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Buescher Finishes 25th at New Hampshire

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Official Release
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LOUDON, N.H. (Aug. 2, 2020) – After battling a tight handling Fastenal Ford and an unpredictable track condition, Chris Buescher finished 25th at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday afternoon.

Buescher rolled off the grid 24th but worked his way up to 21st in the first three laps.

The caution flag waved at lap 15 and the team decided to head down pit road for tires and an air pressure adjustment. The team restarted 21st but fell back to 27th as Buescher reported a tight handling Ford Mustang. At the competition caution, the team elected to stay out for track position and restarted 14th. The adjustments from the prior pit stopped helped for a while, but by lap 48 the driver was running 29th and struggling while trying to drive through traffic. Without enough laps in the stage to test the adjustments, Buescher finished stage one in 26th.

The Prosper, Texas native stayed out during the stage break to grain track position. The team restarted 19th and held that position until a caution flag was displayed briefly for rain. At lap 96, the team pitted for tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment to tighten up No. 17 machine under caution. After restarting 24th at lap 100, Buescher held track position for a while but ultimately fell a lap down to the leaders. Fortunately, a caution at lap 171 enabled the team to take the wave around and get their lap back. Buescher pitted once more with another caution at lap 178 and gained two positions on the restart to finish stage two in 22nd.

Buescher and the team stayed out on track again during the stage break and restarted 18th for the final stage of racing. Two caution flags waved early in the stage, but the team stayed out on track to gain track position and to save a set of tires. At lap 203, the team pitted during a caution for fresh tires and fuel, then had to come back down pit road to replace lugnuts on the left front tire and top off on fuel. Buescher restarted 27th but was able to gain track position when the caution flag waved seven laps later. The team stayed out to restart 18th but fell back to 25th during the restart. The driver held track position for the majority of the stage as the race stayed green and the team took the checkered flag in 25th, one lap down.

Buescher and the No. 17 team return to action next weekend for a double header at Michigan International Raceway. The first race begins Saturday, August 8 at 4 p.m. EST on NBC Sports Network, MRN and SiriusXM Channel 90. 

Newman Finishes 21st in Guaranteed Rate Ford at New Hampshire

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Official Release
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LOUDON, N.H. (August 2, 2020) – Despite 11 caution flags on the day, the final 83 laps of Sunday’s 301-lap race from New Hampshire Motor Speedway ran caution-free, as Ryan Newman and the Guaranteed Rate team finished 21st.

Newman – a three-time winner at ‘The Magic Mile’ – put himself inside the top-10 early in stage one, getting up to as high as ninth just 30 laps in. But, as the laps wound down, the handling on his machine faded with the final yellow coming out at lap 213.

Based off the random draw for starting positions, Newman rolled off 22nd for the 318-mile race. After an early yellow at lap 18 – with a competition caution scheduled for lap 30 – Newman went ahead and hit pit road for service early, putting him 19th on the restart. He ran 14th by lap 30 and would line up ninth after gaining track position with the differing pit calls throughout the field.

Newman maintained the top-10 position at lap 45 and was 14th by the next yellow at lap 62. With less than 10 laps to the end of the opening stage, Newman wound up 20th at lap 75, and set himself up 15th for the second segment. A brief rain shower hovered over Loudon at lap 92 to bring the caution out but had little effect as the race went back green at lap 100, with Newman in 20th.

From there, two cautions came out at lap 171 and 178, before Newman went on to finish the stage in 16th, reporting he was lacking grip early in a run. After lining up 14th for the final segment at lap 191, a string of three yellows were displayed within a 20-lap period, as Newman hit pit road one final time for service at lap 205. The final 83 laps ran all green, as Newman finished the day 21st.

Next up, the NASCAR Cup Series heads to Michigan International Speedway for a doubleheader next weekend, for a pair of 312-mile races on Saturday and Sunday. Race coverage Saturday begins at 4 p.m. ET on NBCSN, while Sunday’s coverage begins at 4:30 p.m. ET. Both races can also be heard on MRN and SiriusXM Channel 90.

CORVETTE RACING AT ROAD AMERICA: Another Wild 1-2 Finish for Corvette C8.R

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Official Release
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Garcia, Taylor take second GTLM win of season; Gavin, Milner finish as runners-up

ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (Aug. 2, 2020) – Corvette Racing took its second consecutive 1-2 finish in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s GT Le Mans (GTLM class) following a chaotic finish Sunday at Road America. Antonio Garcia and Jordan Taylor won for the second time in their No. 3 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C8.R following a late-race pass in torrential rain.

Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner placed second in the sister No. 4 Corvette C8.R. It was the eighth victory at Road America for Corvette Racing, and the team’s first there since 2016. Garcia and Taylor both won for the first time in their IMSA career at Road America and extended their points lead to 10 in the class. Gavin and Milner unofficially moved to third in the standings.

Chevrolet also grew its lead in the GTLM Manufacturer’s Championship to eight points. Corvette Racing has now won three consecutive races in the category.

Things weren’t looking positive for the first half of the race. Taylor, who qualified second, led early but the expected tire degradation reduced the pace for the GTLM cars. Adding to the problems for the team were electronics issues on the No. 4 Corvette that left both Gavin and Milner without traction control.

The predicted rain for the race came with just under an hour to go. Garcia, who took over with two hours left in the race, was the first GTLM runner to pit for rain tires and stopped from sixth place. Two other GTLM cars followed suit but three others stayed out, including the then-leading Porsche which skidded off-track during a downpour at Turn One.

Milner remained on slick tires during the first deluge as officials halted the race with 43 minutes left. The rain let up initially before cars returned to the track with about 25 minutes to go once the red flag was lifted. Following the final pit stops for wet tires, racing resumed with seven minutes left and Garcia in second place.

An even more intense rain began to fall with just minutes left in the two-hour, 40-minute race. Garcia was locked in a back-and-forth duel with Porsche’s Nick Tandy just before the GTLM leader and the third-place Porsche went off-track late in the lap. Both Garcia and Milner, who did a masterful job on a wet track with no traction control, were able to get through the chaos and took the checkered flag under a race-ending, full-course caution period.

Corvette Racing’s next event is the GT-only Michelin GT Challenge at Virginia International Raceway on Saturday, Aug. 22.
ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R – GTLM RACE-WINNER: “It was super tough. Because of the wave-by, we were at the back of all the GTD cars. So the spray we had back there was amazing. It was impossible to see anything. The first thing was to go by a couple of LMP2 cars while fighting (Nick) Tandy to catch up to the 24 BMW. It was a very intense three laps. I knew from Sebring practice that the Corvette C8.R was really good in the wet, even if today was beyond wet! I had Nick all over me, and we had many times when we were together… almost just sailing together instead of racing together. I knew the Carousel and the Kink were going to be really bad, and the line I took on the previous lap seemed to work. Luckily enough for me it was the same and I was one of the few cars to make it through. It’s another 1-2 finish for Corvette Racing, which is amazing. It’s finally my first victory at Road America, so it’s been a very good weekend.”

WHAT DID YOU SEE OF THE BMW AHEAD OF YOU? DID HE SPIN ON HIS OWN?
“The Carousel and the Kink were almost impossible to go through that part of the track. There is really nothing you can do there. It depends on the depth of the water. The Corvette C8.R survived it better than the rest. I don’t know if it was due to the race line I took. I was following the car behind me and saw the BMW lose control. The race still wasn’t done because I had to do another lap through there. It’s a credit to how good the C8.R is in the wet. Thanks to everyone at Team Chevy because this car seems to be working in all conditions.”

HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS WIN TO EXTEND YOUR POINTS LEAD?
“We didn’t know starting the season how the C8.R would be. With the fourth at Daytona, we saw the potential of the car. Our team did a great job during the shutdown with fixing things that needed to be corrected. We’ve had a chance to win the last three races, and we’ve converted those. We need to keep putting pressure on everyone and make the rest of the field make mistakes. On our own, we need to be their in the end and maximize our points opportunities. The next one is VIR, where we have tested with the new Corvette. We will do what we can to keep this momentum and carrying on winning.”

JORDAN TAYLOR, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R – GTLM RACE-WINNER: “It was a wild day…very unexpected. The race started off strong for us. We took a different strategy to go with three stops from the beginning. Thankfully it worked out well with the timing the rain and track position. Antonio never gave up. It was a tough fight in tough conditions, but he did a great job of surviving for our second win of the year and third of the year for Corvette Racing.”

THIS RACE WAS ON THE NATIONAL NBC NETWORK. WAS THIS THE KIND OF EXCITEMENT THAT WAS GOOD FOR NETWORK TV?
“It had a bit of everything. The start for me was exciting, and the battles were all good. I could see on the big screen across the frontstretch that the prototype battle was often exciting and had a little bit of everything with the strategies. The weather was a bit different for those who probably turn into NBC for NASCAR where they wouldn’t run in the rain. There were probably too many crashes for everyone’s liking, but the show was very exciting with the battle for the win at the end. You like to see that between the manufacturers.”

TALK ABOUT WINNING ON THE SAME DAY AS YOUR BROTHER (RICKY TAYLOR):
“It’s definitely cool. I think this is the first time we’ve won on the same weekend. I know we’ve gotten a pole on the same weekend, but in all the years a win has never gone both our ways. It was cool to watch their battle at the end with the 10 car. I know my dad’s team hasn’t won here either, and we tried hard for many years.”

OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 4 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R – FINISHED SECOND IN GTLM: “I take my hat off to the team every time for never giving up. It didn’t look like we were going to be finishing that high up in the dry. But as we all know, there was a chance of rain all around. In this part of the world when the rain comes, it comes big. You just have to take you chances and make the right calls at the right time. We got a little lucky with a few things, and ultimately the No. 3 Corvette made the right choice on the right tires at the right time. We didn’t quite get that break or make that decision at that time. But then as all the pit stops cycled through for that last restart, we knew we just had to flat-out race. Our car was compromised a little as we didn’t have any traction control as part of an electrical issue throughout the entire race that we couldn’t really get on top of it. I fought it all during my stints. I honestly don’t know how Tommy kept the car on the track when he driving around on slick tires behind the safety car. I mean… water that was three or four inches deep on slick tires with no TC was amazing. For us to come away, even with all the stuff that happened, with a one-two finish is pretty spectacular. Hats off to the team and the crew and also to the C8.R. It seems like it is a car that can live through some crazy circumstances and conditions on track and deals with it. It’s a very fine car.”

TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R – FINISHED SECOND IN GTLM: “That was absolutely wild. We had kind of a tough day to start with, but it came back pretty well for us there at the end. Credit to the guys with their never-give-up attitude that Corvette Racing is famous for definitely paid off today. The conditions were unbelievably difficult. The call to stay out there on slicks just before the full-course yellow was just as much mine as it was the engineers. I thought it was the right thing to do to run one more lap to see how bad the rain was going to be. And it ended up being almost biblical in the amount of rain that came. In all the races I’ve done, this has been the most rain I’ve ever seen come down at one time. It was hard enough just keeping it on the track under yellow with slicks, and it was bad enough when it was still green just trying to survive. Then it went red flag so we had the opportunity to come in and change it to rain tires. That in itself was difficult. For me I knew I just needed to get to pitlane and survive. That was the name of the game there and see what happened at the end. Once we went green, it was the most difficult conditions I have ever driven in my life with the amount of spray and with traffic and having so many cars around. At times it felt like I was driving blind. I could have closed my eyes and would have had the same amount of visibility at that point. I just tried to use very bit of muscle memory and track knowledge I could as to where the track goes at certain points. In the end, luckily we just survived with a first and second for the team. The day didn’t start out well, but it ended as well as it could.”
(Not having traction control) “Because I didn’t have it from the time I got in the car, I had to manage it from the start. In the dry, it’s definitely difficult because you are trying to not use the rear tires too much. I felt like I did a decent job in that first run but driving in the wet without it makes it that much more difficult. To be honest, the Corvette felt really good in the wet. Even though we don’t have a lot of time in the wet, the guys made the right call with tire pressure. When the Michelin wet tires are new, they’re really good. That gave me the confidence early on to really push, get through traffic, and trust in the car and tire to find the fastest way around.”

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.

Renger’s Rain Dance Pays Off Big for the No. 10 Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R

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Official Release
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Elkhart Lake, Wis. (August 2nd, 2020) – Renger van der Zande, Ryan Briscoe and the No. 10 Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R team put on a fantastic display amidst treacherous conditions and secured a second place finish at Road America, in round four of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. With its third podium finish of the season, the team extended its lead in the Championship standings to a total of 124 points, six points clear of the competition.

The team’s strategy at Road America was all about fuel saving, having the No. 10 Konica Minolta Cadillac consistently pit two laps after the leaders extending its pit windows. At the halfway point, Ryan Briscoe, who started the race from his fifth qualifying position, handed the No. 10 Konica Minolta Cadillac to teammate Renger van der Zande with hopes that rain would somehow equalize the fast pace of the Acuras and Mazdas with the underpowered Cadillac. As rain started falling, and with just under an hour to go, the team timed its pit window perfectly, one of two cars to put on Michelin rain tires. Immediately following the pit stop, heavy rain ensued causing a full course yellow followed by a red flag, and amidst the mayhem on track, the No. 10 Konica Minolta Cadillac car grabbed second place.

When green flag racing resumed with just seven minutes to go, van der Zande took the lead with a fantastic move past the No. 77 car, which struggled on the wet track, having yet to pit for rain tires. As rain began to fall once more, the No. 7 Acura of Helio Castroneves darted back and forth and then pushed past van der Zande. The team would have to settle for a well-fought second place finish.

“I am ecstatic!” said a proud team owner, Wayne Taylor. “Though we came in second today, it felt like a win! What a day! We are now leading the Championship by 6 points; my oldest son, Ricky and his teammate Helio Castroneves won the race and my other son, Jordan and teammate Antonio Garcia won the GTLM class. It does not get better than this! I cannot thank everyone at Konica Minolta, Cadillac, CIT and AMETEK enough for their continued support and to this special group of people that work for Wayne Taylor Racing. They are amazing.”

“We had a fantastic result.” said Renger van der Zande. “Compared to the Mazdas and Acuras we were not competitive this weekend in the dry conditions, so we needed rain to do better than a fifth-place finish. It was super tricky out there. The car became a boat a few times and I had some big moments. This team has done a fantastic job. We were doing well and were staying in front of the other Cadillac cars, but then I saw some rain drops on the windscreen and I told the team to put rain tires on the car even though the track was completely dry. Sometimes you dream about these strategy calls where you put rain tires on the car and then it becomes wet, but today it happened, and we were suddenly leading after the red flag. We can be very happy with leading the championship and coming out with a second-place finish!”

“A P2 for us today was great result,” said Ryan Briscoe. “We lucked out with the weather at the end and had really good timing with the pit stop going to rain tires. Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough to hold off the No. 7 car for the win, but we were really thinking about championship points. Given how we started today, a second-place finish was massive. I’m really pleased with that. I was happy with my drive at the beginning of the race and I thought the car was handling really well while we were holding our own In the front of the Cadillac field. At the end of the day, a really good result and nice way to go in the August break.”

The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship returns September 4th- 6th for the Six Hours Endurance Event at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta which will also host the MOTUL Petit Le Mans in October.

About Konica Minolta
Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. is reshaping and revolutionizing the Workplace of the Future™ with its expansive smart office product portfolio from IT Services (All Covered), ECM, Managed Print Services and industrial and commercial print solutions. Konica Minolta has been recognized as the #1 Brand for Customer Loyalty in the MFP Office Copier Market by Brand Keys for twelve consecutive years, and is proud to be ranked on the Forbes 2017 America’s Best Employers list. The World Technology Awards recently named the company a finalist in the IT Software category. Konica Minolta, Inc. has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for eight consecutive years. It partners with its clients to give shape to ideas and work to bring value to our society. For more information, please visit us online and follow Konica Minolta on Facebook, YouTube, Linked In and Twitter. Konica Minolta, as title sponsor, highlights Wayne Taylor Racing’s existing lineup of partners that also features Cadillac V-Performance Racing, AMETEK Electronic Systems Protection (ESP /SurgeX) and Powervar, and CIT.

IMSA Added to Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 NASCAR Playoff Weekend

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Official Release
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  • IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GT classes scheduled to make Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL™ debut on Oct. 9-10 as part of Bank of America 400 NASCAR playoff weekend
  • Fan access and additional pandemic-related protocols still to be determined

CONCORD, N.C. (AUG. 1, 2020) – America’s Home for Racing will add to its illustrious history with two nights of IMSA action during the Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 NASCAR playoff weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GT classes will make their ROVAL™ debut Oct. 9 and 10 before the NASCAR Cup Series Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 returns on Oct. 11, marking the first time the two series have run at the same event since 2014.

“When Speedway Motorsports CEO Marcus Smith first envisioned the ROVAL™, part of that vision included bringing new series to the track in addition to our classic NASCAR Cup Series events,” said Greg Walter, executive vice president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway. “We look forward to working in partnership with IMSA to provide a unique perspective to race fans and a one-of-a-kind challenge to the drivers who will be tasked with tackling this technically innovative course.”

The inaugural two-day IMSA event will include a 60-minute WeatherTech Championship session for both of the series’ GT classes on Friday night and a 100-minute race on Saturday night. Competition will encompass all 17 turns of the technical 2.28-mile course, combining the tight corners of a world-class road course with the high-speed finesse of oval track racing.

“We’re grateful to Marcus Smith, Greg Walter and the team at Charlotte Motor Speedway for providing the opportunity to bring the highly competitive IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GT classes to the ROVAL™,” said IMSA President John Doonan. “Our teams, drivers and manufacturers will appreciate this chance to acquaint themselves with the unique ROVAL™ circuit, and we expect it will be an entertaining event for race fans.”

The GT Le Mans (GTLM) class will headline the race, bringing the world’s best GT teams and drivers to the ROVAL. GTLM cars such as the Corvette C8.R, Porsche 911 RSR and BMW M8 are eligible to compete not only in the WeatherTech Championship, but also in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The field is expected to include several Le Mans-winning drivers including Jordan Taylor, Antonio Garcia, Tommy Miltner, Oliver Gavin, Earl Bamber, Laurens Vanthoor and Nick Tandy.

The GT Daytona (GTD) class includes world-class race cars prepared by professional race teams, with each team fielding a mix of professional and amateur drivers. Cars from 10 different manufacturers – Acura, Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lexus, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche – are eligible to compete, with drivers behind the wheels such as 2011 NASCAR Cup Series rookie-of-the-year Andy Lally and Bill Auberlen who is currently tied with Scott Pruett atop the all-time IMSA wins list.

The Charlotte ROVAL™ IMSA race will be telecast by NBC Sports with specific time and network details to be announced.

Charlotte Motor Speedway and IMSA continue to work with state/local health officials surrounding options for access to the event for fans during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but no determinations have been made at this time.

ABOUT IMSA:

The International Motor Sports Association, LLC (IMSA) was originally founded in 1969 and owns a long and rich history in sports car racing. Today, IMSA is the sanctioning body of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the premier sports car racing series in North America. IMSA also sanctions the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge and the IMSA Prototype Challenge, as well as the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama, Ferrari Challenge North America and Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America one-make series. IMSA – a company within the NASCAR family – is the exclusive strategic partner in North America with the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) which operates the 24 Hours of Le Mans as a part of the FIA World Endurance Championship. The partnership enables selected IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competitors to earn automatic entries into the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. More information is available at IMSA.com. Follow IMSA on Twitter (@IMSA), Facebook (facebook.com/imsa) and Instagram (@imsa_racing).

ABOUT CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY:

Celebrating its 60th anniversary season, Charlotte Motor Speedway has set the standard in motorsports entertainment for fans of all ages. Known as America’s Home for Racing, Charlotte Motor Speedway is the only race vacation destination where fans can immerse themselves in the heart of NASCAR country. Visitors can attend one-of-a-kind race spectacles including the NASCAR All-Star Race, Coca-Cola 600 and Bank of America ROVAL™ 400; take behind-the-scenes speedway and race shop tours; explore the NASCAR Hall of Fame and drive an 800-horsepower stock car. The 1,000 plus acre speedway complex also includes state-of-the-art facilities zMAX Dragway and The Dirt Track at Charlotte. Through every event and every decade, Charlotte Motor Speedway puts FANS FIRST with a never-ending commitment to enhance the fan experience. That tradition continues with unmatched value through affordable tickets, unparalleled pre-race entertainment and opportunities for fans to see their favorite drivers. For all the latest news and information, visit www.charlottemotorspeedway.com, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or download the Charlotte Motor Speedway mobile app.

Trump 2020 – New Hampshire Motor Speedway – Race Advance

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Official Release
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Event: Foxwoods 301

Venue: New Hampshire Motor Speedway (Loudon, New Hampshire)

Date/Broadcast: Sunday, August 2 at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN

For some members of the NASCAR industry, the annual trip to New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon is just another stop on the rigorous Cup Series schedule. But for the Go Fas Racing team, it’s considered a special trip for multiple reasons.

GFR team owner Archie St. Hilaire and general manager Mason St. Hilaire hail from the area in nearby Maine, so a visit to the Granite State is like a trip back home to where their vision for operating a NASCAR team originated.

St. Hilaire’s driver, Corey LaJoie, also has a special connection to the track dubbed the ‘Magic Mile.’ On September 21, 2014, the North Carolina native made his Cup Series debut at the Loudon track driving the No. 77, marking a significant milestone in his career.

The 28-year-old driver now has five Cup Series starts under his belt at the 1.058-mile track with a best finish of 23rd, which he earned last year in his first season behind the wheel of the No. 32 GFR entry.

LaJoie has also found success at New Hampshire in NASCAR’s K&N Pro Series in 2016 by leading 34 of the 72 laps to net his sixth win in the series.

When LaJoie takes to the track on Sunday for 301 laps, he will have the support of Patriots of America, a political action group calling for the reelection of Donald Trump.

Out of an estimated 75 million NASCAR fans, about 15 million are not registered voters. With less than 100 days until Election Day, LaJoie and GFR are hoping to help get NASCAR fans to the polls in November.

Tune in to the Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 on Sunday, August 2 at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

LaJoie on the upcoming race:
“New Hampshire is one of my favorite tracks on the schedule. I’ve had success since my first laps in the K&N series. The northern-based NASCAR fans are always passionate about their motorsports so I’m excited to see how fans welcome us as a sport and our car in Loudon. It’s also a big race for Archie and Mason, our Team Owner and General Manager, with them being from the area, so we know we’ll have a lot of friends and family out from the St. Hilaire group. I’m really excited to get on track this Sunday.”

LaJoie’s Cup history at New Hampshire Motor Speedway:
Starts: 5
Best Finish: 23rd (2019)
Average Start: 33.4
Average Finish: 29.8

Looking back on Kansas Speedway:
Corey LaJoie and the No. 32 Plan B Sales Ford raced hard at Kansas Speedway to bring home a solid 21st-place finish. LaJoie started in 31st, but wasted minimal time advancing his position, as the 28-year-old had reached 27th by the competition caution. Following a trip to pit road at the attention of Crew Chief Ryan Sparks for an air-pressure adjustment, LaJoie restarted 25th for the race to the green-and-white checkered flag for stage one.

Just before crossing the line in 27th to complete the 80-lap opening segment, LaJoie alerted the No. 32 team that the Plan B Sales Ford needed more right-rear grip. He headed to pit road for a chassis adjustment, along with four tires and fuel to kick off stage two. A caution flew on lap 99, and LaJoie returned to pit road for service to make it to the end of stage two. With 25 laps to go in the segment, the Go Fas Racing driver was put two laps down in 29th, but took the green-and-white checkered flag in 27th.

Taking the green from 24th for the final stage, LaJoie navigated several incidents early on. Sparks made the call to bring the Plan B Sales machine to pit road for four tires and fuel before restarting 21st, on the lead lap, on lap 181. Numerous caution flags flew again, and the No. 32 continued to move up the leaderboard. On lap 235, a caution flew as a tire went down on the No. 32 Ford, forcing LaJoie to pit road. A lap down in 22nd, LaJoie fought for the free-pass position with the No. 12 and the No. 27 with under 25 laps remaining. Over the final sprint, LaJoie took the 21st spot, bringing home his 11th top-25 result of the year.

About Our Team

About Go Fas Racing:
Go Fas Racing (GFR) currently fields Ford Mustangs in the NASCAR Cup Series for driver Corey LaJoie. Located in Mooresville, North Carolina, GFR has competed in the NASCAR’s premier series since 2014; fielding cars for some of NASCAR’s top drivers, including past champions. To find out more information about our team please visit www.GoFasRacing.com.

Stay up-to-date on Corey LaJoie:
To get live updates during the race weekends follow @coreylajoie on Instagram and Twitter. Make sure to give Corey a “like” on Facebook – “@CoreyLaJoieRacing”. For a detailed bio and updated in-season statistics, please visit www.coreylajoieracing.com.

KCMG Returns to Richard Childress Racing with Multi-Series, Multi-Driver Lineup in 2020

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Official Release
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Road Course Racing Ace Earl Bamber to make NASCAR Xfinity Series Debut in the No. 21 KCMG Chevrolet Camaro

WELCOME, N.C. (July 31, 2020) – Richard Childress Racing announced today that KC Motorgroup Ltd. (KCMG) is returning for a fourth consecutive year of partnership following a successful 2019 campaign. The international brand joins RCR with a multi-driver, multi-series lineup, beginning with the NASCAR Xfinity Series at the Daytona International Speedway road course. Earl Bamber will make his career-first NASCAR Xfinity Series start in the No. 21 KCMG Chevrolet on Saturday, August 15 at 3 p.m. ET live on NBC Sports Network. KCMG will also make its NASCAR Cup Series debut on the No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE piloted by Tyler Reddick later this season.

“KCMG is a global brand that has used their partnership with RCR to create business opportunities in the United States and abroad in the auto racing industry, so we are pleased to continue to grow and develop our relationship together,” said Richard Childress, Chairman and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “It’s extremely special for KCMG to be aligned with Earl Bamber and Tyler Reddick this year. These two up-and-coming drivers have shown talent and promise. I’ve been watching Earl for a number of years, and I’m pleased to have him join RCR’s strong NASCAR Xfinity Series program.”

Bamber, a native of Wanganui, New Zealand, has competed at the Daytona International Speedway road course seven times, earning four podium finishes in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Series. Bamber is also a two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans Champion (2017 & 2015).

“I’ve dreamed about competing in NASCAR my entire life, so I am so thankful to Richard Childress, KCMG and everyone who has played a role in creating this opportunity for me,” said Bamber. “I know that RCR has a storied history of cultivating talent and will give me all of the tools I need to succeed. I’m looking forward to the race.”

KCMG celebrated their first NASCAR win last year when Tyler Reddick drove to victory lane at Michigan International Speedway en route to his second consecutive NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship.

“Richard Childress Racing is a first-class operation that has provided a valuable channel for expanding our presence in the United States, particularly as it relates to stock car racing applications,” said Founder of KC Motorgroup, Dr. Paul Ip. “KC Motorgroup has experienced success on a global level, and we’re proud to continue our winning tradition with Richard Childress Racing and Tyler Reddick, as well as looking forward to working with Earl Bamber this season.”

For additional information on today’s announcement, and all that’s happening at RCR, please visit rcrracing.com.

About KCMG:
KC Motorgroup Ltd. (KCMG) is an international motorsport services group established in 2007 by Dr. Paul Ip. The group, with its headquarters located in Hong Kong, has operations reaching across Europe and the Asia Pacific region. KCMG operates closely with many partner companies and racing organizations around the world to provide unrivalled Motorsport Services, Equipment, Team Management and quality distributorship in the Automotive Industry. 2013 saw KCMG become the first Chinese outfit ever to race at the world famous Le Mans 24 Hours in its 90-year history and participate in the FIA World Endurance Championship. The Hong Kong-based team later on took an historic LMP2 victory at Le Mans and was Vice Champion in FIA WEC in 2015. With years in the motorsport industry, KCMG has been involved in a wide range of Formula, GT and Le Mans prototype endurance racing series across the globe. For more information please visit www.kcmg.com.hk.

About Richard Childress Racing:
Richard Childress Racing (rcrracing.com) is a renowned, performance-driven racing, marketing and manufacturing organization. Incorporated in 1969, RCR has celebrated over 50 years of racing and earned more than 200 victories and 16 championships, including six in the NASCAR Cup Series with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. RCR was the first organization to win championships in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Truck Series and is a three-time winner of the Daytona 500 (1998, 2007, 2018). Its 2020 Cup Series lineup includes two-time NASCAR champion, 2017 Coca-Cola 600 winner and 2018 Daytona 500 champion Austin Dillon (No. 3 Dow/Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Off Road/E-Z-GO/American Ethanol/Symbicort/RigUp Chevrolet), along with Rookie of the Year contender and two-time Xfinity Series champion Tyler Reddick (No. 8 Caterpillar/Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen/Alsco Chevrolet). Its Xfinity Series program includes Anthony Alfredo, Myatt Snider (TaxSlayer Chevrolet) and Kaz Grala in select races during the year.

Hülkenberg to replace Perez for British Grand Prix

By
Andrew Kim
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BWT Racing Point F1 team announced that Nico Hülkenberg will be returning to Formula One and replace Sergio Perez for this weekend’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone Circuit.

A native from Emmerich am Rhein, West Germany, Hülkenberg has made 177 career starts in Formula One, spanning back to his debut in 2010. He recorded his first and only career pole to date in 2010 for the Brazilian Grand Prix while driving for the Williams Racing team. From 2012 to 2016, he raced for the Sahara Force India F1 team and the Sauber F1 team. His last time competing in Formula One was last season as a full-time competitor for the Renault DP World F1 team, a team he competed with since 2017. Following the 2019 season, he became a free agent when Renault opted not to renew his contract in favor of Esteban Ocon and was unable to secure a full-time ride in time to compete in this year’s opener at Spielberg, Austria.

Hülkenberg’s return to the sport came a day after Perez tested positive for COVID-19 symptoms following an inconclusive test. The Mexican competitor went into isolation following the inconclusive test that later became a positive test for the virus, but he remains in “good spirits” and is physically stable while continuing to recover.

“I was on my way to the Nürburgring for another racing project when the call from Otmar came,” said Hülkenberg. “That was less than 24 hours ago, so it feels a bit surreal for me right now, but I like a good challenge and this is certainly one. It’s obviously a difficult situation for Racing Point and Checo [Perez]. He’s a buddy of mine, an old team-mate and I wish him a speedy recovery. I’ll step in and try do the best I can for the team!”

“Having to find a replacement for Sergio at short notice is no easy task, but in Nico we’ve got a fantastic supersub who the team knows very well,” Otmar Szafnauer, Racing Point Team Principal, said. “He’s certainly being thrown in at the deep end, but he’s a fast learner and I’m sure he will get up to speed quickly.”

Though he has achieved 94 top-10 career results and 511 points in his previous 177 starts, Hülkenberg continues to pursue his first career podium result in F1. His best on-track result in F1 is fourth place, a result he achieved in the 2012 Belgium Grand Prix, the 2013 Korean Grand Prix and the 2016 Belgium Grand Prix.

With Hülkenberg at Silverstone in time for the first practice session, it remains probable that he will also compete at Silverstone next weekend for the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix with Perez not scheduled to compete next weekend, giving the German time to adjust back into the racing seat of an F1 car and a pair of opportunities to break through for his first podium result in F1 while he also continues to weigh in towards his racing plans for the future.

RCR Event Preview – New Hampshire Motor Speedway

By
Official Release
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Richard Childress Racing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway … In 128 NASCAR Cup Series starts at the ‘Magic Mile’, Richard Childress Racing has recorded four wins with drivers Robby Gordon (2001), Kevin Harvick (2006), and Clint Bowyer (2007 & 2010). The Welcome, N.C. organization has also secured 16 top-five and 41 top-10 finishes.

COVID-19 Relief … Own a piece of history by participating in an auction and sale of Richard Childress’ personal collection of memorabilia. All proceeds will assist COVID-19 relief efforts. Thousands of rare, hard-to-find and exclusive items from Richard Childress’ 50+ years in NASCAR are up for bid or sale. Visit https://www.ebay.com/str/RichardChildresscollection.

A Tribute to Bob Bahre … Last Friday it was announced that founder of New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Bob Bahre, passed away at the age of 93. Bahre was the former owner of Oxford Plains Speedway and played a crucial role in bringing NASCAR Cup Series racing to New Hampshire. Bahre, who was inducted into the Maine Sports Hall of Fame in 2017, will be commemorated on both RCR cars this weekend with a special decal.

Catch the Action … The NASCAR Cup Series Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway will be televised live Sunday, August 2, beginning at 3 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network and will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

This Week’s Freightliner Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE at New Hampshire Motor Speedway… Dillon has made 10 previous NASCAR Cup Series starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, earning his best finish of eighth in July 2015. In six NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at the track, Dillon has earned four top-five and five top-10 finishes. Dillon is a former winner at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Truck Series, winning the race from the pole position in 2015.

Welcome, Freightliner … Freightliner Trucks designs and manufactures a wide range of commercial vehicles for nearly any application. Our commitment to innovation, advanced technology and responsive customer relations makes it easy to understand why Freightliner is the best-selling brand of heavy-duty Class 6-8 trucks in North America.

Playoffs Bound … Dillon survived three late-race restarts at Texas Motor Speedway to earn the win in the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/E-Z-GO/Tracker Off Road Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, securing a spot in the 2020 NASCAR Playoffs. His teammate, Tyler Reddick, finished a strong second to create a 1-2 finish for Richard Childress Racing.

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:
What are your thoughts on New Hampshire Motor Speedway?
“New Hampshire Motor Speedway has always been a really fun track. I love going there. It’s a flat track. Entry is fun there. It’s different. It’s a different type of feel than what we have anywhere. You slide the left rear into the corner and you pick up the right front and the first person to get back to the gas is going to be good.”

If you were to win Loudon the Lobster, the monster trophy that’s given out to drivers when they win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, what would you do with it?
“Oh man. I’d probably get a fish tank and keep him in it. I’d give him a good home so that he could live out his days comfortably as a trophy.”

Tyler Reddick and the No. 8 Feeding America Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE at New Hampshire Motor Speedway …Tyler Reddick will be making his NASCAR Cup Series debut at New Hampshire Motor Speedway this Sunday. Reddick has two NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, with his best finish of fourth in 2019 under the direction of crew chief Randall Burnett. The Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender also has three NASCAR Truck Series starts and two top-10 finishes at the mile-long track.

Welcome, Feeding America … Feeding America® is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, Feeding America provides meals to more than 40 million people each year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people they serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

The Caterpillar Foundation Supports … The Caterpillar Foundation is proud to have partnered with Feeding America for the last eight years, and most recently, as part of our disaster response, supported their COVID-19 Response Fund with a $1M investment. Our philanthropic efforts will help provide millions of fresh meals and additional resources to individuals, families and seniors in need during the pandemic across the country, including those in Caterpillar communities.

Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen Supports … Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen proudly supports Feeding America and the fight against hunger through annual contributions from the Darden Foundation. This year, the Foundation donated $2 million to benefit local food banks in the communities we serve. For every dollar donated, 10 meals are provided to people in need.

Watch the Race with Cheddar’s… Don’t miss out! Cheddar’s is offering 15% off all To Go orders with the offer code RACEDAY placed on 8/2 and every Cup Series race day for the remainder of the 2020 season! Whether you’re watching the race on a Sunday afternoon or on a weekday under the lights, watch with all your Cheddar’s favorites for 15% off. Terms & conditions apply, visit cheddars.com/offer/race-day for full offer details.

TYLER REDDICK QUOTE:
What are some of the challenges for you as you head to NHMS for the first time in the Cup Series?
“I love the fans up at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, and I love the scenery, but that track is one of the trickiest ones on the circuit for me. Back in my NASCAR Truck and Xfinity days, I relied a lot on practice to get comfortable there each year, so that is going to be a challenge for myself and my team to overcome on Sunday. I’ve started to get a little more comfortable over the years, but I still am not quite where I’d like to be with it. I definitely am leaning a lot on my crew chief, Randall Burnett, to prepare for the race. He always does a great job at these tracks were I’m not as comfortable and setting up our No. 8 Feeding America Chevrolet to be as strong as possible off the truck. I’ll also lean on my teammate, Austin Dillon, a lot too this weekend. He likes going to New Hampshire, so I’m hoping he’ll have some good notes and feedback to share.”

Simple DIY Guide To Replacing The Fuel Pump Of Your Car

By
SM
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The fuel pump of your car, as the name suggests, is the part that is responsible for ensuring your car’s engine is supplied with enough fuel while it is running. Without a functioning fuel pump, your car’s engine will not be able to produce efficient performance.

As important as it is, the fuel pump of your car, like the other parts in the engine bay, is susceptible to wear and tear and has a finite lifespan. Moreover, when it comes to replacing a fuel pump, purchasing a new one is not a cheap undertaking.

Thankfully, installing a fuel pump is a straightforward task. With a little bit of determination and willingness to learn, anyone can replace a broken fuel pump.

By doing it yourself, you can even invest the money you save in ordering a better and more efficient fuel pump like one of the OEM Performance Fuel Pumps. This extra investment will not just translate into better performance for your vehicle, but the performance fuel pump will also be more resistant to wear and tear.

Regardless of which fuel pump you order, replacing one is easy when you know the right steps. Before we begin discussing these steps, let’s first make sure you have all the right tools for the job. 

Here’s a list of all the tools you will need:

  • Car Jack
  • Replacement Fuel Pump
  • Wrench/Socket Set
  • A Container For Gasoline
  • Hand-Siphon Pump
  • Your car’s user manual and repair manual

Once you have all these in your possession, you can follow the steps mentioned in the following sections to replace your broken fuel pump with a new one. Please note that these steps are relevant only for cars that have a bottom-mounted fuel pump.

If your car’s fuel pump is located inside the fuel tank, the process of replacement can turn out to be very complex and you will require the help of a professional.

With that out of the way, let us begin:

Step 1: Disconnect The Battery

This is a safety precaution to ensure there is no electricity going through the systems of your car. To disconnect your battery, simply locate the negative (-) terminal and disconnect it.

Step 2: Jack Up Your Car And Locate The Fuel Pump

Most fuel pumps are located underneath the car. Use your user manual to understand what your car’s fuel pump looks like (or refer to the shape and size of the replacement fuel pump).

Step 3: Relieve The Fuel Pump Pressure

Once you have located the fuel pump, it is time to relieve the pressure of the fuel pump. 

To do this, simply use your user’s manual to identify the fuse that controls this pressure and remove that fuse. Then, put your car into ignition and turn it off again. This will relieve the fuel pump pressure. (This process may vary for some cars, refer to your car’s repair manual for exact information)

Step 4: Disconnect The Fuel Pump And Remove It

Next, disconnect all the pipes connected to the fuel pump. Then, unbolt all the screws holding it in place and carefully remove it. 

(Refer to your car’s repair manual to understand the right order of removing the pipes attached to the fuel pump)

Step 5: Reverse The Process To Install The New Fuel Pump

Reverse the steps you took to remove the old fuel pump to attach and install the new fuel pump.

Step 6: Go For A Test Drive

Once you have attached the new fuel pump, it is time to test it out. Reconnect your battery, take your car off the jack and take it for a spin!

If you need to move some fluids or other materials, a transfer pump is a device that makes it easy to move fluids by creating suction and carrying it from one point to the next. They can even be used for non-liquid materials like dust or sand.

Conclusion

Please note that replacing the fuel pump will involve working with gasoline which is a highly flammable substance. Hence, it is important to conduct this work in an open environment and refrain from using electrical equipment.

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