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A DELIGHTFUL DOZEN: NHRA MEMBER TRACK NETWORK ENJOYS STRONG RECENT GROWTH WITH ADDITION OF 12 FACILITIES

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Official Release
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A DELIGHTFUL DOZEN: NHRA MEMBER TRACK NETWORK ENJOYS STRONG RECENT GROWTH WITH ADDITION OF 12 FACILITIES

INDIANAPOLIS (April 21, 2025) – A busy off-season and start to the 2025 campaign has led to tremendous recent success for NHRA and its NHRA Member Track Network, with now 12 tracks having joined the primary sanctioning body for drag racing in a matter of months.

The impressive number and growth across the NHRA’s seven divisions dates back to the end of the 2024 season in November, with a dozen race tracks joining the NHRA Member Track Network, many for the first time.

The full list of new additions includes the following facilities:

  • Luskville Dragway in Luskville, Quebec, Canada (Division 1)
  • Darlington Dragway in Hartsville, S.C. (Division 2)
  • Lead Foot City in Brooksville, Fla. (Division 2)
  • Fitzgerald Motorsports Park in Crossville, Tenn. (Division 3)
  • Prescott Raceway in Prescott, Ark. (Division 4)
  • Concho Valley Dragway in San Angelo, Texas (Division 4)
  • Paris Dragstrip in Paris, Texas (Division 4)
  • Wichita Raceway Park in Wichita Falls, Texas (Division 4)
  • Amarillo Dragway in Amarillo, Texas (Division 4)
  • Interstate Raceway in Glyndon, Minn. (Division 5)
  • Thunder Valley Dragways in Parker, S.D. (Division 5)
  • Albuquerque Dragway in Albuquerque, N.M. (Division 7)

It’s a strong sign of the dedication NHRA has given to its member tracks for nearly 75 years, providing safe, competitive and exciting racing environments at facilities across North America, and spurring future growth in the process.

“Everyone at NHRA is thrilled to welcome these new tracks into the NHRA Member Track family,” said Rob Park, NHRA Senior Director of Field Operations. “With NHRA’s dedicated team of 23 full-time employees solely focused on supporting our NHRA Member Tracks, as well as sportsman and grassroots racers, it’s incredibly rewarding to see these new facilities recognize the value not only in what NHRA offers, but also in the association network of NHRA Member Tracks across the country.

“Their confidence in NHRA’s mission to protect, preserve, and promote the sport of drag racing reflects the strength of our programs and our shared passion for delivering safe, competitive, and exciting drag racing experiences at the local level.”

By moving to the huge NHRA Member Track Network, each of the facilities are eligible to offer racers in the area a variety of NHRA-sanctioned racing opportunities in the future, including the NHRA Summit Racing Series, the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League, NHRA Street Legal, NHRA Jr. Street and more. Additionally, the track will have the chance to host NHRA specialty events that offer racers the opportunity to win a Wally like the NHRA Summit King of the Track and more.

The 12 new NHRA Member Tracks play a key role in promoting grassroots NHRA drag racing, fostering a strong community of racers and fans in the area, and enabling for continued and lasting growth of NHRA drag racing for competitors of all levels.

Every facility in the NHRA Member Track Network also receives access to NHRA’s robust and unparalleled support programs, insurance benefits and national marketing platforms, and an extensive array of additional benefits.

Each track is part of NHRA’s “Become a Racer” program, where, through the Street Legal program, everyone can take their car from the street to the track, get licensed and race in a legal and controlled environment where racers of all skill levels can enjoy the sport of NHRA drag racing.

For just $78, a participant can sign up to earn their NHRA License and break into the Street Legal club, driving anything from a daily driver to a high-performance street-driven cars, while also receiving all the perks of being an NHRA member, like:

  • An Official NHRA Competition License Card.
  • Exclusive 9-second and 5-second decals for NHRA Level & Street Legal Racers recognizing your performance.
  • Exclusive Racer Advantage discounts with NHRA partners like Summit Racing Equipment and others.
  • A 25% off NHRA.tv, which streams live championship drag racing action at NHRA national events and divisional events across the country.
  • Excess medical insurance coverage of $600,000 at your NHRA Member Track.
  • NHRA National Dragster Magazine online.

For more information on NHRA, including the 2025 schedule, visit www.NHRA.com. To locate an NHRA Member Track, please click here.

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.

Haas Factory Team Announces Four Race Partnership With Ollie’s For 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Season

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Official Release
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[KANNAPOLIS, NC] – Haas Factory Team announced on Monday that Ollie’s Bargain Outlet will serve as the primary sponsor for its No. 00 Ford Mustang and driver Sheldon Creed across four NASCAR Xfinity Series races this season.

Ollie’s season debut will be this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, a track that Creed has posted top-10 finishes at in each of his last three races. America’s largest retailer of closeout merchandise and excess inventory will also sponsor Creed at Nashville Superspeedway (May 31), Daytona International Speedway (August 22), and Kansas Speedway (September 27).

Founded in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania in 1982, Ollie’s has been spreading the thrill of bargain hunting to customers for over 42 years! Find incredible savings on the brands you love at a fraction of what you’d pay at the fancy stores! Inventory is always changing, so you never know what you’ll find, but you know it’ll be Good Stuff Cheap!®

About Haas Factory Team:
The Haas Factory Team is a NASCAR Cup and Xfinity program owned by Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation. Starting in 2025, the team will feature Cole Custer driving the No. 41 Ford Mustang Dark Horse in the NASCAR Cup Series, while Sheldon Creed and Sam Mayer take on the Xfinity Series in the No. 00 and No. 41 Ford Mustangs, respectively. Based in Kannapolis, North Carolina, the Haas Factory Team reflects a commitment to performance and engineering excellence, carrying forward Gene Haas’s commitment to motorsports.

About Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, Inc.
We are America’s largest retailer of closeout merchandise and excess inventory, offering Real Brands and Real Bargain prices®! We offer extreme value on brand name products in a variety of departments, including housewares, food, books and stationery, bed and bath, floor coverings, toys, health, and beauty aids, and more. We currently operate 579 stores in 31 states and growing! For more information, visit www.ollies.com.

Keeping Your Vehicle Road Safe: From Tires to Coolant and More

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

When was the last time you looked at your vehicle’s tires? What about an oil change? Sure, your car may be running just fine right now. 

However, this can quickly change if you’re not keeping up with basic vehicle maintenance. Not to mention, ignoring basic vehicle maintenance can be dangerous. Your lack of maintenance may ultimately lead to a vehicle accident. 

Taking advantage of things like tire rotation services is a great start. However, don’t stop there. Keeping your vehicle road-safe means doing more than checking the tires. Here’s a quick checklist to get you started.

Pay Attention to Your Tires

When was the last time you replaced your tires? Has it been several months or possibly years? Tires are rated for a specific number of miles. Once you’ve reached the mileage noted on the tires, it’s usually time for replacements.

You can extend the life of your tires with regular rotation, usually every 5,000 to 8,000 miles. Tire rotation can help improve vehicle performance and reduce tread wear. So pay attention to tread depth when you go in for a tire rotation. If the tread is worn down by 2/32nds, it’s time to start thinking about replacements.

Driving on worn tires can easily result in an accident. Your vehicle is harder to control, especially on slick roads. Tire pressure is just as important as tread depth. Cold weather causes a drop in tire pressure. Warm weather does the opposite. You’re going to find it harder to control your vehicle when the tire pressure is off.

So, how do you check tire pressure? If you have an emergency roadside kit, it’s likely to include a tire pressure gauge. If not, you can usually find inexpensive gauges at a local auto parts store. Plan on repeating this step pretty regularly. When you’re filling the gas tank, you may want to check your tire pressure. Most gas stations have an air pump, and some even have tire pressure gauges.

Time to Change the Oil

Oil viscosity is a term tossed around that you may not pay attention to. Viscosity refers to the thickness of the oil. In the winter, you want to use a lighter-weight oil since cold temperatures cause oil to thicken, and this can cause problems. On the other hand, switch to a heavier weight one when temperatures start to climb.

If you’re not sure which oil weight to use, check your vehicle’s owner’s manual. If you’ve misplaced the manual, don’t panic. Almost any certified automotive technician can make some recommendations based on your engine’s make and model.

Are You Using the Right Coolant?

Worrying about the engine’s coolant in the winter may seem unnecessary. After all, don’t cooler temperatures help keep your vehicle’s engine from overheating? Your engine can stay a little cooler in the winter, but this isn’t why you’re checking the coolant.

Coolant, most commonly known as antifreeze, can be a concern when temperatures drop below freezing. The last thing you want is for your engine to freeze up. If this happens, you’re probably looking at hefty repairs. You may even need to replace your engine, and this can cost almost as much as a gently used car.

You should plan on checking not only coolant levels in the radiator but also the type. Some coolants are formulated for warmer temperatures and should not be used in winter. Don’t slack off in the summer. A warm-weather coolant can keep your vehicle’s AC blowing cold air.

How Are Your Brakes?

Roads can often be slick, making it difficult to stop. You need your vehicle’s brakes to function without any issues. Checking your car’s brakes is usually a multi-step process. You’re also going to need to do a little more than stick your head underneath your vehicle.

Everything, from the brake pads to the rotors and calipers, needs a quick inspection. If your brake pads are wearing thin, replace them. This also applies if the rotors or calipers show signs of wear and tear. Is your vehicle equipped with ABS? If so, have your anti-locking brakes thoroughly inspected before freezing temperatures hit.

Staying Safe On the Road

The maintenance you take care of now can affect your safety. Freezing temperatures, ice, and snow can make it challenging to do everything, from starting your vehicle to maintaining control on slick roads. Summer driving also comes with unique hazards. Don’t forget to keep up with vehicle maintenance throughout the year. You’ll be glad you did when you’re not facing expensive repairs. 

Up-to-date Guide to Motorsports Betting: NASCAR and Formula 1

By
SM
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Photo by James Watson on Unsplash

The NASCAR and Formula 1 seasons are up and running in 2025, creating excitement and opportunity. Motorsport betting has never been more accessible. This is due to the technological advancements made to streaming, social media, and exhilarating betting platforms. Whether you’re into the precise driving of Formula 1 or the roaring speed of NASCAR, there is a good place for you to put your cash (and knowledge) on the line to earn money.

New Innovations

When browsing and interacting with reliable betting apps and sites such as Bet22, the most notable change will be intelligence, specifically artificial intelligence (AI); nowadays, users can create or piggyback off algorithms to help make meaningful betting decisions. Using AI, you can quickly create and sort each driver and their teams by performance history, lap time, pit time, and more. Other innovations include better streaming quality, and even GPS trackers on cars to give you a live feed of exactly where they are on the track.

Types of Bets

May the days of only picking the race winner as a betting option be forgotten swiftly. In the current betting environment, your betting options are nearly endless. Here are a few:

  • Pole Positions: Betting on which position a driver will begin the race at.
  • Fastest Lap: Which driver will achieve the fastest lap throughout the race?
  • Live Bets include bets such as ‘Will a driver pit in the next four laps?’ and when another driver may overtake another.
  • Podium: Which drivers will at least finish first, second, or third?
  • Head-to-Head: Which driver will beat another specific driver?
  • People’s Champion: Which driver will impress the fans the most during the race?

Virtual Races with eSports

NASCAR and Formula 1 racing also exist in the virtual world, where players (sometimes real-life F1 and NASCAR drivers) compete in virtual race series as they do in real life. Esports betting is just as lively and interactive and is often at its peak during the downtime of the two motorsport seasons.

Betting Responsibly

No betting guide would be complete without a reminder on how to tread carefully when placing bets. You must implement good betting strategies that ensure you have loss protection while maximizing potential profit. Here are some things to do when placing bets on motorsports:

  • Chase Bets: Do not double down if you lose a live bet or traditional bet. Emotions are not bound by logic and will cause you to make poor decisions.
  • Utilize Tools: Use AI algorithms and self-assessment tools to ensure you make good decisions and do not overextend your finances.
  • Know When to Stop: The more time you spend focusing on betting, the more likely you are to over-analyze and make mistakes. Always remind yourself to step back when needed and to set up loss limits as ways to exit early.

Conclusion

Motorsports betting in 2025 is exciting, immersive, and more fun than ever before. Even casual bettors can easily enter the fray to begin playing with low-risk bets. The difference between a good bettor and a bad one is one that plays smart and plays well within its limits. Bet responsibly!

Online Betting in 2025: Current Trends and Tips

By
SM
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Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash

In 2025, the online betting market will continue to grow and expand from the early days of static websites with limited options. 2025 will bring us new technology, such as AI and social integration, which will continue to be added to online casinos. Continue reading to learn about how things are currently changing with online betting and how you can navigate the space effectively.

Status of Online Betting

The global online betting market continues to become more diverse than ever. New eSports games, sports betting archetypes, and online casinos pop up daily. Many websites, such as 22Bet, have perfected the user experience to make their websites and apps as engaging as possible.

Most online casinos are played via smartphones or tablets, while the minority use laptops and desktop PCs. Each app and website undergoes review for proper regulatory measures. The U.S. regulations differ by state, while the UK and European Union have concrete regulations. Alternatively, Asia and Africa have emerging markets undergoing many regulatory changes.

  • Artificial intelligence: The current dark horse of everything technology. Currently being used to offer users hyper-personalized options and predictive analysis to help improve your betting strategy.
  • Blockchain & Cryptocurrency: Largely becoming the most common payment option. Cryptocurrency boats quick transactions and privacy whilst also being decentralized, so they’re not subject to market trends.
  • Socialization: Many sites include friends lists, leaderboards, and chatrooms to turn online betting into a community experience. You can usually opt-out if you wish to play alone.

Tips & Tricks

  • Choose Safe Platforms: Ensure the website or app you’re investing money into is safe. Sites like 22Bet (mentioned earlier) fit this description easily.
  • Utilize All Tools Available: Most notably, AI, as it can provide you with a step-by-step guide and analysis based on what you need. Tool utilization includes budgeting and abiding by stop-loss thresholds. Do not only rely on AI.
  • Use Proper Security: Ensure you’re utilizing multi-factor authentication and double-check the reviews of any website or app you use. Do not use the same password across different devices and emails.

Planning Ahead

Looking forward to the next innovations in online betting, there could be some predictable advancements. Online betting will likely continue to progress socially, allowing for group bets at a bar or home smart TV. Virtual environments and high-fidelity games are also likely to appear more often as the processing power of mobile devices continues to advance.

Regulations are also something to consider for future online betting prospects. The United States will likely remain state-driven, meaning regulations can vary vastly depending on your state. Europe’s primary focus lately has been enforcing stricter regulations to protect users and their data. Depending on where you live, the way you conduct your online gambling can change quickly depending on your country’s administration.

Conclusion

It is nearly certain that online betting will continue to expand during 2025. It remains more accessible than ever, with all the tools necessary to ensure a fun gambling experience. Hopefully, this article has helped you stay informed. Remember to bet responsibly and embrace whatever the future may hold for this industry!

How to Play Online Casino Like a Professional

By
SM
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Photo by Yeşim Ç on Pexels

Online casinos are jam-packed with a plethora of games and excitement. However, attempting to participate without a game plan is a recipe for disaster. Therefore, the question is: what can you do to increase your chances of success? This article aims to cover methods to ensure you have a greater chance of earning the best payouts in online casinos.

Find a Platform that Works for You

The first step in playing like a professional is picking your setting. Much like any in-person casino, you get the option to choose which one you want to sign up for and play in. Ensuring that you pick a casino tailored to your interests whilst being secure and accessible is essential to maximize your enjoyment. Research is required, and you can search the web or check out our recommendation, 22Bet, as they specialize in worldwide accessibility and host a wide range of games and sports betting.

Set a Budget, and Adhere to It

Your bankroll is your lifeline for online casinos, and good players know not to overextend their budget. A reasonable budget includes loss limits and cashout limits so as not to lose too much and to ensure profits after wins. An example would be if you have a daily budget of $100. If you lose more than $60, you stop, but if you gain more than $60, you call it quits for the day.

Understanding Edges

The house always wins due to the house’s edge. The casino host favors every game, but that doesn’t mean you can’t profit. Choosing games that have a lower house edge is great for maximizing your chances of ending the day in the green. Blackjack is the most notable example of a small house edge of 0.5% assuming you play perfectly.

House edges are there to ensure that the online casino owner profits over a long period of time. By learning and mastering your specific game of choice, you be sure the edge is as low as possible.

Skill Over Luck

As previously mentioned, mastering a game can be of great value. This is why focusing on games that require skill will be better than random chance games such as slots. Mastery can include knowing the winning hands in poker or a high understanding of a sport you’re currently betting on. Optimal bets are your edge against losses.

Track your Performance

Creating a log of your bets and casino history is also important when maximizing your gains in online casinos. Over time, you will notice trends and discover patterns that helped you on your best days and what to avoid on your worst days.

Apps like Excel or any of the free Google alternatives are particularly good for tracking your days and profits/losses quickly. By having this data readily available, you can optimize your online casino strategy.

Conclusion

Being a professional gambler isn’t just about being lucky; it’s about developing discipline and strategy that utilizes your strengths. By sticking to a budget, understanding the games, and putting yourself where your knowledge and skills are helpful, you will likelyyou’re succeed in online casinos. Good luck and safe gambling!

CORVETTE RACING AT IMOLA: A Double-Points Day

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Official Release
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No. 81 leads TF Sport with sixth in LM GT3; No. 33 retains championship lead

IMOLA, Italy (April 20, 2025) – TF Sport’s two Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs finished in points-paying positions Sunday at the FIA World Endurance Championship’s Six Hours of Imola with the team’s No. 33 retaining its championship lead in the LM GT3 class.

Charlie Eastwood, Rui Andrade and Tom Van Rompuy led the TF Sport effort with a sixth-place effort in the No. 81 Corvette after starting 10th in class. Right behind in seventh was the championship-leading No. 33 Z06 GT3.R of Daniel Juncadella, Jonny Edgar and Ben Keating. The trio came from 16th at the start, weathered contact that sent Keating off-track in the opening hour.

Apart from that, the race for both Corvette squads was trouble-free and – more importantly – mistake-free to maximize the Imola weekend. This despite a lack of performance that left the two Corvettes near the bottom of the 18-car field through the three practice sessions.

Progress was steady for the TF Sport Z06 GT3.Rs. Keating gained four spots in the early-going before he was hit by another GT3 car, and Van Rompuy gained three positions by the end of his nearly two-hour stint. That left Andrade in seventh and Edgar sniffing the top-10 and the points mid-race.

Mistakes, crashes and penalties for faster competitors continued to push the Corvettes up the running order heading into the final stints for Eastwood and Juncadella, who had a spirited fight after the final pit stops in the final hour.

The next race in the FIA WEC for TF Sport and the Corvette Z06 GT3.R is the Six Hours of Spa on Saturday, May 10.

TF SPORT POST-RACE DRIVER QUOTES

CHARLIE EASTWOOD, NO. 81 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R – SIXTH IN LM GT3: “P6 at the flag in our Corvette. I think this morning and all week we probably would have taken that. We haven’t had the pace of the front-runners all week, but it was a super and faultless race. Not one mistake between us. Both Tom and Rui – especially Rui’s middle stint really kept us in it – were strong. There were some tough battles out there, for sure. Whenever you’re lacking pace, you obviously feel like you’re on the back foot. But we got the elbows out and pushed as much as we could to the flag, so we’ll take P6.

(Late-race battle with the No. 33) “We knew from five to six laps prior to the stop that it was going to be close at pit exit. He just got me coming out, but we preserved the tires pretty well and I knew we had a little bit more. It was a little too close for comfort at one point! But it’s all good with P6 and P7 for the team.”

RUI ANDRADE, NO. 81 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R – SIXTH IN LM GT3: “It looked like we were lacking pace through practice and up until qualifying. The car felt pretty good but I couldn’t get a lap together with track limits. Starting P10 wasn’t the end of the world. In the race the car just comes alive and the pace comes to us. I think P6 was the maximum for us. We did a really good job as a team… no mistakes and no penalties. All of us did a great job. We just didn’t have the pace to fight for the leading positions. But we maximized the result, and I’m happy with that.”

TOM VAN ROMPUY, NO. 81 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R – SIXTH IN LM GT3: “I think our result was unexpected. The first part of the race went really well. Everyone did a great job. We tried to maximize our stints by doing a lot of energy-saving and saving our tires for the second stints. It was a really clean race for both cars, and it’s really good to come away from here with what I feel are maximum points for our car.”

DANI JUNCADELLA, NO. 33 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R – SEVENTH IN LM GT3: “Round Two at Imola is done. It was a difficult weekend for us, but I’m very happy with the result in our Corvette. P7 in the end is good points for our championship and keeps us in the lead. It was a hard weekend. We struggled all weekend with pace in general, but I think it will be way better at the next one. At the end of the day, P7 feels like a good result out of here.”

JONNY EDGAR, NO. 33 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R – SEVENTH IN LM GT3: “It was a very difficult weekend. It was pretty clear from the start that we lacked some pace, and any point we earned we were going to be happy with. The team did a really good job in the race. With both cars we got the maximum we could with the speed we had. None of us really made mistakes, the pit stops were good, the car felt really nice to drive… I don’t think across the weekend we could have done a lot more, so I’m happy. It’s been two weekends in our car where we had results that were slightly better than our pace, which is always good.”

BEN KEATING, NO. 33 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R – SEVENTH IN LM GT3: “I said that I felt like it would be an Easter miracle if we got in the points. And we got in the points! So an Easter miracle. It was another perfect execution by everyone on the team. That was the difference. We did not have a fast car. By the end of it, I think all three drivers in our car had four track-limit warnings, and on the fifth you get a penalty. So well done to everyone on the team.

“Unfortunately I got spun around by another car during my stint. But in a way I was very happy with the way it went down. I was able to keep the car running, didn’t brake and rolled right back into the track and headed into the right direction. We only lost three spots so it didn’t cost us much. A great weekend from everyone here at TF Sport. I’m happy to still be in the points lead. The cars that finished second, third, fifth and sixth weren’t in the points at Qatar. The Lexus that finished fourth in Qatar was in the points here and ahead of us. So they will be pretty close in the championship, but we are still in the lead and I like our chances for the rest of the season.”

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.

Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA at points table

By
Official Release
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No. 12 Hypercar battles back to finish 10th in tightly contested WEC race at Imola

IMOLA, Italy (April 20, 2025) – In an up and down 6 Hours of Imola, the No. 12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R finished in the points for the second consecutive race to start the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) season.

The No. 12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R, which started ninth at the hands of Will Stevens, crossed the finish line in 10th place with Norman Nato behind the wheel in the tightly contested race on the demanding 4.909-kilometer (3.050-mile), 21-turn Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit.

The No. 38 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R, with Earl Bamber, Sebastien Bourdais and Jenson Button sharing time in the seat, finished 16th after qualifying 15th.

Both Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA entries were tagged with drive-through penalties in the first half of the race along with the No. 38 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R being forced off course only five minutes into the contest, which stymied their early progression.

Still, with expert fuel and tire strategy and quick work by the pit crew on each service stop, the cars powered by the 5.5-liter DOHC V-8 Cadillac engine held their own in the second half.

Nato, spelling Alex Lynn with 2 hours, 16 minutes left, climbed as high as sixth with 30 minutes remaining. He exited pit lane following a splash of fuel on Lap 200 of 212 with 18:30 left in 11th place and moved into the top 10 nine minutes later. Nato closed to 2.4 seconds of the ninth-place Peugeot but ran out of time to make a move.

Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA crew members shined a day earlier, too, as they were tasked with reviewing damage, repairing and preparing the No. 12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R for qualifications in short order following a shunt into the tire barrier at Rivazza 1 in Free Practice 3.

Lynn, who has advanced to Hyperpole 12 of the 14 times he has driven in qualifications since Cadillac Racing entered FIA WEC competition in 2023, placed fifth in qualifying and posted a lap of 1 minute, 30.448 seconds – the quickest lap for Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA over the weekend – in Hyperpole. The No. 12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R has advanced to Hyperpole in both rounds this season.

All 18 Hypercars were running at the finish in the 95th FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) round since its inaugural 2012 season. The pole-sitting No. 51 Ferrari AF Corse won the race.

The race marked the WEC’s return to Europe for the first time since last June’s 24 Hours of Le Mans and the series’ second trip to the circuit established in 1953 as a Ferrari test facility.

Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA turns its attention to securing podiums May 8-10 at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium in the third round of the WEC campaign. Hertz Team JOTA is the defending winner of the six-hour race on the fast and hilly 7.004-kilometer (4.352-mile) road circuit, becoming the first privateer to win a WEC race.

What they’re saying

No. 12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R

Alex Lynn: “Overall, another grueling visit to Imola for the Cadillac team, which is a shame because it’s a great track, one I enjoy, but globally we wanted more. We qualified ninth and finished 10th. That, unfortunately, is about all we wrote. We know we have some track coming up that suit our car a lot more and our package, so we look forward to that and as always work extremely hard to get better.”

Norman Nato: “A bit of a tough weekend. We knew it was going to be difficult for us. We tried our best; we’re still learning about the car and with a new team. Lot of experience taken and we want to move forward and to get points at Spa and Le Mans. I’d say it was important to make it to the end. Not in the position we wanted, but we learned a lot and want to come back stronger.”

Will Stevens: “Obviously, a tough day in the office. We just struggled for pace the whole race. On our side, even on what’s a tough day, we still scored some points, which on days like today you need to try and score what you can at least we got that. We need to make improvements before Spa, which should suit us more than this track.”

No. 38 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R

Earl Bamber: “Pretty tough day. We were hoping for a lot more speed in the car. The Peugeot turning down on us in the end didn’t impact our race too much. We lost nearly another two laps, so tough day for us and hopefully we can regroup to Spa where we had a strong car last year.”

Sebastien Bourdais: “Tough and disappointing weekend for the 38. It started with qualifying being completely ruined by the 6 car and then the race. Obviously, starting where we were was never going to be easy. Earl did a good job at the start and it started to look good and then there was that contact that spun Earl out and then we got a penalty and the gap gets big. Tire deg was clearly a big issue.”

Jenson Button: “It’s been a difficult weekend. Qualifying was tough for us just finding a balance, but also the race. Hopefully, there are some learnings to take out of it. The 12 got more out of it today, so good for them grabbing a point. Lots of info to take onboard and hopefully come out in Spa swinging and be stronger.”

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.

Chase Sexton Takes Giant Win at East Rutherford Supercross

By
Official Release
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Seth Hammaker Tops the 250SX Class Inside MetLife Stadium

East Rutherford, N.J., (April 19, 2025) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Chase Sexton took the Holeshot and left the field in his dust at Round 14 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season inside MetLife Stadium. Sexton stretched the lead past 18 seconds at one point. The win moved Sexton within nine points of the championship lead; a win in each of the three remaining rounds would assure Sexton the title.

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb, the current points leader, moved into second place immediately after the Holeshot but slowly lost touch with Sexton on the rutted and challenging New Jersey track. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Aaron Plessinger battled much of the race with Rockstar Energy GASGAS Factory Racing’s Justin Barcia. After Barcia crashed in the closing laps, Plessinger held on to earn the final podium spot. In the Eastern Divisional 250SX Class, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker led every lap to become the first repeat winner in the division and took sole possession of the points lead.

First place 450SX Class
First place 450SX Class

“I felt good all day. The two whoop sections helped me out a lot. I really feel like I made a lot of time up there. The KTM group has the bike working great. I had such a good flow that moto, and it really just felt like it was effortless for me, which is what we want. [We’ll just try to] keep that going, but I’m stoked. Fifth win of the season, so just try to keep truckin’ and focus week in/week out and see where we get. Overall, [I’m] having fun. I got a great start and made it happen.” – Chase Sexton, when asked what a dominating win does for a rider’s confidence.

Second place 450SX Class
Second place 450SX Class

“It’s tough, he was on it and he was killing me in those two sets of whoops. It’s something we’ve tried to fix this year, but these are gnarly. They have ruts all the way down them. I’m still pretty mind blown how he was able to do it so good. You’re trying to just stay with him and he rode awesome. He was inching away, and those whoops were really killing me. I got a little tight, and that was all she wrote. With that being said, he did what he needed to do, he rode a great race, he kicked my butt, and I didn’t put my money where my mouth was. We’ll go back, re-group. Definitely bummed on that finish, we wanted more fight tonight, but it is what it is and we’ll come back swinging… and try come win next week.” – Cooper Webb

Third place 450SX Class
Third place 450SX Class

“I was ready for this track to be over since second practice. It was gnarly, but it was just steep. I’ve been riding outdoors a little bit more than Supercross, so I got on this track and I was like, ‘Woah!’ But nonetheless, we had a good ride. The team made the bike work great. [We] made a little change between, I think it was second and third practice, and after that I was smooth sailing. Got off to a great start, Justin [Barcia] and [Justin Cooper] were riding awesome. Unfortunately, Justin went down right there and JCoop kept me honest the whole race. And these guys [Sexton and Webb] were on another level. I was just pushing as hard as I could. Heartrate got high and I slowed it down a little bit. Third’s good, five podiums now, and we’re going to finish this season off strong and head to outdoors feeling good.” – Aaron Plessinger, responding to the comment on the podium that he looked exhausted.

In the Eastern Divisional 250SX Class, Seth Hammaker became the first rider to give Kawasaki a win in the 250SX Class in East Rutherford. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire kept the racing close but never reached striking distance of the rider he shared the points lead with going into the New Jersey round. Defending champion Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle earned the final step on the podium, bouncing back from two tough finishes in the previous rounds that saw him surrender the points lead.

First place 250SX Class
First place 250SX Class

“I got sick on Tuesday night into Wednesday. [That] just put another thing into coming into the weekend. But we have a great group of people around me, and just thought positive. It did creep into my mind a little bit but thankfully I was able to put in clean, consistent laps. It feels really good to get another win and have the red plate solo now. Back to work we go. Two more rounds, this championship’s still really tight. Looking forward to some more great battling in the future.” – Seth Hammaker, when asked to comment on being sick at East Rutherford and whether that affected his endurance.

Second place 250SX Class
Second place 250SX Class

“It was important to get the start, and Seth had me off the gate. I just kinda rode in third for a bit. Nate [Thrasher] made a mistake and I got around him and I tried to make a push. I closed in some and then I’d make a mistake… Hey, I was better this weekend than I was last, so [I’ll] be better next weekend, knock off another win, [and] have the confidence going into Salt Lake here in a few weeks.” – RJ Hampshire

Third place 250SX Class
Third place 250SX Class

Third place 250SX Class

“The track was pretty tough tonight and my start wasn’t the best. I had to pass a few guy and then, I mean, Seth was first and he had a pretty good gap. I rode pretty much the whole race behind RJ, and I couldn’t do much more. I made a few mistakes. Tonight we end up third and we’re going to try again next weekend.” – Tom Vialle

Fans can catch every round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season live and on-demand on Peacock. Additionally, select events can be viewed on NBC, CNBC, USA Network, and NBC Sports digital platforms. CNBC airs an encore presentation of each round on the Monday following the race at 1:00 p.m. ET. A live presentation is available for every round in Spanish on Telemundo Deportes’ Facebook and YouTube channels. Live international coverage can be accessed through the SuperMotocross Video Pass (supermotocross.tv) with English, Spanish and French language broadcast options. Races can also be heard live via NBC Sports Audio on SiriusXM Channel 85.

Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania hosts Round 15 on Saturday, April 26th for the first time since 1983. The event will bring race action from the 450SX Class and the Eastern Divisional 250SX Class racers, as well as host the SMX Next – Supercross AMA National Championship. For event information, race results, live timing, video highlights, and to purchase tickets please visit SupercrossLIVE.com.

Facebook: facebook.com/supercrosslive
X: twitter.com/supercrosslive
Instagram: instagram.com/supercrosslive
YouTube: youtube.com/supercrosslive
TikTok: tiktok.com/supercrossliveofficial
Official Merch: SupercrossSuperstore.com

About Feld Motor Sports:

Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting specialized arena and stadium-based motorsports entertainment. Properties include Monster Jam®, Monster Energy AMA Supercross, and the SMX World ChampionshipTM. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a subsidiary of Feld Entertainment, Inc. Visit monsterjam.com, SupercrossLIVE.com, and feldentertainment.com for more information.

About Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship:

Monster Energy AMA Supercross is the most competitive and highest-profile off-road motorcycle racing championship on the planet. Founded in America and sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) since 1974. Over 17 weeks, Supercross attracts some of the largest and most impressive crowds inside the most recognizable and prestigious stadiums in North America to race in front of nearly one million live fans and broadcast to millions more worldwide. For more information, visit SupercrossLIVE.com.

About the SMX World Championship:

The SMX World Championship™ is the premier off-road motorcycle racing series in the world that combines the technical precision of stadium racing with the all-out speed and endurance of outdoor racing. Created in 2022, the SMX World Championship Series combines the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the AMA Pro Motocross Championship into a 28-round regular season that culminates with the season-ending SMX World Championship Playoffs. Visit SuperMotocross.com for more information.

About the American Motorcyclist Association:

Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit americanmotorcyclist.com.

Kaulig Racing Race Recap | North Carolina Education Lottery 250 presented by Black’s Tire

By
Official Release
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No. 11 Alloy Employer Services Chevrolet

Start: 21st
Stage 1 Finish: 20th
Stage 2 Finish: 27th
Finish: 7th

Josh Williams was running in 22nd when the race’s first caution came out on lap 12. Williams battled his way into 18th before a late wreck in Stage 1 brought out the yellow flag. This allowed the No. 11 team to flip the stage and bring the Alloy Employer Services Chevy down pit road for four tires, fuel, and an air pressure adjustment. A chaotic two-lap shootout to the green-white-checkered flag led to a 20th-place stage finish. Firing off for Stage 2 from 10th, Williams lost one spot on the jump but continued to run fast laps throughout. After retaking 10th at the lap-108 caution, Williams brought the No. 11 back down pit road, flipping the stage once again, for four tires and fuel. While on pit road, however, Williams sped, leading to an end-of-line penalty and a 31st-place restart spot. He recovered four positions to finish Stage 2 in 27th. Williams took the green flag for the final 122 laps in 20th place. On the first lap back to green, the No. 11 was tagged by a spinning car, damaging the Chevy’s right side. Williams pitted for tires, fuel, and right-side repairs, and he restarted in 32nd. After three quick, successive yellows, Williams brought the No. 11 into the pits for right-side tires and fuel. He took the green flag in 17th with 86 laps to go. On lap 181, Williams avoided a wreck on the backstretch, and he stayed out under yellow to restart in 16th. After the longest green-flag run of the day, a wreck with under 25 to go reset the field, and Williams pitted for right-side tires, fuel, and a track bar adjustment. He restarted 19th with 18 laps to go and quickly began reclaiming positions before another wreck bunched the field together again. On the green, another crash ensued, and Williams avoided it to jump into 10th, restarting there with four laps remaining. The race’s final incident set up overtime, and Williams restarted in eighth and eventually took the checkered flag running in seventh.

“I feel like all three cars had pretty decent speed today. We had enough speed to get back there at the end of the day… I’d love to be back [at Rockingham Speedway] next year. The fans had to enjoy that one.” – Josh Williams

No. 10 Champion Container Chevrolet

Start: 27th
Stage 1 Finish: 11th
Stage 2 Finish: 25th
Finish: 9th

Dye struggled with a free-handling No. 10 Champion Container Chevrolet throughout the opening stage. On a different strategy than his two teammates, Dye stayed out during a late-stage caution, hoping for stage points, but came up one position short, crossing the line in 11th. Struggling through traffic, Dye sat 26th when the next caution flag fell on lap 107. He pitted for tires, fuel and adjustments, before finishing Stage 2 in 25th. Dye stayed out to start the final stage in 18th. When a caution came out on lap 157, Dye stayed out, along with teammate Christian Eckes, restarting fifth with 86 laps to go. Fighting to find speed, Dye continued to struggle and eventually spun out on lap 234, acquiring fender damage. He pitted multiple times for repairs, restarting 28th on lap 235. Attrition, caused by multiple cautions, played to the advantage of the No. 10 team, as Dye sat 12th, just 13 laps later, while under caution. Coming to the final restart, Dye cracked the top 10 for the first time of the race, ultimately finishing ninth.

“Pretty miserable day today until the end. We fought really hard to try and find some speed in our No. 10 Champion Container Chevy, but we just struggled. Thankfully with some attrition, we found ourselves 12th lined up on that last restart and snuck our way into the top 10. Pretty big ‘W’ for us, considering how our day went.” – Daniel Dye

No. 16 Black’s Tire Service Chevrolet

Start: 9th
Stage 1 Finish: 13th
Stage 2 Finish: 14th
Finish: 23rd

Eckes fired off slightly free but was otherwise happy with the handling of the No. 16 Black’s Tire Service Chevrolet. When a late-stage caution came out on lap 51, crew chief Alex Yontz called Eckes to pit road for tires and fuel, before a two-lap dash to the stage flag. Eckes finished Stage 1 in 13th place. Starting the second stage in fourth, Eckes fell a few spots but found his rhythm halfway through the stage. A caution on lap 107 allowed Eckes to pit before the stage end, as the team had its sights set on getting track position for the final stint. Eckes finished the second stage in 14th and stayed out during the break to start the final stage from eighth place. The team took a gamble, deciding not to pit when a caution came out on lap 157, putting Eckes third on the restart with 86 laps to go. He avoided multiple caution-inducing incidents, before ultimately being collected in a wreck coming to the restart with 10 laps remaining. Forced to pit for damage repair, Eckes lost four laps while on pit road and went on to finish 23rd.

“It was a good day until it wasn’t. It was a really good showing for this 16 group, was one of our stronger runs of the year. We chose to give up stage points and keep track position, but in the end, things didn’t go our way. It’s an unfortunate way to finish an otherwise solid day, but we will move on to Talladega, a track where Kaulig Racing typically runs well.” – Christian Eckes
 
About Kaulig Racing

Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time, multi-car NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, owned by award winning entrepreneur, Matt Kaulig. Established in 2016, Kaulig Racing™ has earned 27 NXS wins, made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started, and won two regular-season championships. In 2021, the team competed in select NCS events, before expanding to a two-car, full-time NCS team in 2022 and adding a third, part-time entry during the 2023 season. Since its first NCS start in 2021, the team has earned two wins. Kaulig Racing is currently fielding two full-time entries in the NCS and continues to field three full-time NXS entries. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

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