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Sedgwick and PT Autosport have plenty to play for at Road Atlanta

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Official Release
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Wins and series vice championship finish is the goal for the sophomore team as they head to the Porsche Carrera Cup North America’s penultimate event

MILLVILLE, NJ (October 8, 2024) – PT Autosport with JDX Racing and driver Alex Sedgwick head to the penultimate Porsche Carrera Cup North America this weekend with a clear set of goals in mind: finish the season strong, add to the win column, and capture a hard-fought second place in the series championship.

For Sedgwick, who earned two podium finishes in the Carrera Cup weekend three weeks ago at Indianapolis behind the wheel of the No. 98 PT Autosport Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Car, and competed in the Porsche Endurance Challenge by Yokohama two weeks ago at Sonoma Raceway, a recent test at Road Atlanta completed the clean sweep – recalibrating the 25-year-old Warwickshire, UK native’s top three favorite U.S. racetracks.

“Road Atlanta definitely became one of my top three US tracks,” said Sedgwick. “Indy was already up there, and Sonoma has been added as well! The Road Atlanta test went really well. I got up to speed with the track reasonably quickly – I’d had a conversation with Parker Thompson (2022 Carrera Cup champion with JDX Racing) earlier in the year that gave me some insights from someone who had been there for the first time previously in a Cup Car and he warned that it might take a bit of time to get up to speed. So to have hit the ground running and make the most of the test session hopefully bodes well. We had good pace and tried a few wildly different things with setup, and it seemed like a few different things that we might not have expected to work actually worked quite well. We’re looking forward to getting out there.”

The Carrera Cup title might be out of reach, but Sedgwick is focused on finishing second in the title chase and continuing to earn the notice of IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship teams looking for a solid FIA Silver-ranked driver for their 2025 lineup.

“It’s important for me to continue to prove that I can compete here and am ready to move up for the 2025 season,” said Sedgwick. “I’m hopeful that my performances to date, as well as a strong finish to the season, will put me in a good spot to move forward in my career. This is of course all down to the support of PT Autosport, with a large part of the project being to collectively advance both my career and the awareness and presence of PT Autosport across the professional motorsport landscape. I would not be where I am at this point without PT, and I intend to keep working hard to ensure we meet our shared goal of being part of an IMSA entry in the very near future.

As PT Autosport team principal Jason Myers details, the team plans to continue the fight down to the final checkered flag – and beyond.

“We’re very excited to see Alex race at Road Atlanta for the first time,” said Myers. “He did well here during the test days and is confident in the car JDX has given him. Also, it’s a steep slope but he’s still within theoretical reach of the championship, though the leader is an amazing opponent, hasn’t put a wheel wrong this entire year and still has a commanding lead. We believe in Alex and know he will fight until the last lap of the last race at COTA in a couple weeks’ time. We are really proud of the season he has run this year and we’ve got more than a few pending deals on the table for 2025 – it’s just deciding which one is best for alignment with progressing Alex’s career and with PT Autosport and our partners.”

PT Autosport would like to thank partners STEAM Sports Foundation, Classic Car Club Manhattan and New Jersey Motorsports Park, as well as JDX Racing partners Byers/Porsche Columbus, and Renier Construction.

The Porsche Carrera Cup North America series will contest two races at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. Race one takes the green flag at 5:05 p.m. Thursday, with race two Friday at 10:55 a.m. ET. The races will be broadcast live in the U.S., on IMSA.tv, the NBC Peacock streaming app and PorscheCarreraCup.us.

About PT Autosport — Discover Unique Talent. Develop Champions.

PT Autosport, based at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, NJ, campaigns rising star Alex Sedgwick (UK) in the 2024 Porsche Carrera Cup North America series with JDX Racing, 2022 Aspiring Driver Shootout winner Henry Drury (UK) in the Toyota GR Cup North America series with Precision Racing LA.

PT Autosport is dedicated to providing merit-based motorsport industry opportunities for diverse individuals with high integrity, grit, and coach-ability, achieved through a development program for young aspiring drivers, engineers, mechanics, and other professionals. The first step of this process is applying for the annual Aspiring Driver Shootout, in which aspiring drivers aged 18-23 can compete for a team racing partnership with the team.

A rigorous evaluation process of applicants determines the final competitors for the driver shootout. The winner earns financial support of up to $250,000 ($50,000 guaranteed) to pursue their racing career. The review process also provides the team the chance to identify unique talent for other roles in motorsport, including race engineers, mechanics, and professionals.

PT Autosport is building a community that fosters the development of young talent to find a place where they can make an impact in the motorsport community as a career.

PT Autosport social media

Instagram: @pt_autosport
TikTok: @ptautosport
Twitter: @PtAutosport
Facebook: PT Autosport
YouTube: PT Autosport

Ford Performance NASCAR – 2024 Charlotte Roval Playoff Advance

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Official Release
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CHARLOTTE ROVAL

Saturday, October 12 — NASCAR Xfinity Series, 4 p.m. ET (CW)
Sunday, October 13 — NASCAR Cup Series, 2 p.m. ET (NBC)

Four drivers will be eliminated in the NASCAR Cup and NASCAR Xfinity Series this weekend as the Round of 12 comes to a conclusion on the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval. Ford has four drivers in contention for the Cup Series championship in Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, Austin Cindric and Chase Briscoe while Cole Custer and Riley Herbst are still in it on the Xfinity side.

FORD DRIVERS IN THE CUP PLAYOFFS

Ryan Blaney – 6th (+25 above cut line)
Joey Logano – 9th (-13 below cut line)
Austin Cindric – 11th (-29)
Chase Briscoe – 12th (-32)
Note: Top 8 advance after Charlotte

FORD PLAYOFF DRIVERS ON THE CHARLOTTE ROVAL

Joey Logano: 6 starts, 0 wins, 2 top-10, 5 top-10
Ryan Blaney: 6 starts, 1 wins, 2 top-5, 4 top-10
Chase Briscoe: 3 starts, 0 wins, 0 top-5, 1 top-10
Austin Cindric: 2 starts, 0 wins, 0 top-5, 0 top-10

BUESCHER GOING FOR SECOND STRAIGHT ROAD COURSE WIN

Chris Buescher’s win last month at Watkins Glen International was his first career Cup Series win on a road course, but his record on road and street courses the past two years has been stellar. The Texas native has finished 10th or better in 13 of the last 15 events, including a streak of eight straight at one point. Buescher’s victory also marked Ford’s 35th all-time road course win and was the first since Michael McDowell’s triumph at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2022. Dan Gurney is Ford’s all-time road course leader with five career wins.

RYAN BLANEY: “I haven’t walked the track. I have done sim work. It’s a little different. The frontstretch chicane is a little bit tighter. I don’t think that’s the biggest change. Obviously, five, six, seven are the biggest changes. I think you opened up a passing zone in seven. It’s gonna be kind of a dive bomb central corner, for sure, just the way it’s shaped, so that will be interesting to see how it races. You’re gonna have to drive that corner very differently if you have pressure or not behind you, and, honestly, I think the frontstretch chicane is gonna be a slower corner, so I feel like you might have some more out-braking potential there. I think it’s good they changed it up. Whenever you add passing zones, that’s good for a race. It’s the same for everybody. It’s gonna be different for everyone and just who can adapt to it the quickest.”

MICHAEL MCDOWELL: “I have had an opportunity to study it and I’m looking forward to it. The Roval hasn’t been super strong for me and us and so I’m glad that there is some change because sometimes change is exactly what you need to turn the ship and get to where you want to be. But the Roval is super challenging. It’s not your typical road course. It’s a challenge technical, tight, twisty, big curbs, the turtles they call them. There are a lot of challenges at those places, so I’m looking forward to it. Anytime I get to race on a road course I’m happy about it and it’s an opportunity again to try to go there and win the race.”

AUSTIN CINDRIC: “I’ve definitely gotten a bit of a preview. I walked over to the speedway after playing some golf on Thursday and saw what was going on there. I’ve done some laps on the sim in prep for the weekend. Obviously, we won’t get to see the finished product until we get there for the track walk on the weekend, but I’m looking forward to it. The change will be interesting. Personally, I hated the old turn eight, just from my own personal experience – not for how it raced, it was my worst corner on the racetrack, so I’m cool with the changes.”

BLANEY CAPTURES INAUGURAL CUP ROVAL RACE

The debut of the Charlotte Roval didn’t disappoint as Jimmie Johnson and Martin Truex Jr. wrecked each other in the final chicane heading to the checkered flag, allowing Ryan Blaney to sneak past both and win the inaugural Bank of America Roval 400. Blaney put himself in position to win thanks to some sound strategy that enabled him to stretch his fuel mileage and win Stage 2. He round himself in 25th place with 38 laps to go after a trip to pit road, but cycled his way back up to the front before being in the right place at the right time. That capped a weekend in which Ford won the pole and race in the NASCAR Xfinity and NASCAR Cup Series. In six career Roval starts, Blaney has four top 10 and two top 5 finishes.

CUSTER AND HERBST LOOKING TO ADVANCE

The first elimination race of the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series season takes place this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway and Ford’s two championship contenders find themselves above the cut line. Defending series champion Cole Custer is third in the playoff standings and has a 37-point cushion while Riley Herbst is seventh overall and is 20 points ahead of ninth-place Justin Allgaier. In three career series starts on the Roval, Custer has registered finishes of seventh, eighth and second. Herbst has made four starts on the road course with his best finish coming a year ago when he was fourth.

FORD’S NASCAR CUP SERIES WINNERS ON THE ROVAL

2018 – Ryan Blaney

FORD’S NASCAR XFINITY SERIES WINNERS ON THE ROVAL

2018 – Chase Briscoe

WTRAndretti Acura ARX-06 GTP Teams Focused on Victory at MOTUL Petit Le Mans

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Official Release
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BRASELTON, Georgia (October 8, 2024) – One final event remains on the schedule for the Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti (WTRAndretti) pair of Acura ARX-06 GTP teams as they head to Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. The iconic 10-hour endurance classic – MOTUL Petit Le Mans – will mark the end of the 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season. MOTUL Petit Le Mans will also mark the end of the four-year manufacturer partnership between WTRAndretti and Acura in the prototype category. Together, WTRAndretti and Acura tallied a Rolex 24 at Daytona victory, eight additional wins, 19 podiums and ten pole positions across the four years leading into this weekend.

Ricky Taylor and Filipe Albuquerque will be joined by their IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup co-driver and 2017 Petit Le Mans winner, Brendon Hartley, to tackle all ten hours of racing action. In 2023, the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 showed impressive speed around the 2.54-mile road course as the team started from pole position. Although the blue and black team are not in contention for the championship, the team can be proud to boost a win on the streets of Detroit as well as podium and pole position as highlights of their 2024 season.

For Jordan Taylor and Louis Delétraz, their trio will be complete with the return of 2024 IndyCar Vice Champion for Andretti Global, Colton Herta, to the lineup of the No. 40 DEX Imaging Acura ARX-06 for the MOTUL Petit Le Mans. Both Delétraz and Taylor have their own success at Road Atlanta with Delétraz earning pole position in 2023 as the IMEC co-driver in the sister No. 10 car while Taylor is a two-time MOTUL Petit Le Mans winner (2014, 2018). Like their teammates, the No. 40 crew is unfortunately out of reach of the championship title, but they have their impressive win at the Twelve Hours of Sebring and podium at the Rolex 24 at Daytona as accolades on the team’s inaugural GTP campaign.

Preparations from Road Atlanta for the WTRAndretti team will begin with three practice sessions on Thursday, October 10. Qualifying for the GTP field is set for 4:215 p.m. ET on Friday, October 11 on Peacock. The MOTUL Petit Le Mans will begin the 10-hour countdown at 12:10 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 12. NBC will open the broadcast from 12 p.m. ET to 3 p.m. ET while USA Network will go on air at 6 p.m. ET. Peacock will serve host to full event coverage for all 10 hours.

Wayne Taylor, Team Principal, WTRAndretti: “This one of the first years we’ve gone to Petit Le Mans without a chance to win the championship overall. This is also our last race with Acura and HRC, so our focus is going to be to try and win the race – I think we’ve won it three times before. We’ve got nothing to lose in terms of championship. We can just go and push as hard as we can to try to get a 1-2 finish for Acura and HRC and that will be a good way to close the season out.”

No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 GTP Drivers
Ricky Taylor: “We have always had a strong car at Petit Le Mans. I feel like without the pressure of the championship on the line we can focus on purely a race win and not look at anyone else which will be refreshing for us to enjoy the race again. It is one of the more historic races of the season. The track is very high commitment, but the race is one of the most intense towards the end with all teams and drivers generally putting everything on the line to win the race/championship.”

Filipe Albuquerque: “Petit Le Mans is one of the coolest races in the world. The race, the characteristics of the track is unique for racing with all the classes. It’s super wild because everyone is fighting for the championship, for the race win, so no one is holding back anything. It just makes it so unique. I’ve never won this race before, I’ve led the last hour, last 30 minutes many, many times but never concluded with winning. I know we will be competitive again with the No. 10 team. The question is if we are going to win it or not, so we’re going to give it our best again. We have nothing to lose. We’re not fighting for the championship; the championship contenders will have to manage while we’re all in. That’s our approach. We are not holding back, and second place is not enough for us.”

Brendon Hartley: “Petit Le Mans is one of the endurance classics and a race I always try to put on the calendar if there is an opportunity. The track has old school small run off vibes and good flow. You can expect everything. WTRAndretti have been quick all year, but things have not fallen our way, full focus on the win and finishing on a high.”

No. 40 DEX Imaging Acura ARX-06 GTP Drivers
Louis Delétraz: “Petit Le Mans is one of my favorite races of the year; the track, the fans, the atmosphere, everything is amazing. We tested at the track few weeks ago and we were competitive last year. Everyone has worked hard so the objective is clear: go win the race and finish the year on a high! Colton is back with us in the 40 and last time out as a trio was pretty good, so hopefully we can repeat that. I already can’t wait to be back on track with WTRAndretti and the Acura ARX-06.”

Jordan Taylor: “I think our team is really suited to these big, classic endurance events. When you look at the team’s history, they have a lot of success in the big key races like Petit Le Mans. We won Sebring this year, so it would be amazing to close off the year with another big win. Petit Le Mans has always been an iconic race ever since it started back in 1998. I think as a team it’s especially important since my dad won the inaugural event. It is also usually a very stressful event because the championship is often on the line. Unfortunately, we haven’t had the year that we have wanted, but at the same time that opens up our race strategy to purely race for the win.”

Colton Herta: “I’m really excited to be back with WTRAndretti in the No. 40 Acura ARX-06. Petit Le Mans is a huge bucket list race for me to win and I’m excited to able to go for that win with this amazing group.”

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

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

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

Flying Lizard Motorsports Awarded Crew of the Year, Rookie of the Year at SRO America Finale

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Official Release
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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., (October 8, 2024) – Sunday evening in Indianapolis at the SRO America end-of-the-year awards banquet, Flying Lizard Motorsports concluded their three-series championship efforts with the prestigious award of GT3 Crew of the Year, also with driver Damir Hot receiving the Rookie of the Year award.

“Running multiple cars in multiple classes made for an extremely busy 2024 season,” said Program Manager Darren Law. “Although we did not come away with a championship this year, we had multiple podiums and have great momentum as we go into the offseason. We already have a busy winter testing schedule set up and look forward to the start of the 2025 season.”

The season-finale weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway held five races for the Lizard’s four cars, beginning with the team’s two-car entry in the GT America series. Jason Bell concluded his first season in the GT3 ranks of the amateur-rated series with a strong fifth-place finish to add to his two podiums, bringing him to a total of four top-five results in his rookie GT3 racing season.

Damir Hot led the team charge in GT America’s GT4 class, finishing his rookie season with a pair of podium finishes, and closing the year out with a season-best result of second place. Racing the No. 5 Nissan Z, he once again picked up the Hard Charger award, given to the competitor who gains the most positions during a race. He finished in the top three for all four of his GT America races in 2024, earning the Rookie of the Year title at Sunday’s award banquet.

In GT4 America, Hot and co-driver Baptista showed great promise in the pair of 60-minute GT4 America races, but the cautions failed to play into the hands of the Nissan, though the pair closed out the season with a fifth-place result. With three podiums and an additional three top-five results, the pair showed a strong debut together in their first season of their GT4 America effort.

The Lizards had high hopes for their No. 8 BMW M4 GT3 in the weekend’s headlining Indianapolis 8 Hour. Drivers Elias Sabo and Andy Lee were joined by BMW works driver Nick Yelloly for their first endurance race as a pair, after only just a handful of races in their new BMW. The No. 8 entry showed great pace in the practice sessions, however, a mechanical issue during the race set the team back many laps in the first half of the race. Still eager to learn more about the machine and make the most of the track time, the Lizards continued the event, determined to finish what they started, completing the first Indianapolis 8 Hour for Sabo and Lee.

The team behind Bell’s No. 2 Aston Martin GT3 entry and Sabo’s Aston Martin and BMW GT3 racing effort earned the Phoenix-based team the GT3 Crew of the Year award, as voted by their peers.

Though Todd Parriott’s GT4 racing efforts, along with Tom Dyer, were not racing at the Speedway last weekend, the pair contributed to the Lizard’s success over the course of the 2024 season. Altogether, the team earned 10 podium finishes and 27 top-five results. After 20 years of racing, the team continues to grow, racing as many as seven entries in one weekend under the SRO America umbrella. Plans are already well underway for the 2025 season, which will be announced at a later date.

About Flying Lizard Motorsports

Based out of Sonoma, California, Flying Lizard Motorsports is one of the most iconic sports car teams in motorsports, having celebrated ten driver and team championships, as well as competed internationally at the 24 Hours of Le Mans eight times.

The Lizards burst on the American Le Mans Series scene in 2004, competing in the GT class until 2012. In 2013, the team moved to the GTC class, still competing in legendary events such as the 12 Hours of Sebring and 24 Hours of Daytona. In 2014, the team expanded its program to include running two Audi R8 LMS in the TUDOR Championship, and in 2015, again expanded the program to include two Porsches in Porsche Club racing. Flying Lizard closed out the season with a dominating win at the 25 Hours of Thunderhill with Toyo Tires, a win they repeated in 2016, 2017, and 2018. The 2020 season proved the team’s most successful to date, earning four titles in the GT4 America championship. Flying Lizard Motorsports has proven to be a championship contender no matter the race series or race car. For more information, visit lizardms.com.

About 5.11
With offices around the globe, 5.11 ABR Corp. and its subsidiaries, including 5.11, Inc., work with end users to create purpose-built apparel, footwear and gear designed specifically to enhance the safety, accuracy, speed, and performance of tactical professionals and technical enthusiasts worldwide. 5.11 products exceed rigorous standards, which have allowed the brand to establish a reputation for innovation and authenticity, and become the premier choice for those who always have to be ready. 5.11 products can be purchased online, through authorized dealers and retailers, as well as at 5.11 company-owned retail stores.

Learn more about 5.11’s best-selling gear and accessories at www.511tactical.com. Find a full list of 5.11 company-owned retail stores at https://www.511tactical.com/locations/. Connect with 5.11 on Facebook, Twitter @511Tactical and on Instagram @511Tactical and #511tactical

5.11 ABR Corp. is a subsidiary of Compass Diversified (NYSE: CODI).

5.11, 5.11 Tactical and Always Be Ready are registered trademarks of 5.11, Inc. All rights reserved.

About Apex Motor Club

Apex Motor Club is Arizona’s premier motorsports club located just 35 miles southwest of Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport and the only private motorsports club located within a major metropolitan area. APEX is the ultimate country club for automotive enthusiasts where car culture, racing and country club lifestyles converge. Enjoy an hour of track time in your latest acquisition, drive off track, into your privately-owned garage and join like- minded enthusiasts in the clubhouse for food, beverages, and activities.

To learn more about the newest racing circuit in the country, visit https://apexmotorclub.com

Erik Jones Foundation Kicks Off Breast Cancer Awareness Month with Paint the Wall Pink and ‘Window of Hope’

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Official Release
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Charlotte, NC (October 8, 2024) – The Erik Jones Foundation kicked off Breast Cancer Awareness month supporting the Charlotte Motor Speedway ‘Paint the Wall Pink’ program and will continue to bring awareness to the disease throughout the month with the ‘Window of Hope’ program at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL on Sunday, October 13.

On October 1, Erik Jones and members of the foundation joined Breast Cancer warriors at Charlotte Motor Speedway to not only paint the walls of the speedway pink, but most importantly to promote breast cancer awareness, early detection and support and treatment for all who have been affected by the disease.

“I’m really proud to be able to support such a great cause with ‘Paint the Wall Pink’ and the ‘Window of Hope’ programs to support breast cancer awareness,” said Jones. “This cause is one that is personal and important to not only myself, but also my foundation. For the second year we will be able to raise important funds for breast cancer screenings through our ‘Window of Hope’ program and help directly impact the lives of so many people. It’s important that we continue to raise awareness and encourage regular breast cancer screenings, as well as support those fighting this disease and offer support and strength together.”

Throughout the month of October, the Erik Jones Foundation will continue to support Breast Cancer Awareness by proving education on the importance of early detection and care, as well as supporting survivors, current fighters, and families of breast cancer patients.

For the second year in a row, the Erik Jones Foundation will host the ‘Window of Hope’ program at Charlotte Motor Speedway. This program features pink window nets, manufactured and donated by Thermal Control Products, on every Cup Series car entered in to the ROVAL race on October 13. Following the race weekend, the race used window nets will be signed by each driver and auctioned off to raise funds for breast cancer screenings and detection.

“The ‘Window of Hope’ program is truly amazing for so many reasons,” said Brent Nickola, Executive Director of the Erik Jones Foundation. “First, the window nets are so prominent during the race that we know we are raising awareness of the issue. Secondly, the program allows fans to support the cause and walk away with a cool item. I am probably most excited to see how the entire NASCAR industry has embraced the program this year.”

The ‘Window of Hope’ pink window nets can be bid on at www.erikjonesfoundation.org starting October 14 through October 21, 2024.

About the Erik Jones Foundation:

Established in 2021 by Byron, Michigan native and NASCAR driver, Erik Jones, the Erik Jones Foundation has three main pillars: igniting children’s passion for reading, encouraging early cancer detection and care, and promoting animal welfare. The three areas of focus all have a special meaning to Jones and have each played a role in his life.

For more on the Erik Jones Foundation, please visit www.erikjonesfoundation.org.

Toyota Clinches 2024 ARCA Menards Series Manufacturer Championship

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PLANO, Texas (Oct. 8, 2024) – For the eighth consecutive year, and the ninth time in its history, Toyota has been crowned the manufacturer’s champion of the ARCA Menards Series.

Toyota has had another exception season in the ARCA Menards Series, winning 14 of the 20 races in the 2024 season. This includes three instances where Toyota won three races in a row, at the start of the year from Daytona International Speedway to Talladega Superspeedway, in the late summer stretch from the Illinois State Fairgrounds at Springfield to the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds and to end the season from Bristol Motor Speedway to Toledo Speedway.

“This racing season has been a year of milestones for Toyota, which includes another ARCA Menards Series manufacturer’s championship,” said Paul Doleshal, Group Manager, motorsports, Toyota Motor North America (TMNA). “We never take accomplishments like these for granted and will be sure to celebrate with our drivers, team members and partners that have contributed to this successful season. We’re grateful for their dedication and hard work in helping Toyota achieve our eighth-consecutive ARCA manufacturer’s title.”

Toyota supports two ARCA Menards Series teams, Venturini Motorsports (VMS) and Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR). Of the many successes Toyota experienced this season in ARCA Menards Series competition was the performance of Toyota Development Driver, William Sawalich, and his No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing team. The 17-year-old captured nine victories in the 2024 season, which included four race wins in a row, while also capturing his second consecutive ARCA Menards Series East championship.

Toyota also scored wins with Gus Dean at Daytona International Speedway, Jake Finch at Talladega Superspeedway and Tanner Gray in Charlotte Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway. Toyota Development driver, Brent Crews, scored his second career ARCA Menards Series victory at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds in only his seventh career start.

Toyota first entered the ARCA Racing Series in 2007 and has captured nine manufacturer’s titles (2013, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) and eight driver’s titles (2009, 2010, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023). Toyota now sits at 162 national ARCA Menards Series wins.

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 45 million cars and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th 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 24 electrified options.

Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet and Jeremy Clements Racing together again. Amped up for the Drive for the Cure 250

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Official Release
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Spartanburg, SC – Jeremy Clements Racing proudly announces its renewed partnership with the #1 Chevrolet dealership in South Carolina, Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet. The team is thrilled to collaborate again with another outstanding family-owned business in South Carolina, Kevin Whitaker Chevy. Whitaker will serve as the primary partner for the upcoming Drive for the Cure 250 event, where they will pay homage to Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s 2008 season. The Drive for the Cure 250 is scheduled for Saturday, October 12th, at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course.

“We’re thrilled to have Whitaker joining us this weekend. They’ve been incredible supporters of JCR over the years, and we’re grateful for their strong partnership. I’m always excited to see the throwback paint scheme that Ryan (Whitaker) brings to the track, and again, he’s nailed it with this awesome Dale Jr. Flashback!” said Clements.

“We’ve always been pretty good here, and we’re confident that we’ll put on a great show and get the Whitaker Chevy to the front.” Clements went on to say.

Joining up with Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet as associate sponsors are: Harrison’s, Fox Sports Spartanburg, Armadillo Apparel, Rob Ianuario Attorney At Law, Workforce OHSS, Whitetail Smokeless, Matman Designs, Spartan Waste, E3 Spark Plugs, ELITE Towing & Recovery LLC, Dynamic Paintware, Mechanix Wear, Wix Filters, Carolina Driveline, Butler Built, and ZMAX.

RACE PREVIEW

Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course
Date: Saturday, October 12th, 2024
Broadcast Information: TV: 4:00 pm EST on CW

FAST FACTS

Best Start 8th – 2019
Best Finish 11th – 2019
7th career start at Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course

JCR TEAM

Crew Chief: Mark Setzer
Manufacturer: Chevrolet

SOCIALS

X: @JClement51 @JCR_Clements51
Facebook: Jeremy Clements Racing
Instagram: @jclements51 @jeremyclementsracing

ABOUT KEVIN WHITAKER CHEVROLET

Chevrolet has an all-American image that’s helped them earn their way to the top of the totem pole of vehicle manufacturers. Fostering a diverse vehicle lineup including compact cars, mid-size cars, sports cars, trucks, and SUVs, Chevrolet is a name drivers trust when they’ve set high expectations in their vehicle.

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Legacy Motor Club announces crew chief changes prior to 2024 season’s conclusion

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Chad Wells for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Legacy Motor Club announced a change to its current crew chief lineup in the closing stretches of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Dave Elenz, who was in his third season working as a crew chief for the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE team piloted by Erik Jones, has parted ways with the organization. Ben Beshore, who was working as a crew chief for the team’s No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE entry piloted by John Hunter Nemechek, will now become Jones’ new crew chief. Meanwhile, Brian Campe, who was recently appointed the team’s new technical director, will assume the crew chief responsibilities for Nemechek on an interim role.

Amid the announcement, Cal Wells, III, the CEO of Legacy Motor Club, released a statement:

“LEGACY M.C. and Dave Elenz have parted ways, and the organization would like to thank Dave for his stewardship of the No. 43 over the past three seasons.”

Elenz, a two-time championship-winning crew chief in the Xfinity Series with 15 career victories, all occurring with JR Motorsports, joined Legacy Motor Club when it was branded as Petty GMS Motorsports and fielding Chevrolets in 2022. By then, it was the first time where Elenz was promoted to the Cup Series division to work as a crew chief. Paired up with Erik Jones and the No. 43 team, the duo won the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, which marked Elenz’s first Cup Series victory as a crew chief and Jones’ second triumph in the crown-jewel event. They would proceed to record a total of 12 top-10 results and finish in 18th place in the final standings.

Elenz, who called his 100th Cup Series event as a crew chief this past weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, recorded one victory, five top-five results and 21 top-10 results while working with two competitors overall. With one top-five result and two top-10 results recorded throughout the 2024 season, Jones and the No. 43 team are currently ranked in 30th place in the standings. Jones was absent for two races between late April and early May after suffering a broken compression fracture in his lower back following a multi-car wreck at Talladega Superspeedway in late April, which resulted with Craftsman Truck Series competitor Corey Heim filling in for Jones.

No. 42
Photo by Adam Lovelace for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Meanwhile, John Hunter Nemechek, who returned to the Cup Series this season after spending the previous three seasons scaling back down to the Truck and Xfinity divisions to regain his competitive form, is ranked in 34th place in the 2024 standings on the strength of three top-10 results. The 2024 season also marks crew chief Ben Beshore’s return to the Cup Series after he spent the 2023 season working with Nemechek at Joe Gibbs Racing in the Xfinity Series, where the duo won a season-high seven races and made the Championship 4 before settling in fourth place in the final standings. Previously, Beshore spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons working as a crew chief for Kyle Busch in the Cup Series.

Jimmie Johnson, co-owner of Legacy Motor Club, is also in his second season competing on a part-time basis in the team’s No. 84 Toyota entry. Through seven current starts, Johnson’s best on-track results are a pair of 28th-place finishes that occurred in the 66th running of the Daytona 500 in February and at Dover Motor Speedway in late April. Johnson, who competed in his first event with new crew chief Gene Wachtel after parting ways with Jason Burdett at Kansas Speedway in late September, is still scheduled to compete at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 20 and the season-finale event at Phoenix Raceway on November 10 before the 2024 season concludes.

With the crew changes made, Legacy Motor Club’s 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season continues with the upcoming Bank of America ROVAL 400 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. The event is scheduled to occur next Sunday, October 13, and air at 2 p.m. ET on NBC.

Delaney Gray captures huge personal victory at Southern National Motorsports Park

By
Official Release
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KENLY, N.C. (Oct. 8, 2024) – INEX Bandolero Bandit North Carolina State championship leader Delaney Gray earned her 21st victory of the season Sunday and it was a big one for her and her family.

In her 22nd attempt, Gray earned her first Southern National Motorsports Park overall Bandolero victory Sunday. By doing so, she joined her father Brandon Gray as a main event winner at the four-tenths-mile oval.

The win was her second of the weekend after Gray was credited with winning in the Bandolero Bandit division on Saturday at New River All American Speedway.

“There is so much work and emotion that went into this,” said Brandon Gray. “Delaney always wanted to win at Southern National because this is where I had so much success during my racing career. I’m so proud of Delaney and I’m so thankful for everything that Blaise Brinkley and Zach Darden do to help make this possible.”

Her 21st victory of the season has allowed Delaney to further pad her lead in the INEX Bandolero Bandit North Carolina State standings, which she hopes to clinch in the near future.

“It means a lot to me that I was able to win at Southern National just like my dad,” Delaney Gray said. “It’s really cool and special to me. I think it was just so amazing to win there. I know it means just as much to my dad too.”

Delaney would like to thank her family and all of her sponsors, including Carolina Family Pool & Patio, MPM Marketing, Bob’s Muffler Shop of Goldsboro, W.G. Speeks Inc., Carolina Mobile Refrigeration, K1 RaceGear and Swift Springs.

About McCallister Precision Marketing

McCallister Precision Marketing (MPM) focuses on assisting up-and-coming race car drivers with career advancement and promotion. McCallister Precision Marketing helps drivers build confidence in front of and behind the camera, giving them the tools they need to advance to the next level. The company also provides companies with a strategic plan for their sales, marketing and promotional needs. We believe in building positive relationships with our clients so that we may provide them with the most professional, yet personal guidance they need, in order to achieve their racing goals. Our clients include race car drivers, race team owners, companies and racing series’. We also work closely with charities and charity events. For more information on McCallister Precision Marketing, visit www.MarketWithMPM.com, email TonyaMac44@MarketWithMPM.com or call 803-361-6199.

Connor Hall Joins JR Motorsports Late Model Team for 2025

By
Official Release
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Virginia Star to Pilot Team’s No. 88 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Oct. 8, 2024) – JR Motorsports announced today that Virginia native Connor Hall will be the new driver behind the wheel of the No. 88 Chevrolet for the organization’s championship-winning Late Model program in 2025. Additionally, as previously announced by JRM, Bass Pro Shops will be back on board as the primary partner for 20 Late Model events throughout the upcoming season.

“We are very happy to be able to have someone of Connor’s caliber and experience join us in our Late Model program,” said JRM’s Senior Vice President of Motorsports L.W. Miller. “Seeing his many successes over the past several seasons makes us very excited to watch him continue that success in a JR Motorsports Late Model in 2025. Everyone at JRM is looking forward to seeing what he and Bryan (Shaffer) can do together in the Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet.”

Hall, the current points leader in the zMAX CARS Tour Late Model Stock Car division and the 2023 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series National Champion, succeeds Carson Kvapil in the seat as Kvapil moves full-time to the NASCAR Xfinity Series next season with JRM.

“To me, JR Motorsports has the No. 1 Late Model program in the country, and it’s a dream come true to be able to wake up every day and work toward the common goal everyone at JRM has, which is to win more races and championships and carry on the legacy of this team,” Hall said.

“The opportunity to represent JR Motorsports, Johnny Morris and Bass Pro Shops, Dale, Kelley and L.W. means a lot to me. I am super-excited to work with Bryan, Slim and the rest of the team as well. I respect them a ton and am very eager to establish that working relationship.”

The 27-year-old Virginian will get behind the wheel of the No. 88 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats & ATVs Chevrolet for the first time early in 2025.

ABOUT JR MOTORSPORTS:

JR Motorsports is the racing operation co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Fame member and 15-time Most Popular Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kelley Earnhardt Miller and NASCAR Hall of Famer Rick Hendrick. Now in its 23rd year of overall competition, JR Motorsports competes in multiple divisions, including the NASCAR Xfinity Series where it currently fields four full-time teams and earned championships in 2014, 2017 and 2018. The company also owns seven titles in regional Late Model divisions with consecutive championships in 2022-23 and a prized national title in 2020. To learn more about the organization, its drivers and its sponsorship opportunities, visit www.jrmracing.com.

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