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Harvick to move into fifth place on the Cup consecutive starts list at Dover

Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images.

A significant milestone is in the making for Kevin Harvick approaching this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series doubleheader races at Dover International Speedway. By the time the Cup Series completes both Dover races on August 22 and 23, Harvick will move into fifth place on the all-time consecutive starts list with 665 consecutive starts.

Harvick’s previous 663 consecutive starts spans all the way back to April 2002 at Talladega Superspeedway, where he returned from a one-race suspension following an on-track altercation with Coy Gibbs in the NASCAR Truck Series at Martinsville Speedway. From April 2002 at Talladega to November 2013 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, he made 424 consecutive starts in the No. 29 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing. During his consecutive streak span with RCR, Harvick achieved 21 victories, six poles, 93 top-five results, 192 top-10 results and over 4,000 laps led. His best points result during his time with RCR was third place, which he achieved in 2010, 2011 and 2013.

From February 2014 at Daytona International Speedway through August 2020 at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course, Harvick’s streak of consecutive starts continued when he made the move to Stewart-Haas Racing to drive the No. 4 car. Through 239 consecutive starts with SHR, Harvick achieved 32 victories, 26 poles, 121 top-five results, 172 top-10 results and over 10,000 laps led. In 2014, Harvick captured his first NASCAR Cup Series championship in his first season with SHR after winning the finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November.

Following the first 23 Cup races of this season, where Harvick has won six races and is the current regular-season points leader, he is tied with seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson with 663 consecutive starts. In addition to surpassing Johnson and moving into the top five in the all-time Cup consecutive starts list, Harvick is the leading active Cup competitor with the most consecutive starts among the current Cup field. Johnson’s streak came to an end in July when he tested positive for COVID-19 symptoms and was unable to compete at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a race that was ironically won by Harvick.

With Harvick set to achieve 665 consecutive starts following this weekend, he continues to trail Jeff Gordon (797), Ricky Rudd (788), Bobby Labonte (704) and Rusty Wallace (697) for the most consecutive starts as a Cup Series competitor.

Catch Harvick’s milestone starts at Dover International Speedway on August 22 and 23, with both races to air at 4 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

BMW i Andretti Motorsport retains Maximilian Günther for Season 7

BERLIN TEMPELHOF AIRPORT, GERMANY - AUGUST 08: Maximilian Günther (DEU), BMW I Andretti Motorsports, 1st position celebration during the Berlin ePrix III at Berlin Tempelhof Airport on Saturday August 08, 2020 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Sam Bloxham / LAT Images)

Continuing on a day of multiple announcements in the FIA ABB Formula E world is the BMW i Andretti Motorsport team.

With former team driver Alexander Sims leaving for Mahindra Racing, BMW i Andretti Motorsport announces they confirmed Maximilian Gunther for the 2021 season. The season will mark Gunther’s second with BMW i Andretti.

 “I am delighted to continue racing for BMW i Andretti Motorsport in Formula E, and to go in pursuit of titles with them,” Gunther said. “I have felt right at home from the moment I was included in the squad of BMW works drivers last year. I am very happy to remain a part of the BMW family. We have made it onto the podium three times in our first year together, twice as winners. In the Drivers’ Championship, we were in contention for second place until the final race. That shows how strong our package was. Formula E will be promoted to FIA World Championship status next season, and the first World Championship title is extra motivation for us. We will continue to work hard and do all we can to continue to make a statement and enjoy more success next year.”

Gunther is coming off finishing ninth in the championship season points standings along with two victories at the Santiago and Berlin E-Prix’s.

Jens Marquard, BMW’s Group Motorsport Director, says the team is excited about having Gunther for another season and also comments on Sims exit.

“I’m delighted to take on the next Formula E season with Maximilian Günther. It is incredibly valuable for the team to have a driver so focussed, professional and fast despite his young age at BMW i Andretti Motorsport. His two victories this season in Santiago and Berlin were real highlights. Maximilian will build on the experience gained in Season 6. The team and he will be even better in tune with each other. All this will hopefully lead to even more success on the racetrack,” said BMW Group Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. “As far as the departure of Alexander Sims is concerned, the key thing for me is that we go our separate ways in Formula E by mutual agreement. We had two great seasons together. Alexander has matured from a rookie to a winner at BMW i Andretti Motorsport. It was a great pleasure to watch him during his big weekend in Diriyah. We regret that we won’t race together next season, wish him all the best for the next chapter in his Formula E career and look forward to the sporting contest on the track.”

BMW i Andretti Motorsport will announce their full driver lineup in due time.
 

Mahindra Racing signs Alexander Sims for season seven

Photo Courtesy of Mahindra Racing

Mahindra Racing announced Wednesday afternoon they have signed former BMW i Andretti driver Alexander Sims for the FIA ABB Formula E season seven in 2021.

“I’m delighted to be joining Mahindra Racing and continuing my Formula E campaign,” Sims said in a press release. It is an exciting opportunity to bring on the team’s package and challenge for strong results. Promoting sustainability and electric mobility is important to me personally and competing in Formula E provides a strong, innovative and forward-looking platform to raise awareness. I want to thank BMW i Andretti Motorsport for all its support during the past two seasons and wish them well for the future. It’s been a huge learning curve coming into Formula E – it’s such a different discipline in motorsport and brings with it great new challenges. I’m excited to continue learning and to use my knowledge to support Mahindra Racing in the upcoming season.”

The London, England native brings tons of racing experience to Mahindra having competing in Formula Renault 2.0 UK Championship in 2008, also achieved the McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year Award, a highly respected award in the motorsport industry. In addition, Sims raced in sports cars and has seen numerous success by winning the 24 hours of Spa in 2016, honors in British GT Championship in 2015 and the 2017 ADAC Zurich 24 Hour Race that takes place in Nürburgring.

Sims has competed in the electric series since 2014, Formula E’s first season. Since then, he’s obtained 24 starts over the past two years as his first ride was in season five. He scored a victory this past year at the season race in Riydah.

CEO and Team Principle Dilbagh Gill commented on the Sims announcement.

“I’m thrilled on behalf of the whole team to welcome Alexander,” Gill said. “I’m extremely excited about working with him and the prospect of what we can achieve together is motivating. In Alexander we have proven racing talent plus someone that embodies what Mahindra Racing stands for with his principles in the areas of electrification and sustainability. He is an intellectual driver, a very nice guy, and a team player; I’m enthused about what season 7 will bring and look forward to announcing Alexander’s team-mate in due course. At the same time, I would like to pay tribute Jerome (D’Ambrosio), who leaves us after two years with the team. We have had some great moments together and I wish him all the very best as he moves on to new endeavors. He is a class act and I look forward to seeing what he does next.”

The team confirmed Gill’s announcement that Jerome D’ Ambrosio will not be returning next season.

In D’Ambrosio’s time with Mahindra, he scored a victory in Marrakesh and scored the podium in his debut with Mahindra as well.

Mahindra Racing plans to announce their full driver line up at a later date.

Adam Stevens to reach 200 Cup starts as crew chief at Dover

Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Toyota and his crew chief Adam Stevens pose with the trophy after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Homestead Speedway on November 17, 2019 in Homestead, Florida. Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images.

A significant milestone is in the making for Adam Stevens, crew chief for Kyle Busch and the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry team in the NASCAR Cup Series. By the time the Cup Series completes its upcoming doubleheader races at Dover International Speedway on August 22 and 23, Stevens will reach 200 starts as a Cup crew chief.

A native of Portsmouth, Ohio, who raced in late models throughout high school and college, and whose father raced dune buggies and dirt late model cars, Stevens’ career in working with racing cars started off as a designer for Petty Enterprises after graduating from Ohio University with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. After working for Petty Enterprises for three seasons, he joined Joe Gibbs Racing and worked as a race engineer for Tony Stewart, crew chief Greg Zipadelli and the No. 20 Home Depot team. Stevens worked with Stewart from 2005 to 2008, winning the 2005 Cup title with Stewart, and continued working with JGR’s No. 20 Toyota team as a team engineer from 2009 and 2010 with Joey Logano.

In 2011, Joe Gibbs Racing fielded three cars for the Xfinity Series season and Stevens was named crew chief for the team’s No. 20 Toyota Camry team driven by a number of competitors, including Logano, Denny Hamlin and Ryan Truex. In April, Stevens achieved his first NASCAR win as a crew chief when Hamlin won at Richmond. From 2011 to 2014, Stevens won 31 NASCAR Xfinity Series career races as a crew chief with drivers Hamlin, Logano, Kyle Busch and Sam Hornish Jr. between the Nos. 18, 20 and 54 operations. During his four-year span as an Xfinity crew chief, Adams worked with 12 competitors.

In 2015, JGR underwent major changes to its driver-crew chief pairing for its Cup and Xfinity Series program. As part of the changes, Stevens graduated to the NASCAR Cup Series and was named crew chief for Kyle Busch and the No. 18 M&M’s Toyota Camry team. A day prior to the 2015 Daytona 500, however, Busch suffered a massive compound fracture in his lower right leg, a small fracture in his left foot and a sprained left finger after being involved in a multi-car wreck in the Xfinity Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway, where he made head-on contact into a concrete barrier installed with no SAFER barriers. As a result, with Busch out of the early portions of the season due to his injuries, Stevens worked with Matt Crafton, David Ragan and Erik Jones for the first 11 races of the season. In May, Busch was medically cleared to return behind the wheel of the No. 18 Toyota and was also granted an injury waiver to make the Playoffs if he won and gained enough points to remain within the top-30 mark by Richmond in September. Following his first four Cup races with Busch, Stevens achieved his first Cup victory as a crew chief when Busch won at Sonoma Raceway the following race.

Following the win at Sonoma, Busch and Adams stormed out of the gate as they won three consecutive races over the summer (Kentucky Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Indianapolis Motor Speedway). With five additional top-10 results to go along with four regular-season victories, Busch was able to earn enough points to make the Playoffs. Throughout the Playoffs, Busch was consistent and was able to earn a spot in the Championship Round at Homestead-Miami Speedway. During the finale, Busch took the lead on a late restart and was able to claim his first NASCAR Cup Series championship after winning the finale. The championship was not only the first for Busch, but it was also the fourth for Joe Gibbs Racing, the first for Toyota and the first for Adam Stevens in his rookie season as a Cup crew chief.

For the first 11 races of the 2016 Cup season, Busch and Adams won three races (Martinsville Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway) and achieved nine top-five results. Following Busch’s victory at Kansas in May, however, the No. 18 team was issued a P3-level penalty as a result of an infraction with the No. 18 Toyota’s lug nuts discovered during post-race inspection. As a result, Stevens was fined $20,000 and suspended for one race along with front tire changer Josh Leslie while veteran Todd Berrier filled in as an interim crew chief. When Adams returned atop the pit box at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600 in May, he and Busch achieved seven top-10 results and won at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the second year in a row as they both qualified for the Playoffs. Throughout the Playoffs, Busch was consistent as he earned eight top-10 results and made the Championship Round at Homestead with an opportunity to defend the title from the previous season. During the finale, however, Busch and Adams concluded the season in third place in the final standings after Busch finished in sixth place, five spots behind race winner and the champion Jimmie Johnson.

In 2017, Adams was atop the No. 18 pit box for 32 of the season’s 36-race schedule. In May, Adams and Busch captured the All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway and in Busch’s 12th attempt to win NASCAR’s annual event. In June, following the 12th race of the season at Dover, Stevens was suspended for the upcoming four races due to a safety violation, where a left-rear tire came off of Busch’s car and rolled on the track as Busch was exiting his pit stall and heading back on the track under cautious pace. This was a result of Busch’s car being dropped off the jack with no lug nuts being safely secured on the left-rear tire. Engineers Ben Beshore and Jacob Canter served as interim crew chiefs before Stevens returned atop the pit box at Kentucky Speedway in July. Three races later, Stevens and Kyle Busch achieved their first victory of the season at Pocono Raceway. The combo would win four more races, make the Playoffs and make it all the way through to the Championship Round at Homestead, where they settled in the runner-up spot behind Martin Truex Jr., crew chief Cole Pearn and Furniture Row Racing. By the time the 2017 concluded, Stevens surpassed 100 races as a Cup crew chief.

From 2018 to 2019, Stevens was atop the No. 18 pit box for the entire 36-race schedule. With Kyle Busch remaining as driver of the No. 18 Toyota, the combo achieved 13 wins, five poles, 39 top-five results, 56 top-10 results and back-to-back regular-season titles. In addition, Busch and Stevens claimed their second Cup championship in 2019 after winning the finale at Homestead and capping off a dominating season for Joe Gibbs Racing, which achieved its fifth Cup career title after winning 19 races throughout the 2019 season. By then, Adams also achieved his 27th Cup career win as a crew chief.

This season, through the first 23 Cup races of this season and in his sixth season as a Cup crew chief, Adams and Busch have earned one stage win, 10 top-five results, 12 top-10 results, 211 laps led and an average result of 15.1. With Busch still pursuing his first Cup victory of the season, they are in 10th place in the regular-season standings and are 100 points above the top-16 cutline to make this year’s Playoffs with three regular-season races remaining.

Catch Adams’ milestone start in the second Dover International Speedway race of a doubleheader weekend on August 23 at 4 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

NASCAR Racing Experience offers ultimate fan racing experience as grand prize in the Money Pit “REV YOUR ENGINES” sweepstakes

America’s Leading Home Improvement Media Destination Ready to Race into Fall Home Improvement Season

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“We are excited to join forces with The Money Pit to provide an incredible racing experience to one of their loyal fans,” said Kurt Weinhart of Driving 101, which operates NASCAR Racing Experience, Mario Andretti Racing Experience, and Richard Petty Driving Experience. “The grand prize winner will have an opportunity to race in an actual NASCAR stock car at one of our 13 nationwide speedways – the same tracks where the stars of NASCAR compete.”

NASCAR Racing Experience offers drivers the opportunity to race with no lead car or riding instructor, creating the most realistic racing experience available. No racing experience is required!

Consumers can enter The Money Pit’s “REV YOUR ENGINES” Sweepstakes between August 1, 2020 and August 31, 2020 by visiting www.moneypit.com/sweepstakes. Fans can enter once per day and even earn bonus entries by visiting the NASCAR Racing Experience website or subscribing to The Money Pit Podcast, which Apple Podcasts ranks as the #1 Best Home & Garden Podcast of All Time.

“We know our fans and followers love horsepower when it comes to tools, so we’re giving them an opportunity to experience a whole different kind of horsepower,” said Tom Kraeutler, CEO of The Money Pit and lead anchor. “With just a few clicks on our website, they could find themselves behind the wheel of an actual NASCAR stock car racing at more than 100 miles per hour.”

About Money Pit Media: Money Pit Media is a multi-platform home improvement media and content production company. Our media assets include The Money Pit, the nation’s largest home improvement radio show and podcast, a vibrant website for home improvement enthusiasts, and cross-promotional relationships with some of the nation’s most successful media companies. We educate, inspire and guide home enthusiasts to help them build confidence in the projects they want to get it done. We also connect home improvers to our client partners in a way that’s most helpful for them and profitable for our partners. Visit www.moneypitmedia.com to learn more.

About NASCAR Racing Experience: NASCAR Racing Experience is the leading experiential racing company in North America, offering the most realistic racing programs available to motorsports fans nationwide. There’s no lead car to follow and drivers race without an instructor alongside. The drivers compete in real NASCAR race cars driven by NASCAR drivers including Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart and Michael Waltrip, among others.

Reservations can be made at www.NASCARRacingExperience.com Gift Cards are available for any amount and never expire. The customer service department is available seven days a week. NASCAR Racing Experience programs are conducted at 13 racetracks across the United States and Mario Andretti Racing Experience is held at 15 racetracks, and both offer a vast array of corporate outings and motorsports themed events. For more information call 704-886-2400 or visit www.NASCARRacingExperience.com.

Roush Fenway Weekly Advance | Dover

Roush Fenway Weekly Advance | Dover Doubleheader

Another NASCAR Doubleheader is on tap this weekend as the series heads north to ‘The Monster Mile’ for a pair of 311-mile races Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Dover is historically Jack Roush’s third-most productive track on the circuit with 17 wins all-time, including nine in the Cup Series. Additionally, Ryan Newman has three Cup wins of his own at the track, and Chris Buescher visited victory lane once in the Xfinity Series.

Dover International Speedway (1-Mile)
Drydene 311
Saturday, Aug. 22 | 4 p.m. ET
NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90
· Ryan Newman, No. 6 Guaranteed Rate Ford Mustang
· Chris Buescher, No. 17 SunnyD Ford Mustang

Dover International Speedway (1-Mile)
Drydene 311
Sunday, Aug. 23 | 4 p.m. ET
NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90
· Ryan Newman, No. 6 Guaranteed Rate Ford Mustang
· Chris Buescher, No. 17 Fastenal Ford Mustang

Double in Dover This Weekend

· For the second time in three weeks the NASCAR Cup Series will take part in a doubleheader, this time at ‘The Monster Mile’ for a pair of afternoon races on Saturday and Sunday.

· Including this weekend’s action, three races remain in the 2020 regular season with the NASCAR Playoffs set to begin at Darlington Raceway on Labor Day weekend.

· As announced a week ago, starting lineups for the Cup Series will be determined by a competition-based performance metric. NASCAR will reward both season-long and single-race performance to determine the lineup and pit selection using owner points position along with the finish and fastest lap from the most recently completed race. Buescher drew the 12th spot based on the metric, while Newman will roll off 23rd.

· Dover is usually on the NASCAR calendar twice, once in May and again in the fall, but complications from COVID-19 pushed the May race to this weekend’s doubleheader. Four weeks of NASCAR action were initially completed prior to the COVID-19 hiatus with races at Atlanta, Homestead, Texas, Bristol, Richmond, Talladega, Dover and Martinsville postponed before the schedule later picked back up in mid-May.

Daytona RC Recap, Dover Preview

· Buescher secured his second top-five of the season last weekend with a fifth-place run in the inaugural Cup event at the Daytona Road Course. After rolling off the grid 21st, Buescher and the No. 17 team put themselves on the right end of the strategy as the laps wound down. With a final caution flag with five to go, Buescher ran ninth, and restarted seventh, before powering his way through the field into the top five in the closing laps.

· Newman finished 19th in the Guaranteed Rate Ford on the Daytona Road Course.

· SunnyD returns to Buescher’s machine for Saturday’s first leg of the doubleheader at Dover, and Fastenal will be on the car Sunday for the second 311-mile race.

· Guaranteed Rate returns to Newman’s Ford this weekend for both races, as part of the overall 12-race schedule for the brand to close out the 2020 slate.

The Monster Mash

Roush Fenway’s nine wins in the NCS at Dover ranks third for the organization trailing only Michigan and Bristol with 13 and 11, respectively. Dover also ranks second in top-fives (52) and third in top-10s (84) for the organization.

Get the Broom

Roush Fenway swept the NCS and NASCAR Xfinity Series spring races at Dover in 2004 and 2011 and won both the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series (NGROTS) and NCS races at the track in 2006.

First in the First State

Roush Fenway has won in all three major NASCAR series at Dover (9 NCS, 6 NXS and 2 NGROTS). Roush Fenway won its first race at Dover in the NCS from the pole in the fall of 1997 with former driver Mark Martin.

To Xfinity and Beyond

Roush Fenway has recorded six victories at the one-mile oval in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with drivers Chris Buescher, Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards. Buescher recorded his victory in June 2015, Biffle earned victories in the spring event in both 2002 and 2004, while Edwards took the checkered flag in the spring of 2007 and swept both races in 2011.

Tale of the Tape

Roush Fenway has started 214 NCS races at Dover with 84 top-10 and 52 top-five finishes along with seven poles. Former drivers Mark Martin (1997, 1998, 1999, 2004), Greg Biffle (2005, 2008), Matt Kenseth (2006, 2011) and Carl Edwards (2007) are responsible for RFR’s combined nine Cup wins at the 1-mile track. Overall, a Jack Roush Ford has led 3892 laps at Dover.

Roush Fenway Dover Wins
1997-2 Martin Cup
1998-2 Martin Cup
1999-2 Martin Cup
2000-1 Busch Truck
2002-1 Biffle NXS
2004-1 Martin Cup
2004-1 Biffle NXS
2005-1 Biffle Cup
2006-1 KensethCup
2006-1 Martin Truck
2007-2 EdwardsCup
2007-1 EdwardsNXS
2008-2 Biffle Cup
2011-1 Kenseth Cup
2011-1 Edwards NXS
2011-2 Edwards NXS
2015-1 Buescher NXS

Hendrick Motorsports Media Advance: Dover

DOVER INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY (1-MILE OVAL)
LOCATION: DOVER, DELAWARE
EVENT: NASCAR CUP SERIES (RACES 24 AND 25 OF 36)
TUNE IN: 4 P.M. ET, SATURDAY, AUG. 22 (NBCSN/MRN/SIRIUSXM)
4 P.M. ET, SUNDAY, AUG. 23 (NBCSN/MRN/SIRIUSXM)

Chase Elliott
No. 9 Mountain Dew/Team Rubicon Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE
Driver Chase Elliott Hometown Dawsonville, Georgia
Age 24 Resides Dawsonville, Georgia

2020 Season
4th in standings
23 starts
2 wins
1 pole position
8 top-five finishes
13 top-10 finishes
503 laps led

Career
172 starts
8 wins
9 pole positions
52 top-five finishes
87 top-10 finishes
2,347 laps led

Track Career
8 starts
1 win
1 pole position
6 top-five finishes
6 top-10 finishes
294 laps led

ROAD COURSE (CH)ACE: Chase Elliott and the No. 9 team were a force to be reckoned with on Sunday afternoon at the NASCAR Cup Series’ first-ever DAYTONA Road Course race. Elliott won the first stage and led a race-high 34 laps en route to his third consecutive road-course victory, matching NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart’s streak in 2004-2005. Four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon holds the record for most consecutive road-course wins with six (1997-2000).

HOMETOWN WIN: Sunday’s performance at the inaugural DAYTONA Road Course race was No. 9 team crew chief Alan Gustafson’s first career NASCAR Cup Series win at his home track. He hails from Ormond Beach, Florida, just down the road from Daytona International Speedway. Gustafson is in his 16th full-time season as a crew chief and fifth year with Elliott. He has called the shots for five different drivers (Elliott, Gordon, Mark Martin, Casey Mears and Kyle Busch).

HITTING HIS STRIDE: As the NASCAR Cup Series approaches the 2020 playoffs, Elliott has already stacked up impressive stats. The Dawsonville, Georgia, native’s two wins, two runner-up finishes, eight top-fives and 503 laps led are all career highs through 23 races. Elliott has also garnered personal bests in stage points (199), stage wins (six) and playoff points (16) through this point of the season.

TWO DAYS, TWO SCHEMES: Mountain Dew will serve as Elliott’s primary sponsor for Saturday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway. For Sunday’s 311-lap event at the 1-mile track, the familiar NAPA AUTO PARTS scheme will return to the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE.

NEW DEW: On Monday, the No. 9 Mountain Dew/Team Rubicon Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE that Elliott will pilot on Saturday at Dover was revealed via the Hendrick Motorsports Twitter account. For a full look at the No. 9 Mountain Dew/Team Rubicon Chevy, click here. For the second consecutive year, Mountain Dew has donated to FUEL THE MISSION of Team Rubicon’s disaster response operations for major disasters and the many low-attention disasters that impact communities across the country but don’t make national headlines. Mountain Dew’s donation will also support Team Rubicon’s disaster response training programs – helping Team Rubicon volunteers continue refining their skills so they can more effectively and efficiently help communities impacted by disasters stabilize, recover and rebuild.

‘MONSTER MILE’ STATS: At Dover, Elliott has posted six top-five finishes in eight starts, four of which were top-three results. Among those was his overtime win in October 2018 and a runner-up performance in 2017. Elliott finished in the top three in both of his rookie appearances at Dover in 2016 – something only Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch and Davey Allison accomplished in their rookie seasons. The 24-year-old driver also has four starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and one in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series at the track. He didn’t finish outside the top 10 in either series.

MASTERING THE MONSTER: Elliott’s six top-five finishes at Dover are his most at a single track in his Cup career. The fifth-year driver has also led more laps (294) at the “Monster Mile” than any other track in the series.

NOT AVERAGE: Elliott currently averages a finish of 8.63 at Dover, the best by an active driver at the venue. His average finish (8.63) is also the third-best of all time among drivers with more than two starts there.

DOUBLEHEADER FINISHES: At the four tracks (Darlington, Charlotte, Pocono and Michigan) that have hosted back-to-back races since the return of racing in May, Elliott has collected six top-10 finishes in eight starts. It’s the fourth-most top-10 results behind only Kevin Harvick (eight), Martin Truex Jr. (eight) and Denny Hamlin (seven).

PICKING UP POINTS: In 2020, Elliott is tied with Brad Keselowski for the most stage wins (six), has garnered the fourth-most stage points (199) and is currently fourth in the driver standings, 164 points behind leader Harvick.

PIT CREW POWER: The No. 9 team owns the second-best average time for four-tire pit stops at 13.92 seconds through 23 races in the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season. The team is comprised of jackman T.J. Semke, gasman John Gianninoto, tire carrier Jared Erspamer and tire changers Chad Avrit and Nick O’Dell.


​ ​ ​

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

2020 Season
16th in standings
23 starts
0 wins
0 pole positions
0 top-five finishes
7 top-10 finishes
72 laps led

Career
95 starts
0 wins
5 pole positions
5 top-five finishes
24 top-10 finishes
366 laps led

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

THREE TO GO: With only three races left in the regular season, and two of them occurring this weekend at Dover International Speedway, William Byron is looking to lock himself into the playoffs for the second time in his three-year NASCAR Cup Series career. Gaining 27 points on the playoff bubble over the last five races, the driver of the No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE went from two points below the cutoff line to now 25 points above it in 16th.

CONSISTENCY, CONSISTENCY: One thing that cannot be denied is the No. 24 team’s recent consistency. In the last seven races, Byron has finished inside the top 15 on six occasions – putting him in an eight-way tie for the most in that span. In fact, Byron has finished inside the top 15 in 13 of the last 16 races. He is tied for the third-most top-15 finishes in that time frame behind only Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski, who both have 14 top-15s.

TWO IS BETTER THAN ONE: Since the NASAR Cup Series returned to racing in May, there have been four tracks that have hosted back-to-back races (Darlington, Charlotte, Pocono and Michigan). Of those eight races, Byron has scored six top-15 finishes and is one of six drivers who improved their finish from race one to race two. He is one of five drivers whose average finish from Saturday to Sunday has improved by an average of eight positions.

DOVER DIGEST: With four Cup Series starts under his belt at Dover International Speedway, Byron has a track-best starting position of second and a best finish of eighth at the “Monster Mile,” both coming in May 2019. Across those four starts, the Charlotte, North Carolina, native has an average finish of 13.5, which ranks ninth-best among active drivers at Dover. It’s also Byron’s third-best track in his Cup Series career.

KNAUS THE MONSTER SLAYER: Calling the shots for 38 races at Dover, including two with Byron and the No. 24 team, crew chief Chad Knaus has an impressive 11 wins, 17 top-five finishes and 25 top-10s at the 1-mile concrete oval. His 11 “Monster Mile” victories, all coming with Jimmie Johnson and the No. 48 team, rank him first among active crew chiefs ahead of Matt Borland in second with three wins.

DOUBLE THE AXALTA: On board for the previous two doubleheader race weekends this season (Pocono and Michigan), Axalta will complete the sweep when its iconic flames return to Byron’s No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE for both the Saturday and Sunday races at Dover. This weekend’s events will be close to home with Axalta’s corporate headquarters located less than two hours from the “Monster Mile.” 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.


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Jimmie Johnson
No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE
Driver Jimmie Johnson Hometown El Cajon, California
Age 44 Resides Charlotte, North Carolina

2020 Season
17th in standings
22 starts
0 wins
0 pole positions
3 top-five finishes
7 top-10 finishes
99 laps led

Career
673 starts
83 wins
36 pole positions
230 top-five finishes
371 top-10 finishes
18,933 laps led

Track Career
36 starts
11 wins
5 pole positions
17 top-five finishes
25 top-10 finishes
3,110 laps led

JOHNSON’S PLAYGROUND: Jimmie Johnson is just one win shy of matching the record for the most all-time at Dover International Speedway. He currently has 11 wins while NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip has 12. Johnson has led the most laps of any other driver at Dover with 3,110, which is 307 more than second-place Bobby Allison. His 9.92 average finish across 36 Dover starts is the third-best among active drivers, and he has a total of 25 top-10 finishes there. In the five races since his last “Monster Mile” win in June 2017, Johnson has three top-10 results at the track.

MONSTER ALLY: Ally Financial, a leading digital financial-services company and the primary sponsor of 11-time Dover winner and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Johnson, will be the presenting partner of the track’s Monster Monument at Victory Plaza and the Monster Bridge suite complex overlooking Turn 3. Earlier this week, the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE was installed into the waiting hand of the Monster Monument at Victory Plaza, presented by Ally. Click here for more.

DOWNLOADING WITH DALE: This week Johnson joined former Hendrick Motorsports teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the popular “Dale Jr. Download” podcast where he unveiled his Darlington Raceway “throwback” paint scheme and talked about his final season of full-time racing. Portions of the podcast will air on Saturday, Aug. 22 on NBC Sports Network before the NASCAR Cup Series race at Dover. Click here for the full podcast, which is available now.

SITE OF LAST WIN: Not only has Johnson shared tremendous success at Dover but it was the site of his most recent points win. On June 4, 2017, he led for seven laps but it was enough to put him in contention to drive the No. 48 to victory lane for the 11th time at the 1-mile concrete oval, tying him for sixth on NASCAR’s all-time wins list.

8-BIT GAME: Ally recently launched an 8-bit web-based video game for fans to enjoy. The free 1980s-style game can be played at www.allyracer.com. Players must steer around obstacles like oil slicks, tire debris and other cars while trying to beat the clock and other race cars to the checkered flag. Hitting financial targets, literally, generates bonus points by driving through Ally Financial “rewards” such as coins and plum-colored dollar bills that pop up on the track. Those rewards are banked for future use, so players can choose when to withdraw the rewards and help boost their score as they reach more challenging levels within the game.

NEW-LOOK 48: Johnson and Ally Financial chief marketing officer Andrea Brimmer felt the No. 48 team would benefit from a championship-caliber reset as it pushes to make the playoffs this season. Revealed last week, the new white-based No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE will serve as his primary paint scheme for the remainder of the 2020 season. Johnson playfully called the new look the “rALLY” car on his social media channels. Click here for photos of the scheme.

PLAYOFF PUSH: After last weekend’s solid fourth-place finish at the DAYTONA Road Course, Johnson is 17th in points, just 25 below the cut line with three races remaining in the push to the playoffs.

HELMET OF HOPE: This weekend, Johnson will wear the Blue Bunny Helmet of Hope, which honors five charities that support K-12 public education. This year, the program was expanded to allow non-profits that provide services to school-age students who have been directly impacted by the COVID-19 crisis to participate. In addition to being featured on Johnson’s helmet, each of the recipients were also awarded a $25,000 grant and a Blue Bunny Ice Cream party. This year’s grant recipients are: DMF Youth Inc. (New York City); Foodbank of Siouxland (Sioux City, Iowa); National Mental Health Association of Georgia (Atlanta); TABLE Inc. (Carrboro, North Carolina) and Working in the Schools (Chicago).


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

2020 Season
12th in standings
23 starts
1 win
0 pole positions
2 top-five finishes
6 top-10 finishes
387 laps led

Career
176 starts
2 wins
2 pole positions
12 top-five finishes
32 top-10 finishes
861 laps led

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

WELCOME, ACRONIS: Hendrick Motorsports recently announced a new partnership with Acronis, a global leader in cyber protection. Acronis will be featured as a three-race primary partner on the No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE in 2020 and will become a major associate partner of the organization’s four-car stable beginning next season. The blue and white No. 88 paint scheme will be on track for its first two races with Hendrick Motorsports during this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series doubleheader at Dover International Speedway.

TAMING THE MONSTER: Bowman has made eight NASCAR Cup Series starts at Dover. The Tucson, Arizona, native finished second and third in the two events last season at the 1-mile track, marking back-to-back top-three finishes there. The 27-year-old driver also has six Dover starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, earning two top-five finishes with JR Motorsports in 2016. He led 33 laps in the spring Xfinity Series event that year and crossed the finish line third.

STAGE POINT SUCCESS: The No. 88 team has four stage wins this season, which is tied for third overall in the series. Bowman has captured 163 stage points in 2020, the seventh-most of all drivers. He is also running much better than his finishing positions show with an average running position of 12.35 and an average finish of 17.78 – a difference of 5.43.

IVES IN DOVER: Crew chief Greg Ives has 10 starts at Dover in the Cup Series. The Bark River, Michigan, native has three top-five results and five top-10s at the 1-mile venue, with his best finish of second coming the spring of 2019 with Bowman. The crew chief’s résumé includes two top-five finishes and three top-10s there in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Both top-five results came in 2014, when Ives led driver Chase Elliott to two second-place starting positions and 19 laps led before finishing inside the top five. Ives was a race engineer for the No. 48 team at Hendrick Motorsports from 2006 until 2012 when he was a part of four wins, four pole awards and 10 top-10 finishes at Dover.

BRAND NEW DEALS: During the month of August, No. 88 team sponsor ChevyGoods.com is providing discounts on all accessories, including Adam’s Polishes, NOCO and Truck Hero. Customers can receive 15% off all accessories on the site through the end of the month by using code CHEVYGOODS.

HOME-TRACK FEELS: No. 88 team rear-tire changer Devin DelRicco grew up 86 miles from Dover International Speedway in Marlboro, Maryland. The 30-year-old athlete visited the “Monster Mile” for the first time back in 2005 for the NASCAR Cup Series event. DelRicco has been with Hendrick Motorsports for five years and has two NASCAR Xfinity Series championships with JR Motorsports.

PIT ROAD PROWESS: The No. 88 pit crew ranks sixth in the NASCAR Cup Series with an average four-tire stop time of 14.11 seconds after 23 events this season. The team includes fueler Jacob Conley, tire carrier Rowdy Harrell, jackman Dustin Lineback and tire changers Scott Brzozowski and DelRicco.


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Hendrick Motorsports

WE’RE STREAKING: Chase Elliott’s performance Sunday at the DAYTONA Road Course extended Hendrick Motorsports’ streak of consecutive seasons with at least three points-paying wins to 27 – the longest ever by a NASCAR Cup Series team. Including 2020, Hendrick Motorsports has scored at least three victories in 33 of its 37 full seasons since owner Rick Hendrick opened the doors in 1984.

TWENTY AND COUNTING: Hendrick Motorsports has won 28% of the races it has entered at Dover International Speedway. Its 20 points-paying Cup victories at the 1-mile oval are tied for the third-most wins by any team at any track in NASCAR history. Hendrick Motorsports has recorded Dover wins with six different drivers: Jimmie Johnson (11), Jeff Gordon (five), Elliott, Ricky Rudd, Ken Schrader and Geoff Bodine.

DOUBLE DOVER: With two NASCAR Cup Series races up for grabs this weekend, Hendrick Motorsports has the chance to push its Dover win total to 22, which would be the second-most victories by any team at any track. The all-time record is the 24 Cup wins Hendrick Motorsports has earned at Martinsville Speedway. With 21 wins at Bristol Motor Speedway, Junior Johnson and Associates is second.

STILL STREAKING: Hendrick Motorsports has the longest active top-10 streak at Dover with at least one car finishing better than 11th in the last 19 NASCAR Cup Series races held there.

DOVERTIME: Four NASCAR Cup Series races at Dover have ended in overtime – and Hendrick Motorsports has won them all. Johnson has visited victory lane in three Dover overtime races – in 2005, 2015 and 2017 – with Elliott winning one in 2018.

FIFTY MORE TO 70K: If Hendrick Motorsports leads 50 laps during this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series doubleheader at Dover International Speedway, it will reach a major milestone: 70,000 laps led all-time. The team has led a Dover track record 6,846 laps, including a combined 172 in the two races held there last season.

NINE AWAY: Since its inception in 1984, Hendrick Motorsports has earned 259 race victories and holds the all-time records for championships (12), pole positions (226), top-five finishes (1,084), top-10s (1,872) and laps led (69,950) 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 nine wins away from tying Petty Enterprises’ all-time Cup record of 268.


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QUOTABLE /
Driver Chase Elliott on momentum from his DAYTONA Road Course win:
“There is no replacement for a win and what it can do for your team – everyone’s morale or confidence, or all of the above. There’s just no replacement for winning when it comes to just making everyone feel better, but at the same time we have to keep pushing. A win is great, but it’s not the ultimate fix right now. Sunday’s win doesn’t fix the things that myself and the team need to do better overall. I think that our biggest issue has just been a little inconsistency. When we are at our best, I feel like we are able to run up front with the guys that win a lot. We just have to do a better job of staying in that bracket and staying up front all the time. I really believe if we can do that just a little more consistently we will be up there. There’s no reason why we can’t do that, too.”

Elliott on the importance of the Dover doubleheader:
“To me, doubleheaders mean that there are a lot of points on the line in a short matter of time. Thankfully, for our good run at the DAYTONA Road Course and this new qualifying format, we will get to start up front on Saturday at Dover. Having that first pit box is also a huge thing for us this weekend.”

Crew Chief Alan Gustafson on the toughness of doubleheaders:
“The No. 9 team has been putting a lot of hard work in for all of these doubleheaders. You’ve got to prep the cars, you’ve got to have a good game plan on what you’re going to switch out and how you’re going to switch it out. From the time the Saturday race ends up until the time the garage closes, all the way until it’s time we put the car on the grid – it’s nonstop. We have very few people at the track, you’re trying to debrief, trying to get a game plan for the next race, and it’s just a lot of work.”

Driver William Byron on racing at Dover:
“Even though it’s concrete, Dover’s surface changes a lot during the race. It’s really temperamental and holds a lot of rubber. When it does that, it widens the racetrack out. It’s a tough track to get ahold of for that reason. You have to prepare for when the rubber lays down and have your car handling how it needs to once that happens. You have to stay on top of those things. I feel like our guys have done a good job in preparing and we’ll see what we have when we unload.”

Byron on racing while on the playoff bubble:
“This is going to be a tough weekend, for sure. We need to have good runs on both days. I’m hopeful that we can either get the win or create a good buffer in the point standings so we can go to Daytona and have a bit of a less stressful race. That would be the ideal situation. I would rather be in the position we are, though, ahead in points, instead of trying to play catch up in these final races. It puts things in my hands more, and I like that challenge, especially for a doubleheader weekend.”

Driver Jimmie Johnson on racing at Dover for the final time:
“We are very excited for this weekend at Dover. It’s hands down my favorite track, and from the pictures I have seen, there is a lot of Ally signage all over the place. It’s a homecoming of sorts. Performance-wise, last weekend at the DAYTONA Road Course we had a solid day. We needed that. Because of our fourth-place finish, we will be starting sixth Saturday at Dover, which is really an advantage to where we have been starting lately. With the random draw and the way track position has been working out, I feel like we have had things stacked against us for a while. This will be a good advantage for us, and we just have to go out there and get it done.”

Driver Alex Bowman on the demands of Dover:
“I am excited to get to Dover this weekend and I know our team is, too. We were really strong in Dover last year and I know that these guys have been working hard on our Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LEs for this weekend. This track is physically demanding, not only on the driver, but the car, as well. We have to stay up front and I have to keep the car clean and out of trouble.”

McDowell Looks for Clean Sweep with Shield Cleansers

McDowell on Dover Doubleheader:

“I’m really looking forward to this weekend’s doubleheader at Dover International Speedway. Dover is a tough race track, we have a brand new aero package with low downforce and high horsepower, so it’s going to be tricky for teams with no practice, but it’s been another solid month for our No. 34 program, so hopefully we can unload pretty good off of the hauler and keep the momentum rolling.

“We have Shield Cleansers on board for both races, which is a new partner to the No. 34 program. They’re a division of Digital Ally, who you’ve probably seen on my teammate John Hunter Nemechek’s race car in the past. It’s really cool to see a newer partner get involved with our team and support both of our Cup Series programs.

“Shield Cleansers have a wide variety of safe, non-toxic products that range from household cleaning or disinfecting to vet care and first aid; all things that are important to my wife and I as we have 4 young kids at home. Making sure that surfaces stay clean and hands stay sanitized has been something we’ve taken very seriously during the COVID-19 Pandemic and I encourage others to do the same.”

Jason Kitzmiller, CR7 Motorsports set to battle Miles’ Monster Mile

DOVER, Del.: After taking a weekend off in ARCA Menards Series competition, rookie competitor Jason Kitzmiller and his CR7 Motorsports team head to Dover (Del.) International Speedway looking to give their driver some additional track time in Friday afternoon’s ARCA Menards Series East General Tire 125.

In his most recent race at Michigan International Speedway, Kitzmiller matched his career-best ARCA Menards Series finish of eighth at the famed two-mile oval, but the Petersburg, W. Va. native realizes there isn’t anything compared to Miles’ Monster Mile.

“Dover is one of those races that drivers really seem to love,” said Kitzmiller. “This will be my debut in the ARCA Menards Series East – but I’m excited to get out there with our No. 97 A.L.L. Construction Chevrolet and see what we can do.”

Thankfully, Kitzmiller will have an hour of practice to set the tone for the race and says he will be relying on the experience of his team owner Codie Rohrbaugh and his crew chief Doug George for helping him negotiate Dover’s 1.0-mile track.

“I’m doing everything I can to prepare myself for Friday,” Kitzmiller.

“Whether it’s getting on the phone and talking to Codie, Doug or others or just trying to take some time when I’m not busy and looking at older races.

“Hopefully, we can get the car comfortable during practice and then make adjustments during the race that can set us up for a good finish.”

While some of fellow ARCA Menards Series competitors will join him in the third ARCA Menards Series East race of the season, Kitzmiller realizes he’ll also be competing with other drivers he’s never raced before.

“I know the ARCA Menards Series East season is as competitive as the ARCA Menards Series,” added Kitzmiller. “It’s flooded with a lot of talented short track racers. I will race them hard but be respectful.

“I’m not out here to ruin any of their championship hopes, but I still have a job to do for my team, my partners and myself. I have a feeling Dover is going to be one of those races where the competition will be fierce and aggressive. 125 laps will go by in a hurry, but we’ll be ready for whatever is thrown our way.”

Kitzmiller’s General Tire 125 will be the primary focus of CR7 Motorsports this weekend at Dover.

The Truck Series operation with driver Codie Rohrbaugh is taking a brief two-race (Dover and Gateway) sabbatical before planning to return to competition next month at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.

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

The General Tire 125 will air live on NBC’s Track Pass on Fri., Aug. 21 beginning at 2:00 p.m.

Turn 5, Inc. Announces Fall 2020 Scholarship Winners

Auto Parts Retailer Awards $106,500 in 7 Years

PAOLI, Pa. (August 19th, 2020) – Online auto parts retailer Turn 5, Inc. announces the names of its three latest scholarship winners for the fall 2020 semester. Turn5’s scholarship programs run year-round via their subsidiary sites: AmericanMuscle (AM), ExtremeTerrain (XT), and AmericanTrucks (AT).  Based on original essay submissions, the Philadelphia-based e-commerce business has selected Najah Straford, Jason McCarrick, and Sidney Katz, who will each receive $2500 towards their tuition fees for the upcoming semester.

Applicants to the AM scholarship are asked to submit an essay explaining how they plan to use their auto-focused education to incite positive change and innovation within the custom car industry.  The chosen essay belongs to Najah Straford who will receive $2500 towards her tuition at Delaware County Community College. Furthering her education in the engineering and racing industry, it’s Najah mission to “become the first African American woman athlete and scholar in motorsports engineering, racing, and manufacturing of complex and sophisticated components to meet all types of specific needs in sustainability.”

With a focus on the trades, AT’s scholarship winner is Jason McCarrick, a high school senior from Clarkston High in Clarkston, Michigan. In applying for the scholarship, Jason submitted an essay explaining how he plans to use his education to contribute to a thriving community of trade workers who are dedicated to a hands-on approach to knowledge development. With a passion for an education that “contributes to the betterment of society,” Jason will use his$2500 AM scholarship to pursue a career as an automotive diesel mechanic.

Finally, XT’s scholarship is awarded to students pursuing biology or a related degree in environmental studies. Students are asked to explain why they feel it is important to maintain access to public lands for recreational use and how they plan to use their degree to advocate for the recreational use of public lands. Sidney Katz, from the University of Oregon, will receive $2500, and aspires to work for the National Forest Service. Sydney believes that “recreation is a key aspect to motivating people to preserve our natural resources” and wants to “spread this connection between people and nature through recreation as a career.”

The AM, AT, and XT scholarship programs run year-round, with application deadlines in June and October.  Since the inception of their first scholarship program in 2013, Turn5 has awarded $106,500 to students across the U.S. Interested high school seniors or full-time university/college/tech students pursuing relevant degrees are invited to send in their applications for the spring 2021 semester.

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About Turn5 Inc.
Turn5 is an award-winning e-commerce retailer founded in 2003, home to AmericanMuscle, ExtremeTerrain and AmericanTrucks.com. Employing more than 400 talented staff members who are driven and passionate about the work they do, Turn5 has received some of the most reputable business and e-commerce awards as a leader within the thriving automotive aftermarket performance niche. Located just outside of Philadelphia, Turn5 is focused on providing the highest level of customer service and an industry-leading shopping experience. Please visit https://www.turn5.com/ for more information.