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CORVETTE RACING AT SEBRING: In Their Own Words

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CORVETTE RACING AT SEBRING: In Their Own Words
Media conference comments from Antonio Garcia, Matt Bell ahead of 12 Hours

Corvette Z06 GT3.R drivers Antonio Garcia and Matt Bell met with members of the media Monday afternoon to discuss this weekend’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. Garcia will pilot one of the two Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports entries with Bell part of the lineup for AWA – GTD winner at the Rolex 24 At Daytona to start the season.

ANTONIO GARICA, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO MOST ABOUT GOING TO SEBRING?

“First of all, part of the season is that it’s almost my 20th 12 Hours. So that makes it easier to win four times! But I always love going back to Sebring. I have a lot of good memories from Sebring… good closing stints and fun racing all over the years in different cars and classes. I think Corvette has always been very competitive there and successful. The last two years, I think, we came close to winning. Especially last year we were leading quite a lot of laps and in the closing stages got mixed up in some incidents. Let’s see if we have a clean race this year. That’s key at Sebring especially at night when the sun goes down, everyone gets excited and at times the racing gets a little crazy.”

HOW DO YOU CONDITION YOURSELF FOR SEBRING?

“Sebring definitely is hard, and you need to be very prepared. Last year we had A/C problems from Hour Three, and it was very hard for us. You need to be as good as possible because anything can happen. There is no time to fix anything if it’s a big change or a big repair. Last year Dani (Juncadella) did two-and-a-half stints without A/C, and then we kind of cycled through just to minimize that. If it’s a hot one – and looking at the forecast it looks to be very hot – it will be hard for everyone… the car, the tires, us and for sure the crew.”

PROGRESS OF THE CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R IN YEAR TWO?

“We have another year of experience this year with this car. Last year even if the car felt pretty decent, we found a few other things over the course of the season and at Daytona. We didn’t get to test (at the sanctioned test) but the AWA guys were there and we have their data to see. That will help the whole Corvette development program. Some of our guys also have been going to the simulator. I hope we’ll have a really good pace for this race again and let’s see if we nailed the direction in which the car should go. Now with the new power curve and how we use that, I think it will be a challenge for us. It will be the first time we will run it at Sebring, which seems very particular with the bumps and everything. But I think we have a really good strategy and I hope everything runs smooth.”

WHAT DO YOU TELL YOURSELF TO TRY AND AVOID INCIDENTS IN THE NIGHT AT SEBRING?

“Last year I think we cycled twice to the back (during pit stops). By the way the GTD and GTD PRO progression worked last year, we cycled to the back of the group. That didn’t help in order to get back to the leading pack. At night on every restart If you are at the front, the chances that you’re going to get hit or get into a big mess is a lot less. I think that’s the biggest thing at Sebring. At night you need to be up front on every restart. If you’re able to be in the top three positions, you are way more safe. Now that GTD PRO and GTD are split (on restarts), I think it’s going to be better. At night you don’t know who is behind you; you just see lights. I know the GTD lights are yellow but it’s very difficult to know who was following you. Now that things are split, I think it will make things easier for both classes. We know we are going to be fighting our class on the restart and not get in the mix with (GTD) or them with us. So I think that was a good call, and at Daytona it was a big upgrade.”

REACTION TO THE MOBIL 1 LIVERY THAT PRATT MILLER PRESENTED.

“I think it’s pretty cool to have different liveries. It feels strange not to see a Corvette painted in yellow. In traffic I don’t know if people will spot who we are! But it is very cool to have this Mobil 1 new livery. I didn’t get to see the actual car it was related to in real life. But when I get to see it at the track, it will be very cool. Hopefully we can get it to Victory Lane because that’s even better – a special livery there with some photos looks even better.”

MATT BELL, NO. 13 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R

RACE OUTLOOK FOLLOWING THE WIN AT DAYTONA WITH CORVETTE.

“We’re still riding on Cloud Nine, I have to say, from a little over a month ago. It was a dream start to the season and a race that we all wanted to win for quite a long time, as most drivers do. We’re coming into this race with a lot of confidence. I know my way around Sebring a little bit now too, so it’s a race event that I love and a track that I love. As Antonio said, Corvettes have always seemed to go pretty well around Sebring. I’m feeling just as confident and coming into here with just as high hopes as I did for Daytona. We had a good test at the IMSA sanctioned test. We all feel pretty well prepared. The GTD field is pretty deep with talent so it’s going to be extremely competitive again but we are looking forward to taking everyone on.”

PROGRESS OF THE CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R IN YEAR TWO?

“Antonio has been a big part of the past development on the factory side. From the AWA side, there have been a lot of refinements going on and a lot of learning with the car for a customer team. We come into this race with a lot more knowledge than at any point last year. We put a lot of that into practice at Daytona and it seemed to go well. The good thing was that the performance of the car all last year seemed very strong and there were a few things to get on top of on the reliability front, which is a usual new car challenge. Everybody seems to have those under control now but you never quite know in racing. The most established car on the grid can always have an issue. Sebring is the hardest track in the world on any racecar. But we’ve taken some big steps. Sebring will test us but we think we’re going in the right direction. We’ve always got the support of the Pratt Miller and Corvette guys. We lean on the likes of Antonio, as well, if things aren’t going well and that worked out very well last year. We’ll be going at it the same this year again.”

LATE AT DAYTONA YOU HIT A SKID PLATE OFF ANOTHER CAR. CAN YOU DESCRIBE THAT INCIDENT?

“There were always some quite intense battles going on in GTD. There were always noises coming from the wheel well every now and then, but that one felt a little bigger than normal. As I came out of Turn Six… I think it was a lap or two before I managed to get past the 27. Heading toward the Bus Stop, the right-hand side of the cockpit started filling with smoke quite quickly. As a driver we have all experienced the smell of tire smoke or the smell of oil smoke or whatever. It didn’t smell like oil so that was an immediate checkbox that made me a bit more confident. I just radioed in ‘Smoke in the cockpit. Please check tire pressures’ because I was a little busy dealing with the competition around me. They came back and said no punctures showing up. I gave the wheel a little wiggle, it felt alright. I sent it into the Bus Stop and it still felt OK. At that point in the race it was do-or-die. We were 20 minutes to go and if it was going to go wrong, it is what it is. Just had to keep my foot in it and it cleaned itself up.

“It turned out that a wooden block, we think off a GTP car, had come off. The Aston in front of me ran over it and fired it up into the bonnet of our car. It got stuck in the wheel well and was rubbing on the tire. It took a couple of millimeters of rubber off and didn’t go deep enough to give us a puncture worry. Everyone has always told me in these big 24-hour races that there is that moment of luck that you need to get over the line. That was a close call and could have been race-ending. Thankfully it didn’t happen and behaved itself the last 20 minutes.”

THE 13 FROM DAYTONA HAS BEEN RETIRED. IS THIS ONE AT SEBRING BRAND NEW?

“Yes, it will be a new car. We had already planned to be running a new car to Le Mans, fortunately. So the team having a second car available to us was already in the works, and we managed to speed up the delivery of that and the prep of that in order to get it turned around for the IMSA test. So the AWA crew had a pretty long Daytona 24 Hours, a night or two to celebrate and then a lot of hard work to get the new car prepped for the IMSA test. So it has done some running. It’s not run in competition yet so this will be the car’s first race. When we jumped into the car it felt exactly the same as the previous one that we had. There’s always that little worry in the back of your mind – especially when you have a good result in a car – and the superstitious part of you doesn’t want to change the set of gloves that you’ve got. But we jumped in it, and it was like being in the original car. No differences whatsoever. Great consistency from the Pratt Miller and GM guys on the construction side of things in our experience so far. The concern is as low as it can be going into a race like Sebring. It’s the hardest race on a racecar in the world. Could it throw something up? Of course it could, but it could do that for anyone’s car. It was nice to retire the Season One car with such a big win. Hopefully we can start another bit of the team’s history with this new car.”

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.

ARCA Menards Series / ARCA Menards Series West at Phoenix Raceway: General Tire 150 Post-race Notes & Stats

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Official Release
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ARCA Menards Series / ARCA Menards Series West at Phoenix Raceway:
General Tire 150 Post-race Notes

  • Brent Crews (No. 18 JBL Audio Toyota) scored his third career ARCA Menards Series victory in Friday night’s General Tire 150 at Phoenix Raceway. Crews, in his first start for Joe Gibbs Racing, took the lead from Brenden Queen (No. 28 BestRepair.net Chevrolet) in the final corner on the second of the race’s two overtime attempts.
  • Crews’ three victories have all come on tracks one mile in length, but his win at Phoenix was his first victory on a paved surface. He won at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in 2023 and followed it with a win at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds in 2024, both one-mile dirt surfaces.
  • Queen finished second, and combined with his victory in the season opener at Daytona International Speedway, he has a 1.5 average finish in the two races so far in 2025.
  • Joe Gibbs Racing has had two drivers in the first two races of the season, but the team has mirrored Pinnacle Racing Group and Brenden Queen’s results. Queen won at Daytona and finished second at Phoenix, while JGR finished second at Daytona with William Sawalich driving and won at Phoenix with Crews. The two teams are tied atop the ARCA Menards Series team owner point standings.
  • Treyten Lapcevich (No. 15 Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship Toyota) finished third in his ARCA Menards Series debut. Lapcevich was driving for the team that helped propel Sean Hingorani to each of the last two ARCA Menards Series West championships.
  • Lawless Alan (No. 20 AUTOParkIt Toyota) finished fourth to score his first career ARCA Menards Series top-five finish.
  • Lavar Scott (No. 6 Max Siegel Inc. Chevrolet) finished fifth, his second top-five finish of the season; he also finished fourth in the opener at Daytona.
  • Kole Raz (No. 76 Cyclum Nextgen Travel Centers Ford) finished sixth for the second time in two career ARCA Menards Series starts. Raz, who won the ARCA Menards Series West race at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway in a photo finish last April, also finished second in the season-opener at Daytona.
  • Thad Moffitt (No. 46 Pristine Auctions Toyota) finished seventh; Moffitt scored his career best finish – 3rd – at Phoenix in 2021.
  • Patrick Staropoli (No. Syfovre Toyota) recovered from an early-race spin to finish eighth in his first ARCA Menards Series start in eleven years. Staropoli has one career ARCA Menards Series West victory, at the now-closed Irwindale Speedway, in March 2014.
  • Robbie Kennealy (No. 1 Jan’s Towing Ford) was the highest finishing ARCA Menards Series West regular in ninth. Kennealy, who finished fourth in the season opener at Kern, scored his best career ARCA Menards Series finish and closed on ARCA Menards Series West championship points leader Trevor Huddleston (No. 50 High Point Racing/Racecar Factory Ford) who finished 12th. Huddleston leads the West standings by five points headed into the next series race at Tucson Speedway on April 5.
  • Corey Day (No. 77 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet) finished tenth, his third career top-ten finish in five career starts.
  • Tanner Reif (No. 13 Central Coast Cabinets Toyota) finished 13th driving for the Central Coast Racing team that won the 2024 ARCA Menards Series West owners championship. Team owners Todd and Kelly Souza fielded a second entry for 16-year-old Spaniard Adrian Ferrer, who finished 18th.
  • Tyler Reif (No. 23 Sigma Performance Services/Vegas Fastener Manufacturing Chevrolet) nearly scored his second ARCA Menards Series victory at Phoenix. On the first overtime attempt, he pulled even with leader Brenden Queen through the dogleg, but a nudge from behind sent him sideways into the inside pit wall, heavily damaging his car and ending his night. Reif, who won at Phoenix in 2023, was scored in 19th at the finish.
  • The next race for the ARCA Menards Series is the General Tire 200 at Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday, April 26. The race will be televised live on FS1 at 12 pm ET/11 am CT. The race will also be broadcast live on select affiliates of the MRN Radio network nationwide and on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Live timing and scoring data for all on-track activity is available at ARCARacing.com and up-to-the-minute updates are available by follow @ARCA_Racing on X (formerly known as Twitter).
  • The next race for the ARCA Menards Series West is the NASCAR ARCA Menards West 150 Presented by the West Coast Stock Car Motorsports Hall of Fame at Tucson Speedway on Saturday, April 5. The race will be streamed live on FloRacing at 9 pm ET / 7 pm MT. Live timing and scoring data for all on-track activity is available at ARCARacing.com and up-to-the-minute updates are available by follow @ARCA_Racing on X (formerly known as Twitter).

About ARCA 
The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA), founded in 1953 by John and Mildred Marcum in Toledo, Ohio, and acquired by NASCAR in April 2018, is the leading grassroots stock car sanctioning body in the United States. Bridging the gap between NASCAR’s top three national touring series and weekly and regional tour racing all across the country, the organization sanctions over 100 races per year in the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East, ARCA Menards Series West, ASA STARS National Tour, ASA CRA Super Series, ASA Midwest Tour, ASA Southern Super Series plus weekly racing at Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways. For more information about ARCA visit , or follow ARCA on Facebook (@ARCARacing) and Twitter (@ARCA_Racing). 

About Menards
A family-owned and run company started in 1958, Menards is recognized as the retail home center leader of the Midwest with 236 stores in 15 states.  Menards is truly a one-stop shop for all of your home improvement needs featuring a full-service lumberyard and everything you need to plan a renovation or build a home, garage, cabin, shed, deck, fence or post frame building.  You’ll find a large selection of lumber, roofing, siding, construction blocks, trusses, doors and windows, plus cabinets, appliances, countertops, flooring, lighting, paint, plumbing supplies and more.  To complete the job, Menards has quality hand tools, power tools, fasteners, electrical tools plus storage options and supplies for everyone from the weekend warrior to the pro!
 
Menards has what you need to complete your outdoor projects and keep your yard in tip-top shape including mowers, trimmers, blowers, pressure washers and more, plus a beautiful garden center stocked with plants, shrubs, trees, landscaping tools, grass seed, fertilizer options, outdoor décor and patio furniture.  Menards also has everyday essentials like health & beauty products, housewares, pet and wildlife supplies, automotive items and even groceries.  And at Christmas, an Enchanted Forest display area with impressive trees, lighting, decorations, ornaments, inflatables and more. 

Menards is known for friendly Customer Service and as the place to “Save Big Money” with low prices every day, and sales too!  For more information, please visit Menards.com to learn about our store locations, offerings and services.

RCR NCS Race Recap: Phoenix Raceway

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Official Release
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Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Chevrolet Team Persevere for 12th-Place Finish at Phoenix Raceway

Finish: 12th
Start: 21st
Points: 25th

“Our No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Chevrolet team never gave up today. Our car started with a loose balance early. Luckily, we caught a couple of cautions in the first stage, which allowed us to make pit stops and work on our Chevrolet. Midway through the race, we started to lose rear grip but avoided going a lap down. We kept working on the car and consistently moved our way back into the top-20. Then, we started to develop a brake issue where my pedal went to the floor, which forced us to make a couple extra stops to make sure we weren’t going to have any more issues. We saved our red option tires until the end of the race, and our car definitely handled better on those. I’m proud of our Richard Childress Racing team. We fought hard and came out with a 12th-place finish. We can carry this momentum to Las Vegas next weekend.” -Austin Dillon

Kyle Busch and the No. 8 zone/QuikTrip Chevrolet Team Bring Home Top-10 Result at Phoenix Raceway

Finish: 8th
Start: 15th
Points: 8th

“We had an okay day with the No. 8 zone/QuikTrip Chevrolet team. We were probably a 15th-place car on yellow option tires and probably an eighth-place car on red tires. We never really got to see our reds play out since there wasn’t a long run. It’s hard to say how that would have played out, but we were able to make up some really good spots on restarts with them. That definitely saved our day. Overall, the improvement that we made from last year to this year was a good step. With another major step like that, we can be a contender for the race win.” -Kyle Busch

Cadillac takes aim at another super Sebring

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Official Release
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Three GTP teams seek to deliver sixth Cadillac Racing victory since 2017

DETROIT (March 10, 2025) — Successfully defending the overall victory in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Presented by Cadillac would be quite an accomplishment – and twist – according to Louis Deletraz.

Deletraz and co-drivers Jordan Taylor and Brendon Hartley will seek to put the No. 40 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R in Victory Circle late Saturday at the conclusion of the 73rd edition of the iconic endurance race at the 3.74-mile, 17-turn Sebring International Raceway.

“Going back to Searing, of course, is exciting,” said Deletraz, who held on to win the 2024 race with another manufacturer by 0.891 of a second over the No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R. “Obviously, winning there was a dream of mine and now going back we want to do it more.

“Going back there with Cadillac is interesting. I was fighting one in the end. I saw its strong points and it’s been very strong the whole event and the past years. So, I’m very excited to actually be on track and work with Cadillac to try and win it together this year.”

Cadillac Racing has recorded five overall victories, including three in a row (2021-2023), and finished runner-up in 2024 and 2018 in the races at Sebring since joining IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship prototype competition in 2017. Plus, Cadillac Racing has recorded five pole starts, including the past four years, in that span.

Cadillac Racing’s Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) lineup for the second round of the season also includes the No. 10 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R campaigned by Wayne Taylor Racing and the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R run by Action Express Racing.

The No. 31 entry has earned the pole the past two years, while new-for-2025 teammates Jack Aitken and Earl Bamber won the race in 2023 and 2022, respectively. They’ll be joined by Frederik Vesti. The No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R will also carry a special Mobil 1 livery.

The No. 10 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R, with Ricky Taylor, Filipe Albuquerque and Will Stevens aboard, led the Cadillac Racing contingent in the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona with a fifth-place finish.

Cadillac Racing drivers test at Sebring International Raceway in mid-February.

“Any time that we can get with our Cadillac V-Series.R GTP is so important. Every time we touch the track we are learning,” Ricky Taylor said. “Everything is still so new to us. So, the test was fantastic not only for Sebring but for the whole year as well.”

A 2025 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is the official Safety Vehicle for the race. Spectators will have the opportunity to see the exciting Cadillac V-Series lineup at the Cadillac display in the midway and test drive a Cadillac during the race weekend. Hours are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday. The Cadillac CTV-4 Blackwing and CTV-5 Blackwing have been named to Car and Driver magazine’s 2025 10Best Cars list for the fourth consecutive year.

Cadillac Racing Twelve Hours of Sebring overall victories 2024-2017

2023: No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R, start first – Pipo Derani, Alexander Sims, Jack Aitken

2022: No. 02 Cadillac Accessories Cadillac DPi-V.R, start fourth – Earl Bamber, Alex Lynn, Neel Jani

2021: No. 5 Mustang Sampling Cadillac DPi-V.R), start sixth – Tristan Vautier, Loic Duval, Sebastien Bourdais

2019: No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R),start fifth – Pipo Derani, Felipe Nasr, Eric Curran

2017: No. 10 Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R, start sixth – Jordan Taylor, Ricky Taylor, Alex Lynn

Runner-up

2024: No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R, start second — Sebastien Bourdais, Renger van der Zande, Scott Dixon 2018: No. 10 Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R, start 10th – Jordan Taylor, Renger van der Zande, Ryan Hunter-Reay

Poles

2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2018

What they’re saying

No. 10 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R

Ricky Taylor: “Cadillac has a great history at Sebring, the car has been strong there every year. This year we have high expectations. Last year’s win was a great result for the team. It was hard fought and well deserved. If we are going to back it up again, we know it won’t come easily, and we will likely have to fight hard once again.”

Filipe Albuquerque: “After two days of testing in Sebring, it was very valuable to have those days and have more time with the car and learn about it, trying different setups and seeing what works best. We are super motivated for Sebring and it’s always a tricky one. I’ve never been super happy there so hopefully now is the time. As a team we are looking forward to it and we keep evolving the car. Can’t wait to get back to racing.”

Will Stevens: “Having the two days of testing at Sebring a few weeks ago will definitely be good for the team to continue building their knowledge of the Cadillac V-Series.R and what we need for Sebring as it’s a very different circuit to what we had in Daytona. I think looking back at last year’s race, it’s clear the car was looking very strong and hopefully we can continue in that fashion and keep improving from what they had last year. The field is very close as we saw in Daytona, so we need to make sure we have everything in place for a good result.”

No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R

Jack Aitken: “I’m looking forward to Sebring as it has special memories for me being the site of my first IMSA win and it’s just a cool place to be in general. It has a great atmosphere and the unique nature of the infield and fan set-up there is always really cool to see. Cadillac has a decent pedigree there and we’re always bringing a strong package to that track. We’re going in looking to get a good result and setting the bar pretty high. We’ll see what challenges come up, but I think we’re all feeling good coming into this one. After the setback in Daytona, we’re ready to turn that around and have a positive day.”

Earl Bamber: “Action Express had a great racecar in 2024; they were dominating that race. At the Sebring test, we worked on our weaknesses from Daytona in the race – restarts and stuff like that – and we just feel well-prepared to execute that race. I’m really enjoying IMSA. The Whelen Cadillac is quick. I think we definitely deserved a minimum of podium at Daytona, so everyone is raring to go to have a great race at Sebring, which I think we can do.”

Frederik Vesti: “I am excited to be back in the Cadillac V-Series.R for my second IMSA race with the team. Obviously, Daytona didn’t end the way we had hoped. We fought hard during the race and were not rewarded for all the efforts we had put in. We had a strong racecar and that showed at the test we did at Sebring as well. Also, with one IMSA race in GTP, I was able to target some things during the test that helped me feel more prepared for Sebring. I’m looking forward to dialing up the intensity racing in traffic, racing other GTP cars and looking to push the limits of our car. Sebring is a track with great history with the team, so expectations are high. We need to approach it day by day, step by step building up toward the race.”

No. 40 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R

Louis Deletraz: “It’s finally Sebring time and I’m really excited for it. We won last year and it still gives me goosebumps to think about it. We obviously would love to repeat it and we’re very motivated for it. It’s such a special race. We had a productive two-day test at Sebring a few weeks ago. It was great to get more laps in the Cadillac V-Series.R, it felt fast and we keep learning about the car every time we leave the pits. We also have a new teammate in the No. 40 with Brendon (Hartley) joining us. It’s great to have him with us.”

Jordan Taylor: “It’s obviously great going back to Sebring as the defending winners. It’s such a big event and a special one to win, so heading there with that in the back of our minds always helps the motivation. We had a great test there a few weeks ago. It was our first time there with the Cadillac V-Series.R. We have had such limited running with the car, so it was really nice to get through some testing items that have been on our list since we received the cars. The Cadillac was obviously very strong there last year, and I think we were able to build on that over our two-day test. Obviously, the year didn’t start off the way we wanted in Daytona, but I think that just adds to the team’s motivation for Sebring.”

Brendon Hartley: “I’m excited to be back with WTR for the Sebring 12 Hour. Since WTR moved to a two-car effort, they have done an amazing job to create a good team atmosphere which I’m sure will make switching to the 40 car seamless. I get on really well with all the drivers and we genuinely have good fun outside of the cockpit. It was a tough race for us in Daytona, but I have no doubt that we will be fighting at the front in Sebring. WTR knows how to win.”

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.

Team Penske NASCAR Cup Series Race Report – Phoenix 1

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Official Release
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Shriners Children’s 500 – Phoenix Raceway
Avondale, Ariz. – March 9, 2025

AUSTIN CINDRIC No. 2 MENARDS/MONSTER FORD MUSTANG
START: 14TH STAGE 1: 15TH STAGE 2: 7TH FINISH: 19TH POINTS: 32ND
RACE RUNDOWN: Austin Cindric’s run at Phoenix Raceway ended with a 19th-place finish in the No. 2 Menards/Monster Energy Ford Mustang after over 300 miles at the one-mile Arizona track. Cindric fired off from the 14th position and shared that he was pretty happy to start when the first caution slowed the field on Lap 4. Another caution followed immediately after the restart, in which Cindric stayed out again. When the flags flew to conclude Stage 1, the No. 2 crossed the line 15th and headed to pit road. With Goodyear’s red option tires at play this weekend, crew chief Brian Wilson called for four reds, fuel and an air pressure adjustment to help the Menards/Monster Energy machine gain track position quickly. Cindric lined up 14th for the restart and rapidly cracked the top five before ultimately taking the lead on Lap 89. A few laps later the caution flag waved and the driver reported that he had a lot of grip but ultimately fell off free toward the end of that run. He returned to pit road for four yellow ‘prime’ tires and restarted third. He remained in the top 10 through the remainder of the segment, finishing Stage 2 seventh. After informing the team that he was still a touch too free, he made his way back to the attention of the pit crew for his second set of the red option tires. The No. 2 Ford eventually switched back the yellow prime tires but lost momentum. The car tightened up significantly firing off and Cindric needed an adjustment to help it turn. He made his final trip to pit road during a late-race caution and ultimately crossed the line 19th when the checkered flag flew.

CINDRIC’S THOUGHTS: “We had some good moments today with our No. 2 Menards/Monster Energy Ford Mustang. Tire strategy kept things interesting, and we were able to make strong gains early with the red option tires. I definitely feel like we had the potential for a better finish, but we’ll take what we learned and move forward.”

RYAN BLANEY No. 12 WURTH FORD MUSTANG
START: 12TH STAGE 1: 5TH STAGE 2: 4TH FINISH: 28TH POINTS: 4TH
RACE RUNDOWN: Despite a pair of top-five stage finishes, an engine failure with 24 laps to go relegated Ryan Blaney and the No. 12 Wurth Ford Mustang to a 28th-place finish Sunday at Phoenix, ending a streak of seven-straight top-five finishes at the one-mile track. After starting from 12th, Blaney put his long run speed on display in the opening stage to come away with a fifth-place finish in Stage 1. Several teams opted to put on the option tire early on in the second segment as the 12 team stayed with the primary tire, shuffling Blaney outside the top-10. The Wurth Ford worked its way back into contention over the course of the long run as the option tire equalized, resulting in a fourth-place finish in Stage 2. Following a four tire stop for the option tires at the stage break, Blaney charged towards the top-five but reported an issue with straightaway speed on the ensuing run. A debris caution on lap 266 saw Blaney restart from seventh with 36 laps to go, but 12 laps later, the engine issues came to a head as he was forced to retire from the race with 24 laps remaining.

BLANEY’S THOUGHTS: “It just blew up. It started with about 100 [laps] to go and I thought it was going to make it to the end but it didn’t. It was a hard-fought day. We could never get going on restarts. Long runs I felt okay but just kind of lacked a little bit and then we were just having trouble with the engine before it completely grenaded. We were going to get a decent finish out of it, but obviously not.”

JOEY LOGANO No. 22 HUNT BROTHERS PIZZA FORD MUSTANG
START: 2ND STAGE 1: 30TH STAGE 2: 2ND FINISH: 13TH POINTS: 9TH
RACE RUNDOWN: Joey Logano worked his way to a 13th-place finish Sunday at Phoenix in the 22 team’s first trip back to the one-mile track since claiming the NASCAR Cup Series championship in November. Logano started from the outside of row one after narrowly winning the pole Saturday afternoon, but a restart violation for crossing the yellow line prior to the start-finish line during the restart following a caution on lap nine resulted in pass-through penalty on lap 20, relegating the Hunt Brothers Pizza Ford to the tail of the field in the middle of the green flag run. Crew chief Paul Wolfe opted to put on red option tires after the caution flew on lap 91, as Logano was one of two drivers on the same strategy for the ensuing run in order to gain back track position. Logano vaulted from 24th to the lead by lap 130 as he gapped the field by over two seconds. Ultimately, the tire strategy equalized as the No. 20 made his way past Logano with eight laps to go in the stage, resulting a second-place finish in Stage 2. The 22 team won the race off pit road following a four tire stop for its last set of option tires to match the leaders for the opening run of the final stage, but a caution on lap 214 forced Logano to hit pit road for four primary tires. Logano held his ground in the top-10 during the ensuing run, but teams on the option tires for the final stretch proved beneficial as he settled for a 13th-place finish.

LOGANO’S THOUGHTS: “Obviously our strategy took a hit with the penalty early on. That took us out of, at least, a pair of top-10 stage finishes. We had top-10 speed all day but had to settle for 13th. We’re looking forward to Vegas and building off of our last trip there.”

The NASCAR Cup Series rounds out the west coast swing next week at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Coverage of Sunday’s Pennzoil 400 begins at 3:30 p.m. ET on FS1 with in-car camera angles available all race long through MAX Driver Cam.

RFK Racing Phoenix Raceway Recap

By
Official Release
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RFK Racing’s Buescher and Preece Shine Brightly in the Valley of The Sun
Keselowski Rallying His Team Headed to Vegas

Avondale, AZ (March 9, 2025) – Tire strategy was a game changer in Phoenix, creating opportunity and excitement for Roush Fenway Keselowski (RFK) Racing on Sunday. Two sets of “option” tires, ones that were softer and faster during a 40-50 lap run, were available for teams to use at their discretion. Strategically teams picked and chose when to use them and that gamesmanship led to a top 5 finish for Chris Buescher and propelled Ryan Preece to the lead late in the race. Brad Keselowski, though, never had the opportunity to use the option tires as he was swallowed up in an unavoidable collision.

6 Brad Keselowski – RECAP

When the green flag dropped in the Valley of the Sun, there were high-hopes surrounding Brad Keselowski. The 2012 champ entered his 32nd career Phoenix start, with a strong race car that was able to easily pick off positions early in the race.

The Consumer Cellular Ford quickly moved from 20th to the top 15. Before the conclusion of Stage-One, Keselowski had consistently found ways to make his car faster. Throughout the first 60 laps, Keselowski adjusted his line entering the corners, enabling him to carry more speed on exit. At that time confidence was high as he radioed the team. “We’re going to be fine. The race is going to come to us,” he said.

Unfortunately, that time never came, and Keselowski was swallowed up in an unavoidable crash when several cars collied in his path. Despite exhaustive efforts to repair the damage the team was forced to settle for 33rd.

“We were just biding our time to put our soft tires on and put ourselves in a position to put them on in the end and just got caught up in somebody else’s crash,” said Keselowski after being checked and released in the care center.

Afterwards Keselowski’s leadership qualities were on full display as he rallied his team. Climbing from his car, Keselowski called all over the wall and road crew members into a tight huddle. Looking them in the eye he provided a motivational speech, coaching them to stay focused and not get discouraged.

“I told them I was really encouraged,” Keselowski said. “I love the way our cars are driving right now, and our potential is much higher.”

17 Chris Buescher – RECAP

Chris Buescher continued his hot 2025 start, as he recorded a 5th place finish in Phoenix Sunday. It was a season best finish for the Fry’s / Thomas’ / Philadelphia Ford, as Buescher has now finished among the top 10 in 3 of the first four races.

Buescher entered the race as one of just four drivers who finished among the top 10 in both Phoenix races a year ago. His knowledge of the challenging one-mile track was obvious again on Sunday and he masterfully maneuvered through the traffic picking his way toward the front after starting 13th.

Tire strategy became key for the 17 team. Crew Chief Scott Graves elected to save both sets of “option” tires for the race’s third and final stage. With the new red-lettered tires bolted on Buescher swiftly picked up positions, while also holding off others who had taken a similar approach.

With fewer than 50 laps to go, Buescher made his final stop. Again the 17-team took the softer, and faster, tires. It worked. Buescher fired off on the restart and gobbled up positions to move from 9th to record an impressive 5th place finish.

“I felt like we were the (primary tires) and kept getting run all over by the (option tires) and I was just sitting there waiting for our turn,” said Buescher. “We had them on at the end when others ran out. It made it interesting.”

60 Ryan Preece – RECAP

Ryan Preece turned what were arguably the most exciting laps of the race Sunday as the Solomon Plumbing Ford led 34 circuits – all as the race neared the checkers.

The 60-team was the first to use the option tires. Crew chief Derrick Finley made the call on the team’s first pitstop at lap 13 and it immediately paid dividends. Within 30 laps Preece had rocketed his way through the field, gaining 23 positions. Preece finished 3rd in Stage One, earning stage points for the second time this season.

The field took notice as Preece made huge gains in a short amount of time. The improved track position allowed Preece to run closer to the front the remainder of the day and provided confidence for later.

Down to its final set of red-lettered Goodyears, Finley made the call at lap 217 (of 312) to use them. Once again Preece flew through the field, moving from 4th into the lead with only 75 laps remaining. Preece stretched his lead and hoped for a green flag run to the finish. Unfortunately, a caution came out 34 laps into that run. With those “option” tires wearing, Preece pitted for a fresh set of primary tires. With many other teams still having a set of optional rubber available, Preece lost some ground in the closing laps, still posting a solid 15th place finish.

“I really wish that caution didn’t come out, because I felt like we had such a good gap and the tires were staying under me,” said Preece. “Sometimes when you start we are (28th), you’ve got to get off sequence and the way the race was playing out I thought we were going to sneak a really good finish in there.”

Up Next
Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Las Vegas, NV): Sunday, March 16, 2025 @ 2:30pm ET on FS1

About RFK Racing
RFK Racing, in its 38th season in 2025, features an ownership lineup pairing one of the sport’s most iconic names, Jack Roush, along with NASCAR Champion, Brad Keselowski, and Fenway Sports Group owner John Henry. Roush initially founded the team in 1988 and it has since become one of the most successful racing operations in the world, propelling him to be the first NASCAR owner to amass three hundred wins and capturing eight championships, including back-to-back NASCAR Cup titles in 2003 and 2004. Keselowski, a former owner in the NASCAR Truck Series, is the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series Champion. In 2007, Roush partnered with Henry, who also owns Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox, English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C., and the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, to form Roush Fenway Racing. Off the track, RFK is a leader and proven winner in NASCAR marketing solutions, having produced multiple award-winning social media, digital content and experiential marketing campaigns. Visit rfkracing.com, and follow the team on all social platforms @rfkracing.

Season-Best Finish for Berry: Fourth at Phoenix

By
Official Release
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#21: Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing, Eero Ford Mustang

Josh Berry and the No. 21 eero Mustang Dark Horse capped off a strong weekend at Phoenix Raceway with a fourth-place finish in Sunday’s Shriners Children’s 500. It was the first top-five finish of the season for Berry and the eero team and the fourth top-five of Berry’s Cup Series career. The No. 21 team also was the top-finisher among the Ford contingent.

“I’m just really proud of everybody on the 21 team,” Berry told reporters at the track. “Obviously thank you to eero for coming on board. Our car was really solid. It wasn’t mistake-free, we had an issue with the left rear on pit road, but [crew chief] Miles [Stanley] did a great job of backing us up there and getting the wheel tight. We had some really good restarts. We had one at the end that didn’t go our way, but pretty much every one of them we were able to move forward and fight and claw. All in all, the car was really solid all weekend. Credit to Miles and everybody on the 21 team, and everybody at Ford and everybody at Wood Brothers Racing and at Team Penske. It was a lot of fun.”

Berry started Sunday’s race from fourth place and raced in the top five for most of the first Stage. He finished that 60-lap Stage in sixth place, earning five Stage points.

In Stage Two, he dropped to 29th after a pit stop during a caution period at Lap 92, but immediately regained 10 positions by steering his way through an 11-car crash just ahead of him. Once racing resumed, he continued to move forward and ended the second Stage in 10th place, earning an additional Stage point.

In the third and final segment of the race, he started off on the optional softer tire and quickly drove up to fifth place, then went back to the standard harder tire on a pit stop with 95 laps remaining. Berry dropped out of the top 10 for a bit, but was running 10th when the caution flag flew with 45 laps remaining. On the ensuing pit stop the eero team put on its second set of option tires and Berry moved up to fifth place after two laps under green and then to fourth place with 17 laps to go. Berry maintained that spot through two late-race restarts to secure the finish.

Berry and the No. 21 team now turn their focus to Las Vegas Motor Speedway and next Sunday’s Pennzoil 400.

About eero
eero was founded to make wifi and networking the way they should be—fast, reliable, secure, and, most importantly, easy to use. After introducing the first home mesh wifi system with a high-quality design that blends into its environment and technology that intuitively works behind the scenes, eero became known for sweating every single detail and delivering award-winning hardware and software for homes, businesses, communities, and service providers. Founded and headquartered in San Francisco in 2014, eero is an Amazon company. For more information, visit eero.com.

About Wood Brothers Racing
Founded in 1950 by Hall of Famer Glenn Wood in Stuart, Virginia, Wood Brothers Racing holds a special place in NASCAR history as the sport’s longest-running team. Over eight decades, the team has earned 100 victories in the NASCAR Cup Series, along with 120 poles, and remains proud of its longstanding relationship with Ford Motor Company, fielding only Ford products since its inception. Glenn’s brother, Leonard Wood, played a key role in shaping modern racing by developing the techniques behind today’s pit stops. With a rich legacy rooted in innovation and tradition, Wood Brothers Racing continues to honor its heritage while adapting for the future as it competes in NASCAR’s premier series with Josh Berry.

Kaulig Racing Race Recap | Shriners Children’s 500

By
Official Release
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No. 10 Hybrid Light® Camaro ZL1

Start: 25th
Stage 1 Finish: 35th
Stage 2 Finish: 25th
Finish: 16th

Recap: For the first short track of the season, Ty Dillon and the No. 10 HybridLight Chevy team started the Shriners Children’s 500 from the 25th position. Battling the handling of the No. 10 Chevy throughout the first two stages, Dillon was scored one lap down in the 25th position when the caution flag waved to end Stage 2. Crew chief Andrew Dickeson made the call to stay on track and take the wave around during the Stage 2 caution break to restart the final stage from the 21st position on lap 194. With luck on their side, the No. 10 got their break on lap 214 when the caution waved with Dillon in the ‘lucky dog’ position. The team was able to return to the lead lap and opted to put the NASCAR option tires on the No. 10 Chevy. Dillon restarted the race from 21st on lap 222 and was able to quickly make moves to improve his position. When the caution waved on lap 267, Dillon was running fourth. The team made a routine pit stop, but Dillon was nabbed for speeding on pit road resulting in a penalty. Restarting the race from the tail end of the field in the 21st position, Dillon was able to miss the late-race cautions and rebound for a 16th place finish.

“We were a bit off to start the day. The first stage or so, we just kind of missed it to fire off, but then we were fighting track position. We had some things go our way with the way the cautions fell and the tire situation. Andrew (Dickeson, crew chief) made a great call, a gutsy call, to put us in a position to be a little bit different than everybody else and put us on the right tire. Once we put the red option tires on, we had that tire advantage. I was able to drive up to top five, and we were going to finish there if there was no caution as the car was solid, it wasn’t having any tire fall off. So, it was a good day and then I sped on pit road. I’ve just got to clean up my mistakes, so we can turn a good day in to a great day.” – Ty Dillon

No. 16 Celsius Camaro ZL1

Start: 16th
Stage 1 Finish: 25th
Stage 2 Finish: 23rd
Finish: 22nd

Recap: Allmendinger and the No. 16 team battled the handling of the Celsius Chevy throughout the race weekend. In Stage 1, Allmendinger reported the rear was loose off and the entry built free as the run went on. The team made adjustments at the stage break and Allmendinger reported he lost the rear of the car. Under caution, the team planned for a long pit stop to make a sway bar adjustment to help the handling. Allmendinger avoided a stack-up wreck on lap 99 to restart in 23rd on lap 112. At the stage break, the team put on the optional red tires and planned to maintain position as the lucky dog. In the final stage, Allmendinger came to pit road under green from 19th place for his last set of optional tires. The caution came out as Allmendinger was exiting pit road and he received a speeding penalty. Allmendinger went on to finish in 22nd place.
 
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 23 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, with a part-time fourth entry at select events. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

Rick Ware Racing: Shriners Children’s 500k from Phoenix

By
Official Release
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RICK WARE RACING
Shriners Children’s 500k
Date: March 9, 2025
Event: Shriners Children’s 500k (Round 4 of 36)
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona (1-mile oval)
Format: 312 laps, broken into three stages (60 laps/125 laps/127 laps)
Race Winner: Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)
Stage 1 Winner: William Byron with Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet)
Stage 2 Winner: Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)

RWR Finish:

● Cody Ware (Started 35th, Finished 24th / Running, completed 306 of 312 laps)

RWR Points:

● Cody Ware (37th with 23 points)

RWR Notes:

● This was Ware’s best finish so far this season. His previous best was 25th, earned in the season-opening Daytona 500.

● Ware’s 24th-place result bettered his previous best finish at Phoenix – 28th, earned twice before (November 2018 and November 2021).

Race Notes:

● Christopher Bell won the Shriners Children’s 500k to score his 12th career NASCAR Cup Series victory, his third of the season and his second at Phoenix. His margin of victory over second-place Denny Hamlin was .049 of a second.

● There were 10 caution periods for a total of 73 laps.

● Only 20 of the 37 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.

● William Byron remains the championship leader after Phoenix with a 13-point advantage over second-place Bell.

Sound Bites:

“I just felt like we never really got a good handle on the balance of the racecar, and then kind of just really lost it after we had a really bad run on the red option tires. I think we adjusted around that way too much, and once we got back on the yellows (prime tires), we were just struggling and fighting, mainly for roll-speed momentum in the middle of the corner. Definitely frustrating and disappointing, but 24th is a step in the right direction as far as results go. Looking forward to getting to Vegas. It’s a track we had some good success at last year.” – Cody Ware, driver of the No. 51 Mighty Fire Breaker Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Next Up:

The next event on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube on Sunday, March 16 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The race begins at 3:30 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by FS1 and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Understanding Payment Methods for Online Casino Players in Singapore

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SM
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Are you looking for the most reliable ways to deposit and withdraw funds while playing at online casinos in Singapore? Many players want smooth transactions that offer convenience, security, and fast processing times. With the increasing number of online casinos, different payment methods are available, allowing players to choose the option that suits them best. These options make it easier for players to manage their funds and enjoy their favorite games without any complications.

Credit and Debit Cards for Online Casino Transactions

Credit and debit cards are among the most popular options for casino players in Singapore. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted at many online gaming platforms, allowing players to fund their accounts instantly. These transactions are simple and provide a familiar way to deposit funds securely. Many online casinos also allow players to withdraw their winnings using the same card, ensuring a smooth experience. Since most banks support these cards, players can easily track their spending and manage their budgets effectively.

E-Wallets Offer Fast and Secure Transactions

E-wallets have become a popular choice for online casino players due to their speed and security. Services like PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller allow quick deposits and withdrawals without needing to share bank details directly with the casino. Transactions are processed efficiently, reducing waiting times when accessing winnings. Many players prefer e-wallets because they provide an extra layer of security while offering the flexibility to use funds across different platforms. The ease of setting up an e-wallet account makes it a convenient option for those who enjoy online gaming at https://www.mmc996sg.com/sg/en-us/. 

Bank Transfers for Reliable and Secure Payments

Bank transfers remain a trusted method for casino transactions, providing a direct link between a player’s bank account and the gaming platform. This method is often used for larger transactions since banks ensure a high level of security. While deposits may take slightly longer to process compared to other payment methods, bank transfers are considered one of the most dependable options for players who want to move larger amounts securely. Many online casinos also allow withdrawals via bank transfer, giving players a reliable way to receive their winnings.

Cryptocurrency Expands Payment Options for Players

Cryptocurrency is becoming an increasingly popular payment method at online casinos. Many gaming platforms now accept Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other digital currencies for both deposits and withdrawals. This method provides fast transactions and enhanced security, making it a preferred choice for players who value privacy. One of the key benefits of cryptocurrency payments is that they often come with lower transaction fees compared to traditional banking methods. Additionally, cryptocurrency transactions are processed quickly, allowing players to access their funds without delays.

Prepaid Cards and Vouchers Offer Alternative Payment Options

Prepaid cards and vouchers provide another secure way to fund online casino accounts. These options allow players to deposit money without linking to a bank account or e-wallet. Cards like Paysafecard offer a straightforward way to add funds by purchasing a prepaid voucher and entering the code during the deposit process. This method is ideal for players who want a simple way to control their spending while enjoying a secure payment process.

Choosing the Right Payment Method for Your Needs

Selecting the best payment method depends on personal preference and how players like to manage their funds. Some prefer the instant access provided by credit cards and e-wallets, while others value the security of bank transfers and cryptocurrency. Factors such as transaction speed, convenience, and security should be considered when deciding on the most suitable option. Many online casinos offer multiple payment choices, allowing players to select the one that best fits their gaming style.

How Online Casinos Support Secure Transactions

Online casinos prioritize security by using encryption technology to protect player transactions. Licensed gaming platforms ensure that all financial data remains private and secure, providing peace of mind for those making deposits and withdrawals. Many casinos also implement additional verification steps to confirm player identities, further enhancing the security of transactions. These measures allow players to enjoy their favorite games with confidence, knowing their financial information is protected.

Why Payment Methods Matter for Online Casino Players

Having a variety of payment options ensures that players can enjoy a hassle-free experience when depositing and withdrawing funds. Faster transactions mean quicker access to winnings, while secure payment options provide an added layer of protection. With reliable methods available, players can focus on enjoying their gaming sessions without worrying about transaction issues. Choosing the right payment method ensures a smooth and enjoyable experience at online casinos in Singapore.

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