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EDDIE TAFOYA JR HEADS TO SANTA MARIA FOR SATURDAY’S USAC/CRA RACE

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Official Release
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Eddie Tafoya and the famous Smart Car pit kart are ready for a USAC/CRA main at Perris. Kenny Lonngren photo.

(Chino, CA, August 7, 2024) After three weeks away from the racetrack and a brief trip south of the border for some rest and relaxation, Eddie Tafoya Jr. will put the Nomex back on for Saturday’s Avanti Windows and Doors USAC/CRA Sprint Car race at the Santa Maria Speedway. It will be his first race back at the Central Coast track since a second-place finish in the Ultimate Sprint Car Series, presented by Inland Rigging, on June 15th.

After 10 of the 23 races on the 2024 USAC/CRA schedule, Tafoya, who calls Chino Hills, California home, has fought and clawed his way up to eighth in the championship standings. Over the last six series races, the 27-year-old has finished ninth or better every time. His best result came when he placed fourth at Kevin Harvick’s Kern County Raceway on the 8th of June.

Dating back to 2021, Tafoya has made two appearances with USAC/CRA at the 60-year-old Santa Maria track. The first came on July 3rd, 2021, when he finished sixth. Two years ago, at the last CRA race on the 1/3 of a mile banked clay oval until this season, he came home eighth in the 30-lap main event.

In addition to contesting the USAC/CRA Series, Tafoya, the 2018 Perris Auto Speedway Young Guns Champion and the 2019 USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year, is also a regular in the USCS. It was with the USCS That he recorded his best finish of the year. That was a second place on June 15th on the same Santa Maria oval that he will be racing on this Saturday night. Tafoya is currently sixth in USCS points.

After Saturday’s race at Santa Maria, Tafoya returns to Perris Auto Speedway for round #12 of the USAC/CRA Series on August 17th.

To see Tafoya and the remainder of the USAC/CRA stars in action on Saturday, spectator gates at the revamped speed plant will open at 4:00 PM; qualifying will begin at 5:00, and the first race will be at 7:00.Adult tickets are $30.00. Seniors, military, and students get a $2.00 discount. Kids 6-12 are $10.00, and children 5 and under are free. The track is located at 1900 Hutton Road in Nipomo. The track website is https://santamariaspeedway.net/.

Friendly Tafoya is always happy to meet the fans in the pits after every race. He will sign autographs, pose for photos, and sell his beautiful 2024 team shirts. For fans who cannot attend the races, the team shirts are available at www.specialty-fasteners.com.

Fans can follow Tafoya on Instagram @eddietafoya51.

Tafoya and the #51T team would like to thank Specialty Fasteners, Inland Rigging, BR Motorsports, King Racing Products, Gasper Transportation, CMI Precision Machining, Owen’s Insurance Services, Keen Concrete, DRC Chassis, and Rider Racing Engines for supporting its racing program.

Eddie Tafoya Jr. 2024 USAC National Results

January 11 Tulsa Expo Raceway Chili Bowl Midget Nationals 22nd A Main

January 14 Tulsa Expo Raceway Chili Bowl Midget Nationals 7th D Main

February 24 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 21st A Main

March 9 Imperial Valley Raceway Imperial Valley 360/410 Sprints 13th A Main

March 10 Imperial Valley Raceway Imperial Valley 360/410 Sprints 17th A Main

March 16 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 16th A Main

March 23 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 12th A Main

April 6 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 6th A Main

April 20 Bakersfield Speedway USCS Sprint Cars 22nd A Main

April 27th Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 9th A Main

May 11th Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway USCS Sprint Cars Rained Out

May 18 Bakersfield Speedway USCS Sprint Cars 20th A Main

May 25 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cas Series 8th A Main

June 1 Ventura Raceway USCS Sprint Cars 23rd A Main

June 5 Lawrenceburg Speedway 410 Sprint Cars 8th A Main

June 6 Lincoln Park Speedway 410 Sprint Cars 12th A Main

June 7 Bloomington Speedway 410 Sprint Cars 6th B Main

June 8 Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 4th A Main

June 15 Santa Maria Raceway USCS Sprint Cars 2nd A Main

June 22 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 8th A Main

July 13 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 7th A Main

July 27 Ventura Raceway USCS Sprint Cars 21st A Main

RACE OF CHAMPIONS MODIFIED SERIES TO CONTINUE THE TRADITION OF THE ROD SPALDING CLASSIC THIS SATURDAY AT CHEMUNG, AUGUST 10, 2024

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Official Release
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  • Helmet Pass for the Canfield Family, in Honor of Evan Canfield to Take Place After Qualifying Races –

Chemung, NY – (August 8, 2024) – The Race of Champions Modified Series will once again continue the tradition of running the Rod Spalding Classic again this Saturday, August 10 at the Chemung (NY) Speedrome.

Recently, the Canfield family, who are loyal supporters of the Race of Champions lost their son, Evan. Evan Canfield was just 30-years old. He is survived by his Father, Duane and his Mother, Stephanie, his brother and the entire Canfield family along with the his “racing” family that stretches throughout racing. The loss was devastating to the regions short track racing community as Canfield spearheaded social media and photography efforts for many Series and Teams, “spreading the word” for who was racing where, supporting the local tracks and sharing pertinent information, through his own “EC Media Brand”.

To help the Canfield’s in their time of need, the driver’s of the Race of Champions Series will make their way through grandstands following the qualifying races and do a “helmet pass” through the crowd. All proceeds collected will go directly to the Canfield family during their time of need.

The High as a Hawk Race of Champions Late Model Series will join the card at Chemung. This season the Late Models have impressed fans with an expanded car count with 14 cars showing up for each of the first two events on their five race calendar.

The Race of Champions FOAR SCORE Four Cylinder Dash Series will also be in action as the “RoC-In” Summer Tour continues bringing exciting events to tracks throughout the region.

All Race of Champions “Family of Series” events will be streamed on RoCModifiedSeries.TV powered by Racing America. For more information in regard to the Racing America streaming platform visit; offer.racingamerica.com/race-of-champions/. Subscribing provides fans who “tuned in” to every Race of Champions Modified Series event in 2023 well over a $100 discount to purchase and subscribe for the entire year featuring all Race of Champions Series races, plus access to 200+ live short track races from tracks across North America as well as expanded media coverage including NASCAR and more than 10 years of short track racing archives. (www.racingamerica.tv)

What: Rod Spalding Classic – Race of Champions Modified Series, Race of Champions Late Model Series; Race of Champions FOAR Score Four Cylinder Dash Series

When: Saturday, August 10, 2024 – Racing at 6:30 pm

Where: Chemung Speedrome

Directions: The track is located at 605 Wyncoop Creek Road, Chemung, NY 14825, Exit 59 off of Interstate 86 (12 miles East of Elmira, N.Y., 45 miles West of Binghamton, N.Y., and 45 miles South East of Watkins Glen, N.Y.)

More Information: www.chemungspeedome.net (Track Phone: 607.529.9998) / www.rocmodifiedseries.com

The Race of Champions is a sanctioning body presenting Modified and Stock Car racing on asphalt and dirt surfaces throughout the Northeast, with events in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey with primary marketing partners Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, Racing America, Airport Collision, Rocket Performance, Waddell Communications, Image X Design, Sherwood Racing Wheels, DirtTrackDigest.com and Speed Sport. The 72nd and 74th annual Race of Champions weekend will take place in 2024 at Lake Erie Speedway in North East, Pennsylvania and is the second longest consecutive auto-racing event in North America, second only to the Indianapolis 500.

Young’s Motorsports Richmond Raceway Truck Series Team Preview

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Official Release
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Young’s Motorsports | NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series
Richmond (Va.) Raceway | Clean Harbors 250

Fast Facts
No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Team:
Driver: Mason Massey
Primary Partner(s): BRUNT Workwear | Anderson Power Services
Manufacturer: Chevrolet Silverado RST
2024 Driver Points Position: 23rd
2024 Owner Points Position: 28th
Engine: Ilmor Racing Technologies

Notes of Interest:

Settled In: In February, Young’s Motorsports announced that Mason Massey will compete full-time in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series this season aboard the team’s flagship, No. 02 Chevrolet Silverado RST, which will continue with Saturday night’s Clean Harbors 250 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway.

Massey arrived at Young’s Motorsports after running a limited NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule last season for SS-GreenLight Racing, including a top-10 performance at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

The Douglasville, Ga. native started his 2023 Truck Series season with Reaume Brothers Racing and competed in seven races with a season-high 11th place finish at Texas Motor Speedway, but later shifted his presence to Xfinity for five races throughout the 33-race season.

About Mason: Massey has over 20 years of experience behind the wheel, launching his racing career at age five. Since then, he has garnered over 200 feature wins, 11 championships, and 10 track records across multiple series, including the U.S. Legends Pro National Championship.

Amongst the many Late Model victories to Massey’s credit during his tenure in the Bill Elliott Racing Development Program is the 2012 triumph in the Alabama 200. He eventually graduated to NASCAR in 2019, competing in the Truck Series before advancing to the Xfinity Series in 2020.

After part-time Xfinity stints in 2020 and 2021, respectively, the Georgian captured the attention of many with an impressive sixth-place finish in the spring 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series contest at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway in front of the hometown crowd.

With 47 more NASCAR starts to his resume since his first career NASCAR top-10 effort, Massey has landed with Young’s Motorsports, a longtime fixture in the Truck Series, hoping to impress and land the organization back in Victory Lane this season.

All-Aboard!: For the 16th of 23 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series races this season and the regular season finale, BRUNT Workwear returns to serve as the primary marketing partner on the No. 02 Chevrolet Silverado RST for the 250-lap race on Saturday night.

BRUNT is a brand here to redefine everyday work gear for blue-collar workers and everyday guys that have never had the convenience, pricing, or quality available to them from traditional brands.

Founded by Eric Girouard, BRUNT aims to support the American workers through their work day by delivering the tools you wear to get the job done.

Longtime Massey supporter Anderson Power Systems will also be an associate partner for the series’ lone trip to the Commonwealth.

Anderson Power Services specializes in supplying, installing, repairing, and replacing residential and commercial generators all throughout Georgia, Florida, Alabama and South Carolina.

Mason Massey Truck Series Richmond Raceway Stats: Saturday night’s Clean Harbors 250 at Richmond Raceway will mark Massey’s second Truck Series start at the vastly popular 0.875-mile oval.

Massey made his inaugural Truck Series start at Richmond, finishing 34th after starting 33rd for Young’s Motorsports in the 2023 edition of the Worldwide Express 250.

The Truck Series regular-season finale event will be part of a doubleheader under the Saturday night lights with the NASCAR Cup Series. It will mark Massey’s seventh career short-track race in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series.

Massey also made four prior NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Richmond. His track-best result occurred twice, most recently during the 2022 ToyotaCare 250, where he steered to a 17th-place finish after starting 25th for DGM Racing.

Richmond Raceway marks the fifth race of the second half of the 2024 Truck Series season.

Mason Massey Truck Series Career Stats: Entering Richmond Raceway, Massey has 29 career NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series races to his credit. He has earned a career-best 11th-place finish twice, most recently at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway after starting 29th in the Long John Silver’s 200 for Young’s Motorsports.

Massey also finished 11th at Texas Motor Speedway after starting 27th in the 2023 edition of the SpeedyCash.com 250 for Reaume Brothers Racing.

Since 2019, he has carried an average finish of 24.7.

Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park | TSport 200 Race Recap: In the 15th race of the 2024 Truck Series season, Young’s Motorsports and Massey searched for another solid finish at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.

After qualifying his No. 02 BRUNT Workwear | Anderson Power Services Chevrolet Silverado on speed in the 27th position, the early work on the track to climb through the field was stalled when Massey was involved in a Lap 43 caution, which sent the team to the garage and out of the race with a frustrating 36th-place result.

In 2024, Massey has delivered two top-15, five top-20s, seven top-21 finishes and eight top-22 efforts, highlighted by a career-best outing at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, where he steered the team’s flagship truck to an 11th-place finish.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series at Richmond Raceway: This weekend will mark Young’s Motorsports’ 12th, 13th and 14th NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series starts at Richmond Raceway.

The organization posted a team-best 15th place with former Young’s Motorsports Truck Series winner Tate Fogleman at the wheel in the ToyotaCare 250 on Thursday, September 10, 2020.

Since 2020, the Mooresville, N.C.-based Young’s Motorsports team has had an average starting position of 26.9 and an average finish of 28.5 in 11 Richmond Raceway starts.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series History: Since entering the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series in 2012, the Mooresville, N.C., – based organization has logged 495 starts from 65 drivers, resulting in solid performances that include two victories (Talladega Superspeedway 2019 and 2021), seven top-five finishes and 33 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 23.0 and an average finishing position of 22.1.

Follow on Social Media: For more on Mason Massey, please visit masonmassey.com, like him on Facebook (Mason Massey Racing), and follow him on Instagram (@mason_massey) and X |Twitter (@mason_massey).

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).

Mason Massey Pre-Race Quote:

On Richmond Raceway: “After a couple of weeks off, I’m excited to get back to the track. Richmond has always been one of my favorite places to go. Since my first race there back in 2020, it has been a place that just came to me naturally.

“I raced at Richmond last year with Young’s Motorsports, and we had a fast truck, but we didn’t have the luck we needed. Hopefully, we can put it all together this weekend with Brunt Workwear on board.”

No. 20 Young’s Motorsports Team:

Driver: Jerry Bohlman

Primary Partner(s): Bowl4Life Foundation

Manufacturer: Chevrolet Silverado RST

2024 Driver Points Position: N/A

2024 Owner Points Position: 38th

Engine: Ilmor Racing Technologies

Notes of Interest:

Welcome: For the final NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race of the regular season, Young’s Motorsports welcomes Motorsports veteran Jerry Bohlman to the organization set to compete in the team’s third entry in Saturday night’s Clean Harbors 250 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway.

This weekend’s race is just the eighth time the organization has fielded more than one entry this season.

About Jerry: A native of East Milton, Florida, Bohlman mainly competes in Late Models in his native state of Florida, especially at Five (Fla.) Flags Speedway in Pensacola, where his father Gary competed in the 1970s.

While Gary stopped racing regularly as Jerry grew up, the two and Jerry’s brother Gary Jr. have competed together in vintage cars.

Off the track, Bohlman oversees Bohlman Marine Construction, a boatlift and dock installation and repair business. EcoPile is a partner of the company that provides non-polluting pilings, which provide stability for docks and houses.

All-Aboard!: For the 16th of 23 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series races this season and the regular season finale, Bowl4Life Foundation will serve as the primary marketing partner on the No. 20 Chevrolet Silverado RST for the 250-lap race on Saturday night.

Bowl4Life is a 503(c) non-profit founded in 2013 by our founder, Chuck Gardner. The goal of the Bowl4Life Scholarship Foundation is to grow the sport of bowling and assist people of all ages in improving their skill level and knowledge of the game.

In addition, through July 31, 2024, the Foundation has awarded over $622,000 in scholarships to youth bowlers. Bowl4Life relies on sponsors, merchandise sales from its website and fundraising activities.

Through consistent and innovative fundraising efforts, our hope is to expand the #growbowling concept into an industry-leading revival. We hope you will join us in our efforts to support the Bowl4Life Scholarship Foundation.

Jerry Bohlman Truck Series Richmond Raceway Stats: Saturday night’s Clean Harbors 250 at Richmond Raceway will mark Bohlman’s inaugural Truck Series start at the vastly popular 0.875-mile oval.

The Truck Series regular-season finale event will be part of a doubleheader under the Saturday night lights with the NASCAR Cup Series.

Richmond Raceway marks the fifth race of the second half of the 2024 Truck Series season.

Jerry Bohlman Truck Series Career Stats: Entering Richmond Raceway, Bohlman is hopeful to make his NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series after failing to qualify for two races in 2023 at the Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway Dirt Track and Richmond (Va.) Raceway, respectively, for the defunct G2G Racing.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series at Richmond Raceway: This weekend will mark Young’s Motorsports’ 12th, 13th and 14th NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series starts at Richmond Raceway.

The organization posted a team-best 15th place with former Truck Series winner Tate Fogleman at the wheel in the ToyotaCare 250 on Thursday, September 10, 2020.

Since 2020, the Mooresville, N.C.-based Young’s Motorsports team has had an average starting position of 26.9 and an average finish of 28.5 in 11 Richmond Raceway starts.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series History: Since entering the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series in 2012, the Mooresville, N.C., – based organization has logged 495 starts from 65 drivers, resulting in solid performances that include two victories (Talladega Superspeedway 2019 and 2021), seven top-five finishes and 33 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 23.0 and an average finishing position of 22.1.

Follow on Social Media: For more on Jerry Bohlman, follow him on Instagram (@bohlman_marine).

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).

Jerry Bohlman Pre-Race Quote:

On Richmond Raceway: “I am very appreciative of this opportunity to make my NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series debut this weekend at Richmond Raceway with Young’s Motorsports.

“It’s a great chance to give some exposure to our partner Bowl4Life, while gaining priceless experience on the track.”

No. 46 Young’s Motorsports Team:

Driver: Thad Moffitt

Primary Partner(s): SafetyKleen

Manufacturer: Chevrolet Silverado RST

2024 Driver Points Position: 30th

2024 Owner Points Position: 33rd

Engine: Ilmor Racing Technologies

Notes of Interest:

Part of the Family: Just past the half point of the 2024 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series season, Young’s Motorsports continues to welcome Thad Moffitt to the organization set to compete in one of three entries in Saturday night’s Clean Harbors 250 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway for Young’s Motorsports.

As previously noted, Young’s Motorsports has obtained the ownership rights of Faction46 Racing and will field the No. 46 Chevrolet Silverado throughout the remainder of the season with Moffitt at the helm.

This weekend’s race is just the eighth time the organization has fielded more than one entry this season.

About Thad: Moffitt, 23, just finished his first entire season in the Trans Am Series TA2 class. Racing for TeamSLR, he finished seventh in the championship standings and second in the rookie standings. He had six top-10 finishes.

Moffitt, the grandson of seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Richard Petty, returned to the NASCAR ranks this season after having success in the ARCA Menard Series, finishing fourth in the series championship standings in 2021.

Entering the season, Moffitt has four starts in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series with a best finish of 18th at the Daytona International Speedway in 2022.

In 2024, Moffitt has participated in 14 Truck Series races thus far, matching a career-best 18th place finish at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway in May.

All-Aboard!: For the 16th of 23 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series races this season and the regular season finale, Safety-Kleen returns with Moffitt to serve as the primary marketing partner on the No. 46 Chevrolet Silverado RST for the 250-lap race on Saturday night.

Clean Harbors is North America’s leading provider of environmental and industrial services. The Company serves a diverse customer base, including a majority of Fortune 500 companies. Its customer base spans a number of industries, including chemical, energy and manufacturing, as well as numerous government agencies.

These customers rely on Clean Harbors to deliver a broad range of services such as end-to-end hazardous waste management, emergency spill response, industrial cleaning and maintenance, and recycling services.

Through its Safety-Kleen subsidiary, Clean Harbors also is North America’s largest re-refiner and recycler of used oil and a leading provider of parts washers and environmental services to commercial, industrial and automotive customers.

Founded in 1980 and based in Massachusetts, Clean Harbors operates in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and India.

To learn more about Clean Harbors, visit cleanharbors.com or its career site careers.cleanharbors.com.

Connect with Clean Harbors on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn!

Thad Moffitt Truck Series Richmond Raceway Stats: Saturday night’s Clean Harbors 250 at Richmond Raceway will mark Moffitt’s inaugural Truck Series start at the vastly popular 0.875-mile oval.

The Truck Series regular-season finale event will be part of a doubleheader under the Saturday night lights with the NASCAR Cup Series.

Richmond Raceway marks the fifth race of the second half of the 2024 Truck Series season.

Thad Moffitt Truck Series Career Stats: Entering Richmond Raceway, Moffitt has 18 career NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series races to his credit. He has earned a career-best 18th-place finish twice, most recently at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway after starting 32nd in the Buckle Up South Carolina 200 for Faction46.

Since 2022, he has carried an average finish of 28.3.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series at Richmond Raceway: This weekend will mark Young’s Motorsports’ 12th, 13th and 14th NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series starts at Richmond Raceway.

The organization posted a team-best 15th place with former Truck Series winner Tate Fogleman at the wheel in the ToyotaCare 250 on Thursday, September 10, 2020.

Since 2020, the Mooresville, N.C.-based Young’s Motorsports team has had an average starting position of 26.9 and an average finish of 28.5 in 11 Richmond Raceway starts.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series History: Since entering the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series in 2012, the Mooresville, N.C., – based organization has logged 495 starts from 65 drivers, resulting in solid performances that include two victories (Talladega Superspeedway 2019 and 2021), seven top-five finishes and 33 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 23.0 and an average finishing position of 22.1.

Follow on Social Media: For more on Thad Moffitt, please visit thadmoffitt.com like him on Facebook, (Thad Moffitt Racing) and follow him on Instagram (@thadmoffitt46) and X |Twitter (@thadmoffitt).

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).

Thad Moffitt Pre-Race Quote:

On Richmond Raceway: “After a few weeks off I’m ready to get back to it with my Young’s Motorsports team at Richmond. It has always been a track I look forward to racing, and with this being my first time there, I’m excited for the challenge.

“I’m confident this few weeks off has helped us gel as a team and prepare for the upcoming stretch of races.”

Teacher Aide Sues After Devastating School Bus Crash in Bastrop

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SM
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Photo by Guilherme Rossi

On March 22, 2024, a school bus carrying a group of Pre-K students traversed the scenic roads of Bastrop following an educational excursion to the local zoo. 

Sadly, things take a serious nosedive into tragedy when their school bus collides with a concrete truck in one horrific head-on smash-up. This catastrophe sadly took some innocent lives and left others grappling with deep scars.

Caught up in this gut-wrenching scenario was one heroic teacher’s aide who stood up amidst the chaos. She is now spearheading a legal battle against both the driver whose truck turned their day upside down and his higher-ups at F.J.M. Concrete. 

Chaos Unfolds on a Joyful Journey Home

Here is how it all went down: The kids from Tom Green Elementary were riding back home along SH 21 after a cool day out. However, in a snap, things flipped literally and figuratively. 

While driving his F.J.M. Concrete truck, Jerry Hernandez swerves unexpectedly right into their path. The school bus did not stand a fighting chance against such a heavy hitter; it got slammed hard and heaved over on its side.

Lives Changed Forever

A day that should have ended with bedtime stories about zoo adventures shifted to a news story no one wished to hear. Among the joyful kids was five-year-old Ulises Rodriguez Montoy, who did not make it home that day.

33-year-old Ryan Wallace, who had been following behind the ill-fated school bus in his own vehicle, also lost his life in the crash’s aftermath.

Deborah Serna, the teacher’s aide, suffered multiple severe injuries, including back fractures. Her current focus is exclusively on recuperation and medical treatments, a significant departure from her previous role centered on education and child development.

Driver’s Recklessness and Arrest

Jerry Hernandez, the truck driver, was arrested and slapped with charges of criminally negligent homicide. Turns out, he admitted to smoking marijuana the night before and using cocaine just hours before that disastrous drive.

“Driving under such influence is not just irresponsible. It is downright dangerous, and Hernandez might be staring down some pretty severe consequences under Texas law,” says Texas personal injury lawyer Felix Gonzalez of the Felix Gonzalez Accident & Injury Law Firm.

Seeking Justice

Moving forward, Deborah Serna has filed a personal injury lawsuit against both Jerry Hernandez and his employer, F.J.M. Concrete. She is asking for upwards of $1 million, citing staggering medical bills and lost wages.

Under Texas statutes, Hernandez is directly on the hook for his impaired actions behind the wheel. F.J.M. Concrete is also facing scrutiny for their sketchy hiring practices; knowing well about Hernandez’s substance misuse issues yet still letting him drive poses a huge red flag on their end.

Legal Repercussions and the Call for Safer Roads

The personal injury lawsuit initiated by Deborah Serna is likely just the beginning, with expectations of more legal actions surfacing from this horrific event. Defendants Jerry Hernandez and F.J.M. Concrete are facing not only a strenuous court struggle but also potential deep cuts to their finances and reputation. 

Beyond the courtroom, this case could be a catalyst for tighter regulations within the trucking sector, particularly focusing on more stringent driver screening and monitoring practices—a hopeful stride towards enhancing roadway safety for everyone.

Contributory Negligence: Defense and Ways to Prove

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SM
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Photo by Matthias Zomer

Regarding personal injury claims, states use two approaches to determine who is at fault. One of these is the contributory negligence defense, where if the hurt individual contributed to the accident that caused their injury, the defendant goes free. This article guides understanding contributory negligence, how it works, and how it affects claims.

How Contributory Negligence Works: The Doctrine

Under contributory negligence, a defendant can be free from paying compensation if the plaintiff played a part in the accident that caused their injury. The rule states that the defendant is not held responsible even if the plaintiff’s part is only one percentage. The plaintiff cannot win the claim and will collect nothing as compensation.

For example, if a drunk truck driver hits a bicyclist while the latter is running a red light, the bicyclist is not using reasonable care. Although the driver was not acting reasonably as they were drunk, the bicyclist was also negligent. In a state that follows the contributory negligence rules, the drunken truck driver can walk even if they are 99 percent to blame.

Contributory Negligence Defenses

In personal injury or tort cases, it is imperative to establish negligence for two reasons. One, the plaintiff has to show negligence on the defendant’s part if they will get compensation. Two, the defendant can prove negligence on the plaintiff’s part to escape liability in contributory negligence states.

A plaintiff typically has to prove negligence by showing that the defendant’s behavior was below the standard of care of a reasonable individual. If a reasonably prudent individual had been in the same situation, they would have acted differently.

Who Proves Contributory Negligence?

In tort cases, the plaintiff bears the burden of proving negligence on the at-fault party’s part. That is, they must show that the defendant was negligent and they got hurt because of it. In response to the claim, the defendant can claim contributory negligence, which defendants often use as a defense to avoid liability.

The defense is burdened to prove contributory negligence by showing that the plaintiff was also negligent. They must show that the plaintiff acted unreasonably under the circumstances and that their actions contributed to the accident.

Essentially, the defense has to convince the jury of what the average community member would do in the same situation as the plaintiff. The standard of care does not consider the plaintiff’s knowledge or abilities. The jury will also determine if the plaintiff acted unreasonably in the situation.

If the defendant can successfully prove the other party’s negligence, the plaintiff can lose their ability to recover damages. If you are in a situation like this, you should talk with a lawyer who can help you understand how everything works. They can explain the rules and how the claim will turn out.

Conclusion

Contributory negligence states allow a defendant to contest a personal injury claim by proving that the plaintiff shares the blame for the accident. If the defendant succeeds, the plaintiff will lose the right to collect compensation for their losses. This is true even if the blame the plaintiff shares in the accident is only one percentage.

Contributory negligence applies in only a few states, including North Carolina, Maryland, Alabama, and Virginia. “If you live in a contributory negligence state, consider hiring a lawyer to help you understand the rules. They can also help you set realistic expectations for your case or let you know if you have one,” says attorney Gregory P. Fayard of Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon.

7 Factors to Consider in Determining the Worth of Your Case

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SM
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Photo by Sebastian Pichler on Unsplash

Everyone involved in a personal injury case wants to know the worth of their case. Of course, no one has an answer to this magical question. That is why most personal injury attorneys have the same answer: “It depends.” You must consider numerous elements of damages when evaluating the worth of a case. 

The primary essence of a personal injury lawsuit is to make an injured individual whole. Awarding financial compensation is the only plausible way to make an injured person whole, as it is impossible to rewind time and undo the negligent act that orchestrated the mishap. 

This article explains the factors or elements to consider when gauging the worth of a personal injury case:

Bodily Harm Sustained and Its Effect on the Victim’s Health According to Their Severity and Duration

The first element considers the plaintiff’s physical injuries, the severity of the injuries, and the probable duration. If the victim suffered permanent harm, different US states have tables of life expectancy that jurors can use to determine how long the plaintiff will live and the effect of the permanent injuries on them. 

Past Physical Pain and Mental Distress and Expected Ones in the Future

This element entails physical pain and mental distress. It is essential to distinguish them because they differ. Pain is the physical feeling of a body part hurting, while mental distress is the psychological reaction and natural stress that the injury causes. 

For instance, if a plaintiff has a broken leg, the physical pain they suffer is the ache, hurt, and discomfort that they feel when trying to walk. On the other hand, the mental anguish they suffer entails worry, anxiety, and stress they feel when trying to walk. 

Deformity or Disfigurement and Any Related Humiliation

This element entails any discoloring, scars, or other impairment the victim has suffered. The extent of embarrassment related to the visual impact of the injuries depends on the injury’s location and personal factors related to the plaintiff. 

The individual factors include the plaintiff’s job, sex, marital status, and age. The jury considers these factors when dispensing justice. 

Past Inconveniences and Probable Ones in the Future

Inconvenience is the interruption to a victim’s daily schedule due to their injuries and treatment. Typically, a jury will consider the number of times the plaintiff visited a physician to know the degree of convenience the victim suffered. 

Also, the jury will consider the injury type to know the degree of inconvenience. For instance, a victim unable to walk due to their harm will experience more inconvenience than a victim unable to drive because of their harm. 

Past Medical Bills and Probable Ones in the Future

A plaintiff deserves compensation for the total amount of the medical expenses. According to the collateral source rule, even if a victim has health insurance and does not pay their medical costs out of pocket, they are still entitled to receive total compensation. 

There are two reasons for operating this system. First, the plaintiff caters to health insurance, and the guilty party should not benefit from the plaintiff’s insurance payment. Furthermore, two parties with the same injuries and identical medical expenses should receive the same compensation, irrespective of whether a party has health insurance or not. 

Plaintiff’s Lost Earnings Due to inability to Work

The essence of this element is to compensate the victim for any lost earnings they suffered due to the accident and treatment. Even if you used your paid time off or sick leave to get compensation for the period missed at work, you are still entitled to receive compensation for the missed time for work. 

The logic is that paid time off and sick leave benefits the plaintiff over time. Hence, you must compensate them for the used benefit to make them whole again. If they do not receive compensation for it, it means they paid from their end, which is wrong and unacceptable.

Loss of Earnings, Diminished Earning Capacity, and Logical Future Financial Losses

This final element has two parts—it intends to compensate the victim for any wages that they will expectedly lose in the future because of the injuries. Also, it acknowledges injuries that affect the amount a plaintiff can make. For instance, a person with a brain injury will have diminished earning capacity. 

While the plaintiff may return to work, they might be unable to perform their previous role. Their measure of damage differentiates between their pre- and post-injury earnings. 

Conclusion

While you may not know how to evaluate most of these elements, you can always trust a skilled personal injury lawyer. “It is advisable to work with a lawyer if you want to receive adequate and maximum compensation for your losses. They will expertly determine the worth of your case and ensure the liable party pays adequately,” says injury attorneys at The Law Offices of Doroshow, Pasquale, Krawitz & Bhaya. 

What You Need to Know About Car Detailing in Calgary

By
SM
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Almost every household in Calgary has at least two cars. The city nicknamed Cowtown has more vehicle ownership rate than any other place in Canada. With such number of vehicles, it’s only natural that the vehicle restoration and cleaning business will thrive in the city. In this article, we’ll reveal what you need to know about car detailing in Calgary.

Car Detailing Explained

Car detailing is the process of entirely cleaning and restoring the original condition on the inside and outside of an automobile. This is not at all like automobile washing, which just cleans the outside of the automobile. Instead, car detailing Calgary covers the cleaning and restoration of every component of the automobile. This includes the outside surface or paint as well as the seats inside.

This process is more thorough than regular washing. It includes washing, waxing, shining, cleaning, and fixing the inside components. Also, it involves attending to areas like engines and tires.

The Reasons Your Vehicle Needs Car Detailing

One of the primary reasons people seek for vehicle restoration and cleaning services is to prevent their vehicles from deteriorating. It also prevents plastics from fading way too early than is reasonable. Ultimately, auto detailing protects your investment so to say. Maintaining your automobile through this process increases its worth and longevity.

Part of the detailed procedure includes exact cleaning, particularly in areas under the automobile that are more likely to rust and corrode. Eliminating corrosive elements like dirt will help your vehicle’s metal components be less prone to incur long-term damage. Regular detailing protects the paint on your automobile from the degrading effects of outdoor elements such as UV light, bird droppings, and tree sap. By preventing fading, detailing services maintain the color of your automobile leaving it bright and brand-new.

Wax is one of the protective treatments used during detailing that creates a barrier against minor abrasions and scratches. This maintains the surfaces of the vehicle and reduces over time wear and tear.

Car Detailing Services

Professional automobile detailing covers a spectrum of services. All of these services are meant to completely clean, restore, and guard the automobile inside as well as outside. Common services covered in professional vehicle restoration and cleaning are:

External Cleaning

This service includes:

  • Washing and Drying the Exterior: This manual procedure involves the use of special materials to spray and wipe the body of the automobile. It also entails hand washing the windows, door knobs, and rims.
  • Paint Claying: Once the first step is done, a clay bar will be used to remove contaminants, overspray, or residue. You can visit https://www.caranddriver.com/ to learn how to clay-bar your vehicle. Polishing and waxing are better on a cleaner, smoother surface produced by claying.
  • Polishing: This is rubbing a firm material on paint to eliminate minute layers of transparent coat. Little scrapes and swirls will vanish. 
  • Varnish or Waxing: A sealer can give the makeup a protective layer and a candescent finish. Wax is occasionally also utilized. Among fresh surface treatments are cushion form, glass chip form, clean repainting, cosmetic touch-ups, and machine detailing.

Interior Cleaning

This service includes:

  • Vacuuming: Vacuuming carpets, floor mats, and other interior surfaces will help you get rid of dust and debris.
  • Steam Cleaning: Helps carpets and fabric surfaces to be completely sanitized and cleaned. 
  • Dashboard and Interior Surface Cleaning: By doing this, the interior surfaces and dashboard can achieve a professional look.
  • Glass Cleaning: Interior glass surfaces should be polished and cleaned if one wants streak-free quality.

Paint Correction

Another important service in vehicle restoration and cleaning is compounding and polishing. This involves applying polishing materials or compounds to paint defects including scratches and spots. This will help to erase such marks. Paint sealing substance or ceramic coating is the application of long-lasting protective layers to increase the paint’s longevity and resilience.

Complete Car Restoration

The detailer starts with thorough detail and works on the restoration of the whole car. Following that, the car is sealed to keep it free from the elements. It is then restored using treatments including paint repair and window tinting, among others.

Car Detailing Benefits

Both aesthetic considerations and long-term dependability and value depend on keeping your vehicle well-maintained and clean. Professional auto detailing services improve vehicle care to a whole new level. This exceeds what regular car wash services provide.

One of the key benefits of professional vehicle restoration and cleaning is the clear enhancement to the look of your vehicle. Using specialized tools and techniques to remove tough stains, dirt, and grime, they make your vehicle seem brand new. Cleaning every inch of the surface, hand-washing and waxing are some techniques used. This painstaking process guarantees a showroom-quality finish that is sure to grab notice.

Conclusion

Getting your car detailed is about more than simply appearances. It protects your automobile from the elements, raises its value when you sell it, and streamlines maintenance. Apart from maintaining the value and lifetime of your vehicle, automobile detailing ensures safer and more fun driving.

Delete Car History with Hidecars.vin: How to Remove VIN Records

By
SM
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Clearing your car’s records from the web is a significant step towards maintaining privacy and enhancing its resale value. This guide illuminates the process of removing VIN history, highlighting the importance of keeping your vehicle’s past confidential.

Why Remove Car History?

Deleting car history is crucial for owners aiming to hide previous incidents or ownership details linked to their vehicle’s VIN. Platforms like Hidecars.vin offer a streamlined process to remove unwanted history, ensuring a clean slate on the internet. This action is not merely about concealing accident records and service history; it’s about completely clearing the vehicle’s digital footprint, including removing accident instances and any photos that might be lurking on the web.

Use the automated service at Hidecars.vin to delete VIN history and start immediate removal, securing your privacy and boosting car value.

The motivation to delete car history often stems from the need to clean the car’s past, enhancing its attractiveness to potential buyers. By removing these records from websites and search engines like Google, the car is presented in its best light, devoid of any blemishes that could devalue it. This comprehensive clearing of the car’s history not only improves its market value but also reinstates the owner’s privacy, making the vehicle more desirable in the competitive automotive market.

Can You Delete VIN History from Google Yourself?

While it is theoretically possible to attempt deleting your VIN history from Google yourself, the complexity and technicality of the task make it exceedingly difficult for individuals. Professional services, with their deep understanding of digital data management and legal frameworks, are equipped to handle this efficiently. These experts not only ensure the comprehensive removal of your car’s history but also provide the security and legal compliance often required in such processes. Given the challenges and risks associated with personal attempts, relying on professional services is the more effective and safer choice, guaranteeing that your vehicle’s history is not just hidden but permanently erased from the internet.

Instructions on How to Delete Car History on the Internet

To successfully remove car history, follow these straightforward steps:

  1. Navigate to the Hidecars.vin website.
  2. Input the VIN into the search box.
  3. Choose the sites from which you wish to remove vehicle information.
  4. Select a convenient payment method and click the “Pay online” button.
  5. Monitor the deletion progress via the site’s user panel.
  6. You will receive an email notification once the car history is deleted.

For those looking to erase their car’s history from websites and the internet, this video tutorial offers a detailed, step-by-step guide.

Adhering to these instructions guarantees the thorough erasure of your vehicle’s history from the internet, encompassing detailed accident history, ownership records, and associated photos. With the right techniques you can easily hide or delete VIN history, ensuring a clear record for your car.

NHRA RACER ADVANTAGE PROGRAM FEATURES EXTENSIVE BENEFITS AND SPECIAL OFFERS

By
Official Release
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INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 8, 2024) – An exciting part of every NHRA membership is the NHRA Racer Advantage program, which offers a multitude of benefits and special offers designed specifically for NHRA racers and members.

By earning an NHRA Competition License and becoming an NHRA member, racers can unlock exclusive benefits with the NHRA Racer Advantage program, including a host of perks like:

  • Exclusive discounts with NHRA partners like Summit Racing Equipment, Goodyear Tires, which offers a 20 percent discount for NHRA members, a 15 percent off first-time purchases at Cordova Coolers and others.
  • A 25 percent discount on NHRA.tv, which streams live championship drag racing action at NHRA national events and divisional events across the country.
  • Excess medical insurance coverage for all NHRA participants and members up to $600,000 at all NHRA Member Tracks.

A full list of perks and benefits is available to NHRA racers and members through the online NHRA Membership Portal.

“There’s a lot of advantages for a racer to earn their NHRA License and become a member with the perks of the NHRA Racer Advantage program, we look forward to showcasing all those benefits that cater to the new or experienced racer,” said Evan Jonat, NHRA Vice President of Live Events. “We’re thankful to work closely with so many great partners who want to be part of this program and offer something to racers at all levels. From the excess medical insurance coverage to the numerous special offers, there’s a lot of exciting benefits and it’s a list that is only going to continue to grow.”

For more info on the NHRA Racer Advantage program, visit www.nhra.com/nhra-racer-advantage.

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.

Hendrick Motorsports Media Advance: Richmond

By
Official Release
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5 KYLE LARSON

Age: 32 (July 31, 1992)

Hometown: Elk Grove, California

Resides: Mooresville, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Cliff Daniels

Standings: 1st

No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

WIN-DIANAPOLIS: Prior to the NASCAR’s recent two-week break for the Summer Olympics, Kyle Larson earned Hendrick Motorsports’ record-extending 11th Brickyard 400 victory – his first on the famed oval and his series-high fourth win of 2024. With 27 career Cup Series victories, Larson now ranks 32nd on the wins list in NASCAR’s premier series.

TYING A TEAMMATE: Larson’s crown-jewel event win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway marked his 11th victory in NASCAR’s Next Gen car. He is tied with Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron for the most wins since the introduction of the current Cup Series race car.

FOLLOW THE LEADER: With four races remaining in the regular season, Larson leads the Cup standings by 10 points over Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott. The Elk Grove, California, native, tops the series with four wins, five pole positions, 28 playoff points and nine top-five finishes (tie) while he is second in laps led (763). It is the second-highest laps led total for Larson through 22 races in his career, behind only his 2021 championship season in which he paced the field for 1,441 laps in the first 22 events.

FIVE-TIME HISTORY: Going into Sunday’s race at the 0.75-mile Richmond Raceway, Larson has captured the pole position for the past three short-track races. The last driver to secure four consecutive short-track poles was Geoff Bodine, who won five straight between 1985 and 1986 in the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports entry.

SHORT-TRACK MASTERY: In 2024, Larson has accumulated the most points on short tracks with 170. Over the last 10 short-track races, the 2021 Cup Series champion has secured two wins, three poles, eight top-five finishes and nine top 10s. He has finished in the top six in nine of those 10 events.

EXTRACURRICULAR: In addition to his full-time Cup Series schedule, Larson frequently races dirt. During the two-week Olympic break, he swept the Ironman 55 weekend at I-55 Raceway in the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series and, on Monday, he won the 29th annual Front Row Challenge at Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Larson is now gearing up for another busy week as he looks to defend his title at the Knoxville Nationals.

BIRTHDAY BREAK: Larson celebrated his 32nd birthday on July 31. Since making his first Cup Series start at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Oct. 12, 2013, he has accumulated one Cup Series championship (2021), 27 career wins, 21 pole positions, 113 top-five finishes, 175 top 10s and 8,319 laps led. Only three drivers in NASCAR history have led more laps before age 32: Richard Petty, Jeff Gordon and Kyle Busch.

HENDRICKCARS.COM IS HOME: Larson and the No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM crew will wear their white “home” fire suits this weekend at Richmond. Every HENDRICKCARS.COM home race this season will feature a unique hat released the week of the event that is exclusively available for purchase at trackside merchandise haulers or to win on HENDRICKCARS.COM. Less than 100 of each limited-edition hat will be made available. Check out this weekend’s Richmond hat here. The No. 5 team celebrates home races in markets where Hendrick Automotive Group car dealerships are located.

SHOP THIS SUMMER: Considering upgrading your vehicle this summer? Shop one of Hendrick Automotive Group’s 95 dealerships nationwide, including the Richmond, Virginia, market, which is home to Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Buick GMC Richmond. Customers can also shop from the convenience of home by visiting HENDRICKCARS.COM. The website offers searches by category, make, model and vehicle packages from nearly 30,000 new, high-quality pre-owned and certified cars, trucks, and SUVs.

9 CHASE ELLIOTT

Age: 28 (Nov. 28, 1995)

Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia

Resides: Dawsonville, Georgia

Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson

Standings: 2nd

No. 9 Coca-Cola Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

GET TO THE POINT: With only four races left in the regular season, Chase Elliott heads to Richmond Raceway second in the NASCAR Cup Series standings, just 10 points behind Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson. The 28-year-old driver has one win (Texas Motor Speedway), seven top-five finishes and 11 top 10s in 22 starts this season. Elliott’s 10.5 average finish leads the field and is his best through 22 races behind only the 2022 season when he won the regular season championship. He also has the third-best average running position (10.96) and the fourth-most laps spent inside the top 10 (3,246). The Dawsonville, Georgia, native is tied for both the fourth-most top-five finishes and the fifth-most top 10s.

CHASE-ING HISTORY: Elliott and Martin Truex Jr. are the only two drivers to make it to the finish of every race this season. The 2020 Cup Series champion joins Kurt Busch as the only other driver in series history to have raced all but one lap (or less) through 22 races. The spring race at Bristol Motor Speedway is the only event in which Elliott did not finish on the lead lap. However, he still earned an eighth-place result. Busch completed every lap of the first 22 events in 2016 before an on-track incident kept him from finishing the 23rd race.

SHORT TRACK SAVVY: In 2024, Elliott is the only driver to finish all four short-track events inside the top 10. He’s earned 158 points on tracks less than 1 mile in length this season, second to teammate Larson. His best finish on this track type in 2024 came at Martinsville Speedway where he placed third. In all, he’s made 49 Cup Series short track starts, with one win (Martinsville in November 2020), 17 top-five finishes, 27 top 10s, two pole awards and 1,649 laps led.

RICHMOND RECORD: On Sunday, Elliott will make his 17th Richmond start in the Cup Series. In 16 previous races on the 0.75-mile oval, he collected six top-five finishes, including a runner-up result in April 2018, and seven top 10s. Most recently, Elliott led five laps en route to a fifth-place Richmond finish in March. Additionally, he has made four starts at the Virginia venue in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, never finishing outside the top five and earning a win in 2015.

GREAT GUSTAFSON: On Sunday, No. 9 team crew chief Alan Gustafson is set to call his 37th Richmond race in his 20th season in the Cup Series. His previous 36 starts have come with five different drivers (Kyle Busch, Casey Mears, Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon and Elliott) with a combined 16 top-five finishes, 20 top 10s and 630 laps led. Gustafson has five runner-up results at Richmond.

HOMETOWN BOY: Richmond is the home track for No. 9 team primary race engineer Mark Ziegler. The 28-year-old graduate of West Virginia University is from Glen Allen, Virginia, located approximately 10 miles from the venue. Ziegler has been in the sport for eight years and joined Hendrick Motorsports as an engineer on the No. 9 team in 2023 before being promoted to his current role for the 2024 season.

FASTEST FIVE: The No. 9 pit crew continues to hold the fastest average four-tire pit stop time through 22 events (10.695 seconds). The over-the-wall squad laid down the fastest four-tire pit stop (9.076 seconds) of 2024 at Texas in April. The 2021 Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew award-winning group is comprised of Chad Avrit (rear-tire changer), Jared Erspamer (tire carrier), John Gianninoto (fueler), Nick O’Dell (front-tire changer) and T.J. Semke (jackman).

A CRISP AND REFRESHING SCHEME: Coca-Cola will be on board the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Richmond this weekend, marking the first time the Atlanta-based company has served as a primary sponsor for Elliott and the team. Coca-Cola first joined as an official partner of Hendrick Motorsports and the No. 9 team in 2023. Get a look at all the angles of the No. 9 Coca-Cola Chevrolet before it takes to the track.

24 WILLIAM BYRON

Age: 26 (Nov. 29, 1997)

Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina

Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle

Standings: 6th

No. 24 Valvoline Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

24 IN ‘24: William Byron’s 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season started off hot with three wins (tied for the second most) including at the DAYTONA 500. Before the two-week Olympic break, the Charlotte, North Carolina, native earned seven top-five finishes (tied for the fourth-most) and 12 top 10s (tied for the second-most). He has the second-best average starting position (9.67) and the third-best average finish (12.81). In fact, in the last five races, Byron has scored 151 points, which is tied for fourth. After 22 races, he has moved up to sixth in the 2024 Cup Series standings with 16 playoff points.

COUTDOWN IS ON: With four races remaining in the regular season, three tracks have already appeared on the 2024 Cup Series schedule: Richmond Raceway, Daytona International Speedway and Darlington Raceway. In those three races, Byron collected 124 points – the most of any driver.

READY FOR RICHMOND: Sunday will mark Byron’s 13th Cup Series start at Richmond Raceway, where he has a personal-best finish of third that came in April 2022 after starting on the front row and leading 122 laps. Byron came close to picking up a victory at the 0.75-mile track in 2023 when he won stage one and led 117 laps before being involved in an on-track incident that left him with a 24th-place finish. In the Next Gen race car at Richmond, Byron has run 666 laps in the top five (fifth overall) and has led 239 laps – third-best of all drivers and the third-most he’s led at a single track.

RUDY AT RICHMOND: Crew chief Rudy Fugle has seven NASCAR national series starts at Richmond Raceway, including five in the Cup Series, one in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and two in the Xfinity Series. His best Cup Series start at the short track came in April 2022 when Byron and the No. 24 team had their weekend to date at Richmond, qualifying second, leading 122 laps and ultimately finishing third after being passed for the win with four laps to go.

PIT ROAD PROWESS: After 22 races in 2024, the No. 24 pit crew continues to find success, ranking fifth for the fastest average four-tire pit stop (10.967 seconds). The five-person team consists of Spencer Bishop (jackman), Jeff Cordero (front-tire changer), Orane Ossowski (rear-tire changer), Ryan Patton (tire carrier) and Landon Walker (fueler).

VALVOLINE RETURNS: In June, Valvoline Global, a worldwide leader in automotive and industrial solutions creating future-ready products and best-in-class services for partners around the globe, announced that it has expanded and extended its strategic partnership with 14-time NASCAR Cup Series champions Hendrick Motorsports through 2029. The brand will increase its presence on Byron’s No. 24 car from its traditional two races to eight races in 2024 and six in 2025 through 2029. This weekend’s race at Richmond Raceway will be Valvoline’s fifth appearance as the primary sponsor of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in 2024. Established in 1866, the company’s heritage spans more than 150 years, during which time it has developed powerful brand recognition across multiple product and service channels. Valvoline ranks as the No. 3 passenger car motor oil brand in the DIY market by volume.

48 ALEX BOWMAN

Age: 31 (April 25, 1993)

Hometown: Tucson, Arizona

Resides: Concord, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Blake Harris

Standings: 10th

No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

BACK FROM BREAK: Coming off NASCAR’s two-week Olympic break, Alex Bowman is looking to extend his strong 2024 season. Last month, the 31-year-old driver earned his eighth win in the sport’s premiere Cup Series at the Chicago Street Course. Back in February, Bowman also earned a runner-up finish in the prestigious DAYTONA 500. With four races remaining until the playoffs, the No. 48 Ally Racing driver ranks 10th in the standings, 143 points behind the leader.

PUSHING TO THE PLAYOFFS: In 22 points-paying races this season, Bowman has six top-five finishes, 12 top 10s (second-most of all drivers) and 17 lead-lap finishes – all tied for personal bests at this point in a season. The Tucson, Arizona, native’s Chicago win clinched a spot in the 2024 playoffs, and his focus now is to accumulate more playoff points to position the No. 48 team for a deep post-season run.

RETURNING TO RICHMOND: On Sunday, the Cup Series returns to Richmond Raceway, where Bowman will make his 17th start. In his previous 16 appearance at the 0.75-mile track, he has one top-five finish, four top 10s, 19 laps led and has completed 99.5% of his laps attempted. In April 2021, Bowman won at the Virginia venue, marking his first of four points-paying victories that season. His best qualifying effort of 2024 came at Richmond, where he started fourth in March.

SHORT-TRACK SUCCESS: Bowman’s 2021 victory at Richmond isn’t his only short-track win. In October 2021, he led the field to the checkered flag at Martinsville Speedway. This season, his talent continues to show with three top-10 finishes in the last four short-track races. In 2024, Bowman has earned the seventh-most points (124) on short tracks, 46 behind Hendrick Motorsports teammate and leader Kyle Larson.

HARRIS HAS CHOICES: This weekend at Richmond, Ally Racing crew chief Blake Harris has choices when it comes to Goodyear tires on the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. In addition to the standard “prime” tire, teams will be allotted three sets of “option” tires – one for practice and two for the race. The option tires are composed of the same compound as wet weather tires used on ovals. Harris also faced decisions on tires at the Chicago Street Course, where weather shortened the event. As the track dried, Harris opted to keep his driver on the racing surface with wet weather tires while the front runners pitted for prime tires. The move resulted in valuable track position, which Bowman was able to use in the final laps to score the victory.

REVVED UP FOR THE REMAINDER: Following Richmond, NASCAR will visit Michigan International Speedway, Daytona International Speedway and Darlington Raceway before the 2024 playoffs begin. Of the three tracks remaining in the regular season where NASCAR has competed already this year (excluding Michigan), Bowman has earned the fifth-most points in 2024 (107), just 17 behind Hendrick Motorsports teammate and leader William Byron.

VIRGINIA IS FOR BEST FRIENDS: Over the last four years, Bowman and sponsor Ally have donated more than $650,000 to Best Friends Animal Society and its vast network of partners. Every race weekend, the pair donates a total of $4,800 to help homeless pets at a shelter local to the track. This weekend, the charitable donation will go to SPCA of St. Petersburg & Colonial Heights. Animals available for adoption can be seen at the shelter located just 28 miles south of Richmond.

ALLY RACING PIT CREW: The Ally Racing pit crew ranks eighth on pit road for the best average four-tire stop this year (11.059). The No. 48 crew is composed of jackman Allen Holman, tire carrier Brandon Grier, front-tire changer Donnie Tasser, rear-tire changer Andrew Bridgeforth and gasman Jacob Conley.

WIN THE KEYS TO A CHEVROLET CAMARO: To celebrate Hendrick Motorsports’ 40th anniversary, Ally and HENDRICKCARS.COM are giving away a special edition Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE to one lucky fan. Only 40 of these cars will be manufactured with the other 39 sold exclusively through select Hendrick Automotive Group Chevrolet dealerships. Enter to win at Ally.com/sweepstakes/nascar. The promotion ends Sept. 20, 2024.

HENDRICK
MOTORSPORTS /

2024All-TimeRichmond
Races221,36780
Wins9*310*12
Poles6*252*19*
Top 529*1,261*69*
Top 1046*2,158*126*
Laps Led1,19280,949*4,621
Stage Wins101082

*Most **Most (tie)

RICHMOND RICHES: Seven Hendrick Motorsports drivers have won a NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway, the most of any team. Jimmie Johnson (three wins), Terry Labonte (three), Jeff Gordon (two), Tim Richmond, Joe Nemechek, Kyle Larson and Alex Bowman have a combined 12 wins for the organization at the 0.75-mile track.

VIRGINIA ROOTS: Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick was raised on a tobacco farm in Palmer Springs, Virginia, which is 100 miles southwest of Richmond Raceway. Since 1984, his teams have won 41 Cup Series races in the Commonwealth of Virginia, including 12 at Richmond. Hendrick Motorsports is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2024.

FOLLOW THE LEADER: A Hendrick Motorsports driver has led the NASCAR Cup Series regular season standings following 16 of 22 races thus far in 2024. The organization has seen its drivers ranked 1-2 in the standings eight times this year, including after each of the last seven races. Hendrick Motorsports is the only team with four drivers inside the top 10 in regular season points.

SHORT-TRACK STACK: With 58 wins, Hendrick Motorsports leads all active teams in victories on short tracks. It has 10 more than next-best Joe Gibbs Racing and 24 more than third-place Team Penske.

THE LAST 34: Over the last 34 Cup Series events, Hendrick Motorsports has not gone more than three races without a win. In that span, the team has logged 13 victories (most by five), 42 top-five finishes (most by four) and 71 top 10s (most by 10). At least one Hendrick Motorsports driver has finished inside the top 10 in 33 of the 34 races.

QUOTABLE /

Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the break and getting back to racing: “We got to enjoy some time off after the Brickyard win, but it was good to get back into racing (a sprint car) last weekend and we’re looking forward to Knoxville and Richmond (Raceway) this weekend. We had a good run at Richmond earlier this year and want to continue that this weekend. We’ve got four races left in the regular season and we want to make the most of them prior to the playoff stretch.”

Cliff Daniels, crew chief of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on Richmond challenges: “The goal is to have a solid weekend at Richmond like we had in the springtime. The HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet had good pace and balance for Kyle earlier this year. Richmond is always temperature-sensitive, so the conditions will be much different this weekend. And we have the prime and option tire for the weekend, so strategy will be key and there will be a lot to learn throughout the weekend. There are a lot of variables for the field to try to get right. It’s a hometown track for me, so looking forward to seeing family and friends and hopefully have a solid weekend.”

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on Coca-Cola serving as primary sponsor: “I’m excited to have Coca-Cola on board this weekend. There’s a lot of history with Coca-Cola, with myself and my family, and it couldn’t be a more natural fit. Richmond hasn’t particularly been a strong track for me, but we had a good finish there in the spring, so I’m looking forward to getting back there and seeing what we can do. It’d be great to get this Coca-Cola scheme to victory lane.”

Alan Gustafson, crew chief of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the option tire at Richmond Raceway: “It’s going to be really interesting. We ran this tire at North Wilkesboro, but North Wilkesboro had just been repaved so the falloff wasn’t super significant. I think that kind of hurt what NASCAR was trying to do with the option tires. The fact that the tire falloff at Richmond is significant, I think is really good. Ultimately, none of us really know how they’re going to respond there. So, it’s really hard to say what is going to be the optimal strategy or what is going to put you in the best position. So, that all is going to be fun to kind of discover as we go. I’m excited to see with as much fall off there typically is at Richmond and how valuable new tires are, how it’s going to work with the variable of the option tire. I think it’s going to be cool. We’ll see.”

William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on tire options at Richmond Raceway: “We have had some really good runs at Richmond (Raceway) lately and I think we are in a good position to continue that this weekend. The option tires are going to possibly throw a new wrench in things, but with everyone in the same boat, the playing field is even. Getting the most out of practice on Saturday will be crucial to prepare strategy-wise for Sunday. I’m interested to see how it will play out and hopefully we come out on the good end of it.”

Rudy Fugle, crew chief of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the importance of practice at Richmond Raceway: “Practice is going to be even more crucial this weekend at Richmond (Raceway) than it has been all season with the different tire options. While we ran the option tires at North Wilkesboro Speedway for the All-Star Race, we don’t think that they will run the same at Richmond given the difference in racing surfaces. Even with the unknowns, we have a lot of strategy options that we can plan ahead of time and then once we have practice on Saturday, we can adjust from there before Sunday.”
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Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on racing at Richmond Raceway: “It’s been refreshing to have the Olympic break … but I’m certainly ready to get back racing. It’s always nice to compete at Richmond (Raceway). We got a win there back in 2021 and this spring Blake (Harris) and I qualified well. I think we learned a few things and hopefully we can use that knowledge to perform well this Sunday in the night race.”

Blake Harris, crew chief of the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the summer race and tire choice at Richmond Raceway: “I thought we had a pretty good No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro in the spring Richmond race. We had a really good Saturday and qualified well. I’m looking forward to this weekend and fine tuning some things that we think we have found to improve since then. The option tire will certainly be interesting. There are not enough tires to the point that you would have to run them. It looks like Saturday is clearing up but we should get some practice on it and see how it runs.”

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