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WTRAndretti Acura ARX-06 GTP Teams Head to Indianapolis Motor Speedway

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Official Release
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INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (September 17, 2024) – The Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti (WTRAndretti) pair of Acura ARX-06 GTPs shift back to endurance racing action with the inaugural TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks six-hour event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS). After returning to the IMS Road Course in 2023, the WTRAndretti team are ready to put on a show at the team’s home track with both Acura ARX-06 GTPs and alongside teammates in the GTD class and Lamborghini Super Trofeo – totaling up to seven WTRAndretti cars on track throughout the weekend.

Aiming to pick up from where they left off, Ricky Taylor and Filipe Albuquerque in the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 enter Indianapolis following a pole position and podium result at Road America last month. With experience driving the Acura ARX-06 at IMS in 2023, Taylor and Albuquerque will look for the podium after earning a top five result in last year’s event. The mission remains the same for the No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 crew: to win the remaining two events left on the calendar.

For Louis Delétraz and Jordan Taylor, the No. 40 DEX Imaging Acura ARX-06 team looks to bounce back after a promising weekend turned challenging at Road America. Although the pair has not raced together in the Acura ARX-06 GTP at Indianapolis before, Taylor last time in a prototype car at IMS saw him starting from pole position and Delétraz earned a podium finish in LMP2 in 2023’s Battle on the Bricks. Like their No. 10 teammates, it’s all about winning and the best result possible to finish the final races this season.
The WTRAndretti duo of Acura ARX-06 GTPs will take to the IMS Road Course starting with practice on Friday, September 20th, at 11:15 a.m. ET. Qualifying is set for 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, September 21st, live on Peacock. On Sunday, September 22nd, the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks six-hour endurance event will see the green and clock countdown begin at 11:40 a.m. ET with coverage on Peacock followed by NBC on air at 3 p.m. ET.
Wayne Taylor, Team Principal, WTRAndretti: “Since we are out of the points race for the championship, we are going to try to win these last two races. It will also be the end of our partnership with HRC so we would like to go out on top. We had a good test at Indy a few weeks ago so I’m feeling positive that we should have a good car and go for the win. Indy is a new endurance race, so I’m looking forward to it – I love the long-distance races.”

No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 GTP Drivers
Ricky Taylor: “We had a great test there last month and have certainly improved ourselves since last year, six hours will prove a different challenge, and we are up for it. Indy is a very unique circuit and whether or not the similarities in duration to the Watkins Glen six hour will translate, only time will tell. We will prepare our best and learn as much as we can to make educated decisions for the race. It was great fun last year to see all of the support from family and friends of the WTRAndretti team, it is something we don’t always get to see or share. With this event becoming one of the championship’s marquee events, it will make it even more enjoyable to share with everyone.”

Filipe Albuquerque: “Indianapolis’s going to be a new type of race for us, a six-hour race. Our last endurance race would’ve been a nice one – the two WTRAndretti cars were leading the race before the last 20 minutes, so we were looking good and competitive. We were also competitive and got pole position in the last sprint race at Road America, so it seems like we are getting faster and faster. We’ve been very competitive and of course we want to be competitive at Indianapolis. Safety cars and cautions will play a huge role in strategy, but we had a good test there and we got a good feeling of the car. One thing that can play in our favor is that we are not fighting for the championship so when others will be taking care of their championship and not taking as much risk because they have a bigger picture, we don’t. So, this can maybe play in our favor and a lot of motivation to go for the win for sure.”

No. 40 DEX Imaging Acura ARX-06 GTP Drivers
Louis Delétraz: “I’m excited for the Indianapolis 6-Hour because it’s our home race and also now an endurance race. Six hours at Indy will be a new challenge, the characteristics of track make it interesting with traffic. We have tested at the track with WTRAndretti, and the Acura ARX-06 was great. We have nothing to lose, and we want to win the last two races to finish the year strong!”

Jordan Taylor: “We had a great test at Indy a few weeks ago, so I’m looking forward to getting back there and seeing how we stack up. It is our home race as a team, so it’ll be great having a lot of family and friends out there supporting us at such a legendary track. We had great speed at the last race in Road America but weren’t able to capitalize on it in the race. Hopefully this week we will be in such a strong position again to fight for the win.”

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

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

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

Kaulig Racing and Food City Team Up for Bristol Night Race

By
Official Release
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Hemric to Drive the No. 31 Mtn Dew Doritos® Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Bristol

 LEXINGTON, N.C. (September 17, 2024) – For the second year in-a-row, Kaulig Racing and Food City are teaming-up for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race.

Daniel Hemric’s No. 31 Camaro ZL1 will showcase both PepsiCo’s Mountain (Mtn) Dew and Doritos® brands for the infamous night race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

“We’re excited to continue our great partnership with Food City at one of the most exciting races of the season,” said team president, Chris Rice. “For the second year in-a-row, they have been with us for both Bristol races, and we hope to continue this relationship for years to come.”

Earlier this season at the Food City 500, the Tennessee-based soft drink, alongside the top-selling cheese puff brand, CHEETOS® were featured on AJ Allmendinger’s No. 16 Camaro ZL1. This time, the #1 single-serve soft drink will be onboard the No. 31 Camaro, alongside Food City favorite, Doritos®.

“Food City is proud to once again team up with our friends from Kaulig Racing and PepsiCo to sponsor Daniel Hemric and the Kaulig Racing No. 31 Camaro ZL1 for Saturday’s running of the Bass Pro Shops Night Race,” says Steven C. Smith, Food City president and chief executive officer.

The Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway will kick off Saturday, September 21 at 7:30 p.m. ET on USA Network.
 
About Kaulig Racing

Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time, multi-car NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, owned by award winning entrepreneur, Matt Kaulig. Established in 2016, Kaulig Racing™ has earned 23 NXS wins, made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started, and won two regular-season championships. In 2021, the team competed in select NCS events, before expanding to a two-car, full-time NCS team in 2022 and adding a third, part-time entry during the 2023 season. Since its first NCS start in 2021, the team has earned two wins. Kaulig Racing is currently fielding two full-time entries in the NCS and continues to field three full-time NXS entries, with a part-time fourth entry at select events. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $91 billion in net revenue in 2023, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

About Food City

Headquartered in Abingdon, Virginia, K-VA-T Food Stores (Food City’s parent company) operates 154157 retail outlets throughout southeast Kentucky, southwest Virginia, east Tennessee, north Georgia, and Alabama.

The Best Gifts for NASCAR Fans for the Upcoming Holiday Season

By
SM
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Finding the perfect gift for a NASCAR fan can be a challenge. NASCAR fans are passionate, and their love for racing goes beyond just watching the sport. Whether they’re rooting for their favorite driver or collecting memorabilia, there’s a wide range of gift ideas that can hit the mark. If you’re looking to make a NASCAR fan’s day, here’s a list of the best gifts that are sure to rev their engines.

NASCAR Diecast Models

Diecast models are the quintessential collectible for any motorsport enthusiast. These miniature replicas of actual NASCAR cars are crafted with impressive detail, showcasing everything from paint schemes to sponsor decals. Fans often collect models of their favorite drivers, iconic race cars, or even championship-winning vehicles.

One of the best aspects of these officially licensed models is that it’s like you took a shrink-ray to an official vehicle. Models are on a 1:24 scale, and every little detail is included.

Why it’s great: These high-quality diecast models make great display pieces in a bedroom, living room, or man cave.

Recommended brands: Action Racing Collectibles, Lionel Racing.

NASCAR Race Tickets

Nothing beats the excitement of attending a live NASCAR event. Gifting race tickets provides a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many fans, as they can witness the speed, energy, and atmosphere of a live race.

Your best bet is to get tickets when a race comes to your city, but a destination vacation might be a great idea too. NASCAR has been holding special races in downtown Las Vegas, Chicago, and even inside the Los Angeles Colosseum. Perfect way to mix a fun vacation with a little street racing magic.

Why it’s great: Live races are filled with energy, and there’s nothing like hearing the roar of the engines in person.

Top races: Daytona 500, Coca-Cola 600, Talladega Superspeedway.

Apparel and Gear

From hats and T-shirts to jackets and jerseys, NASCAR apparel is diverse and a favorite among fans. Whether it’s emblazoned with a favorite driver’s number, sponsor logos, or the NASCAR logo itself, clothing is a practical and stylish gift.

Why it’s great: Wearing NASCAR gear lets fans show off their loyalty both at races and in everyday life.

Hot items: Driver-specific merchandise, vintage-inspired designs, official NASCAR team apparel.

Memberships and Fan Clubs

Many die-hard NASCAR fans love feeling closer to the sport, and fan club memberships offer just that. The official NASCAR Fan Council or exclusive driver fan clubs provide perks like early access to race tickets, behind-the-scenes content, and members-only events. It’s a unique gift that not many fans even know exists. And who doesn’t like being in s a special club?

Why it’s great: Memberships offer an insider’s experience, helping fans feel more connected to the sport and their favorite drivers.

Look for Exclusive fan clubs for specific drivers, such as Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, or Chase Elliott.

Home Decor

From wall art featuring iconic NASCAR moments to custom signage with a favorite driver’s number, NASCAR-themed décor lets fans bring their love of racing into their living spaces. Garage signs, posters, and even clocks designed with racing themes are popular choices. Perfect for a home office or your husband’s man cave.

Why it’s great: It allows fans to personalize their homes, garages, or man cave with a touch of NASCAR flair.

Ideas: Metal signs, framed racing photos, and checkered flag-inspired accessories.

Car Accessories and Tailgating Gear

NASCAR fans love tailgating, and having the right gear is essential. A NASCAR-branded cooler, portable grill, or folding chair will take their race-day experience to the next level. And don’t forget to deck the car out with goodies too. License plate frames, car air fresheners, and driver-specific racing flags are affordable gifts that folks love.

Why it’s great: Race day is as much about the social experience as it is about the competition. Tailgating gear enhances the fan experience.

Recommended items: Coolers, chairs, air fresheners, and grilling accessories.

NASCAR Video Games

For fans who love both racing and gaming, NASCAR video games provide an interactive way to engage with the sport. These games allow them to immerse themselves in the racing experience, take on the role of their favorite driver, and compete in high-speed races online against other competitors.

Why it’s great: It offers an exciting, hands-on way for fans to experience the thrill of NASCAR races. Great for solo play or racing against a group of friends.

Available on: PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.

Pit Crew Experience

For a NASCAR fan who craves a more interactive and thrilling experience, a pit crew or racecar driving experience makes an unforgettable gift. These experiences, available at tracks across the U.S., allow fans to ride shotgun in a real NASCAR stock car or to drive one around a racetrack. It’s neither for the faint of heart nor cheap, but they’ll never forget the experience.

Why it’s great: It gives fans an adrenaline-pumping taste of what it’s like to be part of the race action.

Companies offering this: NASCAR Racing Experience, Richard Petty Driving Experience.

Driver Autographs and Memorabilia

If you’re buying for someone who has a favorite driver, you can’t go wrong with authentic autographs and memorabilia. From signed helmets and gloves to race-used items such as tires and sheet metal, these pieces offer a deep connection to the sport. And they make a great conversation starter in anyone’s home.

Why it’s great: Owning a piece of NASCAR history makes fans feel like they have a special connection to the drivers and the races.

Where to find: Official NASCAR auctions, sports memorabilia stores, or directly from driver fan clubs. Be sure to buy from reputable dealers; there are a lot of fakes out there.

Documentaries and Books

For fans who enjoy diving deeper into NASCAR’s history and strategy, a well-written book or documentary can be a perfect gift. There are plenty of books covering everything from NASCAR’s history and iconic races to biographies of legendary drivers like Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty, and Jeff Gordon. With a sport that features such a rich history, there’s a topic for everyone.

Why it’s great: It allows fans to learn more about the sport’s history and discover interesting behind-the-scenes stories.

Popular titles: “Driving with the Devil” by Neal Thompson, “Earnhardt Nation” by Jay Busbee, and documentaries like “The Day” about the iconic Daytona 500 race.

Final Lap

When buying gifts for a fan, there are so many options that can fit their unique passion. The business has made it simple with access to good online or at events. Whether it’s a collectible diecast model, an unforgettable race-day experience, or some cool gear, your thoughtful gift is sure to fuel their excitement for the sport they love. No matter the occasion, you can’t go wrong with any of these top NASCAR-themed gifts!

3 Tips for Breaking Into Motorcycle Racing

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

Motorcycle racing is one of the most thrilling sports out there. It combines all sorts of skills from passion to speed. Whether you’re considering racing on a professional level, or simply want to compete in a few local events, the same rules apply. 

Getting started is as simple as knowing the right steps and mindset. With the right mindset and approach you can carve out a thrilling motorcycle racing future for yourself, and break into an exhilarating world.  Here are some of the most essential tips for breaking into motorcycle racing.

Get The Right Bike

Not any old bike will do if you hope to be successful. You want something that is crafted with the highest quality materials and meets the highest quality standards.  Remember, not all bikes were built to be used for competitive racing. Starting with the wrong bike can not only put you at a disadvantage against your competitors, but it can even be dangerous. 

That doesn’t mean to say you need the most expensive bike on the market, but rather one that will provide a good balance between power and control.  This will allow you to learn the basics without being overwhelmed by a bike that’s too powerful. As you improve at racing you can gradually upgrade to a more powerful bike that suits your skill level.

Get Trained 

Motorcycle rating is so much more than just riding skills.  You have to master all sorts of skills from proper braking to controlling the throttle to how you position your body. Not to mention you have to have the right strategy if you hope to win. 

Even though riding in the street counts as helpful experience, a professional can help you learn better precision and discipline in a more structured environment. Consider signing up for a motorcycle racing school where you can learn from a skilled professional who is trained and capable. 

Not only will you have a great teacher by your side, but you’ll also have a highly controlled and safe environment for you to practice without the hazards of riding in the street.

Remember, the learning process should be gradual and structured, otherwise you risk rushing into the process and potentially risking your safety.

Get Safety Gear

Half of the excitement of racing is the thrill and danger that comes along with it. Yet high risk doesn’t necessarily have to mean you allow yourself to get hurt. Taking the proper precautions is critical if you hope to prioritize your safety. 

Make sure that you invest in the right gear to avoid sustaining a serious injury. You want to have a full-face helmet, leather clothing, and of course boots and gloves. 

You want gear that’s specifically designed for racing as it will offer better quality than general riding gear. And while it may be tempting to cut costs and buy a cheaper brand or even used, you always want to buy new materials that meet the latest safety standards.

RFK Advance | Bristol II

By
Official Release
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Bristol II Event Info:
Date: Saturday, Sept. 21
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Series: NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Location: Bristol, Tennessee
Format: 500 Laps, 266.5 Miles, Stages: 125-125-250
TV: USA
Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90)

Weekend Schedule:
Friday: 4 p.m. ET, Practice (USA, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Friday: 4:50 p.m. ET, Qualifying (USA, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 7:30 p.m. ET, Race (USA, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Pace Laps:

  • The annual Bristol Night Race plays host this weekend to the final race in the opening round of the NASCAR Playoffs.
  • Brad Keselowski sits below the cut line needing a solid finish to advance into the Round of 12, just behind the No. 11 and ahead of the No. 19.
  • Since Chris Buescher’s win at Bristol in 2022 – the first overall under the RFK banner – RFK has finished top-10 in two-straight Bristol races, with a pair of top-5s each from Buescher (2023 fall) and Keselowski (2024 spring).
  • Keselowski has the third-best average finish of any driver at Bristol in the last four seasons (7.5), with Buescher just behind in fourth at 8.8.
  • Jack Roush has 19 Bristol wins all-time, including 12 in the Cup Series, second-most only behind Michigan (14).

6 Team Info:
Crew Chief: Matt McCall
Partner: Castrol Edge

17 Team Info:
Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Partner: Fastenal

  • RFK team partner HOIST will be activating this weekend in the campground area at Bristol Motor Speedway, centered around its ‘Fuel the Pull’ event. The ‘Fuel the Pull’ will be hosted at the HOIST vendor site stationed in the Souvenir Alley at the All-American Campground, hosting a series of tug-of-war pick-up games, where attendees can compete against friends, enjoy complimentary HOIST beverages and participate in the excitement of the weekend races.
  • Buescher will make an appearance at the HOIST activation on Friday at 2 p.m. for a Q&A with fans in the area.

Keselowski at Bristol
Starts: 26
Wins: 3 (2011, 2012, 2020)
Top-10s: 10
Poles: 2 (2020)

  • Keselowski makes his 27th Cup start on the concrete at Bristol this weekend. He has three Bristol Cup wins all-time with 10 top-10s and a 15.8 average finish.
  • He’s coming off a third-place run there this spring, and a P8 finish last fall in this race after starting sixth. In the past four fall races he has finishes of P8, P6, P34 and P3.
  • Keselowski’s three wins at BMS came back in 2011-12, and most recently in 2020.
  • Keselowski has led laps in 15 different Bristol races totaling 1,014 laps, his best total of any track on the circuit outside Richmond (1,280).
  • Keselowski has started top-10 in five of the last six Bristol races, including a pair of poles in 2020. Overall he has a 9.7 average starting position – his best of any track outside of Homestead (8.9). He has 16 starts inside the top-10 in 26 Bristol events.
  • Keselowski also made 14 Xfinity starts at Bristol with one win and eight top-10s, and seven Truck starts with one win and three top-10s.

Buescher at Bristol
Starts: 15
Wins: 1 (2022)
Top-10s: 5
Poles: —

  • Buescher enters the weekend with a load of momentum at ‘The Last Great Colosseum,’ coming off three-consecutive finishes of seventh or better. He’s the defending winner of the fall race from two years ago, and has led a combined 187 laps in the last three races alone.
  • He finished seventh at Bristol this spring – after starting 34th – and fourth last fall.
  • Overall, Buescher has five Cup top-10s at Bristol, with an eighth-place finish in the 2020 fall race, and a fifth-place run back in 2016.
  • Buescher has an average starting position of 23.9 with a career-best starting position of 12th (2016).
  • Buescher made five Xfinity Series starts at Bristol with three top-10s and a best finish of third (2015).

RFK Historically at Bristol
Cup Wins: 12 (Mark Martin, 1993, 1998; Kurt Busch, 2002, 2003, 2003, 2004; Matt Kenseth, 2005, 2006; Carl Edwards, 2007, 2008, 2014; Chris Buescher, 2022)

  • Runner Up: RFK’s storied history at Bristol began on April 10, 1988 with the No. 6 NCS car earning a second-place finish. Since that time, in addition to the organization’s 11 NCS wins at the track, RFK Fords have finished second at Bristol on 15 occasions (7 NCS, 4 NXS, 4 NCTS).
  • History and Hot Streaks at “Thunder Valley”: RFK’s history at Bristol has been one of hot streaks, including trips to victory lane in 10 of the last 21 seasons at the famed short track. RFK swept the track in 2003 and put a NCS car in victory lane at least once in every season from 2002-2008.
  • Tale of the Tape: RFK has started 223 NCS races at Bristol, recording 12 total wins with 53 top-five and 93 top-10 finishes. RFK Fords have an average finish of 15.7 with 3693 laps led all-time.

RFK Bristol Wins

1993-2 Martin Cup

1996-1 Martin NXS

1997-1 Burton NXS

1998-2 Martin Cup

2002-1 Busch Cup

2003-1 Busch Cup

2003-2 Busch Cup

2004-1 Busch Cup

2004 Edwards Truck

2005-2 Kenseth Cup

2006-2 Kenseth Cup

2006 Martin Truck

2006-2 Kenseth NXS

2007-1 Edwards NXS

2007-2 Edwards Cup

2008-2 Edwards Cup

2009-2 Ragan NXS

2014 -1 Edwards Cup
2022-2 Buescher Cup

Last Time Out & Where They Stand
Watkins Glen: Buescher earned the first road course win of his career Sunday at the Glen, overcoming three late-race restarts and retaking the lead from road course ace Shane Van Gisbergen. Keselowski finished 26th.

Points Standings (6: 14th, 17: 18th): Keselowski sits 12 points behind the cut line entering Bristol.

Bass Pro Shops Racing: Martin Truex Jr. Bristol Advance

By
Official Release
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Martin Truex Jr.
Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Advance
No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry XSE for Joe Gibbs Racing

Event Overview

● Event: Bass Pro Shops Night Race (Round 29 of 36)
● Time/Date: 7:30 p.m. EDT on Saturday, Sept. 21
● Location: Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway
● Layout: .533-mile concrete oval
● Laps/Miles: 500 laps/266.5 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 125 laps / Stage 2: 125 laps / Final Stage: 250 laps
● TV/Radio: USA Network/ PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● One More Chance to Advance: After being involved in an accident in a late-race restart Sunday at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International, the New Jersey native sits 15th in the 16-driver playoff standings, 14 points below the top-12 cutline with one race remaining in the Round of 16. Only the top-12 drivers in points after Bristol advance to the next playoff round.

● Truex has three top-five finishes, five top-10s and has led a total of 341 laps in 34 career NASCAR Cup Series starts on Bristol’s concrete surface. Truex’s average Bristol finish is 20.2.

● Memory Lane: While Truex is still seeking his first Bristol win in NASCAR’s top series, he has visited victory lane at the East Tennessee track in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Truex brought home the win at Bristol in the spring 2004 race during the first of his back-to-back Xfinity Series championships, which came in 2004 and 2005.

● Truex has traditionally struggled at Bristol, but this season’s first trip to Bristol in March helped him and his Bass Pro Shops team gain confidence on the half-mile bullring. He brought home a runner-up finish to JGR teammate Denny Hamlin, leading 54 laps in a race where tire management was the story of the day. In his 33 races on the Bristol concrete prior to the March race, Truex had led a double-digit number of laps just four times. It was his most laps led in a race there since he led 52 laps in the August 2019 race. Prior to joining JGR in 2019, Truex led 116 laps in the spring 2017 Bristol race in a Toyota for Furniture Row Racing.

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

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

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

If tire wear is a factor again at Bristol like it was in the spring race, how confident are you in your tire management skills to manage that?

“Yeah, I’m certainly looking forward to it more than in past years. Bristol has been in the past, just ‘hammer it’ as hard as you can all day. Track position was huge. Tires didn’t really wear out and it was all about pit stops, restarts and track position. Now, in the spring, it was like old-school racing. I enjoyed that more and had better success at it than I did in previous years at Bristol, so I’m excited for that and I think it’s a good opportunity for us with our Bass Pro Shops Camry.”

What are your thoughts on racing at Bristol, especially with this being a playoff cutoff race?

“Bristol hasn’t been my favorite place, but we’ve had some good runs there, too. I think we’ve been competitive there over the years. It’s a place that’s tight and things happen fast there, so you have to be on your toes. Always really excited to be a part of how great the crowd is there, and the fans love that place. Obviously the spring race there was very encouraging, and hope we can run up front all night like we did there in March and have a shot to make it through to the next round. Would be great to have another strong run there and finally get a win at Bristol with our Bass Pro Shops Camry. We’ll see how it plays out.”

Does going to Bristol make you nervous or does the spring race result give you and the team a bit more confidence going into this weekend?

“We’ve run well there at times, like the spring, for sure. We’ve certainly struggled at times, but I think everybody has. That place is tricky with the spray, and the groove moving around. We won’t race where we practice. It’s a little bit of a challenge there, but all of the times we’ve run there, it’s always been a flat tire or a loose wheel. I can’t even use both hands to count all of the times that has happened. It’s just been a tough place, hopefully no bad luck this weekend and we can go just have a smooth race and hopefully have the performance to get the job done.”

Is your approach going to be to try to point your way on to the next round?

“That’s the goal every week – try to get as many points as you can. You want to run up front and be in the mix with whatever position you are in. We certainly try to do that and maximize stage points and do everything we can. Some of it is out of our control and we can only focus on what we can control. It is going to be tough to point our way in, but it is a long race and a lot can happen, especially at a place like Bristol, so we are looking forward to the opportunity.”

How will you balance keeping track of where your fellow playoff drivers are versus what you are doing on Saturday night?

“You kind of just take it as it comes. Right now, we know where we stand and what we have to do, but things change, and if things change in a major way, they will let me know, but we just have to go race and do the best job that we can do no matter what everyone else has going on.”

No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Martin Truex Jr.

Hometown: Mayetta, New Jersey

Crew Chief: James Small

Hometown: Melbourne, Australia

Car Chief: Chris Jones

Hometown: Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia

Race Engineer: Jaik Halpainy

Hometown: Blockville, New York

Spotter: Drew Herring

Hometown: Benson, North Carolina

Road Crew Members

Underneath Mechanic: Ryan Martin

Hometown: Mechanicsburg, Virgina

Mechanic: Todd Carmichael

Hometown: Redding, California

Interior/Tire Specialist: Tommy DiBlasi

Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland

Engine Tuner: Beau Morton

Hometown: Lake Havasu City, Arizona

Transporter Driver: Kyle Bazzell

Hometown: Fairbury, Illinois

Transporter Driver: Eddie DeGroot

Hometown: Baldwinsville, New York

Over-The-Wall Crew Members

Gas Man: Matt Tyrrell

Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Jackman: Caleb Dirks

Hometown: Riverside, California

Tire Carrier: CJ Bailey

Hometown: Outer Banks, North Carolina

Front Tire Changer: Thomas Hatcher

Hometown: Middleburg, Florida

Rear Tire Changer: Lee Cunningham

Hometown: Leaf River, Illinois

Cadillac aims for endurance title advantage

By
Official Release
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Defending champion enters six-hour Indianapolis race second, third in standings

DETROIT (Sept. 17, 2024) – Cadillac Racing will seek to add another signature victory in program history when it returns to iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the penultimate race of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season.

New for the second edition of the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks is extension of the September 22 race duration from 2 hours, 40 minutes to six hours on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course. The event, featuring 11 Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) entries in the 56-car field across four classes, is the fourth in the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup series. The 10-hour Petit Le Mans on October 12 closes out the calendar.

Cadillac Racing is the defending and five-time IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup (IMEC) Manufacturer champion, while the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R run by Action Express Racing claimed the team and driver titles in 2023. Cadillac and the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R contingent are second in their respective categories entering the race that awards points at the three-hour mark and checkered flag.

“It’s nice that the championship will now finish with two endurance races in a row, which can create a lot of interesting battles and different strategies around not only the overall championship but also the endurance championships,” said Pipo Derani, the 2023 GTP champion and endurance race champion who will share driving duties in both races with Jack Aitken and Tom Blomqvist.

The No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R driven by Sebastien Bourdais and Renger van der Zande are a close third in the IMEC GTP standings. The duo, who tested on the road course earlier this summer, have qualified in the top three in all seven races including earning the pole at Laguna Seca.

Bourdais, who co-drove to the overall victory in the inaugural NASCAR Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series race at Indianapolis in 2012 and is a 10-time INDYCAR starter on the road course, said driving in the congested field spread across the four classes is a “game of patience.”

“In a six-hour race, I guess there will be more management because it will come down to what happens at the last safety car, so it might be a bit easier to manage frustration. In a 2-hour, 40-minute race, it’s trying to get track position the whole time,” said Bourdais, the four-time Indy car champion.

Blomqvist made two starts at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May in INDYCAR competition: finishing 23rd on the road course and 31st in the Indianapolis 500. He co-drove to sixth place in the 2023 IMSA GTP race on the IMS road course with another manufacturer.

“You’ve got to be patient and pick your moments carefully, especially when the track gets crowded. Having raced here last year in IMSA and this year in INDYCAR, I feel confident in knowing the nuances of the track, but it’s always evolving and, with managing traffic, balancing risk and reward will be a key factor in the race,” he said.

Peacock and IMSA.tv will stream qualifications at 3:35 p.m. ET Saturday. Peacock (in U.S.) and IMSA.TV (outside U.S.) will stream flag-to-flag action at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, with NBC telecasting the final three hours starting at 3 p.m.

IMSA Radio (imsa.com), RadioLeMans.com will broadcast qualifications and be joined by SiriusXM (XM 206, Web/App 996) for the race.

Cadillac Racing 2023 at Indianapolis (2-hour, 40-minute race):

  • Seventh (No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R) start fourth – Sebastien Bourdais, Renger van der Zande
  • Fourth (No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R) start eighth – Pipo Derani, Alexander Sims

What they’re saying

No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R

Sebastien Bourdais: “Physically, it’s hard. It’s a track that doesn’t give you much rest and it’s seriously difficult in traffic. There are a lot of sections on the track where you can’t pass. Once you get into turn 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 you got to wait all the way until the backstraight and same thing when you get to 7, 8, 9, 10. If you don’t clear just before you get to the long right, the marbles build up and you can’t pass either. There are few places to clear traffic and it’s really a game of patience because if you try to force the issue it can go sour pretty fast. You have to be careful but at the same time you can’t be too careful. In a 2-hour, 40-minute race, you can’t take it that easy. In a six-hour race, I guess there will be more management because it will come down to what happens at the last safety car, so it might be a bit easier to manage frustration. In a 2-hour, 40-minute race, it’s trying to get track position the whole time. You’re fighting for a couple tenths and then you give up 5 seconds on a lap because you get stuck behind a GT or something for six corners. It’s a tough one.”

Renger van der Zande: “It’s one of those tracks where strategy and track position will play a big role. It’s a fun track on your own. It’s not a typical IMSA track either. I did the 8 hours of Indy as well; finished second. It’s not the most exciting track but it’s the home for a lot of race teams, including our team. It’s a home race for them, so it’s a home race for me. I’m looking forward to Indy. The tough part for us in this part of the season is the hard tire, which we focused on getting it better and found some setup stuff that worked.”

No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R

Pipo Derani: “Indianapolis six hours will be a new challenge as it enters the endurance rounds of the championship. It’s also a very peculiar racetrack, one that can create a lot of marbles off track. It’s most likely going to create a very interesting endurance event, and I am looking forward to that. I also think it’s nice that the championship will now finish with two endurance races in a row, which can create a lot of interesting battles and different strategies around not only the overall championship but also the endurance championships. Last year we had a relatively strong race car apart from the Porsches who were on a league of their own and we weren’t so quick in qualifying. We will be looking to unlock some speed this year and hope that we can fight the Porsches during the race.”

Jack Aitken: “Indianapolis may be a new track for me, but it’s one I know from the simulator and having watched quite a few races there, so I’m not too concerned about getting up to speed. Going to a six hour this year will mean a bit more strategy playing out over the race, and as always traffic management will be a huge part of the game. Competing at such a historic venue will always be a cool outing, and Indy is a bit of a home away from home at this point, thanks to the Dallara simulator being just next to the Speedway.”

Tom Blomqvist: “Racing at Indy is always a special experience, and the new six-hour format definitely changes things and adds a new challenge for everyone. The circuit is tight and technical, so traffic management will be crucial to a strong result. Overtaking can be challenging, but there are a few decent spots to make moves, particularly heading into Turn 1 and on the backstretch. You’ve got to be patient and pick your moments carefully, especially when the track gets crowded. Having raced here last year in IMSA and this year in INDYCAR, I feel confident in knowing the nuances of the track, but it’s always evolving and, with managing traffic, balancing risk and reward will be a key factor in the race. To be back working with the team, Pipo and Jack is fantastic and I’m optimistic about our chances. We’re currently second in the Endurance Cup standings, so the goal for the last two rounds is to maximize every opportunity for points and try to win the title.”

Fuji frustration for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing

By
Official Release
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Toyota City, Japan, Sept 17, 2024 – (JCN Newswire) – TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s winning run on home ground came to an end despite a valiant effort in a dramatic 6 Hours of Fuji, the penultimate round of the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).

An intense team effort, committed driving and bold strategy put the GR010 HYBRIDs in the fight for victory despite their revised power and weight parameters at Fuji, but TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s run of six consecutive home wins ultimately ended in frustration.

In front of 65,800 enthusiastic fans, a battling drive from Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa in their #8 GR010 HYBRID looked to have earned a podium until a late penalty dropped them down to 10th place.

The #7 GR010 HYBRID of Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries had led with two hours to go but were forced to retire due to accident damage. That effectively ends the World Championship challenge of Kamui and Nyck with one race remaining.

The team found itself on the back foot from the opening stages. Either side of a lap-two safety car, Sébastien dropped from second to fourth while Mike also lost ground from fourth on the grid, and spent the first stint in fifth, behind the #8.

Further position changes saw the second hour end with Mike still in fifth, but Sébastien now sixth, although those positions were swapped soon after when the #7 GR010 HYBRID suffered tyre degradation, causing it to pit earlier than planned. Nyck took over while Brendon replaced Sébastien soon after.

Despite the tough start, the team’s fuel and tyre strategy started to pay off. After half distance, Nyck overtook the #15 BMW and the #50 Ferrari then overhauled the #6 Porsche in the pits to lead. The #8 also made progress and Brendon boldly passed two Ferraris before handing over to Ryo, who joined the podium fight.

After almost four hours of intense competition, Kamui took over for two stints to hunt down the victory, with both cars now in a stronger strategic position in terms of fuel and tyres than their rivals. But a virtual safety car early in the fifth hour took away that advantage by giving all Hypercars the chance to pit and lose less time compared to doing so under racing conditions.

A 90-minute sprint to the flag saw Ryo initially hold third before the #35 Alpine overtook. The #7 fared worse when Kamui and the #5 Porsche made contact in the battle for eighth. Damage to the rear suspension and bodywork could not be repaired in time, so the car was retired with an hour remaining.

Ryo pushed hard to bring the #8 back onto the podium in the final hour, overtaking both JOTA Porsches and then moving into a comfortable third after a penalty for the #35 Alpine. But with 16 minutes to go, the #8 incurred its own drive-through penalty, for an incident with the leading #6 Porsche, and Ryo finished 10th, 58.879secs behind the winner.

Despite the very frustrating result, the team is already focused on retaining its manufacturers’ title in a showdown in Bahrain on 2 November when the fight for the World Championship will be concluded. TOYOTA GAZOO Racing is just 10 points behind leaders Porsche going into the eighth and final race of 2024.

Kamui Kobayashi (Team Principal and driver, car #7):

“It was a very tough race. The second safety car brought us into a difficult situation. After that I tried to fight with Porsche #5 for a couple of laps, but our lack of straight-line speed was clear, so he tried to overtake through the first three turns. On the inside of turn three we both committed to the corner in the same moment and could not avoid contact. Unfortunately, we then had another contact, and the damage was too heavy to repair. It definitely was not our day, and I feel sorry for our home fans who supported us so much. Hopefully we will come back strong for the last race in Bahrain.”

Mike Conway (Driver, car #7):

“It’s been a pretty rough day on both cars. Unfortunately for car #7 we had contact and the car was not repairable, so we didn’t score any points which is bad for our drivers’ championship, and as a team we didn’t score well for the manufacturers’ either. It’s obviously frustrating and not the result we wanted for our home fans and all the partners and Toyota colleagues who support us here. But there is one round to go and it’s a longer race, with more points available, so we will do our best to come back fighting.”

Nyck de Vries (Driver, car #7):

“It is a tough pill to swallow for the whole team. It has been hard all weekend. We were aware that our race pace was not good enough to challenge at the front based on our speed alone and that we needed to execute the best possible race to score good points for both championships. We had a great strategy to do just that but unfortunately due to the race circumstances, we didn’t pull it off. That is a real pity.”

Sébastien Buemi (Driver, car #8):

“It was a bit of a disaster for us. We had a solid start, considering we were a bit slower than our rivals. I had no chance to race into turn one because the acceleration of the other cars was much better. But we came back into it, then got unlucky with the safety car. Without the drive-through penalty we would have finished on the podium which would have been an acceptable result. We’ll analyse everything, regroup and come back stronger in Bahrain.”

Brendon Hartley (Driver, car #8):

“We had a pretty clean race. Séb did a great job looking after the tyres which gave us a real chance based on our strategy. We didn’t have the pace of our competitors, but we did our best. A big thanks to the team because everyone fought hard. It was an important race for us and in the end we came up short for many different reasons. But we will keep our heads up and fight back in Bahrain for the manufacturers’ championship. Huge thanks to everyone here in Japan who has supported us this week, the Toyota colleagues, partners and all the fans.”

Ryo Hirakawa (Driver, car #8):

“Obviously it is a really disappointing day. We wanted to have a good race in front of our fans and partners but it didn’t turn out that way. We tried everything and at one point it looked promising, but then things went against us. There is one race remaining and hopefully we can finish on a high by winning the championship; we are going to keep fighting. Thanks to the team for their hard work all week, and special thanks to our partners and fans for all the support.”

6 Hours of Fuji – Result

1st #6 Porsche Penske (Estre/Lotterer/Vanthoor) 213 laps
2nd #15 BMW M Team WRT (Vanthoor/Marciello/Wittmann) +16.601secs
3rd #36 Alpine Endurance Team (Lapierre/Schumacher/Vaxiviere) +42.321secs
4th #93 Peugeot TotalEnergies (Jensen/Müller/Vergne) +45.846secs
5th #12 Hertz Team JOTA (Stevens/Ilott/Nato) +49.689secs
6th #38 Hertz Team JOTA (Button/Hanson/Rasmussen) +51.916secs
10th #8 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing +58.879secs
DNF #7 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing

About Toyota

Toyota strives to be a strong corporate citizen, engaging with and earning the trust of its stakeholders, and to contribute to the creation of a prosperous society through all its business operations.

Our corporate principles form the basis of our initiatives, reflect values that enable action, and drive our mindset.

The Perks of Crash Style Betting Games

By
SM
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Photo by Carl Raw on Unsplash

Crash-style games have taken over the mobile and desktop betting websites by storm, and for good reason. Objectively speaking, crash-style games offer fast-paced gameplay, quick payouts, excellent quality of life, and exciting social elements. In this article, we will be focusing specifically on the Aviator crash game, what it offers, and where to download Aviator Game.

What is Aviator?

Aviator is a crash-style game you can play on desktops, laptops, or mobile devices in the form of an application. A crash-style game is a game that operates around an increasing multiplier that can abruptly ‘crash’ or stop at any given time.

The game’s objective is to withdraw your investment and earnings before the crash happens. If a crash occurs before the player withdraws, they lose their entire investment. Investments are made with real money, making Aviator a betting game.

The Perks of Aviator

The are many reasons why Aviator has become so popular. Some of the reasons include:

  • Thrilling Gameplay – The speed at which Aviator plays perfectly captures players in a dopamine spiral. Aviator features minimal downtime whilst fun to play, keeping players engaged.
  • Quick Payouts – Payouts in Aviator are as easy as buying in and placing bets. Akin to the responsiveness of withdrawing before the crash, players can pay themselves out just as quickly.
  • Quality of Life – User Interface design is a major point of contention for players across all games. Many games live or die by questionable interface decisions and Aviator’s UI excels by comparison. Aviator features a quality interface across all devices.
  • Social Elements – Unlike other betting games, Aviator utilizes a unique social element in its gameplay. Allowing you to see other players’ winnings, bets, and losses; as well as the ability to chat with them in real-time. This makes for a unified experience where you can even meet others who share common interests.

Where Can You Play Aviator?

As mentioned previously, Aviator is available on nearly every device. Aviator can be played on Laptops, Desktops, Apple Devices, and Android devices.

Desktop & Laptops

To play Aviator on either of these devices, a download isn’t even required. You can play the Aviator game by simply visiting your favorite online casinos and websites and finding the game. Our recommended website is 22Bet.

Android

Android and its app store are much more relaxed than Apple and feature custom app installs. Regardless, you can find Aviator on the Google Play store and install it as you would any other app. Be sure to check out the link above to see system requirements.

Apple

Aviator is also on iOS, and you can find it by simply searching for ‘Aviator App’ in the Apple App Store. Any device made within the past decade is more than capable of running the game smoothly.

Bottom Line

Crash-style games, specifically Aviator, offer the best of the best when it comes to betting online. Aviator is constantly engaging, dopamine-filled, and a social experience just waiting for you to become a part of.

Remember, Aviator uses real money so calculate what you risk accordingly and do so responsibly. Happy gaming!

Niece Motorsports NCTS Race Preview: Bristol Motor Speedway II

By
Official Release
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NIECE MOTORSPORTS
NCTS RACE ADVANCE: BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY
Race: UNOH 200 Presented by Ohio Logistics (200 laps / 106.6 miles) | Race 18 of 23
Track: Bristol Motor Speedway
Location: Bristol, Tennessee
Date & Time: Thursday, September 19th | 8:00 PM ET
Tune-In: FOX Sports 1 | Motor Racing Network (MRN) | Sirius XM Ch. 90

No. 41 Crazy Al’s Wine & Spirits Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Connor Mosack | Crew Chief: Cody Efaw
Connor Mosack
@ConnorMosack
@ConnorMosack

  • Mosack’s Back: 25-year-old Connor Mosack returns for his final Truck Series start of the year with Niece Motorsports. In both of his previous starts with the team, he drove the No. 45 entry, but shifts to the No. 41 truck in Thursday’s race at Bristol Motor Speedway. The team’s primary full-time driver, Bayley Currey, has moved over to the No. 44 entry for this week. Mosack has made five total NCTS starts this year, splitting his schedule with Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 team. His season-best finish is an eighth-place run at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
  • Niece Motorsports Bristol Stats: Niece drivers have accounted for a total of 23 NCTS starts on the traditional concrete layout at Bristol Motor Speedway. The team has captured two top-fives and four top-10 finishes, with a best result of third in 2019 by Ross Chastain.
  • Mosack’s Bristol Stats: Connor Mosack has competed in one prior NCTS start at Bristol in 2022, where he finished 31st in Bret Holmes Racing equipment. Last year, Mosack raced his way to a top-15 finish in the Xfinity Series event when he finished 14th for Sam Hunt Racing. In his lone ARCA Menards Series start at the 0.533-mile short track, Mosack picked up a top-10 finish (ninth) in 2022.
  • On the Truck: Mosack’s No. 41 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from Crazy Al’s Wine & Spirits, a family-owned liquor store located in Tonkawa, Oklahoma.
  • Quoting Mosack: How do you sum up your experience in running with Niece Motorsports on a part-time basis this year?

“I feel like the two races haven’t gone as well as we’ve liked, but Las Vegas was my first truck race at a mile-and-a-half and it was also my first start at Gateway, so there’s been a lot of learning for me along the way. Both of those races were good opportunities for me to learn those places and mesh with the new team and crew chief. It’s been good; I’ve enjoyed it, and I feel like both races we improved all day. Going into Bristol, that’s a place I have been before, so I think we can start off a bit better and hopefully end on our best note.”

  • Quoting Efaw: Without any track compound being used this week, how should that change the competitiveness of the race?

“I think that should give the drivers some more options to change their line throughout the race. In years past, when we’ve had the PJ1 applied to the track before our race, we’ve seen that it takes a while for us to break it in by the finish, so now it should open up the track a bit earlier. That gives us options to use the whole track from the drop of the green flag.”

About Crazy Al’s: Crazy Al’s is a family-owned wine and spirit store located in Tonkawa, Oklahoma. The store offers several varieties of premium wine, whiskey, tequila, vodka, and more, alongside a beer cave that carries domestic and imported brands suited to fit everyone’s tastes. Visit the Crazy Al’s Facebook page for new product offerings, sales, and more. Drink responsibly, must be 21 years or older to enter.

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

  • Mills’ Bristol Stats: Matt Mills has made two prior NCTS starts at Bristol, including the spring race earlier this year. In March, Mills notched his best Truck Series finish at the track with a 25th-place result. Mills made five Xfinity Series starts at the short track and produced a best finish of 18th in the fall race of 2019.
  • Leonard’s Bristol Stats: Jon Leonard has called four NCTS races at Bristol, and in two of those starts, he secured top-10 finishes while working with Stewart Friesen (fourth in 2021 & seventh in 2022). In his lone Cup Series start in 2018, Leonard’s team drove to a 15th-place finish with Kasey Kahne at the wheel.
  • On the Truck: Mills’ No. 42 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from longtime partners J.F. Electric & Utilitra.
  • Looking Back on NASCAR Debut: At age 19 in 2016, Mills made his very first NASCAR national series start at Bristol Motor Speedway driving the No. 07 Silverado for SS Greenlight Racing. On that night, Mills started 31st and finished 27th in his Truck Series debut.
  • There’s a New Leonard in Town: Jon Leonard and his wife, AudriOnna, welcomed the birth of their third child last Thursday. Their baby boy named Karson is healthy and resting at home with his two big sisters. Congratulations to the happy family!
  • Recapping Milwaukee: Matt Mills was on track to have a solid day in Milwaukee, but contact from another competitor resulted in him slamming into the wall with the rear of his No. 42 Chevrolet. Mills qualified 17th and held his track position in stage one. In stage two, he moved up to 16th, and made his way into the top-15 before the incident. A caution was not thrown for his contact and he fought an ill-handling truck for the rest of the race. Mills crossed the line in 24th.
  • Points Rundown: Entering Bristol, Mills continues to be shown 22nd in the points standings. Last race, the driver of the No. 42 Chevy gained one point on his nearest competitor, Timmy Hill, who now leads a 12-point gap between the two for 21st. Mills in turn has a 21-point cushion above his teammate, Kaden Honeycutt, in 23rd.
  • Quoting Mills: How much, if any, has the Bristol track changed since you made your debut here in 2016?

“Bristol has been one of those tracks that’s been hit or miss for me. It’s a track that doesn’t consistently race the same each time we go there, especially going from trucks to Xfinity cars. I’ve ran races when the track runs like a bottom feeder, but have also seen the top come in. It’s a very fun racetrack to make laps on, and even though my finishes have been hit or miss, I feel like we usually have speed there. We just have to keep up with how the track is going to race.”

  • Quoting Leonard: Are the Bristol handling conditions similar when we race in the spring compared to the fall?

“I think for the most part, this track typically carries over a lot of similar handling characteristics. The biggest thing that will change from the first race to now is the fact that there won’t be any traction compound on the surface like how we are used to having before our race. I think that shouldn’t necessarily change how the trucks drive, but it should allow us to move around a lot more. Hopefully that will help improve the racing and make it easier for passing.”

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

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

No. 44 DQS Solutions & Staffing Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Bayley Currey | Crew Chief: Wally Rogers
Bayley Currey
@BayleyCurrey
@BayleyCurrey05

  • New Number, Who This?: After making the first 17 races of the season behind the wheel of the No. 41 Chevrolet, Bayley Currey slides into the No. 44 truck for this week’s race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Currey is the third driver to drive the part-time entry after Conor Daly and Matt Gould both made starts in the No. 44 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park and the Milwaukee Mile.
  • Currey’s Bristol Stats: Bayley Currey has made four Truck Series starts at Bristol since 2017 including three top-15 finishes. In the spring race, Currey finished highest of the Niece Motorsports drivers in 11th – his personal best finish at the track. Currey has started five Xfinity Series races at the short track, where in 2022 he also finished 11th after leading a handful of laps. He also owns a pair of Cup Series starts here as well.
  • Rogers’ Bristol Stats: Wally Rogers has called seven NCTS races at Bristol and secured his personal best finish of third in 2004 while working with Matt Crafton at Kevin Harvick Incorporated. In 13 NXS starts atop the box, Rogers’ drivers have finished inside the top-10 seven times, including a pair of third-place finishes (2001 with Randy LaJoie and 2006 with Ron Hornaday). In 2009, Rogers made his first start as a Cup Series crew chief here and later went on to make 11 NCS starts at “The World’s Fastest Half Mile”.
  • On the Truck: Currey’s No. 44 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from DQS Solutions & Staffing along with Masked Owl Technologies.
  • Recapping Milwaukee: Bayley Currey’s race in Milwaukee was affected early after he was squeezed into the wall by another competitor in the first stage. Currey was forced to pit under green and lost two laps in the process, finishing 34th in stage one. He managed to pick up a handful of positions to finish 31st in stage two, but was ultimately unable to get back on the lead lap. Currey was credited with a 29th-place finish.
  • Points Rundown: Currey remains 19th in the points standings for a second week in a row leaving Milwaukee. The driver sits 33 points behind Ty Dillon in 18th, and has a 10-point gap to Bret Holmes in 20th.
  • Quoting Currey: Do you feel confident with how the spring race played out to come back and have another good run here?

“Well, Bristol is one of my favorite tracks that we go to. It reminds me a lot of the 1/5th-mile track I raced on as a kid. I think the racing should be a little more exciting this time around since they’re not spraying the traction compound before the race, so that should widen out the track a bit. I’m really excited about that; I’ve never got to rip the top in a truck, so it should be a lot of fun.”

  • Quoting Rogers: How important is it to qualify well here in Bristol?

“Very important. It’s hard to pass there, and you’re going to have to have multiple lines that are fast, so track position is going to be extremely important. We just have to try and maintain that all throughout the race and that should lead us to get a good finish out of the night.”
DQS Solutions & Staffing Mission Statement: The core mission of DQS Solutions & Staffing is to attain unparalleled excellence in our specialized domains, specifically staffing and security. Simultaneously, we maintain the flexibility required to collaborate closely with our clients in the creation of innovative products and services within the framework of DQS.

No. 45 Moore’s Venture Foods Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Kaden Honeycutt | Crew Chief: Phil Gould
Ross Chastain
@RossChastain
@RossChastain

  • Honeycutt’s Bristol Stats: Kaden Honeycutt has competed in three NCTS races at Bristol Motor Speedway. He earned his best finish at the track in March, where he crossed the line in 12th after qualifying in the top-10. Honeycutt made an appearance in the ARCA Menards Series race here last year, but was sidelined to 21st after getting involved in a crash.
  • Gould’s Bristol Stats: Phil Gould has started six NCTS races atop the pit box and was responsible for all four of Niece Motorsports’ top-10 finishes. His best result was delivered by Ross Chastain, who finished third in 2019. In the Xfinity Series, Gould called a total of 12 races on the high banks. Highlights include three top-10 runs and an outside pole qualifying effort with Brian Scott in 2013.
  • On the Truck: Honeycutt’s No. 45 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from Venture Foods, a family-owned grocery store chain located in Oklahoma. 2024 marks the company’s 50th anniversary of the first store opening, and has been operated by the Moore family for three generations.
  • CARS Tour PLM Battle: With two races remaining in the zMAX CARS Tour Pro Late Model Series season, Honeycutt remains in contention for the championship. Following a fourth-place finish at South Boston Speedway, Honeycutt is posted second in points behind leader, Spencer Davis. Next up for the tour is a trip to Tri-County Motor Speedway on Saturday, October 12th.
  • Recapping Milwaukee: Kaden Honeycutt put together a solid outing in Milwaukee for his first start at the historic track. Honeycutt qualified the highest out of the team (seventh), and was en route to a fifth-place run in the first stage when the caution struck. After pitting, he was credited with 11th in stage one. In stage two, Honeycutt climbed to ninth and picked up two stage points. In dirty air, Honeycutt struggled to maintain his balance, and slid back to finish 12th.
  • Owner Points Outlook: Milwaukee’s 12th-place finish, coupled with the added bonus of a handful of stage points, has pushed the No. 45 team above the provisional cutline heading into the second race of the Playoffs. Honeycutt and team are currently eighth in owner points, +2 on the Spire Motorsports No. 7 team in ninth. They need two good finishes in a row in order to advance to the Round of 8.
  • Quoting Honeycutt: Given your short track background, are you happy to see this race in the Round of 10?

“Yeah, I think we’ve worked on our Bristol package a lot over the last couple of months since we struggled there in the first race. I feel like we should be a whole lot better this time, but the track will race a whole lot different without the traction compound. So, that’ll be a toss up, but I think we can qualify in the top-five and that’ll give us a better opportunity to go and try to get stage points. We need to get as many points as we can, but it would be great to win and move onto the next round in the Owner’s Playoffs.”

  • Quoting Gould: What have you and your team mainly been working on to help the short track package?

“Mainly, we’ve been trying to find the feel that Kaden’s been looking for. We had a good package with Carson (Hocevar) that has carried over to the mile-and-a-half tracks, but for short tracks, we just haven’t been as good. I think Milwaukee was a step in the right direction; you know we had a good truck, but pit road hindered our performance. We were okay in the spring here in Bristol, but there’s a lot of unknowns without the traction compound. We’ve been doing a lot of work in the simulator so we’ll see what we’ve got.”

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

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

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