Any groundbreaking changes or ideas quickly get buried in a world of 24/7 news coverage. Online casinos, betting, and sportsbooks have all undergone severe upgrades in the past five years. While numerous popular portal sites, such as gbc time org, offer valuable and up-to-date insights into this subject, this article aims to briefly delve into the latest key improvements.
Live Casino
Live casinos are familiar, but they have seen significant improvements. Previously, the quality of the stream and latency were notable issues. With improved cameras, bandwidth becoming more readily available (5G networks), and reduced latency to near real-time, live casinos have become much more enjoyable.
The social aspects of live casinos have also been worked on significantly. They offer chatrooms and friend lists and even favor specific dealers. Casino websites have worked hard to make online casinos as close as possible to the real thing in the comfort of your home.
Virtual Reality & Augmented Reality
Virtual Reality (VR) continues to be a developing technology that has seen many improvements. The notable names are Meta’s Quest 3, Valve’s Index, and the Apple Vision Pro, which can provide excellent online casino entertainment. Hybrid casino setups that utilize augmented reality (AR) have become very popular with these headsets.
Coinciding with the improvements listed above in live casinos, a VR casino experience can be highly immersive. You can live chat with someone who appears right before you; you can use physical AR cards to play casino games with them. With the power of VR & AR, you can quickly turn your kitchen table into a bustling casino.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has raised the value of companies to trillions of dollars for a reason. Its offerings are nearly boundless and greatly benefit online casinos.
Some of the key uses for AI included in online casinos are the following:
Game Recommendations – AI can use algorithms to identify the games you like to play and recommend similar games that you will enjoy.
Evaluate User’s Enjoyment – AI can look at what you do and don’t interact with inside online casino games and adjust accordingly. This will result in an overall better user experience due to better engagement.
Ensure Responsible Gambling – AI can look at players’ gambling habits and help prevent hazardous behavior in real time. Including prevention of excessive losses or over-leveraging.
AI-powered chatbots – These chatboxes can provide immediate help to users, answering questions and addressing bugs faster than a real agent.
Conclusion
The last five years of casino technology have seen groundbreaking advancements, with the three upgrades being standout game-changers. Live casinos have become real-time, and with the involvement of virtual and augmented reality, they’ve successfully blurred the lines between the real and virtual worlds. These coincided with revolutions AI has brought about with its highly personalized gaming experiences, improved player safety, and real-time analysis; online casinos have never been better.
Who knows what we will see next? Perhaps quantum-computed augmented casinos with perfect personalization and connectivity? Remember always to gamble responsibly and take care!
The feeling of winning at home never felt sweeter for Grant Enfinger, who guaranteed himself an early shot to contend for this year’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship after capping off a dominant performance with a victory in the Love’s RV Stop 225 at Talladega Superspeedway on Friday, October 4.
The 39-year-old Enfinger from Fairhope, Alabama, led nine times for a race-high 34 of 85-scheduled laps in an event where he started in fourth place and spent a majority of the event racing upfront amid the draft and up against both his fellow Playoff and non-Playoff contenders. After finishing second in the first stage before winning the second stage, Enfinger, who would endure three restarts throughout the final stage period, retained the lead at the start of the final one with nine laps remaining. He then fended off late challenges from Playoff contenders Christian Eckes and Taylor Gray through the frontstretch on the final lap and amid a multi-truck wreck approaching the finish line to record his first elusive victory of the season and automatically transfer his way into this year’s Championship 4 round.
With on-track qualifying that determined the starting lineup occurring on Friday, William Sawalich, the 2024 ARCA Menards Series East champion, notched his first Truck Series career pole position after he posted a pole-winning lap at 175.764 mph in 54.482 seconds. Joining him on the front row was Ben Rhodes, who posted his best qualifying lap at 175.648 mph in 54.518 seconds.
Prior to the event, Keith McGee dropped to the rear of the field as a result of replacing Bryan Dauzat in the FDNY Racing entry. Bayley Currey also dropped to the rear of the field due to an engine change to his Niece Motorsports entry.
When the green flag waved and the race started, William Sawalich muscled his No. 1 Starkey/Soundgear Toyota Tundra TRD Pro ahead with the lead from the inside lane as he was followed by Ben Rhodes and Playoff contenders Ty Majeski and Taylor Gray through the first two turns. Sawalich proceeded to lead through the backstretch as a bevy of competitors behind dueled early for positions in two drafting lanes. When the field returned to the frontstretch, Playoff contender Grant Enfinger received a draft from Chase Purdy from the outside lane to rocket his No. 9 Champion Power Equipment Chevrolet Silverado RST ahead and lead the first lap ahead of Sawalich.
Through the second to fifth lap, the field fanned out to three drafting lanes as Purdy, Enfinger and Matt Mills all took turns leading at the front while Jake Garcia, Sawalich, Connor Zilisch, Dean Thompson, Majeski, Playoff contender Tyler Ankrum, Dean Thompson and Lawless Alan all followed pursuit. By then, Ben Rhodes, who started on the front row alongside Sawalich, was penalized for jumping the start, as he launched ahead of Sawalich when he was not in control of bringing the field up to race pace before the event’s start. After serving a drive-through penalty for the penalty, however, Rhodes was penalized a second time, this time for a blend violation as he moved up the racing surface early through the backstretch. The pair of penalties would result in Rhodes losing a lap to the field while Mills and Enfinger dueled for the lead in front of the field.
Through the first 10-scheduled laps, Enfinger was leading ahead of Purdy, Sawalich, Mills and Majeski while Garcia, Playoff contender Taylor Gray, Zilisch, Ankrum and Dean Thomson were racing in the top 10. Behind, Playoff contender Corey Heim occupied 11th place ahead of, Lawless Alan, Playoff contender Christian Eckes, Playoff contender Rajah Caruth and Ryan Reed while Bret Holmes, Nick Sanchez, Stefan Parsons, Stewart Friesen and Tanner Gray were mired in the top 20.
Five laps later, Enfinger, who led three of the previous five laps, was leading by a hair amid a side-by-side battle with Mills while the rest of the field racing in two-packed lanes followed suit. By then, Garcia, Sawalich and Zilisch were running in the top five as Playoff contenders Majeski, Taylor Gray and Ankrum were racing in the top-10 mark. In addition, Heim and Caruth were battling within the top-15 mark while Eckes and Sanchez were mired within the top-20 mark. Meanwhile, Johnny Sauter, who was making his second Truck start of the season with Hattori Racing Enterprises, had pitted to have a broken spoiler brace fixed.
With two laps remaining in the first stage period, Sanchez and Currey pitted their respective entries, primarily for fuel, as Enfinger retained the lead.
When the first stage period concluded on Lap 20, Matt Mills received a draft from Garcia to overtake Enfinger from the outside lane through the backstretch and claim his first Truck stage victory of the 2024 season. Enfinger settled in second ahead of Garcia, Zilisch and Sawalich while Thompson, Majeski, Alan, Taylor Gray and Tanner Gray were scored in the top 10 on the track. Meanwhile, Playoff contenders that included Ankrum, Heim, Eckes and Caruth were mired within the top 16 while Sanchez was down in 32nd place.
Under the stage break, a majority of the field led by Mills pits while the rest including Stewart Friesen, Matt Crafton, Spencer Boyd and Sanchez remained on the track. Following the pit stops, Enfinger exited pit road first ahead of Majeski, Garcia, Alan, Zilisch, Eckes, Thompson, Taylor Gray, Caruth and Tyler Ankrum. Friesen, Crafton and Boyd would eventually pit prior to the second stage’s start while Sanchez, who pitted before the first stage’s conclusion, remained on the track and inherited the lead.
The second stage period started on Lap 27 as Sanchez and Enfinger occupied the front row. At the start, Sanchez and Enfinger dueled for the lead for a full lap and in front of two stacked lanes. Enfinger was being pushed by Garcia while Sanchez was being pushed by Majeski and Zilisch. By then, Taylor Gray pitted to have a punctured tire on his No. 17 Place of Hope Toyota Tundra TRD Pro removed as both Sanchez and Enfinger continued to duel for the lead by the Lap 30 mark.
Then with three laps remaining in the second stage period, the caution flew after Sanchez, who had both lanes to his control before Enfinger came storming back to challenge him for the lead, got loose by Zilisch through the frontstretch. Sanchez then slid sideways into the path of Zilisch, where Zilisch kept pushing Sanchez’s spinning No. 2 Gainbridge Chevrolet Silverado RST while Sauter, Rhodes and Purdy all wrecked against the outside wall while trying to avoid the wreck. The incident occurred as Mills and Parsons made contact, but avoided igniting a wreck entering the frontstretch while being mired behind Playoff contenders Heim, Ankrum and Taylor Gray, the latter of whom had lost a lap to the field.
The multi-truck incident on Lap 37 was enough for the second stage period scheduled to conclude on Lap 40 to officially conclude under caution as Enfinger was awarded his second Truck stage victory of the 2024 season. Garcia, Eckes, Alan, Caruth, Thompson, Heim, Tanner Gray, Ankrum and Stefan Parsons were scored in the top 10.
Under the stage break, some, led by Crafton and including Boyd while the rest led by Enfinger pitted. During the pit stops, Mason Maggio, who made contact with Ankrum on pit road, was penalized for having too many men over his pit wall. Soon after and amid the caution period, a bevy of names including Playoff contender Taylor Gray, Sanchez all returned to pit road for additional services.
With 39 laps remaining, the final stage period commenced under green as Dye and Caruth occupied the front row. At the start, Daniel Dye, who received drafting help from a bevy of Chevrolet teammates, including teammate Eckes, muscled his No. 43 NAPA Nightvision Chevrolet Silverado RST ahead of Caruth before he then moved in front of Caruth entering the backstretch. Eckes would also follow suit and he also transitioned his No. 19 NAPA Chevrolet Silverado RST in front of Caruth on the inside lane. By the following lap, Dye was leading ahead of a five-truck breakaway from the field along with teammate Eckes, Ankrum, Caruth and Dean Thompson while Enfinger and Corey Heim dueled for sixth place in front of two lines of stacked competitors.
With 35 laps remaining, teammates Eckes and Dye dueled for the lead in front of two stacked lanes of competitors. Five laps later, the top-10 competitors on the track were separated under a second as Eckes was leading ahead of Enfinger, teammate Dye, Caruth and Parsons while Mills, Garcia, Alan, Kaden Honeycutt and Sanchez were in the top 10.
Then with 28 laps remaining, a majority of field led by Eckes and Enfinger pitted under green. During the pit stops, Caruth blew a tire while he was slamming on the brakes and locking up his front tires of his No. 71 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Silverado RST while trying to enter pit road. Caruth, however, would be penalized for being too fast while trying to enter pit road as he eventually lost a lap. In addition, Dye missed pit road and could not pit with the front-runners while Norm Benning spun on pit road after making contact with Stefan Parsons. Soon after, Purdy was seen limping his slowed truck below the apron on the backstretch, but he continued without drawing a caution.
Back on the track with 25 laps remaining, Jason White was leading ahead of Dawson Sutton, Mason Maggio, Honeycutt and Sanchez while Enfinger, Eckes, Garcia, Riggs and Friesen were scored in the top 10.
Shortly after, the caution flew when Garcia got turned off the front nose of Parsons that resulted in Garcia colliding with rookie Layne Riggs and clipping Riggs again that sent Riggs back across the track and into Tanner Gray and Matt Mills up against the outside wall. Connor Zilisch and Dean Thompson would also get involved in the carnage while Playoff contenders Tyler Ankrum and Taylor Gray slid through the infield grass and kicked up dirt to avoid the carnage.
During the caution period, some led by the leader Jason White and including Sutton, Mason Maggio, Clay Greenfield, Cory Roper, Spencer Boyd and Ankrum pitted while the rest led by the new leader Honeycutt remained on the track.
Down to the final 17 laps of the event, the race restarted under green. At the start, Honeycutt received a draft from Eckes on the inside lane to rocket ahead with the lead through the first two turns. As the field started to fan out to three lanes through the backstretch, Eckes made his move to the outside lane as he overtook Honeycutt while he was followed by Sanchez. Sanchez then made a move beneath Eckes in Turn 4 as he assumed the lead and led the following lap ahead of Honeycutt and Eckes. Sanchez would then be placed on defense to block Eckes and Honeycutt as Enfinger and Taylor Gray started to muscle up into the top five by the following lap.
The caution would then return with 15 laps remaining after Sanchez received a push from Eckes that got him sliding sideways below the apron entering Turn 3. While trying to save his truck from spinning, Sanchez slid up the track backward in between Turns 3 and 4 and barely clipped Dye, which sent Dye for a spin below the turn’s grass. With nearly the entire field dodging Sanchez’s truck, Keith McGee and Mason Maggio wrecked along with Dawson Sutton while avoiding Sanchez.
The start of the following restart period with nine laps remaining featured Enfinger rocketing ahead with the lead with drafting help from Eckes and Alan while Taylor Gray, who restarted outside the front row, blended in line in fourth place ahead of Ryan Reed and Ankrum. With a majority of the front-runners running in a long single-file line towards the inside lane, Enfinger retained the lead for the following lap and ahead of Eckes, Alan, Ankrum and Reed.
Down to the final five laps of the event, the top 12 competitors were racing under a second while the top 16 were separated within a second. In the process, Enfinger was leading ahead of Eckes, Alan, Taylor Gray and Reed while Ankrum, Friesen, Heim, Caruth and Majeski were mired in the top 10 ahead of Bret Holmes and Spencer Boyd.
During the following lap, the field behind Enfinger slowly started to fan out to multiple drafting lanes as Heim, racing in eighth place, was leading a charge from the outside lane with drafting help from Caruth. Heim and Caruth then made contact entering the backstretch, which stalled their momentum and forced both to blend back in the long drafting lane towards the double yellow lines and behind Enfinger, who continued to lead in front of Eckes.
When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Enfinger remained as the leader ahead of Eckes, Alan, Taylor Gray and Reed while Daniel Dye was trying to ignite a final drafting charge from the outside lane along with Caruth, Parsons and Heim. Enfinger would continue to lead through the backstretch along with Turns 3 and 4 as both Taylor Gray and Ankrum transitioned to the outside lane to receive the drafting momentum Dye was receiving.
Then through the frontstretch and with the finish line in sight, Lawless Alan would then transition to the outside lane, but Taylor Gray and Eckes pinned him in three-wide formation. As Enfinger retained the lead, trouble ignited as Ankrum was bumped and sent spinning through the frontstretch before he was hit in the driver’s side by Friesen. Eckes then slid sideways off the front nose of teammate Reed and shot back across the track, where he collected a majority of the front-runners. Meanwhile, Enfinger managed to fend off a charge from Taylor Gray to claim the checkered flag and grab the victory.
With the victory, Enfinger, who scored his first series victory at Talladega in 2016, became the first Playoff competitor to win the Truck Series Playoff event at Talladega and he became the fifth competitor to achieve multiple Truck victories at Talladega. He also notched his 11th career win in the Craftsman Truck Series and his first since winning at the Milwaukee Mile in August 2023.
Above all, Enfinger, who came into Talladega strapped in seventh place in the Playoff standings, became the first competitor to clinch a spot into this year’s Championship 4 round, where he will contend for the 2024 Craftsman Truck Series championship at Phoenix Raceway on November 8.
“[My team] knew stuff was going to get dicey,” Enfinger, who credited spotter Tim Fedewa with the victory, said on FS1. “We didn’t make all the perfect decisions today, but we had a Champion Power Equipment Chevy [that] was fast enough to get it done today. That was hairy coming right [to the finish]. I knew Taylor [Gray] was coming with a run. Tim told me to go up, then he told me to come down. It’s just Talladega right there. Hopefully, all the fans enjoyed it. It’s nothing like winning at your hometown, home track. On top of that, we get to race for a championship at Phoenix.”
Enfinger’s Talladega victory was also the first ever for CR7 Motorsports, a team that debuted in 2018 and had hired Enfinger as a part-time competitor in 2021 before signing him to a full-time, multi-year deal at the start of this season. Now after recording five top-five results and barely transferring into the Playoff’s Round of 8 throughout the previous 19 events on this year’s schedule, the organization will receive its first opportunity to contend for a NASCAR championship with the veteran Enfinger also setting his sights on claiming the title one year after being one position shy of claiming it.
Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.
“There are just so many people that make this team,” Enfinger added. “It’s a little bit of the little team that could, but we have great resources with our friends over there at [McAnally-Hilgemann Racing]. Obviously, great resources from everybody at Team Chevy. We’ve been knocking on the door. I know it’s speedway race, but we’ve been knocking on the door at all the tracks. I feel like we stumbled that first round of the Playoffs, but it really doesn’t matter now. [I was] able to win our way to Phoenix. Now, we can just focus on that. Looking forward to having some fun the next couple races, but a championship’s on the line now.
Behind Enfinger, Taylor Gray tied his career-best result of second place as he just missed his first victory and an early ticket to the Championship 4 round by 0.041 seconds. Daniel Dye managed to cross the finish line in third place with a destroyed race truck while Rajah Caruth and Lawless Alan finished in the top five. Christian Eckes, Ryan Reed, Stefan Parsons, Bret Holmes and Spencer Boyd finished in the top 10 on the track.
With Playoff contenders Enfinger, Taylor Gray, Caruth and Eckes finishing in the top 10 on the track, the remaining Playoff contenders that included Corey Heim, Ty Majeski, Tyler Ankrum and Nick Sanchez ended up 11th, 12th, 14th and 22nd, respectively. As a result, Eckes, Heim and Majeski leave Talladega above the top-four cutline to the Championship 4 round while Caruth, Gray, Sanchez and Ankrum trail the cutline.
There were 27 lead changes for 12 different leaders. The race featured four cautions for 25 laps. In addition, 23 of 36 starters finished on the lead lap.
Results.
1. Grant Enfinger, 34 laps led, Stage 2 winner
2. Taylor Gray
3. Daniel Dye, three laps led
4. Rajah Caruth, two laps led
5. Lawless Alan
6. Christian Eckes, eight laps led
7. Ryan Reed
8. Stefan Parsons
9. Bret Holmes
10. Spencer Boyd
11. Corey Heim
12. Ty Majeski
13. Stewart Friesen, one lap led
14. Tyler Ankrum
15. Clay Greenfield
16. Cory Roper
17. Danny Bohn
18. Mason Maggio
19. Kaden Honeycutt, three laps led
20. Jason White, seven laps led
21. Norm Benning
22. Nick Sanchez, 10 laps led
23. Matt Crafton, one lap led
24. Dawson Sutton, four laps down, one lap led
25. Chase Purdy, 14 laps down, one lap led
26. Keith McGee – OUT, Accident
27. William Sawalich, 21 laps down
28. Layne Riggs – OUT, Accident
29. Jake Garcia – OUT, Accident
30. Tanner Gray – OUT, Accident
31. Matt Mills – OUT, Accident, 14 laps led, Stage 1 winner
32. Dean Thompson – OUT, Accident
33. Connor Zilisch – OUT, Accident
34. Johnny Sauter – OUT, DVP
35. Ben Rhodes – OUT, Accident
36. Bayley Currey – OUT, Rear Gear
*Bold indicates Playoff competitors
Playoff standings
1. Grant Enfinger – Advanced
2. Corey Heim +30
3. Christian Eckes +29
4. Ty Majeski +5
5. Rajah Caruth -5
6. Taylor Gray -13
7. Nick Sanchez -20
8. Tyler Ankrum- 23
The second Round of 8 event in the 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoffs is set to occur at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida, and is scheduled to occur on October 26 and air at noon ET on FS1.
PHOENIX (Oct. 4, 2024) – Officials with NHRA, Firebird Motorsports Park and the Gila River Indian Community are excited to announce a multi-year extension for the annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at the popular track, showcasing the incredible support and commitment for NHRA drag racing at the fan-favorite facility.
It also sets the stage for a memorable celebration for next year’s 40th anniversary of the NHRA Arizona Nationals, which takes place March 21-23 as the second race of the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.
Tickets will go on sale on Oct. 14 for the annual “Duel in the Desert” and the long-term extension ensures the storied history of NHRA drag racing at the track will continue well into the future.
“When we announced last year that we were carrying on the legacy and tradition of over 40 years of motorsports here at the Firebird Motorsports Park, our goal was to prove our commitment to our racing community and show them that we are in this for the long-haul,” Firebird Motorsports Park Track Manager Casey Buckman said.
“Along with our great partners at the NHRA, Gila River Development, and the Gila River Indian Community, we are beyond excited to take this monumental step to secure a multi-year deal for our anchor event, the Arizona Nationals. Our racing community has stuck by Firebird through some very uncertain times over the past few years, and we cannot wait to take this momentum into 2025 and reward them with great events for years to come.”
Renamed Firebird Motorsports Park a year ago, the historic facility enjoyed a memorable grand re-opening last year, with the name referencing back to Firebird International Raceway, the original name of the facility, from 40 years ago. After an outpouring of support from the racing community in the Phoenix area hoping to see NHRA drag racing remain at the facility, the Gila River Indian Community was proactive in its efforts to keep racing at the track, continuing one of the hallmark events on the NHRA tour.
The Arizona Nationals has consistently attracted sellout crowds thanks to its strong local fanbase and enjoyed sellout days on both Saturday and Sunday at the 2024 event. Over the years, the event has become a must-see race for any NHRA fan, delivering record performances and incredible early-season action.
“It is extremely exciting to announce not only a return to Firebird Motorsports Park, but also a long-term extension for the NHRA Arizona Nationals at the historic facility,” NHRA President Glen Cromwell said. “The amazing work from the NHRA fans, the track and the Gila River Indian Community will continue to keep NHRA drag racing in the area for years to come. Last year was a tremendous event with a reimagining of racing at Firebird Motorsports Park, and we’re eager to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the NHRA Arizona Nationals next season, as well as events well into the future.”
The race first became a Southwest fixture in 1985 and will continue its status as a fan-favorite during the 40th anniversary season in 2025. This season, Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel), Austin Prock (Funny Car) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) won in Phoenix, with Prock enjoying his first-ever career Funny Car victory in the process.
The rich history at the track includes notable achievements from the sport’s biggest stars. Top Fuel’s Tony Schumacher’s has five Phoenix wins, while Funny Car legend John Force has eight wins at the facility. Top Fuel’s Antron Brown, as well as Funny Car drivers Ron Capps and Matt Hagan, all have three wins at Firebird Motorsports Park, while Greg Anderson’s three wins leads active Pro Stock competitors.
Beginning Oct. 14, fans can purchase tickets to the 40th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park by visiting www.nhra.com/tickets. For more information about the NHRA, including the 2025 schedule, visit www.NHRA.com.
About Mission Foods
MISSION®, owned by GRUMA, S.A.B. de C.V., is the world’s leading brand for tortillas and wraps. MISSION® is also globally renowned for flatbreads, dips, salsas and Mexican food products. With presence in over 112 countries, MISSION® products are suited to the lifestyles and the local tastes of each country. With innovation and customer needs in mind, MISSION® focuses on the highest quality, authentic flavors, and providing healthy options that families and friends can enjoy together. For more information, please visit https://www.missionfoods.com/
About NHRA
NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 20 national events featuring the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+, NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™, NHRA Holley EFI Factory X and Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock at select national events. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With 110 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
Welcome To The Team: For Friday afternoon’s Love’s RV Stop 225 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, Young’s Motorsports welcomes Keith McGee to command the team’s flagship No. 02 Ford F-150 for his inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series Young’s Motorsports debut in the Yellowhammer State.
About Keith: Quickly accelerating from local racing, Keith McGee burst onto the Motorsports scene in 2018 and 2019 by competing in the ARCA Menards Series West, capturing a pair of top-10 finishes at Meridan Speedway in Meridan, Idaho and Placer County Speedway in Roseville, Calif., respectively.
In April 2021, McGee, a veteran of the United States Air Force, became the first Alaskan and first disabled veteran to make a NASCAR start in any of the top three tier divisions with his Truck Series debut in the Toyota Cares 250 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway.
Since his debut, McGee has made 19 other Truck Series starts with one top-10 finish and nine starts this season, most recently at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway in September.
Welcome To The Team: For Friday afternoon’s Love’s RV Stop 225 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, Young’s Motorsports welcomes Keith McGee to command the team’s flagship No. 02 Ford F-150 for his inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series Young’s Motorsports debut in the Yellowhammer State.
About Keith: Quickly accelerating from local racing, Keith McGee burst onto the Motorsports scene in 2018 and 2019 by competing in the ARCA Menards Series West, capturing a pair of top-10 finishes at Meridan Speedway in Meridan, Idaho and Placer County Speedway in Roseville, Calif., respectively.
In April 2021, McGee, a veteran of the United States Air Force, became the first Alaskan and first disabled veteran to make a NASCAR start in any of the top three tier divisions with his Truck Series debut in the Toyota Cares 250 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway.
Since his debut, McGee has made 19 other Truck Series starts with one top-10 finish and nine starts this season, most recently at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway in September.
All-Aboard!: For the 20th of 23 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series races this season, NuggetTrap.com will serve as the primary marketing partner on the No. 02 Ford F-150 for the 85-lap race on Friday afternoon.
Bridging the gap between tangible assets and blockchain innovation, Nugget Trap token offers a forward plan, road to stability and growth in the Mining Industry.
Cunningham Mining Ltd is excited to announce the launch of its Nugget Trap Token (NGT) offering, priced at $0.60 USD per token. This innovative tokenization initiative aims to revolutionize the mining sector by providing a new financing model for mining operations by leveraging the Assets.
Real World Asset (RWA) tokens, such as the Nugget Trap Token, provide a groundbreaking opportunity for investors to gain ownership of tangible assets from the mining industry.
By digitizing commodities like precious metals and minerals, these tokens offer a unique combination of stability and growth potential.
With this potential in a digital-friendly economy, investors can capitalize on market fluctuations, offering both flexibility and potential RWA tokens as they gain popularity, and they are attracting a broader, more diversified audience.
Keith McGee Truck Series Talladega Superspeedway Stats: Friday afternoon’s Love’s RV Stop 225 will mark McGee’s second career Truck Series start at the breathtaking 2.66-mile superspeedway.
In his previous Talladega start, McGee finished 10th after starting 38th in the No. 41 Pac Bank Chevrolet Silverado for Cram Racing.
The first race in the penultimate round of the 2024 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series Playoffs will be a tripleheader weekend with the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Cup Series.
The Truck Series set the tone for a huge weekend of racing in ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ with the Xfinity Series set for their second race in their first round of the Playoffs in Saturday afternoon’s United Rentals 250.
On Sunday, the NASCAR Cup Series will have their shot to continue their Round of 12 Playoffs for a tense afternoon of racing in the YellaWood 500 on Sunday, Oct. 6.
Talladega Superspeedway marks the ninth race of the second half of the 2024 Truck Series season.
Keith McGee Truck Series Career Stats: Entering Talladega Superspeedway, McGee, since 2021 has 20 career Truck Series starts with one top-10 finish and an average finish of 30.2
Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series at Talladega Superspeedway: This weekend will mark Young’s Motorsports’ 20th NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series start at Talladega Superspeedway.
The organization posted a team-best finish at the track of first twice with Spencer Boyd in 2019 and most recently with Tate Fogleman in the 2021 edition of the Chevy Silverado 250 on October 2, 2021.
Since 2014, the Mooresville, N.C.-based Young’s Motorsports team has had an average starting position of 22.7 and an average finish of 17.8 in 19 Talladega Superspeedway starts overall.
Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series History: Since entering the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series in 2012, the Mooresville, N.C., – based organization has logged 504 starts from 70 drivers, resulting in solid performances that include two victories (Talladega Superspeedway 2019 and 2021), seven top-five finishes and 33 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 23.1 and an average finishing position of 22.1.
Follow on Social Media: For more on Keith McGee, please visit keithmcgeeracing.com, like him on Facebook (Keith McGee Racing), and follow him on Instagram (@keith_mcgee) and X |Twitter (@keithmcgee907)
For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports), and follow them on Instagram (@youngsmotorsports) and X |Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).
Keith McGee Pre-Race Quote:
On Talladega Superspeedway: “Talladega Superspeedway is my favorite track on the schedule and it is always an exciting race. I’m really looking forward to getting on track with Young’s Motorsports to chase their third win at Talladega.
“None of this would be possible without the help of my partners at NUGGET Trap Gold and More Core Diamond Drilling.”
Race Information:
The Love’s RV Stop 225 (85 laps | 226.1 miles) is the 20th of 23 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series races on the 2024 schedule. Qualifying begins on Friday, October 4, 2024, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. The 36-truck field will take the green flag later that night shortly after 3:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m. ET) with live coverage on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (CT).
Young’s Motorsports | NASCAR Xfinity Series
Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway | United Rentals 250
Fast Facts
No. 42 Young’s Motorsports Team:
Driver: Leland Honeyman Jr.
Primary Partner(s): Mezrano Law Firm
Manufacturer: Chevrolet Camaro
Crew Chief: Andrew Abbott
2024 Driver Points Position: 19th
2024 Owner Points Position: 23rd
Engine: Earnhardt-Childress Racing
Notes of Interest:
Stretch Drive: In January, Young’s Motorsports announced it would graduate from the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series to the NASCAR Xfinity Series full-time in 2024 with rising star Leland Honeyman Jr. behind the wheel of the team’s No. 42 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro for the entire 33-race season continuing with Saturday afternoon’s United Rentals 250 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.
About Leland: The Phoenix, Ariz. native began honing his racing skills at the tender age of two racing Quads. By four years old, he moved into Trophy Karts and then collected three series championships in off-road racing Trophy Karts.
After an instrumental tenure in Go Karts, he moved into the Bandolero competition in 2015 and was crowned a Bandolero National Champion two years later. From there, he moved into Limited Late Models before graduating to the Carolina Pro Late Model Series division in 2021, where he earned championship-runner-up honors and picked up an astounding victory in the annual Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway Fall Brawl.
Honeyman, 19, returns to the Mooresville, N.C.-based organization, where he ran an impressive ARCA Menards Series East Series campaign, finishing third in the 2022 championship standings.
During the 2023 season, he made eight NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, highlighted by a 21st-place finish at the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Road Course.
All-Aboard!: For the 28th of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races this season, Young’s Motorsports welcomes back Mezrano Law Firm to the Mooresville, N.C.-based team as the primary partner on the No. 42 Chevrolet Camaro for the 94-lap race on Saturday afternoon.
In times of crisis, we lean on the people and institutions which give us strength: our family, our friends, our places of worship, and our community. As attorneys, we find strength in another institution, the justice system.
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Leland Honeyman Jr. NASCAR Xfinity Series Talladega Superspeedway Stats: Saturday afternoon’s United Rentals 250 at Talladega Superspeedway will mark Honeyman’s second Xfinity start at the famed Alabama speedway.
In April, Honeyman finished a career-best fourth after starting 33rd in the No. 42 Mezrano Law Firm Chevrolet Camaro for Young’s Motorsports.
This weekend is part of a tripleheader weekend with the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series in action on Friday afternoon.
Honeyman and the Young’s Motorsports team join the non-Playoff Xfinity Series teams looking to spoil the Playoff parade which continues on Saturday afternoon.
On Sunday, the NASCAR Cup Series will have their shot to continue their Round of 12 Playoffs for a tense afternoon of racing in the YellaWood 500 on Sunday, Oct. 6.
The Xfinity Series rookie driver will look to improve his overall superspeedway average Xfinity finish of 14.3.
Leland Honeyman Jr. NASCAR Xfinity Career Stats: Entering Talladega, Honeyman has 35 career NASCAR Xfinity Series races to his credit, earning a career-best fourth-place finish at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway after starting 33rd in the Ag-Pro 300 for Young’s Motorsports in April 2024.
Since 2023, he has carried an average finish of 22.9.
Kansas Speedway | Kansas Lottery 300 Race Recap: In the 27th race of the 2024 Xfinity Series season, Young’s Motorsports and Honeyman searched for another solid finish in the team’s inaugural Xfinity Series trip to Kansas Speedway in Kansas City Kansas.
After the engine expired following practice, Honeyman started the race from the 38th position.
Methodically, despite battling the handling of his No. 42 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro, the Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year candidate continued to climb through the field and landed a 25th-place finish at the checkered flag.
Calling the Shots: Guiding Honeyman Jr. as crew chief of the No. 42 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro is longtime crew chief Andrew Abbott.
On Saturday, he will be crew chief in his 125th NASCAR Xfinity Series race. In his previous 124 races, he has four top-five and 13 top-10 finishes.
The season’s 28th race will be his seventh tango at Talladega Superspeedway as crew chief in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR Xfinity Series at Talladega Superspeedway: This weekend will mark Young’s Motorsports’ second NASCAR Xfinity Series start at Talladega Superspeedway.
Earlier this year, the team notched a career-best fourth-place finish after starting 33rd with Honeyman behind the wheel.
Additionally, since 2014, the Mooresville, N.C.-based Young’s Motorsports Truck Series team has had an average starting position of 22.7 and an average finish of 17.8, including two wins in 19 Talladega Superspeedway starts overall.
Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR Xfinity Series History: Since entering the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2024, the family-owned organization has logged 27 starts and maintains an average starting position of 27.6 and an average finish of 22.2.
Follow on Social Media: For more on Leland Honeyman Jr., please visit LelandHoneymanRacing.com, like him on Facebook (Leland Honeyman Racing) and follow on Instagram (@lelandhoneymanjr) and X |Twitter (@lelandhoneyman3).
For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports), and follow them on Instagram (@youngsmotorsports) and X |Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).
Leland Honeyman Jr. Pre-Race Quote:
On Talladega Superspeedway: “I’m really excited about heading back to Talladega Superspeedway with my Young’s Motorsports team. We’ve been able to have a lot of speed in our superspeedway program this year and look forward to the opportunity to once again showcase that on Saturday afternoon.
“We’ve been able to deliver two top-10 finishes in superspeedway races this season, and I’d love nothing more than to duplicate or better our spring Talladega effort with another strong performance with our No. 42 Mezrano Law Firm Chevrolet Camaro.”
Race Information:
The United Rentals 250 (94 laps | 250.04 miles) is the 28th of thirty-three (33) NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2024 schedule. Qualifying will occur on Saturday, October 5, 2024, beginning at 10:30 a.m. The field will take the green flag shortly after 3:00 p.m. (4:00 p.m. ET), with live coverage on the CW Network, the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (Central).
As Harrison Burton and the No. 21 DEX Imaging team head to Talladega Superspeedway for Sunday’s YellaWood 500 they’re hoping to duplicate their success in the most recent race at Talladega’s sister track, Daytona International Speedway.
In the Aug. 24 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona, Burton surged ahead at the finish and delivered the Wood Brothers their 100th Cup victory and his first in NASCAR’s elite division.
Crew chief Jeremy Bullins was upbeat heading into that Daytona race and feels similarly about the upcoming 500-miler on the high-speed, high-banked, 2.66-mile track.
“The superspeedways have been a strength for us all year, and obviously winning at Daytona gives us a ton of confidence knowing that our race cars are good enough to go win another one,” Bullins said. “Just like Daytona, we have our DEX Mustang ready to go compete, and there’s no reason we can’t go get win number 101 for the Wood Brothers this weekend.”
Per NASCAR’s rules for Daytona, Talladega and Atlanta, there will be no pre-race practice. Qualifying at Talladega is set for Saturday at 12:35 p.m. Central Time (1:35 p.m. Eastern Time.)
Sunday’s 188-lap race is scheduled to get the green flag just after 1 p.m. (2 p.m. Eastern) with TV coverage on NBC.
Stage breaks are planned for Laps 60 and 120.
About DEX Imaging DEX Imaging is the digital document imaging division of Staples, the world’s largest business solutions provider. DEX sells and services the broadest selection of copiers, printers and data management solutions, such as HP, Konica Minolta, Canon, Kyocera and numerous others.
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES: Reducing Operating Costs Reducing Paper Consumption Increasing Productivity
DEX Imaging has been the recipient of virtually every industry award since the company’s inception, including the JD Power & Associates Award for Best Customer Experience, the prestigious ProTech Service award by Konica Minolta, the Diamond Premier Dealer Award by Kyocera, and the Elite DEALER Award by ‘ENX’ magazine. Other accolades include being named ‘Best Place to Work’ by numerous business journals in the markets DEX serves.
Wood Brothers Racing Wood Brothers Racing was formed in 1950 in Stuart, Va., by Hall of Famer Glenn Wood. Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team and one of the winningest teams in NASCAR history. Since its founding, the team won 99 races (including at least one race in every decade for the last seven decades) and 120 poles in NASCAR’s top-tier series. Fielding only Ford products for its entire history, the Wood Brothers own the longest association of any motorsports team with a single manufacturer. Glenn’s brother, Leonard, is known for inventing the modern pit stop. The team currently runs the Ford Mustang driven by Harrison Burton in the famous No. 21 racer.
Brushy Mountain Powersports 150 Whelen Modified Tour race rescheduled for Sunday, Oct. 20 at 2 p.m.
North Wilkesboro Speedway will continue to collect donations to support local communities in need due to the aftermath of Hurricane Helene through Sunday, Oct. 6.
NORTH WILKESBORO (Oct. 3, 2024) – The Brushy Mountain Powersports 150 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at North Wilkesboro Speedway has now been rescheduled for Sunday, Oct. 20 at 2 p.m.
Due to Hurricane Helene’s effects on the surrounding regions, Speedway Motorsports and NASCAR postponed the race earlier this week to dedicate time to immediate recovery efforts in the area.
The rescheduled race event will turn North Wilkesboro Speedway into the ultimate fan destination of grassroots racing as the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will close out a three-day race weekend following the Oct. 18-19 zMAX CARS Tour event.
Sunday’s race will become the penultimate race on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour schedule and will play a key set-up role for the Oct. 26 championship finale at Martinsville Speedway.
Defending two-time champion Ron Silk and three-time champion Justin Bonsignore look to continue their rivalry, stemming from their down-to-the-wire championship battle from a year ago. Silk leads the standings by only 11 points and holds the advantage over Bonsignore in wins this year. With three races left in the season, the battle continues to heat up between the pair.
Tour veteran Patrick Emerling, the most recent race winner at Monadnock Speedway, has come on strong late in the season with three wins in the last four races and lurks only five points behind Bonsignore.
Gates are set to open on Oct. 20 at 1 p.m. with the green flag dropping at 2 p.m.
All previously purchased tickets and camping packages for the Whelen Modified Tour were refunded following Monday’s postponement. Advance tickets for adults are $30 and $35 on race day. Tickets for kids ages 12 and under are $10.
As the region continues to recover, North Wilkesboro Speedway will remain a designated collection site for hurricane relief donations through this Sunday, Oct. 6. Fans are encouraged to bring the following items:
Non-perishable food items
Cleaning supplies
Disinfecting wipes
Paper towels
Mops
Buckets
Gloves
Bottled water
Batteries
Portable chargers
Hygiene items
Diapers & wipes
Baby formula
Horse Feed
Donations can be dropped off at North Wilkesboro Speedway (381 Speedway Ln, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659) between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. through Sunday, Oct. 6. All items will be distributed through Wilkes County Emergency Management and Samaritan’s Purse to regional communities in need.
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, Facebook, X and Snapchat.
About Speedway Motorsports
Speedway Motorsports, LLC is a leading marketer, promoter and sponsor of motorsports entertainment in the United States. The Company, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates the following premier facilities: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Dover Motor Speedway, Kentucky Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Nashville Superspeedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, North Wilkesboro Speedway, Sonoma Raceway, and Texas Motor Speedway. The Company provides souvenir merchandising services through its SMI Properties subsidiaries; manufactures and distributes smaller-scale, modified racing cars and parts through its U.S. Legend Cars International subsidiary; and produces and broadcasts syndicated motorsports programming to radio stations nationwide though its Performance Racing Network subsidiary.
ENNIS, Texas (Oct. 3, 2024) – After a highly-successful first year at the Texas Motorplex, the popular JEGS Allstars competition returns to the famed facility as part of the track’s Stampede of Speed and Texas NHRA FallNationals on Oct. 9-13.
The historic specialty race celebrates its 40th year in 2024 and continues its status as one of most highly-anticipated events of the year for the standout drivers in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.
Following a memorable Dallas debut last year, this year’s competitors in the JEGS Allstars can look forward to another thrilling weekend as a marquee attraction during the massive Stampede of Speed.
“JEGS is incredibly excited to be a part of the 40th JEGS Allstars at Texas Motorplex,” said David Salin, JEGS Director of Marketing. “This event is particularly meaningful to JEGS as it encompasses the skill and dedication of sportsman racers across the country and reminds us of the great partnership between JEGS and the NHRA.”
The weekend includes several special events, including the driver and team welcome breakfast sponsored by Hoosier Racing Tires on Thursday, Oct. 10 and participating in the Stampede of Speed Pre-Stage Fan Fest later that evening in downtown Waxahachie.
Following the opening ceremonies on Friday, Oct. 11, competitors will take place in a parade before the second qualifying session in Funny Car and Top Fuel as part of the special Friday Night Live at Texas Motorplex. Final rounds in the JEGS Allstars are slated for 2:15 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12 as champions will be crowned to cap off two thrilling days of racing action in the specialty event.
The pit area for sportsman racers will also include six hard-surface roads at Texas Motorplex, creating an even greater racer experience for all Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series competitors at the Texas NHRA FallNationals.
“We’re excited to have the JEGS Allstars back as part of the Stampede of Speed and Texas FallNationals lineup,” Texas Motorplex Co-Owner Christie Meyer Johnson said. “Last year we loved celebrating their accomplishments and hosting so many drivers and teams from across the country. This is another major addition to the event and we’re looking forward to continuing to add some Texas traditions to the JEGS Allstars. Having the JEGS Allstars is a great addition to the Stampede of Speed.”
For 40 years, the JEGS Allstars has brought out the best from across NHRA’s seven divisions for the special race, including competitors from all 50 states and internationally.
The unique event crowns individual champions in 10 separate classes, in addition to the overall team title. Racers qualified for the prestigious event by earning points in their home divisions during year-long battles in the following categories — Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car, Competition, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, Super Street, Top Dragster and Top Sportsman.
Like last year, competitors will again enjoy some Texas-sized traditions, including custom t-shirts and decals for drivers and teams, and a custom trophy and custom-made JEGS Allstars belt buckle for the winners, as well as the traditional custom-fit Texas Motorplex cowboy hats for winners as well.
“For decades, JEGS has been honored to be a part of the JEGS Allstars and this year is no different. We are looking forward to seeing the best of the best from each class, division, and region to battle it out for the 2024 Championship,” said Makenna Brown, JEGS Social Media and Partnerships Manager.
The JEGS Allstars event will be shown live on NHRA.tv during the race weekend and also featured on the NHRA on FOX Lucas Oil Sportsman show. A win at the JEGS Allstars remains a huge honor for all racers in the circuit, while it offers race fans at the Texas NHRA FallNationals a unique opportunity to watch the specialty race.
“After a great 2023 JEGS Allstars at Texas Motorplex, it is definitely exciting to see this race get another major spotlight as part of the Stampede of Speed and the Texas NHRA FallNationals,” NHRA Vice President of Racing Administration Josh Peterson said. “We’re thrilled to continue our terrific partnership with JEGS during this event, and we can’t wait to work with them, the Texas Motorplex team and all of the JEGS Allstars competitors to celebrate 40 years of this incredible race.”
To purchase tickets to the NHRA FallNationals and the Stampede of Speed, please visit www.stampedeofspeed.com. For more information on NHRA, please visit www.NHRA.com.
About JEGS
JEGS Automotive, Inc. (“JEGS”) is a leading DTC, e-commerce retailer and distributor of automotive aftermarket parts and accessories to enthusiast customers, primarily through its online platform (JEGS.com) and third-party online marketplaces. The Company offers over two million different SKUs spanning across 800+ brands including its own private-label product offering, providing a wide variety of automotive parts for a diverse selection of vehicle types and vintages. JEGS operates two locations with approximately 400 employees and is headquartered in Delaware, OH.
About NHRA
Headquartered in San Dimas, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 21 national events featuring the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series, NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, FuelTech NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Type A Motorsports, Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown™ and Top Fuel Harley Series. 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 120 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.
● Event: YellaWood 500 (Round 31 of 36) ● Time/Date: 2 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Oct. 6 ● Location: Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway ● Layout: 2.66-mile oval ● Laps/Miles: 188 laps/500 miles ● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 60 laps / Stage 2: 60 laps / Final Stage: 68 laps ● TV/Radio: NBC / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Corey LaJoie, Driver of the No. 51 Mighty Fire Breaker Ford Mustang Dark Horse
● Corey LaJoie is set to make his second start for Rick Ware Racing (RWR) in the No. 51 Mighty Fire Breaker Ford Mustang Dark Horse at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. Sunday’s YellaWood 500 marks LaJoie’s 14th NASCAR Cup Series start at the 2.66-mile superspeedway. He finished 18th in April’s GEICO 500. His best result at the track came in the October 2023 race when he finished fourth. The result also matched LaJoie’s best-career Cup Series result.
● In 13 previous starts at Talladega, LaJoie has one top-five, two top-10s, four top-15s and six top-20s, with an average finish of 20.1 and only one DNF (did not finish).
● LaJoie made his debut with RWR last Sunday in the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City. The 29-year-old racer earned his career-best Kansas finish and set a new team-best finish at the track with a 15th-place effort.
● Mighty Fire Breaker LLC debuted with RWR last month at Atlanta Motor Speedway as the primary partner on the No. 15 Ford Mustang Dark Horse driven by Cody Ware. Mighty Fire Breaker is a leading provider of environmentally safe and sustainable solutions for proactive wildfire defense. The Mighty Fire Breaker portfolio includes EPA Safer Choice Certified Citrotech® Wildfire Inhibitors, mobile and stationary spray application systems, and GPS-tracking, recording and mapping technologies that support intelligent proactive wildfire defense management practices.
Cody Ware, Driver of the No. 15 Arby’s Ford Mustang Dark Horse
● Cody Ware, driver of the No. 15 Arby’s Ford Mustang Dark Horse for RWR, will make his eighth start of the season and his ninth at Talladega. Ware also made one Xfinity Series start at Talladega in 2019, finishing 21st for car owner B.J. McLeod, and one Truck Series start in 2015.
● Ware made his first start of the 2024 season at Talladedga on April 21. He qualified 34th in a field of 38 and finished on the lead lap in 24th. In seven starts this year, Ware has an average finish of 22.3 and has completed 1,363 of 1,391 laps available (98 percent). Twenty-six of the 28 laps Ware has not completed were the result of an early exit at Pocono due to a damaged radiator.
● In the Cup Series’ most recent superspeedway race Aug. 24 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, Ware drove to a fourth-place finish. It was his best finish in 104 Cup Series starts and matched the organization’s best overall finish. Prior to earning his top-five result at Daytona, Ware’s best finish was sixth, earned at Daytona in August 2022.
● In 15 Cup Series starts on superspeedways to date, Ware has completed 2,603 of 2,762 laps available – 94.2 percent.
Rick Ware Racing Notes
● The Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series spent last weekend competing at World Wide Techonology Raceway in Madison, Illinois, near St. Louis. RWR Top Fuel racer Clay Millican qualified fourth, but a first-round exit from the elimination rounds bumped the Drummond, Tennessee, native to seventh in the playoff standings. The NHRA Drag Racing Series takes a weekend off before returning to action at Texas Motorplex in Ennis Oct. 9-13 for the fourth event in the Countdown to the Championship.
● Rick Ware has been a motorsports mainstay for more than 40 years. It began at age six when the third-generation racer began his driving career and has since spanned four wheels and two wheels on both asphalt and dirt. Competing in the SCCA Trans Am Series and other road-racing divisions led Ware to NASCAR in the early 1980s, where he finished third in his NASCAR debut – the 1983 Warner W. Hodgdon 300 NASCAR Grand American race at Riverside (Calif.) International Raceway. More than a decade later, injuries would force Ware out of the driver seat and into fulltime team ownership. In 1995, Rick Ware Racing was formed, and with wife Lisa by his side, Ware has since built his eponymous organization into an entity that fields two fulltime entries in the NASCAR Cup Series while simultaneously campaigning successful teams in the Top Fuel class of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, Progressive American Flat Track and FIM World Supercross Championship (WSX), where RWR won the 2022 SX2 championship with rider Shane McElrath.
Corey LaJoie, Driver Q&A
You matched your career-best finish of fourth in two of the last three superspeedway races. What is your goal for this weekend?
“I’m really looking forward to getting back to Talladega and having a chance at redemption. The April race certainly didn’t end the way I wanted it to. You know it’s a possibility, but you don’t want to be that person upside down at the finish line. I enjoy superspeedway racing and I think we can build on the top-five finish that RWR earned at Daytona. The Fords are always so fast at the bigger tracks and the RWR cars have been up there at the front, so I’m excited to get there and see what we’ve got.”
How has last weekend’s performance impacted the shop environment at RWR?
“When you can join a team and knock off a finish like that in the first race, it brings with it a big boost of excitement. It reinforces the time and energy that everyone puts in to get these cars ready each week. It gives the No. 51 team momentum to build on for these final six races. One good finish can lead to another. I’m going to do everything I can on the track to bring home those results and show these guys that I appreciate the work they put in.”
Cody Ware, Driver Q&A
Superspeedway races have been your strong suit. How has it felt to continue to improve at these bigger tracks?
“I’ve always felt like speedway races were in my wheelhouse. I’ve always focused on doing what is needed to make sure we’re there at the end. When we’re successful at that is when we get the finishes we deserve. If a driver can get to the final five laps with their patience intact, there’s a higher chance of competeing for a win. Rick Ware Racing has shown a lot of progress this year, a lot of speed, and we’ve had some good finishes. It’s been nice to be a part of that and I think we can continue to find that next level of success, whatever that may be.”
Is there an accurate way to describe all of the things you have to think through, and how fast you have to do so, during a superspeedway race?
“You’re thinking through a lot. You’re listening to the spotter, looking for an opening to get in another lane that may be faster, or leapfrog a slower car, all while watching what is happening ahead so you don’t get caught in a wreck. You’re also trying to pay attention to what your car is doing when you’re being pushed versus being the pusher, if it handles any differently up high or down on the bottom. It’s a lot. You go through that every race but everything moves quicker at a superspeedway. At least at Talladega, you’ve got a little more room to work with if something does go wrong. It’s chaotic, but that’s what makes for an entertaining race.”
STATESVILLE, N.C. (October 3, 2024) – As the traditional landscape of motorsports evolve, women are stepping into roles that challenge the status quo in traditionally male-dominated areas of work. LEGACY MOTOR CLUBTM (LEGACY M.C.) and AdventHealth have teamed together to participate in an opportunity with the Women in Motorsports North America (WIMNA) to nominate an outstanding female in consideration for a 2024 SHEro award.
The WIMNA SHEro Award highlights outstanding women who have demonstrated effort and results contributing to advancing motorsports. The award also provides a means to inspire the next generation of females entering motorsports careers. LEGACY M.C. elected race engineer Sydney Prince as a SHEro.
Prince, 24, is the newly promoted lead engineer on the NASCAR Cup Series No. 84 LEGACY M.C. Toyota Camry XSE entry, driven by seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and co-owner of LEGACY M.C., Jimmie Johnson. A racer growing up, Prince knew early on she wanted a career in the sport. Throughout high school, she raced sprint cars and chose the No. 14 due to her love for NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart, even earning the nickname “Smoke Jr.”. After taking an engineering class in high school, Prince realized that she could work in motorsports by combining her newfound love of mechanical work with her passion for racing.
“No one is more deserving of this award than Sydney,” said Johnson. “I’m proud we could honor her in this fashion and to join with AdventHealth and WIMNA to make it a reality for Sydney. She is hard-working, and we look forward to watching Sydney grow even more in her role within the CLUB. She is an extremely valuable member of the CLUB both at the track and in the shop as her contribution is integral to our performance.”
“Sydney is very organized and detail oriented,” remarked Gene Wachtel, Crew Chief on the No. 84 for Kansas Speedway. “She ensures that our race engineering group has all the details for simulation each weekend. She is a self-starter and high achiever. She takes on new tasks and learns new skills quickly. Sydney is a great teammate and is always willing to help anyone at any time”.
Prince searched for schools with exceptional mechanical engineering programs and ultimately chose the University of North Carolina Charlotte (UNCC), noting its close location to most NASCAR teams in the greater Charlotte area. She graduated in 2022 and interned with Spire Motorsports before graduating.
After graduation, she started working as a quality control engineer for NASCAR Truck Series team, GMS Racing, and was quickly promoted to an engineer for the No. 24 NASCAR Truck Series team in 2023 with driver Rajah Caruth. At the start of 2024, Prince joined LEGACY M.C. as an engineer on the No. 84, making her Cup Series debut in the DAYTONA 500 with Johnson. When the No. 84 LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota Camry XSE isn’t on the track, Prince is constantly at work, feeding information to benefit the No. 42 and 43 entries, as well as driving the simulator to provide feedback on the set up of the cars.
“Sydney is a tremendous asset to LEGACY MOTOR CLUB”, said Jacob Canter, SVP of Competition at LEGACY MOTOR CLUB. “She grew up racing on dirt, which instilled her drive and passion for motorsports. She is a talented engineer helping the team develop and exploit our simulation tools, recently being promoted to the primary race engineer role for the No. 84. Sydney is also a secret weapon within our simulator program. She helps develop the model, while driving the simulator at the same time. She has extraordinary talent behind the steering wheel and behind the keyboard.”
LEGACY M.C. and AdventHealth took time Sunday morning at Kansas Speedway to dedicate the SHEro award to Prince. The award was a surprise to Prince and many members of LEGACY M.C. joined to commemorate the dedication, work ethic, and trailblazing efforts Prince has made in the world of motorsports.
“Although I am not one for attention, I am appreciative of the recognition,” said Prince after learning she was nominated. “I am super thankful to have the opportunity to be an engineer in racing and to have people around me who believe in me and push me to my fullest potential. I hope that this spotlight is a sign to the current and future generation of women in motorsports that anything is possible with hard work and dedication.”
The SHEro initiative serves as a visual for promoting, enhancing, and encouraging women in the motorsports industry. Prince is now eligible to be nominated for a national SHEro award, which will be presented in Indianapolis later this year at the WOMEN WITH DRIVE SUMMIT IV.
“We are thrilled that LEGACY MOTOR CLUB has nominated Sydney Prince as a SHEro Award honoree,” said Cindy Sisson, Executive Director of WIMNA. “Sydney’s unwavering dedication and significant contributions have elevated her as a race engineer and a role model for others, as she has paved the way for future generations of women engineers in motorsports. The SHEro Award is about celebrating trailblazers who inspire and lead by example, and these recipients truly embody the essence of what this recognition represents.”
ABOUT WOMEN IN MOTORSPORTS NORTH AMERICA (WIMNA): Women in Motorsports North America is a community of professional women and men devoted to enabling opportunities for women across all motorsport disciplines. Founded as a 501c3 in April 2022, WIMNA is quickly establishing its positive impact on motorsports, supporting, and creating resources that enable women drivers, technicians, engineers, operations staff, business-related, media, and more to thrive in the industry. Best known for its Women with Drive – driven by Mobil 1 Summit held each year, WIMNA also provides resources, mentorship, coaching, career connections, and more. Learn more at womeninmotorsportsna.com
ABOUT ADVENTHEALTH: With a sacred mission of Extending the Healing Ministry of Christ, AdventHealth is a connected system of care for every stage of life and health. More than 95,000 team members across hundreds of care sites including physician practices, hospitals, outpatient clinics, home health agencies and hospice centers provide individualized, wholistic care. A shared vision, common values, focus on whole-person health and commitment to making communities healthier unify the system’s more than 50 hospital campuses in diverse markets throughout nine states. For the latest information about AdventHealth, visit AdventHealth.com/news.
ABOUT LEGACY MOTOR CLUB: LEGACY MOTOR CLUB™ is a professional auto racing club owned by businessman and entrepreneur Maurice “Maury” J. Gallagher and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson. The CLUB competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series fielding the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE of John Hunter Nemechek, the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE of Erik Jones, and the No. 84 limited schedule entry for Jimmie Johnson. Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty “The King” serves as CLUB Ambassador. With a unique title signifying a nod to car clubs of past eras, LEGACY M.C. is an inclusive club for all motorsport enthusiasts to celebrate the past and future legacies of its members, while competing for wins and championships at NASCAR’s elite level. To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, follow LEGACY MOTOR CLUB™ on Facebook, X, Instagram and at www.LEGACYMOTORCLUB.com.
2023 winners Gaige Herrera, Erica Enders, Mike Salinas and Robert Hight
LAS VEGAS (Oct. 3, 2024) – As the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series nears the finish line, drivers have their sights set on a NHRA world championships as they approach the penultimate event of the year, the 24th annual Ford Performance NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Oct. 31 – Nov. 3.
The Ford Performance NHRA Nationals marks the fifth of six races in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs and the 19th of 20 races in 2024, as drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will be focused on every captivating round of racing – which could put them a step closer to championship glory.
Loaded with specialty classes and an electric Las Vegas atmosphere where every 330-mph run is critical, the Ford Performance NHRA Nationals is a thrill ride from start to finish. The race, which always draws a massive crowd, opens with a pair of qualifying runs on both Friday and Saturday, leading to a memorable Sunday of eliminations where the intensity will be at a fever pitch in Sin City.
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.
Top Fuel points leader Antron Brown will look for a Las Vegas victory to strengthen his chances for a fourth world title. It’s his first time leading the points since 2017 thanks to two playoff wins, but he’s facing off against a loaded Top Fuel field, including Justin Ashley, who is just 34 points back in second. Other championship contenders include Shawn Langdon, reigning champion Doug Kalitta, who won the spring race in Vegas, and former champions Steve Torrence and Tony Schumacher, who picked up the playoff victory in St. Louis.
The 2024 Funny Car season has been dominated by John Force Racing’s Austin Prock, who took over driving duties for Hight. Prock has seven wins on the season, including two wins in the Countdown. He currently leads the way in the class and has a 105-point lead over his teammate Jack Beckman, who is racing in place of the 16-time champion John Force. Also in the hunt is Bob Tasca III, who won the Las Vegas Four-Wide event, three-time champion Ron Capps and reigning champion Matt Hagan.
Reigning Pro Stock champion Enders has more wins at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway than any other driver in NHRA history with 10. She picked up a win at the season kickoff in Gainesville but hasn’t returned to the winner’s circle since. If she wants to add another win to her Vegas credit, she’ll need to get past points leader Dallas Glenn, who has five wins on the season, including Charlotte and St. Louis in the Countdown. In second is Aaron Stanfield, who also has five wins this year, while five-time champion Greg Anderson is one spot behind Enders in fourth.
The 2024 season has once again been dominated by Pro Stock Motorcycle’s Herrera. Herrera has eight wins on the season, including most recently in St. Louis, where he took back the points lead. Six-time world champion Matt Smith is hot on his heels, while other standouts in the category include Richard Gadson, Angie Smith, Chase Van Sant, Hector Arana Jr., John Hall and Jianna Evaristo.
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, where national champions will be crowned in several different categories as the culmination of the NHRA Summit Racing Series season. The weekend will also include action in the thrilling Legends Nitro Funny Car class and a spectacular jet dragster exhibition from Team “Muy Caliente” 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.
