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Chris Buescher – Texas Advance

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Official Release
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Team: No. 17 Fastenal Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Luke Lambert

Twitter: @17RoushTeam, @RoushFenway and @Chris_Buescher
Race Format: 501 miles, 334 laps, Stage Lengths: 105-105-124

Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 – Sunday, Oct. 25 at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

NASCAR Turns Attention to Lone Star State

  • With just three races remaining in the 2020 slate, the Cup series heads West to Texas Motor Speedway this weekend for a 500-mile race in the Round of 8 in the #NASCARPlayoffs.
  • Sunday’s starting lineup will be set by three competition-based metrics, rewarding both season-long and single-race performance, and will be announced later in the week.
  • Four weeks of NASCAR action were completed prior to the COVID-19 hiatus with races at Atlanta, Homestead, Texas, Bristol, Richmond, Talladega, Dover and Martinsville postponed before the schedule later picked back up in mid-May.

Buescher Historically at Texas

  • Buescher will make his 11th Cup start at Texas on Sunday, where he has an average finish of 21.8. Dating back five years, Buescher has a best finish of 15th, which came in the spring of 2018.
  • Most recently, Buescher powered the No. 17 Ford to a 19th-place run earlier this year, his second-straight such result at the 1.5-mile track.
  • Buescher, a native of Prosper, Texas, made five Xfinity Series starts for Jack Roush, finishing ninth in 2015 in the No. 60.

Luke Lambert Historically at Texas

  • Lambert will be atop the box for his 17th career Cup event at Texas this weekend, a track he has an average finish of 20.3 with one top-10.
  • Lambert and Newman ran 10th in the fall race in the 2016 season. Most recently, he led Buescher to a 19th-place run earlier this year.
  • Lambert also called two Xfinity races at TMS with Elliott Sadler in 2012, finishing 12th and 11th.

QUOTE WORTHY
Buescher on racing at Texas:
“I’m always excited to return to my home track in Texas. We’ve got three races left to continue to build going into the offseason, and hope to put together a solid run in the Fastenal Ford this weekend in the Lone Star state.”

Last Time Out
Buescher finished 21st Sunday at Kansas in the Fastenal Ford.

Where They Rank
Buescher is 20th in driver standings through 33 events.

On the Car
Fastenal celebrates its 10th season with Roush Fenway Racing in 2020. The Minnesota company spent three years on the No. 99 before jumping to the No. 17 Cup Series entry, and were the primary partner on the No. 60 Xfinity team that captured the owner’s championship in 2011.

Loctite, Milwaukee, Norton, Jet (JPW) and Rustoleum will ride aboard the No. 17 as Fastenal Racing’s featured suppliers Sunday in Texas.

  • Loctite, a leader in adhesives, sealants and surface treatments will be on the hood.
  • Milwaukee Tool Company, a leader in power tools since 1924, will ride on the TV panel.
  • Norton Abrasives, a Saint-Gobain brand, will ride on the decklid.
  • JET, with 50 years’ experience in the industrial tool category, will be on the lower rear quarter panel.
  • Rustoleum, a manufacturer of protective paints and coating for home and industrial use, will ride on the b-post.

Driven for a Cause
Throughout the month of October, Roush Fenway Racing will show its support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month by running special pink numbers on its Ford Mustangs. In addition, Roush Fenway Fords will sport pink ‘Driven for a Cause’ ribbon decals on its Ford Mustangs.

About Fastenal
Fastenal [Nasdaq: FAST] is North America’s largest fastener distributor and a ‘one-stop’ source for hundreds of thousands of OEM, MRO and Construction products. With more than 2,600 stores worldwide, the company supports B2B customers with tailored local inventory and dedicated personnel, who visit regularly, quickly respond to emergency needs, and provide efficient inventory management solutions. Fastenal’s service-oriented business network includes the world’s largest industrial vending program, 14 regional distribution centers, 8 custom manufacturing facilities, thousands of delivery vehicles, and industry-leading sourcing, quality and engineering resources.

ROMCO Equipment Teams Up with Front Row Motorsports at Texas

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Official Release
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No. 38 Ford Mustang

Longtime Nemechek Partner Powers No. 38 Ford Mustang

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (October 20, 2020) – ROMCO Equipment Company, a Texas-based heavy equipment dealer, has partnered with Front Row Motorsports (FRM) this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. The brand will serve as primary sponsor on John Hunter Nemechek’s No. 38 Ford Mustang for the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Race on Sunday, October 25.

Family-owned since 1961, ROMCO’s mission is to provide customers in construction, mining, road building, oil & gas and aggregate equipment with top quality products and services, backing the customer’s purchase with outstanding product support. As an industry leader, ROMCO’s reputation is one built upon Excellence, Stability, Innovation and Professionalism.

“We’re excited to partner with John Hunter Nemechek as he finishes up his rookie year at the Cup level,” said Robert Mullins-Owner of ROMCO Equipment. “We’re proud of our Texas roots and couldn’t think of a better race to team up with John Hunter and Front Row Motorsports. We’re looking forward to seeing the ROMCO colors on the No. 38 at our home track.”

“ROMCO Equipment has been a longtime sponsor of myself and my family’s team and it’s really special to have them join Front Row Motorsports as part of my Cup Series career,” said Nemechek. “I’m proud to represent them on track and want to thank them for all of their hard work and support. We’ll do everything we can to bring home the win this weekend.”

The No. 38 ROMCO Equipment Ford Mustang will make its debut at Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday, October 25 for the “Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500” at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN and PRN.

For more information about ROMCO Equipment, visit ROMCO.com.

About ROMCO
Family owned. Texas based. Since 1961.

ROMCO Equipment Co. serves the earthmoving, ground engaging and material handling equipment markets in Texas. ROMCO Equipment provides these markets with a full line of superior quality and highly productive construction and mining equipment. ROMCO Equipment represents Volvo Construction Equipment, Hitachi Construction and Mining Equipment and the SDLG line of wheel loaders. ROMCO Equipment offers customers flexibility in new, used and rental equipment for their equipment needs and supports customer’s purchase decisions with outstanding parts and service.

About Front Row Motorsports
Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup Series. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields two full-time entries – the No. 34 of Michael McDowell and the No. 38 of John Hunter Nemechek – from its Mooresville, N.C., headquarters just outside of Charlotte. In 2020, the team announced an expansion to include the No. 38 Ford F-150 in the NASCAR Gander RV and Outdoors Truck Series, driven by Todd Gilliland. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

Pit Boss Grills to Sponsor Zane Smith at Texas Motor Speedway

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Official Release
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STATESVILLE, N.C. (Oct. 20, 2020) – Pit Boss Grills will sponsor the No. 21 Chevrolet Silverado of Zane Smith in the upcoming NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series race at Texas Motor Speedway.

“I’m excited to have Pit Boss Grills onboard for Texas,” said Smith. “I love cooking and grilling, so this is a perfect pairing. Texas is big on brisket and BBQ so there’s no better place to get the Pit Boss Grills name out than Texas Motor Speedway. I hope to be able to get them in victory lane on Sunday.”

Smith is currently third in the Gander Trucks playoffs Round of 8, 19 points behind the leader. Smith has two wins, four top-five and 10 top-10 finishes with 308 laps led in 20 starts this season.

“Pit Boss Grills is thrilled to be sponsoring Zane and the No. 21 truck at the iconic Texas Motor Speedway this weekend,” said Jeff Thiessen, president of Pit Boss Grills. “We are extremely excited to be partnering with one of NASCAR’s up-and-coming stars as he continues to chase history during his phenomenal rookie season.”

The No. 21 Pit Boss Grills Chevrolet Silverado will debut in the SpeedyCash.com 400 at Texas Motor Speedway. The race will air live at 12pm ET on FS1 and MRN.

About GMS Racing – GMS Racing competes full-time in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series with drivers Brett Moffitt, Sheldon Creed, Tyler Ankrum and Zane Smith as well as part-time with David Gravel and Chase Purdy. The team also competes in the ARCA Racing Series with Sam Mayer. Since the team began in 2014, GMS Racing won the 2016 Gander Trucks Championship, the 2015 ARCA Racing Series championship as well as the 2019 ARCA East championship and has grown to occupy several buildings located in Statesville, N.C. The campus also includes operations for GMS Fabrication. More information can be found at https:/gmsracing.net

ABOUT PIT BOSS GRILLS – Pit Boss Grills is a subsidiary of Dansons, a global consumer goods company and home of multiple award-winning brands. The Pit Boss Grills mission is to provide world-class, competitive, innovative products while delivering superior results to all stakeholders, never compromising our integrity and honoring God who has provided these opportunities, to reinvest in those in need. As one of the fastest-growing grill brands in the industry, Pit Boss Grills are renowned for their Bigger. Hotter. Heavier craftsmanship. From premium features, durable long-lasting builds, and leading versatility, Pit Boss Grills proudly offers grill owners the best value per square inch in the market, a best-in-class 5-year warranty, and access to the passionate community of the Pit Boss Nation. For more information about Pit Boss Grills, please visit www.pitboss-grills.com.

Global Mazda MX-5 Cup Title Fight Comes to Streets of St. Petersburg

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Official Release
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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (Oct. 20, 2020) – The 2020 Global Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich® Tires season is poised to close in dramatic fashion with a championship-deciding doubleheader this weekend. With only two races left, Michael Carter (No. 08 Carter Racing Enterprises) leads Robert Noaker (No. 13 Robert Noaker Racing/Slipstream Performance) by just seven points and the face off will take place on a track neither have raced at before.

A flurry of schedule changes following the arrival of the COVID pandemic resulted in the 2020 Global Mazda MX-5 Cup season ending on the streets of St. Petersburg. Global Mazda MX-5 Cup has never taken to St. Pete’s 1.8-mile, 14-turn temporary street circuit, with the series’ last visit to a temporary street circuit taking place at the Indy Toronto event in 2017.

Racing at a new circuit will require all drivers to be on top of their game; they will have only two 40-minute practice sessions at St. Pete, as opposed to the full day of testing that was available at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP). Adding to the challenge are the concrete walls that line the circuit, raising the stakes if errors come in to play.

Championship leader Carter chooses to focus on what needs to be done to secure the title; he’ll be racing hard and having fun.

“I am feeling good about the position we are in coming into St. Pete,” said Carter, who won Rookie of the Year honors in 2019. “We are approaching this race weekend the same way we have approached the entire season. We are just going to focus and keep our heads down and the rest will take care of itself.

“I don’t think it is necessarily a good or bad thing that the last race of the season is on a street course that very few of us have had the opportunity to race on. It seems like a fun place and I’m looking forward to getting on track this Friday.”

Nobody could have foreseen that in race two at NJMP, Noaker would miss the pre-grid because of mechanical issues and be forced to start from pit lane. He managed to race up to seventh at the checkered flag, but this allowed Carter to extend his lead in the Championship from two to seven points.

“We changed 17 different parts out in an attempt to fix our fuel issue, we certainly don’t need another penalty like Jersey,” said Noaker. “I feel good about the car, now we just need to race.”

Like Carter, Noaker has never raced on a street course before, but he doesn’t plan to approach this finale weekend different from any other MX-5 Cup doubleheader.

“I haven’t had the chance to race on a street circuit before, but I have raced at short concrete walled tracks in the past,” said the youngest-ever driver to win an INDYCAR-sanctioned event. “It will be interesting to see how everything unfolds with very few having experience at a street circuit. The points being so close is exciting for sure, consistency I believe will finish this championship out.”

Fresh off of his first career MX-5 Cup win, Jared Thomas (No. 96 Thomas Racing Enterprises) only needs to start both races to claim Rookie of the Year honors and the $75,000 support package on offer from Mazda Motorsports. That kind of security may just enable him to take the kind of risks needed to win his second or even third race of the year.

Following the conclusion of the season on Saturday afternoon, the series will host a brief awards ceremony at the Mahaffey Theater next to the track.

Live timing and camera feeds of Rounds 11 and 12 of the Global Mazda MX-5 Cup will be available at https://www.mx-5cup.com/results/live-timing

About: The Global Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich® Tires is the signature spec series for the Mazda Road to 24 (#MRT24). Mazda-powered grassroots champions earn a Mazda scholarship to advance their career. The Global Mazda MX-5 Cup champion earns a $200,000 scholarship.

Find out more at http://www.mx-5cup.com.

NGROTS Advance: Todd Gilliland – Texas Motor Speedway

By
Official Release
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‌

Track: Texas Motor Speedway, 1.5-mile oval
Race: 21 of 23
Event: SpeedyCash.com 400 (220.5 miles, 147 laps)

Schedule:
Sunday, Oct. 25
12:00 p.m…………..Race (FS1)
(all times ET)

Todd Gilliland, No. 38 Frontline Enterprises Ford F-150

Todd Gilliland heads to Texas Motor Speedway for Sunday’s NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series race hoping to get the win that has eluded him on some of his recent races there. After winning a pole in 2019 and nearly winning the fall race in 2018, Gilliland hopes to finally take the checkered flag in his No. 38 Frontline Enterprises Ford F-150 this time around.

This will be Gilliland’s sixth start at Texas in the NGROTS. He nearly won there in the fall of 2018 when he was leading until he ran out of gas on the last lap, resulting in a fourth-place finish instead of a trip to Victory Lane. He also had a solid run at Texas in July until an accident ended his race with 15 laps to go while battling for fifth place.

In 20 starts this season, Gilliland has four top-five, nine top-10 finishes and has led 92 laps in the No. 38 Ford F-150 for Front Row Motorsports. He is 10th in the driver point standings.

The SpeedyCash.com 400 from Texas Motor Speedway will be run on Sunday, Oct. 25 at 12 p.m. ET. The race will be broadcast live on FS1. The 147-lap race will be broken into three segments with stage-ending cautions on laps 35 and 70.

Quick Facts:
Number of Truck Series Starts at Texas: 5
Best Start: 1st (6/7/19)
Best Finish: 4th (11/2/18)
2020 Driver Point Standings: 10th

Gilliland on Texas: “We’ve had some good runs at Texas before and I feel like our Frontline Ford F-150 is going to be really good. I feel like we have some unfinished business there. I’ve had some of my best races there, but never got the win to show for it. I think we are capable of getting a win this weekend, we just have to keep working as a team and try to avoid any mistakes.”

E1 Motorsports Inks Extension with NASCAR Driver Spencer Boyd

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Official Release
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Concord, NC (October 20, 2020) – E1 Motorsports, a performance parts distributor and customization shop located in Houston, TX, has signed on to be the primary sponsor of Spencer Boyd’s No. 20 truck at Texas Motor Speedway in 2020. The specialists in Audi, VW, Porsche, lifted trucks, Jeeps, and other luxury vehicles have been an associate sponsor of Boyd since August of this year.

“The work E1 does is second to none,” said Boyd. “If you’ve invested in a performance vehicle, you have to have it taken care of by professionals and that’s exactly who E1 is. I know I wouldn’t want hacks tuning my race cars so our commitment to excellence is a great match.”

Founded in 2014, E1 Motorsports initially began as a parts drop shipper for automotive enthusiasts on national auto forums and local Facebook groups. E1 Motorsports has grown into a 14,000 sq. ft. full-service automotive repair and customization facility. Offering Genuine, OE, OEM, and Aftermarket maintenance and repair parts, as well as high-performance accessories, there isn’t a need you have that E1 Motorsports can’t resolve.

Leadership at E1 Motorsports commented on the partnership with Boyd, “For us, it’s about exposure. We are expanding our shop and there is a lot of work being done on cars right now, so we want people know where to go for the real deal. We are enthusiasts taking care of other enthusiasts and want more people to be part of the E1 family.”

“Whether you’re spending the weekend at Houston Motorsports Park with your club or at some other local track for track days, E1 Motorsports will take care of you and help get those lap times better,” Boyd said. “I look forward to having this killer paint scheme debuting in E1’s home state of Texas and finishing out the season strong with a great race. It’s Young’s Motorsports home track too so we’re gonna get ol’ No. 20 tuned up for this one.”

With three races left to go in the 2020 NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series season, the No. 20 team is fighting to finish in the top 20 in driver points. The SpeedyCash.com 400 will be part of a double header with the NASCAR Cup Series and nationally televised on FS1 at 12:00pm ET on October 25, 2020. On your radio, listen to the Motor Racing Network or Sirius XM Radio Channel 90.

Shop online for your performance parts at www.e1motorsports.com.

Ford Performance Development Driver Chase Briscoe Continues Career Climb by Advancing to NASCAR Cup Series

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Official Release
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#98: Chase Briscoe, Biagi-DenBeste Racing, Ford Mustang Nutri Chomps/Ford
  • Ford Performance development driver Chase Briscoe has been promoted to the NASCAR Cup Series and will drive the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Mustang in the 2021 season.
  • Briscoe was signed as the program’s first driver in 2017 and since then has won 13 races in the NASCAR Truck and NASCAR XFINITY Series combined.
  • He will make his Cup Series debut on Feb. 14, 2021 in the Daytona 500.

DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 20, 2020 – When Ford Performance announced on Jan. 12, 2017 that Chase Briscoe had been signed as its first development driver, the hope was he would one day end up in the NASCAR Cup Series.

That day has arrived as Briscoe was announced the new driver of the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Mustang this morning, replacing Clint Bowyer, who is moving to the Fox broadcast booth next season.

“Even though Chase had limited experience running on pavement, we knew he had the natural talent to make the transition,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director, Ford Performance Motorsports.  “Our philosophy was to get him in as many different types of cars and trucks as we could while also exposing him to our technical tools like the simulator to get him as much experience as possible and it’s paid off.”

Briscoe, who by his own estimation had only 25 starts on pavement before being signed by Ford Performance, quickly took to his new environment that featured a variety of different disciplines.  He started by running a full season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for owner Brad Keselowski and scored his first win in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

The following year saw him run a hybrid schedule in which he split time in the NASCAR Xfinity and IMSA Continental Tire Challenge Series, driving GT4 Mustangs.  That experience helped hone his road racing skills and led to his first NASCAR Xfinity Series victory on the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval.

The last two years have seen him run full-time in Xfinity, where he’s produced 10 wins including Saturday’s race at Kansas Speedway that locked him into the Championship 4.  Briscoe’s nine victories in 2020 are not only the most among series drivers, but is also a Ford single-season record, breaking the previous high of eight set by Carl Edwards in 2011.

“We had high expectations for Chase and it’s gratifying not only to myself, but to all of our Ford Performance team members who helped get him to this position,” said Rushbrook.  “Nobody is harder on Chase than himself, but it’s that constant drive to win which has got him to this point and will continue to make him successful at the Cup level.  There’s still a lot of work to be done, including winning the Xfinity championship in a few weeks, but we couldn’t be prouder of how things have turned out so far.”

In storybook fashion, Briscoe will be driving the same car his childhood idol and now boss, Tony Stewart, drove during part of his NASCAR Hall of Fame career. 

“It’s so crazy and unbelievable how everything has worked out.  I grew up a diehard Tony Stewart fan and he’s always been my hero,” said Briscoe, who grew up in Mitchell, IN, just outside of Indianapolis.  “My family has always been a Ford family, and I’ll never forget when I first got signed by Ford.  I would always tell people that my dream was to drive for Stewart-Haas Racing and the icing on the cake would be if it was in the 14 car.  I can’t believe that’s really happening.”

He’ll make his debut on Feb. 14, 2021 in the season-opening Daytona 500.

CHASE BRISCOE DRIVER DEVELOPMENT TIMELINE

Jan. 12, 2017 – Ford Performance signs Chase Briscoe to development contract.

Feb. 24, 2017 – Makes his NASCAR debut driving the No. 29 Ford F-150 for owner Brad Keselowski at Daytona.

Nov. 17, 2017 – Wins his first NASCAR race, the Ford 200 Truck Series event at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Dec. 9, 2019 – Named NASCAR Truck Series most popular driver and winner of the Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award.

Jan. 26, 2018 – Competes in his first IMSA event driving a GT4 Mustang at Daytona.

July 18, 2018 – Wins the Eldora Dirt Derby in the NASCAR Truck Series.

Sept. 29, 2018 – Wins the inaugural NASCAR Xfinity Series race on the Charlotte Roval.

Oct. 17, 2020 – Wins his ninth NASCAR Xfinity Series race of the season, setting a Ford single-season record and automatically advancing to the Championship 4.

About Ford Performance
Ford’s racing program is part of the Ford Performance organization based in Dearborn, Mich. It is responsible for major racing operations globally, including NASCAR (Cup Series, Xfinity Series, Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series), IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, FIA World Rally Championship, Virgin Australia Supercars, Formula Drift, and NHRA Funny Car and sportsman drag racing. In addition, the organization also oversees the development of Ford’s racing engines, as well as the outreach programs with all Ford Clubs and Ford enthusiasts. For more information regarding Ford racing’s activities, please visit www.fordperformance.com, www.facebook/FordPerformance, Ford Performance on Instagram and @FordPerformance on Twitter.   

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs, electrified vehicles and Lincoln luxury vehicles, provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification, autonomous vehicles and mobility solutions. Ford employs approximately 202,000 people worldwide. For more information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.

Trans Am Sets Expanded 2021 Schedule

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Official Release
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More flexibility for competitors as Trans Am schedule includes 14-race weekends highlighted with NASCAR Cup Series race

Miami, Fla. (19 October 2020) – After the pandemic forced motorsport into a consolidated schedule for 2020, the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli has bounced back for the 2021 season.

One of the longest-running categories in motorsport, Trans Am is set to stage an expanded 14-race calendar that will see the National Championship featured at legendary venues across the United States and Canada as part of NASCAR and Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) events. Most of the 2021 schedule will continue to be live streamed on the Trans Am by Pirelli Racing App.

The 2021 schedule has grown to include the “Roval” circuits of Charlotte and Homestead Miami, and has been designed with the goal of cost containment for the robust paddock.

With five back-to-back weekends that will be geographically friendly to participants, as well as the option for competitors to drop two rounds from the championship, the 2021 ruleset and calendar reflects both a connection to Trans Am’s long history as well as some well-considered responses to current conditions. 

Adding flexibility and potential budget advantages for teams, drivers will be able to utilize their 12 best race finishes toward the championship standings.  Teams will have the opportunity to drop two races or drop their worst two finishes up to August 1, establishing the opportunity for teams to select the best schedule of races to fit their plans without losing any competitiveness in the championship fight. 

“After a season of unknowns, we wanted to give our participants stability with a cost-effective travel schedule that is geographically friendly and that would also allow for more racing in 2021 after having a shortened season in 2020,” explained Trans Am Race Company President John Clagett. “We also gave the teams the flexibility to choose the events they attend to help with their overall bottom line. There are some great events at the best venues in North America on this schedule.   We’ve still got a lot of racing to yet do in 2020, but the enthusiasm about next year is really strong.”

Trans Am has a history at Sebring that stretches back to the very first race in 1966. The series will continue that tradition again in 2021 on February 20-21 to kick off a back-to-back Florida run that will see Trans Am return to Homestead Miami Speedway (February 27-28) as part of the SVRA SpeedTour.

The Homestead round is the first for Trans Am since 2017, and the last time that Sebring and Homestead (2015) ran on back to back weekends, the two races generated 73 and 65 entries, respectively.

The multi-class series travels to Charlotte Motor Speedway (March 20-21), having raced at the track in a previous iteration of the Roval layout in 2000. From there, the series will move south to the always-competitive Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta (March 27-28) for another single tow race weekend with SVRA.

Following a short break, the National Championship will make a West Coast swing on consecutive weekends with visits to Sonoma Raceway (April 24-25) and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (May 1-2), with the dates also slated is the opening two events of the growing Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli West Coast Championship. 

Sonoma Raceway hosted the National Trans Am Championship 24 times, consecutively from 1969 through 2004; then returned to the schedule in 2018 as host for a West Coast Championship round.  The West Coast Championship has returned to Sonoma every year since, and played host for three rounds and two events this season.  The 2021 schedule will mark the first appearance for the National Championship at Sonoma since 2004.

Due to rescheduling, Trans Am drivers will be fighting for a title in the infamous Corkscrew during the 2020 season finale. In 2021, the SVRA SpeedTour event returns to its regularly scheduled first weekend of May slot featuring the Trans Am by Pirelli Championship and West Coast Championship series.

The series then heads back to the other side of the country for a fan favorite and traditional event the Trans Am SpeedTour Classic at Lime Rock Park over Memorial Day Weekend (May 29-31) with SVRA.

Another pair of back-to-back weekends kick off Trans Am’s summer tour, starting with Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course June 26-27. Trans Am will celebrate America’s independence at one of the most iconic road courses in the country, Road America, once again staging two 100-mile races as part of the NASCAR Cup Series event on its new date (July 3-4).

After a one weekend break, Trans Am will head North to Minnesota for a very special event.   For the second consecutive season, Trans Am will honor the late track co-owner and former part-time Trans Am driver Jed Copham for the Jed Copham Tribute Weekend July 17-18.   

Keeping true to the Trans American name, the final leg of the 2021 docket starts internationally in Canada at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park September 4-5. 

The 2021 visit to Canadian Tire Motorsports Park will be its 31st visit, and its first time there since 2014.  Trans Am raced at the venue 14 consecutive years (1984-97) and then six straight seasons (2009-2014) on the traditional Victoria Day weekend (start of summer) to now the end of summer holiday (Labour Day). 

The following weekend, the teams return to the iconic Watkins Glen International (September 11- 12) after missing the date in 2020 due to the pandemic. The three-week September sprint ends in Virginia International Raceway (September 25-26) with SVRA.

The teams and drivers break for October before the season finale at Circuit of the Americas November 6-7, which will host the season finale for both the Trans Am National and West Coast championships. 

The TA2® powered by AEM class will be enjoying one additional race, to be announced in the near future.

The full official 2021 Trans Am Series West Coast presented by Pirelli Championship schedule will be released at a later date. 

For more information on Trans Am, visit www.GoTransAm.com.

2021 Trans Am by Pirelli Schedule

February 20-21           Sebring International (w SVRA)

February 27-28           Homestead (w SVRA)

March 20-21               Charlotte Motor Speedway (w SVRA)

March 27-28               Michelin Road Atlanta (w SVRA)

April 24-25                  Sonoma Raceway (w SVRA)

May 1- 2                      Weather Tech Laguna Seca (w SVRA)

May 29-31                   Lime Rock Park (w SVRA)

June 26-27                  Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (w SVRA)

July 3-4                        Road America (w NASCAR)

July 17-18                    Brainerd International Raceway (w tbd)

September 4-5            Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (w tbd)

September 11- 12       Watkins Glen International (w SVRA)

September 25-26        Virginia International Raceway (w SVRA)

November 6-7             Circuit of the Americas (w SVRA)

TBA                            TA2® standalone race TBA street circuit

NASCAR Xfinity Series Power Rankings – Kansas II

By
Briar Starr
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Chase Briscoe, Daniel Hemric and Justin Haley restart during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway on October 17, 2020. Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images.

After a wet race at the Charlote Roval the week prior, the NASCAR Xfinity Series came to play at a dry, but windy Kansas Speedway this past Saturday night.

Chase Briscoe collected his ninth win of the year and now adds his name to the Championship 4 for the Xfinity Series when they go to Phoenix International Raceway in a couple of weeks. Briscoe dominated leading 159 of the scheduled 200 laps for his 11th career Xfinity Series win.

While Briscoe grabbed the win once again, a scary accident broke out in Turn 1 on Lap 174 when the No. 21 of Anthony Alfredo went upside down after contact with the No. 7 of Justin Allgaier who was on the apron at the time. Thankfully for Alfredo, he was able to walk away unscathed from the incident.

After the incident, the other highest finishing playoff driver was Ryan Sieg who finished third by playing pit strategy and pitting for fresh tires.

Now, we’ll take a look at how some of the other Xfinity Series drivers fared after the Kansas Lottery 300.

  1. Chase Briscoe – Briscoe kept his winning streak alive, gaining his ninth of the year after sweeping both stages Saturday. He led a race-high of 159 laps and now can breathe a little bit easier for the next couple of weeks as he is now locked into the championship event. Briscoe will certainly be a favorite for the title once that time comes.

    Previous Week Ranking – First
  2. Brandon Jones – Jones had some good news prior to the event. It was announced by the Joe Gibbs Racing team that he would return to the No. 19 Toyota for the 2021 Xfinity Series season. Jones took home his 17th Top 10 of the year after placing in the ninth position. He also placed second in both stages.

    Previous Week Ranking – Not Ranked
  3. Ryan Sieg – Sieg finished third after leading 19 laps and earned his seventh top five of the 2020 season. The Georgian finished eighth in both stages in addition to his efforts on Saturday night.

    Previous Week Ranking – Not Ranked
  4. Justin Haley – Haley bounced back this week to a fourth-place finish following his forgettable Roval outing of 35th due to a crash. The Kaulig driver placed 10th in Stage 1 but is fifth in the standings, one position below the cut line. Stage victories at Texas and Martinsville can certainly help things along the way to move him into the Championship 4.

    Previous Week Ranking – Not Ranked
  5. Ross Chastain – While 12th certainly wasn’t the night Chastain had hoped for, the finish could have been much worse considering he was involved in two accidents. One occurred on Lap 16 and the other on Lap 169. On the Lap 169 accident, the Floridan received right-rear bumper damage to the No. 10 machine. Fortunately for Chastain, he was able to save the car from more damage and a potentially disastrous points day. Chastain also collected stage finishes of fifth in Stage 1 and 2.

Fell Out

  1. Austin Cindric – Cindric was involved in an accident with Noah Gragson on the backstretch just 16 laps into the race. The accident ultimately hurt the Team Penske drivers’ chances as Cindric came home in the 28th position, several laps down.

    Previous Week Ranking – Fifth
  2. Noah Gragson – Gragson’s last-place result was the outcome after the early accident. Moving forward, Gragson will have to win in order to make those points to be a part of the Championship 4.

    Previous Week Ranking – Second
  3. Alex Labbe – A 23rd place finish was all Labbe could do one week following his fourth-place finish at the ROVAL.

    Previous Week Ranking – Fourth

NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Kansas

By
Jeffrey Boswell
-
Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on October 18, 2020 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Joey Logano: Logano held off Kevin Harvick down the stretch to win at Kansas and punch his ticket to the championship round at Phoenix.

“Harvick was looming in my rear-view mirror for the last 40 laps,” Logano said. “But I didn’t even notice, because I was looking ahead to Phoenix. And while the heat is on the rest of the playoff field, I’ll be able to chill.”

2. Kevin Harvick: Harvick finished second at Kansas.

“I just couldn’t find my way around Joey Logano,” Harvick said. “He made passing almost impossible, as did NASCAR’s rules package. It’s almost like the ‘fix’ was in. Maybe the ‘fix’ will be this offseason, when NASCAR can hopefully change the rules to make racing at intermediate tracks more watchable.”

3. Chase Elliott: Elliott finished sixth at Kansas and now finds himself below the playoff cutoff line.

“We’re not hitting the panic button just yet,” Elliott said. “But we are familiarizing ourselves with its whereabouts.”

4. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin brushed the wall early at Kansas and eventually finished 15th.

“It’s never a good time to hit the wall,” Hamlin said, “especially in the middle of the NASCAR playoffs. In my defense, it was ‘crunch’ time.”

5. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski came home fourth at Kansas as Penske Racing teammate Joey Logano took the win.

“Joey drove a heck of a race,” Keselowski said. “Now, he’s sitting pretty. He’s also sitting in the driver’s seat, as well as the catbird seat.”

6. Alex Bowman: Bowman finished third in the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas.

“Not many people expected me to make it to the Round Of 8,” Bowman said. “But I proved I belong. And unless I do something big in Texas, it won’t ‘be long’ before I’m out of the playoffs.”

7. Martin Truex, Jr.: Truex finished ninth at Kansas.

“We need a win in the worst way,” Truex said. “So we have to put it all on the line. And, fitting of the state of Texas, we’re going there with guns blazing.”

8. Aric Almirola: Almirola finished 13th at Kansas, and will need a win in either of the next two races to advance.

“Kyle Larson has filed for reinstatement,” Almirola said. “I think NASCAR will reinstate him, and a top team will sign him, to probably the most ‘carefully worded’ contract in the sport’s history.”

9. Kyle Busch: Busch finished fifth in the Hollywood Casino 400.

“Since I’m out of championship contention,” Busch said, “I’m just going through the motions. Heck, I’d rather not even run the last three races. Honestly, I don’t think anyone would notice if I wasn’t there, especially anyone standing in Victory Lane.”

10. Kurt Busch: Busch’s engine expired on Lap 193 at Kansas and he finished 38th.

“My race came to a halt real quick,” Busch said. “I went from about 750 horsepower to no horsepower. So, ‘Whoa‘ is me.”

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