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Weekend schedule for Kansas

By
Angie Campbell
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Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images

The NASCAR Cup Series kicks off this week’s events at Kansas Speedway Thursday evening. Next up is the Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series in the first of a doubleheader on Friday night. They will compete again Saturday afternoon followed by the Xfinity Series Kansas Lottery 250 to close out the weekend.

The ARCA Menards Series will also take to the track Friday night after the conclusion of the first Truck Series race.

All times are Eastern.

Thursday, July 23

7:30 p.m.: NASCAR Cup Series Super Start Batteries 400 (Stages 80/160/267 Laps=400.5 Miles) NBCSN/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
2019 winner: Denny Hamlin

Friday, July 24

5:30 p.m.: ARCA group practice
7 p.m.: NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series Kansas Speedway 200-1 (Stages 30/60/134 Laps=201 Miles) FS1/MRN/ SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
10 p.m.: ARCA Menards Series Dawn 150 (100 Laps, 150 Miles) FS1
2019 (Trucks) winner: Ross Chastain

Saturday, July 25

1:30 p.m.: NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series Kansas Speedway 200-2 (Stages 30/60/134 Laps=201 Miles) FS1/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
5 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series Kansas Lottery 250 (Stages 40/80/167 Laps=250.5 Miles) NBCSN/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
2019 (Trucks) winner: Brandon Jones

Notes:

One of the Truck Series races is due to the cancellation of the race previously scheduled for Chicagoland Speedway in June. The Xfinity Series event will replace the June race originally set for Iowa Speedway.

NASCAR announced Tuesday that there will be no practice or qualifying in any of the three national series for the remainder of the 2020 season.

Plan B Sales – Kansas Speedway – Race Advance

By
Official Release
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Event: Super Start Batteries 400

Venue: Kansas Speedway (Kansas City, Kansas)

Date/Broadcast: Thursday, July 23 at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN

As the NASCAR Cup Series travels to the Sunflower State for a Thursday night show under the lights at Kansas Speedway, Go Fas Racing driver Corey LaJoie has his sights set on logging a seventh top-20 finish with a boost of momentum.

The 28-year-old notched his sixth top-20 effort of the 2020 season at Texas Motor Speedway this past Sunday by finishing 16th in the No. 32 Ford. The result is his best finish in the Lone Star State.

Currently, LaJoie has a best finish of 22nd at Kansas Speedway, a result he filed in his freshman season behind the wheel of the No. 32 entry for Go Fas Racing. He will look to change that come Thursday night while piloting the Plan B Sales Ford Mustang for 400 miles.

Plan B Sales was founded in 2010 with the goal of bringing service to dealers that carry licensed motorsports products. Over the last few years, Plan B Sales has grown to be the largest account for Lionel, servicing the motorsports market and has expanded the product offerings.

The company previously worked with the GFR team in 2018 with then driver Matt DiBenedetto at Kansas Speedway.

Fans can catch the 267 laps of action Thursday night from Kansas at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

LaJoie on the upcoming race:
“We’ve had a couple solid races over the past month so I expect Kansas on Thursday night to be a good one as well. It’ll also be cool to carry the names of some of our biggest fans on the car through the program Plan B sales put together. I’m really excited to get to Kansas and to have an opportunity to continue the strong runs we’ve had recently and I hope everyone checks out www.planbsales.com to grab a diecast of this car and tunes in to cheer us on!”

LaJoie’s Cup history at Kansas Speedway:
Starts: 6
Best Finish: 22nd (2019)
Average Start: 30th
Average Finish: 27th

Looking back on Texas Motor Speedway:
Corey LaJoie and the No. 32 team logged their sixth top-20 of the year this past Sunday in the ‘Lone Star State’ at Texas Motor Speedway. LaJoie steered his Trump 2020 Ford to a 16th-place finish in the 500-mile event after starting 36th. In the opening 12 laps, the North Carolina native had raced his way to 29th and remained in that spot until the competition caution on lap 21.

The Go Fas Racing Ford restarted 26th for the sprint to the green-and-white checkered flag to end stage two. LaJoie made a green-flag pit stop on lap 91 for fuel only to make it to the end of the segment. After crossing the line 30th in the free-pass position to finish stage one on lap 105, the 28-year-old driver said his race car was “tight and builds tighter through the corner.”

Crew Chief Ryan Sparks planned a four-tire stop with fuel and an adjustment to help with front turn under the stage break to gear up for the second segment. By lap 124 of stage two, LaJoie had advanced to the 24th position, and soon after reported that the Trump 2020 machine was a little edgy. He remained on track until dropping to pit road for a scheduled green-flag stop of four tires and fuel with few laps remaining in stage two. One lap down, LaJoie finished 26th.

Sparks opted to take the wave-around, putting the No. 32 back on the lead lap for the final segment in No Limits, Texas in the 22nd position. LaJoie was able to avoid a multi-car crash at the outset of stage three and battled hard in 19th with 100 laps left on the board. The Roush Yates-powered No. 32 Mustang made its penultimate stop of the race on lap 306 under caution for a routine stop, plus a chassis adjustment, giving up the 14th position. A yellow flag that flew on lap 328 allowed the GFR team to pit one final time to loosen the car and grab four fresh tries and fuel for the closing laps. The team crossed the line 16th, concluding a strong day at Texas Motor Speedway.

About Our Team

About Plan B Sales:
Plan B Sales was founded in 2010 with the goal of bringing service to dealers that carry licensed motorsports product. We started as a Lionel diecast and Chase Authentics apparel distributor. Over the last few years we have grown to be the largest account for Lionel servicing the motorsports market and have expanded the product offerings.

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.

Chastain to Seek Optimal Groove at Kansas Speedway

By
Official Release
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Ross Chastain Notes
Best start at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS): 9th (2019)
Best finish at Kansas Speedway in the NXS: 10th (2019)

Kaulig Racing Notes
Best start at Kansas Speedway in the NXS: 9th (2016 & 2019)
Best finish at Kansas Speedway in the NXS: 7th (2019)

Race Notes
Saturday, July 25 at 5PM ET on NBCSN
Stages: 40/80/167 Laps

Ross Chastain Quote
“We’re off to Kansas this weekend. Although it’s another mile and a half, the same distance as Kentucky and Texas that we’ve just raced at, it’s totally different, because it’s not a repave. Unfortunately, they had to repave Kentucky and Texas a few years ago. Kansas is still hanging on. It’s worn out. We’ll run up towards the wall. Last year in the truck race, we were able to win, and that was about a groove off the wall or half a groove off the wall, which is my sweet spot. AJ Allmendinger, Justin Haley, and myself seem to really thrive when we are about half a groove off the wall. If we have to go all the way up there we will, but there are options. We’ll start off the race on the bottom and on the restarts we’ll be able to make big slide jobs on people. I’m looking forward to it.

We’ve got Dyna-Gro on the car this weekend, another new paint scheme. I can’t wait to keep promoting all of Nutrien Ag Solutions’ and Loveland Products’ different products and everything that is agriculture and farming. Kansas is big farmland. We will be the last race at Kansas of the weekend. The Cup Series goes early — they will get the track rubbered in. Then, there’s a couple truck races and an ARCA race. I can’t wait to get on the track on Saturday night at 5PM Eastern on NBCSN.”

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.


About Dyna-Gro Seed
Dyna-Gro Seed, has a 30-year history of delivering quality seed with industry-leading performance and cutting-edge science. Marketing a broad selection of eight crops in 44 states, Dyna-Gro is focused on local success with regional seed solutions and retailers.

About Nutrien Ag Solutions™
Nutrien Ag Solutions™ is the retail division of Nutrien™ Ltd. It combines global innovation with local expertise to provide full-acre solutions through a network of trusted crop consultants at retail locations around the world. Nutrien Ag Solutions strives to help growers achieve the highest yields with the most sustainable solutions possible, offering a wide selection of products, including our proprietary brands: Loveland Products, Inc.®, Proven® Seed and Dyna-Gro® Seed.

Scrap Car Prices: How To Earn Money From Your Old Car

By
SM
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If an old car is in your possession, you may be thinking about how you can get the most out of it. Old cars have a certain charm and inherent appeal. However, when a used car has significant damage, it may be more expensive to keep it around.

There are several options you should consider to benefit from an old vehicle apart from bringing it to the car junkyard. These options may not provide monetary compensation, but you will be able to discard an old car without wasting the scrap value of your car.

  • Recycle Parts: If a car is really beat up, there is no point in repairing it. In such cases, you can still put the vehicle to good use by recycling the usable pieces. If the tires are in good condition, convert them into a swing and let your kids use them. You can also join in on the fun!
  • Be Creative: What creative work can you do with a junk car? Plenty! You can clean it up and paint it a nice color and display it in your yard. If you are joining a parade, you can transform it into an eye-catching and unique float that will be the talk of the town.
  • Exchange It: Maybe you know someone who has a passion for old cars and is willing to barter with you. It may be someone with a passion for old vehicles or a friend looking for a junk car to use as décor for their cafe or diner. Before you start looking at scrap car prices, find out if you know someone who will trade with you. Your trash may turn out to be someone else’s treasure.
  • Donate It: Some organizations will gladly accept a donation of an old car, such as a community mechanics’ school or the local high school. Some charities may also be willing to tow away your junk vehicle for free. It’s a win-win situation: you give someone else what they need while you get to unload your old car, and reclaim more space in your garage or driveway.

How To Get Cash From An Old Car

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to get cash from a junk automobile sitting in your yard. After all, it’s your property, and you can derive maximum benefit from it by selling or trading it for a new car. Here are several ways to financially benefit from your old car:

  1. Sell Your Car In “As-Is” Condition

If you think there’s a reasonable chance that someone will be interested in your old car, you can sell privately by posting an ad online and hanging a “car for sale as-is, where-is” sign on your yard. You don’t need to fix it up, hence, the “as-is” caveat. This is a good option for vintage junk cars that have plenty of appeal for car collectors and enthusiasts.

  1. Reach Out To Used And Junk Car Buyers

Used car buyers are not made equal; thus, you should choose the one that provides more value. Junk car prices vary depending on the type of car that you want to sell. A reliable and professional used car buyer will provide a clear estimate of how much your old car is still worth. The advantage of working with junk auto buyers is that they will give you a fair price and even remove your car for free. This is a great advantage, especially if your old car no longer runs. If you’re looking to sell an old vehicle, consider checking out services like junk cars for cash in Florida or other local providers who specialize in giving competitive rates for junk cars.

  1. Local Junkyards

When you sell to a local junkyard, be prepared to accept scrap car prices which may be around $0.01 for every pound of steel, $0.28 and up for every pound of aluminum, and about $0.51 for each pound of insulated copper wire. At the junkyard, the brand and other merits of your car don’t matter – it’s mostly the weight of recyclable items that they will take into consideration.

  1. Fix And Sell

This option is only good if the car is still worth repairing. You may need the help of a licensed mechanic to check how much the repairs for the car will cost. After getting the estimate for fixing the car, analyze if you will be able to sell your used car for a profit. If you are not getting a reasonable profit, it would be better to call a local junkyard or junk car cash buyers.

Takeaway

Do not let your old, beat-up car occupy precious space in your home. One of the advantages of selling your junk car to a reliable used automobile buyer is that you can choose to utilize the money for your other needs, such as accessories for your new car or additional pocket money for a vacation. There are different ways to dispose of a junk vehicle – all you need to do is choose the one that works best for you.

Jones to make 250th start across NASCAR at Kansas

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images.

When the NASCAR Cup Series competes in the Super Start Batteries 400 at Kansas Speedway on Thursday, July 23, Erik Jones will reach a significant milestone of his racing career. By starting this week’s race at Kansas, Jones will reach 250 starts across NASCAR’s three major division series.

A native of Byron, Michigan, Jones’ racing career started at age seven in quarter-midget racing. From quarter midgets to Late Models, the CRA All-Star Tour and the ARCA Racing Series, Jones gained the attention of NASCAR Cup Series competitor Kyle Busch in December 2012, whom Jones beat to win the Snowball Derby. The following season, Jones made his first appearance within NASCAR’s three major division series when Kyle Busch Motorsports signed Jones to a five-race Truck Series deal in the No. 51 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota Tundra. Racing at Martinsville Speedway, Rockingham Speedway and in two Iowa Speedway races, Jones achieved top-10 results in all of his starts. In November, Jones prevailed in a late battle with Ross Chastain to record his first Truck Series career win at Phoenix International Raceway. Prior to September 2014, Jones was the youngest winner across NASCAR’s major series at age 17 years, five months and eight days old. Jones’ win at Phoenix contributed to KBM’s No. 51 Toyota team winning the owners’ championship in a tie-breaker against eventual champion Matt Crafton and ThorSport Racing.

In 2014, Jones competed in 12 Truck races with KBM and made his first three NASCAR Xfinity Series starts in the No. 20 Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing. In the Truck Series, Jones won three races and recorded two poles, five top-five results and eight top-10 results as he contributed to winning the second consecutive Truck owners’ title for KBM. Racing at Chicagoland Speedway in July, Bristol Motor Speedway in August and at Phoenix International Speedway in November, all in the Xfinity Series, Jones finished in the top 10.

In 2015, Jones expanded his racing schedule by competing the entire 23-race schedule in the Truck Series for KBM and in 23 Xfinity Series races for JGR. In the Xfinity Series, Jones recorded his first career win at Texas Motor Speedway in April after beating Brad Keselowski and Dale Earnhardt Jr. He won his second race at Chicagoland in June and went on to record three poles, 13 top-five results and 17 top-10 results. In the Truck Series, Jones achieved three wins, five poles, 11 top-five results and 20 top-10 results as he beat Tyler Reddick and Crafton to win the 2015 Truck Series championship. With his title, Jones became the youngest Truck Series champion at age 19 years, five months and 20 days old as he also recorded the first drivers’ title for Kyle Busch Motorsports.

To go along with his eventful 2015 schedule, Jones turned in his first laps in the NASCAR Cup Series at Bristol in April, where he served as a relief competitor for Denny Hamlin, who relinquished his seat to Jones due to neck spasms. While Jones finished 26th, Hamlin was credited with the result and the points since he started the race. Jones made his official Cup debut at Kansas Speedway in May, driving the No. 18 M&M’s/Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry as an interim competitor for the injured and eventual series champion Kyle Busch. Despite having a strong run, where he ran within the top five, Jones was involved in a late single-car incident in Turn 4 and settled in 40th. In November, Jones competed in two races in JGR’s No. 20 DeWalt/Dollar General Toyota Camry at Texas Motor Speedway and at Phoenix, replacing Matt Kenseth, who was suspended for deliberately wrecking Joey Logano the previous race at Martinsville Speedway. Jones finished 12th at Texas and 19th at Phoenix.

The following season, Jones moved up to the NASCAR Xfinity Series in Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 20 Toyota Camry. Throughout the 33-race schedule, Jones won four races, two Dash 4 Cash bonuses and nine poles as he also achieved 15 top-five results and 20 top-10 results. He made the inaugural Championship Round, but finished fourth in the final standings after finishing ninth in the finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Though he did not achieve his first Xfinity title, he was named the 2016 Rookie-of-the-Year in the series. By then, he had surpassed 100 starts across NASCAR’s three major division series as he also made one Truck start at Gateway Motorsports Park in June for Kyle Busch Motorsports, where he finished fifth.

In 2017, Jones graduated to the Cup Series and was named driver of the No. 77 5-Hour Energy Toyota Camry for Furniture Row Racing, which marks the first and only time FRR expanded to a two-car operation. Throughout his rookie Cup season, Jones recorded his first career pole along with five top-five results and 14 top-10 results. His best performances were at Michigan International Speedway and at Bristol in August. He finished third at Michigan, his home track, and dominated the following race at Bristol, leading a race-high 260 laps from the pole before he was overtaken by Kyle Busch in the closing laps and settled in second. Despite not recording a win throughout the season nor making the Playoffs, Jones beat Daniel Suarez to claim the Rookie-of-the-Year title. With his accomplishment, Jones also became the first NASCAR competitor to achieve the Rookie-of-the-Year title across NASCAR’s three major division series. He also competed in 18 Xfinity races for JGR, where he won three races and swept both Texas races.

The following season, Jones replaced Matt Kenseth as driver of the No. 20 Toyota Camry for JGR. Through the first 17 races, Jones finished in the top 10 seven times and was ranked in 14th in the regular-season standings. The following week in July, Jones survived a carnage-filled night to beat former teammate/reigning champion Martin Truex Jr. and achieve his first NASCAR Cup career win at Daytona International Speedway. To July 2020, Jones is one of 33 competitors to record a victory across NASCAR’s three major division series. At the time of his win, he also became the ninth Cup competitor to win driving for Joe Gibbs Racing. The victory guaranteed a spot in the Playoffs for Jones, crew chief Chris Gayle and the No. 20 team. Jones, however, achieved one pole and 10 top-10 results for the remainder of the season as he concluded the year in 15th in the final standings. While he did not compete in any Xfinity race, he made one start in the Truck Series at Pocono Raceway in July as a relief competitor for Noah Gragson. He finished in the runner-up spot following a late battle with Kyle Busch.

Jones remained with JGR in the Cup Series for the 2019 season. Throughout last season, Jones recorded his second Cup career win in the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway in September, a victory that guaranteed the Michigan native a spot in the Playoffs for the second consecutive year. In addition, Jones recorded 10 top-five results and 17 top-10 results before concluding the year in 16th in the final standings. When the 2019 season concluded, Jones had surpassed 200 starts across NASCAR’s three major division series as he also made one Xfinity start during the season at Bristol in August, where he finished 37th in XCI Racing’s No. 81 Toyota Supra after being involved in an early accident.

Through the first 18 Cup races of this season, Jones has recorded four top-five results and seven top-10 results. He is ranked 18th in the regular-season standings and is 24 points below the top-16 cutline in an effort to make his third consecutive Cup Playoffs appearance. His lone highlight to this season has been winning the non-points Busch Clash at Daytona in February, where he rallied from being involved in three multi-car wrecks to receive a push from teammate Denny Hamlin on the final lap and pull away to win with a wrecked car.

Catch Jones’ milestone start in NASCAR in the Super Start Batteries 400 at Kansas on July 23 at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

Matt McCall set for 200th Cup race as crew chief at Kansas

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Adam Lovelace for SpeedwayMedia.com.

When the green flag waves on Thursday, July 23, for the Super Start Batteries 400 at Kansas Speedway, Matt McCall will achieve a significant milestone of his racing career. McCall, who currently serves as crew chief for Kurt Busch and the No. 1 Monster Energy/Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE team, will reach 200 starts as a Cup crew chief.

A native of Denver, North Carolina, and a graduate from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a major in mechanical engineering, McCall started his racing career at age nine as a go-kart driver. He would go on to win the 2004 Super Sport track championship at Hickory Motor Speedway. He also achieved two UARA-Stars titles in 2005 and 2009. In October 2003, he made his NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series debut at Martinsville Speedway. Driving the No. 56 Denver Marine/Hot Wheels Chevrolet for Danny McCall, Matt McCall finished 21st, two laps behind, in his series debut.

In 2006, McCall competed in five NASCAR Xfinity Series races and two ARCA Menards Series races. In February, driving the No. 55 CitiFinancial Ford for Yates Racing, McCall started and finished in the runner-up spot behind veteran Bobby Gerhart at Daytona International Speedway in his ARCA debut. His other ARCA start was at Kentucky Speedway in May, where he started fifth and finished third. McCall’s first Xfinity race was at Bristol Motor Speedway in March, where he qualified 21st and finished 24th in Yates Racing’s No. 90 CitiFinancial Ford. His other four Xfinity starts came at Nashville Superspeedway in April, Dover International Speedway in June, Nashville in June and at Martinsville Speedway in July, where his respective finishes were 42nd, 41st, 34th and 26th.

After being released from Yates Racing, McCall joined Richard Childress Racing as a race engineer. In July 2013, McCall served as an interim crew chief for veteran Jeff Burton and the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet team in the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In McCall’s first NASCAR race as a crew chief, Burton finished 43rd, last place, due to a mechanical issue. McCall also made one Truck start at Bristol Motor Speedway in August and in the No. 92 BTS Tire & Wheel Distributors Chevrolet for team owner Ricky Benton, where he started 27th and finished 22nd.

Following the 2014 season, McCall departed RCR and joined Chip Ganassi Racing to serve as a Cup Series crew chief for Jamie McMurray and the No. 1 McDonald’s/Cessna Chevrolet team. In McCall’s first full season as crew chief, McMurray achieved four top-five results, 10 top-10 results and made his first Chase for the Cup before settling in 13th in the final standings and despite achieving no wins throughout the season. Between 2016 and 2017, McMurray and McCall did not win, but they achieved a combined five top-five results, 29 top-10 results and made the Chase in both seasons, finishing 13th in the 2016 standings and 12th in the 2017 standings. In 2018, McMurray and McCall did not win and they did not make the Playoffs as they only achieved two top-five results, eight top-10 results and a final points result of 20th.

In 2019, McCall remained with Chip Ganassi Racing, but was paired with the 2004 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kurt Busch, who replaced McMurray as driver of the No. 1 Chevrolet with Monster Energy sponsoring him. For the first 17 Cup races of the season, McCall and Busch achieved four top-five results, two runner-up results, nine top-10 results. The following race at Daytona International Speedway, Busch and McCall were in position to win before they, along with others, decided to pit late in the race for tires and fuel. The strategy, however, did not fall into the favors for Busch when a lightning strike near Daytona paused and eventually, made the race official as Busch was scored back in 10th.

The following race at Kentucky Speedway, McCall achieved his first NASCAR Cup Series win as a crew chief when Kurt Busch held off brother, Kyle, in a two-lap shootout to grab a thrilling win, a victory that guaranteed Busch and the No. 1 team a spot in the 2019 Cup Playoffs. Busch and McCall would record seven more top-10 results for the remainder of the season before settling in 13th in the final standings. The combo also achieved three stage wins throughout the 2019 season.

Through the first 18 Cup races of this season, McCall and Busch have achieved a pole, a stage win, four top-five results and 11 top-10 results. They are ranked ninth in the regular-season standings and are 108 points above the top-16 cutline to the Playoffs.

Catch McCall’s milestone start in the Super Start Batteries 400 at Kansas Speedway on July 23 at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

2020 NASCAR Practice & Qualifying Update

By
Official Release
-

This afternoon, NASCAR has announced that the remainder of the 2020 season will be run without practice and qualifying in all three national series.

“Following discussions with our race teams and the broader industry, NASCAR will continue to conduct its race weekends without practice and qualifying for the remainder of the 2020 season in all three national series. The current format has worked well in addressing several challenges during our return to racing. Most importantly, we have seen competitive racing week-to-week. NASCAR will adjust the starting lineup draw procedure for the Playoff races, and will announce the new process at a later date.” – Scott Miller, NASCAR Senior Vice President, Competition

Hendrick Motorsports Media Advance: Kansas

By
Official Release
-

KANSAS SPEEDWAY (1.5-MILE OVAL)
LOCATION: KANSAS CITY, KANSAS
EVENT: NASCAR CUP SERIES (RACE 19 OF 36)
TUNE IN: 7:30 P.M. ET, THURSDAY, JULY 23 (NBCSN/MRN/SIRIUSXM)

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

2020 Season
5th in standings
18 starts
1 win
1 pole position
7 top-five finishes
9 top-10 finishes
451 laps led

Career
167 starts
7 wins
9 pole positions
51 top-five finishes
83 top-10 finishes
2,295 laps led

Track Career
8 starts
1 win
0 pole positions
4 top-five finishes
5 top-10 finishes
97 laps led

HALFWAY THERE: The NASCAR Cup Series has officially hit the halfway point of 2020. Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, has seven top-five finishes – the most he has collected through 18 races in a season – and nine top-10s. His 451 laps led are also a career high at this point in the year and are currently fifth-most in the series. He continues to lead all drivers with five stage wins. In the first half, Elliott also has garnered the third-most stage points (179) and is currently fifth in the driver standings, 117 points behind leader Kevin Harvick.

KANSAS STATS: On Thursday, Elliott is set to make his ninth Kansas Speedway start in the NASCAR Cup Series. He averaged a third-place finish in the two races at Kansas in 2019, the best of all drivers in the series. In Elliott’s previous eight starts at the track, he garnered one win, four top-five finishes – tied with Charlotte for the second-most at any track in his career – and five top-10s. He has finished inside the top five in four of the last five races at the 1.5-mile track. Elliott’s three consecutive top-fives are tied with Charlotte and Michigan for the most at a single track in his Cup Series career. He also has finished inside the top 10 in every stage in the last three events at Kansas.

LAST TIME AROUND: Last October, in a double-overtime event at Kansas Speedway, a gutsy late-race drive from Elliott yielded a second-place finish. The runner-up result allowed him to advance to the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs Round of 8 for the third consecutive season.

WEEKDAY WARRIOR: Since the Cup Series returned in May from a two-month hiatus, Elliott has won two of the five events run on weekdays: the 300-mile race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Thursday, May 28, and the NASCAR All-Star Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Wednesday, July 15.

1.5-MILE TRACKS IN 2020: In seven 1.5-mile races in 2020, Elliott won at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 28 and has two runner-up finishes, which lead all drivers. On 1.5-milers, he has led the fifth-most laps (189) in the Cup Series and his three top-five finishes are tied for the third-most. His two stage wins are tied for second-most in the series this season.

NAPA AT KANSAS: On Thursday night at Kansas Speedway, the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE will don the familiar blue, white and yellow NAPA AUTO PARTS paint scheme. The Atlanta-based company is serving as majority sponsor for Elliott and the No. 9 team for a total of 26 NASCAR Cup Series races this season.

PIT PROWESS: Through 18 NASCAR Cup Series races in 2020, the No. 9 NAPA team owns the second-best average time for four-tire stops at 13.92 seconds.

WELCOME HOME: No. 9 team jackman T.J. Semke hails from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, less than 40 miles from Kansas Speedway. Before stepping on the football field at the University of Kansas in 2012, Semke was a part-time bounty hunter. The 25-year-old was a defensive lineman for the Kansas Jayhawks for three years, earning Academic All-Big 12 Second Team honors twice. Semke signed with Hendrick Motorsports in October 2016.

BEHIND THE 9: Crew chief Alan Gustafson is trying his hand as a host in a new Hendrick Motorsports video series called “Behind the 9” in which he interviews each member of the No. 9 crew. Fans are able to learn about where they came from and the role they serve on the team, with each bringing a unique personality and skillset. Episodes are released every Tuesday on the Hendrick Motorsports Facebook page and YouTube channel. The most recent episode features tire carrier Jared Erspamer.

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

2020 Season
16th in standings
18 starts
0 wins
0 pole positions
0 top-five finishes
5 top-10 finishes
45 laps led

Career
90 starts
0 wins
5 pole positions
5 top-five finishes
22 top-10 finishes
339 laps led

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

BABY KNAUS: In anticipation of the birth of his second child, crew chief Chad Knaus will miss Thursday night’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway. Knaus and wife Brooke are expecting their new addition – a little girl – any day. In his absence, veteran crew chief Keith Rodden will call the shots for William Byron and the No. 24 Axalta team at Kansas.

RODDEN ON DECK: Rodden has called 138 Cup Series races as a crew chief for drivers Jamie McMurray and Kasey Kahne, who he led to victory for Hendrick Motorsports at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2017. Coincidentally, that crown jewel win fell on July 23 – the same date of Thursday night’s race at Kansas Speedway. Rodden, who oversees a variety of special projects for Hendrick Motorsports, also won the 2014 NASCAR All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway with McMurray and Chip Ganassi Racing. He has called seven Cup races at Kansas with a best finish of fourth with Kahne in 2015.

HOT START AT KANSAS: Right out of the gate, Byron found success at Kansas Speedway in just his first two NASCAR national series appearances at the 1.5-mile track. With one NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series start in 2016 and one Xfinity Series start in 2017, Byron has finished no worse than fourth. In fact, in his debut at the intermediate oval in 2016 – just his fifth Truck Series start – Byron started from the second position, led 34 laps and collected his first series win, which kickstarted the most successful season by a rookie in the history of the Truck Series.

RACING FOR REDEMPTION: Since his early success at Kansas Speedway, Byron has made four Cup Series starts at the 1.5-mile track. His best result came last October when he ran solidly at the front of the field and scored a top-five finish. However, Byron’s other Cup Series stats at Kansas don’t match the runs he was having. During his rookie season, Byron was running top 10 in the May race before a late-race multi-car incident ended his day with a 33rd-place finish. While in October of 2018, a mechanical issue hindered his performance, leaving him 38th. Last May, Byron was running in the second position when a pit road penalty during green-flag pit stops relegated him to a 20th-place finish.

EYES ON THE NEXT EIGHT: Looking to lock himself into the playoffs for the second time in his three-year NASCAR Cup Series career, Byron is 17th in the playoff standings with eight races left in the regular season and two playoff points to his name. While a win in one of the upcoming points-paying races would automatically secure his position in the fight for the championship, Byron currently is sitting just two points below the playoff cutline heading into the Kansas weekend.

AT IT AGAIN WITH AXALTA: This weekend at Kansas Speedway, Byron will pilot the No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE with the iconic flames that fans are accustomed to seeing. In 2020, Axalta is the 22-race majority partner of the No. 24 team. The company’s relationship with Hendrick Motorsports was recently extended, taking one of the most enduring partnerships in sports through 2027.

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

2020 Season
15th in standings
17 starts
0 wins
0 pole positions
2 top-five finishes
6 top-10 finishes
99 laps led

Career
668 starts
83 wins
36 pole positions
229 top-five finishes
370 top-10 finishes
18,933 laps led

Track Career
27 starts
3 wins
3 pole positions
9 top-five finishes
19 top-10 finishes
601 laps led

KANSAS WINS: Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson has seen plenty of success over the course of his 27 starts at Kansas Speedway, accumulating a record three wins at the 1.5-mile track. The driver’s most recent win there came on May 9, 2015, when he led the final 10 laps to edge Kevin Harvick for the victory. Johnson owns 28 career Cup Series wins on 1.5-mile tracks, the most of all-time. At Kansas, he also has the second-most top-five finishes (nine), the most top-10s (19) and the fourth-most laps led (601).

ABOVE AVERAGE AT KANSAS: Johnson had the sixth-best average finish at Kansas Speedway last season. He finished sixth in the spring event and 10th in the fall for an average finish of 8.0. Hendrick Motorsports was strong overall at Kansas in 2019, with Chase Elliott posting the top average result (3.0) and Alex Bowman the fifth-best (6.5).

TEXAS REWIND: Fast cars don’t always win. Mired by a pit road penalty after driving into the top 10 from his 20th-place starting position at Texas Motor Speedway, Johnson again drove back into the top 10 from 32nd after serving his penalty. As he continued his forward march, misfortune struck when Johnson got into the marbles and hit the wall on lap 117 causing significant damage. The team stayed the course even though they were multiple laps down and moved from 40th to 26th for the finish. All in all, Johnson passed 32 cars for position under green flag conditions throughout the race at Texas.

PLAYOFF PICTURE: With eight races remaining in the regular season before the NASCAR playoffs begin, Johnson is 15th in the point standings, two points above teammate William Byron in 16th. Johnson missed the event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in early July due to a positive COVID-19 test, but NASCAR granted the driver a playoff waiver if he were to otherwise qualify for the post-season.

BUSY IN THE PITS: The No. 48 crew ranks ninth in the NASCAR Cup Series with an average four-tire stop time of 14.21 seconds. The team is coached by Jon Carvin and consists of veteran gasman Brandon Harder, tire carrier Allan Stallings, jackman Kyle Tudor and tire changers Calvin Teague and Donnie Tasser.

ALLY SALUTES: On Thursday night in Kansas, primary sponsor Ally will honor Airman First Class and United States Airforce reservist LaToya Freeman with her name on the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet. Freeman, a Jacksonville, Florida, native is stationed at Duke Field, 919th Special Operations Wing, and has been a supervisor in Ally’s Jacksonville office for the last 10 years.

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Alex Bowman
No. 88 ChevyGoods.com/Adam’s Polishes Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE ​
Driver Alex Bowman Hometown Tucson, Arizona
Age 27 Resides Concord, North Carolina

2020 Season
11th in standings
18 starts
1 win
0 pole positions
2 top-five finishes
5 top-10 finishes
381 laps led

Career
171 starts
2 wins
2 pole positions
12 top-five finishes
31 top-10 finishes
855 laps led

Track Career
9 starts
0 wins
0 pole positions
1 top-five finish
3 top-10 finish
70 laps led

DRIVING IN KANSAS: Alex Bowman will make his 10th NASCAR Cup Series start at Kansas Speedway under the lights on Thursday evening. The Tucson, Arizona, native has qualified fifth on two occasions (2016 and 2019) and got his best finish of second during the spring race last season. Bowman led 63 laps before the No. 2 car of Brad Keselowski got around him with 11 laps remaining in the 271-lap event. Bowman had the fifth-best average finish (6.5) at the track last season. The 27-year-old has one start there in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, where he qualified and finished in the 11th position back in 2013. Bowman has a stellar record at the 1.5-mile facility in the ARCA Menards Series with two front row starting positions, including a pole position in 2012. In the two ARCA races he ranat Kansas, Bowman captured the victory in both events.

KNOCKING ON THE DOOR: There are five tracks where Bowman has finished second at least once but has yet to capture a victory. Last season, he was the runner-up finisher at Talladega, Kansas, Dover and the Charlotte ROVAL. Earlier this season, Bowman finished second at Darlington on May 17 after leading 41 laps at the South Carolina venue.

1.5-MILE STATS: This season Bowman has led 215 laps on tracks measuring 1.5 miles in length, which isthe fourth-most in the NASCAR Cup Series. Although he has led over 200 laps, his best finish in 2020 on a track of this length is 12th at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The No. 88 team has won three stages on intermediate tracks this year.

LEADING LAPS: Bowman has led 855 laps in his six-year career in the NASCAR Cup Series. So far this season, the driver of the No. 88 machine has led laps during six events at five different tracks, totaling 381 circuits. He led his most laps ever during a single race in 2016 when he was in front for 194 laps at Phoenix Raceway before finishing sixth.

STAGE WINNER: Bowman has won four stages this season, which is tied with Keselowski and Joey Logano for the second-most in the NASCAR Cup Series. The No. 88 team has captured 154 stage points in 18 events in 2020.

IVES AT KANSAS: Crew chief Greg Ives will call the shots for the 11th time at Kansas Speedway on Thursday night. The Bark River, Michigan, native’s drivers have two top-five results, five top-10s and have led 72 laps at the 1.5-mile facility. Ives’ best finish of second came in the spring of 2019 after the team rolled off fifth and led for 63 laps. His resumé also includes one top-five and two top-10s at the venue in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. In 2013, Ives’ driver led 81 laps en route to a third-place finish at the facility. Ives was a race engineer for the No. 48 team at Hendrick Motorsports from 2006 until 2012. During that time, he was part of two wins, two pole awards and eight top-10 finishes at Kansas.

WELCOME BACK, CHEVYGOODS.COM: The black and yellow ChevyGoods.com paint scheme featuring Adam’s Polishes will be on board Bowman’s No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE in Kansas under the lights. Adam’s Polishes produces high quality products for auto detailing enthusiasts. In January, Hendrick Motorsports announced its partnership with ChevyGoods.com, which includes primary sponsorship of Bowman for 26 events. Associate brands that will be featured throughout 2020 are Adam’s Polishes, NOCO and Truck Hero.

GOOD DISCOUNTS: During the month of July, No. 88 team sponsor ChevyGoods.com is providing discounts on all accessories, including Adam’s Polishes, NOCO and Truck Hero. Customers can receive 10% off MSRP with purchases of $100-$249 (offer code “GET10”), 15% off with purchases of $250-$499 (code “GET15”), and 20% off with purchases of more than $500 (code “GET20”).

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Hendrick Motorsports

KC MASTERPIECE: In NASCAR Cup Series competition, Hendrick Motorsports leads in every major statistical category at Kansas Speedway. The organization holds the track records for wins (seven), runner-up finishes (six), top-fives (35), top-10s (61), laps led (1,245) and average finish (13.1). Its five Kansas pole positions are tied for the most ever.

LAST YEAR: In two visits to Kansas Speedway in 2019, Hendrick Motorsports’ four-car stable led all NASCAR Cup Series organizations in second-place finishes (two), top-fives (four), top-10s (six) and average finish (7.5). It led 124 laps at the track last season, the second-most among all teams.

SETTING THE STAGE: Through 18 races this season, Hendrick Motorsports leads all NASCAR Cup Series teams in stage wins (12) and stage top-10 finishes (83).

THURSDAY NIGHT’S ALL RIGHT: Going into Thursday night’s race at Kansas Speedway, Hendrick Motorsports holds the all-time record for NASCAR Cup Series wins at 1.5-mile venues with 60 – nine more than anyone else. The team’s most recent 1.5-mile victory came courtesy of driver Chase Elliott on May 28 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, which was the last time the series raced on a Thursday.

JUST NEED SOME LUCK: Hendrick Motorsports drivers are running better than they’re finishing in 2020 – by a lot. Alex Bowman’s average running position is 5.85 positions better than his average finish, which is the largest differential in the NASCAR Cup Series. Running 5.7 positions better than his average final result, Elliott is second in the series, with Jimmie Johnson fourth overall with a 3.65 differential.

FACTS AND FIGURES: Since its inception in 1984, Hendrick Motorsports has earned 258 race victories and holds the all-time records for championships (12), pole positions (226), top-five finishes (1,082), top-10s (1,864) and laps led (69,865) in points-paying NASCAR Cup Series competition. Including 2020, the organization has won at least one race in 35 consecutive seasons, the longest-ever streak. Hendrick Motorsports is 10 wins away from tying Petty Enterprises’ all-time Cup record of 268.

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QUOTABLE /
Driver Chase Elliott on Kansas Speedway:
“To me, Kansas feels like such a small mile and half compared to some of the other ones we go to. I just feel like the corners are sharper than some other places and with it being progressively banked, the top side is going to continue to become dominant. I think in a way, it’s going to turn into Homestead in some situations and as time goes on. The way the corners are shaped, it’s kind of small and that top groove having more banking than the other ones as you move down the track is going to make it a top-dominant racetrack. Typically, those tracks put on good shows, so I expect it to age really well. I look forward to racing there this weekend. It is a fun track.”

Crew chief Chad Knaus on being home for birth of his second child:
“Originally this was going to be a stretch of back-to-back off weekends for us and everything was going to go to plan so I could be home for those two weeks. Unfortunately, we now have two races in one week due to the shift in the schedule from the pandemic. Either way, we still have a great plan in place so that I get to be by Brooke’s side, and we can welcome our baby girl together.”

Knaus on Keith Rodden filling in:
“The No. 24 car has been strong even when the results haven’t shown it. Every week we lay out a pretty in-depth plan of what we’re going to do before we even get to the racetrack, so Thursday will be no different. We have a lot of depth to pull from in this situation at Hendrick Motorsports, and I know Keith (Rodden) is more than capable of getting the job done. Keith’s been working with the team the last few races in preparation of this situation, and I have all the faith that it will be a solid race for him and the No. 24 team.”

Keith Rodden on subbing for Chad Knaus at Kansas:
“I’m super pumped to get to the track again and help out Chad, William and the No. 24 team. Being present for the birth of your child is important, especially in the world we are in now. That’s a moment you don’t want to take for granted. Myself and everyone at Hendrick Motorsports support Chad and his family 100% in whatever they need. I’ve known Chad for years and our communication with each other is great. I’ve also been working with William and the No. 24 team the last several weeks in anticipation of this moment. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to step in and represent Axalta and Hendrick Motorsports. I want to get the best possible result, but the ultimate goal is to show up to win and bring a trophy back for Chad and his family.”

Driver William Byron on Chad Knaus and Keith Rodden:
“I’m excited for Chad and Brooke on having their second child. This is an important moment for them as a family. While we will miss Chad at the track on Thursday, I know that Keith will do a good job taking over during his absence. No matter the situation, the goal remains the same for the No. 24 team and we’re all committed to it.”

Byron on Kansas Speedway:
“I think Kansas is closer in relation to Charlotte with the amount of grooves it has and the ability you have to make the outside lane work. I think that outside lane is the preferred groove as the race goes along there. In terms of the track surface though, it’s similar to Texas with how smooth it is. It’s starting to get some grain to it and some character the more we race there. It’s a great track, honestly. I think it’s one of the best mile-and-a-half tracks we have on the schedule to race at.”

Byron on mid-week races:
“I’m definitely getting used to us having races coming rapidly around the corner and I really like it. It keeps my brain active and really myself in general. It doesn’t leave me too many days to sit and harp on the previous race or get lax waiting for the next one. I think it’s great to always have another race right around the corner so quickly like we’ve had.”

Byron on the playoff bubble:
“Right now, it’s all about points for us. We have to have a good week every week in terms of stage points and finishes. We need to work on getting back on the other side of the bubble and building back a buffer now. In my mind, you want at least 50 points sitting between you and the cutoff to feel more secure and be able to be more aggressive. We were close to that point a couple weeks ago but the tire issue at Indianapolis and the wreck in Texas really hurt.”

Driver Jimmie Johnson on Kansas Speedway:
“Kansas is one of my favorite tracks we go to. I’m so encouraged as to how we ran at Texas before we had the accident. It (the Ally Chevrolet) was such a rocket. Major kudos to the guys at the shop setting up these cars week in and out for us – without the ability to practice if the cars were way off we would be in big trouble. They are really close every week. Kansas has evolved so much and there is this aging that happens with the racing surfaces on these tracks to with they come into their own after 10 or 15 years and Kansas is now one of those tracks in its ‘prime’. I find it to be one of the most racy and competitive mile and a half tracks we race on right now.”

Driver Alex Bowman on heading to Kansas:
“I am definitely excited to get back to Kansas this week. That track was pretty good to us last year and I still think we should have gotten the win there in the spring. Kansas is pretty similar to Chicago, so I think it sort of fits my driving style. We have had some bad luck here lately and things just haven’t fallen into our hands. Hopefully, we can turn that around on Thursday when we get to a track that I feel really does fit my driving style.”

McDowell Looks to Secure Another Top-10 Finish with Dockside Logistics at Kansas

By
Official Release
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McDowell on Kansas:

“We have Dockside Logistics back on our No. 34 Ford Mustang this week. They were on the car at Pocono for the double-header weekend and experienced some highs and lows with us when we scored both a Top-10 finish and a DNF. So hopefully we can do a good job for them and keep the momentum of our Ford Mustang rolling on Thursday. We’re coming off of a Top-15 run in Texas and now heading into Kansas, I’m really looking forward to being able to run multiple grooves on the track. It’s also going to be a night race on Thursday, so hopefully it will be a little bit cooler than what it was like in Texas. I encourage everyone to tune in for what should be a really fun race to watch.”

Indy 500 Releases Updated Estimate of Fan Attendance for This Year’s Race

By
Official Release
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25 Percent Attendance Anticipated; Masks To Be Mandatory

INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, July 21, 2020) – Based on policies and procedures put into effect by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, IMS officials announced today that attendance for the 104th Running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, Aug. 23 will be approximately 25 percent of capacity. Face coverings will be required for all attendees.

Ticket sales will not be permitted after Friday, July 24, further limiting the number of people who will attend the annual spectacle at the world’s largest outdoor sports facility.

IMS has prepared a detailed, nearly 100-page plan that provides guidelines and protocols for how the race will be run this year. The plan will be released publicly Wednesday, July 22 ahead of a conference call with Speedway officials. A media advisory with details surrounding the conference call will follow shortly.

“In June, we announced the race was on and that attendance would be limited to no more than 50 percent of capacity,” said Penske Entertainment Corp. President & CEO Mark Miles. “We also made clear we intended to do things differently this year. By offering credits to fans who had previously purchased tickets, encouraging those over 65 to stay at home, limiting attendance in the infield, reducing tickets in our suites and promising fans their decision to not attend would not impact their seniority or right to renew tickets for 2021, we now anticipate attendance at approximately 25 percent of capacity. We will welcome fans back, and we have an aggressive plan in place, which has been developed through collaboration with national, state and local health experts.”

Indy officials have made clear this year’s race will include numerous safety precautions, including the reassignment of seats to provide for greater distancing; the issuance and required use of masks, distribution of hand sanitizer to all who enter; temperature checks in order to enter; and changes throughout the facility to minimize lines and gathering spots, including limiting options from concession stands to mostly pre-packaged foods. Numerous other changes will also be in place.

“We look forward to welcoming fans back to the 500 in person. Our outdoor facility is mammoth, and with attendance of about 25 percent, it will certainly look different this year,” said Miles. “We want to demonstrate that even under current circumstances, people can gather with carefully planned procedures in place so we don’t have to go back to shutting down our country and our community.”

IMS will fulfill all ticket requests that have been received from existing customers. Those tickets will be distributed beginning the first week of August.

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