

You’re just stuck at home going between work or studies and sedentary activities, like Disney Christmas movie binges. Although government-approved coronavirus vaccines are on their way, it’ll be months before you can get them.

However, you don’t want your kids to stay inactive. There are a variety of benefits to having hobbies for children.

  • Improved confidence – One of the best things about having a pastime is getting better at it. When your kid starts mastering their hobby, they get a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment from it. And because their sense of accomplishment is still mostly tied to the praise they get from adults, the compliments you give them will have a large influence on their confidence and self-esteem as they grow up. If they participate in a hobby that requires them to work with partners or a team, they also learn to be confident when it comes to communicating and working together with their peers.
  • Additional bonding experiences – Practicing a hobby together is an excellent way to spend time with your kid. You get to create things and experiences that both of you enjoy and will look back on fondly. It also helps both of you express and understand each others’ emotions better, especially if your pastime involves art like drawing, music, painting, and more.
  • Growth through exploration – Growing up involves moving out of one’s comfort zone and trying new things. Having a hobby teaches your child this valuable lesson and jumpstart their hunger for learning. Just make sure that they actually like the pastime you’re getting them into, so they can be motivated to learn it.

Useful Hobbies to Get Into

Apart from school and work, your kid may pour most of their time and energy into their hobbies. As such, you need to make sure that the pastime they choose is actually worth their time. Here are examples of hobbies that are both fun and fulfilling.

Model kits

If your kid is interested in the mechanisms of cars, aircraft, and more, get them a model diesel engine set. You could also build model train kits with them if they’re into it. These toy hobbies don’t just keep your kid entertained, some of them provide realistic insights into what it’s like to build such machines. It’s the perfect balance between fun and learning.

Learning an instrument

Learning an instrument provides a wide variety of advantages for your kid. A study from Northwestern University found that music training changes a kid’s brain for the better. The paper, featured in TIME Magazine, analyzed the effects of music training on kids’ brain processes. They found that highly motivated and engaged music students had larger improvements in the way their brain processed reading and speech compared to the less-involved respondents.

Making music also improves your child’s motor skills. They’re pushed to hone the coordination between their hands, eyes, and ears for every note they play. As your child learns new pieces of music or memorizes musical patterns, their brain creates new connections that are vital for memory and problem-solving. This is why a variety of studies have shown that musical training can increase a kid’s literacy skills and verbal memory. Everyone gradually loses these connections as they grow older, which is why it’s vital to stock up on it while you can.

Gardening

Gardening is one of the healthiest hobbies anyone can get into. Plants naturally filter outside air. An international study also found that being around plants has stress-reducing benefits. The researchers tested the effect of having plants on a work desk and having workers take care of plants during their break time.

They found that the respondents who had plants on their desks, especially those who actively participated in taking care of the plants, felt less stressed and fatigued compared to those who didn’t have plants on their desks. Plus, moving pots and plants around under the sun is also a great physical activity. Start by having your kid take care of one plant and having them stick to a consistent routine in taking care of it.

Having a hobby during this pandemic is a great way to pass the time while also learning new knowledge and skills. This is especially important for the development of your kids’ problem solving and social skills, as well as creativity. The recommended pastimes above are both fun and fulfilling for both you and your kid. You’ll never know when a simple hobby will turn into a full-blown career for your child.

How Can You Become an Established Racecar Driver?

By
SM
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Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motorsports. From a global population of over 7.8 billion people, there are currently only 20 starting F1 drivers. 16 of them are wealthy Europeans. Without being pessimistic, the chances of a regular person making it as an F1 driver are slim to none.

So how do these guys do it? How is it possible? For some, like Brazilian legend Ayrton Senna, it’s about supreme talent, about being better than everybody else. For others like Michael Schumacher, it’s a combination of incredible ability, timing, and hard work. Max Verstappen belongs to a third group, those who made it through skill and lineage. His father Jos was also an F1 driver and paved the way for his 17-year-old son to become the youngest professional F1 driver in history.

However, F1 is not the only option available at your disposal. If you are passionate about cars and driving and want to make it a career, there are plenty more choices you can make. All include interesting possibilities, travel, and the chance to have exciting, adrenaline-filled, unforgettable experiences doing something you love.

Two options you could look into are production car racing and touring.

Production Car Racing

As the name implies, a production car is a vehicle made for mass production, one you would find in a showroom. Unlike Indy or F1, it is not a prototype car. As such, it is nowhere near as advanced. Yet, racing can be just as exciting, equally fulfilling.

An aspiring professional production car driver should consider these tips:

  • Start with karting. A local go-kart course will do. If you find yourself not enjoying it after a few times or you can’t beat your 12-year-old nephew consistently, perhaps racing is not in the books for you.
  • Consider taking some lessons. Like anything, there are levels to this. Driving fast on the highway doesn’t mean you’re ready for the big leagues.
  • Once you have enough experience, join the Sports Car Club of America. The SCCA will not only provide you with the necessary license to compete but also give you important advice on how to start your career and races to take part in.
  • Buy a car and enroll in a few races. Before racing, get the services of a creditable auto detailing shop to make sure your car is in top shape for competition.
  • With a few victories under your belt, start looking for sponsors or assemble your own team.

By following these steps, you will be well on your way to becoming a professional race car driver.

Sprint and Endurance Tourism

Tourism is divided into sprint and endurance racing. Sprint races are usually around two hours, whereas endurance might take a few days to complete. If your focus is on sprint, you can race on your own. Endurance racing, on the other hand, requires a team.

The main difference between production car racing and tourism is the car. While a production car is a “regular” car, one used for tourism is outfitted specifically for racing. This means a more powerful engine, different transmission systems, and added wings for aerodynamics. Also, the tourism car is provided by the team, the manufacturer.

As a talented driver, a good rule of thumb would be to enroll in a top touring car racing series such as the World Touring Car Cup or the British Touring Car Championship.

Managing Expectations

Not all can be Lewis Hamilton or Sebastien Loeb. But that doesn’t mean we cannot be professional race car drivers. Success is not measured based on the category or series in which you race. It is also not just about making a lot of money. It’s about being happy, fulfilling your dreams, and living out your passion for cars and speed.

Why not start with production car racing or tourism? Both are amazing journeys to embark on, journeys a car lover will not regret.

23XI Racing Welcomes Founding Partners DoorDash, McDonald’s, Columbia Sportswear, Dr Pepper and Root Insurance

By
Official Release
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Mooresville, NC (December 14, 2020) – Today 23XI Racing announced DoorDash, McDonald’s, Columbia Sportswear, Dr Pepper and Root Insurance as its founding partners, joining Bubba Wallace and the No. 23 Toyota Camry for the 2021 season.

Below are comments from Denny Hamlin, Bubba Wallace and key executives from each partner.

Denny Hamlin

“Today is a big day for us at 23XI Racing. To be able to announce the addition of five founding partners who are willing to join us in our first year and who share in our beliefs and values is such a great feeling. We’ve certainly had to make things happen fast to build this new team, and I’m excited to welcome each one of these partners and to get to know them better. I’m fortunate that during my time at Joe Gibbs Racing I’ve been able to have a great mentor and see how Coach, as an owner, is able to service each partner. That’s new for me – learning the owner side while still on the driver side, but I’m in for the long haul and will continue this far beyond my driving years. I’m passionate about this sport and I’m excited to bring new partners to the table and bring back others who have been in our sport in the past.” 

Bubba Wallace

“I’m pumped to get the season started. I wish Daytona was tomorrow. We’re heading in the right direction and we’ll be ready when we get to Daytona. As I’ve said before, this is an opportunity of a lifetime for me and there’s no more excuses. We want to go out and win and I know we’ll have everything we need each week to make that happen. To have great partners in DoorDash, McDonald’s, Columbia Sportswear, Dr Pepper and Root Insurance come on board and show their support of me and this team is really cool. I’m excited for what we can do on the track, but at the end of the day, these partnerships and relationships are so much more than that. It’s about how we use our platforms to be better humans and help create a positive change. It’s about what we do Monday through Friday outside of the firesuit and that’s a really special thing for me. Knowing I have their support and this team behind me makes me really excited for this season to see what we can accomplish together.”

DoorDash

“As a company that values diversity, openness, and empowering local communities, we are proud to partner with 23XI Racing to build upon our shared foundation of creating a more inclusive environment for NASCAR fans. This partnership enables us to further engage with the racing community through one of the most innovative teams in the sport, while expanding our previous partnership with Bubba Wallace, Jr. and accelerating our commitment to creating real change for the underrepresented communities and restaurants we serve.”

– Kofi Amoo-Gottfried, VP, Marketing, DoorDash.  

McDonald’s

“Two years ago, McDonald’s partnered with one of motorsport’s rising stars, Bubba Wallace, and we couldn’t be more proud to witness him succeed on and off the track, while breaking barriers and becoming one of the sport’s truest change agents. As a founding partner of 23XI Racing, we’re excited to continue our partnership with Bubba as he and the team advance the sport and make it more relevant to a larger audience.”

–  Joe Erlinger, President, McDonald’s USA

Columbia Sportswear

“We are incredibly excited by the opportunity to partner with 23XI Racing and to bring the outdoors to NASCAR.  Over the last year Bubba has continually inspired us not only by his passion for the outdoors, but also his commitment to building bridges on and off the track.  His tireless efforts towards inclusivity perfectly align with Columbia’s corporate mission of unlocking the outdoors for everyone.  We look forward to joining the 23XI Racing crew for what is sure to be an exciting NASCAR season.”

 -Joe Boyle, President, Columbia Sportswear Brand

Dr Pepper

“We’re thrilled to be a founding sponsor of 23XI Racing and part of a team making a difference on and off the track. Keurig Dr Pepper knows that bringing the best together creates a winning formula. We’ve done that in all aspects of our business, and we’re doing it here with 23XI Racing.”

– Andrew Springate, Keurig Dr Pepper Chief Marketing and Concentrate Officer

Root Insurance

“Bubba has demonstrated his ability to lead and stand up for what is right. We are thrilled that Root Insurance will be there to continue to support him and 23XI Racing throughout the 2021 season as they continue to lead on and off the track.” 

– Alex Timm, Root Insurance CEO

About 23XI Racing

23XI Racing – pronounced twenty-three eleven – was founded by NBA legend Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin in 2020. Rising NASCAR star Bubba Wallace is the single car team’s driver. 23XI Racing’s No. 23 Toyota Camry will make its NASCAR Cup Series debut at the Daytona 500 on February 14, 2021 at Daytona International Speedway.

Garrett Smith Impresses In Drydene Xtreme DIRTcar Series Debut

By
Official Release
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Garrett Smith (10) races alongside Chris Madden during his Drydene Xtreme DIRTcar Series debut Saturday at Lavonia (Ga.) Speedway. (Richard Barnes Photo)

Georgia Driver Re-Signs With MPM Marketing

LAVONIA, Ga. – (Dec. 14, 2020) – Garrett Smith turned plenty of heads Saturday during his debut with the Drydene Xtreme DIRTcar Series at Lavonia Speedway.

The 17-year-old driver initially grabbed attention by setting fast time during qualifying. He then backed up his fast qualifying lap by winning his heat race, earning himself a spot in the redraw for the 40-lap feature.

Luck was on Smith’s side in the redraw, where he drew the pole. He jumped out into the lead at the start of the event, but the brakes in his mount began to fail on lap 10. He would later loose the lead to eventual winner Michael Brown around the halfway mark.

Smith would continue to run in the top-five while doing his best to manage his brakes and his tires before eventually wearing out and blowing a right-rear tire with two laps left. He finished 11th in the 22-car field. Despite falling short of the victory, Smith was extremely happy with his performance during his Drydene Xtreme DIRTcar Series debut.

“It’s easy to be upset after running at the front like we did and finishing 11th, but we’ve got a lot to be proud of after that performance,” said Smith, who is a Barry Wright Race Cars development driver. “We were fastest in qualifying, we won our heat and we led laps in the feature. That’s more than I could have possibly expected during my Xtreme DIRTcar Series debut. It gives me a lot of confidence going into the offseason.”

Smith’s Drydene Xtreme DIRTcar Series debut brought to a close a strong season for the Georgia driver that saw him earn three victories in 602 and 604 late model competition at a pair of Georgia tracks – Cochran Motor Speedway and Boyd’s Speedway.

“It really was a great year,” said Smith. “I got to turn a lot of laps this year and we picked up a few wins along the way. I wouldn’t be able to do this without my parents and all of our great partners like Barry Wright Race Cars, Atlanta Paving and Concrete, Wiley X, TMC, BKP Art, MPM Marketing and Dirt Car Lift.”

As Smith now turns his attention to preparing for the 2021 season, he’s proud to announce that he’s signed a contract extension to continue working with McCallister Precision Marketing for another season.

“We welcomed Garrett into the MPM Marketing family in early January and he’s been fantastic to work with,” said McCallister Precision Marketing’s Tonya McCallister. “He’s put so much focus on improving his racing and marketing skills and his performance in Saturday’s race at Lavonia is just another indication that he’s got a great future in racing. We’re proud to have him back with us for the 2021 season.”

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About McCallister Precision Marketing

McCallister Precision Marketing (MPM) focuses on assisting up-and-coming race car drivers with career advancement and promotion. McCallister Precision Marketing helps drivers build confidence in front of and behind the camera, giving them the tools they need to advance to the next level. The company also provides companies with a strategic plan for their sales, marketing and promotional needs. We believe in building positive relationships with our clients so that we may provide them with the most professional, yet personal guidance they need, in order to achieve their racing goals. Our clients include race car drivers, race team owners, companies and racing series’. We also work closely with charities and charity events. For more information on McCallister Precision Marketing, visit www.MarketWithMPM.com, email TonyaMac44@MarketWithMPM.com or call 803-361-6199.

Lee Faulk Racing Seeking Drivers For 2021 CARS Tour Season

By
Official Release
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Lee Faulk Racing and Development earned two wins in CARS Late Model Stock Tour competition in 2020 with Nolan Pope (top) and Jonathan Findley (bottom).

DENVER, N.C. – (Dec. 14, 2020) – Lee Faulk Racing and Development is seeking qualified drivers to join the team for the 2021 CARS Late Model Stock Tour season.

Lee Faulk Racing and Development enjoyed a successful 2020 season across the southeast and with the CARS Late Model Stock Tour. The team earned seven victories overall, including two victories in CARS Late Model Stock Tour competition with full-time drivers Jonathan Findley and Nolan Pope each earning one victory with the series.

With Findley not returning to Lee Faulk Racing and Development and Pope unable to compete full-time with the CARS Late Model Stock Tour due to other obligations, the team is looking for drivers interested in competing for the CARS Late Model Stock Tour championship.

“We enjoyed a great deal of success this year with Jonathan and Nolan on the team,” said Lee Faulk Racing and Development’s Michael Faulk. “Unfortunately, circumstances will prevent them from returning to chase the CARS Tour title next year with us, so we’re looking for a driver or drivers with the skills necessary to race for wins and a championship in 2021.

“We know that during this time of the year there are all kinds of rumors circulating, so we wanted to make sure we let everyone know that we do have openings for the CARS Tour next year.”

Interested parties should contact Michael Faulk at mfaulk25@gmail.com or Tonya McCallister at McCallister Precision Marketing at TonyaMac44@MarketWithMPM.com.

While the team is searching for drivers to pursue the CARS Late Model Stock Tour championship, they’ll also be fielding entries for returning driver Braden Rogers and rising star Kody King in select events across the Southeast during the upcoming season.

“We’re excited to have Braden back with us for his second season in a late model and we’re excited to have Kody join the team for several events next year,” said Faulk. “Braden and Kody are both young, talented racers with great futures ahead of them. We can’t wait to see how they do next season.”

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About McCallister Precision Marketing

McCallister Precision Marketing (MPM) focuses on assisting up-and-coming race car drivers with career advancement and promotion. McCallister Precision Marketing helps drivers build confidence in front of and behind the camera, giving them the tools they need to advance to the next level. The company also provides companies with a strategic plan for their sales, marketing and promotional needs. We believe in building positive relationships with our clients so that we may provide them with the most professional, yet personal guidance they need, in order to achieve their racing goals. Our clients include race car drivers, race team owners, companies and racing series’. We also work closely with charities and charity events. For more information on McCallister Precision Marketing, visit www.MarketWithMPM.com, email TonyaMac44@MarketWithMPM.com or call 803-361-6199.

Sexton Gatlin Racing concludes 2020 season

By
Official Release
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(Lakeside, CA, December 11, 2020) After clinching the second, third, fourth, and fifth-place positions in the inaugural Lucas Oil POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series championship chase, Sexton Gatlin Racing wrapped up its 2020 campaign with November events at the Bakersfield and Merced Speedways.

The first of the two outings for the Lakeside, California based team came in the California Lightning Sprint Car Series sanctioned November Classic at the Bakersfield on November 17th. SGR was represented by Brent Sexton, his 16-year-old son Grant, and 2020 NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series champion Sheldon Creed at the Kern County clay oval. Nineteen other CLS cars showed up for the race and when the dust settled on the 1/3 mile banked clay oval, Creed, who was contesting his first Lightning Sprint Car race in more than a year and a half, was second fast qualifier with a sizzling lap of 13.006. Grant was sixth fast when he toured the track in a time of 13.165, and Brent was 13th at 13.562.

The heat races certainly were not the highlight of the season for SGR! Grant had a team-best fifth-place finish in his heat. Creed ended sixth in his heat after dropping out on the second lap, and Brent had issues that made him a DNS for his eight-lapper.

Creed, 23, had the best starting spot of the SGR trio in the main as he was coming from the pole. Grant was on the inside of the fifth row and Brent was starting near the back on the inside of row 10. Creed never ran worse than third and looked like he had a podium position locked up. However, that all got tossed aside when mechanical ills knocked the young Alpine, California driver out of the race with six laps to go. Creed’s misfortune advanced Grant to fourth and he stayed there for the duration.

After a rough start with a not so good qualifying lap and missing his heat race, Brent put on a show in the 25-lap main event. The two-time CLS champion sliced and diced his way all the way up to fifth after starting 19th. That sterling effort saw him pass more cars than any other driver and he was named the race “Hard Charger.”

Three nights later SGR journeyed farther north to the Merced Raceway for a Bay Cities Racing Association Midget Lite race that would conclude the Covid ravaged season. The team expanded by 66% for Merced when Dalton Sexton and San Diego’s David Bezio jumped on board. Dalton, who turned 18 in early December, not only was fast qualifier on the team, but he out-qualified the entire field. Grant was sixth fastest in time trials with Bezio eighth. Brent repeated his Bakersfield qualifying performance by ending up 13th on the timesheets.

Unfortunately, Creed had problems and did not get to qualify, run a heat race, or the main event.

Dalton’s impressive night continued when he came from sixth to win his heat race. On the way to the front, he passed his father Brent who started and finished third. Grant, like usual, moved forward in his heat race finishing third after starting fifth. The team “Silent Knight,” Bezio, came from the outside of the second row to win his heat.

It looked great for SGR at the beginning of the main with the four0team cars all starting within the first three rows. Bezio was on the outside of the front row. Coming off his fast time and heat race win, Dalton drew the #4 position and was directly behind Bezio. Grant and Brent started right behind them.

Things started out well enough with Bezio leading several of the early laps as Dalton gave chase in second. Grant and Brent were not far behind. Dalton eventually slipped back to third. However, he spun on the inside of turn four as he was trying to move back into the runner-up spot. That forced him to restart at the back. Unfortunately, he slapped the tall cushion in turn four not long after the restart and flipped on the front straight. The likable driver escaped the tumble without injury but the same could not be said for his pretty #18 car as it was too damaged to continue.

Like his older sibling, Grant’s tenure in the main event was cut short early on. While running fourth, injection problems resulted in him dropping out. To add insult to injury for SGR, Brent stayed in the top five in the main event and was having a great run. However, a bizarre incident ended his night. A red flag was necessitated when a car flipped. Brent stopped for the red, but another driver did not see it or saw it too late and he clobbered Brent from behind. The damage from the blow forced Brent to watch the remainder of the proceedings rather than fighting for the win.

The star of the main event for SGR ended up being Bezio. After leading early on, the veteran driver never slipped out of the top five and he finished fourth on the night.

The race at Merced brought down the curtain for Sexton Gatlin Racing in 2020. However, work is already underway for an expanded 2021 season. If you would like to join the championship caliber team, please use the contact information above to learn all the details.

To keep up with all the exploits of the Sexton/Gatlin Racing Team, be sure to visit it’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Sexton-Gatlin-Racing-1173560279445564/

Sexton/Gatlin Racing would like to thank the following companies for making the 2020 season possible. Sexton Fire Protection, BK Wings, Troy Dirt, Victory Graphix, Swift Powdercoat, Maxima Oil, Infiniti Shocks and an extra special thanks to Scotty and Jimmy Keys.

HELIO CASTRONEVES INDUCTED INTO TEAM PENSKE HALL OF FAME

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Official Release
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Longest-Tenured Driver in Team History Honored for His Accomplishments On and Off the Track

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (December 11, 2020) – Over the course of his 21 seasons competing for Team Penske, Helio Castroneves produced hall of fame results for North America’s most successful racing organization. On Friday, Castroneves was recognized for his accomplishments on and off the track as he became the ninth inductee into the Team Penske Hall of Fame.

During a virtual tribute to Castroneves with current and former Team Penske employees and special guests to say “thank you” for his memorable time with the team, Team Penske President Tim Cindric – who traveled to Florida to visit the popular Brazilian racer – surprised Castroneves with the Hall of Fame induction. With Castroneves’ longtime teammate and friend Gil de Ferran in attendance and hundreds of Team Penske associates participating in the live online celebration, Cindric presented the longest-tenured driver and one of the most accomplished racers in team history with his Hall of Fame award.

“What an incredible surprise,” said Castroneves, who ranks inside the top five among all Team Penske drivers in virtually every all-time statistical category. “I was hoping to visit the Team Penske shop in North Carolina to see everyone after the season, but we couldn’t do it with all of the COVID-19 restrictions. It was so great to connect with everyone virtually. I have so many friends and people that are really like family to me after 21 years together. That was awesome, but for TC (Cindric) to then announce that I was being inducted into the Team Penske Hall of Fame, wow. What an amazing honor. I want to thank Roger (Penske), TC and everyone at Team Penske that I’ve worked with over the years. It has been an incredible ride and this is such a special tribute.”

Castroneves joined Team Penske in 2000 and the popular Brazilian racer almost instantly became one of the brightest stars in INDYCAR racing. He earned 30 NTT INDYCAR SERIES victories for the team, including three memorable Indianapolis 500 wins. Castroneves became the first driver in history to win in his first two career Indy 500 starts when he produced victories in the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” in both 2001 and 2002. He won again at Indy in 2009 and he remains one of only 10 drivers in history to earn three or more Indianapolis 500 victories.

Castroneves transitioned to a full-season program with Team Penske in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2018. After earning five victories over the past three seasons, Castroneves and Ricky Taylor – his teammate on the No. 7 Acura – captured the series DPi championship in 2020. With the Acura Team Penske sports car program drawing to a close after this season, the title-winning effort marked the perfect ending to Castroneves’ time with Team Penske as it represented the first series championship in his remarkable career. After 21 seasons and 344 combined career starts, Castroneves produced 36 wins (fifth in team history), 60 poles (first in team history), 107 podium results (first in team history) and 160 top-five finishes (second in team history).

Following his first career INDYCAR win for the team at Detroit in 2000, an excited Castroneves scaled the safety fence next to the track to celebrate with the fans. The fence climb became his signature victory celebration as he earned the nickname “Spider-Man.” With his engaging personality and an unbridled passion for racing, Castroneves enjoyed a unique connection with team members and partners while helping to bring a new breed of fans to the sport. In addition, he became a household name off the track in 2007 when he competed in and won season five of the popular reality TV show Dancing with the Stars.

“What can I say, Helio and I came to Team Penske at the end of 1999 and our relationship goes beyond racing,” said Cindric. “We have had a lot of fun together over the years and it is hard to imagine this team without him. He really defines what it is to be a ‘team player.’ Even though he will be competing against us next year, he can always count on us to be there for him.”

Castroneves will continue to add to his racing legacy as he will compete part-time in select INDYCAR and IMSA races for other organizations in 2021.

With his induction, Castroneves joins previous Team Penske Hall of Fame honorees: Roger Penske (2016), Mark Donohue (2016), Rick Mears (2017), Karl Kainhofer (2017), Rusty Wallace (2018), Walter Czarnecki (2018), Don Miller (2019) and Dan Luginbuhl (2019).

Inductions into the Team Penske Hall of Fame occur annually. Each year, inductees are chosen from current and former drivers, employees and partners that have made a significant impact on the team and its history. The Hall of Famers are honored both at an event and within the walls of the Team Penske facility located in Mooresville, NC.

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 580 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 54-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 2020, Team Penske competed in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, the NASCAR Cup Series, the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The team also raced in the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship, in a partnership with Dick Johnson Racing, as DJR Team Penske. For more information about Team Penske, please visit www.teampenske.com.

DOMINANT THWAITS LEADS SHOWTIME MOTORSPORTS TO INAUGURAL XGT CHAMPIONSHIP, 2020 SEASON RECAP

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Official Release
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Franklin, TENNESSEE – December 11, 2020 – From the perspective of logistics and organization, this year was arguably the most difficult season in Trans Am racing history. The Coronavirus pandemic drove a coach and horses through the original schedule but thanks to the hard work of John Clagett and his team, the 2020 Trans Am presented by Pirelli Championship season turned out to be a terrific one, with one of the highlights being the inaugural XtremeGT Class events.

The XGT class was created to provide a platform for GT3 Class cars. They differ markedly in specification and build from the Trans Am TA and TA2 Class cars, but the performance is remarkably similar. Although falling short of the 850 BHP boasted by the most powerful cars on the muscle car circuit, they are much lighter and more nimble, enabling them to pick up time on the corners what they lose in the straights.

Ever present and increasingly dominant throughout this first XGT season was Tennessee’s Ken Thwaits, who piloted the No. 5 Franklin Road Apparel Showtime Motorsports Audi R8 LMS Ultra with great skill and enthusiasm all season. Ken amassed an extraordinary 253 Championship points, only once finishing outside of the top two and scoring wins at Brainerd, Road America, Virginia International Raceway and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. He also notched pole positions in class at Ohio, Brainerd, Virginia and Atlanta.

We spoke to Ken last week at his impressive Franklin, Tennessee headquarters about the season and his plans for the future, “All in all I thoroughly enjoyed the year and it was great to come away with the Championship. This was consistent hard work from the team all season!” He said, “We drove hard and fast all year and the Audi is a testament to German engineering. It’s extraordinarily reliable for a racing car and we race at the best tracks in North America.”

Of his rivalry with Championship runner up Erich Joiner he added, “I had some great tussles with Erich. We really enjoy racing together. Trans Am welcomed me and it already feels like family. The paddock at Trans Am is fantastic and it’s motorsports as it should be. Professional and with no quarter given on the track, but courteous and supportive group of teams here.”

A total of eight cars competed in the XGT Class over the course of the season, with one of the other seven being the Showtime second car. As Team principal of Showtime, Ken is on the lookout for a regular teammate to pilot the second, all but identical Audi R8 for the 2021 season. Moreover, Ken isn’t one to rest on his laurels, something he alluded to when he continued, “I’m only too happy to have more competition in the XGT Class races next season. There are lots of GT3 cars out there, and I have a feeling that it may start to snowball. It would be great to have a regular partner to compete with next year too. We can offer a ready made 2021 racing program for a qualified driver. It’s a genuinely outstanding opportunity to race at a high level.”

As 2020 comes to a close, Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli fans will have another reason to countdown the year. Starting Sunday, December 13 at 4:00 p.m. Eastern, CBS Sports Network will air a three-part series named ‘Trans Am Year in Review.’

The three-week series follows the national Trans Am Series throughout its expedited nine round 2020 season. Each one-hour episode will be class designated, beginning with TA on Sunday (December 13), followed by TA2® powered by AEM (December 20) and concluding with the production classes- XtremeGT, SuperGT and GT- (December 27).

Visit the team’s website for Showtime Motorsports, showtimemotorsports.net. Learn more about the Showtime Motorsports team partner, Franklin Road Apparel, at franklinroad.com and keep up to date with the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli at gotransam.com. #GoTransAm

Check out the Showtime Motorsports Facebook page: facebook.com/showtimemotorsp/ and @ShowtimeMotorsp on Instagram.

About Showtime Motorsports:

The Showtime Motorsports brand includes Ken Thwaits’ racing team and racecars, and an outstanding classic Camaro collection. Showtime Motorsports brings together a dynamic staff who employ diverse talents and share a passion for cars, racing and caring for clients like they are our own family members.

Iconic 3.41-Mile Long Course Selected For Inaugural May 21-23 NASCAR at COTA Event Weekend

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Official Release
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CONCORD, N.C. (Dec. 11, 2020) – Since the September announcement that Speedway Motorsports would bring NASCAR to Austin, Texas in 2021, a significant question remained: which of the world-class courses at Circuit of The Americas would drivers face? After careful consideration for what will create an unforgettable experience for the fans and an incredible challenge for the drivers, Speedway Motorsports officials have selected the iconic 3.41-mile long course for all competition during the inaugural May 21-23 NASCAR at COTA event weekend.

“We took a hard look at both the 3.41-mile long course and the newly reconfigured 2.2-mile short course,” said Speedway Motorsports President and CEO Marcus Smith. “There’s no doubt the long course will be the most entertaining for the fans. There are more sight lines and opportunities for hillside viewing, plus we’ll have additional options for trackside camping.

“Every NASCAR driver will be challenged by the same 20-turn, counterclockwise circuit designed for Formula One racers.”

The 3.41-mile long course takes full advantage of the undulating landscape and features a 133-foot hill at Turn One. The course is the only circuit in the United States to annually host both F1 and MotoGP.

Speedway Motorsports is working closely with NASCAR competition officials on select changes to the course and facility to maximize the spectacle and excitement for NASCAR’s top three series which will all run on the inaugural NASCAR weekend at COTA.

“The Circuit of The Americas is already a world-class, world-renowned facility,” stated Smith. “Along with NASCAR, we now have to make a few safety and competition enhancements to accommodate the Camping World Trucks, Xfinity and Cup Series. Every effort will be made to make the first NASCAR weekend an experience like no other for both fans and competitors.”

Officials are developing a plan that will include adding rumble strips from Charlotte Motor Speedway’s ROVAL™ to select corners at COTA. The “turtles,” as they’ve been coined by former NASCAR Cup Series driver and current NBC broadcaster Dale Earnhardt Jr. will force stock car and truck drivers to truly drive the circuit without taking advantage of COTA’s more forgiving and extended asphalt runoffs.

Operations crews will also add tire-packs to potentially high-impact areas, extend pit road wall and install additional caution lights and timing/scoring loops to support the larger stock car and truck fields that will now compete at COTA.

In addition to the NASCAR Camping World Trucks, Xfinity Series and the NASCAR Cup Series, the IMSA-sanctioned Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Series will also compete on the long course during the first-ever NASCAR weekend at COTA.

TICKETS:

Fans can purchase a May 21-23 three-day weekend general admission pass starting at $99 and a three-day reserved seat starting at $125 for all practice, qualifying and race events online at NASCARatCOTA.com. Fans can also purchase NASCAR at COTA weekend passes by calling the Texas Motor Speedway ticket office at (833) 450-2864.

MORE INFO:

Fans can connect with NASCAR at COTA and get the latest news by following on Twitter and Instagram or becoming a Facebook fan.

About Speedway Motorsports:

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

Bobby Labonte Foundation Partners With High Point LEAP to Help Feed Families in Need

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Official Release
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COVID-19 Pandemic Leaves Local Families Food Insecure for the Holidays

HIGH POINT, N.C. – (December 11, 2020) – The Bobby Labonte Foundation, founded by NASCAR Champion and Hall of Fame racecar driver and High Point businessman Bobby Labonte, is helping to ensure local families who’ve been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic will have food on the table this holiday season. The foundation is providing $200 grocery gift cards to 50 impoverished families who qualify for assistance through the local non-profit, High Point LEAP (Literacy Empowers All People).

Labonte and his wife, Kristin, presented the gift cards to High Point LEAP’s founder, Claire Robinson, at Bicycle Toy & Hobby on Friday. At the same time, one special Guilford County, N.C. family got a big surprise – a $500 grocery shopping spree, plus a brand new bike for each child. The Ramos-Valerio family, Gabriela, Jose and their seven children, have been a part of LEAP for four years. Gabriela says the program has changed her childrens’ lives by helping them catch up with their schoolwork during the pandemic, providing food assistance, clothing and toys, and preparing their oldest daughter for college.

“Today was such a surprise and we are all so excited, this is going to be the best Christmas,” said Gabriela Ibarra-Ramos. “My children ask for bikes every year, and now they’ve finally gotten them. The grocery gift cards will help us so much, and also allow us to have a special meal for Christmas.”

High Point LEAP is a multicultural dropout intervention offering a variety of assistance for Guilford County families living in poverty: academic and afterschool programs, character development and leadership skills, job readiness and training, financial literacy and healthy lifestyle information. Robinson says their services are critical in these unprecedented times, when families are struggling to keep up with their childrens’ virtual schooling and financially challenged by unemployment and other negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Today, even more children and families are experiencing food insecurity. Furthermore, learning still matters for children in the midst of this pandemic. Our mission is to continue to provide the resources children and families need the most: food, academics, internet access and nurturing from caring adults,” said Robinson. “We are so thankful to the Bobby Labonte Foundation for their support when it’s needed most, and for their ongoing grant support throughout the year. We would not be able to offer food, academic services and resources to children had it not been for this tremendous generosity.”

Labonte came up with the idea to provide grocery gift cards to local families after the cancellation of his foundation’s annual charity bike ride, which raised more than $50,000 for Triad-area non-profits in 2019.

“We can’t wait to get back onto our bikes to raise money and provide grants to local charities next year,” said Labonte. “While big plans are in the works for our 2021 Charity Bike Ride, we also know that families need help right now and we wanted to do our part to support our community. We hope this provides some relief and brings a smile to these families’ faces during these difficult times.”

To find out more about the Bobby Labonte Foundation, visit bobbylabontefoundation.org.

About Bobby Labonte Foundation
The Bobby Labonte Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by NASCAR champion, Hall of Fame Class of 2020 inductee and businessman Bobby Labonte in 2003. The Bobby Labonte Foundation vision is a cohesive community in which parents and families are empowered to fulfill children’s needs and together find joy, love and happiness. The Bobby Labonte Foundation works in partnership with the local community and community organizations to empower parents, families and children to build a strong foundation for children’s futures. For more information, visit www.bobbylabontefoundation.org or follow the Bobby Labonte Foundation on Facebook.

About High Point LEAP
High Point LEAP (Literacy Empowers All People) is a non-profit, 501c3 grassroots, multicultural dropout intervention program focused on uplifting children and families through literacy. LEAP’s focus is STREAM (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts and Math). LEAP’s mission is to empower children from K-12th grade living in poverty to succeed academically while developing skills to become 21st Century Leaders and to strengthen their families through literacy programs and educational resources. LEAP’s motto is “LEAP into knowledge so I can go to college!”.

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