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Haley to Pilot Spire Motorsports Chevy for Yellawood 500

By
Official Release
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MOORESVILLE, N.C. (October 1, 2020) – NASCAR Xfinity Series playoff contender Justin Haley will return to the seat of Spire Motorsports No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Yellawood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway where Parts Plus will be featured as the team’s primary sponsor.

Haley, a native of Winamac, Ind., has earned Xfinity series victories at both Talladega and Daytona International Speedway (DIS) in 2020 and currently sits fifth in points on NASCAR’s junior circuit with six races remaining to determine the series’ champion.

Over the course of this season, Haley has notched a pair of Xfinity Series wins while racking up eight top-five and 17 top-10 finishes. He’s completed 98.7 percent of the laps contested in 2020 while leading 101 laps.

“I’m beyond excited to get back behind the wheel of the Spire Motorsports 77 this weekend at Talladega,” said Haley. “Peter (crew chief Peter Sospenzo) and the whole team at Spire have been behind me since day one, and I’m so fortunate to get the call to come back and drive for them. Hopefully we can pick up where we left off last summer in Daytona.”

The 21-year-old driver has four previous Cup Series starts to his credit, including a surprise win last season in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at DIS.

“Justin Haley is one of the savviest superspeedway racers in the sport and his pedigree at Talladega and Daytona speaks for itself,” said Spire Motorsports co-owner T.J. Puchyr. “Justin helped put Spire Motorsports on the map when he and Peter Sospenzo won at NASCAR’s highest level a little over a year ago at Daytona. We’re thrilled to have him behind the wheel of the Parts Plus Chevrolet this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. He has an incredibly bright future and we’re proud to be part of it.”

The Yellawood 500 from Talladega Superspeedway will be televised live on NBC Sunday, October 4 beginning at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The race will also be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

NTT INDYCAR SERIES Announces 17-Race Schedule for 2021 Season

By
Official Release
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NBC expands network coverage of NTT INDYCAR SERIES Championship beginning with season opener March 7 in St. Petersburg

INDIANAPOLIS (Oct. 1, 2020) – INDYCAR officials announced a 17-race schedule for the 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES, including expanded network TV coverage, two thrilling high-speed races at Texas Motor Speedway prior to the Indianapolis 500 and a return to its other pillar events.

The 2021 season will begin Sunday, March 7 on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, marking the 10th consecutive year that St. Petersburg will host the launch of a new season. That event will be the first of nine races on NBC network television – a schedule that also includes the historic Grand Prix of Long Beach in April.

“We’re really pleased that the current plans provide for one additional race on NBC’s network than we had this year,” said Mark Miles, president and CEO of Penske Entertainment Corp. “In particular, the season will start with NBC coverage of the St. Petersburg event, a spectacular start for those in attendance and for those watching from home.”

“The INDYCAR and NBC Sports partnership continues to be mutually beneficial, growing in viewership and providing adrenaline-packed entertainment to a national sports audience,” said Michael Perman, vice president, programming, NBC Sports. “We’re looking forward to providing increased exposure to the series in 2021, including network coverage of the season opener in St. Pete and the finale in Laguna Seca. Additionally, as a marquee event of our Championship Season, we’ll also provide wall-to-wall coverage of the Indy 500 on NBC, an international sporting spectacle filled with speed and exceptional drama.”

WHAT’S NEW

For the first time, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES will race at the Texas Motor Speedway in the month of May during a doubleheader weekend Saturday, May 1 and Sunday, May 2. The move places a crucial oval on the schedule before the 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, scheduled for Sunday, May 30.

“The changes in Texas are important and exciting,” Miles said. “To have not just one oval race, but two, before racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May is strategically very important to the growth of the event, as well.”

The summer months kick off with the Detroit doubleheader moving to the second weekend in June, Saturday, June 12 and Sunday, June 13, while the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course will host INDYCAR during the July 4 holiday weekend.

In August, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES enters an important stretch, with consecutive races on a street course, road course and an oval highlighting the audacious athleticism required to win a championship. That important run begins with INDYCAR’s debut on the on the streets of Nashville, Tennessee, for the first Music City Grand Prix on Sunday, Aug. 8. The three-day international festival of speed and sound will be staged on a temporary grand prix circuit in downtown Nashville and around the Nissan Stadium campus – home of the NFL’s Tennessee Titans.

“We couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to race on the streets of Nashville, which we think will be a blockbuster event in its first year,” Miles said. “It’ll help raise the bar – not just for great racing – but for a great festival around INDYCAR.”

Just six days later, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES once again will join NASCAR’s famous Brickyard weekend, returning to the road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday, Aug. 14.

“After the proof of concept this year,” said Miles, “we look forward to having an INDYCAR Grand Prix during the Brickyard weekend – and inviting fans be a part of it. We know the strong Midwest affinity for INDYCAR racing and the love for INDYCAR drivers will help that weekend reach new levels.”

The three-weekend stretch culminates with a return to the oval at World Wide Technology Raceway, Saturday, Aug. 21.

INDYCAR TRADITIONS RETURN

Several traditional races return in 2021. Over half of the events on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule have been on the calendar for 16 or more years, with Long Beach and Mid-Ohio (36 years) leading legendary visits to Detroit, Road America, Toronto and Portland International Raceway.

The 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season champion will be crowned Sunday, Sept. 19 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, wrapping up the season on NBC.

2021 event start times will be announced at a later date.

Choosing the Right Car Parts for YOUR Car and why it Matters

By
SM
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Owning a car offers many conveniences. However, it tags along with a lot of responsibilities. Such responsibilities include occasional car repairs and, most importantly, routine services. Regardless of the services your vehicle needs, it is essential to look for factory-equivalent parts.

Once your car is due for some maintenance, such as an oil change or even hose replacement, it is essential for you to choose the original equipment manufacturer. This means that the new and original parts are manufactured by the automaker or even one of the partners.

While doing your research on the internet, you will realize that cheap car parts are readily available and are not durable. For durable, high-quality parts, visit a local auto service center that uses original equipment manufacturers when you need car parts.

Here are some of the reasons why you should choose the right car parts for your car and why it really matters.

1.     Fitting auto parts.

One of the main problems of choosing the wrong car parts is that they may not fit properly in your car. Producers of these car parts make parts that suit a wide variety of vehicles. Hence, the producers have to make modifications to these parts for them to fit correctly.

However, with the original equipment manufacturer, you can be certain that your car parts will fit properly without requiring any modifications. As you take your car to the mechanic to replace some of its parts, ensure that they will use high-quality parts, such as snap and zap towing mirrors, as this is also part of their maintenance service.

2.  Safe auto parts.

Whether the aftermarket producers produce cheap car parts that perform well does not mean that they are responsible when it comes to safety compared to the automakers. This means that aftermarket car parts are not made of strong materials that ensure safety. The disadvantage of having weaker car parts is that they are prone to accidents and can break down easily. Make sure you use OEM car parts to keep yourself safe, together with your passenger, as well as ensuring that your car runs safely.

3. High-quality auto parts.

If you decide to buy aftermarket parts at any leading local store, be aware that it is tough to know what kind of parts you are purchasing. It is obvious that the materials used in these local stores are of lower quality than the factory parts. This means aftermarket parts are likely to fail at a higher rate than factory parts.

Continued use of the aftermarket parts usually results in very poor performance and, most importantly,y lower fuel efficiency. While many generic aftermarket parts may be of lower quality, there is a difference when it comes to performance-oriented components from reputable brands. These high-quality alternatives can improve upon the factory parts, often providing a boost in performance, durability, and aesthetics. For example, those looking to improve their vehicle’s capabilities can seek out premium Audi A3 aftermarket parts that can be engineered to optimize everything from engine performance to handling and braking.

4. Convenient ordering.

Choosing the right car parts is essential, especially when you order your replacement car parts. However, if you have a mahindra roxor that you want to take on the road, On The Rox has the parts and accessories you need to make your roxor street legal. They have the best parts and use high-quality materials, with the vast majority of their products made in the USA.

They also have installation guides that will make the installation process very easy. So any time you need roxor parts, ensure you place an order with On The Rox and you will be assured of getting high quality parts and accessories for your roxor.

5. Easy selection.

Choosing the right car or roxor parts can be very challenging at times. This happens mostly when you are buying such parts at a local store. However, buying original equipment manufacturer parts is very easy since it reduces the amount of time that you will spend looking and comparing prices, options and even compatibility.

6. Increased trade-in value.

Your roxor or car might need replacement or maintenance from time to time. If you decide to replace your car with aftermarket parts, always remember that your car might decrease its value. This happens mostly when you want to sell your car or lease it out. This is because car parts are very cheap.

Conclusion.

Once you own a car or a roxor, you will get to understand that there are a lot of companies that are selling auto parts that are very cheap and easily accessible. However, the above tips are some of the reasons why you should choose the right car parts and why it really matters.

Hendrick Motorsports Media Advance: Talladega

By
Official Release
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TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY (2.66-MILE OVAL)
LOCATION: TALLADEGA, ALABAMA
EVENT: NASCAR CUP SERIES (RACE 31 OF 36)
TUNE IN: 2 P.M. ET, SUNDAY, OCT. 4 (NBC/MRN/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
7th in standings
30 starts
2 wins
1 pole position
11 top-five finishes
17 top-10 finishes
742 laps led

Career
179 starts
8 wins
9 pole positions
55 top-five finishes
91 top-10 finishes
2,586 laps led

Track Career
9 starts
1 win
2 pole positions
4 top-five finishes
4 top-10 finishes
129 laps led

PLAYOFF PERFORMANCE: Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, has scored the most stage points (52) and holds the best average running position (5.19) in the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. In the four postseason races thus far, he also has the third-most laps led (212) and the fifth-most points accumulated (146).

ROUND OF 12: Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway marked the first race of the Round of 12 in the 2020 playoffs. Elliott and the No. 9 team led 73 laps and battled inside the top five for most of the event before a huge bottleneck on the final restart resulted in Elliott losing momentum and finishing the race with a 22nd-place result. He has won at each of the two tracks remaining in the second round of the playoffs (Talladega and Charlotte roval).

NAPA RETURNS: On Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway, the No. 9 Chevrolet will don 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.

SEASON TO DATE: In 2020, Elliott has delivered career bests in laps led (742), top-five finishes (11), stage points (252) and stage wins (eight) through 30 starts in a season. His 17 top-10s are tied for a personal best and his two wins and three runner-up results are the second-most for him at the 30-race mark.

ELLIOTT OUT FRONT: Elliott’s 742 laps led this season is the most by a Hendrick Motorsports driver through 30 races since Jimmie Johnson led 1,035 in 2014.

‘DEGA DOWNLOAD: This weekend, Elliott is set to make his 10th Talladega start in the NASCAR Cup Series. His first win at the track in April 2019 was also his first superspeedway win at the Cup level. In his previous nine starts, the 24-year-old driver has earned the pole position twice – his first start at the track in May 2016 and in October 2019. Elliott has garnered three top-five finishes and led 129 laps in his Cup Series career at the Alabama track. He also has three starts at Talladega in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with one top-10 finish.

GUSTAFSON AT TALLADEGA: No. 9 team crew chief Alan Gustafson will call his 32nd Talladega Cup Series race from atop the pit box on Sunday afternoon. He collected his first superspeedway victory at 2.66-mile track on April 28, 2019, with Elliott and the No. 9 team. In his previous 31 events calling the shots for five different drivers (Elliott, Kyle Busch, Casey Mears, Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon), Gustafson collected seven top-five finishes, nine top-10s, 232 laps led and six pole awards there.

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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
16th in standings
30 starts
1 win
0 pole positions
3 top-five finishes
10 top-10 finishes
109 laps led

Career
102 starts
1 win
5 pole positions
8 top-five finishes
27 top-10 finishes
403 laps led

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

NEW ROLE FOR KNAUS: Tuesday afternoon, Hendrick Motorsports announced veteran crew chief Chad Knaus would be elevated to a new leadership role following the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season – vice president of competition. Knaus will oversee the technical development of all Hendrick Motorsports teams, including the implementation of NASCAR’s 2022 “Next Gen” vehicle. While the Rockford, Illinois, native is looking forward to his new role, the 2020 season signals the end of an illustrious career as a Cup-level crew chief. The seven-time series champion, all with Jimmie Johnson, has captured 82 race wins at 20 different tracks – including most recently with William Byron at Daytona – which is the third-most victories of all time by a crew chief. He is the only crew chief to have made the playoffs in all 17 seasons since the format’s inception, winning an unprecedented 29 races, almost three times more than any other crew chief.

TALLADEGA TELL-ALL: Making his sixth Cup Series start this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, Byron is looking to change his luck at the 2.66-mile track. In his previous five Cup Series races there, the Charlotte, North Carolina, native has had solid runs, scoring a track-best finish of 11th (June 2020). The last time the NASCAR Cup Series raced at a superspeedway, Byron earned his first career Cup Series victory after he crossed the finish line first at Daytona International Speedway on Aug. 29.

KNAUS DIGS ‘DEGA: With a skill for superspeedway racing, Knaus is set to call his 40th NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega when the No. 24 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE hits the track Sunday. Racking up six pole awards at the 2.66-mile track, including a streak of four in a row in his first four races there as a Cup Series crew chief, Knaus has two wins, all coming with Johnson and the No. 48 team. Knaus kept that momentum going with Byron and the No. 24 team, putting them in contention for the win in their three Talladega starts together, despite late-race incidents.

WELCOME, HENDRICKCARS.COM: On Tuesday, Hendrick Motorsports unveiled Byron’s No. 24 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE for Sunday’s race at Talladega Superspeedway. The blue and white scheme pays homage to Ricky Hendrick, son of car owner Rick Hendrick, who drove a similar scheme 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 two more 2020 races: the Charlotte roval on Oct. 11 and 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.

CLOSE TO HOME: Hailing from Pensacola, Florida, No. 24 team spotter Tab Boyd claims Talladega Superspeedway as his home track. Growing up a few hours away from the 2.66-mile superspeedway, Boyd has more than 20 years of experience in NASCAR in various roles, including an Xfinity Series tire changer as well as mechanical and fabrication positions before ending up in the spotter’s stand. When Boyd has time outside of the NASCAR schedule, he is usually still at the racetrack, but behind the steering wheel in the Street Stock Mid-Atlantic Series.

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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
17th in standings
29 starts
0 wins
0 pole positions
4 top-five finishes
9 top-10 finishes
102 laps led

Career
680 starts
83 wins
36 pole positions
231 top-five finishes
373 top-10 finishes
18,936 laps led

Track Career
37 starts
2 wins
4 pole positions
7 top-five finishes
13 top-10 finishes
473 laps led

‘DEGA WINS: Hendrick Motorsports has 13 NASCAR Cup Series wins at Talladega Superspeedway. Of those, Jimmie Johnson is the proud owner of two first-place trophies. His last victory there was in 2011, and he has led 473 career laps around the historic Alabama track. Johnson started fourth and ran strong during the last race at Talladega in June and was a contender for the win before settling for a 13th-place finish.

BLINK OF AN EYE: Johnson is tied for the closest margin of victory in NASCAR history since the advent of timing and scoring. It came at Talladega on April 17, 2011, when he edged competitor Clint Bowyer by just 0.002 seconds for his second win at the superspeedway.

THUMBING A RIDE: One of the most memorable “rides” Johnson has taken at Talladega came in 2012 when former Hendrick Motorsports teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. picked him up on the racetrack after the No. 48 Chevrolet was collected in a spectacular four-wide accident coming to the checkered flag in overtime. Johnson’s car was no longer able to carry on, so he rode on Earnhardt’s window back to the garage.

MILESTONES ON THE HORIZON: Johnson has the most overall points-paying wins of all active drivers, and his next trip to victory lane will be his 84th in the NASCAR Cup Series. He secured his 83rd victory in June 2017 to tie NASCAR Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough for sixth on the all-time list. An 84th win would tie Johnson with Hall of Famers Darrell Waltrip and Bobby Allison for fourth all-time. The No. 48 driver currently is 10 wins behind former Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon, who has 93 victories and is third on the list.

JIMMIE JOHNSON WAY: Last weekend, Las Vegas Motor Speedway recognized the historic accomplishments of the seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion at the 1.5-mile track in “Sin City” by renaming the infield tunnel road “Jimmie Johnson Way.” Johnson was presented the honor by track president Chris Powell upon his arrival on Sunday. Johnson finished 11th at Las Vegas Motors Speedway in his final career start at the track.

PAINT THE WALL PINK: Johnson participated in the Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina’s annual “Paint the Wall Pink” at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Wednesday. Traditionally, the event has hosted breast cancer survivors alongside Johnson painting the wall, but this year, due to restrictions on gatherings, the event took place virtually with more than 50 survivors on the giant digital screen at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

TRUE SUPPORTER: After former crew chief Chad Knaus’ announcement Tuesday afternoon, Johnson posted this heartfelt message for his longtime friend and teammate, stating he was excited for his family and about his future with Hendrick Motorsports.

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Alex Bowman
No. 88 ChevyGoods.com/Patriot Foundation Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE ​
Driver Alex Bowman Hometown Tucson, Arizona
Age 27 Resides Concord, North Carolina

2020 Season
8th in standings
30 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
10 starts
0 wins
0 pole positions
1 top-five finish
3 top-10 finishes
45 laps led

IMPRESSIVE STATS: Alex Bowman has scored the fourth-highest number of points so far in the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs with 152. He has earned the fifth-highest amount of stage points (40) and has the fifth-best average running position (9.11) so far in the playoffs. He has three top-10 finishes in the last four events. The No. 88 team’s average finish in the first 24 events of 2020 was 17.9 and has surged to 8.0 in the last six events. Bowman is tied for first with the most top-10 finishes (5) over the last six races of the season.

SITTING EIGHTH: Coming off a fifth-place finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday, Bowman is now in the eighth spot in the NASCAR Cup Series playoff standings. The Tucson, Arizona, native sits nine markers above the cutoff line going into this Sunday’s race at Talladega Superspeedway. Last weekend, Bowman captured the second-highest amount of points at Las Vegas after finishing both stages inside the top 10 and earning a top-five finish.

PATRIOT FOUNDATION ON BOARD: On Monday, Hendrick Motorsports announced the addition of the Patriot Foundation to the No. 88 ChevyGoods.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE for Sunday’s race at Talladega. The foundation has teamed up with Chevrolet to launch an exclusive special edition “Forceman” Chevrolet Silverado, available for purchase at 848 dealerships across 16 states. The Forceman package makes a bold statement about the tactical lifestyle and strong dedication to our nation’s brave warriors. Some of the proceeds from each Forceman Special Edition package will go to the Patriot Foundation, which provides scholarships to children of members of the military who have been killed, wounded or become seriously ill or injured while serving our nation. The organization ensures that 91% of the actual donation goes toward children’s education. Since it was founded 17 years ago, more than 2,000 scholarships have been provided.

ALABAMA ROLLING: Bowman will make his 11th Talladega Cup Series start on Sunday. His best finish of second at the track came during the 2019 spring event after leading seven laps. Earlier this season, Bowman led 12 laps en route to a seventh-place finish after starting eighth. The driver of the No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE has led 45 laps total at the superspeedway and has three top-10 finishes.

IVES IN ‘DEGA: Crew chief Greg Ives will call the shots for the 12th time for the No. 88 team at Talladega on Sunday. The Bark River, Michigan, native has one win at the 2.66-mile venue with Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2015 after leading 67 laps. He also has three top-five finishes and six top-10s there. Ives’ drivers have an average start of 6.5 at the 2.66-mile facility. Back in 2017, the crew chief’s team started from the pole position and, in 2018, Bowman led 26 laps to bring home an eighth-place finish. In total, Ives’ drivers have led 180 laps and have completed 90% of the total laps in 11 events. The crew chief’s résumé includes one win in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at the superspeedway with Regan Smith in 2013. Ives was a race engineer for the No. 48 team at Hendrick Motorsports from 2006 until 2012. During that time, he was a part of two wins, two pole awards and seven top-10 finishes at Talladega.

WE GOT THE GOODS: The black and yellow ChevyGoods.com paint scheme featuring Truck Hero will be on board Bowman’s No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE during Sunday’s event at Talladega Superspeedway. In addition to Truck Hero being on board this weekend, the Patriot Foundation will be featured on Bowman’s machine. In January, Hendrick Motorsports announced its partnership with ChevyGoods.com, which includes primary sponsorship of Bowman for 26 events. Associate brands that will be featured throughout 2020 are Adam’s Polishes, NOCO and Truck Hero.

DEALS, DEALS, DEALS: During the month of September, No. 88 team sponsor ChevyGoods.com is providing discounts on various accessories on its website. Customers can receive 10% below MSRP on all Adam’s Polishes, NOCO and Truck Hero accessories purchased online. Use code CHEVYGOODS to receive the discount at ChevyGoods.com.

HOME-TRACK FEELS: Rowdy Harrell, tire carrier for the No. 88 team, returns to his home state of Alabama this weekend for Sunday’s race at Talladega Superspeedway. The 30-year-old athlete grew up in the small town of Moundville, Alabama, which is near Tuscaloosa. He was a middle linebacker for the University of Alabama under coach Nick Saban and was part of three NCAA national championship wins with the team in 2009, 2011 and 2012.

SPEEDY ON PIT ROAD: The No. 88 pit crew ranks seventh in the NASCAR Cup Series with an average four-tire stop time of 14.07 seconds after 30 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

ALABAMA WINS: At Talladega Superspeedway, Hendrick Motorsports holds the track record for NASCAR Cup Series wins with 13. The team has scored at least one victory there with seven different drivers: Jeff Gordon (six wins), Jimmie Johnson (two), Chase Elliott, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Brian Vickers, Terry Labonte and Ken Schrader.

’DEGA DOMINANCE: In addition to holding the Talladega record for NASCAR Cup Series victories, Hendrick Motorsports is the track’s all-time leader in pole positions (13), runner-up finishes (14), top-fives (58), top-10s (89), and laps led (2,870).

SUPER ON SPEEDWAYS: Hendrick Motorsports is the all-time leader in combined superspeedway wins with 28. Eleven different drivers have gone to victory lane for car owner Rick Hendrick at the venues of Talladega and Daytona, which is the most superspeedway winners of any NASCAR Cup Series team.

DOZEN AND COUNTING: Hendrick Motorsports has placed at least one car inside the top 10 in the last 12 NASCAR Cup Series races, matching the team’s longest streak of 2020. The last time the team posted more than 12 straight top-10 finishes in a season was in 2016 when it ran off 15 in a row during a championship-winning year.

PLAYOFF WINS: Since the inception of the format in 2004, Hendrick Motorsports has 44 NASCAR Cup Series playoff wins – 16 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 (1,093), top-10s (1,886) and laps led (70,236) 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 the Round of 12 and Talladega:
“This is an interesting round, no doubt. We are trying not to get too far ahead of ourselves and are taking it one race at a time. Talladega is going to be what we normally see at Talladega. We just have to do our best to avoid the trouble. Hendrick Motorsports always brings really fast Chevys, so I have a lot of confidence that the car is going to be capable of running up front. We just have to put ourselves in the right position throughout the race and see what happens.”

Driver William Byron on past superspeedway success:
“The last few superspeedway races have been really good for us. I feel like we’ve done what we need to do at those type of races, such as winning and advancing into the playoffs at Daytona. Talladega is a whole different place, though. I feel like we can have a really great run there though and try build off of what we did at Daytona in terms of the speed and competitiveness that we had.”

Byron on the differences between Daytona and Talladega:
“I think in terms of comparing Daytona and Talladega that Daytona relies a little bit more on the handling of the car. Talladega is just so wide and there’s so much room to run that guys don’t really run as tight in terms of lane to lane. I feel like Talladega you can use a lot more bump drafting too. Your car doesn’t have to handle well to do that. It’s just a much different animal for sure.”

Driver Jimmie Johnson on racing at Talladega:
“There is nothing like a superspeedway race. Of course, you have to have skills but there is a luck to it – and it’s like hitting blackjack when you are gambling. I hope I can experience a win like that one more time. I’ve always sort of dreaded Talladega late in the year. It’s such a stressful, stressful race. The weight and pressure of the importance of this race for those in championship or points battles, you can’t hide from it. Mistakes are costly and you can wipe your own, or someone else’s, season out in one split second.”

Driver Alex Bowman on what the No. 88 team needs to do at Talladega:
“Going to Talladega this weekend, we know that we need to have strong stage finishes and a clean, solid finish. We have to be smart about things and have a good day. Hendrick Motorsports always builds strong superspeedway cars and we have been pretty good at Talladega in the past.”

Crew chief Greg Ives’ outlook on Talladega:
“Hopefully the Patriot Foundation being on the car this weekend brings us some luck. We just have to go to Talladega and execute. Finding our teammates and working together is going to be a big portion of our race. I think we can come out of Talladega, maybe without a win, but definitely in a position to point ourselves in the next round. We can’t create our own bad luck, , so we just have to be smart about it and ultimately want to put ourselves in a position to win and gain a large number of points.”

Codie Rohrbaugh, CR7 Motorsports hoping for more superspeedway success at Talladega

By
Official Release
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TALLADEGA, Ala.: You could say that Codie Rohrbaugh and his CR7 Motorsports have been waiting for the annual fall Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series race since February.

In a similar race, Rohrbaugh, 26, and his family-owned team recovered from a spin to draft to a career-best third place finish in the season-opening NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.

Fast forward eight long months in a pandemic, Talladega weekend is finally here and Rohrbaugh is ready to get down to business.

“I’ve been waiting for Talladega for months,” Rohrbaugh chuckled. “Ever since our success at Daytona, I’ve been itching to get back to superspeedway racing and I’m just glad its here.”

Rohrbaugh’s first career top-five earlier this year was a huge statement for the Statesville, N.C.-based team. The team’s early success allowed them to step up their commitment to run a majority of the season.

And while the team skipped last weekend’s race at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway and will forgo the upcoming race at Kansas Speedway on Oct. 16, the brief sabbaticals have paid off for the Doug George-led team.

“We plan to run three to four of the remaining fives races,” Rohrbaugh said. “We didn’t go to Las Vegas last weekend and while that will hurt our starting position for the race on Saturday, thankfully Talladega isn’t a track where it matters where you start.

“We’ve shown that when we take a race or two break, we come back to the series’ stronger. Richmond, even though we utilized some pit strategy was a great example of that.

“Talladega is a prime opportunity to put our team on the map and by skipping Las Vegas, we were able to put 100 percent of our focus and attention on our Talladega truck and I hope that attentiveness will pay off this weekend.”

To have a chance of capturing his second career top-five finish in NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series competition, the Petersburg, West Virginia native knows luck will likely have to be on his side.

“Superspeedway racing comes down to a lot of luck,” he said. “But, you also have to exercise patience, have confidence in your spotter and have 100 percent faith in yourself to make the right moves. If all those align, you end up with a finish like we had at Daytona or even better.

“That’s what we are aiming for on Saturday.”

For their 11th consecutive race, CR7 Motorsports and their partner Grant County Mulch has again given up their space this weekend race for Joshua Shirk.

The No. 9 Chevrolet Silverado has been designed with a western-theme scheme, personally selected by Shirk.

The hood carries a special touch with Shirk displaying a message of his own that he wrote before the accident, “I am a child of God. He saves me. I talk to he.”

On May 17, 2020, eight-year-old Joshua Shirk was kayaking with family in rural West Virginia.

While on the water, the kayak capsized and Shirk became trapped under the water in debris.

When the family was finally able to pull him to safety, the young boy had no pulse. Quick work by medical workers at a local hospital was able to revive him but he remained in critical condition.

Shirk was later transported to WVU hospital in Morganton, West Virginia where he has made vast improvements but still needs the love, prayer and support of many.

Over the last three months, Shirk has been able to come off a breathing machine and has started intense physical rehabilitation with a focus on working his muscles and standing up with assistance. His progress lately has been exceptional, as his muscles continue to strengthen – but a long road still remains.

Competing in 15 of the 18 races in 2020, Rohrbaugh is 21st in the championship standings.

CR7 Motorsports has 26 NGOTS starts to their credit with a career-best finish of third at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway (February 2020). Additionally, the team owns two other top-10 finishes at Richmond (Va.) Raceway (sixth) in September 2020 and Martinsville (Va.) Speedway (10th) in October 2019. An 11th place qualifying effort at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway (Oct. 2019) is the team’s best time trials effort to date.

In 20 career ARCA starts, Rohrbaugh has a best finish of seventh twice at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway (July 2018 and Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway (February 2019). He has qualified a career-best fourth on four different occasions most recently at Kansas Speedway (Oct. 2018).

Marketing partnership(s) opportunities are available for the No. 97 A.L.L. Construction | Grant County Mulch Chevrolet and No. 9 Grant County Mulch Chevrolet for the 2020 ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series seasons and beyond. Interested inquiries are encouraged to contact at tonya@gcmulch.com or 304.257.8783.

The Chevy Silverado 250 (94 laps | 250.04 miles) is the 19th of 23 NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series races on the 2020 schedule. The 38-truck field will take the green flag on Sat. Oct. 3, 2020, shortly after 12:00 p.m. with live coverage on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Satellite Radio, Channel 90). All times are local (Central).

Biofuels VS Electric Power: The Future Of Green Motorsport

By
SM
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No one can rightly argue that current iterations of either green power compare to the results from enriched fossil fuels. The problem, as the vigilant motorsports enthusiast may be aware, is that fossil fuels are a dwindling resource. While arguing that the use of fossil fuels in motorsport alone has a minimal environmental impact, it is the commercial motoring sector that essentially incentivizes manufacturers to support motorsport development.

HVO fuel is growing in popularity as an alternative to diesel in the industrial sector, whilst electric power seems to be the future of the commercial sector. Where does this leave the future of racing and competitive motorsport?

Biofuels And Racing

Biofuels make for a polarizing topic when it comes to high-performance racing. As you are probably aware, all fuels are not equal when it comes to performance. Biofuels are not yet at a point where they are ready to fuel a two-second zero to sixty racing beast.

Electric Power

On the other hand, we have electric power, which shows incredible promise when it comes to performance, albeit with one massive caveat. Despite exciting developments, the actual eco-sustainability of electric power is debatable.

Given Enough Time

Which power source would then win out in the world of high powered automotive sports? That is the billion-dollar question. You see, currently electric has the upper hand in performance, but without some giant leaps in the base tech, it isn’t a renewable energy source at all.

What Goes Unsaid 

The majority of electric power generated globally is still fossil fuel dependent. This inconvenient fact means that in its current form, electric power is just a roundabout way of burning fossil fuel to power vehicles.

Why It’s Worse

The laws of thermodynamics pretty much enforce a simple principle of inefficiency in energy conversion. What this means is that every time you convert energy from one form to another, even when storing it, you lose a large chunk of the initially available energy.

Hence It’s Unsustainable

In its current form electric power, particularly when it comes to powering high-performance racing cars is, in fact, a worse source of carbon emission simply because of where that power comes from and how much of it is lost in the process.

Are Biofuels Better?

In a nutshell, yes, biofuels are largely beneficial as they are extensively more environmentally friendly than current methods of generating electric power. Again, the problem here is the payoff in performance, which is a deal-breaker for most motorsport enthusiast.

Could Biofuels Improve?

Everything can be improved upon; biofuels, as a science, have for a long time no longer been a matter of searching for eco-friendly biologically produced fuel sources. Suffice it to say; it could imaginable outperform traditional fuels one day.

The same can be said of electric power. It already has the lead in performance, so this tech hinges on the possibility of improved battery efficiency and the ability to generate clean energy. Put that way it seems the clear winning candidate, but not so fast.

Commerce Will Decide

While both technologies could, in theory become a feasible alternative, they are also equally likely to reach an as yet unforeseen barrier that places a limit cap on their ability to win out over the other. In the end, the winner will be decided by the commercial market as manufacturers direct their R&D at whichever tech the markets demand.

Wright Motorsports Set for Indianapolis 8 Hour Season Finale

By
Official Release
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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., (September 30, 2020) – Wright Motorsports will close out one of their three 2020 sports car racing championships this weekend at the Racing Capital of the World, Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The final two rounds of the 2020 GT World Challenge America powered by AWS will run on track in the join the Intercontinental GT Challenge Powered by Pirelli Indianapolis 8 Hour. Wright Motorsports has confirmed entry with the No. 20 driven by Full season GT World Challenge drivers Fred Root and Max Poordad will be joined by Jan Heylen in the No. 20 Porsche 911 GT3 R.

“As a team, we’re obviously no stranger to endurance racing, but we’re excited for our SRO program to get to take part and finish the year with an eight-hour race,” said Team Owner John Wright. “Fred and Max have had such a great run all season, and we hope them and Jan cap it off with a strong finish.”

Poordad and Root have had an impressive rookie season in the GT World Challenge America series, where they started the 2020 season off with two class wins in the opening rounds at Circuit of the Americas. In the six rounds that followed, the pair earned three overall podiums and four more class wins on many on North America’s top road courses. Heylen subbed in for Max Root for the two rounds at Circuit of the Americas, where he and Poordad swept the class wins and earned one overall podium. Root and Poordad dominated the Am Cup class, leading by 100 points heading into the Indianapolis season finale.

Root missed the two Circuit of the Americas rounds to participate in his first 24 Hours of Le Mans, where he and co-drivers Richard Heistand and Jan Magnussen earned a strong sixth-place finish. Following Root’s impressive Le Mans debut, the No. 20 Porsche 911 GT3 R has moved up to the silver class for this weekend’s festivities.

The GT World Challenge America competitors will accumulate their final 2020 championship points in the first three hours of Sunday’s eight-hour endurance race. Intercontinental GT Challenge Powered by Pirelli race will run on Sunday, October 3 from 10:00AM to 6:00PM Eastern, and will air live on CBS Sports Network.

Event Schedule | All times Eastern
Friday, October 2
10:20AM – 11:35AM Test Session
1:40PM – 3:10PM Free Practice

Saturday, October 3
8:30AM – 10:00AM Pre-Qualifying
12:10PM – 12:25PM Qualifying Driver 1
12:32PM – 12:47PM Qualifying Driver 2
12:55PM – 1:10PM Qualifying Driver 3
5:30PM – 5:45PM Pole Shootout

Sunday, October 4
10:00AM – 6:00PM Indianapolis 8 Hour | Live on CBS Sports Network, YouTube.com/GTWorld

Driver Quotes

Fred Poordad
We are thrilled to be going to Indianapolis with a large field of world-class competitors. Max and I will be joined by Jan Heylen for our final race this season, and we are excited to be able to represent Wright Motorsports in what should prove to be a great race.

Max Root
I’m very happy to be returning with Wright Motorsports for our season finale. I unfortunately missed the last round at Circuit of the Americas because of Le Mans, and I’m very happy the event went so well. I’m glad to be returning with Fred and Jan. Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a new track for me, so I’m glad the team has tested here previously and has data from that. We hope to show up strong on Friday, have a good strategy, and try to go for an overall podium in the Indianapolis 8 Hour.

Jan Heylen
It’s nice to have Max back with the team. I hope we can carry the momentum from Austin into this weekend with another podium finish and good points for Fred and Max towards their championship. I love long-distance races in general, so I’m really looking forward to getting started. I hear the competition will be strong with factory efforts and drivers from across the globe: all ingredients for an exciting race and a good challenge for Wright Motorsports.

Wealth Management Strategies | WMS of Equitable
We are passionate about helping our clients Plan, Protect, and Achieve their wealth. Success doesn’t happen by accident; it takes planning, preparation, and discipline along the way. The greatest endurance athletes in the world live by these principles. We see life as the greatest endurance race of all time – one that we all must run. Our results tomorrow largely depend on our actions today. We want to help you plan for your future, protect your loved ones and your business, and achieve whatever success means to you. (WMSassociates.com)

Wright Motorsports
Wright Motorsports is the premier Porsche race engineering facility in Ohio and a multi-series, international racing team known for superb car preparation, expert race strategy and driver development. Located in Batavia, Ohio, it is owned and directed by John Wright, a certified Porsche factory-trained technician. As a crew chief John Wright has played a key role in winning eight driver and seven team championships in World Challenge, IMSA (ALMS) and the Grand-Am Rolex Series. Wright Motorsports won the team championship in Porsche GT3 Cup USA in 2012, 2013 and 2015, and went on to win the Pirelli World Challenge Overall, Sprint, Team and Manufacturer’s titles in 2017. The 2020 season will see the team return to IMSA Weathertech SportsCar Championship. For more information, visit wrightmotorsports.com

Jimmie Johnson Teams with BlueCross BlueShield Of North Carolina For Virtual Paint Pit Wall Pink Event

By
Official Release
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Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and BlueCross NC ambassador Jimmie Johnson speaks to a group of breast cancer survivors and BlueCross NC employees during a virtual paint pit wall pink event at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Now in its seventh year, the event helps raise awareness of the importance of early detection and treatment of breast cancer. (CMS/HHP photo)
  • Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson shared message of encouragement and fearlessness with BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina employees and breast cancer survivors at virtual event
  • Seventh annual event to raise awareness of early detection and treatment for breast cancer preceded the Oct. 10 Drive for the Cure 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at America’s Home for Racing

CONCORD, N.C. (Sept. 30, 2020) – For the seventh consecutive year, seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson joined executives from BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina and Charlotte Motor Speedway in painting the iconic speedway’s pit wall pink on Wednesday.

Due to restrictions on public gatherings during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the event was conducted virtually, with dozens of BlueCross BlueShield employees and breast cancer survivors tuning in via Zoom to hear messages of encouragement and motivation from Johnson, a longtime BlueCross BlueShield ambassador.

“At the end of the day, we’re trying to raise awareness for this cause,” Johnson said. “I feel like NASCAR is a great place to do that. This race track, Charlotte Motor Speedway, has done a phenomenal job over the years… When you have a cancer that, with early detection is beatable, helping the general public understand that, you’ve got a recipe for success.

“Certainly missed all the fans and wished that the energy was here with all the survivors, but to have the virtual board and know that they were there and watching was really special.”

Johnson was joined at the event by BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina Chief Operating Officer Gerald Petkau, who shared his own story of his battle with breast cancer and what he learned through his journey about the importance of community during challenging times.

“It’s an outstanding opportunity for coming together as a group,” Petkau said. “It’s so moving to be able to hear their stories… That community, to be able to share and lean on each other, just like breast cancer patients do with their families, I think doing that as a survivor group is really important and beneficial.”

Following brief comments, Johnson and Petkau put the finishing touches on painting the speedway’s pit road wall pink as an outward show of support that will remain on display at Charlotte Motor Speedway throughout the upcoming NASCAR race weekend, which includes the Drive for the Cure 250 presented by BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina on Oct. 10, and the Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 on Oct. 11.

During the ROVAL race and throughout the month of October, Johnson will wear pink driving gloves as part of the effort to raise awareness of breast cancer early detection and treatment. His car will also feature a BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina logo on the rear quarter panel.

In addition, the event provided participants the first look at the pink Toyota Camry pace car for the Drive for the Cure 250. The car features more than 1,000 digital signatures of breast cancer survivors collected virtually by BlueCross NC and digitally printed on the car.

Reagan Greene Pruitt, the vice president of marketing and community engagement for BlueCross and BlueShield of North Carolina, said the event has gained momentum every year, even despite the challenges presented this year as a result of the pandemic.

“We’ve worked hard in our partnership with Charlotte Motor Speedway to pivot and change in this COVID environment,” Pruitt said. “We talked about potentially not coming out here in our seventh year to celebrate breast cancer survivors, to use the NASCAR platform to increase breast cancer awareness and prevention, but we’re here. And while it looks a little different, the impact is the same; the purpose is the same.”

TICKETS:
Tickets are just $50 for the racing double-header on Saturday, Oct. 10, featuring the Drive for the Cure 250 presented by BlueCross and BlueShield of North Carolina and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Series’ MOTUL 100% Synthetic Grand Prix. Kids 13 and under get in free. For details or to purchase, visit www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or call 800-455-FANS (3267).

MORE INFO:

Fans can connect with Charlotte Motor Speedway and get the latest news by following on Twitter and Instagram, becoming a Facebook fan or downloading the Charlotte Motor Speedway mobile app.

Coca-Cola 600 and Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 Maintain Traditional May And October Race Dates In Dynamic New 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Schedule

By
Official Release
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As part of NASCAR's newly announced 2021 schedule, Charlotte Motor Speedway's crown jewel events, the Coca-Cola 600 and Bank of America ROVAL 400, will maintain their traditional May and October race weekends next season. (CMS/HHP photo)
  • The legendary Coca-Cola 600 will again serve as the grand finale of the greatest day in racing with a Memorial Day Weekend race date of Sunday, May 30, 2021
  • The action-packed Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 returns as the cutoff race for the second round of the NASCAR playoffs on Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021
  • Tickets for both 2021 NASCAR Cup Series races as well as the upcoming Oct. 10, 2020 Drive for the Cure 250 presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina are available at CharlotteMotorSpeedway.com

CONCORD, N.C. (Sept. 30, 2020) – Two of NASCAR’s most treasured and anticipated annual events, the Coca-Cola 600 and the Bank of America ROVAL™ 400, will return to their traditional May and October weekends at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2021, as officials today released next year’s NASCAR Cup Series schedule.

The 62nd running of the Coca-Cola 600 will once again cap off “The Greatest Day in Racing” on Memorial Day Weekend, Sunday, May 30, while the Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 returns to its place as the pivotal cutoff race for Cup Series drivers chasing a championship in the NASCAR Playoffs Round of 12 on Sunday, Oct. 10.

“While the new schedule features some dynamic changes with both new race tracks and race dates, we are honored to keep the historical tradition of NASCAR racing in May and October at Charlotte Motor Speedway,” said Charlotte Motor Speedway Executive Vice President and General Manager Greg Walter. “We will miss the NASCAR All-Star Race on our 2021 event schedule, but we know race fans will be excited to see the show Texas Motor Speedway will produce mid-season as part of the revamped schedule.

“At Charlotte, we’ll welcome fans to salute the U.S. Armed Forces with us on Memorial Day Weekend at the Coca-Cola 600 and to witness the playoff pressure on the world’s best drivers at the Bank of America ROVAL™ 400. These two races are crown jewels in our sport and we’re privileged to have the opportunity to bring them to life for fans that make America’s Home for Racing their race vacation destination.”

NASCAR schedules for Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series will be released at a later date.

TICKETS:

Tickets for both 2021 NASCAR Cup Series races as well as the upcoming Oct. 10, 2020 Drive for the Cure 250 presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina are available www.CharlotteMotorSpeedway.com.

FOLLOW US:

Keep track of all of Charlotte Motor Speedway’s events by following on Twitter and Instagram; becoming a Facebook fan or by visiting www.charlottemotorspeedway.com. Keep up with all the latest news and information with the Charlotte Motor Speedway mobile app.

Five Decades In The Making: NASCAR Introduces Three New Tracks, Two New Layouts to 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Schedule

By
Official Release
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Historic Slate Includes Three New Road Courses and First Dirt Race in Half A Century

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Sept.  30, 2020) – NASCAR today announced the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series schedule, a historic slate that includes the introduction of three new racetracks – and new layouts at two iconic venues – to the sport’s top level.

Not since 1969 has NASCAR added this many new venues to its premier series schedule.

The 36-race slate includes races at three new road course layouts, and the first Cup Series dirt race in more than 50 years.

The road course at Circuit of the Americas (May 23) joins the schedule for the first time, Road America (July 4) returns for the first time since 1956 and, after a thrilling debut in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2020, the Cup stars will race on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course in 2021 (Aug. 15).

The high banks of Bristol Motor Speedway will transform into a dirt track for a NASCAR Cup Series race on March 28, the first premier series race on dirt since Sept. 30, 1970 (North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh, N.C.).

And as previously announced, NASCAR returns to the Music City with a race at Nashville Superspeedway on June 20, which will kick off the NBC Sports portion of the season.

“We developed the 2021 schedule with one primary goal: Continue to take steps to create the most dynamic schedule possible for our fans,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. “Extensive collaboration between NASCAR, the racetracks, race teams and our broadcast partners allowed NASCAR to create what promises to be an exciting 2021 schedule of races.”

In addition, NASCAR announced the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race’s return to a high-speed 1.5-mile track in 2021, as the annual star-studded event moves to Texas Motor Speedway on June 13 for the first time in its 36-year history.

NASCAR will open its Cup Series season with two consecutive races in Florida. As is tradition, the season will kick off with the running of The Great American Race – the DAYTONA 500 – at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, Feb. 14 live on FOX before heading south to Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday, Feb. 21.

The series will also double down on a pair of familiar venues in markets threaded deep with historical NASCAR ties and passionate fanbases. Cars will hit the track at Darlington Raceway for the first time on Sunday, May 9 and again to kick off the Playoffs on Sunday, Sept. 5 while Atlanta Motor Speedway will host NASCAR’s premier series on Sunday, Mar. 21 and Sunday, July 11.

After an overhaul for the 2020 season, the only change in the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs will be a swap of dates between Texas and Kansas in the Round of 8. Wholly unpredictable venues – Bristol Motor Speedway (Sept. 18), the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval (Oct. 10) and Martinsville Speedway (Oct. 31) – will once again serve as the cutoff races in 2021.

Phoenix Raceway culminates the 10-race Playoffs slate as host of the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race for the second consecutive year.

NASCAR Cup Series races in 2021 will once again air on the FOX and NBC family of networks. Start times and specific networks will be announced at a later date. Schedules for the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will also be announced at a later date.

Below is the full 2021 NASCAR Cup Series schedule (Playoff races in bold font):

2021 NASCAR CUP SERIES SCHEDULE

DateRace / Track
Tuesday, February 9Clash (Daytona Road Course)
Thursday, February 11Duel at Daytona
Sunday, February 14DAYTONA 500
Sunday, February 21Homestead-Miami
Sunday, February 28Auto Club
Sunday, March 7Las Vegas
Sunday, March 14Phoenix
Sunday, March 21Atlanta
Sunday, March 28Bristol Dirt
Saturday, April 10Martinsville
Sunday, April 18Richmond
Sunday, April 25Talladega
Sunday, May 2Kansas
Sunday, May 9Darlington
Sunday, May 16Dover
Sunday, May 23COTA
Sunday, May 30Charlotte
Sunday, June 6Sonoma
Sunday, June 13All-Star (Texas)
Sunday, June 20Nashville Superspeedway
Saturday & Sunday, June 26-27Pocono Doubleheader
Sunday, July 4Road America
Sunday, July 11Atlanta
Sunday, July 18New Hampshire
Sunday, August 8Watkins Glen
Sunday, August 15Indianapolis Road Course
Sunday, August 22Michigan
Saturday, August 28Daytona
Sunday, September 5Darlington
Saturday, September 11Richmond
Saturday, September 18Bristol
Sunday, September 26Las Vegas
Sunday, October 3Talladega
Sunday, October 10Charlotte Roval
Sunday, October 17Texas
Sunday, October 24Kansas
Sunday, October 31Martinsville
Sunday, November 7Phoenix

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’).

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