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KIMBERLY-CLARK, KROGER AND STENHOUSE JR. CELEBRATE 100 YEARS OF KLEENEX AT THE NASCAR NEW HAMPSHIRE EVENT

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Official Release
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LOCUST, N.C. (June 19, 2024) – The Kroger Racing team today announced its partnership with Kleenex to celebrate the brand’s 100-year anniversary during the NASCAR Cup Series at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. At this weekend’s race, the paint scheme will feature not only the Kleenex 100 years logo, but a design that can also be found on Kleenex boxes at Kroger stores across the country. Over the last century, Kleenex has been there for countless people, including Kroger Racing driver, Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Stenhouse Jr. and his wife, Madyson, are anxiously awaiting one of the most significant moments as they prepare for the birth of their first child in early July. The couple, along with Kimberly-Clark and the Kroger Racing team, shed tears together in 2023 when the group won the historic DAYTONA 500 with Stenhouse Jr. behind the wheel of the No. 47 Cottonelle Camaro.

“When I think about this celebration of 100 years of Kleenex, I can’t help but think about celebratory moments in my life and my career,” said Stenhouse Jr. “Of course, winning the Daytona 500 is one of those key memories and it meant so much to share that with all of my friends at Kimberly-Clark. And personally, of course my wedding day to Madyson has to be my favorite moment to date, but I have no doubt that plenty of Kleenex is going to be needed around the birth of our first child, which is coming up very soon!”

America said ‘Happy Birthday’ to Kleenex® products on June 12, 1924, when the brand invented the tissue category. The Kleenex® brand suggests its first advertised function – as a ‘marvelous new way to remove cold cream.’ In 1927, as Kleenex® gained popularity, Kimberly-Clark proposed a new use for the product – ‘absorbent kerchiefs.’ In the 1930’s, Kleenex® was swamped by letters from consumers advocating its tissue for colds. The company responded with its new position – ‘The handkerchiefs you can throw away.’ After this, Kleenex’s® new appeal became the disposable tissue – perfect for a hygienic, convenient clean.

“Kleenex® invented the category nearly 100 years ago and continues to thrive through ingenuity and innovation,” said Will Dunn, Senior Brand Manager for U.S. Kleenex Brand. “As we celebrate our 100-year anniversary with Stenhouse Jr. and the NASCAR team, we’re excited to continue driving Kleenex® forward as a trusted brand that’s there for whatever happens next.”

Kroger and Kimberly-Clark leadership will come together for their ‘Champion’s Weekend’ hosting business meetings, planning for the 2025 season and much more. The USA Today 301 is scheduled to take the green flag at 2:30 PM ET on Sunday, June 23 and will be broadcast live on USA Network, PRN Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio (Channel 90).

About Kimberly-Clark:

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

Weekly Preview | New Hampshire Motor Speedway

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Official Release
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Race Notes

New Hampshire Motor Speedway
USA TODAY 301
NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Sunday, June 23 at 2:30PM EDT
USA | PRN | SiriusXM
Team Notes

  • Kaulig Racing has made four NCS starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, earning a top-20 finish in every attempt.
  • So far in the 2024 NCS season, Kaulig Racing has earned five top 10s, 13 top 20s and led 39 laps.

 TY DILLON

“I’m excited to be back in the NCS with Kaulig Racing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, coming off a 16th place finish at Texas. I look forward to keeping that momentum rolling and having a great weekend on the track.” – Ty Dillon on New Hampshire Motor Speedway

No. 16 CarBravo Camaro ZL1

  • Ty Dillon will make his eighth-career NCS start at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and his third NCS race this season with Kaulig Racing.
  • In five-career starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in the NXS, Ty Dillon has three top-10 finishes.

DANIEL HEMRIC

“I’m excited to race at New Hampshire for the first time in the NEXTGen car; it’s a type of track I really enjoy. Our short track package has been a challenge for us, but I’m looking forward to getting the Poppy Bank Chevy on track. ” – Daniel Hemric on New Hampshire Motor Speedway

No. 31 Poppy Bank Camaro ZL1

  • Daniel Hemric has made one start at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
  • So far in the 2024 NCS season, Hemric has earned two top 10s, seven top-20 finishes and has led 14 laps.
  • This weekend, Hemric’s No. 31 Camaro ZL1 will feature Poppy Bank’s premier online savings account.
  • Poppy Bank’s premier online savings account starts with a 5.50% Annual Percentage Yield (currently the highest in the nation) and is available online to any qualifying individual in the United States (terms and conditions apply). For more information, visit Poppy Bank’s website.

 
Race Details

New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Sci Aps 200
NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS)
Saturday, June 22 at 3:30PM EDT
USA | PRN | SiriusXM
Team Notes

  • Kaulig Racing has made 13 starts at New Hampshire in the NXS and has earned two top fives, three top 10s, one pole position, and 81 laps led.
  • So far in the 2024 NXS season, Kaulig Racing has two wins, six top fives, 15 top 10s, and 111 laps led.

JOSH WILLIAMS

“New Hampshire is one of my top-five favorite tracks. It’s super flat, and at some point in time during the race, it gets two grooves. It’s super hard to pass there, and the fans up in New Hampshire are one of a kind.” – Josh Williams on New Hampshire Motor Speedway

No. 11 Alloy Employer Services Chevrolet Camaro

  • Josh Williams has made four starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, with his best finish coming in the series’ most-recent trip to the track in 2023 (eighth).
  • Williams sits 18th in the NXS points standings with three top 10s and 14 laps led.

AJ ALLMENDINGER

 ”New Hampshire is a racetrack that can be very challenging with how flat it is. You’re always searching around for lateral grip, trying to get the car to turn. It’s a challenging racetrack set-up wise but overall, I feel like our short track program has been pretty good and we’ve found some speed. Looking forward to continuing to make gains on our short track program this weekend.” – AJ Allmendinger on New Hampshire Motor Speedway

No. 16 Campers Inn RV Chevrolet Camaro

  • AJ Allmendinger has made two NXS starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and has led 29 laps.
  • So far in the 2024 NXS season, Allmendinger has earned three top five and seven top-10 finishes. He has led 32 laps and currently sits eighth in driver standings.

SHANE van GISBERGEN

“Last weekend didn’t go as planned but that’s racing, and we get to try again in a few days. New Hampshire [Motor Speedway] will be more learning for me as I continue to get better on these ovals. Bruce [Schlicker] and my Kaulig Racing team always bring fast Chevrolet’s to the track every weekend and it should be another exciting race on Saturday. I’m happy to have WeatherTech on board the 97 Chevrolet this weekend and looking forward to racing in New Hampshire.” – Shane van Gisbergen on New Hampshire Motor Speedway

No. 97 WeatherTech Chevrolet Camaro

  • Shane van Gisbergen will make his first NXS start at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
  • The New Zealand native will race with the white and red WeatherTech livery. WeatherTech has upheld its commitment to quality and craftsmanship for decades, specializing in American-made auto, home, and pet products. More information is available at weathertech.com.
  • Van Gisbergen and his No. 97 Kaulig Racing team currently rank 12th in the driver standings heading into the New Hampshire event.

About Kaulig Racing

Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time, multi-car NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, owned by award winning entrepreneur, Matt Kaulig. Established in 2016, Kaulig Racing™ has earned 23 NXS wins, made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started, and won two regular-season championships. In 2021, the team competed in select NCS events, before expanding to a two-car, full-time NCS team in 2022 and adding a third, part-time entry during the 2023 season. Since its first NCS start in 2021, the team has earned two wins. Kaulig Racing is currently fielding two full-time entries in the NCS and continues to field three full-time NXS entries, with a part-time fourth entry at select events. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

JR Motorsports — NXS New Hampshire Preview

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Official Release
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JR Motorsports Team Preview
TRACK – New Hampshire Motor Speedway (1.058 mile oval)
NXS RACE – Sci Aps 200 (200 laps / 211.6 miles)
TUNE IN – USA, PRN, SiriusXM Channel 90 at 3:30 p.m. (ET)

Sam Mayer

No. 1 – 10X Health Chevrolet

Mayer 2024 NXS Stats

Starts: 15

Wins: 2

Top 5s: 7

Top 10s: 8

Laps Led: 109

Avg. Finish: 16

Points: 10th

  • Sam Mayer heads to New Hampshire Motor Speedway for only his third start at the 1.058 -mile oval.
  • The young driver is coming off a thrilling victory at Iowa Speedway last weekend. It was his second NASCAR Xfinity Series win of the 2024 season.
  • In 40 starts on tracks measuring 1-1.5miles in length, the Franklin, Wis. native has earned two victories, 15 top -five and 22 top-10 finishes.
  • Mayer will carry the familiar black, red and white colors on his No. 1 Chevrolet with 10X Health back on board for Saturday afternoon event in Loudon.

Sam Mayer

“There is always a great boost of confidence coming off a win but the work still stands at 110 percent. This No. 1 team has given me super-fast race cars all year long and I am looking to continue that speed at Loudon. We have certainly struggled here in the past but we’re hoping to turn that luck around this weekend and tackle a solid finish at The Magic Mile with our No. 1 10X Health Chevrolet Camaro.”

Justin Allgaier

No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet

Allgaier 2024 NXS Stats

Starts: 15

Wins: 1

Top 5s: 4

Top 10s: 7

Laps Led: 487

Avg. Finish: 15.6

Points: 4th

  • Justin Allgaier has scored one win, three top fives and nine top 10s in the NXS at the Magic Mile. Additionally, Allgaier has placed no worse than seventh in each event at Loudon dating back to 2018.
  • Allgaier’s victory came during the 2022 season where the veteran driver started third and paced the field for 47 laps en route to the win.
  • Overall, in his career on tracks between 1-2 miles in length in the NXS, Allgaier has amassed 13 wins, 78 top fives and 147 top 10s.
  • Allgaier’s most recent win in the NXS came in dominating fashion at a speedway between 1-2 miles in length, taking the checkered flag at Darlington Raceway after leading 119 of a possible 147 laps.

Justin Allgaier

“New Hampshire has been a strong track for this BRANDT Professional Agriculture team over the past number of years. That gives me a lot of confidence heading into this weekend. Jim (Pohlman, crew chief) and all the guys back at JRM have given me great cars all season long and I know that we will get that momentum back going in the right direction when we get to the track this weekend.”

Sammy Smith

No. 8 Pilot Flying J Chevrolet

Smith 2024 NXS Stats

Starts: 15

Wins: 0

Top 5s: 3

Top 10s: 9

Laps Led: 50

Avg. Finish: 16.1

Points: 11th

  • In Sammy Smith’s only NXS start at New Hampshire, he finished a respectable fifth.
  • Smith has 30 starts on tracks measuring 1.5 miles in length or shorter with one win, seven top fives and 19 top 10s.
  • In Smith and crew chief Adam Walls first season together, they have so far amassed nine top-10 finishes.
  • After a great homecoming race for TMC and Smith in Iowa, the No. 8 JR Motorsports Chevrolet will bring back the red and gold colors of Pilot Flying J for New Hampshire.

Sammy Smith

“It was great to go home last week to Iowa and be able to spend time with family and my partners, especially with TMC being local to the area. Finishing off the weekend with a top-five was a great way to top it off and hopefully we can be a couple spots better this weekend in New Hampshire as I ran well there last year.”

Brandon Jones

No. 9 Menards / Watts Chevrolet

Jones 2024 NXS Stats

Starts: 15

Wins: 0

Top 5s: 1

Top 10s: 5

Laps Led: 20

Avg. Finish: 20.4

Points: 15th

  • Brandon Jones has made seven NXS starts at the “Magic Mile” and has scored two top-10 finishes. His best was a sixth-place effort during the 2018 season.
  • The 27-year-old Georgia native has also made two K&N Pro Series East starts at the 1-mile oval.
  • In 38 starts at 1-mile ovals in the NXS, Jones has recorded one win (Phoenix 2020), four top-five and 15 top-10 finishes, while leading the field for 189 laps in total.
  • Watts Water Technologies, a leading manufacturer of water-quality solutions for 150 years, will be making its third appearance in a row at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on the hood of Jones’ No. 9 Chevrolet this weekend.

Brandon Jones

“New Hampshire races like a big short track with the long straightaways, tight turns and just how flat the track is overall. It’s a tough place to get around but Phillip (Bell, crew chief) and I have been working hard to make sure we are prepared. This No. 9 team has been building some fast cars and the results haven’t shown that, so we’re due for a good run and hopefully that starts this weekend.”

Carson Kvapil

No. 88 Clarience Technologies Chevrolet

Kvapil 2024 NXS Stats

Starts: 3

Wins: 0

Top 5s: 2

Top 10s: 2

Laps Led: 14

Avg. Finish: 6.3

Points: 33rd

  • Carson Kvapil will make his first attempt at New Hampshire this weekend in the No. 88 Clarience Technologies Chevrolet. It will be his fourth NXS start of the season.
  • In his three starts so far this season, the young driver has finished fourth, second and 19th, challenging for the victory at Dover in April before finishing second. He was fourth in his debut at Martinsville in the spring.
  • The young driver will make his second start on a track measuring more than 1 mile in length. The first was in May at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, where he finished 19th.
  • The No. 88 team, led by crew chief Andrew Overstreet, has four starts so far this season and earned two top-five and three top-10 finishes in those races.

Carson Kvapil

“I’m excited to go to New Hampshire this weekend and see what it is all about. It’s big and flat and puts a premium on handling, so it will be a change from the tracks that I’ve run on so far. I know that Andrew (Overstreet) and the No. 88 team will have our Clarience Technologies Chevrolet ready for me. It’s the next step and I’m looking ahead to another solid finish and what that will teach me.”

JRM Team Updates

JR Motorsports at New Hampshire Speedway: JR Motorsports has competed at New Hampshire Motor Speedway a combined 47 times in the NXS since its first trip there in 2006. In those starts at the 1.058-mile-oval, the organization has recorded one win, seven top-fives and 23 top-10s, with an average finish of 13.9.

Souvenir Rig: JRM drivers Sam Mayer, Justin Allgaier, Sammy Smith, Brandon Jones and Carson Kvapil will be signing autographs at the JR Motorsports / Legacy MC souvenir rig on Saturday, June 22 from 12:45 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. ET.

MINER Racing: Josh Berry New Hampshire Advance

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Official Release
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JOSH BERRY
New Hampshire Advance
No. 4 MINER Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Event Overview

● Event: USA Today 301 (Round 18 of 36)
● Time/Date: 2:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, June 23
● Location: New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon
● Layout: 1.058-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 301 laps / 318.46 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 70 laps / Stage 2: 115 laps / Final Stage: 116 laps
● TV/Radio: USA / PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● This Sunday’s race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon marks the halfway point for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season. In the first 17 races, Josh Berry, driver of the No. 4 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Stewart-Haas Racing, has totaled one top-five finish, two top-10s and 38 laps led in his rookie campaign. While Berry has no Cup Series starts at the 1.058-mile New Hampshire oval, the 33-year-old Hendersonville, Tennessee native has three Xfinity Series starts there with his best finish coming in his July 2021 debut at the track, when he drove from his 21st-place starting position to finish eighth. In July 2022, Berry won the pole award but was relegated to a 31st-place finish after being involved in an on-track incident on lap 126. Last year, Berry started the 206-lap Xfinity Series race third and finished 17th.

● The Cup Series’ first-ever race at Iowa Speedway in Newton last Sunday was a resounding success for Berry and the No. 4 team. Berry qualified third on the .875-mile oval that is surrounded by cornfields. He finished the first stage in fifth and the second stage in the runner-up position before taking the checkered flag in seventh, leading twice for 21 laps along the way. It was his third top-10 in the last five Cup Series events and lifted Berry to 21st in the 2024 Cup Series driver standings and increased his lead in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings to 12 markers ahead of second-place Carson Hocevar.

● Berry’s crew chief Rodney Childers is a three-time winner with retired Stewart-Haas driver Kevin Harvick at New Hampshire, and also won at the track with driver Brian Vickers. In July 2013, Childers guided Vickers to the driver’s third and final NASCAR Cup Series victory by outlasting Tony Stewart – the “Stewart” in Stewart-Haas Racing – in a battle of fuel saving. Stewart had led a total of 84 laps and was running second behind Vickers on the final lap of a green-white-checkered finish. Stewart’s car sputtered off turn two and, out of fuel, was forced to coast all the way down the backstretch and through turns three and four of the flat, mile oval. While Vickers and Childers were celebrating their win, Stewart rolled down pit road and across the finish line a gut-wrenching 26th.

● Stewart, a 2020 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee, had a solid record of his own at New Hampshire with three wins in 35 starts among his 15 top-fives and 19 top-10s with 1,302 laps led there. The only driver with more laps led at New Hampshire is fellow NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon with 1,373.

● MINER returns to Berry’s No. 4 Ford Mustang Dark Horse Sunday at New Hampshire. MINER is North America’s industry-leading facility expert. Whether you have equipment down today or want to maximize uptime tomorrow, trust MINER to install, repair, and maintain your warehouse dock doors and levelers, commercial sectional overhead doors, HVLS fans, and related facility accessories. Through both proactive maintenance strategies and emergency responses, MINER maintains every important piece of logistics equipment in your facility. Its nationwide service coverage, ability to self-perform and strong affiliate network mean you’re never far from same-day or next-day service, solutions for every application, technical expertise, and safer, higher uptime equipment. Learn more at minercorp.com.

Josh Berry, Driver of the No. 4 MINER Ford Mustang Dark Horse

You have a pole position at New Hampshire but haven’t had the finishes to reflect the speed you had there in the Xfinity Series. What is it going to take to put together a whole weekend this Sunday in the Cup Series?

“We definitely had speed there, we just couldn’t translate it to the race for one reason or another. But I do enjoy going to New Hampshire – it is a fun racetrack for me and I feel like it is a place that fits us, the No. 4 team, really well. We feel like we can go there and have a solid day and I think a lot of that has to do with our program gelling really well. Iowa was a place that we all kind of went to for the first time and found speed, had good pit stops, limited our mistakes, and came home with a top-10 day. I have been saying it a lot, but I think this program has come such a long way and continues to improve each week.”

What makes New Hampshire fun for you?

“It just has a short-track feel. It is obviously bigger, but the way I approach that track is similar to a short track and it usually opens up to have multiple grooves in the race, which creates good racing. For me, the options of other lanes and choosing where to run and how to make passes, the creativity of it all, is what makes that place fun for me.”

With another top-10 at Iowa, you now have three top-10s in the last five weeks. What does the No. 4 team need to continue to do in order to maintain that momentum?

“It’s not really an exciting answer but we are going to stick to our process. We have developed a really good routine to follow and my team does a really good job of studying the data, looking at trends, giving me film to watch, and giving me the right tools to prepare each week and I think if we continue to follow this process we have created within our program, there is no reason we can’t continue to contend. We have had so many moments in the early part of the year that showed we have speed but couldn’t put it all together and, as we stayed our course and trusted each other and learned each other, we have become a more well-rounded team with a shorter list of things to iron out. That list of bugs is always something you will face when you join a new team and it was magnified because I am a rookie, but I can’t say enough about how well this team has done to get me up to speed quickly and give me the confidence that I can do this job and do it at a high-level.”

No. 4 MINER 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

Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Continues Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Championship Fight at Watkins Glen International

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Official Release
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WATKINS GLEN, New York (June 19, 2024) — The Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti (WTRAndretti) Lamborghini Super Trofeo (LST) team will return for Rounds 5 and 6 of the LST North America Championship at Watkins Glen International, continuing the team’s four-car effort in the series across the PRO, PRO|AM and AM classes. The team will take on the historic 3.45-mile course, marking the halfway point of the LST North America season.

Danny Formal and Ryan Norman will return as the driver pairing for the No. 1 WTRAndretti Lamborghini Huracán LST. After a mixed weekend at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, where the driver duo secured a podium in the first race but struggled in the second with over 40 cars on track, Formal and Norman will look to improve their championship standings as they sit 13 points off the leader in the PRO class. The duo has shown considerable pace with multiple front row starts and podiums under their belt, but they will look to take the top step of the podium at the Glen. Formal will also be completing double duty in the No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IWSC) for the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen race on Sunday, June 23.

In the No. 8 Huracán LST in the PRO|AM class, Nate Stacy and Nick Persing will continue their championship hunt from third in the standings, as misfortune has counteracted their two impressive wins in the first four rounds. After a racing incident brought their first race to an early end at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, the driver pair responded in fashion by winning the following round. Watkins Glen International offers a strong opportunity for the No. 8 car to put together solid performances across both races in the weekend. The No. 8 team are still very much in the championship picture currently sits 11 points behind the leader in the PRO|AM class.

Anthony McIntosh and Glenn McGee have started their title defense in the AM class of LST North America Championship in an assertive fashion, building a healthy points gap between the No. 69 Global Power Components WTRAndretti Huracán LST and the rest of the competition. The duo secured two podiums and a win in the last four rounds. A steering wheel issue in the first round at Laguna Seca dropped the driver team to the back, but the experienced pair followed this misfortune with a win in the fourth round. McIntosh and McGee currently have a three-point lead in the AM class standings.

Graham Doyle and Ashton Harrison will return to pilot the No. 10 DEX Imaging WTRAndretti Lamborghini Huracán LST. Despite showing strong pace at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, the driver duo is seeking to achieve big results across a full race distance. Doyle and Harrison will look to build on lessons learned at Laguna Seca as they approach the doubleheader at Watkins Glen International. Doyle will join teammate Danny Formal in pulling double duty in the No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 for the third endurance event of the 2024 IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup in the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen.

The WTRAndretti LST team will start on-track action at Watkins Glen International weekend at noon on Thursday, June 20, with qualifying and the first race of the doubleheader commencing at 10:30 a.m. ET and 5:20 p.m. ET, respectively, on Friday, June 21. The second race of the weekend will take place at 4:50 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 22. Rounds 5 and 6 of the LST North America Championship from Watkins Glen International will be streamed live on Peacock.

Ryan Norman, No. 1 WTRAndretti LST (PRO): “We made some great improvements in Laguna Seca, and we know what we need going into Watkins Glen, so I’m very excited to get back into the No. 1 WTRAndretti Super Trofeo. We were very strong last year there, and I have no doubt that we will continue to build on that. Danny and I are looking to make a stance and will be going for both wins.”

Danny Formal, No. 1 WTRAndretti LST (PRO): “Round 5 and 6 of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo season coming our way and one of my favorite tracks of in the country. It’s not been an easy season so far, but our WTRAndretti team never give up. We did a test earlier in the year and the car felt back to 2023 standards, which is just a rocket ship. Super excited to get going. I have not won with Ryan yet and it’s a goal of mine. I’m actually one win away from being the all-time record holder of wins in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Championship and it just makes me super excited that I might be able to do it at my favorite track with the team that gave me all my wins: WTRAndretti. Excited to get going and ready to see the crew, drivers and families and I am so grateful for this opportunity.”

Nate Stacy, No. 8 WTRAndretti LST (PRO|AM): “I’m eager to get back behind the wheel on the No. 8 WTRAndretti Lamborghini ST. After the most recent race win, we are hoping to bring that momentum into the Glen. Currently we’re in a good spot in the championship, so we are determined to secure some good points and move us closer to winning a championship!”

Nick Persing, No. 8 WTRAndretti LST (PRO|AM): “Expectations are high for Watkins Glen considering we have two wins this year. We expect to keep that momentum going. From Laguna Seca and Sebring, I think we learned that we just need to bring home some consistent results this weekend and start focusing on the championship as well too. I couldn’t be more excited to get back in the car and hopefully the sim work and exercise will have me in good driving shape after the break from Laguna.”

Graham Doyle, No. 10 DEX Imaging WTRAndretti LST (AM): “Looking ahead to Rounds 5 and 6 of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Championship, I feel we are continuing to make strides towards the end results we have been looking for. Coming into this race weekend, Ashton and I have been working tirelessly, pushing ourselves to achieve the results we desire.”

Ashton Harrison, No. 10 DEX Imaging WTRAndretti LST (AM): “I am super excited to be back with Graham and WTRAndretti for one of my all-time favorite tracks. Laguna proved to be a tough track with over 40 cars for qualifying and both races, so I am looking forward to Watkins Glen, a much longer and wider track, getting back to the high-speed corners and taking advantage of the power output in our Lamborghini ST. I am really happy with the progress Graham and I are making in our DEX Imaging LST and I’m looking forward to charging to the front in the competitive AM class.”

Glenn McGee, No. 69 Global Power Components WTRAndretti LST (AM): “I’m really excited for this race at Watkins Glen in a fast car at a fast track! We had an amazing test here with WTRAndretti, the engineers, and Danny Formal, and it was great to be a part of the process of the team developing a setup, and a learned a lot working with Danny. I think we will be very strong as a team here.”

ABOUT WTRANDRETTI’S DRIVER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, Wayne Taylor Racing, now with Andretti Global (#WTRAndretti), is a leader in sportscar racing, recognized worldwide for fielding championship winning racing efforts since 2007. WTRAndretti has run a stable of championship winning cars and drivers in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America series for over half a decade, forming the basis of its Driver Development Program. Since its inception in 2015, the team has clinched eight North American PRO Driver, Team and Dealer Championship titles, fielded the first woman World Finals race winner and became the overall 2017 Champions at the World Finals in Imola, Italy. In addition to its Lamborghini Super Trofeo stable, WTRAndretti fields a two-car GTP program with it Championship winning No 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 and No. 40 DEX Imaging Acura ARX-06 effort as well as GTD program with the No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2.

For more information on WTRAndretti’s Driver Development Program and how to get involved, contact Travis Houge at info@waynetaylorracing.com.

NHRA AT RICHMOND: Team Chevy Race Advance | Notes & Quotes

By
Official Release
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CHEVROLET IN NHRA
2024 PlayNHRA VIRGINIA NATIONALS
VIRGINIA MOTORSPORTS PARK
NORTH DINWIDDIE, VIRGINIA
TEAM CHEVY RACE ADVANCE | NOTES & QUOTES
JUNE 21-23, 2024

CHEVROLET RETURNS TO VIRGINIA MOTORSPORTS PARK READY TO DEFEND JOHN FORCE RACING’S 2022 DOUBLE WINS

Notes:

  • Team Chevy heads to the 2024 PlayNHRA Virginia Nationals, the ninth round of the season, June 21-23 at Virginia Motorsports Park.
  • Last competing at Virginia Motorsports Park in 2022, John Force Racing left with a handful of hardware, capturing both the Funny Car event win with Robert Hight and the Top Fuel event win with Brittany Force, who also qualified No. 1 ahead of eliminations.
  • Austin Prock, driver of the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car, enters Virginia Motorsports Park as the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car points leader, coming off his most recent victory at Bristol Dragway.
  • Leaving Bristol, Prock’s team owner and teammate, John Force, 16-time champion and driver of the PEAK Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car, trails in second in the championship standings by just 64 points.
  • From a three-team semifinal finish in Bristol, all three John Force Racing entries will compete in the Mission Foods NHRA #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday during Q2 in Richmond. Force, Prock, and Force will face off for bonuses of additional prize money and championship points.
  • Last competing at Virginia Motorsports Park, Bo Butner, III raced to victory in 2019, with Jason Line taking the No. 1 qualifier in Pro Stock that year.

Quotes:

BRITTANY FORCE, DRIVER OF THE HENDRICKCARS.COM CHEVROLET TOP FUEL DRAGSTER:

“Excited to return to Richmond, Virginia with HendrickCars.com as our primary sponsor coming out of a strong weekend in Bristol. This team has made some progress on the track, and we know we are starting to see results on race day. After a semi-final round finish in Thunder Valley, our team will enter Virginia Motorsports Park and have a chance to compete #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge for extra bonus points and prize money. This weekend, Richmond is changing things up. It will be a 2-day event, which is something I’ve never done in my career. I’m interested to see the fan response for a Saturday and Sunday event. It will definitely speed things up and we are hoping for a positive outcome.”

AUSTIN PROCK, DRIVER OF THE CORNWELL TOOLS CHEVROLET CAMARO SS FUNNY CAR:

“Excited to get to Richmond. We’ve got a 2-day show this weekend with three qualifying passes on Saturday and our race day on Sunday. It will be interesting to see how the fans and competitors take in the new format. Richmond is one of the flattest tracks on circuit which will be much appreciated by the tuners with this weekend’s temperatures. It’s going to be a hot one! As I always say, ‘I never like an off weekend!’ I’m excited to get back into my Cornwell Quality Tools Camaro SS and get back in the groove of things. We’re looking for another strong weekend.”

JOHN FORCE, DRIVER OF THE PEAK ANTIFREEZE & COOLANT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS FUNNY CAR:

“Glad to be back in Richmond with my PEAK Chevy. We have won the race a number of times. I’m excited to run it as a two-day race. It’s something new for the fans, the drivers, and the crew chiefs. And we get to run that Mission Foods race in the middle of it. One day of qualifying with a race built right in. It’s pretty exciting. Brittany’s (Force) HendrickCars.com dragster is starting to run better and (Austin) Prock’s Cornwell Tools Chevy is on fire, so we are all looking forward to being back in the seat here in Virginia.”

How to Watch:

The 2024 PlayNHRA Virginia Nationals from Virginia Motorsports Park kick off Friday, June 21 with Friday’s qualifying airing at 1 p.m. ET Saturday. Saturday’s qualifying airs Sunday at 1 p.m. ET, with Finals following at 5 p.m. ET. All sessions from Epping, New Hampshire air with NHRA on FOX on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). Coverage streams live throughout the weekend on NHRA.tv, and is available via AppleTV, Android TV, and Roku devices.

TEAM CHEVY BY THE NUMBERS:

1,459: Round wins for John Force (1st all-time).

626: Round wins for Robert Hight; 13th all-time. Cruz Pedregon (Funny Car), sits 12th, with 630.

167: Number of career No. 1 qualifiers for John Force (1st all-time).

163: Number of Chevrolet Racing Funny Car wins since 1967.

84: Number of career No. 1 qualifiers for Robert Hight (6th all-time). Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel) is fifth with 88.

83: Number of Chevrolet Racing Funny Car wins with the Camaro SS body.

47: Number of career No. 1 qualifiers for Brittany Force.

28: Number of NHRA championships Chevrolet holds as a manufacturer since entering the first in 1966. This is the seventh-consecutive award and ninth in 11 seasons. No other manufacturer has won it more than Chevrolet.

26: Wins by John Force in a Chevrolet-bodied Funny Car.

20: Chevrolet career Top Fuel wins in NHRA.

16: Number of Chevrolet career wins by Brittany Force.

7: Number of Funny Car driver championships.

2: Number of Top Fuel driver championships.

About Chevrolet

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

The Hand Tool Kit Every Mechanic Needs for Success

By
SM
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Photo by Louis Hansel on Unsplash

Essential Hand Tools for Auto Repair

You’ve finally done it – you’ve decided to make your hobby of fixing cars into a career as a mechanic. But you know that all the knowledge in the world won’t help you if you don’t have the right tools. You’re probably wondering what tools you’ll need to get started and which ones are essential to have in your toolkit. Well, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve put together a list of the key hand tools that every aspiring or experienced mechanic needs to own. From wrenches to screwdrivers to pliers, we’ll walk through the basics that you’ll use on most jobs. We’ll also talk about some specialty tools that will make certain repairs and tasks much easier. Having these essential tools means you’ll be prepared to handle just about any repair that comes your way. So read on to find out exactly which hand tool you need to kickstart your new career!

Must-Have Power Tools for Mechanics

Socket Set

A socket set is a must-have for any mechanic. Look for a set that includes both metric and standard sockets in a variety of drive sizes like 1/4”, 3/8”, and 1/2”. A socket set will allow you to loosen and tighten many nuts and bolts on a vehicle.  

Wrenches  

Wrenches are very useful for gripping and turning nuts and bolts. A good set will include open-end, box-end, and combination wrenches in both standard and metric sizes. Wrenches are ideal for tight spaces where a socket may not fit.

Screwdrivers

A variety of screwdrivers – flathead and Phillips head –  in different sizes are essential. Be sure to get a set that includes screwdrivers for working with delicate trim pieces as well as heavy-duty suspension components. Screwdrivers are needed for anything that uses screws – so just about every repair.  

Pliers

Needle nose pliers, adjustable pliers, and slip joint pliers all have their place in any mechanic’s tool kit. Pliers can grip, turn, cut, bend, and manipulate parts in ways your fingers alone can’t. They’re ideal for hose clamps, clips, and stubborn nuts. 

With these fundamental tools – sockets, wrenches, screwdrivers, and pliers – you’ll be equipped to handle many basic repairs. Add in a few other useful items like hammers, chisels, and pry bars and you’ll have everything needed to start wrenching like a pro. Now, get out there and get your hands dirty!

Building Your Hand Tool Kit: FAQs on Selecting Quality Tools

To get the job done as a mechanic, you need the right power tools and high quality tubular products in your arsenal. We’re talking essentials like an impact wrench, cordless drill/driver, and angle grinder.

Impact Wrench   

This high-torque tool is perfect for loosening stubborn nuts and bolts. Look for a cordless impact wrench so you have the freedom to work wherever needed. For most tasks, a mid-range model with 400 to 700 foot pounds of torque should work great. 

Cordless Drill/Driver  

A cordless drill/driver is a must for driving and removing screws. Look for a 20-volt model with a brushless motor and lithium-ion battery for maximum power and runtime. This versatile tool can also be used for drilling holes in metal, wood, and plastic. With different bits, you’ll use this constantly.

Angle Grinder

An angle grinder is essential for cutting, grinding, and polishing metal. This high-speed rotary tool can slice through bolts, grind welds smoothly, and sharpen tools. Look for a cordless 4 1/2-inch to 5-inch model so you have room to work. Be very careful, as the spinning discs can cause injury if mishandled.

With these three powerhouses in your collection, you’ll be equipped to handle almost any mechanical task that comes your way. While not cheap, think of them as investments in your ability to get the job done right. Your customers will surely appreciate your efficiency, and your power tools will prove their worth time and again.

RISI COMPETIZIONE RETURNS IN IMSA RACING FOR 6 HOURS OF WATKINS GLEN

By
Official Release
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Risi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3 No. 62:

Davide Rigon (ITA)
Daniel Serra (BRA)
James Calado (GBR)

(Houston, Texas, June 19, 2024) …The fan-favorite American Ferrari team, Risi Competizione, returns to IMSA racing this week for Round three of five of the 2024 IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup (IMEC) Championship.

The Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen at Watkins Glen International is June 22-23, 2024, at the 3.4-mile, 11-turn historic road course. Risi Competizione’s No. 62 Ferrari 296 GT3 GTD Pro team will feature IMEC pilots and Ferrari factory drivers Davide Rigon and Daniel Serra.

Both drivers are returning to the U.S. from Le Mans, France, where Ferrari captured the overall victory and third-place finish in the challenging and legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans race last weekend. Serra finished 12th in the LMGT3 class and Rigon had a DNF. However, the No 50 Ferrari – AF Corse was victorious and Risi’s own Rolex 24 drivers, Alessandro Pier Guidi and James Calado, were in the third place No. 51 Ferrari – AF Corse 499P.

The Watkins Glen round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship will feature a field of 56 cars, including 11 in the GTD Pro class. Once again, all four IMSA classes will compete on the historic New York road course – Grand Touring Prototype (GTP), Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2), Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD PRO), Grand Touring Daytona (GTD) classes on track together.

The Risi Competizione team comes into the June event in second place in the IMEC points championship with 24 points, just 2 points behind the leading Paul Miller Racing. Many tifosi fans will be continuing to cheer on the Ferrari name.

The past two years Italian Rigon and Brazilian Serra finished in second place in the GTD Pro class at Watkins Glen and last year Serra was the number one qualifier in class.

Quotes:

Davide Rigon, driver, No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3:

“Since Sebring I’ve been waiting so much to come back. I love the Watkins Glen track and only learned it two years ago. I really love this track. I’m absolutely ready for this race. Let’s see how we do with the balance there. They expect it to be very hot and maybe some rain so we will see how everything goes. It will be very interesting. Of course, I can’t wait to come back to the U.S. and with Risi and get back to leading the (IMEC) championship.”

Daniel Serra, starting driver, No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3:

“I’m looking forward to this weekend’s race. It’s nice to be back in IMSA with Risi. Watkins Glen is a super nice track to drive. Last year we finished in second place as we fought for a victory. I hope we can have the same performance this weekend.”

The race start is at 11:10 a.m. (Eastern), and the race will be televised live on USA Network from 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Live streaming begins at 11:00 a.m. for the full six hours on Peacock and IMSA.com/TVLive (outside U.S.). IMSA Radio will cover select sessions live on IMSA.com/RadioLeMans.com. Qualifying will be carried on Peacock and IMSA.com on Saturday, June 22 at 3:25 p.m.

Qualifying for the GTD Pro class will be on Saturday, June 23 at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Sponsors for the 2024 season for Risi Competizione include Pennzoil, Ferrari of Houston, OMP Racing and DEA.

For more information and social media about the team, please see www.risicompetizione.com and follow us on Facebook/RisiCompetizione and Twitter @RisiComp and on Instagram/RisiComp.

Sam Mayer to make 100th Xfinity career start at New Hampshire

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

Coming off his second NASCAR Xfinity Series victory of the 2024 season at Iowa Speedway, Sam Mayer is primed to achieve a milestone start. By competing in this weekend’s Xfinity event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the driver of the No. 1 Chevrolet Camaro for JR Motorsports. will reach 100 career starts in the Xfinity circuit.

Mayer, a native of Franklin, Wisconsin, and a two-time consecutive ARCA Menards Series East champion made his inaugural start in the Xfinity circuit at Pocono Raceway in June 2021. By then, he had inked a deal to compete with JR Motorsports for the second half of the current Xfinity season before graduating to a full-time driving role with the organization for the 2022 season.

Driving the No. 8 JRM Chevrolet Camaro, Mayer started 20th and finished 18th in his series debut. For the remaining 17 events on the schedule, the Wisconsin native nabbed six top-10s and 10 top-15 results. His best on-track result was a fourth-place finish at Martinsville Speedway in late October. In the end, Mayer contributed to JR Motorsports’ No. 8 entry settling in 12th place in the final owner’s standings.

Piloting the No. 1 JRM Chevrolet Camaro as a full-time Xfinity competitor for the 2022 season, Mayer commenced the season by finishing 30th at Daytona International Speedway. After recording four top-six results during his next eight starts, he then notched five top-five results during his next six starts. During the stretch, he achieved his first Xfinity career pole position at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May and claimed the first Xfinity Dash 4 Cash $100,000 bonus by finishing in third place at Richmond Raceway in April.

For the remaining 11 regular-season events, Mayer earned five additional top-10 results, which were enough for him and the No. 1 JRM team to make the 2022 Xfinity Series Playoffs. He transferred to the Round of 8 after finishing no lower than 11th during the Round of 12 but did not make the Championship 4 round despite achieving three consecutive top-seven results during the Round of 8.

Concluding the season with a 34th-place result during the season-finale event at Phoenix Raceway, Mayer capped off his first full-time campaign in the Xfinity Series with a seventh-place result in the final standings. By then, he had accumulated 11 top-five results, 19 top-10 results and an average-finishing result of 13.8 throughout the 33-race schedule.

Remaining at JRM for the 2023 campaign, Mayer’s season started on a rough note after he was involved in a rollover accident on the final lap at Daytona while contending for the victory. He rallied the following weekend at Auto Club Speedway by finishing second before finishing no lower than 11th during his next four starts.

During the next 13 events, Mayer notched four top-fives and seven top-10 results, including a runner-up finish at Pocono Raceway in late July. Then in his 71st series start, Mayer notched his first career victory at Road America amid a wild overtime shootout as he assumed the lead prior to the final lap and fended off a late charge from Parker Kligerman. Three races later, he achieved his second Xfinity career win at Watkins Glen International amid another wild overtime shootout, where he spun leader Ty Gibbs during the start and overtook Sheldon Creed before the final lap. Despite finishing no higher than 11th during the final three regular-season events, Mayer had already secured his spot in the 2023 Xfinity Series Playoffs.

Then amid back-to-back DNFs during the first two Round of 12 events at Bristol Motor Speedway and at Texas Motor Speedway due to on-track incidents, Mayer capitalized on a “must-win” situation to transfer into the Round of 8 after claiming a dominant victory in the Round of 12 finale at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course, where he led a race-high 50 laps from pole position. Two races later, Mayer raced his way into the Championship 4 round for the first time in his career after scoring a late victory at Homestead-Miami Speedway in October, which marked his fourth career win in the series.

Contending for his first Xfinity title, Mayer ended up in fifth place during the finale at Phoenix and in third place in the final standings. Despite falling short of winning the title, Mayer tied his total number of top-10s collected in a season compared to his previous season at 19. He had also accumulated two extra top-five results to 11, led 177 laps and achieved a new average-finishing result of 13.2.

Mayer commenced the 2024 season by finishing no higher than ninth and being strapped with four results of 30th or worse through the first six scheduled events. Then after finishing in second place at Martinsville in early April, he edged Ryan Sieg by 0.002 seconds to win for the fifth time in his career at Texas, which automatically made him eligible to make the 2024 Xfinity Series Playoffs. Since the Texas victory, Mayer proceeded to finish in the top four during his next four of six starts before he recently won at Iowa Speedway amid an overtime shootout and a late battle against Riley Herbst.

Through 99 previous Xfinity starts, Mayer has achieved six victories, two poles, 32 top-five results, 52 top-10 results, 396 laps led and an average-finishing result of 15.1 as he continues his pursuit for his first Xfinity Series championship.

Sam Mayer is scheduled to make his 100th Xfinity Series career start at New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the Sci Aps 200 this upcoming Saturday, June 22, as the event’s air time will commence at 3:30 p.m. ET on USA Network.

Cadillac aiming to sustain momentum

By
Official Release
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The Glen next up for important six-hour race in the championship picture

DETROIT (June 19, 2024) – Three races totaling 31 hours, 40 minutes are packed into June for Cadillac Racing, which concludes its two continent IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and FIA World Endurance Championship journey this weekend at Watkins Glen International.

The Sahlen’s 6 Hours of The Glen is the third of five rounds of IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup, which is paced in points by the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R. Cadillac is tied for the top in the Manufacturer Cup.

The No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R will employ full-season drivers Sebastien Bourdais and Renger van der Zande, while the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R will have regulars Pipo Derani and Jack Aitken joined by endurance driver Tom Blomqvist for the six-hour race on the 3.4-mile, 11-turn Watkins Glen International road course.

“The last two years I’ve scored a pole position, second place, and a third-place finish, so this year it would be fantastic to finally reach that top step,” Blomqvist said. “Pipo and Jack are locked in a championship fight for the overall championship, and we currently lead the Endurance Cup standings, so I will be giving my all to help the team.”

A 90-minute practice session is scheduled for Friday and another Saturday preceding the 15-minute qualifying round. The No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R has qualified on the pole in three of the five races, and the No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R won the Long Beach race from the pole.

The No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R started and finished second at The Glen in 2023, while the No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R placed fifth in the inaugural season of GTP. Cadillac won the 2017 race in its first season of IMSA prototype competition.

Four of the drivers are coming off competition in the Hypercar class of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in which Bourdais and van der Zande, joined by six-time INDYCAR champion Scott Dixon, started on the front row for Cadillac’s highest position ever in the race. The No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R, with Derani and Aitken joined by 2022 F2 champion Felipe Drugovich, started 18th. The sister No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R – a full-time FIA World Endurance Championship entry – started and finished seventh in the iconic endurance race.

The month started with the Chevrolet Detroit Sports Car Classic.

Peacock will provide flag-to-flag streaming of qualifications (3:25 p.m. ET Saturday) and the race (11 a.m. Sunday) in the U.S., while IMSA.TV will stream to a global audience. USA will telecast the first half of the race starting at 11 a.m. imsaradio.com and RadioLeaMans.com will broadcast qualifying and the race.

‘No Perfect Formula’
Documentary chronicles Cadillac Racing’s first year of Grand Touring Prototype/Hypercar competition on its road to the 24 Hours of Le Mans after a 21-year absence. WATCH

Race car versus road car
Sebastien Bourdais and the No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R put some high-powered road cars to the test in a drag race. WATCH

What they’re saying

No. 01 Cadillac V-Series.R

Sebastien Bourdais: “The biggest issue we had last year is we only went for durability and homologation purposes with that car and most everybody else not having the double program of IMSA and Le Mans went testing and had a leg up on us. It proved quite challenging and we struggled, but I think we have a better understanding of what the car needs and what it likes and doesn’t like to try to not repeat the weekend. It’s a long stretch from Detroit to Test Day to Le Mans to Watkins and hard on the crew. We just need a slightly different approach and a stronger baseline, so hopefully we’ll hit the ground running.”

Renger van der Zande: “We’re coming to Watkins Glen with a bit of a revenge taste after not having a strong performance there last year. It’s a flowing and high-speed track, which is like Le Mans so for that we’re still in the groove. It is an important race in the championship, so it’s now time to act.”

No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R

Pipo Derani: “We’re going back to a place where we were strong but not the strongest., so we’re hoping to take a step forward. Obviously, last year the qualifying was canceled because of rain so we started the race second and wound up finishing second. It will be a critical point of the championship, so as we enter the second half of the championship hopefully by then it will be clearer – different from last year — the ones who will have a better chance to fight for the championship. Watkins being a long race, it will be important for us to get through it without any issues. With limited track time in practice, we need to maximize the time. That can be beneficial for the race.”

Jack Aitken: “It’s a track that rewards being on it from the word go, so getting enough practice time between us really is what sways it. (coming off Le Mans and into another endurance race) I think everybody is going to be a bit fatigued, so it’s going to take a bit of extra vigilance to watch out for each other and we have the processes in place to avoid where mistakes can creep in. Quite a few of our competitors will go through something similar.”

Tom Blomqvist: “I’m really excited to be joining back up with Action Express Racing and Cadillac Racing for the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen alongside Pipo and Jack. Watkins is one of the highlight races of the season, it’s such a fantastic track and it’s so much fun to drive. The last two years I’ve scored a pole position, second place, and a third-place finish, so this year it would be fantastic to finally reach that top step. Pipo and Jack are locked in a championship fight for the overall championship, and we currently lead the Endurance Cup standings, so I will be giving my all to help the team. After a difficult past month for me personally, to be returning to a championship that I love competing in makes me very motivated and I can’t wait to get back in the paddock and hit the ground running.”

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