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Jak Crawford Demos Aston Martin Aramco F1 Car in Houston then Supports Team in Austin

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Official Release
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19 Year Old Formula 1 Prospect Shows His Commercial Appeal in the USA for the Growing Sport of F1

Houston, TX (21 October 2024) – To celebrate Aramco being headquartered in Houston for 50 years, the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team brought their young American driver and their Formula 1 car to Houston to help celebrate their commercial relationship with Aramco.

As Formula 1 prepared for the traditional visit to Austin’s Circuit of the Americas, Crawford was tapped for three days of activity on the ground in Houston that included a working entourage of nearly 40 personnel to support Formula 1 car showruns and demonstrations with Jak as the pilot of the car and a headline of the event.

The events also included an Aston Martin Dealer visit, Crawford speaking on technology panels, Formula 1 Q&A events as well as meet and greets with politicians and business leaders, all of which provided a diverse range of commercial opportunities for Aston Martin Aramco to showcase Crawford, a promising talent and Texan.

“Having Aramco based in my home town created the perfect opportunity for Aston Martin Aramco and me to come to Houston to put on an F1 show and make new friends for the brands and the sport,” said Crawford. “I was raised in the Houston metro in The Woodlands. Houston is a big city, but we all cheer for the same teams like the Astros, Rockets, Texans and our own University teams. It is nice as a racing driver to come home and have people cheering for the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team and supporting my own racing career on the Formula One ladder.”

Aston Martin Aramco has asked Jak to travel to several races this year to provide commercial and marketing support as well as imbedding him with the drivers and the engineers to learn more about what to expect during the intense Formula 1 weekends.

Understanding the commercial/marketing appeal of Crawford as an American, Aston Martin Aramco has made sure to have him on site for key events including Miami, Austin, and later on this season in Las Vegas. The Aston Martin Aramco commercial team has jumped all in on Jak’s attraction in terms of youth, image, opportunity, and nationality. Heading into the second year with the team, this focus will only continue to grow in 2025.

“The commercial side of the business has been so new to me,” said Crawford, who moved to Europe full-time as a 13 year old to focus exclusively on making it to Formula 1 as a driver. “I have learned a lot this year about partners, sponsors, VIPs and fans providing marketing support from talking on stage to zoom calls to sitting on panels with other professionals. There is the racing side, and there is the commercial side. You cannot have the one I love to do without the other! This year has been my main vocational training ground for the future when I am the main driver. I have been very fortunate to have been imbedded with two F1 teams now at as so young of an age. My education in the F1 world has been steep and deep.”

Jak has been in the Formula One car on track a couple of times this year in Europe and England, with more laps planned later in the year. There are even more track days planned next year with exciting announcements yet to come in time from Aston Martin Aramco.

“These events are nice, but at the end of it, my goal is to be a F1 driver on the grid in 2026,” said Crawford. “The time I am getting on the track in the Formula One car is important to keep learning and showing what I am capable of doing behind the wheel of the car. The feedback has been very good and I have impressed where I needed to impress. The F1 engineers on the team know my strengths. Now it is just a process of continuing to grind, succeed at what I am doing, and keep looking for my chance to show what I can do in the F1 car as a team’s main driver.”

Crawford continued his duties with Aston Martin Aramco Racing through the COTA weekend even as he continues to prepare for a big final push to the 2024 FIA Formula 2 season with two race weekends yet to run on the championship.

GMG Racing Wraps 2024 National Sports Car Racing Season with a Pair of Runner-up Finishes in IMSA Carrera Cup Finale at COTA

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Official Release
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  • Kyle Washington Secures Season-Best Second-Place Masters Class Finish in the No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup on Saturday
  • James Sofronas Joins Washington in Saturday’s Victory Lane Celebration with a P2 Pro-Am Finish in the No. 14 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

AUSTIN, Texas (October 21, 2024) – GMG Racing closed out its 2024 national competition season nearly the same way it started over seventh months ago with a pair of podium finishes in the final IMSA Carrera Cup North America race weekend of the year at Circuit of The Americas (COTA). The Saturday and Sunday doubleheader was the third and last Carrera Cup event of the year featuring North America’s premier single-make Porsche racing series on a Formula 1 race weekend.

Longtime GMG Racing team driver Kyle Washington stepped up for his best race finish of the year Saturday with a Masters Class second-place result in the No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. The P2 finish topped a third-place showing in the Carrera Cup support race at the Canadian Grand Prix Formula 1 race in June and Washington’s first third-place run of 2024 in the season-opening Carrera Cup race weekend last March in Sebring.

The mid-March race weekend in Sebring was also the site of a race-winning podium appearance for GMG Racing team owner and driver James Sofronas, who won in the Pro-Am class in the first race of the season in the No. 14 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. That win was the third-straight Carrera Cup victory for Sofronas after sweeping the 2023 doubleheader finale at COTA.

Sofronas returned to the Austin F1 circuit looking for a repeat of last year’s twin victories and his fourth Pro-Am win of 2024. In addition to Sebring, Sofronas scored wins this year in the Carrera Cup support races at Montreal and at Road America in August.

Both Washington and Sofronas had Porsches capable of carrying them to their respective class wins Saturday, but the caution-filled race never gave either a chance to mount bids for victory. Only 12 green flag laps were completed in the 35-minute race that was slowed by a trio of yellow flags, including lengthy caution delays at the start and finish.

“Saturday’s race was so full of yellows, and my car never really came in until the end,” Washington said. “Then it was spot on for the final four green flag laps or so we had at the end. It was really good, but before that the tires weren’t up to temperature, it was a real animal to drive, but I am glad we ended up where we did. It was super cool to be on the podium with James to close out the year, it is amazing, but sometimes its cool to end it with an ice bag and a cocktail too!”

Sofronas was delighted to return to victory lane with Washington for the third time in GMG’s five Carrera Cup race weekends this year. The team ran a select schedule of Carrera Cup events that included Sebring, Road America and the trio of F1 support races at Miami, Montreal and COTA.

“When a great friend and great client like Kyle has success, it only sweetens the weekend that much more,” said Sofronas, GMG Racing Principal and Founder. “He has been putting in the work and it shows. His pace and his race craft keep getting better. To get on the podium with him again in our respective classes was a great way to finish the season.”

Sunday’s season finale Carrera Cup sprint, which set the stage for that afternoon’s F1 United States Grand Prix, saw Washington pick up right where he left off Saturday with an on-the-pace Porsche. He took the green flag just a few spots behind Sofronas, who sustained a hard hit on his No. 14 in the frenzied first few corners of the opening race lap.

“After catching the competitors at the front, and even passing the championship leader, I just ran out of time on Saturday,” Sofronas said. “I knew Sunday was going to be a tough race, and I got hit hard in turn three. It knocked my steering alignment and toe out right from lap one. My car wasn’t 100%, but it was good enough to fight. Kyle got around me and then, with my race out of reach, I went into protection mode. In a somewhat calculated move, I repassed Kyle and chased down his class leader. I passed him and Kyle then got around him on the subsequent lap. He was on his way to his first victory until that same competitor decided to make a low percentage move and took Kyle out on the last corner of the last lap. Our planned worked out perfect, except for the end.”

Although the driver that knocked Washington from the lead – and what would have been his first career Carrera Cup victory – with the checkered flag in sight was assessed a 10 second penalty for incident responsibility, it did nothing to change the final results or recover Washington’s lost ground.

Despite the huge disappointment, Washington was typically enthusiastic over what was otherwise a great race.

“Sunday was a great race,” Washington said. “It was mean everywhere, the track was dirty, and it was literally holding on for dear life. And everyone else was doing the same thing, it was an amazing race and all green. I didn’t like how it ended. He has a habit of hitting me in the bigger races, including Carrera Cup at Rennsport Reunion last year, but we raced to the end and gave it our all.”

Noteworthy: While COTA Carrera Cup closed the curtain on GMG Racing’s national racing series competition this year, the racing continues immediately next weekend with one of the first “Winter Series” race weekends at GMG’s new home at The Thermal Club. Sofronas and the team are in the final stages of opening up GMG Racing’s new and state-of-the-art headquarters facility at Thermal, with a VIP Grand Opening this weekend followed by the complete move-in and final setup through this month and into early November.

“With the Grand Opening event for our new headquarters facility at The Thermal Club this weekend, there is obviously no rest for us,” Sofronas said. “There is also a Thermal GT Winter Series race next weekend that we will be competing in and bringing in some new clients for testing and evaluation opportunities. We are excited for that and Thermal being our new home. We are anxious to get settled in and enjoying all of the beautiful amenities that The Thermal Club has to offer. There really is no off-season for us, but there is really no better place to be than The Thermal Club in the winter.”

About GMG Racing: Founded in 2001, GMG Racing quickly established itself as North America’s premier performance tuning facility. What began as a small 1,200 sq. ft. shop, maintaining two race cars, has grown into a state-of-the-art performance tuning, racing and service facility located in Santa Ana, California in Orange County and with a trackside motorsports facility at 28,000 sq. ft. currently being built at The Thermal Club. The staff, attention to detail, and passion are what make GMG the choice of professionals and enthusiasts worldwide. GMG, in its early years, was located directly across the street from Porsche Motorsport North America (PMNA). This close proximity allowed GMG to build a strong relationship with the legendary racing brand which has helped us support our customers to the highest level possible. From club racing to Sebring, Daytona and Spa, GMG can take you as far as you want to go. More information can be found at www.gmgracing.com.

JOEY LOGANO ADVANCES TO CHAMPIONSHIP 4 WITH WIN AT LAS VEGAS

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Official Release
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Photo courtesy of NASCAR Media & Getty Images

LAS VEGAS, NV – October 21, 2024 – Joey Logano won Sunday’s South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, advancing to the NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4. The victory marks Ford’s 738th all-time in Cup Series competition along with Team Penske’s 99th series win with Ford. Currently, Logano has the most Championship 4 appearances of any driver with six and will compete for his third title this year at Phoenix.

“Congratulations to Roger, Tim, Paul, Joey and everyone at Team Penske on the race win at Las Vegas,” said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “The No. 22 team was fast throughout the day, executed their fuel mileage strategy, and now will be racing for the NASCAR Cup Championship in Phoenix.”

“Holy cow. What an incredible turn of events the last week. What a very fast Pennzoil Mustang. We’ve got the old kids crew here today and a lot of kids rooting us on, so it was really special to win in front of them again. My kids at home, I wish you guys were out here, but we’re going to the Championship 4 again. I don’t know what the deal is with the even year thing, but maybe it’s real. Thanks to the fans out here. Thanks to Roush Yates Engines for making great fuel mileage, great calls by Paul and Nick Hensley, our gas man, making sure she’s full, giving me the good info I need to save fuel and keep the lead that we needed to. Boy, we’re going racing again. What an incredible situation. I’m so blessed,” commented Logano.

In Sunday’s 267-lap race, six of the eight playoff drivers started in the top 10, including Team Penske’s Joey Logano in P10. With 16 laps to go in Stage 1, an accident in Turn 3 brought out the first caution of the race, creating multiple pit strategies throughout the field. While some teams opted for track position, others opted for new tires. An accident on lap 89 involving multiple playoff drivers brought out the caution again, putting several drivers in a must-win situation to advance to the Round of 4. At the end of Stage 2, RFK Racing’s Chris Buescher finished in P4 with Team Penske’s Joey Logano right behind in P5. While most of the front-runners pitted for fuel under green, several drivers decided to stretch their fuel to the finish, led by Daniel Suarez and Joey Logano. Logano began closing the gap on Suarez with 10 laps remaining and took the lead with six laps to go. Logano held off Christopher Bell to win the race by 0.662 seconds, automatically advancing to the Championship 4, something he has done every other year since the format’s debut in 2014.

RFK Racing’s Chris Buescher finished in P10.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series also raced at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday. RSS Racing’s Ryan Sieg finished in P2 and Stewart-Haas Racing teammates Riley Herbst and Cole Custer finished in P7 and P8.

The NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series both compete this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida.
39 CHAMPIONSHIPS – 472 WINS – 436 POLES

About Roush Yates Engines
Roush Yates Engines is a leading-edge engine development company based in Mooresville, NC consisting of two state-of-the-art facilities – Roush Yates Engines and Roush Yates Manufacturing Solutions, a world class AS9100 Rev D/ISO 13485 certified CNC manufacturing facility. The company’s core business includes designing, building and testing purpose-built race engines.

Ford Performance in partnership with Roush Yates Engines is the exclusive engine builder of the NASCAR FR9 Ford V8 engine.

With an unparalleled culture of winning and steeped in rich racing history, Roush Yates Engines continues to follow the company’s vision to lead performance engine innovation and staying true to the company’s mission, provide race winning engines through demonstrated power and performance.

NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Las Vegas

By
Jeffrey Boswell
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NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Las Vegas
Photo by David Myers for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Joey Logano: Logano used astute fuel strategy to lead the final six laps and win the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, punching his ticket to the championship round.

“I’m just lucky to still be in the Playoffs,” Logano said. “I am in, thanks to Alex Bowman, who was disqualified after the ROVAL race. Reportedly, Alex threw his phone into a swimming pool after learning the news. Reportedly, William Byron said the phone hit Jerry Falwell, Jr.’s pool boy.”

2. William Byron: Byron finished fourth at Las Vegas.

“Sunday’s race went head to head with the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas,” Byron said. “But let’s face it, you can see things in NASCAR that you’d never see in F1, like toilet paper advertised on a car.”

3. Christopher Bell: Bell started on the pole at Las Vegas and led the most laps, but finished second to Joey Logano.

“I’ve started on pole in 13 races in my career,” Bell said, “and I have yet to win one of those races. I guess I take the saying ‘It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish’ a little too literally.”

4. Alex Bowman: Bowman finished fifth in the South Point 400.

“First there were 16,” Bowman said. “Then there were 12. Then there were 8. I was a part of each of those groups until I had my membership revoked from the last one.”

5. Kyle Larson: Larson finished 11th in the South Point 400.

“Congratulations to Joey Logano,” Larson said. “The No. 22 team and crew chief Paul Wolfe made the perfect calls all day. With this being Las Vegas, I guess you would call Wolfe the ‘Pit Boss.'”

6. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin finished eight at Las Vegas.

“My car featured the ‘Yahoo’ paint scheme,” Hamlin said. “Obviously, that meant my No. 11 Toyota was powered by a ‘search engine.'”

7. Ryan Blaney: Blaney’s tough weekend at Las Vegas started with a crash in Saturday’s practice, and ended with a 32nd place finish.

“Things were going okay until I was caught in the accident that saw Tyler Reddick flip once,” Blaney said. “However, I refuse to ‘roll over’ and die.”

8. Ross Chastain: Chastain started seventh and finished seventh at Las Vegas, posting his 13th top 10 of the season.

“I really wanted to win in Vegas,” Chastain said. “Who wouldn’t want to smash a watermelon in Vegas? I guess the better question is ‘Who would want to smash a watermelon in Vegas?'”

9. Martin Truex, Jr.: Truex finished sixth in the South Point 400, posting his 11th top-10 result of the season.

“I think I’ve left my mark in this sport,” Truex said. “I think Tyler Reddick has as well after his day at Darlington when he left a skid mark.”

10. Chase Elliott: Elliott was caught up in a multi-car accident on Lap 89 that resulted in Tyler Reddick’s No. 45 Toyota rolling over. Elliott was able to continue, but his suspension was compromised and he finished 33rd.

“I’m in last place in the standings,” Elliott said. “I’m not worried at all. I’ve been in worse places. Heck, I was born in Dawsonville, Georgia.”

Team Penske NASCAR Cup Series Race Report – Las Vegas

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Official Release
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South Point 400: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas, Nev. – October 20, 2024

AUSTIN CINDRIC No. 2 AUTOTRADER FORD MUSTANG

START: 11TH STAGE ONE: 9TH STAGE TWO: 33RD FINISH: 34TH POINTS: 11TH

RACE RUNDOWN: Austin Cindric’s strong start to Sunday’s South Point 400 came to an abrupt end early in Stage 2 after the No. 2 Autotrader Ford Mustang sustained serious damage, hindering its ability to continue in the event. Cindric started 11th after narrowly missing out on advancing to the final round of qualifying in Saturday’s time trials. He reported early on that the car was a touch on the snug side and had slight left-front chatter, but it eventually dissipated. The Autotrader Ford Mustang made its first trip to pit road under green on Lap 33, receiving four tires and fuel. Cindric cycled back to ninth and climbed to seventh by Lap 52. The No. 3 car brought out the caution on Lap 64 and Cindric returned to pit road for service, lining up 15th for the dash to the end of Stage 1. When the flags flew to close out the opening segment, Cindric was scored ninth. Following the restart to fire off Stage 2, a chaotic, multi-car incident ensued that ultimately left the No. 2 Ford Mustang with significant damage, forcing it to retire from the race under NASCAR’s Damaged Vehicle Policy.

CINDRIC’S THOUGHTS: “It’s an unfortunate ending to the day for the No. 2 Autotrader Ford Mustang. It’s frustrating because we’ve had really fast cars, especially today. I felt like we had one of the best cars on the long run and the way those cautions and the strategy and all that, it’s a shame. The last three weeks we’ve had cars that easily could have finished in the top five and some of those we got wrecked. It’s racing. It’s tough, but I definitely want to finish strong.”

RYAN BLANEY No. 12 MENARDS/GREAT STUFF FORD MUSTANG

START: 37TH STAGE ONE: 17TH STAGE TWO: 32ND FINISH: 32ND POINTS: 7TH

RACE RUNDOWN: It was one of those weekends to put in the rearview mirror for Ryan Blaney and the No. 12 Menards/Great Stuff Ford Mustang team at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. After beginning his practice session on Saturday afternoon, the defending Cup Series champion would cut a tire sending him into the outside turn 1 wall. The Menards crew worked well into the night and early morning to prepare a backup car for Sunday’s South Point 400. Rolling off 37th on the grid, Blaney would quickly show the strong preparation of the No. 12 team by driving his way into the top 20 when the first round of green flag pit stops began around lap 30. Crew chief Jonathan Hassler opted to keep Blaney out until lap 40 when he made his first pit stop of the day. He would use slightly fresher Goodyear tires to bring home a 17th place finish in Stage 1, a net gain of 20 positions from the event’s start. Blaney would restart 19th when Stage 2 began. Unfortunately, he would suffer damage in a multi-car crash on the frontstretch on lap 90. The Menards crew would make extensive repairs and Blaney would soldier home for a 32nd place finish.

BLANEY’S THOUGHTS: “We’re still alive. It’s definitely not the best of days. It was just a rough weekend overall. I don’t know what to do about it, to be honest with you, running over something and having a hole in (the tire) in practice. And then just getting clipped out there. I thought I could get around him and didn’t know if he’d come up the racetrack and then by the time he was kind of on the track it was too late. I got clipped and bent everything, so it was just a rough weekend. We still have two more weeks, so we’re definitely not out of it.”

JOEY LOGANO No. 22 PENNZOIL FORD MUSTANG

START: 10TH STAGE ONE: 8TH STAGE TWO: 5TH FINISH: 1ST POINTS: 1ST (ADV)

RACE RUNDOWN: In what was a full week of emotions for the No. 22 team and driver Joey Logano, the two-time Cup Series champion punched his ticket to the Championship 4 by winning Sunday’s South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This was Logano’s fourth Cup Series victory in Las Vegas and 35th overall. The triumph solidified the Middletown, Conn. native’s streak of qualifying for the Championship 4 in even number years dating back to the format’s inception in 2014.

Logano rolled the Pennzoil Ford Mustang from the 10th starting position. He would quickly begin moving his way forward early by driving to sixth position prior to his first pit stop on lap 34. A caution on lap 64 would see mixed strategies for the short sprint to the Stage 1 conclusion on lap 80. Crew chief Paul Wolfe would opt for four Goodyear tires and an air pressure adjustment and Logano would restart 12th with nine laps remaining. He would pick off a handful of spots to finish eighth in Stage 1. The No. 22 team would flip the script during the stage break and take right side tires to restart fourth. Logano would make strong moves on the green flag restart to move up to second place. He would remain around the top five to finish fifth when Stage 2 was completed on lap 165. The final stage began, and the balance of the Pennzoil Ford Mustang was on the tight side in traffic. The final round of pit stops began with about 40 laps to go and the Pennzoil crew opted to stretch the fuel mileage and calculate as they go. With instruction from Wolfe and spotter Coleman Pressley, Logano would pass Daniel Suarez for the lead on lap 262 and hold off a hard charging Christopher Bell to score the victory.

LOGANO’S THOUGHTS: “So proud of our race team all the way through. This group of guys, they’re truly incredible. They’re good people, which is one of the things I’m most proud of, but they’re really smart. In the playoffs, they’re able to really be able to keep a level head and maximize the races no matter what’s dealt with them. Today we had a solid car. We were not as good as the No. 20 team, but we were a top five car. In the long run we were probably the best car. When there’s an opportunity like that at the end of the race, where there’s a long run, you’re able to make good mileage, that’s one of our strengths that we have with the Ford, so there’s an opportunity there to run it long. When you put that together with Paul Wolfe, an incredible crew chief, he really makes that happen there. Engineers calculating everything. Then communication, right? To Coleman (Pressley), my spotter, back down to me as a driver, how much can I save, what’s going on around me. Obviously, we don’t want to win by too much, make sure you save enough gas to get to the end. Yeah, able to make it happen.”

The NASCAR Cup Series continues the Round of 8 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday, October 27. Coverage begins at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Rick Ware Racing: South Point 400 from Las Vegas

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Official Release
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RICK WARE RACING
South Point 400

Date: Oct. 20, 2024
Event: South Point 400 (Round 33 of 36)
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Las Vegas Motor Speedway (1.5-mile oval)
Format: 267 laps, broken into three stages (80 laps/85 laps/102 laps)

Race Winner: Joey Logano of Team Penske (Ford)
Stage 1 Winner: Tyler Reddick of 23XI Racing (Toyota)
Stage 2 Winner: Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)

RWR Race Finish:

● Corey LaJoie (Started 35th, Finished 14th/ Running, completed 267 of 267 laps)
● Cody Ware (Started 36th, Finished 21st/Running, completed 267 of 267 laps)

RWR Points:

● Corey LaJoie (31st with 480 points)
● Cody Ware (36th with 146 points)

RWR Notes:

● LaJoie earned his 14th top-20 of the season and second top-15 in 14 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Las Vegas.
● Ware’s 21st-place finish better his previous best result at Las Vegas. His previous best was 26th, earned in March 2022.
● Both LaJoie and Ware surpassed the previous best finish for RWR at Las Vegas, a 25th-place result earned in March 2018 by Cole Custer.

Race Notes:

● Joey Logano won the South Point 400 to score his 35th career NASCAR Cup Series victory, his third of the season and his fourth at Las Vegas. His margin of victory over second-place Christopher Bell was .662 of a second.
● This was Ford’s 738th all-time NASCAR Cup Series victory and its 10th of the season.
● This was Ford’s 15th NASCAR Cup Series victory at Las Vegas. Ford won its first race at Las Vegas on March 1, 1998 with NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin.
● There were five caution periods for a total of 32 laps.
● Only 21 of the 37 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.
● This was the first race in the penultimate Round of 8 of the NASCAR Playoffs. Logano secured his spot in the Championship 4 via his win while Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick, Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott are currently below the top-four cutline with two races remaining before the final, winner-take-all Championship 4 Nov. 10 at Phoenix Raceway.

Next Up:

The next event on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the Straight Talk Wireless 400 on Sunday, Oct. 27 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The eighth race in the 10-race NASCAR Playoffs starts at 2:30 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by NBC and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Buescher Finishes P10 in Vegas; Keselowski DNF After Strong Run

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Official Release
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Fuel Mileage Determines Final Outcome in 400 Miles in Vegas

LAS VEGAS (Oct. 20, 2024) – Both RFK cars proved to be fast in Sunday afternoon’s 400-mile race in Las Vegas as Chris Buescher finished 10th in an ending determined by fuel mileage, while Brad Keselowski had what was likely a top five snatched away after being collected in an accident in stage two.

Both RFK Ford Mustangs finished top six in the first stage, but Keselowski’s afternoon came to an abrupt end at lap 90.

“I was coming off of turn four and the guys in front of me got together, it’s a shame,” said Keselowski. “This is the best run we’ve had the whole playoffs. The car was really fast and we were fighting within the top five and top-10. It’s racing. You hang around long enough and you’ve got a shot at it if you hang around the top five or top-10. We just kind of got caught up in somebody else’s deal.”

6 Recap
Keselowski began the day from 17th following Saturday’s qualifying session. He powered the King’s Hawaiian machine into the top-10 by lap 64 – the first yellow flag of the day – proving early speed in the No. 6. He would pit for right side tires under caution, putting him third on the ensuing restart.

That track position paid off as Keselowski finished the first stage in fifth. He began stage two in 10th, but just a couple laps into the run, a host of cars collected in the high lane, ultimately sending the No. 45 into Keselowski. The front end damage was too severe to repair, ending his day early, finishing 36th.

17 Recap
Like Keselowski, Buescher wasted no time advancing towards the front of the field. He was just behind Keselowski in fourth at the time of the first caution at lap 64. He earned a P6 stage finish, setting up 11th for the stage two start.

Buescher put the Castrol Edge Ford P4 to end stage two as the No. 17 gained more speed as the long run went on. He began the final stage in third and had only the leaders to chase down from there. But, as the laps wound down, the pit cycle was split between cars that were stretching the finish on fuel, and those who pitted early.

Buescher was the first to pit road – kickstarting the final green flag cycle – at lap 225 from P5. He was eyeing a top five result from there, but a host of other cars made it to the end on the tank of fuel, putting Buescher 10th to end the day.

Up Next
Homestead-Miami Speedway hosts the NASCAR Cup Series next weekend with race coverage on Sunday set for 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC, with radio coverage on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).

About RFK Racing
RFK Racing, in its 37th season in 2024, 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.

Burton Finishes 15th at Las Vegas

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Official Release
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After a disappointing qualifying result on Saturday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Harrison Burton and the No. 21 DEX Imaging team bounced back with a 15th-place finish in Sunday’s South Point 400.

Burton started the 267-lap race from 31st place and made steady progress in the first Stage, ending that 80-lap segment in 26th place.

In the second Stage he had driven up to 22nd place when the caution flag flew on Lap 90 for a multi-car crash. After the restart he moved into the top 20 for the first time in the race and pitted from 14th place at Lap 121 during a round of green-flag pit stops. He had worked his way back to 17th when the second Stage ended at Lap 165.

After a pit stop during the Stage break, he began moving up in the field again and was running in 18th place when he made another stop during a caution period at Lap 194. When racing resumed Burton and the DEX Imaging Mustang Dark Horse had their best run of the race, driving up to eighth place before making their final pit stop, under the green flag, at Lap 228.

Several driver elected to stay on the track and stretch their fuel, so Burton was scored in 19th place when he returned to the track. He moved up four spots over the final laps to score his sixth top-15 finish of the season as fellow Ford campaigners Joey Logano and the No. 22 Team Penske crew stretched their fuel to the finish.

Logano’s race win secured him and his team a spot among the four drivers who will decide the Cup Series championship in the season finale at Phoenix Raceway.

“We salute Joey and Team Penske for their win at Las Vegas and are proud to know that Ford Motor Company is assured of a chance to race for the championship,” Eddie Wood said.

Burton and the Wood Brothers now turn their attention to next Sunday’s Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

About DEX Imaging
DEX Imaging is the digital document imaging division of Staples, the world’s largest business solutions provider. DEX sells and services the broadest selection of copiers, printers and data management solutions, such as HP, Konica Minolta, Canon, Kyocera and numerous others.

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES:
Reducing Operating Costs
Reducing Paper Consumption
Increasing Productivity

DEX Imaging has been the recipient of virtually every industry award since the company’s inception, including the JD Power & Associates Award for Best Customer Experience, the prestigious ProTech Service award by Konica Minolta, the Diamond Premier Dealer Award by Kyocera, and the Elite DEALER Award by ‘ENX’ magazine. Other accolades include being named ‘Best Place to Work’ by numerous business journals in the markets DEX serves.

Wood Brothers Racing
Wood Brothers Racing was formed in 1950 in Stuart, Va., by Hall of Famer Glenn Wood. Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team and one of the winningest teams in NASCAR history. Since its founding, the team won 99 races (including at least one race in every decade for the last seven decades) and 120 poles in NASCAR’s top-tier series. Fielding only Ford products for its entire history, the Wood Brothers own the longest association of any motorsports team with a single manufacturer. Glenn’s brother, Leonard, is known for inventing the modern pit stop. The team currently runs the Ford Mustang driven by Harrison Burton in the famous No. 21 racer.

The Different Forms of Distraction a Driver is Subjected to

By
SM
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In 2020, more than 3,000 people lost their lives to distracted driving. That’s how critical this menace of an issue has become in our society today.

Modern-day driving comes with a lot more distractions than it used to. With everything going on around you, staying focused on the road feels harder than ever.

And it’s not just about using your phone while driving, which is one of the most common distractions while driving. There’s applying makeup, eating, playing with your pet, daydreaming, and more.

What we’re going to do is break it down for you; each type of distraction, what it does, how it messes with your focus, and most importantly, how you can avoid falling into these traps. You probably know some of these, but certainly there’ll be a few that’ll catch you by surprise.

The Major Forms of Distractions Drivers Face

All the driving distractions you know fall into one of these categories:

Visual Distractions

Visual distractions are the most obvious kind. It’s anything that takes eyes off the road, even for a second. Glancing at a phone, checking the GPS, or even looking at something outside the car can pull attention away, and in that moment, anything can happen. It’s surprising how quickly things can go wrong.

Just think about this: at 60 miles per hour, looking away for just three seconds means covering the length of a football field without looking at the road. That’s a huge distance from where anything could happen. 

The best thing to do is set everything up before starting to drive. Adjust the GPS, set the temperature, and put away any distractions. 

If something needs checking during the drive, pull over somewhere safe instead of trying to multitask. It’s a small inconvenience compared to the possible risks, like a rear-end collision or a T-bone accident.

Manual Distractions

Even simple things like changing the AC setting or grabbing a snack can be more dangerous than expected. The solution to this would be to keep both hands on the wheel as much as possible. 

If something needs to be done, like adjusting the radio or picking up a drink, wait until the car is stopped. 

Cognitive Distractions 

Even when eyes are on the road and hands are on the wheel, distractions can still happen, especially in the mind. 

Daydreaming, thinking about what happened earlier in the day, or stressing about the future can take attention away from driving without even realizing it. This type of distraction is called a cognitive distraction, and it’s one of the sneakiest.

Texting and Driving: The Most Common Devil

Texting while driving is often seen as the most dangerous type of distraction, and for good reason. 

When you text, it’s like a perfect storm of distractions happening all at once. You might think that you’d be careful or that it’s only one text so not much can happen, but here’s a harsh reality to prove you wrong: people who text and drive are 23 times more likely to get into a crash. 

That number isn’t pulled out of thin air; it comes from countless studies and real-life statistics. People have been hurt, lives have been lost, and the common link? A phone.

Another thing to think about is how the act of reading a text can set off a chain reaction of distractions. You glance at your phone, your mind starts thinking about the message, and maybe you even start planning a reply.

During that time, your focus is all over the place, except where it should be, which is on the road.

Navigating the Roads that’s Beyond Your Control

By
SM
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Photo by Thái An on Unsplash

Driving a well-maintained car that has gone through its checks can give you as a driver a lot of comforting assurance. But anyone who gets behind the wheel knows that road safety requires more than mechanical reliability and flawless exterior finish. Although mechanical reliability lies within your power (yes, you do the checks when you fill-up the tank and take it for its services), many external factors remain unpredictable and out of your hands. In this blog, we will look at which components even the most careful drivers cannot predict or influence, highlighting the importance of remaining vigilant and adaptable on the roads.

Unpredictable Weather Conditions

One of the biggest sources of driving hazards is unpredictable weather conditions. From sudden rain showers that will turn the roads slick as oil to thick fog making it extremely difficult seeing your hand in front of your face, weather can drastically change any driving conditions. Even the most cautious drivers (or those with advanced driving skills) can face challenges due to icy roads or those strong crosswinds. Although there are many apps and continuous forecasts that can give you a heads-up, weather is a fickle mistress that can change those blue skies into stormy clouds requiring you to quickly change your concentration behind the wheel.

Other Drivers’ Behavior

Sharing the road means coexisting with various characters. From the slow going grannies to the teenage speedster and all the other driving styles in between. While you may be the poster child for safe driving, others could be in a rush, distracted, or entirely on the flipside of road laws and traffic rules. Unpredictable drivers’ actions ranging from sudden lane changes without signaling to speeding. All of these represent the bottomless pit of risk and you remain alert, vigilant and prepared for what lies ahead. 

Interacting With Trucks on the Road

Traveling alongside trucks adds another level of complexity (and Final Destination vibes) that requires more awareness and understanding from you. These massive vehicles have special limitations (believe it or not) that necessitate extra care when maneuvering. They have huge blind spots and need longer stopping distances than any other vehicles on the road. As the driver, you must respect these limitations by maintaining a safe distance (don’t try to cut in front before a stop), and especially when the weather conditions decide they are throwing a tantrum (thunder, lightning, snow, rain) that can make their driving capabilities extremely difficult. When passing a truck, ensure there is enough space before going back into your lane, and it’s really not a good idea to stay too long in its blind spots. Truck accidents because of driver error or equipment failure can have ugly repercussions, therefore it’s very important that we respect these metal beasts when we share roads together.

Fluctuating Traffic Patterns 

Traffic patterns are not set in stone. They can quickly change at rush hour and other times because of unexpected incidents or even local events that pop up (here’s looking at you Taylor fans). Even with those nifty navigation apps providing you with real-time updates, you must still be mentally prepared for the inevitable. Take those deep breaths and ease your frustration. It can (maybe) help you have an efficient travel time management experience (well, here is hoping).

Mechanical Failures

Even with regular car servicing and professional upkeep every so often, your car’s mechanical issues will still pop-up without warning. Tire blowouts, battery issues or even those migraine induced engine malfunction can still happen unexpectedly, despite your best efforts at maintenance. Being a cardholder of a roadside assistance plan or having an emergency kit in the boot of your car could let you breathe a bit easy knowing that you’re not completely stranded when your car decides not to play nice.

Conclusion

While many things cannot be in your control while you’re driving, increased awareness and proactive strategies can make sure that both your safety and preparedness on the road. Remain adaptable and form a defensive driving mindset to effectively navigate whatever the open road throws your way. True mastery of driving lies not in what happens beneath its hood, but how well you handle what lies beyond it.

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