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Why Professional Car Racers Get In Car Accidents So Often

By
SM
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Professional car racers have razor-sharp minds which enable them to react at blisteringly fast speeds. They may be the safest drivers on the road, but other factors are leading to driver deaths.

The National Association of Stock Car Auto Racers (NASCAR) has witnessed 28 driver deaths, the last one being in 2001 when Dale Earnhardt was killed in the Daytona 500 in front of his fans.

There have been no fatalities since 2001 after NASCAR harnessed technological advancements in safety measures such as:

  • Roll bars
  • Helmets
  • Driving suits
  • Seat mounts
  • Window nets
  • Air flaps
  • The HANS device

The developments in professional car racing have proven hugely successful in making the sport safer for drivers.

That said, crashes are still inevitable and continue to happen due to the following common reasons…

The Race Track

Some race tracks are notorious for wrecks and they share one common element: they’re the oldest race tracks.

Darlington Raceway in South Carolina became dubbed “Too Tough To Tame” due to its asymmetrical shape with an extra-wide corner at one end. This makes tackling corners massively dangerous. Although it claimed 13 lives of drivers and support personnel, there have been no deaths since 1965.

The list of particularly fatal racetracks also includes:

  • Riverside International Raceway, California
  • Charlotte Motor Speedway, North Carolina
  • Daytona International Speedway, Florida
  • ISM Raceway, Arizona

High Speed

Speed is the major cause of racing car accidents. The Bugatti Chiron, for instance, can reach 304 mph. Any wrong movement, however slight, can prove fatal in the blink of an eye.

When driving at such ridiculous speeds, the driver must resist g-force with his muscles. Such forces can cause serious injuries such as fractures or concussions.  So, if a driver goes unconscious at 250 mph he’s going to end up in the wall.

The intense pressure that high-speed driving has on the body is incredible. The wheel gets extremely heavy, and the pressure intensifies as they tackle corners and bends at breakneck speed.

Racing car drivers must also physically cope with high temperatures.

A concussion is a brain injury not caused by crashes but by deceleration if it is too rapid.

Pre-existing Medical Conditions

Racing can bring the heart rate up to 180 beats a minute, so drivers need a strong heart literally as well as metaphorically.

In 2013, Allan Simonsen, died of a heart attack at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The immense stress of heat, g-force, and competitive tension placed on his body caused his heart attack.

All racing drivers must now undergo a mandatory electrocardiogram (EKG) every two years.

Mechanical Failure

Tire blowouts and brake failure feature heavily in the reason racing car drivers veer off the track and straight into the concrete wall.

Issues such as throttle obstruction or an anti-lock braking system lock-out can also easily cause a racing car to spin out of control and hit the wall straight on.

Throttle obstruction can occur from loose bolts or screws that get wedged in the body of the car and reduce the car’s ability to brake properly.

When the anti-lock braking system fails it restricts the braking capacity so the car doesn’t decelerate efficiently enough.

Age

Young drivers can take some flak from other drivers just for being so young. This antagonism can increase the chance of accidents. Older drivers often disrespect younger drivers, and they are more likely to target them on the track.

Equally, older drivers whose reaction times and fitness begin to fade are also prone to accidents. Once former champions can start to lose their reflexes and muscle strength, they should consider retiring on safety grounds.

Personality

Some drivers get aggressive and gnarly when driving. Competitive A-type personalities routinely anger easily if competitively challenged.

Aggressive drivers take more risks and intimidate other drivers. Risky maneuvers on the track can lead to fatal consequences as other drivers can lose control of their car. 

Car racing can be as much psychological as physical and technical. Kyle Busch for instance is prone to cantankerous flares that put himself and others at risk.

Fire

Car racing is a hot sport. When we think of fire and racing, we think of Nikki Lauder. Racing car parts heat up rapidly so fire accidents are commonplace in car racing. The heat from the parts can get into the fuel tank and cause almighty explosions. This is why drivers must wear ultra-protective anti-fire gear.

Internal Organ Damage from Sudden Deceleration

When a driver ends up in a smash at high speed, the momentum at which he is hurtling is suddenly halted causing the head and body to fall back in the opposite direction. The speed at which this happens causes the internal organs to compress and cause organ damage.

The Austrian driver Roland Ratzenberger died in 1994 from damage to his aorta due to deceleration causing him to crash. His death led to the reformation of the Grand Prix Drivers Association.

Unrestrained Head Movement

The HANS Device (Head and Neck Support system) was developed by Mercedes-Benz and introduced in 2003.

The device fits around the neck and clips to the driver’s helmet. Weighing only 200 grams, the neck support is made of carbon and Kevlar.

As every person’s collar bone is different, the device is custom-made for every driver. This breakthrough device is proven to reduce neck injuries as well as the force load on the driver’s neck.

In 2001, Bruno Junqueira escaped death when his car spun around and smashed into a wall at 200 mph. Thanks to the new device, he managed to walk away unscathed.

NASCAR now mandates that all racing drivers wear a HANS Device while racing.

There’s more than meets the eye with car racing, too. Professional car racers are endurance athletes of the highest caliber. They must have nerves of steel, razor-sharp reactions, invincible confidence, and world-class fitness. The racing industry continuously reviews safety measures to try to prevent more injuries and deaths on the racetrack.

The best Dallas car accident lawyers can ensure you get the right settlement if you’re involved in any accident at high speed. Always seek legal advice in the event of any serious road accident.

DiBenedetto, Menards/Tuscany Team Hoping to Capitalize on Ford’s Speed at Talladega

By
Official Release
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After a strong second-place finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Matt DiBenedetto and the No. 21 Menards/Tuscany Faucets team head to Talladega Superspeedway hoping to improve their finish by one position. That would deliver DiBenedetto his first Cup victory and his Wood Brothers team its 100th.

Based on recent results, Talladega offers lots of opportunity for DiBenedetto and the Ford brigade.

Blue Oval drivers have won nine of the past 10 Cup races at Talladega, and Team Penske, which has an alliance with the No. 21 team, has won eight of the past 12 Cup races at the giant Alabama track.

In a recent Zoom conference, DiBenedetto’s optimism about the upcoming races on the schedule, including Sunday’s YellaWood 500 at Talladega, was evident.

“We only have great tracks coming up, and we’re strong as a team,” he said. “We can contend for wins.”

DiBenedetto, who admittedly wasn’t one of the better racers at Talladega and Daytona earlier in his career, said that in recent years he’s gotten better, and now focuses on doing his homework headed into those races.

“You’ve always got to work so hard and study so much for the plate races,” he said. “I’ll probably sit down with my spotter Doug Campbell this week and go over every bit of information… watch some previous video, all that stuff to prepare,” he said.

DiBenedetto explained that the disadvantages of racing at a plate track as a single-car outfit disappear when he has quasi-teammates like Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney from Team Penske to work with in the draft.

“They are incredible plate racers and obviously our cars, the Fords, are fast,” he said.

But, as DiBenedetto has learned in previous races at Talladega, even the best of plans can fly out the window in a matter of seconds.

“Talladega is wild, so many variables,” he said. “You can either get wiped out or you can have a solid day….

“Hopefully luck is on our side.”

There will be no qualifying or practice prior to the start of the YellaWood 500, which is set to get the green flag at 2 p.m. Eastern Time with TV coverage on NBC.

Menards

A family owned company started in 1958, Menards is headquartered in Eau Claire, WI. Menards has more than 300 retail stores located throughout the Midwest in the states of IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, SD, WI and WY. Menards is known throughout the home improvement industry as the low price leader. It’s famous slogan “Save Big Money at Menards” is widely known and easy to remember. For more information, visit Menards.com, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest.

Wood Brothers Racing

Wood Brothers Racing was formed in 1950 in Stuart, Va., by Hall of Famer Glen Wood. Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team and one of the winningest teams in NASCAR history. Since its founding, the team won 99 races (including at least one race in every decade for the last seven decades) and 120 poles in NASCAR’s top-tier series. Fielding only Ford products for its entire history, the Wood Brothers own the longest association of any motorsports team with a single manufacturer. Glen’s brother, Leonard, is known for inventing the modern pit stop. The team currently runs the Ford Mustang driven by Matt DiBenedetto in the famous No. 21 racer.

How NASCAR Cars Are Maintained

By
SM
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The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) Cup Series is one of America’s top 10 sporting events, with the Daytona 500 attracting more than 7 million viewers this year. The stockcars that participate in racing are built for speed and optimal performance. They must be well-maintained, with engineers and mechanics working on them round the clock to ensure that the cars are ready for the racing events. Let’s take a look at what and who’s involved in keeping these vehicles in a great shape to win the contest.

An Entire Crew Is Responsible For Maintenance

Any vehicle requires maintenance to keep it running smoothly, including NASCAR racing cars that are being tested on the track every week. It takes more than one person to maintain the car in excellent condition. An entire crew is deployed to look after a racing car, and each member has an important job to ensure that the vehicles are running optimally. The crew is headed by a crew chief who is responsible for everything concerning the vehicle and manages the rest of the team. Underneath the crew chiefs are specialized engineers and mechanics who work on the vehicle and tweak it to suit a specific race track.  

The team works on the car several days a week. One person may oversee the interior of the car, and sees to it that the temperature inside is comfortable. Since temps can reach up to 150 degrees, it is critical that the driving cooling system works. The driver’s seat is also checked, molding it to the body of the driver for safety, and keeping them in place and preventing them from being thrown around in the event of a crash.

Engine Specialist

One of the most important people on the team is the engine specialist or tuner, who ensures that the engine runs smoothly. They must be able to diagnose possible problems and anticipate the solutions should they occur during the race. Engine specialists must also do all they can to avoid engine failures during the competition because troubles kill the chance of winning.

They must also find ways to optimize engine performance. For example, engineers must avoid car radiator leaks, which, in turn, can cause coolant loss, increasing the possibility of the engine overheating. The coolant works by removing heat from the engine and diverting the heat through a series of coils. By fixing leaks, engine problems are avoided.

Tires Are Crucial

Tires play a critical role in each race, and multiple people are assigned to ensure that the tires of racing cars are working well. For example, at every pit stop, a ‘jackman’ raises and lowers the car so that the tires can be changed. Two people carry the tires and hand them to the tire changers. All these take place within about five seconds. In addition, there’s also a person who fills the vehicle with fuel, while another will clean the windshield and tend to the driver, handing them a drink or snack.

Racing cars are special vehicles that involve high maintenance. A special crew of engineers, mechanics, and tire specialists, among others, work together with the goal of putting a car on the track worthy of winning the race.

Interview: First-Seasons – Angelle Sampey

By
Briar Starr
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Photo Courtesy of Matt Polito

For this week’s interview of “first-seasons”, Angelle Sampey talks about her first-seasons in the NHRA, which came in 1996 through 1997 competing in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class. During this interview, Sampey discusses how she broke into the NHRA world, getting to compete for George Bryce, memories about her first start at Denver among many other topics regarding her first-season in NHRA.

SM: You began racing in Pro Stock Motorcycle 24 years ago in 1996 on a part-time basis before moving up to a full-time schedule in ’97 at the age of 27. Can you talk about what it was like making your debut professionally during those days of NHRA and getting connected with George Bryce Star Racing Team to give you an opportunity?

AS:  “It was very different back then than it is now,” Sampey said. “I was so young, I didn’t have a clue of what was about to happen to my life. I just knew I wanted to race a motorcycle. Still today, I just want to race motorcycles, I love them. But back then, I had no idea it was going to be a career or a lifelong thing. I had no idea, I was just so excited to be given the opportunity to get on a Pro Stock Motorcycle and race it.

“The competition was fierce back then as well but in a totally different way. Today, every round is like a final round; it’s so hard. Back in those days, if you were in the first round, it was a little easier to get to the second round. Still, racing in the semi-finals and finals were really tough. I got to race against some legends with John Myers and Dave Schultz. That’s an awesome thing to talk about. There’s only a couple of people that are around today, that were around back then. You know, Steve Johnson, and Hector Arana.

“Another thing that was vastly different is being able to focus. In today’s sport, there’s social media and people can express how they feel about you whereas it wasn’t like that back in those days. Life was much simpler. I went on a plane to go to the races, then came home and then my life was completely separate. No one could contact you. It (early career) was just easier.”

SM: At 27-years-old in your first season, did you feel as though it was the right time to get started professionally, or more so, “now or never”? Did you think 27 was a late start in your mind?

AS: “I always wished I could have started sooner,” she said. “It (racing) took me a while to understand what I was doing and how important it was. It’s kind of hard to describe, I wanted to be younger, but I was already so young mentally that I was kind of immature back then. I just didn’t know what I was doing. I didn’t know how to handle sponsors or how to handle anything really.

“It was a good time, age-wise. I was physically and mentally young, but actually, I feel like I’m in better shape now in the last 10 years of my career compared to when I first started. Some ways I wish I was younger, but I also wish I was older as well.”

SM: Your Pro Stock Motorcycle debut came at Denver that same year in ‘96. What was it like in the weeks leading up to that event? Were you at all starting to feel anxious or nervous about getting to the track? What did you do to help prepare for your debut?

AS: “It (Denver) was actually a surprise to go to that event,” Sampey said. “We weren’t planning on it (Denver). We had planned on doing a Pro Star event, I believe, within North Carolina. (Unfortunately), there was a storm that came through on the east coast and hit right along where we were supposed to be racing and so the race was canceled. We weren’t able to do it (Pro Star race). I was going to do that event to help prepare me professionally.

“When that happened, George (Bryce, Angelle’s former Team Owner) had considered Denver because the track is somewhat of a slower race since the altitude is different and the bikes go slower. It’s easier to get down the racetrack and you have more time to think about things. We thought, why don’t we go ahead and do the race in Colorado and I found at the last minute, we were going. There really wasn’t much time to think about it (the race).

“When we went over there, I think I was very prepared. I had done a lot of practice and hung around the team for a whole year before then. The nervousness wasn’t there. My biggest issue was handling the people I was racing against like Dave Schultz and John Myers. I had them so high on a pedestal and I was scared to death to race against them because they were my heroes. That part I wasn’t prepared for, everything else, though, I was.”

SM: Would you say you were star-struck?

AS: “Definitely, definitely,” she said. “All the races that day were amazing. I couldn’t believe I was on the same racetrack as them (Schultz and Myers).

SM: At that same event, you were already successful right off the bat by advancing to the semi-finals of that race. Looking back, are you satisfied with how that event went and is there anything you could have done to potentially win in that debut?

AS: “Oh yes, I was definitely more satisfied then I could have been,” Sampey said. “ I never thought we would make it (semifinals) that far. I mean, just to qualify was a huge accomplishment. We got in the show. Had we lost in the first round, I still would have been extremely proud of myself. However, we won the first round, second round, third round. I was like, are you kidding me?

“I’m kind of glad I didn’t win the first race. Though, I wish I wouldn’t have won the fourth race. We went to the semifinals and lost to Dave (Schultz). When we went to the second race, I can’t remember but I qualified just as well (unlike the previous race). The fourth race, we were No. 1 qualifier, set the record, and I won the race. For my career, it (winning those rounds) definitely jumped started me.

“That (winning) was instant attention. We were on talk shows and was able to grab a sponsor after that. So, that was fantastic, and I am appreciative for that happening. Unfortunately, I didn’t learn the struggle that came with it (after winning). I never realized or understood how big this was, just because it (winning) seemed so easy right off the bat. I guess I didn’t learn to appreciate it (winning) enough.

“Nowadays, I respect the process so much more. I appreciate everything so much more, and I’m proud of myself and the team. To get the win is so much sweeter after you struggle.”

SM: After the successful Denver debut, you would continue to have successful results by winning your first NHRA race at Reading against Dave Schultz in just your fourth start. What does that victory still mean to you to this day and have you had a chance to go back and watch that specific victory?

AS: “Yeah, definitely,” she said about watching the Reading victory. “Winning that race is one of the biggest memories of my career. I remember everything about (the victory). Just being in the right lane, the date and time (September 16th), Dave (Schultz), red light coming on, you know, everything about it. That day seems like it just happened last month. I was just in awe.

“I think had he not turned the red light (automatic disqualification), I wondered if I would have beaten him (Schultz). I was thinking I would never be able to beat this man. He’s way better than me. He wasn’t thinking that or else he (Schultz) wouldn’t have gotten a red light. In his mind, he knew I was a fierce competitor, but that was also a fond memory knowing he took me seriously.”

SM: Was there any conversation between you and Dave Schultz afterward?

AS: “No, Dave (Schultz) didn’t like me very much,” Sampey said. “He actually didn’t speak to me until later in his life before he left us. I don’t know if he just didn’t like the fact that I was there racing. He would not speak to me at all. Even if I would pull up aside him at the end of the racetrack. If I would roll closer to him, he would roll away from me.

“One day, we were at the Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida. I set a new national record in qualifying and it was 721. Dave (Schultz) would go to the apparel trailer every year at the Gatornationals because it was the first bike of the year for us. He came to the trailer with the hat he had bought and it was numbered 721. When he bought it (the hat), he saw the hat was labeled 721.

“So, he thought it (the hat) was appropriate for me to have the hat because I ran the 721 at the Gatornationals. Anyway, he (Schultz) comes to my trailer, and says, ‘I want you to have this hat, I just bought it.’ I didn’t know what to say. I asked him if he could sign it (hat) for me. He said ‘if you want me to, then I can.’ I’m like, ‘please.’ (Having that) is a very special thing for me.”

SM: Kind of an additional follow up to that question. Did you think you would ever win your first race in your first season? When did that victory set in for you, where you were like ‘Wow, I actually won an NHRA race? Did the victory take a couple of days to sink in?

AS: “Never,” she said. “It was so hard to drive the bike. I thought it was going to take me a couple of years to get a win. I was definitely not expecting to win in four races.” 

SM: Just jumping ahead a little bit to ‘97. You would run full-time that year after running six races the year prior in ‘96. What in your mind do you think you learned in ‘96 that helped you prepare for ‘97, or was there still a learning curve?

AS: “I think I was prepared enough when we started in ‘96,” Sampey said. “We did a lot more testing and practice than people are aware of. I was on the motorcycle a lot before that race in ‘96. My regret for ‘96 is that we started in the middle of the season, and so I wasn’t a contender for Rookie of the Year. I believe I had a good shot at it (ROTY) but I wasn’t eligible due to the part-time schedule in ‘96.

“That was a mistake we made. I should have waited to start at the beginning of ‘96 or start at ‘97.”

SM: In the ‘97 season, you would win at Topeka after finishing runner-up there in ‘96. What were the differences in the two years?

AS: “I probably could have won the previous year,” she said. “I didn’t race (that race) and that’s probably one of my biggest regrets in my career as well. I was racing John Meyers in the finals in Topeka and John was trying to win the championship against Dave Schultz. We weren’t supposed to be there (Topeka), because we were racing Pro Star and now I feel like I’m in the way of John trying to get a championship. I was using his spare engines since he was giving them up for me to run.

“We were running well in Topeka and there was a good chance we could win. However, if we did beat John, there was a good chance we might hurt him in the points. So, we decided collectively as a team, we would not race against John in the final. I didn’t want to lie like a lot of people have done in the past, I wanted to be honest. If I knew I wasn’t going to win, I’m gonna do it honestly and I’m not going to bring my bike to the starting line.

“So, we went where John was on the starting line, and we didn’t bring the bike. We got booed by the crowd. They booed us like crazy because they wanted to see me race. It was the most horrible moment of my career. You know, for the fans to turn against me, and be so mad that I wasn’t racing where in reality I wanted to earn their respect. Like look, I wasn’t going to be allowed to win this race anyway. So, I don’t want to lie about it. Now, I know that was a mistake and I should have gone up there and raced him. Who cares if he was going for a championship, right? Like, I’m here to race and win for myself.”

SM: As you look back on your career, are there any races that come to your mind that you wish you had another opportunity at?

AS: “That would be one of them (the Topeka 1996 race),” Sampey said. “There’s been so many more (races) after that. I wish I had another opportunity this past weekend (Gatornationals). I had my teammate Andrew Hines in the third round and I pushed it (bike) too hard. I had the bike to win the race. My Harley Davidson was running really good numbers. I went up there (on Sunday) but I red-lighted, lost the round.

“That is so disappointing because if you go up there and ruin the race all by yourself, that is something I would love to have back. I said it to my team Sunday night at dinner, ‘I just want to try that race again.’”

SM: When you entered NHRA in 1996 at the age of 27, did you ever think you would have 42 race wins, and three championships throughout your career?

AS: “I didn’t think I was going to race longer than five years,” she said. “My (former) Team Owner (George Bryce) asked me when I first started ‘How long do you want to do this (racing)?’ I thought about it, and I figured I could be lucky lasting five years. I had hoped to win a race or two in those five years. The five years went by in like five months, and before I knew it, I had a championship and was racing for another (championship).

“Now 24 years into my racing career, I’m still amazed at what has happened and I definitely credit that to the amazing teams I’ve been on. Amazing teammates, sponsors, everybody that’s helped me along the way to get everything I had. Especially my mom and my dad, my family.

“This is a career especially difficult for a woman, very tough to stay in for a long time. You’re on the road a lot and being away from family.”

SM: I know retirement is a long way off yet for you. But before your career is over, what is one thing you would like to accomplish the most or check off your bucket list?

AS: “Once I got to a certain point, I could be the winningest racer in history when I realized that possibility,” Sampey said. “I don’t like being the winningest female. I just want to be the winningest person on a Pro Stock bike. I know I’ll never have more wins than John Force, but I want to be known as a person who has the most wins on a Pro Stock Motorcycle.

“I don’t know if that will ever happen, because Andrew Hines has made that so hard to reach now and I’m running out of time quickly. If I could just get Andrew to stay at the trailer or stay off the motorcycle, I might be able to catch him. That has always been my goal to be the ultimate winningest Pro Stock racer.”

SM: I asked Ron Capps this question and he always said his last victory is his favorite victory. For you, what would you say is your favorite Wally (NHRA’s trophy) out of your collection?

AS: “My typical answer is the next one,” she jokingly says. “It’s a tough decision between the last two (Wally’s) I had, as they are extremely important to me. The Englishtown in 2016 was my favorite win as a mom and I dedicated that race to my daughter Ava. I couldn’t believe that I had done this (racing) for all these years and put off being a mom for it and now I’m back to doing it (racing) but being a mom at the same time.

“It was like starting all over again at the beginning. Englishtown in 2016 was the most important win in my career because I had Ava. This last one (Indianapolis race 3) is just as important to me because I’m doing something that I would have never imagined, driving for the Harley Davidson Vance and Hines team. I never ever, ever believed it would be a possibility. I still have a hard time believing that. To get a win on a Harley-Davidson, I would give up tons of Wally’s for that one (Indy).

Sampey winning Race 3 at Indianapolis, Photo Courtesy of NHRA Natinal Dragster.



“I couldn’t be more proud, and I’m so happy to be on this team. I’m over the moon that I’ll end my career with the Harley-Davidson team.”

SM: Some racers have a memorabilia collection and some don’t. Are you a driver that collects your own merchandise and if so, what do you have in your collection that reminds you about your rookie season(s)?

AS: “You know, I’m not that kind of driver, and I regret it,” Sampey said about keeping merchandise. “I’m so mad at myself that I did not keep it (my own merchandise). I should have kept at least five t-shirts of every shirt that was ever made, every hat, everything. I didn’t have any idea how important all of this was going to be, because I was so young and dumb.

“I was just living in the moment when I was young. Now, I did find some things (old t-shirts), my daughter wears them, and it’s so awesome for me to see her wear my t-shirts 15-20 years ago.”

SM: It’s been 24 years since your first start in Denver. What would a 50-year-old Angelle Sampey tell a 27-year-old Angelle Sampey, if time travel was available? Is there anything you would do differently?

AS: “There’s almost everything I would do differently,” she said. “Almost everything. The way I rode; I would change that. Just the way I handled everything, everything we talked about, saving stuff. I didn’t even keep track of the publications I was in, like, New York Times and USA Today. I should have kept all of those for my little girl to see.

“But, I would go back to the younger me, tell myself to appreciate everything more.” 

In Sampey’s career, the Matthews, Louisiana native has collected 42 race victories, three championships (2000, 2001 and 2002), 31 runner-up finishes, 44 semifinals, 75 quarterfinals, 59 Round 1 victories and 51 No. 1 qualifiers. 

Fans of Angelle can follow her on Social Media pages Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. 

Special thanks to Natalie Jahnke for coordinating the interview and Angelle Sampey for taking time out of her busy schedule.

INDYCAR Harvest GP presented by GMR Fast Facts

By
Official Release
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Race weekend: Thursday, Oct. 1 – Saturday, Oct. 3

Track: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course (clockwise)

Media Links: Race 1 Entry List | Race 2 Entry List | Trackside Book

Race distance: 85 laps / 207.35 miles (Race 1); 75 laps / 182.925 miles (Race 2)

Push-to-pass parameters: 200 seconds of total time, with a maximum time of 20 seconds per activation.

Firestone tire allotment: Nine sets primary, five sets alternate (Note: An extra (10th) set of primary tires is available to any car fielding a rookie driver.)

Twitter: @IMS, @IndyCar, #HarvestGP, #IndyCar

Event website: www.ims.com

INDYCAR website: www.IndyCar.com

2019 race winner: Inaugural event

2019 NTT P1 Award winner: Inaugural event

Qualifying lap record: Will Power, 1:07.7044, 129.687 mph, May 12, 2017 (Set in Round 3 of knockout qualifying)

NBC Sports telecasts: Race 1, 3:30 p.m. ET Friday, USA Network (live); Race 2, 2:30 p.m. ET Saturday, NBC (live). Leigh Diffey will be the play-by-play announcer for NBC Sports’ telecasts of the INDYCAR Harvest GP doubleheader alongside analysts Townsend Bell and Paul Tracy.

NBC Sports Gold livestreaming: Thursday’s NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice session (2:25 p.m. ET Thursday) and NTT P1 Award qualifying (Race 1, 6:20 p.m. ET Thursday; Race 2, 10:20 a.m. ET Saturday) will stream live on INDYCAR Pass on NBC Sports Gold, NBC Sports’ direct-to-consumer live streaming product.

INDYCAR Radio Network broadcasts: Mark Jaynes is the chief announcer alongside analyst Davey Hamilton. The INDYCAR Harvest GP doubleheader airs live on network affiliates, Sirius 211, XM 205, IndyCar.com and the INDYCAR Mobile app powered by NTT DATA. All NTT INDYCAR SERIES practices and qualifying are available on IndyCar.com and the INDYCAR Mobile app.

At-track schedule (all times local):
Thursday, Oct. 1

2:25-3:40 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice, NBC Sports Gold

6:20 p.m. – Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award (two groups/12 minutes each), NBC Sports Gold (Live)

Friday, Oct. 2

3:30 p.m. – USA Network on air

3:53 p.m. – “Drivers, start your engines”

4 p.m. – INDYCAR Harvest GP Race 1 (85 laps / 207.35 miles), USA Network (Live)

Saturday, Oct. 3

10:20 a.m. – Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award (two groups/12 minutes each), NBC Sports Gold (Live)

2:24 p.m. – “Drivers, start your engines”

2:30 p.m. – NBC Sports on air

2:31 p.m. – INDYCAR Harvest GP Race 2 (75 laps / 182.925 miles), NBC (Live)

Race Notes:

Scott Dixon leads the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship with three races to go for the third time since 2008. He also led the championship with three to go when he won the title in 2008 and 2018. Dixon has led the championship after every round this season. Since 2008, the driver who has led the championship with three races to go has won the championship seven times –Dixon in 2008 and 2018, Dario Franchitti in 2011, Will Power in 2014, Simon Pagenaud in 2016, and Josef Newgarden in 2017 and 2019.

  • There are seven drivers still mathematically eligible for the 2020 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship: Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden, Pato O’Ward, Colton Herta, Will Power, Graham Rahal and Takuma Sato. Any driver who trails the points leader by 108 points or more following this event will be eliminated from contention.
  • The INDYCAR Harvest GP will be the second and third NTT INDYCAR SERIES races conducted on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s road course this year and the eighth and ninth races, overall. Scott Dixon, Simon Pagenaud and Will Power are the only drivers to win on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Pagenaud won the inaugural race in 2014, 2016 and 2019, Power won the race in 2015, 2017 and 2018. Dixon won the GMR Grand Prix earlier this season.
  • Simon Pagenaud, Will Power, Felix Rosenqvist and Sebastian Saavedra are the only drivers to have won the pole position on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Saavedra claimed the pole in 2014, Power in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2020, Pagenaud in 2016 and Rosenqvist in 2019.
  • Nine drivers have competed in every NTT INDYCAR SERIES race on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course – Marco Andretti, Scott Dixon, James Hinchcliffe, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Josef Newgarden, Simon Pagenaud, Will Power, Graham Rahal and Takuma Sato. All are entered this weekend.
  • Four NTT P1 Award winners have won the race from the pole: Will Power in 2015, 2017 and 2018 and Simon Pagenaud in 2016.
  • Every driver entered in the event have competed in INDYCAR races on the IMS road course. Eleven entered drivers have led laps: Will Power 210, Simon Pagenaud 68, Scott Dixon 66, Graham Rahal 36, Josef Newgarden 25, Ryan Hunter-Reay 18, Felix Rosenqvist 15, James Hinchcliffe 4, Alexander Rossi 2, Marcus Ericsson 1 and Jack Harvey
  • INDYCAR HARVEST GP PRE-EVENT QUOTES:

JOSEF NEWGARDEN (No. 1 Hitachi Team Penske Chevrolet): “It’s a really important weekend for us at Indianapolis. We’re running second in championship points and have some ground to make up to Scott (Dixon), so every point is really going to count. With this being a doubleheader weekend, the pressure is on to perform at our best in the Hitachi Chevy and really maximize the points that we get. With two opportunities to race this weekend, we still feel we have a good shot at the title since my entire team has been working so hard and have a really great plan put together. Execution will be key, especially since doubleheader weekends can be so intense and anything could happen. As a sport, we are probably most excited to have fans there this weekend. That’s going to be great, so we want to put on a good show and give them a good battle up until the end.”

CHARLIE KIMBALL (No. 4 Tresiba / AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet): “Any time you get to race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, it’s a good time. And getting both a doubleheader on the Indianapolis road course plus the fall weather that has descended on Indy means that it will live up to its Harvest Grand Prix name. Partnering with both Dalton Kellett and Sebastien Bourdais means we’re all focused on a great result for AJ Foyt Racing this weekend.”

PATO O’WARD (No. 5 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet): “It’s crazy to think that the year is almost over. The entire team and I know that if there’s a time to push, it’s now, so we are all very motivated to build on what we have accomplished so far this season and keep racking up championship points. We are in the fight, so that’s what we will be pushing for. I know that the No. 5 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet will be good, so if we execute, we will have a couple of good races.”

HELIO CASTRONEVES (No. 7 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet): “First and foremost, we want to make sure that Oliver (Askew) gets better. He’s a young man with a bright future ahead of him. For me, I’m coming off of a big win at Mid-Ohio in IMSA and carrying momentum into this weekend at Indianapolis. It’s great to be back in a place where I have so many memories. It’s even more exciting this time, coming back with a new team and getting new experiences. I already have a taste of the great group of people at Arrow McLaren SP, and I’m looking forward to this weekend. Hopefully I can add a little bit of my experience to a great team and brand. I also want to thank Roger Penske and Tim Cindric for allowing me to race this weekend for a different team. My biggest fear is to not enter the wrong garage after 20 years! I’m looking forward to a good race.”

MARCUS ERICSSON (No. 8 Huski Chocolate Chip Ganassi Racing Honda): “I’m looking forward to getting back to the Indy road course. I think we had a good weekend there at the Indy GP earlier this season with Scott winning, and I finished sixth and had really good pace during the race. I think we’re going to have a good car there. I have a good feeling in the car at the moment. We had a strong run at Mid-Ohio, our last time out, with a fifth-place finish there. It’s something to build on, and I’m still looking for my first podium of the year. We have two chances for that this weekend, and I’m excited. Weather will play a huge part in the results this weekend, and it’s going to be a big difference between the hot and warm temperatures we had earlier in the year for the GP. Let’s see what that does for the balance of the cars. I’m confident, and I’m looking forward to the race.”

SCOTT DIXON (No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, NTT INDYCAR SERIES points leader): “I think for the No. 9 PNC Bank team, we just have to treat it like any other race weekend and try to get maximum points. The obvious goal is to go out there and try to win, but unfortunately, there are 23, 24 others that have the same goal. We’ll try to do better than we did at the last doubleheader at Mid-Ohio, where I definitely made a very large mistake that gave away some pretty easy points there. I’m really looking forward to it. I think it’s going to be fantastic to have up to 10,000 fans on each day. It’s definitely been a different dynamic, I think, for a lot of us this season, especially the Indianapolis 500 that ran without fans. We welcome the fans greatly. Hopefully, the weather cooperates and we can have a fantastic weekend.”

FELIX ROSENQVIST (No. 10 NTT DATA Chip Ganassi Racing Honda): “I think the Harvest GP will be a really tough race. It’s a track we have all been to, and it’s the second time this year. It’s all going to be in the details. However, I think Chip Ganassi Racing has always been strong there, especially in recent years. Scott won the Indy GP this year, and I had the pole there last year. It’s a good place for us, for sure. The cold temperatures may throw things around a little, but it actually may be to our benefit. I’m really pumped for the chance to get up on the top spot before the season ends.”

WILL POWER (No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet): “Everything about Indianapolis is so special, and the road course is no different. My Verizon Chevy team and I have had some success there, so we’re trying to pull from our experience to perform well. We didn’t run as well as we wanted to there back in July, but we feel we have a strong plan going into this race weekend. We’re pretty much out of contention for the championship, so we’re really racing for wins. With it being a doubleheader, it’s great to have two chances to win, but it won’t be easy. I’m happy we’ll have fans back at Indianapolis with us. I can’t wait to see them back in the grandstands there because they bring such a great energy. It’s going to be an exciting weekend.”

SEBASTIEN BOURDAIS (No. 14 AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet): “It’s time finally to get that 2020 INDYCAR season started for us. It’s been a long time coming but really happy to finally get this show on the road and see what we’ve got. Obviously, there was a lot of anticipation at the beginning of the year, and many months have gone by and many races, so we’re not taking it the easy way by getting in the seat at the tail end of the season. There’s a lot of things to learn for me with the team, the team to validate a few things that they think they need answers on for this season and, more importantly, the next. I’m very much looking forward to the Indy GP. It’s a track that I’ve had good success on and very much enjoyed the layout, but it’s not going to be easy because we’re jumping straight into the thick of it: one practice, then qualify, race, qualify, race. Hopefully, we hit the ground running with a happy setup and can have a good weekend. If that’s not the case, we’ll dig deep and learn a few things and see what we get results-wise.”

GRAHAM RAHAL (No. 15 United Rentals Honda): “The team has done a great job so far in improvements for the road courses over 2019. Our package has been extremely strong. Allen (McDonald; race engineer), Eddie (Jones, Takuma’s engineer) and all the guys did a great job coming up with some setups for this year that have worked. And we feel that it will work again at IMS this weekend. I thought we were phenomenal in Race 1 (GMR Grand Prix at IMS), and I think that Race 2 and 3 (INDYCAR Harvest GP) will be just as good for us. It’s just that people learned from the strategy and other things we did in the first race, and it will be interesting to see how we all respond this time around. It will be different this time because you’ve got 85 laps in the first race, which is longer than we did in July, and 75 laps is obviously shorter so the Saturday race will be a little different. Seventy-five laps is a pretty easy two-stop race based on what we did before. And 85 laps is a whole different ballgame. It will be interesting to see how it works out for everybody, but we definitely hope to put the United Rentals Honda up front. I would still like to get into third place (in the championship), and I think we can. I feel that we have had a tremendous season. On average, I feel like we have had the second-best, or third-best season of anybody. The problem is that we had two really poor races. Obviously, we missed points at Texas and Race 2 at Road America and St. Louis was not good for us, but I do expect us to be pretty strong to finish this off.”

SANTINO FERRUCCI (No. 18 SealMaster Honda): “Super excited to get back on track in the No. 18 SealMaster Honda and be racing on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course again. Obviously, there is some history to be made with the first-ever Harvest GP in the fall at IMS. It will be nice to have another doubleheader weekend. I think we have made a lot of progress since Mid-Ohio working on our cold-weather race car on the simulator, but it will be fun working with the crew again. I am confident we have a lot of good things to come and am looking forward to ending the season on a high note.”

CONOR DALY (No. 20 U.S. Air Force Chevrolet): “We had a great qualifying performance last time we were at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. I am really excited about being back for the Harvest GP since we already have experience together as a team at this track. We can look back on what we learned in July, build on that and progress from there. Hopefully, we will qualify again very strong and have an even better race this time.”

RINUS VEEKAY (No. 21 SONAX Chevrolet): “I am very excited to get going again after a few weeks off. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course was great for me earlier this year. Having two more races here makes me twice as happy. And fans this time for the Harvest Grand Prix will make it even better.”

SIMON PAGENAUD (No. 22 DXC Technology Team Penske Chevrolet): “Indianapolis is such a special place to me. It’s meant so much for my career between the road course and Indy 500 success we’ve had there. We are going to approach the end of the season aiming to race hard for more wins. I will proudly represent DXC Technology and Chevy in the usual black/white/chrome paint scheme. We will be facing a very demanding race weekend that’s a doubleheader. It will be very physical, and this format also requires a different approach on the technical decisions. The 22 team is up for the challenge. I look forward to seeing race fans back in Indianapolis, the heart of INDYCAR racing!”

SAGE KARAM (No. 24 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Chevrolet): “This weekend at the Harvest GP will be special since we get to return to the greatest racetrack in the world. Usually, we are only there in May. In this strange 2020, we will be at IMS in July, August and October. So that is quite a treat for all of the drivers and teams. For DRR, we are anxious to get back to the IMS road course, too. In July, it was the team’s first road race in seven years. So we had a lot to learn in trying to catch up with the other teams. Plus the heat was a factor. That won’t be the case this weekend. We did get our setups going in the right direction. We were sixth in warmup, and I think we had a top-10 race lap, too. Now, we have a good starting point when we hit the track this Thursday. We don’t have much time on track, so we want to be ready to go.”

TAKUMA SATO (No. 30 ABeam Consulting (Race 1)/Keihin (Race 2) Honda): “I think our road course setup has been very competitive as a team, but we had a couple of issues, too, so hopefully I will have a trouble-free weekend and get back on a good pace. Mid-Ohio was a tough one for us. Little things made a significant difference, and strategy-wise we weren’t able to do much, so we couldn’t recover well in the race, but I hope we will turn that around at IMS. I think everyone will have beneficial data from July. The field will be even more tight. However, we studied hard, and the preparation will boost us more, so I will expect a competitive weekend for us. The cooler temperatures will make a difference and usually make the car faster by itself as there is more downforce and consistent mechanical grips from the tires. The setup won’t be dramatically different from that, but we will need some adjustments. We have had both cold – and I mean even winter-jacket cold – and warm races at the Indy GP historically, so we should able to respond well. We want to finish as high at the end of the season as everyone else does. We just need to do the best possible job for the rest of season, too, and see where we will land.”

DALTON KELLETT (No. 41 K-Line USA / AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet): “It’s come down to the last race of the season (for me anyway)! This first year in INDYCAR has been fast-paced and full of unknowns, so I am looking forward to returning to a track that I have experience at. Compared to the heat of July, the cooler temps this weekend will be refreshing. Who knows? It might even get a little chilly in the car! We made good strides at Mid-Ohio, and the car had better pace than our results showed. If we continue on that path and put everything together, we will have a good shot at a solid finish for the #41 K-Line Insulators USA Chevy. That’s the approach to this event. I’m also looking forward to the chance to work with Sebastien (Bourdais). His experience and insight will be a great asset to the program.”

ALEX PALOU (No. 55 Guaranteed Rate Honda): “I’m super excited for the Harvest GP at Indy, especially after coming from a difficult weekend at Mid-Ohio. We had good pace, which was good for us, to show that we have a good car and to show what we can do, but unfortunately we had some bad luck and were not able to get the results we should have. Looking forward to Indy. We’ve been there earlier this year, but it will be very different mainly because of the temperature difference from July. I think that will make it a bit easier because tire degradation will be less, and when the temperature is lower, every car handles better. I also think that it won’t be as tough physically just because it won’t be so hot. It’s our last doubleheader weekend and our last road course for the season, so hopefully we can have a couple of good races with our Guaranteed Rate Honda.”

MAX CHILTON (No. 59 Gallagher Carlin Chevrolet): “I’m excited to get back on track this weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the No. 59 Gallagher Carlin Chevrolet, especially for a new event like the Harvest GP. There’s nowhere like the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, so the fact that we get to go back now for our third race weekend of the season at IMS is great. We had a strong qualifying on the IMS road course back at the beginning of the season in early July, so I’m hoping we can build on that momentum and start and finish even stronger this weekend.”

JACK HARVEY (No. 60 AutoNation/Sirius XM Honda): “I think it’s really cool that INDYCAR is bringing back a race with some history to it. IMS is of course such a special track that we get to race at, and this year we are lucky to be here three times in one year. We’ve had a good record on the road course in the past. Unfortunately, earlier this year we had a strong run, but a yellow flag once again put us back in the field. Going into the weekend knowing that we have the speed is confidence-inspiring, so myself and the guys are ready to get a good result.”

MARCO ANDRETTI (No. 98 AutoNation / Curb Honda): “We need to close the year on a strong note, and we have two chances at it this weekend. I’m excited to welcome and represent AutoNation this weekend and ‘Drive Pink’ to help kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We had pace in the 98 machine at the Indy GP earlier this year before dealing with other issues, so hoping to capitalize on that speed.”

Love’s Travel Stops and Luber-finer Join McDowell at Talladega

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Official Release
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McDowell on Talladega:

“I can’t wait to head back to Talladega this weekend for the second time in 2020. We have our friends at Luber-finer back on the car with Love’s, so it’s great to have them back on board as they’ve been with us a few times over the last couple of years. Hopefully we can have a break-out race and get our No. 34 Love’s Travel Stops Ford Mustang in Victory Lane on Sunday.

“Talladega has always been a great race track for our team; David Ragan picked up FRM’s [Front Row Motorsports] first win there back in 2013 and it would be really cool to put a Front Row [Motorsports] car back in the Winner’s Circle at Talladega this weekend. Love’s Travel Stops was actually on board with David Gilliland and the No. 38 team when Ragan won and [Gilliland] finished runner-up. We just need to keep our race car clean and be there at the end when it really matters. I think that if we can avoid the wrecks, we’ll come out of Talladega with a solid result and maybe even a trophy.

“Today is National Coffee Day and Love’s Travel Stops has a great initiative going on to raise money to help improve kids’ health. Today, Love’s Travel Stops will donate $1 to The Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals for every Love’s coffee purchased through their Love’s Connect app. I encourage everyone to download their app and purchase your coffee!”

About Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores

Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores is the nation’s industry-leading travel stop network with 530 locations in 41 states. Founded in 1964 and headquartered in Oklahoma City, the company remains family-owned and operated and employs more than 27,000 people. Love’s provides professional truck drivers and motorists with 24-hour access to clean and safe places to purchase gasoline, diesel fuel, fresh coffee, restaurant offerings and more. Love’s has more than 390 truck service centers, which include on-site and stand-alone Speedco and Love’s Truck Tire Care locations. Love’s and Speedco combined is the largest oil change, preventive maintenance and total truck care nationwide network. Love’s is committed to providing customers with “Clean Places, Friendly Faces” at every stop. To learn more, visit loves.com.

GMS Racing Gander Trucks Talladega Preview

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Official Release
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Sheldon Creed, No. 2 Chevy Accessories Chevrolet Silverado
Talladega Superspeedway Gander Trucks Stats
– Starts: 1, Best start: 5, Best finish: 9, Laps led: 20

2020 Gander Trucks Stats
– Starts: 18, Wins: 3, Best start: 1, Best finish: 1, Top 5s: 6, Top 10s: 9, Laps led: 293, Stage Wins: 7

Notes:

– Sheldon Creed the No. 2 team will compete with chassis No. 053 this weekend at Talladega. Creed has two top-10 finishes in three career starts with this chassis. GMS has two superspeedway wins with this chassis at Daytona in 2017 and Talladega in 2018.
– Creed is currently first in the points standings, 52 points above the cutoff line for the Round of 8.
– In addition to his 2019 Gander Trucks start at the track Creed has two ARCA Menards Series starts at Talladega Superspeedway.
– The GMS fleet will carry special pink ribbons this week to promote breast cancer awareness and honor individuals close to GMS team members who have been affected by the disease.

Quote:

“Talladega is always a challenge, but we’re just going to be patient and try to survive the race. We’re in a pretty good spot to advance to the next round, but we’re not in the clear yet. Just have to stay out of trouble and hope to have a shot at the win at the end.”

Zane Smith, No. 21 La Paz Margarita Mix Chevrolet Silverado
Talladega Superspeedway Gander Trucks Stats
– No prior Gander Trucks starts at Talladega Superspeedway.

2020 Gander Trucks Stats
– Starts: 18, Wins: 2, Best start: 1, Best finish: 1, Top 5s: 4, Top 10s: 10, Laps led: 271, Stage wins: 5

Notes:

– Although this will be his first Gander Trucks start at Talladega Superspeedway, Zane Smith has one ARCA Menards Series start at the track where he qualified eighth and led 16 laps en route to victory lane.
– Smith and the No. 21 team will compete with chassis No. 134 this weekend at Talladega. Smith competed with this chassis at Daytona in February where he qualified sixth and finished 11th.
– Smith is currently third in points standings, 13 points behind the leader and 39 points above the cutoff line for the Round of 8.
– The GMS fleet will carry special pink ribbons this week to promote breast cancer awareness and honor individuals close to GMS team members who have been affected by the disease.

Quote:

“I feel pretty confident heading into Talladega this weekend. I won there a few years back, so it’s been good to me. Hopefully we survive the day and leave locked in to the next round in the playoffs.”

Brett Moffitt, No. 23 Fr8Auctions Chevrolet Silverado
Talladega Superspeedway Gander Trucks Stats
– Starts: 2, Best start: 8, Best finish: 4, Laps led: 7

2020 Gander Trucks Stats
– Starts: 18, Best start: 1, Best finish: 2, Top 5s: 8, Top 10s: 12, Laps led: 363, Stage Wins: 6

Notes:

– Brett Moffitt and the No. 23 team will compete with chassis No. 129 this weekend in Talladega. Moffitt has one top five and 14 laps led in three career superspeedway starts with this chassis.
– Moffitt is currently second in points standings, eight points behind the leader and 44 points above the cutoff line for the Round of 8.
– Moffitt has led the most laps of any Gander Trucks regular so far this season.
– The GMS fleet will carry special pink ribbons this week to promote breast cancer awareness and honor individuals close to GMS team members who have been affected by the disease.

Quote:

“Talladega is always tricky, but we had a good run there last year. The goal is to stay out of trouble and be around at the end to compete for a win and advance to the next round of the playoffs.”

Chase Purdy, No. 24 Bama Buggies Chevrolet Silverado
Talladega Superspeedway Gander Trucks Stats
– No prior Gander Trucks starts at Talladega Superspeedway.

2020 Gander Trucks Stats
– Starts: 5, Best start: 1, Best finish: 10

Notes:

– Chase Purdy will make his first superspeedway start in the Gander Trucks series at his home track. The Tuscaloosa native has one prior start at the track in the ARCA Menards Series where he qualified second and led four laps.
– Purdy and the No. 24 team will compete with chassis No. 127 this weekend in Talladega. This chassis served as a backup chassis for GMS in 2019. This chassis has three top-10 finishes in its last four superspeedway starts for GMS.
– The GMS fleet will carry special pink ribbons this week to promote breast cancer awareness and honor individuals close to GMS team members who have been affected by the disease.

Quote:

“I’m excited about Talladega. It’s a hometown race for me and it’s just a cool place to race. We’re just going to try to keep ourselves out of trouble and be around at the end to compete for a win!”

Tyler Ankrum, No. 26 LiUNA! Chevrolet Silverado
Talladega Superspeedway Gander Trucks Stats
– Starts: 1, Best start: 2, Best finish: 7, Laps led: 6

2020 Gander Trucks Stats
– Starts: 18, Best start: 2, Best finish: 2, Top 5s: 3, Top 10s: 9, Laps led: 54

Notes:

– Tyler Ankrum and the No. 26 will utilize chassis No. 133 this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. This is the same chassis that Ankrum ran at Daytona in February.
– Ankrum enters the Talladega weekend fifth in the points standings, 37 points behind the leader and 15 points above the playoff cutoff line.
– The GMS fleet will carry special pink ribbons this week to promote breast cancer awareness and honor individuals close to GMS team members who have been affected by the disease.

Quote:

“I’m feeling pretty good heading to Talladega this weekend. We had a good run at Daytona in February with this truck and I know we’ll be fast again this weekend. We just need to keep our nose clean and be around at the end for a shot at the win and a chance to advance to the next round.”

ABOUT GMS RACING

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

SOCIAL MEDIA

To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, follow GMS Racing on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Ticket Capacity Reached for Talladega Superspeedway’s YellaWood 500 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Race This Sunday

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Official Release
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Limited Number of 3-Day Infield Camping Spots Remain for Guests with Self-Contained RVs

Talladega, AL – (Sept. 29, 2020) – Talladega Superspeedway officials announced today that the socially-distanced grandstand and tower ticket capacity has been reached for Sunday’s YellaWood 500 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race.

A very limited number of camping spaces remain available for purchase in the track’s famous infield for guests with self-contained RVs. Those interested in camping possibilities for the weekend are encouraged to act quickly by calling 1-877-Go2-DEGA.

The YellaWood 500 is the second race (of three) in the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 12 Playoffs and is scheduled for a 1 p.m. CDT start. Saturday’s slate includes a double dose of playoff action with the Chevy Silverado 250 at TALLADEGA for the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series, which is set to go off at Noon CDT. It will be followed by the Ag-Pro 300 at TALLADEGA for the NASCAR Xfinity Series at 3:30 p.m. CDT. The Chevy Silverado 250 at TALLADEGA will serve as the elimination race in the Round of 10 where two Gander Trucks drivers will be eliminated from title competition while the Ag-Pro 300 at TALLADEGA will be the second in the Round of 12.

“When we hosted a limited number of fans back to the track in June here we knew that it came with great responsibility,” said Talladega Superspeedway President Brian Crichton. “It was a tremendous honor then to be one of the first sports facilities to host fans once the pandemic started, and it’s just as big of an honor now as we host our fans for the NASCAR Playoffs.

“We owe a great deal of gratitude to Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, along with our community and state leaders for having the confidence in us to create an entertaining and safe experience for our fans, our partners and the entire NASCAR family. We are so thankful, too, for all the effort of our frontline workers. For those fans who won’t be able to join us, we encourage them to enjoy the YellaWood 500, the Ag-Pro 300 and Chevy Silverado 250 via our broadcast partners’ NBC, NBCSN, FS1 and MRN Radio. ”

The reduced number of fans permitted for the tripleheader weekend is in accordance with safety protocols and procedures to provide a safe experience. All guests who attend will be screened before entering the facility, required to wear face coverings and maintain six-feet of social distancing throughout the venue. For all safety protocols and rules, click here.

The YellaWood 500 will be the final race at Talladega Superspeedway for seven-time NASCAR Champion and two-time Talladega winner Jimmie Johnson, as well as a great friend of the track – Brendan Gaughan. Ryan Blaney is the defending champion of the YellaWood 500, as well as the track’s latest Cup winner in June when he claimed the GEICO 500 prize, narrowly winning both races by seven one thousandths of a second.
The full schedule for Oct. 3-4 Playoff Weekend for Talladega Superspeedway includes:

  • Sat, Oct. 3 – Chevy Silverado 250 at TALLADEGA NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series at 12:00 p.m. CDT (FS1, SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90 & MRN); 94 laps
  • Sat, Oct. 3 – Ag-Pro 300 at TALLADEGA NASCAR Xfinity Series at 3:30 p.m. CDT (NBCSN, SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90 & MRN); 113 laps
  • Sun, Oct. 4 – YellaWood 500 NASCAR Cup Series at 1:00 p.m. CDT (NBC, SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90 & MRN); 188 laps

For information on Talladega Superspeedway, visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com or call 1-877-Go2-DEGA. Fans can keep up with all the happenings at the biggest, baddest race track on the planet by following Talladega Superspeedway on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and by downloading the track’s mobile app.

About Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway – which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year – is the most competitive race track on the NASCAR schedule (record 88 lead changes in 188 laps), the highest-banked (33 degrees) and the longest (2.66 miles), as well as the most fun and fan-friendly. Three- and four-wide racing at 200 mph are a norm at Talladega Superspeedway, along with nail-biting, photo finishes. For information, visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com or call 1-877-Go2-DEGA.

FedEx Racing Express Facts – Talladega Superspeedway

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Official Release
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Denny Hamlin
#11 FedEx Express Toyota
Joe Gibbs Racing

Race Info:
Race: YellaWood 500
Date/Time: Sunday, Oct. 4/2:00 p.m. ET
Distance: 188 laps/500.08 miles
Track Shape: Tri-Oval
Track Length: 2.66 Miles
Banking: 33 degrees
2019 Winner: Ryan Blaney

Express Notes:

Press Kit: Download the 2020 FedEx Racing press materials at www.fedexracing.com/presskit, including bios for Denny Hamlin, Chris Gabehart and Joe Gibbs Racing leadership, program highlights and statistics.

Las Vegas Recap: Denny Hamlin looked to be cruising to a Round of 12 Playoffs win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Sunday – until a late-race caution scrambled the field and knocked him far out of the lead. Hamlin and his fast FedEx Office Toyota led 121 of the 268 race laps around the 1.5-mile oval, resulting in a Stage 1 victory. His fate quickly changed late in Stage 3, though. Hamlin was enjoying a nearly two-second lead when he came to pit road for a green-flag stop on Lap 233, but the untimely caution flew as soon as he rejoined the field. The yellow, which flew in the middle of the pit cycle, left the No. 11 back in 12th. A two-tire pit stop on Lap 252 under another caution helped Hamlin make a final charge, but he ran out of laps before he could track down leader Kurt Busch, who went to Victory Lane and clinched his spot into the Round of 8.

Talladega Preview: The Round of 12 moves onto Talladega, the biggest and fastest track on the NASCAR circuit. Coming off a strong performance in Las Vegas, Hamlin and the FedEx #11 team look to carry that momentum with them as they bring their FedEx Express Toyota Camry to Talladega. Hamlin has only one win at the superspeedway but is focused on changing that narrative and securing his spot in the Round of 8 with a win this weekend.

Hamlin Statistics:
Track: Talladega Superspeedway
Races: 29
Wins: 1
Poles: 0
Top-5: 8
Top-10: 12
Laps Led: 320
Avg. Start: 17.4
Avg. Finish: 17.2

Hamlin Conversation – Talladega:

How are you feeling as you move deeper into the playoffs and yet to end up in Victory Lane?

“It’s just really unfortunate circumstances that are keeping us out of Victory Lane. I’m really happy with the way we’re running, though, and feel confident going into Talladega this weekend.”

You remain second in points behind the leader, Kevin Harvick. What is your FedEx Racing team’s focus as you get ready for Talladega?

“We need to maintain focus and let the rest take care of itself. Talladega is known as the biggest and the fastest course in the circuit. We’ve had success in previous races there and just need to build off of the momentum we gained in Las Vegas.”

FedEx Express Along for the Ride at Talladega Superspeedway: FedEx Express is pleased to recognize team members at OLVRT in Memphis, Tenn., for their outstanding work through the COVID-19 pandemic by featuring the letters OLVRT on the B-post of the FedEx #11 at the Talladega Superspeedway YellaWood 500. The team moved personal protective equipment (PPE), COVID-19 test kits and other supplies throughout the country. These dedicated employees worked multiple weekend shifts over a four-month period, in addition to their normal schedules to provide priority service for these urgent medical shipments. The OLVRT team continues to assist with critical medical shipments for many pharmaceutical and medical customers.

How to Choose a Bumper | New Video

By
Official Release
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AmericanTrucks’ Shopping Guide for F-150 Owners

PAOLI, Pa. (September 28th, 2020) – Aftermarket parts retailer, AmericanTrucks (AT) helps F150 owners shop for bumpers with the help of their new video shopping guide. AT host, Adam Maqboul highlights four types of bumpers showing them installed on a 2015 5.0-liter F-150. Each bumper style applies to all generations and can be found on AT’s website along with their in-depth F-150 bumpers tech guide.

Adam begins with an entry-level, off-road bumper he describes as a “durable, aggressive, and beefy front bumper that can act as a blank slate for potential add-ons.” Stepping it up from there is what Adam calls the “utility-based” bumper. In addition to protection and durability, the utility bumper will include features like a winch plate, strong D-ring shackles, and auxiliary lighting. Next up, is the “pre-runner style” front bumper built for maximum ground clearance. This lightweight bumper is ideal for off-road use allowing the tires to go over an obstacle before the bumper takes the hit. Lastly, Adam presents the “total protection” style front bumper. As the name implies, this bumper style is for F-150 owners who are looking for all-around front-end protection, in any driving condition, on or off-road.

AT offers a variety of F-150 bumper styles to suit any application. The new video helps customers narrow down what’s best for their truck, no matter what gen they’re driving. Customers can find additional information inside AT’s F-150 bumper styles overview page, complete with images, tips, and answers to common bumper-related questions.

View it here:  https://www.americantrucks.com/f150-front-bumpers.html

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About AmericanTrucks

AmericanTrucks is regarded as one of the best, most reliable online aftermarket retailers providing parts and accessories for F150, F250, Ranger, Silverado, Sierra, and RAM. Catering to the needs and demands of late-model truck owners and enthusiasts, AmericanTrucks provides the best parts with support from genuine truck experts. Located just outside of Philadelphia, AmericanTrucks is dedicated to offering the truck community with the highest quality of parts and customer service. Please visit https://www.americantrucks.com for more information.

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