Home Blog Page 979

AO Racing and Rexy Double Down for Victory in Motor City

By
Official Release
-

DETROIT, Mich., (June 3, 2024) – Just weeks after the team’s first win in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, AO Racing celebrated their second consecutive win at the Detroit Sports Car Classic. The class victory extends their points lead in the GTD PRO class. Rexy, the No. 77 Porsche 911 GT3 Rawr had a nail-biting race with drivers Sebastian Priaulx and Laurin Heinrich, persevering through contact to win on Corvette and Ford’s home turf.

”All of us at AO Racing are thrilled for our second IMSA victory with Rexy,” said AO Motorsports Director Gunnar Jeannette. “It was one of the most nerve-wracking finishes I’ve ever been a part of, in dealing with the car damage after contact. Our goals for this weekend were to have a clean race and come away with a top-five result, so to leave with our second victory and increased lead in points is fantastic.”

The tight, 1.654-mile, 9-turn temporary street course on Detroit’s waterfront set the scene for an exciting event. The 100-minute round was the first time the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship entrants competed in the race. With three practice sessions to learn the tight circuit, Priaulx qualified fourth in class. He performed flawlessly to open the race, closing out his stint in third place, behind the No. 4 Corvette and the No. 14 Lexus. After a perfect pit stop by the crew in pit lane, Heinrich took over the driving duties, in what was a caution-filled stint. He and Rexy narrowly survived an incident between the No. 4 and No. 14 cars, resulting in heavy damage to the front splitter as the green dinosaur-liveried Porsche navigated around the two cars to take the lead. Heinrich drove it to the finish line, parking Rexy in victory circle, once again the top finisher in the GTD PRO class.

The win continues the momentum for AO Racing, who will compete in their next IMSA WeatherTech event at Watkins Glen International’s Six Hours of The Glen, June 21 to June 23. Before then, the team’s LMP2 program travels to Le Mans, France, for the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans, on Saturday, June 15. Testing begins this week before official practice sessions take place next week. The team will join forces with TF Sport to enter the event with Spike, AO’s purple and orange dragon. For more information, visit aoracing.com.

Driver Quotes

Sebastian Priaulx

What a great day. I kept the car clean on the start for Laurin and he was able to go and execute the result there for us. I’m really proud of the team. Everyone did a great job. It was a bit of luck, but we made our own today. I’m happy to have a car that was able to finish with the damage we had. I’m proud of Laurin and the team.

Laurin Heinrich

I’m really happy to get our second win in a row, back-to-back, in Detroit. It was not an easy race. Seb had a great qualifying and a good opening race stint to put us in that place, and then in the end, a great pit stop and strong out lap kept us going. We got a bit tight in the hairpin. I had nowhere to go and had contact with the Corvette, and from there, I had to nurse the car home with a lot of damage. I had to adapt my driving style a bit because the car didn’t want to go straight. I’m really happy to bring it home.

Championship in Play as Mazda MX-5 Cup Returns to Mid-Ohio

By
Official Release
-

LEXINGTON, Ohio (June 3, 2024) – The Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin never ceases to surprise. Now at the halfway point of the season, the series has yet to have a repeat race winner and the championship point leader has changed with each round. Rounds Seven and Eight at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course could disrupt these trends and put the spotlight on a 2024 championship favorite.

The Mid-Ohio weekend marks the return of Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup to the 2.258-mile natural terrain road course after not being part of the 2023 season schedule. Since then, the track has new pavement and the cars now race on Michelin tires. That could make it a level playing field for those who have not been to the circuit before.

JTR Motorsports Engineering is flying high after the last two rounds of the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Coming into that weekend, JTR had yet to put a driver on the podium. Leaving Laguna Seca, however, the Indiana-based team locked out the top two positions in the points, thanks to wins from Jared Thomas (No. 96 JTR Motorsports Engineering) and Aaron Jeansonne (No. 24 JTR Motorsports Engineering).

Not only that, but the team’s rookie driver, Nathan Nicholson (No. 56 JTR Motorsports Engineering) captured his first two career podiums and moved up to fifth in the point standings, the highest of the rookie class.

Nipping at JTR’s heels are the drivers of McCumbee McAleer Racing. Jeremy Fletcher (No. 22 McCumbe McAleer Racing) and Nate Cicero (No. 83 McCumbee McAleer Racing), who each took a third-place finish in Monterey. Their teammate Gresham Wagner (No. 5 McCumbee McAleer Racing) has more wins at Mid-Ohio than any other driver entered, with two (2020 and 2022). That could be because it’s his favorite track.

“It’s a really old-school type track,” Wagner said. “To be fair, most of the tracks we go to have their own unique characteristics that make them tricky or require some finesse. It’s the strongest at Mid-Ohio, that element of finesse and precision that it requires. It has a little bit of everything: high-speed back straight, it’s got a tight little arena section, it’s flowing and hilly. It’s a dream track. For cars that race like we do, it’s the perfect little bullring with a few passing opportunities.”

Mid-Ohio will mark the return of Connor Zilisch (No. 72 BSI Racing) who missed Rounds Five and Six due to a scheduling conflict with his ARCA commitments. When the young phenom last raced MX-5 Cup at Mid-Ohio, he was a rookie and had a weekend to forget. He may not be in the championship hunt, but Zilisch is capable of mixing it up at the front of the field and is eager to get his first MX-5 Cup win of the season after missing out on a victory at Sebring by all of .001-seconds.

The largest cheering section of the weekend undoubtably goes to local driver Woody Heimann (No. 82 JTR Motorsports Engineering). The Ohio native is in his fourth season of MX-5 Cup. Living just an hour away, Heimann has been coming to Mid-Ohio since he was a kid and started his racing career here, albeit on two wheels instead of four.

“I’ve raced motorcycles, bicycles and now cars at Mid-Ohio,” Heimann said. “My first time there was 1996 as a spectator and my first time there on two wheels was 2001 at a track day. My first race was spring of 2003, on two-wheels. I’m celebrating 21 years of motorsports at Mid-Ohio!

“Mid-Ohio is a great road course,” he added. “I feel like half the paddock would say it’s their favorite track. It’s a drivers’ course. It’s not a drafting track. The draft doesn’t matter much and if you can wheel the car well, then you’ll do good. Having raced a season (2023) that didn’t go to Mid-Ohio, it makes me appreciate it that much more now that we’re going back.”

Heimann is correct, many drivers on the MX-5 Cup grid list Mid-Ohio as their favorite track.

Will we have our first repeat winner of the season, or will the championship leader double down on his points margin? Will hometown heroes rise to the top and make it to the podium or could a talented rookie get their first-ever win? These questions and more will be answered in MX-5 Cup Rounds Seven and Eight at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Race 1 will go green at 3:25pm ET on Saturday, June 8. Race 2 will take place Sunday, June 9, at 10:25am ET. Both races will be streamed live on RACER.com and IMSA.tv.

About: The Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin is the signature spec series for Mazda Motorsports. The series has been operated by Andersen Promotions since 2017 and is currently sanctioned by IMSA. Mazda-powered grassroots champions can earn Mazda scholarships for this pro-level series. The Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup awards more than $1 million in prizes and scholarships.

Find out more at http://www.mx-5cup.com.

Cindric ends 85-race victory drought with dramatic win in NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300

By
Official Release
-
Team Penske’s Austin Cindric celebrates in Victory Lane after winning Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway. Photo credit: World Wide Technology Raceway.
  • Team Penske’s Austin Cindric lands first win since the 2022 Daytona 500 as teammate Ryan Blaney runs out of fuel coming to the white flag at World Wide Technology Raceway.

MADISON, Ill. (June 2, 2024) – Sometimes it takes a little luck to go along with all that horsepower and talent to win in the ultra-competitive NASCAR Cup Series.

Team Penske’ Austin Cindric capitalized on teammate Ryan Blaney running out of fuel heading to the white flag in Sunday’s Enjoy Illinois 300 to snap an 85-race winless streak before a near-sold out crowd at Wide World Technology Raceway.

The victory was Cindric’s first since winning the 2022 season-opening Daytona 500 when he was named the Cup Series Rookie of the Year that year.

Description automatically generated“I’m heartbroken for the 12 team (Blaney),” said Cindric, who only had one top-10 finish (fourth at Atlanta in February) through the first 14 races. “I don’t know what happened to them at the end of the race, but they deserved to win this race. Ryan’s been a hell of a leader on this team. This weekend was a great weekend for everybody involved. That 2 car is in the fight, an eventual 1-2 there. Heartbroken for those guys.

“This is huge for me. This is huge for this team. I’m so glad I was able to get a win with Brian (Wilson) as my crew chief in the Cup Series. You never know when it’s going to happen again, just drive my butt off and hope for the best.”

Blaney (No. 12 Ford) was trying to end a winless streak of his own – 15 races – and it appeared that he was in line to do so as he held a lead over Cindric (No. 2 Ford) as he was approaching the white flag signifying the final lap. But suddenly Blaney began to slow with no fuel remaining, unable to eke out just over a lap on the 1.25-mile short oval, and Cindric pounced.

“Never thought in my mind we were short,” said Blaney, who finished 24th. “It’s one of those things. One lap short. That just stinks. Really happy with our showing today. I don’t know what I got to do to get some luck on our side. I thought we had a great shot to win today. It ended up bad.”

Cindric, who started second and led a career-best 53 laps, was in the right place at the right time to cash in on his teammate’s misfortune and give Team Penske its second win in the three Cup Series races at the venue. Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Toyota) of Joe Gibbs Racing finished second – 3.844 seconds back – and Brad Keselowski (No. 6 Ford) of RFK Racing took third. Rounding out the top five were 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick (No. 45 Toyota) and Team Penske’s Joey Logano (No. 22 Ford), the winner of the inaugural 2022 Cup Series race here.

Throughout the majority of the 240-lap race, it appeared that Joe Gibbs Racing would find its way to Victory Lane as Christopher Bell (No. 20 Toyota) was dominant. Bell won the first two stages, led five times for a race-high 80 laps and was in a side-by-side battle with Blaney for the lead in the final 20 laps. Bell grabbed the lead from Blaney on Lap 221, but lost it on the ensuing lap. It was after that that Bell began to fade dramatically, eventually victimized by a mechanical issue that led to a seventh-place finish.

“It’s everything. It’s absolutely everything,” Cindric said. “Great to win in front of an amazing crowd. This race track does an amazing job putting on events. Just proud to be able to do it. Proud to bring it home for these guys. They deserve it.”

For more information on the NASCAR race weekend, please visit www.wwtraceway.com.

Team Penske NASCAR Cup Series Race Report – Gateway

By
Official Release
-

Enjoy Illinois 300 – World Wide Technology Raceway
Madison, IL – June 2, 2024

AUSTIN CINDRIC No. 2 FREIGHTLINER FORD MUSTANG

START: 2ND STAGE ONE: 4TH STAGE TWO: 2ND FINISH: 1ST POINTS: 18TH

RACE RUNDOWN: Teamwork, determination and patience are just three of the keys to success, and that’s what it took Sunday at World Wide Technology Raceway as Austin Cindric and the No. 2 Freightliner Ford Mustang team orchestrated a remarkable performance that culminated with a trip to victory lane, marking the second NASCAR Cup Series win of Cindric’s career. The 2022 DAYTONA 500 winner fired off from the second position after narrowly missing out on the pole in Saturday’s time trials and remained a frontrunner throughout the opening Stage. Cindric reported early on that he was fighting a loose condition and a lack of stability on entry. After finishing a strong fourth in the opening segment, the Team Penske driver made his way to pit road for four fresh tires, fuel and a swing of air pressure adjustments to aid the handling of the Freightliner Ford Mustang. Multiple cars stayed out and did not pit, leading Cindric to restart outside the top 10 on Lap 55. He quickly charged back inside the top 10 and shortly after reported that the handling of the car had improved. In the midst of green flag pit stops, Cindric cycled to the lead and remained there until he returned to pit road on Lap 112 when the No. 4 triggered the caution. With a four-tire stop on deck, Cindric returned to the track and restarted fifth with just over 20 laps remaining in Stage 2, ultimately climbing to finish second. The No. 2 team elected to stay out and Cindric restarted as the leader, choosing the outline lane. With the speed of Team Penske on full display, Cindric and teammates Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano occupied the top three positions at one point in the Stage ahead of the final pit cycle. The former NASCAR Xfinity Series champion made his final trip to pit road with 63 laps go to and remained in contention for the win as the final laps clicked away, ultimately securing the checkered flag for his first Cup Series win since a historic triumph in the 2022 Great American Race. While the Gateway victory marked the first win for Brian Wilson as a Cup Series crew chief, it also serves as his 50th win as a crew member on a Team Penske entry in NASCAR.

CINDRIC’S THOUGHTS: “Honestly, I’m heartbroken for the 12 team. I don’t know what happened to them at the end of the race, but they deserved to win this race. Ryan has been a hell of a leader on this team. This weekend was a great weekend for everybody involved. To have two cars in the fight and an eventual one-two there, like I said, I’m heartbroken for those guys, but this is huge for me. This is huge for this team. I’m so glad I was able to get a win with Brian (Wilson) as my crew chief in the Cup Series. You never know when it’s gonna happen again. I just drove my butt off and hoped for the best.”

RYAN BLANEY No. 12 MENARDS/RICHMOND FORD MUSTANG

START: 3RD STAGE ONE: 3RD STAGE TWO: 3RD FINISH: 24TH POINTS: 12TH

RACE RUNDOWN: Ryan Blaney came up one lap short of taking the checkered flag Sunday at Gateway as the No. 12 Menards/Richmond Ford Mustang ran out of fuel coming to the white flag, resulting in a 24th-place finish. Blaney led twice for 20 laps and picked up a pair of third-place stage finishes in the 300-mile event as the 12-team’s strategy nearly came to fruition. After starting from the inside of row two, Blaney was part of a three-car breakaway at the front of the field during the first long, green flag run of the day to secure a third-place finish in Stage 1. Following a four-tire stop and a round of adjustments at the stage break, Blaney lined up to restart 14th as teams began to vary their strategies in anticipation for another long run. Blaney battled his way back into the top-10 just 25 laps into the segment despite a loose-handling condition starting to set in. Crew chief Jonathan Hassler opted to run long instead of split the stage in half as Blaney moved all the way up to second in the running order by the time the caution flag flew on lap 112. After a four-tire stop and another round of adjustments, Blaney restarted from seventh with 21 laps to go in Stage 2 before fighting his way up to third by the end of the segment. Blaney remained on the track during the stage break as the Team Penske Fords lined up 1-2-3 for the start of the final segment. While running second, Blaney was called to pit road on lap 175 for the final stop of the afternoon before cycling to fifth in the running order with 30 laps to go. With the pit cycle nearing completion, Blaney was locked into a battle with the No. 20 for what would eventually be the race lead at the end of the green flag cycle. Blaney found success running the high line in the corners to fend off any potential runs to his inside before stretching out his lead to over a second with 18 laps remaining. While leading coming to the white flag, Blaney was off the pace coming out of turn four as the Menards/Richmond Ford ran out of fuel, culminating in a 24th-place finish.

BLANEY’S THOUGHTS: “I never thought in my mind we were short. It’s one of those things. I’m proud of the 12 boys. The Menards/Richmond Ford was fast. I had my work cut out for me holding off Christopher [Bell]. That was fun. I don’t know what happened to him, but just one lap short. That stinks, but congrats to the 2 team. They did a good job all day. Props to them and Austin [Cindric]. I’m proud for Team Penske and Ford. I’m really happy with our showing today. I don’t know what I’ve got to do to get some luck on our side. I’ve wrecked the last two points races and thought we had a great shot to win today and I ended up bad, so I just appreciate the effort. We just have to keep sticking with it.”

JOEY LOGANO No. 22 SHELL-PENNZOIL FORD MUSTANG

START: 12TH STAGE ONE: 9TH STAGE TWO: 6TH FINISH: 5TH POINTS: 16TH

RACE RUNDOWN: Joey Logano posted his third top-five finish in three Cup Series starts at Gateway Sunday afternoon, coming away with a fifth-place result. Logano worked his way into the top-10 early in the opening stage after starting 12th despite a loose-handling condition to cross the line ninth in Stage 1. Following a four-tire stop at the stage break, Logano lined up to restart 18th as teams began to vary their strategies. Crew chief Paul Wolfe opted to run long as opposed to splitting the second stage, allowing Logano to climb the leaderboard all the way to fourth. The caution flag flew on lap 112 and Logano brought the Shell-Pennzoil Ford to pit road for four tires as the field lined up to restart with 21 laps to go in the second segment. Logano powered his way through traffic to reach the top-five with ten laps to go in the stage before settling for a sixth-place finish in Stage 2. The Team Penske Fords lined up 1-2-3 for the start of the final stage as Logano managed his tires over the long green flag run before hitting pit road for the final time on lap 177 from the lead during the cycle. He made his way back on the lead lap with 47 laps to go before making his way back into the top-10 with 23 laps remaining as the pit cycle continued to shuffle the field. The race stayed green the rest of the way as Logano continued to make his way to the front before ultimately crossing the line fifth for his second top-five finish of the season.

LOGANO’S THOUGHTS: “We weren’t too far off. We were just a few adjustments away of getting our Shell-Pennzoil Mustang as good as our teammates were, but not too bad. We were able to grab some points, which we need to do, and a Penske car got in Victory Lane, so you’ve got to be happy about that. Obviously, we’d rather it be us, but that momentum goes through the whole shop. It’s still a good day. We still scored a bunch of points today with stage points in both stages. A poor qualifying effort, which probably hurt us a little bit on tuning the car and just a little too loose off.”

The NASCAR Cup Series heads west to the newly-repaved Sonoma Raceway for the second of five road course races on the 2024 schedule. The 110-lap event on Sunday, June 9, begins coverage at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing and Ogier denied in dramatic finish

By
Official Release
-
Car 17 (Sébastien Ogier, Vincent Landais)

Toyota City, Japan, June 3, 2024 – (JCN Newswire) – TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team and Sébastien Ogier looked set to secure a third consecutive victory together at Rally Italia Sardegna before late drama in the final few kilometres of the event meant they missed out by the narrowest of margins.

Ogier was involved in a close battle for the lead for most of the event, and while a strong Saturday afternoon enabled him to lead into the final day, competition remained intense on Sunday and just 6.2 seconds separated him and rival Ott Tänak going into the deciding Power Stage. Still, Ogier looked to be doing enough to secure victory until he began losing air from a tyre over the rough final section of stage.

It meant that he and co-driver Vincent Landais ultimately missed out by just 0.2s in a finish that equals the closest ever in FIA World Rally Championship history – coincidentally set by Ogier when he beat his now-Team Principal Jari-Matti Latvala by the same margin in Jordan in 2011. Ogier still climbs to fourth place in the drivers’ championship, only 30 points from the lead despite contesting only four of the six rounds held so far.

Elfyn Evans has also reduced his gap to the championship leader to 18 points after finishing fourth overall with co-driver Scott Martin. Following a challenging start on Friday, Evans remained consistent to climb up into the top four by the end of Saturday and carried improved pace into the final day to take third in both the Super Sunday classification and the Power Stage, netting 18 points in total.

Takamoto Katsuta was running in third position overall on Saturday afternoon before a transmission-related issue forced he and co-driver Aaron Johnston to stop. They restarted on Sunday and set the fifth-best time in the Power Stage.

Following its maiden WRC2 victory in Portugal, the GR Yaris Rally2 claimed a second consecutive win on rough gravel roads. Sami Pajari and Enni Mälkönen claimed a commanding triumph in their Printsport-run car while finishing in sixth position overall. Portugal class winners Jan Solans and Rodrigo Sanjuán made it a double podium in third for Teo Martín Motorsport.

Quotes:

Akio Toyoda (TGR-WRT Chairman)

“The surface in Sardinia is very demanding, and it always gives challenges to our team and cars. TGR has won Sardinia only once so far when Seb got the victory in 2021. Seb and Vincent were doing really well on this harsh and demanding event, but they missed out at the very last moment on the Power Stage. The gap of 0.2 seconds is so small and disappointing, but this is sport. Our team all hate to lose. We will turn this frustration into strength and aim for the next victory.

P.S. to OttI was on-site in Rally Sardinia 2019 and following your performance. You made up for the disappointment of that Power Stage this time. Congratulations!”

Jari-Matti Latvala (Team Principal)

“We are of course very disappointed to miss out on the victory in this way. This final stage in Sardinia has been very dramatic in the past and unfortunately, it’s not the first time that we have experienced late drama here, because it reminds us of what happened back in 2019 when we were leading with Ott until the last stage. This event has not always been kind to us, but it was looking very good for Seb and we thought we could take another victory together here. The only positive is that it didn’t affect the points so much for us. A moment like this can be difficult to digest, and we hate to lose, but we also never lose our fighting spirit and we will come back to fight again on the next event in Poland.”

Elfyn Evans (Driver car 33)

“It’s been a very difficult weekend for us but today was a bit better. I would say the feeling was definitely improved and I think the times and the points that we got from the day showed that. Still, it’s clear looking at the weekend overall that we still have a lot of work to do to improve in rallies with conditions like this one. The good news is that the characteristics now change to something quite different for the next three rallies. We know the car can be strong on fast rallies like those and it will be important to prepare as best we can and try to find confidence early.”

Sébastien Ogier (Driver car 17)

“We knew it could be tough today with some stages that are very rough and maybe not the most suited to us. Still, I think we were doing a good enough job to secure the win, but unfortunately we started to lose tyre pressure three kilometres from the end. The conditions were very extreme in this Power Stage, even worse than we have seen there before, and I don’t think there was much that I could have done differently. It’s something that’s never easy to take, but at the end of the day it doesn’t really change anything in terms of the overall points for the team. I think I can still be happy with the weekend I’ve done, and sometimes motorsport just doesn’t go your way. We will come back and try to keep up this level of performance we’ve had.”

Takamoto Katsuta (Driver car 18)

“Today my target was to get some points. We knew it would be difficult with our starting position, and the first stage was not good because we had a lot of dust from the car in front and could not see so much. We took some points but of course I wanted more. Things were working well earlier in the rally, everything was under control and then unfortunately we had the technical issue. But it was a demanding rally for the cars and sometimes things like this can happen: I just need to accept it and move forward to the next rally.”

PROVISIONAL FINAL CLASSIFIACTION, RALLY ITALIA SARDEGNA

1 Ott Tänak/Martin Järveoja (Hyundai i20 N Rally1 HYBRID) 3h06m05.6s
2 Sébastien Ogier/Vincent Landais (Toyota GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRID) +0.2s
3 Dani Sordo/Cándido Carrera (Hyundai i20 N Rally1 HYBRID) +2m25.8s
4 Elfyn Evans/Scott Martin (Toyota GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRID) +2m37.8s
5 Grégoire Munster/Louis Louka (Ford Puma Rally1 HYBRID) +6m42.9s
6 Sami Pajari/Enni Mälkönen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) +7m13.4s
7 Yohan Rossel/Benjamin Boulloud (Citroën C3 Rally2) +7m45.7s
8 Jan Solans/Rodrigo Sanjuán (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) +7m52.7s
9 Martin Prokop/Michal Ernst (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +10m05.4s
10 Kajetan Kajetanowicz/Maciej Szczepaniak (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +10m09.3s
35 Takamoto Katsuta/Aaron Johnston (Toyota GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRID) +41m28.1s

(Results as of 16:00 on Sunday, for the latest results please visit www.wrc.com)

2024 FIA World Rally Championship for drivers after round 6:
1 Thierry Neuville 122 points
2 Ott Tänak 104
3 Elfyn Evans 104
4 Sébastien Ogier 92
5 Adrien Fourmaux 74
6 Takamoto Katsuta 52
7 Kalle Rovanperä 36
8 Dani Sordo 27
9 Esapekka Lappi 23
10 Grégoire Munster 16

2024 FIA World Rally Championship for manufacturers after round 6:
1 Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team 269 points
2 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team 256
3 M-Sport Ford World Rally Team 131

What’s next?

Rally Poland (June 27-30) returns to the WRC for the first time since 2017, offering fast stages on soft and sandy roads around Mikołajki in the Masurian lake district in the north-east of the country.

NHRA AT EPPING: Team Chevy Race Report

By
Official Release
-

CHEVROLET IN NHRA
2024 NHRA NEW ENGLAND NATIONALS
NEW ENGLAND DRAGWAY
EPPING, NEW HAMPSHIRE
TEAM CHEVY RACE REPORT | NOTES & QUOTES
JUNE 2, 2024

JOHN FORCE RACING DOMINATES NHRA NEW ENGLAND NATIONALS IN AN ALL-FORCE FINAL, WITH JOHN FORCE CAPTURING THE VICTORY AT EPPING

Notes:

  • In an all-John Force Racing final round, Austin Prock, driver of the AAA Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car, and John Force, driver of the PEAK Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car faced off with Force capturing his 157th career NHRA victory and third at New England Dragway.
  • Today’s win is Chevrolet’s 162nd in Funny Car and 82nd in the Camaro body.
  • J. Force, and Dallas Glenn, driver of the RAD Torque Chevrolet Camaro SS Pro Stock, raced their way Saturday to victory in the Mission Foods NHRA #2Fast2Tasty Challenge.
  • Prock and Force both qualified first and second respectively after three rounds of qualifying at New England Dragway.
  • Falling to Tony Schumacher, Brittany Force, driver of the Monster Energy Chevrolet Top Fuel dragster, was eliminated in Round 1 after running 4.314 E.T. at 242.10 mph to Schumacher’s 4.170 E.T. seconds at 254.95 mph.
  • B. Force qualified No. 3 after laying down a 3.715-second E.T. lap at 335.57 mph.
  • Troy Coughlin, Jr. and Erica Enders faced off in the final round, with Coughlin, Jr. capturing the New England Nationals win in his JEGS Chevrolet Camaro SS Pro Stock machine.

Quotes:

BRITTANY FORCE, DRIVER OF THE MONSTER ENERGY CHEVROLET TOP FUEL DRAGSTER:

“This Monster Energy Chevy team is leaving Epping New Hampshire frustrated but we are still determined. Right now, we are focusing on the little bits of progress we made this weekend, and those little bits are adding up. We reset the track speed record at 335 mph and qualified third with a 3.71. On race day I was happy with my reaction time, pedaled it, but came up short. I like that these back-to-back races and that we are headed straight to Bristol which keeps our motivation high. There is no time in between and we are right back on a race track figuring things out.”

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

“Outstanding weekend for John Force Racing. We swept the weekend. We were 1-2 qualifiers. John won the Mission Challenge. John won and we runnered up. You can’t ask for much more out of these two funny cars. Really proud of the team. We got a lot of good energy going here. I’m looking forward to the rest of the year. Obviously, we wanted to win this event today. But if I’m going to get beat, I want to get beat by my boss. It was really cool to see him succeed and all the success he’s had this year. He’s really coming into his own. Proud of him and proud of my team for AAA and Peak this weekend. It was just a great weekend. You can’t say much more than that, and to leave as the points leaders in first and second is pretty cool, too!”

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

“Winning at New Hampshire is always special. The competition is tough, and these young drivers keep me on my toes. I’m grateful for my team and our partners at PEAK, AAA, Monster Energy and HendrickCars.com, Flav-R-Pac for their support. This win shows that this old man still has some fight left in him. Cornwell Tools and Chevy, of course. We’re not done yet!”

Up Next:

The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series next heads to Thunder Valley and Bristol Dragway for the 2024 Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals June 7-9, 2024. Friday qualifying airs at 7 p.m., with Saturday’s qualifying airing Sunday at 12:30 p.m. ET. Sunday’s eliminations broadcast at 7 p.m. ET. All sessions from Bristol Dragway air with NHRA on FOX on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). Coverage streams live throughout the weekend on NHRA.tv, and is available via AppleTV, Android TV, and Roku devices.

About Chevrolet

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

Keselowski Drives to Third-Consecutive Top-3 Finish with 3rd-Place Run in St. Louis

By
Official Release
-

Buescher Rebounds for 14th at Gateway

MADISON, Ill. (June 2, 2024) – RFK Racing’s Brad Keselowski scored his third-consecutive finish of third or better, powering the Solomon Plumbing Ford to a third-place finish in Sunday’s 300-mile NASCAR Cup Series race at Word Wide Technology Raceway. Chris Buescher rebounded for a 14th-place finish.

“That was solid strategy,” said Keselowski after the P3 run. “We got behind early for sure but we kept putting ourselves in position to keep moving forward. It was a really hard-fought day for everyone on the Solomon Plumbing Ford Mustang. We will take a lot of good momentum from this one for sure.

“We were in position early and we had the issue there on pit road,” Keselowski added. “The guys kept their heads down and recovered. We had some good strategy and made some good passes on that last restart to start stage three and on the long run we were really strong, so just making it all count where we can.”

6 Recap
Keselowski started his weekend off on a positive note, qualifying seventh in Saturday’s single-car session. Early in the going Sunday, he was forced to overcome an issue on pit road, thus incorporating a combination of pit road strategy and speed to maneuver his way through the field.

Keselowski finished 26th to end the brief stage one, then had a caution go his way at lap 111 when he ran long on track, still needing a pit stop. He would restart sixth and finish the stage in fifth, setting up an eventful final stage of 100 laps.

He restarted 15th for the final run and was back into the top-10 within a handful of laps. As teams began a green-flag pit cycle, Keselowski asked to remain on track and did just that, ultimately inheriting the lead for 17 laps at lap 194. Once his stop was complete, Keselowski ultimately drove back into the top five for the P3 result.

The No. 6 team now has eight top-10s in 15 races, seven inside the top five, coming off the three-straight top three results.

17 Recap
Buescher’s day began from the 26th spot as he battled tough track position for a majority of the afternoon. He patiently moved his TravelCenters Ford inside the top-10 by lap 100, but an untimely caution just moments after pitting under green forced the No. 17 team to restart at the rear of the field.

Buescher moved from 32nd to 23rd by the conclusion of stage two. He hit pit road for the final time on lap 198, returning to the field in 15th position, before finishing a spot better in 14th.

Up Next
The NASCAR Cup Series heads West to Sonoma Raceway next weekend. Race coverage Sunday is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, with radio coverage on PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).

About RFK Racing 
RFK Racing, in its 37th season in 2024, features an ownership lineup pairing one of the sport’s most iconic names, Jack Roush, along with NASCAR Champion, Brad Keselowski, and Fenway Sports Group owner John Henry. Roush initially founded the team in 1988 and it has since become one of the most successful racing operations in the world, propelling him to be the first NASCAR owner to amass three hundred wins and capturing eight championships, including back-to-back NASCAR Cup titles in 2003 and 2004. Keselowski, a former owner in the NASCAR Truck Series, is the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series Champion. In 2007, Roush partnered with Henry, who also owns Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox, English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C., and the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, to form Roush Fenway Racing. Off the track, RFK is a leader and proven winner in NASCAR marketing solutions, having produced multiple award-winning social media, digital content and experiential marketing campaigns. Visit rfkracing.com, and follow the team on all social platforms @rfkracing. 

RCR NCS Race Recap: WWT Raceway

By
Official Release
-

Austin Dillon Races Dow Water & Nature Chevrolet to Sixth-Place Finish at World Wide Technology Raceway

Finish: 6th
Start: 18th
Points: 30th

“We had a great run today at World Wide Technology Raceway in the Dow Water & Nature Chevrolet. I didn’t expect it after practice, but the guys made great adjustments before qualifying, and good calls during the race. We had speed. Our Dow Water & Nature Chevrolet was really solid all day long, even in traffic. We were able to pass cars today, and I thought we were going to be able to make a pass for fifth at the end but ran out of laps. It was a good battle, and it feels good to have a solid finish, especially after the year we’ve had. I’m so proud of my team and ECR Engines for a huge day for the No. 3 Chevrolet that we really needed. Thank you to Dow, Rivers Are Life and Ducks Unlimited for coming together to highlight sustainability this weekend.” -Austin Dillon

Strong Run for Defending Race Winner Kyle Busch and the No. 8 Rebel Bourbon Chevrolet Sidelined by Stage 2 Accident

Finish: 35th
Start: 10th
Points: 17th

“The Rebel Bourbon Chevrolet Camaro was a top-10 car today at World Wide Technology Raceway. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to show just how strong our Chevy was today due to an on-track accident in Stage 2 that ended our day early. Crew Chief Randall Burnett made a good call to stay out at the end of Stage 1 instead of pitting, which gave us the lead for a few laps. We were holding our own when the No. 5 car got loose down the front straightaway into Turn 1. He was on older tires and trying to get us for a spot. I’m not sure what that single point would mean for him, but it certainly hurt us a lot. It took that point away, as well as the others that we would get for the stage and then also the rest of the day. It’s very frustrating because the No. 8 Rebel Bourbon Camaro wasn’t what it was last year, but it was a top-10 car and we were going to finish there. We can’t afford days like that.” -Kyle Busch

Optimize Your Car’s Performance: Year-Round Maintenance Guide for a Reliable Ride

By
SM
-
Photo by Nathan Van Egmond on Unsplash

Maintaining your vehicle throughout the year is essential for optimal performance and reliability. This guide highlights crucial maintenance practices, ensuring your car remains dependable season after season. From scheduling timely oil changes to monitoring the condition of your tires, this maintenance guide explains how to keep your vehicle in prime condition.

Introduction to Year-Round Vehicle Maintenance

Effective vehicle maintenance transcends seasonal check-ups; it’s about adopting a proactive approach to prevent issues from developing. Regular care not only enhances your car’s performance but also contributes to its longevity, ensuring it remains efficient and reliable for years. This guide lays the foundation for establishing a comprehensive maintenance routine.

Consult Your Owner’s Manual for Recommended Preventative Maintenance

The owner’s manual is your go-to resource for maintenance schedules tailored to your specific vehicle model. Following these guidelines helps to optimize vehicle performance and avoid costly repairs down the line. It’s designed to keep your vehicle running smoothly, aligning maintenance tasks with your car’s unique needs.

Inspect and Replace Air Filters Regularly

Clean air filters are vital for engine health, as they help supply as much clean air as possible to the engine’s combustion chamber, which enhances vehicle performance and fuel efficiency. As you drive, these filters trap dirt and debris, preventing them from entering the engine. Over time, the accumulation of this trapped debris leads to clogged filters, which can significantly reduce airflow. With decreased airflow, the engine is forced to work harder than necessary, which can lead to increased fuel consumption and reduced power output. A strained engine may also experience premature wear, further impacting the vehicle’s longevity and reliability. This is why regular inspections and timely replacements of air filters are incredibly important.

By ensuring your engine breathes easily, you’re not only boosting its performance but also contributing to the overall efficiency and environmental friendliness of your vehicle. This simple maintenance task can lead to noticeable improvements in your car’s operation, making it an essential aspect of vehicle care.

Routine Oil and Oil Filter Changes

Frequent oil changes and filter replacements are also crucial for engine care, preventing buildup and wear within the engine’s internals, such as the pistons, rods, and crankshaft. Fresh oil ensures smooth operation, while a new filter captures contaminants that could otherwise harm the engine. Together, they assist your engine, maintaining your car’s performance and fuel economy.

What to Do If Your Car Stalls on a Highway

By
SM
-

Experiencing a car stall on the highway can be a nerve-wracking ordeal. Whether you’re commuting to work, embarking on a road trip, or running errands, the unexpected halt can induce stress and potentially dangerous situations. However, understanding the correct steps to take can ensure your safety and minimize risks. Here’s a detailed guide on what to do if your car stalls on a highway.

1. Stay Calm and Assess the Situation

First and foremost, remain calm. Panicking will only hinder your ability to think clearly and act swiftly. Take a few deep breaths and assess the situation. Is your car completely dead, or is it sputtering and struggling to move? Understanding the severity of the stall will help you determine the best course of action.

2. Turn on Your Hazard Lights

Immediately turn on your hazard lights to alert other drivers that you are experiencing a problem. This is crucial for your safety as it signals to others that you are a potential obstruction and that they should proceed with caution.

3. Attempt to Restart the Engine

If your car engine stalls but still has some power, attempt to restart it. Sometimes a simple engine restart can get you moving again, especially if the stall was caused by a temporary glitch. However, be cautious and prepared to pull over again if the problem persists.

4. Safely Move to the Shoulder

If the car does not restart or continues to stall, your next priority is to move to a safe location. If you can, gently steer your car towards the right shoulder of the highway. Use the momentum of your car to coast to a stop if the engine is completely dead. Avoid braking abruptly, as this can cause accidents or create further hazards.

5. Exit the Vehicle Safely

Once you have safely moved your car to the shoulder, assess whether it is safe to exit the vehicle. If the shoulder is wide enough and traffic conditions permit, exit the car from the side away from traffic. Ensure all passengers do the same. If you feel it is too dangerous to exit the car due to heavy traffic or a narrow shoulder, stay inside with your seatbelt fastened.

6. Call for Assistance

After securing your position and ensuring everyone’s safety, call for roadside assistance. If you have a roadside assistance plan, contact them first. If not, call a tow truck or a nearby auto repair shop. Inform them of your exact location, the nature of the problem, and any other relevant details.

7. Use Emergency Supplies if Necessary

While waiting for help, make use of any emergency supplies you might have in your car. An emergency kit should include items such as flares, reflective triangles, a flashlight, a first aid kit, and water. Placing reflective triangles or flares behind your car can increase your visibility to oncoming traffic, especially at night or in poor weather conditions.

8. Stay Safe While Waiting

While waiting for help, stay vigilant about your surroundings. If you remain inside the car, keep your seatbelt fastened and doors locked. If you are outside the vehicle, stand away from the road and the car, preferably behind a barrier if available. Do not attempt to repair the car yourself if it involves standing in the path of traffic.

9. Preventive Measures to Avoid Future Stalls

Once you have managed the immediate crisis, it’s essential to take preventive measures to avoid future stalls. Regular vehicle maintenance is key. Ensure that your car receives routine check-ups, oil changes, and inspections of essential systems such as the battery, fuel system, and ignition. Additionally, pay attention to warning signs like unusual noises, poor engine performance, or dashboard warning lights.

10. Understand Common Causes of Stalls

Understanding the common causes of car stalls can also help you prevent them. Some typical reasons include:

  • Fuel System Issues: A faulty fuel pump, clogged fuel filter, or an empty gas tank can cause your car to stall.
  • Electrical Problems: Issues with the battery, alternator, or wiring can lead to a stall.
  • Ignition System Faults: Problems with spark plugs, ignition coils, or the distributor can disrupt engine performance.
  • Overheating: An overheated engine due to coolant leaks or a malfunctioning cooling system can cause a stall.
  • Transmission Issues: Problems with the transmission system can also result in stalling.

11. Know Your Emergency Contacts

Keep a list of emergency contacts readily accessible in your vehicle. This list should include roadside assistance numbers, tow services, and contact information for family or friends who can help in a pinch. Having these numbers on hand can expedite the process of getting help when you need it most.

Did You Get Rear Ended Because You Stalled?

Dealing with a rear-end collision when your car stalls on a highway adds another layer of complexity to an already challenging situation. If another vehicle collides with yours from behind, immediately assess yourself and any passengers for injuries, then move to a safe location if possible. Exchange information with the other driver involved, document the scene with photos, and contact law enforcement to report the accident. Seek medical attention for any injuries, notify your insurance company to begin the claims process, and follow up on repairs for your vehicle. Know your rights and consult with a Charleston car accident attorney if you believe the other driver was at fault. Throughout the process, stay calm and patient, prioritizing safety and working towards a resolution effectively.

Conclusion

A car stalling on the highway can be an unsettling experience, but with the right knowledge and preparation, you can handle the situation safely and efficiently. Always prioritize your safety and the safety of your passengers, use your hazard lights to alert other drivers, and seek assistance.

1...978979980...6,687Page 979 of 6,687