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Ford Performance NASCAR: Brad Keselowski Las Vegas Media Availability

By
Official Release
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NASCAR CUP SERIES

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020

SOUTH POINT 400 – NASCAR ZOOM MEDIA AVAILABILITY

Brad Keselowski, driver of the No. 2 Discount Tire Ford Mustang for Team Penske, has four wins this season, including one in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs at Richmond Raceway two weeks ago. He enters the Round of 12 opener on Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in third place, holding a 30-point advantage on the final transfer position. Here is a full transcript of his Q&A session today as part of a NASCAR Zoom media availability.

BRAD KESELOWSKI, No. 2 Discount Tire Ford Mustang — ARE YOU GLAD TALLADEGA IS THE MIDDLE RACE OF THIS ROUND OR DOES IT REALLY MATTER? “Long story short, I didn’t even think about it that way. The biggest thing I’ve been thinking about is the playoff bonus points and winning in Vegas. The best thing we can do to control our own destiny is to go win Vegas and then Talladega just becomes what it is. It’s the same thing with the Roval, so we’re hopeful to just kind of not have to worry about it that way by scoring a win. If we’re not able to do that, I’d like to get a few more playoff bonus points with stages for those races and that would help a bunch, but, certainly, this round presents a lot of challenges for us.”

WHERE DO YOU SEE THE STATE OF THESE SUPERSPEEDWAY RACES RIGHT NOW? “Somewhere along the lines of a MAVTV demo derby just a little faster. I mean, it is what it is and you have to call for what it is. The racing at Daytona and Talladega goes through ebbs and flows and evolutions, and it’s evolved so much over the last 11 years, 12 years I’ve been in Cup, and it seems to evolve in yearly sometimes every two to three year cycles. It’s really hard to keep in front of it. This latest iteration has just been the demo derby iteration, which has been frustrating for me because without being able to really do anything to protect the lead it’s just hoping that, fingers crossed, you don’t get wrecked. That said, my teammate Ryan Blaney has been successful. He’s won two races and managed to survive a couple times at Daytona and Talladega and I just look at it and go, ‘You lucky you know what,’ but he’s doing something right, but I haven’t figured out how to survive all the crashes.”

HOW DO YOU LOOK AT FRIENDS ON THE RACETRACK AND THE DISCUSSION THIS WEEK, AND THOUGHTS ON LAP TRAFFIC WHEN YOU’RE FASTER THAN SOMEONE? “There are a lot of people who think Dale Earnhardt was the best race car driver ever, and I think he was really good, but one of the things that he probably didn’t get a lot of credit for and that I respect the most about him was his ability to go out and just flat-out wreck someone on the racetrack, not that people didn’t get mad at him, but people forgot about it, like they moved on. He had it mastered, absolutely mastered. I look at that all the time and just wonder, ‘How do you do that?’ Now, keep in mind that was in an era before social media and before the super-big sponsors and maybe times have changed permanently forever, but I certainly wonder about that — how he was able to basically go out and wreck people and still be their friends. That doesn’t exist in Cup right now. Maybe it’s because no one has or will ever have the personality that Dale had, or maybe because you can’t. I don’t know, but the reality is unless you have the dominant car, you have to make bold moves and you have to do things that make people pretty angry to win. It’s not a fun part of the process, but you can’t win without it. In theory, the best way is to just go out and have the best car. The reality is on any given weekend that’s only one driver and in any given season you’re lucky to have the best car two or three times. I was thinking about this the other day as I was talking to a friend of mine who is a football fan and a lot of times what I hear from people about race car drivers is, ‘Are you the quarterback on the team?’ And my honest answer is, ‘No, I’m not really the quarterback on the team, I’m probably like a wide receiver skill position,’ because my job, in some ways, is very similar to a wide receiver that when I’m wide open, I better catch the ball. That’s the same as having the fastest race car. You better make the most out of it. When I’m completely covered, I’ve got to find a way to come down with the ball and that’s when you don’t have the fastest race car and you go out and still find a way do succeed. Let’s just put it this way, trying to come down with the ball while you’re fully covered is a scrum and you’ve got to throw a few elbows and a few people get upset. The position that we’re in and we’ve been in is one where we’re not exactly always the fastest car and we’ve got to throw a few elbows. It’s not where we want to be, but it’s the reality and the alternative is to just give up and that’s not who I am and I know that’s not who Joey is.”

SO THEN IS THE ART LEARNING HOW TO HAVE PEOPLE MAD AT YOU WITHOUT IT SCREWING WITH YOUR HEAD? “It certainly is an art. It’s one that Dale Earnhardt had figured out better than anyone else, and led to a lot of success that he deserves tremendous credit for. It’s not one that exists in Cup today.”

THERE’S BEEN SOME CHATTER ABOUT A POTENTIAL DIRT RACE AT BRISTOL. DO YOU HAVE ANY PREFERENCE? “I don’t know enough about it. I have one-tenth of the information that would be required to have a respectable opinion. I’ve got so many questions, so I kind of want to see how it unfolds before really giving a detailed opinion. My initial impressions are that change is good for the NASCAR schedule. It shows a commitment to trying to keep this circuit fresh and keep fan interest. Beyond that, I don’t know enough about it technically to have a formal opinion.”

IS THE BIG QUESTION WHAT TYPE OF SUSPENSION AND HOW MUCH DIRT? “Yeah, the tire is the big question. If they’re gonna bring a tire like they brought to the truck races, I would be very disappointed. If they bring a very high caliber quality dirt tire, I think it could be an amazing race.”

WHAT WENT THROUGH YOUR MIND WHEN YOUR POWER-STEERING WENT OUT AT BRISTOL AND HOW GRATEFUL WERE YOU THAT YOU HAD A WIN IN THE BAG ALREADY? “Yeah, I think number two probably answers number one. First thought in my mind was, ‘Thank God we won Richmond,’ but it was the power-steering that actually went out. I’m not sure why that happened. I know the team was trying to take a look at it, but my XFINITY teammate, Austin Cindric, had the same issue the night before. Hopefully, that will get solved and won’t be a source of worry as we move forward, but I am super-thankful for the run we had at Richmond and glad to move on. I hate how it hurt our average finish. We had an average finish of like 1.7 on the short tracks until then this year, and that was gonna be awesome. Well, that ruined that, but, either way, it’s over and we’re thankful to move on to the next round.”

DOES IT TEACH YOU THE IMPORTANCE OF WINS PARTICULARLY IN THE PLAYOFFS? “I think if you look through the list, the first thing that stands out is you can’t beat yourself — driver, car, team — and if you do beat yourself, you better be able to win in the other races. So, is it the importance of winning? Yes, but I think if you’re getting down to the basics of it, you can’t have breakdowns, you can’t have major driver malfunctions or major car malfunctions or you’re gonna be in big trouble.”

IS VEGAS MORE IMPORTANT BECAUSE OF TALLADEGA AND THE ROVAL RIGHT AFTER IT? “I think it’s the second most important race to win outside of Phoenix throughout the whole season because these next two weeks are very difficult to prepare for, to your point. We’d like to get a headstart on preparing for Kansas and Texas and not have to worry about breakdowns or wrecks, but we’re putting a lot of emphasis on it is the easiest way I can put it.”

WHERE DO YOU FEEL YOU AND JEREMY ARE IN TERMS OF COMMUNICATION COMPARED TO WHERE YOU AND PAUL WERE AT THIS TIME LAST YEAR? “I think the easiest way is we’re kind of graduating from the honeymoon phase into the living together phase. It’s still pretty good, everybody is happy. I’m thrilled to death with what I think our potential is for these playoffs, but we’ve got to go to work.”

Are Car Modifiers Reckless by Nature?

By
SM
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Car owners have been customizing their vehicles since the first automobiles rolled off the factory floor and onto American roads. 

Today, a car modification is more likely to be associated with street racing, turbo engines, and flashy looks. But for many car buffs, modification is a lifelong passion that they spend significant time and money on. It allows them to express individuality and preserve history as well as upgrading performance. But are there certain kinds of modifications that might indicate that the driver is more likely to drive recklessly?

Types of Car Modifications

There are three basic categories of modifications: performance modifications, functional modifications, and cosmetic/aesthetic modifications. Cosmetic modifications include a new coat of paint or a decorative spoiler.  Functional modifications include a navigation/radio system with the touch screen, a new air conditioner, or a sunroof. Performance modifications can mean getting new brakes or tires or updating your car’s fuel efficiency. It is this category where most modifiers get into trouble. By doing things like adding a nitrous booster or removing emissions parts to boost horsepower, they may violate the law.

Common Unsafe or Illegal Car Modifications

Every state has its own laws and regulations about what car modifications it allows and to what extent. Some of these restrictions—like bans on dark window tinting, radar detectors, and underbody neon lights—may seem silly. However, the vast majority of them are meant to keep drivers and passengers safe on roads and highways. There are several popular modifications that can create a safety hazard.

Jacked-Up Bro Trucks

Trucks are designed to sit higher than your average passenger car. Some owners like to install lift kits and huge tires, turning a common work vehicle into monster truck rally time. This shifts the truck’s center of gravity higher than it should be. This makes the vehicle harder to handle, and more likely to flip or cause accidents.

Lowriders

Sadly, this well-recognized car customization gets a bad rap due to perceived gang affiliations. But a lowrider by itself can indeed be an unsafe drive. Some are so low that a little bump can cause them to scrape the road. This means that they can’t travel at normal rates of speed. Most enthusiasts will now install hydraulics to avoid this.

Head and Tail Light Modifications

Some of the cooler looking modifiers that became big two decades ago were aftermarket head and tail lights. Most turned out to be poor quality, which meant that many of them leaked or fogged easily. Lights that aren’t bright can’t serve their safety purpose.

Removing Emissions Equipment

A hack more common for the classic car buffs, removing emissions gear from certain cars (especially muscle cars) gave the vehicle a bump in horsepower. Modern fuel injection and efficient engines make this hack totally unnecessary now.

Nitrous

A certain film series introduced the public to the concept of nitrous injection kits. The reason for its illegality is the danger first responders would face after an accident. A nitrous bottle used for a vehicle is under intense pressure and, in a worst-case scenario, can explode. Hard to miss the safety issue there.

Vehicle Modifications and Reckless Driving

Most aftermarket car modifications will not have any real impact on how a particular person approaches driving. Just because someone installs a Bluetooth radio or replaces their brakes, doesn’t mean that they want to find the nearest street race. But the facts do suggest a connection between certain modifications and driver safety. According to a survey of car insurance companies, drivers of cars fitted with aftermarket parts are 27% more likely to be in an accident. 

Another concern when it comes to reckless driving has more to do with the law and police enforcement than the driver’s actions. Certain modifiers like loud exhaust and sound systems draw attention, and some places may have broadly written reckless driving statutes to give cops wide latitude on determining what is reckless. The purpose of sound restrictions is to make sure others on the road can hear emergency vehicle sirens. Certain localities enforce them more strictly than others. For more information on the legal ramifications of modifications and reckless driving, view site here.

Modifiers and your Car Insurance Policy

When you purchase auto insurance, you pay for coverage to your vehicle as it is. Insurance companies set their own coverage rules for future modifications. If you modify your car and don’t inform them, they may refuse coverage or reimbursement after you get into an accident. Asking your insurer before making major alterations can help you avoid a financial headache.

Conclusion

So are car owners that modify their vehicles reckless drivers by nature? The true answer is nuanced. Some modifications are safety hazards and increase the likelihood of an accident or reckless driving charge from law enforcement. Customizing your ride is your right, but make sure you do it safely and check the laws where you live before going under the hood.

Carson Hocevar to Compete Fulltime with Niece Motorsports in 2021

By
Official Release
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DOVER, DELAWARE - AUGUST 21: Carson Hocevar, driver of the #40 Scott's Chevrolet, drives during the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series KDI Office Technology 200 at Dover International Speedway on August 21, 2020 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)

STATESVILLE, N.C. (Sept. 24, 2020) – On the heels of an impressive run in his first start at Bristol Motor Speedway, Carson Hocevar and Niece Motorsports announced today that Hocevar will compete fulltime for Niece Motorsports in 2021 in the Truck Series.

“I’m so excited to get the opportunity to race fulltime next year with the Niece Motorsports group,” said Hocevar. “We’ve had some really strong runs in the few starts that we’ve had this season and I am grateful for the chance to continue that next year. I’ve learned so much already this year and know that we will keep improving next year too.”

To date, Hocevar has made five starts this season with the team. The young driver has shown an impressive ability to maneuver some of the toughest short tracks on the circuit, with his best finish of 12th coming at Dover International Speedway.

“Carson has really impressed us this season,” said team owner Al Niece. “He’s proven his talent – getting into the truck with no track time and really holding his own. We’re thrilled to have him with us fulltime next season and look forward to contending for wins together.”

Hocevar has also driven his family-owned No. 14 GM Parts Now, Precision Fleet Image super late model to five victories in keystone events across the country in 2020.

In addition to races at Bristol and Darlington, Hocevar has also raced at the Daytona Road Course, Gateway Motorsports Park and Richmond International Raceway this season for Niece Motorsports.

“As an organization, we’ve been really impressed with Carson’s ability to race at these tracks that he hasn’t seen before, with no track time before the race,” said general manager Cody Efaw. “He’s a great racer and continues to learn and improve every time he gets behind the wheel. We have no doubt that Carson will be in contention for wins next year.”

Hocevar will return behind the wheel this season in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series event at Martinsville Speedway. The NGROTS will take the green flag on Friday, October 30 at 8 p.m. ET and will air live on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

About Niece Motorsports:

Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2020, Niece Motorsports enters its fifth season in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel / lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as Twitter @NieceMotorsport.

Weekend schedule for Las Vegas

By
Angie Campbell
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Photo by Rachel Schuoler for SpeedwayMedia.com.

All three NASCAR national series will compete at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this week. The Cup Series will begin the Round of 12 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Sunday night as the Playoffs continue.

Friday night the Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series will kick off the weekend’s events with the second race of the Round of 10 on their playoff schedule. The Xfinity Series will hit the track Saturday at 7:30 p.m. for the second race in their Round of 12.

Saturday night will also feature the ARCA Menards Series West at the Las Vegas Bullring.

All times are Eastern.

Friday, September 25

9 p.m.: Truck Series World of Westgate 200 (Stages 30/60/134 Laps = 201 Miles) FS1/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Pole: Brett Moffitt

Saturday, September 26

10 a.m.: ARCA Menards Series West Qualifying (at Las Vegas Bullring)
3:05 p.m.: ARCA Menards Series West General Tire 150 (at Las Vegas Bullring)
7:30 p.m.: Xfinity Series Alsco 300 (Stages 45/90/200 Laps = 300 Miles) NBCSN/PRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Pole: Chase Briscoe

Sunday, September 27

7 p.m.: Cup Series South Point 400 (Stages 80/160/267 Laps = 400.5 Miles) NBCSN/PRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Pole: Kevin Harvick

Cup Series Round of 12 Playoff Drivers

RankDriverPoints
1Kevin Harvick3067
2Denny Hamlin3048
3Brad Keselowski3035
4Joey Logano3022
5Chase Elliott3021
6Matin Truex Jr.3016
7Alex Bowman3009
8Austin Dillon3005
9Aric Almirola3005
10Kyle Busch3004
11Clint Bowyer3004
12Kurt Busch3001

Gus Dean hopes to rekindle Memphis winning ways

By
Official Release
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MEMPHIS, Tenn: When the ARCA Menards Series (AMS) added a race at Memphis (Tenn.) International Raceway to their 2020 schedule, two-time winner Gus Dean (@gusdean) knew he had to be a part of the series’ nearly 20-year return.

Dean will compete in Saturday afternoon’s Sioux Chief PowerPEX 200 and look for a positive finish to conclude his limited ARCA Menards Series schedule this season.

The Bluffton, S.C. native is a former winner at Memphis in 2014 competing in the X-1R Pro Cup Series (now CARS Tour).

Adding strength in numbers, Dean’s crew chief Jamie Jones is also a prior Memphis winner taking home the checkered flag in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series (NGROTS) in 2005 with driver Brandon Whitt.

And with this weekend’s race being the first show for the ARCA Menards Series at Memphis since 2001, the Win-Tron Racing team is hoping to be a serious contender in the 18th ARCA race of the season and help Dean achieve his third career victory.

“I’m stoked about going to Memphis, obviously,” added Dean. “It’s a fun race track and it brings a lot of memories from 2014 – where I beat some of the best of the best in Late Model competition.

“I know Jamie (Jones) is hungry to win there again and I hope we can go out there this weekend and have a good showing and hopefully bring home the checkered flag.”

Memphis though isn’t just about winning for Dean. He’s eyeing the 0.750-mile paved oval as a chance to close out his ARCA season on a high note.

Dean has been a top-10 contender all season. From his first start of the year at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway to his most recent start last Thursday night in the Bush’s Bean 200, but bad luck has bitten the NASCAR driver and left the Statesville, N.C.-based team with less than desirable finishes.

“Whether it was an accident trigged by the pace car, an electrical issue at Talladega or a parts failure with about five laps left at Bristol, luck has not been on our side this season. That changes this weekend at Memphis!

“It’s the perfect place for our luck to change and the right spot to give us some momentum going into the offseason to get ready for 2021.”

But before Dean can shit his attention towards an ARCA and NASCAR schedule next season, he knows he’ll have to conquer Memphis first, a place he remembers quite well.

“You have to be easy on the throttle and make sure you are conserving the tires, those will be the two biggest factors at Memphis this weekend,” sounded Dean. “We have a short practice then qualifying and then the race.

“Obviously, the track will change throughout the race, but it is making sure we’re keeping up with those changes, especially following that final segment that I hope will make us a factor on Saturday night.”

Dean’s No. 32 Chevrolet will continue to be backed by MASHONIT Apparel Co.

MASHONIT Apparel Co. is a brand for those that live life wide open. The people that look at something normal and think, “That’s not good enough,” “It can go faster” or “Let’s see what this thing can do.”

Those that have the hunger inside that keeps them just south of normal.

That never-ending hunger for speed and adrenaline that allows you to find the thin line between being heroic and insane, giving them a perspective on life that few are lucky enough to find. – That’s MASHONIT.

The 26-year-old Dean will also return to the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series this season with details being announced soon.

Since 2016, Dean has 54 ARCA Menards Series starts with two poles, two wins, 14 top-five and 30 top 10 finishes driving for just two teams Mason Mitchell Motorsports and Win-Tron Racing.
For more on Gus Dean, please visit GusDean.com, like him on Facebook (Gus Dean Racing) and follow him on Twitter (@GusDean).

For more on Win-Tron Racing, please visit WinTronRacing.com, like them on Facebook (WinTron Racing) and follow them on Twitter (@WinTronRacing).

For more on MASHONIT Apparel Co., please visit MashOnIt.com, like them on Facebook (MashOnIt Apparel Co.,), follow them on Instagram (MashOnIt_Clothing) and follow them on Twitter (@MashOnIt Apparel Co.).

The Sioux Chief PowerPEX 200 (200 laps | 150 miles) is the 18th of 20 races on the 2020 ARCA Menards Series schedule. Practice begins Sat., Sept. 26, 2020 with a forty-five-minute practice session from 1:10 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. General Tire pole qualifying is slated for 3:00 p.m. The race is set to take the green flag shortly after 5:00 p.m., televised live on MAVTV and NBC Sports TrackPass Gold, while ARCARacing.com will stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire day’s festivities. All times are local (Central).

Fr8Auctions to Sponsor Brett Moffitt at Talladega Superspeedway

By
Official Release
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Statesville N.C. (Sept. 24, 2020) – Fr8Auctions announces an expanded partnership with 2018 NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series Champion, Brett Moffitt, for the 2020 season. Next week, at Talladega Superspeedway, Moffitt will carry the Fr8Auctions livery on both the No. 23 GMS Racing Chevrolet Silverado and the No. 02 Our Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro.

“Marcus Barela and Fr8Auctions are a huge part of my career and I can truly say I wouldn’t be there I am today without their support,” said Moffitt. “To have Fr8Acutions on both the Truck and Xfinity Chevys at Talladega for the doubleheader next weekend is really special!”

Fr8Auctions will have a familiar camouflage look for the Sugarlands Shine 250 on Saturday, Oct. 3rd, as he looks to punch his ticket into the Round of 8 for the Gander Trucks Playoffs. Following the Gander Trucks event, Fr8Auctions will go with a new all black-and-white scheme on the No. 02 for the Ag-Pro 300 Xfinity Series event, for the second part of the doubleheader Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway.

“Brett is part of our Fr8Auctions family and has done so much for our efforts with Brave Like Wyatt and the kids we support through the foundation,” said Barela. “He’s a great talent behind the wheel and it’s been a lot of fun to be a part of his success over the years. Hopefully, we can get to victory lane together twice next weekend at Talladega!”

The Fr8Auctions No. 23 GMS Racing Silverado will take to the track at Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday at 1:00pm on FS1, followed by the No. 02 Our Motorsports Camaro at 4:30pm on NBCSN.

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

High-Performance Chevy Engines for Racing

By
SM
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Credit: https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1457695

Chevrolet is a car manufacturing company that opened its doors in 1911. To this day, this brand is considered as one of the world’s largest, continuing with their goal to provide high performing vehicles. The racing engines under the Chevy brand has seen a continuous evolution throughout the years. With a history in racing that continues since a century back, the racing engine division has continued to improve. 

If you are planning to build your own race car, or simply want to enhance the power of your engine under the hood, checking out the following high-performance Chevy engines for racing will no doubt save the day. With the number of options that are currently out there, you may end up feeling confused and overwhelmed. Worry no more! We are here to help you with your special project. 

  1. 427 Engine

It was in 1963 when Junior Johnson attracted the attention of the crowd at the qualifying race at Daytona 500 with unprecedented performance. Under the hood of his car was the 427 engine, dubbed because of its size, while being given the nickname “Mystery V8”. According to GM, this engine was designed especially by Chevrolet, incorporating some elements in design which would later be integrated into the family. 

  1. 409 V8

The 409 V8 engine is considered as the patriarch of the Big Block family. In the 1960s, this engine has played a huge role in the racing industry. While it debuted back in 1961, it continues to gain attention from enthusiasts with its high horsepower and strong torque curve capacities. It is easy to recognize, thanks to its rocker covers that come in a W-shape, setting its own trend in the engine world. The rating from the factory reached 425 HP, making it a powerhouse. During the 1963 model year, the output of this engine went up to 425 HP. It was made available for racing through the middle part of 1965, then it was replaced by the Mark IV Big-Block Engine. 

  1. 427 ZLI Big-Block

This engine was first developed under the Can-Am series for racing and was later on reintroduced under a special ordering system of Chevy. This motor continued to flourish as swapping engines became more and more popular, and have become very easy to complete. The 427 ZLI Big-Block offered the best, with the power of a real Big Block, while weighing less, with the use of aluminum in its construction.

  1. 302 Small Block

As Chevy used its options on Small Block engines, the engineers came up with a decision to use the 4-inch bores out of the 327 engine, combining it with a 3-inch stroke coming from a 283 engine. As a result, the 302 cubic inch engine was born. With their goal of achieving an inspected and approved homologated engine for eligibility on the series, the company chose to use a special version of its Camaro installed. The car that was powered by this engine eventually became the famous Z28 model. This chevy engine, despite its size, can easily fit into anything. However, it does not mean that its size cannot handle amazing power, as it is powerful enough to make it to the line of racing engines.

  1. R07 NASCAR Engine

Chevy continued to search for ways to improve the potency of their engines. The R07 race engine was introduced first in 2007, as a monstrous V8 engine that features computational fluid dynamics. This engine was strictly designed for NASCAR racing, powering NASCAR Sprint Cup competitors, with a blast of 15 wins in 2015, along with a record-setting manufacturer’s title in 13 consecutive times. 

  1. SB2 NASCAR Engine

The SB2 NASCAR Engine represents the very first time in which Chevy created an engine package that was developed primarily for NASCAR races. It was inspired by the classic Small Block V8 engine but brought to a new level by introducing features such as a one-off arrangement of the valve which allowed for higher RPMs, and more durability and efficiency than other GM cylinders. 

  1. 1.6 Liter Turbocharged Inline-4

This may not be considered as the biggest out there, but it definitely made some rounds in the racing industry because of its fun offers. It is despite the fact that it is simply a 1.6-liter turbo motor, it has established domination at the World Touring Car Championship series. It is dynamite that came in a small package. This engine is also based on the production engine that was used in several global brands and in the Cruze models. 

  1. 2.2 Liter Twin-Turbo V-6

In 2012, this engine received attention. Just like other amazing engines created a few decades back, this engine features a direct-injection, as well as a small-displacement type of engine which has the capacity to produce about 700 HP in a consistent manner. For this reason, this engine was almost lacking in weakness. It has made possible the 10 victories of Chevy drivers at the 16-race season in 2015. 

Conclusion

Indeed, Chevy is one of the most recognized manufacturers of high-performance engines for racing. The list mentioned above will no doubt give you a clear view of the options that you have. Factor in your personal considerations such as budget, preferences, and needs, and you will no doubt be able to get one that will not just improve the power of your car, but will no doubt give you a satisfying ride, whether on the race track or for everyday use!

INDYCAR Harvest GP presented by GMR, Indianapolis 8 Hour Story Ideas

By
Official Release
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INDIANAPOLIS, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020 – Story ideas follow for the INDYCAR Harvest GP presented by GMR and Indianapolis 8 Hour event week Oct. 1-4 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The event consists of two races for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, on Friday, Oct. 2 and Saturday, Oct. 3, and an eight-hour endurance race for the Intercontinental GT Challenge Powered by Pirelli and its North American counterpart, GT World Challenge America Powered by AWS, on Sunday, Oct. 4. The event also will showcase sports car drivers in SRO America’s Pirelli GT4 America, GT Sports Club America and the TC America series.

Welcome back, fans: Fans will be welcomed to a race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the first time in 2020 during the INDYCAR Harvest GP presented by GMR event weekend. Up to 10,000 spectators can be in the grandstands each day of racing action Oct. 1-4, per approval from the Marion County Public Health Department.

The massive facility, which holds more than 300,000 people, will provide two spectator zones with up to 5,000 fans in each. The zones will be located in Turns 1 and 4 of the oval, offering strong sightlines of the road course. Strict health and safety rules will be in place, including mandatory face coverings, temperature screenings before gate entry, social distancing in grandstands and other areas, and more.

Facility improvements: Fans who attend the INDYCAR Harvest GP presented by GMR event weekend will see a host of improvements made to the 111-year-old IMS facility this year since Roger Penske purchased the track.

Among the countless improvements that fans will enjoy during this weekend will be refreshed restrooms and concession stands, 5G connectivity and widened ingress and egress areas on Georgetown Road running parallel to the front straightaway of the oval.

Fall races: History will be made during the INDYCAR Harvest GP presented by GMR event weekend, as a major auto racing event will take place in October for the first time in the 111-year history of IMS.

The Harvest Classic, United States Grand Prix Formula One and Big Machine 400 at the Brickyard races all have taken place in past years during September on the IMS oval or road course. The Red Bull Indianapolis GP MotoGP event also raced in September at IMS.

But among major events, only the Red Bull Air Race World Championship for acrobatic airplanes has competed at the Racing Capital of the World during the cool, crisp, colorful days of October.

INDYCAR title up for grabs: The championship race for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES will continue to charge down the homestretch at the INDYCAR Harvest GP presented by GMR, as Scott Dixon will try to hold off his closest pursuers and either clinch or close in on his sixth series title.

Dixon leads reigning champion Josef Newgarden by 72 points, with Pato O’Ward 128 points behind Dixon in third. There’s plenty of opportunity for Dixon to gain or lose ground with two races scheduled on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course.

There are 54 points maximum available to a driver at each NTT INDYCAR SERIES race outside of the double-points Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. So, with just the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on Oct. 25 remaining on the schedule after the INDYCAR Harvest GP, Dixon will clinch the championship with a lead of 55 points or more after this weekend.

The mission is tough but not hopeless for two-time series champion Newgarden. He trimmed 24 points from Dixon’s lead during the Honda Indy 200 doubleheader weekend Sept. 12-13 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

King of the road: Scott Dixon won the first NTT INDYCAR SERIES race of 2020 at IMS, the GMR Grand Prix on July 4. It was one of the three straight victories with which he opened the season, as Dixon has never trailed in the championship standings.

Dixon could earn the rare distinction of being the first NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver to win three races in one year at the Racing Capital of the World with a sweep of the INDYCAR Harvest GP presented by GMR doubleheader.

Multiple INDYCAR races only have taken place in the same season at IMS since 2014, when the GMR Grand Prix joined the annual schedule along with the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge at the world’s most famous racetrack. Team Penske teammates Will Power and Simon Pagenaud swept the Grand Prix and “500” in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

The schedule shuffle created by the COVID-19 pandemic placed three INDYCAR events at IMS this season, giving Dixon the chance to make history with three wins in the same year at the Brickyard. Takuma Sato won the Indy 500 on Aug. 23, and he also could be the first three-time winner in one season at IMS among NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers with a sweep of the INDYCAR Harvest GP.

NTT INDYCAR SERIES star Colton Herta won all three Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires races in May 2018 at IMS, with two races on the road course and the Freedom 100 on the oval. Indianapolis native Johnny Aitken swept the Harvest Classic on Sept. 9, 1916, a single event comprised of three races. That event inspired the name of the INDYCAR Harvest GP presented by GMR.

Welcome back, Seb: One of the most popular veterans of INDYCAR racing will return to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES at the INDYCAR Harvest GP presented by GMR, as Sebastien Bourdais will drive the fabled No. 14 Chevrolet for AJ Foyt Racing.

Bourdais won four consecutive Champ Car titles from 2004-07 and was a mainstay and race winner in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES after nearly two seasons in Formula One. He will make his first INDYCAR start of 2020 with Foyt’s team in the doubleheader on the IMS road course and will drive for the team in the season-ending Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on Oct. 25 in advance of a full season behind the wheel of Foyt’s car in 2021.

Frenchman Bourdais has produced three fourth-place finishes (2014, 2015, 2018) in six career INDYCAR starts on the IMS road course. He also won the inaugural Rolex Sports Car Series race at IMS in 2012, sharing a Riley-Ford Daytona Prototype with Alex Popow.

Tune in: With spectator attendance reduced for the INDYCAR Harvest GP presented by GMR due to the COVID-19 pandemic, fans are encouraged to tune in to watch or listen to both races if they can’t make it to the track. TV coverage plans for the weekend include a network TV showcase for the second day of INDYCAR action.

Race 1 will be televised on the USA Network at 3:30 p.m. (ET) Friday, Oct. 2, with Race 2 on NBC at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3. The Pennzoil INDYCAR Radio Network also will have live coverage of both races.

Briscoe’s back: One name on the Indianapolis 8 Hour entry list will be very familiar to Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Indianapolis 500 fans – Ryan Briscoe.

2012 Indy 500 pole winner Briscoe, formerly a Team Penske driver in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, will share the No. 6 Vital Speed Ferrari 488 GT3 in the eight-hour endurance race.

This will be Round 2 of the 2020 Intercontinental GT Challenge Powered by Pirelli. The season opened Jan. 31-Feb. 2 at the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour in Australia. Two rounds remain after the IMS race, the Total 24 Hours of Spa on Oct. 22-25 in Belgium and the Kyalami 9 Hour on Dec. 10-12 in South Africa.

Long haul: The Indianapolis 8 Hour will feature the longest major race in the 111-year history of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, as GT sports car teams will compete in an event governed by eight hours on the clock and not a lap count.

Ray Harroun won the inaugural Indianapolis 500 in 1911 in a race that took six hours, 42 minutes and eight seconds. That remains the longest elapsed time of a race in IMS history.

Some of the world’s best GT sports car drivers will compete in the historic eight-hour race Sunday, Oct. 4, as the Intercontinental GT Challenge Powered by Pirelli and GT World Challenge America Powered by AWS will be combined for the first time in an epic endurance classic on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course.

The Intercontinental GT Challenge Powered by Pirelli is the world’s only global GT3 championship. It features spectacular GT3- and GT4-spec machinery from evocative marques such as Acura, Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Bentley, Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche.

Hendrick Motorsports Media Advance: Las Vegas

By
Official Release
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LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY (1.5-MILE OVAL)
LOCATION: LAS VEGAS
EVENT: NASCAR CUP SERIES (RACE 30 OF 36)
TUNE IN: 7 P.M. ET, SUNDAY, SEPT. 27 (NBCSN/PRN/SIRIUSXM)

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

2020 Season
5th in standings
29 starts
2 wins
1 pole position
11 top-five finishes
17 top-10 finishes
669 laps led

Career
178 starts
8 wins
9 pole positions
55 top-five finishes
91 top-10 finishes
2,513 laps led

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

SWEET 16: The NASCAR playoffs Round of 16 concluded on Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway where Chase Elliott garnered a seventh-place finish in the 500-lap event. In the three races of the round, the driver of the No. 9 collected the most stage points (35) and had the best average running position (5.37) of all drivers. Elliott led a total of 139 laps and picked up one top-five finish and two top-10s in the three events.

PLAYOFFS CONTINUE: For the fifth consecutive NASCAR Cup Series season, Elliott has advanced to the Round of 12 of the playoffs. Of the three tracks in the second round (Las Vegas, Talladega, Charlotte road course), Elliott has won at both Talladega and the Charlotte road course.

UNIFIRST TAKES VEGAS: On Sunday, UniFirst Corporation (NYSE: UNF), a North American leader in providing customized work uniform programs, corporate attire and facility service products, will serve as the primary sponsor for Elliott and the No. 9 team. It will be the final race of the season that UniFirst will be the primary partner and have its updated green corporate logo adorning the No. 9 Chevrolet. In 2016, Hendrick Motorsports and UniFirst announced an eight-year partnership. UniFirst is the Official Workwear Provider of Hendrick Motorsports, supplying work clothing and uniforms to the team and sister company Hendrick Automotive Group, which is the largest privately held retail automotive organization in the United States. Most recently, it was onboard for Elliott’s All-Star Race win at Bristol Motor Speedway in July.

LAST 10: Over the last 10 races in the 2020 season, Elliott is tied for the most top-10 finishes (eight) in those events. He also won at the DAYTONA Road Course, posted four top-five results and led a total of 218 laps in the last 10 races.

ELLIOTT THROUGH 29: In 29 starts in 2020, Elliott has accumulated career bests in laps led (669), runner-up results (three), top-five finishes (11), stage points (235) and stage wins (seven). His 17 top-10s are tied for a personal best and his two wins are the second most for him at the 29-race mark.

LAS VEGAS STATS: On Sunday, Elliott is set to make his eighth NASCAR Cup Series start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. In his previous seven starts, he has collected two top-five finishes and three top-10s. Earlier this season at the 1.5-mile track, Elliott led 70 laps and won both Stage 1 and Stage 2. Unfortunately, a flat left-rear tire sent him into the wall, causing enough damage to put him a lap down and ultimately finished 26th.

RIDING WITH ELLIOTT: This weekend at Las Vegas, Elliott will have a special moniker featured on his No. 9 UniFirst Chevrolet. Dr. David Elkowitz’s name will be over the driver’s door as part of the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation and NASCAR Foundation’s initiative to showcase those who have fought bravely against cancer. Dr. Elkowitz hails from Smithtown, New York, and was nominated by his wife Stephanie. A die-hard Hendrick Motorsports fan, Dr. Elkowitz continued teaching his medical students at Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell despite undergoing 12 weeks of intense chemotherapy.

1.5-MILE STATS: Chase Elliott will make his 54th start on a 1.5-mile track this weekend as Las Vegas Motor Speedway. In his previous 53 starts on the same track length, he has led 617 laps. The Dawsonville, Georgia, native scored his first 1.5-mile track win in October 2018 at Kansas Speedway and most recently won at Charlotte on May 27. Along with those wins, Elliott has collected 18 top-five finishes – five of which are runner-up results – and 28 top-10s on 1.5-mile tracks. So far in 2020 on 1.5-milers, he has led a career best in laps led (189).

GIVE A HOOT: On Wednesday, the No. 9 Hooters Give A Hoot Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE that Elliott will pilot at Texas Motor Speedway in October was unveiled. The special black and pink scheme promotes Hooters’ Give A Hoot campaign that supports the fight against breast cancer. Everyone can join Hooters in the fight against breast cancer and #GiveAHoot by purchasing specially produced pink No. 9 merchandise at Hooters.com and the Chase Elliott Store. A portion of sales will benefit the V Foundation for Cancer Research, one of the nation’s leading cancer research funding organizations, as well as other local beneficiaries through Hooters Community Endowment Fund and Kelly Jo Dowd Breast Cancer Research Fund. For more information or to donate visit Hooters.com/Give.

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

2020 Season
14th in standings
29 starts
1 win
0 pole positions
3 top-five finishes
10 top-10 finishes
97 laps led

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

Track Career
5 starts
0 wins
0 pole positions
0 top-five finishes
1 top-10 finish
27 laps led

STILL FIGHTING: While William Byron’s NASCAR Cup Series playoff run came to an unfortunate early close after an on-track incident at Bristol Motor Speedway, there are still seven races left in the 2020 season. With points resetting after the Round of 16, the Charlotte, North Carolina, native now sits 14th in the standings with the opportunity to gain additional positions in the remaining events.

LOOKING FOR LUCK: When the No. 24 Axalta Chevy ZL1 1LE unloads for Sunday’s race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, it will mark Byron’s sixth Cup Series start at the 1.5-mile speedway. Out of those five previous starts, Byron has a best qualifying effort of 11th in the February race earlier this year and a track-best finish of seventh in September 2019. However, the 22-year-old driver’s stats at Las Vegas don’t accurately represent the strength the No. 24 team has displayed there. For example, in February, Byron finished sixth in Stage 1, fourth in Stage 2 and restarted second for the two-lap shootout to the end. Unfortunately, contact with another competitor on the restart left him with a tire rub and a 22nd-place finish, despite running inside or near the top five all race.

KNAUS’ KNACK: Sunday’s race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will be veteran crew chief Chad Knaus’ 22nd race on top of the pit box at the west coast track. In his previous 21 starts at the 1.5-mile track, Knaus has three wins, all coming with Jimmie Johnson and the No. 48 team, ranking him second for most victories to crew chief Paul Wolfe, who has four.

AT IT AGAIN WITH AXALTA: Making their return since the doubleheader weekend at Dover International Speedway in August, Axalta will be on board Byron’s No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE for Sunday’s race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. After this weekend’s race, Axalta will have one more race with Byron in 2020 at the season finale at Phoenix Raceway. In 2020, Axalta is the 22-race majority partner of the No. 24 team. The company’s relationship with Hendrick Motorsports was recently extended, taking one of the most enduring partnerships in sports through 2027.

REMEMBERING DAVID OLIVER: Earlier this month, the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation and the NASCAR Foundation partnered together to recognize those who have battled cancer and support Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month by auctioning off the space above the driver-side door to honor a cancer hero. For this weekend’s race, Byron will have David Oliver riding on board his No. 24 Chevy, who was nominated by Kelley Earnhardt-Miller. Working in motorsports early on, Oliver began his career racing at local dirt tracks before pursuing his dream career in NASCAR. For over 30 years, Oliver worked as a mechanic at championship-caliber teams, including Richard Petty Motorsports, Roush Fenway Racing and Hendrick Motorsports. He was a part of the championship teams of Kurt Busch and Matt Kenseth. Unfortunately, Oliver lost his battle to Synovial Sarcoma in June of this year.

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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
28 starts
0 wins
0 pole positions
4 top-five finishes
9 top-10 finishes
102 laps led

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

Track Career
21 starts
4 wins
0 pole positions
7 top-five finishes
10 top-10 finishes
595 laps led

GAMBLING IN VEGAS: At the race in February at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Jimmie Johnson started 18th and quickly moved into contention. He finished ninth and seventh in the first two stages and a two-tire stop gamble by crew chief Cliff Daniels saw Johnson finish the event in fifth place, recording his seventh top-five at the racetrack on the outskirts of “Sin City.”

LEADING THE PACK: As Johnson heads to Las Vegas for the final time in his NASCAR Cup Series career, he leads all current drivers with most wins at the 1.5-mile track with four. One of the most iconic races Johnson won at Vegas was the coveted 150th cup win for Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick. Once Johnson secured the checkered flag, all four Hendrick Motorsports teams and drivers went to the flamboyant victory lane to celebrate with Johnson and then-crew chief Chad Knaus. The duo posed with heavyweight belts, which was the track trophy at the time, and traditional Vegas showgirls.

A RIDE FIT FOR A ‘COUNT’: Ally Racing recently brought together Johnson, NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon and Las Vegas-based custom car personality Danny “The Count” Koker to share in their love for racing, music and cars. Koker, creator of the show “Counting Cars,” and Johnson filmed a four-episode content series showcasing the legends discussing car design and livery of the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet for the Las Vegas Motor Speedway event. The car was unveiled this week and Johnson will sport a Count Kustoms decal as a thank you to Koker. For more information and to watch the weekly episodes, go to AllyRacing.com.

BRISTOL HONORS JJ: Last weekend, Bristol Motor Speedway recognized the historic accomplishments Johnson, a winner of two Food City 500s at “The Last Great Colosseum,” with a 5K trail surrounding BMS property named in his honor. The “JJ 5K Trail at Bristol Motor Speedway,” located on the track property, is a 3.2-mile course and marked trail that highlights Johnson’s career accomplishments at Bristol and in the NASCAR Cup Series. It will open in 2021 and be available to all guests who are attending events at the iconic Northeast Tennessee venue. In addition to the trail, the track, in partnership with Trek (bicycles) and Food City, will also donate 48 bicycles in Johnson’s honor to children through Santa Pal in Bristol, Virginia, and other charities that receive support from BMS’ chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities. Johnson met with track president Jerry Caldwell before the race on Saturday to accept the honor.

HONORING A CANCER HERO: In conjunction with the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation, the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet will have a “Cancer Hero” whose name will ride along with Johnson on Sunday at Las Vegas. Rajean Lowenstein lived in Casselberry, Florida, and was nominated by her sister, Nida Diekmann. Lowenstein, a mother of four children, was diagnosed with brain cancer in 1994. She fought and survived for 13 years before passing away in 2007 at the age of 46. Diekmann described her sister as her hero and said, “She won the fight, cancer didn’t win. She accomplished what she wanted and, for that, she will forever be my hero.” Lowenstein battled hard and was able to see all four children graduate before she passed.

PIT CREW REMAINS STRONG: Heading into the 30th race of the 2020 season, the No. 48 pit crew are some of the top performers on pit road. The crew, consisting of veterans Calvin Teague, Brandon Harder and Kyle Tudor as well as Allen Stallings and Donnie Tasser, has averaged a 14.34 on pit road, which ranks 10th among all teams in the NASCAR Cup Series. Led by pit coach Jon Carvin, the No. 48 crew also pits for Justin Allgaier in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, who currently is third in the point standings with three wins this season.

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

2020 Season
7th in standings
29 starts
1 win
0 pole positions
3 top-five finishes
10 top-10 finishes
389 laps led

Career
182 starts
2 wins
2 pole positions
13 top-five finishes
36 top-10 finishes
863 laps led

Track Career
7 starts
0 wins
0 pole positions
0 top-five finishes
1 top-10 finish
0 laps led

SITTING IN SEVENTH: Coming off a 16th-place finish at Bristol Motor Speedway last weekend, Alex Bowman clinched a spot in the Round of 12 for the third consecutive year. Bowman now sits seventh in the NASCAR Cup Series playoff standings going into this weekend’s race in Las Vegas. The Tucson, Arizona, native is 58 markers behind the leader. In the Round of 16, Bowman earned 109 points in three events, which is the sixth-highest number of points earned by playoff drivers. He also earned the fifth-highest amount of stage points with 29 and averaged the fifth-best running position of 9.88.

BOWMAN IN VEGAS: The 27-year-old driver of the No. 88 machine has seven previous starts in the NASCAR Cup Series at the Las Vegas track. Bowman’s best qualifying effort of ninth came in the fall race in 2018 and his best finish of sixth came in the fall event in 2019. Earlier this season, Bowman placed 13th after capturing stage points in each of the two stages. In his lone start at the track in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Bowman finished eighth after qualifying 18th for the 200-lap event in 2013.

RIDING WITH PA: On Sunday, there will be a new name above the door of the No. 88 LLumar Chevrolet at Las Vegas Motor Speedway thanks to the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation’s “Cancer Hero Program.” Kenneth Chase, a native of Sebago, Maine, lost a nine-year battle with cancer on August 25, 2020. Known to his six grandchildren as “Pa,” Chase was a dedicated NASCAR fan. He and his wife of 54 years, Esther, went annually to New Hampshire Motor Speedway with their grandchildren by their side. On the weekend of what would have been his 77th birthday, Chase will be riding on board the No. 88 machine in Vegas with Bowman.

1.5-MILE STATS: The No. 88 team has four stage wins this season, which is tied for sixth overall in the NASCAR Cup Series. Three of these stage wins came at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The sixth-year Cup Series driver won three out of five total stages at Charlotte in May, which is the most stage wins by one driver at a 1.5-mile facility this season. Bowman has led 221 laps this season on 1.5-mile tracks, which is more than his career total (189) prior to 2020.

ROLLING THE DICE: Greg Ives will call his ninth Cup Series race at Las Vegas this weekend for the first event in the Round of 12. In eight previous events at the 1.5-mile facility, the crew chief has one top-five and three top-10s with a best finish of fourth in 2015 with Dale Earnhardt Jr. Ives has two starts in the Xfinity Series at the track, which includes one top-five with Chase Elliott in 2014 and one top-10 with Regan Smith in 2013. From 2006-2012, Ives was a race engineer for the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team. During that time, he was a part of three wins and four top-five finishes at Las Vegas.

LLUMAR IS BACK: LLumar is back on board the No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for their final primary event this season. Eastman Performance Films, LLC joined Hendrick Motorsports back in 2018 as a primary sponsor of Alex Bowman and the No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE through 2020. The sponsorship features the LLumar brand of window film and paint protection film on board Bowman’s machine. In February, Hendrick Motorsports and LLumar unveiled the 2020 scheme that will run on track this season.

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.

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Hendrick Motorsports

HIGH ROLLERS: Hendrick Motorsports heads into Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with good odds of success. The team has hit the jackpot with five wins there, which ties it for the second-most in the series. Its six runner-up finishes, 22 top-fives and 1,455 laps led are all “Sin City” track records. The organization’s 40 top-10 results are tied for the most ever at the 1.5-mile venue.

50-50 ODDS: Sunday’s race at Las Vegas will fall on Sept. 27, which historically has been good time to bet on Hendrick Motorsports. Since its inception in 1984, the team has competed in four NASCAR Cup Series events held on the date with victories in two of them. Driving for Hendrick Motorsports, Darrell Waltrip won at Martinsville on Sept. 27, 1987, and Jimmie Johnson won at Dover on Sept. 27, 2009. In the other two Sept. 27 races, Jeff Gordon finished second at Martinsville in 1998 and Hendrick Motorsports place three cars in the top 10 at New Hampshire in 2015.

STRAIGHT FLUSH: Hendrick Motorsports has placed at least one car inside the top 10 in the last 11 NASCAR Cup Series races, which is one away from matching the team’s longest streak of 2020. Its Chevrolet race cars have also led laps in seven straight races, the best active streak by any organization.

HOT HAND: 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.

ALL IN: 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 (1,092), top-10s (1,885) and laps led (70,146) 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 returning to Las Vegas:
“Las Vegas is a track that went pretty well for us earlier this season. Obviously, a lot has changed since then, but I am really looking forward to getting back. This is an important time for the UniFirst since we are still in the playoffs. Hopefully it goes well and we run like we did in the spring.”

Elliott on advancing to Round of 12:
“I’m definitely excited to move on in the playoffs and proud of the effort of my team and everyone at Hendrick Motorsports. I hope this next round is good for us. It’s definitely not going to get any easier as it goes.”

Driver William Byron on returning to Vegas since the pandemic:
“It’s crazy to think how far things have evolved since we went to Vegas earlier this year. It was just the second race of the year and before everything changed with the pandemic. That race, we had a lot of speed even though everything was still new and fresh for the year. We had a fast car and we just have to continue that when we get Vegas this weekend.”

Byron on how the track can change this time of year:
“The track definitely does change, even with a slight change in temperature. We’re used to going to Vegas at the beginning of September when it’s still really hot. I think being closer to the end of September it will have started to cool off a bit. That will make it unique for us, especially with the late start time Sunday. This race is going to have some different elements that everyone will need to overcome.”

Driver Jimmie Johnson on his favorite Las Vegas memories:
“Las Vegas has always been a great place to race. I have had some highs and lows there – which is fitting since it’s the gambling capital of the world. Winning the 150th for Hendrick Motorsports was one of the best memories over the years. I love to go out there and cycle on a Saturday afternoon and there are so many great places to experience the area close by the track. We didn’t have anything go our way last weekend in Bristol. It’s frustrating, but we have to stay optimistic. I feel in my heart we can win one of these last races. We just need some luck.”

Driver Alex Bowman on making it to the Round of 12:
“Clinching a spot in the Round of 12 last weekend in Bristol was exactly what we needed to do as a team. Although we didn’t have the greatest finish last week, it was something that was completely out of our control. We have some strong tracks in the Round of 12 that will be good for us. Our main goal this season was to make the Round of 8 and I really feel like this team is on track to do that. We have to continue putting solid races together and getting strong finishes.”

Bowman on going back to Las Vegas:
“Las Vegas is a strong track for us. We ran really well in the spring event this season, so I am ready to get back to the track this weekend. Our intermediate program at Hendrick Motorsports is really strong and we need to have a strong race this weekend. Greg (Ives) and the LLumar team have been working extremely hard on our cars and I really think it is showing.”

Menards/Duracell Team Ready to Roll at Vegas

By
Official Release
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With seven races left on the 2020 Cup Series schedule, the goals have shifted a bit for Matt DiBenedetto and the No. 21 Menards/Duracell team, but the determination to succeed remains unwavering.

They were among the four teams eliminated from the Cup Series Playoffs at the end of the Round of 16, but there are still significant accomplishments to pursue, among them a race win and a choice spot in the final points standings.

The work begins this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Sunday’s South Point 400. It was at Las Vegas back in February, where DiBenedetto, riding on older tires but having track position due to a strategy call, scored a runner-up finish in his second race in the Wood Brothers Mustang.

“I can’t wait for Vegas, especially after finishing second there earlier this year,” DiBenedetto said, adding that he’s ready to put the disappointment of dropping out of championship contention behind him. “I’m bummed we didn’t make it through the first round of the Playoffs and had a few rough races, but I’m excited to go to a strong track for us and to finish the season strong in this Menards/Duracell Mustang.”

DiBenedetto will have some extra motivation this weekend as the Menards/Duracell Mustang will be honoring a cancer hero, Marnie Howiler, as part of the Nominate a Cancer Hero program spearheaded by the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation.

Howiler, from Cornelius, N.C., is the granddaughter of the late NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Isaac. She was diagnosed with Stage IV Wilms Tumor at five years old and underwent eight months of treatment.

Howiler was nominated by Robbie Isaac, daughter of the late NASCAR champion, who said she reconnected with the Wood Brothers at the NASCAR Hall of Fame and now cheers, along with her family, for DiBenedetto and the No. 21 Mustang.

In her nomination, Isaac wrote: “Since there isn’t a No. 71 [her father’s car number], in the field, being with Matt, the Wood Brothers and the No. 21 car is the perfect place for Marnie. They are all survivors and winners.”

Isaac described DiBenedetto as “a person everyone would love to see win.”

She had similar praise for Howiler. “Marnie is my cancer hero because she chooses to be happy every day and enjoy life. She is a wonderful person, and I couldn’t love her more.”

Sunday’s South Point 400 is set to get the green flag just after 7 p.m. Eastern Time with TV coverage on NBCSN.

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.

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