Car enthusiasts and professional motorists often go to great lengths when seeking ways to enhance vehicle performance and driving experience. One under-the-radar modification that can have a significant impact is the installation of aftermarket clutch kits instead of using the factory-installed versions. These kits are specifically tailored to complement high-performance vehicles that experience aggressive driving styles and harsh conditions. This article talks about the benefits and diverse applications of aftermarket clutch kits, a vital tool in revealing the true potential of your vehicle.
Understanding Clutch Kits: The Unsung Hero of Vehicle Performance
Before getting into the nitty-gritty of aftermarket clutch kits, it’s important to first understand the function of this essential mechanical component. Clutches function as the link between your vehicle’s engine and its transmission. They dictate how power from the engine is transmitted to the wheels and play a pivotal role in a vehicle’s acceleration, deceleration, and overall control. Therefore, for those seeking to optimize their vehicle’s performance, focusing on this often-ignored part is key.
The primary components of a clutch kit include the clutch disc, pressure plate, and bearing/bush. While the factory versions of these components fulfil their purpose in everyday driving conditions, rigorous driving conditions necessitate the need for aftermarket versions. These have carefully engineered designs and are manufactured using high-quality materials that can withstand heavy-duty usage.
Why Choose Aftermarket Clutch Kits?
Enhanced Durability
One of the primary advantages of aftermarket clutch kits is durability. These kits are designed to handle higher torque and heat levels compared to their factory-installed counterparts. This is particularly beneficial to those who engage in demanding driving activities such as racing or off-roading where the wear and tear on vehicle parts are significantly higher.
With aftermarket clutch kits, drivers can enjoy greater peace of mind knowing that the clutch components can withstand extended periods of severe strain. This not only ensures more reliable performance but also reduces the frequency and cost of replacements and repairs.
Improved Performance
Aftermarket clutch kits also offer improved vehicle performance. They provide smoother, quicker shifts, enabling faster acceleration—a crucial factor for racers aiming to shave seconds off their lap times. By reducing the drivetrain’s loss of torque, the vehicle’s power transfer becomes more efficient, unleashing its full potential on the track or road.
Furthermore, aftermarket clutch kits are available in various stages (i.e., Stage 1, Stage 2, and so on). The higher stages are designed for vehicles with significant modifications such as turbochargers or superchargers. This means the aftermarket clutch kits can be matched precisely to the demands of your particular vehicle, enhancing its overall driving capability.
Better Value for Money
Despite the initial higher purchase cost, aftermarket clutch kits can prove to be a cost-effective investment in the long run. Given their superior durability and heightened performance, they tend to require fewer replacements and repairs over time, saving users money typically spent on frequent maintenance.
Moreover, the tangible improvements in vehicle performance make for a more enjoyable driving experience, which can be hard to quantify in monetary terms. Whether you’re a professional racer or simply an enthusiastic motorist, the long-lasting benefits of an improved driving experience offered by aftermarket clutch kits are well worth the investment.
Key Considerations When Choosing Aftermarket Clutch Kits
Before choosing an aftermarket clutch kit for your vehicle, there are a few elements you need to consider. It is not just about picking a kit at random; one must determine what is best suitable for your particular vehicle and driving style.
Vehicle Compatibility
When it comes to aftermarket clutch kits, compatibility with your car is of utmost importance. Different vehicles come with varying engines sizes, structures, power outputs, and torque levels. This, in turn, requires uniquely designed clutch kits. The aftermarket clutch kit you choose should ideally be designed for your specific vehicle make and model.
There are clutch kits available for a broad range of vehicles, including but not limited to trucks, sports cars, off-road vehicles or high-performance road cars. This means that regardless of what type of vehicle you have, there may be a high-performance aftermarket clutch kit suitable to your needs.
Customisation
High-quality aftermarket clutch kits are often customizable, offering the flexibility to adapt to your specific driving needs. This is especially indispensable for individuals who use their vehicles for a variety of intense driving applications like racing or off-roading. Clutch kits can be tailored to the level of aggression your driving demands.
Installation and Technical Support
It is important to opt for a clutch kit that comes with clear installation instructions and robust technical support. While the concept of installing a new clutch may seem daunting, many aftermarket clutch kits are designed with user-friendly installation in mind. Comprehensive instructions, along with the necessary hardware for installation, ensure that you could either carry out the installation yourself or guide your local mechanic through the process.
Consider choosing a supplier that provides comprehensive customer support. If you encounter challenges or have questions during the installation process, an accessible support team can provide added peace of mind.
How to Implement Aftermarket Clutch Kits for Maximum Results
After you’ve carefully chosen your aftermarket clutch kit, correctly implementing it is essential for reaping the maximum benefits.
Timely Replacement
Don’t wait until your clutch completely fails before installing your aftermarket clutch kit. When you start noticing warning signs such as slipping, sticking, unusual noises, or lower fuel efficiency, it might be time to consider an upgrade. This allows you to reap the enhanced performance benefits and avoid a sudden, potentially dangerous clutch failure.
Professional Installation
While many aftermarket clutch kits are designed for easy installation, bringing your vehicle to a professional mechanic can often be beneficial. An experienced mechanic has the skills and tools needed to make precise adjustments and accurately calibrate your new clutch kit for optimal performance. If you’re not comfortable doing it yourself, seeking professional help ensures safe and suitable installation.
Regular Checks and Maintenance
Regular checks and maintenance can go a long way in extending the lifespan of your new clutch kit. Apart from early detection of any faults or issues, regular maintenance also maximizes performance efficiency. Conducting periodic inspections and practicing good driving habits help maintain clutch health.
Unique Features of High-Quality Aftermarket Clutch Kits
The best aftermarket clutch kits in the market offer unique enhancements designed to elevate your driving experience to new heights. Understanding these features will help you appreciate why investing in one can be a game-changer for your vehicle.
Performance-specific Design
Unlike generic factory-fitted clutch kits, top-grade aftermarket clutch kits are engineered for specific performance needs. Whether you’re a drag racer seeking to improve your launch time, or an off-road enthusiast craving smoother torque transfer, rest assured that there’s a tailor-made clutch kit designed with your needs in mind.
Premium Materials
High quality aftermarket clutch kits are composed of premium materials ensuring durability and longevity. For instance, one may find kits fitted with ceramic friction materials which are known for their heat-resistant properties. This material increases the resilience of the clutch against high temperatures encountered during aggressive driving.
Stage Variations
Another unique feature of aftermarket clutch kits is their classification into different “stages”. Each stage is designed to provide a varying level of performance enhancement. Stage 1 typically offers moderate improvements suitable for slightly tuned vehicles, while the higher stages like Stage 3 or Stage 4 are adaptable to heavily modified vehicles equipped with turbochargers or superchargers.
Hassle-free Installation
Gone are the days where you had to spend countless hours in sweat-soaked frustration trying to replace your factory clutch. Many leading aftermarket clutch kits prioritize user-friendly installation, with easy-to-follow instructions and included hardware aimed at simplifying the process. Some providers even offer online tutorials and technical support to guide you through the installation.
Making the most of your Aftermarket Clutch Kit
Having made the jump and invested in a high-grade aftermarket clutch kit, how do you ensure you’re getting the most out of your investment? Here are a few tips:
Proper Bedding-In
Immediately after installing your new clutch, it’s important to properly bed it in. This involves moderate driving for a certain period, allowing the components to wear into each other gradually. This process helps enhance performance consistency and longevity.
Timely Adjustments
Even after successful installation, you should make adjustments as needed. For example, you may need to adjust the clutch pedal if it feels too light or too heavy. Timely adjustments prevent further wear and tear and ensure optimal clutch function.
Stay Abreast with Technology
As with every other vehicle component, technology advancements impact how clutches operate. Following the latest developments assures that your vehicle’s performance stays top-notch. Aftermarket clutch kit suppliers are usually at the forefront of such developments, always looking to improve their products.
In short, aftermarket clutch kits are an asset for every car enthusiast, racer, or everyday driver prioritizing enhanced performance. They provide durability, flexibility, and efficiency that outpaces their factory counterparts. The key is to choose a clutch kit compatible with your vehicle, and adopt good driving and maintenance habits to ensure optimal performance and longevity. From improved acceleration to smoother shifts, the benefits of an aftermarket clutch kit cannot be overstated, making it a worthwhile investment for any serious driver.
Ford cars have been known for their impressive performance and exceptional driving experience. One critical factor behind this remarkable quality is the extent to which owners can personalize their vehicle using Ford performance parts. These specialized components are designed to significantly enhance speed, power, handling, and efficiency—improving your Ford’s functionality and giving you that thrilling and satisfying ride. Let’s take a look at the top seven must-have performance parts every Ford enthusiast should consider.
The Power of the Cold Air Intake System
One of the essential components in any high-performance Ford is a top-notch cold air intake system. This component works by providing your engine with cooler, denser air, which can significantly improve combustion efficiency. As the engine performs more efficiently, it can generate more power and torque, enhance throttle response, and even potentially improve fuel economy. With a high-quality cold air intake system, your Ford can truly embody the spirit of a performance vehicle.
Performance Exhaust System
The second item on our list is the performance exhaust system. This component is another exciting upgrade that will help maximize your Ford’s potential. A high-quality exhaust system improves exhaust flow and decreases back pressure, both of which contribute to increasing horsepower and torque output. Moreover, performance exhaust systems are engineered to produce a unique, aggressive sound that will definitely turn heads. Whether you’re aiming to boost performance or make a statement with your Ford, a high-performance exhaust system is a worthwhile investment.
Performance Brake Kits for Enhanced Safety
Braking power is just as important as speed when it comes to performance driving. Upgrading to high-performance brake kits can significantly improve your Ford’s stopping power. These kits usually include larger and thicker disc rotors, high-performance brake calipers, and high-friction brake pads. This combination ensures that your car can effectively slow down or halt, even at high speeds. A performance brake kit is a must-have for any Ford owner wishing to drive more aggressively while maintaining peace of mind over their safety.
High-Performance Suspension System
If handling is your top priority, a high-performance suspension system is what you need. With it, you can improve your Ford’s cornering abilities, reduce body roll, and improve overall stability. A well-tuned suspension can make the ride smoother and more comfortable, but it can also significantly improve performance by ensuring the tires maintain optimal contact with the road. For enthusiasts that love taking their Ford on challenging roads or even on the track, a high-performance suspension system is certainly a rewarding investment.
Performance Tyres
Performance vehicles require performance tyres—these offer enhanced grip, better handling, and overall improved performance compared to standard tyres. They are designed to withstand higher speeds and offer greater traction on both dry and wet roads. Remember, your tyres are the only point of contact between your car and the road, so investing in performance tyres can significantly affect your vehicle’s overall performance and safety.
High-Performance Turbocharger
The sixth must-have performance part on our list is a state-of-the-art turbocharger, which significantly enhances the force of the engine’s induction process by pushing more air into the combustion chamber. The result is an impressive increase in horsepower and torque, providing those behind the wheel of a Ford with the thrilling sensation of rapid acceleration. Turbochargers are particularly efficient, as they use the engine’s exhaust gases (otherwise wasted) to generate additional power. For those passionate about speed, the high-performance turbocharger is an irreplaceable addition to your Ford.
Premium Quality Performance Tuners
Last but certainly not least are performance tuners. These advanced devices allow you to tweak and optimize your Ford’s performance by making changes to its electronic control unit (ECU). With a performance tuner, you can alter various aspects of your vehicle’s performance such as fuel-to-air ratio, ignition timing, and turbo boost pressure. Performance tuners provide enhanced control over your vehicle, allowing you to customize its performance to fit your unique driving style.
Conclusion
There you have it – the top seven must-have Ford performance parts every enthusiast should consider. Whether you’re out to augment speed, increase power, improve handling, or simply customize your vehicle to your taste, these components can significantly enhance your Ford’s overall performance. Remember, choosing the right performance parts can bring even more satisfaction from driving your Ford everyday.
Nick Boulle drove the No. 52 Inter Europol by PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports ORECA LMP2 07 early, and co-driver Tom Dillman took over an hour into the two-hour and 40-minute race. During the middle and late stages, Dillman kept the advantage under green-flag conditions for the final 90 minutes to win Sunday’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
With a final restart with eight minutes to go, Dillman was able to hold off Felipe Fraga in the No. 74 Riley ORECA to win by 0.658 seconds. This was the second win for Boulle in WeatherTech Championship competition.
The No. 11 TDS Racing ORECA shared by Steven Thomas and Scott Huffaker finished third.
Sims, Garcia captures the first IMSA win for Z06 GT3.R in Chevrolet Grand Prix
Alexander Sims and Antonio Garcia led a 1-2 class finish for the in the No. 3 Corvette Corvette Z06 GT3.R on Sunday in the GTD PRO at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
Sims, Garcia started from the pole position and led 109 of 113 laps en route to a 0.408-second victory over Tommy Milner and Nicky Catsburg in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
“This is huge for the entire Corvette program. I’m glad that we could finally get the first win in IMSA for the Z06 GT3.R and to get my first win with Alex. We just need to carry on like this and build on the things we have been doing. More wins will come.” Garcia said.
“Superb. We’ve had some pace this year at times. The car has been so good today. We were able to execute a really nice race and to be able to generally manage things from the front which is what you generally want to do. The Corvette has worked super well this weekend. Pratt Miller has done a great job. We nailed the strategy, coming up aces when we needed to. It’s been a wonderful weekend.” Sims added
Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti’s (WTRAndretti) GTD class debut at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park saw Kyle Marcelli and Danny Formal bring home a solid result after a late caution left only eight minutes of racing. The No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 team moved into sixth position for the remainder of the race.
“Danny (Formal) did a heck of a job, doing an hour and 40 minutes in the car. This place is busy. It’s also mentally and physically exhausting, so really proud of him for the effort he put in. We’re still missing a bit of speed that we still have to find, but we’ll keep working and keep improving.” Marcelli said.
“Overall, it was a good sixth-place finish, and we gained one position over qualifying. Our strategy got thrown off for a little bit, and that hurt us, but it was cool to see the No. 45 car lead some laps around CTMP with Kyle (Marcelli) behind the wheel. I’m super proud to be part of the No. 45 DEX Imaging Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 team.” Formal added.
What’s Next?
The next race in the IMSA SportsCar Weekend at Wisconsin’s Road America on Sunday, Aug. 4th, with the LMP2, GTD PRO, and GTD classes will be rejoined by the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class.
Motorsports betting is developing positive headway in Kenya, with extra enthusiasts restless to put down their bets on thrilling races all around the planet. Getting involved in motorsports betting can be rewarding, assuming you have legitimate knowledge and strategies. Here is a comprehensive manual to assist you with plunging into the universe of motorsports betting in Kenya.
Figure out the basics of motorsports
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Pick a reliable betting platform
When beginning your motorsports betting adventure, choosing a reliable betting platform is essential for the best experience. Search for platforms licensed and directed by the pertinent authorities in Kenya. These platforms offer various motorsports events, competitive chances, and easy-to-understand interfaces. Moreover, consider the payment methods accessible, customer service quality, and any bonuses or promotions proposed to new clients. Popular betting platforms frequently provide comprehensive motorsports betting options and are trusted by numerous bettors in Kenya.
Study the teams and drivers
Invest energy in researching the teams, history, and current form. Focus on factors like group strategies, car performance, and driver abilities. Understanding these key factors can give you an edge in foreseeing race results and putting down successful bets.
Analyze track and weather conditions
Track and weather conditions can fundamentally influence the result of a motorsports occasion. Various tracks have exceptional characteristics that might lean toward specific teams or drivers. For instance, a few tracks have more corners and require better handling, while others have long straights that favour high-speed performance. Also, weather conditions like downpours can change race elements, influencing tire decisions and driving strategies. Watching out for these factors and integrating them into your betting analysis can improve your possibilities of making accurate predictions.
Betting tools and assets
Utilizing different betting tools and resources to improve your motorsports betting experience is gainful. Many betting platforms and outsider sites like abasamiawins.ke offer logical tools, factual information bases, and forecast models that can assist you with settling on additional informed choices. For example, you can utilize historical information to recognize patterns, track driver performance over the long haul, and evaluate the effect of various factors on race outcomes. Also, remaining refreshed with master analysis, race sees, and betting tips from trustworthy sources can give significant bits of knowledge. Drawing in with online networks and discussions devoted to motorsports betting is an extraordinary method for trading strategies and gaining alternate viewpoints.
Investigate different betting markets
Motorsports betting offers different markets, mainly about picking the race winner. Exploring these markets can give you more opportunities to win and differentiate your betting strategy. Some popular motorsports betting markets include the head-to-head finish whereby punters bet which of two determined drivers will finish top in the race. Another market is pole position, which is one of the most popular. It involves predicting which driver will qualify in the principal position or, rather, the starting position in the race.
Understanding and using these various markets can expand your engagement and potential profits in motorsports betting. Starting motorsports betting in Kenya is a thrilling venture that combines the excitement of high-speed hustling with the fundamental parts of betting. Embrace the universe of motorsports betting and participate in the adrenaline-fueled excitement it brings.
Team Penske driver Ryan Blaney celebrates in Victory Lane after winning The Great American Getaway 400 presented by VISITPA NASCAR Cup Series race Sunday at Pocono Raceway. Photo credit: Pocono Raceway.
Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney, whose first Cup Series victory came at Pocono Raceway in 2017, added another Sunday for his second victory of the season.
LONG POND, Pa. (July 14, 2024) – It may have been a different Victory Lane and team when Ryan Blaney won at Pocono Raceway seven years ago, but the feeling of elation was the same Sunday after winning The Great American Getaway 400 presented by VISITPA NASCAR Cup Series race.
Before a sold-out crowd for the second consecutive year, Blaney fended off last week’s winner Alex Bowman of Hendrick Motorsports and then seven-time Pocono winner Denny Hamlin in the waning laps of the 160-lap, 400-mile race to become a two-time winner at “The Tricky Triangle.” His other win – the first of his Cup Series career – came in 2017 while driving for the Wood Brothers.
“I really think it’s just special. I feel like every win is very special,” Blaney said. “You have to cherish them. You never know when the next one is going to come. Hard to believe it’s been seven years since I won the first time here. Time definitely flies. Like I said, different Victory Lane. I think this Victory Lane is pretty neat. All the fans being there, giving them an experience, too.
“I feel like you approach it a little bit differently seven years later. It was cool that I got my 12th win in the 12 car where I got my first win. That’s kind of a neat little tidbit. Just a really cool day.”
Blaney blended a fast car with a great strategy, where the team opted to forgo stage points for track position and ultimately a win, to collect his second win of the season. He didn’t finish among the top 10 and accumulate points in the first two stages, but there he was front and center when it came to the third and final stage.
“It certainly played out a little differently than we had planned,” Blaney’s crew chief Jonathan Hassler said. “You have a plan coming in, but then the way cautions fall certainly dictates really kind of the way everything else works out. I think that caution around Lap 50 of the second stage really kind of diverted the strategy, spread the field out where we had an opportunity to short pit, flip the stage there going into stage three, get our track position at the right time.”
RFK Racing’s Chris Buescher, a previous Pocono winner, held the lead through the opening of the third stage before a caution came out on Lap 116 for a single-car incident with Todd Gilliland in Turn 1. A number of contenders pitted, including Blaney who came out with the lead on 117. Pit road speeding penalties for Hendrick Motorsports teammates Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson, along with polesitter Ty Gibbs of Joe Gibbs Racing, spoiled any opportunity for a shot to contend for the win or a top-five finish.
Blaney would lead the final 44 laps, but he did not cruise to a victory. Three cautions would fly during that period, but he was strong on the restarts to keep Bowman and Hamlin at bay. Bowman closed to .2 of a second with 19 to go but Blaney slowly stretched that lead out. Hamlin would overtake Bowman for second with seven to go and 2.3 seconds behind, but could only close to 1.312 seconds at the checkered.
Bowman finished third, William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports fourth and Blaney’s teammate Joey Logano rounded out the top five.
“Never lose a race, just always run out of time, right? That’s just part of it,” Hamlin said. “Track position is such a big thing. When the 12 (Blaney) jumped on that stage that we won, that put them in front of us. Certainly was going to be hard to pass. Not just enough laps of green there towards the end. Hats off to them. Great run. He kept great pace up there towards the front. Really hard for me to even try to get close to reeling him in.”
For more information about Pocono Raceway, please visit www.poconoraceway.com.
About Pocono Raceway
Pocono Raceway, also known as ‘The Tricky Triangle,’ is family-owned and situated in the beautiful Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. In business for over 50 years, the Raceway hosts multiple, national motorsports events including the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series events each year. The facility’s calendar also consists of over 200 events including Elements Music & Arts Festival and a wide range of non-motorsports entertainment, car clubs and racing schools. Pocono Raceway is recognized as the world’s first, privately-owned solar-powered sports facility. Their 25-acre, three-megawatt solar farm provides the energy needs of the Raceway, as well as, adds electricity to the local power grid. Each member of our raceway staff is committed to creating exciting experiences and lifelong memories. For more information, please visit www.poconoraceway.com.
The number 12 was the lucky number of the day for Ryan Blaney as he muscled his No. 12 Team Penske Ford Mustang Dark Horse to his 12th NASCAR Cup Series career victory in The Great American Getaway 400 at Pocono Raceway on Sunday, July 14.
The reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion from High Point, North Carolina, led the final 44 of 160 scheduled laps in an event where he started in eighth place and spent the majority of the event racing toward the front.
After surrendering points to pit before the first two stage’s conclusion as part of a pit strategy plan that was also enforced by every participant from start to finish, Blaney cycled into the lead following a late pit stop, where he pitted with the field, during a caution period with less than 45 laps remaining. The initial leader, Kyle Larson, was among four competitors who were penalized for speeding on pit road.
Despite having his momentum and steady launches from restarts with the lead stalled due to three late-race caution periods, Blaney capitalized on the final restart period with 23 laps remaining to rocket ahead of Alex Bowman amid a strong shove from Denny Hamlin. From there, Blaney kept both Hamlin and Bowman trailing by as far as a second before he claimed his second Cup Series victory of the 2024 season and gained added momentum with the 2024 Playoffs looming as he strives to defend his series championship.
With on-track qualifying that determined the starting lineup occurring on Saturday, July 13, Ty Gibbs scored his second Cup pole position of the 2024 season and his career after posting a pole-winning lap at 170.039 mph in 52.929 seconds. Joining him on the front row was William Byron, who clocked in the second-fastest qualifying lap at 169.661 mph in 53.047 seconds.
Before the event, Kyle Busch dropped to the rear of the field with a new oil line attached to his No. 8 zone/GetGo Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. Corey LaJoie also dropped to the rear of the field due to repairs made to his suspension of the No. 7 Parity in Paris Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 following his qualifying run.
When the green flag waved and the event commenced, the Charlotte duos of Ty Gibbs and William Byron dueled for the lead through the frontstretch and in front of a tight two-by-two formation between the field until Gibbs tried to muscle ahead from the outside lane in Turn 1. Byron, however, fought back through Long Pond Straightaway and through the Tunnel Curve as both he and Gibbs remained dead even in front of Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. With the field navigating back to the frontstretch, Gibbs, who steered his No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota Camry XSE towards the bottom of the track, managed to lead the first lap ahead of Byron.
As Gibbs cleared Byron during the second lap and entering Turn 1, Byron fended off Truex and Hamlin for the runner-up spot as Tyler Reddick tried to close in from fifth place. With Byron leading a parade of competitors that included Truex, Hamlin, Reddick, teammate Alex Bowman and Ryan Blaney from the runner-up spot, Gibbs stretched his early advantage to more than a second by the fifth lap mark.
Through the first 10 scheduled laps, Gibbs continued to extend his advantage as he was now leading by three seconds over Byron as Truex, Hamlin and Reddick trailed in the top five. Behind, Blaney occupied sixth place ahead of Bowman, Kyle Larson, rookie Josh Berry and Christopher Bell while Joey Logano, Chase Elliott, rookie Zane Smith, Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher were scored in the top 15 ahead of rookie Carson Hocevar, Daniel Suarez, Ross Chastain, Austin Dillon and Austin Cindric. Meanwhile, Harrison Burton was mired in 21st place ahead of Michael McDowell, Erik Jones, Noah Gragon and Chase Briscoe while AJ Allmendinger, Bubba Wallace, John Hunter Nemechek, Daniel Hemric and Corey LaJoie were mired in the top 30, with Todd Gilliland, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Justin Haley, Kyle Busch, Ryan Preece, Cody Ware and JJ Yeley rounding out the 37-car field.
Four laps later, the event’s first caution flew when Noah Gragson, who was running in 24th place, spun and backed his No. 10 Overstock.com Ford Mustang Dark Horse into the outside wall in Turn 1, where he emerged with rear-end damage and retired from further competition. During the event’s first competition period, some of the drivers, including the front-runners led by Gibbs, remained on the track while the rest led by Bell pitted.
When the race restarted on Lap 17, the field jumbled up into two tight lanes through the frontstretch as Gibbs led the field through the first turn. Then as Josh Berry went up the track through Turn 1 and plummeted below the leaderboard, Gibbs, who also went wide in Turn 1, muscled his No. 19 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry XSE into the lead. Teammate Hamlin would follow suit and overtake Byron for the runner-up spot just past the Tunnel Curve as Gibbs, who slipped to fifth place, went three wide with Blaney and Chase Elliott as they battled for the spot. Bowman trailed the trio of Blaney, Gibbs and Elliott through the frontstretch and Reddick navigated his way into third place as he passed Byron and then set his sights on owner Hamlin for more. By then, Berry pitted his No. 4 Overstock.com Ford Mustang Dark Horse under green as Truex proceeded to lead by six-tenths of a second over teammate Hamlin by Lap 20.
At the Lap 25 mark, Truex stretched his advantage to more than a second over teammate Hamlin as Reddick, Blaney and Byron trailed in the top five ahead of Gibbs, Elliott, Bowman, Zane Smith and Larson. Behind, Logano and Keselowski battled for 11th place as Bell, Erik Jones and Cindric were racing in the top 15. By then, Bubba Wallace pitted his No. 23 Leidos Toyota Camry XSE under green as he was also able to blend back onto the track ahead of the leader Truex without losing a lap. Soon after, third-place Blaney along with Gibbs, Zane Smith, Larson, Cindric and Ross Chastain pitted their respective entries under green as part of a strategic move by Lap 27 while Truex retained the lead by a second over teammate Hamlin and by three seconds over third-place Reddick.
When the first stage period concluded on Lap 30, Truex claimed his third Cup stage victory of the 2024 season. Teammate Hamlin followed suit in second place and by a second on the track while Reddick, Byron, Elliott, Bowman, Logano, Keselowski, Bell and Erik Jones were scored in the top 10. By then, 36 of 37 starters were scored on the lead lap.
Under the stage break, the front-runners led by Truex and including Hamlin, Reddick, Byron and Elliott pitted while the rest led by Logano, Keselowski and Bell remained on the track.
The second stage period started on Lap 35 as Logano and Keselowski occupied the front row. At the start, Logano and Keselowski dueled for the lead through the frontstretch as Keselowski muscled his No. 6 Nexlizet Ford Mustang Dark Horse ahead with the lead. As Logano went wide in Turn 1 while losing a bevy of spots in the process, Keselowski retained the lead in front of the field through Long Pond Straightaway and through the Tunnel Curve before he navigated his way back to Turn 3 and the frontstretch, where he led the next lap as Erik Jones, Bell, Buescher and Hocevar followed suit in the top five.
Keselowski would proceed to lead the Lap 40 mark by a second over Jones as Bell, Buescher and Hocevar continued to pursue the lead in the top five. Behind, Chase Briscoe was up to sixth place ahead of Michael McDowell, Logano, Stenhouse and Elliott while Suarez, Kyle Busch, LaJoie, Hamlin and Justin Haley were in the top 15.
By Lap 45, Keselowski stretched his advantage to three seconds over runner-up Erik Jones while Bell, Buescher and Hocevar continued to trail in the top five and within six seconds. Behind, Elliott, the highest-running competitor on the track who pitted during the first stage break, muscled his No. 9 NAPA Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 into sixth place after he overtook Briscoe while McDowell, Logano and Hamlin followed suit in the top 10. Meanwhile, Stenhouse was in 11th place ahead of Suarez, Busch, Gibbs and Blaney while Byron, LaJoie, Truex, Haley and Zane Smith were in the top 20 ahead of Larson, Chastain, Wallace, Reddick, Harrison Burton and Bowman.
On Lap 52, the caution flew when Ross Chastain, who slipped sideways and hit the outside wall in Turn 3, limped his No. 1 Busch Light Peach Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 through the frontstretch before he went dead straight and smacked the outside wall in Turn 1, where he proceeded to limp his damaged car to his pit stall. Despite his pit crew’s efforts to repair the car, Chastain’s event came to an end as his 2024 Cup Playoffs hopes were jeopardized.
During the caution period, nearly the entire lead lap field led by Keselowski pitted for service while the rest led by Gibbs, Cindric and Berry remained on the track. Following the pit stops and amid mixed strategies, Hamlin exited pit road first ahead of teammate Truex, Byron, Blaney, Zane Smith, Elliott, Larson, Keselowski, Bowman and Bell. Amid the pit stops, Hocevar was penalized for an equipment interference, Gilliland was busted for speeding on pit road and Harrison Burton was penalized for a safety violation. In addition, Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch and Austin Dillon would spend extra time in their respective pit stalls to have their brake serviced.
The start of the next restart period on Lap 58 featured a heated battle between Gibbs and Berry through the frontstretch. As the field began to fan out, Berry managed to muscle ahead with the lead as Hamlin battled teammate Gibbs for the runner-up spot. With the field still fanning out from Long Pond Straightaway to the Tunnel Curve, Berry retained the lead for the following lap ahead of Gibbs, Hamlin, Byron and Cindric while Truex was in sixth ahead of Bowman, Blaney, Zane Smith and Keselowski.
Just past the Lap 65 mark, Berry retained the lead by three-tenths of a second over a hard-charging Hamlin while Gibbs settled in third place as he trailed the lead by nearly two seconds. Behind, Hendrick Motorsports’ Byron and Elliott trailed in the top five as Blaney, Truex, Keselowski, Cindric and Erik Jones were scored in the top 10. Shortly after, however, Hamlin gained a strong run on Berry from Turn 3 to overtake him entering the frontstretch and move his No. 11 Mavis Tire Toyota Camry XSE into the lead on Lap 67. Hamlin would then proceed to lead at the Lap 70 mark by a second over Berry while Elliott overtook Gibbs for third place.
On Lap 72, Cindric pitted his No. 2 Menards Ford Mustang Dark Horse from the top 11 and he spent extra time in his pit stall while his pit crew filled up the car with enough fuel for the second stage’s conclusion. Back on the track, Gibbs fended off Blaney for fourth place while Hamlin continued to lead by two seconds over Berry as third-place Elliott started to close in on Berry for more. Gibbs would then pit under green from fourth place on Lap 75 before Berry, who was overtaken by Elliott earlier, pitted two laps later.
At the halfway mark on Lap 80, Hamlin, who was among many trying to conserve fuel, was leading by four seconds over Elliott as Blaney, Truex and Keselowski were racing in the top five ahead of Buescher, Byron, Erik Jones, Larson and Bowman. Meanwhile, Bell was in 11th place ahead of Logano, Reddick, LaJoie and Briscoe while Zane Smith, Ryan Preece, Allmendinger, Stenhouse and Suarez trailed in the top 20 ahead of John Hunter Nemechek, Burton, McDowell, Wallace and Gilliland. By then, Busch was mired in 30th place while Gibbs, Berry and Cindric were mired back from 33rd to 35th, respectively, despite remaining on the lead lap category.
With five laps remaining in the second stage period, Buescher surrendered his spot from the top 10 to pit his No. 17 BuildSubmarines.com Ford Mustang Dark Horse under green, all while Hamlin stabilized his advantage to nearly four seconds over Elliott. Blaney and Truex would then surrender third and fourth place on the track, respectively, to pit with three laps remaining in the second stage period.
When the second stage period concluded on Lap 95, Hamlin captured his fifth Cup stage victory of the 2024 season. Elliott trailed in second place by five seconds while Keselowski, Byron, Erik Jones, Larson, Bowman, Bell, Logano and Redick were scored in the top 10. By then, all who recently pitted, including Cindric, Truex, Gibbs, Blaney, Berr and Buescher remained on the lead lap as a total of 32 in the field of 37 were scored on the same lap as the leader Hamlin.
During the stage break, a majority of the field led by Hamlin pitted for service while select names led by Buescher and including Berry, Blaney, Gibbs and Truex remained on the track. Following the pit stops and amid mixed strategies, Reddick exited pit road first ahead of Keselowski, Gilliland, Larson and Erik Jones while Hamlin exited in 10th place behind Logano, Elliott, Bowman and Byron. Amid the pit stops, LaJoie was penalized for speeding on pit road.
With 60 laps remaining, the final stage commenced as Buescher and Berry occupied the front row. At the start, the field fanned out to three lanes through the frontstretch as Buescher rocketed ahead with the lead from the outside lane through Turn 1. Behind, a three-wide battle for the runner-up spot ensued between Blaney, Truex and Berry through Long Pond Straightaway, with Blaney continuing to battle Truex for the spot just past the Tunnel Curve while Berry was trying to fend off Larson for fourth place. Amid a series of jostles for late spots, Buescher stretched his advantage to one-and-a-half seconds as he led the next lap period.
With 55 laps remaining, Buescher stabilized his advantage to one-and-a-half seconds over Blaney while third-place Truex trailed by two seconds. Keselowski and Larson followed suit in the top five as Gibbs, Reddick, Elliott, Logano and Hamlin were mired in the top 10. Buescher would continue to lead by more than a second over Blaney with 50 laps remaining as Berry pitted from the top 15 under green. Ultimately, Berry would lose a lap to the leaders following an extensive service due to the Tennessean sliding through his pit box.
With 46 laps remaining, the caution returned when Todd Gilliland, who fell off the pace through the frontstretch while running in the top 25, scraped his No. 38 C.H. REED Ford Mustang Dark Horse into the outside wall in Turn 1. During the caution period, the entire lead lap field led by Buescher, all of whom were within their fuel window to reach the scheduled distance, pitted for service. Following the pit stops and amid more mixed strategies, Larson gained four spots to exit pit road in first place as he was followed by Blaney, Elliott, Hamlin, Bowman, Logano, Byron, Truex, Bell and Keselowski. Shortly after, however, Larson along with teammate Elliott, Suarez and Gibbs were sent to the rear of the field due to speeding in Section 7 on pit road. As a result, Blaney cycled into the lead.
The start of the next restart period with 40 laps remaining did not last long when Kyle Busch, who restarted 16th, was turned by LaJoie, whom he was trying to block amid the three-wide battle, as he spun from the bottom apron entering Turn 1, shot back across the track and collided into both Preece and Stenhouse as Stenhouse spun backward and smacked the outside wall hard while Preece clipped Burton as both spun through the turn. Allmendinger, Hocevar and Cindric would also get involved in the carnage. The accident not only capped off Busch’s long event that commenced with starting at the rear of the field with a new oil line to his No. 8 Chevrolet, but it negatively affected his hopes of making the 2024 Cup Playoffs yet again as the Pocono wreck marked his fifth DNF in seven races and his sixth time finishing outside the top 20 over the last nine races.
As the event restarted under green with 34 laps remaining, Blaney, who received a strong shove from Bowman’s No. 48 Ally Best Friends Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 from the outside lane during the previous restart period, received the same help from Bowman through the frontstretch for the current restart period as he muscled his No. 12 Wabash Ford Mustang Dark Horse ahead through Turn 1 while Bowman retained second ahead of Hamlin, Logano, Byron and Bell. The caution, however, would quickly return when Zane Smith, who was trying to charge his way into the top 15, got pinned in between Nemechek and McDowell resulting in McDowell hitting the outside wall in Long Pond Straightaway while both Smith and Nemechek were sent spinning and colliding into the inside wall.
The start of the next restart period with 29 laps remaining featured Blaney trying to fend off Bowman through the frontstretch as the field behind fanned out to multiple lanes. A lap later, the caution returned due to fluid on the course as the pole-sitter Gibbs, who fell off the pace during the restart, was trying to limp his car back to his pit stall after his engine blew up with both smoke and fluid coming out of the exhaust pipe.
With the race restarting with 23 laps remaining, Blaney received a shove from Hamlin on the outside lane to edge ahead of Bowman entering the first turn and he would retain the lead through Long Pond Straightaway while Hamlin and Bowman battled dead even for second place in front of Byron and Logano. Bell and Truex would battle for seventh place in front of Wallace and Keselowski as both Bowman and Hamlin battled dead even for second place in front of Byron and Logano while Blaney, who led the next lap, stretched his advantage to more than half a second.
Down to the final 20 laps of the event, Blaney continued to lead by three-tenths of a second over a hard-charging Bowman as Bowman started to close back in on Blaney for the top spot. Behind, Hamlin retained third place ahead of Byron and Logano while Reddick, Truex, Keselowski, Wallace and Elliott were scored in the top 10 ahead of Bell, Buescher, Larson, Briscoe and Suarez.
Five laps later, Blaney stretched his advantage to more than a second over Bowman as Hamlin, Byron and Logano trailed within three seconds in the top five. Blaney would stabilize his advantage to a second over Bowman with 10 laps remaining as Hamlin, Byron and Logano continued to trail in the top five. By then, Reddick retained sixth place ahead of Keselowski while Truex was back in eighth place as he was running ahead of Elliott and Wallace.
With five laps remaining, Blaney retained the lead by more than two seconds in his No. 12 Wabash Ford Mustang Dark Horse over Hamlin, who overtook Bowman with a bold pass from the outside lane in Turn 3 three laps earlier. Meanwhile, Byron would retain fourth place just ahead of Logano, Reddick and Keselowski while eighth-place Truex trailed the lead by seven seconds. By then, Larson was mired in 12th place, Suarez was scored in 16th place and Elliott remained ahead of Wallace in ninth place.
When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Blaney remained as the leader by more than a second over Hamlin. With Hamlin unable to narrow the deficit for a final time, Blaney was able to navigate his way around Pocono’s three tricky corners smoothly for a final time before he cycled back to the frontstretch and cruised to his second checkered flag of the 2024 Cup Series season.
With the victory, Blaney, who recorded his first Cup Series career victory while driving for Wood Brothers Racing in June 2017, notched his 12th career win in his 327th start in NASCAR’s premier series and his first since winning at Iowa Speedway four races ago. The victory also made Blaney the fifth competitor overall to achieve multiple victories through the first 21 scheduled events of the 2024 Cup Series season.
Blaney’s Pocono victory was also the fifth of the season for the Ford nameplate, the fifth overall for Ford’s Dark Horse stock car and the fourth of the 2024 season for Team Penske, with the Penske organization returning to Victory Lane at Pocono for the first time since the 2011 season.
Photo by Kirk Schroll for SpeedwayMedia.com.
“I think just things are really kind of falling into place for us,” Blaney said on USA Network. “I feel like we’ve gotten to a great place on speed, the last two months especially. I feel like we honestly had a couple races slip away from us, which I thought we had a good shot at winning. So, it’s nice to just stick to the plan today. Kind of our plan was trying to have track position at the end because I knew our car was fast enough. Super proud of [crew chief] Jonathan [Hassler], the whole No. 12 boys. So cool to win here again. I won here seven years ago for my first Cup win, so awesome to be back. It’s just as special to win here today. You love tracks that have a special meaning to you. Places you get your first win and things like that, so this place means so much to me. So proud of the effort. Looking forward to, hopefully, continuing this momentum into next week at the boss’ [Roger Penske] track up at Indy.”
Denny Hamlin, who led 31 laps compared to Blaney’s 44 and was striving for his record-setting eighth Pocono victory, settled in second place as he rallied from finishing no higher than 12th over his last five races on the schedule while Alex Bowman, winner of last weekend’s Cup event at the Chicago Street Course, finished in a strong third place.
“Never lose a race, just would always run out of time, right? That’s just part of it,” Hamlin said. “Track position’s such a big thing. When [Blaney] jumped on that stage that we won, that put them in front of us and [it] certainly was gonna be hard to pass, and just not enough laps, really, of green [flag] there towards the end. Hats off to them. Great run. He kept great pace up there towards the front. It was really hard for me to even try to get close to reeling him in. Great job to this whole Mavis Tires & Brakes team. Shame we couldn’t get to Victory Lane, but another day.”
“[It’s] Hard to be satisfied when you restart on the front row, last restart and can’t get the job done,” Bowman said. “Proud of everybody on our Ally No. 48 [team]. We struggled with our car in traffic quite a bit and probably made most of our adjustments based on traffic and then, just got too free there at the end when we had some clear air. A good solid day for us. At least we’re pointed in the right direction. It’s been a good two weeks for us and going to a really historic racetrack that means a lot to me personally next week, so hopefully, we can get the job done there.”
Teammate William Byron muscled the red No. 24 Raptor High Heat Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 to a fourth-place result while Joey Logano ended up in fifth place.
Tyler Reddick, Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr., Chase Elliott and Bubba Wallace completed the top 10 in the final running order.
There were eight lead changes for eight different leaders. The race featured eight cautions for 34 laps. In addition, 23 of 37 starters finished on the lead lap.
Following the 21st event of the 2024 Cup Series season, Chase Elliott leads the regular-season standings by three points over teammate Kyle Larson, 15 over Tyler Reddick, 20 over Denny Hamlin, 57 over William Byron, 63 over Martin Truex Jr. and 76 over Ryan Blaney.
Results.
1. Ryan Blaney, 44 laps led
2. Denny Hamlin, 31 laps led, Stage 2 winner
3. Alex Bowman
4. William Byron
5. Joey Logano, three laps led
6. Tyler Reddick
7. Brad Keselowski, 20 laps led
8. Martin Truex Jr., 14 laps led, Stage 1 winner
9. Chase Elliott
10. Bubba Wallace
11. Chris Buescher, 19 laps led
12. Christopher Bell
13. Kyle Larson
14. Erik Jones
15. Chase Briscoe
16. Daniel Suarez
17. Carson Hocevar
18. Austin Cindric
19. Corey LaJoie
20. Josh Berry, eight laps led
21. AJ Allmendinger
22. Justin Haley
23. Austin Dillon
24. Michael McDowell, two laps down
25. Daniel Hemric- OUT, Suspension
26. Cody Ware – OUT, Overheating
27. Ty Gibbs – OUT, Engine, 21 laps led
28. John Hunter Nemechek – OUT, Accident
29. Zane Smith – OUT, Accident
30. Ryan Preece – OUT, Accident
31. Harrison Burton – OUT, Accident
32. Kyle Busch – OUT, Accident
33. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – OUT, Accident
34. Todd Gilliland – OUT, Accident
35. JJ Yeley – OUT, Fuel pump
36. Ross Chastain – OUT, Accident
37. Noah Gragson – OUT, Accident
Next on the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the return of the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana. The event is scheduled to occur next Sunday, July 21, and air at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC.
Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Boot Barn Chevrolet Team Earn 23rd-Place Finish at the “Tricky Triangle”
Finish: 23rd Start: 17th Points: 32nd
“It was a long day at Pocono Raceway for our Boot Barn Chevrolet team, but I’m proud of everyone at RCR and ECR for not giving up during challenging circumstances and working hard throughout the race to try and make adjustments. We had a fast Chevy, but we lost our brakes in Stage 1. It was frustrating because we were faster than the cars in front of us, but we couldn’t do much without brakes. We’re not exactly sure what was going on. We managed the best we could with what we had and somehow salvaged a 23rd-place finish. We’ll go back to the shop and evaluate.” -Austin Dillon
On-Track Incident Ends the Day Early for Kyle Busch and the zone Chevrolet Team at Pocono Raceway
Finish: 32nd Start: 24th Points: 18th
“It was a long day at Pocono Raceway for our zone Chevrolet team. Our RCR/ECR team did a good job of catching an oil leak before the race, but it was a bit stressful, and we had to start from the rear of the field and work our way up. We ended up getting hit from behind and it ended our day early. That’s just racing these days and it’s what happens. I just want to give thanks to all of our partners. Everybody at RCR, ECR, zone, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, Lucas Oil, Chevrolet, 3Chi, BetMGM, FICO, Global Industrial, Lenovo, Morgan & Morgan, Rebel Bourbon, everyone that that supports us. We’re having the opportunity to go out there and have some fun and to continue to work on our program and build everything up. It’s just unfortunate circumstances. Thank you to Rowdy Nation and all the fans for their continued support. We’ll go back to work and get ready for Indianapolis.” -Kyle Busch
STEWART-HAAS RACING The Great American Getaway 400 Date: July 14, 2024 Event: The Great American Getaway 400 presented by VisitPA.com (Round 21 of 36) Series: NASCAR Cup Series Location: Pocono (Pa.) Raceway (2.5-mile triangle) Format: 160 laps, broken into three stages (30 laps/65 laps/65 laps)
Race Winner: Ryan Blaney of Team Penske (Ford) Stage 1 Winner: Martin Truex Jr., of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota) Stage 2 Winner: Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)
● Chase Briscoe (16th with 455 points, 248 out of first) ● Josh Berry (21st with 386 points, 317 out of first) ● Noah Gragson (24th with 354 points, 349 out of first) ● Ryan Preece (27th with 318 points, 385 out of first)
SHR Notes:
● Briscoe earned his 10th top-15 of the season and his second top-15 in five career NASCAR Cup Series starts at Pocono. ● Briscoe’s 15th-place result equaled his previous best finish at Pocono, originally earned in 2022. ● Berry earned his 11th top-20 of the season and it came in his first career NASCAR Cup Series start at Pocono. ● Berry led once for eight laps.
Race Notes:
● Ryan Blaney won The Great American Getaway 400 to score his 12th career NASCAR Cup Series victory, his second of the season and his second at Pocono. His margin of victory over second-place Denny Hamlin was 1.312 seconds. ● This was Ford’s 733rd all-time NASCAR Cup Series victory and its fourth of the season. ● This was Ford’s 25th NASCAR Cup Series victory at Pocono. The manufacturer won its first race at Pocono on June 9, 1985 with NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott, who went on to sweep both races that season. ● There were eight caution periods for a total of 34 laps. ● Only 23 of the 37 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap. ● Chase Elliott leaves Pocono as the new championship leader with a three-point advantage over second-place Kyle Larson.
Sound Bites:
“It was kind of a decent day. We weren’t great, really all weekend, from a speed standpoint – like I didn’t think we were going to be good enough to win. But I thought we made our car quite a bit better, truthfully, throughout the weekend, which is really encouraging. I thought we got the balance pretty good. We just didn’t really have the raw speed like some of the other guys. I thought we kind of maximized our day, for the most part. We were maybe a couple of positions better. Overall, it was not a bad day. Not a great day, not a bad day.” – Chase Briscoe, driver of the No. 14 HighPoint.com Ford Mustang Dark Horse
“It was just up and down. We had a couple of mistakes that kind of put us back, lost some track position, just got off sequence. It seemed like the car was strong at times, but overall it just needed to be a little bit better and a little more consistent to get a good finish. But we survived and had a decent day.” – Josh Berry, driver of the No. 4 Overstock.com Ford Mustang Dark Horse
“All I know is we had a really good car, started off to be a good day, then we got put back in the pack, and that’s what you end up getting.” – Ryan Preece, driver of the No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang Dark Horse
“I just got loose in turn one. We were battling and just got loose. Nobody got into me. I was all alone. I was just trying to make it until we got to the caution and could tighten it up a little bit, but it just took off on me. It’s definitely a bummer being out super early in the race, but thanks to Overstock.com and this whole 10 team. It hasn’t really been the weekend we hoped for through practice and qualifying, and now into the race being out so early. Thanks to all the fans for their support. We will go on to Indy. Indy will be fun next week.” – Noah Gragson, driver of the No. 10 Overstock.com Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Next Up:
The next event on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the Brickyard 400 on Sunday, July 21 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The race begins at 2:30 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by NBC and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
For a second consecutive season, Team Penske swept the annual NTT IndyCar Series’ doubleheader weekend races at Iowa Speedway between July 13-14.
On this occasion, however, it was not this year’s two-time Indianapolis 500 champion Josef Newgarden who swept both races compared to the 2023 season. It was his teammates Scott McLaughlin and Will Power who each fulfilled equated dreams of their own by winning at Iowa for the first time in their IndyCar careers.
The action commenced on Saturday evening, where McLaughlin, who started alongside pole-sitter Colton Herta for the first of two Iowa weekend events, received quick service from his No. 3 team to beat Herta off of pit road first amid a caution period on Lap 84. From there, McLaughlin, who fended off Herta during the following restart period on Lap 92, never relinquished the lead as he proceeded to survive through four caution periods and fend off Pato O’Ward in a 12-lap shootout to win for the first time on an oval circuit.
Overall, McLaughlin, who led the final 164 of 250-scheduled laps in his No. 3 XPEL/Team Penske Dallara-Chevrolet, notched his sixth career victory in the IndyCar circuit, his second of the 2024 season and first since winning at Barber Motorsports Park in April. The Iowa victory reignited McLaughlin’s quest to contend for this year’s IndyCar championship as he also continues to rally from the disqualification during the season-opening Grand Prix of St. Petersburg due to him and teammate Newgarden manipulating the ECU software that enabled them to use the push to pass on restarts.
Photo by Ron Olds for SpeedwayMedia.com.
“What got [the win] done tonight was the pit stops [by] the team,” McLaughlin, who also won the pole position for the 2024 Indianapolis 500, said on the frontstretch following Saturday’s race. “[The pit crew] got me out in front of [Colton] Herta there and then we showed our pace. That’s a big deal today. Man, I’ve been working for that for a couple of years. It takes a lot of hard work. I never was going to call myself an IndyCar driver until I won on an oval [circuit]. So, I’m going to call myself an IndyCar driver now. Hopefully, the floodgates open. We bloody need them to because we’re fairly behind in the championship, but we’ll see how we go.”
The following day, McLaughlin, who won the pole position for the second Iowa event, stormed out of the gate when the green flag waved and proceeded to lead the first 94 laps. Then after McLaughlin pitted from the lead on Lap 95, where a cycle of green flag pit stops had commenced, the race changed as the caution flew on Lap 101 due to Agustin Canapino coming to a stop in the backstretch. By then, Alex Palou, the reigning IndyCar champion, had just entered pit road and serviced his No. 10 DHL Dallara-Honda, where he was then able to blend back onto the track as the race leader. McLaughlin, meanwhile, was shuffled back to third place as teammate Will Power, who had also not yet pitted, moved his No. 12 Verizon/Team Penske Dallara-Chevrolet into second place.
Once the race restarted under green on Lap 113, Power, who spent a majority of the event’s remainder trailing Palou while managing to lead eight laps in the process and conserving fuel in the process, capitalized on his final green flag pit stop that lasted only 5.8 seconds with 45 laps remaining to blend back onto the track in front of Palou, who pitted a lap earlier but emerged with a pit time of 6.3 seconds.
From there, Power, who officially returned to the lead on Lap 209 after rookie Linus Lundqvist pitted, fended off a late charge from Palou towards the event’s conclusion on Lap 250 as he beat Palou to the checkered flag by three-tenths of a second for his first elusive victory at Iowa in the IndyCar circuit.
Power took the checkered flag just before a harrowing four-car wreck erupted on the backstretch that resulted with Sting Ray Robb going airborne, flipping twice and sliding on his roof after he hit Alexander Rossi, who had run out of fuel, as Ed Carpenter and Kyle Kirkwood were also involved.
With the victory, Power, a two-time IndyCar champion and the 2018 Indianapolis 500 champion, notched his 43rd career win in the IndyCar circuit, which moved him solely into fourth place on the all-time IndyCar wins list and left him nine victories shy of tying Mario Andretti for the third-most victories. It was also Power’s first victory since winning at Road America four races ago in June and his first on an oval circuit since he won at Pocono Raceway in August 2019.
Photo by Travis Hinkle | IMS Photo.
“Massive fuel [saving was the key],” Power said on the frontstretch following Sunday’s race. “Honestly, just sitting in the pack. I had a really good car, a really fast car, so I sat back and used that pace to save fuel and get a massive [fuel] number. I knew once all those [leaders] pulled in [to pit], I could go hard and then, we caught a yellow. That was sort of the thing we were hoping for, to get one of those yellows to put us to the front. Then we were able to get better fuel mileage behind Palou and go a lap longer than him and then jump in. I’ve been trying to win this race for years [and] years. So, [I’m] over the moon. The guys did a great job. I felt really bad from yesterday when I accidentally buttoned off from the pit speed limit and ruined our day. We were right in the game…We’re still pushing and getting it done.”
In a span of two races at Iowa, Power went from trailing the points lead by 48 points to decreasing his deficit to 43 and 35 as he retains second place in the championship standings behind points leader Alex Palou. Teammate McLaughlin, who finished in third place during the second Iowa event on Sunday, gained 40 points in two days as he now trails the points lead by 65 points while he is situated in fifth place in the standings.
Meanwhile, Palou, who is still pursuing his first oval victory in the IndyCar circuit, rallied from wrecking out in the first Iowa event to rack up his fifth podium result of the 2024 season and retain the points lead with six events remaining on this year’s schedule.
“It was a good weekend,” Palou, driver of the No. 10 DHL/Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara-Honda, said. “Yesterday was a terrible day for us. Just made too many mistakes, but [I] rebounded today. Almost got the win. Solid P2. Looking forward to Toronto next week. It was, overall, a really good weekend.”
Pato O’Ward, who finished second and sixth, respectively, during the Iowa doubleheader features, is ranked in third place in the driver’s standings with a 52-point deficit despite achieving a resurgent victory a week ago at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Meanwhile, Scott Dixon, who finished in fourth place during both Iowa events, is scored in fourth place in the standings as he trails teammate Palou by 57 points.
Next on the 2024 NTT INDYCAR Series schedule is the series’ annual trip north of the border to the Streets of Toronto, Canada, for the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto. The event is scheduled to occur next Sunday, July 21, and air at 1 p.m. ET on Peacock.
No. 16 Cirkul Camaro ZL1AJ Allmendinger qualified 26th for The Great American Getaway 400 at Pocono Raceway.
On the initial start, Allmendinger got loose running the top of three-wide and fell back to 30th. When the caution came out on lap 15, the No. 16 was running in 25th place. The team stayed out to restart in 13th on lap 18. Allmendinger fell back to 21st, reporting he had no grip. The No. 16 finished the first stage in 23rd.
During the stage break, Allmendinger came to pit road for four tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment. The No. 16 restarted in 30th on lap 36. By lap 49, Allmendinger was running in 26th and reported his car was better, but he was a tick tight. Allmendinger came to pit road during the caution on lap 54. Crew chief, Travis Mack, called for four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment to help Allmendinger with front turn. The No. 16 restarted in 24th and went on to finish the stage in 14th.
At the end of stage two, Allmendinger reported the No. 16 Cirkul Chevy was tight. The team came to pit road during the stage break for tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment to help with handling. Allmendinger restarted in 25th on lap 101. Allmendinger drove up to 21st by lap 116 when the caution came out. The No. 16 restarted in 28th after coming to pit road for tires and fuel. On the restart, Allmendinger was involved in a wreck, which brought out the next caution. The No. 16 Cirkul Chevy received minimal damage after spinning and came to pit road for scuffs and fuel. Allmendinger restarted at the tail end of the longest line after pitting too soon and was scored in 24th when the next caution came on the first lap green. Allmendinger restarted in 24th on lap 132 and took over 21st on the first lap green, before the caution came back out for fluid on the backstretch. Allmendinger restarted in 20th on lap 138 and went on to finish in 21st.
“Hard fought day. I thought we were decent throughout the middle of the race there, but we never could get on the right side of the strategy to get track position. Getting caught up in that wreck towards the end damaged the racecar little bit and caused us to lose some speed. We did what we could to salvage our day.” – AJ Allmendinger
DANIEL HEMRIC No. 31 Poppy Bank Camaro ZL1
Daniel Hemric qualified 27th for The Great American Getaway 400 at Pocono Raceway.
Hemric dropped back to 28th, before the first caution of the day came out on lap 15. He pitted alongside half the field for air-pressure adjustments in the No. 31 Poppy Bank Chevrolet. After restarting 31st on lap 17, some of the field elected to short pit the stage, while Hemric elected to stay out. He made it to 22nd, where he was scored at the end of the opening stage.
During the first stage break, Hemric pitted for tires, fuel and a right-side wedge adjustment in the No. 31 Poppy Bank Chevy. He started the second stage in 33rd. On lap 51, Hemric made contact with the wall, before a timely caution came out on lap 53. He pitted for tires, an adjustment, and damage assessment. The team concluded that the No. 31 sustained a bent toe link, and Hemric nursed the car to the end of the stage, finishing in 34th place.
Starting the final stage one lap down, Hemric missed the free-pass position by one spot when the caution came out on lap 116. He pitted for tires, fuel and an adjustment. A wreck on the restart put Hemric in the free-pass spot, allowing him back on the lead lap. He pitted for fuel. The field went green with 34 laps to go when another wreck on the restart brought the caution back out. Crew chief Trent Owens made to call for Hemric to pit for fresh tires, ensuring the team would have scuff tires at the end if needed. The field went back to green with 29 laps to go, as Hemric restarted 26th. The next caution came out just one lap later. Hemric restarted 23rd with 23 to go. With nine to go, Hemric reported an issue and pitted for tires. Once he blended back into the field, he radioed that something was broken on the No. 31 Chevy. Hemric drove it to the garage and was scored 25th.
“We battled a tight-handling No. 31 Poppy Bank Chevrolet. I brushed the wall, which bent the toe link. Unfortunately, the part eventually failed and ended our day a few laps early. I’m proud of the fight in our team to keep going until the very end.” – Daniel Hemric
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.
