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NHRA AT DALLAS: Team Chevy Race Report | Notes & Quotes

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CHEVROLET IN NHRA
2024 TEXAS NHRA FALLNATIONALS
TEXAS MOTORPLEX
ENNIS, TEXAS
TEAM CHEVY RACE REPORT | NOTES & STATS
OCTOBER 13, 2024

TEAM CHEVY FACES TOUGH TEXAS NHRA FALLNATIONALS IN DALLAS WITH JOHN FORCE RACING

Jeg Coughlin, Jr. Captured Chevrolet’s 399th Wally trophy since 1970 in Pro Stock, with Greg Stanfield Capturing the Factory X Victory at Texas Motorplex

Notes:

  • Jeg Coughlin, Jr. defeated Greg Anderson to claim Chevrolet’s 399th Pro Stock victory since 1970. Coughlin, Jr.’s win Sunday was the 106th victory of his career and this of 2024.
  • Austin Prock, driver of the AAA/Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car, raced to the semifinal round of Sunday’s Texas NHRA Fall Nationals after claiming his 13th No. 1 qualifier this season but didn’t make the run after facing issues on the burnout versus Ron Capps.
  • Despite the early exit to his FallNationals, Prock still maintains the Championship standings lead heading into the penultimate event of the 2024 season, the NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Nov. 1-3.
  • Brittany Force, driver of the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Top Fuel dragster, raced to Round 2 after claiming her 50th career No. 1 qualifier at the Texas Motorplex, but fell to Tony Schumacher.
  • Prock raced his 13th also this season, tying J. Force with the most Funny Car No. 1 qualifiers in a single season. Additionally, Prock’s run of 3.813 seconds E.T. at 333.09 mph set a new track record Friday night in Q2 at Texas Motorplex, and was the eighth quickest Funny Car run in NHRA history, the best since 2017.
  • B. Force raced to her 50th career NHRA No. 1 qualifier with her stout Q2 run of 3.667 seconds E.T. at 338.19 mph Friday night.
  • Jack Beckman, driver of the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car, faced vertigo-like symptoms Sunday morning that did not subside and was unable to compete in Sunday’s Texas NHRA FallNationals. Heading into race day Sunday, Beckman had qualified No. 3 and was competing on behalf of team owner and 16-time champion John Force in the Countdown to the Championship.
  • Anderson, driver of the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro SS Pro Stock, captured his sixth No. 1 qualifier of 2024 and 130th of his career after his Friday evening Q2 run of 6.524 seconds E.T. at 208.99 mph held strongly through Saturday’s sessions to take the top spot.
  • Greg Stanfield, in his Chevrolet COPO Camaro, defeated Jesse Alexandra to claim the Holley EFI Factory X Wally trophy during the Texas NHRA FallNationals.

Quotes:

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

“I honestly don’t know what to say. This isn’t the end we had planned for our weekend with the AAA Camaro. My foot went all the way to the floor, so there was a good chance it broke the throttle cable or that the throttle link had disconnected. It was a quick disconnect. It was activated by ai, and I stopped and noticed that the throttle arm was moving and there was no change in RPM. So, I got on the radio, told them what was going on, and we tried reconnecting it, but we weren’t able to.”

CHRIS CUNNINGHAM, CREW CHIEF OF THE PEAK ANTIFREEZE AND COOLANT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS FUNNY CAR:

“It is unfortunate for our PEAK team and our championship hopes, but we’ve been through this before and we are not giving up. This is what was best for Jack (Beckman) and his health. That comes first.”

BRITTANY FORCE, DRIVER OF THE HENDRICKCARS.COM CHEVROLET TOP FUEL DRAGSTER:

“Amazing effort from my HendrickCars.com team this entire weekend! Our car ran strong through qualifying, and we earned my 50th No. 1 qualifier. On race day, our performance remained strong, making two solid passes but the second round resulted in a hole shot loss which as a driver, weighs a lot because I must admit I let my team down. This is something I will continue to work on and aim to improve in Las Vegas. Our team does not quit. We will pull ourselves out of our most challenging season with a positive note on the west coast.”

Up Next:

The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series returns to action Nov. 1-3 at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the Ford Performance NHRA Nationals. Eliminations air Sunday at 5 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). Coverage of qualifying and the race stream live throughout the weekend on NHRA.tv, and is available via AppleTV, Android TV, and Roku devices.

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.

Kaulig Racing Race Recap | Bank of America ROVAL 400

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AJ ALLMENDINGER
No. 16 Celsius Camaro ZL1

  • AJ Allmendinger qualified third for the Bank of America ROVAL 400.
  • On the opening lap, Allmendinger fell to fourth but battled hard with the No. 45 on the next lap for third place. He remained quiet on the radio, and the team came to pit road under green on lap 18 for a scheduled four tires and fuel stop. After pitting, Allmendinger saved his tires and finished the first stage in eighth place.
  • The No. 16 stayed out during the stage break and restarted in third place for Stage 2. The caution came on lap 36, and Allmendinger reported from third place his Chevy was loose. Allmendinger came to pit road for four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment to help the handling of his car. He restarted in 19th place on lap 38 and drove up to fifth by lap 47. As the leaders came to pit road, Allmendinger took over second place, where he finished the second stage.
  • After staying out during the stage break, Allmendinger restarted the final stage in first place. He maintained position, reporting he fired off sideways, until the caution came on lap 56. The team stayed out under caution to restart in first on lap 59. On lap 66, Allmendinger took over second place after battling with the No. 5. The team came to pit road for a scheduled green flag pit stop on lap 70. As the field continued to cycle through, Allmendinger was scored in fifth on lap 77. The caution came on lap 81; Allmendinger was scored in third. He came to pit road for tires and fuel to restart in 23rd on lap 83. Within 10 laps, Allmendinger had taken over the seventh position. He went on to finish in sixth place.

“Really, really good day and weekend for out No. 16 team. Andrew [Dickeson] and the 16 crew did a great job preparing the car. We had good speed weekend. Didn’t quite have enough to be the No. 5 or No. 20 so we tried something different with strategy. We knew it would be an up hill battle from there but it was a lot of fun passing all those cars and bringing home a sixth place finish.” – AJ Allmendinger  

SHANE van GISBERGEN
No. 13 WeatherTech Camaro ZL1

  • Shane van Gisbergen qualified on the pole for the Bank of America ROVAL 400 securing Kaulig Racing’s first NASCAR Cup Series pole position.
  • Van Gisbergen maintained a 1.700-second lead on the field, as he worked on perfecting his entry and exits through the 17 turn course. The No. 13 team opted to pit on lap 22 for fresh tires and fuel, re-entering the field sixth with two laps remaining in the stage. The No. 13 WeatherTech Chevrolet took the green and white checkered flag sixth to end the first stage.
  • The No. 13 WeatherTech team started the second stage second. From the start of the stage, Van Gisbergen battled to catch the leader. A caution came out on lap 36, and the No. 13 opted to stay out and restarted second with 11 laps remaining in the stage. Van Gisbergen dropped to third on the first lap of the restart as he battled for the remainder of the stage to catch the leaders. Reporting his WeatherTech Chevy Camaro was lacking rear grip, the No. 13 team opted to pit for fresh tires, fuel and adjustments, with three laps remaining the stage. Van Gisbergen re-entered the field 16th and completed the stage 15th.
  • The No. 13 WeatherTech team opted to stay out to start the final stage. Van Gisbergen took the green flag in 11th. The caution quickly came out on lap 56 of the race, and No. 13 team chose to stay out, restarting the stage 12th with 50 laps remaining in the race. On lap 62, Van Gisbergen was spun by a competitor in turn 7, dropping Van Gisbergen back to 23rd. Van Gisbergen re-entered the top 20 with 39 laps remaining in the race. He climbed into the top 10, reaching seventh with 35 laps remaining. A caution flew with 28 laps remaining in the event, and the No. 13 opted to come to pit road for fresh tires and fuel. Van Gisbergen restarted the final stage in 24th with 26 laps remaining in the race. He quickly worked his way into 17th, just two laps into the restart. The No. 13 WeatherTech Chevrolet worked its way back into the top 10 with 16 laps remaining in the event. Van Gisbergen battled to gain more positions and ultimately took the checkered flag seventh.

“Well that wasn’t the day we were hoping for, but this track was really fun! My WeatherTech Chevrolet was fast, and we started there on the pole, which was really cool and even led most of the laps there in Stage One. Wish we could’ve gotten a better result but proud of my Kaulig Racing team and all the hard work they put in to preparing for this weekend! Get to Cup Race again next weekend in Las Vegas, so looking forward to that.” – Shane van Gisbergen  

DANIEL HEMRIC
No. 31 Cirkul Camaro ZL1

  • Daniel Hemric qualified 27th for the Bank of America ROVAL 400.
  • By lap five, Hemric began steadily improving, recording top-15 lap times in the No. 31 Cirkul Chevrolet. He short-pitted the stage for four tires, fuel and an air-pressure adjustment, before finishing 28th in the first stage.
  • Hemric started the second stage from 21st place. The first non-stage caution of the day came out on lap 35 for debris on the track. Hemric pitted for four tires, fuel and a left-rear adjustment, before restarting 29th. Avoiding a spin on the restart, Hemric made his way into the top 20 in the No. 31 Cirkul Chevy. Short-pitting from 17th, he went on to finish the second stage in 26th place.
  • Hemric stayed out during the second stage break to start the final stage from 17th. As green-flag pit stops began, Hemric made it as high as ninth, before pitting on lap 76 for tires and fuel. When a caution came out on lap 81, Hemric stayed out and restarted 18th. On lap 89, the No. 45 dove under the 31, spinning him in the process. The race remained green, as Hemric dropped back to 30th place, hoping for a caution. The caution never fell, but Hemric was able to work his way back up to 25th, where he finished the race.

“Not the finish we wanted today. We had a really good No. 31 Cirkul Chevrolet, on top of a solid strategy by [crew chief] Trent Owens. Unfortunately, we got spun and never caught a caution to get new tires.” – Daniel Hemric  
 
About Kaulig Racing

Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time, multi-car NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, owned by award winning entrepreneur, Matt Kaulig. Established in 2016, Kaulig Racing™ has earned 23 NXS wins, made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started, and won two regular-season championships. In 2021, the team competed in select NCS events, before expanding to a two-car, full-time NCS team in 2022 and adding a third, part-time entry during the 2023 season. Since its first NCS start in 2021, the team has earned two wins. Kaulig Racing is currently fielding two full-time entries in the NCS and continues to field three full-time NXS entries, with a part-time fourth entry at select events. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

Toyota Racing – NCS Charlotte ROVAL Post-Race Report – 10.13.24

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Official Release
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THREE TOYOTA DRIVERS IN THE ROUND OF 8
Bell clinches early, while Hamlin and Reddick battle through adversity to claim their spots

CONCORD, N.C. (October 13, 2024) – Three Toyota drivers advanced to the Round of 8 with their results at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL on Sunday evening. Christopher Bell clinched his spot early in the final stage and finished second – his series-leading 20th top-10 finish of the season.

Toyota’s two other drivers in the Playoffs – Denny Hamlin and Tyler Reddick – both had to battle through adversity after a mid-race incident, as both spent time below the cutline. However, after work on pit road, both Hamlin and Reddick were able to earn top-15 finishes, which was enough to move them on in the Round of 8.

Going into the next round, Bell is the two seed, 13 points above the cutline, Tyler Reddick is third overall, 10 points to the good, while Hamlin is sixth, eight points out – with Las Vegas Motor Speedway next up.

Toyota Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL
Race 32 of 36 – 109 Laps, 252.88 Miles

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS

1st, Kyle Larson*
2nd, CHRISTOPHER BELL
3rd, William Bryon*
4th, Austin Cindric*
5th, Chase Elliott*
9th, BUBBA WALLACE
11th, TYLER REDDICK
14th, DENNY HAMLIN
22nd, MARTIN TRUEX JR.
34th, JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK
35th, ERIK JONES
36th, TY GIBBS
*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

CHRISTOPHER BELL, No. 20 DEWALT Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 2nd

How does this result feel?

“It feels alright. It feels good – I’ll be honest. Happy for this DEWALT Toyota team. We had a goal today to win the race, and that’s what we came here to do, and it was close – me and the 5 (Kyle Larson) seemed like we were pretty evenly matched once we got out to our equal spacing. I would make a bad lap, and he would pull away, and he would make a bad lap, and I would close in. Hopefully, we get a redo in Phoenix.

BUBBA WALLACE, No. 23 Leidos Toyota Camry XSE, 23XI Racing

Finishing Position: 9th

Strong qualifying effort led into a strong run today. Can you talk about your race?

“What a good day. What a good weekend really. Just a solid day. We showed up with a lot of speed. I look at the track record here, and we run pretty decent here. It is just execution, hard work put in. All-in-all good day for our Leidos Toyota Camry, just have to keep it going.”

TYLER REDDICK, No. 45 Monster Energy Toyota Camry XSE, 23XI Racing

Finishing Position: 11th

You won stage one and then had to recover from the incident early in stage two. I think you get the big air award for that.

“Yeah, I thought I was going to flip, but I think I was behind the 19 (Martin Truex Jr.) – trying to work the move to the inside. I got clear of him – I saw the 3 (Austin Dillon) spun and everyone on the binders coming to a stop, and of course, me and my boss (Denny Hamlin) get together. It was like I was going to do a front flip – this thing was absolutely destroyed. Huge props to everyone on this Monster Energy Toyota Camry. This thing couldn’t go within four seconds of what the pace was, and we just kept working on it. We were a lot better in stage three. This is how this place can be sometimes, but it is really nice to pull this off.”

What is it like for you watching your team work on the car under the clock?

“It is tough. You just have to stay calm. You just have to stay focused. In those moments, it is so easy to lose control. Either way, I was going to drive the car as fast as I could. It just worked out for us that this thing was able to get back through the field and get us to the good side of the cut line.”

DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 Sport Clips Haircuts Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 14th

Seven points to the good. Can you talk about your race?

“Seven is the same as 100 (laughter). It is such a tough spot to be in, when you are up like we were because the only thing that can hurt you is a really detrimental day, so you can’t be as aggressive as you really want to, but you can’t bleed a bunch of track position either. Great job by this whole Sport Clips Toyota team. Chris Gabehart (crew chief) and the team did an awesome job of keeping us in it, and luckily, we were able to come away with a top-15 there.”

What did you think of the start of stage two with the incident?

“Really, the biggest thing – it just messed up the alignment and bent the toe link or something in the rear. We lost some car speed there with that, but glad it didn’t lead to a detrimental day, and now these tracks coming up – now we race.”

About Toyota

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

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

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

Ryan Blaney Advances to Playoff Round of 8 (Charlotte ROVAL Post Race Quotes)

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Official Release
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Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Cup Series | Post Race
Bank of America ROVAL 400 | Sunday, October 13, 2024

UNOFFICIAL FORD FINISHING RESULTS

4th – Austin Cindric
8th – Joey Logano
10th – Ryan Blaney
15th – Michael McDowell
17th – Chris Buescher
19th – Todd Gilliland
21st – Harrison Burton
23rd – Josh Berry
24th – Brad Keselowski
26th – Ryan Preece
28th – Kaz Grala
30th – Josh Bilicki
32nd – Noah Gragson
37th – Chase Briscoe

RYAN BLANEY, No. 12 Discount Tire Ford Mustang Dark Horse (Finished 10th | Advanced to Round of 8)

“I thought our car was fast, we just were in the Stage points game all day and we had to restart 30th every run to get back up to where we finished in 10th. To be honest, I wasn’t as aggressive on some of the restarts there in the back to weave our way through because we knew our objective today. I am proud of the effort of all the 12 boys to come out here and forget last week and focus on this week which really mattered.”

WHERE DO YOU FEEL YOU ARE RIGHT NOW?

“I feel like we are in a pretty decent spot. I was really happy with our speed at Kansas and I thought that was huge at a place we have struggled at. We hadn’t been the best there the last few years but to go there and have race winning pace was really impressive for our group. Hopefully we can carry that over to Vegas and Homestead and learn from the spring at Martinsville. I think we are in a good spot. We just have to go perform. It is a new week next week and I am looking forward to getting started.”

ANOTHER YEAR YOU HAVE ADVANCED TO THE ROUND OF 8:

“I definitely think we have been lucky to have a good group behind me, and each Round of 8 has kind of been with a whole different group of people. First it was Todd Gordon and then Jeremy Bullins, and now Jonathan Hassler and I have been able to win races with those guys and get to the Round of 8 to get a shot at Phoenix. It was nice to do it last year to just get there and then to perform well. It is all about the hard work from the fellas on the 12 group and I am lucky to work with really good people and I am excited. I hate it though that Austin and Joey didn’t advance. I guess the 22 is in on owners points but I would have loved to have all three of us still in it, but we will keep fighting.”

AUSTIN CINDRIC, No. 2 Menards/Sylvania Ford Mustang Dark Horse (Finished 4th | Eliminated from Playoffs)

THAT WAS YOUR BEST FINISH SINCE YOUR WIN AT GATEWAY, WHAT MORE DID YOU NEED?

“A better performance and finishes at Talladega and Kansas. We had the speed and that is the encouraging thing and the exciting thing but today we needed it all. We had a great car. We had a great finish. My guys called a great strategy and we got points in both Stages, all the things that are hard to do in a Cup race, but we did those things and were capable of doing those things in the two prior races. That is what this format is. It is difficult. I think for us, having a better regular season, having a bit better of a buffer would definitely help. I am proud of everyone. I feel like we are getting into a rhythm here. I am proud of the team and looking forward to trying to spoil some races and support our teammates the rest of the way.”

JOEY LOGANO, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse (Finished 8th | Eliminated from Playoffs)

WHAT IS THE SENTIMENT NOW KNOW HOW HARD YOU FOUGHT AND CAME UP JUST SHORT OF ADVANCING?

“Yeah, we fought hard for sure. Paul and the guys did a good job executing the strategy of what we needed to do today. We just didn’t get quite enough at the end there. We fell off a little too much that last run. Honestly, the 45, Tyler, and those guys did a good job driving up through the field and scored more points. It is hard not to think about Richmond a little bit right now. The positive of it is that we are still in the owners championship, so we can confuse all the fans from here on out about drivers and owners championships. The money is in the owners, so we will keep fighting for the money.”

LISTENING TO YOUR RADIO, COLEMAN WAS GIVING YOU UPDATES OF WHERE TYLER WAS, DID YOU FEEL HELPLESS?

“A bit of it is, yeah. Tires were coming behind you with two of the best with AJ (Allmending) and SVG coming at me. I was just trying to maintain the best I could and honestly was praying for a caution because that was the only thing that could stir it up enough to where a lot of what-ifs can happen. Congrats to them. They fought hard, changing toe links and all that and were still able to make it. It just wasn’t meant to be. You can start looking back at different points in the season to gather four points pretty easily. One race in particular. Talladega we didn’t do a good enough job scoring Stage points and that is where a lot of it lies.”

CHASE BRISCOE, No. 14 Ford Performance Racing School Ford Mustang Dark Horse

(Retired early due to damage on Lap 41 | Eliminated from playoffs)

“It is tough to have all the momentum that we had and to have it come to an end like it did is unfortunate. I wish we could have kept going for it. I am sure all the guys that get eliminated wish they could keep going for it, right? We knew, I think as a team even, going into it that if we could get through this round we could get to the final four but we weren’t able to get through this round. It is unfortunate. We still have a lot to race for. We can still go win four more races and that is what we will try to do. It is four really good tracks for us so I feel really good about it. I wish we were racing for a championship still. It is just one of those days. Honestly, kind of one of those weeks with everything that has happened. I am ready for Monday.”

WHAT ARE YOUR EMOTIONS RIGHT NOW AS YOUR CHAMPIONSHIP HOPES COME TO AN END?

“It stings. Not even really for myself, just all the employees at Stewart-Haas. They were all kind of living through the 14 car, and the environment we have had these last few weeks has been really exciting to be a part of. I hate that it is coming to an end. I know what that means for Stewart-Haas not to be racing for a championship anymore. That was keeping a lot of people, honestly, in the building. Hopefully, the repercussions aren’t too bad, but we have four races left, and we are going to give it everything we’ve got.”

WHAT HAPPENED TO CAUSE THE DAMAGE?

“The steering rack or something broke. I don’t really know to be honest. Realistically we probably weren’t going to move on anyway but on those restarts in Turn 7 we all kind of get stacked up and they all kind of stopped in front of me and it ripped the wheel out of my hand. I could turn to the left but as soon as I got to the right-hander, my car just went straight. I about hit the wall on the backstretch chicane, and then on the front stretch chicane, I hit the 3 car just because I literally couldn’t turn. It is an unfortunate way for it to all come to an end. It is part of it, part of racing. We just didn’t have a very good three weeks when it all boils down to it. We have four more races left to try to go win and send Stewart-Haas Racing out with a win.”

YOU’VE EXPERIENCED THE HIGHEST OF HIGHS THIS WEEK AND THE LOWEST OF LOWS?

“Yeah, it has definitely been a tough week with the highest of highs but then everything that Marissa was going through and the playoffs too. The racing is one thing but I am more worried about my family at the end of the day and making sure Marissa is okay. I would have loved to keep racing for a championship. It is unfortunate that the way the week ended, but life could be a lot worse. I have three healthy kids at home and a wife that is hopefully getting healthy and I get to drive racecars for a living so at the end of the day you can’t be upset just because you don’t have a chance to race for a championship. I still have an incredible life and I am certainly blessed.”

Rick Ware Racing: Bank of America Roval 400 from Charlotte

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RICK WARE RACING
Bank of America Roval 400

Date: Oct. 13, 2024
Event: Bank of America Roval 400 (Round 32 of 36)
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway (2.32-mile, 17-turn road course)
Format: 109 laps, broken into three stages (25 laps/25 laps/59 laps)

Race Winner: Kyle Larson of Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet)
Stage 1 Winner: Tyler Reddick of 23XI Racing (Toyota)
Stage 2 Winner: Alex Bowman of Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet)

RWR Race Finish:

● Kaz Grala (Started 31st, Finished 28th / Running, completed 109 of 109 laps)
● Corey LaJoie (Started 28th, Finished 38th / Engine, completed 3 of 109 laps)

RWR Points:

● Corey LaJoie (31st with 457 points)
● Kaz Grala (35th with 187 points)

RWR Notes:

● This was Grala’s first NASCAR Cup Series start at The Roval.
● This was LaJoie’s sixth NASCAR Cup Series start at The Roval. His best finish remains 12th, earned in October 2022.

Race Notes:

● Kyle Larson won the Bank of America Roval 400 to score his 29th career NASCAR Cup Series victory, his sixth of the season and his second at The Roval. His margin of victory over second-place Christopher Bell was 1.511 seconds.
● There were five caution periods for a total of 13 laps.
● Thirty of the 38 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.

Sound Bites:

“It was such a long race and, in these cars, you’re working hard every lap. I’m not sure what else we could’ve done. Our balance was just a little too far off at the end but it really just comes down to track position on the road courses, and we never quite had the chance to take advantage of that.” – Kaz Grala, driver of the No. 15 Meat N’ Bone Ford Mustang Dark Horse

“I hate that our day ended so soon. I would’ve liked to have given the folks from Schluter Systems more of a race to enjoy. Just wasn’t out day. We’ve got a good group of guys and three more races to show what we can do.” – Corey LaJoie, driver of the No. 51 Schluter Systems Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Next Up:

The next event on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the South Point 400 on Sunday, Oct. 20 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The race begins at 2:30 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by NBC and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

NASCAR to Expand Campus Lab Program Starting Next Semester at Winston-Salem State University

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Official Release
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The Initiative Launched in 2023 at Daytona-based HBCU Campus will be Available in Florida and North Carolina Starting in 2025

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Oct. 13, 2024) – After a successful kick-off semester at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, NASCAR announced today the expansion of the Campus Lab Program. Starting in the spring semester of 2025, students at Winston-Salem State University will also have the opportunity to join the program that targets highly motivated students interested in pursuing careers in the fast-paced sports industry and will provide them with hands-on experience through a specialized curriculum.

“The goal of the NASCAR Campus Lab Program is to provide exposure to the motorsports industry, and we were able to accomplish that over the past year and a half since launching the program”, said Caryn Grant, Senior Director of NASCAR Diversity and Inclusion. “As a result, we’ve introduced career opportunity, experience and guidance that has positively impacted participants, including a student from the inaugural cohort at Bethune-Cookman University who earned a spot in the NASCAR Diversity Internship Program and was then hired at NASCAR. We look forward to continuing to develop future professionals at Winston-Salem State University and making a similar impact.”

Winston-Salem State University is located in North Carolina. It is the only HBCU and only public university to offer a motorsports management degree program. Currently, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Rajah Caruth is a full-time student at WSSU pursuing a degree in motorsports management. He made history earlier this year as the third Black driver to win a NASCAR national series race.

Students accepted to the NASCAR Campus Lab Program will get real-world experience developing a marketing activation while managing a set budget provided by NASCAR, compete in a case study competition, get a behind-the-scenes view of careers throughout the industry, be paired with a mentor from NASCAR’s Black employee resource group, and receive resume and interview tips from human resources professionals.

Upon completion of the program, NASCAR will provide participating students with a scholarship prize, and at least one eligible student will earn a spot in the highly competitive NASCAR Diversity Internship Program for the upcoming summer. NDIP was launched in 2000 and since then more than 500 college students have participated in the industry’s longest-running diversity initiative.

“We’re thrilled to collaborate with NASCAR in establishing this innovative campus lab, which will provide our students with hands-on exposure to the motorsports industry,” said WSSU Chancellor Bonita Brown. “This partnership opens the door to unique career opportunities, allowing our students to engage in STEM fields, business, and marketing. Together, we’re breaking new ground and paving the way for a more diverse future in racing while positioning our students for successful careers in the motorsports industry.”

The NASCAR Campus Lab Program is open to sophomores and juniors at Winston-Salem State University within the college of arts, sciences, business and education who have a demonstrated interest in working in the sports industry. Applications for the spring 2025 cohort will open October 8 and close November 1.

About NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 14 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Series, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Mexico Series, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in five cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 11 countries and more than 30 U.S. states.

For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, X and Snapchat.

About Winston-Salem State University

Winston-Salem State University fosters the creative thinking, analytical problem-solving, and depth of character needed to transform the world. Rooted in liberal education, WSSU’s curriculum prepares students to be thought leaders who have the skills and knowledge needed to develop innovative solutions to complex problems. Founded in 1892, WSSU is a historically Black constituent institution of the University of North Carolina with a rich tradition of contributing to the social, cultural, intellectual, and economic growth of North Carolina, the region, and beyond. It is ranked the No. 1 university in North Carolina for social mobility by U.S. News & World Report. Guided by the motto, “Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve,” WSSU develops leaders who advance social justice by serving the world with compassion and commitment. For more information, visit www.wssu.edu. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X.

Unlocking Power: The Ultimate Guide to EGR Delete for Duramax

By
SM
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When it comes to optimizing the performance of your Duramax diesel engine, few upgrades spark as much conversation as the EGR delete. If you’re serious about maximizing horsepower, lowering exhaust gas temperatures, and keeping your engine running smoothly, an EGR delete might be on your radar. But what exactly is an EGR delete, and how does it impact your truck’s overall performance? In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about EGR deletes, why they’re so popular among diesel enthusiasts, and most importantly, how to approach this upgrade the right way. From understanding the key components to investing in quality parts, we’ve got you covered.

Dynovox offers a specially curated collection of EGR delete kits designed specifically for Duramax trucks. Whether you’re looking for a straightforward, budget-friendly kit or a premium package, we’ve got the right option to match your needs.

Explore Our Duramax EGR Delete Kits

What You’ll Need for an EGR Delete on Your Duramax

  1. Upgraded Up Pipe
    The first thing you’ll need is an upgraded up pipe, often referred to as the LB7 up pipe. This pipe has a small leg that bypasses the EGR cooler and sends the exhaust directly to the turbo.
  2. Cold Side Intake Tube
    You’ll also need a 3-inch cold side intake tube, which connects to an upgraded Y-bridge.
  3. Y-Bridge
    An upgraded Y-bridge is essential for improving airflow after the EGR delete.
  4. Heater Hose and Clamps
    Finally, you’ll need a ½-inch heater hose and two clamps to bypass the EGR cooler, which will no longer be necessary after the delete.

What is the EGR System and What Does It Do?

EGR stands for Exhaust Gas Recirculation. It’s a system found on almost every vehicle, except for certain models like the first-generation Duramax (LB7). The EGR system introduces exhaust gases back into the intake manifold, where they are burned a second time before exiting through the exhaust as cleaner emissions. This is designed to reduce pollutants and protect the environment.

So, What Does an EGR Delete Do?

The EGR delete essentially stops the recirculation of exhaust gases back into the engine. Once the exhaust is burned, it’s sent straight out of the system, which helps reduce the load on the engine. This also prevents carbon build-up in the engine, improving overall performance. One thing to note is that EGR deletes are illegal in all 50 states and should only be used for off-road purposes. However, it’s your vehicle, and ultimately, it’s up to you.

Explore Our Duramax EGR Delete Kits

The EGR Delete Kit: What’s Inside?

Now let’s talk about the EGR system parts you’ll be dealing with and how they work together. The EGR cooler cools the exhaust gases before they’re recirculated into the engine. You also have the EGR valve, which regulates the air being reintroduced. Over time, the EGR valve gets clogged with soot and grime, reducing airflow and negatively affecting performance.

I have some parts of the EGR system here to show you what it looks like. First, the Y-bridge sits in the valley of your engine and connects to the intake. It can get clogged with nasty build-up over time. In my case, after 150,000 miles, I had about a quarter of an inch of thick build-up in the Y-bridge. This gunk re-enters your engine and can cause all kinds of problems.

Why Should You Consider an EGR Delete?

When you perform an EGR delete, all that soot and carbon build-up will be eliminated. Instead of reintroducing exhaust gases back into your intake system, they’re expelled right out through the exhaust. This not only prevents internal engine contamination but also improves overall engine efficiency.

Once you block off the EGR system using a blocker plate, the exhaust gases no longer pass through the cooler or valve. However, be aware that installing a blocker plate will trigger a check engine light. To get rid of this, you’ll need to install a high-flow cold-side charge pipe and possibly consider tuning your engine with EFI Live or another custom tuning option. The tuning will help trick your engine’s computer into thinking the EGR system is still functioning properly.

Don’t Skimp on Quality!

Don’t buy the EGR delete kits without considering quality. The kits you might find on aftermarket for $98–$150 aren’t worth it. Sure, they might save you a few bucks, but they’re prone to causing problems like cracked up pipes, exhaust leaks, and boost leaks over time. You’ll end up spending more money fixing these issues than you would if you invested in a higher-quality kit in the first place.

I’ve seen a lot of people make this mistake, and trust me, it’s not worth the headache. Once you block off the EGR cooler and install the up pipe, you’ll be adding extra pressure to the system. Cheap kits won’t be able to handle this pressure for long, and you’ll eventually end up with cracked bellows or leaks.

Your Best Option: Upgraded Y-Bridge and High-Flow Charge Pipe

If you’re going to do an EGR delete, do it right. The best approach is to upgrade to a high-quality Y-bridge, which allows for better airflow. The upgraded Y-bridge is a bulletproof solution that improves engine breathing and reduces the chances of boost leaks. Paired with a high-flow charge pipe, you’ll see improvements in exhaust gas temperatures (EGTs) and turbo spool-up times, though the difference won’t be extreme.

Explore Our Duramax EGR Delete Kits

Conclusion

An EGR delete can be a great upgrade for your Duramax, but only if you do it right. Invest in quality parts, such as an upgraded Y-bridge and charge pipe, to prevent issues down the road. While it’s not the cheapest option, it’s the best way to protect your investment and ensure your truck performs at its best.

RISI COMPETIZIONE CAPTURES SECOND PLACE AT 2025 PETIT LE MANS

By
Official Release
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Risi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3 No. 62:

Davide Rigon (ITA)
Daniel Serra (BRA)
Alessandro Pier Guidi (ITA)

(Braselton, Ga., October 12, 2024) … The No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3 finished on the podium in second place in GTD Pro class, at today’s 27th Annual Motul Petit Le Mans 10-hour race at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, the final round of the season for IMSA.

Drivers for today’s action-packed race were Ferrari GT factory drivers Italian Davide Rigon, Brazilian Daniel Serra, and Italian Alessandro Pier Guidi, who joined them for this final round. All three drivers competed together with Risi Competizione last year at Petit Le Mans, where they finished third on the podium.

The Houston, Texas-based Ferrari team also finished second in the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup (IMEC) Championship, which they contested with all five endurance races this season. Risi Competizione trailed the winning team (Paul Miller Racing) by just two points, 43 to 41. The Risi Competizione team won the inaugural IMEC championship in 2022.

Although the team started today’s race from the 13th GTD Pro class position, their strategy to not pit during the first full course caution helped elevate them to second in class within the first 30 minutes of the race. They continued to run in the two positions most of the race, including leading many laps. There were a total of five cautions over the 10 hours with three within the first 90 minutes.

Serra clocked the team’s fastest lap in his final stint in the dark on Lap 388 out of a total of 413 laps with a time of 1:19.424.

The 2024 race stats for Risi Competizione this season included a class victory at the Rolex 24 At Daytona, a second-place finish at the 12 Hours of Sebring, 11th place at the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen, ninth at the 6 Hours of Indianapolis and another second-place finish at Petit Le Mans today.

Risi Competizione has celebrated an excellent history at Road Atlanta, having won the inaugural Petit Le Mans in 1998 with a Ferrari 333 SP. The team then collected additional victories in 2008 and 2009 with the Ferrari 430 GT, and then in 2016 and 2019 with the Ferrari 488 GTE.

Quotes:

Daniel Serra, driver, No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3:

“We tried to win the IMEC championship, but we just weren’t able, but it was our third podium in five races, so it’s been a very nice season. It’s always great to race with Risi and I’m happy for the team that we could do a nice season.”

Davide Rigon, driver, No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3:

“Well, I’m happy for the podium because for sure we didn’t expect to be so close in the end. We were surprised that we had a good performance, and I have to say it’s a pleasure to drive with Ale and Daniel and with a super team in Risi. We did a great job all together. We had a mistake on strategy, expecting a safety car in the fourth hour that didn’t come, so we missed the points for that segment of the (IMEC) championship. Then in the eighth hour we just missed being in P1 at the time mark for the IMEC points again so that was a disappointment. But looking at the race as a whole, we gave everything we had. I drove always on the lmit and the car was good and fun to drive. The championship was amazing, but I expected more. It was a positive season overall, especially with the Daytona victory, and we hope to get Petit Le Mans next year.”

Alessandro Pier Guidi driver, No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3:

“We tried to win the race and the IMEC championship and unfortunately, we couldn’t do it. We made some small mistakes at the fourth and eighth hour to get the points needed, but we still earned a podium which is a great result. Every time at Petit we show our performance. We began the year with the win at Daytona and finished it with a second place here, so it’s been a positive season and we can look forward to the future.”

Sponsors for the 2024 season for Risi Competizione include Pennzoil, Ferrari of Houston, OMP Racing and DEA.

Risi Competizione Team Principal, Giuseppe Risi, has not yet made any official announcements for plans for the 2025 race season.

For more information and social media about the team, please see www.risicompetizione.com and follow us on Facebook/RisiCompetizione and Twitter @RisiComp and on Instagram/RisiComp.

No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 Secures Best Endurance Finish of the Year at MOTUL Petit Le Mans

By
Official Release
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BRASELTON, Georgia (October 12, 2024) – The Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti (WTRAndretti) GTD team ended the 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IWSC) season on a high note as the No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 took its best finish of the season in an endurance race after finishing an impressive sixth in the 10-hour MOTUL Petit Le Mans.

Danny Formal started the race after his strong qualifying performance saw the black and red team starting in fifth at the historic Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. Formal was quick to find his rhythm as he began to make progress through the field in his opening stint, running in the podium positions before handing the controls over to Graham Doyle in the first pit stop under caution.

Doyle immediately showed his progress as he took over for his fifth-career IWSC event with his first stint as one of his best throughout the season. A poorly timed caution and a drive-through penalty after contact saw the No. 45 fall off the lead lap, but Doyle kept the car within touching distance of the leaders throughout the remainder of his stint.

Kyle Marcelli took over for his first stint of the race and began making progress over the course of a grueling stint. Marcelli matched pace with leaders as he took on the traffic and the challenging turns of Road Atlanta before giving control back to Doyle.

Doyle completed his last stint of the 2024 IWSC season in impressive fashion, helping to close the gap to the cars on the lead lap, allowing the No. 45 car to stay competitive, despite being a lap down for multiple hours.

In the closing stages of the race, Marcelli and Formal traded turns in their effort to climb back through the field. Both drivers put in monster efforts to claw back in positions as the closing hours ran on. A late-race caution in the last hour allowed the team to regain the lead lap with 20 minutes remaining. Formal came to pit lane and the No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini crew had a stellar pit stop, pushing the No. 45 into seventh. With under 30 minutes remaining, Formal battled hard and was able grab the sixth-place position to end an impressive and intense MOTUL Petit Le Mans.

“I’m really proud of the GTD program this weekend,” said Wayne Taylor, Team Principal of WTRAndretti. “Obviously, Petit Le Mans, a ten-hour race, is a very hard race. The team worked so well. All the drivers did a great job. Graham Doyle really sent the message that he’s meant to be in GTD now. I do think overall the relationship between WTRAndretti and Lamborghini is starting to gel, and I’m looking forward to next year.”

The No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 team in their inaugural GTD campaign accomplished pole position at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and two top five results on the season.
No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 Drivers:
Kyle Marcelli: “It was a great day for the No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2. We finished sixth after ten hours and on the lead lap. Everybody executed flawlessly today! What a grueling race this was, almost caution free for what seemed like six hours. Every one of my stints was green flagged, so it just takes a lot of focus to run laps repetitively for three hours. Huge thanks to Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti and the whole No. 45 crew. It was a very hard-working season. We’ve constantly been putting pressure on ourselves to get better. We had a lot of speed today and I think we’re all pleased with that. Everybody on the box and the car did a great job, and it was an honor to be a part of it.”

Danny Formal: “What a race! I think our best race of the season. The team, the pit stops and all three drivers just drove phenomenally. Definitely Graham Doyle’s revelation; he did so, so well. Kyle with some crazy laps in the middle of the race. We passed a lot of cars, and the race pace was just incredible. The guys at WTRAndretti gave us a very fast Lamborghini tonight, and we finished sixth and on the lead lap. We were one lap down for nine hours in that race and got lucky with a yellow at the end and we just started passing cars. I got up to sixth place with two laps to go at the end. The car was phenomenal. So proud of the team, in our first season in GTD to finish Petit Le Mans, one of the hardest races in the world, in the top six. I’m so grateful to DEX Imaging, WTRAndretti and all the crew. “

Graham Doyle: “Sixth place at the end of the ten hours. Awesome drive by Danny there at the end and an awesome drive and effort by the whole team. It’s just been an amazing season, start to finish. It’s really great to end it on a high note like this and we can’t wait for next year. It means everything to finish on the lead lap for the second endurance race in a row. It just goes to show how amazing our team is. The strategy and everything that goes into this, all the hard work that these No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini guys put in. The results are really all because of them. I’m happy to see my progression from start to finish. Looking at the Rolex 24 then to the drive from today, it just shows that with hard work and everything the team is putting in, we can make a lot of progress. I’m looking forward to continuing my progress.”

ABOUT WTRANDRETTI
Andretti Global and Wayne Taylor Racing announced a new, long-term partnership in 2023 that combines the resources of the two championship-caliber teams to compete in IMSA’s top classes. In 2024, Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti (WTRAndretti) has expanded to a two-car GTP program as well as competes in the GTD class. Coming off its 2023 championship winning effort, WTRAndretti continues its Driver Development Program competing in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America series with a full stable.

WTRAndretti’s global motorsports enterprise boasts two IMSA driver championships (2013 and 2017), and back-to-back IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Championships (2020, 2021) which contributed to nine IMSA manufacturer championships for Acura, Pontiac, Corvette and Cadillac. In its brief 17-year history, WTRAndretti has accumulated multiple victories in sportscar racing’s most iconic events: Rolex 24 At Daytona, Twelve Hours of Sebring, Petit Le Mans, Mid-Ohio, Road America and the Six Hours of The Glen. With its back-to-back PRO Class Championship wins (2022, 2023), WTR also has ten North America Lamborghini Super Trofeo Championship titles and a Lamborghini World Finals title.

Andretti Global, a Championship-winning motorsports organization, competes in additional racing categories worldwide, including the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, Extreme E, Australian Supercars and the Mexico SuperCopa Championship. Additionally, the racing enterprise commits to driver development through competition in INDY NXT by Firestone and through support of Sebastian and Oliver Wheldon’s racing careers.

WTRAndretti Acura ARX-06 GTP Teams Close Out 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at MOTUL Petit Le Mans

By
Official Release
-

BRASELTON, Georgia (October 12, 2024) – The Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti (WTRAndretti) Acura ARX-06 GTP teams saw checkered flag fly on the 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season with Saturday’s MOTUL Petit Le Mans. With ten hours of action-packed endurance racing, the team closed the chapter on their manufacturer partnership with Acura and Honda Racing Corporation US (HRC). WTRAndretti’s success with Acura and HRC was highlighted by their 2021 Rolex 24 at Daytona win, a Twelve Hours of Sebring victory in 2024 and seven additional impressive wins.

For the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06, Filipe Albuquerque handled the opening stint driving duties after qualifying in fifth position. An influx of cautions throughout the first hour and half of the ten hours, Albuquerque kept his nose clean and navigated in lap traffic to pit and give co-driver Ricky Taylor a solid top five running position. Taylor took control of the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 and with a stretch of green flag running, the blue and black team found themselves in the lead trio of GTPs. At the six-hour to go mark, IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup (IMEC) co-driver, Brendon Hartley, climbed inside the No. 10 for his triple stint into the evening hours. Hartley pulled off an impressive stint staying within the leader as the halfway mark was reached. Hartley then made a masterful pass in Turn 10a to take the lead just shy of four hours remaining. Albuquerque took over for Hartley after his stout stint and continued to lead for nearly all his second on-track stint.

Now with nightfall, it was back to Taylor as the clock was under two hours remaining. Jockeying throughout lapped traffic, Taylor kept his distance to the leader within three seconds and a stellar pit stop by the No. 10 crew propelled the No. 10 back into the lead with a little over an hour remaining. Unfortunately, with under an hour remaining, the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 made contact with a GT car stopped on track in Turn 5 and damage from the contact ended the strong run for the blue and black team, finishing in ninth.

In the No. 40 DEX Imaging Acura ARX-06, Jordan Taylor tackled the start, from the seventh spot on the grid, for the MOTUL Petit Le Mans. As the first yellow flag flew, the No. 40 team made the decision to stay out while much of the GTP filed pitted – creating an alternate strategy early and cycling to lead. Taylor held steady for a double stint and handed over the No. 40 to his full-season co-driver, Louis Delétraz, for his first laps on race day. Delétraz ran within the front half of the GTP field, holding strong on the team’s alternate strategy. Just before the halfway point, IndyCar Vice Champion for Andretti Global and IMEC co-driver, Colton Herta, hopped into the No. 40 for his first MOTUL Petit Le Mans laps since 2020.

With the second half of the ten hours of racing on the horizon, Herta managed a triple stint and maintained to stay on the lead lap of the GTP field until a cut tire forced the team to pit. From that point, it was focusing on progressing forward once again while balancing traffic. With about two hours to go, Taylor hopped back into the car through the checkered flag. Attrition ahead of the No. 40 team placed the Taylor into the top five, but a penalty from the final caution of the race resulted in a stop-and-hold, sliding the No. 40 DEX Imaging Acura ARX-06 back to seventh to finish.

Although the season didn’t end as expected, the WTRAndretti team boasted two victories with the Twelve Hours of Sebring and the Streets of Detroit, along with two pole positions and two podiums in the 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season.
Wayne Taylor, Team Principal, WTRAndretti: “This is the first year we’ve come into the final race not being in a position to win the championship and we could just go for the win. But unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be. All the drivers in the No. 10 car did an outstanding job. It was very unfortunate what happened. Ricky had just taken the lead with 30 minutes to go, but literally as he took the lead, another car was stopped on the track and he had nowhere to go but straight into the stopped car. The No. 40 car were working their way back but unfortunately had a penalty in the closing hour. All three of them did fantastic in the No. 40 car as well. I think they all led for a certain period of time. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the result we wanted but thank you to everyone on the WTRAndretti and Acura and HRC.”

No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 GTP Drivers
Ricky Taylor: “First of all, I’m super proud of the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 team. For the fourth year straight, they put us in a position to fight for the win. I think we were so much looking forward to ending the relationship with Acura and HRC on a high note. For me, since 2018, and for the team since 2021, we have so many good memories. It was a great partnership to work with, to combine such talented groups. I think this just proves how hard the sport is and how ruthless it can be. I think we can still look back on it and feel lucky we were able to work together for such a long time. And as a team we move on to next year and try this one again in twelve months. Maybe the sixth time’s the charm.”

Filipe Albuquerque: “There aren’t really words to describe this race. Brendon did an amazing job. We were leading. Ricky just took the lead in Turn 5, doing a great job, and there was just a car in front of him, so he crashed. It was impossible to avoid. Our competitors seem to have good luck in this race while we do not. For so many years, we leave here crying because of losing in heartbreaking ways. We were doing everything right and we need to be proud of that. But it’s just tiring and exhausting to come up completely empty, knowing that we did everything right. There is nothing to learn from this. It’s just a matter of going again. I feel sorry as well because it was our last race with Acura and HRC. They did great and the car felt amazing; we were fighting with the championship leaders. This race reflects our last three years in GTP: we do everything correctly, but the results seem to slip through our fingers. I just feel sorry for how we ended the last race with Acura and HRC, but I think it reflects our last three years well.”

Brendon Hartley: “I loved being back with Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti at Petit Le Mans. I had a good feeling this weekend that we had a shot at the win. I think we had a pretty faultless race up until that one-hour-to-go mark. Mechanics, engineers and drivers, I think we were all on it. We were fighting in the first two positions for the whole race. Ricky was just coming back on the Porsche, and we had the tire advantage. I think we had a really good shot at this win, and then Ricky was just completely unlucky. There was nothing he could do there; there was a car stopped in the middle of the road and he couldn’t see it. It’s kind of heart breaking. I’m still really desperate for the first win with WTRAndretti. I feel like we’ve come close so many times. This year in Sebring, second at Daytona last year and then Petit Le Mans a couple years ago. It just wasn’t meant to be. Today felt like what could’ve been. But big thanks to everyone. I really enjoyed it. I loved working with Ricky and Filipe again, the crew and the No. 40 drivers. It’s such a good atmosphere. Just disappointed we couldn’t end up with a win.”

No. 40 DEX Imaging Acura ARX-06 GTP Drivers
Louis Delétraz: “I think it was a crazy race. We’ve been fighting for six hours to stay on the lead lap after the first caution, where we were surprised to have no final wave-by and ended up over a minute behind the leaders. We came back; Colton and Jordan did a fantastic job. But a (tire) puncture put us right back to fighting for that lap. We almost made it, but in the end we did not. We tried everything to get our lap back. Today was either winning or seventh, and it was seventh. A huge thank you to HRC and Acura for the season. We all wish it could have been better, but I enjoyed meeting and working with all the talented people. I’m sure there will be a lot of success in the future.”

Jordan Taylor: “I think we had some promise today. Early on, we led a lot of laps, and the No. 10 car led a lot of laps. They just had a super unlucky event to take them out of the race, and we just had an unlucky puncture that took us out of contention. Kind of the name of our year. There was some hope here and there, but no results. Sebring was a great one to think back on, but I think we’re all looking forward to 2025.”

Colton Herta: “I always enjoy coming to this race and racing these endurance races. It’s something different from my main IndyCar schedule, and it’s fun to do with HRC and the Acura ARX-06. It was a lot of fun and I enjoyed my time with the WTRAndretti team. You know, I hope I can come back in the future and win this great race.”

ABOUT WTRANDRETTI
Andretti Global and Wayne Taylor Racing announced a new, long-term partnership in 2023 that combines the resources of the two championship-caliber teams to compete in IMSA’s top classes. In 2024, Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti (WTRAndretti) has expanded to a two-car GTP program as well as competes in the GTD class. Coming off its 2023 championship winning effort, WTRAndretti continues its Driver Development Program competing in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America series with a full stable.

WTRAndretti’s global motorsports enterprise boasts two IMSA driver championships (2013 and 2017), and back-to-back IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Championships (2020, 2021) which contributed to nine IMSA manufacturer championships for Acura, Pontiac, Corvette and Cadillac. In its brief 17-year history, WTRAndretti has accumulated multiple victories in sportscar racing’s most iconic events: Rolex 24 At Daytona, Twelve Hours of Sebring, Petit Le Mans, Mid-Ohio, Road America and the Six Hours of The Glen. With its back-to-back PRO Class Championship wins (2022, 2023), WTR also has ten North America Lamborghini Super Trofeo Championship titles and a Lamborghini World Finals title.

Andretti Global, a Championship-winning motorsports organization, competes in additional racing categories worldwide, including the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, Extreme E, Australian Supercars and the Mexico SuperCopa Championship. Additionally, the racing enterprise commits to driver development through competition in INDY NXT by Firestone and through support of Sebastian and Oliver Wheldon’s racing careers.

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