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Connor Zilisch set for part-time NASCAR national series campaign in mid-2024, beginning with Truck return at Richmond

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Ron Olds for SpeedwayMedia.com.

More than four months after generating an impressive NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut at Circuit of the Americas, Connor Zilisch returns to the series with a five-race plan throughout the final eight-scheduled events of the 2024 season that commences this upcoming weekend at Richmond Raceway.

The Charlotte, North Carolina, native, who celebrated his 18th birthday two weeks ago, will pilot the No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado RST entry for Spire Motorsports for his second career start in the Truck Series and his first at Richmond as he continues to make his early presence within NASCAR’s top three national touring series well-known across the NASCAR community for years to come.

Zilisch, who became the first American to win the CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy in 2020 before claiming both a Mazda MX-5 Cup Scholarship and Rookie-of-the-Year title over the next two seasons, commenced the 2024 season by being signed by Trackhouse Racing as a development competitor on a multi-year basis in early January. The development program from Trackhouse enabled Zilisch to make starts in the NASCAR Xfinity and Craftsman Truck Series divisions along with ARCA, CARS Tour, Trans-Am and IMSA regions. He would proceed to emerge victorious at the Rolex 24 at Daytona in late January, which made him the second-youngest winner of the event at 17 years and 191 days old, before winning at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in March, both in the LMP2 class with Era Motorsport.

In March, Zilisch, who currently competes full-time in the ARCA Menards Series East with Pinnacle Racing Group, was announced as the driver of Spire’s No. 7 entry at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, for his Truck debut. He was also signed to compete at Talladega Superspeedway and at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the latter event of which is set to occur in a separate entry, in October.

During his first NASCAR national touring series weekend at Austin, Zilisch stole the show by winning his first pole position with a pole-winning lap at 93.012 mph in 131.983 seconds and becoming the first competitor to win a pole in a Truck debut since Nick Sanchez made the last accomplishment during the 2023 opener at Daytona International Speedway. Despite losing the lead during the opening lap after locking up his front tires and sliding off the track in the first turn amid a three-wide battle, Zilisch, who then endured a roller-coaster event that included spinning shortly after the start of the second stage and being penalized multiple times for short-cutting the course, was able to methodically carve his way back towards the front and survive an overtime restart to finish in fourth place. Ironically, the day did not end for Zilisch, who then traveled to Pensacola, Florida, to compete in the 2024 ARCA Menards Series East season opener at Five Flags Speedway, where he recorded another fourth-place run.

A month after his Truck debut in Austin, Spire and Silver Hare Racing joined forces to add three Truck events to Zilisch’s schedule, including this upcoming weekend’s event at Richmond. He will also compete at Bristol Motor Speedway in September before making his sixth and final Truck start of the 2024 season at Martinsville Speedway in October.

Zilisch’s early presence across NASCAR’s top three national touring series does not conclude with the Truck Series in 2024 as the Charlotte native is also set to make his Xfinity Series debut at Watkins Glen International in September, where he will pilot the No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro for JR Motorsports. He will then return for three additional Xfinity events of this season including Kansas Speedway in September, Homestead-Miami Speedway in October and the season-finale event at Phoenix Raceway in November.

As he transitions back to the Truck Series spotlight, Zilisch carries another objective besides gaining more on-track experience within NASCAR’s top series. He also strives to keep the Spire Motorsports No. 7 Chevrolet team in contention for this year’s owners championship in this weekend’s event at Richmond which serves as the series’ regular-season finale.

Currently, Spire’s No. 7 entry is ranked fifth in the owner standings on the strength of two victories, both being recorded by two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch at Atlanta Motor Speedway in February and at Texas Motor Speedway in April. In addition, the entry secured two stage victories, five top-five results and nine top-10 results through 15 scheduled events, all while being piloted by Zilisch, Busch, Corey LaJoie, Sammy Smith, Connor Mosack, Andres Perez de Lara and Clint Bowyer. As for Spire’s two full-time Truck competitors that include Rajah Caruth (No. 71) and Chase Purdy (No. 77), Caruth is locked into the Playoffs and set to contend for the driver’s championship after he won at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March while Purdy is 44 points below the top-10 cutline to qualify for his first Playoff appearance.

With Spire’s No. 7 entry being 53 points above the top-10 cutline and looking to contend for the owners’ title over the eight-race Playoff stretch, Zilisch is one of three competitors left to keep the entry in contention for the organization’s first title in NASCAR. With Zilisch scheduled to compete in three of seven Playoff events, Sammy Smith will drive the No. 7 entry at the Milwaukee Mile for the Playoff opener in late August while Connor Mosack will compete at Kansas Speedway in September and at Homestead-Miami Speedway in October. A driver for the season-finale event at Phoenix Raceway in November is yet to be determined.

Amid his early starts in NASCAR, Zilisch is currently in contention to claim the 2024 ARCA Menards Series East title as he has recorded four victories and finished no lower than fourth through six of eight scheduled events. With two races remaining, he leads the ARCA East standings by 23 points over the reigning champion William Sawalich in a season where he is also three-for-three in the ARCA Menards Series division, with his victories occurring at Dover Motor Speedway, Iowa Speedway and Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.

While his racing plans for the 2025 season are not yet determined, there is unfinished business and plenty of potential surprises for Zilisch to add his early accomplished racing resume with a steady transcendence of his career to only grow bigger and brighter for years to come.

Connor Zilisch’s second NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career start is scheduled to occur at Richmond Raceway for the Clean Harbors 250 on Saturday, August 10, with the event’s air commencement time to occur at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1.

Cadillac Racing expanding Hypercar program

By
Official Release
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Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA to run two-car FIA WEC factory team starting in 2025

DETROIT (Aug. 6, 2024) – Cadillac Racing announced today that its FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) Hypercar program will expand to a two-car factory program to be named Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA beginning with the start of the 2025 season.

“Cadillac is proud to be racing against the best in the world as part of the FIA World Endurance Championship, and that includes Hertz Team JOTA” said John Roth, vice president, Global Cadillac. “We are thrilled to welcome Hertz Team JOTA next year, bringing decades of racing and technical expertise together, to achieve continued success on the track and create new advocates for our brand around the globe.”

Added Sam Hignett, director and founder, Hertz Team JOTA: “JOTA has always strived to become a manufacturer team, so now joining forces with Cadillac is the realization of this goal. Having competed against the Cadillac V-Series.R for the last two seasons, we have experienced how competitive it is and we are genuinely honored to be entrusted with fielding its cars from 2025 onward. We are in the privileged position to have enjoyed record-breaking success in the FIA World Endurance Championship, especially at Le Mans, and we are very much looking forward to continuing this success with Cadillac and Hertz.”

Drivers of the No. 12 and No. 38 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R racecars, which are powered by the purpose-built Cadillac 5.5L DOHC V8 engine, will be announced in the future.

England-based Hertz Team JOTA, owned in part by affiliates of Knighthead Capital Management, LLC, sponsored by global car rental company Hertz and seven-time champion and entrepreneur Tom Brady, entered the Hypercar class as a privateer in 2023 and currently runs two cars in the WEC with another manufacturer. It registered a historic first overall victory for a private team in Hypercar on May 11 at the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps and was runner-up in the season-opening Qatar Airways Qatar 1812 KM. Hertz Team JOTA leads the FIA World Cup for Hypercar private teams.

Highlighting Cadillac Racing’s inaugural WEC season was the third-place finish in the centenary 24 Hours of Le Mans. The No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R started the 2023 season with top-five finishes at Sebring, Portimão and Spa-Francorchamps.

Cadillac Racing, which also runs a two-car Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) factory program in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, swept the 2023 GTP full-season and IMSA Michelin Endurance cup manufacturer, team and driver championships with Action Express Racing and the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R.

Overall, Cadillac Racing has earned nine Manufacturer Championships, five IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Manufacturer Championships and 69 total sports car victories, including 30 in IMSA prototype competition since 2017.

Cadillac Racing will announce its 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship plans at a later date.

The Cadillac V-Series.R marks the third-generation Cadillac prototype racecar and the brand’s first hybrid electrified race car. Codeveloped by Cadillac Design, Cadillac Racing and chassis constructor Dallara — the race car incorporates key Cadillac V-Series production car design elements, such as vertical lighting and floating blades.

About Hertz Team JOTA

Founded in 2000, Hertz Team JOTA is one of the most experienced and successful sports car teams in recent history, having finished on the podium in LMP2 at Le Mans 10 times, including second and third overall in 2017. Championship titles include the 2016 European Le Mans Series, 2017 Asian Le Mans Series and multiple vice championship titles in the FIA World Endurance Championship. Other achievements include overall wins in Blancpain Endurance and class wins in the Spa 24 Hours, Nürburgring 24 Hours and American Le Mans Series. In 2023, in partnership with sponsors Hertz, Singer Group, Brady Apparel and others, Hertz Team JOTA entered the highest level of Endurance motorsport globally and took a historic first victory for a private team in the Hypercar class at the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in May 2024. The 2024 driver line-up features team mainstay Will Stevens alongside Phil Hanson, Oliver Rasmussen, Callum Ilott and Norman Nato, as well as Formula One World Champion Jenson Button.

The Ultimate Guide to Using a Ball Joint Press for Car Repairs

By
SM
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Introduction

Maintaining your vehicle’s ball joints is crucial for safe and smooth driving. This guide will help DIY enthusiasts and novice mechanics understand and effectively use a ball joint press, ensuring successful removal and installation of ball joints.

Section 1: Understanding the Ball Joint Press

A ball joint press is a specialized tool used to remove and install ball joints. It consists of a C-frame, receiving tubes, and various adapters that work together to apply pressure and release or insert ball joints without damaging other suspension components.

Types of Ball Joint Presses

Ball joint presses come in different models and sizes, each designed for specific types of vehicles and ball joints. Some are manually operated, while others may use hydraulic pressure for easier operation.

Section 2: Preparing for the Task

Safety First

Safety is paramount when working on any vehicle repair. Always wear safety gear, including gloves and safety glasses, to protect against debris and injury. Make sure the vehicle is on a flat surface and that the parking brake is engaged.

Tools and Materials Needed

  • Ball joint press kit
  • Jack and jack stands
  • Wrenches and sockets
  • Penetrating fluid
  • Snap ring pliers
  • Torque wrench
  • Protective gear (gloves, safety glasses)

Vehicle Preparation

  1. Park and Secure: Park the vehicle on a flat surface, engage the parking brake, and use wheel chocks to prevent movement.
  2. Lift the Vehicle: Use a jack to lift the vehicle and secure it with jack stands. Ensure the vehicle is stable before starting any work.
  3. Remove the Wheel: Remove the wheel to gain access to the ball joint.

Section 3: Removing the Old Ball Joint

  1. Lift the Car: Safely raise the vehicle using a jack and support it with jack stands.
  2. Access the Ball Joint: Remove the wheel and locate the ball joint.
  3. Remove the Snap Ring: Use snap ring pliers to remove the retaining ring from the ball joint.
  4. Clean and Lubricate: Clean the area around the ball joint and apply penetrating fluid to loosen any rust or debris.
  5. Position the C-Frame: Select the appropriate receiving tube and position the C-frame over the ball joint.
  6. Press Out the Ball Joint: Tighten the ball joint press until the ball joint is removed from its socket.

Tips and Tricks

  • Apply penetrating fluid generously and allow it to sit for a few minutes to ease the removal process.
  • Use a breaker bar for additional leverage if the ball joint is stubborn.
  • Ensure the C-frame is properly aligned to avoid damage to surrounding components.

Section 4: Installing the New Ball Joint

  1. Select Receiving Tubes and Caps: Choose the correct size to fit the new ball joint. Refer to the vehicle’s manual for specifications.
  2. Position the C-Frame: Reverse the position of the C-frame to press the new ball joint into place.
  3. Align the New Ball Joint: Carefully align the new ball joint with the control arm or knuckle, ensuring it is correctly positioned.
  4. Press the Ball Joint In: Tighten the press to install the new ball joint. Ensure it is fully seated and aligned.
  5. Install the Snap Ring: Replace the snap ring to secure the new ball joint. Use snap ring pliers for a secure fit.

Ensuring Proper Installation

  • Double-check the alignment of the new ball joint.
  • Ensure all components are tightly secured.
  • Use a torque wrench to tighten bolts to the manufacturer’s specifications.

Section 5: Post-Installation Checks

  1. Verify Installation: Inspect the ball joint to ensure it is properly seated and secure.
  2. Reassemble the Vehicle: Reattach the wheel and lower the vehicle. Tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern to ensure even pressure.
  3. Test Drive: Take the vehicle for a test drive to ensure smooth operation and handling. Listen for any unusual noises or feel for any vibrations.

Conclusion

Regular maintenance of ball joints is essential for vehicle safety. With the right tools and knowledge, using a ball joint tool can be straightforward and effective. Embrace DIY projects with confidence and keep your vehicle in top condition.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are common issues when using a ball joint press?

  • Misalignment of the press can lead to damage; ensure everything is correctly positioned before applying pressure.
  • Using the wrong size receiving tube can cause improper seating of the ball joint.

How often should ball joints be replaced?

  • It depends on driving conditions and vehicle usage, but regular inspections can help identify wear and tear early. Typically, ball joints should be inspected every 30,000 to 50,000 miles.

Can I use a ball joint press on all vehicles?

  • Ball joint presses are versatile tools, but it’s essential to use the correct adapters and receiving tubes for your specific vehicle model.

What are the common signs of a failing ball joint?

  • Clunking noises, uneven tire wear, and poor handling are common symptoms. Regular inspections can help detect these issues early.

P&G Supports Our Military Racing: Josh Berry Richmond Advance

By
Official Release
-

JOSH BERRY
Richmond Advance
No. 4 P&G Supports Our Military Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Event Overview

● Event: Cook Out 400 (Round 23 of 36)
● Time/Date: 6 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Aug. 11
● Location: Richmond (Va.) Raceway
● Layout: .75-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 400 laps/300 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 70 laps / Stage 2: 160 laps / Final Stage: 170 laps
● TV/Radio: USA / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● After a two-week break from NASCAR Cup Series racing, Josh Berry heads to Richmond (Va.) Raceway, where the 33-year-old rookie is no stranger to speed. In his two previous starts on the .75-mile oval, Berry scored an impressive runner-up finish in the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports entry in April 2023, driving for an injured Chase Elliott, then followed it up with an 11th-place result in his first race there in his No. 4 Stewart-Haas Ford Mustang Dark Horse this past April. He started 30th in both races before driving his way to the front, and led a total of 12 laps in the two events. Berry has made four starts at Richmond in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for JR Motorsports. In those starts, he’s earned one top-five (third in 2023) and three top-10s with 64 laps led, an average starting position of 14.3 and an average finish of 10.3.

● NASCAR is bringing back the optional, soft-compound tire this weekend, which made its debut in the non-points All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway in May. Tire strategy also played a part when Berry and his fellow competitors faced evolving track conditions in their last appearance at Richmond in April, when wet conditions forced all teams to start the race on wet-weather tires. Berry was one of the biggest movers in the race, advancing to ninth from his 30th starting position by the end of the opening stage.

● During the NASCAR break for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, Berry returned to his racing roots, piloting the No. 62 KHI Late Model car at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway on July 27. In that race, the short-track aficionado drove to a ninth-place finish. Berry first made a name for himself on short tracks, climbing the ranks to earn his seat in the Cup Series by dominating at the grassroots level. During his days driving for Dale Earnhardt Jr. as part of the JR Motorsports Late Model program, Berry amassed an impressive 95 victories in his 262 starts with the team, with 189 top-fives and 219 top-10s. He was also the NASCAR Weekly Series champion in 2020, finishing every race but one inside the top-10 that season.

● Crew chief Rodney Childers has 35 Cup Series starts atop the pit box at Richmond, including last April’s race with Berry. Sunday night’s race at Richmond will mark the first track Berry and Childers will return to since they were paired together this season. Across Childers’ previous 35 starts, his drivers have amassed six pole positions, one win (Kevin Harvick in August 2022), 12 top-five finishes, 18 top-10s, 319 laps led, an average starting position of 10.0 and an average finish of 14.3. Childers’ drivers have finished all 35 races.

● This Sunday, the No. 4 Ford Mustang Darkhorse welcomes a new partner – P&G – with a vibrant red, white, and blue scheme. P&G is proud to serve our U.S. Military at Commissary and Exchange locations worldwide. As a part of P&G’s “Shop Smart with Heart” platform, military shoppers are empowered to enjoy supporting the sport of NASCAR racing while bringing excitement to their military community by choosing unbeatable solutions from their Commissary and Exchange with a winning lineup of P&G’s superior products.

Josh Berry, Driver of the No. 4 P&G Supports Our Military Ford Mustang Dark Horse

What did you do during your two weeks away from the NASCAR Cup Series schedule? What is your mindset as we look ahead to close out the season?

“I spent the first weekend racing at Hickory Motor Speedway in the KHI Late Model car, which is something I always enjoy. I’ve said it a lot, but I just love to race, and to be able to have Kevin (Harvick) see my passion for racing and continue to support my career is really special to me. After we wrapped up the race, my family and I spent the week away at the beach to just enjoy some rest and each other. This schedule is a grind and takes a lot of our time across the whole program and SHR as a whole. So I took advantage and just unplugged, and I feel as motivated as ever to take on the last bit of the season. I know my team is fired up and ready to get back to the track and go compete for wins.”

This weekend, NASCAR is bringing back the soft, option tire. On the subject of tires, you found speed on the wet-weather tire last April at Richmond. What is your opinion of this weekend’s option tire, and how does your past success bode for your confidence?

“It is a good thing, I think, that Goodyear and NASCAR are taking chances and getting aggressive to find something that improves the racing we have as a series. Obviously, I did have speed there last time and did well in the No. 9 entry last year, so I think regardless of the situation, I just feel comfortable there. It has been a place, in general, where I have just felt like it fits my driving style and kind of sets up well for me. I feel confident we will have a good car and be able to run up front.”

This weekend, you have P&G on board the No. 4 Ford Mustang, promoting its Commissary and Exchange program. What does it mean to you to be able to have a partner that helps the U.S. Armed Forces?

“It’s always a special weekend when you can do something to help give back to the armed forces and all who protect our nation. Being able to help promote this program and having them come on board is neat, and meeting the people who support my team and my career is an opportunity that I hold close to my heart. Weekends like this with P&G remind me that sometimes what we can do is more than just racing, it’s helping impact lives across the country.”

No. 4 P&G Supports Our Military Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Josh Berry

Hometown: Hendersonville, Tennessee

Crew Chief: Rodney Childers

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Car Chief: Robert “Cheddar” Smith

Hometown: Whitewater, Wisconsin

Engineer: Dax Gerringer

Hometown: Gibsonville, North Carolina

Engineer: Billy Kuebler

Hometown: Saline, Michigan

Spotter: Eddie D’Hondt

Hometown: Levittown, New York

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Daniel Coffey

Hometown: Granite Falls, North Carolina

Rear Tire Changer: Daniel Smith

Hometown: Concord, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Mason Flynt

Hometown: High Point, North Carolina

Jack Man: Brandon Banks

Hometown: High Point, North Carolina

Fuel Man: Evan Marchal

Hometown: Westfield, Indiana

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Tyler Trosper

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Mechanic: Chris Capaldi

Hometown: Armada, Michigan

Tire Specialist: Zac Lupien

Hometown: Pine Bluff, Arkansas

Engine Tuner: Robert Brandt

Hometown: Mobile, Alabama

Transporter Co-Driver: Jake Zierhoffer

Hometown: Billerica, Massachusetts

Transporter Co-Driver: Stephen Mitchell

Hometown: Woodville, Ohio

RFK Advance | Richmond II

By
Official Release
-

Richmond Event Info:
Date: Sunday, August 11
Time: 6 p.m. ET
Series: NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Format: 400 Laps, 300 Miles, Stages: 70-150-170
TV: USA
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90)

Weekend Schedule:
Saturday: 4:30 p.m. ET, Practice (NBC Sports App, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 5:35 p.m. ET, Qualifying (NBC Sports App, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Sunday: 6 p.m. ET, Race (USA, NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Pace Laps:

  • Chris Buescher heads into Richmond this weekend as the defending race winner.
  • In the last six races (dating back to Iowa) Buescher has the fourth-best average finish of any driver – 13.5 – with two top five finishes int hat span.
  • Coming out of the two week break for the Olympics, RFK heads into the next month’s stretch as the defending winner at four-consecutive tracks, with Michigan, Daytona and Darlington on the slate to close out the regular season.

6 Team Info:
Crew Chief: Matt McCall
Partner: BuildSubmarines.com

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

Keselowski at Richmond
Starts: 29
Wins: 2 (2014, 2020)
Top-10s: 15
Poles: 2 (2014, 2019)

  • Keselowski, a two-time winner at Richmond, makes his 30th Cup start at the ¾-mile track on Sunday. He won the lone race at Richmond in 2020 after leading 192 laps.
  • More recently, Keselowski finished eighth in the spring race – one of three-straight top-10s – and is coming off a fall event last season where he led 102 laps and finished sixth.
  • He’s finished inside the top-15 in every Richmond race since the spring of 2015, and in that stretch has led laps in 11 different races. In total he’s led 1280 laps at Richmond in 14 different races, his most of any track on the circuit.
  • Keselowski won back in 2014 after starting on the pole, leading 383 of the 400 laps.
  • His 12.0 average finish holds as one of his best among all tracks with 15 top-10s overall and six finishes inside the top five.
  • He also has two poles – 2014 and 2019 – for an average starting position of 11th, also one of his best marks.
  • Keselowski made 17 Xfinity Series starts from 2006-17 earning four victories and 10 top-10s. He won his last NXS start there in 2017 and also went to victory lane in 2010 once and 2013 twice.

Buescher at Richmond
Starts: 16
Wins: 1 (2023)
Top-10s: 3
Poles: —

  • Buescher is the defending winner of this race at Richmond, having led 88 laps en route to his first of three victories last season, and the first of three in a stretch of five weeks.
  • This spring he finished ninth after qualifying 14th.
  • Despite a 21.7 average finish at the track, Buescher has two top-3 finishes in the last four Richmond races. He finished third in the 2022 fall event, one of his four top-15 efforts in the last five outings at the ¾-mile track.
  • Buescher has a 20.0 average qualifying effort with a best effort of seventh (twice) last spring and in 2019.
  • Buescher made five NXS starts for Jack Roush from 2011-15, earning three top-10s with a best finish of seventh (2014).

RFK Historically at Richmond
Cup Wins: 6 (Mark Martin, 1990; Jeff Burton, 1998; Matt Kenseth, 2002; Kurt Busch, 2005; Carl Edwards, 2013; Chris Buescher, 2023)

  • History in the Commonwealth of Virginia: Overall, RFK has 368 starts at Richmond Raceway, earning a total of 16 wins, 91 top-five and 156 top-10 finishes. RFK Fords have sat on the pole 14 times and led 5,151 laps across NASCAR’s three major touring series.
  • To Xfinity and Beyond: RFK has earned nine victories, 43 top-five finishes, 66 top-10 finishes and an average finish of 11.8 at Richmond in the Xfinity Series. All in all, three different drivers are responsible for the nine victories at the Virginia short track (Edwards, Mark Martin and Jeff Burton).
  • Nine and Counting: RFK’s nine victories at Richmond rank fourth among all tracks the organization has competed on in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, trailing Darlington Raceway (15), Charlotte Motor Speedway (12) and North Carolina Speedway – formerly known as Rockingham – (11).
  • Tale of the Tape: RFK has started 227 NCS races at Richmond with 79 top-10 and 39 top-five finishes along with seven poles. Former drivers Mark Martin (1990), Jeff Burton (1998), Matt Kenseth (2002), Kurt Busch (2005), and Carl Edwards (2013) are responsible for RFK’s five Cup wins, with Buescher adding his name to that list in 2023, and a Jack Roush Cup Series Ford has led 2,633 laps at the .75-mile track.

Last Time Out & Where They Stand
Indy: Keselowski led with less than five to go in Indy two weeks ago, but ran out of fuel and went on to finish 21st. Buescher overcame two blown tires and finished 22nd.

Points Standings (6: 9th, 17: 12th): Keselowski is officially locked into the playoffs, still ninth, while Buescher continues his battle for a playoff position.

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A third Victory in NASCAR Canada at the Grand Prix of Trois-Rivières: The Target of Louis-Philippe Dumoulin

By
Official Release
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Trois-Rivières (Quebec), August 5th, 2024.- This weekend will be held the 54th edition of the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières. This year again, the NASCAR Canada Series race will be the feature race, and for three-time series champion Louis-Philippe Dumoulin the GP3R always represents a special moment in the season. But it’s also a venue where he has had a lot of success. The 2024 edition will be his fifteenth appearance at the event in NASCAR Canada Series. He has collected two victories (2014-2019), two pole positions (2012-2021) and no less than nine Top 5 finishes so far. He also has only two retirements in 14 participations in this race and has qualified in the Top 6 every year since 2011.

“I like these statistics and it would be nice to respect them even more with a third victory in front of my family, friends and fans, who I am always very happy to see again at each edition. The Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières is unique, it’s a bit like the Daytona 500 or the Monaco Grand Prix of the NASCAR Canada series, the most prestigious race of the season, the one that all the drivers want to win,” says the driver of the #47 WeatherTech Canada | Groupe Bellemare | Omnifab car.

Currently fourth in the drivers’ standings, Louis-Philippe Dumoulin explains: “It’s a Grand Prix that is always very difficult to win. The track is hard on the brakes and on the cars; on the drivers too because there is always a lot of traffic with more than thirty drivers entered. But it’s a track that our entire team knows perfectly and I am confident that I have a car to fight at the front and try to win this 2024 edition. This is kind of the decisive moment to get a little bit closer to the leaders in the championship. There are 5 races left this season and I am confident in the quality of my equipment.”

The Dumoulin Compétition team will enter three cars in this 2024 edition of the GP3R, with the presence of Jean-François Dumoulin, Louis-Philippe’s older brother, and Louis-Philippe Montour in two other team cars. “I am convinced that the show will be excellent for the fans but the risk of multiple full course yellows due to the large number of drivers on the track may be decisive. You need to have a perfect strategy, a little luck and know how to be aggressive at the right time, without destroying your brakes, to win at the GP3R” confides the driver of the #47 WeatherTech Canada | Groupe Bellemare | Omnifab car.

“The plan is to regain the points lost in a few incidents since the start of the season. I want to stay in the title contenders until the last events” adds Louis-Philippe, second in the 2023 edition of the GP3R. “We will also be participating in the Thursday night parade downtown and I invite all fans to also attend the return of the fireworks on Saturday night in the Old Port. Trois-Rivières is my hometown, I can’t imagine this event any other way than on the track, in a position to win in front of all this enthusiastic public,” concludes the driver of the #47 WeatherTech Canada | Groupe Bellemare | Omnifab car.

ABOUT PARTNERS

WeatherTech is committed to designing, engineering and manufacturing the finest products possible for your vehicle, home and your pet. From the industry leading FloorLiner to the 100% non-toxic Pet Feeding System, WeatherTech has dedicated itself to exceed customer expectations of quality, craftsmanship and environmental sustainability for over 30 years. To see the full line of automotive, home and pet products that are guaranteed for life, visit weathertech.ca

Groupe Bellemare is a 3rd generation family business that has been serving clients since 1959. Today, the company has more than 500 employees and provides them with an innovative work environment facilitating work-family balance and a healthy and safe quality of life. With over a half century of experience and its sustained R&D efforts, the Company offers high-quality products and services in areas as diverse as concrete, abrasives and minerals, dimensional load transportation, and recycling. Groupe Bellemare is also very involved in its industry and attaches great importance to its social and environmental role as a member of the business community. Groupe Bellemare makes a positive contribution to the quality of life of citizens in the communities it serves by supporting numerous social causes and promoting local purchasing through its responsible procurement practices. For more information, visit groupebellemare.com

Omnifab has joined Dumoulin Compétition in June 2023.In less than twenty years, Omnifab has made its place in the mechanical manufacturing industry in Quebec. They have earned this place by offering a unique turnkey solution to large companies and SMEs that want to modernize their production line or have their industrial equipment repaired. No matter your industry, you can count on Omnifab team to manufacture custom industrial machinery or solve your mechanical problems with great precision, in a timely manner and with quality components, as pledged. Visit omnifab.ca for more information.

Rousseau Metal has been manufacturing high-quality products for 70 years. Over the years the company become known as a leader in storage solutions. The quality, durability and reliability of their products have earned them a reputation as being among the best in the industry. Over the years, the quality of Rousseau products and excellence of the company’s business practices have been recognized through various certifications and membership in industrial and automotive organizations. To learn more about the company and its products, visit rousseau.com

Dumoulin Competition

Jean-François and Louis-Philippe Dumoulin founded the Dumoulin Competition Race Team in 2009. Working with financial, marketing, logistics and sports management experts, they built up a solid business structure. Dumoulin Competition prepares its own race cars in-house since 2016. Their motto: “Passion – Performance – Partnerships” expresses their will to perform on the track and offer their partners maximum visibility and profitability in return for their commitment. Their vision: To become Canada’s leader in motorsports through on-track performance, an entrepreneurial spirit and human values. dumoulincompetition.com

Donate at the 19th annual 9/11 Memorial Blood Drive, drive Dover Motor Speedway’s Monster Mile on Wednesday, Sept. 11

By
Official Release
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  • Drive your car on the high-banked, one-mile concrete oval after donating in NASCAR Cup Series garage.
  • BetRivers 200 NASCAR Xfinity Series tickets to be raffled to donors.

DOVER, Del. (Aug. 5, 2024) – Dover Motor Speedway will once again pay tribute to the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks with the annual 9/11 Memorial Blood Drive on Wednesday, Sept. 11 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.).

This marks the 19th consecutive year that Dover Motor Speedway and the Blood Bank of Delmarva have partnered together for this event, dating to 2006. For the second time in the blood drive’s history, registrants will have the opportunity to drive on the famous Monster Mile, the high-banked oval which has hosted NASCAR events every year since 1969.

REGISTRATION INFO: Pre-registration is highly encouraged. Call 1-888-8-BLOOD-8 or visit https://donate.bbd.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/10256 to book an appointment. Remember to only schedule an appointment if you are feeling healthy and fever free.

Registrants should be aware of the following procedures as they make their way in and around Dover Motor Speedway:

  • ENTERING THE PROPERTY: Guests should use the Speedway’s Leipsic Road entrance, near the Monster Monument (not the entrance to Bally’s Dover off of Rt. 13), to access the event. Suggested GPS address to help with guidance: 99 Plaza Drive, Dover, DE 19901.
  • WAIVERS: Before entering the start-finish line gate, guests will be asked to sign a Speedway-issued waiver to drive their vehicle on the Monster Mile racing surface and a Blood Bank-issued waiver in order for their photo to be taken.
  • DONATION AREA: Guests will enter the Speedway near the start-finish line and make their way to the NASCAR Cup Series garage between Turns 1 and 2. After their donations, guests will exit the garage area near Turn 2 then make their way back around the track toward the frontstretch exit where they entered.

In appreciation to those who donate, regular drawings will take place to award tickets for next year’s BetRivers 200 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Dover Motor Speedway, an annual 200-lap/mile event featuring some of America’s top up-and-coming drivers.

Blood from volunteer donors is needed every two seconds to help meet the daily transfusion needs of cancer and surgery patients, accident and burn victims, newborns and mothers delivering babies, sickle cell anemia patients, and many more.

Per America’s Blood Centers, 62 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate (204.9 million people) but only 3 percent of Americans do so each year.

FOLLOW US:

Keep track of all of Dover Motor Speedway’s events by following on Facebook, X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Instagram and TikTok (@MonsterMile). Keep up with all the latest information on DoverMotorSpeedway.com and our mobile app.

About the Blood Bank of Delmarva

Founded in 1954, Blood Bank of Delmarva is a nonprofit community-based blood center that provides lifesaving blood and blood products to 1.5 million people and 19 hospitals on the Delmarva Peninsula. With donor centers in Delaware (Dagsboro, Dover, Newark), Maryland (Salisbury), Pennsylvania (Chadds Ford), and Virginia (eastern shore), we serve our community by meeting the needs of patients, hospitals, and donors with safe, high-quality blood products and related services. For more information, visit www.delmarvablood.org.

Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing Teams Bring Across-the-Board IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GT Daytona Points Leads to Road America

By
Official Release
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IMSA, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI, Aug 2024. (Photo by Brian Cleary/bcpix.com)

ELKHART LAKE, Wisconsin – Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing teams Winward Racing and Korthoff Preston Motorsports combined for a competitive IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship performance that produced a GTD pole position, a race-leading run and a fourth-place finish at Road America this weekend. Mikael Grenier won the first pole of the season for the No. 32 Korthoff Preston Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3 team on Saturday and went on to lead 21 laps in Sunday’s two-hour and 40-minute race. Closing driver Kenton Koch then ran as high as third in the No. 32, but it was the championship-leading No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Russell Ward and Philip Ellis that emerged in the race’s final minutes for a Mercedes-AMG-best fourth-place finish after a last lap shake up in the GTD ranks.

Grenier led the first nine laps of the race from the pole and, after a quick dash to the pits under an early caution with the majority of the competition for a splash of fuel, regained the top spot for 12 more circuits up front. He pitted from the lead after a nearly 90-minute race-opening stint and Koch took over for the fight to the finish.

The stop was well executed, but the No. 32 pitted under caution and lost a few on-track positions after some competitors took their pitside service a few laps earlier. Undeterred, Koch kept the pressure on and steadily worked his way back up the order and into the top three with just under four minutes remaining in the race.

Taking the white flag for the final race lap in third, and with Ellis close behind in the Winward No. 57 in fourth, Koch was exiting Turn 3 only to quickly encounter an off-pace GTP entry that had just rejoined the race from the pits. Quick action by Koch avoided what would have been a heavy collision, but the No. 32 momentarily went off course and, in an instant, dropped from third to the team’s seventh place finishing position.

Equally quick reflexes by Ellis just behind kept him from collecting both Koch and the GTP car, but after briefly inheriting third place, the split-second lost avoiding the collisions allowed another competitor at full speed to slip by for the final podium spot.

Despite finishing out of the top two for only the second time this season, Winward maintained its position as the top team in GTD despite a hard-fought and challenging race at Road America.

Starting driver Ward took the green flag from fifth on the grid and, for the second-straight race, drove two stints in another solid race-opening run for over an hour. Ward handed the No. 57 off from fourth place to Ellis who closed out the race’s final 90 minutes with an eye on both a strong finish and maintaining the team’s season-long first-place standing in the GTD championships.

Despite losing a bit of their points lead for the first time this year, Ward, Ellis and the Winward No. 57 remain atop the GTD driver and team championships by 268 points, 2,396 – 2,128, with three races remaining on the 2024 calendar.

The Korthoff Preston team also continues to hang tough in the GTD team championship standings in third place with 1,796 points.

Meanwhile, the collective performance of both Winward and Korthoff Preston at Road America increased Mercedes-AMG’s strong lead in the GTD manufacturer championship standing to an even 2,500 points, a season-high 473 tallies ahead of the second-place competitor’s 2,027 points.

Next up for Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing teams in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship is the Michelin GT Challenge at VIRginia International Raceway (VIR), August 23 – 25. The VIR race is the only race of the year featuring only the production-based GTD and GTD Pro series cars.

Mikael Grenier, Driver – No. 32 Korthoff Preston Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3: “We had a good weekend in general. We had a good race strategy, but we got a bit unlucky with the second full course yellow because some of the competition had already pit before that because they had a short stop to do. We lost some track position there, but it was just really unlucky because I think we were on the right strategy actually. At the end of the race, Kenton did a good job, and I think we were in for a third-place finish, which would have been great for the championship. Then out of Turn 3 there was a slow GTP car you couldn’t get around. Kenton did a great job not making contact, but he lost the back of it and went off track and we went from P3 to P7 on the last lap of the race. It’s just frustrating because it was the slow GTP car just at the wrong place at the wrong time. Maybe we can learn something from that, how to deal with traffic, but really there was nothing that could have been done there. Next, we go to Virginia, hopefully we can have the same performance we had this weekend, and we will be without the GTP cars there.”

Kenton Koch, Driver – No. 32 Korthoff Preston Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3: “It started off well. Mik did a really good job, putting it up front and keeping it up front, and we did everything right in the pits. The strategy was good and put us in a position to be on the podium, but it is just frustrating when you’re on the final lap and a slow car with a mechanical issue comes out of pit lane. Coming out of Turn 3 on the last lap, I just wasn’t expecting him to not accelerate. I had to quickly lift to avoid hitting him after how fast we got on him. Had I known what he was going to do, I would’ve totally taken the corner completely differently. But hindsight is 20/20 and it’s frustrating for everyone because these guys really deserve more. We were on the podium in third place here last year, we came so close again, but it’s been one of those years. Hopefully we can come home with more in the future.”

Russell Ward, Driver – No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3: “It’s good that I’m at the same level and pace as the competition I am racing against. We can extend my driving stint and not sacrifice anything, and that’s what we did in Canada, and we did it here at Road America. It’s good and opens up some strategy options for us, but it was a tough race for us with the current GTD rules. We’ve won this race before and been fast here before, but it really just wasn’t our weekend. The crew did an incredible job as always, the car felt quite nice, but that was all we could do and the best we could do on Sunday. We drove flat out, that’s all we had, but there was really no chance to fend off the winner and some of the other cars. This is really competitive racing, and I’m not saying we have to be the fastest everywhere, but there needs to be some give and take in the rules. We just didn’t even have a chance at Road America, but our guys are incredible, they always get the most out of what we have, and I’m not disappointed about P4, which is about where we are.”

Bass Pro Shops Racing: Martin Truex Jr. Richmond Advance

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

Event Overview

● Event: Cook Out 400 (Round 23 of 36)
● Time/Date: 6 p.m. EDT on Sunday, August 11
● Location: Richmond (Va.) Raceway
● Layout: .75-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 400 laps/300 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 70 laps / Stage 2: 160 laps / Final Stage: 170 laps
● TV/Radio: USA Network / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Where We Stand: The New Jersey native sits seventh in the driver standings with 653 points, 96 behind leader Kyle Larson. All four Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) entries are currently inside the top-10 in the standings, with Denny Hamlin fourth, Christopher Bell eighth and Ty Gibbs 11th as the series heads to Richmond coming out of a two-week break for the 2024 Olympics.

● Playoff Watch: Just four races remain in the NASCAR Cup Series regular season with Truex sitting as the highest in points among the drivers without a win so far in 2024. Truex is 13th on the playoff grid with a 108-point cushion over 17th place. Twelve drivers have scored wins so far this season.

● Truex has three wins, 10 top-five finishes and 18 top-10s and has led a total of 1,587 laps in 36 career NASCAR Cup Series starts at Richmond. Truex’s average Richmond finish is 15.0. In this year’s April race at Richmond, he led a race-high 228 laps and was leading with just two laps to go when the caution flag waved. The subsequent trip to pit road cost Truex his first win of the season as he looks to return this time and bring home the victory on Sunday night.

● Truex notched his most recent Richmond win in September 2021, when he led 80 laps en route to his third victory there. All three of Truex’s Richmond wins have come in a Joe Gibbs Racing car. In fact, in his last 11 races at Richmond, Truex has only finished outside the top-10 once.

● In his last 11 races at Richmond, Truex has amassed eight top-five finishes, which includes the aforementioned three victories.

● Laps Led: The 1,587 laps Truex has led at Richmond is the most he’s led at the active racetracks on the Cup Series schedule. His next-best track in laps led is Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway, where he’s led 1,067 laps.

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

● Ahead at this Stage: Truex has accumulated 63 stage wins since the beginning of the stage era in 2017. He is the only driver with 10 or more stage sweeps, with his latest sweep coming at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn last August. Truex scored his third stage win of the season two races ago at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, leading the field across the line at the end of Stage 1.

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

Once you began having success at Richmond, did it make a climb on the list of tracks you like?

“I’ve always really liked it, to be honest. From the first time I raced there in 2003, I’ve always enjoyed the track. There was a long period where I didn’t have great numbers there, but I felt like I loved the track and always ran well there and had a lot of crazy things happen there throughout my career. Once I got to Furniture Row (Racing), we started leading a ton of laps there. We also had a couple of heartbreaking finishes there where we should have won the race but didn’t, and I wondered if it was ever going to happen. Then we went on a streak there, so it’s been a great track and it’s a ton of fun. We had a great run going there in the spring and thought we had a shot at winning, then we were down a set of tires and the cautions didn’t go our way. I think we’ve improved our program a ton and have been putting on a show at some of the short tracks and places like Richmond. I hope for myself and my team we can get our Bass Pro Shops Toyota back in victory lane there like we’ve done before. We had such a dominant run there in the spring and the caution came out and our race went haywire from there. Would like to get back out front and stay there on Sunday.”

How do you view Richmond and your success there?

“The wins stick out as usual. Everywhere, the wins are huge. That place has been really, really good for us. And also very frustrating with the amount of times when we’ve dominated and came up short, including this season. It’s a very unique track, very old school track. Tire wear, you have to manage your stuff and that really plays into my strengths. It’s going to be different this time around with the tire combination from what we had in the spring. Going to have to figure out how to recapture it and hopefully come up with something that worked like it has in the past.”

This weekend at Richmond NASCAR is offering an option tire much like it experimented with at North Wilkesboro in May. What are your thoughts on the option tire and how it could change the racing at Richmond this weekend?

“The problem with options like that on a tire in the Cup garage is that everyone is so smart and people are on the same agenda. You are going to have to see a very specific set of circumstances to decide to put the soft tire on. You’re not going to be in the middle of a green-flag run and make a pit stop to pass a few cars because you’re going to wear them out and be in trouble. Tire wear at Richmond is a huge deal and most of the field is going to be on the same strategy until it comes down to some special circumstances. There’s still the potential that it could make some interesting things happen, it just depends on how the race plays out. You get a restart with 10 laps to go and everyone is going to put the soft tires on, and if it’s the end of the stage, then everyone is going to put the hard tires on like normal. We’ll just have to see how it plays out.”

What are the challenges that come with racing at Richmond?

“I love the track, it’s great. Been very successful there, especially lately with our Bass Pro Shops Camry. Been lucky enough to win some races there. I really enjoy the track because it’s kind of unique. It’s a short track, but it races like a bigger track than it is. You can really move around there the way the tires wear out and the track is really slippery, and that makes it fun and a challenge, and it’s always a good race for the fans.”

No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Martin Truex Jr.

Hometown: Mayetta, New Jersey

Crew Chief: James Small

Hometown: Melbourne, Australia

Car Chief: Chris Jones

Hometown: Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia

Race Engineer: Jaik Halpainy

Hometown: Blockville, New York

Engineer: Jeff Curtis

Hometown: Fairfax Station, Virginia

Spotter: Drew Herring

Hometown: Benson, North Carolina

Road Crew Members

Underneath Mechanic: Ryan Martin

Hometown: Mechanicsburg, Virgina

Mechanic: Todd Carmichael

Hometown: Redding, California

Interior/Tire Specialist: Tommy DiBlasi

Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland

Engine Tuner: Beau Morton

Hometown: Lake Havasu City, Arizona

Transporter Driver: Kyle Bazzell

Hometown: Fairbury, Illinois

Transporter Driver: Eddie DeGroot

Hometown: Baldwinsville, New York

Over-The-Wall Crew Members

Gas Man: Matt Tyrrell

Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Jackman: Caleb Dirks

Hometown: Riverside, California

Tire Carrier: CJ Bailey

Hometown: Outer Banks, North Carolina

Front Tire Changer: Thomas Hatcher

Hometown: Middleburg, Florida

Rear Tire Changer: Lee Cunningham

Hometown: Leaf River, Illinois

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