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Mahindra Tractors Racing: Chase Briscoe Martinsville Advance

By
Official Release
-

CHASE BRISCOE
Martinsville Advance
No. 14 Mahindra Tractors Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Event Overview

● Event: Xfinity 500 (Round 35 of 36)
● Time/Date: 2 p.m. EST on Sunday, Nov. 3
● Location: Martinsville (Va.) Speedway
● Layout: .526-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 500 laps/263 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 130 laps / Stage 2: 130 laps / Final Stage: 240 laps
● TV/Radio: NBC / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Sunday’s Xfinity 500 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway will mark Chase Briscoe’s eighth career NASCAR Cup Series start at the venerable track. Since his Cup Series debut at the .526-mile oval in April 2021 when he finished 27th, Briscoe had made steady and significant improvement. He finished 22nd in his return to Martinsville in October 2021 and has not finished outside of the top-10 in his last five Martinsville starts, finishing ninth (April 2022), ninth (October 2022), fifth (April 2023), fourth (October 2023) and 10th (April 2024).

● Briscoe’s best NASCAR Cup Series result at Martinsville is fourth, earned last October. However, his best race at the paperclip-shaped track came seventh months prior on April 16, 2023. In that race, Briscoe started fourth and took the lead on lap 186 and paced the field for the next 71 laps. A series of green-flag pit stops jumbled the running order, but Briscoe came back to take the lead on lap 307 and he stayed out front for another 38 laps to bring his laps-led total for the race to 109, second only to his Stewart-Haas teammate Ryan Preece, who led 135 laps. Ultimately, Briscoe finished fifth.

● Briscoe has led a total of 142 laps at Martinsville, and they’ve all come in three of his last four NASCAR Cup Series starts at the track. He led 25 laps in October 2022, 109 laps in April 2023 and eight laps in his most recent Martinsville start in April.

● Briscoe has three other Martinsville starts outside of the NASCAR Cup Series – one in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and two in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Briscoe finished seventh in his lone Xfinity Series start at Martinsville in October 2020, and in his two Truck Series starts at the track, both taking place in 2017, Briscoe finished 11th (April) and 19th (October).

● Briscoe won the pole for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Martinsville in October 2017. He promptly led the first 39 laps and was a front-running fixture until he was collected in an accident on lap 138 of the 200-lap race. The winner that day was Noah Gragson, Briscoe’s current teammate at Stewart-Haas.

● Mahindra Ag North America is a proud sponsor of Briscoe and Stewart-Haas Racing, and 2024 highlights an impressive milestone for Mahindra – 30 years of selling tractors in the United States. Houston-based Mahindra Ag North America is part of Mahindra Group’s Automotive and Farm Sector, the No. 1-selling farm tractor company in the world, based on volumes across all company brands. Mahindra offers a range of tractor models from 20-75 horsepower, implements, and the ROXOR heavy-duty UTV. Mahindra farm equipment is engineered to be easy to operate by first-time tractor or side-by-side owners and heavy duty to tackle the tough jobs of rural living, farming and ranching. Steel-framed Mahindra Tractors and side-by-sides are ideal for customers who demand performance, reliability and comfort. Mahindra dealers are independent, family-owned businesses located throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Chase Briscoe, Driver of the No. 14 Mahindra Tractors Ford Mustang Dark Horse

You come into Martinsville with five straight top-10 finishes at the track. Talk about your progression at Martinsville and how you attack each race.

“I feel like Martinsville is one of those places where the more you run there, the better you’re going to get. It’s such a unique racetrack. It seems like guys, once they figure it out, they’re always good there. You look at Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon and people like that, it’s one of those place where once you figure it out, it seems like your technique always works there. We’ve been really good at Martinsville every time we’ve gone there over the last three years, and have probably done everything but win the race, it seems like. We’ve led a ton of laps and things like that, so hopefully this will be the time we can improve on our recent finishes there. Would love to obviously bring home a grandfather clock. It’s one of the more iconic trophies and we’ve been really close and almost close enough to where we could see it – see where we want to put it, we just haven’t been able to put it there yet.”

How physical is a race at Martinsville? You’re on the brakes hard at least a thousand times, so your lower body gets a workout as much as your upper body.

“It’s really hard. I probably didn’t realize how hard it was until we were there last fall. For whatever reason after the race, I couldn’t even bend over to take my shoes off. I had to have my wife help me because my back was in so much pain from all the braking we were doing. It’s a really hard place to run, and even mentally it’s a place where you’ve got to be on your game. So Martinsville is probably overlooked a lot of the time, the physicality of it, just because the speeds and the G-forces are what we would have at other places. There’s a lot that goes on with your body at those races, so you definitely feel it the next day. Martinsville’s definitely gotten a little more challenging with the NextGen car because before, you would leave it in fourth gear and just run the whole time in fourth. Now, we’re downshifting every single corner, and then upshifting down the straightaway, so you’re just busier inside the racecar. It definitely has made Martinsville more physical overall. Your arms are getting more of a workout, your feet are doing a lot more with the pedals and things like that, so there’s just a lot going on at Martinsville in a very short lap.”

When you have a race that’s as physical as Martinsville, how does the simulator help prepare you?

“The sim’s really hard at Martinsville. It seems like the shorter the racetrack is, the harder it is sometimes to manage the simulator. Really flat tracks and really, really high-banked tracks sometimes throw it for a little bit of a loop. But I will say I feel like we’ve done a really good job over the last year trying to make our Martinsville simulator better, in general. I think that is some of the reason why we’ve had success on the real racetrack, as well. Martinsville’s a hard one just because there are so many variables that go into it. The weather is always really important there with how the rubber gets laid down. At that racetrack, just where the rubber is laid down and things like that really change the grip level. That’s what makes the simulator so challenging there.”

When it comes to on-track contact at Martinsville, what’s OK and what isn’t?

“It’s hard to say until you’re in it. It’s hard for me to say this would be OK, or this wouldn’t be OK. Once you’re in the moment, you kind of make up your mind as soon as it happens in regard to what you’re going to do to somebody else. It’s one of those deals where if you’re getting held up by a guy time and time and time again, you finally just kind of get fed up with it and you go and move him and go on. I feel like early in the race you try to give him at least a little bit of the benefit of the doubt but, anymore, it’s so hard to pass that as soon as you get to him, you try to move him and go on. It’s definitely evolved a lot over the last couple of years with the NextGen car.”

When do you need to just let something go and when do you need to stand up for yourself and give a shot back?

“I think it’s different for everybody. I don’t ever really get worked up, but I think there are some drivers who get worked up and just go ballistic, and that’s when it’s better if you just let it go and forget about it. You see some guys where somebody does them wrong early in the race, it just derails their whole race because they’re more worried about getting that guy back than just trying to run their race. I think it’s different for everybody. Everybody’s personalities and attitudes are so different that it’s a different answer for all. For me, it’s hard to say what you’ve got to do. If somebody does you wrong, you definitely have to get them back at some point just to stand up for yourself because, if you don’t do it and you let somebody walk all over you on the racetrack, they’re just going to do it time and time again because they know you’re not going to do anything about, so you have to stand your ground.”

How challenging is pit road at Martinsville, from navigating the curves, the tight boxes and all the traffic?

“Martinsville’s hard. It’s just so narrow on pit road and there’s not a whole lot of room. It’s always hard when you’re leaving your pit box there just because there are normally cars coming around on the outside line. It’s only two lanes wide, in general, so then you’re in the inside lane while those other pit crews are trying to change the right-side tires and it’s really, really tight. And just with how slow the speed is, the RPM change is very, very tight, and that’s why you see so many speeding penalties at Martinsville.”

No. 14 Mahindra Tractors Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Chase Briscoe

Hometown: Mitchell, Indiana

Crew Chief: Richard Boswell

Hometown: Friendship, Maryland

Car Chief: J.D. Frey

Hometown: Ferndale, California

Engineer: Mike Cook

Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland

Spotter: Joey Campbell

Hometown: Berlin, Connecticut

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Daniel Coffey

Hometown: Granite Falls, North Carolina

Rear Tire Changer: Daniel Smith

Hometown: Concord, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Mason Flynt

Hometown: High Point, North Carolina

Jack Man: Brandon Banks

Hometown: High Point, North Carolina

Fuel Man: Evan Marchal

Hometown: Westfield, Indiana

Road Crew Members

Underneath Mechanic: Stephen Gonzalez

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Interior Mechanic: Trevor Adams

Hometown: Plymouth, Wisconsin

Tire Specialist: Keith Eads

Hometown: Arlington, Virginia

Shock Specialist: Brian Holshouser

Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina

Engine Tuner: Jon Phillips

Hometown: Jefferson City, Missouri

Transporter Co-Driver: Todd Cable

Hometown: Shelby, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Dale Lackey

Hometown: Taylorsville, North Carolina

Bed Bath & Beyond Racing: Noah Gragson Martinsville Advance

By
Official Release
-

NOAH GRAGSON
Martinsville Advance
No. 10 Bed Bath & Beyond Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Event Overview

● Event: Xfinity 500 (Round 35 of 36)
● Time/Date: 2 p.m. EST on Sunday, Nov. 3
● Location: Martinsville (Va.) Speedway
● Layout: .526-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 500 laps/263 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 130 laps / Stage 2: 130 laps / Final Stage: 240 laps
● TV/Radio: NBC / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Short-track racing is where Noah Gragson’s career began. The Las Vegas native owns victories in two of the United States’ most prestigious Late Model races – the 2017 Winchester 400 at the half-mile Winchester (Ind.) Speedway and the 2018 Snowball Derby at the half-mile Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida.

● Sunday’s Xfinity 500 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway will mark Gragson’s fourth career NASCAR Cup Series start at the .526-mile oval, with his best result being a 20th-place drive in the series’ prior race there in April.

● Gragson’s tenure at Martinsville outside of the NASCAR Cup Series is impressive. In five career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at the track, he only has one finish outside of the top-four, and that lone 20th-place result in April 2022 came after Gragson qualified third and led 23 laps before he was caught up in a 15-car accident on the frontstretch 10 laps short of the finish. From 2020 through 2022, Gragson’s finishes in the Xfinity Series at Martinsville were third (October 2020), second (April 2021), first (October 2021), 20th (April 2022) and fourth (October 2022).

● In his NASCAR Xfinity Series win at Martinsville in October 2021, Gragson dominated. Despite qualifying ninth, it only took him 65 laps to make his way to the front and take the lead. Gragson ended up leading six times for a race-high 153 laps, or 59.5 percent of the 257 laps available. When the checkered flag dropped, Gragson had a .064 of a second advantage over runner-up Austin Cindric in a green-white-checkered finish.

● Gragson’s Martinsville history in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is just as impressive. In four career Truck Series starts from 2017 through 2018, Gragson never finished worse than seventh. He came home fourth in his Truck Series debut at the track in April 2017, won in his next Martinsville start in October 2017, and then finished fifth and seventh, respectively, in his last two Truck Series starts in March and October 2018.

● Gragson delivered a gritty performance to earn his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win at Martinsville in October 2017. He started fifth but never took the lead until lap 191 of the 200-lap race. But those last 10 laps were the only laps that mattered as Gragson pulled out a 1.586-second margin over second-place Matt Crafton.

● Bed Bath & Beyond adorns Gragson’s No. 10 Ford Mustang Dark Horse at Martinsville. The partnership celebrates Bed Bath & Beyond as the ultimate online destination for home essentials, featuring an unmatched assortment for every room of the house. Whether it’s your kitchen, bedroom, outdoor space or bathroom, Bed Bath & Beyond has what you need to create a space that feels uniquely yours. From cookware and bedding to bath accessories and beyond, Bed Bath & Beyond is your go-to source for functional and stylish home essentials.

Noah Gragson, Driver of the No. 10 Bed Bath & Beyond Ford Mustang Dark Horse

You’re very successful at Martinsville, winning in both the Xfinity Series and Truck Series, where in nine combined starts there – five in Xfinity and four in Trucks – you have two wins, seven top-fives and eight top-10s. What made you so good at Martinsville in those series?

“I think being able to be disciplined and move your line around and, depending on how the rubber’s being laid down on the racetrack, center exit of the corner, and then your proximity off the inside curb, I feel like there are four or five, maybe six different ways you can run a corner at Martinsville in Xfinity and Trucks and with the old Cup cars. You used to have to mount a run, but now you just downshift, so I’m trying to figure that out, but I used to be really good there.”

You finished fourth and first in your first two Truck starts there in 2017. Did you take to the track right away?

“It was pretty natural for me, a lot of heavy braking into the corner, and then just moving around. I watched Kyle Larson when he ran a Truck there. He was in a GMS Truck, maybe the 24 Truck in 2016, and I watched his line around there and how he moved around the racetrack. I utilized that when I first went there and developed more processes as I got around the corner as the years went on.”

Did Martinsville remind you of some of the tracks you raced on out West as you ran Late Models and then the NASCAR K&N Series West?

“Not really. There was nothing really like Martinsville that I had been to before.”

With all that prior success at Martinsville, what makes emulating those accomplishments at the Cup level so hard?

“I think everybody’s pretty locked in trying to figure out what a good car should feel like around there. I feel like the balance of the car changes. It gets really free on the entry of the corner as the run goes on. Just knowing and gaining experience on what you need your car balance to be at the beginning of the run compared to the end of the run. Obviously, the caliber of drivers is really high that you’re racing against, and it’s also pretty challenging to pass there with the downshifts.”

How physical is a race at Martinsville? You’re hard on the brakes at least a thousand times, so your lower body gets a workout as much as your upper body.

“It is a physical one. You never stop there. You’re shifting the whole time, so you’re pretty much driving one-handed, and you’re constantly on one pedal or the other with the brake or the gas. So you’re pretty worn out mentally and physically. It’s a demanding racetrack to go out there and run fast.”

Are you a left-foot or right-foot braker?

“I’ve always left-foot braked in a racecar. It’s just natural to me.”

When it comes to on-track contact at Martinsville, what’s OK and what isn’t?

“I guess just don’t spin the guy out in front on you, but if you do have to move him out of the way, you better hope you get away from him so he can’t get you back.”

When do you need to just let something go and when do you need to stand up for yourself and give a shot back?

“I think you race pretty hard to fill a hole on the restarts, but unless you’re racing for the win, or if somebody’s been holding you up for countless laps, there’s really no point because it’s really hard to get to somebody in a Cup car, now. It’s almost impossible, and if you do hit him, you have to hit him going 20 miles an hour faster just because they’re so stuck to the racetrack. Bumping doesn’t do much anymore, but I guess you can knock them out of the way pretty good on entry, and if they get loose on the corner, you can kind of squirt them up out of the way on the entry to the corner.”

How heady are restarts at Martinsville?

“Restarts at Martinsville are challenging just because the inside line is so dominant that with the choose cone you can gain some rows on the outside, but if you don’t get down after a couple of laps, you might fall back and net out a three- or four-spot loss. So, it’s risk versus reward.”

No. 10 Bed Bath & Beyond Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Noah Gragson

Hometown: Las Vegas

Crew Chief: Drew Blickensderfer

Hometown: Decatur, Illinois

Car Chief: Jerry Cook

Hometown: Toledo, Ohio

Engineer: James Kimbrough

Hometown: Pensacola, Florida

Spotter: Andy Houston

Hometown: Hickory, North Carolina

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Ryan Mulder

Hometown: Sioux Center, Iowa

Rear Tire Changer: Trevor White

Hometown: Arlington, Texas

Tire Carrier: Tyler Bullard

Hometown: King, North Carolina

Jack Man: Sean Cotten

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Fuel Man: James “Ace” Keener

Hometown: Fortuna, California

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Chris Trickett

Hometown: Grafton, West Virginia

Mechanic: Beau Whitley

Hometown: Carmel, Indiana

Tire Specialist: Jacob Cooksey

Hometown: Westbrookville, New York

Engine Tuner: Matt Moeller

Hometown: Monroe, New York

Transporter Co-Driver: Steve Casper

Hometown: Salisbury, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Matt Murphy

Hometown: Augusta, Georgia

CONGRUITY NHRA PRO MOD WORLD CHAMPION TO BE CROWNED IN LAS VEGAS AT RACE POWERED BY JBS EQUIPMENT

By
Official Release
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LAS VEGAS (Oct. 31, 2024) – With a host of standout contenders, the championship in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+ will be on the line this weekend at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway as part of the 24th annual Ford Performance NHRA Nationals.

It is the final race in the Road to the Championship and the 10-event season in the category, and this weekend’s must-see race is powered by JBS Equipment.

An epic title chase will come down to the wire, with 16 drivers still in contention heading into the weekend. With the points-and-half scenario in play in Vegas, it should make for a wild finish and one of those contenders is JBS Equipment President and Owner Justin Bond.

Looking for his first NHRA Pro Mod world championship, Bond trails points leader Khalid Al Balooshi by just 12 points, meaning the title could come down to the final run of the year in Vegas.

“The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) is recognized as one of the largest sanctioning bodies globally, offering a prestigious platform for companies to promote their brands and support diverse racing classes,” Bond said. “In this spirit, my company, JBS Equipment, has made a deliberate decision to partner with the NHRA, focusing specifically on the Pro Modified class.

“For JBS Equipment, this collaboration represents a strategic opportunity with numerous advantages. By aligning our brand with such a prominent racing organization, we enhance our visibility and connect with a wide, relevant audience. This increased exposure not only boosts brand recognition but also positions JBS Equipment as a trusted and reputable company in the industry.”

Bond and Al Balooshi are hardly the only championship contenders in the loaded class, which will again have another huge 20-plus car field to close out a thrilling year in Las Vegas. Jordan Lazic is only 24 points out of first, while Ken Quartuccio and Mason Wright just 26 and 35 points behind the leader, respectively. Quartuccio won in Indy at the U.S. Nationals, while Wright picked up a victory in Epping.

The list of contenders doesn’t stop there, either. Former world champion Kris Thorne (-38) and Kevin Rivenbark (-50) are both within two rounds of Al-Balooshi, with the likes of Billy Banaka, Dmitry Samorukov, and former champions Mike Castellana and Jose Gonzalez close behind. Castellana is the defending event winner in Las Vegas, clinching both the championship and the race victory in the process.

Thorne has advanced to three final rounds, winning in Bristol, while Gonzalez won the season-opener in Gainesville and Rivenbark took the victory in the category’s first-ever appearance in Phoenix. It’s undoubtedly a loaded field this weekend in Las Vegas, promising intensity and excitement at a fever pitch to close out a stellar 2024 season in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+.

The Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+ will kick off with two qualifying rounds on Friday, Nov. 1 at 11 AM and 5:10 PM PT, with the final two qualifying rounds set for 10:45 AM and 5:10 PM on Saturday, Nov. 2. The first round of eliminations is slated for 8:40 AM PT on Sunday, Nov. 3.

To purchase tickets to the Ford Performance NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, call 800-644-4444 or visit www.lvms.com. Children 12 and under are admitted free in general admissions areas with a paid adult. For more information about NHRA, visit www.NHRA.com.

About JBS Equipment

JBS Equipment design and manufacture the most technologically innovative spreaders, baggers, trailers, boxes, wagons and flingers in the business. Built at our state-of-the-art fabrication and assembly plant in Mission, British Columbia, our technology delivers the highest performance and the highest quality. JBS equipment is versatile, powerful, and efficient, engineered to save you valuable time and effort in the field. Constantly innovating, we create reliable, durable, and innovative solutions for your unique challenges, helping make your work life easier and your agricultural operation more efficient and successful. The JBS Equipment dealer program gives farmers access to over 100 dealer locations in the Unites States and Canada. Making your purchase of JBS Equipment a local purchase to you. Find your local JBS Equipment dealer at www.jbsequipment.com. When you’re a part of the JBS Dealer family, your potential for success is unlimited. JBS is committed to providing personalized support, rewards and recognition to all JBS Authorized Dealers. Visit www.jbsequipment.com and join our dealer network.

About Ford Performance

Ford Performance is based in Dearborn, Mich. It is responsible for Ford’s performance vehicle development and major racing operations globally, including NASCAR, IMSA, SRO British GT, FIA World Rally Championship, Supercars Championship, World of Outlaws, Ultra4, SCORE-International, FIA Rally-Raid, Formula Drift, NHRA, Rebelle Rally, Thailand Super Series and our latest commitment in Formula 1 with RedBull Ford Powertrains. Ford Performance also maintains a constantly evolving fleet of electric performance demonstrators to showcase the limits of electrification technology. In addition, the organization also oversees the development of Ford’s racing engines, as well as the outreach programs with all Ford Clubs and Ford enthusiasts. For more information regarding Ford racing’s activities, please visit Performance.Ford.com or follow @FordPerformance on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube.

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.

NHRA AT VEGAS 2: Team Chevy Race Advance | Notes & Quotes

By
Official Release
-

CHEVROLET IN NHRA
2024 FORD PERFORMANCE NHRA NATIONALS
THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

TEAM CHEVY RACE ADVANCE | NOTES & STATS

NOVEMBER 1-3, 2024

TEAM CHEVY HEADS TO THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY FIRST AND SECOND IN FUNNY CAR POINTS WITH JOHN FORCE RACING

Notes:

  • The penultimate event of the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season sees Team Chevy taking on The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the Ford Performance NHRA Nationals Nov. 1-3.
  • Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car drivers Austin Prock and Jack Beckman of John Force Racing currently sit first and second, respectively, in the Countdown to the Championship. Prock leads Beckman, who is racing on behalf of team owner and 16-time champion John Force, by 147 points.
  • Force, who has been sidelined and recovering from a traumatic brain injury stemming from his on-track incident in Richmond, returns to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend in support of his team.
  • Heading into the second of two events at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this year, Prock raced to runner-up in the spring Four-Wide event.
  • Together, the trio of Funny Car pilots (Prock, Force, and Beckman) at John Force Racing this season have combined for a staggering 10 wins and 14 No. 1 qualifiers, with Prock himself racing to seven wins and 13 No. 1 qualifiers in his first full year behind the wheel of a Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car. Force holds two wins and one No. 1 qualifier, and Beckman has raced to one win so far racing on behalf of Force.
  • Brittany Force, driver of the Chevrolet Top Fuel dragster, heads to Las Vegas looking for a return to the Winner’s Circle, and currently sits eighth in the Countdown to the Championship, just 190 separating the top eight.
  • Eyeing The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Team Chevy looks to capture the 400th Pro Stock victory since 1970. Dallas Glenn, racing to his fifth victory in 2024 at the Texas Motorplex, captured Chevrolet’s 399th in the category.
  • Racing for the inaugural Holley EFI Factory X title, Chevrolet COPO Camaro competitor Aaron Stanfield, a three-time FlexJet Factory Stock Showdown champion, leads over his father Greg Stanfield by 57 points. Lenny Lottig is in third, trailing A. Stanfield by 63 points.

Quotes:

AUSTIN PROCK, DRIVER OF THE CORNWELL TOOLS CHEVROLET CAMARO SS FUNNY CAR:

“I’m ready to get back after it in the Cornwell Tools Camaro. It’s been a long few off weekends (since the Dallas loss) and I’m ready to stand on the gas again. Conditions look great for some great racing (and) we’re looking for another solid weekend.

“We’re not treating this race any different than any other one. We want to go out there and run low E.T. every round and we want to win every race. If you’re competitive, and a racer, that’s what you expect, and I believe you can do that. We want to do good for JFR, we want to do good for Robert, and we want to do good for Cornwell and all our other great partners.”

JACK BECKMAN, DRIVER OF THE PEAK ANTIFREEZE AND COOLANT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS FUNNY CAR:

“After not being able to race at our last event in Dallas, I am looking forward to climbing back in the PEAK Chevy this week at Las Vegas. We’ll have our boss there to cheer us on, and posting another win for him is our ultimate goal.”

BRITTANY FORCE, DRIVER OF THE CHEVROLET TOP FUEL DRAGSTER:

“I’m excited to get back to Las Vegas with my Chevrolet Accessories dragster. The Strip has always been a strong track for us and it’s easily one of my favorite places to race. We’ve had great moments there, including winning (the Nevada Nationals) in 2019 and winning both races in 2022, and to have my dad back at this year’s race would make a win even more special. With only two races left, we’re focused on finishing strong and moving up in the points for a finish we can be proud of.”

How to Watch:

The Ford Performance NHRA Nationals from The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway airs first with Friday qualifying on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). Sunday’s finals air following, also on FS1, at 5 p.m. ET. Coverage streams live throughout the weekend on NHRA.tv, and is available via AppleTV, Android TV, and Roku devices.

TEAM CHEVY BY THE NUMBERS:

1,460: Round wins for John Force (1st all-time). Jack Beckman, who is currently racing on behalf of John Force in 2024’s Countdown to the Championship and second in points, has a Round W-L record of 12-5 in six events.

626: Round wins for Robert Hight; 13th all-time. Cruz Pedregon (Funny Car), sits 12th, with 633.

167: Number of career No. 1 qualifiers for John Force (1st all-time).

169: Number of Chevrolet Racing Funny Car wins since 1967.

84: Number of career No. 1 qualifiers for Robert Hight (6th all-time). Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel) is fifth with 88.

89: Number of Chevrolet Racing Funny Car wins with the Camaro SS body.

50: Number of career No. 1 qualifiers for Brittany Force.

28: Number of NHRA championships Chevrolet holds as a manufacturer since entering the first in 1966. This is the seventh consecutive award and ninth in 11 seasons. No other manufacturer has won it more than Chevrolet.

26: Wins by John Force in a Chevrolet-bodied Funny Car.

20: Chevrolet career Top Fuel wins in NHRA.

16: Number of Chevrolet career wins by Brittany Force.

7: Number of Funny Car driver championships.

2: Number of Top Fuel driver championships.

About General Motors

General Motors (NYSE:GM) is driving the future of transportation, leveraging advanced technology to build safer, smarter, and lower emission cars, trucks, and SUVs. GM’s Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands offer a broad portfolio of innovative gasoline-powered vehicles and the industry’s widest range of EVs, as we move to an all-electric future. Learn more at GM.com.

Martinsville Showdown: One Last Push for the Championship 4

By
Angie Campbell
-
Photo by Patrick Sue-Chan for SpeedwayMedia.com.

NASCAR heads to Martinsville Speedway for the final races in the Round of 8 to determine the four drivers in each series who will contend for the 2024 Championship.

Tyler Reddick (Homestead) and Joey Logano (Las Vegas) are locked into the Championship 4 with wins followed by Christopher Bell (+29) and William Byron (+7).

Hendrick Motorsports Cup Series drivers Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson are looking at an uphill battle at Martinsville Speedway. Elliott only has one win in 18 races at Martinsville and needs nothing short of a victory to advance. Larson, however, has fared somewhat better than Elliott at the 0.526-mile track with two runner-up finishes in the past four races.

Team Penske driver Ryan Blaney came up short last weekend at Homestead with a heartbreaking runner-up finish followed by Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin in third. Both drivers are at risk of missing the cut for the championship battle.

Xfinity Series drivers Austin Hill (Homestead) and AJ Allmendinger (Las Vegas) are locked in with wins as Justin Allgaier and Cole Custer complete the top four heading to the cut-off race at Martinsville.

Grant Enfinger leads the Truck Series standings with wins at Talladega Superspeedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Cup Series – Playoff Drivers

Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing): Advances with the win at Homestead
Joey Logano (Team Penske): Advances with the win at Las Vegas
Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing): +29
William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports): +7
Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports): -7
Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing): -18
Ryan Blaney (Team Penske): -38
Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports): -43

Xfinity Series – Playoff Drivers:

Austin Hill (Richard Childress Racing): Advances with the win at Homestead
A.J. Allmendinger (Kaulig Racing): Advances with a win at Las Vegas
Justin Allgaier (JR Motorsports): +35
Cole Custer (Stewart-Haas Racing): +28
81 Chandler Smith (Joe Gibbs Racing): -28
Jesse Love (Richard Childress Racing): -35
Sam Mayer (JR Motorsports): -47
Sammy Smith (JR Motorsports): -95

Craftsman Truck Series Playoff Drivers:

Grant Enfinger (CR7 Motorsports): Advances with wins at Talladega and Homestead
Corey Heim (Tricon Garage):+49
Christian Eckes (McAnally-Hilgemann Racing): +38
Ty Majeski (ThorSport Racing):+22
Rajah Caruth Spire Motorsports):-22
Taylor Gray (Tricon Garage): -24
Tyler Ankrum (McAnally-Hilgemann Racing): -41
Nick Sanchez (Rev Racing):-43

The Craftsman Truck Series headlines the racing action Friday evening in the Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 200 as the Xfinity Series Series National Debt Relief 250 takes center stage Saturday afternoon. On Sunday afternoon the Cup Series closes out the weekend with the XFINITY 500.

Weekend Schedule for Martinsville Playoff Race

By
Angie Campbell
-
Photo by Patrick Sue-Chan for SpeedwayMedia.com.

NASCAR travels to Martinsville Speedway for the final races in the Round of 8 of the Playoffs this weekend. Four drivers in each series will advance to contend for the coveted 2024 championship title at Phoenix Raceway.

The Craftsman Truck Series headlines the racing action Friday evening in the ZIP BUY NOW, PAY LATER 200 followed by the Xfinity Series NATIONAL DEBT RELIEF 250 Saturday afternoon. On Sunday afternoon the NASCAR Cup Series closes out the weekend with the XFINITY 500.

Friday, Nov. 1 Schedule

1:36 p.m.: Truck Series Practice – FS2
2:10 p.m.: Truck Series Qualifying – FS2

3:35 p.m.: Xfinity Series Practice – NBC Sports App
4:10 p.m.: Xfinity Series Qualifying – NBC Sports App

6:0 p.m.: Truck Series Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 200
105.2 miles (200 Laps)
Stages end on Lap 50, Lap 100, Lap 200
FS1/MRN/SiriusXM
Purse: $672,417
Post Truck Series Race: NASCAR Press Pass

Saturday, Nov. 2 Schedule

1:00 p.m.: Cup Series Practice
NBC Sports App/MRN/SiriusXM

2:05 p.m.: Cup Series Qualifying
NBC Sports App/MRN/SiriusXM
Post Cup Series Qualifying: NASCAR Press Pass

4:00 p.m.: Xfinity Series National Debt Relief 250
131.5 miles (250 Laps)
Stages end on Lap 60, Lap 120, Lap 250
CW/MRN/SiriusXM
Purse: $1,441,088
Post Xfinity Series Race: NASCAR Press Pass

Sunday, Nov. 3 Schedule

2:00 p.m.: Cup Series Xfinity 500
263 miles (500 Laps)
Stage end on Lap 130, Lap 260, Lap 500
NBC/MRN/SiriusXM
Purse: $8,991,338
Post Cup Series Race: NASCAR Press Pass
Current Playoff Standings – NASCAR Cup Series

Current Playoff Standings – NASCAR Cup Series

Tyler Reddick-win
Joey Logano-win
Christopher Bell +29
William Byron +7

Kyle Larson -7
Denny Hamlin -18
Ryan Blaney – 38
Chase Elliott -43

Current Playoff Standings – NASCAR Xfinity Series

Austin Hill – win
AJ Allmendinger – win
Justin Allgaier +35
Cole Custer +28

Chandler Smith -28
Jesse Love -35
Sam Mayer -47
Sammy Smith -95

Current Playoff Standings – NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series

Grant Enfinger – win
Corey Heim +49
Christian Eckes +38
Ty Majeski + 22
Rajah Caruth -22
Taylor Gray 24
Tyler Ankrum -41
Nicholas Sanchez -43

NTT and Toyota Motor Corporation agree to joint initiative in the field of mobility and AI/telecommunications with the aim of realizing a society with zero traffic accidents

By
Official Release
-

Toyota City, Japan, Oct 31, 2024 – (JCN Newswire) – Today, Toyota Motor Corporation (hereafter, Toyota) and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (hereafter, NTT) have agreed to a joint initiative in the field of mobility and AI/telecommunications with the aim of realizing a society with zero traffic accidents.

Through their previous collaborations, the two companies have confirmed that they share common values, such as contributing to society through technological and industrial development, a people-centered approach, and global contributions that start in Japan. This time, they will further deepen their collaboration with the aim of achieving a “society with zero traffic accidents” as the first step towards realizing a prosperous mobility society where safety and freedom are in harmony.

In order to achieve a society with zero traffic accidents, it is necessary to take an infrastructure-cooperative approach that constantly connects people, mobility and infrastructure, in addition to the advancement of driving support technology based on data-driven technology in cars and the development of future automated driving technology.

To achieve both of these things, Toyota is developing Software Defined Vehicles (SDV) with safety and security as the top priority. Alongside the evolution of SDV, it will become more important to build infrastructure such as a high-speed, high-quality communication infrastructure, an AI infrastructure that can collect and intelligently process vast amounts of information, and a computing infrastructure.

In this collaboration, NTT, whose strengths lie in the telecommunications, and Toyota will jointly build a “Mobility AI Platform” that combines a seamless communications infrastructure with AI and computing platforms that can intelligently process large amounts of data. By doing so, they aim to connect people, mobility, and infrastructure to realize a safe, secure, and sustainable mobility society with no traffic accidents.

Details of the joint initiative

We will jointly develop and operate the “Mobility AI Platform” and use it in our efforts(1) to achieve a society with zero traffic accidents. The Mobility AI Platform is made up of multiple elements(2).

The Mobility AI Platform aims to standardize the mobility field, and we envision that it will be used not only by the two companies, but also by a wide range of industry, government, and academic partners who share the goal of realizing a society with zero traffic accidents.

Through this initiative, the two companies expect to invest a total of 500 billion yen by 2030. Starting in 2025, they will begin development of the Mobility AI Platform, and from around 2028 under the three-pronged infrastructure, they will begin social implementation and collaboration with various partners, aiming for widespread adoption from 2030 onwards.

(1) Main initiatives aimed at achieving a society with zero traffic accidents

  • Three-pronged infrastructure collaboration” to prevent collisions at blind intersections, etc.
  • Development of advanced driving support/future automated driving systems” that are data-driven, with AI learning on its own based on large amounts of driving data

(2) Elements that make up the mobility AI platform

  1. Distributed computing platform (data center)

Computing resources (data centers) for analyzing and processing vast amounts of data using AI are installed in distributed locations, utilizing IOWN’s optical communication technology. By locating them in areas rich in renewable energy, we can achieve local production for local consumption of electricity, and by achieving high power efficiency in the coordination and processing of distributed computing resources and AI, we can promote the greening of the vast amounts of electricity needed for data analysis and processing.

  1. Intelligent communication infrastructure

A system is being built to coordinate human mobility infrastructure through seamless communication that is suitable for various traffic environments and conditions in urban areas, rural areas, and suburbs. In addition to being highly reliable, it also achieves low-latency communication for large volumes of data.

  1. AI infrastructure

A platform that achieves mobility AI that learns and infers from various data from human mobility infrastructure, based on a “distributed computing infrastructure (data center)” and “intelligent communication infrastructure”.

News URL: https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/93629/

URL: https://plus.google.com/+toyotaglobal | Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/ToyotaMotorCorporation/ | Twitter : https://twitter.com/TOYOTA_PR/ | Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/user/toyotajpchannel/ | Linkedin : https://linkedin.com/company/toyota

AM Racing | Dylan Lupton Martinsville Speedway Xfinity Series Race Preview

By
Barry Albert
-

AM Racing | NASCAR Xfinity Series
Martinsville (Va.) Speedway | National Debt Relief 250

Fast Facts
No. 15 AM Racing Team:
Driver: Dylan Lupton
Primary Partner(s): Lupton Excavation | AirBox
Manufacturer: Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Ryan “Pickle” London
Spotter: Michael Fisher
Chassis Intel: AMR Chassis No. X-1028
Engine: Roush-Yates Engines

Notes of Interest:

Final Stretch: Veteran race car driver Dylan Lupton will pilot AM Racing’s No. 15 Ford Mustang for the final two 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series races, including Saturday afternoon’s penultimate National Debt Relief 250 race of the season at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.

Lupton, a graduate of the NASCAR Next initiative, will also drive the team’s Ford Mustang in the season finale at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway on Nov. 9, 2024.

The former ARCA Menards Series West winner returned to NASCAR Xfinity Series competition for the first time since Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway last year on Oct. 5, 2024, at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

Driving the No. 15 Sentinel Foundation | Nine Line Apparel Ford Mustang for AM Racing, Lupton contended for a top-10 finish before being collected in the “Big One” with three laps to go.

To jumpstart his stock car racing career this year, Lupton returned to the ARCA Menards Series at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International in mid-September when he piloted the No. 30 Lupton Excavation | Rette Jones Racing Ford Mustang to a top-10 finish in the General Tire 100 at The Glen.

The Wilton, Calif. native has spent most of 2024 competing in select Late-Model events on the West Coast and in a limited Trans Am Series XGT Class schedule.

The Californian has four career starts for AM Racing at Talladega, the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Road Course, Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway (Fla.) respectively.

Lupton has 64 starts across all three of NASCAR’s national divisions, with one top-five and five top-10 finishes.

Welcome Aboard: For the 32nd of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races this season, AM Racing and Lupton welcome Lupton Excavation to the team as the primary partner on the No. 15 Ford Mustang for the 250-

lap race on Saturday afternoon.

Lupton Excavation Inc. was founded in 1987. The company provides excavation work and digs foundations.

Serving Sacramento, Calif., and surrounding areas, Lupton Excavation Inc. also specializes in Earthwork and plumbing.

Giving You Peace of Air: For the penultimate short track race of the season, AirBox will serve in an associate partnership role on Lupton’s No. 15 Ford Mustang in Saturday afternoon’s National Debt Relief 250 at Martinsville Speedway.

In 2017, AirBox was established to focus on building the world’s best air purifiers for indoor occupied spaces. This coincided with people starting to wake up to issues with indoor air quality. With new challenges to air cleanliness, such as COVID-19 and wildfire smoke, people are looking for effective and proven solutions to ensure they receive cleaner air, at last.

Their history in delivering clean air systems and services gives them an expertise that is unmatched. AirBox uses some of the most effective air filtration technologies that exist with Certified HEPA and Advanced Molecular Adsorption. Coupled with their Indoor Air Quality Assessment, AirBox is the total solution for all indoor air quality needs, ensuring their customers meet and exceed current and future ventilation standards.

Today, AirBox filtration systems are used across the country, purifying the air and capturing harmful irritants to create healthier, safer spaces. They’ve become the trusted choice for hospitals, educational centers, offices, warehouses, construction zones, public assembly, sports facilities, and more.

They’re proud to build all products to the highest standards in the USA at their North Carolina production facility. Every day, AirBox is working hard to give the American people the safer learning, working, and living environments they deserve — helping people breathe easy and live better.

Double Duty: In addition to Saturday afternoon’s National Debt Relief 250 at Martinsville Speedway, Lupton will pull double duty and compete in Friday night’s NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series Zip Buy Now Pay Later 200 driving the No. 02 Young’s Motorsports entry.

Lupton is utilizing the next-to-last Truck Series race of 2024 to acquire additional seat time ahead of his fifth NASCAR Xfinity Series start of the season on Nov. 2. 2024.

He has two prior Truck Series starts for the Mooresville, N.C.-based Young’s Motorsports team at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway (2016) and Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (2019), respectively with a best finish of 12th at Talladega.

Lupton is poised to make his 16th career Truck Series start on Nov. 1 and the first since the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in July 2022.

Dylan Lupton NASCAR Xfinity Series Martinsville Speedway Stats: Saturday afternoon’s National Debt Relief 250 at Martinsville Speedway will mark Lupton’s first career Xfinity Series start at the famed 0.526-mile paperclip in the heart of Virginia.

However, Lupton did make one NASCAR Cup Series start at Martinsville during the 2016 season, competing in the Goody’s Fast Relief 500, piloting the No. 83 BK Racing Toyota Camry.

He will look to improve his overall short track average Xfinity finish of 21.7.

Dylan Lupton NASCAR Xfinity Series Career Stats: In 45 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, Lupton has a career-best ninth-place finish after starting 16th for Athenian Motorsports at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in August 2015.

In addition to his Xfinity Series starts, he has achieved four NASCAR Cup Series starts and 15 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series starts to his credit.

Thanks For Your Support: With 93 percent of the 2024 Xfinity Series season complete, AM Racing and Dylan Lupton would like to thank their marketing partners for their support: AirBox, Flying Circle, Mechanix Wear, Mobil 1 and WIX Filters.

Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway | Credit One NASCAR Amex Credit Card 300 Race Recap: The 31st race of the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series season kicked off with a solo trip to Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway on Saturday, October 26, 2024.

In his Homestead return, Lupton and the AM Racing team led by crew chief Ryan “Pickle” London worked hard to improve the balance of their race car from practice to qualifying.

After picking up the pace in qualifying, Lupton started his No. 15 Lupton Excavation | AirBox Ford Mustang from the 30th position. After initially picking up a few positions at the drop of the green flag, Lupton reported an extremely loose race car, which was reflected in his track position.

Managing the looseness, Lupton stayed on the lead lap until the end of Stage 1, when London made a significant chassis adjustment to improve the car.

Lupton fired off strong at the start of Stage 2, continued to march forward, and worked to a race-high of 21st before finishing Stage 2 in the 23rd position.

With the sun beginning to set, Lupton continued to ask for more help to battle how free his race car was.

With new tires, fuel, and more adjustments, Lupton restarted inside the top 25, but early in Stage 3, a tire went down, causing him to make slight contact with the wall.

The team repaired the car with Lupton returning to the track and a couple of laps down. Lupton fought back and climbed back to 26th on the track before a right front flat tire with less than 10 laps to go sent the No. 15 AM Racing Ford Mustang to pit road for two tires.

Because of the late unscheduled stop, the team finished 32nd at the checkered flag.

From the Pit Box: Industry veteran Ryan “Pickle” London is Dylan Lupton’s crew chief.

He will be crew chief for his 32nd NASCAR Xfinity Series race and his third at Martinsville Speedway.

In his previous 31 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, he has collected two top-10 finishes, including a career-best ninth at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International with Joey Logano in September 2024 for AM Racing.

Follow on Social Media: For more on AM Racing, please visit AMRacingteam.com, like their Facebook page (AM Racing), or follow them on Instagram and X | Twitter @AMRacingNASCAR.

For more on Dylan Lupton like him on Facebook (Lupton Racing) and follow him on Instagram (@luptondylan) and X | Twitter (@LuptonDylan).

Dylan Lupton Quoteboard:

On Martinsville Speedway: “I’m optimistic about returning to Martinsville Speedway this weekend. Even though we did not have the finish we deserved last weekend at Homestead, I am encouraged by the changes we made throughout the race that made us more competitive.

“Without a doubt, I think running double duty will be a benefit to me. It’s all about seat time this weekend at one of the most demanding NASCAR short tracks on the schedule. I think the 200 laps on Friday night will help me get into a rhythm and get reacquainted with Martinsville.

“I’m looking for a solid finish for our AM Racing team that we can build on and head to Phoenix Raceway next weekend and end the year on a high note.”

Race Information:

The National Debt Relief 250 (250 laps | 131.5 miles) is the 32nd of thirty-three (33) NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2024 schedule. Practice will occur on Friday, November 1, from 3:35 p.m. to 4:10 p.m. Qualifying will immediately follow. The 38-car field will take the green flag on Saturday, November 2, shortly after 4:00 ET, with live coverage on the CW Network, the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (Eastern).

About AM Racing:

AM Racing is a multi-tiered, multi-faceted Motorsports program headquartered in Statesville, N.C.

Established in December 2015, AM Racing is prided on faith, honesty and intelligent performance.

The family-owned team will compete in the ARCA Menards Series, the NASCAR Xfinity Series and various Dirt Modified events in its eighth year of competition.

10th Running of Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) Daytona Classic 24 Hour Presented by Mission Foods This Weekend at Daytona International Speedway

By
Barry Albert
-
  • North America’s Premier Vintage and Historic 24-Hour Race Returns to the “World Center of Racing” for the 10th Time
  • Packed Event Schedule Includes the HSR Daytona Classic 24 Hour Presented by Mission Foods and the HSR Daytona Historics Full-Season Championship Races

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (October 30, 2024) – A quality and sure-to-be competitive field of more than 140 vintage and historic sports cars from the last 60-plus years has converged on Daytona International Speedway (DIS) for the 10th Running of the HSR Daytona Classic 24 Hour Presented by Mission Foods this weekend at DIS, October 30 – November 3. A stout entry of defending and former race winners and debuting contenders is set for the Classic 24 Saturday and Sunday in addition to a strong lineup for the HSR Daytona Historics, which is a points-paying event for HSR’s season-long racing series and championships.

First held in 2014, the immediate success of the inaugural HSR Daytona Classic 24 called for a second running in 2015. After a year off, the 24-Hour classic race on the 3.56-mile DIS road course returned in 2017 and is now an annual and premier fixture on the HSR calendar.

The HSR Classic Daytona 24 features six different Run Groups competing in succession for a full 24 hours on the DIS road course. The various period-correct classes within each Run Group combine to make almost all closed-wheel competition sports cars from the last six decades eligible for Classic 24 competition.

Among the long list of intriguing in-race stories to follow is the “double-double” bid by Iconic Racing to score twin repeats of its 2023 Group A and Group F triumphs. Iconic team drivers Gérard Lopez and former professional sports car racing World Endurance Champion Marcel Fassler combined to secure overall victories in both Run Group A and Run Group F last year.

Lopez and Fassler, who was making his HSR debut, put in a pair of competitive and controlled runs in 2023, leading all four race segments in both Run Groups to give Lopez his first HSR Classic Daytona Group A triumph since 2017 in the Iconic Racing 1969 No. 60 Lola T70 Mk III.

The Iconic duo then backed up the Group A win with an equally stellar performance in the team’s debut in Run Group F, which is home to modern Prototype machines retired from active competition. Iconic ran a former JDC Motorsports 2019 No. 5 Cadillac DPi that Lopez and Fassler wheeled to another victory to complete last year’s practically perfect Classic 24 weekend.

Lopez, Fassler and Iconic, who were the first team and drivers to score a Classic 24 Run Group overall double victory since Paul Reisman and his son John Reisman accomplished the feat with Hudson Historics in the inaugural race in 2014, now look to be the first team in HSR Classic race history to pull off back-to-back double Run Group race wins in successive years. The team has returned to Daytona with the same winning 1969 Lola and 2019 Cadillac DPi.

The non-stop, five-day schedule of historic and vintage competition at DIS began Wednesday with a test session for all Run Groups and classes in both the Classic 24 and Daytona Historics.

A highlight was 1992 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of The Year and longtime women in motorsports advocate Lyn St. James – the first woman to break the 200-mph barrier on a closed circuit race course – who drove her final and farewell laps in a race car Wednesday afternoon in the 2008 No. 2 Doran Racing Ford GT Mk 7. St. James co-drove the same car to a Group E victory in the E4 class with Brad Jaeger and Memo Gidley in the 2017 HSR Classic Daytona 24.

Wednesday night, St. James will be the guest of honor in a special VIP reception recognizing her 50 years in motorsports. The event is being made possible by DIS, NASCAR, IMSA and the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHFA), where the reception will be held in the MSHFA Museum outside of NASCAR Turn 4 at DIS just off of International Speedway Blvd.

More information on both the HSR Classic 24 and HSR Daytona Historics events, including entry lists, ticket purchases and the event schedule, can be found on the official event page by clicking here.

For a direct link to HSR Classic 24 race tickets, please click here.

About HSR: An International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) property, Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) was formed in the mid-1970s with an event at Road Atlanta. There was one goal then and it remains true today: to celebrate the racing cars from the past. As a “time machine” of sights and sounds, HSR provides a venue for competitors and spectators alike to share in the wonderful history and excitement created by the cars that competed at race tracks around the world. HSR currently sanctions eight vintage and historic racing events at some of the world’s most renowned race tracks, including Road Atlanta, Sebring International Raceway, Daytona International Speedway and more. The complete schedule and full event information can be found on HSR’s website at www.HSRRace.com. Look for the HSR Channel on YouTube and follow HSR on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/HSRrace/ and on Twitter X at @HSR_race and Instagram @HistoricSportscarRacing.

JEG COUGHLIN JR. LOOKS TO DOUBLE DOWN IN VEGAS; JIANNA EVARISTO HOPES TO CONTINUE FAMILY SUCCESS AT THE STRIP AT LVMS

By
Official Release
-

LAS VEGAS (Oct. 30, 2024) – Following his recent win in Dallas and his victory at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the spring, five-time Pro Stock champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. hopes to carry his momentum into this weekend’s 24th annual Ford Performance NHRA Nationals.

Coughlin, driver of the SCAG Power Equipment / Outlaw Mile Hi Light Beer Pro Stock car, has collected four wins this season, including most recently in Dallas, putting him fifth in points.

A championship is likely out of reach with four standouts ahead of him, but Coughlin is hopeful the success will continue into Las Vegas, as he looks to sweep the season at the facility and pick up his 70th career Pro Stock win in the process.

“I feel great coming into our second Vegas event of the year,” said Coughlin. “We won here in the spring and we’re coming off a win at Dallas. So we’ve got some confidence and momentum for the weekend.”

Last season, Mike Salinas (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock) all won the late-season race in Las Vegas. This year’s race will again be broadcast on FS1, with elimination coverage at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 3. It is the fifth of six races in the Countdown to the Championship and the 19th of 20 races in the 2024 season. Following his win at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in the spring, Coughlin hopes Vegas will continue to be a lucky track for him and his Elite Motorsports teammates.

“The weather looks to be on the (cooler) side and the Pro Stock cars will thrive in those cooler temps,” Coughlin said. “I can’t wait to drop the hammer on Friday.”

Coughlin currently sits in the top five in the loaded Pro Stock championship hunt. Leading the pack is KB Titan Racing standout Dallas Glenn. He currently leads Aaron Stanfield of Elite Motorsports by 53 points as the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series heads into the penultimate event of the season. Glenn and Stanfield have battled for the Pro Stock points lead all season and will both be aiming for their first NHRA title.

Veterans Greg Anderson (-90), Enders (-111) and Coughlin (-196) make up the next three spots.

In the Pro Stock Motorcycle ranks, rider Jianna Evaristo is looking for her first win of the season on her Scrappers Racing/Denso/Matt Smith Racing Buell. She has had a consistent motorcycle throughout the season, earning a runner-up finish in Bristol. Currently seventh in points, Evaristo also has visions of a top-five finish in the talent-filled category.

The good news is The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway has treated the family well in recent years. Her father, Mike Salinas, claimed the Top Fuel win last season and Evaristo hopes her family’s success in Vegas will transfer to the Pro Stock Motorcycle ranks this weekend.

To get a win, Evaristo will need to get past the powerhouse rider and reigning champion Herrera. Herrera currently leads the Pro Stock Motorcycle points thanks to his nine event wins this season. He leads Matt Smith by 62 points, while others to watch include rookie Richard Gadson, 2023 NHRA Rookie of the Year Chase Van Sant, Angie Smith and Hector Arana Jr.

In Top Fuel, Justin Ashley will look to hold off an array of championship drivers. He jumped into the points lead with his Dallas win and currently has a 44-point advantage over Antron Brown. Shawn Langdon, Steve Torrence, Tony Schumacher and Clay Millican are also in the championship mix.

Funny Car’s Austin Prock continues to lead the field and has the chance to clinch his first NHRA title. Prock leads teammate Jack Beckman, who is racing for John Force, by 147 points, with defending world champion Matt Hagan 168 points back. Force will also be in attendance this weekend, making his first appearance at the track since his crash in late June in Richmond.

The Ford Performance NHRA Nationals also will feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the Summit Racing Series E.T. Finals. The weekend will also include action in Legends Nitro Funny Car class and a spectacular jet dragster exhibition after nitro qualifying on Friday and Saturday.

It’s also the final race of the 2024 season in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+, Johnson’s Horsepowered Mountain Motor Pro Stock and the new Holley EFI Factory X category.

Fans are invited to the Nitro Alley Stage in the pits, where they can take part in Nitro School, meet and greets, influencer interviews and much more. Vegas race fans can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that celebrate each of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and includes the SealMaster Track Walk. The final can’t-miss experience of any NHRA event is the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday, where fans are invited to congratulate the Ford Performance NHRA Nationals event winners.

As always, fans get a pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. They can see their favorite teams in action and servicing their hot rods between rounds, get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers and more. They can also visit NHRA’s Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create an exciting atmosphere that includes displays, merchandise, food, and fun.

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 12:00 and 2:30 p.m. PT on Friday, Nov. 1, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 12:00 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11:00 a.m. PT on Nov. 3. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 3:00 p.m. ET on Sunday with eliminations at 5:00 p.m. ET.

To purchase tickets to the Ford Performance NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, call 800-644-4444 or visit www.lvms.com. Children 12 and under are admitted free in general admissions areas with a paid adult. For more information about NHRA, visit www.NHRA.com.

About Ford Performance

Ford Performance is based in Dearborn, Mich. It is responsible for Ford’s performance vehicle development and major racing operations globally, including NASCAR, IMSA, SRO British GT, FIA World Rally Championship, Supercars Championship, World of Outlaws, Ultra4, SCORE-International, FIA Rally-Raid, Formula Drift, NHRA, Rebelle Rally, Thailand Super Series and our latest commitment in Formula 1 with RedBull Ford Powertrains. Ford Performance also maintains a constantly evolving fleet of electric performance demonstrators to showcase the limits of electrification technology. In addition, the organization also oversees the development of Ford’s racing engines, as well as the outreach programs with all Ford Clubs and Ford enthusiasts. For more information regarding Ford racing’s activities, please visit Performance.Ford.com or follow @FordPerformance on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube.

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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