COREY HEIM DRIVES THROUGH THE FIELD TO SWEEP RACES AT KANSAS IN 2024 Heim, Taylor Gray advance to Round of 8 Playoffs
KANSAS CITY (September 27, 2024) – Corey Heim won his sixth race of the season in Friday night’s NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) race at Kansas Speedway. Heim drove through the field to earn the victory after a tire issue in practice resulted in the No. 11 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro not participating in Friday’s qualifying session. He led 64 laps (of 134) en route to victory lane after also winning the NCTS race at Kansas in May.
Heim advances to the Round of 8 in the NCTS Playoffs and is joined by TRICON Garage teammate Taylor Gray, who also clinched his spot in the next round of the postseason with an 18th-place finish at the mile-and-a-half oval. Tanner Gray also earned a sixth-place finish on Friday night for Toyota.
The NCTS returns to action next Friday, October 4 at Talladega Superspeedway.
Toyota Racing Post-Race Recap NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Kansas Speedway Race 18 of 23 – 201 Laps, 134 Miles
TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, COREY HEIM 2nd, Layne Riggs* 3rd, Christian Eckes* 4th, Kaden Honeycutt* 5th, Dawson Sutton* 6th, TANNER GRAY 13th, DEAN THOMPSON 18th, TAYLOR GRAY 20th, BRENDEN QUEEN 23rd, TIMMY HILL 24th, STEWART FRIESEN *non-Toyota driver
What was the first thought you had when you saw Ty Majeski fall to the apron?
“Just a deep sigh of relief. We were in the best truck all night. Just a huge thank you to my TRICON Garage guys. This is my favorite track. I love coming here. I look forward to this. I’ve had a huge smile on my face all week coming to this place. Just glad we could sweep the year here. It’s such an awesome place to come. Like I said, huge thank you to TRICON Garage, Safelite, Toyota Racing. Certainly, thought I had it lost there with the 98 (Ty Majeski) almost making it on fuel. It just shows my team made the right call.”
When did you know you had this win?
“Just from the very beginning. Honestly, at the beginning of the week knowing we were going to Kansas Speedway, my favorite place, our best track, I knew we had a good shot from the get go. Obviously, we had a tough issue in practice with the right front tire. My guys scrapped all day to get this thing back in shape and were able to come from the back. I think we finished third in the first stage which was just unreal just being able to pass 30 cars that fast. So thankful for Safelite, Toyota Racing, TRICON Garage. This was such an unbelievable truck.”
What was it like trying to chase down Ty Majeski knowing he was saving fuel?
“It certainly kept me honest. He did such a good job at making it almost to the end there. If he was one lap shorter, he would’ve made it.”
How good is this team as we look ahead at the next round of the Playoff races?
“I think to begin the season, we’ve had our strengths and we’ve had our weaknesses, but we’ve really been able to level that out in the last couple months. Coming here, we knew we would be good but just going to some short tracks and stuff we’ve made a lot of progress. I’m looking forward to showcasing them this next round.”
“I thought to fire off we were a little bit tight, but overall we were good. We made decent ground on that first start and got to eighth or so and then had a good pit stop and restarted seventh. We were probably a little bit too free on the second stage, but still had decent speed. We had another really good stop to start the third stage that put us a little closer to the front and struggled a little bit on those restarts just getting going so we lost a little track position and put ourselves behind. Just proud of everybody at TRICON Garage for bringing fast trucks. It’s cool to see Corey (Heim) win and to have another one run well. I’m proud of all of these guys and everyone back at the shop that builds our trucks.
TAYLOR GRAY, No. 17 A Place of Hope Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, TRICON Garage
Finishing Position: 18th
What does it mean to be advancing to the Round of 8?
“I can’t thank all of my guys enough. Jeff Hensley (crew chief) on the box for bringing me a fast A Place of Hope Tundra TRD Pro. Obviously, had a really fast truck. Had a good stage one and stage two, starting so far in the back and able to make up a lot of ground there. Unfortunately, I’m having some issues with the right front under pit stops. We left pit road for the start of stage three and I had a right front rub and I had to come back down and clear it and just got back in the pack and just got wrecked. Overall, good to move on to the Round of 8 and just start over.”
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs more than 63,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 47 million cars and trucks at our 12 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 13th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 29 electrified options.
Ford Performance Notes and Quotes NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Kubota Tractor 200 | Kansas Speedway Friday, September 27, 2024
UNOFFICIAL FORD FINISHING ORDER:
2nd – Layne Riggs 15th – Ty Majeski 21st – Jake Garcia 22nd – Ben Rhodes 25th – Matt Crafton 29th – Frankie Muniz 30th – Lawless Alan
LAYNE RIGGS, No. 38 Infinity Communications Group Ford F-150 (Finished 2nd)
“It feels amazing and shows the testament to this team and how much speed we have. I feel like our mile-and-a-half program was definitely the weakest link or everything we have going on right now. Everybody really progressed over the past year. The 38 truck just kind of stayed in its middle range, but to come out here with this new truck which we did a lot of R&D to get better with, and run that well I am super happy with it all. I just wanted a good solid finish today. Everybody wants to win but I just wanted to walk out of here with a good solid finish. To finish P2 at a mile-and-a-half track when I have only had like five or six mile-and-a-half starts ever, I learned a lot tonight. I think racing up front with those guys that have a lot of experience and can throw blocks and race for the lead, that really helps me a lot and helps me be a better race car driver. Running 25th to 30th all day you don’t really learn anything. It is the first time I feel like I have run with the good guys at this kind of track and learn something from them. This is the happiest I have ever been finishing second before because I feel like I we gave it all we have and that is all that matters.”
TY MAJESKI, No. 98 Soda Sense/Curb Records Ford F-150 (Finished 15th)
“Obviously we were trying to max save fuel but also manage the gap to the 11. I felt like I saved as much as I could and still put myself in position to win. The math just didn’t add up tonight. We had a good Ford F-150. I don’t regret the call because that was our only shot to win and there were only three laps that mattered to us tonight, the end of Stage 1 for a playoff point, the end of Stage 2 for a playoff point and the end of the race for five. We just went for the win and it didn’t pan out tonight.”
BEN RHODES, No. 99 Kubota Ford F-150 – (Finished 22nd | Eliminated from Playoffs)
“I was trying to stay in traffic to save as much fuel as I could and also manage the tires but ultimately where I was running it was too little too late. When we fired off something was wrong with the truck to start the race. We made massive adjustments and it didn’t seem like anything was fixing it. I think somehow our bar load got away from us. We have to go back and see what happened there. All in all, I hate it for Kubota and all of our partners and everyone at ThorSport Racing who work really hard. I wanted to give them a championship run. It comes and goes like that. We have had three really good seasons in the past with a first, second and first. I wish we had a better season all around. When you don’t have the finishes and the running positions to get the stage points, it leads to this.”
There’s a push for ideas and improvements in the world of cars and vehicles. Whether it’s about going staying safe or being more environmentally friendly, car makers are always looking for ways to make their products better. One of the recent changes is the use of high-quality composites. These modern materials are changing how cars are made, making them quicker and more effective and helping the environment. So, how exactly do these composites change how car parts are made, and why should you be interested?
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Sustainability in Focus
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A Shift in the Industry
High-grade composites are now commonly utilized in motorsports and high-end automobiles; however, there is a trend toward adoption in the automotive industry. Due to their advantages, major car manufacturers are starting to incorporate these materials into their manufacturing processes. With technological advancements continuously improving, we anticipate that composites will become increasingly prevalent and crucial in the construction of vehicle models.
High-quality composites are proving to be a game-changer in the quest for faster, more efficient, and sustainable vehicles. Whether boosting speed, enhancing fuel efficiency, or contributing to a greener future, these materials are reshaping the automotive industry. Companies worldwide are leading the way in innovating and producing advanced composites that not only improve vehicle performance but also help reduce environmental impact. As the industry continues to evolve, composites Australia will play an increasingly pivotal role in building future cars.
Corey Heim capped off a roller coaster event that started with starting at the rear of the field to quickly carve his way to the front, dominating and playing a late fuel-mileage battle to perfection on the final lap to win the Kubota Tractor 200 at Kansas Speedway on Friday, September 27.
The 22-year-old Heim from Marietta, Georgia, led three times for a race-high 64 of 134 scheduled laps in an event where he started at the rear of the 34-truck field due to hitting the wall when a part of his suspension rubbed against his right-side tire while trying to post a qualifying lap, which resulted with his No. 11 TRICON Garage Toyota team opting to repair the truck and the driver not posting a qualifying lap.
Once he took the green flag from the rear of the field, Heim quickly rocketed his way to a third-place result after the first stage period that spanned 30 laps. He would then muscle the lead away from Playoff rival Christian Eckes at the start of the second stage period and proceed to claim the stage victory. Heim would dominate the final stage period before pitting from the lead with less than 30 laps remaining as part of a late cycle of green flag pit stops.
Then as he cycled his way back to the front in the closing laps, Heim zipped by Playoff contender Ty Majeski, who ran out of fuel on the final lap after he was trying to stretch his fuel tank to the event’s scheduled distance and proceeded to cruise to his sixth NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory of the 2024 season. As a result of his victory, Heim and seven additional Playoff contenders officially transferred from the Playoff’s Round of 10 to 8 while two contenders, including the reigning series champion Ben Rhodes, were eliminated from title contention.
On-track qualifying determined the starting lineup on Friday. Playoff contender Ty Majeski secured his fifth Truck Series pole position of the 2024 season with a pole-winning lap at 175.023 mph in 30.853 seconds. Joining him on the front row was Connor Mosack, who posted his best qualifying lap at 174.565 mph in 30.934 seconds.
Before the event, Playoff contender Corey Heim dropped to the rear of the field due to unapproved adjustments made to his TRICON Garage Toyota entry.
When the green flag waved and the race started, Ty Majeski received a push from Playoff contender Christian Eckes from the inside lane to muscle ahead of Connor Mosack through the first two turns and the backstretch. As the field behind fanned out to multiple lanes, Eckes issued an early side-by-side challenge with Majeski for the lead through Turns 3 and 4, where he would lead the first lap by a narrow margin from the outside lane.
Over the next three laps, Eckes and Majeski dueled fiercely for the lead through every corner and straightaway while Connor Mosack followed closely in third place. Amid the early battle for the lead, early trouble struck for Playoff contenders Rajah Caruth and Daniel Dye, both of whom hit the outside wall on separate occasions, with Caruth hitting the wall entering the backstretch on the second lap as Dye scraped the wall entering the frontstretch on the third lap. Amid the scrapes, both kept their trucks running straight and proceeding without drawing a caution.
By the fifth lap, Eckes managed to muscle ahead of Majeski to have both lanes under his control with the top spot. As Conor Daly served a pass-through penalty through pit road for diving his No. 44 Polkadot Chevrolet Silverado RST below the frontstretch’s white lines before taking the green flag, Playoff contender Taylor Gray bounced off the frontstretch’s outside wall and got loose off the front nose of Dawson Sutton while just behind, rookie Layne Riggs nearly spun sideways after he almost brushed the wall. Miraculously, both continued to race straight.
Through the first 10-scheduled laps, Majeski, who reassumed the lead from Eckes two laps earlier, was leading by over Eckes as Playoff contender Nick Sanchez, Stewart Friesen and Mosack were in the top five. Behind, Kaden Honeycutt, Playoff contender Ben Rhodes, Playoff contender Taylor Gray, Dawson Sutton and Layne Riggs were in the top 10 while Tanner Gray, Corey Heim, Jake Garcia, Matt Mills and Daniel Dye were mired in the top 15. With seven of 10 Playoff contenders racing in the top-15 mark, the remaining Playoff contenders including Tyler Ankrum, Grant Enfinger and Rajah Caruth were mired in 18th, 21st and 22nd, respectively.
Shortly after, Daniel Dye, who hit the outside wall for a second time, pitted his No. 43 NAPA Nightvision Chevrolet Silverado RST under green and lost a lap in the process. By then, Majeski had stretched his advantage to two seconds over Eckes as Sanchez, Friesen and Honeycutt followed suit in the top five.
At the Lap 20 mark, Majeski stabilized his advantage to more than two seconds over Sanchez while Eckes dropped to third place. Behind, Honeycutt and Taylor Gray followed suit in the top five while Friesen, Riggs, Heim, Tanner Gray and Mosack were running in the top 10. Meanwhile, Rhodes was mired in 14th, Ankrum was scored in 18th, Enfinger and Caruth were mired back in 20th and 21st, respectively, and Dye was mired in 33rd as he would pit for a second time to address a flat right-front tire, which cost him two more laps in the process.
When the first stage period concluded on Lap 30, Majeski, who came into Kansas 58 points above the top-eight cutline in the Playoff standings, captured his sixth Truck stage victory of the 2024 season. With the 10 stage points, Majeski officially clinched his spot into the Playoff’s Round of 8. Eckes followed suit in second along with Heim, who thundered his way from the rear of the field, while Honeycutt, Riggs, Sanchez, Taylor Gray, Tanner Gray, Friesen and Mosack were scored in the top 10. By then, the remaining Playoff contenders that included Caruth, Rhodes, Ankrum, Enfinger and Dye were scored in 16th, 17th, 18th, 21st and 34th, respectively, with the latter three laps down.
Under the stage break, nearly the entire lead lap field led by Majeski pitted for a first round of service while Timmy Hill remained on the track. Following the pit stops, Eckes exited pit road first followed by Heim, Majeski, Sanchez and Riggs. With Hill eventually pitting under the caution period, Eckes cycled back to the lead.
The second stage period started on Lap 37 as Eckes and Heim occupied the front row. At the start, Eckes, who gained a strong start from the inside lane, quickly darted his No. 19 Gates Hydraulics Chevrolet Silverado RST to the outside lane to move in front of Heim. Eckes’ move enabled Majeski to try to gain a run from the inside lane as the field fanned out through the first two turns and the backstretch. With Eckes proceeding to lead the following lap, Majeski and Heim dueled for the runner-up spot while Riggs and Sanchez battled for fourth place in front of Taylor Gray and Kaden Honeycutt. As a series of on-track battles towards the front continued, Eckes led by two-tenths over Heim, with Majeski, Riggs and Sanchez in the top five by Lap 40.
By Lap 45, Heim dueled with Eckes for the lead amid a crossover moves through the frontstretch, where he led a lap for himself for the first time from the inside lane and he would muscle ahead by three-tenths of a second over the following lap. Behind, Riggs trailed in third place by eight-tenths of a second followed by a trio of Playoff contenders that included Majeski, Sanchez and Taylor Gray. With Caruth scored in 11th place behind non-Playoff contenders Tanner Gray, Honeycutt, Bayley Currey and Friesen, Enfinger was in 14th place, Ankrum was scored in 19th place and Rhodes was in 21st place. Meanwhile, Dye was scored two laps down in 31st place.
Five laps later, Heim stretched his advantage to eight-tenths of a second over Riggs, who overtook Eckes for the spot, while Majeski, Taylor Gray and Sanchez continued to follow suit in the top six.
When the second stage period concluded on Lap 60, Heim, who had already secured his spot into the Round of 8 by points, notched his eighth Truck stage victory of the 2024 season. Riggs followed suit in second place as he trailed by three-and-a-half seconds while Eckes, Majeski, Taylor Gray, Sanchez, Tanner Gray, Honeycutt, Currey and Caruth were scored in the top 10. The remaining Playoff contenders included Enfinger, Ankrum, Rhodes and Dye were mired in 15th, 16th, 21st and 31st, respectively.
During the stage break, the lead lap field led by Heim returned to pit road for another round of service. Following the pit stops, Heim exited pit road first as he was followed by Riggs and Eckes. Amid the pit stops, Brenden “Butterbean” Queen and Ankrum were both penalized for an uncontrolled tire violation while Dawson Sutton was penalized for being too fast while exiting pit road. Not long after, Taylor Gray, who had a slow pit service, returned to pit road due to an issue with his right front tire.
With 66 laps remaining, the final stage period commenced as Heim and Riggs occupied the front row. At the start, Heim and Riggs dueled for the lead through the first two turns until Heim muscled ahead from the inside lane. As the field fanned out to multiple lanes while Eckes challenged Riggs for the runner-up spot, Heim rocketed away with the top spot as he led the following lap.
Not long after, Eckes, who was fiercely battling Riggs for the runner-up spot, got loose and caused Riggs to step off the gas as he dropped to fifth place. With Eckes retaining second, Sanchez and Tanner Gray followed suit in third and fourth, respectively. Amid the fierce battle for the runner-up spot, Heim was leading by four-tenths of a second with 60 laps remaining.
A few laps later, the caution returned when Matt Mills, who was battling Taylor Gray and Corey Day for a spot in the top 15, veered dead right into Day as Day made contact against the side of Gray’s No. 17 Place of Hope Toyota Tundra TRD Pro before he hit the Turn 3 outside wall head-on as Mills also slipped and wrecked against the wall. During the caution period, select names including Playoff contenders Majeski, Taylor Gray, and Rhodes pitted while the rest led by Heim remained on the track. Soon after, Rhodes pitted for a second time for fuel that would enable him to reach the event’s scheduled distance on his full tank.
With the race restarting under green with 51 laps remaining, Heim and Eckes battled dead even for the lead in front of two stacked lanes from the first two turns through the backstretch as both Riggs and Sanchez tried to join the battle. Heim would then manage to muscle ahead of Eckes for the lead through Turns 3 and 4 and back to the frontstretch for the following lap. Riggs, who was battling Sanchez for third place during the previous lap, would then overtake Eckes for the runner-up spot a few laps later as he commenced his charge on Heim for the lead while Currey, Sanchez, Chase Purdy and Caruth battled for fourth place.
With nearly 45 laps remaining, the top five competitors were separated by a second as Riggs, who was trying to use every lane to gain ground on Heim through every turn and straightaway, only trailed Heim by a tenth of a second. Behind, Eckes retained third place ahead of Currey and Purdy as Sanchez, Caruth, Mosack, Majeski and Tanner Gray were racing in the top 10. Not long after, Matt Crafton was penalized for a restart violation. Then while trying to serve a pass-through penalty through pit road, Crafton was penalized a second time, this time for missing the commitment line to enter pit road.
As the event was down to its final 40 laps, Heim retained the lead by a tenth of a second over Riggs while third-place Eckes and fourth-place Currey trailed by two seconds. Purdy retained fifth as he trailed the lead by three seconds while Sanchez, Caruth, Majeski, Tanner Gray and Mosack continued to race in the top 10. By then, Playoff contenders Enfinger, Ankrum, Rhodes, Taylor Gray and Dye were mired in 12th, 13th, 17th, 19th and 27th, with the latter pinned two laps behind.
Then 10 laps later and with Heim slightly stretching his advantage to eight-tenths of a second, a late cycle of green flag pit stops and strategies ensued as Riggs and Enfinger peeled off the track to pit their respective entries. By then, Tanner Gray and Sanchez had pitted under green before Currey and Bret Holmes pitted during the following lap. Mosack, Ankrum and Dean Thompson would pit during the next lap before the leader Heim pitted with 27 laps remaining. More names including Caruth, Eckes, Purdy and Caruth would all pit with 25 laps remaining as Majeski cycled into the lead.
Down to the final 20 laps of the event, Majeski, who opted to remain on the track to stretch his fuel tank and worn tires as far as possible, was leading by seven-and-a-half seconds over runner-up Honeycutt and by eight seconds over third-place Sutton while Rhodes, who commenced his fuel stretch to the event’s scheduled distance and to race his way into the Playoff’s Round of 8, was scored in fourth place. Behind, Heim navigated his way up to seventh place behind teammate Taylor Gray while Enfinger was mired in 17th place behind Caruth.
Five laps later, Majeski continued to lead by nine seconds over Honeycutt while third-place Sutton trailed by 10 seconds. As Rhodes, who was locked in a heated duel with Enfinger for the final transfer spot into the Round of 8, retained fourth place and trailed the lead by 11 seconds, Heim was up to fifth place and trailing the lead by 16 seconds while Friesen, who opted to remain on the track to try to stretch his fuel tank to the distance, dropped to sixth place as he was in front of Riggs.
With 10 laps remaining, Majeski retained the lead by 10 seconds over Honeycutt as Heim boosted his way up to third place. With Sutton following suit in fourth place, Rhodes dropped to fifth place, which left him in jeopardy of not advancing to the Round of 8, as Enfinger, who boosted himself back above the cutline, was up to 13th place on the track and trying to overtake Currey for more.
Down to the final five laps of the event, Majeski, whose lap time continued to decrease while he was on fuel-conservation mode, was ahead by six seconds over a hard-charging Heim while Honeycutt, Riggs and Rhodes were scored in the top five. By then, Eckes and Caruth were in seventh and ninth, respectively, while Enfinger was up to 11th as Sanchez, Taylor Gray, Ankrum and Dye were mired in 15th, 17th, 19th and 27th, respectively.
When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Majeski, who led by three seconds during the previous lap, remained as the leader by more than a second over Heim, but he dropped his No. 98 Soda Sense Ford F-150 below the frontstretch’s apron as he ran out of fuel. By then, both Friesen and Rhodes also ran out of fuel and lost pace with the field as Heim rocketed past Majeski entering Turn 1. Having enough fuel in his fuel tank, Heim smoothly navigated his No. 11 Safelite Toyota Tundra TRD Pro around the Kansas circuit for a final time before he returned to the frontstretch victorious as he claimed the checkered flag.
With the victory, Heim, who had already secured his spot into the Playoff’s Round of 8 by points, claimed his 11th career win in the Craftsman Truck Series division, his sixth of the season and his second at Kansas after he won the spring Kansas event in May. Heim also became the first competitor to sweep both Truck Kansas events in a single season as he continues his quest to return to the Championship 4 and contend for this year’s Truck Series championship.
Photo by Ron Olds for SpeedwayMedia.com.
“[I had] Just a deep sigh of relief [when Majeski ran out of fuel],” Heim said on the frontstretch on FS1. “We were the best truck all night. Just huge thank you to my TRICON Garage guys. This is my favorite track. I love coming here. I had a smile on my face all week coming to this place. Just glad we could sweep the year here. It’s just such an awesome place to come. [I] Certainly thought we had [the race] lost there with [Majeski] almost making it on fuel, but it just shows my team made the right [pit] call.”
Behind Heim, rookie Layne Riggs, who was bidding for a third consecutive Truck Series race victory, came home in second place as Christian Eckes, Kaden Honeycutt and Dawson Cram finished in the top five. Ty Majeski, who led 51 laps from pole position, coasted across the finish line in 15th place, the final competitor on the lead lap, after he ended up a single lap shy of having enough fuel to win.
Meanwhile, Grant Enfinger steered his No. 9 Champion Power Equipment Chevrolet Silverado RST to a ninth-place result, which was enough for him to claim the eighth and final transfer spot into the Round of 8. He will join Corey Heim, Christian Eckes, Ty Majeski, Nick Sanchez, Rajah Caruth, Tyler Ankrum and Taylor Gray as eight Playoff contenders transferring into the second round of the Playoffs.
“[Tonight was] Definitely a little bit stressful. Definitely too close for comfort,” Enfinger said. “[Crew chief] Jeff Stankiewicz and all these guys at CR7 Motorsports have done a great job all year, but this is a round we want to forget. We snuck through here and now, we’re looking forward to going to Talladega next week.”
For Ben Rhodes, however, the reigning two-time series champion ended up in 22nd place and a lap down after he ran out of fuel despite trying to stretch his fuel tank in his No. 99 Kubota Ford F-150 to the distance from when he last pitted on Lap 82. The final result left both him and Daniel Dye eliminated from the Playoffs, with the former not remaining in contention for a third title in 2024.
“We could have been a lot better to fire off [tonight’s race],” Rhodes said. “All in all, I’m thankful for all of our partners. I wish we were able to get [my sponsors] another championship run, but the past three seasons have been really good to us.”
The remaining Playoff contenders including Rajah Caruth, Nick Sanchez, Tyler Ankrum, Taylor Gray and Daniel Dye finished seventh, 12th, 14th, 18th and 27, respectively, on the track.
There were 10 lead changes for three different leaders. The race featured three cautions for 20 laps. In addition, 15 of 34 starters finished on the lead lap.
Results:
1. Corey Heim, 64 laps led, Stage 2 winner
2. Layne Riggs
3. Christian Eckes, 19 laps led
4. Kaden Honeycutt
5. Dawson Sutton
6. Tanner Gray
7. Rajah Caruth
8. Bayley Currey
9. Grant Enfinger
10. Connor Mosack
11. Chase Purdy
12. Nick Sanchez
13. Dean Thompson
14. Tyler Ankrum
15. Ty Majeski, 51 laps led, Stage 1 winner
16. Bret Holmes, one lap down
17. Conor Daly, one lap down
18. Taylor Gray, one lap down
19. Nathan Byrd, one lap down
20. Brenden Queen, one lap down
21. Jake Garcia, one lap down
22. Ben Rhodes, one lap down
23. Timmy Hill, two laps down
24. Stewart Friesen, two laps down
25. Matt Crafton, two laps down
26. Justin Mondeik, three laps down
27. Daniel Dye, three laps down
28. Spencer Boyd, five laps down
29. Frankie Muniz, five laps down
30. Lawless Alan, six laps down
31. Jennifer Jo Cobb – OUT, Electrical
32. Corey Day – OUT, Accident
33. Matt Mills – OUT, Accident
34. Marco Andretti – OUT, Brakes
*Bold indicates Playoff competitors
Playoff standings:
1. Corey Heim – Advanced
2. Christian Eckes – Advanced
3. Nick Sanchez – Advanced
4. Ty Majeski – Advanced
5. Rajah Caruth – Advanced
6. Taylor Gray – Advanced
7. Tyler Ankrum – Advanced
8. Grant Enfinger – Advanced
9. Ben Rhodes – Eliminated
10. Daniel Dye – Eliminated
The Round of 8 in the 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoffs is set to occur at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama, for the Love’s RV Stop 225. The event is scheduled to occur next Friday, October 4, and air at 4:30 p.m. ET on FS1.
ST. LOUIS (Sept. 27, 2024) – Two races remain in the 2024 season in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+ and there’s still plenty on the line heading to St. Louis as part of this weekend’s NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway.
It is the ninth of 10 races during the 2024 season and the third of four events in the “Road to the Championship,” with several top drivers still alive in the title chase. This weekend’s event in St. Louis is powered by both M&M Transmissions and Jerry Bickel Race Cars, and another huge field will entertain fans in St. Louis as the Pro Mod season hits a thrilling point.
A wild weekend in Charlotte included a first-time winner in Travis Harvey, as he filled in for former world champion Khalid Al Balooshi, sending the veteran to second in points in the process. Al Balooshi now trails Ken Quartuccio by just 19 points, with a flurry of additional contenders still racing for the championship.
A number of top teams, including Bahrain 1 Racing, Scott Tidwell Racing, Team Shelton Motorsports and title contender Jose Gonzalez, are M&M Transmission customers, with the company thrilled to be part of such an important race weekend at their home facility.
“St Louis is our home track, so it was a natural decision to support our NHRA Pro Mod racers and customers,” said Mark Micke, M&M Transmission Owner and CEO. “Our on-track maintenance services are an extension of our beliefs of delivering reliability and performance to enable the quickest and fastest doorslammers in the world to win and set records.”
Jordan Lazic won last year in St. Louis and, like Harvey in Charlotte, did so in his first career start. Lazic is currently seventh in points, 65 out of first, showcasing the number of standouts still in title contention. Former world champs Kris Thorne and Gonzalez are 38 and 45 points behind, respectively, while Kevin Rivenbark rounds out the top five, trailing Quartuccio by 46 points.
Justin Bond is just 48 points out of first, while other standouts in St. Louis include Charlotte runner-up Dmitry Samorukov, reigning world champion Mike Castellana, Billy Banaka, Mason Wright, J.R. Gray and Michael Stavrinos.
Rain wiped out qualifying on Friday in St. Louis, meaning the NHRA Pro Mod drivers will get two shots at the track on Saturday, with qualifying times set for 11:15 a.m. and 4:50 p.m. CT in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+. The first round of eliminations is slated for 9:05 a.m. CT on Sunday.
Tickets may be purchased at the WWTR ticket office, by phone at (618) 215-8888, or online at www.wwtraceway.com. All children 12 and under will be admitted free in the general admission area with a paid adult. For more information on NHRA, visit www.NHRA.com.
About M&M Transmission
Founded in 1996 by Mark Micke, M&M Transmission specializes in race-winning and record-setting drag racing transmissions, torque converters and shifters with trusted reliability and top technology. Today, M&M Transmission is based out of Jefferson City, Missouri. A comprehensive array of in-house machinery and equipment, such as a SuperFlow transmission and torque converter dyno, state-of-the-art lathes, mills, and more, allows the talented team to manufacture and assemble its performance drag racing transmissions, torque converters, shifters, and more with a commitment to upholding a strong “Made in the USA” standard of quality. Established by a diehard racer and staffed with a group of drag racing enthusiasts, Mark Micke’s M&M Transmission knows what it takes to win. Head over to mandmtransmission.com to join the race-winning team!
About Jerry Bickel Race Cars
Jerry Bickel Race Cars are synonymous with quality built, fast door cars around the world. Established in 1985, Jerry Bickel Race Cars created a new generation of innovative techniques and procedures that would continue WINNING races for over 35 years. In 2000, JBRC built a state-of-the-art building designed to engineer, fabricate, paint, and complete race cars from start to finish. JBRC also carries a full line of racing components to make Jerry Bickel Race Cars a “one stop chassis shop”. For more information visit www.jerrybickel.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.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (Sept. 27, 2024) – ARCA and Menards announced a multi-year extension that keeps the Eau Claire, Wis.-based home improvement retailer as the entitlement partner for all three series within the ARCA Menards Series platform, including the ARCA Menards Series East and West.
The agreement extends the relationship between two Midwestern-based family-owned companies that trace their roots back to the 1950s. ARCA was started in Toledo, Ohio by John and Mildred Marcum and is overseen by their grandson, Ron Drager. Now in its 72nd season, the ARCA Menards Series has contested over 1500 races at 180 different racetracks. The first Menards opened in 1958, and from humble beginnings the company has grown to 341 stores in 15 states across the Midwest.
“Menards has been the cornerstone of a strong foundation for ARCA and the ARCA Menards Series since 2009 when they became a presenting sponsor,” said ARCA president Ron Drager. “That relationship has only become stronger over the years and reached its pinnacle in 2019 when Menards became the series’ entitlement partner. It’s great to be associated with a company that knows racing inside and out and actively participates in building and growing the series. We are proud to continue to carry this relationship into the future.”
“We are thrilled to continue our relationship with the ARCA Menards Series,” said John Menard, President/CEO, Menards. “Our customers are hard-working people with strong Midwestern family values, and that aligns perfectly with the ARCA Menards Series, a series made up of hard-working racers who find a way to get things done on and off the racetrack.”
“Menards supports racing because the entire Menard family loves the sport,” said Mike Helton, Senior Advisor, NASCAR. “The continued partnership between Menards and ARCA is a tremendous benefit to the racers who compete in the ARCA Menards Series and the fans all across the country who love to see the stars of tomorrow racing at both grassroots-level short tracks and some of the biggest motorsports venues in the world.”
Acquired by NASCAR in 2018, the ARCA Menards Series platform has proven to be the premier training ground for drivers with aspirations of competing in one of the three NASCAR national series. In 2023, nearly 80% of the drivers racing across the three national NASCAR series – representing dozens of series championships and hundreds of race wins – started their journey in the ARCA platform.
The 2024 ARCA Menards Series championship will be determined on Saturday, Oct. 5 at the series’ home track, Toledo Speedway. The race will be televised live on FS2 starting at 4 pm ET; live timing and scoring data will be available at ARCARacing.com. Follow @ARCA_Racing on X (formerly Twitter) for up-to-the-minute updates.
About ARCA
The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA), founded in 1953 by John and Mildred Marcum in Toledo, Ohio, and acquired by NASCAR in April 2018, is the leading grassroots stock car sanctioning body in the United States. Bridging the gap between NASCAR’s top three national touring series and weekly and regional tour racing all across the country, the organization sanctions over 100 races per year in the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East, ARCA Menards Series West, ASA STARS National Tour, ASA CRA Super Series, ASA Midwest Tour, ASA Southern Super Series plus weekly racing at Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways. For more information about ARCA visit www.arcaracing.com, or follow ARCA on Facebook (@ARCARacing) and Twitter (@ARCA_Racing).
About Menards
A family-owned and run company started in 1958, Menards is recognized as the retail home center leader of the Midwest with 341 stores in 15 states. Menards is truly a one-stop shop for all of your home improvement needs featuring a full-service lumberyard and everything you need to plan a renovation or build a home, garage, cabin, shed, deck, fence or post frame building. You’ll find a large selection of lumber, roofing, siding, construction blocks, trusses, doors and windows, plus cabinets, appliances, countertops, flooring, lighting, paint, plumbing supplies and more. To complete the job, Menards has quality hand tools, power tools, fasteners, electrical tools plus storage options and supplies for everyone from the weekend warrior to the pro!
Menards has what you need to complete your outdoor projects and keep your yard in tip-top shape including mowers, trimmers, blowers, pressure washers and more, plus a beautiful garden center stocked with plants, shrubs, trees, landscaping tools, grass seed, fertilizer options, outdoor décor and patio furniture. Menards also has everyday essentials like health & beauty products, housewares, pet and wildlife supplies, automotive items and even groceries. And at Christmas, an Enchanted Forest display area with impressive trees, lighting, decorations, ornaments, inflatables and more.
Menards is known for friendly Customer Service and as the place to “Save Big Money” with low prices every day, and sales too! For more information, please visit Menards.com to learn about our store locations, offerings and services.
Daytona Season Opener Live on FOX for First Time Ever
KANSAS CITY, Kan. – (Sept. 27, 2024) – The ARCA Menards Series has announced a television broadcast agreement extension with FS1 and FS2 that features a full season of live television coverage in 2025. Additionally, as part of the new agreement, the 2025 ARCA Menards Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway will air live on FOX, marking the first time in series history that a race has aired on broadcast television.
The relationship, which began with Speedvision in 1999, is now extended through at least 2028.
“We’re proud of the long-standing partnership between ARCA and FOX Sports in what will span across three decades during the course of this most recent extension” said Ben Baker, NASCAR’s VP of Broadcasting & Production Operations. “FOX’s coverage of the ARCA Menards Series continues to expand to a larger audience and we’re looking forward to their coverage of great racing in the years to come.”
ARCA also has released the 2025 ARCA Menards Series schedule, comprised of 20 races at 19 different tracks, with the season opener slated at Daytona International Speedway and, for the fourth consecutive year, it will close at its home track, Toledo Speedway.
The highlights:
The series will race at Daytona for the 62nd consecutive year dating to 1964; as it has for the last six years, the race will be the opener of a same-day doubleheader with the NASCAR Xfinity Series the day before the DAYTONA 500. FOX will broadcast the Daytona ARCA 200, the first time an ARCA Menards Series race will be broadcast live on an over-the-air network.
Kansas Speedway continues to be the only track on the schedule twice, with races scheduled in conjunction with the NASCAR national series in May and September.
Tandem races with the NASCAR Cup Series will also take place at Phoenix Raceway in March, Talladega Superspeedway in April, Charlotte Motor Speedway in May, Michigan International Speedway in June, Dover Motor Speedway in July, Iowa Speedway and Watkins Glen International in August, and Bristol Motor Speedway in September.
Stand-alone short track races will be held at Berlin Raceway and Elko Speedway in June, Madison International Speedway in August, the traditional fall classic date at Salem Speedway in September, and the championship finale at Toledo Speedway in October.
The two dirt miles at the Illinois State Fair and DuQuoin State Fair both return on their traditional weekends.
Lime Rock Park will join the schedule for the first time and the half-mile Madison International Speedway rejoins the schedule for the first time since 2019.
The race at Phoenix Raceway in March will be a combination race with the ARCA Menards Series West, while races at Dover Motor Speedway, Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, Iowa Speedway, and Bristol Motor Speedway will be combination races with the ARCA Menards Series East.
The complete 2025 ARCA Menards Series schedule (all times are Eastern):
Date
Track, Location
Time (ET)
TV
Feb. 15
Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fla.
12:00 PM
FOX
March 7
Phoenix Raceway, Avondale, Ariz.
8:00 PM
FS1
April 26
Talladega Superspeedway, Talladega, Ala.
12:30 PM
FS1
May 9
Kansas Speedway, Kansas City, Kan.
8:00 PM
FS1
May 23
Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, N.C.
6:00 PM
FS1
June 6
Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Mich.
5:00 PM
FS2
June 14
Berlin Raceway, Marne, Mich.
7:00 PM
FS1
June 21
Elko Speedway, Elko, Minn.
9:00 PM
FS2
June 28
Lime Rock Park, Lime Rock, Conn.
4:00 PM
FS2
July 18
Dover Motor Speedway, Dover, Del.
5:00 PM
FS1
July 25
Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, Brownsburg, Ind.
5:30 PM
FS1
Aug. 1
Iowa Speedway, Newton, Iowa
7:00 PM
FS1
Aug. 8
Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, N.Y.
2:00 PM
FS2
Aug. 17
Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, Ill.
2:00 PM
FS1
Aug. 22
Madison International Speedway, Madison, Wis.
9:00 PM
FS1
Aug. 31
Du Quoin State Fairgrounds, Du Quoin, Ill.
8:30 PM
FS1
Sept. 11
Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tenn.
5:30 PM
FS1
Sept. 20
Salem Speedway, Salem, Ind.
8:00 PM
FS2
Sept. 26
Kansas Speedway, Kansas City, Kan.
8:00 PM
FS1
Oct. 4
Toledo Speedway, Toledo, Oh.
4:00 PM
FS2
All dates are tentative and subject to change.
Schedules for the ARCA Menards Series East and West will be released at a later date.
For further information please visit ARCARacing.com; for up-to-the-minute updates follow @ARCA_Racing on Twitter.
About ARCA
The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA), founded in 1953 by John and Mildred Marcum in Toledo, Ohio, and acquired by NASCAR in April 2018, is the leading grassroots stock car sanctioning body in the United States. Bridging the gap between NASCAR’s top three national touring series and weekly and regional tour racing all across the country, the organization sanctions over 100 races per year in the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East, ARCA Menards Series West, ASA STARS National Tour, ASA CRA Super Series, ASA Midwest Tour, ASA Southern Super Series plus weekly racing at Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways. For more information about ARCA visit www.arcaracing.com, or follow ARCA on Facebook (@ARCARacing) and Twitter (@ARCA_Racing).
About Menards
A family-owned and run company started in 1958, Menards is recognized as the retail home center leader of the Midwest with 341 stores in 15 states. Menards is truly a one-stop shop for all of your home improvement needs featuring a full-service lumberyard and everything you need to plan a renovation or build a home, garage, cabin, shed, deck, fence or post frame building. You’ll find a large selection of lumber, roofing, siding, construction blocks, trusses, doors and windows, plus cabinets, appliances, countertops, flooring, lighting, paint, plumbing supplies and more. To complete the job, Menards has quality hand tools, power tools, fasteners, electrical tools plus storage options and supplies for everyone from the weekend warrior to the pro!
Menards has what you need to complete your outdoor projects and keep your yard in tip-top shape including mowers, trimmers, blowers, pressure washers and more, plus a beautiful garden center stocked with plants, shrubs, trees, landscaping tools, grass seed, fertilizer options, outdoor décor and patio furniture. Menards also has everyday essentials like health & beauty products, housewares, pet and wildlife supplies, automotive items and even groceries. And at Christmas, an Enchanted Forest display area with impressive trees, lighting, decorations, ornaments, inflatables and more.
Menards is known for friendly Customer Service and as the place to “Save Big Money” with low prices every day, and sales too! For more information, please visit Menards.com to learn about our store locations, offerings and services.
Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas Speedway… In 104 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Kansas Speedway, Richard Childress Racing has one win (Kevin Harvick, 2013) along with five top-five and 29 top-10 finishes. The victory was Harvick’s first at the Midwest intermediate track and came in dominating fashion after winning the pole and leading the most laps in the race. RCR owns three pole positions at Kansas: Harvick (2013), Daniel Hemric (2019) and Tyler Reddick (2022).
RCR in the Xfinity Series at Kansas… RCR has one NASCAR Xfinity Series victory at Kansas: Kevin Harvick in 2006. Harvick, who led twice for 18 laps, would go on to win the 2006 series title with RCR, the second of his career. The Welcome, N.C., based organization has three poles at Kansas by three different drivers: Austin Dillon (2013), Ty Dillon (2014) and Daniel Hemric (2018). In 2023, both RCR drivers scored top-five finishes at Kansas: Sheldon Creed (third) and Austin Hill (fifth).
Catch the Action… The NASCAR Xfinity Series Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway will be televised live Saturday, September 28, beginning at 4 p.m. ET on The CW. The race will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
The Kansas 400 at Kansas Speedway will be televised live on Sunday, September 29 beginning at 3 p.m. ET on USA Network. The race will be broadcast live on Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Off-Road Chevrolet at Kansas Speedway… Dillon has made a total of 22 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Kansas Speedway, earning his best finish of sixth twice in May and October of 2016. The North Carolina native has also made five NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at the track, earning one pole award (2013) and a best finish of second (2012). In three NASCAR Truck Series races, Dillon has posted one pole award (2011) and a best finish of fourth (2014).
Remember When… In 2011, Dillon made his career-first start in the NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas Speedway, driving the No. 98 Chevrolet to a 26th-place finish for Curb/Agajanian Racing.
About Bass Pro Shops… Bass Pro Shops is North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company. Founded in 1972 when avid young angler Johnny Morris began selling tackle out of his father’s liquor store in Springfield, Missouri, today the company provides customers with unmatched offerings spanning premier destination retail, outdoor equipment manufacturing, world-class resort destinations, and more. In 2017 Bass Pro Shops united with Cabela’s to create a “best-of-the-best” experience with superior products, dynamic locations, and outstanding customer service. Bass Pro Shops also operates White River Marine Group, offering an unsurpassed collection of industry-leading boat brands, and Big Cedar Lodge, America’s Premier Wilderness Resort. Under the visionary conservation leadership of Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops is a national leader in protecting habitat and introducing families to the outdoors and has been named by Forbes as “one of America’s Best Employers.” Bass Pro Shops has a long relationship with NASCAR, dating back to 1998. For more information, visit http://www.basspro.com/.
AUSTIN DILLON QUOTE:
How is Kansas Speedway unique compared to some of the other 1.5-mile tracks and how will you attack the track this weekend?
“Kansas Speedway is a fun track to race at. Running the top line is challenging and restarts are always exciting and crucial to picking up positions early. There’s an angle up there that I don’t think many tracks have figured out yet, but Kansas got it right. We’ve run well there in the past. I’m looking forward to driving the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops / TRACKER Off Road Chevrolet this weekend.”
Kyle Busch and the No. 8 BetMGM Chevrolet at Kansas Speedway… Kyle Busch will make his 34th NASCAR Cup Series start at Kansas Speedway this weekend. Busch enters with two wins at Midwest oval, both coming in spring races. The Las Vegas native scored his first victory at Kansas Speedway in 2016, leading 69 laps in his 17th start at the 1.5-mile circuit. Win number two for Busch came in 2021, where the veteran driver claimed his first victory of the season on his birthday (May 2). With that special milestone, Busch joined NASCAR Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough as the only two drivers to win multiple Cup Series races on their birthdays. Busch has also racked up 10 top-five and 16 top-10 finishes, including an eighth-place finish earlier this season. In addition, Busch has four NASCAR Xfinity Series victories (2007, 2014, 2015, 2016) and three NASCAR Truck Series wins (2014, 2017, 2021) at Kansas Speedway.
Did You Know? Busch has more Cup Series starts at Kansas Speedway (33) than any other active driver. His first start at the Kansas facility came on October 10, 2004, and marked his fourth career race in NASCAR’s premier series.
About BetMGM… BetMGM is a market-leading sports betting and gaming entertainment company, pioneering the online gaming industry. Born out of a partnership between MGM Resorts International and Entain Group, BetMGM has exclusive access to all of MGM’s U.S. land-based and online sports betting, major tournament poker, and online gaming businesses. Utilizing Entain’s U.S.-licensed, state-of-the-art technology, BetMGM offers sports betting and online gaming via market-leading brands, including BetMGM, Borgata Casino, Party Casino, and Party Poker. Founded in 2018, BetMGM is headquartered in New Jersey. Always Bet Responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
KYLE BUSCH QUOTES:
You have top-10 finishes in your two most recent starts at Kansas Speedway, which must give you confidence entering this race.
“For years, Kansas Speedway was a very tough place for me to get a hold of and figure out. But as of late, since about 2014, things have really clicked and I’ve had several good finishes there. Kansas is a track that I actually look forward to now. Hopefully, we can continue to build on those good finishes and search for another win this weekend.”
One year ago, you overcame a poor pit stall to finish seventh in the fall race at Kansas Speedway. How big of a disadvantage was that?
“I would say that there are a lot of challenges in our sport and that’s certainly true during a race. Whether it’s a slow pitstop, a bad restart, or just getting caught up in someone else’s crash, there’s always things that can happen. You just have to be ready and do your best to overcome any challenge that comes at you.”
Jesse Love and the No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet at Kansas Speedway… Jesse Love has made three career starts at Kansas Speedway, all coming last season in 2023. During the Menlo Park, California native’s lone NASCAR Truck Series event at the 1.5-mile facility, Love earned a 13th-place result. In addition, the young gun has posted two pole positions and one victory (spring) in two ARCA Menards Series starts.
Regular Season Rewind… Thus far in his Sunoco Rookie of the Year campaign, Love has posted impressive stats. Through 26 events of the Xfinity Series regular season, Love earned his first career series victory, six top-five and 13 top-five finishes, along with four pole positions. The 19-year-old currently holds the sixth position in the driver championship point standings, 21 points behind leader Justin Allgaier.
About Whelen Engineering… Whelen Engineering is a family-owned company with a pioneering spirit and a passion to protect the lives of those who protect and serve others. The company mission is to provide industry-defining safety solutions around the world, while creating a community of problem-solvers who are inspired to push boundaries and continue our legacy of delivering ground-breaking innovation. As a global leader in the emergency warning industry, Whelen has been trusted to perform since 1952, when George Whelen III invented the first rotating aviation beacon. Whelen now encompasses two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Connecticut and New Hampshire with over 750,000 square feet of engineering and manufacturing space and the largest design staff in the industry. Every part of every Whelen product is proudly designed and manufactured in America. We embrace quality as our foundation, we celebrate innovative engineering in every product we produce.
JESSE LOVE QUOTES:
What will it take to advance through each Playoff round? How would you assess the current state of the No. 2 team?
“I think I have a good understanding of how the Playoffs work now. I still want to lean on more people at RCR, especially Kyle Busch. I want to talk with Kyle before this weekend, just to see what nuggets of advice he has that may help me through the round. Overall, I feel like the speed we’ve shown the last few weeks is what our team is capable of. We had a two month stretch where we couldn’t put together good finishes. We still had moments where we were good and had a chance to win, but the consistency wasn’t there. In the last month, we’ve started to put the Lego pieces back together. That has helped my mindset of going to the track without having to overdo anything.”
What is your outlook for the Round of 12?
“In the first round, my thought process is to not wreck, keep the fenders on it, finish all of the laps, and take what our car will give. For the most part, the first round should be smooth sailing. The Charlotte ROVAL is one that I can take advantage of. Our No. 2 team has been good on the road courses this year, with the exception of Portland. If we don’t have a bad day in the first three races, we should make it through to the Round of 8 easily. Ideally, I would like to win a race in the first round, so it puts more points on the board for the second round which is going to be harder.”
Does anything change now that the Playoffs are starting?
“We got here by doing one thing, so I’m not sure why we would want to change it up now. Do you take it round by round and focus on the task on hand? Yes, probably. We have a lot of confidence on our side, and I feel like I don’t have to think about it too much personally. We have really fast Chevrolets and everyone at RCR and ECR has done a great job. Fast cars make my job easier.”
Austin Hill and the No. 21 Bennett Transportation & Logistics Chevrolet at Kansas Speedway… Austin Hill has made three career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Kansas Speedway, earning a pair of fifth place finishes in 2020 and 2023. The 30-year-old driver has also competed in six NASCAR Truck Series races at the 1.5-mile speedway, claiming one win (2020), four top-five and five top-10 results.
Let the Playoffs Begin… With the regular season complete, Hill and his fellow Xfinity Series competitors will kick off the race to the championship. Through 26 races, the Winston, Georgia native captured three wins, nine top-five and 15 top-10 finishes, along with one pole. Hill is currently third in the driver championship point standings, nine points behind leader Justin Allgaier.
About Bennett Family of Companies… McDonough-Ga. based Bennett Family of Companies is a woman-owned, Women’s Enterprise Business Council (WBENC) certified, diversified transportation and logistics company. Through its 14 affiliated operating companies, the Bennett Family of Companies delivers integrated transportation and supply chain management solutions worldwide. Bennett has 4,625 drivers/owner-operators, over 1,000 employees and 600 agents located across the United States. For more information, visit www.bennettig.com.
AUSTIN HILL QUOTES:
What is the biggest thing separating you from a Championship 4 appearance?
“The short answer is not winning a race in the Round of 8 to advance, but that’s not an easy thing to do. There have been plenty of ways that I’ve missed out on making the Championship 4 throughout my career. Some of it has been my doing and some of it has been out of my control. One of the biggest areas that our No. 21 team can improve on this year specifically is maximizing stage points – whether that is a rough restart by me behind the wheel, whether that is the car not handling like I need it, or whether that is not being in a top five position to capitalize. When you start the Playoffs, every point matters. We need to run inside the top five each and every week to not have to dig ourselves out of a hole.”
Outside of being the dominant team on superspeedways, what makes the No. 21 team a threat for the championship?
“We are good at mile-and-a-half tracks, not just superspeedways. Our intermediate program is one of the areas that people may overlook too much. If you were to take superspeedway races out of the equation, the mile-and-a-half races are our next strong suit. We have some good intermediate tracks that we will go to in the Playoffs. Even our road course program is solid as well. I’m not considered a road course guy by any means, but we always seem to find our way into the top five when it matters the most and be in a position to capitalize at the end. Our No. 21 team can win a race in each round of the Playoffs just as good as anyone else can. Another area that we shine really bright in is our pit crew. Our pit crew is extremely good and have been ranked number one throughout the season. They pick up positions every race no matter where we are running and to make it deep into the Playoffs, we need our pit crew to keep it on point like they have been all year long.”
What did you learn from last year’s Playoffs that you would do differently this season to make it the Championship 4?
“I don’t know if there is anything that I would necessarily do differently, but when you get to Martinsville (final race before the championship) and you’re tight on points, it makes your day a lot harder. My mindset was the same last year, but it just didn’t work out. We have to get as many stage points as possible in every race of every round and try to stay inside the top five or at least ahead of our competitors each weekend. If we build up points, minimize mistakes all day, don’t shoot ourselves in the foot, and be there when it matters most at the end, we have just as good of a shot as anyone to win the championship.”
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., (September 27, 2024) – Last weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Wright Motorsports celebrated an impressive win in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s Battle on the Bricks, the first Indianapolis-based endurance race for the series. This weekend, drivers Adam Adelson and Elliott Skeer prepare to conclude the fight for the Fanatec GT World Challenge championship title, with Laurin Heinrich joining them in the No. 120 Porsche 911 GT3 R for the Indianapolis 8 Hour. The former Porsche Junior Heinrich also brought home an Indy victory on September 22 driving another Porsche 911 GT3 R in the GTD PRO class.
“Last weekend at Indianapolis was a great weekend for Porsche race cars,” said Team Owner John Wright. “They swept the GTD and GTD PRO classes, and we’re excited to have one of those winners join our winning team and drivers as we fight one last time for the PRO class title in GT World Challenge. Laurin will be a great addition to the team, and we have momentum on our side.”
Wright Motorsports drivers Adelson and Skeer, with endurance addition Jan Heylen, started the six-hour endurance race from 14th in class but drove to the front over the course of the event. The data and knowledge gathered over the course of the weekend will prove vital heading into this weekend’s race as the team seeks to gain another championship title and a first for Adelson and Skeer as co-drivers.
Wright Motorsports currently holds a seven-point lead in the Fanatec PRO-class championship with 12 rounds completed. Adelson and Skeer won the first two races of the season and subsequently finished on the podium an additional seven times. Despite missing the first four rounds of the season, DXDT Racing has surged up the point standings with an unusual eight-race win streak, to come within striking distance of the full-season Wright entry. Undeterred, Wright Motorsports has full confidence in their endurance-racing experience, having won the Indianapolis 8 Hour last year.
With Adelson, Skeer, and Heinrich all riding the momentum of last weekend’s win in their respective classes, the No. 120 Porsche 911 GT3 R will be a strong contender for the SRO America season finale. Twenty-five entries are set to compete in the eight-hour event, which will begin on Saturday, October 6 at 12:15 PM ET. The race will stream live for free at YouTube.com/GTWorld, and fans who attend the race in person with general admission tickets will enjoy full paddock access. For event information, visit gt-world-challenge-america.com.
DRIVER QUOTES
Adam Adelson
I find myself again going into Indianapolis fighting for a championship. This is something I’ve done three times over the last two years, so it’s a very familiar feeling. There are some major differences this time though. I’ve become a much more complete driver, and have competed at some of the highest levels of motorsport. I’ve grown massively as an individual, and as a team, Wright Motorsports has gelled together even stronger than last year. I’ve never felt more prepared. We have an amazingly talented driver joining our lineup for this event in Laurin Heinrich. I’m super excited to work with and learn from him. For me, the focus is on maximizing my own performance and helping the team maximize theirs. That attitude is what got us here in the first place. It also really helps that we achieved our most significant race result here just two weeks before the 8 Hour! Whatever happens, I’m exceedingly proud of what we accomplished this year, and will walk away from this season extremely proud.
Elliott Skeer
The third time is hopefully the charm for Adam and myself when it comes to Indy championship finales! It’s safe to say that our last outing at the Brickyard was a successful test for this weekend, and everyone at Wright Motorsports is feeling positive and excited to end the year on a high. Adam is driving the best he’s ever driven and having Laurin with us surely leaves no stone unturned on the driving. Ultimately having another opportunity at a championship with my Wright family is an incredible feeling and I can’t wait to see how it shakes out eight hours later!
Laurin Heinrich
I’m looking forward to my first race with Wright. I have great memories at the Indianapolis 8 Hour race. Last year I did my first GT race in the United States there and managed to clinch the overall pole position. That was a great memory. Now I am coming off my latest win in IMSA championship at Indy. I have always found success at the track and one I really enjoy. It’s an honor to join a Wright; a team with a rich history in Porsche racing. I am proud to be asked to support them in their championship run.
Wright Motorsports Wright Motorsports is the premier Porsche race engineering facility in Ohio and a multi-series and international racing team known for superb car preparation, expert race strategy, and driver development. Located in Batavia, Ohio, it is owned and directed by John Wright, a certified Porsche factory-trained technician. As a crew chief John Wright has played a key role in winning eight driver and seven team championships in World Challenge, IMSA (ALMS) and the Grand-Am Rolex Series. Wright Motorsports won the team championship in Porsche GT3 Cup USA in 2012, 2013, and 2015, and went on to win the Pirelli World Challenge Overall, Sprint, Team, and Manufacturer’s titles in 2017. In 2020, the team captured the GT World Challenge America Am championship. In 2021, Wright Motorsports had a wildly successful season, capturing nine championships across their five racing efforts.
Nashville, TN, Sept. 27, 2024 — American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB) (“American Rebel” or the “Company”), the creator of American Rebel Beer (www.americanrebelbeer.com), and branded safes, personal security and self-defense products and apparel, announced they are the primary sponsor of Tony Stewart’s National Hot Rod Association (“NHRA”) Funny Car, driven by Matt Hagan, at the Midwest Nationals in St. Louis, MO the weekend of September 27 – September 29.
“We’re excited to be sponsoring the Tony Stewart NHRA racing team and having Matt Hagan, who won last year at this event in St. Louis, as the driver of the American Rebel Light Beer Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car,” said Andy Ross, Chief Executive Officer of American Rebel. “The American Rebel Light Beer Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car is quickly becoming a fan favorite within the NHRA racing community. The NHRA events allow us to engage with the fans throughout the weekend and we are excited to be able to introduce the millions of viewers on television to American Rebel Light Beer. We’ve got a winning team with Tony and Matt and we’re looking forward to the race weekend, celebrating their success while promoting American Rebel Light, America’s Patriotic, God-Fearing, Constitution-Loving, National Anthem-Singing, Stand Your Ground Beer.”
Hagan is currently fourth in the Funny Car championship standings, 153 points behind leader Austin Prock. Hagan is a four-time season-long champion (2011, 2014, 2020 and 2023) and is the defending event winner at St. Louis. “We have some good luck at St. Louis, so hopefully we can continue our momentum from Charlotte with the final-round appearance,” said Matt Hagan, driver of the American Rebel Light Beer Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car. “We’re going to have a few Dodge executives there and our friends from American Rebel Beer, so I’d really like to have good performance and put on a good show for them to show them what we’re capable of.”
American Rebel Light is produced in partnership with AlcSource, the largest integrated provider of beverage development, sourcing, and production solutions in the U.S. American Rebel Light Beer just completed its first production run and is now available in 12oz and 16oz cans in several states across the USA.
American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB) has operated primarily as a designer, manufacturer and marketer of branded safes and personal security and self-defense products and has recently transitioned into the beverage industry through the introduction of American Rebel Beer. The Company also designs and produces branded apparel and accessories. To learn more, visit www.americanrebel.com and www.americanrebelbeer.com. For investor information, visit www.americanrebel.com/investor-relations.
