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Racing to End Alzheimer’s brings message of hope to Sonoma

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Official Release
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LOS ANGELES (2 October, 2024) – The Racing to End Alzheimer’s w/MDK Motorsports team headed into the dual Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama / Porsche Endurance Challenge weekend at Sonoma Raceway with high hopes in the tripleheader.

And indeed, longtime team driver Nick Galante – subbing for Mark Kvamme – drove a flawless race one behind the wheel of the purple and yellow No. 241 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car (type 992), earning a hard charger award for his drive from 18th to 11th overall. However, in race two, Galante was caught up in an incident ahead, causing damage to the Porsche that ended what was shaping up to be a promising day.

But for the Racing to End Alzheimer’s team, the on-track disappointment could not put a damper on the off-track mission: to bring awareness of this terrible disease, and to “fund the care and find the cure.” The team carries the names of 176 people on the No. 241 Porsche – each name placed there by a loved one, to honor their legacy. The team began last week with a live interview on the FOX Los Angeles evening news last Tuesday, with Emmy-winning host Marla Tellez speaking to founder Phil Frengs about his commitment to the cause.

For Galante, who lost a grandmother and an aunt to the disease, the mission is personal as well.

“To be back with Phil, to be back in that car that has my family members’ names on it, along with hundreds of names of people from all over the world, it was really special,” said Galante. “The work they do at the racetrack, talking to fans and meeting so many people who have been affected by this disease – well, it means a lot to me to be a part of this, especially at one of my favorite tracks in the world.”

Sonoma Raceway joined the ranks of the newly repaved earlier this year, receiving a full track renewal for the first time in 23 years on the 12-turn, 2.52-mile road course located at the edge of the famous Northern California wine region. With nearly 15 stories of elevation change, Sonoma offers a challenge to every competitor – including Galante, who estimates that he has driven over 4,000 laps at the track over the years.

Galante was joined on the weekend by the team’s Endurance Challenge driver, Englishman Gus Burton. The pair shared time in the car during Friday’s first practice session, with Burton setting the fifth quickest time among the 992 class as Galante ramped up the learning curve in the Porsche GT3 Cup Car. Later that afternoon, Galante put some of the lessons learned from Burton to good use, setting the eighth quickest time.

“For me, it was all about learning to trust the amount of grip that the GT3 had at high speed,” said Galante. “In that regard, it really did help to be working with Gus, who is just super, super fast. He had never been to Sonoma before and yet, on his second lap, he went way quicker than I would all weekend. He didn’t hold back in our post session talks either, taking me through rolling speed, how best to enter the corners. That was great.”

Saturday morning, Galante continued the learning curve, setting the ninth quickest time. Taking the green flag three hours later, Galante did a masterful job avoiding a first lap melee and as the race settled in, began to secure his confidence level behind the wheel of the new generation 992 Porsche, taking 12th position with 15 minutes remaining, and 11th with 10 minutes left. At the checkered flag, Galante held his position to finish eighth in class and 11th overall.

Qualifying for the Porsche Endurance Challenge took place Sunday morning, with Burton placing the No. 241 in fifth position on the starting grid. But up first for Galante was the second Sprint Challenge race of the weekend early in the afternoon, and he set about working his way forward early in the race. Then, as the field was coming back to green after a mid-race caution, cars ahead made contact, causing the row ahead of Galante to brake hard. He tried to avoid, but hit the car ahead with his right front, which caused considerable damage and ended the day for the team.

Galante and Frengs were both disappointed with the outcome but pleased with the way the weekend came together.

“What a hugely disappointing ending for the team,” said Galante. “The MDK crew did the best they could to fix the car, but it wasn’t meant to be. Big thanks to them for all the hard work this weekend, to Gus for all the GT3 education, and to Phil, for giving me the chance to get back out on track at Sonoma. I hope to be back with the team again!”

“Sonoma Raceway is always a welcome sight for me,” said Frengs. “It’s really one of our ‘home’ tracks. And it was great to have Nick back behind the wheel. We were able to visit old friends who attended and spend time with some of our mutual friends in the racing community. Nick did a great job getting up to speed in a new car and got faster every session. Gus and Nick were a formidable pair, qualifying sixth and ready for a dash to the front. It was very unfortunate that contact at end of race two wiped out that opportunity.”

Next up for Racing to End Alzheimer’s will be the six-hour Porsche Endurance Challenge finale at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, on November 22. The race will be broadcast live on the Porsche Motorsports North America YouTube page.

About Racing to End Alzheimer’s

In 2013, Phil Frengs’ wife Mimi was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease. Their experience with the disease led Frengs to a seminal moment: his company, Legistics, had long sponsored a team in IMSA sports car racing and he realized an opportunity to raise money and awareness for the fight against the disease. In 2017, he formed Racing to End Alzheimer’s, giving fans the opportunity to honor loved ones by putting their names on the race car via donation – with Legistics matching each donation. 100% of those donations go to the two organizations the team supports:

The Nantz National Alzheimer’s Center at Houston Methodist Hospital is exploring cutting edge strategies in therapy, care and research to find a cure for these dementias. NNAC was founded by longtime CBS Sports broadcaster Jim Nantz and his family in honor of his father, Jim, Jr., who passed away after a 13-year battle with Alzheimer’s.

The UCLA Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Program is a nationally-recognized grant-funded program designed to help patients and their families with the complex medical, behavioral and social needs associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.

Racing to End Alzheimer’s social media

Facebook: Racing to End Alzheimer’s
Instagram: @racing2endalz

Danny Efland to Lead Harrison Burton at AM Racing in 2025

By
Official Release
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STATESVILLE, N.C.: AM Racing happily announced today the addition of Danny Efland, who will serve as crew chief for recently announced 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Harrison Burton, beginning with the season-opener at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway on February 15, 2025.

Efland will arrive at AM Racing after a stint at LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, where the former NASCAR Xfinity Series driver served as the lead engineer for the No. 43 Cup Series car driven by Erik Jones.

A native of Irmo, S.C., he began racing go-carts at age five and immediately turned heads when he won several championships. By the age of 12, he transitioned to full-size cars where he scored numerous race wins and also claimed a couple of track championships in a vehicle fielded by his family-owned team.

In 2007, Efland made his Xfinity Series debut at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and continued to be a staple in the series through the 2014 season. While racing, he also attended the College of Engineering and Computing at the University of South Carolina.

In 2014, he switched from driver to engineer and embarked on a journey that led him to Richard Childress Racing, Richard Petty Motorsports, and now LEGACY M.C.

“I am excited about this next chapter in my racing career to join AM Racing and Harrison Burton to fight for an Xfinity Series championship in 2025,” said Efland.

“I have worked hard for this opportunity, and I believe in the vision of AM Racing, as well as Harrison’s capabilities, I know that they have what it takes to contend for race wins and ultimately a championship.”

Burton is equally excited about the opportunity to work with Efland for 2025.

“I am looking forward to working with Danny next season,” offered Burton. With his credentials as a successful engineer and experience as a race car driver, it should benefit our realistic goals of contending for race wins and chasing an Xfinity Series championship.”

Efland resides in Rockwell, N.C., alongside his wife, Kelly and three children.

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

For more on Harrison Burton, please visit theharrisonburton.com, like his Facebook page (Official Harrison Burton), or follow him on Instagram (@harrisonburton12) and X | Twitter (@hburtonracing).

About AM Racing:

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

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

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

Kaulig Racing Weekly Preview | Talladega Superspeedway

By
Official Release
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Race Notes

Talladega Superspeedway
YellaWood 500
NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Sunday, October 6 at 2:00PM EDT
NBC | MRN | SiriusXM
Team Notes

  • Kaulig Racing has made 13 NCS starts at Talladega Superspeedway.
  • The team has earned three top-10 finishes and led 16 laps at Talladega.
  • So far in the 2024 season, Kaulig Racing has earned one runner-up finish, eight top 10s, 21 top 20s and led 54 laps.

AJ Allmendinger, No. 13 Strive Camaro ZL1

  • AJ Allmendinger has made 20 NCS starts at Talladega Superspeedway. He has led 11 laps and earned one top five and three top-10 finishes.
  • Allmendinger has made 13 NCS starts in the 2024 season and has earned three top-10 finishes and led 13 laps.

“It’s always great to bring a new sponsor into the sport and we’re excited to show Strive what NASCAR racing is all about. We’re not racing for points in the No. 13 Chevy, so we can have the mentality of taking whatever strategy we need to have a shot at the win.” – AJ Allmendinger on Talladega Superspeedway

Shane van Gisbergen, No. 16 WeatherTech Camaro ZL1

  • Shane van Gisbergen will pilot the No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet for the ninth time this season, his second at Talladega Superspeedway.
  • At Talladega in the spring, Van Gisbergen started 17th and finished 28th, while leading three laps in his first superspeedway race in the Cup car.
  • Van Gisbergen’s best result of the season came at Watkins Glen International, where he earned a runner-up finish.
  • The New Zealand native will carry the white-and-red WeatherTech livery this weekend at Talladega. For decades, WeatherTech has delivered on its promise of quality and craftsmanship through a commitment to American-made auto, home and pet products. More information can be found at weathertech.com.

“Talladega in the Cup car this weekend is going to be epic! I raced there for the first time earlier this season, and it was really cool to get the feel for superspeedway racing, we even led a couple laps which was awesome. It will still be a challenge for me as I continue to learn on the ovals, but I know what to expect a little more heading into Sunday. Excited to see how my WeatherTech Chevy stacks up with the rest of the field and hoping for a solid result this weekend.” – Shane van Gisbergen on Talladega Superspeedway

Daniel Hemric, No. 31 Cirkul Camaro ZL1

  • Daniel Hemric has made five NCS starts at Talladega Superspeedway and has earned one top five and two top-10 finishes.
  • Hemric led eight laps in the spring race at Talladega Superspeedway earlier this year and finished ninth.
  • So far in the 2024 NCS season, Hemric has earned four top 10s, 11 top-20 finishes and has led 14 laps.
  • Hemric has currently completed more laps than any other driver in the 2024 season with 8,053 of 8,094 laps completed (99.5%).

“Talladega is a place where we feel we have an equal opportunity to go out and win. Kaulig Racing always brings strong superspeedway cars, and we have shown speed at each of those races this year. Hopefully we have a strong showing in our No. 31 Cirkul Chevy.” – Daniel Hemric on Talladega Superspeedway  

Race Details

Talladega Superspeedway
United Rentals 250
NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS)
Saturday, October 5 at 4:00PM EDT
The CW | MRN | SiriusXM

Team Notes

  • Kaulig Racing has made 29 starts at Talladega Superspeedway in the NXS, earning four wins, nine top fives and 16 top-10 finishes.
  • The team won three-straight NXS races at Talladega from 2020 to 2021. Justin Haley swept both events in 2020, and Jeb Burton won the spring race in 2021.
  • So far in the 2024 NXS season, Kaulig Racing has earned three wins, 11 top fives, 29 top-10 finishes and led 223 laps.

Josh Williams, No. 11 Alloy Employer Services Chevrolet Camaro

  • Josh Williams has made 10 starts in the NXS at Talladega Superspeedway. He has recorded three top-10 finishes there, which includes a seventh-place result in 2020.
  • Williams was in contention for the win late in the series’ first trip to the track in 2024, restarting on the outside of the front row for the race’s first overtime restart. He was clipped in the left rear heading into turn one, causing him to lose control of the No. 11 and relegating him to finish in 20th.
  • Williams sits 17th in the NXS points standings with four top 10s and 14 laps led.

“We’ve got a really great superspeedway program at Kaulig Racing, and it almost ended up with us in victory lane last time we were here. I still think about that finish, what I could’ve done different at the end there, but hopefully, we can make up for it this time around.” – Josh Williams on Talladega Superspeedway

AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Morris-Shea Chevrolet Camaro

  • AJ Allmendinger has made seven NXS starts at Talladega Superspeedway with Kaulig Racing. He has earned one win, three top fives and four top-10 finishes. Allmendinger has led 36 laps and has an average finish of 13.7.
  • So far in the 2024 NXS season, Allmendinger has earned five top fives, 14 top-10 finishes and led 116 laps. Allmendinger is currently scored 10th in playoff standings.

“Talladega is a great opportunity to gain some points and have a shot at a win. Our superspeedway package has been really good the second half of the year so I’m looking forward to the challenge of trying to win at Talladega for the second time.” AJ Allmendinger on Talladega Superspeedway

Shane van Gisbergen, No. 97 WeatherTech Chevrolet Camaro

  • Shane van Gisbergen and the No. 97 WeatherTech team head to Talladega Superspeedway for his second-career NXS start on the 2.66-mile tri-oval track.
  • Last weekend in Kansas, Van Gisbergen earned his ninth top-10 finish of his rookie season.
  • With Van Gisbergen’s eighth-place finish in Kansas, he is currently sixth in the playoff standings.
  • The New Zealand native will carry the white-and-red WeatherTech livery this weekend at Talladega. For decades, WeatherTech has delivered on its promise of quality and craftsmanship through a commitment to American-made auto, home and pet products. More information can be found at weathertech.com.

“I’m excited to get back to Talladega this weekend and see how much we have improved as a team. In the spring, we had such a strong run until the overtime restarts when we ran out of gas, but we learned every lap and improved. Talladega is an iconic place, and I hope we can keep my WeatherTech Chevy up front and can be there for a great result at the end.” – Shane van Gisbergen on Talladega Superspeedway  
 
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 Weekly Preview 10.02.24

By
Official Release
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This Week in Motorsports: September 30 – October 4, 2024

NCS/NXS/NCTS: Talladega Superspeedway – Oct. 4-6
ARCA: Toledo Speedway – Oct. 5

PLANO, Texas (Oct. 2, 2024) – NASCAR is at Talladega Superspeedway for the second time this season as the postseason continues across its three national series. Both the Cup and Xfinity Series enter their second race of the Round of 12, while the Truck Series begins its Round of 8.

The ARCA Menards Series is also in action, wrapping up its 2024 season at Toledo Speedway on Saturday.

NASCAR National Series – NCS | NXS | NCTS

Bell, Hamlin remain above the cutline … With two races remaining in the Cup Series Playoffs’ Round of 12, Joe Gibbs Racing teammates, Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin find themselves above the cutline going to Talladega this weekend. Bell is tied for second in the points standings, 28 points above, while Hamlin is fifth, and 11 points to the good. The other Toyota Camry XSE in the Playoffs and regular season NCS champion, Tyler Reddick, comes into the weekend four points under the cutline.

Reddick aims for Talladega sweep … Reddick and his No. 45 23XI Racing team return to Talladega Superspeedway in search of a season sweep after his dramatic win in April. The victory was Reddick’s first top-10 or better finish at Talladega since 2021 and the first of his two wins so far this season. Another triumph for the California native would lock him into the next round of the Playoffs as he looks to make the Round of 8 for the second consecutive year.

Bell aims to continue strong runs … After coming home seventh at Kansas last weekend, Bell now has seven top-10 finishes in the last nine races coming to Talladega. The strong results have kept the Oklahoma native toward the top of the points standings throughout the Playoffs so far, currently sitting tied for second. Another such finish this weekend would be his third career top-10 at Talladega and first since the spring of 2023.

Smith, Creed rise in Xfinity Series points … The first Playoff race for the Xfinity Series last weekend was a productive one for Chandler Smith and Sheldon Creed as both climbed up the points standings coming into Talladega. Smith grabbed pole, led 114 laps and finished third to put himself second in the standings, 36 points above the cutline. Creed earned his 14th top-five finish of the season, rising four spots to fifth in the points standings, 10 points to the good.

Dean Thompson doing double duty … For the second time this season and in his career, Dean Thompson will be doing double duty this weekend by running the Xfinity Series and Truck Series races. Saturday afternoon, the 23-year-old will be piloting the No. 26 GR Supra for Sam Hunt Racing for the second time after his debut at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May. He’ll also take the wheel of his regular No. 5 Tundra TRD Pro for TRICON Garage in the Truck Series race on Friday.

Round of 8 begins for Heim and Gray … With the Truck Series Round of 8 beginning Friday at Talladega, Corey Heim and Taylor Gray are closer to their ultimate goal of a series championship. Coming off his victory at Kansas last weekend, Heim is the points leader and sits 38 above the cutline. Taylor Gray enters the round in eighth position and is 15 points below.

Sauter back in No. 16 Tundra TRD Pro … For the fourth time this season, Johnny Sauter will pilot the No. 16 Tundra TRD Pro for Hattori Racing Enterprises this weekend at Talladega. Sauter’s best finish of his three starts so far in 2024 is a 17th-place finish at Texas in the spring. Sauter has made 14 previous starts at Talladega in the Truck Series, which includes his 2013 victory.

Sawalich makes superspeedway debut … This weekend marks the 13th career Truck Series start, seventh this season, for Toyota Development Driver, William Sawalich, but it will be his first NCTS start on a superspeedway. Thursday is the Minnesotan’s 18th birthday, allowing him to take on the 2.66-mile oval this weekend in the No. 1 Tundra TRD Pro for TRICON Garage. Sawalich is coming off his best Trucks finish of the season of 11tth at Bristol two weekends ago.

NASCAR Regional Series – ARCA Menards Series

Sawalich seeks Toledo repeat … Coming off his second consecutive ARCA Menards Series East championship, and his eighth victory of 2024 at Bristol, Sawalich returns to Toledo Speedway to end the ARCA season searching for a repeat victory at the Ohio track. The soon-to-be 18-year-old led 111 of the 200 laps on his way to victory a season ago.

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.

Reckless Driving vs Speed Racing in Motorsports

By
SM
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Photo by VitalikRadko at https://depositphotos.com/

Reckless driving is not only operating a vehicle in a manner that is unsafe for yourself but for others as well. When it comes to motorsports, speed is everything. But sometimes the distinction between speed racing and reckless driving can be a very thin line. We are going to examine the key differences between reckless driving and speed racing,  and how Motorsports culture impacts driving behavior. 

Understanding Reckless Driving

What even is reckless driving? Well, there are a couple of different definitions and examples, but some common behaviors deemed as reckless are:

  • Excessive Speeding
  • Running red lights
  • Driving Under The Influence
  • Texting while driving
  • Evading Law Enforcement

Many legal consequences can result from reckless behaviors. According to a reckless driving attorney in Arizona, these include fines, suspension of driver’s license, and even jail time.

What is Speed Racing?

On the other hand speed racing is different. This motorsport races vehicles at high speeds to win some type of reward (money, trophies, sponsorships, etc). Speed racing is usually viewed at an organized event and stadium, where spectators come to watch professionally skilled and trained racers drive motor vehicles. Since competitive racing deals with such high speeds, there are plenty of safety regulations and protocols set in place. Many of these precautions include:

  • SAFER Barriers: The Steel and Foam Energy Reduction Barrier, which is a soft top wall that helps absorb the impact of a crash. This usually lines the walls of a track.
  • Fire Suits: The appropriate attire is also important. Wearing fire-resistant suits, gloves, undergarments, and shoes can protect them from any potential fires.
  • HANS Device: A Head and Neck device is used as a head restraint. This helps secure the driver’s helmet to their body instead of their seat. If they were to get into a crash this would prevent them from having their head whip around. 
  • Seats: A driver’s seat is also considered when it comes to safety. Carbon-fiber seats that wrap around the driver’s ribcage and shoulders can provide more support in a crash. 
  • Window Nets: This extra measure protects the driver from debris and contains their arms inside the vehicle. This is also used as a signal during a crash – if the driver lowers the net it means they are not injured.
  • Seat Belts: There’s a six-point harness that helps secure them to their seat. However, if a quick getaway is needed all of the belts are connected to one single latch.

Key Differences Between Reckless Driving and Speed Racing

Now that we have gone over what reckless driving and speed racing are there are a couple of key differences between the two. One major fact is the environment. Speed racing takes place on a closed track. This is contained in a space that isn’t usually unsafe for those observing. However, reckless driving takes place on public roads with more people. This makes the risk of getting into a crash more likely. 

When it comes to also the intent and purpose of each activity these can differ greatly. In motorsports, speed racing is seen as a sport and a competition. Reckless driving is seen more as thrill-seeking and crosses the line of public road safety.

Everything has regulations, some more than others. The same thing goes with speed racing and reckless driving. Speed racing is very regulated and has a lot of oversight with plenty of different rules and protocols. However, reckless driving has a lack of oversight and this is why this becomes such a concern with public road safety. 

The Impact of Motorsports Culture on Driving Behavior

Motorsports culture has a huge influence on many different things. One of them is driving behavior. The role of the media and how it portrays this sport to others is especially influential. Speed racing seems glorious and alters the public’s perception of how dangerous this motorsport is.  

Promoting Responsible Driving Through Motorsports

Many programs like the FiA Foundation are spreading the word about safe driving for motorsport drivers. This awareness brings to light the importance of road safety and how to prevent serious injury and even death. Initiatives like this can guide the public to safer driving habits and change the perception of speed racing, promoting responsible behavior on the road. 

Conclusion

Understanding what exactly speed racing and reckless driving are, identifying their differences, and knowing how Motorsports can impact driving behavior can help us move toward public road safety. By encouraging others to recognize the difference and the seriousness of reckless driving, we can help each other make our public roads safer –  not just for you and me, but for all drivers.

JR Motorsports — NXS Talladega II Preview

By
Official Release
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JR Motorsports Team Preview
TRACK – Talladega Superspeedway (2.66-mile tri-oval)
NXS RACE – United Rentals 250 (94 laps / 250.04 miles)
TUNE IN – CW, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90 at 4:00 p.m. (ET)

Sam Mayer

No. 1 – First Bank of Alabama Chevrolet

Mayer 2024 NXS Stats

Starts: 27

Wins: 2

Top 5s: 7

Top 10s: 11

Laps Led: 210

Avg. Finish: 18.2

Points: 4th

  • Sam Mayer heads to Talladega Superspeedway for his sixth career NASCAR Xfinity Series career start at the 2.66-mile tri-oval and second of the 2024 season.
  • In 23 starts on tracks measuring two miles in length or greater, the young driver has earned four top-five and seven top-10 efforts, with his best of second coming at multiple tracks, including Talladega in the fall of 2022.
  • After a solid run at Kansas, the Franklin, Wis. native now holds the fourth seed in the NXS Playoff Grid, 13 points above the cutline with two races remaining in the Round of 12.

Sam Mayer

“Talladega is one of those tracks where it is just so unpredictable on what can happen, but that’s also what makes it so exciting to run there. This track has not treated us so well in the past but I am looking forward to hopefully having a nice, quiet run there and to be up front when it counts the most. We are in a good spot points-wise with only two races remaining in this round, but a trip to Victory Lane sure would help even more.”

Justin Allgaier

No. 7 TradeMark Nitrogen /

BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet

Allgaier 2024 NXS Stats

Starts: 27

Wins: 2

Top 5s: 7

Top 10s: 15

Laps Led: 649

Avg. Finish: 14.7

Points: 9th

  • Justin Allgaier enters the second race in the Round of 12 in the NXS Playoffs just one point below the cutline.
  • In 17 starts at Talladega in the NXS, Allgaier has amassed four top fives and seven top 10s, with a best finish of second coming in the spring of 2016.
  • Allgaier is a previous superspeedway winner in the NXS, having gone to Victory Lane in the summer of 2023 at Daytona International Speedway.
  • TradeMark Nitrogen joins BRANDT Professional Agriculture on board the No. 7 Chevrolet for their second co-branded event of the season. Allgaier scored a third-place finish in TradeMark’s first outing at Texas Motor Speedway in April.

Justin Allgaier

“Anything can and usually does happen at Talladega. JR Motorsports has always had an incredibly strong superspeedway program and I know that that will be the case once again on Saturday with our co-branded TradeMark Nitrogen / BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet. We just need to be smart out there and not get ourselves caught in a bad position in the middle of the pack. If we can keep our nose clean and run up front all day long, I see no reason why we won’t be fighting for the win with our JRM teammates and get ourselves into the next round of the playoffs once the checkered flag falls.”

Sammy Smith

No. 8 TMC Chevrolet

Smith 2024 NXS Stats

Starts: 27

Wins: 0

Top 5s: 5

Top 10s: 13

Laps Led: 55

Avg. Finish: 15.5

Points: 12th

  • After the first race of the Round of 12 in the NXS Playoffs, Sammy Smith sits 23 points below the cutline.
  • On tracks measuring 2 miles in length or longer, Smith has 15 starts in the NXS. In those starts, he has tallied one top five and three top 10s.
  • TMC Transportation will share the TV panel at Talladega with Forest City Trading Group, FCTG. It is an employee-owned family of companies that share one purpose; to forge strategic connections and lasting partnerships that establish mutual success for their trade partners.

Sammy Smith

“Our playoffs didn’t get going like we hoped, but I know this entire No. 8 TMC Chevrolet team is ready to go this weekend. We just have to keep looking forward and focus on the next two races to make it to the Round of 8. Talladega is already a wild card and with it being a playoff track, it adds more unknowns, but we’re going to do all we can to make it on to the next round and give TMC a great finish in their last primary race of the season.”

Brandon Jones

No. 9 Menards / Schultz Chevrolet

Jones 2024 NXS Stats

Starts: 27

Wins: 0

Top 5s: 1

Top 10s: 8

Laps Led: 34

Avg. Finish: 19.1

Points: 14th

  • Brandon Jones returns to Talladega for the second time this season looking to continue his streak after scoring top-10s in three of his last four races.
  • In 12 starts at NASCAR’s largest oval track, Talladega, Jones has recorded three top-five and four top-10 finishes. His best finish of second came during the 2018 and 2021 seasons.
  • Additionally, the 27-year-old Georgia native has made starts in both the NASCAR Craftsman Truck series and the ARCA Menards series at the 2.66-mile tri-oval, recording a pair of top-10s.
  • Little HUG, the first single-serve kids drink on the market, will adorn the hood of Jones’ Camaro at Talladega this weekend. Jones currently has an average finish of 5.5 at Talladega with the fruit-flavored drink on his car.

Brandon Jones

“We didn’t have the best luck when we were here in the spring, but this No. 9 team is ready to build on the momentum we’ve had the past few weeks to make sure we unload a fast racecar on Saturday. With six races left in the season we plan to keep up the intensity and I hope to have this Menards/Little HUG Chevrolet up at the front when it counts this weekend.”

Carson Kvapil

No. 88 Clarience Chevrolet

Kvapil 2024 NXS Stats

Starts: 8

Wins: 0

Top 5s: 3

Top 10s: 4

Laps Led: 63

Avg. Finish: 11.5

Points: 29th

  • Carson Kvapil will make his first trip to Talladega this weekend in the NXS. It is also his first start on a superspeedway in his career.
  • In eight starts this season, Kvapil has three top-five and four top-10 finishes and has completed all 1,375 laps of competition in those events.
  • At Indianapolis in July, Kvapil finished 10th and at Michigan a month later, he led 25 laps and was in contention for the victory before a last-lap incident ended his day.
  • The 21-year-old driver will make his seventh start this weekend with the blue-and-white Clarience Technologies paint scheme on the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet.

Carson Kvapil

“Talladega is one of those tracks you dream of racing on, and I am looking forward to seeing just what it’s like this weekend. Andrew (Overstreet, crew chief) and this No. 88 team have given me great Chevrolets all year long and we’ve been competitive everywhere we’ve gone. We’ll give it everything we have and hope it works out well for our first time at Talladega.”

JRM Team Updates

JR Motorsports at Talladega Superspeedway: JR Motorsports has competed at Talladega Superspeedway a combined 69 times in the NXS since its first trip there in 2006. In those starts at the 2.66-mile superspeedway, the organization has recorded three wins, 18 top-fives and 32 top-10s, with an average finish of 15.8.

Souvenir Rig: JRM drivers Justin Allgaier, Sammy Smith, Brandon Jones and Carson Kvapil will be signing autographs at the JR Motorsports / Legacy MC souvenir rig on Saturday, Oct. 5 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. CT.

Niece Motorsports NCTS Race Preview: Talladega Superspeedway

By
Official Release
-

NIECE MOTORSPORTS
NCTS RACE ADVANCE: TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY
Race: Love’s RV Stop 225 (85 laps / 226.1 miles) | Race 20 of 23
Track: Talladega Superspeedway
Location: Lincoln, Alabama
Date & Time: Friday, October 4th | 4:30 PM ET
Tune-In: FOX Sports 1 | Motor Racing Network (MRN) | Sirius XM Ch. 90

No. 41 DQS Solutions & Staffing Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Bayley Currey | Crew Chief: Wally Rogers
Bayley Currey
@BayleyCurrey
@BayleyCurrey05

  • Currey’s Talladega Stats: Bayley Currey has made three CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts at Talladega, posting a best result of 15th-place in 2020. Currey has also started four Xfinity Series races at the 2.66-mile restrictor plate track, and earned his series-best finish of 17th at the track in 2022.
  • Niece Motorsports Talladega Stats: Niece Motorsports drivers have combined to make 18 NCTS starts at Talladega Superspeedway. The team has picked up a total of two top-fives and four top-10 finishes, with the best result delivered by Trevor Bayne in 2020, when he was the runner-up.
  • Rogers’ Talladega Stats: Wally Rogers has called the last five NCTS races at Talladega, and in last year’s race, he earned his best finish with a 10th-place showing made by Lawless Alan. Rogers is a past winner at the super speedway having claimed the victory atop Bobby Labonte’s pit box in the 2007 NXS race. He’s made seven starts in both the Xfinity Series and Cup Series, and nabbed two top-10s on Sundays.
  • On the Truck: Currey’s No. 41 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from DQS Solutions & Staffing along with Masked Owl Technologies.
  • Recapping Kansas: At last, Bayley Currey secured his first top-10 finish of the season at Kansas Speedway. Currey started the night in the 22nd position, but gained track position to finish 15th in stage one. In stage two, his No. 41 Masked Owl Technologies Chevrolet came to life, and he picked up two points with a ninth-place finish in the stage. Currey excelled on the final restart and climbed into the top-five before a green flag pit stop. Passing trucks on differing strategies, Currey navigated his way to a much-needed eighth-place result.
  • Points Rundown: Following Currey’s impressive run in Kansas, the driver of the No. 41 picked up a spot in the points standings. Currey enters Talladega seeded 18th, 33 points behind Jake Garcia in 17th. He has a 13-point gap to Ty Dillon, who is scored in 19th.
  • Quoting Currey: Are you heading into this weekend with the mentality of ‘going for broke’ for the win?

“I think so. I’ve played the conservative game a lot of times and it never works for me. We were getting all we could get in Daytona, and granted, we did end up getting wrecked at the end, but we were still able to come back for a decent finish. I think we have to go into this weekend to get all we can get. We aren’t in the Playoffs, so might as well. At the same time, I know how fast this truck was at the start of the year, so I really don’t want to tear it up. So we have to play it somewhat smart, but I think all of our guys want us to go out and try to win it.”

  • Quoting Rogers: Bayley says he wants to go to the front and stay up there all race. Do you think that’s a good strategy for your group?

“Man, I’ve been on both sides of the strategy at Talladega. I’ve played races out where we’ve stayed up in the lead pack and tried to lead and got wrecked, but I’ve also been wiped out trying to ride in the back. On the other hand, I’ve stayed up front and we’ve won, and have stayed in the back and won. I don’t know if I have an answer on the right way to do it, but we’re going to give it our best shot this week for sure.”
DQS Solutions & Staffing Mission Statement: The core mission of DQS Solutions & Staffing is to attain unparalleled excellence in our specialized domains, specifically staffing and security. Simultaneously, we maintain the flexibility required to collaborate closely with our clients in the creation of innovative products and services within the framework of DQS.

No. 42 J.F. Electric / Utilitra Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Matt Mills | Crew Chief: Jon Leonard
Matt Mills Racing
@MattMillsRacing
@MattMillsRacing

  • Mills’ Talladega Stats: Matt Mills will make his first Truck Series start at Talladega on Friday. Mills has competed in six Xfinity Series races at this track and secured his series-best finish here of 17th in 2019.
  • Leonard’s Talladega Stats: Jon Leonard has called a total of four NCTS races at Talladega Superspeedway since 2020, and he picked up his best finish at the track during his first start with a 17th-place run by Stewart Friesen. Leonard owns a top-10 finish as a Cup Series crew chief at this track which came when he worked with Kasey Kahne in 2018.
  • On the Truck: Mills’ No. 42 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from longtime partners J.F. Electric and Utilitra.
  • Recapping Kansas: Matt Mills’ night out in Kansas was cut short with a hard crash in the third stage of the race. Mills qualified his No. 42 J.F. Electric / Utilitra Chevy in 12th and held that spot in the first stage. In stage two, the team lost a few spots to 19th, but was making moves when he was caught up in an incident on the back straightaway. Mills was scored with a 33rd-place finish after he was unable to continue from the wreck.
  • Points Rundown: With his 33rd-place finish in Kansas, Mills dropped one spot in points to 23rd and is looking to rebound. Mills is only eight points behind his teammate, Kaden Honeycutt, in 22nd, and has a 53-point buffer to 24th-place Lawless Alan.
  • Quoting Mills: Do you use this race as an opportunity to try and snag a win, or are you more looking at it as another shot to learn for Daytona next year?

“Well, for my past experience with super speedway in the teams I’ve been with, our number one goal was to take care of the car. Before this year, I never really had any chance to go to the front and try to stay up there. Being with Niece Motorsports, we can take a bit of a more aggressive approach. Thankfully, having TJ Majors on top of the roof spotting for us – he’s one of the best on super speedways – I think will be very exciting for me to learn from him. Hopefully, we can get together with our teammates and go have a good race.”

  • Quoting Leonard: What type of strategy do you think is going to be the best way to go this weekend?

“We’ve got to race. Got to race. I think if we can be up front all day, that’ll be the best approach for us. I think it takes working with people through the first part to build that relationship for the end. You’ve got to know where to be. You can run at the back all day and finish seventh or so if you luck into it, but in order to know who’s trucks drive well and who’s fast, I think you have to know where to put yourself to manipulate air. If you wreck, you wreck; but if you look at the Cup Series guys you always see the same handful of drivers up front and I think that’s for a reason. It’ll be a good shot for us to put our name out there.”

About J.F. Electric: J.F. Electric is an electrical contractor that provides engineering expertise, backed by construction and installation know-how in a diverse range of service offerings, from utilities and commercial projects, to industrial and telecommunications customers. When having a long family history in an industry, a company not only builds on its knowledge and experience, it takes pride in cultivating a solid understanding of client needs, all the while nurturing strong relationships with its employees. Evolving through five generations of the Fowler family, J.F. Electric has matured into a well-managed and thoughtfully diversified electrical contractor which is poised to continue its growth and expansion into the future.

About Utilitra: Utilitra is a woman-owned firm specializing in utility and technology solutions with a diverse team of specialized professionals. Utilitra is committed to solving their client’s unique challenges, whether one expert or a team of experts is needed. By adapting to the needs of their respective industries, Utilitra has built a range of services for their utility and technology partners.

No. 44 Rust-Oleum Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Danny Bohn | Crew Chief: Tom Ackerman
Danny Bohn Racing
@DBohn659
@DannyBohn

  • Bohn Returns: SMART Modified Tour ace Danny Bohn returns to the Truck Series with Niece Motorsports this week as he climbs into the No. 44 Chevrolet. Bohn has started 35 NCTS races over the course of his career and is a four-time winner in the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour Series. In 2023, Bohn joined forces with the team to attempt the fall race at Bristol Motor Speedway, but is eyeing his first race start in the No. 44.
  • Bohn’s Talladega Stats: Danny Bohn has made two prior NCTS starts in Talladega, and in his most recent run in 2021, he walked away with a top-10 finish in eighth-place.
  • Ackerman’s Talladega Stats: Niece Motorsports’ Competition Director, Tom Ackerman, returns to the top of the pit box for the No. 44 team at Talladega. In the series’ first race at Talladega, Ackerman navigated Ted Musgrave to a third-place finish in 2006 and has made a total of three starts at the track.
  • On the Truck: Bohn’s No. 44 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from Rust-Oleum and AmeriFast Supply. Bohn has had a longstanding 15-year relationship with Rust-Oleum, having sponsored his dirt racing cars and short track cars since 2009. Bohn’s ‘day job’ is working as a Sales Manager at AmeriFast Supply in Mooresville, NC. AmeriFast Supply also owns the modified car that Bohn races throughout the year.
  • Racing SMART: Bohn is scored third in the SMART Modified Tour Series points with two races left to run in the season. In August, he won a race at Carteret County Speedway and is deep into a Playoffs run heading to South Boston Speedway for the penultimate race on October 12th. The series finale will be held the following week at North Wilkesboro Speedway on October 19th.
  • Modifieds at the Mad House: Bohn is a past track champion of Bowman Gray Stadium’s Modified division and competes in several races throughout the year at the historic venue. In June, he won a 100-lap feature around the quarter-mile short track.
  • Owner’s Points Outlook: Since the team’s first race of the season at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, the No. 44 has climbed the owner’s points ladder. Despite having only started four races this year, the part-time truck jumped to 36th in points last week following Conor Daly’s 17th-place finish.
  • Quoting Bohn: You’ve had a few good runs on super speedways, so in your past experience, what’s the key to doing that?

“I think you’ve just got to be there at the end. The first time I went to Talladega, we wrecked out on lap 20. So, it’s going to be one of those games where you have to try and race smart throughout the day and hope that you make it towards the end of the race. If you can make it to the last lap, you’ll have a good shot at getting a good finish. At a speedway, there’s a high chance of crashing on any given lap, so avoidance is key to keep yourself in the game.”

  • Quoting Ackerman: With there being four team trucks in the field, does that allow you to control your own destiny?

“I think that doesn’t hurt us, but at the end of the day, these races can play out in so many different ways and it’s easy to lose your help quickly depending on how the lanes move. I think Danny has a good idea of how to stay out of trouble here, and if we all get lined up together, that’s going to be great knowing that we can help each other.”

About Rust-Oleum: Rust-Oleum was founded on the principle of creating innovative products. In 1921, sea captain Robert Fergusson noticed that fish oil prevented rust from forming on his ship’s metal deck. Working with a chemist, Fergusson developed one of the world’s first rust-preventive paints and Rust-Oleum was born. Starting with just 24 colors of paint, Rust-Oleum has grown to be a global leader in manufacturing innovative coatings that empower do-it-yourselfers and professionals alike.

About AmeriFast Supply: AmeriFast Supply is a family owned and operated industrial distributor of products such as fasteners, hydraulic fittings, fluids, custom hoses, adhesives, electrical supplies as well as a provider of Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI), Custom to Spec™ and kitting services.

No. 45 Moore’s Venture Foods Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Kaden Honeycutt | Crew Chief: Phil Gould
Kaden Honeycutt Racing
@KadenWHoneycutt
@KadenHoneycutt10

  • Honeycutt’s Talladega Stats: Kaden Honeycutt has only made one previous NCTS start at Talladega, but in his lone race back in 2021, the driver of the No. 45 finished 11th.
  • Gould’s Talladega Stats: Phil Gould has served as crew chief for five CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races at Talladega Superspeedway. In 2020, Gould’s team finished second with Trevor Bayne behind the wheel. Gould has called seven Xfinity Series races here with one top-10 earned by Elliott Sadler (seventh) in 2015. The track is the site of his Cup Series debut atop the box which came while working with Ryan Reed in 2016.
  • Part-Time Turned Full-Time: Yesterday, Honeycutt was announced as the team’s second addition to its full-time driver lineup for 2025. Having competed in 10 starts this year, Honeycutt’s five top-10s proved to be the most out of any driver in the No. 45 truck. He will finish out the rest of this season to prepare for a Playoffs run next year.
  • On the Truck: Honeycutt’s No. 45 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from Moore’s Venture Foods, a family-owned grocery store chain located in Oklahoma. 2024 marks the company’s 50th anniversary of the first store opening, and has been operated by the Moore family for three generations.
  • ‘Double Dirty’: Following the conclusion of Friday’s Love’s RV Stop 225, Honeycutt will rush across the street to the Talladega Short Track and compete in the Jerry Goodwin Tribute Race to Beat Cancer with his dirt super late model. Honeycutt plans to race both Friday and Saturday night’s features with the Hunt the Front Dirt Series.
  • Recapping Kansas: Kaden Honeycutt had another great showing at Kansas and finished where he did in the spring. Honeycutt started off the day by qualifying sixth and picked up two spots to cross the line fourth in stage one. In stage two, the truck dropped to eighth, but a gutsy strategy call to stay out on the racetrack led to another fourth-place finish.
  • Owner Points Outlook: Honeycutt and the No. 45 team came oh-so-close to advancing into the Round of 8, but misfortunes in Bristol left the team five points short of making the cut. The team’s primary focus has since shifted to accumulating as many points as possible for the rest of the year as fifth place is still up for grabs.
  • Quoting Honeycutt: Have you ever been in a position to go race your truck and instantly hop in a dirt car on the same day?

“Nope, I’ve never done that. That’s going to be extremely fun for me to do and I can’t wait to go there and race at both the super speedway and the dirt track all in the same day. Thankfully, Talladega isn’t a physically-demanding track for us in the trucks, but it’s all mentally draining. I’ve never raced on the Talladega Short Track before, but it’s different than what I’m used to. There’s red clay, and they’ve added a wall there, so things have changed. I’m really excited to go from track-to-track and hope we can put together some good runs at both.”

  • Quoting Gould: Do you think your team needs to go after stage points or is it best to wait till the end?

“I think it’s best to race the whole time. Stage points are nice to chase after since we are still in a points battle of our own, but also, Kaden just needs to learn how to race on the speedways. I’ve seen this before when I was working with Carson (Hocevar). We rode around in the back for his first couple of speedway races, and when it came time for him to race, he really didn’t know what to do. So, I think it’ll be best looking ahead to next year for Kaden to go out and race all day so he’s ready for Daytona.”

About Moore’s Venture Foods: Moore’s Venture Foods is a family-owned grocery store chain located in Oklahoma. The chain has brick-and-mortar stores in Alva, Fairfax, Shattuck, and Tonkawa, Oklahoma, and has been operated by the Moore family for three generations. To learn more, please visit www.MooresVentureFoods.com.

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

SUNNYD Racing: Josh Berry Talladega Advance

By
Official Release
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JOSH BERRY
Talladega Advance
No. 4 SUNNYD Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Event Overview

● 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

Notes of Interest

● The NASCAR Cup Series will tackle the largest oval track on the circuit during Sunday’s YellaWood 500 at the 2.66-mile Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. Josh Berry, driver of the No. 4 SUNNYD Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Stewart-Haas Racing, has one previous Talladega start behind the wheel of a NextGen car, which took place in April. The 33-year-old driver from Hendersonville, Tennessee, started the race in 29th and navigated his way through the field to the sixth position coming to the checkered flag. But before he crossed the finish line, an on-track incident collected nearly half the field, including Berry’s No. 4 machine. Berry slid across the finish line to take the checkered flag 16th with his car stacked on top of the No. 7 entry of Corey LaJoie.

● Berry has five Talladega starts with JR Motorsports in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, netting one top-five finish, two top-10s and an average starting position of 10.1. Best of those outings was his fifth-place finish from the seventh starting position in the October 2022 race. After finishing 10th in Stage two, he deftly maneuvered the draft lanes to score his solid top-five.

● Crew chief Rodney Childers will climb atop the No. 4 pit box Sunday for his 36th NASCAR Cup Series start at Talladega. He’s called the shots for six different drivers at the track, tallying one pole award (April 2018 with Kevin Harvick), four top-five finishes, 12 top-10s, an average starting position of 18.6, an average finish of 17.1, with only five DNFs (did not finish).

● With six NASCAR Cup Series races left in his rookie campaign, Berry has two top-five finishes, four top-10s, and 96 laps led. He has finished third on two occasions this season: at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway in May and again at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in August. Through 30 races, Berry is ranked 26th in the driver standings. He is second in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings, 66 markers behind Carson Hocevar.

● SUNNYD returns for another ride with Berry and the No. 4 team Sunday at Talladega, bringing back the vibrant orange-and-blue SUNNYD colors in its first race since March at Richmond (Va.) Raceway. SUNNYD has been an associate partner of the No. 4 team throughout the 38-week season, featured on Berry’s firesuit and the team’s hauler and toolboxes.

Josh Berry, Driver of the No. 4 SUNNYD Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Talladega always has the component of luck, but it takes a lot of skill to run competitively. How do you balance pushing the pace versus being reserved?

“When you look at the guys who consistently run well at superspeedways, you see them making moves that keep them advancing and they never seem out of control. I think, for me, Daytona in August was some of my best superspeedway racing. We just had an unfortunate outcome that day because the car was really good, and Rodney (Childers, crew chief) and Eddie (D’Hondt, spotter) kept me focused for the whole race. It just felt like we had some sense of control in a race that is typically chaotic.”

You had a pretty intense accident in Daytona. Does that make you rethink making aggressive moves when you need to?

“As a racecar driver, we all get into some pretty bad wrecks, whether that’s when we were younger or now in the Cup Series. But I think anyone who drives knows that is part of the job and being competitive. It can happen. The wreck that happened at Daytona looked violent, but the car did its job to protect me, we didn’t have to change any of the harnesses or belts, so I am just as confident to make those moves and be aggressive and try to win.”

You have six races left, including Talladega, in your rookie season. Does it feel like it went by quickly, and how do you evaluate yourself?

“This season has been crazy, to say the least. With the situation Stewart-Haas is in, and having to audition for a ride, signing with the Wood Brothers, and then having to stay focused on competing the best we can as a group, all in my rookie year, it wasn’t something I had on my Bingo card. But I don’t regret any of my decisions and I am overall happy I made it this far. For a while, I thought I would just be a Late Model racer and that would be my life, so to have even made it in a Cup car for a season surpassed any of my expectations. Now that I have another shot next year, I am going to have to reevaluate my goals and keep chasing my racing career for as far as it will carry me.”

No. 4 SUNNYD Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Josh Berry

Hometown: Hendersonville, Tennessee

Crew Chief: Rodney Childers

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Car Chief: Robert “Cheddar” Smith

Hometown: Whitewater, Wisconsin

Engineer: Dax Gerringer

Hometown: Gibsonville, North Carolina

Engineer: Billy Kuebler

Hometown: Saline, Michigan

Spotter: Eddie D’Hondt

Hometown: Levittown, New York

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Shayne Pipala

Hometown: Frankfort Square, Illinois

Rear Tire Changer: Dakota Ratcliff

Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee

Tire Carrier: Jon Bernal

Hometown: Holland, Michigan

Jack Man: Kapil Fletcher

Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Fuel Man: Corey Coppola

Hometown: Bluefield, West Virginia

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Tyler Trosper

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Mechanic: Chris Capaldi

Hometown: Armada, Michigan

Tire Specialist: Zac Lupien

Hometown: Pine Bluff, Arkansas

Engine Tuner: Robert Brandt

Hometown: Mobile, Alabama

Transporter Co-Driver: Jake Zierhoffer

Hometown: Billerica, Massachusetts

Transporter Co-Driver: Stephen Mitchell

Hometown: Woodville, Ohio

AO Racing Announces 2025 IMSA WeatherTech Return of Spike and Rexy

By
Official Release
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ST. CHARLES, Ill., (October 2, 2024) – AO Racing is proud to announce the return of the fan-favorite characters of Spike to the LMP2 class and Rexy to the GTD PRO class in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Further details are pending and will be announced at a later date, but the team’s future looks bright as they head into the final race of the season with next year’s plans confirmed.

“It’s a little bit surreal to think that the 2024 season is almost over and that we head into Petit Le Mans leading the GTD Pro Championship,” said Team Principal Gunnar Jeannette. “The team has had a lot of growth this year, and it’s been a massive effort from everyone involved to get to where we are. We are looking forward to building on all of that work and rolling out at Daytona in 2025 with two cars that are capable of winning their class.”

The team’s sophomore season in the IMSA WeatherTech series has shown the team’s hard work producing strong results, with Spike the Oreca LMP2 earning four pole positions and one podium with drivers PJ Hyett and Paul Loup Chatin. Rexy, the Porsche 911 GT3 Rawr has celebrated two pole positions and three wins, leading the championship points for a majority of the season.

In addition to the on-track success, the team has built a strong fan following of all ages, bringing a new style of fun and fan engagement to the paddock. The fan-first mentality combined with the fun characters has created many unique opportunities for the team and series to continue to grow.

“The fans have really embraced Spike, Rexy, and Roxy this year for which we are extremely grateful,” concluded Jeannette. “It’s so much fun to see families and young children get so enthusiastic about both the cars and characters. We can’t wait to build more on that support nationwide across the IMSA calendar.”

The 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship will conclude at Petit Le Mans in Braselton, Georgia. The 10-hour endurance race will air in its entirety on Peacock beginning Saturday, October 12 at 12:00 PM ET.

About AO Racing

Founded in 2022 by PJ Hyett and Gunnar Jeannette, AO Racing has swiftly risen to prominence in the world of professional sports car racing. With an unwavering commitment to on-track excellence and fan engagement, AO Racing commands attention with its fun liveries and fan-friendly presence, becoming a dynamic force in the sport. Central to AO Racing’s success is its unique blend of performance and personality. The iconic liveries of “Rexy” and “Roxy,” the T-Rex Porsche 911 GT3 Rawrs and “Spike” the LMP2 Dragon have captivated fans worldwide, earning AO Racing a dedicated following. With a focus on making racing accessible and enjoyable for enthusiasts of all ages, AO Racing has become a beloved favorite among motorsport lovers. The team has a global footprint, with strong efforts in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Asian Le Mans Series, European Le Mans Series, and the FIA World Endurance Championship. With passion, precision, and a touch of flair, AO Racing is writing the next chapter in the annals of motorsport history.

Dave Elenz to call 100th Cup event as crew chief at Talladega

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images.

In his third full-time season as a crew chief in the NASCAR Cup Series, Dave Elenz, who works atop the pit box of the No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota Camry XSE team piloted by Erik Jones, is poised to achieve a milestone feat. By participating in this weekend’s Cup Playoff event at Talladega Superspeedway, Elenz will call his 100th event as a crew chief in NASCAR’s premier series.

Elenz, a native of Gaylord, Michigan, earned a mechanical engineering degree from Clemon University in 2003, He first worked for Jasper Racing from 2001 to 2003 before joining MB2 as he measured cars and bodies. In 2008, he joined Team Penske to work as a race engineer for Sam Hornish Jr. and the No. 77 team before joining Red Bull Racing as an engineer, a role he retained through 2011. The following season, he joined Hendrick Motorsports to work as an engineer on the No. 88 team piloted by Dale Earnhardt Jr. before shifting to the No. 48 team piloted by five-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson.

The 2015 season marked Elenz’s first season as a crew chief in NASCAR as he joined JR Motorsports to lead the team’s No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro entry piloted by five different competitors throughout the Xfinity Series season. During the season, Elenz notched his first two career victories, both occurring with the reigning Cup champion Kevin Harvick and navigated the No. 88 team to a 12th-place finish in the final owner’s standings. From 2015 to 2021, Elenz worked with 14 different competitors and notched 15 Xfinity career victories, including three season-opening events at Daytona International Speedway. He also notched back-to-back Xfinity Series championships between 2017-18, the first occurring with William Byron and the second with Tyler Reddick, all while working atop the pit box of JRM’s No. 9 team.

Coming off a strong 2021 Xfinity campaign with Noah Gragson and the No. 9 JR Motorsports team highlighted with three victories and a third-place finish in the final standings, Elenz was promoted back to the Cup Series for the 2022 season to work as a crew chief for Erik Jones and the No. 43 Petty GMS Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 team. The duo commenced the season with a 29th-place finish during the 64th running of the Daytona 500 amid a late multi-car wreck before rallying the following weekend at Auto Club Speedway by finishing third. Elenz and Jones would proceed to record seven additional top-10 results throughout 24 regular-season events, with Elenz being suspended from participating at Pocono Raceway in July amid an L1 penalty for violations pertaining to the rocker box assemblies, and they would miss the 2022 Cup Series Playoffs.

Then during the 2022 Playoff opener at Darlington Raceway, Elenz notched his first Cup career victory as a crew chief after Jones capitalized on a 20-lap shootout to fend off Denny Hamlin and notch both his third Cup career win and his second Southern 500 victory. The victory for both Jones and Elenz occurred 55 years to the day when team owner Richard Petty won his first and only Southern 500 (1967) as the duo snapped an eight-year winless drought for Petty’s No. 43 team and became the first non-Playoff team to win a Cup Series Playoff opener. Following the Southern 500 victory, Elenz and Jones would finish in the top 10 in three of the remaining nine Playoff events before settling in 18th place in the final drivers’ standings.

The following season, when Petty GMS Motorsports was rebranded to Legacy Motor Club, Elenz and Jones commenced the season with a 37th-place finish in the 65th running of the Daytona 500 following a multi-car wreck just past the halfway mark. Then following the next 14 events, where the duo had managed to record only two top-10 results, Elenz was issued a two-race suspension and fined $75,000 after the No. 43 team was issued an L1 penalty and a 60-point dock for modifications to the car’s greenhouse.

After being absent from Sonoma Raceway in June, Legacy Motor Club attempted to appeal the penalty, which allowed Elenz to work atop the No. 43 pit box for the following event at Nashville Superspeedway but would lose the appeal by late June as Elenz would be absent for the inaugural Chicago Street Race in early July.

Returning atop the pit box during the following weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Elenz would lead Jones and the No. 43 team to two top-10 results during the final eight regular-season events, but they missed the Playoffs for a second consecutive season. During the Playoffs, Elenz and Jones finished 10th at Darlington before recording a season-best third-place result at Kansas Speedway in September amid an overtime shootout. Finishing no higher than 14th during the final eight events on the schedule, the duo settled in 27th place in the final standings.

Elenz and Jones commenced their third full-time Cup campaign together by finishing eighth in the 66th running of the Daytona 500. Then after racking up three additional top-15 runs over their next eight races, Jones suffered a compression fracture in his lower vertebra following a hard accident at Talladega in April, which caused him to miss the next two races as Corey Heim, a Craftsman Truck Series competitor for TRICON Garage, filled in for Jones.

After Heim finished no higher than 22nd during his two-race stint, Jones returned to competition at Darlington Raceway in May and finished 19th. Finishing no higher than 14th throughout the remaining 14 regular-season events, Elenz and Jones did not make the 2024 Cup Series Playoffs. Since the start of the Playoffs, the duo are coming off four consecutive top-35 results, with their highest result being a 26th-place run during the Playoff opener at Atlanta. Currently, Jones and the No. 43 team are ranked in 32nd place in the drivers’ standings.

Through 99 previous Cup events, Elenz has achieved one victory, four top-five results and 20 top-10 results while working with two different competitors.

Dave Elenz is scheduled to call his 100th Cup Series career event as a crew chief at Talladega Superspeedway for the YellaWood 500 on Sunday, October 6, with the event’s coverage to occur at 2 p.m. ET on NBC.

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