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RCR Race Preview: New Hampshire Motor Speedway

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Official Release
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Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series at New Hampshire Motor Speedway… In 138 NASCAR Cup Series starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Richard Childress Racing has recorded four wins. Clint Bowyer leads the organization with two victories (2007 and 2010) while Robby Gordon (2001) and Kevin Harvick (2006) also won with RCR at the Magic Mile. The Welcome, N.C., based team has 16 top-five and 43 top-10 finishes. Both of RCR’s Cup Series entries are looking for redemption at the track after Austin Dillon and Kyle Busch finished 33rd and 35th, respectively, in last year’s race following on-track incidents.

The Cowboy Way… The Carolina Cowboys, a professional bull riding team in the PBR Teams league, owned by Richard Childress and Jeff Broin with Austin Dillon serving as the team’s general manager, became the first team this season to sweep their home event by capturing event wins on Friday (vs. Missouri Thunder), Saturday (vs. Nashville Stampede) and Sunday (vs. Austin Gamblers) this past weekend in Greensboro. The weekend was highlighted by a walk-off win by Cherryville, North Carolina’s own Clay Guiton, who rode Bomb Diggity for eight seconds to earn 88.5 points and secure the win for Carolina. The Cowboys now head to New York for Maverick Days September 18, 19 and 20. For more information on the Carolina Cowboys, visit https://pbr.com/teams/carolina-cowboys, Carolina Cowboys on Facebook, @carolinacowboyspbr on Instagram, or @CARCowboysPBR on Twitter.

Catch the Action… The NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway will be televised live on Sunday, September 21 beginning at 2 p.m. ET on USA and will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. NASCAR Cup Series practice (3 p.m. ET) and qualifying (4:10 p.m. ET) on Saturday will be broadcast on truTV. Ride shotgun all season long with live, in-car camera feeds and scanner audio with a paid subscription to Max as part of their NASCAR driver cam experience during the race.

Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Toys for Tots Chevrolet at New Hampshire Motor Speedway… Austin Dillon’s 15 NASCAR Cup Series starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway have been highlighted by two top-10 finishes, including an eighth-place result in July 2015 and, more recently, a ninth-place finish in 2023. Dillon has earned four top-five, and five top-10 finishes in six NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at the track. He is a former New Hampshire Motor Speedway winner in the NASCAR Truck Series, winning the race from the pole position in 2015.

Remember When… Dillon’s 2015 NASCAR Truck Series win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway from the pole position was notable because it was the milestone 500th NASCAR Truck Series race. The 2010 Truck Series Rookie of the Year and 2011 Series Champion put on a dominating performance that included leading 80 laps in the No. 33 Chevrolet.

Get to the Points… Dillon, who punched his ticket into the 2025 Cup Series post season with a dominating performance and win at Richmond Raceway on August 16, was eliminated from the NASCAR Playoffs following the Round of 16. He is currently ranked 14th in the standings.

Delivering Hope Year-Round: Toys for Tots Brings Joy to Millions of Children in Need… Toys for Tots, a 78-year-old National charitable Program run by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, provides year-round joy, comfort, and hope to economically disadvantaged children across the Nation through the gift of a new toy or book. Providing toys, books, and other gifts to disadvantaged children offers recognition, confidence, and a positive memory for a lifetime. It is such experiences that help children become responsible citizens and caring members of their community. Since 1947, the Program has evolved and grown exponentially, having delivered hope and the magic of Christmas to over 314 million children in need. Because the need isn’t just at Christmastime, the Marine Toys for Tots Program also provides support year-round to families experiencing challenges and exceptional circumstances, thus fulfilling the hopes and dreams of millions of disadvantaged children beyond the holidays. The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is a not-for-profit organization authorized by the U.S. Marine Corps and the Department of Defense to provide fundraising and other necessary support for the annual Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. For more information, visit www.toysfortots.org.

Meet Dillon… Dillon is scheduled to sign merchandise at the RCR Merch Trailer in the New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) Fan Zone on Saturday, September 20 at 1:30 p.m. Local Time. Stop by to meet the driver of the No. 3 Chevrolet and get new RCR gear. Dillon is also scheduled to make a stop at the Toys for Tots display in the NHMS Fan Zone on Sunday, September 21 at 10:45 a.m. Local Time.

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:

What’s New Hampshire Motor Speedway like?

“New Hampshire Motor Speedway is a flat mile. It’s a bigger short track. I always love going there. It’s a challenging place. You get to slip and slide around a little bit. The exit of Turn 2 is rough. The track has a lot of content, so finding a good balance in the race car is important.”

What’s the most challenging aspect of racing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway?

“I think the most challenging part is the exit of Turn 2 just because of how rough it has gotten over there. There are some big bumps in Turn 3 as well, so dealing with the track content is probably the hardest part.”

What is RCR to you?

“RCR to me is family. Every time I come across the railroad tracks into the shop and see the men and women here that put all of the time and effort into these race cars and the history behind it. I love the history of RCR. I’ve been all over this place. Every wall. Every corner. It’s a place I’ve grown up my entire life at. I don’t think you can describe RCR in one word. It’s a lot of things. It’s heart.”

Kyle Busch and the No. 8 Morgan & Morgan Chevrolet at New Hampshire Motor Speedway… Kyle Busch will make his 34th NASCAR Cup Series start at New Hampshire Motor Speedway this weekend. Busch has three wins at the 1.058-mile New England speedway, scoring victories in 2006, 2015, and 2017, which is tied for most victories among active drivers. His most dominant win came in 2017 when he won the pole, led the most laps, and had an average running position of 1.43. The driver of the Morgan & Morgan Chevrolet has 11 top-five (tied for the most among active drivers) and 16 top-10 finishes in 33 previous Cup races at New Hampshire. He has led 1,134 laps in Cup Series competition at New Hampshire, second-best among active drivers. Busch has six wins in 12 NASCAR Xfinity Series races and owns three victories in NASCAR Truck Series competition at New Hampshire.

Did You Know? Busch is the most recent Cup Series driver to win from the pole at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (2017).

About Morgan & Morgan… As America’s largest injury law firm, with lawyers licensed in all 50 states, Morgan & Morgan has recovered more than $25 billion for over 700,000 clients. Throughout the United States, our attorneys fulfill our “For The People” commitment in over 50 practice areas, including national mass torts and class actions, labor and employment, product liability and dangerous drugs, among many others. Hundreds of law firms throughout the U.S. refer thousands of cases through our Morgan Connection platform. Our firm has taken on some of the biggest corporations across the globe, including BP, Facebook, Google, Monsanto, Norfolk Southern and Eli Lilly, and recovered billions in complex national litigation, including $1.8 billion in the Porter Ranch Gas Leak case in California. Learn more at https://www.forthepeople.com/.

KYLE BUSCH QUOTES:

What makes New Hampshire Motor Speedway so challenging?

“New Hampshire is a really tricky racetrack. It’s super flat and has bumpy characteristics to it as well. The asphalt has really gotten old over the years. It feels like racing over highway cracks, but those are all characteristics of a good racetrack. It’s just really challenging and very tough to pass. Everybody says it’s multi-groove. You could run three different grooves there, but there’s really only one that’s fast and that’s the middle one. It makes for a challenging Sunday.”

Why has New Hampshire Motor Speedway been so tough for you in the last few years?

“Unfortunately, for me, the last couple of years at New Hampshire have been a huge struggle. This new Next Gen car and I have just not gone well together at New Hampshire. It’s been easy for me to get in trouble because of the nature of the car, the way it rides, the bumps, and the different topography of the track at each end to make grip. It’s definitely a challenge of moving your line around in the corners to improve the balance of the car because this new car doesn’t like different angles and transitions very well.”

You’ve won five poles at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Why do you qualify so well there?

“I’m not really sure why I’ve had a good qualifying record there; it’s just always kind of worked out that way. I feel like qualifying at New Hampshire is important just because of track position because it’s so hard to pass, making sure you’re in good position at the start of the race just to keep your day simple. I’ve always kind of put an emphasis on qualifying to make sure we do well.”

What’s your mentality coming into this week and the remainder of 2025?

“We’ve got to win. We want to put ourselves and our No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet in Victory Lane and it doesn’t matter if it’s at New Hampshire Motor Speedway or any week out, but the sooner the better.”

Kalitta Reaches NHRA Reading Final Round After Scary Incident; Langdon Races to Quarterfinals; Todd Bows Out early

By
Official Release
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Kalitta Photo Courtesy: Kalitta Motorsports

NHRA Reading Nationals Presented by Nitro Fish
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series
Maple Grove Raceway; Mohnton, Pa.
Post-Event Wrap-Up

Doug Kalitta, Mac Tools Top Fuel Dragster

Finals Broadcast Replay (eastern time): 6-9 p.m. Monday, Sept. 15 on FS1

Qualifying: Doug Kalitta was the No. 3 qualifier at the NHRA Reading Nationals Presented by Nitro Fish. Kalitta’s best qualifying attempt came during the opening qualifying session Friday afternoon when he reached the finish line in 3.756 seconds at 335.40 mph.

Eliminations: Kalitta defeated reigning Top Fuel champion Antron Brown in the first round and advanced to a second-round matchup with incoming points leader Tony Stewart. Both drivers walked away from a significant racing incident that happened during the round. Immediately after Kalitta crossed the finish line at 335 mph, an apparent front-tire issue propelled the Mac Tools dragster into the left lane where Kalitta made significant contact with Stewart. Kalitta’s car bounced off Stewart’s car and spun then shredding the left-rear tire before coming to a stop in the middle of the racetrack. Stewart’s car flipped on its side before going back onto its wheels where it slid against the wall until it came to a stop.

Team Kalitta pulled the Mac Tools backup car out of the trailer before racing Steve Torrence in the semifinals. A combination of the Mac Tools team, Kalitta Air team and DHL team worked together to get the backup car ready for competition, and they did a masterful job. Kalitta made a 3.812-second run at 335.23 mph to advance to the final round where he met Shawn Reed. Kalitta was off the starting line first and was leading the race early when the Mac Tools dragster smoked the tires giving the win to Reed.

Unofficial Point Standings: Kalitta jumped two spots and leaves Reading in first place in the NHRA Top Fuel point standings. He leads second-place Tony Stewart by 18 points.

Kalitta on Reading: “The Mac Tools dragster just smoked the tires in the final; it was a little unexpected, but it was cool for Shawn Reed to get his first win. It was an opportunity for sure, but it is what it is. We tore up our car (in the second round) with a front tire issue. It was just unfortunate. Really happened so quick; there was nothing I could really do. Fortunately, Tony (Stewart) and I are good. That’s really the main thing. That’s probably the worst one I’ve had. (I’ve) been very fortunate over the years, and it’s all part of it.

“The Kalitta Air guys, the DHL guys along with everybody from my team worked together, and we were able to get the spare car out, which we hadn’t run before. The thing went right down the track so it was a hell of an effort. I’m real proud of my guys – we’re looking forward to heading to Charlotte.”

Mac Tools Crew Chief Alan Johnson on the Switch to the Backup Car: “You have to hand it to the guys that work on that car because they did a lot of work (before the semifinals). That thing was prepared perfectly. We unloaded it, changed a couple parts and set it up like we thought we needed to, and it ran low ET (elapsed time) of that round and got the win. Hats off to the guys that work on the Mac Tools dragster – they’re awesome.”

Shawn Langdon, Kalitta Air 25th Anniversary Top Fuel Dragster

Finals Broadcast Replay (eastern time): 6-9 p.m. Monday, Sept. 15 on FS1

Qualifying: Shawn Langdon was the No. 5 qualifier at the NHRA Reading Nationals Presented by Nitro Fish. Langdon made his best qualifying attempt in the Friday-night session when he posted a 3.762-second effort at 333.49 mph.

Eliminations: Langdon defeated Doug Foley before losing to Shawn Reed in the second round. Langdon was off the starting line first and was leading the race when the Kalitta Air 25th Anniversary dragster smoked the tires giving the round win to Reed.

Unofficial Point Standings: Langdon dropped one spot and leaves Reading in third place in the NHRA Top Fuel point standings. He trails second-place Tony Stewart by 15 points and leads fourth-place Justin Ashley by 17 points.

Langdon on Reading: “I felt like we had a good shot to win today, but we just smoked the tires in the second round. It’s disappointing, but we’ll head to Charlotte next weekend and try to win there. Thanks to Kalitta Air, SealMaster, Dayco and Revchem – we appreciate what they do for Team Kalitta.”

J.R. Todd, DHL Funny Car

Finals Broadcast Replay (eastern time): 6-9 p.m. Monday, Sept. 15 on FS1

Qualifying: J.R. Todd was the No. 5 qualifier at NHRA Reading Nationals Presented by Nitro Fish. All four of Todd’s qualifying attempts were within .07 seconds, but he made a 3.911-second run at 334.24 mph to claim the No. 5 qualifying position.

Eliminations: Todd raced Ron Capps in the first round of eliminations. Unfortunately, the DHL GR Supra smoked the tires almost immediately, and Todd was eliminated.

Unofficial Point Standings: Todd dropped one spot and leaves Reading in seventh place in the NHRA Funny Car point standings. He trails sixth-place Cruz Pedregon by 26 points and leads eighth-place Spencer Hyde by two points.

Todd on Reading: “That’s definitely not how we wanted to start the Countdown especially after four consistent runs in qualifying. Going out first round is something you can’t afford to do in the Countdown, but if you’re going to, the first race is the time to do it. The good news is we don’t have to wait long for a chance to redeem ourselves; we’ll head down to Charlotte and see what we can do at the four-wides next weekend.”

Next Race: Team Kalitta will be back in action Sept. 19-21, 2025 at the NHRA 4-Wide Carolina Nationals near Charlotte. For additional information, please visit www.NHRA.com. For additional information on Kalitta Motorsports, please visit www.teamkalitta.com.

STAMPEDE OF SPEED BRINGS A TEXAS-SIZED SHOWDOWN TO PLAYOFFS WITH TEXAS NHRA FALLNATIONALS

By
Official Release
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ENNIS, Texas (Sept. 17, 2025) – As the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship playoffs hit crunch time, NHRA’s brightest stars head to Texas for the fifth annual Stampede of Speed and the main event of the 10-day extravaganza, the 40th annual Texas NHRA FallNationals on Oct. 8-12 at the famed Texas Motorplex.

The NHRA FallNationals marks the 18th of 20 events and the fourth of six playoff races in 2025. This year will be a special one, as Texas fans will be treated to a celebration of 40 years of action at Texas Motorplex, along with all the added intensity of the playoff race and the incredible thrills of the 12,000-horsepower, 340-mph nitro machines.

The race has long served as a pivotal race in the Countdown and that will continue through a can’t-miss weekend in Dallas.

Throughout its 40 years, the NHRA FallNationals have been a must-see race and again serve as the main event and conclusion of the spectacular 10-day “Stampede of Speed” festival. The action kicks off on Friday with two qualifying rounds and “Friday Night Live,” which offers more than $40,000 in bonus money to drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle.

The low qualifier under the lights on Friday night will net Top Fuel and Funny Car stars $15,000 each in bonus money, with $7,500 going to the quickest qualifier in Pro Stock and $5,000 in Pro Stock Motorcycle. That leads into two qualifying rounds on Saturday and eliminations on Sunday, where winners will be crowned at the legendary facility to close out a memorable 40th anniversary celebration of adrenaline-filled action.

In 2024, Justin Ashley (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Jeg Coughlin (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all won the Wally and the coveted Texas Motorplex cowboy hat. This year’s race will broadcast on FS1 and FOX, with eliminations taking place on FOX on Sunday, Oct. 12 at 2 or 4:30 p.m. ET, depending on local listings.

Top Fuel’s Ashley collected his third NHRA FallNationals win last season when he won over Clay Millican. Ashley has three wins in 2025, including most recently at Indy. He sits fourth in points, while 2023 world champion Doug Kalitta leads the way. Motorsports legend Tony Stewart is currently second, while Kalitta’s teammate Shawn Langdon is third and right in the thick of the championship mix.

Hagan won his fifth NHRA FallNationals Funny Car event last season over Ron Capps. Reigning champ Austin Prock leads the points after winning seven races this year, but there’s a host of contenders hot on his heels, including John Force Racing teammate Jack Beckman, who sits second in points, as well as Phoenix Paul Lee and Reading winner Cruz Pedregon.

Five-time world champ Coughlin won at Texas Motorplex last season when he defeated Greg Anderson, who claimed his sixth Pro Stock world title in 2024. This season has been dominated by Anderson and KB Titan Racing teammate Dallas Glenn, who is the points leader. Glenn has five wins in 2025, including the playoff opener. Six-time world champ and Texas native Erica Enders has three wins at her home track.

Two-time Pro Stock Motorcycle champ Herrera won his second straight NHRA FallNationals last season over the six-time champ Matt Smith, who over the points lead in Reading following his runner-up finish to teammate John Hall. Herrera has five wins in 2025 and will be ready to take on Smith and his team in Dallas.

The Texas NHRA FallNationals also will feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, which includes some of the sport’s top drivers and begins racing on Wednesday, Oct. 8. The event is preceded by a Division 4 race in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series at the historic facility. The weekend will include the finale of the exciting Holley EFI Factory X category and the Jr. Dragster Shootout.

Fans will also be treated to the JEG’s Allstars event, which pits sportsman racers from across the country against each other for the ultimate drag racing battle, beginning on Friday, Oct. 10. The popular competition moved to the famed Texas Motorplex in 2023, the unique specialty race is back as a major highlight of the 2025 Stampede of Speed as one of most highly-anticipated sportsman events of the year.

Leading into the race weekend, fans can take part in several events as part of the massive 10-day Stampede for Speed festival. That includes the Stars of Texas Music Festival (October 3-5), the NHRA Divisional race (October 6-7), Stampede of Speed Shootout (October 7), and the popular NHRA FanFest at Railyard Park in downtown Waxahachie (October 9), where fans can meet and get autographs from all the top stars in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and the JEGS Allstars participants.

At the track, fans will be invited to the Nitro Alley Stage in the pits for Nitro School, meet and greets, music and much more. Race fans at Texas Motorplex can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce and celebrate each of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and includes the fan favorite SealMaster Track Walk. The final can’t-miss experience of any NHRA event is the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday after racing concludes, where fans can congratulate the event winners.

As always, fans get a pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction. They can see their favorite teams in action and servicing their hot rods between rounds, get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers and more. They can also visit NHRA’s Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create an exciting atmosphere that includes interactive displays, merchandise and food.

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 4:15 and 7 p.m. CT on Friday, Oct. 10, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 12 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 10 a.m. CT on Sunday, Oct. 12. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 10:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, leading into eliminations on FOX at either 2 or 4:30 p.m. ET (check local listings).

To purchase tickets to the Texas NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex, call 800-668-6775 or visit tickets.texasmotorplex.com. For info about NHRA, visit www.NHRA.com.

About Mission Foods

MISSION®, owned by GRUMA, S.A.B. de C.V., is the world’s leading brand for tortillas and wraps. MISSION® is also globally renowned for flatbreads, dips, salsas and Mexican food products. With presence in over 112 countries, MISSION® products are suited to the lifestyles and the local tastes of each country. With innovation and customer needs in mind, MISSION® focuses on the highest quality, authentic flavors, and providing healthy options that families and friends can enjoy together. For more information, please visit https://www.missionfoods.com/

About NHRA

NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 20 national events featuring the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™, NHRA Holley EFI Factory X and Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock at select national events. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With more than 100 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Young’s Motorsports New Hampshire Motor Speedway September Team Preview

By
Official Release
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Young’s Motorsports | NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series
New Hampshire Motor Speedway | Team EJP 175

Fast Facts

No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Team:
Driver: Jayson Alexander
Primary Partner(s): Constant Contact
Manufacturer: Chevrolet Silverado RST
Crew Chief: Tyler Young
2025 Driver Points Position: 58th
2025 Owner Points Position: 29th
Engine: Ilmor Racing Technologies

Notes of Interest:

● Welcome Back: The 2025 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series season stretch driver continues this weekend, with Young’s Motorsports proud to welcome back rookie Jayson Alexander to the team’s lineup to steer the team’s flagship No. 02 Chevrolet Silverado RST for Saturday afternoon’s Team EJP 175 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

● About Jayson: Apex, North Carolina’s Jayson Alexander is a 22-year-old driver racing in the ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series.

As an accomplished eSports driver, Alexander was able to make the jump to real-life racing to pursue his dream of climbing the NASCAR ladder.

Off the track, he is a recent graduate of Queens University of Charlotte with a degree in Business Administration and a former Division One Athlete playing goalie for the university’s Men’s Lacrosse Team.

Alexander is also a recently commissioned member of the North Carolina National Guard after graduating as an Army ROTC Cadet for the UNCC 49er Battalion.

● All Board: For the 21st of 25 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series races this season, Constant Contact will serve as the primary marketing partner for Saturday’s No. 02 Chevrolet Silverado RST for the 175-lap race.

Constant Contact helps small businesses do more business. We have been revolutionizing the success formula for small businesses, nonprofits, and associations since 1998, and today work with more than 600,000 customers worldwide.

The company offers the only all-in-one online marketing platform that helps small businesses drive repeat business and find new customers.

It features multi-channel marketing campaigns (newsletters | announcements, offers | promotions, online listings, events | registration, and feedback) combined with shared content, contacts, and reporting; free award-winning coaching and product support; and integrations with critical business tools – all from a single login.

The company’s extensive network of educators, consultants/resellers, technology providers, franchises, and national associations offer further support to help small organizations succeed and grow.

Through its Innovation Loft, Constant Contact is fueling the next generation of small business technology.

● Jayson Alexander Truck Series New Hampshire Motor Speedway Stats: Saturday afternoon’s Team EJP 175 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway will mark Alexander’s inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series track start at “The Magic Mile.”

The Truck Series heads north to New England this weekend, shifting from the chaos of Bristol Motor Speedway to the flat, tricky corners of New Hampshire Motor Speedway for Saturday afternoon’s showdown.

The 1.058-mile oval puts a premium on braking, patience in traffic and track position. Unlike Bristol’s high-banked concrete, New Hampshire demands precision on entry and exit while rewarding teams who can manage tire wear and execute on pit road.

Saturday’s Team EJP 175 serves as a high-stakes elimination race in the Round of 10, where two championship hopefuls will see their Playoff runs end while the remaining contenders advance to the Round of 8.

Every lap matters as drivers balance aggression with survival in the Playoff pressure cooker.

While the Playoff drivers fight for advancement, non-Playoff entries like Young’s Motorsports aim to spoil the party and grab the spotlight in front of a passionate New England crowd.

A victory at New Hampshire is a coveted achievement in the Truck Series — and with 175 laps on tap, the stage is set for a dramatic afternoon.

The Truck Series race kicks off a combination weekend alongside the NASCAR Cup Series, which caps the action with Sunday’s Mobil 1 301, the opening race for the Round of 12.

Following New Hampshire, the Truck Series will enjoy its penultimate off-weekend of the season, before resuming competition for the inaugural 67-lap race at the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway ROVAL on Friday, October 3, 2025.

● Jayson Alexander Truck Series Career Stats: Entering New Hampshire, Alexander has three Truck Series starts to his credit.

Since the summer of 2024, he has delivered a best finish of 30th twice, both with Young’s Motorsports and most recently at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park on July 25, 2025, after qualifying on speed in the 23rd position.

In his three career starts at The Milwaukee (Wisc.) Mile, North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway and Indianapolis Raceway Park, he has registered a Truck Series career average finish of 32.0.

● Calling the Shots: Guiding Alexander as crew chief of the No. 02 Constant Contact Chevrolet Silverado RST is founding team driver and current team principal Tyler Young.

On Saturday afternoon, Young will call his 37th NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series race from atop the pit box. In his previous 36 events, he has guided the organization to a best finish of 14th — twice at Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway and most recently at Texas Motor Speedway in May 2025.

This weekend’s 21st race of the season will mark Young’s first appearance as a crew chief at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. It also represents his 12th race of the year serving in that role.

● Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series New Hampshire Motor Speedway Stats: This weekend will mark Young’s Motorsports’ fifth and sixth NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series track start and first since the 2017 season in Loudon, New Hampshire.

The organization posted a team-best finish of 16th at the track on Saturday, September 26, 2015, with current team principal and founding driver Tyler Young at the wheel in the UNOH 175.

Since 2014, the Mooresville, N.C.-based Young’s Motorsports team has had an average starting position of 19.0 and an average finish of 23.0 in four New Hampshire Motor Speedway starts overall.

In the team’s history, they have participated in 102 previous NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series short track races, earning one top-10 finish and an average finishing position of 24.5.

In addition to the Truck Series, the team participated in last year’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Sci Aps 200 on June 22, 2024. Rookie Xfinity Series driver Leland Honeyman Jr. qualified a strong 14th but was relegated to a 37th-place finish after being involved in an accident just shy of the halfway mark.

● Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series History: Since entering the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series in 2012, the Mooresville, N.C., – based organization has logged 533 starts from 75 drivers, resulting in solid performances that include two victories (Talladega Superspeedway 2019 and 2021), seven top-five finishes and 33 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 23.3 and an average finishing position of 22.3.

● Follow on Social Media: For more on Jayson Alexander, please visit jarracing.com, like him on Facebook, and follow him on Instagram and X | Twitter.

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports), and follow them on Instagram (@youngsmotorsports) and X |Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

Jayson Alexander Pre-Race Quotes:

On First NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series Start at New Hampshire Motor Speedway: “I am super excited to make my third start of the year at New Hampshire this weekend.

“It’s a home race for my sponsor Constant Contact, as they are based in Boston.

“It means a lot to us as an organization to have reached a point to be able to run such a storied event with such an amazing partner.”

On Preparation for New Hampshire Motor Speedway: “Preparation for this event has consisted of a lot of physical training, simulation time and watching film.

“There has been a lot of time since my last race, so it is essential I stay ready.”

On Keys to Success at New Hampshire Motor Speedway: “Being able to adapt to the changes in the track will be key all race long.

“This track is known for being incredibly fast and unforgiving. It’s very important to push yourself to find that limit early so that you can succeed.”

On Goals for New Hampshire Motor Speedway: “With this being the last scheduled race of my 2025 NASCAR campaign, it is very important that we run all the laps and continue to learn with Tyler Young calling the shots for me this weekend.

“My 2026 season is filled with uncertainty, so for me, I am going to take in all that I can this weekend. It’s been a dream come true to compete at this level and I will never take for granted the opportunity to race amongst the greats.”

On Applying Experience at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park to New Hampshire Motor Speedway: “I learned how to make mistakes and rebound. Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park was full of learning opportunities, from hitting the wall in practice to picking up tons of speed over the race.

“It was a great experience. I am very confident in my ability to fire off fast for New Hampshire.”

On His 2025 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series Gains in a Limited Schedule: “I have learned so much this season. It all comes down to being able to adapt to changes and learn.

“We have run all the laps and continued to get faster each race. That is thanks to the incredible support from the Young’s Motorsports team for putting such a meaningful investment in me.”

On Recent Downtime: “Since Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, I have been working my full-time job as a financial advisor and serving as a 2nd Lieutenant in the North Carolina Army National Guard.”

No. 20 Young’s Motorsports Team:

Driver: Mason Massey

Primary Partner(s): BRUNT Workwear

Manufacturer: Chevrolet Silverado RST

Crew Chief: Jason Miller

2025 Driver Points Position: N/A

2025 Owner Points Position: 34th

Engine: Ilmor Racing Technologies

Notes of Interest:

● Welcome Back! For the first time since Richmond (Va.) Raceway last August, Young’s Motorsports welcomes back Mason Massey to the team’s lineup to steer the No. 20 Chevrolet Silverado RST for Saturday afternoon’s Team EJP 175 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

After a well-deserved weekend off two weekends ago, the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series has back-to-back races in competition, before taking its penultimate off-weekend of the season next weekend during the Kansas Speedway race weekend.

The five-race run to the season-finale at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway on October 31, 2025, marks the stretch drive of the season for the 25-race tour.

● About Mason: Massey has over 20 years of experience behind the wheel, launching his racing career at age five. Since then, he has garnered over 200 feature wins, 11 championships, and 10 track records across multiple series, including the U.S. Legends Pro National Championship.

Amongst the many Late Model victories to Massey’s credit during his tenure in the Bill Elliott Racing Development Program is the 2012 triumph in the Alabama 200. He eventually graduated to NASCAR in 2019, competing in the Truck Series before advancing to the Xfinity Series in 2020.

After part-time Xfinity stints in 2020 and 2021, respectively, the Georgian captured the attention of many with an impressive sixth-place finish in the spring 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series contest at EchoPark (Ga.) Speedway in front of the hometown crowd.

With 62 more NASCAR starts to his resume since his first career NASCAR top-10 effort, Massey has landed with Young’s Motorsports, a longtime fixture in the Truck Series, hoping to impress and land the organization back in Victory Lane this season.

● All-Aboard!: For the 21st of 25 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series races this season, BRUNT Workwear returns to the organization to serve as the primary marketing partner on the No. 02 Chevrolet Silverado RST for the 175-lap race on Saturday afternoon.

Launched in 2020, BRUNT Workwear is retooling the way the workwear industry works by collaborating with trade workers to develop boots and apparel that provide the best performance, durability and comfort hard-earned money can buy.

BRUNT Workwear products are developed to provide solutions that make real workers’ lives easier, a mission brought to life by the fact that each signature product is named after a real worker who inspired the design.

In addition to the bestseller The Marin boot, BRUNT’s lineup includes a range of waterproof, comp toe, soft toe, and jobsite-approved work boots for every worker, as well as a broad selection of apparel and accessories.

Additionally, Spofford, New Hampshire-based Mongoose Power Solutions will also be an associate partner for the series’ lone trip to The Granite State.

Mongoose Power Solutions is a leading company in the on-site power sector, serving as an advocate, educator and diesel fuels specialist.

Emergency power systems, such as backup generators and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), are vital for sectors such as hospitals, first responders, and data centers, ensuring uninterrupted service during power outages.

In hospitals, they keep life-saving equipment operational and protect patient safety. For first responders, they enable critical communication and response during emergencies.

Data centers rely on emergency power to avoid service disruptions and safeguard sensitive data.

Without reliable backup power, these sectors could face devastating consequences.

● Mason Massey Truck Series New Hampshire Motor Speedway Stats: Saturday afternoon’s Team EJP 175 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway will mark Massey’s inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series track start at “The Magic Mile.”

The 28-year-old does, however, have four prior New Hampshire Motor Speedway Xfinity Series starts.

Massey earned a track-best ninth-place finish after starting 30th in the 2022 edition of the Crayon 200, while driving for DGM Racing.

Additionally, the Georgian scored his second top-10 finish in Loudon with a 10th-place effort after starting 33rd in the 2023 edition of the Ambetter Health 200, piloting the No. 08 Ford Mustang for SS-GreenLight Racing.

The Truck Series heads north to New England this weekend, shifting from the chaos of Bristol Motor Speedway to the flat, tricky corners of New Hampshire Motor Speedway for Saturday afternoon’s showdown.

The 1.058-mile oval puts a premium on braking, patience in traffic and track position. Unlike Bristol’s high-banked concrete, New Hampshire demands precision on entry and exit while rewarding teams who can manage tire wear and execute on pit road.

Saturday’s Team EJP 175 serves as a high-stakes elimination race in the Round of 10, where two championship hopefuls will see their Playoff runs end while the remaining contenders advance to the Round of 8.

Every lap matters as drivers balance aggression with survival in the Playoff pressure cooker.

While the Playoff drivers fight for advancement, non-Playoff entries like Young’s Motorsports aim to spoil the party and grab the spotlight in front of a passionate New England crowd.

A victory at New Hampshire is a coveted achievement in the Truck Series — and with 175 laps on tap, the stage is set for a dramatic afternoon.

The Truck Series race kicks off a combination weekend alongside the NASCAR Cup Series, which caps the action with Sunday’s Mobil 1 301, the opening race for the Round of 12.

Following New Hampshire, the Truck Series will enjoy its penultimate off-weekend of the season, before resuming competition for the inaugural 67-lap race at the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway ROVAL on Friday, October 3, 2025.

● Mason Massey Truck Series Career Stats: Entering New Hampshire, Massey has 30 career NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series races to his credit. He has earned a career-best 11th-place finish twice, most recently at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway after starting 29th in the April 2024 edition of the Long John Silver’s 200 for Young’s Motorsports.

Massey also finished 11th at Texas Motor Speedway after starting 27th in the 2023 edition of the SpeedyCash.com 250 for Reaume Brothers Racing.

Since 2019, he has carried an average finish of 24.8.

● Calling the Shots: Guiding Massey as crew chief of the No. 20 BRUNT Workwear Chevrolet Silverado RST is veteran crew chief Jason Miller.

On Saturday afternoon, Miller will call his 154th NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series race from atop the pit box. Across his previous 153 starts, he has recorded one win, eight top-five finishes and 28 top-10 efforts.

This weekend’s 21st race of the season marks his sixth appearance as a crew chief at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series — and his first trip back since 2015.

● Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series New Hampshire Motor Speedway Stats: This weekend will mark Young’s Motorsports’ fifth and sixth NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series track start and first since the 2017 season in Loudon, New Hampshire.

The organization posted a team-best finish of 16th at the track on Saturday, September 26, 2015, with current team principal and founding driver Tyler Young at the wheel in the UNOH 175.

Since 2014, the Mooresville, N.C.-based Young’s Motorsports team has had an average starting position of 19.0 and an average finish of 23.0 in four New Hampshire Motor Speedway starts overall.

In the team’s history, they have participated in 102 previous NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series short track races, earning one top-10 finish and an average finishing position of 24.5.

In addition to the Truck Series, the team participated in last year’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Sci Aps 200 on June 22, 2024. Rookie Xfinity Series driver Leland Honeyman Jr. qualified a strong 14th but was relegated to a 37th-place finish after being involved in an accident just shy of the halfway mark.

● Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series History: Since entering the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series in 2012, the Mooresville, N.C., – based organization has logged 533 starts from 75 drivers, resulting in solid performances that include two victories (Talladega Superspeedway 2019 and 2021), seven top-five finishes and 33 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 23.3 and an average finishing position of 22.3.

● Follow on Social Media: For more on Mason Massey, please visit masonmassey.com, like him on Facebook (Mason Massey Racing), and follow him on Instagram (@mason_massey) and X |Twitter (@mason_massey).

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports), and follow them on Instagram (@youngsmotorsports) and X |Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

Mason Massey Pre-Race Quote:

On New Hampshire Motor Speedway: “I’m always excited to get the chance to race in the CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series, especially since it’s at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

“I’ve had some success there in the past with a couple of top 10s in the Xfinity car, and we’re hoping to add onto that this weekend.

“Being a home race for Brunt Workwear, this is a huge weekend for us. This is the first race track they ever sponsored me at in 2021, and they have played a massive role in my career ever since.

“Big thanks to Tyler (Young) and everyone at Young’s Motorsports for the opportunity. I always really enjoy racing with them.”

Race Information:

The Team EJP 175 (175 laps | 188.15 miles) serves as the 21st of 25 races on the 2025 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series schedule. The weekend features a two-day show, beginning with a 50-minute group practice session on Friday, September 19, from 4:05 to 5:00 p.m. ET, followed immediately by qualifying at 5:10 p.m. ET to set the 36-truck starting field. The field will take the green flag on Saturday, September 20, shortly after 12:00 p.m. with live coverage on FOX Sports 1, the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90.

Toyota GAZOO Racing Weekly Preview 09.17.25

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Official Release
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This Week in Motorsports: Sept. 15-21, 2025

NCS/NCTS: New Hampshire Motor Speedway – Sept. 19-21
ARCA: Salem Speedway – Sept. 20
NHRA: zMAX Dragway – Sept. 19-21

PLANO, Texas (Sept. 17, 2025) – NASCAR continues the Cup Series and Truck Series Playoffs in their annual visit to New Hampshire Motor Speedway this weekend. Saturday marks the cutoff race for the Truck Series’ Round of 10, while Sunday is the beginning of the Cup Series’ Round of 12. The ARCA Menards Series remains in action at Salem Speedway in southeast Indiana on Saturday. NHRA continues its Countdown to the Championship at zMAX Dragway outside of Charlotte in another four-wide national event.

NASCAR National Series – NCS/NCTS

Toyota Camry XSEs begin Round of 12 … All five Playoff drivers from Team Toyota advanced to the Cup Series Round of 12 and continue their chase for a championship at New Hampshire Motor Speedway this weekend. Denny Hamlin leads the Camry XSE contingent, and the point standings as well, beginning the round 26 points above the cutline. He’s followed by Christopher Bell, who sits fourth and is coming off his win at Bristol and is 20 points above the cut – then Chase Briscoe in sixth (+10 points to the cutline) and Bubba Wallace in eighth (+1 point to the cutline). Tyler Reddick enters the round 12th in the standings, three points below the cutline.

Toyota’s dominant start to the Playoffs … Bell’s triumph at Bristol last Saturday night completed a Toyota Camry XSE sweep of the opening round of the Cup Series Playoffs, following wins by Briscoe in the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway and Hamlin at World Wide Technology Raceway (Gateway). Toyota drivers led nearly 79 percent of the laps in the opening round and now have 12 wins in the Cup Series season, tied for the most in the series, with the help of Hamlin (five wins), Bell (four wins), Briscoe (two wins) and Wallace (one win).

Bell seeks New Hampshire repeat … This weekend, Bell returns to one of his favorite tracks on the NASCAR circuit at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) driver will look to repeat on Sunday, having won twice at the 1.058-mile oval in his Cup Series career, in 2022 and 2024. Bell also holds a perfect record in his Xfinity Series career at New Hampshire, going four-for-four, including a sweep last year.

Honeycutt looks to advance in Playoffs … Leading into Saturday afternoon’s cutoff race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Kaden Honeycutt has an 18-point advantage above the cutline as he looks to advance to the Round of 8 in his first career Truck Series Playoff appearance. The driver of the No. 52 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro has found success on short ovals over the course of this season and seeks to replicate that this weekend to continue his fight for a championship.

NASCAR Regional Series – ARCA Menards Series National

Reaves back in JGR Camry … For the sixth time this season in national ARCA Menards Series competition, Max Reaves will pilot the No. 18 Toyota Camry for JGR, taking on Salem Speedway this weekend. The 15-year-old has had a stellar start to his young career, with two wins (Elko and Madison) and has finished inside the top-10 in all five of his previous starts.

NHRA – Top Fuel/Funny Car

Toyota drivers shake up points after Maple Grove … After the Countdown to the Championship opener at Maple Grove last weekend, Toyota drivers made gains in the Top Fuel and Funny Car points standings heading to zMAX Dragway this weekend. 2023 Top Fuel world champion Doug Kalitta vaulted to the points lead after a final round appearance at Maple Grove, holding an 18-point advantage over second place. His teammate Shawn Langdon sits third, followed by Justin Ashley in fourth, Steve Torrence in seventh and Antron Brown in eighth for Team Toyota. In Funny Car, Ron Capps advanced to the semifinals at Maple Grove and moved into third in the points, just 29 points behind the leader and only four points behind second. His Toyota GR Supra Funny Car teammate, J.R. Todd, enters Charlotte seventh in the standings.

Toyota seeks zMAX Dragway five-peat … zMAX Dragway has been a successful ground for Team Toyota of late, as its drivers look to earn a fifth consecutive race victory at the North Carolina dragstrip. On his way to the 2023 Top Fuel world title, Kalitta began the streak in September 2023, followed by Ashley in April 2024, Brown in September 2024 and then Langdon this past April in the 1,000th Top Fuel race. A win by any of the Toyota racers in Top Fuel or Funny Car would be monumental as the Countdown to the Championship continues on with just five races remaining in the season.

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 49 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In spring 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 32 electrified options.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

Circle B Diecast Partners with Niece Motorsports, Josh Bilicki at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL

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Official Release
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Salisbury, NC (September 17, 2025) – Niece Motorsports proudly welcomes Circle B Diecast on as a primary sponsor for Josh Bilicki in the upcoming NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL.

Bilicki, who returns for his second NCTS race of the season, made his debut with the organization at Lime Rock Park in a race where he recorded a seventh-place finish. The veteran driver has spent the majority of his time competing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for DGM Racing.

Circle B Diecast (formerly known as Plan B Sales) has been a longtime supporter of the sport, having partnered with both Bilicki and Niece Motorsports in the past. The family-owned company is one of the largest diecast dealers in the motorsports industry.

“I’m excited to return to Niece Motorsports after the great run we had at Lime Rock back in June,” said Bilicki. “I have a lot of laps at the Charlotte ROVAL, competing in almost every Xfinity and Cup Series race since the beginning in 2018, so I’m excited to use that experience to our advantage and try to bring home a win for the team. I’m thankful to our awesome partners who stepped up to make this possible.”

The No. 41 Silverado RST will dawn a color scheme which is reminiscent of a custom 1969 Chevrolet C10 pickup owned by Circle B Diecast’s founders, Brent and Ladonna Powell. Bilicki’s truck will become available for purchase in diecast form in the near future.

Fans are encouraged to partake in an opportunity to have their name ride along on Bilicki’s truck with different packages offered through Circle B Diecast’s website. Every name that gets placed on the actual race truck will also be shown on the diecast truck.

Lemons of Love, a nonprofit organization that creates chemo care packages for people fighting cancer, will serve as a secondary partner on the No. 41 Chevrolet.

Additional associate partners who will join Bilicki include Custom Fiberglass Molding, Round 3 Racing, and Chimney Mechanix, all who have had longstanding relationships with the Wisconsin-born driver.

The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series heads to Charlotte Motor Speedway on Friday, October 3 for the series’ inaugural running on the ROVAL layout. The race will air live on FOX Sports 1, NRN Radio, and SiriusXM at 3:30 PM Eastern.

About Circle B Diecast: Circle B Diecast, originally known as Plan B Sales, was founded in 2010 and started as a Lionel die-cast and Chase Authentics apparel wholesale distributor. The Concord, N.C. based company has grown into the largest independent racing collectibles distributor in the United States. Circle B Diecast offers both retail and wholesale customers a vast array of products through their website, www.circlebdiecast.com.

About Niece Motorsports: Niece Motorsports is a professional auto racing team that has competed in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) since 2016. Fielding the Nos. 41, 42, 44 and 45 trucks, the team has garnered nine wins, 50+ top-fives, 100+ top-10s, 200+ top-15 finishes and made five playoff appearances. Founded by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece, the team is owned by Josh Morris of DQS Solutions and Staffing and the Fowler Family of J.F. Electric and Utilitra. At its 80,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Salisbury, NC, Niece Motorsports is a full-service race vehicle build shop as well as a customizable fabrication shop for any manufacturing needs.

Follow the Team: To keep up to date with the latest team news, visit niecemotorsports.com or connect on Facebook and Instagram (@NieceMotorsports) as well as X (@NieceMotorsport).

CORVETTE RACING AT INDY: Brickyard, Championship Dreams

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Official Release
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Huge amount at stake for Corvette Z06 GT3.R going down the stretch

DETROIT (September 17, 2025) – It’s crunch time for the four Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R with two long-distances left in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season. The six-hour Battle on the Bricks is next up this weekend from Indianapolis Motor Speedway with championship hopes and potential race wins on the minds of the GTD PRO and GTD entries.

Corvettes will be in the thick of multiple season-long championship battles in the fourth of five races in the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup with another long-distance victory on the minds of the quartet of teams. All will attempt to give the Corvette Racing program a first win at the 2.439-mile, 14-turn Indy road course and kiss the yard of bricks in the process.

Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports (GTD PRO)

· No. 3 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Antonio Garcia/Alexander Sims

· No. 4 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Tommy Milner/Nicky Catsburg

The long-awaited first win of the season for Antonio Garcia and Alexander Sims at VIR couldn’t have come at a much better time for the GTD PRO championship picture.

With the overall victory in the GT-only race, Garcia, Sims and the No. 3 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports team increased their lead by 53 points in the Drivers and Teams standings with 770 points remaining in the season. The duo finished on the podium for the fifth time this season – tied for the most in class – but the first time in three races.

That also extended Chevrolet’s lead in the Manufacturer’s Championship to 81 points. It would be the Bowtie’s 15th IMSA Manufacturers Championship and first in GTD PRO.

Garcia is seeking to become a six-time IMSA Drivers champion and Sims is hoping for his second but first in GT racing. The pair was third in last year’s race, and Garcia set the fastest GTD PRO race lap.

Tommy Milner and Nicky Catsburg have contributed to the Manufacturer’s points haul this season and are coming off their second podium of the season with a third-place at VIR. Milner raced twice at IMS last year and was third in GT World Challenge America’s Pro class. Catsburg, coming off a stunning drive and third-place finish – alongside Sims and Scott McLaughlin – at the Suzuka 1000K for Corvette team Johor Motorsports Racing.

AWA (GTD)

· No. 13 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Matt Bell/Orey Fidani/Lars Kern

AWA’s No. 13 Corvette is hoping for a second long-distance victory with three of the four drivers who won the Rolex 24 At Daytona in GTD to start the season.

Matt Bell, Orey Fidani and Lars Kern have been excellent in the IMSA endurance races this year as they contended for additional race wins at Sebring and Watkins Glen – they were in podium position inside the final three hours at Sebring and the last hour at Watkins Glen.

Fidani and AWA are in the proverbial drivers’ seat in the season-long Bob Akin Award standings heading into Indianapolis. Going to the highest point-scoring Bronze driver in GTD, the prize at the end of the season is a trip to next year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, which Fidani and AWA earned last year.

Race to 150 Wins… and Beyond!

The Corvette Racing program reached a significant milestone earlier this month with its 150th all-time victory. To date, six different entrants have recorded victories for Corvette Racing across six championships around the world.

Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports leads the victory count with 129, a total that includes the current GT3 era plus its 25 years as the factory team for Corvette Racing. Pratt Miller-run Corvettes have won 117 races in IMSA and 12 in the FIA World Endurance Championship – including nine at Le Mans.

Additional victories have come from DXDT Racing (14 wins), Johor Motorsports Racing (three wins), TF Sport and Chouest Povoledo Racing (two wins apiece) and AWA (one win).

DXDT Racing (GTD)

· No. 36 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Charlie Eastwood/Alec Udell/Salih Yoluc

DXDT Racing’s endurance lineup of Charlie Eastwood, Alec Udell and Salih Yoluc will try and fulfill the potential of the first-year IMSA team at Indianapolis. Like fellow Corvette GTD customer team AWA, the DXDT squad was in contention for race wins at Sebring and Watkins Glen with late-race mechanical issues preventing potential podium finishes.

Udell has been a constant in the DXDT long-distance and sprint programs this year, having teamed with Robert Wickens for the shorter races. The DXDT Corvette qualified second and contended for the victory at The Glen until the race was inside the final 15 minutes.

This will be the first of two races at Indianapolis inside a month for DXDT Racing with the team entering a Pro-Am Corvette in the Indianapolis Eight Hours for GT World Challenge America and the Intercontinental GT Challenge.

The Battle on the Bricks from IMS is scheduled for 11:40 a.m. ET on Sunday, August 24. The race will air live on NBC from 3 to 6 p.m. ET with live streaming on Peacock in the United States and IMSA.com outside the U.S. from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET IMSA Radio will provide the audio call at IMSA.com, XM 206 and SiriusXM Online 996.

CORVETTE RACING BY PRATT MILLER MOTORSPORTS PRE-EVENT DRIVER QUOTES

ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “It felt really nice to really break through with how the last year or year-and-a-half has been going. I mean, we were very close to victory many times, but at some points we were kind of lacking that last part of the race we needed to. So to win that race I was so happy that we managed to do that and came up with a win at the last race.

“From now on, definitely the championship is the new target. And also winning at Indianapolis which is one of the few races that I haven’t won either. So I’m looking forward to next weekend and let’s see how we compare to every other manufacturer and how competitive we are.”

ALEXANDER SIMS, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “It would be mega for our championship if we could get another result as we did at VIR. But we have to treat this race as every other race with equal points on offer. We’ll approach it the same way: try and maximize what we can with our Corvette, nail the strategy and minimize mistakes. We didn’t have great pace last year in the dry but we’ll see how it goes this time. We’ll try and make sure we have a clean solid weekend again. That’s what we’ve tried to do every time so we’ll try and stick to that plan. Hopefully things break our way again this time and we can take a healthy points lead into Petit Le Mans.”

TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “I got to race twice at Indianapolis last year and looking forward to another endurance round this week. We showed good pace in the No. 4 Corvette a year ago. Nicky put it on pole and we looked good early before some contact in the traffic. That’s part of these Endurance Cup races with large fields and slow corners like we see at Indianapolis. This is the only track on the schedule where we haven’t won as a team, so that’s a big goal along with bringing home good points in the Manufacturers Championship.”

NICKY CATSBURG, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “It was my first time racing the Corvette at Indianapolis and the results were quite mixed. We did achieve pole position but had some unlucky breaks in the race and some damage in traffic that cost us a good result. Hopefully our pace is similar but our luck is much better this time around. It was great for both Pratt Miller Corvettes to have strong runs at VIR. Let’s hope we can continue this at Indianapolis.”

AWA PRE-EVENT DRIVER QUOTES

MATT BELL, NO. 13 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “The Indianapolis event in 2024 was one of our strongest performances as a team, so we are aiming to build on that for our return this year. It’s one of the most intense races of the season when you look at the amount of cars on the grid versus size of track itself, so anything can happen! We just need to keep our car free of scratches and out of trouble, while continuing to do the job we’ve been doing all year and we will be in the fight for the win.”

OREY FIDANI, NO. 13 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “We’ve had some good results and strong momentum in the recent sprint races, and I’m looking forward to getting back to the endurance rounds for the last couple of events this season. It’s always special to come back to Indianapolis and we know we can deliver a great outcome here. We’re pushing as hard as we can for that Bob Akin award and it feels like we’re firing on all cylinders at the moment, and IMS is the perfect place to show what we can do as a team.”

LARS KERN, NO. 13 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “I’m really looking forward to being back in our #13 Corvette Z06 GT3.R this weekend. We have had a very competitive package all year long and I truly can’t wait to jump back in. I’m hoping to be able to put in a lot of laps, not only because every lap is enjoyable, but it obviously helps to dial back in. We are leading the Akin standings, so it’s our main goal to extend this lead and go back to France for 2026 again.”

DXDT RACING PRE-EVENT DRIVER QUOTES

CHARLIE EASTWOOD, NO. 36 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “The environment within this team is really nice. They’re going those extra miles to find those small, incremental changes. We’re testing at every track just to try to make sure we are as prepped as possible. They haven’t had the rub of the green, unfortunately. We had a great run at Sebring and Watkins but fell 15 minutes short both times. Even in the sprint events the pace has looked great. For one reason or another – in the pits, out of the pits – the team hasn’t gotten there yet. They all deserve a lot more for the effort they are putting in. I’m going into Indy confident that we can deliver a good result. I just want to get onto my first IMSA podium, maybe with my first IMSA win and the teams, and my first win in America.”

ALEC UDELL, NO. 36 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “We go into this race one mechanic down and everyone’s heart is with Colten (Rybuck) as he continues to recover from a scary accident in testing recently. At Indy, it’s back to the endurance lineup with Charlie and Salih. All season we’ve had strong performance in the DXDT Corvette. We’re more than ready to capitalize on that and turn it into a result for the team. Most importantly, though, we keep in mind that the safety of everyone on the team and our competitors is paramount. I’m looking forward to welcoming Colten back at the track whenever the time is right.”

SALIH YOLUC, NO. 36 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “It was nice to get some laps in the DXDT Corvette at Road Atlanta. I think it helped me a lot not just for that race but also Indianapolis coming up as well. A six-hour endurance race at this track with this many cars will be very chaotic but also very exciting. The team has been very close to getting its first IMSA podium over the last several races. I hope I get to be part of that this weekend.”

2025 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Points

GTD PRO Drivers Standings

  1. Alexander Sims/Antonio Garcia – 2632
  2. Albert Costa – 2579
  3. Klaus Bachler/Laurin Heinrich – 2441
  4. Mike Rockenfeller/Sebastian Priaulx – 2399
  5. Madison Snow/Neil Verhagen – 2296
  6. Nicky Catsburg/Tommy Milner – 2286

GTD PRO Teams Standings

  1. No. 3 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports – 2632
  2. No. 81 DragonSpeed – 2579
  3. No. 77 AO Racing – 2441
  4. No. 64 Ford Multimatic Motorsports – 2399
  5. No. 1 Paul Miller Racing – 2296
  6. No. 4 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports – 2286

GTD PRO Manufacturers Standings

  1. Chevrolet – 2710
  2. Ferrari – 2629
  3. BMW – 2605
  4. Ford – 2576
  5. Porsche – 2533

GTD Drivers Standings

  1. Philip Ellis/Russell Ward – 2529
  2. Casper Stevenson – 2358
  3. Kenton Koch – 2301
  4. Jack Hawksworth/Parker Thompson – 2290
  5. Patrick Gallagher/Robby Foley – 2190
  6. Matthew Bell/Orey Fidani – 1964
  7. Alec Udell – 1617

GTD Teams Standings

  1. No. 57 Windward Racing – 2529
  2. No. 27 Heart of Racing Team – 2358
  3. No. 12 Vasser Sullivan Racing – 2290
  4. No. 96 Turner Motorsport – 2190
  5. No. 120 Wright Motorsports – 2124
  6. No. 13 AWA – 1964
  7. No. 36 DXDT Racing – 1800

GTD Manufacturers Standings

  1. Mercedes-AMG – 2743
  2. Ferrari – 2557
  3. Aston Martin – 2469
  4. Lexus – 2433
  5. Porsche – 2386
  6. Chevrolet – 2296

CORVETTE RACING AT INDY: By the Numbers

  • 1: One manufacturer, one brand and one race program for 26-plus years – Chevrolet, Corvette and Corvette Racing
  • 2: Podium finishes in 2024 at Indianapolis for the Corvette Z06 GT3.R – Antonio Garcia/Alexander Sims in GTD PRO in IMSA and Tommy Milner/Alec Udell in Pro in GT World Challenge America
  • 4: Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs entered for this week’s Battle on the Bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
  • 13: Wins this year for the Corvette Z06 GT3.R across six different series; two have come in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship – Rolex 24 At Daytona (AWA) and VIR (Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports)
  • 14: Manufacturer Championships for Chevrolet and Corvette Racing since 2001
  • 32: Tracks at which Corvette Racing has won races – Baltimore, Charlotte Motor Speedway, COTA, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park/Mosport, Chang International Circuit (Thailand), Daytona, Detroit, Fuji, Houston, Imola, Laguna Seca, Le Mans, Lime Rock, Long Beach, Lusail International Circuit (Qatar), Sepang International Circuit (Malaysia), Miami, Mid-Ohio, Monza, Portimão, Portland, Road America, Road Atlanta, Sebring, Sonoma, St. Petersburg, Texas, Trois Rivieres, Utah, VIR, Washington DC and Watkins Glen
  • 39: Number of drivers to win races in Corvette Racing entries since 1999. The latest to join the list was Ross Chouest in GT America at Road America
  • 72: Years since Corvette was introduced to the world on Jan. 17, 1953 in New York City. A total of 300 cars were produced that year
  • 73: Number of drivers in Corvette Racing entries since 1999. The latest to join the list was Konsta Lappalainen for Johor Motorsports Racing at the Suzuka 1000K
  • 151: Victories worldwide for Corvette Racing – 118 in IMSA, nine at Le Mans, four in the FIA WEC, 13 in GT World Challenge America, three in GT World Challenge Asia, two in GT America and one in the European Le Mans Series
  • 348: Event starts by Corvette Racing since 1999
  • 450,924.77: Total number of racing miles completed by Corvette Racing since its inception. To put that in perspective, Corvette Racing is more than halfway to the distance traveled by Apollo 13 – the longest manned spaceflight in history: 622,268 miles. That means Corvette Racing has raced to the moon and more than halfway back!

Corvette Racing at Indianapolis

2014: No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen – 4th in GTLM

No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 5th in GTLM

2023: No. 3 Corvette C8.R: Antonio Garcia/Jordan Taylor – 5th in GTD PRO

2024 IMSA: No. 3 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Antonio Garcia/Alexander Sims – 3rd in GTD PRO (Garcia fastest race lap)

No. 4 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Tommy Milner/Nicky Catsburg – 11th in GTD PRO (Catsburg pole)

No. 13 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Matt Bell/Orey Fidani/Lars Kern – 6th in GTD (Bell fastest race lap)

2024 GT World Challenge America: No. 63 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Tommy Milner/Alec Udell/Alexander Sims – 3rd in Pro

No. 64 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Bryan Sellers/Patrick Liddy/Blake McDonald – 6th in Pro-Am

About General Motors

General Motors (NYSE:GM) is driving the future of transportation, leveraging advanced technology to build safer, smarter, and lower emission cars, trucks, and SUVs. GM’s Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands offer a broad portfolio of innovative gasoline-powered vehicles and the industry’s widest range of EVs, as we move to an all-electric future. Learn more at GM.com.

Front Row Motorsports: New Hampshire Motor Speedway Competition Notes- Todd Gilliland

By
Official Release
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Todd Gilliland and the No. 34 Grillo’s Pickles Ford Team
New Hampshire Motor Speedway Competition Notes
NHMS 301

Date: Sunday, September 21, 2025
Event: Race 32 of 38
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: New Hampshire Motor Speedway (1.0-mile)
#of Laps: 301
Time/TV/Radio: 2:00 PM ET on USA/PRN/SiriusXM channel 90

Todd Gilliland Notes

Todd Gilliland and the No. 34 team face the New Hampshire Motor Speedway this Sunday. The one-mile, Loudon, New Hampshire track has brought a lot of memories to Gilliland over his racing career, including capturing the checkered flag in a K&N East Series race at the track in 2017.

Grillo’s Pickles will partner with Gilliland for the 301-lap event, bringing a bold new twist to their iconic green-and-white scheme through a collaboration with New York City–based graffiti artist, Snoeman. With a focus on aerosol murals and mixed media paintings, Snoeman has become known for his vibrant and uplifting storefront murals and paintings of quintessential New York people, places and things. With this collaboration, Snoeman brings his distinctive touch to the No. 34 Ford Mustang Dark Horse to this weekend’s race at New Hampshire. “Having Snoman add his unique style to the car is one of the coolest collaborations I have been a part of,” said Gilliland. “Working with Grillo’s and Snoman on this has been a blast and I can’t wait to show it off on track.” Fans can learn more about Snoeman by visiting thesnoeman.com and follow him on Instagram @thesnoeman.

“This is only my fourth Cup Series start at New Hampshire, but we have a good baseline of where we need to be at in order to bring home a good finish,” said Gilliland. “I’ve had some success at Loudon in the K&N East and Truck Series so hopefully we can add to that success with at a good result on Sunday.”

Road Crew

Driver: Todd Gilliland

Hometown: Sherrills Ford, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Chris Lawson

Hometown: Medway, Ohio

Car Chief: Joe Marra

Hometown: Somers, New York

Engineer: Marc Rullo

Hometown: Ringwood, New Jersey

Engineer: Kevyn Rebolledo

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Spotter: Brit Andersen

Hometown: Branford, Connecticut

Underneath Mechanic: Michael Brookes

Hometown: Columbus, Ohio

Interior Mechanic: Chance Burke

Hometown: Siler City, North Carolina

Tire Specialist: Billy John

Hometown: Pitman, New Jersey

Engine Tuner: Tim Meyer

Hometown: Beatrice, Nebraska

Transporter Driver: Randy Bernier

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Pit Crew

Front Tire Changer: Danny Olszowy

Hometown: Lexington, Kentucky

Rear Tire Changer: Justin Fox

Hometown: Concord, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Paul Steele

Hometown: Wichita, Kansas

Jackman: Landon Honeycutt

Hometown: Mount Pleasant, North Carolina

Fueler: Zeke Nance

Hometown: Calhoun, Georgia

ABOUT GRILLO’S PICKLES

For people who want freshness, Grillo’s is the pickle company that is changing the game. That’s because Grillo’s uses only clean, garden-fresh ingredients to make deliciously simple foods that deliver all the crunchy, tangy, satisfying flavor you’ve been searching for, with none of the junk. How do we do it? Our products are made cold, shipped cold, and consumed cold. You get an incredible crunch, and we never have to mess with artificial preservatives. In fact, the only thing traditional about us is our 100-year-old family recipe. The rest? It’s fresh. Grillo’s offers mouthwatering bites nationwide with their selection of spears, chips, wholes and Pickle de Gallo. For more information, visit GrillosPickles.com or contact grillos@autumncommunications.com.

ABOUT SNOEMAN

Snoeman is a New York City based artist. He works in a wide range of mediums with a focus on aerosol murals and mixed media paintings. Inspired by the city, he has become known for his vibrant and uplifting storefront murals and paintings of quintessential New York people, places and things. Learn more at thesnoeman.com and follow him on Instagram @thesnoeman.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Craftsman Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 Craftsman Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 4, No. 34, and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 34 and No. 38 Craftsman Truck Series teams from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @teamfrm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

From the Track to the Streets: Why the Right Tires Matter More Than Ever

By
SM
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Photo by depositphotos at https://depositphotos.com/

In racing, there’s no margin for error. At tracks like Bristol or Daytona, a driver’s performance comes down to preparation, precision, and most importantly — the right set of tires. Tires are the only part of a vehicle that makes direct contact with the surface, and they determine grip, handling, and safety. The same truth applies off the track for everyday drivers across Canada, especially in a city like Calgary where road conditions change drastically with the seasons.

Lessons from Motorsports for Everyday Driving

Professional racing teams spend millions analyzing tire wear, tread patterns, and compound performance. A fraction of a second on the track can make the difference between winning and losing. On the streets of Calgary, tires may not decide a championship, but they can determine whether a driver stops in time on an icy road or slides through an intersection.

Choosing the right tires for your vehicle is more than a matter of convenience — it’s a matter of safety.

The Importance of Seasonal Tire Changes

Racers prepare for different track surfaces; drivers in Calgary need to prepare for different seasons. Summer brings hot pavement, while winter delivers snow, slush, and ice. That’s why seasonal tire changes are critical.

  • Winter tires are designed with softer rubber compounds and aggressive tread patterns for maximum grip in freezing temperatures.
  • All-weather tires give drivers flexibility in unpredictable shoulder seasons.
  • All-season tires provide a smooth, efficient ride during Calgary’s warmer months.

Each option plays a role in maintaining control, improving braking performance, and ensuring a safer driving experience.

Performance Brands Built on Motorsport Technology

Motorsports push tire technology to the limit, and many of those innovations make their way into consumer products. Leading brands like Michelin, Toyo, Bridgestone, Pirelli, and Falken use racing as a testing ground for compounds, tread designs, and durability.

For Calgary drivers, this means access to tires engineered with the same focus on performance, grip, and safety that wins championships on the track. Whether you drive a compact car, SUV, or heavy-duty truck, choosing the right brand and model is an investment in performance and reliability.

Why Local Expertise Matters

Just as NASCAR teams rely on experienced pit crews, Calgary drivers need local experts who understand the challenges of Alberta’s roads. A professional tire shop provides more than just sales — it delivers:

  • Tire installation and balancing for smooth rides.
  • Seasonal tire changeovers timed perfectly for Calgary’s climate.
  • Tire repair services that extend the life of your investment.
  • Fleet and commercial tire support for businesses that can’t afford downtime.

Local expertise ensures drivers get the right advice and the best options for their vehicle and driving needs.

Final Lap: Safety and Performance Go Hand in Hand

Racing proves that the right tires can change the outcome of a competition. On Calgary’s streets, the stakes are even higher — it’s about protecting families, businesses, and communities. Choosing high-quality tires, scheduling seasonal changeovers, and relying on trusted local professionals ensures drivers are ready for every road condition.

From the roar of the speedway to the snow-packed streets of Calgary, one truth remains: performance and safety always start with the tires beneath you.

Zane Smith Looking To Carry Bristol Momentum to New Hampshire

By
Official Release
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Ford Racing Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Cup Series
New Hampshire Media Availability
Tuesday, September 16, 2025

Zane Smith, driver of the No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford Mustang Dark Horse, is coming off a third-place finish on Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway. He spoke about how that finish helped his team and what they hope to accomplish the final seven weeks of the NASCAR Cup Series season earlier today as part of a Ford media call.

ZANE SMITH, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford Mustang Dark Horse – WHAT DID THE BRISTOL RESULT DO FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM? “I think it was a great result for myself and our whole team, and I think it will allow us to really just build some good momentum to not only end this year and hopefully score that first win we’ve been looking for, but something to just build off of and some excitement for the offseason. I feel like we’ve had some great runs this year, but last month was just really mean to us, getting wrecked I think like three weeks in a row, so I don’t believe we’re where we need to be in the points. I think I’m 27th or something like that, but runs like we had on Saturday night are what I feel we deserve and it was great to finally have one of those.”

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR? “I think there are some great tracks coming up for us. Some that come to mind, Loudon. I feel pretty much my whole entire team has in some way, some form, a modified background, so I’m excited for this weekend. Kansas, Vegas, Martinsville, Talladega is in there, Phoenix we had a great run in the top 10 earlier in the year, so I definitely feel we can go get our first win of the year. We just need to execute on one of these weekends.”

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES YOU LOOK AT WHEN YOU GO TO NEW HAMPSHIRE? “My list is gonna be small, like I said, because this will only be my second time ever there, but it’s a really bumpy place. I feel like it’s underrated with how bumpy it really is, so your ability to get through the bumps and keep a well-handling car is super important. And then even last year I spent half of the race in the rain, so I think I was second-quick or something like that in practice and my car drove pretty good at that time, and then in the race I just had something completely different. I hope to qualify well. I think qualifying can be incredibly important as it is every weekend, but it’s tough to pass – a little bit different tire there, so we’re kind of trying to take some notes from what we’ve had at Iowa and Gateway maybe, where we’ve had this tire, so I’m excited to see what it brings.”

HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO GO BACK AND PREPARE WHEN HALF OF THE RACE WAS IN THE RAIN A YEAR AGO? “I just think the experience that I got there and the time I had in the dry will be important to remember and look back on, but I’m with a different team now, so I can’t really look through those notes on what was good for me and what wasn’t, but I know the 38 group ran pretty well there last year, so hopefully it translates.”

AI HAS BECOME A HOT TOPIC IN THE NEWS. DO YOU USE IT AT ALL ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, AND IS IT USED AT FRONT ROW? “It’s so funny you asked that because I just downloaded ChatGPT and I have been addicted with the photo editing. We have a joke that my teammate, Noah, is short and so I made him shrink to like two-feet tall in this picture of Todd and I and him. Honestly, in a joking way I guess I’ve used it, but I’m sure that it’s used upstairs throughout the engineers in some way or form. I know that my crew chief has joked about it, that he’s used it on some things. I’m not exactly sure what, but it is insane on how fast and how it knows everything.”

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE RESTART AND THE LAUNCH THAT YOU GOT? “Passing is made on restarts, pit road. I feel like those are your main opportunities because everyone runs the same pace in that middle portion of the run it seems, unless you’re at a really wore out place. Even at time at that, we’re still somehow running the same lap times, but I felt all night what I was doing on restarts and my tire cleaning was working out pretty well for me. Everyone that I lined up behind, whether I was in third or fourth, I felt like I was rolling to their bumper more so than the guys that I had seen and, fortunately, that last one was a pretty good one. I tried getting in there and pretty much all of the restarts before that, especially once everyone started having their tire issues, once they were cleaning the track they blow the marbles into the PJ1 and so that bottom lane hits it. When you’re the leader, you’re the first to clean it up and so I just got super tight right then and you’re pretty much loose and out of the racetrack it seems for the next lap or two, and we were on older tires. I think just a product of that and two guys going for their first Cup win.”

DID YOU RE-WATCH IT AND THINK IT WAS A PRETTY GOOD LAUNCH? “I actually just recognized it like the middle portion of the race, once we kept restarting in those first couple rows, I knew my restarts had been pretty strong, so I didn’t want to change anything up from a tire-cleaning process and what I was doing with my launch, so it was working out for me and sometimes when you have those things you don’t really want to change it up.”

KANSAS IS AFTER NEW HAMPSHIRE, BUT YOU HAVE HAD GOOD SUCCESS AT KANSAS. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT PLACE? “Even when I was in truck or anything, I have always been so excited for Kansas. Kansas, Homestead, Darlington, those are probably my favorite racetracks. I feel like with the package and things that have worked for us this year, that style of mile-and-a-half, where it’s kind of wore out, you can run the fence, you can move around some, those have been great places for us. Thinking back on Kansas, that was probably one of the best cars I’ve had this year. We had to start in the back from blowing a tire in practice and had some diffuser wear, so I had to start in the back and drove inside the top 10 in the first stage. Man, I really liked my car there, so hopefully we can improve on that a little bit and get another shot at it.”

HOW MUCH CONFIDENCE ARE YOU BRINGING INTO THESE NEXT FEW RACES, KNOWING YOU’RE ON THE VERGE OF CONSISTENTLY BEING IN THE TOP 10? “I feel the confidence is there and I just feel like the excitement has been boosted now that we’re closing in on the end of the year, so we’re all eager to hopefully get a win before the year is over, and then just runs like we’ve been having – like qualifying in the top 10 at Gateway, rebounding in Darlington after just a bad stretch of races of just mishaps. When those happened, I think I was wrecked inside the top 10 every single time. Indy could have been another top five day. Dover, I think I lined up eighth and I was the first one on four tires. That’s what’s frustrating is I feel this stretch of good races should have lasted a little bit longer and started a little bit sooner, but it brings a level of excitement that we get to go try again at these places that we learned a little bit from the beginning of the year. One I forgot to mention was Martinsville. I had a great car at Martinsville and my old team, myself, we love that place and I feel like that’s another great opportunity to go win at, but I feel what we’re doing against these playoff guys – with them bringing the best of the best stuff that they’ve got – and to qualify up there and ultimately race up there all race long says a lot about my group and everyone at FRM. Hopefully, we can keep that going for seven more.”

THE ROVAL IS COMING UP IN A FEW WEEKS. HOW MUCH DIFFERENT IS THE ROVAL TO A WATKINS GLEN OR SONOMA? “In my opinion, it’s a lot different and, to be honest, the Roval has just not been a good place for me. I struggle there in a sense. Hopefully, this year goes a little better, but it’s chaos and there’s a lot going on for those playoff guys because it’s a cut off for them. It would be great to have a good run at home for us, but in the past it hasn’t been great to me, but, yes, I did grow up on road courses and I really enjoy them. I need to say the same hopefully here soon about the Roval.”

YOU SEEM TO HAVE RUN WELL AT THESE TIRE MANAGEMENT RACES. IS THAT THE LATE MODEL BACKGROUND COMING THROUGH? “Yeah, it’s funny you bring that up. This past weekend that brought back so many memories of super late model days, where you just couldn’t always bolt on a set of tires. We were at the end of the day going through them fast, but it was all just about saving and managing and managing your track position and then it came down to your crew chief telling you when he wanted to pit, or when you were getting close to your number and he would kind of turn the ball over to me and say, ‘Hey, this is on you now on how long you think you can last here on this set,’ so we tried to subtract that. That first run I didn’t feel any of those cords coming and all of a sudden it happened, and then after that I just went into that mode of trying to manage and save and I felt my team did a great job of painting a picture for me too about how this race is gonna play out and if you save here where it’s gonna benefit you. It worked out for us, but I really enjoyed it. That was probably one of the most fun Bristol races I’ve ever had, regardless of if we had a really good finish or not. It was still a fun night. With that said, it was a lot of fun, especially to see those guys that would come and go, especially when you were good on a long run, where my car was pretty good. That’s always a lot of fun when those guys fall off a little bit more.”

WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE WHEN YOU’RE MAKING THE DECISIONS ON THE TRACK LIKE THAT? “I’m trying to put myself in his shoes and trying to understand what the end goal is here because you see guys peeling off in front of you and then there are guys that are like two laps down buzzing by you and it’s hard. You only see so many feet in front of you at Bristol and a lot of things are happening fast, so you’re just trying to wrap your head around on what’s happening there, but one example was Joey and I, I was the leader at that time and he was second and I got told like, ‘Hey, we need five more,’ and I think I ran at least 10 and I’m like, ‘How long do you want me to go? I think I can get at least maybe eight more good ones,’ and he let me run three and then called me down. There are a lot of things that I don’t see, but I try to do my best at really understanding the bigger picture.”

WHAT KIND OF BACKGROUND DO YOUR CREW GUYS WITH LATE MODEL EXPERIENCE HAVE? “A lot of them are from up there near New Hampshire, just modified racing and really, I guess, open-wheel style of racing. I’m sure a lot of the guys on my team will be having hero card requests throughout the weekend – more than myself, especially now that Ryan Flores is on our team. Ryan Bergenty came from that background, my spotter, Ryan Blanchard came from that background. I think his cousin races modifieds. Just a lot of our guys have been involved in it.”

THIS IS A BIG RACE FOR THOSE GUYS. IS THERE ALMOST A CULTURE SHOCK YOU EXPERIENCE WHEN YOU GO RACING IN LOUDON? “I feel this about a lot of different places we go. It’s not just Loudon, but I will say those are real NASCAR fans, or just real racing fans. There are some places you go where it’s a really big track, but it’s a different style of fan, I feel like. These fans that we get to go see in New Hampshire they watch racing every weekend, not just when NASCAR comes into town two weeks a year. It’s cool to have races like that and I think it’s an awesome trophy. Everyone wants to hold that lobster.”

HOW DO YOU STAY MOTIVATED MENTALLY GOING BACK TO THE TRACK UNDERSTANDING YOU’VE HAD THE SPEED, BUT THE RESULTS HAVEN’T ALWAYS BEEN THERE? “I feel like that’s your role. I feel like we’re almost like that quarterback role to where you’ve got to keep your whole group and whole team excited and motivated. It’s a long year and what makes that easy is because at least when we did get wrecked we were running inside the top 10 and battling for a great finish. If we were running 35th and we get right hooked, everyone is just gonna be mad and over it. Fortunately, that was the situation for us, but my whole team is easy to work with in that way to where we’re all hungry. We all are paying attention to what actually happened and what’s out of our control and what is in our control, and all of those were out of my control. Everyone just put their heads down and went back to work. When you have a good finish rebounding from that it always feels that much better.”

HOW DOES IT HELP THE TEAM WHEN YOU GET THROUGH THOSE TOUGH MOMENTS? “I’m just a big believer in hard times build tougher people. I think through racing and doing this for a living, not only as a driver, but in any role in racing you’re going to experience so many ups and downs, but regardless, even at the high I feel just keeping a level head goes a long way and you just let your lows get too low. With that, I feel like that’s how we’ve been able to rebound.”

YOU WERE RUNNING UP FRONT, ALONG WITH SOME OTHERS. IT WASN’T JUST ONE DRIVER OR ONE TEAM DOMINATING THE BRISTOL RACE. “Yeah, for sure. That’s the positive to all of this. I think definitely when we have a tire like that to where it catches people by surprise and it’s whoever manages the chaos the most, those are great races for us and those are opportunities for us to go get a race win or get a good finish like we did. I think I left there with forty-something points, which is awesome for us. We’re a smaller team and we’re going up against guys that have a ton of resources. I’m not saying that FRM won’t be there one day, but it takes time to get there, but runs like that, like we had, definitely speeds up the process.”

DOES IT HELP HAVING TWO OF YOUR BEST FRIENDS IN THE SPORT AS TEAMMATES WHEN YOU GO THROUGH STRUGGLES? “Yeah, sure. I feel good run or bad run, in all of our cases I feel like we’re always hanging out on Monday and that’s what you get when you have two of your best friends as your teammates. Ultimately, I think it just takes your mind off of it. Everyone has their different thing that they may do to get their mind off of it and, to be honest, when Noah and Todd and I, even other guys we race with, we’re rarely talking about racing. That’s cool to have teammates like that. It’s been a lot of fun working with them this year and hopefully we can continue that.”

HOW DO YOU FEEL YOU’VE GOTTEN BETTER THIS YEAR? “I think just trying to be better at the little things and looking at the bigger picture. There were a lot of times, even when we were struggling, where you run really good at a point in the race and then I would often catch myself at the end of the race with not a good result and someone I was racing with all race long is in the top five, top 10, and I kind of spent some time studying how they got there and what it takes to do that, and ultimately it’s I think being smarter, understanding all of the different roles to make a better weekend, and I think a lot of that starts on Saturdays of just practicing and qualifying better. Qualifying good goes such a far way. I feel we’ve done a great job of that with our practice and a few qualifying adjustments which is in such a short period of time, and then I feel our adjustments from Saturday to Sunday even have been great as well. When you have that, you just start ahead when the race starts and you don’t get caught a lap down. You’re just ahead more and then there’s always gonna be things that you just naturally get better at. You’re gonna get better at being more aggressive in the right ways on restarts – towards the end of the race when is the right time when is not the right time – and just experience of going to these places. I feel every year I go back to a racetrack I’m better in some way and that’s maybe getting onto pit road, knowing how the track changes. There are so many different things, so just trying to understand all of that and apply it.”

HOW DO YOU REMAIN PATIENT WHILE WANTING GOOD RESULTS SO BADLY? “You get warned about that. The conversations get brought up of like maybe you going to race on Sunday and you could go through a stretch there without winning something and it takes a toll on you. ‘Can I still do this? Do I still stay as locked in as I did?’ You question why it’s not happening, but fortunately we have a lot of data and analytics of looking at where we can improve and maybe circling more than one reason of why we’re not, and I think we’re thankful for that because that can just naturally take a toll on a driver. It was a good reminder on Saturday that I feel I still can win. Once that caution fell I was incredibly locked in and just ready for the restart. Those are things on Monday night’s you lay in bed and it’s like, ‘Man, can I still do it?’ So, runs like that just boost the confidence in a way of like, ‘OK, I still can, we just need a few more things to go our way.’”

IS THE PROCESS THE SAME WHETHER YOU START ON THE FRONT ROW OR ROW SIX? “To be honest, there’s a lot more you’re thinking about. A lot of the wins that we take as a smaller team or your first couple years in Cup are like top 10 days in the Cup Series. Those are a great day and that needs to be celebrated and there needs to be some excitement behind that, but, man, when you’re trying to get your first win in the Cup Series of something you just wanted to be in for your whole life and then the opportunity is right in front of you and it’s gonna be settled in a couple minutes, there’s a lot of things running through your head. Pretty much everything I’ve known in my career I need to funnel it down to right now and see how I can possibly execute this race win.’ I knew it was gonna be an uphill battle. Carson and I were both on older tires. Up front we had guys right behind us on fresh tires. Our bed was already made, but that doesn’t mean we ain’t gonna go down with a fighting chance. I felt that I executed mainly the things I felt I could control, I just think being in that position, the more times you are the calmer you naturally are and your mind goes to the right place more often times than not.”

IS IT NERVES BECAUSE IT’S THIS BIG CUP OPPORTUNITY OR IS IT YOU’RE TRYING TO PROCESS THINGS SO QUICKLY THAT THE MORE YOU DO IT, IT WILL BE SLOWER BECAUSE YOU’LL BE MORE COMFORTABLE IN IT? “I don’t know if you would call it nerves. You naturally are in that scenario. You want to compare it to football. If a kid has played football his whole entire life and dreams of going to the Super Bowl and then he has the chance to throw the winning pass in the Super Bowl, those things are gonna run through your head like, ‘I’ve worked for this all my life and the opportunity is right here. Who knows if I’ll have this opportunity again.’ I don’t know about everyone else, but those things run through my head at some point in time and so yeah, at that point you’re just processing it. I don’t think about it and stay thinking about it, it just naturally pops up in my head of, ‘Alright, the opportunity is right here, right now. What can I do to execute this?’”

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