2017 NASCAR Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr. looks to defend his 2023 New Hampshire Motor Speedway win this Sunday at the USA TODAY 301.
LOUDON, N.H. – It’s a victory lane moment that was a long time coming.
It took 30 NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) races for Martin Truex Jr. to reach the most hallowed ground at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS). He had already earned entry from winning in lower series in previous years. His father and brother had too.
But last year, on a rare makeup Monday in the Granite State, everything came together.
“For me, it was a big box to check the finally get the Cup Series win there,” Truex said earlier this month. “I won in the North Series and the Busch Series back in the day. That Cup win, we had lost it every way you could imagine it felt like. We had always run well there, led laps, ran fast and had a lot of heartbreakers. It was fun to finally, finally check that box and get a win at a place that’s very special to me.’
It’s at NHMS where the now 43-year-old Truex saw his hero, Dale Earnhardt Sr., up close for the first time. It’s the first premier track that he got behind the wheel at in major competition. And “The Magic Mile” was the first place he saw then-Winston Cup race for the checkered flag.
“Loudon was always one I really, really wanted,” Truex said. “I feel like the ones you want the most are the hardest to get. It felt great to go to victory lane and remember what it was like coming up in my career going to that victory lane and all the stuff that had happened in between – it all crossed my mind. It was really a special moment.”
Now, fresh off announcing his retirement from full-time Cup Series competition following the 2024 season, Truex returns to NHMS, the site of his 34th and latest Cup victory, to defend his title and headline a field of America’s best drivers in Sunday’s USA TODAY 301 NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) race.
While Truex, driving the No. 19 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, is in a comfortable playoff position in the point standings, he enters New Hampshire still seeking his first win of the season which would lock down a post-season slot. Racing luck also hasn’t been on the 2017 NCS champion’s side recently, as he has gone five straight races without a top-10 finish.
So it may be fortunate timing for Truex that “The Magic Mile,” a track that holds so many memories and history for him and his family, appears where it does on this year’s schedule.
“[New Hampshire] was the first big track I ever raced on,” Truex said. “I got my first Busch North win there. It put me on the map and winning there a few times got me on the radar so I could drive for a living. It was a very important place for me and my career coming up through the ranks.
“The coolest part is my dad and brother and I have all won there. I’ve got a picture with my mom and brother sitting in the stands when my dad was practicing one year. I think it was 1994 – I was 14 and my brother was two.
“[The fans] you hear them yell ‘Go Mahtin!’ It’s fun. They are always excited. There’s only one race up there now, so they are always fired up and excited for a big weekend.”
New Hampshire’s 1.058-mile asphalt oval hosts NASCAR’s Cup Series stars for the 53rd time on Sunday, with the sport’s most distinctive trophy at stake – Loudon the Lobster. At least one driver already has his eye on New England’s favorite crustacean.
“I’m not afraid of lobsters, which is good,” Truex said. “It was very exciting to meet him last year, to say the least.”
For a NASCAR weekend schedule, visit NHMS.com/Events/NASCAR-Cup-Series/Schedule/.
Tickets:
Log on to NHMS.com for tickets and more information on the weekend’s lineup of action-packed racing. Tickets for SIG SAUER Academy Dirt Duels start at just $25 for adults and $10 for kids 12 and under. Tickets for Doubleheader Saturday, featuring the SciAps 200 NXS race and the Mohegan Sun 100 NWMT race, start at just $49 for adults while kids 12 and under are free. Sunday’s USA TODAY 301 NASCAR Cup Series race tickets start at just $64 for adults and $10 for kids 12 and under. Further details can be found on the NHMS website or by calling 833-4LOUDON.
Follow Us:
Keep track of all of New Hampshire Motor Speedway’s events by following on Facebook (@NHMotorSpeedway), Twitter (@NHMS) and Instagram (@NHMS). Keep up with all the latest information on the speedway website (NHMS.com) and mobile app.
About NASCAR Weekend at NHMS
New England’s only NASCAR weekend is June 21-23 at NHMS. On-track action kicks off Friday with practice and qualifying sessions for the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) and Whelen Modified Tour (NWMT) plus SIG SAUER Academy Dirt Duels at The Flat Track. The action continues with NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) qualifying, the SciAps 200 NXS race and Mohegan Sun 100 NWMT race on Doubleheader Saturday and culminates with the NCS taking on “The Magic Mile” Sunday for the USA TODAY 301. Don’t miss all of the exciting off-track action including Trackside Live with Kenny Wallace and John Roberts, The Groove fan hangout, concerts from Dirty Deeds and Draw the Line, family movie night featuring “Guardians of the Galaxy,” driver appearances, a variety of live performances, fireworks and much more.
NBC Sports Remains Home of IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and Other IMSA-Sanctioned Series With Multi-Year Extension Nearly 50% Increase of Coverage on the NBC Broadcast Network NBC Sports’ IMSA Viewership Has Grown 37% Since Acquiring Rights Prior to 2019 Season
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., and STAMFORD, Conn. – June 21, 2024 – The International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) and NBC Sports have agreed to a multi-year extension of their media rights agreement, keeping NBC Sports as the home of the flagship IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and other IMSA-sanctioned series.
As part of the agreement, NBC Sports will present 17 hours of IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship coverage on the NBC broadcast network annually, nearly a 50% increase of broadcast network coverage per year from the prior agreement. Additionally, all WeatherTech Championship coverage will stream live on Peacock.
NBC Sports’ IMSA viewership has grown 37% in the past five years since acquiring media rights prior to the 2019 season. 2023 was NBC Sports’ most-watched season to-date (since 2019), delivering a 13% year-over-year viewership increase for its coverage on NBC and USA Network. Additionally, this year’s IMSA coverage on Peacock has seen roughly a 60% increase in total minutes streamed to-date vs. last year.
“Our partnership with NBC Sports has produced viewership increases for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship every year from our first year in 2019 through last season,” said IMSA President John Doonan. “We also have managed to deliver impressive audience growth on Peacock, which is an especially valuable platform for delivering live, flag-to-flag coverage of endurance races to our domestic race fans. We are thrilled to confirm not only an extension of our relationship with NBC Sports, but nearly a 50 percent increase in the number of hours on the NBC broadcast network beginning next year.”
“We’re proud to continue our partnership with IMSA as the home of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and its support series,” said Justin Byczek, SVP, Programming and Rights Management, NBC Sports. “From the Rolex 24 At Daytona to Petit Le Mans, fans will be able to enjoy every moment of IMSA’s high-quality, competitive racing across NBC Sports’ linear and digital platforms for years to come.”
NBC Sports’ 2024 IMSA coverage continues this weekend with the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen on USA Network and Peacock.
ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SPORTS ASSOCIATION (IMSA)
International Motor Sports Association, LLC (IMSA) was originally founded in 1969 and owns a long and rich history in sports car racing. Today, IMSA is the sanctioning body of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the premier sports car racing series in North America. IMSA also sanctions the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge and the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge, as well as five one-make series: Ferrari Challenge North America, Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America, Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin, Mustang Challenge and Porsche Carrera Cup North America. IMSA – a company within the NASCAR family – is the exclusive strategic partner in North America with the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) which operates the 24 Hours of Le Mans as a part of the FIA World Endurance Championship. The partnership enables selected WeatherTech Championship competitors to earn automatic entries into the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. For more information please visit IMSA.com or IMSA’s social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X and YouTube.
ABOUT NBC SPORTS
NBC Sports connects people to the moments that matter most and serves sports fans 24/7 with premier live events, insightful studio shows, and compelling original programming. As the sports division of NBCUniversal, NBC Sports presents premier content across linear platforms NBC, USA Network, GOLF Channel, as well numerous digital sites, including Peacock. NBC Sports possesses an unparalleled collection of media rights agreements, partnering with some of the most prestigious sports properties in the world: the International Olympic Committee and United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, the NFL, Big Ten Conference, NASCAR, PGA TOUR, Notre Dame, The R&A, PGA of America, USGA, Churchill Downs, Premier League, Tour de France, and many more. It also consists of NBC Sports Next, a subdivision of NBC Sports and home to all NBCUniversal digital applications in sports and technology within its three groups: Youth & Recreational Sports, Golf, and Betting & Gaming.
Investing in a quality used vehicle can be a smart financial decision for consumers looking to save money without sacrificing quality and reliability. While purchasing a brand-new car may seem appealing, the truth is that buying a used vehicle offers a variety of advantages that can make it a more practical choice for many individuals. For those in the Grand Rapids area, exploring the options available at used car dealerships in Grand Rapids can provide a wide selection of reliable and affordable vehicles, ensuring you find the perfect match for your needs and budget.
This article will explore the many benefits of investing in a high-quality used car and how it can be a cost-effective and wise decision in the long run.
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Depreciation: less impact on value:
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Lower insurance premiums, saving money:
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Quality models at affordable prices:
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Smart financial choice for buyers:
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Conclusion:
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SETTING THE STAGE: On Sunday at Iowa Speedway, Kyle Larson won stage two to extend his series-leading stage victories in 2024 to eight. The Elk Grove, California, native has accrued 23 NASCAR Cup playoff points – five more than his nearest competitor – and sits second in the regular season standings, eight markers behind Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott.
OUT FRONT: With nine races to go in the regular season, Larson has led 755 laps, which is 148 more than anyone else. The 2021 Cup champion and driver of the No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 also leads the series in pole positions (four) while being tied for most wins (three) and top-five finishes (seven).
SO CLOSE TO MAGIC: This weekend the Cup Series will visit New Hampshire Motor Speedway, where Larson has collected five top-five finishes and seven top-10s in 13 starts. His three runner-up results at “The Magic Mile” are the most by a driver without a win at the New England venue.
IN GOOD COMPANY: In just his fourth year driving for Hendrick Motorsports, Larson has already accumulated 20 points-paying wins, which rank him third in team history. He trails only NASCAR Hall of Famers Jeff Gordon (93) and Jimmie Johnson (83) in victories for the organization, which has won Cup races with a record 20 different drivers. Larson has won 16% of his Hendrick Motorsports starts.
THIS DECADE: Larson’s 20 point-paying wins since 2021 are also the most of any driver at NASCAR’s top level. During his 2021 championship season, he visited victory lane 10 times, then collected three victories in 2022, four in 2023 and three so far this season.
FOUR TIRES FAST: The No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM pit crew holds the seventh-fastest average four-tire pit stop time in 2024 at 10.962 seconds. Larson’s crew consists of Blaine Anderson (front-tire changer), R.J. Barnette (tire carrier), Brandon Harder (fueler), Brandon Johnson (jackman) and Calvin Teague (rear-tire changer).
AWAY BUT ALWAYS AVAILABLE: In 2024, the No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM team recognizes “home” events by wearing white firesuits and “away” with blue. Its home races come at tracks with nearby Hendrick Automotive Group car dealerships. This weekend, the team races away in Loudon, New Hampshire. However, it’s easy to pick up a new set of keys from any one of Hendrick Automotive Group’s 93 dealerships nationwide. Customers can shop from the convenience of their home selecting the category, make, model and vehicle packages that are important to them from the nearly 30,000 new, high-quality pre-owned and certified cars, trucks and SUVs available at HENDRICKCARS.COM.
HENDRICK AUTOMOTIVE GROUP IS HIRING: Join 10,000+ others nationwide in working at Hendrick Automotive Group. The company is hiring technicians and other positions at its dealerships throughout the country. Positions are open for all skill levels and offer tuition and training reimbursement. Individuals who are interested can apply at HENDRICKCARS.COM.
9 CHASE ELLIOTT
Age: 28 (Nov. 28, 1995)
Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia
Resides: Dawsonville, Georgia
Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson
Standings: 1st
No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
TO THE POINT: With his third-place finish at Iowa Speedway on Sunday, Chase Elliott took over the NASCAR Cup Series regular season points lead for the first time in 2024. The last time he led the pre-playoffs standings was in 2022 when he went on to capture the regular season championship. Elliott is the third Hendrick Motorsports driver to sit atop the Cup Series this year, joining teammates Kyle Larson and William Byron. Currently, he is ahead of second-place Larson by eight points.
STELLAR SEASON: Elliott, the six-time National Motorsports Press Association Most Popular Driver, leads all drivers with a 9.12 average finish through 17 races, the best of his Cup career. He has also finished inside the top 20 in all 17 events, the first driver to do so since Jeff Burton in 2008. In 2024, the driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 has completed all but one lap of competition, the best mark since 2016 when Kurt Busch finished every lap of the first 17 races. Elliott’s only blemish came in March at Bristol Motor Speedway, where just five cars finished on the lead lap. He still finished eighth.
MILESTONE MET: At Iowa, Elliott became the fifth-youngest Cup Series driver to reach 100 top-five finishes at 28 years, 6 months and 19 days. The Dawsonville, Georgia, native follows NASCAR Hall of Famers Richard Petty and Jeff Gordon as well as active drivers Kyle Busch and Joey Logano. Elliott is in a four-way tie for the most top-five finishes this season (seven).
READY FOR SOME MAGIC: This weekend, the Cup Series heads to the 1.058-mile oval of New Hampshire Motor Speedway. In 10 starts at the track in NASCAR’s premier series, Elliott has two top-five finishes and three top-10s, all occurring in his last six starts. His best finish of second came in 2022. The 2020 Cup champion has led 99 laps at New Hampshire and has started inside the top 10 all but four times.
SIMILAR TRACK PERFORMANCE: In his 60 Cup starts on tracks measuring 1 to 1.37 miles in length, Elliott has earned four wins. His first came at Dover Motor Speedway in 2018 and was followed by his championship-clinching performance at Phoenix Raceway in 2020. His two most recent victories came in 2022 at Dover and Nashville Superspeedway. Accompanying the quartet of triumphs are 23 top-five finishes, 30 top-10s and 1,246 laps led. In four 2024 races on this variation of track, Elliott’s best finish is fifth (at Dover).
GREAT GUSTAFSON: Veteran crew chief Alan Gustafson has called 31 Cup Series races atop the pit box at New Hampshire. The Ormond Beach, Florida, native has two wins with two different drivers in his career on the 1.058-mile track, the first with Kyle Busch in 2006 and the second with Mark Martin in 2009. Along with Gustafson’s two wins, he has eight top-five finishes, 14 top-10s and 563 laps led.
FAST FIVE: Through 17 Cup Series races in 2024, the No. 9 pit crew ranks first in average four-tire pit stop time (10.575 seconds). In April at Texas, the five-person team knocked out the fastest four-tire stop of the season with a time of 9.076 seconds. 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).
BACK IN BLUE: NAPA Auto Parts’ blue-based livery is on the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for the second weekend in a row. The Atlanta-based company has been the primary partner for Elliott in eight of his 10 Cup Series starts at the Loudon, New Hampshire, facility, including his best finish of second there in 2022. Get a look at all the angles of the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet here.
24 WILLIAM BYRON
Age: 26 (Nov. 29, 1997)
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina
Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle
Standings: 4th
No. 24 Valvoline Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
IOWA INSIGHT: Heading to Iowa Speedway for the first time with the NASCAR Cup Series, William Byron led Hendrick Motorsports with a strong second-place finish. After starting fourth, he initially lost a few spots but rallied to complete stage one in fourth. He remained in the top-five running order during stage two, but on a late restart he made contact with a competitor and finished the stage in 11th. Despite the stage two result, Byron and the No. 24 team went to work making up lost track position. He moved himself into the second position with under 100 laps to go and did his best to reel in the leader before ultimately crossing the finish line in the runner-up position.
SIMILAR IN SIZE: Sunday’s race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway will mark Byron’s 48th start on a track 1 to 1.37 miles in length. In his previous 47 appearances, the 26-year-old driver has collected two pole awards, two wins, 10 top-five finishes, 20 top-10s and led 537 laps.
LOVIN’ LOUDON: Since 2018, Byron has six Cup Series starts at NHMS, all resulting in top-15 finishes with a best of 11th (2020 and 2022). He’s been a threat at “The Magic Mile” from day one, making his track debut in the ARCA Series East in 2015 when he qualified on the pole and led 68 of 70 laps before taking home the checkered flag. He followed it up in dominant fashion by starting from the pole and leading 161 of 175 laps en route to his sixth of seven NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series victories in 2016. Moving up to the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2017, Byron earned a top-five finish after starting seventh and finishing third.
NEW HAMPSHIRE WIZARD: Byron isn’t the only one who enjoys racing at New Hampshire. Crew chief Rudy Fugle has three Cup Series starts under his belt with a best showing of 11th coming in the 2022 race with the No. 24 team. The Livonia, New York, native also has three Truck Series starts at the 1.058-mile oval with one pole award and two victories, including Byron’s 2016 win. In fact, Fugle’s Truck Series drivers average a starting position of 2.3 and finishing position of 3.0 at NHMS.
HEADING HOME: Traveling to New England for Sunday’s race, two crew members of the No. 24 team call New Hampshire Motor Speedway their home track. Part of the team since 2019, car chief Tyler Jones hails from South Royalton, Vermont, less than 100 miles northwest of “The Magic Mile.” Front-tire changer Jeff Cordero grew up in Salem, Connecticut, which is less than 200 miles south of NHMS.
PIT ROAD PROWESS: After 17 races in 2024, the No. 24 pit crew ranks second in the Cup Series for the fastest average four-tire pit stop (10.751 seconds). The No. 24 pit crew consists of Spencer Bishop (jackman), Cordero (front-tire changer), Orane Ossowski (rear-tire changer), Ryan Patton (tire carrier) and Landon Walker (fueler).
24 IN ‘24: Byron’s 2024 Cup Series campaign started off hot with three wins (currently tied for the most), including the season-opening DAYTONA 500. The Charlotte, North Carolina, native has six top-five finishes (tied for fifth in the series) and 10 top-10s (tied for the most). He has the best average starting position (9.65) and is tied for the second-best average finish (12.47). After 17 races, he is up to fourth in the 2024 standings and holds 16 playoff points.
VALVOLINE RETURNS: Valvoline will make its second appearance of 2024 as the primary sponsor of Byron’s No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Sunday’s race at New Hampshire. Valvoline Inc. (NYSE: VVV) is a leading worldwide marketer and supplier of premium branded lubricants and automotive services, with sales in more than 140 countries. 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: 12th
No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
TOP-10 LEADER: On Sunday at Iowa Speedway, Alex Bowman finished eighth to notch his 10th top-10 finish of 2024, putting him in a four-way tie for most in the NASCAR Cup Series. His 10 top-10 results and four top-fives both represent personal bests for the driver through 17 races in any Cup season.
FAST 48: Bowman and the No. 48 Ally Racing team rank 12th in the Cup standings, 117 points behind the leader. This season, they have an average finish of 13.24 (tied for sixth) and have finished in the top 10 in nine of the last 13 events. With nine races to go in the regular season, Bowman ranks 14th in the playoff standings, 66 points above the cut line.
DOUBLE MAGIC: NASCAR takes on New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday when Bowman will make his 13th career Cup Series start at the 1.058-mile oval. It will be his fourth race at “The Magic Mile” with primary sponsor Ally and his second with crew chief Blake Harris. In addition, the 31-year-old driver will pilot the No. 17 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet Camaro in Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series event at the track. Bowman will be reunited with Greg Ives, his former Cup Series crew chief, for the Hendrick Motorsports effort.
50 WITH BLAKE: Sunday will mark Harris’ 50th start as crew chief for the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet team. In his second year as a Hendrick Motorsports crew chief and third overall in the Cup Series, the Maypearl, Texas, native has 31 top-10 finishes and 10 top-fives in 82 career starts. At just 18 years old, Harris joined Evernham Motorsports (later Richard Petty Motorsports) in 2006 and has worked in racing ever since. Now 37, he enjoys spending time with his family, going to his mountain cabin, hiking and working on his shock company.
AUTOGRAPHS WITH ALEX: Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, will be active in the fan zone at New Hampshire. On Sunday, he can be found at the Hendrick Motorsports merchandise hauler at 11:30 a.m. local time signing autographs for 100 fans with an exclusive wristband. Fans who purchase a 1:24 scale diecast on site Friday, Saturday or Sunday (until 100 have sold) will receive a wristband for Sunday’s autograph session. Please visit the merchandise hauler at New Hampshire Motor Speedway for more information.
LIVE FROM THE DRIVER’S SEAT: Join Bowman for views from the driver’s seat of his No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 this weekend. Fans can ride along for Sunday’s 318.46-mile race by tuning into NASCAR’s in-car camera. Visit nascar.com/drive to experience the behind-the-scenes perspective firsthand.
HEARTS AND TAILS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE: For four years, Bowman and Ally have teamed up to support Best Friends Animal Society and its vast network of partners. Last week, the organization launched its new “Bring Love Home” campaign with a website and compelling video. Every race weekend, the pair donates a total of $4,800 to help homeless pets. This weekend, the charitable donation will go to Hearts and Tails Animal Alliance. If you’re in town for the race, check out the animals available for adoption at the shelter located 34 miles southwest of the track. Not ready to adopt? Check out the website for details on how to help save a life by donating, volunteering or fostering.
FUELING THE PIT CREW: The Ally Racing pit crew ranks 10th on pit road for the best average four-tire stop (11.004). The five-man 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.
HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS /
2024
All-Time
Loudon
Races
17
1,362
52
Wins
7*
308*
9
Poles
5*
251*
7
Top 5
24*
1,256*
45
Top 10
37*
2,149*
82*
Laps Led
1,134
80,891*
2,651
Stage Wins
10
108
1
*Most **Most (tie)
THREE LEADERS: Following his third-place finish Sunday at Iowa Speedway, Chase Elliott became the third Hendrick Motorsports driver to lead the 2024 NASCAR Cup regular season standings. Teammates William Byron (one week) and Kyle Larson (nine weeks) previously sat atop the series, which has completed 17 of 36 points-paying events.
THIRD TIME: 2024 is the third time Hendrick Motorsports has placed three different drivers atop the standings in a single season. The team first accomplished it in 2009 with the Hall of Fame trio of Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin. The second came last year with Alex Bowman, Byron and Larson.
POINT MADE: Going into the 18th points-paying race of 2024 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, all four Hendrick Motorsports drivers are within the top 12 in the Cup standings. Elliott (first), Larson (second) and Byron (fourth) occupy three of the top-four spots, while Bowman, who is tied for the most top-10 finishes in the series, is 12th overall.
DROUGHT BUSTER: Although Hendrick Motorsports has won nine Cup Series races at New Hampshire, its most recent victory at “The Magic Mile” dates to July 2012. Following that performance by driver Kasey Kahne, the team has earned four Cup championships and 104 points-paying victories on 26 other racetracks. Since then, Hendrick Motorsports has finished in every position inside the top 12 at New Hampshire – except first place.
CELEBRATING 40: In 2024, Hendrick Motorsports is celebrating its 40th anniversary. The team holds the all-time NASCAR Cup Series records in every major statistical category, including championships (14), wins (308), pole positions (251) and laps led (80,891). This season, it leads all Cup organizations with seven points-paying victories through 17 races.
QUOTABLE /
Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on challenges at New Hampshire Motor Speedway: “New Hampshire is really challenging, especially with the bumps getting into turn three. Whether it’s being loose into the corners or whether your car is ‘bouncing’ into three, you have to be patient with your car. We’ve had some good runs there, and I like the track and the challenge it provides.”
Cliff Daniels, crew chief of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the challenges of New Hampshire Motor Speedway: “We’re looking forward to going to New Hampshire even though it has been a little bit of a difficult track for us. Typically, we are able to run in the top 10, but we never have the outright speed that we always look for. It’s just a tough place with flat corners. It’s got some bumps into (turn) three. So the track has good character, which we like because of the challenge of getting the car set up right and getting the balance right. Hopefully this trip we can get all that a bit closer than last year. We had an OK run there and are building on some of those notes to go and hopefully have a good weekend.”
Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on what has led to this season’s success and looking ahead to the playoffs: “I just think we have a really solid group, top to bottom. Everyone has been super committed to finding that 1% each week, and whatever that is, it is. I just think collectively we’ve been solid. I feel that we haven’t reached our full potential yet, and I think that’s exciting. I think that’s okay, too, because it is only halfway through the year. As we all know, the way this playoff situation is now, you want to be good those last 10 (races), and really good in the last five. The trick is being good enough to get to the Round of 8 and really try to be spectacular those last three or four weeks. So it’s really just about having a solid enough base to get you through there and really trying to hit home runs in those last few races.”
Alan Gustafson, crew chief of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the team’s potential and focus as we get closer to the playoffs: “I agree with him (Chase Elliott). I don’t think we’ve reached our full potential, and I don’t know that anybody ever does. You can always get better. But relative to our competitors, yeah, I think we have opportunity to improve a lot, but so do they. So you can’t just assume that they’re not going to get better, too. This time of year is always an arms race, so to speak. It’s always going to be about who can stockpile the most information and the most playoff points and put themselves in the best position to really go and execute well in the playoffs. I think we’re in a decent spot there and certainly have some good opportunities in the next few weeks to try to get good finishes. We have an opportunity for the playoff points based off regular season points finish and we certainly want to add more in stages and wins.”
William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on his thoughts about New Hampshire Motor Speedway: “I don’t really know why we haven’t gotten the finishes we want at New Hampshire. I had a lot of success there leading up to the Cup Series. And then even my first two years in Cup, relative to where I was running at other tracks, I thought I ran pretty well there. It just seems like with our current team, we just haven’t really been very good there. We just have to figure out what that is. We’ll go through a lot of notes this week and kind of have something comparable to go run there. Last year, we had some damage on the car. I believe the right-front splitter was caved in based on a pit road issue. Up until then, we had led some laps. And then we had an issue in practice – the steering rack was locked up. Just not a clean weekend last year, so I think that’s a track that, last year, we probably could have run top seven at. But this year going back, obviously it’s a big focus to try and get better. Based on how Phoenix (Raceway) and Gateway (WWT Raceway) were to start this year, there’s definitely some work to do.”
Rudy Fugle, crew chief of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on what he expects at New Hampshire Motor Speedway: “I love going to New Hampshire. It’s a great racing culture up there, but it’s also always been one of the toughest tracks on the circuit in my opinion. Especially with this car and the bumps on the track, I think this is one of the most difficult places, period, to get the handling right. You have to run into the corner with a lot of speed, go over those bumps and then put a little bit of wheel to finish the corner, but the bumps shift the car the other way. It’s just a really hard track for the teams and the drivers. That usually makes a good show. When the difficulty is high for us it usually creates disparity, especially from short run to long run. It puts on a good show. I’m looking forward to that challenge and to see if we can repeat some of what we found last weekend at Iowa (Speedway) and make it a little better.”
Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on his goals for the weekend and running double duty at New Hampshire Motor Speedway: “New Hampshire has proved to be a decently challenging track for me. I was able to get a top 10 there back in 2021, but it’s certainly a place I’d like to improve. I’m excited about the opportunity to run in the No. 17 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevy during this weekend’s Xfinity Series race. Hopefully those extra laps on Friday and Saturday will help me gain some additional insight on the track before Sunday’s Cup race. Our Ally Racing team is still working diligently to try and put the No. 48 back in victory lane.”
Blake Harris, crew chief of the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on Alex Bowman racing in the Xfinity Series and Cup Series at New Hampshire Motor Speedway this weekend: “Anytime we (Hendrick Motorsports) run that Xfinity car, I think we have the opportunity to put that thing (No. 17 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet Camaro) in victory lane. The team has already been able to do that a couple times this year. The interesting choice of that place for Alex is that New Hampshire is not one of his best tracks. He’s had a couple decent runs there, but overall it’s not statistically his best. But he chose it because he wants to get better there. I think it will be good for him to get some laps in the Xfinity car. Especially with the short practices, any lap time you get around that place is great. He’ll be able to see the evolution of the track on Saturday in the Xfinity car so when we go rolling into Sunday I think he’ll have a pretty good idea of how we need to approach it.”
Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series at New Hampshire Motor Speedway… In 136 NASCAR Cup Series starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Richard Childress Racing has recorded four wins. Clint Bowyer leads the organization with two victories (2007 and 2010) while Robby Gordon (2001) and Kevin Harvick (2006) also won with RCR at the Magic Mile. The Welcome, N.C., based team has 16 top-five and 43 top-10 finishes. In 2023, Austin Dillon led RCR in the Cup race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, claiming a ninth-place after leading 12 laps.
Richard Childress Racing In the NASCAR Xfinity Series at New Hampshire Motor Speedway… RCR has one win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in NASCAR Xfinity Series competition (Kevin Harvick in 2007) and has racked up 17 top-five and 30 top-10 finishes. Austin Hill led the way for RCR at New Hampshire in 2023 with a third-place finish at the 1.058-mile speedway.
Catch the Action at New Hampshire Motor Speedway… The SciAps 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway will be televised live on Saturday, June 22 beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET on USA. The race will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
Tune-In on Sunday… The USA Today 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway will be televised live on Sunday, June 23 beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET on USA Network. The race will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Off Road Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway… Austin Dillon has made 14 NASCAR Cup Series starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, earning his best finish of eighth in July 2015. Last year, he finished ninth after leading 12 laps of the Cup Series race after a rain delay pushed the race to Monday afternoon. Dillon has earned four top-five, and five top-10 finishes in six NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at the track. He is a former New Hampshire Motor Speedway winner in the NASCAR Truck Series, winning the race from the pole position in 2015.
About Bass Pro Shops… Bass Pro Shops is North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company. Founded in 1972 when avid young angler Johnny Morris began selling tackle out of his father’s liquor store in Springfield, Missouri, today the company provides customers with unmatched offerings spanning premier destination retail, outdoor equipment manufacturing, world-class resort destinations, and more. In 2017 Bass Pro Shops united with Cabela’s to create a “best-of-the-best” experience with superior products, dynamic locations, and outstanding customer service. Bass Pro Shops also operates White River Marine Group, offering an unsurpassed collection of industry-leading boat brands, and Big Cedar Lodge, America’s Premier Wilderness Resort. Under the visionary conservation leadership of Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops is a national leader in protecting habitat and introducing families to the outdoors and has been named by Forbes as “one of America’s Best Employers.” Bass Pro Shops has a long relationship with NASCAR, dating back to 1998. For more information, visit http://www.basspro.com/.
AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:
What are your thoughts on New Hampshire Motor Speedway?
“I’ve always enjoyed New Hampshire Motor Speedway. This place reminds me of a giant paperclip. Despite being flat, it’s rough. Corner entry is fun there. It’s different. It’s a different type of feel than what we have anywhere else. It is important to have a car that allows you to get into the corner deep if you want to be fast at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The corner is flat, and there is not much banking to hold you. If your car is stable on entry, it helps the rest of the corner so you can be aggressive and make passes. Entry speed is also an important factor. I feel like the car will have to get into the corner and rotate in the center and drive off. At New Hampshire Motor Speedway, everything that matters at short tracks matters there.”
Kyle Busch and the No. 8 FICO Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway… Kyle Busch will make his 33rd NASCAR Cup Series start at New Hampshire Motor Speedway this weekend. Busch has three wins at the 1.058-mile New England speedway, scoring victories in 2006, 2015, and 2017, which is tied for most victories among active drivers. His most dominant win came in 2017 when he won the pole, led the most laps, and had an average running position of 1.43. The driver of the FICO Chevrolet has 11 top-five (tied for the most among active drivers) and 16 top-10 finishes in 32 previous Cup races at New Hampshire. He has led 1,134 laps in Cup Series competition at New Hampshire, second-best among active drivers. Busch has six wins in 12 NASCAR Xfinity Series races and owns three victories in NASCAR Truck Series competition at New Hampshire.
Did You Know? Kyle Busch is the most recent Cup Series driver to win from the pole at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (2017).
Points Update… Busch enters this weekend 16th in the Cup Series driver championship point standings, 31 points below the Playoff cutline.
Welcome FICO… FICO, Richard Childress Racing and Busch are teaming up to raise awareness about the need for financial education. For the millions of NASCAR fans across the country, knowledge about money, financial planning, how credit works and the importance of building good financial habit are critical life skills. FICO, RCR and Busch want to share information and resources so that everyone in the NASCAR community can achieve their financial goals, such as paying for education, buying a home, or running a business.
FICO is a leading analytics software firm best known for its gold standard FICO® Score. Learn more about the FICO, RCR and Busch partnership, here: https://www.fico.com/en/newsroom/fico-and-richard-childress-racing-kick-financial-and-credit-education-partnership-nascar.
KYLE BUSCH QUOTES:
What makes New Hampshire Motor Speedway so challenging?
“New Hampshire is a really tricky racetrack. It’s super flat and has bumpy characteristics to it as well. The asphalt has really gotten old over the years. It feels like racing over highway cracks, but those are all characteristics of a good racetrack. It’s just really challenging and very tough to pass. Everybody says it’s multi-groove. You could run three different grooves there, but there’s really only one that’s fast and that’s the middle one. It makes for a challenging Sunday.”
Why has New Hampshire Motor Speedway been so tough for you in the last few years?
“Unfortunately, for me, the last couple of years at New Hampshire have been a huge struggle. This new Next Gen car and I have just not gone well together at New Hampshire. It’s been easy for me to get in trouble because of the nature of the car, the way it rides, the bumps, and the different topography of the track at each end to make grip. It’s definitely a challenge of moving your line around in the corners to improve the balance of the car because this new car doesn’t like different angles and transitions very well.”
You’ve won four poles at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Why do you qualify so well there?
“I feel like qualifying at New Hampshire is important just because of track position. It’s so hard to pass, so making sure you’re in good position at the start of the race is important to keep your day simple. I’ve always put an emphasis on qualifying to make sure we do well.”
Jesse Love and the No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet Camaro SS at New Hampshire Motor Speedway… Jesse Love will make his inaugural start at New Hampshire Motor Speedway this weekend during the NASCAR Xfinity Series race. The Menlo Park, California native’s first-ever laps at ”The Magic Mile” will take place during NASCAR Xfinity Series practice on Friday afternoon.
Whelen Home Race… Located 70 miles from New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Whelen Engineering has one of their two facilities based in Charlestown, New Hampshire. Every Whelen product is proudly designed, sourced, and manufactured from start to finish at their two facilities in Chester, Connecticut, and New Hampshire.
Pit Stop in Charlestown, NH… On Thursday, June 20, Love and Crew Chief Danny Stockman visited the Whelen Engineering facility in Charlestown, New Hampshire to get a behind-the-scenes look at its production and operations. During the facility tour, Whelen employees had the opportunity to meet Love and Stockman, as well as see the No. 2 Whelen Camaro and the Talladega Superspeedway trophy, as well as tour the team hauler. Love distributed signed hero cards and took photos with employees throughout the day.
About Whelen Engineering… Whelen Engineering is a family-owned company with a pioneering spirit and a passion to protect the lives of those who protect and serve others. The company mission is to provide industry-defining safety solutions around the world, while creating a community of problem-solvers who are inspired to push boundaries and continue our legacy of delivering ground-breaking innovation. As a global leader in the emergency warning industry, Whelen has been trusted to perform since 1952, when George Whelen III invented the first rotating aviation beacon. Whelen now encompasses two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Connecticut and New Hampshire with over 750,000 square feet of engineering and manufacturing space and the largest design staff in the industry. Every part of every Whelen product is proudly designed and manufactured in America. We embrace quality as our foundation, we celebrate innovative engineering in every product we produce.
Meet Love… On Friday, June 21 from 2:15 p.m. ET, Love is scheduled to sign autographs at the New England Racing Museum, located on property of New Hampshire Motor Speedway. On Saturday, June 22 at 11:30 a.m. ET, Love and his Richard Childress Racing teammate, Austin Hill, will join fellow Xfinity Series drivers for a series autograph session in the Fan Zone at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Stop by to meet the Sunoco Rookie of the Year points leader.
JESSE LOVE QUOTE:
Describe your thoughts heading to New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the first time.
“We didn’t have the result that we wanted last week, but our Whelen team is looking to rebound strong. I’ve never raced at New Hampshire Motor Speedway before, but I feel confident that Danny Stockman and my guys on the No. 2 team are going to bring another fast Chevrolet. We are unloading really fast cars at the track each and every week, but we need to start putting together the finishes. Sometimes that is out of our control and sometimes that is in our control. When it’s in our control, that’s when we need to capitalize. To have a strong run this weekend would mean a lot to our team and everyone at Whelen. It was awesome to see their facility in Charlestown and get a firsthand look at all the processes and tools they have in place to create products that help protect first responders.”
Austin Hill and the No. 21 Bennett Transportation and Logistics Chevrolet Camaro SS at New Hampshire Motor Speedway… Austin Hill has two career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, piloting the No. 21 Bennett Transportation and Logistics Chevrolet Camaro to a top-10 finish in each event. Last season after starting from the eighth position, the Winston, Georgia native drove a consistent race to take the checkered flag in third place. Hill has also competed in two ARCA Racing Series East events at the 1.058-mile oval, capturing two top-10 finishes (seventh in 2014 and fifth in 2015).
About Bennett Family of Companies… McDonough-Ga. based Bennett Family of Companies is a woman-owned, Women’s Enterprise Business Council (WBENC) certified, diversified transportation and logistics company. Through its 14 affiliated operating companies, the Bennett Family of Companies delivers integrated transportation and supply chain management solutions worldwide. Bennett has 4,625 drivers/owner-operators, over 1,000 employees and 600 agents located across the United States. For more information, visit www.bennettig.com.
Meet Hill… On Saturday, June 22 at 11:00 a.m. ET, Hill is scheduled to stop by “The Morning Show” for a question-and-answer session in the Fan Zone at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Immediately following at 11:30 a.m. ET, Hill will join his Richard Childress Racing teammate, Jesse Love, and fellow competitors for a series autograph session in the Fan Zone at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Stop by to meet the eight-time Xfinity Series race winner before the green flag waves.
AUSTIN HILL QUOTE:
Two top-10 finishes in your two Xfinity Series starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. What is the outlook heading into Saturday’s race?
“New Hampshire Motor Speedway has been an interesting track for our No. 21 team the last couple of years. My rookie season, our car was solid. It had good drive, especially during the first run, but then it needed to be a little freer the longer we ran. Last year, our car wasn’t the greatest but between missing the melee and battling hard, we were able to finish third. It was free on entry and tight across the middle. When I put the throttle down, it would lose rear lateral and sheer the back of the car. With all that being said though, our team is bringing fast Chevrolets to the track each week. Hopefully during our practice session on Friday afternoon, we can fine tune the handling and post a good qualifying effort to put ourselves in a position during the race.”
While driving slower is usually going to be safer for you and everyone on the roads, when you’re driving on a highway, freeway, or expressway, it’s important that you know how to drive fast while also being safe. Because if you’re driving outside of the flow of traffic with the rest of the drivers on the road, even being slower could make your situation more dangerous despite not driving while intoxicated or being reckless.
To help you learn how this can best be done, here are three tips for safely driving at high speeds.
Be Aware Of Road And Traffic Conditions
While it’s good to always be aware of the road conditions and the traffic patterns in the area that you’re driving, when you’re going to be driving fast, these things need to be taken into even more consideration. Because the faster you’re doing, the less time you’re going to have to react to something impeding your driving ability.
Knowing this, you should change how fast you’re driving based on what the weather and road conditions are like. If there’s water on the road, it’s dark, or there’s a lot of wind, you’re going to want to slow down. And if there’s a lot of traffic, you’ll want to avoid rushing around people in these conditions as well.
Give Yourself Space
As was mentioned above, when you’re driving fast, you’ll need more time to take in what’s going on around you and make changes to your driving as part of your reaction time. So to give yourself the time that you need to adjust as things around you are in flux, you’re going to need to make sure that you’re giving yourself enough space between your car and anything else.
With the cars around you, be sure you’re not following them too closely so that if they brake, you have time to hit your brakes as well without worrying about hitting them. You’ll also want to do your best to stay in the middle of your own lane so that any cars going around you won’t get too close if they happen to veer a little to the left or right.
Stay Out Of Blind Spots
When you’re driving on roads with higher speed limits, it’s very likely that there will be multiple lanes of cars going in the same direction. So if you’re going to be driving around other cars in this way, you’ll want to be careful about staying out of their blindspots.
At a certain point when you’re right next to but slightly behind another car, they can’t see you in their mirrors very well. So if they don’t check with their eyes, they may not see that you’re right beside them, which could put both of you in danger. So to avoid any issues this might cause, you’ll want to do your best to stay out of other people’s blind spots and quickly get through them if you’re overtaking someone.
If you want to be as safe as possible when you’re driving at high speeds, consider implementing the tips mentioned above.
The world of high-stakes car racing is a thrilling mix of speed, adrenaline, and…debt? While the rewards can be immense, the risks are even higher. This is especially true if you find yourself on the wrong side of a bet. If you’ve ever placed a friendly wager on a race that turned into a high-pressure extortion scheme, this is the article for you.
Here are 3 helpful tips.
Contact an Attorney
When you’re caught in a high-stakes racing debt that leads to extortion, you really need someone who knows the ins and outs of gambling laws. A specialized attorney can help you navigate this tricky situation, negotiate with creditors, and possibly even get some claims dismissed.
So:
You want to find a lawyer with expertise in gambling law and criminal defense. Check out legal directories, bar association referrals, and online reviews to find the best candidates.
Make sure to check the lawyer’s qualifications, experience, and track record with similar cases.
Schedule an initial meeting and be ready to spill all the details, including any threats you’ve received and your financial records.
Stick to your lawyer’s guidance, show up for all meetings and court appearances, and provide any extra info they need.
Secure and Preserve Evidence
You really need solid evidence to prove extortion and threats. This can make a huge difference in court or negotiations, ensuring you get justice and protection.
So:
Keep a detailed log of all your interactions with the extortionists, including dates, times, and what was said.
Organize all your financial records related to the debt, like bank statements, transaction receipts, and any correspondence about payments.
If anyone else witnessed the threats or coercion, ask them to write a statement. Make sure these are signed and dated.
Use tools to download and save any digital evidence, keeping it unaltered. You might want to get help from a digital forensics expert if things get complicated.
Utilize Discreet Reporting Channels
You want to report the extortion to authorities, but you also want to do it discreetly to protect yourself from immediate retaliation and keep things from escalating.
So:
Use anonymous tip lines to report the extortion without giving away your identity. These can be accessed via phone or online.
If you know someone in the police department or other relevant authorities, reach out to them for discreet help. Explain the situation clearly and provide any evidence you have.
While you’re reporting, take steps to protect yourself. Don’t share details of your actions with anyone who might leak the information to the extortionists.
Stay in touch with the authorities handling your case, providing extra information as needed while making sure they know the importance of discretion.
With these tips, chances are that things are resolved. So hire a competent attorney, preserve evidence and use discreet reporting channels.
2023 NFL Draft pick from Ohio State to serve in honorary role on July 7
LEXINGTON, Ohio (June 20, 2024) – Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and American Honda Motor Co. are honored to announce Cleveland Browns offensive lineman and former Ohio State Buckeye Dawand Jones as the honorary grand marshal of The Honda Indy 200 Presented by the 2025 Civic Hybrid on Sunday, July 7.
As grand marshal, Jones will announce the most famous words in racing, “Drivers, start your engines!” as well as participate in other pre-race ceremonies for the 80-lap NTT INDYCAR SERIES race at Mid-Ohio. The race will broadcast globally with live coverage nationally starting at 1:30 p.m. ET on NBC.
This fall, Jones will play in his second season as a right tackle for the Browns after appearing in 11 games with nine starts and being named to the Pro Football Writers Association’s 2023 All-Rookie Team. The 2023 fourth round draft pick has continued his football career in the Buckeye State after playing four seasons for Ohio State (2019-2022). The Indianapolis native played in 41 games with 27 starts for the Buckeyes, earning first-team All-America honors from CBSSports.com and second-team all-Big Ten Conference recognition from the league’s coaches in 2022.
“As a longtime IndyCar fan from Indianapolis, I am really excited to be a part of this awesome racing tradition in Ohio,” said Jones. “I am truly grateful for the opportunity and can’t wait to give the command and hear the roar of the engines!”
Additionally, Kensuke Oe, president and director of Honda Development & Manufacturing of America, will serve as the podium trophy presenter, and Larry Geise, executive vice president of Honda Development & Manufacturing of America, will be this year’s honorary starter, waving the green flag to start the NTT INDYCAR SERIES race.
“We are honored to announce Dawand Jones, Kensuke Oe and Larry Geise to these honorary positions,” said Craig Rust, president of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. “Over the past several years we have had several Browns and Buckeye players join us at The Honda Indy 200, and we are proud to continue the tradition. We also want to thank Mr. Oe, Mr. Geise and all the associates at American Honda for making this weekend special.”
The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the 2025 Civic Hybrid at Mid-Ohio on July 5-7 marks the 41st running of Ohio’s largest annual motorsport event. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES headlines the weekend and will debut a new hybrid power unit, providing additional energy and overtake options for North America’s premier open-wheel drivers. The new Hybrid Assist feature can be used with Push to Pass, which combined provides the cars with an extra 120-plus horsepower.
The all-open-wheel weekend will feature nine different races from five series across the three days. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES will be joined by its full development ladder with INDY NXT by Firestone, USF Pro 2000 Presented by Continental Tire, USF2000 Presented by Continental Tire and USF Juniors Presented by Continental Tire all competing on the legendary 2.258-mile, 13-turn road course.
The event will also feature its annual off-track Fourth of July celebrations. On Saturday, July 6, campers are encouraged to decorate their sites in red, white and blue as part of the Camping with Honda tradition. Honda-powered NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers will begin to tour the campsites starting around 5:30 p.m. ET to meet fans and check out the campsite decor.
All event information including ticket options and pricing is posted online at midohio.com. Children 12 and under receive free general admission when accompanied by a ticketed adult. Follow the event on social media with #Honda200.
About Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course:
A comprehensive motorsports facility in Lexington, Ohio, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course sits on 380 acres and features a permanent road-racing circuit with two primary race track configurations: 2.4-mile, 15-turn or 2.258-mile, 13-turn layout. Located 60 miles north of Columbus and 75 miles south of Cleveland near Mansfield, the natural terrain road course is commonly referred to as the “Most Competitive in the U.S.” and annually hosts a diversity of locally, regionally and nationally-sanctioned race events for amateur, club and professional drivers and riders. It is also home to The Mid-Ohio School, featuring over 20 driving and riding courses, for teenagers to professional racers using Honda vehicles. Opened in 1962, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course has been owned and operated by Green Savoree Mid-Ohio, LLC since 2011, just the raceway’s third private ownership group in its history.
For more information, visit midohio.com, ‘like’ its Facebook page @MidOhioSportsCarCourse or follow updates on X (formerly Twitter) @Mid_Ohio and Instagram @officialmidohio.
WELCOME, N.C. (June 20th, 2024) – The Steele Group returns to New Hampshire Motor Speedway on June 22nd as the primary sponsor for Anthony Alfredo. Anthony and the number 5 Our Motorsports team are currently 14th in the NASCAR Xfinity Series playoff points standings.
This will be the second consecutive season that The Steele Group is represented on Anthony Alfredo’s NASCAR Xfinity Series car, this time featuring Anchor Advisors and Reshoring Initiative.
When asked about the growing relationship, Anthony Alfredo said “It is awesome to represent a brand focused on building back American manufacturing. We also are featuring the Green Beret Foundation on the car again in an effort to raise awareness for their cause of supporting Green Berets and their families. New Hampshire is the closest to a home track I have on the national circuit, so I certainly look forward to competing for a win in front of a lot of friends and family thanks to The Steele Group and their associated partners.”
The Steele Group provides full-life cycle commercial real estate solutions for the world’s most innovative organizations around the US and internationally. From strategic master planning, to tenant consulting, incentives, capital markets and project management, The Steele Group enables its clients to achieve optimal employee performance and operational efficiency by harnessing the power of real estate.
“At The Steele Group, we are committed to supporting American manufacturing and our nation’s heroes,” said Steele Divitto, Founder and CEO of The Steele Group. “Partnering with Anthony Alfredo and the Green Beret Foundation allows us to champion both of these causes on a national stage. We’re excited to compete at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, close to home, with the support of Anchor Advisors and Reshoring Initiative. Together, we’re driving awareness and making a difference.”
Anchor Advisors is a specialized project management firm, with expertise in advising advanced manufacturing, life science and corporate office tenants and owners. The team is comprised of industry experts – from DOD to preconstruction, engineering to biotech. Anchor Advisors is built on long-term relationships, forged through exceeded expectations with everything we do. No matter the scale, our staff brings deep experience and knowledge to every project. Anchor’s experience covers a wide range of built-to-suit, ground-up development and commercial tenant improvement projects. Anchor Advisors defines, builds, and maintains facilities while providing operational support to free up internal resources.
The mission of the Reshoring Initiative® is to bring good, well-paying manufacturing jobs back to the United States by assisting companies to more accurately assess their total cost of offshoring, and shift collective thinking from offshoring is cheaper, to local reduces the total cost of ownership. We are a nonprofit organization and offer a number of free tools to advance our mission.
The NASCAR Xfinity Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway will begin on June 22nd, 2024, at 3:30 PM ET. Fans can watch the race live on USA or listen to the radio broadcast on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Channel 90.
AM Racing | NASCAR Xfinity Series New Hampshire Motor Speedway | SciAps 200
Fast Facts No. 15 AM Racing Team: Driver: Hailie Deegan Primary Partner(s): Viva Tequila Seltzer Manufacturer: Ford Mustang Crew Chief: Matt Lucas Spotter: Michael Fisher Chassis Intel: AMR Chassis No. X-1058 Engine: Roush-Yates Engines
Notes of Interest:
Sophomore Journey: After a successful rookie campaign in the NASCAR Xfinity Series last season with driver Brett Moffitt, AM Racing will embark on its sophomore journey in 2024 with driver Hailie Deegan for the entire 33-race tour, continuing with Saturday afternoon’s SciAps 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
The Statesville, N.C.-based team hopes to expand its footprint in the NASCAR Xfinity Series by running two cars throughout the season with its partial No. 25 AM Racing entry.
Future Focused: Last October, AM Racing announced that Hailie Deegan joined the family-owned operation to pilot the team’s No. 15 Ford Mustang in a multiyear agreement.
Deegan, a native of Temecula, Calif. has been a staple in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series for the past three seasons but will embrace her rookie season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series as part of the Ford Performance program.
Deegan grew up racing off-road and on dirt but transitioned to competing on asphalt in 2016 to pursue a career in stock car racing. She began that transition in 2018 in the ARCA Menards Series West (previously NASCAR K&N Pro Series West). She became the first female driver to win races in the West Series, doing so in the 2018 and 2019 seasons, respectively.
Deegan, 22, arrives at AM Racing after a stint driving for ThorSport Racing in 2023.
Welcome Back: For the first second this season, AM Racing and Deegan welcome Viva Tequila Seltzer as the primary marketing partner for the team’s No. 15 Ford Mustang for the series’ lone trip to the “Magic Mile.”
New Hampshire Motor Speedway continues the new partnership between Viva Tequila Seltzer and the family-owned AM Racing team that will include several primary partnerships in Viva’s inaugural Motorsports journey.
Founded in July 2020 by three former college athletes in Boston, Massachusetts, Viva Tequila Seltzer redefines indulgence with its creation of a healthier tequila-based seltzer. Rooted in health and wellness, Viva offers flavors like Huckleberry, Elderberry, Watermelon and Grapefruit.
Each can is just 88 calories, zero carbs and zero sugar, while being gluten-free, keto-friendly, vegan, paleo, non-GMO, and kosher.
Stemming from a shared passion of athletics, the founders desired a drink that fit their active lifestyles without compromising taste.
The result is a premium product that doesn’t make you sacrifice your diet while being awesomely refreshing.
Come See Me: Hailie Deegan will attend two Viva Tequila Seltzer appearances near Loudon, N.H., promoting their second race with AM Racing this season.
On Friday, June 21, Deegan will visit The City Tobacco & Beverage Center (621 Lafayette Road, Seabrook, NH 03874) from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET.
The next morning on Saturday, June 22, she’ll appear at The Common Man (910 Suncook Valley Hwy S Epsom, NH 03234) from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. ET.
Giving You Peace of Air: For the 16th time in 2024, AirBox will serve in a major partnership role on Deegan’s No. 15 Ford Mustang in Saturday afternoon’s SciAps 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
In 2017, AirBox was established to focus on building the world’s best air purifiers for indoor occupied spaces. This coincided with people starting to wake up to issues with indoor air quality. With new challenges to air cleanliness, such as COVID-19 and wildfire smoke, people are looking for effective and proven solutions to ensure they receive cleaner air, at last.
Their history in delivering clean air systems and services gives them an expertise that is unmatched. AirBox uses some of the most effective air filtration technologies that exist with Certified HEPA and Advanced Molecular Adsorption. Coupled with their Indoor Air Quality Assessment, AirBox is the total solution for all indoor air quality needs, ensuring their customers meet and exceed current and future ventilation standards.
Today, AirBox filtration systems are used across the country, purifying the air and capturing harmful irritants to create healthier, safer spaces. They’ve become the trusted choice for hospitals, educational centers, offices, warehouses, construction zones, public assembly, sports facilities, and more.
They’re proud to build all products to the highest standards in the USA at their North Carolina production facility. Every day, AirBox is working hard to give the American people the safer learning, working, and living environments they deserve — helping people breathe easy and live better.
Hailie Deegan NASCAR Xfinity Series New Hampshire Motor Speedway Stats: Saturday afternoon’s SciAps 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway will mark Deegan’s inaugural Xfinity Series start at the 1.058-mile track nestled in Loudon, New Hampshire.
Hailie Deegan NASCAR Xfinity Series Career Stats: In 16 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, Deegan has a career-best 12th-place finish after starting 31st for AM Racing at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in April 2024.
In addition to her 15 Xfinity Series starts, she has achieved 70 ARCA Menards Series starts, including three wins and 69 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series starts to her credit.
Thanks For Your Support: With 45 percent of the 2024 Xfinity Series season complete, AM Racing and Hailie Deegan would like to thank their marketing partners for their support: AirBox, Flying Circle, Klutch Vodka, Mechanix Wear, Monster Energy Drink, Mobil 1, Viva Tequila Seltzer and WIX Filters.
Iowa Speedway | Hy-Vee PERKS 250 Race Recap: The 15th race of the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series season kicked off in Newton, Iowa on Saturday, June 15th.
Flying the AirBox colors in the series’ return to Iowa since the 2019 season, Deegan started her No. 15 Ford Mustang from the 33rd position after Mother Nature washed out qualifying earlier in the day.
From the drop of the green flag, Deegan worked hard throughout the race to combat track position and grip.
At the checkered flag, she had climbed eight positions to capture the 25th position.
From the Pit Box: Industry veteran Matt Lucas is Hailie Deegan’s crew chief.
He will be crew chief for his 108th NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday and his fifth at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
In his previous 107 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, he has collected two wins, 22 top-five and 39 top-10 finishes.
Follow on Social Media: For more on AM Racing, please visit AMRacingteam.com, like their Facebook page (AM Racing), or follow them on Instagram and X | Twitter @AMRacingNASCAR.
For more on Hailie Deegan, please visit hailiedeegan.com, like her Facebook page (HailieDeegan4), or follow her on Instagram (@hailiedeegan), YouTube and X | Twitter (@hailiedeegan).
Hailie Deegan Quoteboard:
On New Hampshire Motor Speedway: “I am very thankful to have Viva Tequila Seltzer back on board with us at New Hampshire Motor Speedway this weekend. We endured some bad luck at Sonoma in their partnership debut, but together we are focused on redeeming ourselves on Saturday afternoon.
“I am making my New Hampshire Motor Speedway debut this weekend, but I look forward to the challenge and look forward to the opportunity to accelerate to one of our strongest finishes of the season.”
Race Information:
The SciAps 200 (200 laps | 211.6 miles) is the 16th of thirty-three (33) NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2024 schedule. Practice begins on Friday, June 21, 2024, from 4:05 – 4:40 p.m. Qualifying immediately follows at 4:45 p.m. The 38-car field is set to take the green flag on Saturday, June 22, 2024, shortly after 3:30 p.m. with live coverage on the USA Network, the Performance Racing Network (Radio), and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (Eastern).
About AM Racing:
AM Racing is a multi-tiered, multi-faceted Motorsports program headquartered in Statesville, N.C.
Established in December 2015, AM Racing is prided on faith, honesty and intelligent performance.
The family-owned team will compete in the ARCA Menards Series, the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series, the NASCAR Xfinity Series and various Dirt Modified events in its eighth year of competition.
The team has named Hailie Deegan, Christian Rose, and Austin Wayne Self as their primary drivers for the 2024 Xfinity, ARCA Menards Series, and Dirt Modified seasons, respectively.
