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BIG MAC ATTACK: MCLAUGHLIN WINS NTT INDYCAR SERIES POLE FOR BOMMARITO AUTOMOTIVE GROUP 500

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Team Penske driver Scott McLaughlin earns the NTT P1 Award following Friday’s qualifying for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline at World Wide Technology Raceway. Photo credit: World Wide Technology Raceway.
  • Team Penske driver Scott McLaughlin lands series-best fourth pole of the season and second in a row at World Wide Technology Raceway
  • Meyer Shank Racing’s Felix Rosenqvist qualifies on front row for third time this season but will start 12thdue to starting grid penalty
  • INDY NXT by Firestone championship leader Louis Foster secures series-leading fourth pole for OUTFRONT Showdown.

MADISON, Ill. (August 16, 2024) – Team Penske driver Scott McLaughlin captured his second consecutive pole at World Wide Technology Raceway and series-leading fourth of the season during Friday’s NTT INDYCAR SERIES qualifying for the Bommarito Automotive Group 500.

McLaughlin posted a two-lap average of 179.972 miles per hour (50.0079 seconds) on the 1.25-mile oval to unseat Meyer Shank Racing’s Felix Rosenqvist by .0489 of a second for the top starting position in Saturday’s Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline (5:30 p.m. CT, TV: USA Network, Peacock. Radio: INDYCAR Radio Network, SiriusXM Radio).

McLaughlin extended his dominance this season in oval qualifying with his fourth front-row start in as many races, including two other poles. Previously, he won the NTT P1 Award at the Indianapolis 500 and first race at Iowa Speedway before settling for second at the finale of that doubleheader.

“From ’22 onwards, even ’21, I felt strong (on ovals), but it’s just nice to have the confidence in the race car you are driving,” said McLaughlin, who arrived at INDYCAR in 2021 with no oval experience after winning three Australian V8 Supercars championships. “The team gave me a great car. I’m able to just execute the way I want to. I think I like oval qualifying because it replicates – it may sound weird – Supercars in some way and the Top 10 Shootouts we did back there. You know, getting your tires up to temp and trusting the tires into Turn 1 or what not. It’s been a strong suit of mine in the past and probably a little bit more aggressive in that regard.

“I really enjoy it – love ovals. I think it’s the backbone of our series.”

Meyer Shank Racing took the next two positions with Rosenqvist qualifying second (179.796 mph / 50.0568 secs.) and teammate David Malukas third (179.503 mph / 50.1385 secs.). Rosenqvist earned his third front-row start of the season, which includes a pole at Long Beach, but will start 11th due to a nine-position starting grid penalty. The penalty was for an unapproved engine change penalty at the previous race in Toronto. Malukas matched his season-best qualifying performance, which came at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

“We had 12 cars after we rolled out so, obviously, I was kind of expecting someone to break through,” Rosenqvist said. “It always seems like me and Scott are fighting for it. I think it is the fourth or fifth time we’ve been fighting for the pole.

“It was a really good run. You could feel it was well executed, good balance, everything was good with the tools and the car feeling.”

McLaughlin’s teammates closed out the top five with Josef Newgarden, a four-time winner at WWT Raceway, qualifying fourth (179.424 mph / 50.1605 secs.) and Will Power, who won at this venue in 2018, taking fifth (179.262 mph / 50.2059 secs).

Click HERE to watch the NTT INDYCAR SERIES qualifying highlights from World Wide Technology Raceway. Click HERE for INDYCAR’s qualifying VNR package for media outlets.

In the INDY NXT by Firestone development series, championship leader Louis Foster of Andretti Global continued his dominant season by claiming his series-high fourth pole during qualifying for Saturday’s OUTFRONT Showdown (3:05 p.m. CT, TV: Peacock. Radio: INDYCAR Radio Network, SiriusXM Radio). Foster, a five-time winner this season, won the pole with an INDY NXT by Firestone track-record, two-lap average of 164.109 miles per hour. Foster will be joined on the front row by his teammate, fellow English driver Jamie Chadwick. She posted a two-lap qualifying average of 163.505 mph.

For more information on the INDYCAR race weekend, please visit www.wwtraceway.com.

McLaughlin Roars to Back-to-Back Poles at World Wide Technology Raceway

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MADISON, Illinois (Friday, Aug. 16, 2024) – Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin earned his second consecutive NTT P1 Award at World Wide Technology Raceway, and this time he gets the prime race starting position that goes with it.

A year ago, McLaughlin’s terrific qualifying run was tempered by a penalty for an unapproved engine change, knocking him nine places deeper in the starting order for the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline. That penalty proved to be significant as the NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver struggled in traffic, and he finished in fifth place.

Those fears won’t be present when McLaughlin takes the green flag in the No. 2 DEX Imaging Team Penske Chevrolet, but that’s not his focus. He seeks the third win of the season following victories at Barber Motorsports Park and Iowa Speedway, and he has a championship to chase.

“At the end of the day, tomorrow’s payday,” McLaughlin said of the 260-lap race that airs live on USA Network, Peacock and the INDYCAR Radio Network. “We’ll make sure we’re on top of things.”

With a two-lap average of 179.972 mph, McLaughlin earned his fourth pole of the season and the ninth of his career, and this one puts him in a strong position to make a dent in the 83-point deficit he faces for the series title. Two drivers ahead of him in the standings, including series leader Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing, will have one of those nine-grid penalties that hampered him in last year’s race.

Palou qualified seventh at 178.363 mph in the No. 10 Samaritan Purse Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, and teammate Scott Dixon, who drives the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, will be moved back nine spots to begin the race. Dixon qualified 10th at 177.905 mph. The six-time series champion won last year’s race by 22.2 seconds.

Meyer Shank Racing’s Felix Rosenqvist, who had the second-best qualifying performance at 179.796 mph, also will incur such a penalty.

Another benefactor of the post-qualifying movement will be David Malukas, who has scored a pair of top-three finishes at this 1.25-mile oval each of the past two years. The third-fastest qualifier at 179.503 mph will start a career-best second in Meyer Shank Racing’s No. 66 AutoNation/Arctic Wolf Honda.

Meyer Shank Racing has a technical alliance with Andretti Global, which had the three fastest cars in the recent eight-car test at this track. Kyle Kirkwood used some of that knowledge gained to earn the best oval qualifying performance of his career — sixth at 178.417 mph — in the No. 27 AutoNation Honda, the best oval effort of his career. Teammate Marcus Ericsson qualified ninth at 178.114 mph in the No. 28 Delaware Life Honda.

Colton Herta was bidding for his second consecutive pole and fourth in the past eight races when his No. 26 Gainbridge Honda spun lazily through Turn 1 on his second lap. The impact was relatively square with the rear, but the Andretti Global with Curb-Agajanian driver was left with the 25th qualifying position. Dale Coyne Racing teammates Jack Harvey (No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda) and Katherine Legge (No. 51 e.l.f. Cosmetics Honda) did not post times.

“It just broke loose,” Herta said of the car. “(It’s) unfortunate. I think that first lap was decent – I don’t think it was going to get us the pole, but I think it could have got us in the top five. Second lap, I don’t if we wore the tires too much or what happened. (The grip) just let go pretty early and that’s all she wrote.”

Saturday’s race is the first of five races to end the season, and with 54 points available it could go a long way to setting the tone for the frenetic stretch run. Palou leads Team Penske’s Will Power by 49 points in pursuit of his third series championship in the past four years. Power, who qualified fifth at 179.262 mph in the No. 12 Verizon Business Team Penske Chevrolet, also is driving toward a third series title.

Dixon, Herta and Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward round out the top five in the standings. They are 53, 57 and 71 points behind Palou, respectively. O’Ward qualified 11th at 177.160 mph in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.

Josef Newgarden (No. 2 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet) has won this event a record four times, and he will start Saturday’s race from the third position after posting a qualifying average of 179.424 mph. Besides Dixon, Power is the only other active driver to have won this event.

Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline Qualifying Results

MADISON, Ill. (Friday, Aug. 16, 2024) – NTT P1 Award qualifying Friday for the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline NTT INDYCAR SERIES event on the 1.25-mile World Wide Technology Raceway, with qualifying position, car number in parentheses, driver, engine, and speed:

  1. (3) Scott McLaughlin, Chevy, 179.972 mph
  2. (60) Felix Rosenqvist, Honda, 179.796
  3. (66) David Malukas, Honda, 179.503
  4. (2) Josef Newgarden, Chevy, 179.424
  5. (12) Will Power, Chevy, 179.262
  6. (27) Kyle Kirkwood, Honda, 178.417
  7. (10) Alex Palou, Honda, 178.363
  8. (77) Romain Grosjean, Chevy, 178.321
  9. (28) Marcus Ericsson, Honda, 178.114
  10. (9) Scott Dixon, Honda, 177.905
  11. (5) Pato O’Ward, Chevy, 177.160
  12. (78) Conor Daly, Chevy, 177.126
  13. (11) Marcus Armstrong, Honda, 176.696
  14. (21) Rinus VeeKay, Chevy, 176.661
  15. (7) Alexander Rossi, Chevy, 175.865
  16. (15) Graham Rahal, Honda, 175.782
  17. (30) Pietro Fittipaldi, Honda, 175.656
  18. (14) Santino Ferrucci, Chevy, 175.514
  19. (8) Linus Lundqvist (R), Honda, 175.510
  20. (6) Nolan Siegel (R), Chevy, 174.854
  21. (20) Ed Carpenter, Chevy, 174.752
  22. (4) Kyffin Simpson (R), Honda, 173.900
  23. (45) Christian Lundgaard, Honda, 173.722
  24. (41) Sting Ray Robb, Chevy, 172.782
  25. (26) Colton Herta, Honda, 136.880
  26. (18) Jack Harvey, Honda, No Time
  27. (51) Katherine Legge, Honda, No Time

Top Three Qualifying Run for Both Meyer Shank Racing Cars at WWTR

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Rosenqvist qualifies on the front row while Malukas qualifies P3

Madison, IL (16 August 2024) – Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) came back from the three week break in top form, with both team cars qualifying in the top three and marking the 12th and 13th times that MSR has qualified in the top six this season.

After scoring a third place finish in his rookie season at World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR), David Malukas continued that momentum into this weekend’s qualifying run. Malukas manned the No. 66 AutoNation / Arctic Wolf Honda to the top of the charts early on in qualifying on Friday afternoon with a two lap average speed of 179.503 mph – which was over 1 mph quicker than the third fastest driver.

Malukas’ pole run held for more than half the session, until teammate Felix Rosenqvist claimed the top spot, posting an average speed of 179.796 mph. Although Rosenqvist was poised to start at the pointy end of the field he was bumped to second in the final moments of the qualifying session.

The No. 60 AutoNation / SiriusXM Honda also took a 9-place grid penalty for an unapproved engine change which will provisionally drop Rosenqvist to 11th for Saturday’s Bommarito Automotive Group 500. The penalty will also move Malukas to P2 with the young racer starting on the front row on Saturday.

Coverage of Saturday’s 260-lap race at World Wide Technology Raceway will begin at 6:00pm ET on USA and Peacock. Live radio coverage will be broadcast on SiriusXM Ch. 218.

Meyer Shank Racing Team Quotes:

David Malukas: “We definitely did a really good job with the setup. Missed it a little bit, but it’s so hard to judge, with the temperature changing and the track being so green. There’s a little bit more time in it, but coming from practice one, it was pretty good.(On using every inch of the racetrack) It was definitely getting a little bit close! On that exit from Turn 2, I had to lay on the deployment of the hybrid, I was really pushing it, getting close to those walls – and that’s what it takes to get a good lap.”

Felix Rosenqvist: “It was a pretty solid run, no major mistakes. I had a little bit of understeer on the first lap so I tweaked the car a little bit for the second lap. We have a nine-place grid drop so we need to be up there, so I gave it everything I had. It felt like it was a solid run, it’s a solid car, so we’ll hang tight and see where we end up.”

Mike Shank: “We’ve been quick on ovals this year, which has been great. I give a lot of credit to our Andretti technical alliance for the basis for that. There’s a lot more going on back in the garage before qualifying, to get these cars to their optimum – there’s quite a sequence that we got right today, same with the drivers. The deployment of energy now is really interesting, with all the tactics, I’m super proud of where we are. Obviously, tonight’s practice will be different, with the change in temperature, but we have a plan.”

Toyota Racing – NXS Michigan Quotes – Sheldon Creed – 08.16.24

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Toyota Racing – Sheldon Creed
NASCAR Xfinity Series Quotes

BROOKLYN, Mich (August 16, 2024) – Joe Gibbs Racing driver Sheldon Creed was made available to the media on Friday after winning the pole for the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Michigan International Speedway.

SHELDON CREED, No. 18 Friends of Jaclyn Foundation Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

Can you talk about your pole lap today?

“A different package than we are used to. We ran it in Indy, and we also run it at Atlanta. It is our intermediate car, with our restrictor plate engine package. There was a lot to learn at Indy. I feel like we did a really good job over our three-week break of taking what we learned in Indy to make our car better. I felt really good about practice. The car – it’s not like it takes a bunch of talent to drive it here – taped-up, qualifying run. Hats off to my guys for bringing an extremely fast race car.”

Do you feel like this is a place you can finally get your first Xfinity Series win?

“I do. I got my first ARCA win here in 2018, so it has been some time. I feel like we’ve been really consistent. We’ve been top-five a lot, even if we have had issues lately, we run top-five when they come. I feel really good about where our team is headed, and starting from the pole is going to help. Track position was really important in Indy, so I think it is going to be equally important tomorrow, and just need to be there in the end.”

What do you think this package is going to race like tomorrow?

“There is a lot of unknowns. I’m still wondering what we are going to learn. I would say that it will be something like Indy. I think it will be better. I think you will be able to stay closer and more cars will stay grouped up longer. I do think that there will be some that will probably fall back from handling issues, and I think you will have a pack of – it could be three, it could be 10 – that kind of run away. I don’t know what it will be. We are going to learn as we go, but something in between Indy and Atlanta.”

How are your preparing for the rest of the regular season and going into the Playoffs?

“I wouldn’t say Atlanta. It is just weird with the package we bring here now. I think this package races way better – it will race better here, and Indy than it does in Atlanta. We kind of just line-up and stay single file and save fuel. I think I have really good race tracks coming up – Kansas, Bristol, Darlington, Homestead. There is a lot of good race tracks in the Playoffs. On my list, I’ve just trying to be able to get through these speedway style tracks. I think we surprised ourselves today. Our car is really fast for this weekend, which is really nice for not having this one circled. I feel like our team has been consistent. I think we have nine top-fives, but we need to clean up our races a little bit to get better stage points. Just going to work on dialing that in, and then come Playoff time be right where we want to be.”

How much of a teammate element could come into play tomorrow?

“I don’t know. I feel like – it goes both ways. There are times that you need them, and you can’t trust them, and then there is times that they come and pick you up. I always try to work well – I think at the end of the day, we are all racing for each other. We try to help each other, but I don’t know. We help each other, but I’m not going to put myself out of line and lose 10 spots to help, you know?”

Do you see a lot of on-edge pack racing tomorrow?

“I think you are going to see it. I thought at the beginning of practice, everyone gave themselves a little room, right? And then, come the end of practice, everyone was looking for someone to get behind to see what their car did. I was really happy with how my car was in dirty air. I thought there was some others that were strong as well. I think the 39 (Ryan Sieg) really impressed me. He could stay in my tire tracks and wrap the corner with me, so I thought that was impressive, but I think you are going to see pack racing all day.”

There was an 18-mph pole difference from last year to this year. Can you tell the difference?

“Yes. We are almost half the horsepower than we normally are. I would say mid-corner speed is probably close, but at the end of the straightaway, you definitely feel it.”

What stands to you about the 2018 ARCA win here and what did it mean to you?

“I thought the beginning of my ARCA deal. I came straight from off-road and didn’t know anything about asphalt racing. It kind of went similar to how Xfinity has gone – been really fast, and didn’t win up until this point, when we came here that season. It was similar. We were really fast in practice, qualified, I think, second that day, and just had an extremely fast race car to lead a lot of laps. As the 20 or 21-year-old self that I was, I don’t remember exactly how old I was – that was really cool for me, and I felt like – I had finally won at the ARCA level. At that point, I was like here we go, now it is going to take off for me, which, is just not how it all has worked. I don’t know. It was special for me, and I feel like our season really took off from there.”

Do you enjoy this race track?

“Yeah, I’ve always enjoyed this race track. I’ve been fast here in Trucks. I was okay here the last couple of years in Xfinity, but I’ve always enjoyed this place. It will always be something special for me, coming in here, because I did get my first ARCA win here.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs more than 63,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 47 million cars and trucks at our 12 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 13th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 29 electrified options.

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

Short Course Off-Road Racing Returns to the West at The 2025 Mint 400

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UNLTD Off-Road Racing connects short course and desert off-road racing in one historic event

San Diego, CA August 16th, 2024 – Today UNLTD Off-Road Racing announced the addition of short course off-road racing to the 2025 Mint 400 March 5th-9th, uniting short course and desert racing into a single event. Short course vehicles, including Pro4, Pro2, Pro Lite, Pro UTV’s and more, are set to tackle The Mint 400 and be fully integrated into marquee Mint 400 events like the vehicle parade down the Las Vegas Strip and the Off-Road Festival (Tech & Contingency) on world famous Fremont Street.

The short course races will take place over two days of racing on Friday, March 7th and Saturday, March 8th on a newly freshened Primm Valley short course track and be featured in The Mint 400 live stream on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram, backed by industry-leading Mad Media social media content campaigns.

“We have been eager to bring short course racing to The Mint 400 in a more profound way than ever before, harkening back to the Mickey Thompson era,” said Matt Martelli, CEO of UNLTD Off-Road Racing. “We grew up attending the Mickey Thompson stadium races as well as desert races, and it was always a united culture. From racing at Riverside, to the LA Coliseum to downtown Tokyo, Mickey showed us that anything is possible.”

“We are looking forward to expanding our infrastructure and feature these remarkable vehicles to the massive built-in audience of The Mint 400. We’re thrilled to unleash Pro2’s, Pro4’s and more pro classes on a newly prepped short course track at the Official Start/Finish Line in Primm, NV. Get ready for some mind-blowing door-to-door off-road action, we’re excited to welcome the short course racing community to The Mint 400!” said Kilian Hamlin, Event Director of UNLTD Off-Road Racing.

Complete details regarding short course racing at The Mint 400 will be available soon.

About Unlimited Off-Road Racing (unlimitedoffroadracing.com)
The Unlimited Off-Road Racing (UNLTD) league was formed by The Martelli Brothers in 2023 after more than a decade of successful desert off-road race promotion. It includes The Parker 400, The Mint 400, The Reno 600 and The California 300. The league was formed to promote the sport of desert off-road racing, the off-road industry, and to expand the reach of off-road companies beyond the industry and into the homes of every off-road race fan, globally. Key attributes of the league include large racer car counts, competitive and challenging race courses, safe and family-friendly spectating areas, multiple days of racing and off-road festivities all located near major cities and markets that positively affect the off-road industry. The Martelli Brothers, owners of the motorsports powerhouse production group Mad Media have made it their mission to grow the league into a four race series that showcases the best off-road racers on the best courses in North America.

NXS Michigan – Riley Herbst Media Availability

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Official Release
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Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Cabo Wabo 250 Media Availability
Friday, August 16, 2024

Riley Herbst, driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, rolled into Michigan International Speedway as the most recent series race winner at Indianapolis. After a three-week series break, Herbst spoke about the upcoming race weekend at more.

RILEY HERBST, No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang — THE LAST TIME WE SAW YOU IT WAS IN THE WINNERS PRESS CONFERENCE IN INDIANAPOLIS. HOW WAS YOUR BREAK? CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THAT?

“Yeah, it was good. It was fun. We went down to the south of France. So got to experience that country over there, all the beautiful beaches, and all the cool weather, and everything that place has to offer. So that was a lot of fun. Got to participate last week in the Richmond race, which was cool in the Cup car. And now back in the really fast 98 car and excited for Michigan and excited to finish out the year strong and hopefully go chase the championship.”

THIS IS THE SAME RULES PACKAGE YOU HAD FROM INDIANAPOLIS. WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS OF WHAT YOU’RE GOING TO SEE AT MICHIGAN? SIMILARITIES AND WHAT DO YOU THINK MIGHT BE DIFFERENT ABOUT IT HERE?

“I don’t really know. I’m excited to get on track. Hopefully, if the rain holds away to practice a little bit. I’m excited because, obviously, both the Stewart-Haas Racing cars had speed at Indy, so hopefully we can translate some of that speed into this track. Obviously, I feel like it might get a little bit strung out, might need some drafting help to get up to the guy next to you. I think it’s going to be a little bit like Atlanta as well, where if you take a run that you can’t complete the pass. I think you’re going to go back to the back of the line, which a lot of people experience at Atlanta. So it’s going to be interesting. It could also be nothing like that. It could be like the old Michigan and just single file and if the better car is better, it will pass. I’m very curious, but we’ll see how it is here in about an hour or so.”

IF YOU DO HAVE TO RACE ON A GREEN TRACK IF IT RAINS BETWEEN NOW AND THE START, IS THERE ANY MORE OF A CHALLENGE TO THAT? AND ESPECIALLY THE POSSIBLY EVEN A COMPETITION CAUTION DURING THAT SHORT FIRST STAGE?

“Yeah, I don’t really know why we would talk about the comp caution. I feel like they are going to do one if we don’t practice today, but it’s 30 laps. I think we’ll be okay on that aspect. I think the biggest thing is just going to be the corner speeds and firing off on a green race track with the traction compound I think they applied. So a lot of unknowns, but I don’t think it’s anything that us drivers are very incapable of doing for the first few laps. So I think we’ll be fine there. But yeah, just looking forward to it.”

HOW HAS YOUR TENURE AT SHR PREPARED YOU FOR THE NEXT STEP YOU TAKE IN NASCAR?

“I think it’s done a lot. Obviously, I don’t know what that next step is, so hopefully we can get that figured out here shortly but Stewart-Haas Racing, like I’ve said multiple times to multiple people picked me up when I got pushed out the door so I owe a lot to Greg Zipidelli and obviously Tony Stewart and everybody over there for not only like helping me become who I am as a person but as a race car driver as well. I feel like I’ve just grown so much as everything and I’m at the top of my game where I’ve been so it’s cool to say that. It’s cool to be where I am right now as a race car driver coming off winning out one of the most historic tracks in the world and have all the momentum in the world to take the speed and my team to Phoenix and compete for a championship.”

DO YOU FEEL LIKE THEY NURTURED YOU? I MEAN AT A TIME WHEN YOU FINALLY NEEDED THAT BOOST THAT THEY DIDN’T EXPECT?

“Yeah, when I left in 2020 I was a very young green kid who didn’t know much and everybody over there took me under their wing, Kevin Harvick, Zippy, and they kind of nurtured me, you could say, in an aspect, and kind of saw something in me, and developed me, and didn’t really give up on me, especially after the really rough first year. Now we’ve won a couple of times, and now we’re competitive each week. And we have a chance to do the ultimate goal, and that’s to win the championship. I feel like we can accomplish that if we’re at our best.”

ALONG THOSE LINES, I TALKED TO TONY SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN HE SIGNED YOU AND BROUGHT YOU ON. HE WAS VERY COMPLIMENTARY AND SAID THAT YOU HAD, THERE WAS A LOT OF TALENT THERE. WHAT IS THAT PROCESS? HAVE YOU WORKED WITH HIM ALONG THE WAY? AND YOU SAID, KEVIN TOOK YOU UNDER HIS WING. AND OBVIOUSLY, WHAT DOES THAT ENTAIL FOR A DRIVER LIKE YOU WHO HAD EXPERIENCE BUT THEN CONTINUED ON?

“I mean to be quite frank with you, I never really saw Tony much. So it was more about Kevin and Aric Almirola and even Cole Custer, all those guys helping me. I would talk to Tony a little bit on the phone, but it was more with meetings about Zippy and Kevin and telling me how to grow as a race car driver and how to become a better race car driver. So without them, I don’t think I would be where I am today by any means.”

RILEY, BIG PICTURE, STEWART-HAAS RACING A MONTH AND A HALF AGO, WE WERE WONDERING WHEN YOU GUYS WERE GOING TO WIN RACES AND HERE YOU ARE RIDING A TWO-RACE WIN STREAK INTO THE BREAK. IS IT JUST A CONTINUED EVOLUTION OF HOW THE TEAM HAS PERFORMED? AND THEN WHERE DO YOU NEED TO WORK ON HERE AS WE GET CLOSER AND CLOSER TO THE PLAYOFFS AS YOU AND COLE BOTH HONE YOURSELVES INTO PLAYOFF MODE?

“I think the biggest thing is just the hard work that the guys have been doing at the shop when we weren’t winning. Obviously from Cole’s point of view, he’s the defending champion of the series and didn’t really have the best start to the year obviously the points leader by just being consistent. But the speed that we both were showing at the end of the last year wasn’t really there at the beginning of this year, so They just kind of had to go to work and develop the race car better with the rear window slits that kind of threw us for a loop there for the first few weeks. I feel like we’re on top of our game and I wouldn’t be surprised if me or Cole won or even Noah won this weekend because all those cars are pretty similar. So I’d say our weakness right now is probably our road course program. It’s not where we need to be by any means. We obviously have the Glen in a few weeks and the Roval in the first round. Hopefully we can find a little bit more pace there, but I feel like everywhere else we’ll have a shot to win and we can lead laps.”

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE PLAYOFFS AND DO YOU FEEL LIKE THAT YOU CAN BE A CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDER COME NOVEMBER?

“I think so. I’ve never made it out of the first round so that’s our first goal, but to win the championship you have to qualify and I didn’t qualify last year so we’re locked in now, and we got to make it past the first round which will be a challenge with Kansas, the Roval and Talladega which are three wildcard races and the second round is obviously kind of Stewart-Haas Racing’s bread and butter with Vegas, Homestead and Martinsville. So I feel like if we can get to the second round we’ll have a really good shot to get to Phoenix. The first thing is you have to make it out of the first round.”

RCR Race Preview: Michigan International Speedway

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Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series at Michigan International Speedway… In 186 NASCAR Cup Series starts at the 2.0-mile speedway, Richard Childress Racing has recorded three wins with drivers Dale Earnhardt (1987, 1990) and Kevin Harvick (2010), plus 25 top-five and 59 top-10 finishes. Earnhardt scored a dominating victory in 1987, leading 152 of 200 laps and earned a thrilling victory in 1990, edging Ernie Irvan by just .22 seconds (about two car lengths). Harvick’s 2010 victory was the driver’s first in the Irish Hills.

Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Michigan… Richard Childress Racing has four victories in NASCAR Xfinity Series competition at Michigan with four different drivers: Kevin Harvick (2003), Paul Menard (2014), Austin Dillon (2018) and Tyler Reddick (2019). The Welcome, N.C., team has claimed 14 top-five and 29 top-10 finishes in 54 starts at Michigan.

Catch Saturday’s Action in the Irish Hills… The Cabo Wabo 250 at Michigan International Speedway will be televised live on Saturday, August 17 beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET on USA Network. The event will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Follow Sunday’s Action in Michigan… The Michigan 400 will be televised live on Sunday, August 18, beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET on USA Network. The race will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Dow MobilityScienceTM Chevrolet at Michigan International Speedway… Austin Dillon has 20 career NASCAR Cup Series starts at Michigan International Speedway, posting five top-10 results and a career-best finish of fourth in August 2018. Dillon finished 19th in the 2023 Cup Series race after leading two laps. In NASCAR Xfinity Series competition, Dillon has earned two poles (2012, 2013) and one win (2018) at the 2.0-mile speedway.

Richmond Winner… Dillon enters Michigan International Speedway as the most recent winner in the NASCAR Cup Series. Last Sunday’s win at Richmond Raceway was Dillon’s fifth victory in the premier series.

Welcome, Dow MobilityScienceTM… Dow’s MobilityScience™ platform is designed to enhance the customer experience by tailoring technologies, products, and services from across Dow businesses to the transportation industry. The platform is pursuing accelerated growth by addressing Mobility mega-trends – where lighter weight, longer range, greater comfort, enhanced safety, and lower carbon footprint are the ultimate objectives. That is where Dow science, innovation, and people step in – working closely with customers to create the materials that bring the possibilities to life.

Dow brings a science and engineering crew who is driven by limitless curiosity to the RCR Team… Dillon and the RCR team are again supported by Dow’s materials science expertise and technologies this season. Backed by the power of data analysis and virtual modeling, Dow develops and manufactures high-performance components and materials custom-made for the No. 3 car. Dow and RCR’s partnership has expedited innovation and shortened testing time in the automotive industry by using one of the most extreme environments – the racetrack – as a real-time testbed. After 11 years of collaboration, Dow scientists and RCR engineers are continuing to work together to make the No. 3 car faster, safer, and more precise. Stay up to date with Dow’s exciting developments at www.dow.com/sports, and follow them on X (@DowSports) and LinkedIn (Dow Sports Marketing Solutions).

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTE:

Michigan International Speedway is a fast, 2.0-mile track. What is it about the track that you like?

“Michigan International Speedway is a big, fast place. It’s one of the roughest tracks we race on. Michigan is always a place where you’re trying to keep the gas pedal down and do whatever it takes to keep the momentum up. You get some good drafts there and you can make some big moves. You will see three or four wide action into the corner sometimes, and the race has gotten better over the years. ECR’s engine package is very good. You always see ECR engines race very well. We have to perform in Dow’s backyard, and I feel like we have a serious shot at winning.”

Kyle Busch and the No. 8 Lucas Oil Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Michigan International Speedway… Kyle Busch will make his 36th NASCAR Cup Series start at Michigan International Speedway this weekend. The driver of the Lucas Oil Chevrolet won at Michigan in 2011, edging seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson in NASCAR Overtime. Busch enters Sunday’s Michigan 400 with nine top-five and 15 top-10 finishes at the 2.0-mile speedway, including nine top-10 finishes in the last 11 Cup Series events. In 11 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, Busch has two wins and 10 top-10 finishes. In addition, Busch earned one victory in 10 NASCAR Truck Series events.

Points Update… Busch currently holds the 18th position in the NASCAR Cup Series driver championship point standings, 119 points below the Playoffs cutline.

Lucas Oil’s Role as a Technical and Development Powerhouse in Motorsports at RCR and ECR… Lucas Oil has contributed first-hand to the many on-track successes of one of NASCAR’s legendary race teams since 2014. Lucas Oil’s resources and expertise, including R&D, technical development and support, have provided a competitive on-track advantage that has equated to RCR’s more than 20 trips to Victory Lane over the past decade. All RCR NASCAR Cup and ECR engines rely on the best performance motor oil in NASCAR: a direct result of joint research and development. The same success that Lucas Oil and RCR/ECR have found at the highest levels of motorsports, has been successfully transferred to grassroots racing efforts throughout the country. And all team operations rely on the full line of Lucas Slick Mist appearance products – from metal polish to speed wax and detailers – to keep all types of vehicles looking their best. To learn more about Lucas Oil, visit lucasoil.com.

KYLE BUSCH QUOTES:

How big of a factor is the draft at Michigan International Speedway?

“Over the last couple of years with this new Next Gen car, the draft at Michigan has become less effective in my opinion. These cars don’t quite suck up on the straightaways the way the old cars could.”

Is it refreshing to race at a place like Michigan International Speedway where you can move around the track and find a line that works?

“Michigan over the years has been pretty lane dominant, but with the addition of the traction compound through the corners, it has led itself to widening out and allowing you to try different grooves. It still isn’t as wide as it once was back in 2013 when you could race along the wall, but it’s getting better and going in that direction.”

Is there any track on the schedule that you can compare to Michigan International Speedway? Auto Club Speedway was similar.

“Fontana was the closest just because it was a two-mile racetrack. It was special to win the last Cup race there in our Lucas Oil Camaro, but the asphalt, grip level, and banking level is entirely different between Michigan and Fontana. Kansas has really aged well and has progressive banking from the bottom to the top so you can run all over the racetrack. You can run to the top, right up against the wall for the majority of the day at Kansas. Michigan is not quite there yet. I’m not really sure anywhere compares entirely to Michigan.”

Jesse Love and the No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet Camaro SS at Michigan International Speedway… Jesse Love has made one career start at Michigan International Speedway, driving in the ARCA Menards Series event in August 2023. During that race, the Menlo Park, California native qualified in the fifth position, led 35 laps and claimed the checkered flag.

Off Weekend Winner… During the three-week Xfinity Series break, Love visited Montana’s Mission Valley Super Oval to compete in a Montana Big 5 Series super late model race. The 19-year-old driver picked up the victory in the Wild Fire 125 on August 3.

Did You Know? When compared to fulltime Xfinity Series competitors, Love currently holds the sixth-best average running position (12.2). Also, the Sunoco Rookie of the Year points leader has completed 73.3% (2,227) of the laps inside the top 15 and has lead a total of 279 laps.

About Whelen Engineering… Whelen Engineering is a family-owned company with a pioneering spirit and a passion to protect the lives of those who protect and serve others. The company mission is to provide industry-defining safety solutions around the world, while creating a community of problem-solvers who are inspired to push boundaries and continue our legacy of delivering ground-breaking innovation. As a global leader in the emergency warning industry, Whelen has been trusted to perform since 1952, when George Whelen III invented the first rotating aviation beacon. Whelen now encompasses two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Connecticut and New Hampshire with over 750,000 square feet of engineering and manufacturing space and the largest design staff in the industry. Every part of every Whelen product is proudly designed and manufactured in America. We embrace quality as our foundation, we celebrate innovative engineering in every product we produce.

JESSE LOVE QUOTE:

What is the outlook coming out of the Olympic break and returning to Michigan International Speedway?

“I look forward to going back to Michigan International Speedway again this season. It’s always nice to go back to a track for a second time in the Xfinity Series or even back to a track that I’ve raced at in the ARCA Menards Series. My ARCA car last season was not the fastest car there, but we were able to get the job done to secure the victory. Danny Stockman and all of the guys on the No. 2 crew have been putting in the work over these last few off weeks to prepare our team for the final push to the Playoffs. Everything that we are doing in these final six races of the regular season are to prepare us for a race to the championship. Our team is hungry and hopefully we can take Whelen back to Victory Lane soon.”

Austin Hill and the No. 21 United Rentals Chevrolet Camaro SS at Michigan International Speedway… Austin Hill has two career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Michigan International Speedway, earning a best finish of fifth place in 2022. The Winston, Ga. native made his NASCAR Cup Series debut at the Irish Hills facility in 2022, driving the No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet to a respectable 18th-place finish. In addition, Hill has three NASCAR Truck Series starts at the 2-mile speedway, capturing one victory in 2019.

Did You Know? When compared to fulltime Xfinity Series competitors, Hill currently holds the second-best average running position (8.988). Also, the 30-year-old driver has completed 84.1% (2,544) of the laps inside the top 15.

About United Rentals… United Rentals, Inc. is the largest equipment rental company in the world. The company has an integrated network of 1,504 rental locations in North America, 38 in Europe, 23 in Australia and 19 in New Zealand. In North America, the company operates in 49 states and every Canadian province. The company’s approximately 26,300 employees serve construction and industrial customers, utilities, municipalities, homeowners, and others. The company offers approximately 4,800 classes of equipment for rent with a total original cost of $20.66 billion. United Rentals is a member of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, the Barron’s 400 Index and the Russell 3000 Index® and is headquartered in Stamford, Conn. Additional information about United Rentals is available at unitedrentals.com.

Meet Hill… On Saturday, August 17 at 1:00 p.m. local time, Hill is scheduled to sign autographs at the RCR Merchandise Trailer located in the Midway at Michigan International Speedway. Stop by to meet the United Rentals driver and purchase new gear.

AUSTIN HILL QUOTES:

What are your thoughts about racing at Michigan International Speedway?

“I’ve won at Michigan in the Truck Series, so that gives me a little extra confidence each time we go back. Probably should have a won a second race there in the Truck Series but got wrecked while running second in a green-white-checkered finish. I’ve always seemed to run well there though. My rookie season in the Xfinity Series car, we ran decent. The biggest thing about racing at Michigan is keeping your momentum up. It’s not a superspeedway by any means, but the draft does come into effect on restarts. Having the right lane choices, knowing when to run the bottom or run the top, knowing when to make passes and or push your lane are all keys as a driver to having a good finish. A lot of the superspeedway type feel comes into play until the field gets strung out. Once you get strung out, it’s a normal mile-and-a half style of race.”

What are the keys to having a successful race in the Irish Hills?

“It’s all about momentum and reminds me of when I would race in the Truck Series. If you drive in too deep, you have to lift too much and then you get on throttle too late, which slows lap time down. You are better off to roll out early and get back wide open sooner, to carry the momentum down the long straightaways. We need to have a car that is very versatile, that can go in and out of the juice that gets laid down.”

Superbike racing returns to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course today for Permco MotoAmerica Superbikes at Mid-Ohio event

By
Official Release
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Superbike racing at Mid-Ohio

Steel Commander Superbike and Mission King of the Baggers headline three-day event

LEXINGTON, Ohio (Aug. 16, 2024) – Superbike racing has officially returned to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course today for the first time since 2014 with Permco MotoAmerica Superbikes at Mid-Ohio, Aug. 16-18.

Originally run under the AMA Superbike Championship name, an annual Superbike race was held at Mid-Ohio for 32 consecutive years from 1983-2014. Fast forward to 2024, Permco MotoAmerica Superbikes at Mid-Ohio revives the North Central Ohio tradition with the 33rd running of the event featuring the 48th and 49th all-time Superbike races at 2.4-mile, 15-turn road course.

The seventh of nine rounds on the 2024 Steel Commander Superbike Championship, the two-wheel Mid-Ohio weekend features nearly 150 riders competing in 12 races across six different bike series headlined by the doubleheader races from Steel Commander Superbike and Mission King of the Baggers series. Additional racing from Supersport, Junior Cup, Mission Super Hooligan National Championship and Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race support series add to a jam-packed schedule.

Riders featured on the starting grids this weekend include two past Mid-Ohio Superbike winners – Cameron Beaubier (2014) and current championship leader Josh Herrin (2013). Other notable competitors with ties to the Buckeye State include CJ LaRoche (Bellaire, Ohio), Brian Mullins (Cincinnati, Ohio), Robert Noe (New Franklin, Ohio), Larry Pegram (Hebron, Ohio) and Anthony Sansotta (Marion, Ohio). Mullins and Hayden Gillim, a Superbike and King of the Baggers entrant from Owensboro, Ky., both serve as riding coaches at The Mid-Ohio School’s Performance Track Riding programs making it a home race for both riders.

“(Mid-Ohio) is one of the best tracks in the country,” Pegram said. “The elevation changes – it’s kind of got a little bit of everything. It’s got low speed. It’s got high speed. It’s got everything.”

“Returning to Mid-Ohio is something I’ve looked forward to for a while,” said Gillim. “It’s always been one of my favorite tracks. It was the first road race I ever went to as a kid, so it’s a big deal to me to get back racing here.”

Permco MotoAmerica Superbikes at Mid-Ohio will provide fans with tremendous behind-the-scenes access and fun for all ages. Attendees will be able to enjoy free paddock access to get up close to the bikes and riders. It will be the place for autograph sessions on both Saturday and Sunday. Motorcycle enthusiasts in attendance can also partake in free demo rides on the latest models from BMW, CFMOTO, Harley-Davidson and Yamaha. Finally, family fun is on tap in the infield at the Free Kids Zone complete with carnival games, inflatables, a Stryder bike course and more.

Weekend General Admission tickets are $95, and Single Day tickets start at $40. Children 12 and under receive free general admission when accompanied by a ticketed adult. Visit midohio.com for all ticket pricing and more information. Follow the event using #MotoAmerica or with the track’s Facebook page @MidOhioSportsCarCourse, X @Mid_Ohio or Instagram @officialmidohio for the latest news.

About Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course:

A comprehensive motorsports facility in Lexington, Ohio, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course sits on 380 acres and features a permanent road-racing circuit with two primary race track configurations: 2.4-mile, 15-turn or 2.258-mile, 13-turn layout. Located 60 miles north of Columbus and 75 miles south of Cleveland near Mansfield, the natural terrain road course is commonly referred to as the “Most Competitive in the U.S.” and annually hosts a diversity of locally, regionally and nationally-sanctioned race events for amateur, club and professional drivers and riders. It is also home to The Mid-Ohio School, featuring over 20 driving and riding courses, for teenagers to professional racers using Honda vehicles. Opened in 1962, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course has been owned and operated by Green Savoree Mid-Ohio, LLC since 2011, just the raceway’s third private ownership group in its history.

For more information, visit midohio.com, ‘like’ its Facebook page @MidOhioSportsCarCourse or follow updates on X @Mid_Ohio and Instagram @officialmidohio.

Matt Gould Prepares for NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Debut in Milwaukee with Niece Motorsports

By
Official Release
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Gould will make his NCTS debut in the No. 44 Chevrolet Silverado RST at the Milwaukee Mile.

Salisbury, NC (August 16, 2024) – The Gould family heritage with Niece Motorsports will strengthen as the team announces Matt Gould to make his NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series debut at the Milwaukee Mile Speedway.

Gould, a second-generation driver from Mooresville, NC, is the son of Niece Motorsports’ winningest and longest-tenured crew chief, Phil Gould. The 18-year-old competes in grassroots NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly events throughout the southeast, primarily honing his craft at Hickory Motor Speedway. He has earned three wins in the Late Model Stock Car ranks, picking up victories at Orange County Speedway, Florence Motor Speedway, and Hickory.

Having made his ARCA Menards Series debut at Milwaukee two years ago, the track is the perfect site for Gould to take the next step in his career progression. In 2022, he competed in two ARCA events for Niece Motorsports which both produced top-10 finishes; 10th at Milwaukee and eighth at Toledo Speedway.

“This opportunity means a lot to me, especially having Al (Niece) and my dad help me get to this point,” said Gould. “I’m looking forward to it and can’t thank them enough. I’ve been having a lot of fun working on the truck and putting everything together in the interior knowing that this is for my truck, not someone else’s. Huge thank you to Niece Equipment and Chevrolet for the support as well. I’m hoping to get into their simulator soon to get a feel for it, but I’ve already had some help and have leaned on so many people. I’ll have a bunch of family members watching that have been waiting on this for a long time, so I’m excited to finally be able to go and do it.”

Following in his father’s footsteps, the younger Gould took an opportunity within the team to learn the mechanical ropes of the Truck Series while he was in high school. He picked up a nickname around the shop and became affectionately known as “LP” (Little Phil). Since he graduated in May, he has spent most of his time in the shop preparing several of the team’s race trucks as a full-time crew member. Thanks to Al Niece, he’ll trade in a wrench for a steering wheel next week.

“Matt has been such a great kid to have around our team,” said Niece. “His determination, whether it be from behind the wheel in his late model or from lending a helping hand to our crew, has proven how much he wants this opportunity. He’s always pitched in with whatever we throw at him and has continued to learn ever since he first started to come around. One of our goals here has always been to give him a chance to race in the Truck Series. We’ve been waiting on this for a while now, and I’m glad that we were finally able to put everything together for him in his debut. I think he’ll do a great job for us.”

This will be the first race of Gould’s career that he won’t have his father working directly with him on his team. Phil Gould believes that will create some friendly competition in the family.

“That’s going to be crazy for me,” said Phil. “You know, I’ll have my own team to worry about when I’m working on our truck, but I’ll be peeking over around him to make sure he’s good. It’s really cool, I’m super thankful to Al (Niece) and Cody (Efaw) and everyone here at the shop for believing in him and giving him this opportunity. He’s been working really hard in the background, working on his truck and doing all the things he needs to do to prepare for it. Of course I believe in him; I’m his dad, so I’m supposed to, right? But it’ll be really cool to see everyone else behind him, and I’m confident he’ll do well. I’m definitely hoping for the best.”

Niece Equipment will join Gould on board as his primary sponsor for the race, while the team’s Competition Director, Tom Ackerman, will serve as his crew chief on the No. 44 Silverado RST. It will be the second time this year that the team enters the part-time truck which debuted at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park with Conor Daly.

The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series heads to the Milwaukee Mile Speedway on Sunday, August 25th for the running of the LiUNA! 175. Live coverage of the race will be shown on FOX Sports 1, the Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio at 4:00 PM ET. For more news and updates, please visit NieceMotorsports.com.

About Niece Motorsports: Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2024, Niece Motorsports enters its ninth season in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as X @NieceMotorsport.

PRO STOCK’S GREG ANDERSON RETURNS TO HOME STATE FOR LUCAS OIL NHRA NATIONALS

By
Official Release
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BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 16, 2024) – As the winningest Pro Stock driver in NHRA history, Greg Anderson is no stranger to the winner’s circle, including at Brainerd International Raceway, which serves as the host of this weekend’s 42nd annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals.

Anderson, originally from nearby Duluth, Minn., has 105 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series wins to his credit, more than any other Pro Stock driver. At this weekend’s event in Brainerd, he’ll have his eye on his third win of the season and fourth at Brainerd for KB Titan Racing.

As the penultimate race of the regular season before the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs begin, Brainerd remains a critical event during the NHRA season and Anderson will look to win at the fan-favorite facility for the first time since 2011.

“Brainerd is important for a lot of reasons,” said Anderson, who is currently second in Pro Stock points. “Obviously, with the playoffs coming up, it’s time to be on your A-game and hit your peak. You have to peak at the right time of the year, and this is the time – the time to get everything right.”

In 2023, Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car) and Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock) collected Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals wins. This season, the event will again be broadcast on FS1 and FOX, including eliminations action on FOX on Sunday, Aug. 18 at 3 p.m. ET. It is the 14th of 20 races during the 2024 season and Anderson and the rest of the Pro Stock field will be ready for the weekend.

Anderson, driver of the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro, currently sits second in points behind his KB Titan teammate Glenn. But it has been Elite Motorsports who has claimed the last six Pro Stock wins, with standout Aaron Stanfield earning three of those titles and two from Jeg Coughlin Jr. Other standouts in the class include reigning and six-time world champ Erica Enders, Troy Coughlin Jr. and Deric Kramer.

Anderson will meet up against Stanfield during this weekend’s Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday. The other side of the Challenge ladder will include Jerry Tucker and Pro Stock rookie Cory Reed, who advanced to the final round in Sonoma in just his second career Pro Stock start.

“It’s a great confidence builder, without a doubt, for both the driver and the team,” Anderson said. “You generally don’t get a practice session for race day. That’s what we consider a practice day, but it’s a real race, and we treat it like a real race. I’ve said every time I win an event that I wish there was another one tomorrow. If we can win, that will be the case and there will be another one tomorrow.”

Top Fuel’s Brown is after back-to-back Brainerd wins and comes in on a hot streak, winning the most recent race in Sonoma. He’ll face off with points leader and defending world champ Doug Kalitta, Shawn Langdon, Brittany Force, Steve Torrence and racing legend Tony Stewart.

Capps, a seven-time Brainerd winner, is seeking his first win of the season. He has a runner-up appearance under his belt and will be competing in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday against reigning champion Matt Hagan. Funny Car newcomer Austin Prock leads the points with Sonoma winner Bob Tasca III in second.

The event also will feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown, Pingel Top Fuel Motorcycle 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 Brainerd International 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 Brainerd. 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 4 and 6:15 p.m. CT on Friday, Aug. 16 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Aug. 17 at 12 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. CT on Sunday, Aug. 18. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, as well as coverage of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday at 6 p.m. ET on FS1, qualifying action at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday and eliminations on FOX at 3 p.m. ET Sunday.

To purchase tickets to the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway, fans can call 866-444-4455. 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.

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