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Collet Jumps to Top of Practice with Big Lap at Mid-Ohio

LEXINGTON, Ohio (Friday, July 5, 2024) – The INDY NXT by Firestone standings indicate it might be a two-driver race for the 2024 title between Louis Foster and Jacob Abel, but Caio Collet clearly had different ideas Friday in the first practice for the Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio.

Brazilian rookie Collet led with a best lap of 1 minute, 11.4390 seconds in the No. 18 HMD Motorsports car on the 13-turn, 2.258-mile Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, which was recently repaved. Collet is third in the series standings with six races remaining, 84 points behind leader Foster and 49 points behind second-place Abel.

“This is the first weekend that we started quite well like that,” Collet said. “I think we always have been starting a little bit on the back foot comparing to Louis, and then we just play a little bit of catch-up during the weekend.

“I think we put in the work after Laguna. This is a track that we tested. I knew a little bit where to turn. So, that was quite nice. The car felt really, really good throughout the whole session, and hopefully we can keep going like this tomorrow.”

Rookie Christian Brooks, making just his third INDY NXT start, ended up second at 1:11.6864 in the No. 39 HMD Motorsports car recently vacated by Nolan Siegel after his promotion to Arrow McLaren in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Brooks is doing double duty this weekend, also competing in the USF Pro 2000 event at Mid-Ohio.

Foster was third at 1:11.6920 in the No. 26 Copart/Novara Technologies car of Andretti Global, followed by Reece Gold in the No. 10 HMD Motorsports car at 1:11.8076.

Abel rounded out the top five in the 45-minute session, which started in very light rain, at 1:11.8818 in the No. 51 Abel Construction car fielded by Abel Motorsports.

While Collet was more than two-tenths of a second quicker than Brooks, just slightly more than three-tenths separated Brooks from the eighth-quickest driver, Myles Rowe in the No. 99 HMD Motorsports with Force Indy machine.

Up next is the second practice at 9:40 a.m. ET Saturday, followed by qualifying at 2:05 p.m. INDYCAR LIVE and the INDYCAR Radio Network will broadcast both sessions live.

Live coverage of the 35-lap race starts at 11:15 a.m. ET Sunday on Peacock and the INDYCAR Radio Network.

RCR Race Preview: Chicago Street Race

NASCAR Returns to Chicago… Following the success of the inaugural event, NASCAR returns to the streets of Chicago this weekend. The NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series will compete on a temporary 2.2 mile, 12-turn street course. The 2023 NASCAR Chicago Street Race’s Grant Park 220 was the most watched NBC race broadcast since 2017 and was the most-streamed NASCAR race in NBC Sports history (163,500).

More Than a Race… Race weekend in Chicago will also feature a variety of musical acts, including The Chainsmokers, Keith Urban, The Black Keys, and Lauren Alaina.

NASCAR Racing in Chicago… NASCAR has a rich tradition in Chicago, with the Cup Series competing at five different tracks dating back to 1954 at Santa Fe Speedway. Other tracks to host NASCAR’s premier series include Soldier Field (1956-1957), Chicago Motor Speedway (2000-2001) and Chicagoland Speedway (2001-2019) and the Chicago Street Race (2023)

RCR: A Winning Tradition in the Windy City… Richard Childress Racing racked up seven victories across four NASCAR series at Chicagoland Speedway. Kevin Harvick won the inaugural Cup Series race at the 1.5-mile track, his second career win and added another Cup victory in 2002. Harvick won twice in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (2005 and 2007) while Elliott Sadler added a NXS win in 2012. In 2011, both Austin Dillon (Truck Series) and Ty Dillon (ARCA) were victorious at Chicagoland Speedway.

Catch the Action… The Loop 110 at Chicago Street Course will be televised live on Saturday, July 6 beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. The race will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Follow Sunday’s Action at the Chicago Street Course… The Grant Park 165 at Chicago Street Course will be televised live on Sunday, July 7 beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. The race will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Get Bioethanol Chevrolet at the Chicago Street Race… The NASCAR Cup Series is headed to Chicago for the second time on the city’s street course. At the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series event in 2023, Dillon had a strong top-five race going before a late-race accident ended his day.

Road Course Experience… Dillon has racked up 36 NASCAR Cup Series starts on road courses with a pair of top-10 finishes at Circuit of the Americas and the Charlotte ROVAL in 2022.

Delivering Performance on the Track and For the Planet… Dillon will race the Get Bioethanol Chevy at the Chicago Street Race, showcasing the performance benefits of racing with earth kind and engine-smart bioethanol blended fuel, Sunoco Green E15. Whether it’s delivering cleaner and cooler high-octane on the racetrack or a more affordable option for summer road trips, plant-based bioethanol makes a positive impact on our planet. NASCAR drivers have now officially raced 23 million NASCAR miles driven on Sunoco Green E15, a notable milestone for the environment as NASCAR’s partnership with Get Bioethanol has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent across its three national touring series while also increasing horsepower on the track. Learn more about bioethanol at getbioethanol.com.

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTE:

What are your thoughts on going back to the Chicago Street Race?

“The Chicago Street Race was entertaining for sure last year. The weather conditions were treacherous. We had a pretty good opportunity at that race. We were able to get to the front at the end, and coming down to the closing laps, I was running down Justin Haley and clipped the last corner there. Running behind somebody on a street course is tough. It’s easy to try and grab a little extra track that’s not there. Our No. 3 Get Bioethanol Chevrolet team learned a lot in 2023. Qualifying is going to be the toughest session we have all season because the course is so tight, and it will be harder to pass than it is on other road courses we go to. You will want to be at the front as much as possible and I’m confident we will be bringing a fast Camaro this weekend.”

Kyle Busch and the No. 8 zone Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at the Chicago Street Race… Kyle Busch will make his second start on the streets of Chicago. Busch scored a fifth-place finish last year at Chicago, one of 10 top-five finishes he would claim during the 2023 season. The Las Vegas, Nev., native will be making his 55th career NASCAR Cup Series road course this weekend. Busch has four victories in 54 previous road course events, winning twice at Sonoma Raceway (2008 and 2015) and twice at Watkins Glen (2008 and 2103). Busch also has two pole positions in road course competition, both at Watkins Glen (2011 and 2017). He has been remarkably consistent in road course events, piling up 29 top-10 finishes (a top-10 finish in 53.70 percent of his starts). Busch has led 429 laps on road courses. and has been running at the finish in 51 of 54 starts.

Did You Know? Since 2022, the No. 8 team at Richard Childress Racing has scored two wins (Road America and Indianapolis), seven top-five finishes, and has led 102 laps in road course competition.

Points Update… Busch enters this weekend 17th in the NASCAR Cup Series Driver Standings, 104 points below the Playoffs cutline.

KYLE BUSCH QUOTES:

What was your experience like last year at the Chicago Street Race?

“The Chicago Street Race last year was pretty exciting. I know we had the weather there and it kind of held up the start of things. I didn’t think we were going to race. I thought it was flooded, but it stopped raining, they got it kind of dried up, the standing water removed, and we were out there as it was still drying, running our wet tires. It was a challenging racetrack already with how narrow it was and how slick it was on city streets. Throw in the rain and wet aspect into it and it totally changes it for us. We struggled a little bit there early in the race, but we were able to turn it around. Our strategy worked really well, some breaks fell our way, and we were able to score a top-five.”

Last year you went nose first into the tire barrier but were able to bounce back and score a fifth-place finish. Were you surprised the car didn’t have more damage?

“I was thankful that the car didn’t have more damage than what it did. I was able to continue racing and was able to score a top-five finish, which was really good for us. I felt like we had a top-five car, so we achieved the finish that we should have so that was pretty good.”

Would you be okay with adding another street race to the schedule? If so, what would be a good location?

“I would say that another street circuit would be a pretty good idea. If we’re going to do it, we should go to an area that we’re not currently racing in. I wouldn’t change racing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to run on the streets of Las Vegas. Let’s go somewhere different.”

Austin Hill and the No. 33 United Rentals Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at the Chicago Street Race… Austin Hill will make his inaugural NASCAR Cup Series start at the Chicago Street Course this Sunday. While Hill has not raced in the premier series at the 12-turn, 2.2-mile circuit, the 30-year-old has made one career NASCAR Xfinity Series start on the street course, earning a fifth-place result in 2023.

Turns for Troops… Through their Turns for Troops program, United Rentals will make a $50.00 donation for each lap that Hill completes in his United Rentals Chevrolet Camaro during the Cup Series race at the Chicago Street Course. Funds from the Turns for Troops program support military veterans and their families through Operation Homefront.

About United Rentals… United Rentals, Inc. is the largest equipment rental company in the world. The company has an integrated network of 1,504 rental locations in North America, 38 in Europe, 23 in Australia and 19 in New Zealand. In North America, the company operates in 49 states and every Canadian province. The company’s approximately 26,300 employees serve construction and industrial customers, utilities, municipalities, homeowners, and others. The company offers approximately 4,800 classes of equipment for rent with a total original cost of $20.66 billion. United Rentals is a member of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, the Barron’s 400 Index and the Russell 3000 Index® and is headquartered in Stamford, Conn. Additional information about United Rentals is available at unitedrentals.com.

AUSTIN HILL QUOTE:

This will be your first road or street course start in the Cup Series. Do you think the Cup Series car will drive differently than the Xfinity Series car?

“I do think the Cup car will be different. One of the biggest things I will have to manage on Saturday when going between the Xfinity car and the Cup car is that the brakes are bigger on the Cup car. I will be able to drive into the corner deeper, so whatever my lift point is in the Xfinity car, I should be able to go a few car lengths further in the Cup car. I don’t know how big that will be yet until I make laps in the Cup car during practice. Another thing I’ll have to manage is wheel hop. In the Xfinity car, you have to worry about wheel hop because the rear of the car can get out of the track very easily. When compared to the Cup car, wheel hop doesn’t seem to be an issue, but those cars can get loose under braking. It will have different feelings that I’ll figure out over the course of the weekend.”

Jesse Love and the No. 2 Whelen Aerospace Technologies (WAT) Chevrolet Camaro SS at the Chicago Street Race… Jesse Love will make his first career NASCAR start at the Chicago Street Course this Saturday. As a current Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender, Love did not participate in last season’s inaugural event on the streets of Chicago. To prepare for the 12-turn, 2.2-mile circuit, the 19-year-old spent time in the simulator at the GM Tech Center in Concord, N.C.

One for One… Love has driven the WAT Chevrolet one prior time this season, earning his first career NASCAR Xfinity Series victory in an overtime finish at Talladega Superspeedway.

WAT Flying High… For this weekend’s event at the Chicago Street Course, Love will trade in his standard red-and-white Whelen Engineering colors for the black-and-yellow Whelen Aerospace Technologies (WAT) brand. Whelen Aerospace Technologies is the global leader in high-end lighting products for the aerospace industry. Their experienced staff designs, engineers, and manufacturers high-quality products that provide safety, visibility, and recognition for aircraft across all platforms. The design engineers work closely with OEM and service provider networks to design high-performance products that enhance the pilot experience, as well as provide safety of flight. As an FAA-approved production holder, WAT owns hundreds of STCs for aircraft landing, taxi, anti-collision and position lights. The in-house composite shop produces a wide variety of STC and PMA approved speed modifications for a number of general aviation aircraft. The expansive product line is sure to provide a solution for pilots and owners alike, based on their individual needs.

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 QUOTE:

Entering the Chicago Street Race, what are your thoughts on the course and overall experience?

“This will be my first street course race, so I’m not 100% sure what to expect. As I normally do each week, I’ve put in a ton of preparation to be as ready as possible. Between watching film and in-car from last year’s races and making laps in the simulator, I’ve done everything besides being in the actual race car. I’m happy that we get a full practice session on Saturday morning, so I can make as many laps before the race starts. The No. 2 boys have been bringing fast cars to the track each week, and it’s nice to have the WAT scheme back. We had success getting those colors into Victory Lane at Talladega earlier this season, so hopefully it brings some luck with it again.”

Austin Hill and the No. 21 Dow Coatings Chevrolet Camaro SS at the Chicago Street Race… With the NASCAR industry returning to the streets of Chicago for the second time in league history, Austin Hill will make his second start at the 12-turn, 2.2-mile circuit. Last year in the inaugural NASCAR Xfinity Series event, Hill qualified in fifth place, battled through torrential rain conditions, and finished in the fifth position as the race was made official with just 25 laps complete. In preparation for The Loop 110, the Winston, Georgia native has spent time completing laps on the simulator at the GM Tech Center in Concord, N.C.

Dow Brings a Science and Engineering Crew, Driven by Limitless Curiosity, to the RCR Team… As a longstanding partner of Richard Childress Racing, Dow Coatings will make their debut on the No. 21 Chevrolet Camaro SS on the Chicago Street Course. The team is supported by Dow’s materials science expertise and technologies. Backed by the power of data analysis and virtual modeling, Dow develops and manufactures high-performance components and materials custom-made for RCR. Dow and RCR’s partnership have expedited innovation and shortened testing time in the automotive industry by recreating in the lab one of the most extreme environments – the racetrack. After 10 years of collaboration, Dow scientists and RCR engineers are continuing to work together to make the cars faster, safer, and more precise. Stay up to date with Dow’s exciting developments at dow.com/sports and follow on X @DowSports.

Welcome, Dow Coating Materials… Dow Coating Materials is the most innovative coatings raw material supplier in the world, driving fundamental shifts in the coatings industry and moving the market as the expert’s expert in coatings solutions. Through its mission of collaboration, inspiration, innovation, and growth, the business provides material products, science, technology, and manufacturing solutions to the architectural and industrial coatings industry worldwide. Dow Coating Materials’ manufacturing and R&D footprint spans across all major geographic markets where Dow does business. For more information, please visit dow.com/en-us/industries/consumer/paints-and-coatings.

AUSTIN HILL QUOTE:

Returning to the Chicago Street Race for a second year, what did you learn in year one that can be applied to this weekend?

“Street racing is definitely a different experience. We didn’t get to complete the full race last season, so I’m hopeful that we get all the laps in this year and can see how the entire race plays out. We were decent last year, finishing fifth, but realistically should have been closer to third. You have to have a different mindset going into a street course. Traditionally on a regular road course, I look two or three corners ahead. But with this street course having walls on both sides of you, you can’t see ahead which changes the way you perceive things on the track. Hitting your marks consistently and making the apex of the corner is a little tougher since I can’t see as far forward as I would like to. The course itself has a decent amount of elevation change and is rough. I like that part and hope that it’s as rough as it was last year, because that fits into my driving style. When the track is rougher and the car is uneasy and moving around, it promotes the drivers who can get through the bumps better.”

Young’s Motorsports The Chicago Street Course Xfinity Team Preview

Young’s Motorsports | NASCAR Xfinity Series
Chicago Street Course | The Loop 110

Fast Facts

No. 42 Young’s Motorsports Team:
Driver: Leland Honeyman Jr.
Primary Partner(s): Klean Freak
Manufacturer: Chevrolet Camaro
Crew Chief: Andrew Abbott
2024 Driver Points Position: 20th
2024 Owner Points Position: 24th
Engine: Earnhardt-Childress Racing

Movin’ on Up!: In January, Young’s Motorsports announced it would graduate from the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series to the NASCAR Xfinity Series full-time in 2024 with rising star Leland Honeyman Jr. behind the wheel of the team’s No. 42 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro for the entire 33-race season continuing with Saturday afternoon’s The Loop 110 at the Chicago Street Course.

About Leland: The Phoenix, Ariz. native began honing his racing skills at the tender age of two racing Quads. By four years old, he moved into Trophy Karts and then collected three series championships in off-road racing Trophy Karts.

After an instrumental tenure in Go Karts, he moved into the Bandolero competition in 2015 and was crowned a Bandolero National Champion two years later. From there, he moved into Limited Late Models before graduating to the Carolina Pro Late Model Series division in 2021, where he earned championship-runner-up honors and picked up an astounding victory in the annual Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway Fall Brawl.

Honeyman, 19, returns to the Mooresville, N.C.-based organization, where he ran an impressive ARCA Menards Series East Series campaign, finishing third in the 2022 championship standings.

During the 2023 season, he made eight NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, highlighted by a 21st-place finish at the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Road Course.

All-Aboard!: For the 18th of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races this season, Young’s Motorsports welcomes Klean Freak as the primary partner on the No. 42 Chevrolet Camaro for the 50-lap race on Saturday afternoon.

The Klean Freak story began on a camping trip in Zion National Park. Our creator, a world traveler known to get himself in a lot of dirty, nasty, sticky icky icky, ooh wee situations, found himself in yet another freakin’ funky predicament after a long hike.

If only there were a product, he thought, that provided single-use body wipes infused with amazing, natural ingredients and conveniently packaged for the on-the-go individual. Well, there wasn’t, so he smelled. But the seed was planted, and it set us on our mission to cure the world of nasty B.O., one product at a time.

Klean Freak teamed up with some dang good scientists to formulate the “best of the best” body wipes that gives you a refreshing, confidence-boosting kind of klean.

We tapped into some amazing ingredients that hydrate the skin while also ridding it of bad bacteria, cleared by the FDA and safe for even the most sensitive skin. Plus, our amazing scents leave you smelling freakishly fresh… And not like a baby’s butt. We think that’s a huge plus.

So go ahead. Run that to-do list to the ground after going hard at the gym. Get drinks with friends after a long day at work. Wipe away the stresses of your strenuous labor. We’ve got you.

Leland Honeyman Jr. NASCAR Xfinity Series Chicago Street Course Stats: Saturday afternoon’s

The Loop 110 at the Chicago Street Course will mark Honeyman’s inaugural Xfinity Series start at the 2.2-mile street course in the streets of downtown Chicago.

This weekend’s race, part of the Fourth of July Holiday week, is part of a doubleheader race weekend in its second year. It will be Honeyman’s sixth career Xfinity Series start on any course that involves turning left and right.

The Xfinity Series rookie driver will look to improve his overall average finish of 25.3.

Leland Honeyman Jr. NASCAR Xfinity Career Stats: Entering Chicago, Honeyman has 25 career NASCAR Xfinity Series races to his credit, earning a career-best fourth-place finish at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway after starting 33rd in the Ag-Pro 300 for Young’s Motorsports in April 2024.

Since 2023, he has carried an average finish of 23.7.

Nashville Superspeedway | Tennessee Lottery 250 Race Recap: In the 17th race of the 2024 Xfinity Series season, Young’s Motorsports and Honeyman searched for another solid finish in the team’s inaugural Xfinity Series trip to Nashville Superspeedway.

In sweltering hot conditions, Honeyman maintained his solid practice pace and started his first NASCAR Xfinity Series race from 25th position.

Throughout the race, Honeyman battled the heat and the competition to maintain a solid rhythm inside the top 25.

A lack of natural race cautions hindered much of the field, but Honeyman was able to thrive during a green flag pit stop in Stage 3 and cling to a 25th-place finish at the checkered flag.

Calling the Shots: Guiding Honeyman Jr. as crew chief of the No. 42 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro is longtime crew chief Andrew Abbott.

On Saturday, he will be crew chief in his 115th NASCAR Xfinity Series race. In his previous 114 races, he has four top-five and 12 top-10 finishes.

The season’s 18th race will be his first tango in the Windy City as crew chief in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR Xfinity Series at the Chicago Street Course: This weekend will mark Young’s Motorsports’ first NASCAR Xfinity Series start at the Chicago Street Course.

Despite Chicago being a new venue for the veteran NASCAR team, the organization has competed on the road courses of Circuits of the America (COTA), Portland International Raceway, and Sonoma Raceway thus far.

The team posted its best road course finish this season, 20th in downtown Austin, Texas, after starting 34th.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR Xfinity Series History: Since entering the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2024, the family-owned organization has logged 17 starts and maintains an average starting position of 26.5 and an average finish of 22.9.

Follow on Social Media: For more on Leland Honeyman Jr., please visit LelandHoneymanRacing.com, like him on Facebook (Leland Honeyman Racing) and follow on Instagram (@lelandhoneymanjr) and X |Twitter (@lelandhoneyman3).

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports), and follow them on Instagram (@youngsmotorsports) and X |Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

Leland Honeyman Jr. Pre-Race Quote:

On The Chicago Street Course: “I am very optimistic about my debut at the Chicago Street Course. This year, we have shown speed with our Young’s Motorsports road course program, so I believe we can do the same on the street course.

“It’s going to be a different style of racing for sure, but I believe we can learn throughout the weekend and find ourselves in contention for a solid finish at the checkered flag.”

Race Information:

The Loop 110 (50 laps | 110 miles) is the 18th of thirty-three (33) NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2024 schedule. Practice begins on Saturday, July 6, 2024, from 9:00 – 9:50 a.m. Qualifying immediately follows at 10:00 a.m. The 38-car field is set to take the green flag later in the day shortly after 2:30 p.m. (3:30 p.m. ET) with live coverage on NBC, the Motor Racing Network (Radio), and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (Central).

21 Team Ready To Take to the Streets of Chicago

For years, NASCAR insiders and the sport’s fans were conditioned to look on the Fourth of July weekend as a time to return to Daytona International Speedway for the traditional start to the second half of the season.

But starting last year, NASCAR’s elite Cup Series celebrates Independence Day weekend with a race on the streets of Chicago.

The inaugural event on the 12-turn, 2.2-mile course was plagued by torrential rains, but the race still was a crowd pleaser.

Now the circuit returns, and Harrison Burton and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team are hoping for sunny skies and a strong run on the most unique course on the circuit.

“I’ll admit I was a skeptic when the Chicago street race was announced last year,” crew chief Jeremy Bullins said. “But considering the rain and everything else that went on I was so impressed with the crowd of fans that stuck it out that I really can’t wait to go back.

“I hope we can have some better weather and put on a good race for the fans.”

He said the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team has had more speed and opportunities to finish well in recent weeks, and he hopes to build on that this weekend.

“We’ve had some decent momentum swinging our way lately, and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do with our Motorcraft Mustang this week,” he said.

Practice for the Grant Park 165 is set for Saturday at 11:30 a.m. (12:30 p.m. Eastern Time) to be followed by qualifying at 12:30 p.m. (1:30 Eastern). USA Network will carry the TV broadcast.

Sunday’s 75-lap, 165-mile race is set to get the green flag just after 3:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m. Eastern) with TV coverage on NBC.

Stage breaks are planned for Laps 20 and 45.

About Motorcraft®
Motorcraft offers a complete line of replacement parts that are recommended by Ford Motor Company. From routine maintenance to under hood repairs, Motorcraft parts offer value with high quality and the right fit at competitive prices. Motorcraft parts are available nationwide at Ford Dealers and Lincoln Retailers, independent distributors and automotive-parts retailers, and are backed by the Service Parts Limited Warranty* of Ford Motor Company. For more information, visit www.motorcraft.com.
*See your dealer for limited-warranty details.

About Quick Lane® Tire & Auto Center
Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center offers extraordinary service for routine maintenance, serving all vehicle makes and models. Quick Lane provides a full menu of automotive services, including tires, oil change and maintenance, brakes, batteries, alternator and electrical system, air conditioning system, cooling system, transmission service, suspension and steering, wheel alignment, belts and hoses, lamps and bulbs and wiper blades plus a thorough vehicle checkup report. Service is performed by expert technicians while you wait at any of nearly 800 locations in the U.S., with evening and weekend hours available and no appointment necessary. For more information about Quick Lane, please visit www.quicklane.com.
*See your dealer for limited-warranty details.”

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams. The company’s Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for customers and deepen their loyalty. Ford develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, along with connected services. The company does that through three customer-centered business segments: Ford Blue, engineering iconic gas-powered and hybrid vehicles; Ford Model e, inventing breakthrough EVs along with embedded software that defines exceptional digital experiences for all customers; and Ford Pro, helping commercial customers transform and expand their businesses with vehicles and services tailored to their needs. Additionally, Ford is pursuing mobility solutions through Ford Next, and provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about 177,000 people worldwide. More information about the company and its products and services is available at corporate.ford.com.

About Ford Performance
Ford Performance is based in Dearborn, Mich. It is responsible for Ford’s performance vehicle development and major racing operations globally, including NASCAR, IMSA, SRO British GT, FIA World Rally Championship, Supercars Championship, World of Outlaws, Ultra4, SCORE-International, FIA Rally-Raid, Formula Drift, NHRA, Rebelle Rally, Thailand Super Series and our latest commitment in Formula 1 with RedBull Ford Powertrains. Ford Performance also maintains a constantly evolving fleet of electric performance demonstrators to showcase the limits of electrification technology. In addition, the organization also oversees the development of Ford’s racing engines, as well as the outreach programs with all Ford Clubs and Ford enthusiasts. For more information regarding Ford racing’s activities, please visit Performance.Ford.com or follow @FordPerformance on Facebook, Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok and YouTube.

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.

The Ultimate Guide to Buying 2 Seater Sports Cars

Photo by Darrien Staton on Unsplash

Sports cars have always been the epitome of style, speed, and luxury. The sleek design, powerful engines, and impressive performance make them a dream for many car enthusiasts. While many consider sports cars to be a symbol of extravagance, there are also affordable options available in the market. One such option is 2 seater sports cars.

In this guide, we will delve into everything you need to know about buying a 2 seater sports car. From understanding the features to considering your budget and needs, we will cover it all. So buckle up and get ready to find your perfect ride!

Determine Your Budget

As with any major purchase, it is essential to determine your budget before starting your search for 2 seater sports cars. These cars range from affordable to exorbitant prices, so it’s crucial to have a clear idea of how much you are willing to spend. Consider the following:

Purchase Price

The initial cost of 2 seater sports cars can vary greatly depending on factors such as brand, model, and features. For instance, a used Porsche Boxster can cost around $20,000 while a brand-new Lamborghini Aventador can go up to $500,000 or more. Research different brands and models to get an idea of their price range.

Maintenance Costs

Along with the purchase price, you also need to consider the maintenance costs that come with owning a sports car. These cars often require specialized parts and services which can be expensive. It’s important to factor in these costs when determining your budget.

Insurance

Sports cars are known to have higher insurance rates due to their powerful engines and increased risk of accidents. Make sure to get quotes from different insurance companies and consider these costs when setting your budget.

Fuel Costs

Most sports cars are not known for their fuel efficiency, so it’s important to consider the cost of fuel when purchasing 2 seater sports cars. It’s also worth researching if the car requires premium gasoline and how much it would cost.

Depreciation

Sports cars tend to have a higher depreciation rate compared to regular cars. This means that the car’s value will decrease significantly over time. It’s important to keep this in mind when determining your budget and resale value.

Consider Your Needs and Lifestyle

Before selecting a 2 seater sports car, it’s important to consider your needs and lifestyle. Consider these factors:

Performance

Do you want a sports car for its speed and agility? Or do you prefer a more comfortable ride with less focus on performance? For instance, the Mazda MX-5 Miata RF is known for its superb handling, while the Chevrolet Corvette offers a more powerful engine.

Usage

Will this be your primary vehicle or a weekend car? If it’s your daily driver, then practicality and comfort may be important factors to consider. If it’s a weekend car, then you may prioritize features such as top speed and acceleration.

Features

Think about the features that are essential for you in a sports car. Do you need advanced safety features, a convertible top, or a high-end sound system? Make a list of must-have features and consider them when researching different models.

Brand Loyalty

Some car enthusiasts have a strong brand loyalty and only want to drive a particular brand. If you are one of them, then your options may be limited in terms of models and features.

New vs. Used

Buying a brand new 2 seater sports car may seem like the ideal choice, but there are also benefits to purchasing a used one.

New Cars

Purchasing a new sports car means you will be the first owner, and it comes with a warranty. You also have the option to customize the car according to your preferences. However, new cars tend to have higher costs and depreciation rates.

Used Cars

Buying a used sports car can save you money and may offer more options in terms of models and features. However, there is always a risk of buying a car with hidden issues or high maintenance costs. It’s important to thoroughly inspect the car and get a vehicle history report before making a purchase.

Performance and Handling

One of the main reasons people opt for a sports car is its performance and handling. When researching different models, pay attention to factors such as:

Engine Type and Power

Sports cars are known for their powerful engines, but each model may have a different type and power output. Consider which engine type suits your needs and check the horsepower and torque of the car.

Transmission

Most sports cars come with a manual or automatic transmission. Manual transmissions offer a more engaging driving experience, while automatic transmissions provide convenience. Take a test drive to see which one you prefer.

Handling

Sports cars are designed for high-performance driving, so it’s important to pay attention to handling aspects such as suspension, steering, and braking systems. Each car may have a different setup, so make sure to test drive and see how it feels on the road.

Test Drive and Reviews

Before making a final decision, it’s crucial to test drive the 2 seater sports car and read reviews from other owners. This will give you a better understanding of the car’s overall performance, handling, and reliability.

Maintenance and Reliability

Sports cars often require regular maintenance to keep them in top condition. It’s important to research the car’s reliability and expected maintenance costs before making a purchase. Some brands may offer better warranties and after-sales services.

Ownership Experience

Owning 2 seater sports cars is not just about the driving experience, but also about the overall ownership experience. Consider factors such as dealership support, ease of finding parts and services, and community events for owners.

Buy 2 Seater Sports Cars Successfully with this Guide

Buying 2 seater sports cars can be an exciting and rewarding experience. However, it’s crucial to consider your budget, needs, and lifestyle when selecting a model. Remember to thoroughly research different options, test drive the car, and read reviews before making a final decision. With this guide, we hope you find your perfect ride that brings you joy for years to come! Happy driving!

Is this article helpful? Keep reading our blog for more.

KID’S PLAY: EVERY DAY OF JULY 12-14 NASCAR TRIPLEHEADER WEEKEND FREE FOR CHILDREN 12 AND UNDER

  • Kids 12 and under can experience for free any of the three days, including The Great American Getaway 400 presented by VISITPA Cup Series race on Sunday, July 14.
  • Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital Kids Day on Saturday, July 13, will offer additional fun and activities for children of all ages in Chalet Village.

LONG POND, Pa. (July 3, 2024) – School is out for the summer and Pocono Raceway is providing an affordable and exciting option for family fun.

Pocono Raceway, situated in the heart of the Pocono Mountains resort region, is admitting children 12 and under free to any of the three days of its July 12-14 NASCAR tripleheader weekend. The “Kids First” initiative also includes the weekend’s featured event, The Great American Getaway 400 presented by VISIT PA Cup Series race on Sunday, July 14.

For the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series CRC Brakleen 175 race on Friday, July 12, and Xfinity Series Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 on Saturday, July 13, an adult ticket holder can bring as many 12-and-under kids for absolutely free. Children will not require a ticket for gate admission and will receive free admission to the 100 and 200 levels of the grandstand. The admission also includes the free Fan Fair with its carnival-style theme and rides.

For adults purchasing a 100 or 200 level for The Great American Getaway 400 presented by VISITPA, they can include up to four free kids’ tickets per transaction. All seating is reserved for the Cup Series race so each child will receive a reserved ticket. Click HERE for more information and FAQs on Pocono Raceway’s programs and initiatives for children.

Kids Day at Pocono

Those interested in taking children to the event may want to consider Saturday as an enticing option with it being Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital Kids Day.

In addition to the Xfinity Series race and Cup Series practice and qualifying on track, Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital will play host to Kids Day from 9 a.m. – Noon in Chalet Village.

There will be a wide variety of entertainment for kids 12 and under including face painting (provided by Danielle Dunbar), strolling performer (Aardvark Entertainment), bounce house (All About Fun), bubble vendor (Eazy Bubbles), photo booth (Sandi K Photos) and a DJ (Slammin Jamz).

Several displays and activities also will be on hand including the Clymer Library; Crayola Experience; Kids Peace Foster Care; Lehigh Valley Health Network; Monroe County Habitat For Humanity; Monroe County Children & Youth; Pocono Services for Families and Children; Special Recreation Services, Inc.; Safe Monroe; S.A.F.E Inc (Supporting Autism and Families Everywhere); and Scranton School for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing Children.

The kids also will have access to a free special event that day with all four of the Cup Series drivers from Stewart-Haas Racing. Chase Briscoe, Josh Berry, Ryan Preece and Noah Gragson will take part in a Q&A session on the Fan Fair stage at 9:30 a.m. The Q&A will be followed by an autograph session with all four drivers on the same stage beginning at 10 a.m. (Note-wristbands are required for the autograph session and available at the event beginning at 8:30 a.m.).

Pocono Raceway is home to two playgrounds for kids to enjoy plenty of fun away from the on-track activity. Tricky’s Kit Kamp, near Gate 8 behind the grandstands, is built for younger fans to play while the Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital Infield Inclusive Playground is designed for children of all ages and abilities to learn, grow and play together. The nearly 5,000-square-foot playground is one of the top 100 inclusive playgrounds in the country. 

Pocono Raceway also partnered with KultureCity to make the venue a sensory-inclusive motorsports facility. If needed, guests can access sensory bags, which include noise-canceling headphones, fidget tools, verbal cue cards and weighted lap pads, two sensory rooms, and the inclusive playground to maximize their visit.

For a complete list of driver appearances and activities in the Fan Fair, please visit Poconoraceway.com/eventguide.

About Pocono Raceway

Pocono Raceway, also known as ‘The Tricky Triangle,’ is family-owned and situated in the beautiful Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. In business for over 50 years, the Raceway hosts multiple, national motorsports events including the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series events each year. The facility’s calendar also consists of over 200 events including Elements Music & Arts Festival and a wide range of non-motorsports entertainment, car clubs and racing schools. Pocono Raceway is recognized as the world’s first, privately-owned solar-powered sports facility. Their 25-acre, three-megawatt solar farm provides the energy needs of the Raceway, as well as, adds electricity to the local power grid. Each member of our raceway staff is committed to creating exciting experiences and lifelong memories. For more information, please visit www.poconoraceway.com.

Mahindra Tractors Racing: Chase Briscoe Chicago Street Race Advance

CHASE BRISCOE
Chicago Street Race Advance
No. 14 Mahindra Compact Tractors Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Event Overview

● Event: Grant Park 165 (Round 20 of 36)
● Time/Date: 4:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, July 7
● Location: Chicago Street Course
● Layout: 2.2-mile, 12-turn street course
● Laps/Miles: 75 laps/165 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 20 laps / Stage 2: 25 laps / Final Stage: 30 laps
● TV/Radio: NBC / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● “Hot Streets:” In last year’s inaugural Chicago Street Race, temperatures were high before biblical rain inundated the city. Chase Briscoe, driver of the No. 14 Mahindra Tractors Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Stewart-Haas Racing, described the conditions: “I remember on practice day we had a temperature sensor inside the car and it was 155 degrees. It was going to be brutal on Sunday, and the rain honestly saved us all from baking alive. Hopefully, it’s sunny this year, but 75 (degrees) and not 100.”

● “Street Player:” Briscoe started 16th and finished 20th in last year’s Chicago Street Race. He has 21 career road-course starts in the NASCAR Cup Series, with five top-10 finishes spread across Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, (sixth in 2021), Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin (sixth in 2021), Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International (ninth in 2021), the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval (ninth in 2022) and the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (sixth in 2023). In Briscoe’s most recent road course start – June 9 at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway – he finished 34th after a broken transmission sent him to an early exit.

● “Saturday in the Park:” Qualifying for the Grant Park 165 takes place on Saturday, and it’s where Sunday’s 75-lap race around the 2.2-mile, 12-turn temporary street circuit could very well be won. Track position will be paramount, as those starting up front are far more likely to stay up front. The fewer cars ahead of a driver, the fewer drivers to pass and the fewer chances to get caught up in someone else’s mistake. Consider that in arguably the most recognized street race in all of motorsports – the Monaco Grand Prix on the streets of Monte Carlo – the race winner has come from the front row 50 times, including all but two of the last 15 races. The furthest back a driver has won the Monaco Grand Prix is 14th, when Olivier Panis won in 1996.

● “Take Me Back to Chicago:” For 19 years, the NASCAR Cup Series competed 45 miles southwest of Chicago in Joliet, Illinois. Chicagoland Speedway, a 1.5-mile, D-shaped oval, debuted in 2001 and Briscoe competed in two NASCAR Xfinity Series races at the track, finishing ninth (2018) and 15th (2019) in the stepping-stone division to the elite Cup Series.

● “Just You ‘n’ Me:” While there is still a bit of newness with NASCAR coming to the streets of Chicago, one pairing that has tenure is that of Briscoe and his crew chief, Richard Boswell. The Grant Park 165 will serve as their 40th NASCAR Cup Series race together, but the duo first joined forces back in 2018 when they were paired up in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. They won nine races together before coming to Cup, including Briscoe’s first career Xfinity Series win, which fittingly came at a road course – the Charlotte Roval in 2018.

● “In the Country:” Road courses are the most applicable style of venue to compare to a street circuit. The difference, however, is that road courses are purpose-built facilities designed with plenty of runoff area. These style of tracks comprise acres upon acres of land, which typically places them in more rural settings. Briscoe has made 11 road-course starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. In fact, it was road-course racing in the Xfinity Series that helped put Briscoe on the map when it came to his burgeoning NASCAR career, as he scored two road-course wins among eight top-10 finishes. At the inaugural race on the Charlotte Roval on Sept. 29, 2018 in what was Briscoe’s 14th career Xfinity Series start, the Mitchell, Indiana-native scored his first Xfinity Series win. Briscoe said afterward that he tapped into his dirt-track experience in wheeling his Ford Mustang to a strong 1.478-second margin of victory over runner-up Justin Marks. “It drove like a dirt track instead of a road course, and it felt like I was in a sprint car. I just tried to make sure the rear tires never spun. I had to give up a little time coming off the corner, but I’d make it back up on the straightaway, and that’s why I was always better at the end of the run.” Briscoe’s second Xfinity Series win on a road course came in another inaugural race – the 2020 Brickyard 150 on the road course at Indianapolis. On July 4, 2020, Briscoe started 12th and methodically worked his way to the front, taking the lead on lap 24. He wound up leading five times for a race-high 30 laps to take the victory by 1.717 seconds ahead of second-place Justin Haley. Despite the win happening during COVID restrictions, Briscoe was elated to win at his home track in a car owned by Indiana icon Tony Stewart. “Everybody knows that my hero in racing was Tony Stewart. To get to drive for him and watch him win at the Brickyard, climbing the fence was always his signature thing and I just wanted to do it. Obviously, it’s not the same prestige as winning on the oval, but we still won at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It doesn’t matter if you’re racing on the oval, the road course, the dirt track or even the parking lot, it’s special when you win here. Growing up, coming here all the time, it’s unbelievable to think that I just won here.”

● “State of the Union:” The Grant Park 165 is the third of five races on the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series schedule where drivers will turn left and right. Briscoe finished 13th in the first road-course race of the year March 24 at COTA and 34th on June 9 at Sonoma. After Chicago, the series heads to Watkins Glen on Sept. 15 and the Charlotte Roval on Oct. 12.

● “Bigger Than Elvis:” Mahindra Ag North America is a proud sponsor of Briscoe and Stewart-Haas, and 2024 highlights an impressive milestone for Mahindra – 30 years of selling tractors in the United States. Houston-based Mahindra Ag North America is part of Mahindra Group’s Automotive and Farm Sector, the No. 1-selling farm tractor company in the world, based on volumes across all company brands. Mahindra offers a range of tractor models from 20-75 horsepower, implements, and the ROXOR heavy-duty UTV. Mahindra farm equipment is engineered to be easy to operate by first-time tractor or side-by-side owners and heavy duty to tackle the tough jobs of rural living, farming and ranching. Steel-framed Mahindra Tractors and side-by-sides are ideal for customers who demand performance, reliability and comfort. Mahindra dealers are independent, family-owned businesses located throughout the U.S. and Canada.

● “You’re the Inspiration:” Mahindra Ag North America is using the Grant Park 165 to promote its newest line of sub-compact and compact tractors, which are designed with features to enhance operation for first-time buyers. Boasting comfort amenities like telematics, leather seats and USB charging ports, the Mahindra 1100 and 2100 models are designed around ease of use for acreage owners, farmers and ranchers, with features like a push-button PTO and side-by-side HST pedals. Other features include a hand throttle on the console, tilt and telescopic steering, implement quick raise and lower, and auto lift at three points while turning and backing. Every model in the 1100 and 2100 series is available in open station or cab configurations, with an HVAC system exclusive to the 2126. This line of compacts have compatible Mahindra attachments, including loaders, backhoes, mowers, snowblowers, post hole diggers and grapples. The loader on the 1100 series has a max lift of 770 pounds, while the 2100 has a max lift of 1,760 pounds.

Chase Briscoe, Driver of the No. 14 Mahindra Compact Tractors Ford Mustang Dark Horse

What was your impression of the Chicago Street Race after the checkered flag dropped on last year’s inaugural race?

“It was quite the weekend. I just remember being blown away at how well the whole thing was run. We were all apprehensive with how it was going to be like, but I thought they did an amazing job just putting the whole thing together and giving us a racetrack we could actually race on. I was mind-blown at how many people were there in the pouring rain, just thinking how cool it would’ve been if we could’ve had good weather. There could’ve been 300,000, 400,000 people there, I felt like. Hopefully, this year the weather will cooperate.”

What misconceptions did you have going into the Chicago Street Race that turned out to be no big deal once you got there?

“I’d never been to the city of Chicago before. I thought the city was super cool. I felt safe the whole time. It was super nice, well-kept. I actually explored the city quite a bit. I went to a game at Wrigley. That was the one thing I would say that stood out, just how small Wrigley Field is. Even seeing Wrigleyville – growing up I’d always watch on TV during the playoffs and it looked like this massive place, and you get there and it’s small and tiny. Just going to Wrigley and seeing parts of the city I’d always seen on TV, but getting to see them in person was pretty cool.”

Take us through a lap around Chicago. Were there any parts of the track where you enjoyed hustling the car, and what parts turned out to be a challenge?

“All of it was fun and all of it was a challenge, all at the same time. I didn’t feel like there was one part of the racetrack that was necessarily any easier or more fun than another. The back half was pretty narrow versus the front half, but it’s all fun. You’re going through the city streets and there are walls on both sides and it feels like you’re running way faster than you really are. I’d say my favorite part was probably the fountain area. You were bouncing all over the place. You just felt like you were on the ragged edge, which was really cool because it always felt like you really had to risk a lot to gain a lot. I enjoy that part of it, but I honestly enjoyed the whole racetrack. I thought it was a lot of fun.”

Can you take anything from your two road-course races this year at COTA and Sonoma and apply them to Chicago?

“There’s definitely not a whole lot similar in the sense of what the racetracks are, but I definitely think there are things you can take away setup-wise. At COTA, for example, I thought our brakes were among the best in the field, but at Sonoma we tried something totally different and I thought I was the worst-braking car in the field. So, just being able to check that box and know we probably shouldn’t bring back what we had at Sonoma will be good. I definitely think there’s something you can take away from it depending on what you learned at those two races. But it’s still a totally unique situation, a totally different type of racetrack, and you’ve just got to figure out what’s best for that place.”

Talk about what’s going on inside the racecar at Chicago. How much are you thrashing around, grabbing gears, hitting the brakes, smashing the gas? Is it controlled chaos?

“It’s definitely chaos, and it’s even hard to talk to your crew because at times you’re just so far away from where they’re sitting. Unlike a lot of other racetracks, there are buildings and trees and all kinds of stuff that interferes with the radio, so they can’t even hear you half the time. Inside the racecar, there’s no break. You’re just constantly getting after it, you’re sliding around, different parts of the street have more grip, there are potholes, there are manhole covers. It’s definitely a fun place to just turn laps because you’re getting after it the whole time. I’m looking forward to going there the second year now and, hopefully, we can build on what we had last year and make our stuff drive a little bit better and be in the mix at the end.”

With Shane van Gisbergen’s win at Chicago last year, it really shined a spotlight on Australian Supercars drivers. How much did you know about SVG and Supercars prior to his win last year?

“It’s definitely opened up the door for the V8 Supercars guys. I feel like everywhere we go now, there’s always at least one in the field. It’s funny, I was probably 13-14 years old and me and my buddies would always race online and race on rFactor, and I remember we were running dirt midgets and this guy came in there, his name is Shane Van Gisbergen, and he joined the server, and one of my buddies was freaking out. He’s like, ‘Dude, do you know who that is?’ I had no idea who the guy was. I never heard of him before. I hadn’t ever watched V8 Supercars. He started telling me who he was and he started sending me videos of him, SVG ripping around Bathurst and stuff. So then I learned who he was, and ever since then I’ve known of him, but I never did keep up with him. When he came and raced with us last year, I at least knew who he was, but I still haven’t asked him if he remembers ever getting on there and racing with us.”

No. 14 Mahindra Compact Tractors 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

Turn 3 Motorsport Heads to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course as Championship Leaders

Hughes looking to hold solid lead; Dyszelski, Durst, and Ho vying for strong results

Lexington, Ohio (July 4, 2024) – Turn 3 Motorsport is set to compete in Rounds 13/14 of the USF Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Continental Tire this weekend at the 2.258-mile, 13-turn racing circuit of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. The team enters the event as the championship leaders, boasting a 50-point lead thanks to the exceptional performance of Australian rookie Lochie Hughes who led Turn 3 Motorsport to a clean sweep at Road America last month, winning all three races and making huge gains in the championship.

American rookie Danny Dyszelski is eager to earn another podium finish this weekend, having finished in the top six in the last four races. Teammate Tyke Durst is also looking to keep his good momentum going after finally earning his first top ten of the season at Road America. For Ethan Ho, the goal is to garner a strong race result that reflects the speed he has shown all year in practice and qualifying sessions.

3 Danny Dyszelski // USF Pro 2000

Vera Guitars / Formula Imports / Charlotte Mechanical

“I am ready to continue our good form at Mid-Ohio,” said Dyszelski. “We’ve finished in the top six in the last four races now, so I am really focused on keeping that momentum going this weekend. I had a strong test here with the team, so I’m hoping that carries into the event and we can challenge for more top five finishes.”

33 Tyke Durst // USF Pro 2000

FHI / Relay Payments / Drive Toward a Cure

“I am excited to hop on the rollercoaster that is Mid-Ohio and carry the steam we had at Road America into this race weekend,” said Durst. “We’ll learn as much as we can this weekend and look to keep building on our momentum to finish the year strong.”

44 Lochie Hughes // USF Pro 2000

The McGinley Group / Private Wealth Planning / Grip Auto Timepieces

“I am excited to be racing at Mid-Ohio this weekend after having a few weeks off after Road America,” said Hughes. “We’re officially in the later stages of the season now, so it’s important to be consistent and grab some more wins!”

68 Ethan Ho // USF Pro 2000

Fubon Bank / Triple S / KRC / Molecule / JiuZhou

“I am looking forward to racing this weekend at Mid-Ohio,” said Ho. “We were happy with how we ended the series test here and are looking to continue building on that progress. The team has put a lot of effort in to get us to this point, and I’m confident that we can capitalize on the speed we’ve shown throughout the year and deliver some strong results this weekend.”
Pre-event testing will take place today with two sessions ahead of official practice and qualifying tomorrow. Both USF Pro 2000 races will occur on Saturday with each set for 30 laps of racing.

Live video coverage will be available on the USF Pro Championships app and YouTube channels throughout the weekend.
To stay up to date on Turn 3 Motorsport, follow the team on social media using the handle @turn3motorsport.

For more information or images, please contact Mandy Dempsey at turn3motorsport@gmail.com.

Thursday, July 4
2:00-2:45pm – Test 1
5:00-5:45pm – Test 2

Friday, July 5
9:30-10:00am – USF Pro 2000 Practice
12:10-12:40pm – USF Pro 2000 Qualifying

Saturday, July 6
8:25-9:15am – USF Pro 2000 Race 1
4:50-5:40pm – USF Pro 2000 Race 2

All times EST.
About Turn 3 Motorsport: Turn 3 Motorsport is a full-service operation specializing in racecar preparation, engineering, and driver development. Founded and managed by racecar driver and coach Peter Dempsey, T3M is focused on professional service, team member growth, and high-level performance across multiple racing series.

In 2019, the team secured the Blue Marble Cocktails Radical Cup North America championship titles in the 1340cc, 1500cc, and overall classes. Later that year, Peter and Turn 3 Motorsport achieved a record-breaking win at the NASA 25 Hours of Thunderhill endurance race, piloting the #10 Eastern Racing / Turn 3 Motorsport Radical SR3 RSX 1340 to a dominating win, leading 638 out of 672 laps, and becoming the first car under two liters to achieve the overall win.

In the team’s rookie season, Turn 3 Motorsport attracted attention out of the gate by winning the season opener of the 2020 Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires in a sweeping performance with Singaporean driver Danial Frost. Frost and the team went on to achieve a pole position, six podium finishes, and third overall in the championship in 2020.

In 2021, T3M expanded its presence in the Road to Indy by introducing a two-car program into the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship alongside its Indy Pro 2000 Championship campaign. In its debut USF2000 season, the team found victory at the season finale with American driver Josh Green as well as earning an additional podium and fifth overall in the championship. The team earned further accolades in the Indy Pro 2000 series with a race win at the season finale by Irish driver James Roe as well as a pole position at World Wide Technology Raceway and seventh overall in the championship.

In 2022, T3M showed its strength and teamwork by achieving a podium, win, and/or pole at 7 of the 9 events on the Road to Indy calendar with rookie drivers Josh Green, Jonathan Browne, and Christian Weir each earning the aforementioned results across two different series (USF2000 and Indy Pro 2000).

In 2023, T3M tied for the most amount of wins in the USF Pro 2000 season with drivers Michael d’Orlando and Christian Brooks earning a total of five wins for the team. The team also earned seven pole positions, the most of any other team, and finished second overall in the Team Championship.

Here’s How Small Businesses Benefit from Professional Truck Maintenance Companies

Photo by Terry Jaskiw on Unsplash

In the fast-paced world of small businesses, the reliability and efficiency of a fleet can be the key to success. Downtime means lost revenue, and inefficiency can cripple a growing enterprise. That’s where professional truck maintenance companies come into play, offering more than routine services—they ensure that these vital vehicles are not just operational but optimized.

For a small business owner, engaging with a professional maintenance service is less about fixing problems as they occur and more about preventing them in the first place. These experts provide a critical service, foreseeing potential issues and addressing them before they become costly disruptions. This proactive approach to fleet management not only saves money in the long run but also enhances the reliability of service delivery, a critical component of customer satisfaction and business reputation.

As such, the partnership with a truck maintenance company is a strategic investment, transforming what could be a logistical headache into a competitive advantage. It’s a decision that empowers businesses to focus on growth and customer engagement, secure in the knowledge that their fleet runs smoothly, supporting their operational needs without fail.

Enhancing Vehicle Lifespan with Expert Maintenance

Regular check-ups by professional maintenance teams can dramatically extend the lifespan of a business’s trucks. A key aspect of this is addressing complex components such as boom repairs early on before they escalate into more significant problems. Boom repairs, essential for vehicles equipped with hydraulic arms used in construction and delivery services, are a perfect example of specialized maintenance that can prevent catastrophic failures. By entrusting these intricate mechanisms to the experts, small businesses ensure their fleets can handle daily demands without frequent breakdowns.

Cost Savings Through Preventative Maintenance

Preventative strategies such as regular oil changes, tire rotations, and brake inspections can save substantial amounts of money down the line. Instead of facing hefty charges for major repairs, businesses pay manageable amounts regularly, keeping budgets predictable and buying truck parts online to keep everything affordable. Professional maintenance services help identify potential issues before they turn into expensive problems, ensuring small businesses aren’t blindsided by vehicle malfunctions that could have been avoided.

Minimizing Downtime for Business Operations

Unexpected truck breakdowns can bring business operations to a grinding halt, a scenario every business owner dreads. The reliability of vehicles directly impacts service delivery and customer satisfaction. Professional truck maintenance companies make reliability their top priority, performing regular diagnostics and updates that keep vehicles in peak condition. This proactive approach reduces the likelihood of vehicles breaking down unexpectedly, thus minimizing downtime and helping businesses maintain consistent service delivery.

Access to Specialized Expertise

Professional maintenance companies often employ specialists who are well-versed in a variety of vehicle types and their unique needs. This specialized expertise is invaluable, particularly when dealing with complex vehicle systems that general mechanics might not be familiar with. For instance, handling modern diesel engines or hydraulic lifts requires specific knowledge and tools. By leveraging this expertise, small businesses ensure that their fleet receives the best possible care, translating into better performance and fewer mechanical issues.

Compliance with Safety Regulations

Safety is a critical concern for any business that operates a fleet of trucks. Compliance with local and national safety regulations not only ensures legal operation but also protects both employees and the public. Professional truck maintenance companies are well-versed in these regulations and can be invaluable in helping small businesses navigate the complex landscape of safety standards. Regular maintenance checks ensure that every vehicle meets the stringent requirements set forth by governing bodies, preventing potential legal issues and enhancing overall road safety.

Enhanced Resale Value of Vehicles

Maintaining a truck well extends beyond ensuring operational efficiency—it also impacts its resale value. Vehicles that are regularly serviced and have a comprehensive maintenance record tend to fetch a higher market price. This is particularly important for small businesses that may need to update their fleets and want to ensure they get the best possible return on their old vehicles. Professional maintenance companies often keep detailed records of the services performed, which can be a significant selling point when it’s time to trade in or sell older vehicles.

Customized Maintenance Plans

One size does not fit all when it comes to truck maintenance. Professional maintenance companies understand this and often offer customizable maintenance plans that cater to the specific needs of different businesses. Whether it’s varying the frequency of check-ups based on mileage, focusing on particular vehicle components that are crucial for the business’s operations, or scheduling services that minimize disruption to the business, these tailored plans ensure that each truck gets exactly the kind of care it needs. This not only optimizes the performance of the vehicles but also aligns the maintenance costs with the business’s budget and schedule.

Using Technology for Maintenance Efficiency

In today’s digital age, many truck maintenance companies utilize advanced technology to streamline their services. Tools such as fleet management software can track the status of each vehicle, schedule maintenance, and even predict future needs based on usage patterns. This technology enables maintenance companies to provide timely and proactive service that keeps small businesses running without a hitch. Additionally, the use of such tools offers transparency, allowing business owners to see the exact condition of their fleet at any given time and fostering trust and confidence in the service provider.

Conclusion

Partnering with a professional truck maintenance company offers numerous benefits for small businesses. From enhancing vehicle lifespan and saving costs through preventative maintenance to ensuring compliance with safety regulations and increasing resale value, these services form the backbone of efficient fleet management. Moreover, the ability to customize maintenance plans and utilize cutting-edge technology allows small businesses to receive service that is not only expert but also perfectly suited to their specific needs. For small businesses looking to optimize their operations and keep their fleets in top condition, investing in professional truck maintenance is not just an option—it’s a strategic necessity. Through such partnerships, businesses can focus more on growth and customer satisfaction, knowing that their fleet management is in expert hands.

7 Things to Never Do After a Car Accident

In just the month of January 2024, 160 people were killed on Chicago roads, either walking, cycling, or driving. With so many car accidents occurring, knowing how to respond appropriately after a collision is crucial. Car accidents can be chaotic events—with adrenaline pumping and emotions running high; it’s easy to make poor choices in the aftermath that could negatively impact any insurance claims or legal proceedings down the road. 

Adam Zayed, an attorney who specializes in car accidents in Chicago, shares  seven things you should never do following a car accident:

Leave the Car Accident  Scene

According to an analysis by NBC 5 Investigates, between November 2017 and October 2021, there were a staggering 439,688 crashes reported by the Chicago Police Department. Of those crashes, 130,536 were classified as hit-and-runs. That’s nearly one-third of all reported accidents and an average of nearly 100 per day. As tempting as it may be to drive away after a minor fender-bender, leaving the scene of an accident is illegal in Illinois. Always remain at the site of the crash until police arrive and document the incident.

For instance, other drivers are exchanging heated accusations, and the police report seems to place initial blame on you. In this stressful situation, seeking legal help for a car accident is your most important step. Your lawyer would immediately take over communications with other drivers and insurers, launch an independent investigation to obtain traffic camera footage or witness statements, and work to clarify the complex chain of events.

Admitting To Be At-Fault For The Car Accident

You may feel guilty and want to apologize, but hold off until you have all the facts. If injuries or major damage are involved, it can be beneficial to contact an attorney as soon as possible after a car accident. They can advise you on the following steps to take to protect your legal rights. After a thorough investigation, what seems like your fault at first may look different. 

Neglect to Call the Police After A Car Accident

For any auto accident involving significant damage, injuries, or disputes between drivers, you should always request a police report. This document is important evidence for insurance and legal proceedings. Even for minor car accidents, having a police report on file can help protect you later.

Peach State drivers from northern Fulton County are told by their attorneys from a car accident law firm in Sandy Springs how crucial it is to document every detail of the incident. They emphasize that accurate reports and timely legal guidance can make a major difference in securing fair compensation and avoiding liability disputes.

Forget to Exchange Information With All Drivers

Trade insurance details like company name, policy number, and contact information with all drivers involved. Also, get every vehicle’s make, model, license plate, and driver’s license number. Thorough insurance information prevents complications later.

Declining Medical Treatment After Being Injured Due To A Car Accident

If you are injured in a car crash, get checked out by emergency services at the scene or proceed directly to a hospital. Some injuries like whiplash or concussions have delayed symptoms, so get documented medical care even if you feel fine initially.

Neglect to Take Photos/Videos From The Car Accident Scene

Use your smartphone to take photos of damage, skid marks, injuries sustained, and the auto accident site from different angles. Also, capture witness information. Photographic evidence helps document what happened in insurance and legal proceedings.

Discuss Who’s At-Fault of The Car Accident with Others

You should only discuss the basic facts with police, medical personnel, insurance companies, and your attorney. Avoid pointing blame or discussing the car accident with others. Speculation could be recorded and used against you.

Staying calm and avoiding rash decisions immediately after an auto accident puts you in the best possible position going forward. Carefully follow these guidelines in the aftermath of any collision to protect yourself now and down the road. With auto accidents on the rise, being prepared is crucial.