Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway… In 145 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Darlington Raceway, Richard Childress Racing has eight wins, all by Dale Earnhardt. Earnhardt claimed the checkered flag in 1986 (spring), both races in 1987, 1989 (fall), another sweep in 1990 plus spring events in 1993 and 1994. RCR drivers have 26 top-five and 48 top-10 finishes at the historic South Carolina speedway.

Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at The Lady in Black… Richard Childress Racing is looking to find Victory Lane for the first time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Darlington Raceway. Austin Hill owns back-to-back second-place finishes in his two most recent starts at the track. The Welcome, N.C. based team has 14 top-five and 32 top-10 finishes.

Catch Saturday’s Action… The Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200 will be televised live on Saturday, August 31, beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET on USA. The race will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Watch Sunday’s Show… The Southern 500 will be televised live on Sunday, September 1 beginning at 6 p.m. ET on USA. The race will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Toys for Tots Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Darlington Raceway… Austin Dillon has made 16 career starts in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway, posting a career-best second-place finish in September 2020 when he missed Victory Lane by a narrow margin over Kevin Harvick. Dillon has completed 98 percent of the laps competed in the NASCAR Cup Series at the historic venue. Dillon also had a fourth-place finish in 2017. Dillon has made four appearances at The Lady in Black in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, securing his best finish of fifth in 2012. The 2011 NASCAR Truck Series champion has two starts at the track in the Truck Series, earning his best finish of fifth in August 2010.

Welcome Toys for Tots… Toys for Tots, a 77-year National charitable Program run by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, provides year-round joy, comfort, and hope to economically disadvantaged children across the Nation through the gift of a new toy or book. Providing toys, books, and other gifts to disadvantaged children offers recognition, confidence, and a positive memory for a lifetime. Such experiences help children become responsible citizens and caring members of their community. Since 1947, the Program has evolved and grown exponentially, delivering hope and Christmas magic to over 301 million children in need. The Marine Toys for Tots Program also provides support year-round to families experiencing challenges and exceptional circumstances, thus fulfilling the hopes and dreams of millions of disadvantaged children beyond the holidays. The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is a not-for-profit organization authorized by the U.S. Marine Corps and the Department of Defense to provide fundraising and other necessary support for the annual Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. For more information, visit www.toysfortots.org.

Toys for Tots 97:3 Program… The 97:3 Program to Support Ratio means that 97 cents of every donated dollar goes directly to support the Toys for Tots mission of providing gifts for economically disadvantaged children, with not a single donated dollar going toward salaries or labor costs. Donate online to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation at www.toysfortots.org/donate/.

Meet Dillon… On Saturday, August 31 at 4 p.m. ET, the Coca-Cola Racing driver is scheduled to make an appearance on behalf of Coca-Cola at Walmart (251 Andover Place, Darlington, SC 29532).

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTE:

What are your thoughts on Darlington Raceway?

“Darlington Raceway is one of my favorite tracks and I love racing there. It’s a racer’s track, and the history there is so special. It’s one of the hardest races to win. I have finished second there in the past, so we want to improve on that. We need to qualify well on Saturday because track position is extremely important, and a good pit stall can make a difference in the race. The track gets slick and wears tires quite a bit. The key to Darlington Raceway is trying to race the track and not the competition. It would be nice to knock another Crown Jewel off. I’ve got two of them and another one would be pretty special to take the No. 3 Toys for Tots Chevrolet to Victory Lane Sunday night.”

Kyle Busch and the No. 8 Morgan & Morgan Chevrolet Camaro at Darlington Raceway… Kyle Busch will make his 26th NASCAR Cup Series start at Darlington Raceway. The Las Vegas native scored his first victory at the historic track in 2008, which came in just his fourth start at the egg-shaped speedway. During that win, Busch led a race-high 169 of 367 laps and crossed the finish line over three seconds ahead of second-place Carl Edwards. Entering this weekend’s event, Busch has recorded six top-five and 14 top-10 finishes at Darlington Raceway. He ranks third overall among current drivers in laps led at Darlington (899).

Did You Know? Busch is the youngest NASCAR Cup Series race winner in the 74-year history of Darlington Raceway. Busch was 23 years, 0 months, and 8 days old when he captured the checkered flag at the South Carolina speedway in 2008.

Points Update… Busch currently holds the 16th position in the Cup Series regular season driver point standings, 106 points below the Playoff cutline. Entering the final race of NASCAR’s regular season, Busch must win on Sunday to qualify for the Playoffs.

About Morgan & Morgan… As America’s largest injury law firm, Morgan & Morgan has recovered more than $15 billion for over 300,000 clients. Throughout the United States, our attorneys fulfill our “For The People” commitment in over 50 practice areas, including national mass torts and class actions, labor and employment, civil rights, and product liability, among many others. We co-counsel with hundreds of other law firms, who refer thousands of cases to us. Our firm has taken on some of the biggest corporations across the globe, including BP, Facebook, Google, Monsanto, and Lockheed Martin, and recovered billions in complex national litigation, including $1.8 billion in the Porter Ranch Gas Leak case in 2021. Learn more at www.forthepeople.com.

KYLE BUSCH QUOTES:

Do you think you can win at Darlington Raceway this weekend?

“We certainly want to. We ran good there the first time I ran with these RCR guys early last year, but we struggled mightily earlier this year. We’ll just have to go with hopefully a really good package that works and get our job done.”

What were your first impressions about racing at Darlington Raceway as an Xfinity Series rookie in 2003?

“I would say my first impressions of Darlington in 2003 were just how narrow the track was for how fast you were going around there and the lack of grip. It was pretty intimidating for an 18-year old to go into a place like that and run right up next to the wall but make sure you take care of your right side and not hit the wall hard enough to have damage.”

Is Darlington Raceway a track where you benefit from running either a Truck or Xfinity Series car before the Cup race?

“I do think that Darlington is a track that you can benefit from running the Trucks or the Xfinity race because you can get that extra seat time. You can feel out to where the wall is, the grip level, and just being able to anticipate how things will change throughout a run or the race and how to stay on top of it.”

Jesse Love and the No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet Camaro SS at Darlington Raceway… Jesse Love has made one career NASCAR Xfinity Series start at Darlington Raceway, driving the No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet to an eighth-place result earlier this season. The Sunoco Rookie of the Year points leader posted the respectable finish after practice and qualifying were rained out, forcing his first laps at the track “Too Tough to Tame” to be during the race.

Whelen Everyday Champion… The Whelen Everyday Champion program celebrates community heroes and allows Whelen the opportunity to show their respect and deep gratitude for the acts of those who work tirelessly to make their communities better and safer places to live. Each year, Whelen honors one individual or team who exemplifies bravery, selflessness, and dedication by inducting them into the Whelen Hall of Champions at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C. Nominate your Everyday Champion before September 6 at www.whelen.com/evc/.

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:

Returning to Darlington Raceway for the second and final time in 2024, what is the outlook?

“Our No. 2 Whelen team should be good going back to Darlington Raceway for a second time. I thought we were pretty good earlier this season, but we’ve gotten our car even better since then. Our sim work has been solid leading into this weekend. Overall, Darlington is a place I enjoy going to though. Running the top fits my driving style and Danny (Stockman, crew chief) has had success there throughout his career as well. It’s a place that we can compete for a win.”

With practice and qualifying being rained out in the spring, do you think that extra time this weekend will help?

“I don’t see why not. Our car is going to be pretty close when we unload, but it will still be good for me to have reps behind the wheel and see which way our car is going to trend. We are going to Darlington with a little different package than we had earlier this season, so I think that should help us tune in for the long run. Qualifying will be important for track position, and I think I can get a good starting spot for our team.”

Austin Hill and the No. 21 Bennett Transportation and Logistics Chevrolet Camaro SS at Darlington Raceway… Austin Hill has made six career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Darlington Raceway, earning a top-10 result in each event. In the last two races at the historic South Carolina track (fall 2023, spring 2024), the Winston, Georgia native has driven the No. 21 Bennett Transportation & Logistics Chevrolet to consecutive second-place results. Hill has also competed in three NASCAR Truck Series races at Darlington, posting a best finish of third in 2020.

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.

Meet Hill… On Saturday, August 31 at 12:35 p.m. ET, Hill is scheduled to sign autographs at the RCR Merchandise Hauler located in the Fan Zone at Darlington Raceway. Stop by to get your No. 21 gear and have Hill sign the items purchased.

AUSTIN HILL QUOTES:

What makes Darlington Raceway so difficult?

“Darlington Raceway is a tough place to get around. Tire wear is a big issue there and we always see a good amount of tire fall off. You have to make the decision of how hard you are going to push at the beginning of a run or how much you are willing to fall off at the end of a run. It’s always a game of chess to position yourself around other guys who may have made the same decision as you. How hard are they pushing right now compared to me. You want to stay under the limit of the tire and not overstep the right front or right rear to burn it off too early. I personally love to race on any tracks that have an old, worn-out surface where you see a lot of tire fall off. You see a lot of strategies play out differently. It’s a very unique racetrack that no other racetrack can mimic.”

Would you rather be better in Turns 1 and 2 or Turns 3 and 4?

“In racing, your car is never going to be 100% perfect. Drivers will always complain about something, whether the car is too tight, too loose, or doing something that we don’t like. For me, when I go into Darlington weekend, I focus on how my car is driving in Turns 3 and 4. I hope I can just get through Turns 1 and 2 but be really strong on the other end. Everyone gets through Turns 1 and 2 fairly decent. You can move your line around to make up speed. But in Turns 3 and 4, you have to turn really well and have drive on exit with how tight the overall corner is. When you see guys who win races at Darlington, I feel like they are really strong in Turns 3 and 4.”

JUSTIN HALEY | KAZ GRALA
Darlington Advance
Event Overview

● Event: Cook Out Southern 500 (Round 26 of 36)
● Time/Date: 6:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Sept. 1
● Location: Darlington (S.C.) Raceway
● Layout: 1.366-mile
● Laps/Miles: 367 laps/501.32 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 115 laps / Stage 2: 115 laps / Final Stage: 137 laps
● TV/Radio: USA / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Justin Haley, Driver of the No. 51 NC Fraternal Order of Police Ford Mustang Dark Horse

● Justin Haley, driver of the No. 51 NC Fraternal Order of Police Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Rick Ware Racing (RWR), returns to Darlington (S.C.) Raceway looking to build on a solid performance in the May 12 Goodyear 400 at the 1.366-mile egg-shaped oval. His ninth-place finish was his first of two top-10s this season, his third top-10 at Darlington, and it marked RWR’s best finish at a non-superspeedway-type track.

● Haley backed up his May Darlington finish with another ninth-place result two weeks later at the 1.25-mile World Wide Technology Raceway oval in Madison, Illinois. The strong runs continued for the No. 51 team, which last Saturday night led 21 laps at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway before being caught up in a multicar wreck while running third with just nine laps remaining in the race.

● In seven starts at Darlington, Haley has a best finish of third, earned in May 2022. He’s completed 2,265 of 2,275 total laps available (99.6 percent) at the track and has an average finish of 16.6.

● On Monday, April 29, 2024, law enforcement officers from the U.S. Marshals Task Force and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police department (CMPD) were attempting to serve a felony warrant when a suspect opened fire from inside the house. Four heroes were mortally wounded – CMPD Officer Joshua Eyer, NC Department of Adult Corrections Investigators Samuel Poloche and William “Alden” Elliott, and Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas M. Weeks, Jr. – while four additional officers were injured. Haley and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #9 Foundation represented the fallen in the May 12 Goodyear 400 at Darlington. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #9 has provided the families of the four fallen officers with monetary assistance thanks to the donations made in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy and will continue to collect donations for future assistance. Additional details, including donation information, can be found at NCFOPLodge9.com.

● With 25 races complete this season, Haley is ranked third among drivers in laps (6,550) and miles (8,688.26) completed, and sits first among Ford drivers in both categories.

Kaz Grala, Driver of the No. 15 Meat N’ Bone Ford Mustang Dark Horse

● Kaz Grala returns to the No. 15 Meat N’ Bone Ford Mustang Dark Horse for his second Cup Series start at Darlington after earning an 18th-place finish in his Darlington debut in May.

● In two NASCAR Xfinity Series races at Darlington, Grala has a best finish of ninth, earned in the May 2023 race.

● Grala’s last outing in the No. 15 Ford Mustang Dark Horse was a 26th-place effort in his first Cup Series event on the Chicago Street Course on July 7.

● Meat N’ Bone returns to the No. 15 RWR Ford Mustang Dark Horse after debuting with Grala at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon on June 23. Meat N’ Bone is an online butcher shop offering premium quality meats delivered locally and shipped nationally. Customers can order from over 300 products, including USDA Prime and Wagyu A5, and have it delivered fresh to their door. Meat N’ Bone also offers local pickup and a personalized retail experience in its boutiques.

Rick Ware Racing Notes

● The Progressive American Flat Track (AFT) series enters the penultimate weekend of the 2024 season with a doubleheader at the Springfield Mile at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. The 2019 Mission SuperTwins champion and RWR rider Briar Bauman sits third in the standings, just 12 points out of first. Singles rider Kody Kopp has the opportunity to clinch an early championship after securing his sixth win of the year at Sturgis TT. He currently holds a 34-point lead and would need to score just 26 more throughout the weekend to claim his third consecutive title.

● The Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series heads to Indianapolis for the U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway Park this weekend. RWR Top Fuel driver Clay Millican sits sixth in the championship standings as the series enters the final race of the regular season.

● Rick Ware has been a motorsports mainstay for more than 40 years. It began at age six when the third-generation racer began his driving career and has since spanned four wheels and two wheels on both asphalt and dirt. Competing in the SCCA Trans Am Series and other road-racing divisions led Ware to NASCAR in the early 1980s, where he finished third in his NASCAR debut – the 1983 Warner W. Hodgdon 300 NASCAR Grand American race at Riverside (Calif.) International Raceway. More than a decade later, injuries would force Ware out of the driver seat and into fulltime team ownership. In 1995, Rick Ware Racing was formed, and with wife Lisa by his side, Ware has since built his eponymous organization into an entity that fields two fulltime entries in the NASCAR Cup Series while simultaneously campaigning successful teams in the Top Fuel class of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, Progressive American Flat Track and FIM World Supercross Championship (WSX), where RWR won the 2022 SX2 championship with rider Shane McElrath.

Justin Haley, Driver Q&A

You’re heading back to Darlington, where the No. 51 team had a strong showing in May. How do you feel about returning to the Lady in Black?

“I’m really excited. Outside of our superspeedway performance, I feel like Darlington is where we’ve run the best. I think we’ve continued to build on what we learned that weekend and are in a great position to have another top-10 race.”

This is the first time you’ll be running the Southern 500 as the regular-season finale. Do you expect this to be a more contentious race than what it typically was when it was the first race in the playoffs?

“You never know. Darlington is always a crazy race, especially once we get to September and the night race. There’s a reason the Southern 500 is a crown jewel, it’s not easy to win. I don’t know if it necessarily gets any crazier than it usually is, but I think it’ll be like any cutoff race. We’ll just be on our toes and ready for whatever comes.”

Kaz Grala, Driver Q&A

For the first time this year, you’re returning to a track where you had a solid performance earlier in the year. Are you more prepared now for the challenge that comes with the Cup Series at Darlington?

“Definitely. I knew going into Darlington in May it would be a challenge. We came out with a great finish and I think we can absolutely improve on that, especially when you look at how well RFK Racing and the No. 51 team ran. It gives us more to work with in the preparation for this one and I feel a lot more comfortable with what I should expect from the car.”

It’s been a few weeks since you’ve been in the No. 15 car, but you’ve been at the track working with the team. How has that helped you for your return to the seat?

“I’ve been itching to get back in the car, but the No. 15 team has done a great job the last few weeks. I’ve been at the track, looking at data, and working with my teammates every week, so I feel just as prepared as I would be if I had just been in the car. The No. 15 team is coming off a top-five at Daytona, which gives us a lot of forward momentum to work with.”

RYAN PREECE
Darlington Advance
No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Event Overview

● Event: Cook Out Southern 500 (Round 26 of 36)
● Time/Date: 6 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Sept. 1
● Location: Darlington (S.C.) Raceway
● Layout: 1.366-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 367 laps/501.32 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 115 laps / Stage 2: 115 laps / Final Stage: 137 laps
● TV/Radio: USA / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● The Cook Out Southern 500 Sunday at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway will mark Ryan Preece’s 10th career NASCAR Cup Series start at the 1.366-mile oval and his fifth in the Southern 500. The driver of the No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Stewart-Haas Racing has a best finish of 12th at Darlington, earned in the 2021 Southern 500. In his most recent Darlington start in May for the Goodyear 400, Preece finished 17th.

● Preece has one Darlington start apiece in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. In his September 2016 Xfinity Series start, he qualified 22nd and finished 10th in a JD Motorsports entry. His Truck Series appearance came in May 2017 when he started 13th and finished seventh for David Gilliland Racing.

● The 2024 season marks Darlington’s 74th anniversary, with the track having hosted 126 NASCAR Cup Series races. The first came on Sept. 4, 1950 and it was the first 500-mile race in NASCAR history and the first on asphalt. Johnny Mantz drove his Plymouth to the win with an average speed of 75.250 mph and the race took 6 hours, 38 minutes and 40 seconds to complete. Juxtapose that with Kyle Larson’s win in last year’s Southern 500, where he had an average speed of 120.906 mph and the race finished in 4 hours, 8 minutes and 47 seconds.

● Joining Preece and the No. 41 Ford Mustang Dark Horse at Darlington is HaasTooling.com, the cutting tool division of Haas Automation. HaasTooling.com allows CNC machinists to purchase high-quality cutting tools at great prices. Haas cutting tools are sold exclusively online at HaasTooling.com and shipped directly to end users. Haas Automation, founded in 1983, is America’s leading builder of CNC machine tools. The company manufactures a complete line of vertical and horizontal machining centers, turning centers, rotaries and indexers, and automation solutions.

Ryan Preece, Driver of the No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang Dark Horse

What do you think of Darlington serving as the regular-season finale and the last chance for drivers to earn a playoff berth?

“I think it’s a little bit better than what it’s been in recent years. It’s more of a controlled environment when it comes to if you’re going to have an opportunity to get in the playoffs and win, or not feel like it’s such an anomaly that it could make your season or break your season. I think it’s a good thing.”

Do you feel like a race at Darlington is more in your hands, as opposed to the week before at Daytona where you have to rely on others to push you in the draft?

“I feel like Darlington is more about your team and your speed as an organization. If you’re a team with a lot of speed, you’re probably one that really likes the opportunity to do that. But at the same time, I think it’s just another opportunity to make your car fast and earn your way in.”

What is it about Darlington that makes drivers feel like the track can reach out and bite you at any given moment?

“I don’t necessarily think it’s that way as much as it once was. I guess I just haven’t had that feel. It’s just a really low-grip racetrack, and sometimes if you try to get a little too much, it can certainly get you.”

The Southern 500 is 100 miles longer (74 additional laps) than your first race at Darlington was back in May. Is a race at Darlington akin to the Coca-Cola 600, where it’s a test of stamina as much as a test of skill?

“Believe it or not, you talk about 74 laps, it’s a long race. It’s one where you want to make sure you’ve drank enough fluids and, starting in the day and going into the night, you want to make sure the balance is good.”

No. 41 HaasTooling.com Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Ryan Preece

Hometown: Berlin, Connecticut

Crew Chief: Chad Johnston

Hometown: Cayuga, Indiana

Car Chief: Jeremy West

Hometown: Gardena, California

Engineer: Marc Hendricksen

Hometown: Clinton, New Jersey

Spotter: Tony Raines

Hometown: LaPorte, Indiana

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Devin Lester

Hometown: Bluefield, West Virginia

Rear Tire Changer: Austin Chrismon

Hometown: China Grove, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Chad Emmons

Hometown: Tyler, Texas

Jack Man: Sherman Timbs

Hometown: Indianola, Mississippi

Fuel Man: Dwayne Moore

Hometown: Griffin, Georgia

Road Crew Members

Front End Mechanic: Joe Zanolini

Hometown: Sybertsville, Pennsylvania

Interior Mechanic: Robert Dalby

Hometown: Anaheim, California

Tire Specialist: Matt Ridgeway

Hometown: Carrollton, Georgia

Engine Tuner: Jimmy Fife

Hometown: Orange County, California

Transporter Co-Driver: David Rodrigues

Hometown: Santa Clarita, California

Transporter Co-Driver: Charlie Schleyer

Hometown: Youngsville, Pennsylvania