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Majeski rallies to win regular-season finale at Richmond for second consecutive Truck victory of 2024

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Three weeks after breaking through with his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory of the 2024 season at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, Ty Majeski capped off the regular-season stretch by doubling down with a second consecutive victory in recent weeks in the Clean Harbors 250 at Richmond Raceway on Saturday, August 10.

The 29-year-old Majeski from Seymour, Wisconsin, led three times for 70 of 250-scheduled laps in an event where he started alongside pole-sitter Christian Eckes on the front row and rallied from having brief issues launching at the start to assume the lead for the first time on Lap 13. Then after opting to remain on track on old tires during the event’s first caution period on Lap 51, Majeski endured a handful of challenges that hindered his performance that began as he struggled to keep pace on his worn tires during the following restart on Lap 63 and lost a bevy of spots. Just as he pitted for fresh tires during the first stage break period, he was penalized for an uncontrolled tire violation.

Restarting at the tail end of the field for the start of the second stage period, Majeski would spend a majority of the event methodically charging his way back to the front as the event endured a series of caution periods and pit strategies amongst the field. Having marched his way back into the top 10 within the closing stages, Majeski used fresh tires and capitalized on a late-race skirmish involving Grant Enfinger and William Sawalich to return atop the leaderboard during a late-race restart with 20 laps remaining. Amid an additional caution period and late-race restart with eight laps remaining, Majeski fended off Enfinger amid contact to remain out in front of the field and cruise to his second consecutive Truck Series victory of the 2024 season while also entering the Playoffs with early momentum.

With on-track qualifying that determined the starting lineup occurring on Saturday, Christian Eckes secured the pole position with a pole-winning lap at 118.655 mph in 22.755 seconds. Joining him on the front row was Ty Majeski as he clocked in the second-fastest qualifying lap at 118.033 mph in 22.875 seconds.

When the green flag waved and the race started, Christian Eckes rocketed his No. 19 Instacoat Premium Products Chevrolet Silverado RST ahead with the lead from the inside lane. In the process, Grant Enfinger followed suit in second while Ty Majeski, who struggled to launch from the outside lane, was trying to retain third place from William Sawalich. Amid the early jostles of spots around the track, where a three-wide action occurred between Sawalich, Layne Riggs and Taylor Gray for fourth place through the backstretch, Eckes proceeded to lead the first lap from Enfinger as Majeski, Taylor Gray, Riggs and Sawalich followed suit in the top six.

During the second lap, Majeski, who regained pace amid his rocky start, navigated his way past Enfinger for the runner-up spot as Taylor Gray was trying to fend off Layne Riggs, William Sawalich, Nick Sanchez and Ben Rhodes for fourth place. While Gray continued to occupy his spot as both Majeski and Enfinger railed in second and third, respectively, Eckes retained the lead by eight-tenths of a second by the fifth lap mark.

Through the first 10 scheduled laps, Eckes was leading by three-tenths of a second over Majeski followed by Enfinger, Taylor Gray and Riggs while Rhodes, Sawalich, Corey Heim, Nick Sanchez and Daniel Dye were scored in the top 10 on the track. Behind, Kaden Honeycutt occupied 11th place ahead of teammate Bayley Currey, Tyler Ankrum, Jake Garcia and Stewart Friesen while Rajah Caruth, Ty Dillon, Matt Crafton, newcomer Connor Hall and Connor Zilisch trailed in the top 20 ahead of Matt Mills, Timmy Hill, Dean Thompson, Lawless Alan, Tanner Gray and Chase Purdy.

A few laps later, Majeski dueled with Eckes in a side-by-side battle for the lead and the former would continue to battle Eckes before he pulled his No. 98 Soda Sense Ford F-150 ahead from the outside lane on Lap 13. By Lap 17, Majeski stretched his advantage to a second over Eckes and he would stabilize his advantage to a second while third-place Enfinger trailed Eckes by four-tenths of a second. Behind, Taylor Gray and Riggs remained in the top five.

At the Lap 25 mark, Majeski retained the lead by more than a second over Eckes while Enfinger, Taylor Gray and Riggs continued to trail in the top five on the track. Rhodes, Heim, Sawalich, Dye and Sanchez followed suit in the top 10 as Honeycutt, Currey, Ankrum, Friesen and Crafton followed suit in the top 15.

Ten laps later, Majeski, who was starting to lap the competitors running towards the bottom of the leaderboard, stretched his advantage to more than three seconds over Eckes as Enfinger, Taylor Gray and Riggs remained in the top five. Meanwhile, Taylor Gray, Rhodes and Dye, all three of whom were currently scored inside the top-10 cutline in their efforts to make the 2024 Playoffs, were running in the top nine on the track while Friesen and Crafton, both of whom came into Richmond trailing the cutline by 16 and 43 points, respectively, were mired within the top 15. In addition, Tanner Gray, who came into the event five points above the cutline with the final transfer spot, was scored nine points below the cutline as he was mired in 23rd place in front of teammate Dean Thompson.

By Lap 50, Majeski lost a second to his advantage, but he was still leading by more than two seconds over Eckes as top-five competitors Taylor Gray, Enfinger and Riggs trailed the lead by four seconds. Five laps later, Taylor Gray would overtake Eckes for the runner-up spot. By then, Taylor’s older brother, Tanner, was lapped by Majeski as he was mired in 22nd place.

Six laps later, the event’s first caution period flew when Matt Mills lost a right-front tire and went dead straight into the Turn 4 outside wall from 15th place. During the caution period, a majority of the field led by runner-up Taylor Gray pitted for four fresh tires and fuel while the rest led by the leader Majeski and including Ankrum and Connor Zilisch remained on the track.

When the event restarted under green on Lap 63, the field fanned out to multiple lanes through the frontstretch as Eckes used the outside lane and four fresh tires to blast by Ankrum through the first two turns before he then quickly dispatched Majeski for the lead through the backstretch. By the following lap and amid a series of on-track shuffles, Eckes was leading ahead of Taylor Gray and Enfinger while Majeski plummeted to seventh place on his old tires as Rhodes, Riggs and Dye all overtook him. Majeski would then drop to 18th place just past the Lap 65 mark as Ankrum and Zilisch also plummeted in the leaderboard on their old tires while Eckes retained the lead by less than half a second over Taylor Gray.

When the first stage period concluded on Lap 70, Eckes captured his eighth Truck stage victory of the 2024 season. Taylor Gray settled in second ahead of Enfinger, Rhodes and Riggs while Dye, Matt Crafton, Heim, Sanchez and Rajah Caruth were scored in the top 10.

Amid the battles towards the front, Tanner Gray, who restarted in 22nd place and was trying to emerge as the first competitor a lap down at the first stage’s conclusion, had dropped to 28th place and was the seventh competitor scored a lap down as 22nd-place competitor Bret Holmes received the free pass. As a result, he was left with a 22-point disadvantage to Dye in the battle for the cutline. Meanwhile, Eckes’ first stage victory was enough for him to clinch the regular-season championship while runner-up Taylor Gray garnered enough stage points to clinch his spot into the Playoffs based on points.

Under the first stage break, some led by Majeski and including Zilisch and Ankrum pitted while the rest led by Eckes remained on the track. During the pit stops, Majeski was penalized for an uncontrolled tire violation and was sent to the rear of the field before the second stage’s start.

The second stage period started on Lap 79 as Eckes and Taylor Gray occupied the front row. At the start, Eckes muscled away from the field and the inside lane to retain the lead while Gray and Enfinger battled for the runner-up spot in front of Riggs, Rhodes, Dye and Heim. Amid a series of battles around the track, Heim overtook Dye for sixth place and Crafton trailed in eighth place. In the process, Eckes’ advantage stabilized to more than half a second over Enfinger while third-place Taylor Gray trailed by a second as he was ahead of Riggs and Rhodes. With Friesen mired in 13th place, Purdy and Tanner Gray were back in 26th and 27th, respectively.

By Lap 90, Eckes was leading by nine-tenths of a second over Enfinger as Taylor Gray, Riggs and Rhodes trailed by four seconds in the top five. Heim, Dye, Crafton, Ty Dillon and Sanchez would follow suit in the top 10 as Conner Jones, Zilisch, Ankrum, Caruth and Honeycutt were mired in the top 15. Meanwhile, Majeski was trying to rally his way into the top 20 amid his tire violation while Friesen and Tanner Gray were running 16th and 24th, respectively.

At the Lap 100 mark, Eckes’ advantage decreased to three-tenths of a second over Enfinger while Taylor Gray, Riggs and Rhodes continued to run in the top five ahead of Heim, Dye, Ty Dillon, Crafton and Conner Jones. Over the next five laps, Eckes, who was slowly catching lapped traffic, kept leading by above half a second over Enfinger as Taylor Gray kept the two leaders close within his front windshield.

Then on Lap 115, Enfinger overtook Eckes and moved his No. 9 Grant County Mulch Chevrolet Silverado RST into the lead through the frontstretch. Enfinger continued to lead by three-tenths of a second by the following lap as Taylor Gray, who tracked the two leaders, passed Eckes for the runner-up spot during the ensuing lap. As Enfinger retained the lead by three-tenths of a second towards the Lap 120 mark, Riggs and Rhodes followed suit in the top five while Ankrum was up to sixth place ahead of Heim, Dye, Ty Dillon and Zilisch.

At the halfway mark on Lap 125, Enfinger continued to lead by a narrow margin over Taylor Gray before Gray used a bold move beneath Enfinger, who was trapped behind Jake Garcia, entering Turn 1 to grab the lead. Gray stretched his advantage to half a second on the following lap as Eckes trailed by a second in third place while Riggs and Ankrum were in the top five.

Then on Lap 127, the caution flew when Matt Crafton, who was running in the top 15, spun in Turn 4 after he slipped underneath Kaden Honeycutt, where Crafton’s No. 88 Menards Ford F-150 spun from the middle to the bottom of the track and made light contact with the inside wall as Crafton continued. During the caution period, a majority of the lead lap field led by Taylor Gray pitted for service while the rest led by Ty Dillon, who pitted during the first stage’s break period, remained on the track. Friesen and Currey would also remain on the track while Enfinger beat Taylor Gray off of pit road first as he lined up in fourth place on the track.

The start of the following restart period on Lap 135 featured the field getting jumbled up and fanning out through the frontstretch as Friesen jumped ahead with a brief advantage over Dillon on the inside lane. With the field fanning out to four lanes, Enfinger used the four fresh tires to bolt his way to the front from the outside lane as he carved his way back into the lead just past the first two turns.

Eckes followed suit along with Dye, Riggs, Heim and others while Friesen, Dillon and Currey plummeted down the leaderboard on their old tires. Amid the scrambling for spots, Enfinger stretched his advantage to more than half a second with the second stage’s conclusion approaching.

When the second stage period concluded on Lap 140, Enfinger, who clinched his spot into the Playoffs based on points, claimed his first Truck stage victory of the 2024 season. Eckes followed suit in second along with teammate Dye, Riggs and Heim while Rhodes, Caruth, Ankrum, Taylor Gray and Conner Jones were scored in the top 10. By then, Dye had a 28-point advantage over 23rd-place Tanner Gray for the final transfer spot into the Playoffs, though Gray was awarded the free pass for being the first competitor scored a lap down, while Friesen, Crafton, Riggs, Purdy, Dean Thompson and Jake Garcia all trailed the cutline by 39+ points.

During the stage break, some including Friesen, Currey, Jake Garcia, Kaden Honeycutt, Nick Sanchez, Tanner Gray, Ty Dillon, Crafton and Stefan Parsons pitted while the rest led by Enfinger remained on the track.

With 101 laps remaining, the final stage commenced as Enfinger and Eckes occupied the front row. At the start and with the field fanning out, Enfinger and Eckes dueled for the lead in front of Riggs while Heim made contact with Dye while trying to force his way beneath him and have a shot at a top five. Shortly after, the caution quickly returned for a multi-truck wreck that erupted between Turns 3 and 4 when Purdy bumped and sent Ty Dillon running into the rear of Dean Thompson, which resulted in Thompson spinning up the track and in front of oncoming traffic as Sawalich, Stefan Parsons, Keith McGee, rookie Thad Moffitt, Bayley Currey, Mason Massey and Crafton all sustained damage to their respective entries.

As the event restarted under green with 85 laps remaining, Enfinger rocketed away with the lead as the field fanned out approaching the first two turns. Through the backstretch, Enfinger led Rhodes, who navigated past Eckes for the spot, as Ankurm and Riggs battled for fourth place in front of Heim and Caruth. The caution, however, returned for the following lap after Lawless Alan spun in Turn 3 amid contact with Crafton and Bayley Currey.

Following an extensive caution period, the race restarted under green with 73 laps remaining. At the start, Enfinger and Rhodes dueled for the lead as Ankrum, Heim and Caruth all made three-wide moves of their own approaching the first turn. Enfinger would then clear Rhodes and muscle ahead to retain the lead as Eckes would navigate his way into the runner-up spot over Rhodes during the following lap. Amid the late-race battles, Enfinger retained the lead by half a second over Eckes, Rhodes, Riggs and Ankrum while Majeski was up to seventh place behind Heim. The caution, however, would return with 69 laps remaining due to Conner Jones falling off the pace and nearly coming to a stop just past the frontstretch as the Virginia native missed the pit road entrance. During the caution period, some including Heim, Caruth, Sawalich, Purdy, Sanchez and Tanner Gray pitted for fresh tires while the rest led by Enfinger remained on the track.

With the event restarting under green with 63 laps remaining, Enfinger fended off Rhodes to retain the lead from the outside lane as Heim used the four fresh tires to storm his way back to the front while running on the outside lane. With Tanner Gray also using his fresh tires to try to move up the leaderboard despite being mired in 16th place, Enfinger retained the lead by nearly a second over Rhodes with 60 laps remaining as Heim was making his way into the top five. Heim would then overtake Ankrum for fourth place and he would gain ground on Eckes while Majeski, Riggs, Friesen, Ty Dillon and Dye were mired in the top 10.

Down to the final 50 laps of the event, Enfinger was leading by less than two seconds over a hard-charging Heim while Rhodes, Eckes, Majeski, Ankrum, Riggs, Friesen, Dillon and Crafton were scored in the top 10. Meanwhile, Dye, who slipped to 12th place, was 12 points above the cutline with the final transfer spot over Tanner Gray, who was still mired in 16th place and trying to overtake Friesen for the spot. In the process, Taylor Gray was back in 17th place while Sanchez was mired in 22nd place behind Purdy, Garcia and Stefan Parsons.

Ten laps later, Enfinger stabilized his advantage to eight-tenths of a second over runner-up Heim while Majeski trailed the lead by four seconds as he navigated his way up to third place. With teammate Rhodes and Eckes trailing in the top five, Riggs was down in sixth place while Sawalich, Ankrum, Crafton and Caruth were in the top 10. By then, Dye was down in 13th place behind Dillon and Zilisch while Tanner Gray was in 15th place behind Friesen.

Another eight laps later, Heim drew his truck alongside Enfinger as both dueled for the lead before Enfinger muscled ahead to retain the lead and pull away from Heim by two-tenths of a second during the following lap. Heim would then challenge Enfinger a second time for the lead with 30 laps remaining before he prevailed and had the top spot to his control for the following lap. With Heim leading Enfinger, Majeski trailed in third place by two seconds while Riggs and Sawalich were in the top five.

Then following another caution with 26 laps remaining due to Kaden Honeycutt spinning in Turn 4 after he got hit by Stefan Parsons, the entire lead lap field led by Heim pitted for service, with most pitting for a final set of fresh tires. Following the pit stops, Sawalich exited pit road first with only two fresh tires while Enfinger, Heim, Majeski and Eckes, all of whom opted for four fresh tires, exited in the top five. Amid the pit stops, Dye, who pitted from the top 10, exited pit road outside the top 20, which left him with only a one-point advantage over Tanner Gray as Gray was scored in 12th place.

During the following restart with 20 laps remaining, Enfinger tried to bolt away from Sawalich as the field fanned out approaching the first turn. Sawalich, however, slipped up the track and made contact with Enfinger through the first two turns. This allowed Majeski to overtake both for the lead as Enfinger was left to battle Riggs for the runner-up spot in front of Eckes and Heim. As Sawalich began to drop in the leaderboard, Enfinger and Riggs continued to battle hard for the runner-up spot during the proceeding laps. Eckes would join the battle between Enfinger and Riggs while Heim was being overtaken by Ankrum, Taylor Gray, and Dillon. Behind, Dye was up to 11th place on fresh tires while Tanner Gray down to 21st place on older tires to Dye.

With 15 laps remaining, Majeski was leading by more than a second over Enfinger and Riggs. The following lap, however, the caution returned after Holmes hit and send Zilisch into the outside wall in Turn 2, with Zilisch backing his No. 7 Silver Hare Racing Chevrolet Silverado RST into the wall and retiring due to the damage. During caution, few including Tanner Gray, pitted while the rest led by Majeski remained on the track.

Down to the final eight laps of the event, the race restarted under green as Enfinger jumped ahead from Majeski. Then while trying to clear and block Majeski, Majeski kept his foot in the gas and nearly turned Enfinger, which got Enfinger loose and stalled his momentum as Majeski, who then got hit and nearly turned by Enfinger entering Turn 3, powered back into the lead. The contact allowed Eckes to challenge Enfinger for the runner-up spot as Riggs and Taylor Gray tried to join the battle. Over the next two laps, a four-wide battle for the runner-up spot ensued between Enfinger, Eckes, Riggs and Taylor Gray, with neither giving an inch. Meanwhile, Majeski managed to pull away and he would retain the lead by half a second over Enfinger with five laps remaining as Eckes, Taylor Gray and Riggs remained in close pursuit within the top five.

When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Majeski remained the leader by nine-tenths of a second over Eckes as Enfinger, Riggs and Taylor Gray trailed closely behind. Having no competition lurking close enough to his rear bumper, Majeski cycled his Ford around Richmond smoothly for a final time before he returned to the frontstretch victorious for his second checkered flag of the 2024 Truck Series season.

With the victory, Majeski notched his fifth career win in the Craftsman Truck Series division and his first at Richmond Raceway. The victory was also the second of the 2024 season for both ThorSport Racing and the Ford nameplate as Majeski, who qualified for his third consecutive Playoffs, will commence his pursuit for his first Truck Series championship over a seven-race Playoff stretch that begins at the Milwaukee Mile two weeks from now.

“[The win] feels good,” Majeski said on FS1. “We’ve had great ThorSport trucks here at Richmond the last two years. Found different ways to lose’em. We tried to do it again tonight. Another mistake, we really need to clean that stuff up before Playoff time, but so proud of these guys sticking behind me. [I] Wouldn’t be able to it without [owners] Duke and Ronda Thorson. They gave me a huge opportunity a few years ago and I’m having the time of my life racing for this team. Proud of these ThorSport Racing guys. We work so hard at the shop. We’re proud to do this from Sandusky, Ohio and we’re gonna try and bring another trophy back home.”

Behind Majeski, Christian Eckes, the 2024 Truck Series Regular Season Champion, settled in second place followed by Taylor Gray and Grant Enfinger, all of whom are among 10 competitors who have made the Playoffs. Meanwhile, rookie Layne Riggs finished in fifth place but was among several who did not make the Playoffs.

Tyler Ankrum and Ben Rhodes finished sixth and seventh as both are in the Playoffs along with Daniel Dye, who rallied from an up-and-down season to clinch the 10th and final berth to the Playoffs by 12 points over 12th-place finisher Tanner Gray. Ty Dillon and Connor Hall finished in the top 10 on the track.

Notably, Corey Heim, Rajah Caruth and Nick Sanchez, all of whom ended up 16th, 17th and 30th on the track, will compete in the Playoffs for this year’s championship while top names including Stewart Friesen, Chase Purdy, Ty Dillon and Matt Crafton did not make the Playoffs, with the latter having his streak of making the Playoffs for eight consecutive seasons and since the Playoff’s inception 2016 came to an end.

There were 12 lead changes for seven different leaders. The race featured nine cautions for 69 laps. In addition, 21 of 36 starters finished on the lead lap.

Results.

1. Ty Majeski, 70 laps led

2. Christian Eckes, 64 laps led, Stage 1 winner

3. Taylor Gray, five laps led

4. Grant Enfinger, 98 laps led, Stage 2 winner

5. Layne Riggs

6. Tyler Ankrum

7. Ben Rhodes

8. Daniel Dye

9. Ty Dillon, four laps led

10. Connor Hall

11. Stefan Parsons

12. Tanner Gray

13. Jake Garcia

14. Kaden Honeycutt

15. Matt Crafton

16. Corey Heim, six laps led

17. Rajah Caruth

18. Lawless Alan

19. Timmy Hill

20. Chase Purdy

21. Bret Holmes

22. William Sawalich, one lap down, three laps led

23. Bayley Currey, one lap down

24. Spencer Boyd, one lap down

25. Stewart Friesen, two laps down

26. Mason Massey, three laps down

27. Justin Carroll, three laps down

28. Mason Maggio, four laps down

29. Connor Zilisch – OUT, Accident

30. Nick Sanchez – OUT, Clutch

31. Conner Jones – OUT, Electrical

32. Dean Thompson – OUT, Accident

33. Thad Moffitt – OUT, Accident

34. Keith McGee – OUT, Accident

35. Matt Mills – OUT, Accident

36. Jerry Bohlman – OUT, Too Slow

The 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoffs is set to commence at the Milwaukee Mile in West Allis, Wisconsin, for the LiUNA! 175. The event is scheduled to occur on August 25 and air at 4 p.m. ET on FS1.

Reckless Driving and Virginia Road Accidents

By
SM
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Photo by Mason Wildfang on Unsplash

As of 2019, American roads see more than 284 million vehicles, with over 228.7 million licensed drivers behind the wheel. With so many cars, it’s no surprise that the nation sees some of the highest rates of car accidents in the world. 

But there’s another side to the picture—reckless driving. In February 2024, Claims Journal released an article highlighting reckless driving as the most common citation in fatal road crashes, followed by license and registration violations. 

With this information at hand, today’s article will delve into the concept of reckless driving as it pertains to Virginia road accidents. By reading, you will learn the steps to follow should you find yourself a crash victim. Keep scrolling below. 

What is Reckless Driving? 

Have you ever seen a vehicle on the road and thought, ‘That’s dangerous?’

Chances are high that the driver was driving recklessly, disregarding the road rules, putting other motorists at risk. Here are types of road behaviors considered reckless:

Tailgating

“Generally speaking, you should leave a distance of three seconds between your vehicle and the one ahead. Anything less, and you wouldn’t have enough reaction time in case the other motorist suddenly brakes,” says personal injury attorney John Yannone. 

This behavior is known as tailgating, where one driver follows another too closely. In an accident, it could result in severe injuries like whiplash. 

Distracted driving

However mundane it may seem, driving demands focus and attention. Anything that takes your mind off the present goal of driving your car from point A to point B is a distraction. This includes texting, scrolling through social media, engaging in in-depth conversations, eating, and adjusting the rearview mirror, among other things. 

Breaking Traffic Laws 

The rules are there for a reason; running a red light, speeding, or even weaving in and out of traffic just to reach your destination five minutes earlier isn’t worth the risk of losing your life or ending an innocent one.

Driving Under the Influence 

The final and also one of the most common forms of reckless driving in the United States involves getting behind the wheel of your vehicle while intoxicated. Alcohol can impair your judgment on the road, leading to preventable yet fatal accidents. 

Steps to Take in the Event of a Road Accident

Now that you know what constitutes reckless driving, what should you do in the event of an accident stemming from such actions?  Keep reading below: 

Move to safety

If you can, get away from the wreckage and reach a safe spot by the side of the road, where you will be safe from traffic. Next, check yourself for injuries. Are you hurt? Is anyone around you hurt? 

Call 911

Next, call the authorities. If you can’t, ask someone close by to do it for you. 

It’s important to seek immediate treatment even when you feel fine. Some injury symptoms, such as internal bleeding, don’t always start to show immediately, so a comprehensive check is important. 

Collect information 

After making that call, you’re going to want to do some little detective work, that is, if you are physically able to. 

Take out your phone and capture pictures of the scene, the vehicles, and any property damage. If you have any visible injuries, document them as well. 

Next, politely ask the other driver(s) for their contact information. Understandably, your emotions may be running high. But it’s best to maintain a calm and polite demeanor throughout this process. Don’t admit fault by apologizing for the accident. 

Notify your personal injury attorney

Next, call your personal injury attorney and inform them of the accident. Make sure to furnish them with all the details. The more they know and the earlier they know it, the better, as this allows them to start working on your case early enough when hard evidence is still fresh. 

Call your insurance 

Notify your insurance about the accident as soon as you can. Furnish them with any details they ask for but don’t sign anything without your attorney’s greenflag.

Five Factors That Help You Determine Your Personal Injury Compensation Amount

By
SM
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Photo by Vladimir Solomianyi on Unsplash

Suppose you sustained injuries that another person caused negligently or deliberately in an accident. The law grants you the right to file a personal injury claim for compensation for your losses. The amount you can recover as compensation differs but generally ranges from $3,000 to $75,000, with an average of $52,000.

You may wonder how to evaluate your damages to determine how much you deserve as compensation. In this article, we will consider five factors you can use to evaluate your personal injury damages.

  1. Your Injury

The type of injury you sustained, and its severity are instrumental in evaluating your personal injury damages. Personal injuries range from minor to severe, including auto accidents, medical malpractice, workplace accidents, and other accidents that injure victims. The rule of thumb is that the more severe the injury a victim sustains, the higher their compensation amount.

“Severe” means you took time off work or lost your source of income or ability to earn. It also means you can no longer enjoy some things you used to enjoy – at least not in the same way. Usually, injuries that yield these results are permanent – such as facial disfigurement, loss of limbs, and brain trauma.

  1. Your Medical Records

When you have a personal injury case, the wise thing to do is keep your medical records diligently. These include surgery costs, rehabilitation services, admission costs, emergency room charges, and other medical expenses linked to your injury. Personal injury law allows you to claim reimbursement for these costs; therefore, track them after your accident.

Typically, you would get a larger settlement if the post-accident treatment you received included surgeries and complex procedures like reconstructions. Also, if it will take you a long time to recover from your injuries, you are entitled to a larger settlement.

  1. What Ratio of Fault is Yours

Accidents caused by multiple parties are not uncommon, as is an accident where you are partly to blame. For example, you got hit by a drunk driver while speeding. Depending on your jurisdiction, the court will consider that you were speeding to evaluate your compensation.

Some states use the comparative negligence law; others use contributory negligence law; both affect your compensation. Under contributory negligence law, victims will not get anything if they share even one percentage of the blame. Under comparative negligence law, however, they may still recover compensation, but their percentage of fault will reduce it.

  1. Psychological and Emotional Distress

Physical injuries are not the only things accidents cause; victims also suffer mental harm, such as depression, anxiety, and grief. These are potentially debilitating emotions that are capable of reducing a person’s quality of life.

Therefore, emotional and psychological suffering is instrumental in calculating how much a victim walks away with as compensation. Although hard to calculate, an experienced personal injury lawyer can help show how these non-physical injuries will affect you.

  1. The Insurer’s Policy Limit

The insurer’s policy limit also determines how much a personal injury victim can recover as compensation. However, insurers are only sometimes honest; they may refuse your claim or hesitate to pay the total policy limits. That is why you need a lawyer; your lawyer can take the case to trial if the insurance company deals in bad faith.

Conclusion

According to attorney Ronald F. Wittmeyer, Jr. of the Law Offices of R.F. Wittmeyer, “The peculiarities of a personal injury case are pivotal in determining how much a victim gets as final compensation.” If you are a victim, you need qualified legal representation to help you get maximum compensation.

What Does It Mean to Be “Liable”?

By
SM
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Photo by Clarisse Meyer on Unsplash

In legal terms to be liable is to be responsible or be at fault by law. In a personal injury claim, to be liable refers to the obligation of a person responsible for an accident to compensate for all damages caused by their actions. However, this places a responsibility in the claimant’s hands; they have to prove that the defendant was at fault.

Navigating this process can be complex; both parties strive to prove their case, which is where lawyers play a crucial role. In an accident or crash where injury or death occurs, the plaintiff is allowed by law to receive compensation.

Keep reading to learn what legal liability is and how you can use it to your advantage.

How Can I Prove Legal Liability?

In civil cases, the claimant must establish the defendant’s liability. The approach varies according to the case type and nature. You can also prove that the actions of the defendant were deliberate, thereby increasing the amount of compensation.

Most claimants rely on the negligence method in personal injury claims. However, you should know that negligence is not intentional but an unreasonable action that gives rise to harm. A lawyer will be able to prove that the client is liable, either by negligence or not.

When Can a Negligible Party Be Made Liable for Damages?

In basic terms, negligence refers to a specific breach of the responsibility of care that causes another party injury or harm. The components of negligence are breach, duty, harm, and causation.

Every human has a responsibility of care to act like a reasonable party to everyone around them at every point in time. A breach of this duty of care that causes harm to another party is a legal liability founded on negligence. Injuries like a slip and fall or a more serious incident like a car accident, all of which come under personal injury claims in the law court, are usually argued as negligence.

For instance, if a driver’s car brakes fail at a crossing and hits a pedestrian who is on their right of way, it is called negligence. This is because it is believed that the driver owes a responsibility of care to the pedestrian and every other pedestrian at the time. Since the driver caused the pedestrian to suffer injuries, the driver will be made liable for them.

Can More Than One Person Be Legally Liable?

If there is more than one person who directly caused the accident, and it can be proven, they can all be made liable for the offense. This is called joint liability.

There are two types of non-negligent liability: strict and vicarious liability. Strict liability refers to liability that occurs due to the type of injury or accident. Examples are product defect claims and dangerous activity injuries.

Vicarious liability, on the other hand, refers to injuries that occur as a result of actions by another person who is not the defendant. An example is pinning the liability on an employer after an action by their employee, provided they were acting in line with the provisions of their work.

Conclusion

“Proving liability is essential in personal injury cases because it is a clear legal principle that whoever asserts must prove,” says attorney Rusty Levin. If you need to establish liability in the state of California, seek a California personal injury lawyer. Without one, you might not get the expected compensation or nothing at all; you could lose the case.

Getting a reputable California personal injury lawyer is key, which is why you should take your time to find one. They will be able to save you time and money and ensure you make the most of your compensation.

Do These Six Things To Increase the Chances of Winning Your Personal Injury Case

By
SM
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Photo by Alex Diaz on Unsplash

After suffering an injury that is the result of another party’s negligence, you may experience a whirlwind of emotions that can leave you reeling from Post-traumatic stress. 

On top of that, the frequent medical visits coupled with time off work can leave you struggling financially. As a result, it is only fair that you receive compensation for your damages. In South Carolina, you can file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party(s) and the insurance. 

That said, in this comprehensive blog, you will get actionable tips on preparing for a personal injury lawsuit and put the odds in your favor. Here is a rundown of the things you need to know

Get Treatment 

Even if you feel fine, going to the doctor after a personal injury incident, be it a slip and fall incident, a car accident, medical malpractice, or product liability, is important for several reasons. If you suspect that medical malpractice was involved in your injury, consulting a Washington State medical malpractice lawyer can help you understand your legal options and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.

To begin with, some injuries may not manifest immediately after the incident. Your doctor will order comprehensive tests that will reveal injuries you had no idea existed. Furthermore, going to the doctor solidifies your claim since it shows you suffered severe injuries that demanded immediate medical attention. 

Do Not Acknowledge Fault 

In the immediate period after the accident, the adrenaline may still be running high in your system, and this may cause you to say things that may come to haunt you later on. For instance, you can make the mistake of telling the police officer that the accident was your fault. 

The officer will capture this detail in their official report, and when filing your claim, the defendant may argue that the accident was your fault since you already admitted to it. So be careful what you say in the aftermath of a personal injury incident. 

Talk to Your Attorney

You could file the personal injury suit yourself, but this path may be barking off the wrong tree. You see, personal injury lawyers exist for a reason. They understand the inner workings of the law and can benefit from your suit. 

As such, you should call your attorney immediately after the incident. And if you do not have access to a personal injury lawyer, it’s time to begin the search. You can ask for recommendations from your acquaintances or even use online referral services. 

Keep off Social Media

After an accident, you may want to update your Facebook community or Instagram followers about your injury. This is a bad idea. Anything you say about the injury is giving the defense ammunition to poke holes in your case.

For instance, you may do something that contradicts the facts of the case. The defense attorney may use this as an avenue to claim that you are dishonest and change the facts of the case. 

Gather Evidence 

Evidence is a foundational pillar of any case in the US, whether criminal or civil. In a personal injury case, the burden of proof is upon you, the plaintiff. So start by gathering pictorial and video evidence of the scene of the incident. If there are any witnesses involved, be sure to get their details. 

“Once you visit the doctor, document everything. Keep records of the receipts, appointments, prescriptions, and other related documents. You should also keep a journal detailing how the injury affects your life and the recovery process,” says personal injury attorney Charles W. Whetstone, Jr. of Whetstone Perkins & Fulda. 

Know When To Settle

In South Carolina, the majority of personal injury cases are settled out of court. A qualified South Carolina personal injury attorney will estimate the amount of compensation you are entitled to and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf. 

They will advise you when it is best to settle and whether taking the case to court is ideal. Remember, in open court, the judge will decide how much compensation you are entitled to. It may be higher or lower than what the insurance agents proposed. 

Conclusion 

While the path to personal injury compensation can be difficult, it doesn’t have to be if you follow the right steps. The most important step of all is to enlist the service of a skilled South Carolina personal injury lawyer. The attorney will pursue the claim on your behalf, advising you on the best path forward, leaving you much-needed peace ro recover. 

Product Liability Claims

By
SM
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Photo by Maarten van den Heuvel on Unsplash

California product manufacturers are responsible for ensuring their products are safe for consumers. Unfortunately, manufacturers do not always meet this expectation, thereby harming consumers. 

If you have suffered injuries due to a harmful or defective product, you may have a right to compensation by filing a product liability claim. This guide delves into product liability lawsuits and can guide you into the basics if you intend to file a claim. 

Types of Product Liability Claims

Product liability laws address any harm resulting from a defective or faulty product. As such, it can be a slightly broad field with three main categories: manufacturing defect claims, design defect claims, and failure to warn claims.

Manufacturing Defect Claims

Manufacturing defect claims result from harm caused by a product with a defect right from production. For example, if you bought a lawn mower, put it to work, and the blade detaches, causing an injury, you can file a manufacturing defect claim against the lawnmower manufacturer. 

Unlike other personal injury cases, you do not need to prove negligence by the manufacturer. Instead, strict liability would apply, which holds the manufacturer liable irrespective of their effort to ensure safety. All you need to prove is that the mower had a manufacturing defect and that the defect was the direct cause of the incident that caused your injuries. Understanding the nuances of strict liability can be complex, so consulting with a New York product liability lawyer can provide valuable insight into how the law works and help you assess the best course of action for your case.

Design Defect Claim

A product’s design can make it inherently risky. For example, Ikea has in the past come under fire and has had to pay millions in settlement after several children died after being crushed under their drawers as a result of a poor design. 

Proofing a product design defect can be challenging and demands specialized knowledge of the subject matter. In most cases, lawyers depend on expert witnesses to prove design defects in a claim. Also, in design defect claims, you will likely have more than one individual raising issues with the design defect, as with Ikea drawers.

Failure to Warn Claims

Sometimes, it is impossible to eliminate all chances of an accident in product manufacturing. In such cases where a product may pose certain risks to users, the manufacturer is responsible for warning consumers so they can make an informed decision when using the product. 

If a product manufacturer fails to warn consumers and the product ends up causing harm, they will be held liable for the harm. Failure to warn claims arise when the manufacturer knows or should have known that the product could cause harm. Failure to warn lawsuits often arise in drug, medical devices, and beauty product-related lawsuits. 

Liable Parties in Product Liability Claims

Liable parties in personal injury claims resulting from faulty or defective products are any party in the distribution chain, from the manufacturer, marketer, and retailer. “In most cases, the product manufacturer is liable. This is especially true when the marketers and the retailers have no control over the product’s safety,” says personal injury lawyer Walter T. Clark of the Walter Clark Legal Group. 

However, if a marketer knows or should have known about the defects in a product and goes ahead to market it without mentioning the potential harm, they could be liable for damages. Also, a retailer can be held liable if they knew or should have known a specific product was defective but still sold it to a consumer.

Product liability lawsuits rank at the top in terms of complexity. Navigating one without the help of a qualified personal injury lawyer significantly diminishes your chances of fair compensation. 

Hamlin wins “unexpected” Cup Series pole, his third of 2024 at Richmond

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Denny Hamlin was left stunned on pit road after he rallied from a slow practice session and barely transferred into the final round of qualifying to secure his third Busch Light Pole Award of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season for Sunday’s Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway on Saturday, August 10.

The three-time Daytona 500 champion from Chesterfield, Virginia, was one of 10 competitors to transfer from two qualifying group rounds to the final round. During the process, Hamlin was the fifth and final competitor to transfer from the Group A qualifying round and was ranked in 11th place during the event’s lone practice session earlier on Saturday. Once in the final round, he posted his best qualifying lap at 118.162 mph in 22.850 seconds, which was enough to claim the top-starting spot over teammate Martin Truex Jr. at his home track.

With the accomplishment, Hamlin, who notched his third Cup Series pole position of the 2024 season, secured his first top-starting spot since Nashville Superspeedway in June, his fourth at Richmond and his 43rd career pole, which keeps him in 13th place on the all-time Cup poles list and leaving him two shy of tying Hall of Famer Buck Baker for 12th place on the list. The pole award was also the sixth of the season for Joe Gibbs Racing and the eighth for the Toyota nameplate.

In addition, Hamlin, a five-time Richmond winner, will attempt to sweep both Richmond Cup events in a season after he won at his home track in April. The last time Hamlin won the fall Richmond event was in September 2016.

“We were the slowest car in the first round [of qualifying],” Hamlin said. “The team made great adjustments. That’s the bottom line to it. [The crew] told me if I backed up my time, we’d have a shot at [the pole]. Certainly, a great job to this whole FedEx Camry team. Certainly, unexpected given the practice and first round qualifying we had.”

Joining Hamlin on the front row will be teammate Martin Truex Jr., a three-time Richmond winner who clocked in his best qualifying lap at 117.822 mph in 22.916 seconds as he is scheduled to make his final Cup start at Richmond on Sunday.

Rookie Josh Berry will start in the top four for the fourth time this season after he qualified in third place. Berry will share the second row with Chase Elliott while Christopher Bell and Austin Dillon, the fastest competitor during the event’s practice session, will line up in the third row. Chris Buescher, Bubba Wallace, Joey Logano and Tyler Reddick completed the top-10 starting spots while Ryan Blaney and Kyle Busch, both of whom were among the remaining 27 competitors to not transfer into the final round of qualifying, will start 11th and 12th, respectively.

Notably, William Byron, Ty Gibbs and Kyle Larson will start 13th through 15th, respectively, while Alex Bowman will start 17th. In addition, rookies Carson Hocevar and Zane Smith will line up in Row 10, Ross Chastain qualified 22nd as he will share Row 11 with teammate Daniel Suarez, Chase Briscoe qualified 25th and Brad Keselowski will take the green flag in 29th.

Amid the star-studded lineup, Parker Retzlaff, an Xfinity Series regular for Jordan Anderson Racing, will round out the 37-car field in 37th place for his Cup Series debut on Sunday.

All 37 Cup competitors entered for this weekend’s main event made the show.

Qualifying position, best speed, best time:

  1. Denny Hamlin, 118.162 mph, 22.850 seconds
  2. Martin Truex Jr., 117.822 mph, 22.916 seconds
  3. Josh Berry, 117.601 mph, 22.959 seconds
  4. Chase Elliott, 118.105 mph, 22.861 seconds
  5. Christopher Bell, 117.570 mph, 22.965 seconds
  6. Austin Dillon, 117.770 mph, 22.926 seconds
  7. Chris Buescher, 117.463 mph, 22.986 seconds
  8. Bubba Wallace, 117.591 mph, 22.961 seconds
  9. Joey Logano, 117.096 mph, 23.058 seconds
  10. Tyler Reddick, 117.488 mph, 22.981 seconds
  11. Ryan Blaney, 119.095 mph, 22.671 seconds
  12. Kyle Busch, 118.069 mph, 22.868 seconds
  13. William Byron, 119.090 mph, 22.672 seconds
  14. Ty Gibbs, 117.925 mph, 22.896 seconds
  15. Kyle Larson, 119.016 mph, 22.686 seconds
  16. Noah Gragson, 117.837 mph, 22.913 seconds
  17. Alex Bowman, 118.796 mph, 22.728 seconds
  18. Austin Cindric, 117.801 mph, 22.920 seconds
  19. Carson Hocevar, 118.723 mph, 22.742 seconds
  20. Zane Smith, 117.447 mph, 22.989 seconds
  21. Daniel Suarez, 118.718 mph, 22.743 seconds
  22. Ross Chastain, 116.929 mph, 23.091 seconds
  23. Todd Gilliland, 118.582 mph, 22.769 seconds
  24. Corey LaJoie, 116.893 mph, 23.098 seconds
  25. Chase Briscoe, 118.385 mph, 22.807 seconds
  26. Ryan Preece, 116.600 mph, 23.156 seconds
  27. Erik Jones, 118.214 mph, 22.840 seconds
  28. Michael McDowell, 115.731 mph, 23.330 seconds
  29. Brad Keselowski, 117.976 mph, 22.886 seconds
  30. Ty Dillon, 115.716 mph, 23.333 seconds
  31. Harrison Burton, 117.596 mph, 22.960 seconds
  32. Daniel Hemric, 115.577 mph, 23.361 seconds
  33. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 117.524 mph, 22.974 seconds
  34. Riley Herbst, 115.281 mph, 23.421 seconds
  35. John Hunter Nemechek, 117.402 mph, 22.998 seconds
  36. Justin Haley, 115.207 mph, 23.436 seconds
  37. Parker Retzlaff, 116, 435 mph, 23.189 seconds

Toyota Racing – NCS Richmond Quotes – Denny Hamlin & Chris Gabehart – 08.10.24

By
Official Release
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Toyota Racing – Denny Hamlin and Chris Gabehart
NASCAR Cup Series Quotes

RICHMOND, Va. (August 10, 2024) – Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin and crew chief Chris Gabehart were made available to the media on Saturday after winning the pole for the NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway.

DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 FedEx Rewards Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing

CHRIS GABEHART, crew chief, No. 11 FedEx Rewards Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing

What are your thoughts on the option tire and how it went in practice?

HAMLIN: “Couple tenths faster, couple tenths slower over 40 some laps or so. Personally, I would love the option tire – the soft tire – just to be the tire. We stopped around lap 40 or so on that run, and I feel like it was just about to take off lap time wise. That’s kind of what we used to have back in the day. It is possible. We’ve built a tire that has some good fall off to it. There was some front-end grip as well, so if we are experimenting this to see if we can run those tires in a race as the only tire, I think that is certainly a viable option.”

GABEHART: “It is not every day that he (Denny Hamlin) is more aggressive than me, but that is more aggressive. For me, I need to see it in the race more because in terms of how it is going to perform with the option, because the track changes so much from practice here in Richmond – especially in the first five or ten minutes. There was considerably more wear with the option, and it does appear that it is going to fire off faster and maybe go slower, and it already seemed like it was going to go slower after 40 laps – which is not quite a get home lap here at Richmond – definitely a lot of potential.”

You get two sets of these for the race. How are you managing the strategy?
GABEHART: “Well, it is like every race, you tell me when the cautions are going to come out, and I’ll tell you the strategy you should use. Unfortunately, my caution Ouija Board is broken right now. I hope we fixed it over the two-week break. Certainly, I think you are going to leave them laying for the end of the race for the most part – now I won’t say – there may be some cars that need some points that might try to put a set on to steal a stage win or something like that, some of those cut off cars potentially, but I think to win the race, you will have to leave them for the end of the race.”

Denny, do you feel any differently about your chances of winning after you got the pole with the option tire in play?

HAMLIN: “I think if you would have asked Chris (Gabehart) that question – he doesn’t want any novelties thrown in – but I understand why we are doing it. I think it is a good idea, but anything that something bizarre can happen and you lose on it is a possibility, but it is the same for everyone. Everyone has the same rules with the tire allotment, so it is just do you get unlucky with cautions or not – that is the only thing that can really throw a wrench in where we would be.”

Were you surprised that your lap was good enough for the pole?

HAMLIN: “He told me I needed to back up – to win the pole – I needed to back up my lap. We did, and it did. We know historically it always does fall off, but I felt like I did as good as I could on the lap. There was no kind of regrets with it, with what I could do different. I feel like we made some really good adjustments between the two rounds, and I was able to execute the lap I was trying to execute. Was I surprised it held up? Yes. I definitely was. When I ran it, that was the most that I could get out of the car. There wasn’t anything left, but as cars go – and those guys ran much faster than us and had less laps on the tires – when they didn’t beat us, it certainly gave us a little bit of hope going into that last round.”

What does your continued success mean at Richmond Raceway, being your home track?

HAMLIN: “I probably put a little more pressure on myself to preform at this race track, just simply because I know what it takes to win here and what I need out of the car. I don’t always express that correctly. I always put that pressure on myself to preform here. I feel like I have good techniques that help equal the success in the past, but we have gone through so many car changes, tire changes – things like that, but the basics still ring true in the end. I love winning here. To have five is certainly exciting, I feel like each one has been a little different, a different car – COTs, Gen 7’s and all the different things, but it feels good to come here and still be able to perform years after I was competitive here in my rookie year.”

If tire management comes into play tomorrow, do you think it will favor the veterans?

HAMLIN: “It will be a little different than Bristol, because I don’t think it is going to hit a cliff where one lap as Kevin Harvick says the switch turns off, the car turns off – I don’t think it will be that moment, but I think it will be a three-to-four lap moment where the switch goes off. Sure, the guys that are good at managing tires and things like that will all have a little bit longer switch than others, but I just think if it happens during green, we are just going to come in and pit – I think – it just depends on how the cautions work out. It is going to depend on how long you are going to ask from those tires at the end of the race if you are saving them, and that is your only last remaining set, and you have 60 laps to go. That’s going to be a tall task, but I like my chances against anyone in that scenario.”

Do you think the weather will make changes to the tire plan tomorrow?

GABEHART: “I think the cooler weather played a factor at North Wilkesboro. At practice we saw one thing and certainly had a feeling going into the race that in those conditions we might see this and then we lived the race where it was a night race and cooled off and certainly felt differently about it afterwards. I don’t think this track is capable of that level of transformation from one condition to the next, but I do think until the lights turn on here at Richmond you won’t know what you have.”

For tomorrow, do you have an idea of when you put both sets of option tires on?

GABEHART: “I have a rough game plan. I have a rough idea of how most will tend to use them if they know when the cautions come out. And, again, depending on what their agenda is I do think you’ll see some cut off teams that may need to get a little desperate at the end of some of these stages to try to go grab some of those points, and I think that would be a wise move for some of them if they got the opportunity. But again, to win the race, I think you have to have them laying around as an option in stage 3.”

Do you feel like right now is the right time to introduce the option tire?

HAMLIN: “Well, we’ve done so many different tire tests and there’s only been a handful of cars out there so nothing replicates real world like the real world. And, so I think that they did it at North Wilkesboro just as a blind – they did do it during the tire test a little bit and they were wearing out extremely high. Then they put all the cars on the track and it’s just not as bad. Certainly, I think if they would’ve tried this tire at a tire test that they probably would’ve got 20 laps out of it, and it would’ve been roasted because there’s not enough tire rubber filling in the pores of the track to keep the wear down. I think almost have to have these real-life moments of trial and error to try it. And, certainly, this shows me personally that we can get a lot more aggressive with our compounds on these short track tires. I would’ve never thought they would’ve lasted 40 laps, truthfully. I think tomorrow there’s a chance they can go longer. I’m not sure. It could go the other way too if there’s more load. Who knows how this turns out, but I think it’s safer to do it now than probably in the Playoffs.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs more than 63,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 47 million cars and trucks at our 12 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 13th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 29 electrified options.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

Team Penske NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying Report – Richmond

By
Official Release
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Cook Out 400: Richmond Raceway
Richmond, VA – August 10, 2024

After a two-week break, NASCAR Cup Series teams and drivers are back in action at Richmond Raceway, where a new competition element will debut. For the first time in a points-paying race, teams can choose between two Goodyear tire options: the “Prime” tire, with a harder compound offering less grip but more durability, and the “Option” tire, which has a softer compound for better short-term grip and speed but reduced longevity. The “Prime” tire will be marked with yellow sidewall lettering, while the “Option” tire will feature red lettering. This adjustment is expected to introduce a new level of strategy to the race as just four races remain in the regular season before the Cup Series Playoffs begin at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Joey Logano, driver, No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Mustang

9th

Ryan Blaney, driver, No. 12 BODYARMOR SportWater Ford Mustang

11th

Austin Cindric, driver, No. 2 Menards/Libman Ford Mustang

18th

HEAR FROM LOGANO: “I feel like we got a decent read on it but eager to find out the balance change and overall lap times that you’re looking for to try to create a strategy for tomorrow, then the adjustments you need to make sure your car is balanced to take advantage of the softer tire. It’s definitely different – [the option tire] fires off faster and it falls off harder. That’s kind of what I was looking for. It’s going to change the strategy a lot. It’s definitely going to be different from the racing we’ve seen.”

RICHMOND BY THE NUMBERS: Team Penske owns nine Cup Series victories at Richmond Raceway over 144 starts, with the most recent win being scored in 2020 by former Team Penske driver Brad Keselowski. Joey Logano, driver of the No. 22 Ford Mustang, has amassed two wins at the Virginia short track in 30 career starts and has recorded an impressive 14 top-five and 19 top-10 finishes, netting him an average finish of 9.7. Driver of the No. 2, Austin Cindric, has a best finish of 12th in six premier series starts at the Richmond venue. Teammate Ryan Blaney, pilot of the No. 12 Ford Mustang, has scored three top-10 results with a best finish of seventh.

TUNE IN ON SUNDAY: Coverage of Sunday’s 300-mile race at Richmond begins at 6:00 p.m. ET on USA, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Josh Berry Qualifies Third to Lead Ford in Richmond

By
Official Release
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Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Cup Series
Cook Out 400 Qualifying | Richmond Raceway
Saturday, August 10, 2024

Ford Performance Results:
3rd – Josh Berry
7th – Chris Buescher
9th – Joey Logano
11th – Ryan Blaney
16th – Noah Gragson
18th – Austin Cindric
23rd – Todd Gilliland
25th – Chase Briscoe
26th – Ryan Preece
28th – Michael McDowell
29th – Brad Keselowski
31st – Harrison Burton
34th – Riley Herbst
36th – Justin Haley
37th – Parker Retzlaff

JOSH BERRY, No. 4 P&G Supports Our Military Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “That was really good. Obviously, we had a really good lap in the first round. I felt like I had a good lap in the second round, but just needed a little bit more there. I’m pretty happy with how that went and we’ll see what tomorrow brings us.”

HOW MUCH CAN YOU APPLY FROM YOUR PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE ON TRACKS LIKE RICHMOND? “This place, I came here in an Xfinity car in probably 2015 and there was Cup drivers in the field and that was one of my best races in a one-off. It just felt natural to me, based off what I’ve done before, just how the track races. It’s come to me a little easier than some of the others.”

DO YOU FEEL THERE’S ANY ADDED PRESSURE TO GET IT DONE TOMORROW NIGHT? “I don’t know that there’s added pressure, but we realize this is a great opportunity for us. We ran great here in the spring. We didn’t execute like we needed to on pit road and kind of took ourselves out of the race, but I think we have a car that can compete with these guys. We have the starting spot. I think it’s just gonna come down to executing tomorrow and doing the right things, making the right calls. There’s obviously a lot going on with the tires. Rodney is prepared for that and tomorrow can be the day.”

DO YOU THINK THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME TO INTRODUCE THE OPTION TIRE? “I think it’s a great move. They’ve got to move the needle and I think it’s a success. The tire wear we had today, it will only be better tomorrow with little cooler temperatures and more rubber on the track. Like I said, I think we could have a fleet completely of those tires and there wouldn’t be any issues.”

CHRIS BUESCHER, No. 17 Fastenal Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “It’s a really good start. I feel like that’s been a weak spot of ours here even though we’ve been really good. That puts us in a good spot to get a good pit selection and be set up for a good race. We’ve got a lot to go through from practice to figure out from the reds and yellows and see what we feel like that’s gonna do for the race and what our options are. I think it’s gonna be a whole lot harder for the crew chiefs and all the smart people tonight, but it was definitely a good day and start to our weekend. I’m proud of that and ready to get this Fastenal Ford Mustang out on the track tomorrow.”

JOEY LOGANO, No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “I felt like we were OK in race trim. We just really haven’t figured out the second round of qualifying We were good the first round, but it seems like the second round I don’t have much left in the tank for whatever reason, so we have a little bit of work to do there, but it’s not a bad starting spot.”

RYAN BLANEY, No. 12 BodyArmor Sport Water Ford Mustang Dark Horse – WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE OPTION TIRE THIS WEEKEND? “I think the biggest thing for us is just seeing how they practice, what the take off speed is like with them, what the fall off speed is like with them, and I think that can kind of determine where you put them on. I’ve got a feeling that everyone is planning right now to save them for the end if it’s like way faster, but I think you can get pretty strategic on where you put them on. Maybe you have a bad pit stop or you’ve got to go to the back, so maybe you throw reds on and see if you can get back through the field if they’re a lot faster. We’ve kicked around a lot of different scenarios.”

IF YOU TRY TO SAVE ONE FOR THE END AND YOU GET A LONG GREEN FLAG RUN. IS THERE CONCERN YOU COULD LEAVE WITH ONE SET IN YOUR POCKET? “That’s the risk you always take with tires. I mean, how many times have folks tried to stay out and they end with a sticker set in their pits hoping for a caution and they don’t get it and it ruins their day. That’s just the risk you take. Like I said, it’s gonna be interesting to see if you’ve got one set left and there are 100 laps to the end. Are you gonna throw on your final set? I don’t know. It just depends how much they fall off the cliff, if they do fall off the cliff a lot more than the primes. We’ll get a pretty good idea of that today in practice, just like that delta and then that’s why the crew chiefs get paid big bucks tomorrow on whether you throw them on.”

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