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Wallace to make 100th Cup start at Dover

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images.

A major milestone is in the making for Bubba Wallace, driver of the No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE and NASCAR’s current lone African-American competitor in the Cup Series. When the green flag waves on Saturday, August 22, at Dover International Speedway, Wallace will reach 100 starts in the sport’s premier series and in his third full-time season competing against NASCAR’s elite.

A native of Mobile, Alabama, Wallace was already a rising star in NASCAR entering June 2017, having won six ARCA Menards Series East races and five NASCAR Truck Series races while competing in his third season in the Xfinity Series with Roush Fenway Racing. By then, Aric Almirola was in his sixth season as driver of the No. 43 Smithfield Ford Fusion for Richard Petty Motorsports.

When Almirola was injured and diagnosed with a compression fracture of his T5 vertebrae after being involved in a vicious multi-car accident at Kansas Speedway in May, Richard Petty Motorsports named Wallace as an interim competitor of the No. 43 Smithfield Ford, beginning at Pocono Raceway in June. Wallace’s interim role at Pocono not only marked his Cup debut, but he also became the first African-American competitor to compete in the Cup Series since Bill Lester made the last accomplishment in 2006. At Pocono, Wallace qualified 16th and finished 26th in his Cup debut after being hampered with a handful of pit road speeding penalties. Following the race, where he congratulated his longtime friend, fellow competitor and first-time winner Ryan Blaney, Wallace passed out and required medical attention.

Wallace made three additional starts in 2017 in the No. 43 car at Michigan International Speedway in June, Daytona International Speedway and at Kentucky Speedway (both in July). His best results during those three races were a 15th-place result at Daytona and an 11th-place result at Kentucky. The following race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Almirola was medically cleared to return to competition and Wallace was left without a full-time ride for the remainder of the season after his Xfinity ride at Roush Fenway Racing was terminated due to sponsorship issues. He made one start in the Truck Series at Michigan in August, where he won driving for MDM Motorsports, and one additional start in the Xfinity Series at Chicagoland Speedway in September, where he finished 10th driving for Biagi-DenBeste Racing.

In mid-October, amid months of speculation, NASCAR Hall of Famer and team owner Richard Petty named Bubba Wallace as a full-time competitor of the No. 43 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series season, which Wallace entered as a Rookie-of-the-Year candidate as he also became the first African-American competitor to compete on a full-time basis in the Cup Series since the late NASCAR Hall of Famer Wendell Scott made the last accomplishment in 1971.

Wallace made his first start in the No. 43 Chevrolet in the first of two Can-Am Duel races at Daytona International Speedway in February, where he dodged a handful of on-track incidents to finish in third place behind race winner Blaney and Joey Logano. Wallace’s third-place result in the duel event earned him the seventh-place starting spot for the 60th running of the Daytona 500 three days later. Prior to the 500, Wallace received support from a number of star athletes, including Super Bowl XLV champion Charles Woodson, Baseball Hall of Famer Hank Aaron and Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton. During the Daytona 500, Wallace made a late charge and edged Denny Hamlin by a nose to finish in second place behind race winner Austin Dillon. Though he did not win the race, he won the hearts of fans over his strong performance and he cherished the result during his post-race press conference by sharing a tearful hug with his mother and family. Wallace also became the highest-finishing African-American competitor in the Daytona 500, eclipsing the previous record made by Scott’s 13th-place result in 1966.

Following his historic run in the Daytona 500, Wallace finished no higher than 20th place in the next five Cup races before he earned his second top-10 career finish (eighth-place) at Texas Motor Speedway. The following race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Wallace had a historic run in the making when he took the lead from Brad Keselowski on Lap 375 of 500 and led his first six laps in the Cup Series and in a blue and orange No. 43 STP Chevrolet that mirrored the scheme Richard Petty sported when he dominated stock car racing in the past. Though Wallace was primed for a strong result at Bristol, he ended his race with a disappointing 16th-place finish following handling issues. For the remainder of his rookie Cup season, Wallace earned one additional top-10 result (10th at Phoenix) and was beaten by William Byron for the Rookie-of-the-Year title. Overall, Wallace earned one top-five result, three top-10 results and an average result of 24.5 throughout the 36-race schedule before he concluded the season in 28th place in the final standings.

Wallace started off the 2019 season with lead engineer Derek Stamets as his new crew chief following Blickensderfer’s departure from RPM to Front Row Motorsports. For the first 12 Cup races of the season, Wallace finished no higher than 17th place (Martinsville in March). The following race, which was the Monster Energy Open at Charlotte Motor Speedway, was where Wallace flexed his muscles after he fended off a late charge from Daniel Suarez to win the second of three stages in the Open and transfer to his first All-Star Race of his career. Wallace’s success continued during the main event, where he finished in fifth place. His other success to the 2019 season occurred at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where he dodged a series of carnages to finish in third place behind race winner Kevin Harvick and Logano. The third-place result marked his first top-five result since finishing second in the 2018 Daytona 500 and the second crown-jewel event where he earned a podium result. Wallace, however, recorded four additional top-15 results before he concluded the season in 28th place in the final standings and with an average result of 23.9.

This season, Wallace reunited with veteran crew chief Jerry Baxter, who won five Truck races with Wallace in 2013 and 2014 with Kyle Busch Motorsports. Wallace started off the season by finishing 15th in the Daytona 500. He rebounded the following race by finishing in sixth place at Las Vegas Motor Speedway after opting to remain on track on old tires for a two-lap shootout to the finish. He went on to finish 27th and 19th in the next two Cup races before COVID-19 paused this year’s racing season through May. By then, Wallace was in 18th place in the regular-season standings.

Since the return of racing at Darlington Raceway in May through last weekend at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course, Wallace has earned three additional top-10 results, seven additional top-15 results and an average result of 19.8. He is currently in 21st place in the regular-season standings and is 165 points below the top-16 cutline to make this year’s Cup Playoffs. He has yet to announce his racing plans for next season and beyond.

In addition to his competitiveness on the track, Wallace, this season, has become the face of NASCAR’s involvement in the Black Lives Matter movement and speaking out on the abuse of African Americans by the police. At Martinsville Speedway, he sported a special black scheme on his No. 43 Chevrolet that featured the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter and the phrase “Compassion, Love, Understanding.” Shortly after at Talladega Superspeedway, where a noose was discovered in Wallace’s garage stall, all the competitors and crew members joined Wallace to the front of the pit road in a show of solidarity through the national anthem and prior to the race. Despite the incident being determined that Wallace was not a target of a hate crime and the backlash that followed suit towards the competitor of the iconic No. 43 car, Wallace vows to continue to maintain his stance against his doubters and race towards history both on and off the track.

Catch Wallace’s milestone start on August 22 at Dover at 4 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

DiBenedetto Set To Make 200th Cup Start

By
Official Release
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When Matt DiBenedetto fires up the No. 21 Menards/Monster Energy Mustang and takes the green flag on Saturday at Dover International Speedway, it will mark his 200th career start in NASCAR’s elite Cup Series.

His 201st start will come on Sunday at Dover, with Richmond Water Heaters replacing Monster Energy on the hood of the Menards Mustang.

DiBenedetto, who will start 14th at Dover on Saturday, made his Cup debut at Phoenix Raceway in 2015 at the age of 22, driving for the underdog BK Racing team.

After failing to qualify at Atlanta and Las Vegas, DiBenedetto earned the 35th starting spot at Phoenix and finished where he started. Inconspicuous as his debut was, it was the start of an upward career trajectory that five seasons later has him driving the iconic No. 21 Ford for the Wood Brothers and competing for a Playoff berth.

“It’s cool that this weekend is my 200th start,” DiBenedetto said. “That’s crazy to think.

“I remember making my first Cup start at Phoenix and just being appreciative for being there and accomplishing the first part of my dream which was making it to the Cup series.

“Now it’s fast forward to this season having a dream opportunity driving the 21 car and competing up front.”

DiBenedetto said other than the fact that it was his debut, there was nothing really remarkable about his first Cup race. (He did finish ahead of future NASCAR Hall of Famers Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt Jr., both of whom crashed out of that race.)

“It was a crazy time because the team wasn’t planning on running me at that race until last second, so we didn’t have a full crew or anything,” DiBenedetto said. “But it was neat how willing everyone was to work hard and get me out there.

“I think they could sense my passion for wanting to be in the Cup Series and that I would do anything to make it happen and prove myself.”

Despite his first team’s underdog status, DiBenedetto went on to finish 21st at Bristol in his fifth start and 18th at Talladega in his seventh start. He turned heads by finishing sixth at Bristol the following year, then moved to the Fords fielded by Archie St. Hilaire in 2017. He finished ninth in the Daytona 500 for St. Hilaire and eighth at the Brickyard.

After an impressive 2019 season in the No. 95 owned by Bob Leavine he was tapped to replace the retiring Paul Menard in the Menards/Monster Energy Mustang.

Entering his 24th race in the No. 21 this year, DiBenedetto has two top-five and five more top-10 finishes and heads into this weekend’s double-header 44 points ahead of 17th place, with only the following Saturday’s race on the oval track at Daytona International Speedway left to run before the start of the Playoffs.

There will be no practice or qualifying before the start of Saturday’s and Sunday’s races at Dover, both of which are scheduled for 311 miles.

The twin Drydene 311s are set to start at 4 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.

WHILE NOT RACING, YOUNGER MAKES PROGRESS WITH CAR IN TEST SESSIONS AT SOUTH BOSTON SPEEDWAY

By
Official Release
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South Boston, Va…..Brent Younger is like many other drivers, wishing he could be racing at South Boston Speedway and contending for wins, top-five finishes and a division championship.

Instead, he has had to settle for a couple of test sessions this summer at “America’s Hometown Track.”

This season marks the third season for the South Boston, Virginia driver who competes in South Boston Speedway’s Limited Sportsman Division. He competed in two races in 2018 and competed in most of the track’s events in 2019.

Younger finished eighth in the 2019 Limited Sportsman Division point standings at South Boston Speedway with one Top-Five finish and 10 Top 10 finishes. He bought a newer, better car during the off-season, looking to further improve in 2020.

“We’ve definitely made some improvements getting this car,” Younger said during a break in a test session at South Boston Speedway.

“I guess we will know once we race exactly where we stack up, but I definitely feel we will be better than we were last year. I don’t know that we are in winning contention yet, but we’re definitely better than we were last year.”

Younger’s journey on the path of improvement is one of taking gradual steps.

“It takes time and resources to make things better,” Younger explained.

“I was just getting started driving a couple of years ago in an older car. I’m still getting used to the new car. I bought a car from Brian and Landon Pembelton in the off-season. My old car didn’t have bump stops and this car has them. I’m just getting used to that, learning them and getting used to feeling them.

“We’re getting a little better as we go, and I feel like we’re headed in the right direction to have a good piece here and something to work with,” continued Younger.

“I guess some of the bigger teams spend what they need to spend and are able to get all of the right tools there at the get-go. We have to take things a little slower and take one step at a time to get what we need at the track.”

Younger would rather be racing, but he has found positives in his test sessions at South Boston Speedway this summer.

“Anytime you can come over here and put laps on the car you get better,” Younger said.

“But, it’s hard to simulate a real race. In a real race you put yourself through those paces and I think you would probably have a better idea of where you are if you are able to be on the track driving in real races.”

The South Boston, Virginia resident says it is hard not being able to race.

“The biggest thing is you just don’t know what to expect because everything is so fluid with the COVID-19 situation,” noted Younger.

“It’s hard to plan. If we knew we were going racing in September or October, we would have something to plan toward and it would be easier. It’s harder not knowing.”

South Boston Speedway is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is open for testing. Teams interested in scheduling a test date should contact the speedway office at 434-572-4947.

Singing Surgeons Pair with Fan Favorite Cornelison for Emotional Indy 500 Race Day Performances

By
Official Release
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INDIANAPOLIS, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020 – The stirring sounds of the Singing Surgeons and Jim Cornelison highlight pre-race festivities for the 104th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, Aug. 23, performing live at Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the emotional and historic countdown to “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

Dr. Elvis Francois and Dr. William Robinson, who went viral in March with their Instagram rendition of John Lennon’s “Imagine,” will sing “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Cornelison, a powerful tenor and an IMS fan favorite, returns for his fourth consecutive performance of “Back Home Again in Indiana.”

NBC’s broadcast begins Sunday at 1 p.m. (ET), with WTHR-13 airing the coverage in Central Indiana.

“In these most unusual times, we are proud to produce a live Race Day show that will translate the tension, emotion and pageantry of Race Day to a global audience,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “Elvis and William are two remarkable individuals whose performance will pay tribute to the heroes on the front lines of our nation’s continued fight against COVID-19. Jim has become part of the ‘500’ fabric with his passion for IMS and INDYCAR, and I know everyone in Indiana and honorary Hoosiers across the globe will shed tears as he hits the high notes of ‘Back Home Again’ on this unique Race Day.”

The Singing Surgeons provided a special tribute to fellow front-line health care workers during the “Indy 500 Special: Back Home Again” broadcast on NBC on Sunday, May 24. They performed “God Bless America” on the historic Yard of Bricks.

As residents at the Mayo Clinic, Francois and Robinson performed for patients for several years, delivering emotional support alongside medical treatment to those in need. Following their viral debut, the pair recorded a special EP, “Music is Medicine,” with proceeds going to the Center of Disaster Philanthropy COVID-19 Response Fund. While both doctors have recently completed their Mayo Clinic residency, the two good friends have stayed in close touch and are eager to reunite at the Racing Capital of the World.

“We’re honored and humbled to perform the national anthem at ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,’” Francois and Robinson said. “IMS is a fantastic venue that fills us with awe every time we visit. While we’re all sad fans won’t be at this year’s race, our performance will carry a message of hope and optimism as we pay tribute to the heroes fighting COVID-19 each and every day.”

Cornelison is known to sports fans as the powerful voice behind “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Chicago Blackhawks’ home games. He first wowed “500” fans and viewers in 2017, generating widespread praise on social media. He is the first “Back Home Again in Indiana” singer in consecutive years since the legendary Jim Nabors appeared for the 36th and final time in 2014.

“It is such an honor and privilege to return to Indianapolis Motor Speedway, as the Indianapolis 500 is a tradition known around the world,” Cornelison said. “Each year I am humbled by the response from the INDYCAR fans, and I know this year’s performance carries extra meaning under such extraordinary circumstances. I’ll miss the roar of the crowd, but I’ll carry the wonderful fans of IMS with me as I sing. This performance is for them.”

For more than 100 years, the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race presented by Gainbridge has taken place in May in conjunction with Memorial Day. This year’s race was originally scheduled for Sunday, May 24, but was rescheduled to Sunday, Aug. 23, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sunday’s race will be led to the green flag by third-generation driver Marco Andretti, who earned the pole position for the first time in his “500” career. Andretti’s grandfather, legendary 1969 Indy 500 winner Mario Andretti, won the pole three times, the most recent in 1987.

The 33-car field is the second-fastest in Indianapolis 500 history, and it includes eight former “500” winners and five rookies. Rinus VeeKay, 19, of The Netherlands is starting fourth, the best starting position for a teenage driver in the race’s history.

Toyota Racing – Weekly Preview – 08.19.20

By
Official Release
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This Week in Motorsports: August 17-23, 2020
· NCS/NXS/NGROTS/ARCA EAST: Dover International Speedway – August 21-23
· ARCA WEST: Colorado National Speedway – August 22

PLANO, Texas (August 19, 2020) – It’s a doubleheader weekend for the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) at Dover International Speedway with races on Saturday and Sunday. They are joined in Dover by the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series (NGROTS) and the ARCA Menards Series East on Friday. The ARCA Menards Series West is also in action on Saturday in Colorado.

NASCAR National Series – NCS| NXS| NGROTS

Truex Close to Home… Martin Truex Jr. is from nearby Mayetta, New Jersey, and has performed strong for his local fans over the years at Dover International Speedway. Truex earned his first career victory at the Monster Mile in 2007 and has driven to two additional victories there in the last four seasons, including leading 132 laps (of 400) last May on his way to winning by over nine seconds in the No. 19 Camry.

Adding to the Series Lead… Denny Hamlin continues to add to his series lead of top-two finishes with another runner-up result on Sunday at Daytona International Speedway. It was Hamlin’s fourth top-two finish in the last five races, and 10th overall this season. Hamlin has moved to second in the overall point standings with this run of success. His best finish at Dover was a runner-up result in the fall 2018 race at the Monster Mile.

Bell Strong at Dover… Although this weekend marks Christopher Bell’s first NCS starts at Dover, he has plenty to be excited about heading into the Monster Mile. Bell has won two of his last three races at the track, including leading the last 14 laps to win the NXS race there last spring.

Burton Ready for the Monster… NXS rookie Harrison Burton is ready for the doubleheader weekend at Dover International Speedway. Burton had an incredible final restart and drove to the win at the first doubleheader for the NXS this season at Homestead-Miami Speedway in June. Burton also has been solid in previous starts at Dover, including tying his career-best NGROTS finish of third there last spring.

Career-Bests Continue … NGROTS rookie driver Raphaël Lessard has had career-best finishes in back-to-back events. After scoring a seventh-place finish at Michigan International Speedway, Lessard led three laps and drove to a third-place finish at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course on Sunday. Lessard ran the Dover NGROTS race with Kyle Busch Motorsports last season, earning an 11th-place finish.

Hill Looking for Regular Season Crown… With four races to go in the regular season, Austin Hill continues to lead the overall point standings after a fifth-place finish in Daytona. Hill has a 54-point lead heading into Dover. Hill can clinch the regular season championship along with 15 Playoff points if he holds a 60-point advantage leaving Darlington Raceway on Labor Day weekend.

NASCAR Regional Series – ARCA

ARCA East Makes its Return… After several postponements due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ARCA Menards Series East is back on track on Friday at Dover International Speedway. Ty Gibbs returns on track this weekend just two points out of the championship points lead after winning the most recent ARCA East race at Toledo Speedway in June.

Love Continues to Lead ARCA West… At the halfway point of the ARCA Menards Series West season, 15-year-old rookie Jesse Love continues to lead the overall point standings. After scoring top-five finishes in every race this season, Love’s average finish currently sits at 2.2.

Stay Connected

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About Toyota

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

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

JR Motorsports — NXS Dover Preview

By
Official Release
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JR MOTORSPORTS TEAM PREVIEW:
TRACK: Dover International Speedway
RACE 1: Drydene 200 (200 laps / 200 miles)
RACE 2: Drydene 200 (200 laps / 200 miles)
DATE 1: Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020
DATE 2: Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020

Broadcast Information Race One – TV: 12:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN / Radio: 12 p.m. ET on MRN and Sirius XM Ch. 90
Broadcast Information Race Two – TV: 1 p.m. ET on NBCSN / Radio: 12:30 p.m. ET on MRN and Sirius XM Ch. 90

Jeb Burton
Race One: No. 8 State Water Heaters Chevrolet
• Jeb Burton is set to make his sixth start this season behind the wheel of the No. 8 Chevrolet in the first of two races at Dover on Saturday.
• Burton has recorded a best finish of 12th in two previous starts in the NXS at Dover.
• Burton has also scored a best finish of ninth in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series at the 1-mile oval.
• State Water Heaters, a leader in the water heating industry, will be on board the No. 8 for the second time in 2020 on Saturday in Dover.

Justin Allgaier
Race One & Two: No. 7 FFA Chevrolet
• Justin Allgaier is a previous winner at Dover, leading 104 laps on his way to a victory in 2018. In his past five starts at the track, he’s finished third or better.
• In 18 NXS starts at the track, the 34-year-old driver has eight top fives and 11 top 10s, including his win.
• In Allgaier’s most recent start at Dover last fall, he led 67 laps and swept the first two stages, taking home a runner-up finish.
• This season, Allgaier has led 207 laps on tracks measuring 1 mile or less and claimed two stage wins.

Noah Gragson
Race One & Two: No. 9 Bass Pro Shops / TrueTimber / Black Rifle Coffee Chevrolet
• Noah Gragson has three starts in the NXS at Dover with a best finish of seventh coming in the Spring of 2019.
• At tracks that are between 1-2 miles in length, Gragson has an average finish of 9.5 including eight top fives, 19 top 10s and 413 laps led.
• After 19 races in the 2020 season, Gragson leads the way for JRM with two wins, nine top fives, 13 top 10s and is currently third in the championship standings.
• Gragson is currently tied for the series lead in stage wins. He has scored a total of eight in the 2020 season.

Michael Annett
Race One & Two: No. 1 Pilot Flying J Chevrolet
• Michael Annett enters this week’s races at Dover International Speedway having recorded top-10 finishes in
seven of the last eight NASCAR Xfinity Series events.
• Annett is on a streak of two straight top-10 finishes at Dover, having finished 10th and sixth last season.
• Annett is always around at the end at Dover, having completed all but 10 of the 3,214 laps of competition in his starts there. His best finish is third, in the fall of 2012.
• Annett’s average finish of 12.7 is his second best among the tracks on the schedule, behind only Kentucky at 11.1.

Daniel Hemric
Race Two: No. 8 Poppy Bank Chevrolet
• Daniel Hemric will be piloting the No. 8 Poppy Bank Chevrolet for the second of two NXS events at Dover on Sunday.
• In four previous NXS starts at the Monster Mile, Hemric has two top fives and three top 10s with a best finish of third coming in May of 2018.
• Hemric has made a combined eight starts at Dover between the NASCAR Cup Series, NXS and the Truck Series, recording a combined three top fives and five top 10s.
• Through 13 NXS starts in 2020, Hemric has earned a best finish of second at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May.

Driver Quotes

“Dover is a good track for us on the No. 1 Pilot Flying J team. We have good cars there and the racing seems to suit my style. We are in good shape in the points, and we need to hit that extra gear for the playoffs. Dover is a good place to do that. We’ve been on a roll here lately with a lot of top-10 finishes and we are after a couple more this weekend.” – Michael Annett

“Dover is a place where we have had a lot of success at in the past, so I’m really looking forward to heading there for the doubleheader weekend. We’re also fortunate to have a great organization on the car. FFA does a lot to empower today’s youth through agricultural education and I’m honored to be able to display their colors on our Camaro and bring more awareness to what they do. I can’t think of a better way to do that than to get them to Victory Lane.” – Justin Allgaier

“I can’t wait to get to Dover this weekend with our State Water Heaters Chevrolet. I feel extremely confident that we will unload with a lot of speed and be in contention all day long. State has always been such a great supporter through the years and hopefully we can give them a great run and be in contention for the win when it counts at the end on Saturday.” – Jeb Burton

“Dover has always been a track that I have enjoyed going to. Whether that be here in the Xfinity Series, or in the trucks or a Cup car, it’s just been a track that has really suited me over the years. That gives me a ton of confidence heading into the second half of this weekend’s doubleheader. Hopefully Jeb (Burton) can have a solid day and be in contention on Saturday and then we can follow suit and fight for the victory on Sunday. I’m ready to get there and see what we can do.” – Daniel Hemric

“Dover was a pretty good track for me when I was in the Truck Series and it has been fairly good for me while in the NXS. I’ve finished seventh here two times and I think our No. 9 JR Motorsports team is back on the right path. We’ve been able to run up ,front and have scored a couple top-10 finishes these last couple of weeks so I am hopeful we can continue these strong runs and be there towards the end both on Saturday and Sunday.” – Noah Gragson

JRM Team Updates
• JRM at the Monster Mile: In 67 NXS starts at Dover International Speedway, JR Motorsports has scored three wins, 21 top five and 41 top-10 finishes. Brad Keselowski scored the organization’s first victory at 1-mile oval in May 2009 with Regan Smith and Justin Allgaier following suit in October 2015 and May 2018, respectively.
• JRM Doubleheader Weekends: This weekend’s doubleheader in Dover marks the third time in 2020 that the NASCAR Xfinity Series will be racing at the same venue twice in one weekend. In the two previous doubleheader weekends at Homestead-Miami Speedway and Kentucky Speedway, JRM has earned a combined five top fives and nine top 10s.
• FFA’s Give the Gift of Blue: This weekend Justin Allgaier’s No. 7 Camaro will feature a special blue and gold FFA scheme that highlight’s the national youth organization’s Give the Gift of Blue program, which helps provide the official FFA jacket to members who would otherwise be unable to own their own. This year, the National FFA Foundation was able to gift its 10,000th jacket through the program. For more information on the FFA Give the Gift of Blue program or to make a donation, click here or visit FFA.org/GIVEblue.

Fans Can Watch Indy 500 Drivers’ Meeting Saturday at IMS.com

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Official Release
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INDIANAPOLIS, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020 – An annual Indianapolis 500 tradition will continue Saturday, Aug. 22 in a virtual manner.

All 33 drivers set to compete in the 104th Running of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” will participate in the Indy 500 presented by Gainbridge Virtual Drivers’ Meeting with BlueJeans by Verizon live from Pagoda Plaza. Fans around the world can view the event on IMS.com beginning at 10 a.m. (ET).

NTT P1 Award winner Marco Andretti of Andretti Herta Autosport with Marco & Curb-Agajanian will be one of the feature speakers as the pole sitter. Other speakers will include executives from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and INDYCAR. The public will not be allowed on site due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Drivers will be seated in a socially distanced manner in their traditional rows of three, arranged as they will start Sunday’s race (1 p.m., NBC, Pennzoil INDYCAR Radio Network).

Andretti won the first “500” pole of his career by .113 of a second over Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon in four-lap, 10-mile runs Sunday during Crown Royal Armed Forces Qualifying. Takuma Sato of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing earned the final starting position on the front row, starting third.

Andretti follows his grandfather, the legendary Mario Andretti, as an Indianapolis 500 pole winner. Mario Andretti earned the race’s top starting position in 1966, 1967 and 1987.

This year’s “500” features eight former race winners and five rookies. Leading the first-time competitors is Ed Carpenter Racing’s Rinus VeeKay, who will start fourth. VeeKay, 19, earned the best starting spot for a teenage driver in the history of the race, which started in 1911.

CHEVROLET IN NTT INDYCAR SERIES INDIANAPOLIS: CHEVROLET CELEBRATES A CENTURY OF HISTORY AT THE FAMED BRICKYARD

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Official Release
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CHEVROLET RACING NTT INDYCAR SERIES
INDIANAPOLIS 500
INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEEDWAY
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA
CHEVROLET HISTORY AT INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
AUGUST 19, 2020

Chevrolet winning at Indy began a century ago

The Chevrolet winning tradition started at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway a century ago. A driver named Chevrolet won the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race 100 years ago.

Gaston Chevrolet, with his driving mechanic Johnny Bresnahan, crossed the finish line first in the eighth running of the 200-lap race on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval on May 30, 1920. Although Gaston didn’t pilot a car carrying the Chevrolet nameplate, the Chevrolet legacy at the world famous speedway began.

Gaston Chevrolet, born on Oct. 4, 1892, near Beaune, France, where his Swiss parents had emigrated to a few years earlier, was the younger brother of engineers Louis and Arthur Chevrolet, the namesake of Chevrolet automobiles.

In his second Indy 500 start, Gaston Chevrolet qualified sixth with a four-lap average speed of 91.55 mph in the No. 4 car owned by William Small. Ralph DePalma earned the pole with an average speed of 99.15 mph in the first year utilizing the four-lap qualifying format that remains in place today.

Chevrolet took the lead from DePalma on Lap 187 and led the rest of the way to win by 6 minutes, 16.60 seconds over Rene Thomas in the race free of caution. Chevrolet came into the pits twice for fuel, but he completed the race with the original set of Firestone tires. It was a first for the Indy 500, and the feat wasn’t recorded again until 1964 by A.J. Foyt.

Chevrolet, who entered 15 races sanctioned by the American Automobile Association (AAA) over four years, recorded his first AAA Champ Car Series victory on July 14, 1919, at Sheepshead Bay, New York. He added wins at Uniontown, New York, and Sheepshead Bay in September that year.

The Indy 500 was his lone victory of 1920, though he added three other top-10 finishes. On Nov. 25, 1920, Chevrolet died in a racing accident at the wooden board track in Beverly Hills, California. His total of 1,030 points was 100 more than Tommy Milton, and he was posthumously honored as the 1920 AAA National Champion. He is interred next to his brother Louis in the Holy Cross and Saint Joseph Cemetery in Indianapolis.

Chevrolet started 16th and finished 10th in his other Indianapolis 500 start in 1919. His winnings totaled $23,200.

As an Indy car racing engine supplier, the Chevrolet brand of General Motors earned the first of its 11 Indianapolis 500 victories in 1988 with Rick Mears behind the wheel of a Penske/Chevrolet. The Bowtie brand has 11 victories in the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” including the past two years.

Chevrolet in the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race

Chevrolet has a storied history with Indianapolis Motor Speedway as an engine manufacturer, provider of the pace car, entrant and even drivers.

Chevrolet was co-founded in 1911 by Louis Chevrolet, the year of the inaugural 500-Mile Race. He competed in the ‘500’ four times, with a best finish of seventh in 1919. His brother, Arthur, competed in the 1911 and 1916 races and his other brother, Gaston, won in 1920 and finished 10th in 1919.

Louis Chevrolet was also the owner of the 1921-winning car driven by Tommy Milton.

The Louis Chevrolet Memorial is located just west of the entrance to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum. Inscribed on the pedestal that holds a bust of Louis Chevrolet is his motto “Never Give Up.”

Wins (11)
1988 Rick Mears
1989 Emerson Fittipaldi
1990 Arie Luyendyk
1991 Rick Mears
1992 Al Unser, Jr.
1993 Emerson Fittipaldi
2002 Helio Castroneves
2013 Tony Kanaan
2015 Juan Pablo Montoya
2018 Will Power
2019 Simon Pagenaud

Wins by other General Motors brands (5 – Oldsmobile)
1997 Arie Luyendyk
1998 Eddie Cheever
1999 Kenny Brack
2000 Juan Pablo Montoya
2001 Helio Castroneves

Indianapolis 500 winners with a Chevrolet entry this year
Helio Castroneves (2000, ’01, 09) – No. 3 Team Penske
Will Power (2018) – No. 12 Team Penske
Tony Kanaan (2013) – No. 14 Foyt Racing
Simon Pagenaud (2019) – No. 22 Team Penske

Winning team owners with Chevrolet entries this year
Roger Penske (18 – first in 1972, last in 2019)
A.J. Foyt (3 – driver-owner in 1967, ’77; owner in 1999)
Front-row starters since 2012 with Chevrolet entry
2019: First – Simon Pagenaud. Second – Ed Carpenter. Third – Spencer Pigot
2018: First – Ed Carpenter. Second – Simon Pagenaud. Third – Will Power
2017: Second – Ed Carpenter
2016: Second – Josef Newgarden
2015: First – Scott Dixon. Second – Will Power. Third – Simon Pagenaud
2014: First — Ed Carpenter. Third – Will Power
2013: First – Ed Carpenter. Second – Carlos Munoz. Third – Marco Andretti
2012: First – Ryan Briscoe. Second – James Hinchcliffe. Third – Ryan Hunter-Reay

2020 rookie carrying the Bowtie Banner with second row start
Rinus VeeKay, No, 21 Sonax Ed Carpenter Racing, will roll off fourth on Sunday, August 23

ABOUT CHEVROLET – Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is one of the world’s largest car brands, doing business in more than 100 countries and selling more than 4.0 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

Chastain Seeks Adrenaline Rush Going into Dover Doubleheader

By
Official Release
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Ross Chastain Notes
Best start at Dover International Speedway in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS): 10th (2019)
Best finish at Dover International Speedway in the NXS: 12th (2016, 2017 & 2019)

Kaulig Racing Notes
Best start Dover International Speedway in the NXS: 8th (2018)
Best finish at Dover International Speedway in the NXS: 4th (2019)

Doubleheader Race Notes
Saturday, August 22 at 12:30PM ET on NBCSN
Stages: 45/90/200 Laps
Sunday, August 23 at 1:30pm ET on NBCSN
Stages: 45/90/200 Laps

Ross Chastain Quote
“It’s finally Dover weekend. I’m so ready to go to the Monster Mile. I’ve spent so much time there over the years, a lot of people think that I might be from there, but I’m not. I just really enjoy the track, the people and the state. I can’t wait to get up there in our BeAMoose.org Chevy No. 10 car. We think we will have a chance to win. We’ve really put a lot of effort into this race. I want to run good, and the team wants to go get two victories for our double header.

Driving off into turn one is unlike any other track on the circuit. It’s such an adrenaline rush, and I can’t wait to get up there and go racing in the Xfinity Series. We’ll see what we’ve got.”

About Kaulig Racing™
Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time multi-car NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, owned by award winning entrepreneur, Matt Kaulig. Established in 2016 Kaulig Racing™ has made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started. Kaulig Racing fields two full-time entries; the No. 10 Chevrolet driven by Ross Chastain and the No. 11 Chevrolet driven by Justin Haley, as well as, a part-time entry – the No. 16 driven by AJ Allmendinger. Kaulig Racing™ earned two wins in 2019 and have come to be one of the top competitors on track each weekend. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

Dutch Boy® Paints to Sponsor ARCA Menards Series Event at WWT Raceway

By
Official Release
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Rescheduled ARCA Event is Also Sioux Chief Showdown Race

Toledo, Ohio (August 19, 2020) – Sherwin-Williams Company, Track Enterprises, World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway and the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) announced today that Dutch Boy® Paints will sponsor the rescheduled 2020 ARCA Menards Series visit to WWT Raceway in Madison, Ill.

The Dutch Boy 150 is now scheduled for Saturday, August 29 at 6 pm ET/5 pm CT. ARCA practice will precede the 120-lap/150-mile event, which is scheduled for live broadcast coverage on MAVTV. The Saturday ARCA raceday schedule will also include an NTT Data IndyCar race event prior to the Dutch Boy 150.

“Auto racing is part of the fabric of America, and so is the Dutch Boy brand,” said Michelle Bangs, brand manager for Dutch Boy Paints. “It’s fitting that we come together for the ARCA Menards Series Dutch Boy 150. We’re proud to support ARCA and our exclusive retail partner, Menards, to bring this race to the fans.”

The Dutch Boy 150, originally scheduled for August 2, will be race No. 13 of the 20-race ARCA Menards Series schedule. In addition, the event will mark the seventh round of the Sioux Chief Showdown, ARCA’s short-track super series that brings drivers and teams from the ARCA Menards Series East and West together with AMS series regulars in a 10-race “series within a series.”

St. Louis-area Menards stores will offer local race fans the chance to “Save Big Money” by purchasing advance, discounted race tickets to the Dutch Boy 150 Tickets at participating Menards locations are just $25, a savings of $35 from the walk-up ticket price.

“We are excited to partner with the Dutch Boy brand to bring the ARCA Menards Series to the greater St. Louis market,” said Jeff Abbott, promotions manager and spokesperson for Menards. “St. Louis is a growing market for Menards, and we know there are a lot of race fans in the area. Combined with the IndyCar Series and the NASCAR Gander Outdoors & RV Truck Series, it’s going to be one of the biggest racing events of the season in the Midwest, and there will be a lot of Menards flavor to every one of the four races over the course of the two days.”

The Saturday, August 29 Dutch Boy 150 will also serve as a prelude to the IndyCar and NASCAR Truck Series double header on Sunday, August 30, giving area race fans a weekend to remember.

“We’re motivated to bring the ARCA Menards Series back to St. Louis, and to showcase the series to the great race fans in the area,” said Bob Sargent, president of Track Enterprises. “St. Louis is a great sports town and, more importantly, a great racing town. It’s a great fit for the ARCA Menards Series cars, and we look forward to another great race and being a part of the Sioux Chief Showdown.”

ABOUT DUTCH BOY GROUP

Founded in 1907, Dutch Boy® Paints continues to be an industry leader in delivering innovative and high-quality products and packaging solutions and is one of the most recognizable brands in the market over 100 years later. In recent years, a new vitality, youthfulness, and the promise of Simple Solutions have also shaped the brand. Heritage and trust have been brought to life with energy and empowerment, inspiring DIYers and paint enthusiasts for generations to come. For more information, visit dutchboy.com.

ABOUT MENARDS

Menards home improvement stores are well known throughout the Midwest for a complete selection of high-quality, name brand merchandise and all the tools, materials and supplies for any job.  Menards offers full-service lumberyards, beautiful garden centers, name brand appliances, pet & wildlife products and even a line of convenience groceries to provide a one-stop shopping experience.  Whether just needing a light bulb, gallon of paint or household supplies, or building a deck, fence or new home, there is something for everyone at Menards whether a beginning do-it-yourselfer or more experienced contractor.

A family-owned and run company started in 1958; Menards currently operates 305 stores located in 14 Midwestern states.  Menards is known throughout the home improvement industry as the low-price leader; it’s no wonder their famous slogan – “SAVE BIG MONEY” – is so widely known and easy to remember.  Menards does things right – the company’s strength and success can be seen in the well-stocked and maintained stores, the lowest prices in town, and the way Guests are always treated like family.

ABOUT TRACK ENTERPRISES

Track Enterprises is a racing promotion company that oversees popular events that feature top touring series like the ARCA Racing Series, USAC Racing, Dirtcar UMP, POWRi Racing, All Star Circuit Of Champions, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, CRA, Southern Super Series, and more.  The company also oversees all racing promotions at Macon Speedway, Lincoln Speedway, and the Terre Haute Action Track.  For more information on the upcoming racing schedule, visit www.trackenterprises.com

ABOUT ARCA

The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) is among the leading and most versatile auto racing sanctioning bodies in the country. Founded in 1953 by John and Mildred Marcum, the organization administers more than 100 events each year in multiple racing series, including the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, the ARCA/CRA Super Series and the ARCA Midwest Tour, plus weekly racing at Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways.

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