Florida Cracker Candy Jerky and Feebs Distilling Join as Associate Partners
MOORESVILLE, NC, August 21, 2024 – NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Patrick Emerling today announced he is partnering with Flood Brothers Disposal Co. for this Friday’s Wawa 250 Powered by Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway. This marks Emerling’s 15th primary marketing partner in the 16 races he has run this season.
“We’re thrilled to bring the Flood Brothers name to the ‘World Center of Racing’ by sponsoring Patrick Emerling in the Daytona Wawa 250,” said Kevin Flood, CEO of Flood Brothers. “As a family-owned and operated company rooted in Chicago, this partnership highlights our commitment to excellence and the values we share with the racing community—dedication, hard work, and a relentless drive to succeed. We look forward to an exciting race and wish Patrick and the team the best of luck this weekend at Daytona.”
Flood Brothers Disposal Co. is a fifth-generation, family-owned, and operated waste and recycling provider proudly serving the Chicagoland area. With over a century of commitment to our community, they deliver exceptional waste management solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of each client. Their comprehensive services include residential, commercial, and industrial waste disposal, along with innovative recycling programs designed to promote sustainability and environmental stewardship.
Rooted in their family’s legacy of integrity, reliability, and customer-centric service, Flood Brothers Disposal Co. combines modern technology with traditional values to ensure efficient, eco-friendly waste management. Their dedicated team works tirelessly to maintain the highest standards of service, fostering long-lasting relationships with the communities they serve. Choose Flood Brothers Disposal Co. for dependable, responsible waste and recycling solutions backed by generations of experience and a genuine passion for keeping Chicagoland clean and green.
“I’m looking forward to racing at Daytona again,” said Emerling. “We had a really fast car here in February although engine issues prevented us from finishing quite as well as we should have. I’ve had solid finishes over the past few weeks in both the Whelen Tour and Xfinity, and I’m hoping to capitalize on that momentum.”
Florida Cracker Candy Jerky will join Emerling as an associate sponsor. Get ready to enjoy some of the finest, most delicious, Jerky products you have ever tried from Florida Cracker Candy! Florida Cracker Candy offers a variety of Beef and Exotic Jerky products. None of the meats for their jerky are imported, unlike a lot of the Jerky on the market today, and all Beef Jerky products are made from Beef Brisket only. Florida Cracker Candy Jerky is made in the USA and distributed from their facility in DeBary, Florida.
Feebs Distilling will also partner with Emerling as an associate sponsor. Feebs Distilling is a craft distillery that produces fine brandies (apple, blueberry, blackberry, peach and strawberry), as well as Unaged Korn Whiskey, Aged Whiskey and Bourbon, using the freshest local ingredients. Samples, bottles and merchandise are available for purchase in their tasting room in Milford, DE.
“I’m thrilled to have Flood Brothers on the car this weekend along with Florida Cracker Candy Jerky and Feebs Distilling,” said Emerling. “Snow Belt MGMT is bringing new partners to the track almost every week. They’re a hard-working group, and I’m proud to be partnered with them.”
Additionally, Emerling will welcome back season-long partners SimForge, which sells sim racing equipment and accessories, and Frontline Optics, a San Diego sunglass brand owned by a retired firefighter.
The Wawa 250 Powered by Coca-Cola (100 laps | 250 miles) is the 22nd of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2024 schedule. There will be no practice. Qualifying begins on Friday, August 23 at 3:00 p.m. The field is set to take the green flag later that evening at 7:30 p.m. with live coverage on the USA Network, the Motor Racing Network (Radio), and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (Eastern).
For more information on Patrick Emerling, visit https://www.patrickemerlingracing.com/ or follow him on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/PatrickEmerling07), X (https://twitter.com/PatrickEmerling) or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/patrickemerling/).
CHASE BRISCOE Daytona Advance No. 14 Mahindra Compact Tractors Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Event Overview
● Event: Coke Zero Sugar 400 (Round 25 of 36) ● Time/Date: 7:30 p.m. EDT on Saturday, Aug. 24 ● Location: Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway ● Layout: 2.5-mile oval ● Laps/Miles: 160 laps / 400 miles ● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 35 laps / Stage 2: 60 laps / Final Stage: 65 laps ● TV/Radio: NBC / MRN Radio / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Notes of Interest
● While there is always a heightened level of anxiety when it comes to competing at superspeedways, Chase Briscoe brings a steady hand to Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, site of Saturday night’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 NASCAR Cup Series race. In the season-opening Daytona 500 back on Feb. 19, Briscoe finished a solid 10th, and in the second superspeedway race of the year on April 21 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, Briscoe finished 12th. Living by the time-honored mantra that in order to finish first, first you must finish, Briscoe has set the table for another front-running drive at Daytona.
● The Coke Zero Sugar 400 will mark Briscoe’s eighth career NASCAR Cup Series start at Daytona. The driver of the No. 14 Mahindra Compact Tractors Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing earned his best Daytona result in the 2022 Daytona 500 when he finished third in just his third Cup Series start at the high-banked, 2.5-mile oval.
● In last year’s Coke Zero Sugar 400, Briscoe won the pole led twice for a race-high 67 laps before getting ensnared in a late-race accident that left him an undeserved 30th.
● Briscoe has made seven starts at Daytona outside of the NASCAR Cup Series. He has five NASCAR Xfinity Series starts and one start apiece in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and ARCA Menards Series. In the Xfinity Series at Daytona, he finished fifth and third in the 2020 season opener and August races, respectively, while qualifying on the pole in the latter event and leading a combined 27 laps between the two races. His Truck Series outing in the 2017 season opener resulted in a third-place finish, while his ARCA start in the 2016 season opener yielded a fourth-place finish.
● Mahindra Ag North America is a proud sponsor of Briscoe and Stewart-Haas, and 2024 highlights an impressive milestone for Mahindra – 30 years of selling tractors in the United States. Houston-based Mahindra Ag North America is part of Mahindra Group’s Automotive and Farm Sector, the No. 1-selling farm tractor company in the world, based on volumes across all company brands. Mahindra offers a range of tractor models from 20-75 horsepower, implements, and the ROXOR heavy-duty UTV. Mahindra farm equipment is engineered to be easy to operate by first-time tractor or side-by-side owners and heavy duty to tackle the tough jobs of rural living, farming and ranching. Steel-framed Mahindra Tractors and side-by-sides are ideal for customers who demand performance, reliability and comfort. Mahindra dealers are independent, family-owned businesses located throughout the U.S. and Canada.
● Mahindra Ag North America is using the Coke Zero Sugar 400 to promote its newest line of sub-compact and compact tractors, which are designed with features to enhance operation for first-time buyers. Boasting comfort amenities like telematics, leather seats and USB charging ports, the Mahindra 1100 and 2100 models are designed around ease of use for acreage owners, farmers and ranchers, with features like a push-button PTO and side-by-side HST pedals. Other features include a hand throttle on the console, tilt and telescopic steering, implement quick raise and lower, and auto lift at three points while turning and backing. Every model in the 1100 and 2100 series is available in open station or cab configurations, with an HVAC system exclusive to the 2126. This line of compacts have compatible Mahindra attachments, including loaders, backhoes, mowers, snowblowers, post hole diggers and grapples. The loader on the 1100 series has a max lift of 770 pounds, while the 2100 has a max lift of 1,760 pounds.
Chase Briscoe, Driver of the No. 14 Mahindra Compact Tractors Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Tenth in the Daytona 500 and 12th in April at Talladega. Those are two solid superspeedway finishes. What are your expectations for your return to Daytona this weekend, and can you keep the momentum going at these big, drafting-style racetracks?
“We’ve been able to finish pretty well at the superspeedways and our cars have had pretty good speed at every one we’ve been to the last year-and-a-half, two years. Our balance has been pretty good too, we just haven’t been able to seal the deal all the way and get the win. That’s kind of what we have to do now, is get the win, so that’s what we’re going to try to do. We’ll try to be as aggressive as we can and still make it to the end. But, yeah, our cars have been really, really good there and we’ve been able to have good finishes, we just need to be able to finish a little better. Hopefully, we can do that. One thing that’s certainly on my bucket list is winning a superspeedway race. It’s kind of the only track I haven’t been able to win at in my career, and it’s certainly one that’s driven me crazy.”
What’s been the secret to your performance this year at Daytona and Talladega?
“It’s not really any secret, it’s just kind of how luck goes sometimes and just being at the right place at the right time. Even Talladega, we were able to finish well, but I was sideways and backwards across the line. There are a lot of variables that go into it. I just strive to, honestly, use my gut. At times, it’s steered me wrong, but more often than not it’s put me in the right situation in just trying to understand when the wrecks are coming and things like that. Just need to go there and do the same stuff I typically do and not try to do anything too fancy and see if it’s good enough.”
Describe the intensity of racing at Daytona, especially with it being the second-to-last race of the regular season where, for many, it’s the last chance to earn a playoff berth.
“It’s chaos, full-blown chaos. Just any time we go to Daytona or Talladega, the intensity is always high, and guys know it’s a great opportunity for them to win, where at other tracks they just don’t have the opportunity. Guys are more aggressive, and there are just more guys in the mix. Every time we have this second Daytona race, it’s just full-blown chaos because everybody knows that’s their final opportunity to make the playoffs. I feel like this race is always a wreck-fest, especially at the end, and not a lot of cars finish. Hopefully, we’re on the good side of things and can stay out of all of it and just be rolling at the end, and if you’re rolling at the end and don’t have a lot of damage, you’re going to have a really good shot to win the race. Hopefully, we can go there and do that.”
What’s the patience level of drivers who are racing at Daytona in August compared to the Daytona 500 in February when there’s still an entire season ahead of everyone?
“I don’t feel like the intensity is any different. I feel like the stakes are about the same, as crazy as that seems. At the Daytona 500, everybody is willing to do whatever it takes to win the Daytona 500. It’s the biggest race of the year. It’s the one that everybody dreams about winning, and guys are making extremely aggressive moves and blocks and things like that. It’s no different than when we go to this race. Everybody knows it’s their last chance to make the playoffs. It’s probably a little bit different because some of the guys who have a couple of wins, they might not put themselves in a super bad spot just to win the race because they don’t want to get crashed. But if they can win the race, they’ll throw big blocks and do whatever. I would say that it’s super, super similar between the Daytona 500 and this race just because of what the stakes are and where it’s at in the season. If this race was the 10th race of the year, then it probably wouldn’t be as intense, but the schedule makes it really intense and really close to the Daytona 500.”
Does blocking remain the necessary evil it’s seemingly always been when it comes to superspeedway racing?
“Yeah, that’s just kind of the name of the game now. Everybody kind of blocks. It’s just what you’ve got to do if you want to run up front and win the race. People are going to do it, but whether it’s lap one or the last lap changes the severity of the block. I mean, guys are going to block really from the get-go. The guy getting blocked is going to be less and less lenient of the guy doing the blocking, and that’s when you normally see the chaos start. It’s going to be a lot of blocking, a lot of pushing, and that’s the way it is whenever you go to Daytona and Talladega.”
On the last lap of a race at Daytona, how smart do you need to be and how lucky do you need to be, as it seems that last 2.5 miles is the most treacherous part of the race?
“You’ve got to be aggressive, but you’ve kind of got to shut off that part of your brain that’s telling you, ‘I don’t want to be in this position, I don’t want to be doing this.’ You’ve just got to keep the pedal down to the floor and try to make the moves that’ll put you in the best position. The hair on the back of your neck is always standing up within the last five laps of the race at Daytona or Talladega because you just know what’s coming and you just hope you’re not on the bad side of it. You kind of know what you’re going to get yourself into when you get there and you hope you end up on the good side of it.”
CHEVROLET IN NTT INDYCAR SERIES BITNILE.COM GRAND PRIX OF PORTLAND PORTLAND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY PORTLAND, OREGON TEAM CHEVY RACE ADVANCE AUGUST 23-25, 2024
TEAM CHEVY CARRIES MOMENTUM TO THE BITNILE.COM GRAND PRIX OF PORTLAND
After racing to victory at World Wide Technology Raceway with Josef Newgarden and Team Penske, Team Chevy holds eight wins in 13 events so far this season, including the prestigious 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500, and heads to the final road course race of the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season at Portland International Raceway this weekend.
Additionally, Chevrolet drivers and teams have accumulated five NTT P1 Pole Awards as well as 20 podiums and 891 of 1,735 laps led so far in 2024.
At Portland, the Bowtie brand has captured two victories since the 2018 return of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, with Team Penske’s Will Power capturing the win in 2018 and his teammate Scott McLaughlin in 2022.
On the 12-turn, 1.964-mile natural road course of Portland International Raceway, Team Chevy holds two NTT P1 earned pole awards, three podium finishes, and 249 laps led since 2018, in addition to the two victories.
Chevrolet looks to score a fifth victory at in six events at Portland in the new 2.2-liter twin turbo V6 with hybrid technology era after winning the debut in Mid-Ohio, sweeping the Iowa doubleheader, and World Wide Technology Raceway.
DETROIT (August 21, 2024) – Only four races remain in the fight for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship. Team Chevy is gearing up for the BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland this weekend at Portland International Raceway after capturing the Bowtie brand’s eighth victory of the season last weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway.
With that winning momentum, Chevrolet is set to take on the 12-turn, 1.964-mile natural road course in the Pacific Northwest, looking to add to two wins (Will Power in 2019 and Scott McLaughlin in 2022) since the 2018 return to Portland International Raceway, in addition to two NTT P1 Pole Awards (Will Power in 2018 and Scott McLaughlin in 2022), three podium finishes and 249 laps led.
“With four races remaining, we head to Portland this weekend with both momentum and goals of closing out the season strong,” said Rob Buckner, Chevrolet INDYCAR Program Manager. “Portland features a relatively flat surface with chicanes and hard braking, and it’s our last road course of the year. With the hard work, dedication, and collaboration by our drivers, teams, and Chevrolet engineers in preparation for and during this season, we’re looking forward to heading to Portland this weekend, and as we shift to close out the year on two challenging ovals of Milwaukee and Nashville.”
In 2024, Chevrolet has captured eight victories so far, including the prestigious 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500. Additionally, Team Chevy holds five NTT P1 Pole Awards in 2024, as well as 891 laps led of 1,735 ran in competition, for 51.4%.
Since 2012 in the 2.2-liter twin turbo V6 era, Chevrolet has raced to victory 119 times as well as captured 134 earned pole awards in 212 races. In the new hybrid era introduced to competition at Mid-Ohio this season, Team Chevy has captured four wins in five races and looks to continue that momentum with four races left in 2024.
The BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland kicks off with the first practice on Friday, Aug. 23 at 5:55 p.m. ET. Saturday sees a second practice at 12:30 p.m. ET followed by qualifying and the Firestone Fast Six at 3:30 p.m. ET and a final practice at 8:15 p.m. ET. The 110-lap, 216.04-mile main event Sunday takes the green flag live on USA Network at 3 p.m. ET. All practice and qualifying sessions are broadcast with Peacock, INDYCAR Radio, and SiriusXM Channel 218.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING (Quotes):
Santino Ferrucci, No. 14 AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet:
“I very much enjoy the track. It’s old school with, you know, no runoff. It has a little bit of everything from long radius corners to hairpins and high-speed chicanes. So, it’s a very well-rounded track. There’s not any one part that’s particularly challenging. The whole track itself is just quite unique because of how the layout is because it has everything — except elevation changes. That’s the only thing it doesn’t have. It’s one of the most difficult road courses for its length, and it kind of stacks up to a similar track like Barber. The hybrid’s been very good to us so far, and I think we’ve been very good at learning the systems with Chevrolet. So, it’ll be nice to be back on a road course with the hybrid. But it’s still a bit of an unknown for us.”
Sting Ray Robb, No. 41 AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet:
“As great as it is to be coming off our best result, our plans remain the same! We have been building momentum all year and feel as though this is just a step of progress we want to continue. (Portland) is the closest thing to a home race! We always have many friends, family, and fans that join there with us. Since moving to Indy, the commute is a bit further and I will be flying instead of driving, but I am excited to head to a place that feels like home. It is very high speed in some sections and has a very unique rhythm. It makes for a fun qualifying track. The (turns) 4-5-6 section would be the most difficult to find the timing of. The long, multi-apex complex is very pitch-sensitive and can lead to getting out of sync. It is technical in some aspects, but quite short, so that makes little mistakes that much more magnified than at other tracks.”
Pato O’Ward, No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet:
“Portland is a place we’ve been competitive in the past, so I think as long as we roll off the truck strong and execute, we’ll be able to fight at the top. The No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet crew continues to work hard, so hopefully we can continue building toward wins and podiums each weekend through the rest of the season.”
Nolan Siegel, No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet:
“I’m excited to get back to road course racing at Portland. I feel like we have some unfinished business and Portland can be a race for us to put everything together. I’ve been there in Indy NXT and all of the series leading up to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, so hopefully I can get up to speed quickly and put the No. 6 SmartStop Arrow McLaren Chevrolet up front where it belongs.”
Alexander Rossi, No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet:
“It’s been a tough run. I’m hoping to close out the road course part of our season with a smooth weekend. We’ve had a lot of pace but no results the past couple events, so we’re looking to change that this weekend.”
Gavin Ward, Team Principal at Arrow McLaren:
“We’re on a modern-day Oregon Trail as we head west from St. Louis to Portland in search of better fortunes. Nolan (Siegel) is coming off his best-ever finish in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and we know we have three cars capable of fighting for the win here. Here’s hoping we’re coming up roses come Sunday in the Rose City.”
Christian Rasmussen, No. 20 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet:
“I am excited to go to Portland for the BITNILE.com Grand Prix and am proud to be representing BitNile on the No. 20 GuyCare Chevrolet! I do have mixed feelings going into Portland, I am excited to be back in the car for the first time in a while but I am also a little sad that it’s my last race of the season. We had a few races before the break where we had good pace so we will build on that and look to finish off my season strong!”
Rinus VeeKay, No. 21 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet:
“I am looking forward to Portland! It’s also very cool to have BitNile back on the car for the BITNILE.COM Grand Prix! I had my season-best finish there last year and am excited to see what we can do this year. It’s the last road course of the season, last time turning right! I feel good, we are in a strong position and I think we can extend our Top 10 streak.”
Chevrolet at World Wide Technology Raceway (since 2012, V6 era, pre-hybrid):
Wins at Portland: 2
2018: Will Power
2022: Scott McLaughlin
Earned Pole Awards at Portland: 2
2019: Will Power
2022: Scott McLaughlin
Number of Team Chevy Podiums at Portland (V6 era since 2018, pre-hybrid): 3
Number of laps led by Team Chevy at Portland (V6 era since 2018, pre-hybrid): 249
2024 CHEVROLET BY THE NUMBERS:
5: NTT INDYCAR SERIES race as V6 engine supplier with hybrid technology integration.
4: Wins in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES as V6 engine supplier with hybrid technology integration since mid-2024.
212: NTT INDYCAR SERIES races as V6 engine supplier since 2012 return to INDYCAR.
119: Wins in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES since 2012.
134: Earned poles since 2012. Chevrolet holds 139 pole awards in total, with five recorded based on points for weather.
2: Earned pole in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES as V6 engine supplier with hybrid technology integration.
8: Manufacturer Championships since 2012.
7: Driver/entrant champions since 2012.
13: Indianapolis 500 victories by Chevrolet at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
6: Indianapolis 500 wins by Chevrolet since 2012 in the V6 2.2-liter twin turbo direct injected era.
34: Number of times Chevrolet has swept the podium in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES since 2012 in the V6 2.2-liter twin turbo direct injected era. In total, a manufacturer has swept the podium 54 times since 2012.
28: Wins by Will Power since 2012 – all with Chevrolet power – most of any driver with the same manufacturer.
9: Wins from the pole by Will Power with Chevrolet power since 2012, most by any driver.
46: Pole starts by Will Power since 2012 in a Chevrolet-powered car, most of any driver.
*Will Power’s career total of 70 poles makes him the all-time pole winner in INDYCAR.
About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.
READING, Pa. (Aug. 22, 2024) – At the beginning of every NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, drivers have their sights on a championship and the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway will kick off that playoff hunt to open the Countdown to the Championship.
The 39th annual Pep Boys NHRA Nationals takes place Sept. 12-15 and the historic, fan-favorite track is the first stop of the NHRA’s six-race playoff race. Setting the tone in Reading can make for celebration or heartbreak come the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals in Pomona and drivers will be laser-focused as they take to the track at Maple Grove Raceway.
The tradition-rich facility is known for being one of the quickest on the NHRA tour, providing an epic backdrop for incredible runs and memorable action on a must-see weekend that includes two rounds of qualifying on both Friday and Saturday, leading into eliminations on Sunday.
Last season, Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), Matt Hartford (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all claimed wins in their respective categories and this year’s race will again be broadcast on FS1 and FOX, including elimination coverage on FOX on Sunday, Sept. 12 beginning at 2 p.m. ET. Overall, the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals is the 15th event during the 20-race season and it promises to deliver a weekend of thrilling action at a facility always packed with fans.
Kalitta, a veteran in the Top Fuel ranks, will always remember last year’s Pep Boys NHRA Nationals win as the turning point in his 2023 campaign. Heading into the Countdown, Kalitta had yet to win last season and was forced to a backup car during eliminations in Reading. But he rolled to the win, defeating four-time champion Steve Torrence in the final round. Kalitta won two additional Countdown races, including a winner-take-all final round in Pomona, to win his first championship. This season, Kalitta is the Top Fuel points leader, with his teammate Shawn Langdon in second, along with Justin Ashley, Torrence and Antron Brown to round out the top five.
In 2023, Hight earned his third Pep Boys NHRA Nationals win over Chad Green. This season, Hight has stepped out of the driver’s seat and Austin Prock has taken over duties in impressive fashion. Prock currently leads the points with four event wins and seven Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge wins, putting together a remarkable campaign. Also in the mix this season is Bob Tasca III, who is after his first world championship, reigning champion Matt Hagan, Ron Capps and J.R. Todd. Funny Car veteran Jack Beckman has also returned to racing, stepping into the seat of 16-time champion John Force as Beckman aims to try and win another title for the iconic Force.
Pro Stock’s Hartford not only won the prestigious Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals last season, but he also went on to win the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals, defeating Kyle Koretsky. Hartford hopes the Countdown will be the turning point of his season after a tough year with two quarterfinal finishes. But it won’t be easy against the likes of points leader Dallas Glenn, who has three wins this season including most recently in Brainerd, Greg Anderson, reigning champion Erica Enders, Aaron Stanfield and veteran Jeg Coughlin Jr.
The six-time Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Smith was thrilled to collect back-to-back wins in Indianapolis and Reading last season after Gaige Herrera dominated the majority of the year. Smith defeated Chip Ellis in the final round to earn his third Pep Boys NHRA Nationals win. This season, Smith won in Sonoma and 2023 Rookie of the Year Chase Van Sant picked up the Seattle race victory. Reigning champ Herrera has won the other six Pro Stock Motorcycle races and was dominant in the playoffs a year ago, winning the final five races of the year.
The event also will feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown and Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Mountain Motor Pro Stock.
Fans will be invited all weekend long to the Nitro Alley Stage, which is the main entertainment hub in the pits, hosting Nitro School, meet and greets, music and much more. Race fans at Maple Grove Raceway 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 are invited to congratulate the event winners.
As always, fans get an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet in Reading. Fans get a unique chance to see teams in action and service their hot rods between rounds, get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers, and more. They can also visit NHRA’s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, an exciting atmosphere that includes interactive displays, merchandise, food and fun for the entire family.
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 2:30 and 5 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 13 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Sept. 14 at 12 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 15. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, as well as at 12:30 p.m. ET on Sunday and eliminations on FOX at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday.
To purchase tickets to the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway, fans can visit www.maplegroveraceway.com. All children 12 and under are admitted free in the general admission area with a paid adult. For more information on the NHRA, please 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 presented by LearnEV+, 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 110 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.
JUSTIN HALEY | CODY WARE Daytona Advance Event Overview
● Event: Coke Zero Sugar 400 (Round 25 of 36) ● Time/Date: 7:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, August 24 ● Location: Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway ● Layout: 2.5-mile oval ● Laps/Miles: 160 laps/400 miles ● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 35 laps / Stage 2: 60 laps / Final Stage: 65 laps ● TV/Radio: NBC / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Justin Haley, Driver of the No. 51 Beef-a-Roo Ford Mustang Dark Horse
● Five years after earning his career first NASCAR Cup Series victory in the 2019 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speeway, Justin Haley is set to make his fifth start in the annual summer race at the World Center of Racing. Haley led just one lap, the final one, en route to his win in the weather-shortened 2019 race. When he made his next start the following summer at Daytona, Haley earned a sixth-place result.
● Haley owns four superspeedway wins in the NASCAR Xfinity Series – Daytona in August 2020 and 2021, and Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in April and October 2020. In 10 Xfinity Series starts at Daytona, he posted top-20 finishes all but twice.
● Haley and the No. 51 team are fresh off their 10th top-20 finish of the season, earned last weekend at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn. It was his fourth top-20 in his last six starts.
● Beef-a-Roo joins the No. 51 team for Saturday night’s race at Daytona. Beef-a-Roo is a beloved fast-casual restaurant brand that has garnered a loyal fanbase for its commitment to quality food and community engagement. This partnership, facilitated by agency AMG Sport, marks a key step in Beef-a-Roo’s strategy to align with dynamic brands that resonate with racing fans and support local communities through motorsport.
Cody Ware, Driver of the No. 15 Jacob Construction / Parts Plus Ford Mustang Dark Horse
● Cody Ware, driver of the No. 15 Jacob Construction / Part Plus Ford Mustang Dark Horse, will make his seventh start at Dayona in Saturday night’s Coke Zero Sugar 400. His best finish at the track was a sixth-place result earned in the August 2022 edition of the race. It was his best career Cup Series result.
● Ware recorded a 21st-place finish last weekend at Michigan. It was his career best at the 2-mile oval and, with Haley’s 20th-place finish, RWR came away with its best overall result at the track.
● Michigan marked the 12th time this year the team bested its previous combined finish at a particular track. Six of those instances occurrred over the last seven races, including the July 21 race at Indianapols Motor Speedway, where Ware finished 18th and Haley 20th.
Rick Ware Racing Notes
● Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series Top Fuel driver Clay Millican pulled an upset in the first round of eliminations last weekend at Brainerd (Minn.) International Raceway. The Parts Plus racer was the 12th-seeded qualifier heading into Sunday and knocked off No. 3 qualifier Brittany Force. Millican fell to Josh Hart in the second round but still sits sixth in the point standings with one event remaining in the regular season.
● Rick Ware has been a motorsports mainstay for more than 40 years. It began at age six when the third-generation racer began his driving career and has since spanned four wheels and two wheels on both asphalt and dirt. Competing in the SCCA Trans Am Series and other road-racing divisions led Ware to NASCAR in the early 1980s, where he finished third in his NASCAR debut – the 1983 Warner W. Hodgdon 300 NASCAR Grand American race at Riverside (Calif.) International Raceway. More than a decade later, injuries would force Ware out of the driver seat and into fulltime team ownership. In 1995, Rick Ware Racing was formed, and with wife Lisa by his side, Ware has since built his eponymous organization into an entity that fields two fulltime entries in the NASCAR Cup Series while simultaneously campaigning successful teams in the Top Fuel class of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, Progressive American Flat Track and FIM World Supercross Championship (WSX), where RWR won the 2022 SX2 championship with rider Shane McElrath.
Justin Haley, Driver Q&A
Do you feel good about your chances of pulling off another Daytona victory?
“It’s always in the back of your mind. I feel like we have really fast cars, we’ve just got to put ourselves in position. Speedway racing now is all about fuel saving, fuel economy and having good people around you. I feel like the Fords have some of the best fuel economy. So if we can save a little fuel and pit with the right people, hopefully we’ll come out on top.”
Though it would be considered an upset for an RWR car to make it to victory lane, the team has shown a lot of improvement this year. What do you attribute that to?
“We’re a small team, but we have some really great employees. Chris Lawson has done a great job in his first year as Cup crew chief. Tommy Baldwin and Robby Benton have put together a team that works hard and is all in on getting to the next level. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished this year and thankful that we’ve been able to showcase all of our talents. It’s been a lot of fun and I’d love to be in that position again, to pull an upset over the bigger teams at Daytona. It all comes down to being there at the right moment and having the right strategy. There’s no reason we can’t do that.”
Cody Ware, Driver Q&A
Your best finishes in the Cup Series have come on the superspeedways. Is that where you feel you have the best opportunity to make something happen?
“The superspeedway races are always wild cards, but I feel like I do a good job of anticipating what’s coming and staying out of trouble. I do everything within my power to be there for the last 10 laps, and that’s typically when things start to get a crazy and we can make moves. It’s more of a challenge to get to that point at Daytona with more dramatic changes in banking and a tighter racing surface, but there’s a technique to superspeedway racing, and Ford has some of the best drivers when it comes to these tracks.”
You made your first start this year at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in April. How do you view the No. 15 team’s progress over the last four months?
“The No. 15 team, and the Rick Ware organization as a whole, have made a ton of progress since the start of the season. The team has been able to work with RFK (Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing) and Ford to use shared information and data to our advantage, and I think we’ve seen how that has benefitted the team. We’ve shown a lot of speed and improvement, and I’m excited to see where that takes us this weekend.”
TWO TO GO: Entering the penultimate race of the regular season, Kyle Larson is fourth in the NASCAR Cup Series point standings and trails the leader by 32 markers. He tops the series with four wins, five poles and 28 playoff points while he is second with 821 laps led. It is the second-highest laps led total for Larson through 24 races in his career, behind only his 2021 championship season in which he paced the field for 1,496 laps in the first 24 events.
TOP FIVE FOR NO. 5: The driver of the No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet has run a series high 3,091 laps in the top five this season. Larson is tied for second with nine top-five finishes.
NO TOP-FIVE FOR NO. 5: However, Daytona International Speedway is one of three tracks in which Larson has yet to post a top-five finish in the Cup Series. In 20 starts at the 2.5-mile venue, the Elk Grove, California, native has five top-10 finishes with a best result of sixth in 2016. The other two tracks where he has yet to post a top-five finish are Iowa Speedway and the Daytona Road Course (one start at each).
OH SO CLOSE: In 2017, Larson led the field with one lap to go in the DAYTONA 500. However, his Chevrolet ran out of fuel on the final lap and he coasted to a 12th-place finish.
WINNER AT DAYTONA: In July 2018, Larson won the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Daytona. The Elk Grove, California, native led a race-high 40 laps en route to victory.
FOUR TIRES FAST: The No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM pit crew holds the ninth-fastest average four-tire pit stop time in 2024 at 11.06 seconds. Larson’s pit crew consists of Blaine Anderson (front-tire changer), R.J. Barnette (tire carrier), Brandon Harder (fueler), Brandon Johnson (jackman) and Calvin Teague (rear-tire changer).
AWAY BUT ALWAYS AVAILABLE: In 2024, the No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM team recognizes “home” events by wearing white firesuits and “away” with blue. Its home races come at tracks with nearby Hendrick Automotive Group car dealerships. This weekend, the No. 5 team races “away” on the Florida coast. However, it’s easy to pick up a new set of keys from any one of Hendrick Automotive Group’s 94 dealerships nationwide. Customers can also shop from the convenience of home by selecting the category, make, model and vehicle packages important to them from the nearly 30,000 new, high-quality pre-owned and certified cars, trucks and SUVs available at HENDRICKCARS.COM.
HENDRICK AUTOMOTIVE GROUP IS HIRING: Join the more than 10,000 people nationwide who work at Hendrick Automotive Group. The company is hiring technicians and other positions at its dealerships throughout the country. Positions are open for all skill levels and offer tuition and training reimbursement. Individuals who are interested can apply at HENDRICKCARS.COM.
9 CHASE ELLIOTT
Age: 28 (Nov. 28, 1995)
Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia
Resides: Dawsonville, Georgia
Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson
Standings: 2nd
No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
MOVIN’ ON UP: With just two races remaining in the NASCAR Cup Series regular season, Chase Elliott sits second in points, just 10 markers behind the leader. The 28-year-old driver has earned one win (Texas Motor Speedway), seven top-five finishes and 12 top 10s with 213 laps led in 2024. Elliott’s 10.63 average finish is second best in the field and is his best through 24 races behind only the 2022 season when he won the regular season championship. He also has the third-best average running position (10.84) and the fourth-most laps spent inside the top 10 (3,580) among full-time premier series drivers.
DAYTONA DATA: In 17 points-paying Cup Series starts at Daytona International Speedway, Elliott has three top-five finishes, five top 10s and three poles. He’s led 172 laps on the 2.5-mile superspeedway, including 13 circuits in this year’s season-opening DAYTONA 500. Elliott’s best finish on the high banks is a pair of runner-up efforts (August of 2020 and the 2021 DAYTONA 500). In last year’s Coke Zero Sugar 400, the Hendrick Motorsports driver finished fourth. Elliott is also a two-time Duel at Daytona winner (2017, 2018) and won on the Daytona road course in 2020. In addition, he recorded a win in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Hendrick Motorsports affiliate JR Motorsports in 2016 at the World Center of Racing.
DRAFTING STRONG: Of Elliott’s 19 Cup Series points-paying victories, three have come on drafting tracks. The six-time National Motorsports Press Association’s Most Popular Driver Award winner has two victories at Talladega Superspeedway (2019, 2022) and one at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the summer of 2022. Accompanying his three wins across 38 starts on drafting tracks, Elliott has nine top-five finishes, 15 top 10s and 511 laps led. Since the introduction of the Next Gen car in 2022, Elliott has scored the second-most victories (Talladega and Atlanta) behind only Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron (three).
HISTORY MADE: Elliott is having one of the most consistent seasons of his career, having only one finish outside the top 20 in 2024. The Dawsonville, Georgia, native is the first driver in Cup Series history to complete all but one lap through 24 races in a season. The previous record was all but two laps, which occurred three times. The only race this season in which Elliott didn’t finish on the lead lap was in an eighth-place showing at Bristol Motor Speedway in the spring.
COMING HOME: 2020 Cup Series champion crew chief Alan Gustafson will make his return home this weekend. The veteran shot caller grew up in Ormond Beach, Florida, just north of Daytona Beach. After graduating from Seabreeze High School, Gustafson enrolled at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to study mechanical engineering. This is his 20th season as a crew chief and ninth year with Elliott. Gustafson has three victories on drafting-style tracks, all with Elliott. He has five poles at Daytona but has yet to win a points-paying race on the oval at his home track. Gustafson has two Duel at Daytona wins as well as a victory on the road course in 2020.
FASTEST FIVE: Through 24 races, the No. 9 pit crew continues to hold the fastest average four-tire pit stop time (10.708 seconds). The over-the-wall squad laid down the fastest four-tire pit stop (9.076 seconds) of the season at Texas in April, according to data from Racing Insights. The 2021 Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew award-winning group is comprised of Chad Avrit (rear-tire changer), Jared Erspamer (tire carrier), John Gianninoto (fueler), Nick O’Dell (front-tire changer) and T.J. Semke (jackman).
24 WILLIAM BYRON
Age: 26 (Nov. 29, 1997)
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina
Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle
Standings: 6th
No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
MICHIGAN MINUTES: William Byron and the No. 24 team made the best of a wet weekend at Michigan International Speedway. Starting ninth after rain canceled qualifying, the 26-year-old driver finished stage one in third and stage two in fourth, scoring 15 combined points. He led 20 laps in the final stage and battled for the win over two overtime restarts, ultimately settling for a runner-up result. He collected the most points (50).
24 IN ‘24: Byron’s NASCAR Cup Series season includes three wins (tied for the second), highlighted by a victory in the DAYTONA 500. Following the race at Michigan, the Charlotte, North Carolina, native is tied for fourth with eight top-five finishes and tied for second with 13 top 10s. Byron has spent 1,490 laps in the top five (10th) and 3,049 laps in the top 10 (eighth). With two races remaining in the regular season, Byron is sixth in the Cup Series points standings with 16 playoff points.
SUPER ON SUPERSPEEDWAYS: Byron has four wins on drafting tracks (Daytona International Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway) – the 2024 DAYTONA 500, his first Cup Series victory at Daytona in August of 2020 and two wins at Atlanta (March 2022 and July 2023). In the last seven drafting races, Byron’s two wins are the most. He’s added one second-place finish, three top fives (tied for the most), six top 10s (most), 37 laps led and his average finish of 6.14 is the best. In the Next Gen era, Byron (three) and Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott (two) are the only repeat winners on drafting tracks.
BACK AT THE BEACH: Byron has 13 Cup Series starts at Daytona with two wins, three top-five finishes, four top 10s and 99 laps led. Byron collected his first pole (2019 DAYTONA 500) and his first Cup Series win at the 2.5-mile superspeedway. He also won a Duel qualifying race in 2020 and was in position to capture the win at the 2019 Coke Zero Sugar 400 before weather ended the event early, leaving Byron with a runner-up finish. During his 2017 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship-winning campaign, Byron qualified third in the July race at Daytona and led 29 laps en route to victory, becoming the youngest driver with a Xfinity Series win at Daytona at 19 years, 7 months and 1 day.
RUDY RETURNS: Crew chief Rudy Fugle is set to return to Daytona for his eighth Cup Series start and as the defending DAYTONA 500 Champion. Fugle and Byron have seven Cup Series starts together at the Florida track with one win, two front row starts, one top-five finish, two top 10s and 19 laps led. Fugle also scored one runner-up result and two top 10s across seven Daytona races in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. One of those starts came with Byron at the wheel in a 13th-place showing.
LIBERTY U. IS BACK: Byron will sport Liberty University on his No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Daytona. Featuring a white base with navy flames and red accents, the Liberty University No. 24 will stand out. Liberty University has a long history with Byron, starting in 2014 in the late model ranks. Liberty University has been Training Champions for Christ since its founding in 1971. Located in the mountains of Central Virginia, Liberty is a liberal arts institution with 17 colleges and schools that offer more than 600 degree programs, from the certificate to the doctoral level, on campus and online. Working on an undergraduate degree in strategic communication, Byron is in his junior year at Liberty University through its online program. For a better look at Byron’s Liberty University paint scheme, click here.
48 ALEX BOWMAN
Age: 31 (April 25, 1993)
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Resides: Concord, North Carolina
Crew Chief: Blake Harris
Standings: 11th
No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
MICHIGAN RECAP: On Wednesday, Aug. 14, leading into last week’s race at Michigan International Speedway, Alex Bowman made a special trip to Watkins Glen International for “Bike at the Glen.” He joined fans by hopping on a bike and took a lap around the New York course alongside them. Read more here. When Bowman arrived in Michigan on Friday, Aug. 16, he made a pit stop at the Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan Headquarters. As part of one of Ally’s many nationwide financial literacy readings, Bowman read, “Emma and the Cosmophone” to a group of Daisy and Brownie scouts followed by an educational game of jeopardy. In conjunction with Ally Racing’s First Lap program – a unique experience where Ally partners with local community groups to invite new, diverse fans into racing – Bowman also welcomed Diverse Abilities Employee Resource Group (ERG) guests at the track on race day.
PUSHING TO THE PLAYOFFS: Only two races remain until the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs begin at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Bowman’s eighth Cup Series win came at the Chicago Street Course in July and it has the No. 48 Ally Racing driver locked into the playoffs. Following the completion of 24 points-paying races this season, Bowman has six top-five finishes (his most since 2021) and is tied for third with 12 top-10 finishes, more than he had in all of 2023. The 31-year-old driver is 11th in the point standings.
DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY: Bowman returns to Daytona International Speedway this weekend seeking a one-position improvement from February’s DAYTONA 500. The Tucson, Arizona, native raced neck-and-neck with Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron for the lead on the final lap before scoring a runner-up finish, his career-best finish in the iconic race. Saturday will mark his 17th start at the 2.5-mile superspeedway. In 15 starts at Daytona, Bowman has two top fives, six top 10s and has led 42 laps. He holds the longest active top-10 streak at the track among Cup Series drivers with three.
CHATS WITH CHEVROLET: On Saturday, race fans can visit Bowman in the fan zone at the Chevy Stage. At 4:30 p.m. ET, the driver of the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 will participate in a Q&A.
ONE MONTH REMAINS FOR ONE LUCKY WINNER: Less than one month remains to enter to win the “Win Your Wheels” sweepstakes fueled by Ally and HENDRICKCARS.COM. To celebrate Hendrick Motorsports’ 40th anniversary, the pair teamed up to give away a special edition Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE to one lucky fan. Only 40 of these Chevrolets will be manufactured and the other 39 will be sold exclusively through select Hendrick Automotive Group Chevrolet dealerships. Enter to win at Ally.com/sweepstakes/nascar. The promotion ends Sept. 20, 2024.
SUPPORTING FOUR-LEGGED BEST FRIENDS: Over the last four years, Bowman and Ally have donated over $650,000 dollars to Best Friends shelters and their vast network of partners. Every race weekend, the pair donates $4,800 to help homeless pets at a shelter local to the track. This weekend, the charitable donation will go to the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando. The shelter is located about an hour and 45 minutes from the track, just over 50 miles southwest.
ALLY RACING PIT CREW: The Ally Racing pit crew sits with among the top 10 in NASCAR’s ranks for the best average four-tire stop this year, ranking seventh (11.031). The No. 48 crew is composed of jackman, Allen Holman, tire carrier, Brandon Grier, front-tire changer, Donnie Tasser, rear-tire changer, Andrew Bridgeforth, and gasman, Jacob Conley.
HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS /
2024
All-Time
Daytona
Races
24
1,369
81
Wins
9*
310*
16*
Poles
6*
252*
23*
Top 5
30*
1,262*
63*
Top 10
49*
2,161*
112*
Laps Led
1,304
81,061*
2,302*
Stage Wins
10
108
3
Most* Most (tie)**
SEIZING THE DAY-TONA: Hendrick Motorsports leads the NASCAR Cup Series in most all-time statistical categories at Daytona International Speedway, including wins (16), poles (23), top-five finishes (63), top-10 finishes (112) and laps led (2,302). On Saturday, the team will look for its eighth win in the Coke Zero Sugar 400. Hall of Famer and vice chairman Jeff Gordon picked up three victories in the summer race at the World Center of Racing with Tim Richmond, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and William Byron each winning once.
SUPERSPEEDWAY SUPERIORITY: Among active organizations, Hendrick Motorsports is the leader in drafting-track wins with 33, a full 13 more than a second-place tie between Richard Childress Racing and Wood Brothers Racing. Since the debut of the Next Gen car in 2022, Hendrick Motorsports has not gone more than three drafting track races without a victory.
EVERYBODY’S INVITED: All four Hendrick Motorsports are locked into the playoffs. It’s the sixth time since 2004 that’s happened and third time in the last four years (2012, 2013, 2014, 2021, 2022, 2024).
THE LAST 36: Over the last 36 Cup Series events, Hendrick Motorsports has not gone more than three races without a win. In that span, the team has logged 13 victories (most by five), 43 top-five finishes (most by three) and 74 top 10s (most by nine). At least one Hendrick Motorsports driver has finished inside the top 10 in 35 of the 36 races.
QUOTABLE /
Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on drafting tracks: “The HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevy seems to be fast at Daytona and Talladega, we just always seem to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and get collected in a crash. We’ll work with our Chevy teammates and hopefully utilize good strategy to earn stage points and be there at the end to go for the race win.”
Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on racing Saturday night at Daytona: “I always enjoy Saturday night races under the lights. The energy level of the crowd, the excitement level is all just a bit elevated, so I’m looking forward to heading down to Daytona. Obviously, it’s a bit of a wild card race, and when you look at the points, we’re all really close. You can be prepared and have a great car and be putting a solid race together and end up getting collected in a crash that isn’t your doing. Hopefully, we come out of it clean and can get a good result.”
Alan Gustafson, crew chief of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the regular season winding down: “The points are super tight at the top. Certainly, there are four guys, including us, that I think are potentially capable of winning the regular season points. They’re all really good, competitive cars. So, that could make these next two weeks exciting. In Daytona, there’s obviously a higher probability of crashes, so that can certainly reshuffle the deck as we head into Darlington. It’ll be interesting to see how it all plays out.”
William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on returning to Daytona as the defending DAYTONA 500 Champion: “I’m excited to get back to Daytona (International Speedway). Obviously, the DAYTONA 500 ended well for us and it’ll be good to go back with that momentum. However, there’s not much you can translate from that race to this weekend’s race since it will be much hotter and more slick. Hopefully we’re in position at the end again and can go back-to-back, that would be great and a great boost heading into the playoffs a couple weeks later.”
Rudy Fugle, crew chief of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on racing at two drafting tracks in three weeks: “It will be interesting for sure. Atlanta (Motor Speedway) is still a track that you need to have good handling but so is Daytona in the summer. Atlanta has higher banking and higher loads in the corner than Daytona. This weekend though, since it’s not in the playoffs, we can have some fun with it and take some extra chances to get the win. Atlanta though you’re obviously going to try to go for the win but also make sure you’re in a good place to get points. Atlanta you just have to be a little bit more careful than you do this weekend.”
Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on racing at Daytona International Speedway for a second time this year: “Going back to Daytona certainly has a competitive feel this weekend. We were so close to a win there in February with a runner-up finish in the DAYTONA 500. Obviously, a win at such a challenging superspeedway like Daytona would feel like a huge accomplishment. Even a strong finish would build solid momentum going into the playoffs. Our Ally Racing team is ready to get back on track.”
Blake Harris, crew chief of the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the team’s return to Daytona International Speedway: “With two points-paying races left in the regular season, I’m really looking forward to seeing if we can maybe get a couple stage wins and maybe knock off another win going into the playoffs. Alex and I have had some really good runs together (at Daytona). Obviously getting so close to winning the (DAYTONA) 500 and coming in second to a teammate in February has it very top of mind for us to try and capitalize with a win this time.”
Chris Buescher, driver of the #17 Fifth Third Bank Ford, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on August 26, 2023 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
The NASCAR Cup Series and the Xfinity Series head to Daytona International Speedway as the Craftsman Truck Series and the ARCA Menards Series travel to Milwaukee Mile Speedway for a full weekend of competition.
Sunday’s event is the opening race for the Truck Series Playoffs. The Cup Series and Xfinity Series have two races remaining (Daytona and Darlington) in their respective regular seasons.
Press Pass is available post-race for the Xfinity and Cup Series.
All times are Eastern.
Friday, August 23 – Daytona 3:00 p.m.: Xfinity Series Qualifying Impound/Single Vehicle/1 Lap/2 Rounds USA
5:05 p.m.: Cup Series Qualifying Impound/Single Vehicle/1 Lap/2 Rounds USA/SiriusXM/MRN
7:30 p.m.: Xfinity Series Wawa 250 Powered by Coca–Cola Stages end on Laps 30, 60, 100 = 250 miles Purse: $1,886,123 USA/SiriusXM/MRN
Saturday, August 24 Milwaukee 2:00 p.m.: ARCA Menards Series Practice – No TV 3:00 p.m.: ARCA Menards Series Qualifying – No TV
4:00 p.m.: Truck Series Practice – No TV Timed/All Entries/20 Minutes 4:30 p.m.: Truck Series Qualifying – No TV Impound/All Entries/Single Vehicle/1 Lap
Daytona 7:30 p.m.: Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 Stages end on Laps 35/95/160 = 400 Miles Purse: $9,193,568 NBC/Peacock/MRN/SiriusXM
Sunday, August 25 Milwaukee 1:00 p.m.: ARCA Menards Series Sprecher 150 150 Laps, 152.25 Miles FS1/MRN
4:00 p.m.: Truck Series Liuna! 175 Stages end on Laps 55/110/175 Laps = 177.625 Miles Purse: $672,572 FS1/MRN
Harrison Burton and the No. 21 DEX Imaging team are headed to Daytona International Speedway for Saturday night’s Coke Zero Sugar 400, one of the wildest of the wild-card races on the Cup Series schedule.
With the way races usually play out with the draft at Daytona and its sister track Talladega Superspeedway, nearly every driver in the field has as good a chance as any to take a win. And a win at Daytona on Saturday night brings with it a coveted berth in the 10-race, season-ending, championship-deciding Playoffs.
Only Saturday’s race at Daytona, and next week’s Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway remain on the regular season schedule.
“When it comes to the final weeks of the Playoffs, the Daytona race is truly the wild-card event,” said Jeremy Bullins, crew chief of the No. 21 DEX Imaging Mustang Dark Horse. “There are so many things out of your control, and no matter how hard you try you can easily get caught up in a wreck like we did early in the Daytona 500.
“At the same time if you can keep yourself out of trouble and position yourself near the front at the end, anything can happen.
“That’ll be our goal this weekend – be there at the end with a shot to get a win with our DEX Mustang.”
Per NASCAR rules for races on the drafting tracks, there will be no pre-race practice. Qualifying is set for Friday at 5:05 p.m. Eastern Time, with USA Network broadcasting the event.
Saturday night’s 160-lap, 400-mile race is scheduled to get the green flag just after 7:30 p.m., with Stage breaks planned for Laps 35 and 95.
NBC will carry the live TV broadcast Saturday night.
About DEX Imaging DEX Imaging is the digital document imaging division of Staples, the world’s largest business solutions provider. DEX sells and services the broadest selection of copiers, printers and data management solutions, such as HP, Konica Minolta, Canon, Kyocera and numerous others.
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES: Reducing Operating Costs Reducing Paper Consumption Increasing Productivity
DEX Imaging has been the recipient of virtually every industry award since the company’s inception, including the JD Power & Associates Award for Best Customer Experience, the prestigious ProTech Service award by Konica Minolta, the Diamond Premier Dealer Award by Kyocera, and the Elite DEALER Award by ‘ENX’ magazine. Other accolades include being named ‘Best Place to Work’ by numerous business journals in the markets DEX serves.
Wood Brothers Racing Wood Brothers Racing was formed in 1950 in Stuart, Va., by Hall of Famer Glenn Wood. Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team and one of the winningest teams in NASCAR history. Since its founding, the team won 99 races (including at least one race in every decade for the last seven decades) and 120 poles in NASCAR’s top-tier series. Fielding only Ford products for its entire history, the Wood Brothers own the longest association of any motorsports team with a single manufacturer. Glenn’s brother, Leonard, is known for inventing the modern pit stop. The team currently runs the Ford Mustang driven by Harrison Burton in the famous No. 21 racer.
Industry-leading brand becomes the Official Meat Snack Partner of NASCAR ®
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 22, 2024) – Today marks a moment worth savoring, as America’s No. 1 motorsport and the nation’s No. 1 meat snack brand join forces to help race fans feed their wild side. NASCAR and Jack Link’s together announced that the U.S. meat snacks market leader has become an Official Partner of NASCAR through a multi-year agreement set to begin in 2025.
“Much like NASCAR, Jack Link’s built itself from a determined pioneer into a household brand committed to delivering quality to its customers while having some fun along the way,” said Michelle Byron, NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Partnership and Licensing Officer. “Jack Link’s fits perfectly as an Official Partner of NASCAR and we’re eager for everyone involved to enjoy the benefits of catering to the most passionate and loyal fans in all of sports.”
As the Official Meat Snack of NASCAR, Jack Link’s will activate across multiple areas of the NASCAR ecosystem including at-track, social and digital media, and radio and television. Jack Link’s will also leverage the NASCAR relationship at retail, as the company continues offering consumers a wide amount of real, high-quality protein snack options that span multiple flavors, formats, sizes and sub-brands.
“Jack Link’s is thrilled to partner with NASCAR, a true icon in American motorsport, and share our passion for quality snacks with their loyal fan base,” said Matt White, SVP, Sales & Commercial Strategy of Jack Link’s. “This partnership allows us to bring our delicious meat snacks to life at the racetrack and in retail locations nationwide, fueling fans’ adventures with bold new flavors. We’re excited to satisfy cravings and enhance the fan experience both on and off the track.”
Before this delicious new partnership takes effect, the 2024 NASCAR season rolls on, with the penultimate race of the NASCAR Cup Series regular season taking place from the iconic Daytona International Speedway at 7:30 p.m. ET this Saturday, Aug. 24 (NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Two weeks later, the 10-race NASCAR Playoffs get underway at Atlanta Motor Speedway at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 8 (USA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
About NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 14 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Series, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Mexico Series, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in five cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 11 countries and more than 30 U.S. states.
For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, X and Snapchat.
About Link Snacks, Inc. (“Jack Link’s”)
Link Snacks is a leader in snacking and its brand Jack Link’s is the No. 1 meat snack brand in America. Headquartered in Minong, Wisconsin, Link Snacks is a family-owned and operated company that represents a heritage of unsurpassed quality and innovation since 1985. The company is made up of passionate Team Members, across 11 countries, who share an uncompromising commitment to deliver awesome products. Link Snacks offers premium protein snacks in a variety of flavors, sizes and price points, appealing to nearly every consumer and occasion. The company’s portfolio of brands includes Jack Link’s®, Lorissa’s Kitchen®, Wild River®, Golden Island®, Country Fresh Meats®, BiFi®, and Peperami®. Check out JackLinks.com to learn more.
Performance, Reliability, and Operability Improved by Making Ever-better Motorsports-bred Cars
Toyota City, Japan, Aug 22, 2024 – (JCN Newswire) – TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) began accepting orders today for the new GR Supra GT4 EVO2, for which vast feedback from racing teams and drivers around the world was leveraged to achieve higher levels of performance, reliability, and operability.
Since the launch of the GR Supra GT4 in 2020, thanks to the support of race organizers and customers, cumulative sales(1) of the model have surpassed 120 units. The efforts of racing teams and drivers have enabled it to win GT4-series races and international races in 11 countries and regions, earn more than 500 podium finishes(2), and become the class champion in three regions: Asia, the United States, and Europe.
An updated GR Supra GT4 EVO for the 2023 season featured improved braking, handling, and engine performance, making the car easier to drive for drivers of various skill levels. Yet, after that update, with there being no end to its efforts to make ever-better motorsports-bred cars, TGR continued to travel to race tracks around the world to directly receive valuable feedback from racing teams and drivers that can only be obtained under the extreme conditions of racing. Advancing its “driver-first car-making” approach for leveraging such insights into development, TGR has set the race debut of the GR Supra GT4 EVO2, with improved performance, reliability, and operability, at the start of the 2025 season.
Specifically, ABS maps were meticulously re-tuned through driving by various drivers on circuits in Japan and Europe to enable optimal braking and cornering based on tire type and wear and the condition of the course. Additionally, downshifting time has been reduced by fine-tuning the rev matching through a software update, leading to enhanced deceleration control during braking for increased cornering speed. Also, in addition to improving the cooling performance of the engine, brakes, and drivetrain, cockpit temperatures have been optimized to make the car easier to drive even in harsh conditions, helping to maintain a high level of performance. These improvements make the GR Supra GT4 EVO2 easier to drive not only for professional racers but also for amateur drivers ambitiously competing in GT4 races worldwide.
The GR Supra GT4 EVO2 is scheduled to make its world debut in January 2025 in the first round of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, held in conjunction with the 24 Hours of Daytona.
GT4 sales and customer support (spare parts sales and technical support) will be handled by TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Europe GmbH in Europe, TRD U.S.A., Inc. in North America, Toyota Customizing and Development Co., Ltd. in Japan and other countries in Asia (excluding China), and Toyota Motor (China) Investment Co., Ltd. in China.
(1) Including the GR Supra GT4 EVO (2) As of the end of July 2024
