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Bass Pro Shops to Return to JR Motorsports

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Official Release
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Multi-Faceted Partnership Set to Continue into 2025

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Oct. 1, 2024) – JR Motorsports announced today a renewal of their multi-faceted partnership with Bass Pro Shops, the leading national retailer of outdoor gear and apparel. With today’s renewal, Bass Pro Shops will continue to support the trio of Carson Kvapil, NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Wyatt Miller as they each compete across multiple racing series through the partnership with the outdoor and conservation company founded by conservationist Johnny Morris.

“Having the opportunity to continue our work with Johnny and everyone at Bass Pro Shops is incredibly special to me, my family and everyone at JR Motorsports,” said JR Motorsports CEO Kelley Earnhardt Miller. “The relationship between Bass Pro Shops and the Earnhardt family goes back decades and to be able to see that continue and expand truly means a lot to our entire organization. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for JRM and Bass Pro Shops together.”

As highlighted in his social media reveal earlier today, Kvapil’s full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series campaign will prominently feature Bass Pro Shops on board his JRM Chevrolet. In total, Bass Pro Shops will be the primary partner for Kvapil in 23 NXS events, beginning with the season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway.

“It’s great to continue to have this amazing support from Johnny Morris and everyone at Bass Pro Shops,” said Kvapil. “They’ve been behind me from the start here at JRM, and to continue that partnership into the Xfinity Series from our success in the CARS Tour for sure means a lot.”

Primary sponsorship for the balance of Kvapil’s 2025 NXS season will be announced at a later date.

In addition to their return to the NXS, Bass Pro Shops will additionally be the primary partner for two late model events for Earnhardt Jr., 20 late model events for JRM’s heralded late model team, 20 600cc Micro Sprint Car events for Miller and will continue their work with Dirty Mo Media, Earnhardt Jr.’s multimedia content network which produces his podcast, The Dale Jr. Download, as well as content for various platforms and partners.

“We’re honored to expand our alliance with our long-time friends Dale Jr., his sister Kelley, her son Wyatt, and the entire family over at JR Motorsports,” said Bass Pro Shops founder Morris. “The Earnhardt’s have been true ambassadors to all who support conservation and the great outdoors for many years, and we are excited to celebrate that through this partnership.”

Bass Pro Shops has over 170 retail locations throughout the United States and Canada and is the trusted source for quality fishing, hunting, boating and outdoor sporting goods. The brand has visited Victory Lane 12 times with JRM over the last four years, including a win in 2020 in the first race of its partnership, and a stretch of eight victories in 2022 that produced a record-tying four consecutive NXS wins with the No. 9 team and a berth in the Championship 4.

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.

Layne Riggs Makes Talladega Debut with Love’s RV Stop / Peak

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Official Release
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Layne Riggs and the No. 38 Love’s RV Stop / Peak Ford F-150

Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway Competition Notes

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (October 1, 2024) – Layne Riggs travels to the state of Alabama this Friday to make his Talladega Superspeedway debut.

Following a runner-up finish at the Kansas Speedway, Riggs extends his streak of Top-5 finishes to five. This will be Riggs’ first race at the 2.6-mile superspeedway and third superspeedway race of the season. Love’s RV Stop and Peak will join Riggs in his Talladega debut.

Front Row Motorsports is looking to build on the success the truck program has had at Talladega. In four starts, FRM trucks have had two Top-5s and two Top-10s, including last year’s victory with Brett Moffitt behind the wheel of the No. 34 Ford F-150.

The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series will hit the high banks of the Talladega Superspeedway on Friday, October 4th with qualifying at 1:00 pm ET. The Love’s RV Stop 225 is scheduled for later that afternoon at 4:30 pm ET. Fans can watch the action live on FS1 or can listen in via the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM channel 90.

No. 38 Love’s RV Stop / Peak Ford F-150:

DRIVER LAYNE RIGGS:

“I don’t have many laps on the superspeedways, but I’m excited for Talladega. Things happen fast so you have to be up on the wheel and prepared for anything. I’m ready for it though. We have a nice streak of Top-5’s going, so I’d like to continue that and even bring home another trophy. I think it’s going to be a good weekend.

“It’s awesome to have Love’s RV Stop back on board. They are the entitlement partner for the race too, so it would be awesome if the Love’s RV Stop Ford F-150 won the Love’s RV Stop 225. Hopefully I can make it happen.”

CREW CHIEF DYLAN CAPPELLO:

“I’m really proud of Layne. We all are. Our streak of Top-5’s with two wins isn’t an easy task and is a true testament to how hard Layne and the team work. Hopefully we can keep it going and get the win this weekend.”

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 34 and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 38 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series team from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

Carson Kvapil named full-time Xfinity Series competitor for JR Motorsports in 2025

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Adam Lovelace for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Carson Kvapil has received the call to be named a full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series competitor for JR Motorsports in 2025.

Kvapil, a 21-year-old, second-generation racer from Mooresville, North Carolina, is set to pilot the No. 1 Chevrolet entry, which is currently being driven by Sam Mayer who will join the newly formed Haas Factory Team next season. The entry will be sponsored by Bass Pro Shops as Kvapil will commence his first full-time campaign in the Xfinity circuit at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2025.

The news comes as Kvapil, the reigning two-time CARS Late Model Stock Tour champion who was also crowned the 2021 CARS Super Late Model Tour and 2020 Carolina Pro Late Model Series titles, is coming off a thrilling victory in the prestigious ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway this past weekend.

This season, Kvapil, who joined JR Motorsports to compete in Late Models in 2022, made his first eight career starts in the Xfinity Series while piloting JR Motorsports’ No. 88 “all-star” Chevrolet entry. After finishing an impressive fourth place in his Xfinity debut at Martinsville in early April, he notched a career-best runner-up result in his second start at Dover Motor Speedway in late April after being overtaken for both the lead and eventual victory during a second of two overtime attempts.

Since his first two Xfinity career starts, Kvapil has racked up an additional top-five run by finishing fifth at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in June before he finished 10th at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July. With his current average-finishing result being 11.5, he also led 63 laps during the span. Kvapil is scheduled to make his ninth and final Xfinity Series start of the 2024 season this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway.

With his plans for the 2025 season set, Kvapil is set to compete alongside teammates Justin Allgaier, Sammy Smith and newcomer Connor Zilisch, all of whom will occupy JR Motorsports’ four full-time stables next season. His crew chief for the 2025 Xfinity season ane additional partnerships for his entry have yet to be determined.

Carson Kvapil’s final Xfinity Series start of the 2024 season at Talladega is set to occur this Saturday, October 5, with a 4 p.m. ET broadcast start time on the CW Network.

Michael McDowell Returns to Talladega with Love’s RV Stop & Peak, Looking for Win

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Official Release
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Michael McDowell and the No. 34 Love’s RV Stop/Peak Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway Competition Notes

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (October 1, 2024) – Talladega Superspeedway plays host to the NASCAR Cup Series as Michael McDowell and the No. 34 team look to play Playoff spoiler this weekend.

Talladega has been a great track statistically for McDowell and Front Row Motorsports. For McDowell he has three Top-5s and four Top-10s in 27 starts, including a third-place finish in the fall of 2022 and a pole back in the spring race, leading 39 laps. For FRM, the organization has six Top-5s and 21 Top-10s, including a historic 1-2 finish with David Ragan and David Gilliand in the 2013 spring race.

The iconic Love’s colors return to the No. 34 as the Ford Mustang Dark Horse will feature Love’s RV Stop and Peak for the weekend. PEAK Performance is back to promote their exclusive line of PEAK products available at Love’s Travel Stops across the country.

The NASCAR Cup Series track activity will start Saturday, October 5th with qualifying at 1:30 pm ET on USA Network. The 500-mile race will be Sunday, October 6th at 2:00 pm ET. Fans can watch the action live on NBC or listen via the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM channel 90.

No. 34 Love’s RV Stop / Peak Ford Mustang Dark Horse:

DRIVER MICHAEL MCDOWELL:

“Front Row Motorsports has always performed well at Talladega. We know it’s a great opportunity for us to win with our very strong superspeedway program. This weekend is a big one for us and we want to take advantage of it. It’s just a matter of executing and being there on the final lap.”

CREW CHIEF TRAVIS PETERSON:

“Talladega is just a great opportunity for us. We had speed in the spring and have run well at all the superspeedways. We’re looking forward to playing playoff spoiler this weekend and getting a win.”

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 34 and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 38 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series team from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

Dylan Lupton to Drive for AM Racing for the Remainder of the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series Season

By
Official Release
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STATESVILLE, N.C.: Officials from AM Racing happily announced today that Dylan Lupton will drive the team’s No. 15 Ford Mustang for the remainder of the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, beginning with Saturday’s United Rentals 250 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

Lupton, a graduate of the NASCAR Next initiative, will also pilot the team’s Ford Mustang at the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway ROVAL, Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway, Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway, Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, and the season finale at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway on Nov. 9, 2024.

The Wilton, Calif. native is set to make his first Xfinity Series start since last June at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway, part of a two-race deal for Alpha Prime Racing. He also ran at Portland International Raceway the week prior.

To jumpstart his stock car racing career this year, Lupton returned to the ARCA Menards Series at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International in mid-September when he piloted the No. 30 Lupton Excavation | Rette Jones Racing Ford Mustang to a top-10 finish in the General Tire 100 at The Glen.

The Californian has spent most of 2024 competing in select Late-Model events on the West Coast and in a limited Trans Am Series XGT Class schedule.

“I’m excited to join AM Racing for the remainder of the 2024 season,” said Lupton. “We have been talking about the opportunity of working together since last year, and I’m happy to jump in the No. 15 Ford Mustang and get to work for the remaining six races this season.

“Without question, AM Racing has shown speed in their race cars. I’m hoping to bring some experience to the table while building consistency and producing solid race finishes that will give both of us some good momentum for the offseason.”

Lupton has 60 starts across all three of NASCAR’s national divisions, with one top-five and five top-10 finishes.

“AM Racing is proud to welcome Dylan to the family,” said AM Racing team owner Kevin Cywinski. “I’ve known Dylan for several years now, and I know his commitment to racing when he gets the opportunity to be behind the wheel.

“I believe he can take advantage of six straight races and continue to showcase his ability and deliver AM Racing some solid finishes to close out the 2024 Xfinity Series season.”

The two-time ARCA Menards Series West winner is poised to make just his second Xfinity Series start at Talladega Superspeedway but also has two prior NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts at the 2.66-mile superspeedway with a track-best finish of 12th in 2016 driving a truck for Young’s Motorsports.

For more on Dylan Lupton like him on Facebook (Lupton Racing) and follow him on Instagram (@luptondylan) and X | Twitter (@LuptonDylan).

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

The United Rentals 250 (113 laps | 250.04 miles) is the 28th of thirty-three (33) NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2024 schedule. Qualifying will occur on Saturday, October 5, 2024, beginning at 10:30 a.m. The field will take the green flag shortly after 3:00 p.m. (4:00 p.m. ET), with live coverage on the CW Network, the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (Central).

About AM Racing:

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

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

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

IMPRESSIVE GROUP OF NHRA STARS SCHEDULED FOR TEXAS FALLNATIONALS FAN FEST

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Official Release
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ENNIS, Texas (Oct. 1, 2024) — The official start of the Texas NHRA FallNationals at the historic Texas Motorplex begins on October 10 with an epic line up of NHRA competitors at the Pre-Stage Fan Fest in downtown Waxahachie, Texas, including current and former world champions in all four Mission Foods Drag Racing Series categories, as well as nearly two dozen Texas Fall Nationals professional winners.

More than 50 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series stars, including fan favorites Justin Ashley, Ron Capps, Antron Brown, Texans Steve Torrence and Erica Enders, Matt and Angie Smith are scheduled to sign autographs from 7-8:30 p.m. at this free event, which takes place for the fourth consecutive year at Railyard Park, just south of the historic Waxahachie town square. The JEGS Allstars participants will once again join the festivities allowing fans to meet and greet some of the best sportsman racers from across the country as well.

“Every year the Pre-Stage Fan Fest gets bigger and bigger,” said Christie Meyer Johnson, Texas Motorplex co-owner. “We love having so many drivers spend time with the fans before the race starts. Last year we added the JEGS Allstars participants and now we have one of the largest autograph sessions in all motorsports. This year we have added Andy Ross to the main stage to rock out for all our fans in attendance.”

Reigning 2023 Texas FallNationals champions Matt Hagan, Erica Enders and Gaige Herrera will be in attendance, as well as local drivers Buddy Hull and Kebin Kinsley. Austin residents Alexis DeJoria and 8-time world champion Tony Schumacher, along with Temple, Texas’ Terry Haddock will represent the Lone Star State.

Some of the biggest names in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will also join the Texas contingent, including 2024 NHRA championship contenders Tony Stewart, Austin Prock, Dallas Glenn, Aaron Stanfield, J.R. Todd, Shawn Langdon and Josh Hart will be on-site from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. signing autographs.

The free event, which begins with food trucks, live music and activities for the whole family, takes place from 6-9 p.m.

A complete list of drivers who are scheduled to attend:

Top Fuel
Tony Stewart 
Kebin Kinsley
Spencer Hyde 
Justin Ashley
Krista Baldwin
Antron Brown
Shawn Langdon 
Steve Torrence
Billy Torrence
Jasmine Salinas
Brittany Force
Tony Schumacher 
Ida Zetterstrom
Josh Hart 		Funny Car
Alexis DeJoria
Cruz Pedregon
Chad Green
Ron Capps
Dan Wilkerson
Buddy Hull
Matt Hagan
Dave Richards
Jack Beckman
J.R. Todd
Paul Lee
Terry Haddock
Chris King
Dale Creasy Jr.
Bobby Bode
Austin Prock
Pro Stock
Erica Enders
Greg Anderson
Dallas Glenn
Aaron Stanfield
Camrie Caruso
Jeg Coughlin
Troy Coughlin Jr.
Cristian Cuadra
Mason McGaha
Chris McGaha
Jerry Tucker
Sienna Wildgust
Fernando Cuadra Jr.
David Cuadra		Pro Stock Motorcycle
Gaige Herrera
Richard Gadson
Angie Smith
Matt Smith
Jianna Evaristo
Chris Bostick
Steve Johnson
Marc Ingwersen
Chase Van Sant
John Hall
Ryan Oehler

Top Alcohol DragsterAngelle Sampey

For more information on the Pre-Stage Fan Fest or the Stampede of Speed visit www.stampedeofspeed.com. The Texas NHRA FallNationals, the fourth race in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs, will be contested from October 9-13 at Texas Motorplex. For more information on NHRA, visit 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.

Ford Performance NASCAR – 2024 Talladega Playoff Advance

By
Official Release
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TALLADEGA 2

Friday, October 4 — NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, 4:30 p.m. ET (FS1)
Saturday, October 5 — NASCAR Xfinity Series, 4 p.m. ET (CW)
Sunday, October 6 — NASCAR Cup Series, 2 p.m. ET (NBC)

This will mark the second straight week that all three of NASCAR’s top national series will be competing in playoff races at the same track as Talladega Superspeedway hosts the NASCAR Cup, Xfinity and Truck Series on consecutive days. Friday will see the Truck Series open its Round of 8 while Saturday and Sunday is the second race in the Round of 12 for both the Xfinity and Cup Series.

FORD DRIVERS IN THE CUP PLAYOFFS

Ryan Blaney – 2nd (+28 above cut line)
Joey Logano – 8th (+4)
Chase Briscoe – 11th (-25 below cut line)
Austin Cindric – 12th (-29)
Note: Top 8 advance after Charlotte

FORD PLAYOFF DRIVERS AT TALLADEGA

Joey Logano: 31 starts, 3 wins, 9 top-10, 11 top-10
Ryan Blaney: 20 starts, 3 wins, 6 top-5, 8 top-10
Chase Briscoe: 7 starts, 0 wins, 1 top-5, 2 top-10
Austin Cindric: 5 starts, 0 wins, 1 top-5, 2 top-10

TALLADEGA PLAYOFF SUCCESS

No track has provided more playoff success for Ford than Talladega Superspeedway, which has seen 10 Blue Oval wins in the postseason. Team Penske has been at the forefront of that success with Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney each winning twice.

FORD PLAYOFF WINS AT TALLADEGA

2005 – Dale Jarrett, Robert Yates Racing

2009 – Jamie McMurray, Roush Fenway Racing

2012 – Matt Kenseth, Roush Fenway Racing

2014 – Brad Keselowski, Team Penske

2015 – Joey Logano, Team Penske

2016 – Joey Logano, Team Penske

2017 – Brad Keselowski, Team Penske

2018 – Aric Almirola, Stewart-Haas Racing

2019 – Ryan Blaney, Team Penske

2023 – Ryan Blaney, Team Penske

KESELOWSKI CLIMBING

ALL-TIME TALLADEGA WIN LIST

Brad Keselowski, who will be making his 32nd career start at Talladega Superspeedway this weekend, is the winningest active driver at the track with six NASCAR Cup Series victories. That ties him for second on the all-time list with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon and puts him four behind all-time winner Dale Earnhardt Sr., who won 10 times during his NASCAR Hall of Fame career. In 31 races, Keselowski has registered 11 top-5 and 15 top-10 finishes while completing almost 97 percent of the laps (5655-of-5835).

BLANEY GOING FOR FOURTH WIN

AT TALLADEGA

Ryan Blaney heads into this weekend with 12 career NASCAR Cup Series wins and three of those have come at Talladega Superspeedway (2019, 2020 and 2023). Blaney advanced to the Round of 8 with his photo finish victory over Ryan Newman in 2019 after the race had to be completed on Monday due to rain forcing a postponement following the first stage one day earlier. The race came down to a final inch as Newman got past Blaney for the lead coming off turn three, only to see the Team Penske driver battle back on the inside and nip him by a bumper at the stripe. The script was much the same in 2020 as rain forced the race to Monday with Blaney this time beating Ricky Stenhouse Jr. by inches in an overtime finish. Last year, Blaney outdueled Kevin Harvick in a door-to-door battle for the entire final lap to win in a photo finish and once again advance to the Round of 8.

ROBERT YATES RACING’S FINAL WIN

When Dale Jarrett won the UAW-Ford 500 on Oct. 2, 2005 it ended up being the final trip to victory lane for Robert Yates Racing. This race came down to a green-white-checker restart, where Jarrett was positioned fourth. He was still in that spot when they came around to start the final lap, but quickly moved to the outside as Tony Stewart grabbed the lead on the inside lane. The two drivers battled side-by-side down the backstretch before Jarrett powered his way in front. Seconds after getting the lead, Kyle Petty was involved in a single-car accident that brought out the caution as the cars entered turn three. Jarrett was declared the winner after NASCAR verified that he was in front at the time the yellow flag was thrown. The win was RYR’s 57th triumph in the NASCAR Cup Series, and came six years after the team won its only championship with Jarrett in 1999.

MARTIN LEFT HIS MARK

Mark Martin is the only Ford driver to have won in all three of the major series offered by NASCAR at Talladega. Martin won the Cup series race in 1995 and 1997, Xfinity in 1996 and lastly in the Truck series’ debut 2006 event. Martin went a lap down in that NCTS victory after only 10 laps when his engine began to overheat due to debris getting stuck on the grille of his F-150. Once that was removed, Martin was able to get back on the lead lap and team up with Mike Wallace to work his way to the front. He passed Ted Musgrave with four laps to go and was still leading when a multi-truck accident occurred on the final lap to end the race and allow Martin to complete his Talladega series sweep.

CUSTER ON TOP OF PLAYOFF STANDINGS

Defending NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Cole Custer finds himself on top of the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff standings after the first race in the Round of 12. Custer, who finished second last weekend at Kansas Speedway, has a 41-point advantage over the cut line going into Saturday’s scheduled race at Talladega Superspeedway. Custer has five career NXS starts at Talladega and has most recently posted finishes of fourth and 10th in his last two events.

Riley Herbst is eighth in the standings and is one point above the cut line with two races remaining in the round. Herbst has made eight series starts at Talladega and has two top-five and three top-10 finishes with his best effort coming earlier this year when he finished second in April.

MAJESKI MOVING ON

The first race in the Round of 8 for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is scheduled to take place on Friday afternoon at Talladega Superspeedway with Ty Majeski being the sole Ford driver remaining the championship hunt. Majeski, who has a pair of wins this season, starts the round in third place and is 14 points above the cut line. The Round of 8 will conclude with races at Homestead-Miami Speedway (Oct. 26) and Martinsville Speedway (Nov. 1) with the top four drivers advancing to the championship race at Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 8.

RIGGS CONTINUES ROLL

If Layne Riggs was in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoffs, he would undoubtedly be a championship contender because of the streak he’s been on the past two months. Riggs and his No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford F-150 won back-to-back races at the Milwaukee Mile and Bristol Motor Speedway before finishing second last weekend in Kansas. He goes into Friday’s race at Talladega Superspeedway with a streak of five consecutive top-five finishes.

FORD’S NASCAR CUP SERIES WINNERS

AT TALLADEGA

1975 – Buddy Baker (Sweep)

1976 – Buddy Baker (1)

1979 – Bobby Allison (1)

1983 – Dale Earnhardt (2)

1985 – Bill Elliott and Cale Yarborough

1987 – Dave Allison and Bill Elliott

1989 – Davey Allison and Terry Labonte

1992 – Davey Allison (1)

1994 – Jimmy Spencer (2)

1995 – Mark Martin (1)

1997 – Mark Martin (1)

1998 – Dale Jarrett (2)

2005 – Dale Jarrett (2)

2009 – Jamie McMurray (2)

2012 – Matt Kenseth (2)

2013 – David Ragan (1)

2014 – Brad Keselowski (2)

2015 – Joey Logano (2)

2016 – Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano

2017 – Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Brad Keselowski

2018 – Joey Logano and Aric Almirola

2019 – Ryan Blaney (2)

2020 – Ryan Blaney (1)

2021 – Brad Keselowski (1)

2023 – Ryan Blaney (2)

FORD’S NASCAR XFINITY SERIES WINNERS

AT TALLADEGA

1995 – Chad Little

1997 – Mark Martin

2002 – Jason Keller

2009 – David Ragan

2015 – Joey Logano

2017 – Aric Almirola

FORD’S NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES WINNERS AT TALLADEGA

2006 – Mark Martin

2023 – Brett Moffitt

Niece Motorsports Promotes Kaden Honeycutt to Full-Time NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Ride in 2025

By
Official Release
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Honeycutt to drive the team’s No. 45 Chevrolet Silverado RST full-time starting next year.

Salisbury, NC (October 1, 2024) – Today, Niece Motorsports officials announced Kaden Honeycutt as the second addition to its full-time driver lineup for the 2025 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series season.

Honeycutt, at 21 years-of-age, has competed in a part-time schedule behind the wheel of the No. 45 Chevrolet this season, notching five top-10 results in 10 starts. He produced standout showings at Kansas Speedway, where he finished fourth in both races, and Charlotte Motor Speedway, where he was in contention for the race win before pit road issues relegated him to seventh.

The driver, who hails from Aledo, Texas, first joined Niece Motorsports for a one-race deal at Pocono Raceway in 2023. His journey included driving part-time for four different team owners before aligning with fellow Texan, Al Niece. Niece saw Honeycutt’s potential and quickly signed him on for a majority role as the anchor driver for the No. 45 team this year.

Kaden’s results were instrumental to qualifying the No. 45 team into the Owner’s Playoffs this season, but he looks forward to his biggest opportunity with the full-time effort in 2025.

“I can’t even begin to tell you how much this opportunity means to me,” said Honeycutt. “Before I got connected with Al (Niece) and Cody (Efaw), last year, I thought my career was over. Both of them took a big chance on me leading into this year and it’s kept me hungry to make them proud. My group of guys on the No. 45 team have become brothers to me, and we’ve been able to share such a good relationship.”

“We’ve had some good runs this year, and I know what our team is capable of,” he continued. “Heading into 2025, I really think we’ll have a great shot at competing at a high level on a weekly basis. I can’t say thank you enough to Al, Cody, and everyone at Chevrolet for this. It’s going to be a great year together.”

Though he hasn’t been in the truck at every race this year, Honeycutt’s schedule was bolstered with a full-time championship bid in the CARS Tour Pro Late Model Series. Along with that, he’s made a healthy amount of CARS Tour Late Model Stock and Hunt the Front Dirt Late Model Series starts, and even competes virtually in the eNASCAR iRacing Coca-Cola Series. He was also tabbed to run in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Dover Motor Speedway.

Honeycutt’s versatility to hop behind the wheel and contend in the various disciplines put him on Al Niece’s radar as a top prospect, leading to his promotion.

“Kaden has shown so much potential behind the wheel this season and we are thrilled to have him on board full-time with us,” said Niece. “With Kaden’s talent and our team’s hard work, we expect to be contenting for wins and championships next year. He’s a true racer, and I think that he has the tools to make a great career in the sport. I’m looking forward to see what he’ll be able to accomplish.”

The addition of Honeycutt marks the second domino to fall into place for Niece Motorsports’ 2025 season plans. Last week, the team announced a one-year contract extension for Matt Mills to remain as the driver of its No. 42 entry. Mills will have longtime partners, J.F. Electric and Utilitra on board as his primary sponsors for all 25 races next year.

Additional team announcements, including the remainder of the driver lineup, partnerships, and personnel will be released as the season progresses. Visit niecemotorsports.com for all the latest news.

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

Boyd’s Sponsor, Tibbetts Lumber, Helping Helene Victims Ahead of Talladega Race

By
Official Release
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Mooresville, NC (October 1, 2024) – NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Driver, Spencer Boyd and his partner, Tibbetts Lumber Co. will be together again on another Superspeedway when the Series heads to Talladega, AL this weekend. The race comes in the aftermath of hurricane Helene ravaging much of the Southeast including Tibbetts’ service area of Florida where they are helping victims recover.

“What Tibbetts is doing in their communities is what every company should aspire to do and I’m honored to be partnered with them,” beamed Spencer Boyd.

Tibbetts’ Englewood location south of Tampa is a great example of how the company’s values of family and community shine through in tough times. Six employees were first on the scene even before FEMA, First Responders, or anyone else to help where they could. Met with hugs from countless people, the team assisted people that where stuck in their homes, floors that had fell in on some homes, and helped people pick up what was left of their life.

Russ Hallenbeck, CEO of Tibbetts Lumber commented, “Our company is a people company. Without our people we wouldn’t be where we are today. I am proud to work with folks that genuinely want to go out and help without any other motive but to be there for our neighbors.”

The humanitarian effort comes right before the company’s sponsorship of Boyd during The YellaWood 500 weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. Tibbetts Lumber was the primary sponsor of Spencer Boyd and Freedom Racing Enterprises first ever race at Daytona International Speedway earlier this year.

Boyd commented on the upcoming race, “I love plate racing! We finished 5th in this truck at Daytona and had some time to tune on it through the season so we’re excited to get to the track where I scored my first win. To have Tibbetts (Lumber Co.) on board for this race means a lot and I certainly want to help highlight what kind of people they are.”

The Love’s RV Stop 225 is the only stop for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Talladega Superspeedway. The race is on Friday, October 4, 2024 at 3:30pm CT and can be seen live on FS1.

CORVETTE RACING AT INDIANAPOLIS: Time for the Title Tilt!

By
Official Release
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DXDT Racing, Corvette Z06 GT3.R on eight-race win streak heading to SRO finale

DETROIT (October 1, 2024) – DXDT Racing and the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R are on the verge of making history at the final race of the year for GT World Challenge America. The first-year effort between DXDT Racing and Corvette will try for its ninth consecutive race win in the series and in the process claim the Pro-class championship in Saturday’s Indianapolis Eight Hours.

A pair of the DXDT-liveried Corvette GT3s are part of the 25-car field for the season’s lone endurance race, which also doubles as a round of SRO Motorsports’ Intercontinental GT Challenge. The event is a true race-within-a-race with the regular GT World Challenge America field joined by a number of IGTC entries for a grid of 25 cars.

The GTWCA portion of the Eight Hours will pay double-points, which will be critical for DXDT Racing’s duo of Corvette factory driver Tommy Milner and Alec Udell. With class victories in all eight of their races this year, Milner and Udell can take the Pro-class Drivers and Teams championships with a ninth win in the No. 63 Corvette Z06 GT3.R alongside endurance teammate Alexander Sims, also a Corvette works driver.

In the Pro-Am class, Bryan Sellers will drive with new teammates Patrick Liddy and Blake McDonald in the No. 64 Corvette, which is a two-time winner in the class this year. The Pro-Am class is the race’s most populated with 16 entries.

The Indianapolis Eight Hours will be the second long-distance race for the Corvette GT3 in three weeks. Three Z06 GT3.Rs contested a six-hour IMSA enduro on September 22. Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports placed third in the GTD PRO class, and AWA was sixth in GTD. Each team also had the fastest race lap in their respective classes.

There will be a number of findings that Corvette GT3 customer support engineers can apply this weekend based on lessons taken from the IMSA round. Despite a difference in tire suppliers between the two series, suspension and other points in chassis setup – with validations from Chevrolet’s Driver in the Loop simulator – should provide a solid baseline for DXDT’s opening sessions of the weekend.

DXDT Racing will take the green flag for the Indianapolis Eight Hours at 12:15 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 5. Live coverage of both races plus timing & scoring will be available at gt-world-challenge-america.com and SRO’s GT World YouTube channel.

DXDT RACING CORVETTE PRE-EVENT QUOTES

TOMMY MILNER, NO. 63 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “It’s pretty unbelievable that we are one more good result away from winning the Pro championship. I’ve been in racing long enough now to know that you can easily have highs and lows in a certain span of time. When things are good, you try to take advantage of them as long as you can because there is no guarantee that it will continue on. So for that reason, and others, the Indianapolis Eight Hours will be a fun event. There’s more competition coming from some really stacked manufacturers and teams just for this one. All of the things that we worked on and prepared for the previous sprint races should hopefully have us prepared for this final race. We know the team is good, my teammates are obviously proven and we know we have a great Corvette. Now we just need to execute and put ourselves in a good position like we have in these last eight races.”

ALEC UDELL, NO. 63 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “I am super-excited for Indy, and even that is an understatement. We’ve shown the strengths of the car in a sprint format. We’ve had quite a bit of success, and a lot of that is down to great execution and great preparation from all sides of this team. For me, it’s awesome to have every opportunity that I can to get in the car, learn from Tommy and Alexander, learn from the engineers and soak up everything I can about the Z06 GT3.R platform. Eight hours… yeah, I’m super-excited definitely and really jump in with a chance to win an endurance round. I don’t see any reason why we couldn’t compete for an overall podium. Other manufacturers will come with their IGTC top guns that have been running for the full season. Let’s see how we fare on American soil with American power!”

ALEXANDER SIMS, NO. 63 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “It will be cool to slot into a new environment with DXDT Racing. I know some of the team members, which is nice, and obviously I know Tommy very well. The run they have had is just phenomenal. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of that happening – eight wins in a row – in any sports car championship. It piles on the pressure for me joining! In all seriousness, this team and Corvette obviously have the capabilities to score a top result. The first priority in any endurance race is to make the finish with the cleanest car and be in the fight in case there are any safety cars or anything like that. The pace has been phenomenal, and hopefully we can continue that and deliver a race win and championship.”

024 GT World Challenge America Championship Points

Manufacturers Standings

  1. Porsche – 221
  2. Chevrolet – 203
  3. BMW – 184
  4. Mercedes-AMG – 170
  5. Acura – 142

Pro Drivers Standings

  1. Adam Adelson/Elliott Skeer – 207
  2. Tommy Milner/Alec Udell – 200
  3. Varun Choksey/Bill Auberlen – 170
  4. Luca Mars/Zach Veach – 156
  5. Spencer Pumpelly/Trent Hindman – 83

Pro Teams Standings

  1. Wright Motorsports – 207
  2. DXDT Racing – 200
  3. ST Racing – 170
  4. Racers Edge Motorsports – 156
  5. RS1 – 83

Pro-Am Drivers Standings

  1. Samantha Tan/Neil Verhagen – 211
  2. Justin Rothberg/Robby Foley – 178
  3. Philip Ellis/Jeff Burton – 151
  4. Bryan Sellers – 132
  5. Kyle Washington/Tom Sargent – 112

Pro-Am Teams Standings

  1. ST Racing – 211
  2. Turner Motorsport – 180
  3. DXDT Racing – 132
  4. Regulator Racing – 131
  5. GMG Racing – 114

About Chevrolet

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

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