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Rick Hendrick To Drive Pace Car at Brickyard 400

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Official Release
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Owner of Winningest Team in Cup Series History To Pace Field for 30th Anniversary Brickyard, 40th Anniversary of Hendrick Motorsports

INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, July 17, 2024) – Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports and chairman and CEO of Hendrick Automotive Group, will serve as honorary Pace Car driver for the Brickyard 400 presented by PPG on Sunday, July 21.

Hendrick will drive the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Pace Car and lead the field to start the 30th anniversary of the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This year also marks the 40th anniversary of Hendrick Motorsports.

“Time goes by fast,” Hendrick said. “I can’t believe it’s been four decades since we started Hendrick Motorsports and 30 years since Jeff (Gordon) won the inaugural Brickyard 400. I’ll never forget the excitement around that event and the thrill of winning a race at Indianapolis.

“I’m grateful to our 40-year partners at Chevrolet for the opportunity to drive a Pace Car for the first time. I also want to thank my great friend Roger Penske and everyone at the track. Taking the field to green on Sunday will be something I’ll always remember.”

A self-described “gearhead,” Hendrick turned his passion for the automobile into successful business ventures in the retail automotive and professional auto racing industries.

Hendrick worked on and raced cars as a young man. Alongside his father, “Papa Joe” Hendrick, he rebuilt his first car, a 1931 Chevrolet, at age 14 and regularly traveled to racetracks across the region, often volunteering as a crew member. Although he studied to become a tool and die maker, Hendrick’s enthusiasm for cars led him down a different career path – retail automotive sales.

The transformation of his first dealership from struggling into the most profitable in the region ultimately led to the formation of Hendrick Automotive Group, which today operates collision centers, accessories distributor installers and 131 retail franchises across 13 states.

Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and employing more than 10,000 people, Hendrick Automotive Group is now the largest privately held dealership group in the country. In 2023, it generated over $13 billion in revenue after selling more than 195,000 vehicles and servicing nearly 2.5 million cars and trucks. Hendrick, 75, leads the organization as its chairman and CEO.

While working to establish himself in the car business, Hendrick remained active in racing circles – setting world records in drag boats before returning to his roots in stock cars. In 1984, he founded NASCAR team Hendrick Motorsports, which has become the sport’s most successful operation. It is home to 600 employees who support four full-time Chevrolet stock-car teams with drivers Alex Bowman, William Byron, Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson in the elite NASCAR Cup Series.

In May 2021, Hendrick Motorsports became the winningest team in Cup Series history. At NASCAR’s top level, Hendrick Motorsports holds every major statistical record, including championships, points-paying victories, pole positions and laps led. It has won at least one race in a record 40 different seasons and maintains an active streak of 39 in a row (1986-2024). Hendrick is also NASCAR’s all-time leader in national series championships with 18 overall.

“For all of us at GM and Chevrolet, as well as for our partners at IMS, it’s an honor to have Rick Hendrick lead the NASCAR Cup Series field to the green flag at this year’s Brickyard 400,” General Motors President Mark Reuss said. “Chevrolet and Hendrick Motorsports have had a storied history together over the past 40 years. Having Rick pace the 30th anniversary of this prestigious race is a special way to celebrate our partnership and the legacy he has built in NASCAR.”

Hendrick Motorsports won the inaugural Brickyard 400 in 1994. The winning Chevrolet Lumina, driven by Jeff Gordon, will be showcased in the Chevrolet display located in the fan midway throughout the weekend.

“Honoring history, even as we look to the future, is a huge part of everything we do at IMS,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “Rick and Hendrick Motorsports made history here in 1994 with Jeff Gordon’s win in the inaugural Brickyard on the famed oval. As we return to the oval and celebrate 30 years with NASCAR, having Rick pace the field is a fitting celebration.”

Hendrick was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2017 and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2013. He is a recipient of the prestigious Horatio Alger Award, NASCAR’s Bill France Award of Excellence and The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, which is bestowed upon outstanding North Carolinians. In 2014, Hendrick was honored with the Automotive News Lifetime Achievement Award for significant contributions to the auto industry.

NASCAR celebrates 30 years at the Racing Capital of the World in 2024 with the return to the oval at IMS. Visit IMS.com for ticket information for Brickyard Weekend on July 19-21.

HighPoint.com Racing: Chase Briscoe Indianapolis Advance

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Official Release
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CHASE BRISCOE
Indianapolis Advance
No. 14 HighPoint.com Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Event Overview

● Event: Brickyard 400 (Round 22 of 36)
● Time/Date: 2:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, July 21
● Location: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
● Layout: 2.5-mile rectangular oval
● Laps/Miles: 160 laps/400 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 50 laps / Stage 2: 50 laps / Final Stage: 60 laps
● TV/Radio: NBC / IMS / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● The seeds of the Brickyard 400 were planted on Monday, June 22, 1992. It was the first of a two-day tire test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway where the viability of racing NASCAR Cup Series stock cars on Indy’s 2.5-mile rectangular oval was explored. Just a day removed from his victory in the Miller Genuine Draft 400 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Davey Allison joined eight of his Cup Series counterparts – Dale Earnhardt, Rusty Wallace, Bill Elliott, Darrell Waltrip, Ricky Rudd, Ernie Irvan, Mark Martin and Kyle Petty – to run full-bodied stock cars on a track that was specific to low-slung, open-wheel Indy cars and the iconic Indianapolis 500. On the second day of the test, the nine drivers raced in a pack to simulate drafting, all while an estimated 40,000 fans looked on. Elliott in his Ford Thunderbird was fastest on both days, yet his best lap was still 63 mph slower than Roberto Guerrero’s pole-winning speed of 232.482 mph for that year’s Indianapolis 500. The speed discrepancy didn’t matter. Big American iron thundering around the famed Brickyard whetted appetites, and on April 14, 1993, NASCAR president Bill France Jr. and Indianapolis Motor Speedway president Tony George announced that the inaugural Brickyard 400 would be held on Saturday, Aug. 6, 1994. It would be the first race other than the Indianapolis 500 to be held at the Speedway since 1916. Rising star and Indiana icon Jeff Gordon won the race to score the second of his 93 career victories, beating Brett Bodine by .53 of a second. For the next 26 years, the Cup Series raced on the oval before a three-year sojourn on Indianapolis’ 2.439-mile, 14-turn infield road course. It was not the same, and with the current-generation car putting on great shows at intermediate-style tracks across the nation, the decision to return to Indy’s 2.5-mile oval was made. The 2024 Brickyard 400 will mark the 28th Cup Series race on the big track, but the first since 2020.

● DYK?: The last NASCAR Cup Series team to win on Indy’s 2.5-mile oval was Stewart-Haas Racing. In fact, the team co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart and Haas Automation founder Gene Haas won the last two Brickyard 400s, each courtesy of Kevin Harvick. And not since 2017 has a manufacturer other than Ford won the Brickyard 400, as Brad Keselowski drove a Ford to victory lane in the 2018 Brickyard 400 before Harvick’s back-to-back Brickyard wins in 2019 and 2020.

● The “Stewart” in Stewart-Haas owns two Brickyard 400 victories. The Hoosier hotshoe grabbed a coveted Indy win in 2005 before securing a second triumph in 2007. Both victories came with Joe Gibbs Racing.

● Chase Briscoe doesn’t have a NASCAR Cup Series start on Indy’s 2.5-mile oval, but he does have two NASCAR Xfinity Series starts on the big track. The Mitchell, Indiana native made his Indy debut in 2018 and finished ninth. He then one-upped that result in 2019 by finishing eighth.

● Briscoe is a winner at Indianapolis. When NASCAR transitioned to the road course in 2020, Briscoe proved the quickest to adapt, winning the 62-lap NASCAR Xfinity Series race by 1.717 seconds over runner-up and fellow Indiana native Justin Haley. It was the seventh of Briscoe’s 11 career Xfinity Series wins and he did it with the same primary partner who will adorn his No. 14 Ford Mustang Dark Horse in Sunday’s Brickyard 400 – HighPoint.com.

● HighPoint.com is a leading provider of technology infrastructure solutions that is headquartered in Sparta, New Jersey. HighPoint has been a partner of Briscoe and Stewart-Haas since 2020 when the company supported Briscoe’s NASCAR Xfinity Series campaign, a collaboration that netted a season-best nine victories and earned Briscoe a promotion to the NASCAR Cup Series. HighPoint has climbed the NASCAR ladder with Briscoe and has helped Stewart-Haas maximize its IT investments. Said Briscoe about the partnership: “Even though we race stock cars, there’s nothing stock about what we do. The science of our cars is impressive, but the technology that goes into building our Ford Mustangs and then making them perform is even more advanced. Our IT needs are pretty complex, and we demand a lot from our technology every day, whether it’s at the shop or at the track. HighPoint provides efficiency and security. They’re more than just a sponsor – HighPoint is a partner that helps us perform.” As an IT Solutions Integrator focused on all things that connect, HighPoint helps its customers with the selection and supply of network infrastructure, mobility, collaboration, data center, security solutions and the risk-mitigated implementation and management of their technology. The company, founded in 1996, is a minority-owned business that serves markets in its nearby Tri-State Region (New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware) and the southeastern United States via its presence in Charlotte, North Carolina, as well as globally with offices in Amsterdam and London. To learn more about HighPoint’s solutions, please visit HighPoint.com.

● The story of how HighPoint.com came together with Briscoe and Stewart-Haas is one that could’ve been scripted in Hollywood. In November 2019, while walking to dinner after attending the SEMA show in Las Vegas, Kevin Briscoe was stopped by a stranger who noticed his No. 98 Stewart-Haas hat. The man was Mike Mendiburu, founder and CEO of HighPoint.com, and he said he was a big fan of Chase Briscoe, then a young NASCAR Xfinity Series driver from Mitchell, Indiana, who was driving the No. 98 Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas. Kevin informed Mendiburu that Chase was his son and the two carried on a conversation like they were old friends. The two walked away with Kevin accepting Mendiburu’s business card, just in case the Briscoes ever needed anything. Months passed and Chase Briscoe was told that he may not have a ride in the No. 98 for the 2020 season if funding couldn’t be found. So, Stewart-Haas was given Mendiburu’s information and an agreement was reached for HighPoint.com to sponsor Briscoe. That chance encounter in Las Vegas led to a nine-win season in 2020. In October of that year, midway through the playoffs, Briscoe arrived at Tony Stewart’s house in Indiana for what he thought was a discussion with his team owner about whether HighPoint.com would be returning as his sponsor for the next season. The group sat down for dinner and Briscoe, joined by his parents, was informed a decision had already been made – he would be leaving the No. 98 Xfinity Series program to become the next driver of the team’s No. 14 Cup Series entry, the car Stewart himself wheeled during his driving tenure at Stewart-Haas. “I wouldn’t have a career if it wasn’t for Mike and everyone at HighPoint.com,” Briscoe said. “Going into 2020, I was going to be done. They literally came in the fourth quarter with 30 seconds left on the clock and kept things going. Without them, I think my career would’ve been over.”

● Briscoe will return to his dirt-track roots on Friday night by competing in the Maverick Winged Sprint Car Series race at Bloomington (Ind.) Speedway. He will drive his own 410 winged sprint car in the feature event at the quarter-mile dirt oval located approximately 60 miles south of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Hot laps begin at 6:30 p.m. EDT with the race program starting at 7:30 p.m.

● DYK?: ​Briscoe’s first time behind the wheel of a racecar came in 2001. Driving a quarter midget, he won his first heat race and then won the feature event that evening. Briscoe moved on to mini sprints and, when he was 13, stepped into a 410 sprint car. In his first race, he finished 10th in a 40-car field. And in a rookie season that saw 37 starts, Briscoe racked up eight top-five and 17 top-10 finishes, including a win in the last race of the season where he broke NASCAR Hall of Famer and four-time Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon’s record as being the youngest person to win a 410 sprint car race.

Chase Briscoe, Driver of the No. 14 HighPoint.com Ford Mustang

This year marks a return to the oval at Indy. While you don’t have any NASCAR Cup Series starts on the 2.5-mile oval, you do have two NASCAR Xfinity Series starts on the oval (2018 and 2019). So, what’s it like for an Indiana guy to race on the most renown track in Indiana, and on the most renown oval in all of motorsports?

“It’s super cool. Every racecar driver, or anybody in motorsports, wants to race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and run laps at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but when you grow up in Indiana, it just means that much more to you. I’m just super excited to get back. I always say I don’t really care what we’re racing at Indy, whether it’s the road course, oval, dirt track, parking lot, whatever, I just want to race at Indy. It’s definitely more significant going to the oval, so it’ll be really special for me, personally, just to get to run a Brickyard 400. That was something I didn’t know that I was ever going to get the opportunity to do. With how it all kind of played out with this being the last year of Stewart-Haas, it’s really cool just to say I’ll get to run the Brickyard 400 in the 14.”

This year’s Brickyard 400 involves some interesting storylines for you – it’s your first Cup start on the oval, but you’re doing it in your last Indy start in the No. 14 while driving for your childhood hero, Tony Stewart. Is it a bittersweet moment – excitement mixed with a little sorrow?

“A little bit of both. I’m glad that I’ll at least get to say I got to drive one Brickyard 400 in the 14 for Tony. But it is bittersweet knowing that this’ll be the only time I’ll get to do it, and it’ll be the last time that Tony’s an owner at IMS. Yeah, there are mixed emotions. I’m excited and glad that I’m getting to do it with how everything played out, the fact that we’re going back to the oval this year and everything, it means a lot personally to get to do it in the 14. I’m glad that I’ll have that opportunity and at least get the chance to do it, but it is bittersweet. I was talking to Tony a couple of weeks ago and even brought up to him how a reporter had mentioned it to me and it didn’t even really hit me until I heard it. I think for Tony it was the same way. So it’s going to be bittersweet for both of us, but just glad we’ll have the opportunity.”

Explain what it’s like for an Indiana native to race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Why is it such a big deal?

“Just when you look at the people who have won there, it’s all icons in motorsports and just people you kind of look up to, the A.J. Foyts, the Parnellis, the Unsers and Andrettis, it’s just the names of the people who have gotten to run at that racetrack, let alone win at that racetrack, it’s kind of a who’s who. Just to get to run on a racetrack that’s been around for more than 100 years and has the history and significance that it has in the motorsports community is always special. Then, when you grow up in Indiana, it’s just normal. I think you take for granted that you have IMS there in your backyard. It’s something you don’t realize how big of a thing it is until you finally go there and see it in person and realize what it means to motorsports. It’s certainly special to have probably the most iconic racetrack in the world as my home track.”

Racing at your home track is cool, but it also comes with a good bit of work outside of the racecar as family and friends want to see you before, during and after the race weekend. How do you juggle that aspect with what you need to do with your No. 14 HighPoint.com Ford Mustang?

“I enjoy it. It’s nice for me to go up to Indiana and get away from everything and see my friends and family that I don’t get to see a whole lot, and even a ton of race fans that I normally don’t get to see. So I try to go up a couple of days early and hang out and kind of get away from the craziness that is everyday life in Charlotte. I enjoy it. I try to always hang out with my grandparents, I try to go fishing with some of my best friends who I grew up with, and try to enjoy being home, something I don’t really get to do anymore. Definitely enjoy and look forward to it every single year. It’s a lot of work going up there just because I’m always busy, but it’s definitely a good busy.”

Indiana in July is hot and humid. How do you deal with the heat, and how far out before a race weekend begins do you start preparing yourself for the heat?

“For me, it’s normally Wednesday and Thursday that I try to get prepared for the weekend, and definitely it’s Saturday when you’re getting ready for Sunday. Growing up there, I’m kind of used to it. Indiana in July is definitely a different type of heat than you’re typically used to. Every time I think about Indiana in July, I think of Indiana Sprint Week and racing eight races in 10 days. I think you kind of get used to the heat when you’re from there, but it’s definitely a shock to a lot of people when they go there, especially in the middle of July and August. For me, it’s kind of normal.”

What’s your earliest childhood memory of Indianapolis Motor Speedway?

“The earliest childhood memory I have of IMS is, when I was 7 years old, literally right outside the tunnel between turns one and two, there’s a brick building that I think just got sold last year, but there was a guy who did embroidery on uniforms there. His name was Jim Bob and I remember going there and getting my first-ever uniform embroidered with my name on it. That was the first time I’d ever seen IMS. I watched it on TV, but I never put two and two together, and I just remember going there and seeing the grandstands and just driving around the racetrack and being in awe of how big of a racetrack it was. I’d always seen quarter-miles and three-eighth-mile dirt tracks growing up, but had never seen anything that was two-and-a-half miles. That’s my first memory of IMS. Literally, when you drive out of that tunnel, you’re looking at the building. So it’s kind of crazy that my first-ever race suit came from across the street at IMS.”

What’s your favorite Tony Stewart memory from Indianapolis Motor Speedway?

“For me, obviously the Brickyard wins stand out. Truthfully, I don’t remember the Indy 500, the double runs, I was a little bit younger. But I definitely remember Tony’s first Brickyard win, and then the one where he gave the interview on the front straightaway about the fans sticking with him. And I remember him doing the burnout over in turn two in front of his dad, Nelson, and all of his family and friends, so those are the ones that sort of stand out more than the rest.”

No. 14 HighPoint.com Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Chase Briscoe

Hometown: Mitchell, Indiana

Crew Chief: Richard Boswell

Hometown: Friendship, Maryland

Car Chief: J.D. Frey

Hometown: Ferndale, California

Engineer: Mike Cook

Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland

Spotter: Joey Campbell

Hometown: Berlin, Connecticut

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Shayne Pipala

Hometown: Frankfort Square, Illinois

Rear Tire Changer: Dakota Ratcliff

Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee

Tire Carrier: Jon Bernal

Hometown: Holland, Michigan

Jack Man: Kapil Fletcher

Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Fuel Man: Corey Coppola

Hometown: Bluefield, West Virginia

Road Crew Members

Underneath Mechanic: Stephen Gonzalez

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Interior Mechanic: Trevor Adams

Hometown: Plymouth, Wisconsin

Tire Specialist: Keith Eads

Hometown: Arlington, Virginia

Shock Specialist: Brian Holshouser

Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina

Engine Tuner: Jon Phillips

Hometown: Jefferson City, Missouri

Transporter Co-Driver: Todd Cable

Hometown: Shelby, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Dale Lackey

Hometown: Taylorsville, North Carolina

Spire Motorsports Brickyard 400 Race Advance

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Official Release
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  • In two NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) starts on the oval configuration at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), Spire Motorsports has logged one top-20 and two top-25 finishes. Ross Chastain earned a team-best 17th-place finish in the division’s 2020 visit to “The Brickyard.” Spire Motorsports fields the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s in the NCS with Corey LaJoie, Zane Smith and Carson Hocevar, respectively.
  • In addition to two NCS starts on the oval configuration, Spire Motorsports has fielded six entries on the road course configuration at IMS, collecting one top-10, three top-20 and four top-25 finishes. Justin Haley owns the team’s best finish at the venue, crossing the line eighth in 2021.
  • The Brickyard 400 from Indianapolis Motor Speedway will be televised live on NBC, Sunday, July 21st, beginning at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The 22nd of 36 races on the 2024 NCS schedule will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Corey LaJoie – Driver, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Corey LaJoie heads to Indianapolis Motor Speedway behind the wheel of the No. 7 Gainbridge Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.
  • The Brickyard 400 will mark LaJoie’s fifth Cup Series start in the prestigious event. In his four previous NCS starts on the oval at IMS, he has logged one top-20, a venue best 19th-place finish.
  • For the past three seasons, the NCS raced the road course configuration of IMS. In these three races, LaJoie owns two top-20 finishes including a venue-best 16th-place finish in the 2021 event.
  • Gainbridge Insurance Agency, LLC (“Gainbridge”), a Group 1001 company, is an insurtech which strives to offer products that are simple, intuitive, and backed by smart technology with no complexity or hidden fees. Gainbridge empowers consumers to take control of their financial future with solutions that are accessible to everyone no matter their budget or financial knowledge. Gainbridge’s digital-first distribution model underpins its mission to reach all communities, including those that have been historically underserved by the national financial system.
  • LaJoie started 30th and finished 19th in last weekend’s The Great American Getaway 400 at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway. The 32-year-old has led 38 laps in 2024 and is currently 30th in points.
  • Over 257 career NCS starts, the father of three has earned four top-five and nine top-10 finishes and led 161 laps in NASCAR’s premier division.

Corey LaJoie Quotes
What are your thoughts on heading to the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend?
“Indy is a special place, and it’s a big weekend for our Spire Motorsports team. Everybody brings their absolute best to ‘The Brickyard,’ and our No. 7 team is no different. With Indianapolis being the home of Gainbridge, its even more of an incentive to have a great run.”

Zane Smith – Driver, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Zane Smith will make his first NASCAR Cup Series start at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the Brickyard 400 on Sunday, driving the No. 71 Focused Health Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports.
  • Last weekend in Pocono, Smith reached the second round of qualifying for the first time in his career, rolling off a career-best ninth for the 400-mile race. The rookie ran in the top-15 for a majority of the race before an incident on Lap 128 ended his day early, finishing 29th.
  • Sunday will mark Smith’s 31st Cup Series start and his 22nd aboard the No. 71 Spire Motorsports entry.
  • Focused Health will serve as the primary sponsor for Smith’s No. 71. The blue and orange paint scheme represents a health insurance agency that assists consumers and employers in navigating the myriad of health insurance options in the government programs space. The company partners with payors and employers to deliver health insurance solutions for individuals and families. For more information visit AtFocusedHealth.com.
  • Crew Chief Stephen Doran is a two-time Brickyard 400 champion, winning the crown jewel in back-to-back seasons as an engineer for Kevin Harvick in 2019 and 2020.

Zane Smith Quotes
What are you looking forward to at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this coming weekend?
“I’m excited to get to Indy this weekend. It will be my first time racing there and it is a super iconic track, so I’m looking forward to getting on the oval on Friday and seeing how it feels. My No. 71 Spire Motorsports team has been working hard day in and day out to bring fast race cars to the track and it has shown the last couple of weekends. Hoping for a solid race on Sunday.”

Carson Hocevar – Driver, No.77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Carson Hocevar will make his first NCS start at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Sunday’s Brickyard 400 driving the No. 77 Zeigler Automotive Group Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports.
  • Hocevar started 15th and finished 17th in The Great American Getaway 400 at Pocono Raceway last Sunday.
  • Zeigler Automotive Group is one of the largest privately-owned dealer groups in the U.S. with 84 franchises across 41 locations in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Vehicle brands represented include all the domestic and the majority of the imported manufacturers. Founded in 1975, the organization employs over 2,500 people, ranking among the top one percent of automotive dealers in the nation with estimated annual sales of $2.2 billion for 2023. The family-owned and -operated company is well known for its commitment to both customer service and employee satisfaction. Zeigler is regularly recognized as one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in the Nation, also earning similar accolades in Wisconsin, Chicago, and Michigan. Besides these prestigious accolades, Zeigler is also one of Glassdoor’s 100 Best Places to Work in the U.S. for 2024, and among Glassdoor’s top 10 U.S. companies for work-life balance.
  • While he’s never raced at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the four-time NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series winner has two truck starts at nearby Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park (IRP), crossing the line fourth in 2023. He has also made two ARCA Menards Series appearances at the 0.686-mile oval, including a fifth-place finish in the 2018 event.
  • In 2022, Hocevar was behind the wheel of a Super Late Model in an ARCA/CRA Super Series event at IRP. He finished fifth behind William Byron, Erik Jones and Sammy Smith.
  • The youngest NCS driver in the field is currently 23rd in the division’s championship point standings. Over the course of the season’s first 21 races, Hocevar has notched two top-10 and five top-15 finishes.
  • Crew chief Luke Lambert called the shots for Ryan Newman’s third-place effort in the 2017 Brickyard 400 during his stint at Richard Childress Racing.

Carson Hocevar Quotes
What does it mean to you to race at a historic track like Indianapolis Motor Speedway?
“It means a lot and I’m pumped. I raced quarter-midgets there for years, and even drove one around the oval once. I remember thinking that it would be a dream come true to race a full-sized car competitively at “The Brickyard.” Indy has always been a dream, especially the (Indianapolis) 500, but with no Brickyard races for the last few years, this is an incredible opportunity. We’ve got a strong team and this track suits our racing style, so I’m very optimistic. Everyone’s excited – Luke (Lambert), Jeff (Dickerson), the whole team – and we’re ready for a good run.”

From the Top of the Box

Ryan Sparks – Crew Chief, No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Ryan Sparks serves in a dual role as both Spire Motorsports competition director and crew chief for driver Corey LaJoie and the No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro in the NCS.
  • Sparks, a Winston-Salem, N.C., native, has been paired with LaJoie since 2020.
  • Combined, Sparks and LaJoie have earned four top-five and seven top-10 finishes, including a fourth-place finish in the 2024 Daytona 500.

Stephen Doran – Crew Chief, No. 71 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Stephen Doran begins his first full season as a Cup Series crew chief leading Zane Smith and the No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet team during the 2024 season.
  • In 2006, Doran got his start in NASCAR at Petty Enterprises.
  • Prior to his arrival at Spire Motorsports, Doran worked at Stewart-Haas Racing as an engineer, most recently on the No. 4 car driven by Kevin Harvick.

Luke Lambert – Crew Chief, No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Luke Lambert is the crew chief for Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 team with 2024 NCS Rookie of the Year candidate Carson Hocevar.
  • The 2005 North Carolina State graduate has led the competition efforts for some of the sport’s most notable names including Jeff Burton, Ryan Newman, Elliott Sadler and Chris Buescher.
  • In 2014, Lambert led Newman to a berth in the Championship 4, and ultimately a runner-up finish in the NCS championship point standings.

About Spire Motorsports …
Spire Motorsports is a NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race team co-owned by long-time NASCAR industry executives Jeff Dickerson and Thaddeus “T.J.” Puchyr. In 2024, Spire Motorsports will campaign the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s in the NASCAR Cup Series with drivers Corey LaJoie, Zane Smith and Carson Hocevar, respectively. The team will also field the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Silverados full time in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. An all-star driver lineup will rotate throughout the 2024 season in the No. 7 Chevy. Rajah Caruth will drive the No. 71 entry and Chase Purdy rounds out the team’s fleet of Chevrolets in the No. 77.

Spire Motorsports earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado to its inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win on April 7, 2022, at Martinsville Speedway. The team’s most recent win came on April 12, 2024, when Kyle Busch took the took the checkered flag in the SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway.

7 DECADES OF THE BIG GO: PRO STOCK LEGEND BOB GLIDDEN MAKES HISTORY WITH DOMINANT 1980S RUN

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PRO STOCK LEGEND BOB GLIDDEN MAKES HISTORY WITH DOMINANT 1980S RUN

Glidden advanced to every final in the 1980, while other highlights include Garlits’ comeback, first Big Bud Shootout, introduction of Pro Stock Motorcycle and more

INDIANAPOLIS (July 17, 2024) – There are numerous reasons why Bob Glidden became an NHRA legend and one of the most revered drivers in drag racing history, and one of those was an incredible run of success at the NHRA U.S. Nationals.

The world’s biggest drag race celebrates seven decades of incredible racing in 2024, with the 70th annual NHRA U.S. Nationals taking place Aug. 28-Sept. 2 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.

A win at The Big Go has helped drivers become legends as victories on drag racing’s grandest stage have simply meant more. That will be evident at this year’s special 70th anniversary of the NHRA U.S. Nationals and it was evident throughout the 1980s as Glidden was in the midst of a spectacular run.

Counting wins in 1978 and 1979 and a runner-up in 1977, Glidden went to 13 straight final rounds in Indy as the iconic Pro Stock driver was in every final round at The Big Go in the 1980s. He didn’t win them all – in fact, his first of the decade didn’t come until 1983 – but Glidden went on a surreal run. He won four straight years in the latter part of the decade – 1985-1988 – and five of six years, showing a thrilling penchant to rise to the occasion at Indy. Lee Shepherd got the best of him in 1980 and ’81, while Warren Johnson won in 1984. Frank Iaconio got the victory in 1982 and Larry Morgan, who is still racing Pro Stock on a part-time basis, got his career-defining win over Glidden in the 1989 final round.

Glidden’s 1988 victory gave him nine U.S. Nationals victory, a mark that stood the tallest at The Big Go for nearly 30 years.

Don Garlits enjoyed more Indy lore in the 1980s, with his ’84 victory serving as a major comeback after going six years without a victory at the world’s biggest drag race. It opened the door for an impressive run that included three straight wins – the final three Indy wins of his career.

In 1982, Indy fans saw the NHRA’s first specialty race at the event, as the Big Bud Shootout debuted in Funny Car, with Frank Hawley getting the win. Legend Kenny Bernstein won the following year – getting the double-up with his first Indy victory – while Don Prudhomme accomplished the double-up to close the decade in 1989.

Pro Stock Motorcycle also made its debut in Indy, becoming an official class in 1987. The decade in the two-wheeled category was highlighted by a pair of wins from both Terry Vance and Dave Schultz. Other drivers who left their mark at The Big Go in the 1980s included Joe Amato, Shirley Muldowney, who picked up the Indy win in 1982 by defeating Connie Kalitta in the finals, Darrell Gwynn, Billy Meyer, Raymond Beadle, Jim Head and Ed McCulloch, who won twice in the decade.

After Glidden’s incredible 1980s, another decade of dominance would have to wait until the 2000s with Tony Schumacher, but the next decade in the series – the 1990s – will feature plenty of Indy history, including John Force’s first Indy successes, an impressive run by Cruz Pedregon, a first for Kalitta and Johnson taking over Pro Stock at The Big Go.

This year, the 70th annual NHRA U.S. Nationals promises to be one of the biggest in the illustrious history of The Big Go. It features everything from the final Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge of the year to the Pep Boys Funny Car All-Star Callout, as well as the special Sox & Martin Hemi Challenge presented by the McCandless Collection and racing in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+, NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™ and NHRA Holley EFI Factory X, plus special items like:

  • A special 70th anniversary NHRA U.S. Nationals pennant for the first 8,000 fans in attendance for eliminations on Monday, Sept. 2.
  • Free parking for all fans and children 12-under admitted free.
  • An unforgettable Top Eliminator Club experience, including NHRA driver appearances, food and drink, TEC gift bag, starting line seats and much more.
  • The biggest field in drag racing. Last year, more than 900 cars competed in Indy.

All the greats have forged their legacies through their Indy success and it’s a list that also includes current stars like Schumacher, Force, Antron Brown, Ron Capps, Greg Anderson, Erica Enders, Doug Kalitta and Matt Hagan.

Top Fuel’s Schumacher has an amazing 10 victories at The Big Go, the most of any driver in NHRA history, while Force’s five Funny Car wins are tied with McCulloch for the most in class history. Anderson’s 100th career win in 2022 gave the five-time champ seven overall wins in Pro Stock at the world’s biggest drag race, while Brown has five career wins across two classes at the U.S. Nationals.

Last year, Brown (Top Fuel), Capps (Funny Car), Matt Hartford (Pro Stock), and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all won, with Brown, Capps and Smith winning at Indy for the second straight year. This year’s race will again be broadcast on FOX and FS1, including live eliminations on FOX on Monday, Sept. 2.

Doug Kalitta currently leads the Top Fuel ranks, while Austin Prock’s debut season in Funny Car has been a huge success as he leads the way. Dallas Glenn is the Pro Stock points leader, while Gaige Herrera remains undefeated in 2024 with six wins to his credit in Pro Stock Motorcycle. Other stars to watch include Top Fuel’s Justin Ashley, Shawn Langdon and racing legend Tony Stewart, who will make his Indy Top Fuel debut, Funny Car’s Bob Tasca III and J.R. Todd, Pro Stock’s Aaron Stanfield and Troy Coughlin Jr., and Pro Stock Motorcycle’s Angie Smith and Richard Gadson.

To purchase tickets to the 70th annual NHRA U.S. Nationals, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. All children 12 and under will be admitted free in the general admission area with a paid adult. For more information about NHRA, visit www.NHRA.com.

About Mission Foods

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

About NHRA

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

Burton, No. 21 Draiver Team Headed Back To The Brickyard

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NASCAR’s elite Cup Series returns to the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend, with the race being contested on the legendary 2.5-mile oval after running the speedway’s road course the past three years.

Harrison Burton will be making his first start on the famed Brickyard track, but it’s a familiar venue for his Draiver-sponsored, Wood Brothers team.

The Woods have raced Cup cars at the Brickyard 26 times, with four top-10 finishes – in the first two Brickyard 400s and in two of the last three, with Paul Menard driving the Woods’ Ford in the latter.

Crew chief Jeremy Bullins has raced there as a crew chief six times, with four finishes of 12th or better. He said he’s really excited to be back on the 2.5-mile track known around the world for more than a century.

“To me one of the coolest things that we get to do is race at historical venues, and going back to race on the oval in Indianapolis is as awesome as it gets,” he said. “There’s nowhere that compares when it comes to motorsports history on our schedule, and it’s a privilege for us to get to race there.”

Bullins said he and the team have prepared an eye-catching Mustang Dark Horse, and he’s anxious to get it on track and tune it for the 400-mile run.

“We have an awesome paint scheme again with our Draiver Ford, and we look forward to a 50-minute practice to try to get our handling dialed in for Sunday’s race.”

That practice session is set to start at 2:35 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, with qualifying getting underway at 1:05 p.m. Saturday. Live coverage of practice will be available on the NBC Sports App, while USA Network will broadcast qualifying.

Sunday’s 160-lap, 400-mile race is scheduled to start just after 2:30 p.m., with Stage breaks planned for Laps 50 and 100.

NBC will carry the TV coverage.

ABOUT DRAIVER
Draiver is a market-leading on-demand vehicle delivery company offering elevated delivery solutions and experiences. Through best-in-class AI logistics software and a vetted, insured driver marketplace, the company moves cars faster, and more efficiently, to improve bottom lines for global fleet and rental companies, OEMs, large automotive groups, and single location businesses.

The company’s expertise has enabled rapid expansion to three continents, where the platform moves over 6,000 cars a day through an elite network of 20,000 drivers. The company’s full suite of services is available throughout North and South America, and their software solves logistics needs for large automotive companies in Peru, Argentina, Chile, Columbia, Peru and the GCC.

Draiver’s mission is to redefine the standard of excellence in vehicle delivery and offer unmatched opportunities for the gig economy in a people-first environment. Follow Draiver on Twitter, LinkedIn and www.draiver.com.

Wood Brothers Racing
Wood Brothers Racing was formed in 1950 in Stuart, Va., by Hall of Famer Glenn Wood. Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team and one of the winningest teams in NASCAR history. Since its founding, the team won 99 races (including at least one race in every decade for the last seven decades) and 120 poles in NASCAR’s top-tier series. Fielding only Ford products for its entire history, the Wood Brothers own the longest association of any motorsports team with a single manufacturer. Glenn’s brother, Leonard, is known for inventing the modern pit stop. The team currently runs the Ford Mustang driven by Harrison Burton in the famous No. 21 racer.

BUILD YOUR NASCAR TYCOON!

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NASCAR Tycoon

NASCAR gears up with persistent world launch on Roblox

Daytona Beach, Fla. (July 17, 2024) – NASCAR is once again taking the virtual racing world by storm, this time with the launch of “NASCAR Tycoon” on Roblox created by Dubit.

Building on the success of its previous “NASCAR Speed Hub,” this new experience promises to deliver an even more immersive and interactive NASCAR world.

Developed in partnership with the renowned metaverse studio Dubit, “NASCAR Tycoon” allows players to dive deep into the management and racing aspects of NASCAR, offering a unique blend of strategy and high-speed thrills in a distinctly Roblox-native way.

Players will have the opportunity to jump in the driver’s seat of cars styled after NASCAR’s Next Gen Cup Series vehicles, competing against each other and managing teams in thrilling races. Earning fame and fortune as they build their virtual tycoon, players can make passive income while they play. As players progress in “NASCAR Tycoon,” they will unlock exclusive perks such as building their own NASCAR racing teams, expanding their garages, collecting new cars, accessing customizations and attracting sponsors.

NASCAR Tycoon

The launch comes hot on the heels of recent Fortnite activations and follows the debut of NASCAR in “Jailbreak” and “NASCAR Speed Hub” last year – a virtual environment built by Dubit, for players to race around tracks linked to real-world races.

“We’re thrilled to launch ‘NASCAR Tycoon’ on Roblox, developed in partnership with Dubit, marking a key milestone in our ongoing efforts to authentically engage with the Roblox community,” said Nick Rend, VP of Interactive and Emerging Platforms at NASCAR. “This initiative is about more than reaching new audiences; it’s about deepening our connection on a platform where we see tremendous potential. By blending the excitement of NASCAR with the interactive and dynamic environment of Roblox, we’re enhancing traditional fandom in ways that are engaging, fun, and distinctly forward-looking.”

With more than 300 million monthly active users, Roblox is ripe with opportunities for entertainment properties like NASCAR and offers a chance to engage with audiences in an immersive and interactive environment.

Andrew Douthwaite, Chief Commercial Officer at Dubit, shares his excitement: “We’re thrilled to bring the next phase of NASCAR to life on Roblox, building on the success of previous activations. NASCAR Tycoon allows Roblox players to experience the excitement of NASCAR racing like never before, blending the strategic elements of team management with the adrenaline-pumping action on the track. It has been a true joy working with such a forward-thinking, iconic sports brand in NASCAR, and we look forward to continuing to push the boundaries together”

Dubit has created Roblox activations, virtual merchandise ranges and experiences for global brands including Unilever, Samsung, Reckitt, Kraft, H&M and adidas.

“NASCAR Tycoon” is now available on Roblox: http://roblox.com/NASCAR

About NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 14 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Series, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Mexico Series, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in five cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 11 countries and more than 30 U.S. states.

For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, X and Snapchat.

Stewart-Haas Racing: Indianapolis NXS Advance (Cole Custer | Riley Herbst)

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Official Release
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COLE CUSTER | RILEY HERBST
Indianapolis NASCAR Xfinity Series Advance
NASCAR Xfinity Series Overview

  • Event: Indianapolis 250 (Round 20 of 33)
  • Date: Saturday, July 20
  • Location: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
  • Layout: 2.5-mile oval
  • Time/TV/Radio: 3:30 p.m. EDT on USA/IMS Radio/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Cole Custer Notes of Interest

  • Cole Custer has had a weight lifted off his shoulders as he heads into Saturday’s Indianapolis 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The 26-year-old defending NASCAR Xfinity Series champion locked himself into the 2024 playoffs with his first win of the season last Saturday at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway. After coming close to a victory several times this summer, the driver of the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang Dark Horse finally sealed the deal at Pocono, where he scored a Stage 2 win and led 25 laps on his way to the race win. It was his 14th career Xfinity Series win and his second at the 2.5-mile Pocono triangle, making him the only driver to have multiple Xfinity Series wins at the track. In addition, he moved up to sixth on the all-time Xfinity Series win list for Ford drivers, tying him with Matt Kenseth. The next driver on the list is Jeff Burton with 17 wins. Custer has been the picture of consistency this season. He has earned 15 top-10s, collected a total of 174 stage points, won three stages, and led 425 laps overall – second-most in the series behind Justin Allgaier, who has led 517 laps.
  • Unlike many of his competitors, Saturday’s Indianapolis 250 will not be Custer’s first start on the oval at Indianapolis. It’ll mark his fourth Xfinity Series start on the iconic Brickyard layout. His most recent start came in September 2019, which was his last year in the Xfinity Series prior to moving up to the NASCAR Cup Series in the No. 41 Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing. He started that race 11th and worked his way to a seventh-place finish. His best Xfinity Series finish of fifth came in his first start at the track in July 2017. Custer has an additional start on the Indianapolis oval during his rookie Cup Series campaign in 2020. He earned an impressive fifth-place result after starting 30th.
  • Win and you’re in. That’s the philosophy of the NASCAR Playoffs. Only seven races remain until the Xfinity Series Playoffs kick off Sept. 28 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, and Custer has punched his ticket into the postseason field. After his first win of the season last Saturday at Pocono, Custer clinches a spot in the Round of 12. He also leads the regular-season Xfinity Series standings by a stout 51-point margin over second-place Justin Allgaier. Custer has held the points lead since his sixth-place finish June 1 at Portland (Ore.) International Raceway. If Custer holds onto the lead through the regular-season finale on Sept. 20 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, he will take home the regular-season championship trophy and 15 bonus points to start the playoffs. Custer finished fourth in the regular-season standings last season on his way to the championship.

Riley Herbst Notes of Interest

  • Riley Herbst is ready to take on the oval at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Saturday’s Indianapolis 250. The driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang Dark Hose is coming off a solid rebound after a late-race pit-road penalty last Saturday at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway. After starting 18th for the 90-lap race, Herbst quickly worked his way forward to finish seventh in Stage 1 and fourth in Stage 2. He looked to be in contention in the final stage until the pit-road penalty he was required to serve after a round of green-flag pit stops. The penalty sent him a lap down. He received the free pass back onto the lead lap during a caution on lap 69, then rallied in the final laps to an 11th-place finish. He hopes to carry that speed and resilience into this weekend while leaving the mistakes behind him as he gets to race for the first time on an iconic track layout he’s dreamed of racing on since his childhood.
  • During Herbst’s rookie Xfinity Series season in 2020, the series made the switch from the 2.5-mile oval to its grand prix road course. It was his first of four starts on the circuit, best of which was his sixth-place finish in July 2022. While Herbst has never made a start on the oval, he should feel right at home as the Xfinity Series cars will utilize a superspeedway package for the race. Herbst has been in contention to win each of the superspeedway races the past several seasons. His success in this style of racing has also been seen in the NASCAR Cup Series, where he earned best finishes of 10th and ninth, respectively, in his series debut in last year’s Daytona 500 and last fall’s stop at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, where he also led his first laps in a Cup Series car.
  • With seven races remaining before the Xfinity Series Playoffs kick off Sept. 28 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Herbst sits seventh in the driver standings, 72 points above the top-12 cutline. Herbst’s strong runs thus far have put him just four points behind fifth-place AJ Allmendinger and three points behind sixth-place Jesse Love. Herbst has earned a total of 145 stage points – fifth-best in the series – and he won one stage March 23 at Circuit of the Americas (COTA). He hopes to keep the momentum rolling through the regular-season finale Sept. 20 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.

Cole Custer, Driver of the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang Dark Horse

You’re one of the few drivers in the series who has had a chance to run a race on the Indianapolis oval. Do you feel like that will help give you an advantage this weekend?

“I mean, experience always helps, but there is a lot that has changed with how we’re running the oval now. We’re using a superspeedway package instead of an intermediate, so that’ll throw a curveball in for us. No one really knows what to expect from it, yet. Still, the time I’ve had on this track not only in the Xfinity Series but also the Cup Series should help me. I have previous knowledge that I can use while we prepare. We also have an entire practice session on Friday, which will help us get our No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang Dark Horse better for the race. On top of all that, we’re riding a wave of momentum from the past few races that should help the team’s confidence heading into the weekend. I’m excited to get back on the oval at Indianapolis and hopefully contend for the win.”

The win at Pocono last weekend must make you feel like a weight is off your shoulders as you have now locked yourself into the postseason. Does your perspective change now as you head into the final seven races of the regular season?

“It does a little bit. You’ve got that postseason playoff spot locked in, which is a big deal. It allows you to try more things and take more risks to try to get more wins. There’s not this weight of points racing on your shoulders to try and make it into the playoffs. Still, we also want to keep this regular-season points lead through the checkered flag at Bristol. It’s not even about the title of regular season champions, it’s that 15 extra playoff points. It could make or break you in a round. They carry over until the final race and if you happen to have a bad race during the playoffs, it could save you from being eliminated. We’re going to have to do some juggling, but it’s definitely not as stressful as it was prior to getting the win at Pocono.”

Riley Herbst, Driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang Dark Horse

While you have four prior starts on the Indianapolis road course, Saturday’s race will mark your first on the historic 2.5-mile oval. How do you feel heading into this weekend?

“Excited is an understatement. This was one of the tracks that I was so excited to run when I got into the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Then they changed it to the road course for my 2020 rookie season, and I was honestly bummed about it. We had some strong runs on the Indianapolis road course, but there’s something about getting to run on the historic oval that makes a driver excited. You grow up as a race fan and see all the history surrounding that layout of the track – who wouldn’t want to run it and possibly win there. It’ll be a struggle to learn the track quickly, but we do have a full session of practice on Friday to help. I know my No. 98 Monster Energy team will provide me with a fast car, so I’m excited.”

With only seven races to go in the regular season, you’re 72 points to the good of the Xfinity Series playoff cutline. What is your outlook on keeping and growing that points gap to secure your spot in the playoffs?

“A win would obviously solve everything, but we have to look at the situation we’re in and move on from there. We have to protect that points gap if we don’t want to be in the same position we were last year that led to us not making the playoffs. I don’t want to have to go through that again. So for right now, we’re going to go for stage points and strong finishes, but if the opportunity for a win comes, we’re also not going to pass that up. We’ve had so much speed this year, but the finishes haven’t always been there. I think we would be first or second in points had it not been for those bad finishes. Hopefully, we’ll have a good run at Indianapolis to help us move closer to securing our spot in the playoffs.”

Todd Gilliland and the No. 38 gener8tor Ford Mustang Dark Horse

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Official Release
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Indianapolis Motor Speedway Competition Notes

 MOORESVILLE, N.C. (July 17, 2024) – Todd Gilliland and the No. 38 team head to The Brickyard for the final race before the two-week Olympic Break.

Following a 34th place finish at the Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, Gilliland returns to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway after participating in the Goodyear tire test in June. This will be Gilliland’s third NASCAR Cup Series race at the iconic track, but first race on the oval. Gilliland captured his career-best finish on the Indianapolis Road Course, a fourth-place in 2022.

gener8tor will debut a new scheme for the return on the Brickyard 400, showcasing a black and gold livery for the 400-mile event.

On track action for the Cup Series will begin Friday July 19 with practice at 2:30 p.m. ET on the NBC Sports App and qualifying on Saturday, July 20 at 1:00 p.m. ET on USA Network. The Brickyard 400 will be at 2:30 p.m. ET, Sunday July 21, and televised on NBC. Fans can also listen to the action on SiriusXM Channel 90.

No. 38 gener8tor Ford Mustang Dark Horse:

DRIVER TODD GILLILAND:

“I’m excited for this weekend. It’s nice to see NASCAR bring back this iconic race. For me, the tire test was the first time I had been on the oval. For a lot of the younger guys however, they have never been on it, so Ryan (Bergenty) and I have an advantage from the data we gathered at the test.

“We’re all looking forward to the break. It will be a nice change of pace from the typical race schedule and a good break during the hardest part of the season. Hopefully we can head into the break with a good result from Indy.”

CREW CHIEF RYAN BERGENTY:

“We’re so close to the two-week break, but there is still a lot of work to do. Todd (Gilliland) and I had left the tire test with some pretty good info, and I think it will help us a lot on Sunday.

“We’re bringing an awesome paint scheme this weekend, and I think fans are going to love it. Hopefully we can get it into Victory Lane and go into the break with a win and a ticket to the playoffs.”

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

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

Toyota Racing Weekly Preview 07.17.24

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Official Release
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This Week in Motorsports: July 15 – 21, 2024

  • NCS/NXS: Indianapolis Motor Speedway – July 19-21
  • NCTS/ARCA: Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park – July 19
  • NHRA: Pacific Raceways – July 19-21

PLANO, Texas (July 17, 2024) – NASCAR makes its return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) oval with the Cup and Xfinity Series, culminating with the 30th anniversary Brickyard 400 on Sunday. The Truck Series, along with the ARCA Menards Series, are back at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, just outside of the “Circle City” for short track action Friday night.

NHRA is back on track for the first time in three weeks, traveling to the Pacific Northwest and Pacific Raceways just outside of Seattle, Washington.

NASCAR National Series – NCS | NXS | NCTS

Hamlin back on favorable IMS oval … The return to the IMS oval is a welcome sight for many, including Denny Hamlin. Coming into the weekend, Hamlin has finished inside the top-10 in six of the last nine Brickyard 400s as he looks for that long-awaited triumph on the yard of bricks.

Reddick’s top-10 streak continues … The sixth-place finish on Sunday in Pocono gave Tyler Reddick his fourth consecutive top-10 finish and seventh in the last eight races. His 14 top-10 finishes are also the most in the Cup Series. The strong finishes from the driver of the No. 45 Toyota Camry XSE have put him in prime contention for the regular season championship, as he’s risen to third in the points standings and sits only 15 points back of the top spot. Reddick returns to Indianapolis this weekend as a former winner as well, capturing victory on the road course in 2022.

Johnson back in No. 84 Camry XSE … For the first time since Charlotte back in May, Jimmie Johnson is behind the wheel of the No. 84 Toyota Camry XSE this weekend in Indianapolis. Sunday marks Johnson’s 695th career Cup Series start as he nears the milestone, 700. He’ll also make his 19th Brickyard 400 start on Sunday, where he’s captured four wins (2006, 2008, 2009, 2012), second all-time, along with six top-fives and seven top-10s.

Daly debuts in GR Supra … Indianapolis native and long-time IndyCar Series veteran, Conor Daly, will pilot the No. 26 GR Supra for Sam Hunt Racing this weekend in Indianapolis. Daly has made two career starts in the Xfinity Series, lastly in 2023 at the Charlotte ROVAL and makes his debut on his home track in a stock car this weekend. Daly has made 10 starts in the Indianapolis 500 around the famed 2.5-mile oval, with a career-best finish of sixth in 2022.

Toyota seeks repeat Xfinity win on IMS oval … With the Xfinity Series also returning to the IMS oval, it allows Toyota to go for a repeat victory after being triumphant in 2019 with former Toyota driver, Kyle Busch. Toyota also seeks four wins in the last seven races around the oval, as Busch won half of the eight previous Xfinity Series races there.

Heim on hot streak … Following his dominant victory at Pocono, Corey Heim has now captured victory in four of the last seven Truck Series races heading to Indianapolis this weekend, seeking his sixth victory of the season. Sweeping the stages last Friday now gives Heim six stage wins on the year, the most in the Truck Series, and he also leads the Playoffs points standings, while sitting second in the regular season standings. This weekend will be Heim’s third start at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park where he has two top-10 finishes.

Sawalich back in Tundra TRD Pro … Toyota Development Driver, William Sawalich, is back behind the wheel of the No. 1 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro with TRICON Garage this weekend in Indianapolis. This will be the Minnesotan’s ninth career Truck Series start and first since Martinsville in April. His best career finish to-date is sixth in this same race a season ago. He’ll be doing double duty on Friday, also participating in the ARCA Menards Series race Friday afternoon.

Sauter returns to a Tundra TRD Pro … Long-time NASCAR veteran, Johnny Sauter, is back with Team Toyota as he’ll drive the No. 16 Tundra TRD Pro for Hattori Racing Enterprises Friday night. This will be Sauter’s third Trucks start of 2024 and the 323rd of his career. This will be his first run in a Tundra TRD Pro since 2022 at Talladega.

NASCAR Regional Series – ARCA Menards Series

Sawalich seeks third straight win … Before he climbs into his Tundra TRD Pro, Sawalich will go for his third straight win in the ARCA Series and fourth of the season at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park Friday evening. Sawalich made his debut in Indianapolis last year, coming home fourth in his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry.

NHRA – Top Fuel | Funny Car

Toyota Top Fuel dragsters control point standings … Heading to Seattle this weekend, Toyota currently owns the top-five of the Top Fuel point standings with four races remaining before the Countdown to the Championship. Defending Top Fuel World Champion, Doug Kalitta, sits atop the standings leading Justin Ashley (second), Shawn Langdon (third), Antron Brown (fourth) and Steve Torrence (fifth), who is going for a repeat win Seattle. In Funny Car, J.R. Todd is in fifth place going into the weekend with Ron Capps sixth and Alexis DeJoria in eighth.

Toyota seeks to continue streaks … The return to NHRA action allows Toyota to extend some incredible streaks with its Top Fuel Dragsters and GR Supra Funny Cars. Should one of Toyota’s six Top Fuel drivers capture victory on Sunday, it will have 11 wins in the last 12 Top Fuel races, dating back to Kalitta’s Pomona win last November. And should one of Toyota’s nine drivers across Top Fuel or Funny Car reach the finals, it will be 34 straight NHRA events with a Toyota racer in the final round.

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our nearly 1,500 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs more than 49,000 people in the U.S. who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of more than 34 million cars and trucks at our nine manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 10th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 28 electrified options.

Through its Driving Possibilities initiative, the Toyota USA Foundation has committed to creating innovative educational programs within, and in partnership with, historically underserved and diverse communities near the company’s U.S. operating sites.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

Kleenex® Donates $500,000 to Donors Choose and Celebrates with Kroger Racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

By
Official Release
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Kleenex® and Kroger® Partner for Local Back-to-School Supply Drive

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (July 17, 2024) – Kimberly-Clark’s U.S. Kleenex® Brand and Kroger today announced a significant back-to-school promotion alongside Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and the Kroger Racing team at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This year, Kleenex® is proud to donate $500,000 to DonorsChoose, the #1 nonprofit funding site for U.S. public school teachers. Additionally, Kleenex® and Kroger will host a back-to-school supply drive and celebration at 20 Indianapolis Kroger stores, benefiting local school classroom projects.

“It’s exciting to see Kleenex® utilizing their Kroger® Racing partnership to help bring awareness around this cause and the important role teachers and classrooms have with kids,” said Stenhouse Jr. “They’re all working together to ensure teachers are able to receive proper funding for their classroom needs to help all kids grow and thrive.”

Stenhouse Jr.’s No. 47 Camaro

As part of this initiative, Stenhouse Jr.’s No. 47 Camaro will feature Kleenex® and DonorsChoose branding during the Brickyard 400 to help raise awareness and encourage fans to support local teachers’ classroom projects with purchases of Kleenex®, the #1 Facial Tissue Trusted by Teachers. The local school supply donation event tour kicks off Wednesday, July 17, at Kroger® on Rockville Rd. from 2:00 PM ET to 6:00 PM ET. The tour continues to other Kroger® Indianapolis locations daily from Wednesdays through Sundays, culminating at the South Emerson Ave Kroger® on August 11. Stenhouse Jr. will make an appearance at the Kroger® store located at 975 N. Green Street, Brownsburg, Ind. on Friday, July 19, from 3:30 PM ET to 5:00 PM ET to visit with local shoppers and race fans.

Since 2020, Kleenex® has donated nearly $5 million to support classrooms across the country, funding nearly 25,000 projects on the DonorsChoose platform and reaching more than 10,000 schools in the U.S.

“Kleenex® is proud to help ensure that teachers can count on the supplies they need for their students to thrive,” said Will Dunn, Senior Brand Manager for U.S. Kleenex® Brand. “As we celebrate our partnership with DonorsChoose alongside Stenhouse Jr. and Kroger® Racing, we’re excited to continue Kleenex’s legacy of care during all of life’s big and small moments.”

Live coverage of the Brickyard 400 on Sunday, July 21, begins at 2:30 PM ET on NBC, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

About Kimberly-Clark:

Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) and its trusted brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries. Fueled by ingenuity, creativity, and an understanding of people’s most essential needs, we create products that help individuals experience more of what’s important to them. Our portfolio of brands, including Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, Kotex, Cottonelle, Poise, Depend, Andrex, Pull-Ups, GoodNites, Intimus, Plenitud, Sweety, Softex, Viva and WypAll, hold No. 1 or No. 2 share positions in approximately 70 countries. We use sustainable practices that support a healthy planet, build strong communities, and ensure our business thrives for decades to come. We are proud to be recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies(R) by Ethisphere for the sixth year in a row. To keep up with the latest news and to learn more about the company’s 150-year history of innovation, visit the Kimberly-Clark website.

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