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TWO-TIME TOP FUEL CHAMP BRITTANY AFTER MORE VMP MAGIC AT PLAYNHRA VIRGINIA NATIONALS

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Official Release
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DINWIDDIE, Va. (June 18, 2024) – The last time Brittany Force was at Virginia Motorsports Park, the Top Fuel standout was obliterating track records in Richmond en route to a victory in 2022 and, ultimately, her second world championship in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.

Returning to the standout facility in 2024 for this weekend’s PlayNHRA Virginia Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park, Force hopes to recreate some of that magic and return to the winner’s circle for the first time since her 2022 championship season.

The team made strides two weeks ago in Bristol, advancing to the semifinals, and she has plenty of good history in Richmond, going 3.654-seconds at 335.82 mph two years ago on her way to the winner’s circle. Force is preparing to race in warmer conditions in her 11,000-horsepower HendrickCars.com/Chevrolet dragster, as she also gets ready to tackle the unique, first-time schedule that will feature three qualifying sessions on Saturday.

“Our recent improvements, particularly at Bristol, have boosted our confidence and morale,” Force said. “We’re eager to build on that momentum and showcase our progress in Richmond. 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, and we are hoping for a positive outcome.”

In 2022, Force (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all won in Richmond and this year’s event will again be broadcast on FS1, including eliminations at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 23. It is the ninth of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA season and PlayNHRA Virginia Nationals is the first time in NHRA history where all four pro categories (Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle) will take part in three qualifying sessions on Saturday.

That makes for an action-packed weekend for Force, who is also competing in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday, taking on reigning world champion and points leader Doug Kalitta in a semifinal rematch from Bristol. The other pairing features Bristol winner Tony Schumacher and Clay Millican. Those runs will take place during the second qualifying session of the day, with the winners meeting in the final qualifying session with a bonus purse and bonus championship points on the line.

Currently 10th in the loaded Top Fuel category, Force is also looking to make a move over the next two weekends in Richmond and Norwalk. It won’t be easy, taking on the likes of Justin Ashley and Shawn Langdon, who each have two wins this season, Antron Brown, Steve Torrence and Top Fuel newcomer Tony Stewart, but Force believes her team is headed in the right direction heading into an important time of the year.

The team has pushed through early-season difficulties, including a rare DNQ in Chicago, and the payoff for the perseverance could come this weekend at Virginia Motorsports Park.

“We’re excited to return to Richmond with HendrickCars.com as our primary sponsor coming out of a strong weekend in Bristol,” Force said. “After a semifinal 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 team has made some progress on the track and we know we are starting to see results on race day.”

Austin Prock took over Funny Car driving duties for Hight at the start of the 2024 season and has enjoyed instant success, picking up two event wins and the points lead. He’ll look to keep rolling against defending world champ Matt Hagan, 16-time world champion John Force, J.R. Todd, Bob Tasca III, three-time world champ Ron Capps.

Returning to Virginia in 2024 is Pro Stock, which is led by points leader Dallas Glenn. There’s a host of standout competitors, including reigning and six-time world champ Erica Enders, and five-time champs Greg Anderson and Jeg Coughlin Jr.

Former Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Smith will be seeking another win from Virginia Motorsports Park. Last year saw the reign of current champion Gaige Herrera. He won 11 races last year and is undefeated so far in 2024, racing to four race wins. Others to watch include Chase Van Sant and Angie Smith.

Back in Richmond will be the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+. The fan-favorite class will take to the track and will be joined by top competitors in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, the Pingel NHRA Top Fuel Motorcycle Series and Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Mountain Motor Pro Stock

Fans will also be invited all weekend long to the Nitro Alley Stage, which is the main entertainment hub in the pits, hosting Nitro School, meet and greets, music and much more. Race fans at VMP can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce and celebrate each of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and includes the fan favorite SealMaster Track Walk. The final can’t-miss experience of any NHRA event is the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday after racing concludes, where fans are invited to congratulate the event winners.

As always, fans also get an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet in Richmond. This opportunity gives fans a unique chance to see teams in action and service their hot rods between rounds, get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers, and more. Fans can also visit NHRA’s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, an exciting atmosphere that includes interactive displays, merchandise, food and fun for the entire family.

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying features three rounds of action on Saturday, June 22 at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. ET, with eliminations beginning at 12 p.m. on Sunday, June 23. Television coverage includes qualifying action at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday and Sunday. Finals coverage starts at 5 p.m. on Sunday on FS1.

To purchase tickets to the PlayNHRA Virginia Nationals on June 21-23 at Virginia Motorsports Park, visit https://nhra.com/tickets. All children 12 and under will be admitted free in the general admission area with a paid adult. For more information about NHRA, including the full 2024 schedule, visit www.NHRA.com.

About Mission Foods

MISSION®, owned by GRUMA, S.A.B. de C.V., is the world’s leading brand for tortillas and wraps. MISSION® is also globally renowned for flatbreads, dips, salsas and Mexican food products. With presence in over 112 countries, MISSION® products are suited to the lifestyles and the local tastes of each country. With innovation and customer needs in mind, MISSION® focuses on the highest quality, authentic flavors, and providing healthy options that families and friends can enjoy together. For more information, please visit https://www.missionfoods.com/

About NHRA

NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 20 national events featuring the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+, NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™, NHRA Holley EFI Factory X and Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock at select national events. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With 110 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Handling Car Accidents: Top Ways a Lawyer Can Assist You

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SM
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Photo by August de Richelieu

Car accidents are impossible to predict. They happen suddenly, often without warning. Statistics show that tens of people die each day on American roads due to road traffic collisions. While the likelihood of dying in a motor accident is slim, injuries are almost guaranteed. Some people develop physical injuries while others develop mental ones. If you have been involved in an accident or just want to know what to do if you ever do end up dragged into one, this post has you covered. Here are some top tips for handling car accidents and some ways a lawyer can assist you.

Fighting for Compensation

A lawyer will be able to assist you in fighting for compensation. Compensation is a type of payment that’s made to the victims of accidents, so they can continue living comfortable lives with their injuries. A Macon car accident lawyer, or a lawyer that’s based in the town or city that you live in, will be able to work with you to price your claim, and then formalize it. When searching for a lawyer, make sure you look at reviews. A lawyer’s reviews will be able to help you decide whether they are the right choice for you or not. Make sure that in addition to reviews, you take time to find an attorney whose services are competitively priced. Always think about budget when hiring an attorney, even if they offer their support on a no-win-no-fee arrangement.

Determining Fault

In order to obtain compensation, you are going to first need to determine fault. The process of determining fault involves identifying the person responsible for causing an accident. Until fault has been determined, a claim cannot be formalized. The process of determining fault typically involves gathering and going through evidence until a guilty driver can be identified. If you have any evidence to support your claim, you should give it over to your attorney right away. The sooner you submit evidence to them, the faster you’ll be able to launch your claim. Bear in mind that in most states, the statute of limitations on personal injury claims is two years. You need to start your claim within two years from the date the accident occurred, otherwise, you will forfeit your right to compensation and won’t be able to claim it.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio

Negotiating with Insurers

When you make a claim for compensation, you have to deal with insurance adjusters. Adjusters are hired by insurance companies to investigate and argue down people’s claims. The average person’s negotiation skills are nowhere near good enough to be able to deal with adjusters. Insurance adjusters are highly trained and very good at their jobs. A lawyer will be able to represent you and negotiate on your behalf. You won’t have to worry about arguing with them if you have a lawyer on your side. When you are choosing a lawyer, be sure to hire one who has a professional manner. The more professional a lawyer’s manner is, and the firmer they are, the better they’ll be at negotiating. Also, take a look at your chosen lawyer’s reviews and see if any feedback has been left by customers who delve into their negotiation skills and ability to argue on their client’s behalf.

Obtaining Evidence

A lawyer will help you to obtain evidence that can be used to support your claim. The average person has no idea what constitutes sufficient evidence in a personal injury case. Supplying the wrong evidence can lead to your case being dismissed. In terms of the acquisition of evidence, you do not necessarily need to wait for a lawyer to start gathering it. The best kind of evidence you can get is videography. Video evidence can prove your accident happened the way that you said it did. Make sure that your vehicle always has a dash cam equipped to it so that you can catch accidents in real time. If you are unable to capture accidents in real-time, after one has taken place, make sure that you get out with your camera and start filming everything. If you are unable to do this, ask the people you’re with to do it for you. You can also ask witnesses to take photos and videos if you are unable to and do not have any people in your car with you.

Focusing On Recovery

After an accident, you need to focus on your recovery. If you do not put emphasis on getting better, you might not be able to get back to normal life for a little while. An attorney will be able to work with you to ensure that you get the best medical care and that your medical expenses are paid for. Any expenses incurred because of your injuries can be charged to the offending party’s insurance company. Make sure to keep all receipts of medical care so that you can claim the money back. If you are not sure who to go to for medical help after an accident, get in touch with your lawyer. The chances are that your lawyer will have the names of contact information of reliable and trusted doctors in your area.

Disability Benefits

Finally, if you have been injured in a car accident, you might want to claim disability benefits. Disability benefits for government benefits paid to people who are too sick to work. Many people after car accidents are unable to return to work because of physical or mental injuries that they have sustained. Disability benefits will pay you monthly, ensuring that you’re able to maintain bill payments and continue living a comfortable life until you receive your compensation payment. If you are too injured to be able to go back to work after your compensation payment is made, you can continue claiming disability benefits. An attorney will be able to work with you to make your claim for disability benefits. The average person has nowhere near enough knowledge to be able to get through the claim process themselves. Bear in mind that there are physical examinations involved as part of the disability claim process, so you need to make sure that you are truthful and honest throughout.

Lawyers can assist you in handling car accident claims. If you plan on making one, use the guidance given here. Make sure to read a lawyer’s reviews before you work with them and always think about cost. You need the best lawyer you can, so don’t cut corners when it comes to finding one.

Tips and Strategies to Improve Your Wins in Fun88 Online Casino

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SM
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The advanced features in online casinos attract millions of players all over the world. Strategic gameplay improves winning chances and enhances your online casino experience. It has a tradition of offering promotional rewards to attract new players and retain existing players. These bonuses increase your finance limit and enhance your overall gaming experience. 

Gameplay Requirements

The graphics and gameplay in online fun88 casino greatly affect the gaming experience. Designed high-quality graphics provide a more engaging and immersive experience. Knowing how these elements work together can provide a strategic advantage.

Interface

A well-designed game will have intuitive controls and clear instructions. There are free-play demo options for players to practice different games without spending their real money. It provides an opportunity for the players to try different games and learn mechanisms.

Free Bonus

Welcome bonuses are the common rewards in online casinos. It is given to new players after they sign up and make a minimum deposit. Look for bonuses with practical betting requirements to increase your chances of winning.

Rewards

Most of the online casino platforms provide extra promotions including reload bonuses, cashback offers, and free spins for players. Another method to use promotional rewards is through loyalty programs and VIP clubs. Such programs allow regular players to earn points like cash, bonuses, or other incentives. Consider joining these programs to utilize the benefits and improve your wins.

Accessibility

The accessibility feature could greatly affect your online gaming experience. It helps players to access the web page and find their favorite games easily. Most online casinos have made their platforms more accessible for mobile devices. It offers trusted apps and responsive website designs to provide a seamless experience for players.

Payment methods

Prioritizing safety and security are important while doing transactions in online casinos. Look for platforms that provide payment methods like credit cards, e-wallets, and bank transfers. 

Ensure a timeline for the withdrawal processing times, or how long you will need to wait until you can access your winnings. A smooth banking system will improve your overall gaming experience.

Customer support

A reliable customer support service is important to fix problems and issues on time. Select the right online casino that offers support through communication channels including live chat, email, and phone support. 

Easy user design

Look for online fun88 casinos that have a clear and intuitive design. An organized layout contains simple menus and separate sections for specific games. It helps users to locate their favorite games and reduces the downtimes between sessions. 

Customization

The online casino provides an option to adjust numerous in-game settings ranging from sound adjustments to the quality of animations. Customize these settings according to your taste to get a more comfortable and enjoyable gaming experience. 

Look for a seamless sign-up process or social media integrated or biometric sign-up option to save time and reduce friction.

Budget

Use the resources available on the online casino platform to manage your bankroll in the long run. There is an array of adaptable features such as deposit limits, loss limits, and session time reminders.

What went down in the NASCAR Cup Series Iowa Corn 350 powered by Ethanol

By
SM Staff
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Photo by Ron Olds for Speedwaymedia.com

Ryan Blaney won the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) inaugural Iowa Corn 350 powered by Ethanol. Blaney led a career-high 201 laps to capture his first win of the season, 11th career on Sunday night. With this win, Blaney also clinched a spot in the Cup playoffs for the eighth straight season and captured Ford’s third NCS win of the season, which was 731st all-time.

Photo by Ron Olds for Speedwaymedia.com

Following a pit stop after the second stage, Blaney restarted 10th and worked his way up to second with less than 100 laps to go. On Lap 260, Blaney and his crew made a two-tire stop, giving Blaney the race lead off of pit road with 84 laps to go in the race. Blaney held the lead over second-place William Byron by .716 of a second for his first win in 2024, and Team Penske’s 95th series win with Ford.

“What a cool way to win here,” Blaney said. “This place means a lot to me and means a lot to my mom. We had a lot of people here tonight cheering us on, so they willed us to that one. Overall, I really appreciate the 12 boys. I mean, our car was really fast all night, and we got a little bit better through the night, and two tires was a good call there. I didn’t know how well I was going to hold on. I started to struggle a little bit at the end but had enough to hang on. I’m super proud of the effort.”

Race Notes

  • The race was divided into three stages (70 laps/140 laps/140 laps) for the Inaugural Iowa Corn 350 powered by Ethanol at Iowa Speedway in Newton (.875-mile oval). Race winner Blaney also won Stage 1 and Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson won Stage 2. The race had eight caution periods for 49 laps, with 14 drivers on the lead lap. Third-place finisher Chase Elliott takes over the series points lead by eight points over teammate Kyle Larson, who finished 34th after contact from Suarez on Lap 220.

What went down behind Blaney

Polesitter Larson won Stage 2 after battling back from a rear tire issue. But on Lap 220, Suarez sent the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Camaro ZL1 spinning into the outside wall on the front stretch, also collecting Denny Hamlin. Larson went down 36 laps and finished 34th, and he also lost the series points lead to teammate Elliott with nine races remaining.

William Byron led the Chevrolet teams with a runner-up finish in his Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 Liberty University Camaro ZL1 for his sixth top-five finish of the season.

Photo by Ron Olds for Speedwaymedia.com

Elliott, driving the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Camaro ZL1, finished in the third position.

“Our balance was just right, and I thought all day we had really good long run pace, he said. “I just really struggled to get going on restarts, and just was really loose and couldn’t. Just felt like I couldn’t attack like I needed to and just lost a lot of ground. Could make good pace there at the end of a run with our NAPA Chevy, just needed to be a little closer I think to keep the pressure on and keep things rolling.”

Christopher Bell finished fourth in a backup car. After starting in the rear of the field, Bell battled back to a fourth-place finish, his fifth top-five of the season, and his fourth consecutive top-10 for Joe Gibbs Racing.

“Yeah, I mean, a top-five, is a good day,” Bell said. “Obviously, we had pace to be better than that, so that’s why I’m sitting here with mixed emotions. Great effort, and if we keep bringing cars like that, hopefully, it’ll be our day one of these times.”

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. finished fifth.

“We had a little mishap on pit road that set us back again to kind of that back row, so, we had to battle back from that,” Stenhouse explained. “Really wanted to go battle (Ryan) Blaney there. We got to second, just got a little too loose, and couldn’t hold those guys off. Really cool to do a Cup race here in Iowa after all our success and to do it in front of a great crowd.”

Joey Logano, driving the No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse, finished sixth after a two-tire pitstop call and reflected on his day.

“We put ourselves in position there to win the race with the two-tire call,” he said. I just didn’t re-fire good on two. I tried to race Blaney and couldn’t hold him off and then I just kind of got swallowed up by a couple cars pretty quick. We just didn’t have enough fire-off. I think if I could have got out front, I probably would have been OK, but I couldn’t get out there.”

Josh Berry started third, led twice for 32 laps, and finished 7th for his third top-10 of the season. “That was a lot of fun, for sure. We’re going to keep digging to keep getting better,” said Berry.

Brad Keselowski finished in 10th place and captured his ninth top-10 of the season. “Our car was really good on the long runs. I liked that long run, but the short runs we just didn’t have enough speed,” Keselowski explained.

Martin Truex Jr. went down a lap early in the race but battled back for a 15th-place finish. Daniel Hemric had early contact with front nose problems and then a toe link and finished 29th.

Kyle Busch started 7th but had mechanical problems, resulting in a 35th-place finish.

“We had a strong zone Chevrolet today at Iowa Speedway but didn’t get to finish the race. Something broke in the left-rear suspension,” a disappointed Busch explained. “I don’t know if it was a toe link or what it was, but it changed the skew of the back of the car, and it was just undrivable doing that. We came in and fixed it. Rolling back out, we broke the belt, and I had no power steering. I have no idea why, but it was frustrating, for sure.”

The No. 16 Action Industries Camaro ZL1, driven by AJ Allmendinger, sustained damage after a tire issue in the first stage and finished 36th.

What’s Next

The NASCAR Cup Series heads to New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the 18th race of the season on Sunday, June 23, at 2:30 p.m. ET. The USA Today 301 coverage will be on the USA Network, PRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Stewart-Haas Racing: New Hampshire NXS Advance (Cole Custer | Riley Herbst)

By
Official Release
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COLE CUSTER | RILEY HERBST
New Hampshire NASCAR Xfinity Series Advance
NASCAR Xfinity Series Overview

  • Event: Sci Aps 200 (Round 16 of 33)
  • Date: Saturday, June 22
  • Location: New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon
  • Layout: 1.058-mile oval
  • Time/TV/Radio: 3:30 p.m. EDT on USA/PRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Cole Custer Notes of Interest

  • After two weekends on his West Coast home turf and one weekend in the Midwest, Cole Custer is excited to head back to New England for Saturday’s Sci Aps 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon. In the midst of a three-race top-10 streak and top-10s in 12 of the last 13 races, the driver of the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang Dark Horse looks to keep the momentum going at one of his favorite tracks. In this latest three-race stretch, Custer finished sixth June 1 at Portland (Ore.) International Raceway, ninth June 8 at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway, and sixth last Saturday at Iowa Speedway in Newton. His nine consecutive top-10s that began with his runner-up finish March 2 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway through his third-place finish May 11 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway remains the longest top-10 streak in the Xfinity Series this season. Custer appeared to be heading for his 10th top-10 in a row May 25 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway when contact with Austin Hill while running third forced him to the sidelines just 26 laps shy of the checkered flag. Custer wasted no time bouncing right back with his top-10 at Portland.
  • Saturday’s Sci Aps 200 will mark Custer’s fifth Xfinity Series start at New Hampshire. In his three prior starts from 2017 to 2019 before his return to the Xfinity Series last season, he never finished outside the top-10 there. His best result was a second-place in 2019, when he was bested only by race-winner Christopher Bell. In last year’s race at the 1.058-mile oval, Custer qualified sixth and looked to be well on his way to another top-10 when contact with another car on the last lap forced him to settle for a 22nd-place finish. Custer also has eight New Hampshire starts outside of the Xfinity Series – four in the NASCAR Cup Series, three in the NASCAR Truck Series, and one in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series. Two of those were wins – the 2014 Truck Series race and the 2013 K&N Pro Series race.
  • This season marks the 10-year anniversary of Custer’s first career NASCAR win, which took place at New Hampshire. On Sept. 20, 2014, a 16-year-old Custer won from the pole in his seventh career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start at the track nicknamed the “Magic Mile.” He bested second-place Bubba Wallace by 1.148 seconds. The win came as Custer was running a part-time schedule in the series, and he finished no worse 14th in his first seven starts. His victory also etched his name in the history books as the youngest race winner in NASCAR national series history at 16 years, seven months, and 28 days.
  • In addition to Saturday’s Xfinity Series race at New Hampshire, Custer will also get behind the wheel in Thursday’s Vermont Governor’s Cup presented by the Vermont Lottery at the Thunder Road Speedbowl in Barre, Vermont. He’ll proudly display Andy’s Frozen Custard on the hood of his Ford Mustang for Dale Shaw Racecars during Thursday night’s Late Model race. One of Custer’s manager at Clear28 Agency and childhood best friend, Brandon McReynolds, will serve as his spotter for the race.

Riley Herbst Notes of Interest

  • Riley Herbst is also looking to keep the momentum rolling as he and the No. 98 Monster Energy team for Stewart-Haas Racing head to the Northeast’s “Magic Mile” for Saturday’s Sci Aps 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon. The Midwest was kind to the Las Vegas native as he brought home his second runner-up finish of the 2024 season last Saturday on the .875-mile Iowa Speedway oval in Newton. After qualifying was cancelled due to weather, Herbst started 12th for the 250-lap race, from where he quickly moved forward and held position in the top-10 for a majority of the first stage until a close call with another car put him back in the field. Herbst again drove forward for an eighth-place finish in Stage 2. Herbst encountered another setback when the nose of his racecar sustained right-front damage from contact with another car coming off pit road, forcing him to return to pit road for repairs and leaving him with a restart well outside the top-25. Yet again, Herbst took advantage of the speed of his racecar over the final stage by climbing into the top-10, then securing a spot in the top-five. On a late-race restart, Herbst took a gamble by choosing the bottom lane, which had yet to work for a driver throughout the race, in favor of a front-row starting spot. He passed leader John Hunter Nemechek on the restart and held the point for the next seven laps. Then, on the final green-white-checkered restart, Herbst and Sam Mayer waged an epic battle for the win with Mayer crossing the finish line just .146 of a second ahead of Herbst. It was Herbst’s second top-10 in three races, the first coming by way of a 10th-place finish June 1 at Portland (Ore.) International Raceway.
  • Saturday’s race at New Hampshire will mark Herbst’s fourth at the 1.058-mile oval. Best of his prior three visits resulted in a 10th-place finish in his first start there in July 2021. He also has two New Hampshire starts outside of the Xfinity Series, both in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East in 2018 and 2019. He finished fourth and sixth, respectively.
  • During last July’s Xfinity Series race at New Hampshire, Herbst qualified 14th for the scheduled 200-lap event. While he had momentum and speed throughout the race, the team’s strategy put him in a good position for the final stage. Herbst looked to be headed for a top-three finish as the race was coming to a close, but contact with the No. 10 car of Austin Dillon during the green-white-checkered finish relegated Herbst to a 20th-place finish, his second top-20 in three career starts at New Hampshire.
  • This upcoming week marks the first anniversary of Herbst working with his crew chief Davin Restivo, who first climbed atop the pitbox for the No. 98 team last June 24 at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway in the 15th Xfinity Series race of the season. Herbst had been working with Richard Boswell as his crew chief since his arrival at Stewart-Haas Racing in 2021, while Restivo was an engineer for the No. 10 Stewart-Haas Cup Series team and the crew chief for Aric Almirola’s June 2023 Xfinity Series win at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway. In their first weekend together, the Herbst and Restive earned a solid second-place finish at Nashville. While bad luck found them in the following weeks as they continued to learn to work together, they made steady progress and ultimately collaborated on Herbst’s first career Xfinity Series win in October at his hometown Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Though not among the 2023 Xfinity Series playoff field, the No. 98 team earned more points than any other team in the Round of 8. In addition to the Las Vegas victory, the duo has now earned 18 top-10 finishes.

Cole Custer, Driver of the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Your statistics at New Hampshire are strong across all of the NASCAR national touring series, including wins in the Truck Series and K&N Pro Series East. How do you feel coming into this weekend’s race?

“Honestly, I love going to New Hampshire. I love seeing the fans up there because of how hardcore they are and just how excited they are for NASCAR to come back to town. This track is a very technical and difficult racetrack for a driver, though. It can be very awkward and challenging to drive because of the flatter turns. Overall, that’s what makes it fun for us, but it throws an extra curveball in there if your car isn’t handling just right. We’ve been searching for a win all season and while we’ve been close, I think we just need that little bit more to find it. I’m hoping that the No. 00 Haas Automation team can put a strong weekend together so we can park our Ford Mustang Dark Horse in victory lane.”

This will mark the 10 year anniversary of your first career NASCAR national series victory, which took place at New Hampshire back in 2014. How much more special would it be to win this weekend in light of that milestone?

“It would mean a lot. It’s weird to think that I’ve really been in this sport for over 10 years. That first win really cemented my name in the history books and helped catapult my career. I’ll never forget the feeling of parking in victory lane for the first time. Not everyone makes it there, so you have to take it all in. To also be the youngest winner in NASCAR’s top three series is still surreal. This is somewhere that I really want to win at again, so to come back in the Xfinity Series and win would be awesome. We had the speed there last year, but that accident took us out of contention for a good finish. We’ve had a strong season so far but we haven’t found victory lane. I’m confident in the team that we can bring a fast car to New Hampshire. To win on the 10-year anniversary of that win would just make it that much better.”

Riley Herbst, Driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang Dark Horse

You’ve had three prior starts at New Hampshire with a best finish of 10th. What do you think you’ll see this weekend at a track that has been so difficult in the past?

“The plan is very simple this weekend– survive and run up front. We’ve struggled at New Hampshire the past few years, so I really hope that we can get back on track, earn another career-best finish, and go for the win. It’s a very flat track that’s just a little over a mile. It’s similar to Martinsville but still so much different. It’s one of those tracks that I’ve struggled to wrap my head around in the past. New Hampshire has always been a fun track for me, but we got involved in a wreck two years ago that wasn’t of our own doing and then had issues last year, as well. We have the speed to run well, so hopefully you’ll see that this weekend and we can find our way to victory lane.”

We’re closing in on the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs with just 11 races to go until they kick off Sept. 28 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City. You’re sitting in a solid position to point your way into the postseason, but what’s your outlook as you weigh the points racing versus going for wins?

“You always want to win your way into the playoffs. Win and you’re in. Still, that doesn’t mean that we just throw points racing out the window. We’ve been in strong positions before that have allowed us to point our way into the playoffs, and it’s nothing to ignore. You have to balance it. Each weekend, we’re going to be going for wins, but you also have to look at the stage points you can gain to help extend that gap between you and the cutline. I think we’ve done a great job of that this season so far. Obviously, not making the playoffs last year stung, so we’ve been doing everything in our power to make sure that we don’t have to experience that heartbreak again. Hopefully we can win soon and put all the points racing to bed, but we’ll see how the next few races play out.”

Kaulig Racing Strikes with Go Bowling Partnership

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Official Release
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AJ Allmendinger to Drive the No. 13 Go Bowling Camaro ZL1 at Watkins Glen

Lexington, N.C. (June 18, 2024) – Kaulig Racing and Go Bowling announce a primary partnership on the No. 13 Camaro ZL1 driven by AJ Allmendinger at Watkins Glen International.

In addition to serving as the primary partner on the No. 13 Chevrolet, Go Bowling will be the presenting partner of the Go Bowling at The Glen NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) Race at Watkins Glen International on September 15, 2024.

“We’re thrilled to kick off this partnership with AJ and the Kaulig Racing team,” said John Harbuck, President of Strike Ten Entertainment. “Bowling and NASCAR align perfectly as both have passionate and loyal fan bases. AJ has already made a huge impact with our fans having just won our Go Bowling PBA NASCAR Invitational, a celebrity bowling event we staged at the Phoenix Raceway earlier this season. We can’t wait to see AJ on the bowling lanes and on the track at our Go Bowling at The Glen Playoff Race in September!”

Allmendinger’s first-ever NCS victory came at Watkins Glen International Raceway in 2014. Since then, the California Native has made six NCS starts at the track earning six top-10 starting positions, three top five and four top-10 finishes. In his last two NCS starts at the track with Kaulig Racing, he earned a runner-up finish and a fourth-place finish.

“It’s always special for me going back to Watkins Glen,” said AJ Allmendinger. “I’m excited to get there and have Go Bowling on the Cup car. This is a fun partnership; I had a blast in the PBA NASCAR Invitational at Phoenix in the spring. I actually used to be on a bowling league growing up, so it’s cool to have bowling cross paths with my racing career now.”

The No. 13 Go Bowling Camaro ZL1 will be on track Sunday, September 15 for the Go Bowling at The Glen at 3 PM ET on USA.
 
About Strike Ten Entertainment and GoBowling.com:

Headquartered in Arlington, Texas, Strike Ten Entertainment is the centralized sponsor-activation and casual bowling marketing arm of the International Bowling Campus (IBC) which includes the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) and the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America (BPAA). Strike Ten Entertainment serves the entire IBC by coordinating the sponsorship sales and casual bowling marketing initiatives. GoBowling.com is the destination for bowling consumers and enthusiasts seeking news and information about one of America’s favorite pastimes and the nation’s number one participatory sport. Consumers visit GoBowling.com every day to find bowling centers in their communities, learn new tips and techniques to improve their game, and to access bowling promotions available at more than 1,700+ family-friendly bowling centers across the country. For additional information please visit www.STEMarketing.com or call 1-817-385-8444.

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.

Mohawk Northeast Racing: Ryan Preece New Hampshire Advance

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Official Release
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RYAN PREECE
New Hampshire Advance
No. 41 Mohawk Northeast 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

● Ryan Preece is heading home to New England for Sunday’s USA Today 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon. The native of Berlin, Connecticut, has one win in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at the 1.058-mile oval, just a two-hour, 45-minute drive from his hometown. Preece has five NASCAR Cup Series starts at New Hampshire with a best finish of 16th, scored in August 2020 for JTG Daugherty Racing. He qualified 21st and finished 28th there in July 2023 in his first year with Stewart-Haas Racing.

● Preece has five New Hampshire starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with a pair of top-three finishes in his most recent outings driving for Joe Gibbs Racing. He started sixth and finished second with a pair of laps led in July 2017, then returned the following July to start third and finish third with six laps led.

● Preece arrives at New Hampshire on the heels of last weekend’s inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race at Iowa Speedway in Newton, where he started 29th and charged to 16th in the opening 30 laps to become one of the top-three biggest movers in the race. An untimely pit stop in the latter stages of the race, however, left him with a 27th-place finish.

● Preece is set to make his NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour comeback at New Hampshire this weekend. Driving the No. 40 for his family-owned outfit, Ryan Preece Racing, he’ll compete in Saturday’s Mohegan Sun 100 at 6:30 p.m. EDT, airing on FloRacing. The 2013 Modified Tour champion has 26 New Hampshire starts in the series with a 2021 victory there to go with eight top-fives and 14 top-10s.

● Before NASCAR Cup Series practice and qualifying Saturday, Preece will walk a lap around the 1.058-mile oval with fans. The Speedway Children’s Charities Track Walk Presented by NBT Bank, which supports children in need, starts at 8 a.m. EDT. Cost is $25 per person with children 12 and under admitted free with a paying adult. Registration is available online (click here), or in-person between 7-8 a.m. at event check-in located in front of the facility’s bath house, across from the infield tunnel entrance.

● Joining Preece and the No. 41 Ford Mustang Dark Horse at New Hampshire is Mohawk Northeast. This weekend marks Mohawk’s first race of 2024 as the primary partner on the No. 41 Ford Mustang Dark Horse. A longtime supporter of Preece, Mohawk is one of the premier heavy-civil contractors in the Northeast. The corporation has been providing the highest-quality construction services to a wide variety of clients. Specializing in heavy highway, railroad, movable and fixed bridges and marine construction, Mohawk has completed countless projects within industry safely, on time and within budget. Mohawk can self-perform all phases of construction, including electrical, mechanical, structural steel repair and erection, deep foundations, pier and bulkheads, fabrication and coating (AISC & SSPC Certified), and a wide range of marine services. With an extensive fleet of cranes, barges, offshore tugboats and many other pieces of heavy equipment, Mohawk is a well-established leader in heavy civil construction. Clients include the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, USACE, General Dynamics – Electric Boat, Connecticut DOT, Massachusetts DOT, New York DOT, Metro North Railroad, Amtrak, and various private sector clients.

Ryan Preece, Driver of the No. 41 Mohawk Northeast Ford Mustang Dark Horse

How much are you looking forward to heading back to New Hampshire? Your hometown is less than three hours from the racetrack.

“I was born and raised in the Northeast, so I love going there. I love the fans. I love the campground. I love everything about that racetrack. I grew up going to races at New Hampshire and there’s really no place like it. The atmosphere is incredible.”

Do you feel the support from people in the Northeast when you race at New Hampshire?

“Yep, for sure. I’ve won a lot of races in the Northeast, and it’s home, so driver introductions are pretty good to me there. I’m really looking forward being in New Hampshire, and hopefully we’re able to have a solid run in our Mohawk Ford Mustang Dark Horse. The support means the world to me. I had to fight to get to where I am, and I don’t take any of it for granted.”

You’ve had a lot of success at New Hampshire. What will it take to have a strong run in Sunday’s USA Today 301?

“I think, for me, it comes down to having the right balance in our racecar. If we have that in the race, and can go where others aren’t, we’ll be fine. Iowa was tough, balance-wise, but we’re working in the right direction. Qualifying is also really important at this style of racetrack. A good starting spot sets the tone because track position is everything.”

You’re making your first start of the season in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. What are your thoughts about that?

“I’m really excited about it. I’ll be running for my family-owned team, and the Modified Tour is where I made a name for myself. When I won the championship in 2013, I became the youngest champion in that series. I think it’s a good opportunity to build momentum heading into Sunday, and we’ll do everything we can to park the No. 40 (Modified) in victory lane.”

Mohawk has been a longtime supporter of yours. How important has its support been for your career?

“Mohawk is certainly one of the reasons why I’m racing in the Cup Series. They were on the car when I was given a shot to race for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Xfinity Series back in 2017. We finished second at New Hampshire and won Iowa with Mohawk on the car in my first two races with Gibbs, and those races are what ultimately changed my life. They’ve been a great partner and I’m looking forward to having them back on the car this weekend.”

No. 41 Mohawk Northeast Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Ryan Preece

Hometown: Berlin, Connecticut

Crew Chief: Chad Johnston

Hometown: Cayuga, Indiana

Car Chief: Jeremy West

Hometown: Gardena, California

Engineer: Marc Hendricksen

Hometown: Clinton, New Jersey

Spotter: Tony Raines

Hometown: LaPorte, Indiana

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Devin Lester

Hometown: Bluefield, West Virginia

Rear Tire Changer: Austin Chrismon

Hometown: China Grove, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Chad Emmons

Hometown: Tyler, Texas

Jack Man: Sherman Timbs

Hometown: Indianola, Mississippi

Fuel Man: Dwayne Moore

Hometown: Griffin, Georgia

Road Crew Members

Front End Mechanic: Joe Zanolini

Hometown: Sybertsville, Pennsylvania

Interior Mechanic: Robert Dalby

Hometown: Anaheim, California

Tire Specialist: Matt Ridgeway

Hometown: Carrollton, Georgia

Engine Tuner: Jimmy Fife

Hometown: Orange County, California

Transporter Co-Driver: David Rodrigues

Hometown: Santa Clarita, California

Transporter Co-Driver: Charlie Schleyer

Hometown: Youngsville, Pennsylvania

Reser’s Fine Foods Racing: Martin Truex Jr. New Hampshire Advance

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Official Release
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Martin Truex Jr.
New Hampshire Advance
No. 19 Reser’s Fine Foods Toyota Camry XSE for Joe Gibbs Racing

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

● Where We Stand: The New Jersey native sits fifth in the driver standings with 530 points, 61 behind new leader Chase Elliott. All four Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) entries are currently inside the top-11 in the standings with Denny Hamlin third, Christopher Bell eighth and Ty Gibbs 11th as the series heads to New England this weekend.

● Truex is the defending Cup Series winner at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, having scored his first win there in NASCAR’s top series a year ago in a dominating effort in which he led 254 of the 301 race laps. Additionally, Truex has nine top-five finishes and 15 top-10s and has led a total of 1,170 laps in 30 career Cup Series starts at New Hampshire. Truex’s average New Hampshire finish is 11.3.

● History at New Hampshire: Truex has some history at New Hampshire in the NASCAR K&N Series, having scored two of his five series victories at the mile oval.

● Family Ties: Not only has Martin Truex Jr. won at New Hampshire in both the East and Xfinity Series, his dad, Martin Truex Sr., won a East Series race at the track in 1994. Additionally, Martin’s brother Ryan won two East Series races at New Hampshire back in 2010.

● Reser’s returns to New Hampshire this weekend after being featured on Truex’s No. 19 Camry last weekend at Iowa Speedway in Newton. Family owned and operated, Reser’s has been a proud sponsor of good times at racetracks, picnics, and barbecues since 1950 with a family of brands that includes Reser’s American Classics, Main St. Bistro, and more. Reser’s operates 14 facilities in the U.S. and Canada and actively supports the communities it serves. Visit resers.com to learn more.

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

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

Martin Truex Jr., Driver of the No. 19 Reser’s Fine Foods Toyota Camry XSE

It was evident how much winning at New Hampshire last year meant to you. What makes New Hampshire so special for you and your family, and how special was it to get that first Cup win there?

“I spent a lot of my childhood up there and watching my dad race in the North Series up there at New Hampshire. Just spent a lot of time going up to Loudon every summer. And then racing and running well up there was a big part of the reason why I got hired and got to move to North Carolina to run in the Busch Series. It’s just been a special track for me, and to finally get that first Cup win there was huge. Hopefully we can go back-to-back this year and get our Reser’s Fine Foods Camry to victory lane there again.”

What do you think it will take to go back-to-back at New Hampshire?

“It’s a tough place and it’s not gotten any easier since then. The older it gets, the harder it gets. Last year, we saw the track be very different than it’s ever been before. You would always run that second lane and a little bit the third one and sometimes lane one, but at the end of the race last year we were running the fourth and fifth lanes. It was just crazy to see how that old asphalt in the corner came in during the race. It’s a very challenging and unique track, it’s got those seams in between each lane that can make your life miserable in the car if you hit those wrong. It’s crazy how it will change your car and mess up your lap. It’s a very technical track and it’s gotten bumpy over the years as well. It’s flat, has a fast entry and not a lot of grip. New Hampshire is a real challenge but it’s a lot of fun when you get it right. I know all our guys will be ready with our Reser’s Fine Foods Camry this weekend.”

You had so many close calls at New Hampshire prior to finally winning there last year. What was the feeling like to not only have a good race but to also be able to finish it off in victory lane?

“I feel like sometimes the ones you want to win the most are the hardest to get and Loudon was always one I really wanted. It felt great to go to victory lane there and remember what it was like just coming up in my career and going to that victory lane, and all the things that have happened in between kind of crossed my mind, and it was really a special day and moment.”

What does New Hampshire mean to you and your family, starting with your dad’s win there?

“New Hampshire is a big part of my career and our family’s racing history. When my dad got his win there, it was his first big win, and I was 12 when that happened. I grew up going up there for races and seeing the Busch cars and the Cup cars there for the first time ever. The only time I got close to those cars was up there, until I moved to North Carolina to race for a living. A lot of special memories there, and that place was a big reason I finally got the opportunity to move south.”

What are some memories of those times years ago going to New Hampshire as a family?

“The coolest part is that my dad, my brother and I have all won there in the North series. I’ve got a picture of myself, my mom, and my brother sitting in the stands when my dad was out there practicing one year, had to be 1994 or so. I was 14, my brother was probably 2. Just a lot of memories going there. That’s the first place I ever saw Cup cars in person. One of the coolest things I ever got to do was they used to have the combination race where the Busch North guys would get to race against the Busch Series guys who came up from down south. My dad’s car was parked nose-to-nose with Dale Earnhardt’s Busch car and I got to see him under the hood working on the car, and he was my favorite driver as a kid. Just a lot of good memories, that was the first big track I ever got to race on, just a lot of things that made New Hampshire special. I got my first Busch North win there and it kind of put me on the map and put me on the radar to get a job and drive for a living. It was a very important place for me coming up through the ranks.”

No. 19 Reser’s Fine Foods Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Martin Truex Jr.

Hometown: Mayetta, New Jersey

Crew Chief: James Small

Hometown: Melbourne, Australia

Car Chief: Chris Jones

Hometown: Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia

Race Engineer: Jaik Halpainy

Hometown: Blockville, New York

Engineer: Jeff Curtis

Hometown: Fairfax Station, Virginia

Spotter: Drew Herring

Hometown: Benson, North Carolina

Road Crew Members

Underneath Mechanic: Ryan Martin

Hometown: Mechanicsburg, Virgina

Mechanic: Todd Carmichael

Hometown: Redding, California

Interior/Tire Specialist: Tommy DiBlasi

Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland

Engine Tuner: Beau Morton

Hometown: Lake Havasu City, Arizona

Transporter Driver: Kyle Bazzell

Hometown: Fairbury, Illinois

Transporter Driver: Eddie DeGroot

Hometown: Baldwinsville, New York

Over-The-Wall Crew Members

Gas Man: Matt Tyrrell

Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Jackman: Caleb Dirks

Hometown: Riverside, California

Tire Carrier: CJ Bailey

Hometown: Outer Banks, North Carolina

Front Tire Changer: Lee Cunningham

Hometown: Leaf River, Illinois

Rear Tire Changer: Mike Louria

Hometown: Gibraltar, Michigan

Ford Performance NASCAR – 2024 New Hampshire Advance

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Official Release
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NEW HAMPSHIRE

Saturday, June 22 — NASCAR Xfinity Series, 3:30 p.m. ET (USA)
Sunday, June 23 — NASCAR Cup Series, 2:30 p.m. ET (USA)

The regular season rolls on this weekend as two of NASCAR’s top three touring series head to New England as New Hampshire Motor Speedway hosts the NASCAR Xfinity and NASCAR Cup Series this weekend. The Magic Mile has been a yearly fixture since 1993 with Ford winning a combined 25 times

(17 Cup and 8 Xfinity).

BLANEY CLINCHES PLAYOFF SPOT

Ryan Blaney clinched a playoff spot with his dominating performance at Iowa Speedway last weekend, leading a career-high 201 laps in the 350-lap event. The defending NASCAR Cup Series champion joins fellow Ford drivers Brad Keselowski (Darlington) and Austin Cindric (Gateway) as automatic qualifiers. The Iowa victory also completed a trifecta for Blaney, who has now won in all three of NASCAR’s top divisions at the short track. He won the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race there in 2012 and the NASCAR Xfinity Series event in 2015.

95 AND COUNTING

Blaney’s win on Sunday night also marked the 95th victory for Team Penske with Ford. Rusty Wallace scored the organization’s first win when he took the checkered flag at North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham, NC, in 1994. Team Penske won 27 races from 1994-2002 and then returned to Ford in 2013 with Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano. Since then, they’ve added a third car with Ryan Blaney and have won 68 times. Seven different drivers have won at least one race with Team Penske and Ford with Logano leading the way (30).

TEAM PENSKE ALL-TIME FORD WINNERS

Joey Logano (30)
Brad Keselowski (26)
Rusty Wallace (23)
Ryan Blaney (10)
Jeremy Mayfield (3)
Austin Cindric (2)
Ryan Newman (1)

HOME SWEET HOME

New Hampshire Motor Speedway is the home track for New England native Joey Logano and he’s definitely had his share of success with two NASCAR Cup Series victories, including the first of his career in 2009. Logano added another win in 2014 with Ford and in 25 starts has an average finishing position of 14.1. He’s been particularly consistent in recent years, entering Sunday’s race with six top-10 runs in the last seven Loudon events.

Ryan Blaney: “I feel like we’ve always had good runs there, we just haven’t finished. I thought we were in contention to win last year and had a pit road deal at the end of the race and took us out of it, but I thought us and the 19 were probably the best cars there last year. I enjoy it. I’ve always wanted to hold the lobster ever since I was a kid. The area is great. I love the fans. I love the weather up there. It’s nice this time of year. When it gets six months down the road I probably won’t like it as much when there’s three feet of snow up there, but that place is awesome and I feel like it’s a good test for Phoenix. There are some things you can take away from that place that can help you down the road.”

Joey Logano: “That’s one track I’m probably more excited about than any other one coming up, for sure. It’s a great track for us. I’d say it’s Paul Wolfe’s best track as a crew chief. I can’t say I ran really well there until Paul set up my car, so I’d say it’s a really good track for him. I feel confident going there, for sure.”

Todd Gilliland: “I’m excited for New Hampshire. It’s maybe a Gateway type of racetrack and I thought we ended up having fairly good speed and McDowell got the pole over there. I’m excited for it. Our cars have speed it seems like at some point throughout every race weekend it’s just about hitting that more consistently throughout the whole weekend. My crew chief is from up there and a couple of my team guys are from the northeast, so we’re gonna have a lot of friends and family up there. That brings a little added pressure, but also a lot of excitement around that race.”

Noah Gragson: “I hope it will be like Phoenix. We had a lot of speed at Phoenix and felt like we had a good car. I’ve kind of struggled at New Hampshire and been hit or miss there. There are a lot of different options on how you can approach the corners, if you want to run low through the corner or drive in low and straight into a diamond, or you can really arc it out and turn down into the center and leave low, so there are a lot of options as a driver. It’s a tough, challenging, flat racetrack and kind of hard to pass, but we had speed at Phoenix so hopefully it will be close to that.”

WEEKEND SWEEP

Brad Keselowski had a weekend to remember as he became the first driver to sweep a NASCAR Xfinity and NASCAR Cup Series race weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, achieving the feat on July 12-13, 2014. Keselowski led 138 of 305 laps, including the final two under a green-white-checkered finish, to beat Kyle Busch to the finish line. The win was Ford’s fourth straight series win, marking the first time that had happened since 2001.

BURTON LEADS EVERY LAP

Jeff Burton is the last driver to lead every lap of a NASCAR Cup Series race when he did it on Sept. 17, 2000 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Bobby Labonte started from the pole, but Burton grabbed the lead after starting on the outside of the front row. Even though Labonte and Dale Earnhardt challenged him throughout the day, Burton never gave up the lead, becoming the first driver to lead every lap of a series race since Cale Yarborough did it in the Music City USA 420 at Nashville Speedway on June 3, 1978. The race, which was run with the use of restrictor plates, ended under caution after Sterling Marlin was involved in an accident with three laps remaining. It was Burton’s fourth win at the speedway and concluded a stretch that saw him win four consecutive seasons at the Magic Mile.

OWNER/DRIVER FIRST

Ford’s first NASCAR Cup Series win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway came in the track’s second year of hosting events in 1994. That’s when Ricky Rudd outdueled Dale Earnhardt in the closing laps to post his 15th career win. Rudd led 55 laps on the day, but won it after a memorable side-by-side battle with seven laps to go in which he passed Earnhardt on the inside, only to see the black No. 3 crossover and pull alongside for the next lap. Rudd eventually pulled in front and held on to take the Slick 50 300 on July 10, 1994. Rudd went on to post 23 NSCS wins in his career and had at least one victory in 16 consecutive seasons (1983-98), but none may have been as satisfying as this one because it marked his first triumph as an owner/driver.

CUSTER CLINGING TO POINTS LEAD

It’s the slimmest of margins, but the lead is the lead and that’s what Cole Custer has on the field as he continues to sit on top of the series point standings heading into this weekend’s race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Custer, who took the lead after the race in Portland, holds a one-point advantage on Chandler Smith and has a top 10 finish in 12 of the last 13 events. He’s coming off a sixth-place run at Iowa Speedway and looks to continue a similar streak at NHMS, where he has a pole and three top-10 finishes in four career series starts.

FORD’S NASCAR CUP SERIES WINNERS

AT NHMS

1994 – Ricky Rudd

1996 – Ernie Irvan

1997 – Jeff Burton (1)

1998 – Jeff Burton (1)

1999 – Jeff Burton (1)

2000 – Jeff Burton (2)

2001 – Dale Jarrett (1)

2002 – Ryan Newman (2)

2004 – Kurt Busch (Sweep)

2008 – Greg Biffle (2)

2014 – Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano

2018 – Kevin Harvick

2019 – Kevin Harvick

2020 – Brad Keselowski

2021 – Aric Almirola

FORD’S NASCAR XFINITY SERIES WINNERS

AT NHMS

1994 – Derrike Cope

1995 – Chad Little

1999 – Elton Sawyer

2001 – Jason Keller

2002 – Bobby Hamilton Jr.

2004 – Matt Kenseth

2006 – Carl Edwards

2014 – Brad Keselowski

No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 Looks to Continue Upward Trajectory at the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen

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Official Release
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WATKINS GLEN, New York (June 18, 2024) – The Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti (WTRAndretti) No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 team will return to the East Coast following a strong stint during the western leg of the season. The team take on Watkins Glen International after achieving a GTD pole position and top-five finish at WeatherTech Raceway at Laguna Seca.

For Kyle Marcelli and Danny Formal, the pairing will be joined by IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup co-driver Graham Doyle to tackle the six-hour endurance event. Marcelli and Formal tallied a top ten finish in the GTD class in their debut at the 2023 Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen. Both Formal and Doyle will again complete double duty in their respective Lamborghini Super Trofeo entries alongside the No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 while at Watkins Glen.

The black and red team will have its first laps around the iconic 3.45-mile track on Friday, June 21, at 1:25 p.m. ET for practice, with qualifying following on Saturday, June 22, at 3:30 p.m. ET for the 15-minute session. The Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen will begin on Sunday, June 23, at 11:10 a.m. ET, with full coverage of the six-hour event on Peacock.

Wayne Taylor, Team Principal, WTRAndretti: “The Six Hour at The Glen is always one of my favorite events. I love the circuit, the promoters, the marshals, everything about Watkins Glen I love. It’s good to have the next round of IMSA Endurance Cup. Graham Doyle will be back in the DEX Imaging Lamborghini with Kyle Marcelli and Danny Formal. I think the test we recently had a Watkins Glen with the WTRAndretti team all drivers did a really good job. Graham and Danny will be driving Lamborghini Super Trofeo over the weekend and there is a lot of mental focus that goes into driving two different cars. It’s going to be a busy weekend for us with two GTP cars, a GTD and four Lamborghini Super Trofeo cars so it’s going to be big.”

No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2
Kyle Marcelli: “Watkins Glen International is one of America’s greatest circuits, and I look forward to racing at this venue each year. We enjoyed a productive and successful two-day test a few weeks ago that I’m sure will prove valuable come race time. The WTRAndretti staff have worked tirelessly, and no stone has been left unturned as we continue to build this program. I look forward to getting the band back together as our young protege Graham Doyle returns to the cockpit with Danny and I. The Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen is a grueling sprint from start to finish and often pegged with summertime heat and/or thunder showers. Nonetheless, the smooth surface proves high grip regardless of the conditions. Let’s see what we can do with our No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3, with the sister cars in GTP having now each tallied a win, the pressure is on us!”

Danny Formal: “Watkins Glen six-hour race, super excited to go to my favorite track in the country – one of my favorite tracks in the world. We’re coming with really good feelings from Laguna Seca where we got our first pole position in GTD. We did a test earlier in the year at Watkins Glen and the car was fantastic, the team was fantastic and we have a very good idea where we want to start. Kyle, myself and Graham, we’re all in great pace. Super excited to get going and put the No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán EVO2 up where it belongs towards the front of the field. Can’t wait to see the whole WTRAndretti team, it’s been a little bit of a break since like Laguna Seca so ready to get going.”

Graham Doyle: “Round 3 of the IMSA Endurance Championship here at Watkins Glen, I truly cannot express how excited I am to be back racing in the GTD car and to be working alongside Danny and Kyle. After watching them continue to grow and progress through both sprint rounds that have occurred since I was last in the car in Sebring, I believe we now have a team and a car that is able to fight for podiums and wins in any format. I’m looking forward to working and fighting alongside Danny and Kyle for points and hopefully a podium position at Watkins Glen.”

ABOUT WTRANDRETTI
Andretti Global and Wayne Taylor Racing announced a new, long-term partnership in 2023 that combines the resources of the two championship-caliber teams to compete in IMSA’s top classes. In 2024, Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti (WTRAndretti) has expanded to a two-car GTP program as well as competes in the GTD class. Coming off its 2023 championship winning effort, WTRAndretti continues its Driver Development Program competing in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America series with a full stable.

WTRAndretti’s global motorsports enterprise boasts two IMSA driver championships (2013 and 2017), and back-to-back IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Championships (2020, 2021) which contributed to nine IMSA manufacturer championships for Acura, Pontiac, Corvette and Cadillac. In its brief 17-year history, WTRAndretti has accumulated multiple victories in sportscar racing’s most iconic events: Rolex 24 At Daytona, Twelve Hours of Sebring, Petit Le Mans, Mid-Ohio, Road America and the Six Hours of The Glen. With its back-to-back PRO Class Championship wins (2022, 2023), WTR also has ten North America Lamborghini Super Trofeo Championship titles and a Lamborghini World Finals title.

Andretti Global, a Championship-winning motorsports organization, competes in additional racing categories worldwide, including the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, Extreme E, Australian Supercars and the Mexico SuperCopa Championship. Additionally, the racing enterprise commits to driver development through competition in INDY NXT by Firestone and through support of Sebastian and Oliver Wheldon’s racing careers.

WTRAndretti’s long term partnerships include Lamborghini Squadra Corse, DEX Imaging, Harrison Contracting Company and Gainbridge.

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