Toyota Racing – Martin Truex Jr.
NASCAR Cup Series Quotes

CONCORD, North Carolina (October 8, 2020) – Joe Gibbs Racing driver Martin Truex Jr. was made available to media via videoconference in advance of the race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course:

MARTIN TRUEX JR., No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

Would you say this season is one of the toughest you have ever competed for?

“I would say that they are all tough. None of them have been easy for sure. It’s definitely been the most unique. There’s been a lot of things different this year, things that we have not had to do before – things new to all of us, I guess. I don’t know if it’s any more difficult, but definitely a lot different season.”

How does a light mist affect the race on Sunday?

“Rain, I don’t know. I’ve never raced in the rain or in the wet, I guess you would call it. With the Roval being the track that it is, I don’t know how that’s going to look. It’s already tough enough to stay on the track and make it to the end of that one, so I think if you make it to the wet, it’s going to be pretty wild. I’ve heard – I don’t have any rain experience as I’ve mentioned – but my crew chief (James Small) does. He said that when the PJ1 gets wet it’s like ice, and you can’t even race on it so I will be interested to see what happens when we get up on the oval if it’s wet. But honestly, strategy wise, there’s only so much you can do looking at the weather, for me, it’s just asking questions to the guys that have raced in the wet and be as prepared as I can if it comes to that.”

How good of a road course racer do you think you are? How do you feel about having to race on six of them next season?

“I really enjoy the road courses and I feel like they have been good for me. I feel like we are always near the front, always have a chance. So, from that point it’s fun, exciting to go to those races. I’m really looking forward to the new road courses next year on the schedule. Going to new places is always fun, but to me road courses are enjoyable. It’s fun to learn new ones and try to figure them out quickly. This season, for instance, going to the Daytona Road Course with very limited experience on that one, and not having practice was a unique challenge but it was a lot of fun. I felt like we had a chance to win that one, so I’m looking forward to all of the new road courses to come. It’s going to be fun to figure them out.”

Do you feel like something great is about to happen with the upcoming tracks and schedule?

“Yeah, I do feel that way to be honest. We’ve had a really strong year, obviously, not the amount of wins we would like to have but I feel like we are right there on the cusp or winning a couple in a row. Yeah, I think we are ready to roll. We will get through the Roval this weekend. We’ve got some great tracks coming up and places I know we can go and win at. It’s that time of the year that we need to win. We need to make something big happen, and I think that we are ready to make it happen.”

How much has Kansas changed?

“I think when they first repaved it. It took a little bit for it to come in, but I think every year since – really, I think the last five years or so, it’s been really good as far as the high side coming in. You can run all over it. It’s really been a fun track. It’s been a good place to race. Especially with the package we have now. With these cars, we need places that we can move around because it’s really, really hard to follow a guy closely and make time. So, having those options to move around and get some clean air on your car, be able to work different lanes makes the racing a lot of fun for us behind the wheel. Kansas has become a track that we can do that at.”

Does the approach or strategy change in the next round compared to the first two rounds?

“No, I don’t think so. The strategy is every weekend you show up to the track to go out and win, and if you can’t win, you get the best finish that you can get. I don’t think strategy ever really changes in racing. Certainly, there is times that you may have to pull some strategy during a race to try to do something, but looking to the next few races, I’m looking forward to trying to win a couple of them. Really, if we can just make it through this weekend and win Kansas we will be in fine shape.”

Do you feel like it’s going to take a win in the Round of 8 to advance to the Final Four?

“No, I don’t think so.”

# # #

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. and North America for more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands. During that time, Toyota has created a tremendous value chain as our teams have contributed to world-class design, engineering, and assembly of more than 40 million cars and trucks in North America, where we have 14 manufacturing plants, 15 including our joint venture in Alabama (10 in the U.S.), and directly employ more than 47,000 people (over 36,000 in the U.S.). Our 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.) sold nearly 2.8 million cars and trucks (nearly 2.4 million in the U.S.) in 2019.

Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.

FORD PERFORMANCE MEDIA AVAILABILITY

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2020

Clint Bowyer comes into this weekend’s Round of 12 finale at the Charlotte Roval in need of a victory as he sits 11th in the playoff standings, trailing Joey Logano by 38 points for the final transfer position. Bowyer took part in a NASCAR Zoom call this afternoon to talk about his situation.

CLINT BOWYER, No. 14 Rush Truck Centers Ford Mustang — WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE FRIENDS AND FAMILY AT KANSAS THIS WEEKEND. “Being able to have your family and friends there is everything. It’s not fun to do without people that make your life what it is, and forever it’s always been that way. I’m tired of Covid. I think we all are, but we’re doing what we have to do. We’re all doing what we have to do, whether it’s attached to racing, sports or life in general you’re doing what you’ve got to do to survive. I’m looking forward to going back home. It’s such a special place for me with family and friends there and fans to watch us do what we do. Our sport is not what it is without fans. I mean, obviously television does a phenomenal job covering our sport, but fans at the track in real life in front of you are what this sport was founded on and ultimately what’s gonna continue it on through the ages. This weekend, I’m looking forward to it. I don’t know if you’ve seen the forecast, but there’s a damn hurricane coming. I said hurricane, so it’s probably more than likely gonna be a washout. Hopefully, it will literally wash enough that it floods somehow. I’m gonna sneak in there and put a plug in the tunnel so it’ll just flood and that way we can’t race until Monday when the sun is out. I think if it does rain, boy, all hell is gonna break loose. There’s a lot of unknowns. I can say that — unknowns for all the above. Look out if it rains.”

IF THINGS DON’T WORK OUT THIS WEEKEND, HOW WILL YOU EVALUATE THE SEASON? “I would say if we finish second, there’s a chance we may get in. If you finish second, more than likely you’re gonna add stage points to it and somebody is gonna have trouble. You’ve got to look at this thing as an opportunity and that’s what I’m looking at. I’ll take second. I want to win. It would be way easier to win, but, honestly, you’re only going one weekend anyway. You want to win one of these first ones of these three as you go through the playoffs. That’s what makes life easy. Like Kurt Busch did, winning that first race — off into the sunset — but I’ll take a Roval victory.”

IF YOU DON’T, HOW WILL YOU TAKE THIS YEAR? “I’m a racer. You’re going into race weekend. I ain’t talking about what ifs if it doesn’t happen. It’s gotta happen. It’s gotta happen now. It’s gotta happen this weekend. Covid sucks. 2020 hasn’t been much fun for anybody. This season has been tough. It’s been tough in so many different ways — on the teams, on everybody. It’s hard to honestly, fully — here’s the thing, and I just believe this — as it’s gotten better, and I don’t believe just because of my experience with it, but the proof is in the pudding — when you go out there and compete on a weekend you show up as a driver and you bring your stuff to the car. You show up a couple hours before the race, you get in it and you race as hard as you can, and go home. You try to make the best decisions you possibly can to make the best out of the situation. If you have a good day, you kind of leave thinking, ‘Man, I don’t know. I didn’t have much to do with the outcome other than just that moment.’ So much of any success in life has to do with the preparation beforehand, so it’s difficult. When you show up to the racetrack — literally our preparation for the races is Zoom meetings. I got in the simulator to prepare. I went down to Ford and spent some time in the simulator. I did the most I could, but you’re going to these tracks with a lot of guesswork on the table still. Sometimes you hit it and sometimes you don’t, so when you hit it kind of leave happy and obviously excited, but you’re like, ‘Yeah, I don’t know. Maybe.’ If you don’t hit it and you struggle that weekend, you kind of leave going, ‘Yeah, I don’t know. We’d have been way better off we had some time to dissect some of these things, AB some of these situations in a practice session or something else,’ but that’s not the case anymore. So I don’t want to say it’s an asterisk beside the year. It’s not that far, but I think the proof is in the pudding when you look at our results, going back to some of these tracks for the second time, using that first race as a somewhat of a practice session because that’s all we have. Look at Kyle Busch. Look at his results since he’s come back to these races for the second time. He’s been a lot better off and everybody is gonna have that same scenario, so it’s been a challenging year to say the least.”

WE HAVEN’T HEARD ANYTHING ON THE 14 FOR NEXT YEAR. HAVE YOU STARTED TALKING TO ANYBODY ELSE OUTSIDE OF STEWART-HAAS? “I talked to my wife the other night. It’s obviously time to begin those talks and Casey has been working on that stuff, but, honestly, look at the time. The timing is a crunch right now for me. I mean, it’s all about trying to get the most out of every single weekend to get through the playoffs, so, honestly, you asked me if I’ve been talking, no, I ain’t been talking. You’re trying to do the things you can do and, for me, the things that I’m good at is obviously doing the best I can do in that race car, but working with partners and trying to keep them on board. Times are not only tough for us with racing and everything else, they’re tough for companies, a lot of companies out there, so trying to keep them involved — figuring out where that is, how that stacks up, how you can help them help you and those are the conversations that I’m good at the kind of relations that I try to have on a daily basis with your partners and everything else regardless of your future, whether you go or whether you stay.”

HOW DO YOU ATTACK THE ROVAL IF IT’S WET? “Dude, I don’t know. I don’t know. that anybody knows. I was asking somebody just a couple days ago I’m like, ‘What do you do’ when it was becoming pretty apparent that we’re gonna have some rain, some moisture on our hands it’s like, ‘All right, do you do anything different with the setup?’ These are honest questions. Our sport as far as I’m concerned, I ran a race up in Montreal in Canada somewhere and we ran up there in the rain. I remember that XFINITY race, but it became too much. It was a flood. I remember literally hydroplaning across the infield and being like, ‘Hey, man. We’re not racing anymore. We’re surviving. What is this?’ I do remember that a little bit. I remember the biggest challenge of all of it was literally seeing. It wasn’t attacking the track or trying to figure out grip levels or setups or whatever else, it was flat-out just visually being able to see where you’re going. I think it was Carl Edwards. I’m not 100 percent sure, but I’ll never forget being under caution and you couldn’t see the car in front of you anymore and I think it was Carl, but don’t hold me to that — smoked the car in front of him and I think it ended their day, all under caution because you couldn’t even see him. That is going to be on everybody’s radar. All of our guys are trying to figure out what product works. Does Rain-X work? How good the windshield wipers work. Those are just things that, yes, our manufacturers can probably help with that stuff, but there are different tools. We don’t have glass windshields. We have Lexan windshields. There’s just so many different things that play into that. Defrosters and things like that, trying to not fog up. There’s just a lot of new things that are on the conversation table this week in preparation for this race to say the least.”

WHY ARE YOU SO GOOD WHEN YOUR BACK IS UP AGAINST THE WALL? “Honestly, I think it keeps me sharp, it keeps you focused on it, your eye on the ball. It doesn’t let you wander and lose focus and get your mind on something else. There is no time for that. I hate to say it, but I like being scared. It’s almost healthy for me. I didn’t realize it until I’ve been doing this a long time and usually when you’re on that bubble or something like that we’ve been able, for the most part, to prevail because you’re back is up against the wall and you’re out of options and there are no excuses or anything else. You just got to go out and get the job done. That’s always kind of been a healthy environment for me.”

YOUR AVERAGE FINISH IS 3.5 AT THE ROVAL, WHICH IS THIRD-BEST. “Pretty hard to believe that a 3.5 is third-best. My God. I do remember this damn 9 car winning last year off of his own caution. I’ll never forget that. Did he have us covered? There’s no question. He had the race won, but then he gave it up and then his very caution ended up winning him the race again, so anything can happen at the Roval. There’s no question about it.”

WHAT IS SILLY SEASON LIKE NOW COMPARED TO WHEN YOU FIRST GOT IN THE SPORT? “It’s totally different. I just said it, it’s unfortunate. It’s unfortunate for a lot of people involved. That’s the way it is. Unfortunately, it’s gonna happen every year. That’s where I think we’re evolving to is the long-term deals you’re just not able to get done anymore. I’ll never forget, when I went to RCR I went in and my first Cup sponsor there was a stack, it was literally a stack of those sponsors begging to get into the sport that you really chose which one worked best for your organization or your lifestyle, which one possibly could last longer — have longer legs. That’s what made up your mind. Yeah, it was a long-term, three-year deal. You didn’t want anything longer than that for selfish reasons. Now, it’s completely opposite. Now, no partner needs to be a long-term deal because that’s just the environment that we’re in. It’s the demand. We owe it all to ourselves to work hard and you guys are such a big part of that. You do such a great job of covering our sport and making us superstars. It doesn’t happen without you guys and your hard work of selling our story of NASCAR and the characters within. Characters, we drivers have to do their part. When I came into this sport there were a lot of characters. There were a lot of superstars and they did a good job of when we came in of handing us the reins to a gold mine and all of us drivers have to do a good job of working hard to make sure that we hand over those reins to these kids coming through — that they have a great opportunity for them and their families just like we did.”

Virtual Event Recognizes 10 Diversity Trailblazers Across the NASCAR Industry

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (October 8, 2020) – NASCAR will host the 13^th annual NASCAR Drive for Diversity Awards today in celebration of the sport’s diversity and inclusion trailblazers. A special virtual ceremony will honor industry members whose pioneering efforts are making a difference both on and off the racetrack.

NASCAR executives, drivers, pit crew members, partners and other industry leaders will gather virtually to recognize the contributions of 10 deserving awardees who are setting an example by advocating for diversity and inclusion across the NASCAR industry.

“As we continue in our mission to enhance diversity across this great sport, we are inspired by the stories and efforts of so many leaders within the industry who are setting positive examples and driving meaningful change,” said NASCAR President Steve Phelps. “We are proud to recognize these 10 individuals and organizations whose hard work and accomplishments are having a profound impact and contributing to a more diverse and inclusive NASCAR.”

The NASCAR Drive for Diversity Awards are traditionally held in the spring and recognize winners for their efforts and contributions the previous year. The 2020 event, postponed due to the impact of COVID-19, will mark the first live-stream of the awards.

The 2020 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Award recipients are as follows:

Diverse Driver Award: Hailie Deegan, DGR-Crosley – Deegan became the first female to win a race in the former NASCAR West Series and the first female to earn Rookie of the Year (2018). Her third-place finish among 2019 championship standings was the highest for a female driver in series history. In the ARCA Menards Series this season, Deegan has already matched the highest finish in a race by a female (second, twice) and currently leads the series’ Bounty Rookie of the Year standings. Off the track, Deegan is constantly engaging with fans on social media to grow her following and overall brand.

Young Racer Award: Isabella Robusto, Rev Racing – Robusto is in her fourth season with Rev Racing and the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program. She competed as a youth driver in the Legends division during her first three seasons with the team. Robusto currently competes full-time in a Late Model Stock car. She uses her voice and position to support The NASCAR Foundation, most recently by participating in the #GivingTuesdayNow campaign to bring awareness for efforts to help children dealing with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Crew Member Award: Brehanna Daniels, Independent Contractor – Daniels made history in 2019 when she became the first female African-American graduate of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Pit Crew Development Program to pit in the DAYTONA 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Daniels currently works with aspiring pit crew members as a mentor and coach helping them to pursue their career dreams.  Daniels has been featured on national morning shows and The Titan Games on NBC.

Outstanding Intern Award: Monon Rahman, Rick Ware Racing – Rahman was a member of the 2019 NASCAR Diversity Internship Program class working at the NASCAR Research & Development Center in Concord, N.C. Upon completing his internship, he was hired as lead engineer at Rick Ware Racing working on the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and IMSA teams. Monon graduated from the University of Kentucky at age 19 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Partner Award: The Coca-Cola Company – In 2019, Coca-Cola brought together a collective of industry partners to establish Daniel’s Amigos, a fan-facing initiative to welcome new fans into NASCAR by connecting around shared cultural passion points of sports, racing, music, family, food and togetherness. This initiative strives to create deep and meaningful at-track experiences to increase the sport’s connection and interest within the Hispanic community.

Institution Award: Urban Chamber of Commerce, Las Vegas – The Urban Chamber of Commerce in Las Vegas is being recognized for its efforts to help educate the local community about NASCAR and its diversity and inclusion initiatives. Urban Chamber members helped turn their memorable experience during a 2018 NASCAR Cup Series race – part of a NASCAR Opinion Leader Initiative activation at Las Vegas Motor Speedway – into a three-day outreach event surrounding the race weekend a year later.

Industry Ambassador Award: Jennifer Satterfield-Siegel, Rev Racing – Satterfield-Siegel is the first African-American female team owner and sponsor in the NASCAR Touring Series. She and her husband, Max Siegel, co-own and manage Rev Racing. An Indianapolis native, Satterfield-Siegel has made a national impact with her involvement in the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program.

National Series Driver Award: Jimmie Johnson, Hendrick Motorsports – On the track, Johnson is known as a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, tying NASCAR Hall of Famers Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt. He has also spent his career pursuing excellence off the racetrack as a philanthropist, triathlete, businessman and father. More than a decade ago, Jimmie and his wife established the Jimmie Johnson Foundation which has impacted diverse youth and communities through $12 million in support to various organizations.

Track Award: World Wide Technology Raceway (WWT)– The raceway partnered on a youth outreach program with the Jackie Joyner Kersee Foundation (JJK), NASCAR Diversity & Inclusion and NASCAR Acceleration Nation. During the summer of 2018, WWT Raceway personnel visited JJK’s center along with NASCAR drivers, and have also assisted with an iRacing program at JJK. More than 120 children and their families were treated to a day at the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series race.

Team Award: Richard Childress Racing (RCR) – Richard Childress Racing is a team that engages drivers, manufacturers and sponsors to effectively reach fans on and off the track in support of NASCAR’s diversity and inclusion goals. Several pit crew members who have trained with the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Pit Crew Development Program now pit for RCR. Additionally, the team recently named its first woman vice president and currently has a total of four women serving in director-level or higher roles within the marketing and communications departments.

The NASCAR Cup Series’ Bank of America ROVAL 400 will be broadcast live from Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course on Sunday, October 11 at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

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 Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series™), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour), one local grassroots series and three international 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, Americrown Service 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’).

Inductees Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Red Farmer, the late Mike Stefanik and Landmark Award recipient Ralph Seagraves to be honored in ceremony slated for 2022

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (October 8, 2020) — The NASCAR Hall of Fame announced today that it will postpone the Induction Ceremony and Induction Week events for the Class of 2021. The decision was made in partnership with NASCAR after very thorough and thoughtful conversations regarding how best to plan and execute one of the sport’s most cherished moments while facing the ongoing uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Induction Ceremony, which was set to take place on Friday, February 5, 2021, is now anticipated for early 2022. The Class of 2021 consists of Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Red Farmer, the late Mike Stefanik and Landmark Award recipient Ralph Seagraves.

“Without question, the safety of our inductees, our guests and our staff is the highest priority for us,” said Winston Kelley, NASCAR Hall of Fame Executive Director. “The ongoing public health crisis prohibits our ability to plan for and celebrate these honorees’ landmark achievements as originally scheduled to the fullest extent – with their families, friends and fans present – and in a manner that’s representative of their incredible accomplishments in NASCAR and their contributions to the sport.”

The celebration annually draws fans, members and visitors from across the country to a variety of special events throughout the week at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, leading up to the official Induction Dinner and Ceremony. In addition to class Inductees and the Landmark Award recipient, the Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Excellence is also recognized during the week’s events.

It is anticipated that the new date for the Class of 2021 Induction Ceremony and Induction Week events will be announced sometime in summer 2021. In addition, events celebrating both the class of 2020 and 2021 are hopeful for later in 2021.

The Class of 2020 exhibit in the museum’s Hall of Honor will remain on display until the Class of 2021 is enshrined in 2022. The NASCAR Hall of Fame recently reopened its doors to the public with enhanced safety measures following six months of closure due to COVID-19 restrictions.

To learn more about the NASCAR Hall of Fame, the Class of 2021 and current exhibits visit nascarhall.com.

About the NASCAR Hall of Fame
Located in Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina, the NASCAR Hall of Fame is an interactive, entertainment attraction honoring the history and heritage of NASCAR. The high-tech venue, designed to educate and entertain race fans and non-fans alike, includes artifacts, hands-on exhibits, a 278-person state-of-the-art theater, Hall of Honor, Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant, NASCAR Hall of Fame Gear Shop and NASCAR Productions-operated broadcast studio. Opened on May 11, 2010, the NASCAR Hall of Fame is owned by the City of Charlotte, licensed by NASCAR and operated by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority. For more information, visit nascarhall.com.

CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY (2.28-MILE ROAD COURSE)
LOCATION: CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA
EVENT: NASCAR CUP SERIES (RACE 32 OF 36)
TUNE IN: 2:30 P.M. ET, SUNDAY, OCT. 11 (NBC/PRN/SIRIUSXM)

Chase Elliott
No. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE
Driver Chase Elliott Hometown Dawsonville, Georgia
Age 24 Resides Dawsonville, Georgia

2020 Season
4th in standings
31 starts
2 wins
1 pole position
12 top-five finishes
18 top-10 finishes
783 laps led

Career
180 starts
8 wins
9 pole positions
56 top-five finishes
92 top-10 finishes
2,627 laps led

Track Career
2 starts
1 win
0 pole positions
1 top-five finish
2 top-10 finishes
35 laps led

WHITE FLAG ON ROUND OF 12: Sunday will set the field for the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. Chase Elliott currently sits fourth in the driver rankings with a 44-point advantage over ninth place. The No. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS driver would advance to the Round of 8 by earning 32 points and being ahead of the sixth winless driver if there is a win by a playoff driver outside the top eight. If there is a repeat winner (Kurt Busch or Denny Hamlin), Elliott would clinch with 12 points and by scoring above the seventh winless driver in the standings.

ONE TO 1,000: Since Elliott’s first full-time NASCAR Cup Series season in 2016, he has a led a total of 999 laps during the NASCAR playoffs. If the Dawsonville, Georgia, native leads one lap this weekend at the Charlotte road course, he will reach the 1,000-lap mark. During the playoffs this season, he has led a total of 253 laps, his most ever through the first five races of the postseason.

NAPA KNOW HOW: On Sunday at Charlotte, the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE will showcase the familiar blue, white and yellow NAPA AUTO PARTS paint scheme. The Atlanta-based company is serving as majority sponsor for Elliott and the No. 9 team for a total of 26 NASCAR Cup Series races this season. In February, it was announced that NAPA AUTO PARTS and Hendrick Motorsports will continue their partnership for another two seasons through 2022. Click here to read the full release.

PLAYOFF STATS: As the NASCAR playoffs approach the end of the Round of 12, Elliott has garnered the most stage points (64) and holds the best average running position (5.53) in the five playoff races. He has also collected the second-most points (190) and led the third-most laps (253).

ROAD-RACE RECORD: In August, Elliott scored his third consecutive road-course victory at the DAYTONA Road Course, matching NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart’s streak in 2004-2005. Four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon holds the record for most consecutive road-course wins with six (1997-2000).

ROAD WARRIOR: Elliott, driver of the No. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, is set to make his 12th Cup Series start on a road course this weekend. On road courses, he is tied with Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. for the most wins (four) of active drivers and has garnered five top-five finishes, seven top-10s and a total of 213 laps led. He has led 204 laps since the beginning of 2018, the most of all drivers, and holds the best overall average finish (9.6) on road courses of active drivers.

ROVAL REPEAT: On Sunday at Charlotte, Elliott and the No. 9 team look to become the first back-to-back winners at the roval. Last season, Elliott led a race-high 35 laps and overcame mid-event trouble to retake the lead on lap 65, capture his sixth career NASCAR Cup Series win and clinch his spot in the next round of the playoffs. He is tied with Clint Bowyer for the second-highest average finish at the roval (3.5) behind Hendrick Motorsports teammate Alex Bowman (3.0).

GOING FOR FIVE: No. 9 crew chief Alan Gustafson currently leads all active crew chiefs with four road-course wins: Watkins Glen in 2018 and 2019, the Charlotte roval in 2019, and the DAYTONA Road Course in 2020.

SEASON STATS: In 2020, Elliott has delivered career bests in laps led (783), top-five finishes (12), top-10s (18), stage points (264) and stage wins (eight) through 31 starts in a season. His two wins and three runner-up results are the second most for him at the 31-race mark.

GIVE A HOOT: During the month of October, the Chase Elliott online store will donate $5 from every pink item purchased to the Hooters Give a Hoot program benefiting the V Foundation to support the fight against breast cancer. Click here to shop.

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William Byron
No. 24 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE
Driver William Byron Hometown Charlotte, North Carolina
Age 22 Resides Charlotte, North Carolina

2020 Season
14th in standings
31 starts
1 win
0 pole positions
4 top-five finishes
11 top-10 finishes
110 laps led

Career
103 starts
1 win
5 pole positions
9 top-five finishes
28 top-10 finishes
404 laps led

Track Career
2 starts
0 wins
1 pole position
0 top-five finishes
1 top-10 finish
23 laps led

‘DEGA DETERMINATION: Despite starting from the 21st position in Sunday’s race at Talladega Superspeedway, William Byron kept his No. 24 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE out of trouble, putting himself in contention to capture his second career NASCAR Cup Series win. Lining up fifth for the third attempt at NASCAR overtime, Byron maneuvered his way through traffic and made a pass for the lead coming out of turn four. However, the No. 21 car forced him below the yellow line, halting Byron’s momentum. He ultimately crossed the finish line in the fourth position – a personal-best Cup Series finish at the track.

ROAD-COURSE RINGER?: With two previous appearances at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s roval, Byron is prepared for his third start at the 2.28-mile course. In his last two showings there, the 22-year-old driver had strong runs. While a flat tire derailed his race in 2018, Byron rebounded to capture the pole in 2019 and raced to a sixth-place finish. However, Byron’s road-course success extends further than just at his hometown track. The Charlotte, North Carolina, native is tied for the third-longest streak of top-10 finishes on road courses with two: the Charlotte roval in 2019 and the DAYTONA Road Course in 2020. He has also led the fifth-most laps (44) on a road course since the beginning of 2018.

HOMETOWN FAVORITE: Byron is the only active NASCAR Cup Series driver who calls Charlotte his hometown. After visiting the U.S. Legend Cars International headquarters in Harrisburg, North Carolina, with his father in 2012, Byron found himself behind the wheel for the first time the next year competing in the Young Lion Division. He won an incredible 33 of his 69 legend car events in 2013 and went on to lock up the U.S. Legend Young Lions National championship and the Thursday Thunder Young Lion championship at Atlanta Motor Speedway. In 2014, he progressed to the Legend Car Pro Division and signed with the JR Motorsports developmental program. From that point on, Byron hasn’t slowed down, quickly climbing the NASCAR national series ranks before making his Cup Series debut in 2018.

IT’S A CAROLINA THING: In addition to Byron, four other members of the No. 24 team are North Carolina natives who claim Charlotte Motor Speedway as their NASCAR Cup Series home track. Growing up just minutes from the venue, rear-tire changer Orane Ossowski was raised in Concord. Interior specialist Jacob Bowman (Pilot Mountain), fueler Landon Walker (North Wilkesboro) and jackman Spencer Bishop (Pinehurst) all grew up within a 100-mile radius of the Charlotte-based track.

CHECKING THE BOXES: Sunday’s race at the Charlotte roval marks the final track of five where crew chief Chad Knaus has yet to claim a victory on the current NASCAR Cup Series schedule. While Sunday marks only the third Cup Series race at the 2.28-mile course, Knaus came close to capturing the win in the inaugural event in 2018 with Jimmie Johnson, but a next-to-last corner move for the win by the No. 48 car resulted in a spin, ultimately leaving the team with an eighth-place finish. Knaus followed up in 2019 with Byron and the No. 24 team by sitting on the pole and racing to a sixth-place finish.

HENDRICKCARS.COM TAKE TWO: After a near-win last Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway, HendrickCars.com will once again be on board Byron’s No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE for the Charlotte roval. The blue and white scheme pays homage to Ricky Hendrick, son of car owner Rick Hendrick, who drove a similar design in both the Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series and in the Xfinity Series. Brian Vickers also piloted the scheme when he won the 2003 Xfinity Series championship. Byron will don the HendrickCars.com colors in one more race in 2020: Kansas Speedway on Oct. 18. Hendrick Automotive Group has more than 100 dealership locations in 14 states and 27,000 cars to choose from, which can be browsed at HendrickCars.com. It also offers same-day service and maintenance from factory-certified technicians, which can be scheduled online.

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Jimmie Johnson
No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE
Driver Jimmie Johnson Hometown El Cajon, California
Age 45 Resides Charlotte, North Carolina

2020 Season
15th in standings
30 starts
0 wins
0 pole positions
4 top-five finishes
9 top-10 finishes
103 laps led

Career
681 starts
83 wins
36 pole positions
231 top-five finishes
373 top-10 finishes
18,937 laps led

Track Career
2 starts
0 wins
0 pole positions
0 top-five finishes
2 top-10 finishes
0 laps led

SPIN FOR THE WIN: Although Jimmie Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, is the all-time winningest driver at the Charlotte Motor Speedway oval, he is seeking his first victory on the track’s roval, where he has two top-10 finishes. Each roval race has proven to be entertaining, with one of the more notable finishes coming in the inaugural event in 2018 when Johnson challenged Martin Truex Jr. on the final lap for the lead. Johnson came off turn four to attempt a pass but ended up making contact and causing both cars to spin on the frontstretch. The third-place car took the win and Johnson was eliminated from playoff contention despite an eighth-place finish.

STREAKING: Johnson is in a four-way tie for third-longest top-10 streak on a road course with two in a row. Earlier this season, Johnson placed fourth at the DAYTONA Road Course after starting 11th. His career stats are stellar for road courses as Johnson has an average start of fifth and average finish of 8.5.

‘DEGA-CATION: Last weekend, the Alabama State Parks and Talladega Superspeedway recognized seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Johnson with the dedication of a special cycling route from Talladega Superspeedway to Cheaha State Park, the highest point in Alabama. It will be called “Jimmie Johnson’s Trek to Mt. Cheaha.”

CBS THIS MORNING: Johnson will appear on “CBS This Morning” on Thursday, Oct. 8 at 8:30 a.m. ET with author and journalist Gayle King to discuss a variety of topics. The interview will air live with King, who is also the editor-at-large for “O, The Oprah Magazine.”

JUST FIVE TO GO: With five races remaining in 2020, Johnson still aims to move up on the all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins list. Currently, he has the most of all active drivers, and his next trip to victory lane will be his 84th. He secured his 83rd points-paying win in June 2017 to tie NASCAR Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough for sixth on the list. An 84th would tie Hall of Famers Darrell Waltrip and Bobby Allison for fourth. Johnson is currently 10 wins behind former teammate and NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon, who has 93 victories and is third all-time.

COUNTDOWN TO GREEN: Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Johnson and teammate Alex Bowman virtually sat down with NBC’s Mike Tirico for an in-depth discussion about Bowman’s transition to the No. 48 team in 2021 and Johnson’s final full-time season. The interview will air Sunday on NBC’s “Countdown to Green” Charlotte pre-race show at 2 p.m. ET.

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Alex Bowman
No. 88 Valvoline Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE ​
Driver Alex Bowman Hometown Tucson, Arizona
Age 27 Resides Concord, North Carolina

2020 Season
7th in standings
31 starts
1 win
0 pole positions
4 top-five finishes
11 top-10 finishes
394 laps led

Career
184 starts
2 wins
2 pole positions
14 top-five finishes
37 top-10 finishes
868 laps led

Track Career
2 starts
0 wins
0 pole positions
2 top-five finishes
2 top-10 finishes
0 laps led

NEW NUMBER IN 2021: On Tuesday, Hendrick Motorsports announced that Alex Bowman and crew chief Greg Ives will move to the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE for the 2021 season. The sixth-year driver will replace Jimmie Johnson, who is leaving full-time competition at the end of the 2020 season. Ives spent six years with the No. 48 team as an engineer from 2006-2012, winning five NASCAR Cup Series championships and 42 races. Together, Bowman and Ives have two wins, 14 top-five finishes, 37 top-10s and two pole awards, including one for the DAYTONA 500 (2018), since 2016. The 2020 season marks the third year in a row where the team has clinched a spot in the playoffs and the second consecutive season where the duo has claimed a race victory.

IMPRESSIVE STATS: Bowman has scored the fifth-highest number of points so far in the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs with 175. He has earned the sixth-highest amount of stage points (40) and has the fifth-best average running position (10.1) so far. Bowman has three top-10 finishes in the five playoff events and is tied for first among drivers for the most top-10 finishes (five) in the last seven 2020 events overall. During the first 24 races of the season, Bowman’s average points per race was 26. In the last seven events, his average points earned is 34.

SITTING SEVENTH: Coming off a 14th-place finish at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, Bowman is now seventh in the NASCAR Cup Series playoff standings. The Tucson, Arizona, native sits 22 markers above the cutoff line going into Sunday’s cutoff race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway roval. Bowman earned 35 points in last year’s roval event after finishing second.

ROVAL CUTOFF: Bowman will make his third start on the roval this weekend in the final race in the playoffs Round of 12. He has the best average finish (3.0) among all NASCAR Cup Series drivers in two starts on the 2.28-mile track. Last season, Bowman finished second to teammate Chase Elliott after 109 laps around the road course. The second-place result locked the 27-year-old driver into the Round of 12 in 2019. Bowman has finished inside the top 15 in all seven of his road-course starts with Hendrick Motorsports.

IVES ON THE ROAD: Crew chief Greg Ives has two starts at the Charlotte roval with two top-five finishes, including a runner-up result in 2019. He has 13 road-course starts as a NASCAR Cup Series crew chief with two top-five results and five top-10s. Earlier this season when the Cup Series visited the DAYTONA Road Course, the No. 88 team finished 12th after rolling off 27th.

NEW LOOK FOR VALVOLINE: Last week, Valvoline unveiled an updated paint scheme that Bowman will pilot on Sunday at Charlotte. The scheme features the brand’s red, white and blue colors, and the Valvoline logo prominently on the hood in a fresh new look. Check it out here. In January 2018, the leading worldwide supplier of premium branded lubricants and automotive services extended its partnership with Hendrick Motorsports through 2022. The Official Lubricants Partner for Hendrick Motorsports will be on board the No. 88 for the final time this season on Sunday.

NEW MONTH, NEW DEALS: During the month of October, No. 88 team sponsor ChevyGoods.com is providing discounts on various accessories on its website. Customers can receive 10% below MSRP on Adam’s Polishes and NOCO accessories purchased online with code CHEVYGOODS. With code TRUCKHERO, customers can receive 20% below MSRP on Truck Hero accessories purchased online.

HOME-TRACK FEELS: Two members of the No. 88 team call Charlotte Motor Speedway their home track. Scott Denton, the backup transporter driver for the No. 88 team, grew up in Belmont, North Carolina, and attended his first NASCAR race at Charlotte in 1988. No. 88 team jackman Dustin Lineback grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina, and went to East Carolina University from 2007 until 2011. While at ECU, Lineback played football for the Pirates while receiving his degree. Learn more about Lineback here.

SPEEDY ON PIT ROAD: The No. 88 pit crew ranks seventh in the NASCAR Cup Series with an average four-tire stop time of 14.1 seconds after 31 events this season. The team includes fueler Jacob Conley, tire carrier Harrell, jackman Dustin Lineback and tire changers Scott Brzozowski and Devin DelRicco

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Hendrick Motorsports

FIVE DECADES OF ROAD WINS: Going into Sunday’s playoff event at the Charlotte Motor Speedway roval, Hendrick Motorsports has won NASCAR Cup Series road-course races in five different decades: the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s and 2020s. The team holds the all-time record for Cup Series road-course victories with 19, including four of the most recent six and each of the last three. Six different drivers have won a road race for car owner Rick Hendrick: Jeff Gordon (nine), Chase Elliott (four), Tim Richmond (three), Jimmie Johnson, Geoff Bodine and Ricky Rudd.

WE’RE STREAKING: Hendrick Motorsports has notched as least one top-10 finish in 13 consecutive NASCAR Cup Series races, its longest streak of the 2020 season. The last time the team reeled off more than 13 consecutive top-10s was in 2016 when it posted 15 in a row during a championship year. Hendrick Motorsports has also led laps in each of the last nine races, which is the longest active streak of any organization.

TAKE THE STAGE: In 2020, Hendrick Motorsports has recorded 15 stage wins, just one shy of Cup Series leaders Joe Gibbs Racing and Team Penske. The total is nearly double the eight stage wins the team posted in 2019 and almost quadruple its four from 2018.

PLAYOFF WINS: Since the inception of the format in 2004, Hendrick Motorsports has 44 NASCAR Cup Series playoff wins – 15 more than any other team. The organization has scored at least one playoff victory in a record 15 different seasons, missing only 2017. A series-topping seven different drivers have won a playoff race for Hendrick Motorsports.

MORE STATS: Since its inception in 1984, Hendrick Motorsports has earned 260 race victories and holds the all-time records for championships (12), pole positions (226), top-five finishes (1,095), top-10s (1,888) and laps led (70,279) in points-paying NASCAR Cup Series competition. Including 2020, the organization has won at least one race in 35 consecutive seasons, the longest-ever streak. Hendrick Motorsports is eight wins away from tying Petty Enterprises’ all-time Cup record of 268.

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QUOTABLE /
Driver Chase Elliott on his success at road courses:
“I don’t know why the road courses have been good to us thus far. I came from short-track racing. I did a little bit of road-course racing in go karts, but I don’t know how much that translates. Most of my years coming along were short tracks around the country, asphalt racing — very different from road-course racing. I do think a lot of the credit should go to Jeff (Gordon). Jeff was a fantastic road racer, as we all know. I really think he and Alan (Gustafson) had a very good understanding of what was important at road races and what they really wanted in the cars and what mattered. As a young driver coming into a situation like that, having a good foundation has really helped me learn and learn faster because that foundation was already close. I think when you step into a situation that is good like that, as a guy that is learning, it does nothing but help you and make you better.”

Crew Chief Alan Gustafson on his road-racing background:
“I’ve always had a love for road racing. My best friends growing up still road race. They have a shop here and have raced at the highest level, in the 24 Hours (of Daytona), and been very successful and won, and, yeah, a lot of my roots are there. It’s just always been something that I’ve really enjoyed and loved. Any time you enjoy something, it’s a huge benefit. The cars we raced back then don’t have anything to do with what we race now, but I think just embracing it, enjoying it and seeing the positive side of it, all that helps, and I’ve always enjoyed road racing and enjoyed the challenge. I think that certainly helps when it comes to having to go do it and execute it.”

Driver William Byron on the No. 24 team at road courses:
“With road-course racing, we’ve been a solid top-10 team every time we’ve gone to those races. We really just have to figure out that gap between us and guys like Chase Elliott, Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch. How they run at the road courses is phenomenal. I think really trying to close that gap to the top three is key, as we’re about a fourth- to seventh-place team on road courses right now. We just have to figure out those little things to take it to the next level.”

Byron on what he studies to prepare for a road-course race:
“I think I pay attention mainly to the way the other guys use the brakes and small details like how they approach each corner. I like to know what they’re looking for to make speed out of those corners. I think, for me, road courses have been good overall. I’m honestly probably better in qualifying than in race trim right now. It’s just about me figuring out those details to make me better and have a shot of winning.”

Driver Jimmie Johnson on his road-course outlook:
“I really look forward to these road-course events and applaud NASCAR for incorporating more into the schedule. We have run strong at them, so my outlook is high for this weekend. Charlotte Motor Speedway has been a great place to me over the years and racing there for the final time will be bittersweet. We have nothing to lose so I’m going for it.”

Johnson on Alex Bowman being tapped for the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet in 2021:
“I’ve had a mind-blowing experience in that No. 48 over the last 19 years. She is in good hands, and I know Alex and Greg (Ives) will have continued success for years to come. I’m excited for them and can’t wait to see what they can do.”

Driver Alex Bowman on the playoff pressure he’s facing heading to Charlotte:
“One of my main goals for the 2020 season with Greg and the team was to make the Round of 8. We are so close and need to put together a solid race on Sunday and capitalize on stage points and a good finish. It is hard to believe that we have the best average finish at the roval, but we definitely need to put a solid race together this weekend.”

Bowman on driving the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet next season:
“I am excited to move over to the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet next year with Greg (Ives). The support that we have been given by Mr. Hendrick and everyone at Ally is humbling, to say the least. I am proud to be the driver Hendrick Motorsports chose to represent the Ally brand and 48 nation. It has been an exciting week, but our focus from now until the end of the year is making the final four and bringing home a championship to Hendrick Motorsports.”

Crew chief Greg Ives on becoming the crew chief of the No. 48 team:
“It’s pretty special to be able to represent a number that gave me a lot of success early on in my career and actually built my career. (It) allowed me great opportunities to become (a) crew chief and, for a number that has affected my life so much, a team, a way of living, performing – I think it’s going to be hard to exactly put into words what I felt, other than to say it was a lot of emotion.”

Ives on the legacy of the No. 48 team:
“I feel like when it comes to the 48 team, it represents a young kid working hard, going through the ranks of racing, ultimately getting a shot, and that’s the 48 team. Hard work, dedication, being true to yourself, having good character, good on and off the racetrack. That’s somebody who you can look at Jimmie and say, ‘Alex is very similar to that’ and his performance on the racetrack will prove itself. The few wins that we have are quickly going to turn into more.”