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RFK Advance | ROVAL

By
Official Release
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ROVAL Event Info:
Date: Sunday, Oct. 13
Time: 2 p.m. ET
Series: NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Location: Concord, North Carolina
Format: 109 Laps, 252.88 Miles, Stages: 25-25-59
TV: NBC
Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90)

Weekend Schedule:
Saturday: 12:30 p.m. ET, Practice (USA, NBC Sports App, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 2 p.m. ET, Qualifying (USA, NBC Sports App, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Sunday: 2 p.m. ET, Race (NBC, NBC Sports App, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Pace Laps:

  • The ROVAL at Charlotte Motor Speedway hosts the final race in the Round of 12 in the NASCAR Playoffs this weekend, in what is the final road course event of the 2024 season.
  • The ROVAL underwent a reconfiguration since the last race, now featuring a new Turn 6, sending the field into a much sharper hairpin Turn 7. On the frontstretch, a sharper apex in Turn 16 of the final chicane has been created. The circuit still features 17 turns in total and a 2.28-mile course.
  • Chris Buescher, the winner of the most recent road course race at Watkins Glen, has been the class of the field in left and right turns as of late. His 9.2 average finish in the last 21 road course events tops all Cup drivers with 13 top-10s in that stretch.

6 Team Info:
Crew Chief: Matt McCall
Partner: Castrol Edge/TravelCenters of America

17 Team Info:
Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Partner: Fifth Third Bank

  • As part of the Fueled by Fifth Third Bank pass through program, Metro Trailers will ride along with Buescher on the decklid of the No. 17 this weekend.
  • Metro Trailers, with 14 different locations, has been around since 1975with 40,000 trailers in its fleet. From vans, flats and refrigerated, Metro offers short and long term, flexible rates.

Keselowski at the ROVAL
Starts: 6
Wins: —
Top-10s: 1
Poles: —

  • Keselowski makes his seventh start on the ROVAL at Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend. He has a 17.7 average finish with a best finish of fifth in 2019. Last season he finished 18th.
  • Keselowski led laps in each of the first three events on the ROVAL, and started inside the top five twice (third – 2020, second – 2021).
  • Overall on road courses in his Cup career, Keselowski has 11 top-10s and a 17.1 average finish.

Buescher at the ROVAL
Starts: 6
Wins: —
Top-10s: 3
Poles: —

  • Buescher makes his seventh start on the ROVAL this weekend He’s coming off three-straight top-10s at the configuration after a P7 result last fall.
  • In those last three events Buescher carries a 5.3 average finish, third-best of any driver. On all road courses (since the start of the 2021 season), Buescher’s 9.2 average finish leads the Cup Series with 13 top-10s in that 21-race span.
  • In road course racing this season, Buescher has finishes of P8 (COTA), P3 (Sonoma), P20 (Chicago), and P1 (Watkins Glen).
  • Buescher carries a 16.7 average starting position into the weekend with a career-best P10 qualifying effort in 2018.
  • Overall on road courses, Buescher 15 top-10s and a 13.1 average finish in his career.

RFK Historically at the ROVAL
Cup Wins: —

Road Course Racing: Overall, RFK has 266 starts on road courses in the Cup Series with six wins, 94 top-10s and 44 top five finishes. RFK Cup drivers have a 17.3 average finish with 644 laps led.

Last Time Out & Where They Stand
Talladega: Keselowski finished P2 in a photo finish for the second-straight Talladega race, while Buescher finished 17th after maneuvering through a 28-car pileup, the largest in NASCAR history.

Bass Pro Shops Racing: Martin Truex Jr. Charlotte Roval Advance

By
Official Release
-

Martin Truex Jr.
Charlotte Roval Advance
No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry XSE for Joe Gibbs Racing

Event Overview

● Event: Bank of America Roval 400 (Round 32 of 36)
● Time/Date: 2 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Oct. 13
● Location: Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval
● Layout: 2.28-mile, 17-turn road course
● Laps/Miles: 109 laps, 252.88 miles
● Format: Stage 1: 25 laps / Stage 2: 25 laps / Final Stage: 59 laps
● TV/Radio: NBC / PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Five to Go: After a 11th-place finish last weekend at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, Truex sits 14th in the driver standings with 2,130 points heading to this weekend’s race on the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval.

● Truex has two top-10 finishes and has led a total of six laps in six career NASCAR Cup Series starts on the Charlotte Roval. Truex’s average Roval finish is 15.7.

● Sunday’s Bank of America Roval 400k at Charlotte marks the final race of five road-course races on the 2024 Cup Series schedule. Truex finished 10th in the first road-course race of the year March 24 at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, before finishing 27th on June 9 at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway, where he was running second when he ran out of fuel on the last lap. He was 33rd in the series’ second visit to the downtown Chicago street course on July 7, then finished 20th in September at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International.

● Road-Course History: Truex has a total of five wins, 13 top-five finishes and 19 top-10s at the three permanent road-course venues on the Cup Series schedule – Sonoma, COTA and Watkins Glen. Four of those wins came at Sonoma and one at Watkins Glen.

● Looking for 35: Truex’s July 2023 win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon was his most recent Cup Series win, the 34th of his career, tying him with 2004 champion Kurt Busch for 25th on the all-time Cup Series win list.

● Ahead at this Stage: Truex has accumulated 64 stage wins since the beginning of the stage era in 2017. He is the only driver with 10 or more stage sweeps, with his latest sweep coming at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn in August 2023. Truex scored his fourth stage win of the season last month at Watkins Glen, leading the field across the line at the end of Stage 1.

Martin Truex Jr., Driver of the No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry XSE

Back when the Roval was first announced, did you think it would be as cool as many thought it would be today?

“Yes, I remember all of it. I remember testing on the track for the first time when it was even a different configuration than we ended up with. There were no curbs, no grass, no paint, there was just dirt and old pavement. They just kept spicing it up and adding curbs and paint and all this stuff and it turned out to be a pretty cool-looking racetrack, especially on TV with all the paint, and it had a bit of an F1 feel to it from that standpoint. Still think it was kind of wonky and weird, but I also think it’s what makes it what it is. It’s very unique, it’s different, it’s challenging. They went out on a long limb when it was created and it’s turned out to be pretty cool.”

Did you feel that the Roval was going to be difficult? And what did you think of it after running it a few times?

“I would say so. I was one of the first guys to test with just an infield road course with grass all around. I was wondering, since it was small and narrow and not sure how we would race on it beforehand, but it turned out to be quite the show. You have to be open-minded and embrace the challenges and try to do the best you can with it. That was how I viewed the Roval at the beginning, and how we tried to approach the Chicago Street Race, as well. We almost won the Roval the first year, so we ran well there and would love to get that win there this weekend with our Bass Pro Shops Camry.”

What type of track causes the most chaos in the Cup Series these days?

“The obvious answer to most is the superspeedways and how things happen and how it can take out a lot of cars quickly. However, road-course restarts have become the next-craziest part of what we do. Looking back at last year, we crashed on one of the restarts with guys going five- and six-wide and guys trying to make up eight to 10 spots in one corner. I think that’s the biggest change in our sport the last few years.”

Is it still possible to win a bunch or even half of the playoff races in this era?

“I think it’s definitely harder to do than it was. It’s all because of the car. Definitely. You used to be able to find advantages easier with cars and builds than you can now. You’ve sort of seen it so far here in the playoffs, not only have we seen several different winners, but we’ve also seen several guys who have won who are not currently in the playoffs.”

No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Martin Truex Jr.

Hometown: Mayetta, New Jersey

Crew Chief: James Small

Hometown: Melbourne, Australia

Car Chief: Chris Jones

Hometown: Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia

Race Engineer: Jaik Halpainy

Hometown: Blockville, New York

Spotter: Drew Herring

Hometown: Benson, North Carolina

Road Crew Members

Underneath Mechanic: Ryan Martin

Hometown: Mechanicsburg, Virgina

Mechanic: Todd Carmichael

Hometown: Redding, California

Interior/Tire Specialist: Tommy DiBlasi

Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland

Engine Tuner: Beau Morton

Hometown: Lake Havasu City, Arizona

Transporter Driver: Kyle Bazzell

Hometown: Fairbury, Illinois

Transporter Driver: Eddie DeGroot

Hometown: Baldwinsville, New York

Over-The-Wall Crew Members

Gas Man: Matt Tyrrell

Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Jackman: Caleb Dirks

Hometown: Riverside, California

Tire Carrier: CJ Bailey

Hometown: Outer Banks, North Carolina

Front Tire Changer: Thomas Hatcher

Hometown: Middleburg, Florida

Rear Tire Changer: Lee Cunningham

Hometown: Leaf River, Illinois

Cadillac seeking winning combination

By
Official Release
-

Endurance championships on the line in Motul Petit Le Mans season finale

DETROIT (Oct. 8, 2024) – In the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season finale, Tom Blomqvist sought to blunt Cadillac Racing’s ascendency to the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Manufacturer title while driving for another manufacturer.

This weekend at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, he’ll seek to lift Cadillac Racing to its sixth IMEC championship since 2017 and second in a row while sharing the wheel of the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R with Jack Aitken and Pipo Derani in the Motul Petit Le Mans.

Cadillac Racing is four points out of the top spot entering the fifth and final endurance race of the season. Points will be awarded on 5, 4, 3, 2 scale at 4, 8 and 10 hours of the race.

Similarly, the No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R, driven by Sebastien Bourdais, Renger van der Zande and Scott Dixon, is four points arrears in the endurance team/driver standings. The No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R, which corralled the overall and endurance team/driver titles last year, is five points back as Cadillac Racing aims for its sixth driver and fourth team endurance championship.

Last October, the No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R qualified second and Bourdais established the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) race record lap time of 1 minute, 10.917 seconds as the team finished runner-up by .452 of a second at the completion of 397 laps to the racecar co-driven by Blomqvist.

Media resources

  • Cadillac event notes, driver bios, results, more
  • Cadillac in Petit Le Mans
  • IMEC GTP standings
  • Cadillac season stats
  • Cadillac titles, victories
  • About the V-8 engine
  • Driver headshots
  • Driver candid photos

Cadillac Racing has recorded a first or second in every 10-hour race at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta since joining IMSA prototype competition in 2017. Van der Zande has two victories (2018, 2020) and a pair of second-place finishes (2019, 2023) with Cadillac Racing.

With a 54-car grid, including 11 GTP entries, across four classes, steering clear of incident and debris over 10 hours on the 2.54-mile, 12-turn course will be part of a winning strategy.

“It’s a tough track and a really difficult race because with the traffic density even higher than Indianapolis it’s survival, survival, survival for about eight hours,” said Bourdais, who earned the pole Sept. 21 for the six-hour race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “Last year we had enough pace that even playing the survival game we were running at the front, which made it comfortable. Who knows what’s going to happen this year. Hopefully, when we get there, we’ll still be in the championship hunt and have something to play for.”

Peacock will stream flag-to-flag coverage at noon ET Saturday in the U.S., with the international feed on YouTube.com/IMSAOfficial and IMSA.tv. NBC will telecast the race from noon-3 p.m.

Qualifications will be streamed on Peacock (in U.S.) and IMSA.TV (outside U.S.) at 3:20 p.m. ET Friday. IMSA.com and RadioLeMans.com will broadcast the race and qualifying, with SiriusXM (XM 206, Web/App 996) and local radio 98.1 FM broadcasting the race.

What they’re saying

No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R

Sebastien Bourdais: “We had an amazing car last year and the car to beat all race long, so we hope we have that kind of pace again. It’s a tough track and a really difficult race because with the traffic density even higher than Indianapolis it’s survival, survival, survival for about eight hours. Last year we had enough pace that even playing the survival game we were running at the front, which made it comfortable. Who knows what’s going to happen this year. Hopefully, when we get there we’ll still be in the championship hunt and have something to play for.”

Renger van der Zande: “I think Petit Le Mans is an amazing event. If you want to feel motorsports at its purest, I think that’s the race you have to visit. I think the track is amazing. It’s tricky, it’s multi-class racing and the atmosphere is amazing. I’ve always been able to fight for victories there, which makes it even more fun and good memories. It’s the last race for Ganassi with Cadillac and I hope we can go out with a bang and win that race.”

Scott Dixon: “As all endurance races are, you kind of ride a rollercoaster. For me, what I’ve learned is that we’ve had great speed, the team has done a superb job, and we’ve probably been just a little bit unlucky. It would be fantastic to go out at the end of the season with a win at one of the toughest races we have on the calendar with Petit. I’m definitely looking forward to it. I can’t wait to get there and get Cadillac what it deserves in the final race of the season with a big W.”

No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R

Pipo Derani: “We’ll look to maximize our chances for the endurance championship. We’ve always had a strong car at Road Atlanta and a lot of success the last few years there with wining the first GTP championships last year. I won that race once and have always been in contention. It’s a challenging track and challenging race in which anything can happen. It’s a track that’s very tight for the number of cars IMSA has, so it brings a lot of nuances to the race – you start during the day and finish at night like Sebring. I’m looking forward to closing this chapter of my career with this team that has been a very successful six years together on a high, and a race win would be fantastic.”

Jack Aitken: “Road Atlanta is definitely a place that holds good memories from last year. We know that we can be quick there, and recently having done a test there it’s familiar it will help us remain positive for the final round of the year. We’ll be doing what we can to get a win to sign off the year in a nice way and support the other Caddy where we can. There will be the usual challenges of endurance rounds. Traffic is going to be a big problem. As we saw in Indianapolis, it can really shape the race, so we’ll be working hard to keep our nose clean. Looking forward to going back there and challenging for the win.”

Tom Blomqvist: “As we approach Petit Le Mans, I’m really excited about our prospects with the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R. After winning the race the past two years with Acura, it would be amazing to make it three in a row, this time with Cadillac and help them to secure endurance championship repeats for both the brand and our team. Our recent test at the track was very positive, and I feel the car is in excellent shape for the season finale. The circuit is a lot of fun to drive, featuring a mix of fast straights, technical corners, and elevation changes. It’s one of my favorites. Managing traffic can be tricky here, and it often determines the outcome of the race. I have complete confidence in our team and the preparations we’ve put in, and I can’t wait to hit the track and give it our all.”

United Rentals Racing: Ryan Preece Charlotte Roval Advance

By
Official Release
-

RYAN PREECE
Charlotte Roval Advance
No. 41 United Rentals Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Event Overview

● Event: Bank of America Roval 400 (Round 32 of 36)
● Time/Date: 2 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Oct. 13
● Location: Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval
● Layout: 2.28-mile, 17-turn road course
● Laps/Miles: 109 laps/252.88 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 25 laps / Stage 2: 25 laps / Final Stage: 59 laps
● TV/Radio: NBC / PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Sunday’s Bank of America Roval 400 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway is the fifth and final road-course race on the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series schedule. Ryan Preece, driver of the No. 41 United Rentals Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Stewart-Haas Racing, finished 23rd in the series’ first road-course race of the year March 24 at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas. He then placed 18th in the series’ second road-course stop June 9 at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway. Next came his 34th-place result in the July 7 Grand Park 165 on the streets of downtown Chicago. And his most recent road-course outing was his best of the year, a ninth-place finish Sept. 15 at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International.

● Sunday’s 109-lap race around the 2.28-mile, 17-turn circuit will mark Preece’s fourth NASCAR Cup Series start on the Roval. Best among his four previous starts was his most recent, an 11th-place drive from the 18th starting position in his No. 41 Stewart-Haas Ford in October 2023. Preece’s first three Cup Series starts on the Roval came with JTG Daugherty Racing, which resulted in finishes of 21st, 14th and 19th in September 2019, and October 2020 and 2021, respectively.

● Preece’s first career outing on the Roval came in the NASCAR Xfinity Series while driving for Joe Gibbs Racing in September 2018. It was an impressive one as Preece started 10th and finished fourth. It remains his only Xfinity Series start on the Roval.

● Sunday’s race will mark Preece’s 23rd career NASCAR Cup Series road-course start. His ninth-place finish at the most recent road-course race at Watkins Glen matched his career-best road-course finish, first achieved in February 2021 from the sixth starting position on the Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway road course behind the wheel of a JTG Daugherty Racing entry. In addition to his fourth-place finish in the September 2018 Xfinity Series finish on the Roval, Preece has three other road-course outings in the series, all at Watkins Glen with a best result of fourth from the eighth starting position in August 2018, also in a Joe Gibbs Racing entry. Preece’s best career road-course outing was a dominating one in the June 2023 ARCA Menards Series West race at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway, where he drove the No. 9 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford to victory from the pole, leading 50 of 64 laps along the way to crossing the finish line more than 9 seconds ahead of runner-up Sammy Smith. Preece made his professional road-course debut in the July 2010 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race on his home track, Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Connecticut, where the native of Berlin, Connecticut, started seventh and finished fourth. It was his only road-course outing in 174 career starts on the Tour, where he won the 2013 championship and finished runner-up in 2009, 2012, 2014 and 2015.

● Joining Preece at the Roval is United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE: URI), the largest equipment rental company in the world. United Rentals has an integrated network of 1,449 rental locations in North America, 13 in Europe, 27 in Australia and 19 in New Zealand. In North America, the company operates in 49 states and every Canadian province. The company’s approximately 24,700 employees serve construction and industrial customers, utilities, municipalities, homeowners and others. The company offers approximately 4,700 classes of equipment for rent with a total original cost of $19.3 billion. United Rentals is a member of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, the Barron’s 400 Index and the Russell 3000 Index®. The company is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut. Additional information about United Rentals is available at UnitedRentals.com.

Ryan Preece, Driver of the No. 41 United Rentals Ford Mustang Dark Horse

You had a top-10 at Watkins Glen last month and had to work pretty hard to get it. Does that give you a bit of confidence heading to the Roval?

“Definitely. I’ve said this before, road courses are something that I enjoy doing. The Roval is one that I feel like it’s not necessarily a wild card, but it’s something that’s different from what all our teams are used to just because they changed the configuration, which is something I’m excited about. I’m definitely excited about going to the Roval for our last road-course race of the season.”

The changes to the track are in the back section, and the chicane has also been tightened. How do you think those changes will affect the racing?

“For me, it’s just going to emphasize that your car needs to have really good braking capabilities because you’re going to have to be able to beat somebody into the braking zones and have a car that changes direction very quickly. That’s going to be important, and it’s just going to emphasize how much more important track position is going to be, and you’re going to have to do everything it takes to get it.”

Are there any drivers, past or present, whose ability to excel on the road courses really caught your attention?

“I think all of us have some degree of road-course ability, but somebody who sets themselves apart that you’re going to go and analyze and study how they do those things is typically a road-course driver who is really good in heavy braking zones and has the ability to outbrake somebody without driving into them or locking up the brakes. I would have to say that’s AJ Allmendinger and SVG (Shane Van Gisbergen) and Michael McDowell. Those are our three strongest road-course drivers who I see able to do those things.”

With the Roval being a cutoff race for the playoff drivers who want to move on to the Round of 8, does that have any bearing on how you approach this weekend’s race?

“I think you’ve got to be respectful, for sure, but at the same time, our team has a job to do. We have five more races and more opportunities to have respectable and great days, so obviously that’s our focus and what we want to do. Hopefully, we can have really good days the rest of the way.”

How would you describe your evolution as a road-course racer since you began driving stock cars?

“From a road-racing perspective, I’ve always enjoyed it. It’s always been something I like to do and I’ve always had kind of a knack for it when we get to these races. So when I show up to the Roval, or some of these other places like Sonoma or Watkins Glen, I feel like we have an opportunity to have a good day. I feel pretty optimistic and I think we could be really good. I didn’t run Formula 1, IndyCar or V8 Supercars, but it’s always something I’ve enjoyed because of my short-track background – heavy braking and the downshifting, all those little things you do as a racecar driver. The road-course races are ones I look forward to being aggressive and having good days.”

No. 41 United Rentals Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Ryan Preece

Hometown: Berlin, Connecticut

Crew Chief: Chad Johnston

Hometown: Cayuga, Indiana

Car Chief: Jeremy West

Hometown: Gardena, California

Engineer: Marc Hendricksen

Hometown: Clinton, New Jersey

Spotter: Tony Raines

Hometown: LaPorte, Indiana

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Devin Lester

Hometown: Bluefield, West Virginia

Rear Tire Changer: Austin Chrismon

Hometown: China Grove, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Chad Emmons

Hometown: Tyler, Texas

Jack Man: Sherman Timbs

Hometown: Indianola, Mississippi

Fuel Man: Dwayne Moore

Hometown: Griffin, Georgia

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Joe Zanolini

Hometown: Sybertsville, Pennsylvania

Interior Mechanic: Robert Dalby

Hometown: Anaheim, California

Tire Specialist: Matt Ridgeway

Hometown: Carrollton, Georgia

Engine Tuner: Jimmy Fife

Hometown: Orange County, California

Transporter Co-Driver: David Rodrigues

Hometown: Santa Clarita, California

Transporter Co-Driver: Charlie Schleyer

Hometown: Youngsville, Pennsylvania

How to Buy a Used NASCAR Race Car

By
SM
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Buying a used NASCAR race car isn’t your typical car purchase. These machines are built solely for the track, and traditional financing options don’t apply. In fact, you can’t use a car as collateral for a loan with NASCAR vehicles, as they aren’t street-legal and lack conventional resale value. 

NASCAR teams typically keep their cars for future races or sell parts to other teams. Finding a complete car for sale is rare, but not impossible. If you’re determined to own one, prepare for a challenging journey that’ll test both your patience and your wallet.

Where to Find a NASCAR Race Car

Complete NASCAR cars don’t hit the market often, but they do occasionally surface. Teams rarely sell them off intact, but when they do, it’s usually through auctions or private sales. These opportunities are few and far between, and prices can skyrocket due to the rarity of the vehicles. If your budget doesn’t stretch that far, consider cars from smaller racing leagues, which offer similar thrills but at a lower price point. While these cars don’t have the prestige of an official NASCAR vehicle, they deliver much of the same performance on the track.

Specialized online platforms and auctions sometimes feature legitimate NASCAR vehicles, but buyers should stay sharp. Verifying the vehicle’s history is crucial to avoid being duped by sellers offering replicas or modified cars from lower-tier racing circuits. Authenticity counts in the world of racing, and without proper documentation, you could be buying a car with far less value than advertised.

Avoiding Scams

One big red flag when searching for a used NASCAR race car is any mention of using the car as loan collateral. Because these cars lack street-legal status and conventional resale value, no reputable lender would accept them. Always request racing records, proof of team ownership, and detailed documentation about the vehicle’s history. Trustworthy sellers should be able to provide this information easily. A legitimate NASCAR car will have a paper trail, including race results, modifications, and any notable moments in its track career.

What You’ll Pay

The price of a used NASCAR vehicle can vary significantly depending on the car’s history, who drove it, and its condition. Prices generally range between $50,000 and $250,000, with more famous cars demanding higher prices. Cars driven by notable drivers or with a decorated race history are at the upper end of the spectrum. However, don’t think the costs stop there. Owning a NASCAR car involves a lot more than the initial purchase price.

Maintaining a NASCAR vehicle requires specialized parts and labor. These cars are not designed for casual use; every component is built for extreme racing conditions. Even if you’re not putting it on a track, keeping the car in working order will involve frequent maintenance, from engine overhauls to suspension adjustments. Parts wear out quickly under race conditions, and finding a mechanic with expertise in NASCAR vehicles isn’t easy or cheap.

Hidden Costs of Ownership

NASCAR cars are built for one thing: speed. Unfortunately, that means they lack many basic features that street-legal cars possess, such as proper lighting, airbags, or emissions systems. Without significant modification, you won’t be driving your NASCAR car anywhere except a racetrack. Transporting the car to and from events or storage will require a dedicated trailer, and you’ll need a secure storage facility to keep the car safe when it’s not in use.

For collectors, the car’s condition and storage environment are vital in preserving its value. Climate-controlled garages, routine cleaning, and mechanical inspections will help retain the car’s status as a collectible item. It’s not just a car—it’s an investment that needs constant attention.

Alternatives to Buying

If the idea of owning a NASCAR car seems too daunting, there are alternatives that offer the thrill without the commitment. Many racing tracks offer NASCAR driving experiences, where you can get behind the wheel of a real race car for a few laps. This option is much cheaper and far less complicated than purchasing a car outright, but still delivers the adrenaline rush of high-speed racing.

Another route is to consider NASCAR-style vehicles built for enthusiasts. These cars aren’t official NASCAR machines but are custom-built for fans who want the look and feel of a race car. Several companies specialize in constructing such cars, offering a range of performance features and customizations to suit different tastes. While they don’t have the same history as an actual NASCAR car, they can provide a similar driving experience.

Building Connections in the Racing World

If you’re truly set on owning a genuine NASCAR car, it’s not just about finding the right listing. Networking within the racing community is essential. Teams are more likely to sell their cars to buyers they know and trust. Attending races, engaging with team members, and building relationships with key people in the industry can open doors that aren’t available to the general public.

Some enthusiasts focus on collecting cars from specific eras or driven by notable figures in the sport. For example, cars from NASCAR’s “aero wars” era are sought after for their unique designs and historical significance. These models represent pivotal moments in NASCAR history and often come with an added layer of prestige for collectors.

Is NASCAR Car Ownership Right for You?

Before diving into NASCAR car ownership, it’s important to weigh what you’re really looking for. For die-hard fans, owning a race car might be the ultimate way to celebrate a passion for the sport. However, if you’re primarily after the thrill of racing, other options, like driving experiences or even high-performance street cars, might offer a more practical solution.

Collectible Alternatives

Many NASCAR fans find satisfaction in collecting race memorabilia instead of a full-blown car. Items such as race-worn suits, helmets, and engine parts are more accessible, less expensive, and easier to display. They capture the spirit of NASCAR without the responsibilities of maintaining a race car.

Final Thoughts

Buying a used NASCAR race car is not an easy process. It takes time, connections, and significant financial resources to secure one. While the appeal of owning a part of NASCAR history is undeniable, it comes with a level of commitment that might be too high for most casual enthusiasts. For those willing to make the investment, though, the reward is the ownership of a unique piece of motorsport legacy.

Digital Nomad Visa Portugal: A New Opportunity for Remote Workers in Europe

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

Portugal became a more popular destination for digital nomads, remote workers, and freelancers due to its good climate, relatively low cost of living, and an interesting cultural heritage. For those who are looking for great opportunities to live abroad and at the same time be able to work remotely, Portugal can offer a very great solution—the Portugal Digital Nomad Visa.

The aim behind this visa program is to make that path legal for remote workers of a company or business owners from other countries to reside in and work from Portugal.

Therefore, in this article, we discuss in great detail the digital nomad visa of Portugal: who can apply for it, the benefits involved in having one, and the application procedure to make clear why Portugal should be your next remote work home.

What is the Portugal Digital Nomad Visa?

The Portugal Digital Nomad Visa https://firstlegal.group/services/visas/digital-nomad-visa-d8 is a special visa category; it allows citizens of non-European Union, non-European Economic Area countries, and non-Swiss citizens to stay in Portugal for their remote work. The main requirement is that the remote work needs to be under an employer located outside of Portugal or for your own business registered in another country.

The visa falls into the global trend of housing remote workers under one visa arrangement. Today, Portugal joins other countries like Estonia and Croatia that have designed similar visas into action for an increasing number of digital nomads.

Who Qualifies for the Portugal Digital Nomad Visa?

Some of the conditions to be satisfied when one intends to apply for the Portugal Digital Nomad Visa include the following:

• Non-EU/EEA or Swiss: The visa targets individuals outside the EU, EEA, or Switzerland.

• Remote worker or freelancer: You have to work with a company that’s outside of Portugal, or have a freelance business or one of your own that is registered abroad.

• Income requirement: Proof of at least €2,800 per month is required in 2023; this amount may, however, vary subject to special rules laid down.

• Health Insurance: It is required that applicants maintain valid health insurance to cover their stay in Portugal.

• Accommodation: An indication that you will have a place to stay in Portugal, such as a lease contract, or proof of a confirmed reservation at a hotel.

These are the minimum visa application requirements, and hence applicants will have to ensure that they prepare all necessary documents.

The Benefits of the Portugal Digital Nomad Visa

From a lifestyle and practical viewpoint, there are many advantages in opting for Portugal as the country where one will work remotely:

1. Flexibility in Extended Stay

You will get an initial residence permit for one year, which might be renewable up to five years with the Portugal Digital Nomad Visa. This flexibility allows you to settle in and enjoy the country’s culture and lifestyle without frequent visa renewals and having to leave the country.

2. Excellent Infrastructure for Remote Working

Portugal has a well-structured infrastructure to fit in the work-from-anywhere environment. Portugal is totally Wi-Fi saturated, from the countryside to the cities. Be it the bustling cities of Lisbon or Porto or the tranquil region of Algarve, coworking spaces, cafes, and facilities are open to welcome digital nomads.

3. Reasonable Cost of Living

Compared to other Western European countries, Portugal maintains a relatively affordable living cost. You will enjoy a high standard of living in terms of housing, food, transportation, and health at a lower cost compared to so many other countries you would have moved to, thus ideal for those planning to balance work and leisure.

4. Excellent work-life balance

Unhurried and having a perfect amount of natural beauty, Portugal offers that work-relaxation balance to which one can easily attach himself or herself. Be it surfing, hiking, or city exploration with a linkage to historic cities, Portugal is a very promising country for an out-of-work rewarding life.

5. Centrally Located for European Travel

Its privileged geographical situation turns Portugal into a perfect haven for traveling in other parts of Europe, all means of transportation being pretty at hand to travel around neighboring countries like Spain or even far inside Europe. Meanwhile, the mild climate of Portugal allows you to enjoy outdoor activities all year round.

How to apply for a Digital Nomad Visa in Portugal

It is not that complicated to apply for a digital nomad visa in Portugal; it is just important to have the proper documentation and to proceed step by step. Here’s what you need to know:

1. Prepare Your Documentation

Prepare the following principal documents to start the application process:

• Passport valid/Non-expired for at least six months from the date of entry.

• Evidence of income: bank statements, pay receipts, contracts, etc.

• Proof of practices-usually proof of employment or evidence of freelance work-several documents prove that you work for a company whose headquarters are outside the Portuguese borders.

• Health insurance, ensuring coverage for the period of your stay.

• A document proving accommodation in Portugal – a rental agreement or a hotel reservation.

A clean criminal record from your home country or the country where you have been living.

• Application form for a Schengen Visa – This may be picked up from the Portuguese Consulate in your home country.

2. Application Submission Once the documents are prepared, it will be possible to apply online or in person, through the nearest Portuguese embassy or consulate in your country. Make sure to pay the applicable visa procession fee, due to the fact that the price varies according to nationality and the placement of the consulate.

3. Interview (When Needed) In certain cases, the consulate will also ask you to attend an interview about your application Motive, current work situation, and the period of stay in Portugal. That is quite normal; hence, you must be forthright and have prepared, standard responses regarding your work arrangements.

4. Visa Approval After sending the application, the processing time ranges from about 30-60 days, although that can vary depending on the instance. If this application goes through successfully, one receives a Portugal Digital Nomad Visa to legally live and work in a remote capacity for one year in Portugal.

5. Arrival in Portugal and Registration Once you arrive in Portugal, you should proceed with the formalities of residence in Portugal at the Immigration and Borders Service. This is an important step not only to avoid violating any laws of the country but also to protect your visa status throughout your stay in the country. Conclusion The Portugal Digital Nomad Visa is a great opportunity for a digital nomad who wants to take another chance at living in this very beautiful European country. With its warm climate, vibrant cities, and welcoming culture, Portugal increasingly becomes one of the favorites among digital nomads all over the globe. Living in Portugal offers the possibility of working remotely while getting the best of what Europe has to offer-be that the beautiful beaches of Algarve, rich history in Lisbon, or the peaceful atmosphere in the countryside of Portugal. You can kick-start your life in Portugal as a digital nomad through proper application and preparation that certainly meets all the entry criteria. You will then have the pleasure to most flexible and enriching ways of living and working abroad.

The very best NASCAR games for fans to enjoy

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SM
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Although racing fans always tend to focus on drivers like Joey Logano and follow the major occasions on the NASCAR calendar, there has always been an appetite for NASCAR-themed video games over the years. In fact, there have been some memorable releases. 

Containing the high-octane racing action that NASCAR connoisseurs crave, the number one auto racing series in the United States is worth experiencing in the virtual environment. Sure, there are other hit racing games that deserve some of your valuable time and attention, such as Light Racers at this online casino and WRC 9 on the PlayStation 5, but these hit games are worth experiencing alongside a NASCAR title or two. 

So, without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the best of them below. It’s worth noting that we’re assessing some of the classics alongside the hit modern-day titles, with many of the games still being accessible on a wide range of gaming platforms. 

iRacing

Kicking things off with a release dedicated NASCAR gamers will undoubtedly endorse, iRacing is filled with impressive elements. The game contains crisp graphics and excellent gameplay, while its selection of tracks and powerful cars will tempt NASCAR fans in. In fact, the game’s so popular that respected drivers like William Byron apparently play it on a regular basis. It should come as no surprise either, with iRacing’s all-round package hitting the spot with both gaming communities and NASCAR fans. 

NASCAR Rumble

While NASCAR Rumble might be hard to track down in today’s world, it isn’t impossible. A classic game on the PlayStation, there are numerous online sites where you can play the title, and it’s definitely worth it. Similar in many respects to Mario Kart, players are presented with an opportunity to race through 18 different courses that are set in six different areas, all while collecting power-ups to enhance their chances of triumphing. While it isn’t the most accurate example of NASCAR, NASCAR Rumble certainly delivers in terms of entertainment. 

Gran Turismo 5

Although Gran Turismo 7 is the latest game in the series and deserves recognition, Gran Turismo 5 is regarded as the best title in the series by so many passionate members of the gaming community. It’s worth noting that this particular inclusion isn’t strictly a NASCAR game either, but it contains so many elements that NASCAR fans will warm to. For starters, players can race an array of iconic vehicles on the NASCAR circuit, such as Daytona and Indianapolis. Additionally, there is even a range of NASCAR cars to drive. For racing enthusiasts, Gran Turismo 5 is exceptional. 

NASCAR Racing 2003 Season

Yet another much-loved classic on the list, NASCAR Racing 2003 Season is a game that still delivers today. Playable on PC, it’s a truly fantastic game to play if you’re a fan of classic circuits, such as those from 2003. It contains every track that was on the circuit, familiar drivers at the time are featured, and it’s an exhilarating all-round offering to explore. There are numerous mods of the game these days and they’re also great to experience if you can find them. 

If you struggle to locate a playable version of NASCAR Racing 2003 Season, then NASCAR Racing 4 is an excellent alternative. While it might appear dated to some, it helped to pave the way for so many iconic racing games that were released after it. One of the main reasons for this was its flip-over feature that enabled cars to flip, while it was also the first game of its type to have a full 43-car field. 

TOP FUEL’S TONY SCHUMACHER HITTING STRIDE HEADING TO STAMPEDE OF SPEED AND TEXAS NHRA FALLNATIONALS

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Official Release
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ENNIS, Texas (Oct. 7, 2024) – Eight-time world champion Tony Schumacher is back in the world title hunt and heading to one of his favorite tracks on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series tour, a combination that could bode well for the longtime Top Fuel star.

Fresh off his victory in St. Louis, Schumacher is ready to roll at this weekend’s 39th annual Texas NHRA FallNationals at legendary Texas Motorplex, an event that caps off the Stampede of Speed.

Now living in Texas, Schumacher plans to take in all of what the spectacular 10-day event has to offer and he hopes to close it out with a second straight victory in his 11,000-horsepower Leatherwood Distillery/Waltrip Brewing Co. dragster for JCM Racing.

Schumacher is sixth in the Top Fuel points after his first victory in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs since 2014, sitting 103 points back of first as he seeks his seventh career victory at Texas Motorplex. No other Top Fuel driver has more than three, meaning the facility, which also is the site of his first career Top Fuel victory, has treated Schumacher very well over the years.

“I love that place. It’s where I won my first race and one of the places where it set us up for our first championship (in 1999),” Schumacher said. “There will be tons of friends and family there, and it’s going to be a great time. We’ve won there before and I love going to that race. The Meyer family are just great and it’s a really cool place. We’ll be there for a couple weeks and we’ll be prepared, that’s for sure.”

Last season, Leah Pruett (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all collected NHRA wins in Dallas and this year’s race will again be broadcast on FS1, with elimination coverage airing at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday Oct. 13. It is the fourth of six races in the Countdown to the Championship and the 18th of 20 races during the 2024 season.

A Texas-sized playoff showdown starts with “Friday Night Live,” which offers more than $40,000 in bonus money to the stars in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle. The low qualifier under the lights on Friday night will net Top Fuel and Funny Car stars $15,000 each in bonus money, with $7,500 going to the quickest qualifier in Pro Stock and $5,000 in Pro Stock Motorcycle. That leads into final qualifying on Saturday and race day Sunday, where Schumacher looks to continue his momentum from St. Louis.

The team appears to have solved the issues that have plagued them in recent seasons and Schumacher, who has 88 career Top Fuel wins, is ready to pounce. But he’ll need an impressive late-season run if a ninth title is in the cards. Antron Brown is the current points leader, while other top contenders in the top five include Justin Ashley, Shawn Langdon, reigning world champion Doug Kalitta and Texan Steve Torrence.

“I’m really proud of my guys. We hurt ourselves early on (in the Countdown), but we’re closer than we were when we started St. Louis,” Schumacher said. “It’s been fantastic. Let’s face it, we struggled, and we didn’t have a great car and for three years we tried to find our problem. We found it in Brainerd.

“I had said we found it several times before, but it wasn’t the right problem. We found it and I’m so proud of the guys. We just couldn’t get it to go down the track and a couple of races ago, (Neff) found it. They’ve sucked it up and figured it out, and it’s a beautiful thing.”

Hagan is the reigning Funny Car champion, and his 2023 Texas NHRA FallNationals was a major reason he grabbed his fourth title. If he wants to go back-to-back in Dallas, he’ll need to get by Funny Car points leader and class newcomer Austin Prock, Bob Tasca III, J.R. Todd, Ron Capps and Jack Beckman, who is driving for John Force.

Enders, a Texas native, has three wins at the Texas Motorplex. She’s looking for her first win since the season-opener while trying to track down points leader Dallas Glenn, who has back-to-back wins, teammate Aaron Stanfield and longtime rival Greg Anderson.

Herrera won the Texas NHRA FallNationals, setting class records in the process, en route to the world title. He’s back in the points lead after his St. Louis win. The six-time champ Matt Smith is in second, while others to watch include John Hall, Angie Smith, 2023 NHRA Rookie of the Year Chase Van Sant, Richard Gadson and Jianna Evaristo.

The Texas NHRA FallNationals also will feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, which includes some of the sport’s top drivers and begins racing on Wednesday, Oct. 9. The weekend will include the exciting new Holley EFI Factory X category and the Jr. Dragster Shootout, as well as a jet dragster exhibition after nitro qualifying on Friday.

Fans will also be treated to the JEG’s Allstar event, which pits sportsman racers from across the country against each other for the ultimate drag racing battle. After a successful first year at the famed Texas Motorplex in 2023, the unique specialty race is back as a major highlight of the 2024 Stampede of Speed as one of most highly-anticipated sportsman events of the year.

Fans will be invited all weekend long to the Nitro Alley Stage, which is the main entertainment hub in the pits, hosting Nitro School, meet and greets, music and much more. Race fans at Texas Motorplex can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce and celebrate each of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and includes the fan favorite SealMaster Track Walk. The final can’t-miss experience of any NHRA event is the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday after racing concludes, where fans are invited to congratulate the Texas NHRA FallNationals event winners.

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

Leading into the race, fans can take part in several events as part of the 10-day Stampede for Speed festival. That includes the NHRA Divisional race (October 7-8), Stampede of Speed Shootout (October 8), JEGS Allstars qualifying (October 9), Champions’ Dinner (October 9, 6 p.m.) and the NHRA FanFest at Railyard Park in downtown Waxahachie (October 10, 6 p.m.), where fans can meet and get autographs from all the top stars in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and the JEGS Allstars participants.

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 4:15 and 7:00 p.m. CT on Friday, Oct. 11, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 12:00 and 3:00 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 12:00 p.m. CT on Sunday, Oct. 13. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 2:00 p.m. ET on Sunday and as well as action from eliminations at 4 p.m.

To purchase tickets to the Texas NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex, call 800-668-6775 or visit tickets.texasmotorplex.com. Children 12 and under are admitted free in general admissions areas with a paid adult. For more information about NHRA, visit www.NHRA.com.

About Mission Foods

MISSION®, owned by GRUMA, S.A.B. de C.V., is the world’s leading brand for tortillas and wraps. MISSION® is also globally renowned for flatbreads, dips, salsas and Mexican food products. With presence in over 112 countries, MISSION® products are suited to the lifestyles and the local tastes of each country. With innovation and customer needs in mind, MISSION® focuses on the highest quality, authentic flavors, and providing healthy options that families and friends can enjoy together. For more information, please visit https://www.missionfoods.com/

About NHRA

NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 20 national events featuring the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+, NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™, NHRA Holley EFI Factory X and Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock at select national events. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With 110 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Champion Container Corporation Teams Up with Kaulig Racing’s Daniel Dye for the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Season

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Official Release
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LEXINGTON, NC (October 7, 2024) – Champion Container Corporation, a leading industrial packaging solutions provider, is thrilled to announce its partnership with Kaulig Racing and driver Daniel Dye for the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) season. Champion Container will serve as the primary sponsor for numerous races throughout the 33-race campaign for the Daytona Beach, Florida native.

Champion Container has served as a leading partner of Dye for several seasons, dating back to his time competing in the ARCA Menards Series and two seasons in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS). Champion Container was the primary partner of Dye’s No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet entry at Daytona International Speedway in February and Pocono Raceway in July and has been an associate partner on every vehicle driven by the 20-year-old this year.

“We are thrilled to once again be a primary sponsor of Daniel Dye, as he pilots the No. 10 for Kaulig Racing full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2025,” stated Tom Miskewitz, President, Champion Container. “Daniel represents our brand perfectly and stands for the things important to us at Champion Container. Additionally, Race to Stop Suicide is something that we are major advocates of, and we are humbled to continue to be champions of those efforts as well.”

Dye will open the season at the World Center of Racing, Daytona International Speedway, with Champion Container onboard the No. 10 car. Other events include Martinsville, Rockingham, Mexico City, Dover, Las Vegas, and Phoenix.

“Having Champion Container back onboard with us again next season is truly a blessing, and I can’t thank them enough for their continued belief in me, as well as our mission with Race to Stop Suicide,” commented Daniel Dye. “Everyone at Champion Container has become more like family, and I’m honored to represent them next year.”

Along with competing full-time in the NCTS, Dye is currently competing in a limited NXS schedule in the No. 10 Chevy for Kaulig Racing and has earned two top 10s and four top-20 finishes.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Champion Container back to the Kaulig Racing family for the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series season with Daniel Dye,” said Kaulig Racing team president, Chris Rice. Daniel is a talented, young driver that has shown us what he is capable of, and we’re proud to have a partner that believes in him just as much as we do.”

Additional partnership announcements regarding Daniel Dye and the 2025 season with Kaulig Racing will come at a later date.

 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.

About Champion Container Corporation:

Founded in 1968, Champion Container has become the premier packaging container distributor in the Northeast, serving industries including chemicals, cosmetics, food, and pharmaceuticals. Operating from seven strategically located facilities, the company offers “just in time” delivery through its dedicated fleet and extensive inventory. Champion Container’s expert team provides customized packaging solutions for businesses of all sizes. Recent acquisitions have expanded the company’s reach and product offerings, reinforcing its commitment to delivering exceptional quality and service to its customers. For more information about Champion Container Corporation, visit www.championcontainer.com.

Bed Bath & Beyond Racing: Josh Berry Charlotte Roval Advance

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Official Release
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JOSH BERRY
Charlotte Roval Advance
No. 4 Bed Bath & Beyond Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Event Overview

● Event: Bank of America Roval 400 (Round 32 of 36)
● Time/Date: 2 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Oct. 13
● Location: Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval
● Layout: 2.28-mile, 17-turn road course
● Laps/Miles: 109 laps/252.88 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 25 laps / Stage 2: 25 laps / Final Stage: 59 laps
● TV/Radio: NBC / PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● In a season of firsts for Josh Berry, the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval is yet another maiden voyage in a NASCAR Cup Series NextGen car for the 33-year-old Hendersonville, Tennessee, native. While the driver of the No. 4 Bed Bath & Beyond Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Stewart-Haas racing has faced challenges on serpentine tracks during his first season in NASCAR’s premier series, his last such race at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International showed promise as he got into the groove of turning left and right. Berry started 31st, and with good strategy and a bit of race craft, was working his way toward the top-10 in the final 10 laps when a series of cautions and restarts relegated the rookie, who was running on older tires, to a 25th-place finish. Although the finishing position was nothing to ride off into the sunset about, the ability to be competitive in an unfamiliar setting is something worth noting for the former Late Model short-track ringer.

● Despite having no experience on the Roval in the NASCAR Cup Series, Berry is no stranger to speed at the track, having earned one top-five finish and two top-10s in his two NASCAR Xfinity Series starts behind the wheel of the JR Motorsports No. 8 entry. His most recent start at the 2.28-mile road course in October 2023 saw him start and finish in third place. The previous year, Berry started 14th and finished eighth. On both occasions, he was vying for the Xfinity Series championship.

● The Roval is a challenging 17-turn road course that combines parts of the 1.5-mile oval with an infield road course to test drivers on multiple surfaces and surroundings. Berry’s crew chief Rodney Childers has enjoyed success at the hybrid layout, with his drivers tallying two top-five finishes, three top-10s, an average starting position of 13.3, and an average finish of 12.8 in just six starts. This weekend, Berry and Childers have one goal – to find the winning combination from each other’s notebooks.

● Berry’s No. 4 Ford Mustang Dark Horse will feature a bright pink window net as part of the Erik Jones Foundation’s Window Net of Hope program. Each window net used during Sunday’s race will be auctioned off with proceeds benefiting organizations that promote or provide early breast cancer detection and care. The auction will run from Oct. 14-21. Fans can place their bids on Berry’s window net here.

● Bed Bath & Beyond will adorn Berry’s No. 4 Ford Mustang Dark Horse at Charlotte for the third time in four races this weekend. The partnership celebrates Bed Bath & Beyond as the ultimate online destination for home essentials, featuring an unmatched assortment for every room of the house. Whether it’s your kitchen, bedroom, outdoor space or bathroom, Bed Bath & Beyond has what you need to create a space that feels uniquely yours. From cookware and bedding to bath accessories and beyond, Bed Bath & Beyond is your go-to source for functional and stylish home essentials.

Josh Berry, Driver of the No. 4 Bed Bath & Beyond Ford Mustang Dark Horse

The Roval incorporates parts of the 1.5-mile oval and parts of the road course. What makes that so challenging?

“I think it is tough to pick where you want speed when you are setting up your car. The road course setup is so vastly different from the oval setup, so trying to find the happy medium where you have enough speed is hard. When I ran at JRM, we had obviously found something that worked well for me to create speed, which is so crucial for me since I have an overall lack of experience at road-course racing, so we will have to work hard to find that same balance in the Cup car.”

You have found speed in the Xfinity car at the Roval. What helped you the most in those races?

“I think we just had time on our side and we could lean into our teammates well over there. Like I said, I don’t have a ton of experience road racing, so having help with setup and sim time and being able to talk to my teammates and learn quickly just helped me a lot.”

The Roval layout has been altered a bit since last year’s race. How do you think the changes will impact the racing?

“It is hard to say, honestly. I think NASCAR puts a lot of smart people together to try and improve the racing product on track and at the Roval, they saw an issue and have put together a new idea that should improve the course. That’s all we can ask for from NASCAR, right? Any time there has been an issue, they address it and move forward and that’s all we can ask for. So for this weekend, I won’t really know fully until I get some seat time and make some laps with the new features.”

No. 4 Bed Bath & Beyond 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

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