NIECE MOTORSPORTS NCTS RACE RECAP: CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY Race: North Carolina Education Lottery 200 (134 laps / 201 miles) | Race 11 of 23 Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway Location: Concord, North Carolina Date & Time: Friday, May 24th | 8:30 PM ET
No. 41 Foundation for Pops Chevrolet Silverado RST Driver: Bayley Currey | Crew Chief: Mike Hillman, Jr. Bayley Currey @BayleyCurrey @BayleyCurrey05 Website Start: 10th Stage 1: 11th Stage 2: 17th Finish: 26th Driver Points: 16th Owner Points: 20th
Key Takeaway: Bayley Currey and the No. 41 team fired off well after securing a top-10 starting position in Charlotte. Currey would hold his track position through stage one where he finished 11th, but dropped to 17th in stage two following an unscheduled return to pit road. In the final stage, Currey sustained heavy damage when a competitor blew a tire directly in front of the No. 41 Foundation for Pops Chevrolet, hindering his competitiveness. He finished the race in the 26th position.
Bayley Currey’s Post-Race Thoughts: “We had a really, really good Foundation for Pops / DQS Chevy Silverado tonight. Some restarts didn’t go our way which set us behind, and had some issues on pit road which put us in a bad spot. The No. 88 blew a right front tire right in front of us – not his doing, not his fault, but we were just in the wrong place in the wrong time. Ended up hitting the back of him, tore the nose off, got in the wall, and knocked the toe off. Really tough night for us; we had a top-10 truck no doubt, but that’s just the way it goes sometimes. We’ll move onto Gateway.” Foundation for Pops Mission Statement: Foundation for Pops aims to empower people experiencing homelessness and veterans through education, resource development, assistance, and supportive services to enhance their economic mobility and secure quality, affordable housing.
DQS Solutions & Staffing Mission Statement: The core mission of DQS Solutions & Staffing is to attain unparalleled excellence in our specialized domains, specifically staffing and security. Simultaneously, we maintain the flexibility required to collaborate closely with our clients in the creation of innovative products and services within the framework of DQS.
No. 42 J.F. Electric / Utilitra Chevrolet Silverado RST Driver: Matt Mills | Crew Chief: Jon Leonard Matt Mills Racing @MattMillsRacing @MattMillsRacing Website Start: 15th Stage 1: 18th Stage 2: 18th Finish: 4th Driver Points: 24th Owner Points: 27th
Key Takeaway: Matt Mills and the No. 42 team put forth a great effort in Charlotte that resulted in them earning their best finish of the season. Mills started the race from 15th, and quietly finished in 18th position at the conclusion of stage one and two. The team came alive late in the going of stage three, and following a late-race pitstop, Mills rocketed into the top-five. Where he initially crossed the line fifth, a disqualification was made through tech inspection. Mills would later be classified in the fourth position, which is his best-career finish in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.
Matt Mills’ Post-Race Thoughts: “We should have been having those runs all year long, but it’s been a little bit of a learning curve with a new team and being in a competitive situation each and every week. It’s taken a little bit longer than we had liked to get a top-five run like this, but at this moment, it feels like a win, so that’s good.”
Interviewer: First top-five of the season, you know what the Niece trucks are capable of. Did that give you confidence going into tonight?
“Yeah, I mean for sure. They had a good history last year, but I needed confidence for myself. I just needed to go out and do it myself and get some runs that we could build off of. I felt like at Darlington, we were able to have a top-10 truck and actually go out there and showcase what we can do. Now we can run top-five, so we’ll keep grinding on it and take this as baby steps. We’ve just got to keep growing and going at it.”
About J.F. Electric: J.F. Electric is an electrical contractor that provides engineering expertise, backed by construction and installation know-how in a diverse range of service offerings, from utilities and commercial projects, to industrial and telecommunications customers. When having a long family history in an industry, a company not only builds on its knowledge and experience, it takes pride in cultivating a solid understanding of client needs, all the while nurturing strong relationships with its employees. Evolving through five generations of the Fowler family, J.F. Electric has matured into a well-managed and thoughtfully diversified electrical contractor which is poised to continue its growth and expansion into the future.
About Utilitra: Utilitra is a woman-owned firm specializing in utility and technology solutions with a diverse team of specialized professionals. Utilitra is committed to solving their client’s unique challenges, whether one expert or a team of experts is needed. By adapting to the needs of their respective industries, Utilitra has built a range of services for their utility and technology partners.
No. 45 R.D.C. Shoe Company Chevrolet Silverado RST Driver: Kaden Honeycutt | Crew Chief: Phil Gould Kaden Honeycutt Racing @KadenWHoneycutt @KadenHoneycutt10 Website Start: 9th Stage 1: 2nd Stage 2: 4th Finish: 7th Driver Points: 21st Owner Points: 7th
Key Takeaway: Kaden Honeycutt and the No. 45 team experienced a roller coaster-like eventful day at Charlotte. In practice, Honeycutt damaged the right side of his truck after contact with another competitor. The crew repaired the truck well enough to qualify in the top-10, and after starting ninth, he began to march to the front. Honeycutt would make it up to second at the end of stage one, and backed up the performance with a fourth-place run in stage two. Issues on pit road forced Honeycutt to the rear of the field on two occasions, but he was able to rally back to a seventh-place finish.
Kaden Honeycutt’s Post-Race Thoughts: “Man, what an amazing R.D.C. Chevy we had tonight. I can’t thank Phil (Gould), Cody (Efaw), and Al (Niece) enough for the opportunity to race for this Niece Motorsports team. I’m gutted that we weren’t able to pull off the win after coming so close, but I know there are so many positives to take away from here. Stuff happens, and while I wish the result was better, I can walk away knowing how much speed we have. My guys never quit working on it. We had a wrecked truck in practice and had to go to the back twice tonight, and still came home with a top-10. Everyone is putting so much effort in here and I can’t wait to get back in this truck at Nashville.” About R.D.C. Shoe Company: R.D.C. Shoe Company is a disabled veteran-owned company that produces and sells patriotic tennis shoes. Founded after the September 11th attacks in 2001, R.D.C. was created to bring patriotism to consumers by offering uniquely-designed shoes draped in the stars and stripes of the American flag. Every purchase arrives in a commemorative shoe box accompanied with a card that tells the story of a Medal of Honor recipient. A portion of all sales proceeds is given back to charitable organizations that support the families of fallen soldiers. These organizations include the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, the Woody Williams Foundation, Wreaths Across America, Special Operations Wounded Warriors, Warrior Rising, Folds of Honor, and Ree Medical. To learn more, please visit www.RDCShoes.com. About Niece Motorsports: Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2024, Niece Motorsports enters its ninth season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as X @NieceMotorsport.
FRIESEN DELIVERS SEASON-BEST RESULT IN CHARLOTTE Corey Heim’s strong performance ends in a disqualification due to three lugnuts found to not be safe and secure
CHARLOTTE (May 24, 2024) – Stewart Friesen had a stellar finish this evening as he was scored second in the NASCAR Truck Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, while Dean Thompson scored his second top-10 finish of the day, as he finished ninth on the eve of his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut.
Corey Heim led 72 of 134 laps and won both stages but had to battle through multiple issues on pit road in the last stage of the Truck Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The Toyota Development Driver fell all the way to 28th at one point before battling his way through the field. However, his valiant efforts ended in disqualification after his Tundra was found to have three lugnuts not safe and secure in post-race inspection.
Tanner Gray had a stellar day as well, winning his second pole and scoring his first ARCA win. Gray had a solid race – picking up 19 stage points before a late race near-spin dropped him to 17th in the final running order.
Toyota Racing Post-Race Recap NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Charlotte Motor Speedway Race 11 of 23 – 134 Laps, 201 Miles
TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS 1st, Nick Sanchez* 2nd, STEWART FRIESEN 3rd, Grant Enfinger* 4th, Matt Mills* 5th, Ben Rhodes* 9th, DEAN THOMPSON 12th, TAYLOR GRAY 15th, BRETT MOFFITT 17th, TANNER GRAY 22nd, TIMMY HILL 35th, JEFFREY EARNHARDT 36th, COREY HEIM *non-Toyota driver
TOYOTA QUOTES
STEWART FRIESEN, No. 52 Halmar International Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, Halmar Friesen Racing
Finishing Position: 2nd
How much confidence does this give you?
“Jimmy (Villeneuve) made a good call to pit there, and pit early and then we had that quick caution. I’m like, man, we will see how good we really are. We’ve been fighting dirty air all year. We got some clean air on this Halmar Tundra TRD Pro, and this thing runs pretty good – just sucks in the pack. We will keep building our notebook, and see if we can make our stuff better.”
DEAN THOMPSON, No. 5 Thompson Pipe Group Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, TRICON Garage
Finishing Position: 9th
Top-10’s in both races today, before your Xfinity Series debut tomorrow. Can you talk about today and what you are looking forward to tomorrow?
“Finishing ninth tonight felt a lot more rewarding than finishing top-10 in ARCA. I think we had a car to win both, but just strategy didn’t fall our way in the Truck race and we salvaged a ninth-place. Happy with that. In the ARCA race, we had a bunch of issues, and probably had a car to win if we didn’t have those issues – but fought all day long, and salvaged a top-10. Pretty funny how those two are different. I feel alright. I little worn out. I’m going to go home, sleep and go do some recovery work in the morning, and then it’s time to finish the 650 (miles).”
Finishing Position: 36th (originally 2nd, disqualified after three lugnuts found to not be safe and secure in post-race inspection)
What could you have done differently?
“Obviously, an eventful day for us. Just, I feel like it got away from us on separate occasions there. We had control of the race and as soon as you don’t, we were just victim to the leader. He can control the air, and Nick (Sanchez) did a great job at blocking my air the best he could. Props to him – he did a great job. I thought we had the best truck by a long shot, just behind the leader you couldn’t do much. I feel like we were able to get through traffic so well. I’m glad we could make it entertaining at least, but it really doesn’t matter when you finish second. Huge thank you to TRICON Garage for this bullet. I feel like we were so good today. Safelite, Toyota Racing – just super disappointing to say the least.”
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our nearly 1,500 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs more than 49,000 people in the U.S. who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of more than 34 million cars and trucks at our nine manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 10th 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 28 electrified options.
Through its Driving Possibilities initiative, the Toyota USA Foundation has committed to creating innovative educational programs within, and in partnership with, historically underserved and diverse communities near the company’s U.S. operating sites.
Your body needs proper nutrition, exercise, sleep, and rest so you can maintain a healthy spirit and state of mind and be able to do everyday physical activities with ease. Similar to the body, your vehicle needs a bit of assistance and regular maintenance so it can perform well for a long time without trouble.
We understand how many might think of regular vehicle maintenance as an unnecessary expense and avoid it whenever that time of the year comes. Yet, what many fail to understand is how regular maintenance keeps you from spending too much money at once if the car’s engine fails and you have to replace it. Those expenses are huge and could be prevented if we take the necessary measures ahead of time. So, in the text below, we’ll discuss some proper and useful tips on how to make sure your car makes it to 500,000 miles with ease.
Follow the Manufacturer’s Maintenance Schedule
First on the list is to do any maintenance regularly. Regularly does not mean until you hear a rumbling in the back of the car while driving; it means keeping everything in check according to the maintenance schedule proposed by the manufacturer. While a car is being assembled in the factory, every part goes through rigid tests to test its durability and how long it can last until it breaks. From the tires to the brakes and the engine itself, the manufacturer always proposes maintenance; sometimes the interval between changes is defined by miles, and sometimes by time. For example, the timing belt should be changed after 100,000 miles. This applies to the filters, oil, tires, and everything else. If you’re buying a used car, make sure the previous owner has kept everything running like clockwork and taken note of every little repair they have done.
Keep the Tires Round
The tires of the car are beaten the most, they wear and tear, and they spend thousands of miles rolling and rolling. Interestingly enough, they’re one of the most robust parts of the vehicles, you’ll sometimes see rust catching before the tires wear off completely. Quite impressive if you ask us, but they do need a bit of help so they can keep rolling for many miles to come. Real champions make sure their tires are always kept in place. Everything it takes is to keep the tire pressure on point; it helps fuel efficiency, keeps the tires healthy and in shape, and doesn’t cost anything. Plus, it reduces the chances of a tire blowout and it only takes a few moments to check the pressure and put some air into those old tires.
One more thing, every 6000 to 8000 miles, preferably, you’ll want those tires to be properly aligned and rotated. Check with your local mechanic to see if everything is fine and if the tires are perfectly in line.
Regular Oil Changes
The oil in your car is the blood pumping through its veins; it’s the life source of the vehicle, keeping everything running smoothly. The engine and all its components couldn’t stand a chance against nature’s factors and thousands of miles if not for the oil in it. Engine oil lubricates the moving parts, reducing friction and wear. But, over time, all this friction and heat breaks down the oil; it loses its smoothness, becomes more and more like water, and keeps picking up microscopic metal parts and dust while going through a dozen components of the engine. So, after a few thousand miles, it’s time for a change. We strongly advise you to look for a mechanic for a professional engine oil change, as doing it on your own puts the vehicle at a certain risk. It’s simple and easy but it’s not only the oil that needs to change. It’s usually the filters as well, and depending on the car you’re driving, these parts might be a bit more complicated to replace and change. So, this part should be left to the professionals who have the necessary tools and experience. How often should you change it? The gold standard is every 3000 to 5000 miles, and factors such as the engine type and oil type you use play a vital role. The higher the viscosity of the oil the rarer the oil change needs to be! Anyway, everything you need to know is probably already said in that manufacturer’s manual.
Check and Replace Fluids Regularly
Oil is not the only fluid keeping the vehicle running; other fluids also make sure that certain parts of the car are working like clockwork. You have brake fluid, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, and more. Their properties depend on their purpose and there is a huge difference between every single one of them. Then again, you have wiper fluid and coolant (or antifreeze), which make sure the whole car doesn’t overheat or catch a cold when the temperatures drop.
Keep the Battery in Good Condition
Most of the car’s parts run on electricity, and the life support of the car is the battery, which provides the electricity needed. Now, the battery’s life span depends on its manufacture, how much it’s been used, and how much electricity it needs to provide. Usual warranties have you covered for at least 3 to 5 years, but when the time comes, we strongly advise getting a new battery, as recharging it might not be the ideal solution; it’s only temporary and can affect the car’s whole electrical installation.
Don’t Ignore the Lights on the Dashboard
Sometimes a small light on the dashboard might just be a little malfunction and doesn’t mean anything serious. But if you ignore it for long enough, this little issue can turn into a huge expense that could have been avoided otherwise. So, instead, make sure to go to your mechanic as soon as any light turns on. Not every warning sign is important; sometimes it indicates just a lightbulb that needs replacing, and other times it tells you the oils need replacement. Whatever it is, don’t wait too long!
As we said at the beginning, the car needs proper maintenance so it can run smoothly for a long period without any disturbance. If you keep everything in check, you can reduce the risk of major repairs ever happening.
On a night where the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series division achieved a milestone feat in series’ history, Nick Sanchez has 50,000 reasons to celebrate after storming to a late victory in the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Friday, May 24.
The 2022 ARCA Menards Series champion from Miami, Florida, led the final nine of 134 scheduled laps in an event where he started 16th and spent the first half of the event mired outside the top 10 and trying to manage his way to the front. Initially poised for a top-10 run when the event was placed in a late caution period with 15 laps remaining, Sanchez was one of multiple competitors who opted to pit for fresh tires. Then after restarting in the fourth lane with nine laps remaining, Sanchez quickly bolted his way to the front as he overtook Christian Eckes for the lead through the frontstretch. From there, he fended off a late charge from Corey Heim to score his second Truck Series career victory in the series’ 700th event in history and cash in the first of three $50,000 bonuses as part of this year’s Triple Truck Challenge.
With on-track qualifying that determined the starting lineup occurring on Friday, Tanner Gray notched his first Truck Series pole position of the 2024 season and the second of his career after posting a pole-winning lap at 178.241 mph in 30.296 seconds. Joining him on the front row was teammate Corey Heim, who clocked in the second-fastest qualifying lap at 177.795 mph in 30.372 seconds.
Prior to the event, the following names that included Lawless Alan, Jeffrey Earnhardt, Christian Eckes and Tyler Ankrum dropped to the rear of the field due to unapproved adjustments made to their respective entries.
When the green flag waved and the race started, Tanner Gray gained the early advantage from the inside lane as he muscled his No. 15 Dead on Tools Toyota Tundra TRD Pro ahead from teammate Corey Heim through Turns 1 and 2. As the field behind jostled for early spots, Gray proceeded to lead the first lap ahead of a side-by-side battle between Heim and Ty Majeski while Rajah Caruth, rookie Layne Riggs, Jack Wood and Chase Purdy followed suit.
Three laps later, Heim zipped his No. 11 Safelite Toyota Tundra TRD Pro past teammate Tanner Gray to assume the lead from the backstretch through Turns 3 and 4. Heim would proceed to lead by nearly three-tenths of a second over Gray as Majeski, Caruth and Riggs followed suit in the top five through the first five scheduled laps. Behind, Wood retained sixth ahead of Purdy as Connor Mosack, Kaden Honeycutt and Ben Rhodes trailed in the top 10.
Through the first 10 scheduled laps, Heim was leading by nine-tenths of a second over teammate Tanner Gray followed by Majeski, Caruth and Riggs while Honeycutt, Purdy, Mosack, Wood and Rhodes continued to race in the top 10. Behind, Dean Thompson occupied 11th place ahead of Taylor Gray, Bayley Currey, Stewart Friesen and Ty Dillon while Matt Crafton, Grant Enfinger, Matt Mills, Christian Eckes and Nick Sanchez followed suit in the top 20. Notably, Brett Moffitt was in 22nd, Tyler Ankrum was mired in 25th ahead of Connor Jones and Jeffrey Earnhardt was down in 34th.
Ten laps later, Heim extended his advantage to more than three seconds over teammate Tanner Gray as Majeski, Caruth and Honeycutt were in the top five. Behind, Riggs dropped to sixth while Purdy, Rhodes, Thompson and Mosack were in the top 10.
When the first stage period concluded on Lap 30, Heim, winner of last weekend’s Truck Series event at North Wilkesboro Speedway, captured his fifth stage victory of the 2024 season. Honeycutt, who overtook Tanner Gray for the runner-up spot three laps earlier, settled in second ahead of Gray, Caruth and Majeski while Riggs, Purdy, Thompson, Rhodes and Mosack were scored in the top 10.
Under the stage break, the field led by Heim pitted for a first round of service. Following the pit stops, Tanner Gray reassumed the lead after exiting first ahead of Heim while Honeycutt, Purdy, Majeski, Caruth, Riggs, Taylor Gray, Thompson and Mosack followed suit. During the pit stop sequence, Caruth was forced into the grass amid a side-by-side contact with Majeski, who was trying to avoid Riggs as Riggs was exiting his pit stall. In addition, Stewart Friesen returned to pit road for his first service of the night after missing his pit stall during the first sequence with the field. Soon after, Caruth also pitted again to address a tire rub from the damage with Majeski’s contact.
The second stage period started on Lap 37 as teammates Tanner Gray and Heim occupied the front row. At the start, Gray and Heim battled dead even in front of two stacked lanes while Honeycutt, who restarted in the second lane, made a move to the outside lane in an attempted three-wide battle towards the front. With the field behind also fanning out to nearly three lanes through the backstretch, Tanner Gray barely managed to muscle ahead of Heim to retain the lead while returning back to the frontstretch. Behind, a series of battles ensued as Purdy and Majeski battled for third place, Thompson battled Honeycutt for fifth place, Riggs and Mosack battled for fifth place and Taylor Gray battled Jack Wood for 10th place.
On Lap 40, Heim, who kept teammate Tanner Gray within close distance over the previous four laps, drew his Toyota alongside Gray’s through Turns 3 and 4 and back to the frontstretch. Heim would then muscle ahead of Gray from the inside lane and through Turns 1 and 2 as he reassumed the lead.
At the Lap 45 mark, Heim was leading by three-tenths of a second over teammate Tanner Gray followed by Purdy, Majeski and Thompson while Riggs, Honeycutt, Mosack, Taylor Gray and Wood were in the top 10. Behind, Nick Sanchez trailed in 11th ahead of Daniel Dye, Dillon, Rhodes and Grant Enfinger while Caruth, Matt Mills, Eckes, Moffitt and Crafton were in the top 20.
By Lap 50, Heim slightly extended his advantage as he was leading by eight-tenths of a second over teammate Gray followed by Purdy, Thompson and Majeski while Honeycutt, Riggs, Mosack, Gray and Sanchez trailed in the top 10.
When the second stage period concluded on Lap 60, Heim swept both stage periods of the night while also claiming his sixth Truck stage victory of the 2024 season. Teammate Tanner Gray settled in second ahead of Purdy, Honeycutt and Thompson while Majeski, Riggs, Mosack, Sanchez and Daniel Dye were scored in the top 10.
During the stage break, the field led by Heim returned to pit road for another round of pit service. Following the pit stops, Heim retained the lead after exiting first ahead of Tanner Gray, Majeski, Mosack and Purdy as Sanchez, Taylor Gray, Riggs, Thompson and Honeycutt followed suit in top 10. Amid the pit stops, however, Honeycutt was penalized for dragging his gas can out of his pit stall.
Towards the halfway mark of the event, the final stage commenced as teammates Heim and Tanner Gray occupied the front row once again. As Heim retained the lead, the caution quickly returned for a multi-truck wreck that erupted just past the backstretch when contact from Moffitt got Ankrum loose as he spun his No. 18 LiUNA! Chevrolet Silverado RST below the apron in Turn 3 before his truck went right back towards the outside wall and was T-boned on the right side by Thad Moffitt as Keith McGee and Jeffrey Earnhardt were also involved while trying to avoid the wreckage.
During the following restart with 58 laps remaining. Heim gained the advantage from the inside lane and muscled ahead to retain the lead while Connor Mosack challenged Tanner Gray for the runner-up spot. As Gray and Mosack continued to battle for second in front of Taylor Gray, Majeski and Purdy, Heim led the field back to the frontstretch.
Four laps later, however, the caution returned after Matt Crafton lost a tire and slapped his No. 88 Menards Ford F-150 hard against the outside wall in Turn 3. During the caution period, the following names that included Purdy, Mason Massey, Stefan Parsons, Friesen, Connor Jones, Boyd, Eckes and Currey remained on the track while the rest led by Heim pitted. During the pit stops, Heim’s dominant run hit a braking zone after a slow pit stop due to a broken jack while his No. 11 team was trying to change the right-side tires plummeted to 28th place.
As the event restarted with 47 laps remaining, Purdy muscled ahead with a slight advantage over Eckes before Eckes made his move beneath Purdy and assumed the lead in his No. 19 NAPA Chevrolet Silverado RST exiting the backstretch and through Turns 3 and 4. As Eckes led Purdy, Stefan Parsons was in third place as he was racing in front of Connor Jones, Stewart Friesen and Ben Rhodes while Grant Enfinger was in seventh. With more battles ensuing within the field, Eckes, who was dealing with voltage issues earlier in the race, retained the lead with 45 laps remaining.
With 40 laps remaining, Eckes was leading by nearly a second over Purdy as they were being followed by Parsons, Friesen, Rhodes, Honeycutt and Sanchez. Meanwhile, Heim, who restarted 27th following his pit stop miscue, had muscled his way all the way up to eighth place while Jones and Moffitt trailed in the top 10 ahead of Majeski, Caruth, Enfinger, Dillon and Mosack.
Ten laps later, Eckes retained the lead by nearly seven-tenths of a second over Purdy while Parsons, Honeycutt and Friesen were scored in the top five. Behind, Heim was in sixth place and trailing the lead by more than three seconds while Sanchez, Rhodes, Moffitt and Majeski were in the top 10. By then, Tanner Gray was mired in 12th behind Caruth, Thompson was back in 16th behind Dillon and Mosack was battling Matt Mills for 17th along with Taylor Gray and Dye.
Another three laps later, the battle for the lead ignited as Purdy made a move beneath Eckes for the lead in Turn 1. Despite assuming the top spot, however, Purdy went wide, which allowed Eckes to pull a crossover move entering the backstretch as both he and Purdy battled dead even for the lead through Turns 3 and 4. Then as Eckes slid in front of Purdy entering the frontstretch, Purdy pulled a crossover move on Eckes through the frontstretch as they dueled for the lead again. Purdy then slid up the track in Turn 1 for a second time, which allowed Eckes to muscle ahead and maintain a reasonable advantage over a hard-charging Purdy. Amid the battle between Eckes and Purdy, third-place Honeycutt started to close in in his No. 45 R.C.D. Shoe Company Chevrolet Silverado RST while Heim was in fifth place and trailing the lead by more than two seconds.
Down to the final 20 laps of the event, Eckes, who was beginning to be mired in lapped traffic, retained the lead by three-tenths of a second over a hard-charging Purdy while Honeycutt made it a three-truck battle for the lead as he trailed by half a second. Behind, Heim trailed by more than three seconds in fourth place while Parsons was in fifth.
Four laps later, Purdy scrubbed the outside wall through Turns 1 and 2, which stalled his late momentum and his challenge on Eckes for the lead. Despite scraping the wall, Purdy remained on the track, but he would lose the runner-up spot to Honeycutt as Eckes continued to lead. A lap later, however, Purdy’s strong run went sour after he scrubbed the outside wall for a second time through Turns 1 and 2, which was enough for the event to be placed in a late caution period as Purdy, who lost a tire in the process, nursed his damaged No. 77 Bama Buggies Chevrolet Silverado RST back to pit road. The caution also erased Eckes’ six-second advantage over Honeycutt as Heim was up to third place.
During the caution period, a majority of the field led by Honeycutt and Heim pitted while the rest led by Eckes remained on the track. Amid the pit stops, Honeycutt and Heim both lost a bevy of spots after both endured slow pit services. For Honeycut, a broken air gun resulted in his tire changer having issues changing the right-rear tire. For Heim, the issue stemmed from his rear tire changer struggling to get the lug nuts tightened on the left-rear tire as Heim started to spin his tires, which left his No. 11 team uncertain if the lug nuts on the truck were tightened as Heim lined up in 11th place.
Down to the final nine laps, the event restarted under green as Eckes and Parsons occupied the front row. At the start, the field fanned out through the frontstretch as Eckes rocketed away with the lead followed by Caruth and Sanchez while Parsons was struggling to launch. Then through the frontstretch to complete the following lap, Sanchez, who pitted during the latest caution period and passed Caruth for the runner-up spot, overtook Eckes for the lead as Heim, who was charging to the front for a second time since the restart, bolted past Eckes through Turns 3 and 4 to move into third place. Heim would then overtake Friesen for the runner-up spot during the following lap as he set his sights on Sanchez for the lead and potential victory.
With five laps remaining, Sanchez maintained the lead by nearly three-tenths of a second over a hard-charging Heim while Friesen trailed in third place by eight-tenths of a second. As the field behind jostled for late spots, pole-sitter Tanner Gray spun sideways towards the apron in Turns 1 and 2, but the event remained under green flag conditions as Heim was trying to gain a run on Sanchez for the lead.
When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Sanchez, who had managed to keep his No. 2 Gainbridge Chevrolet Silverado RST in front of Heim’s Toyota, remained as the leader by four-tenths of a second over Heim. Through Turns 1 and 2, Heim ran his truck close towards the outside wall through Turns 1 and 2 in an effort to gain a run, but Sanchez maintained his advantage through the backstretch. With Heim unable to mount a final lap rally for two final turns, Sanchez was able to cycle back to the frontstretch victorious as he claimed the checkered flag to win by half a second over Heim.
With the victory, Sanchez, who notched his first career win at Daytona International Speedway in February, became the 82nd competitor overall to achieve multiple victories in the Truck Series and the 13th to win a Truck event at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
With Sanchez winning the series’ 700th event in recorded history, the Miami native joins an exclusive club of competitors to win during a milestone event for the series. Ron Hornaday Jr., a four-time champion of the series, won the 100th recorded Truck Series event in history at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Washington, in 1999 before winning the 300th series event at Dover Motor Speedway eight years later. Ted Musgrave, the 2005 champion, won the series’ 200th race at Memphis Motorsports Park in 2003, Clint Bowyer won the series’ 400th event at Kansas Speedway in 2011 and Austin Dillon won the series’ 500th event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2015. Recently, Kyle Busch won the series’ 600th event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2020.
As an added bonus, Sanchez, who recorded the 284th Truck victory for the Chevrolet nameplate and the second overall for Rev Racing, claimed the first of three Triple Truck Challenge bonuses and a $50,000 check.
Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.
“It’s awesome,” Sanchez said on FS1. “What can I say more about this team? We started off bad. We knew it. [We] Did not let it affect us. We went to work. We put ourselves in position when it mattered most. It’s great to get [win] number two. [I’ll] Probably put the [$50,000 bonus] in the savings. I totally forgot about that, so yeah, added bonus. Sweet.”
Sanchez’s Charlotte victory was the most meaningful for Chris Showalter, the truck chief for both Sanchez and Rev Racing as he has been working through all 700 recorded events in the Truck Series since the first event at Phoenix Raceway in February 1995.
“[This race] just probably popped to number one [favorite],” Showalter, who fought tears of joy, said. “It’s a long battle. This is about people and I love this group of people. I’ll do anything for this group of people.”
Heim, who led a race-high 72 laps and swept both stages, settled in second place for his seventh top-three result of the 2024 season as he fell short of winning at Charlotte Motor Speedway for a second consecutive season.
“Obviously, an eventful day for us,” Heim said. “[I] Just felt like it got away from us on separate occasions there. We had control of the race and as soon as you don’t, you’re just victim to the leader and they can control the air. Nick [Sanchez] did a great job at just blocking my air the best he could. I felt like we had the best truck by a long shot. When you’re behind the leader, you can’t do much, but I feel like we were able to get through traffic so well. Glad I could make it entertaining at least, but it doesn’t really matter for us. We finished second.”
Shortly after, however, Heim was disqualified from the runner-up result due to his truck having three lug nuts not safely secured following his recent pit service. As a result, Stewart Friesen, who missed his pit stall and was running in the middle of the pack earlier in the day, was promoted to second place as Grant Enfinger, Matt Mills and Ben Rhodes ended up in the top five.
Finishing in the top 10 were Jake Garcia, Kaden Honeycutt, Connor Mosack, Dean Thompson and Christian Eckes. Notably, Chase Purdy ended up 13th behind Taylor Gray, Rajah Caruth fell back to 16th behind Brett Moffitt, pole-sitter Tanner Gray ended up 17th, Ty Majeski slid to 23rd and Stefan Parsons ended up 25th.
There were eight lead changes for five different leaders. The race featured five cautions for 31 laps.
Following the 11th event of the 2024 Craftsman Truck Series season, Christian Eckes leads the regular-season standings by 30 points over Corey Heim, 50 over Nick Sanchez, 64 over Ty Majeski and 99 over Taylor Gray.
Results.
1. Nick Sanchez, nine laps led
2. Stewart Friesen
3. Grant Enfinger
4. Matt Mills
5. Ben Rhodes
6. Jake Garcia
7. Kaden Honeycutt
8. Connor Mosack
9. Dean Thompson
10. Christian Eckes, 37 laps led
11. Connor Jones
12. Taylor Gray
13. Chase Purdy, five laps led
14. Bret Holmes
15. Brett Moffitt
16. Rajah Caruth
17. Tanner Gray, 11 laps led
18. Mason Massey
19. Daniel Dye
20. Spencer Boyd
21. Jack Wood
22. Timmy Hill
23. Ty Majeski
24. Ty Dillon
25. Stefan Parsons
26. Bayley Currey
27. Mason Maggio
28. Layne Riggs, one lap down
29. Memphis Villarreal, three laps down
30. Lawless Alan – OUT, Brakes
31. Matt Crafton, 15 laps down
32. Tyler Ankrum – OUT, Accident
33. Thad Moffitt – OUT, Accident
34. Keigh McGee – OUT, Accident
35. Jeffrey Earnhardt – OUT, Accident
36. Corey Heim – Disqualified 72 laps led, Stage 1 & 2 winner
Next on the 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series schedule is the series’ annual visit to Gateway’s World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois, for the Toyota 200. The event is scheduled to occur next Saturday, June 1, and air at 1:30 p.m. ET on FOX.
Tanner Gray celebrates his first ARCA Menards Series victory in Friday's General Tire 150 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. (HHP/Chris Owens photo)
CONCORD, N.C. (May 24, 2024) — An early flat tire kept Tanner Gray from dominating Friday’s ARCA Menards Series General Tire 150 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, but it didn’t keep him from winning.
Gray began Friday by claiming the pole for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series’ North Carolina Education Lottery 200 — the second of his career and his second at Charlotte — and kept the momentum going in ARCA competition.
The drive to victory, however, was not as straightforward as Gray expected. The driver of the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota blew a right-rear tire in the opening stages, fell a lap down and fought his way back to the front in the final laps. Gray held off a spirited late-race charge from Carson Kvapil in scoring his first ARCA victory less than an hour before going for his first Truck Series triumph.
Kvapil had a two-second lead with 20 laps to go in the 100-lap race, but a crash involving Con Nicolopoulos and Mitch Gibson with 15 to go bunched up the field. It also gave Gray a clear pathway to victory: Stay out under the caution period, take the lead, and fend off Kvapil’s No. 82 Pinnacle Racing Group Chevrolet.
Kvapil closed to within a car length of Gray with five laps to go, but Gray held his nerve and hung onto the lead. Kvapil faded in the final three laps and was forced to settle for second with pole winner Andres Perez third, Will Kimmel fourth and Lavar Scott fifth.
“To be able to come here and rebound the way we did is really cool,” Gray said. “We fought a little adversity in the beginning, cutting the right-rear (tire) down and going a lap down. To be able to execute a solid race and finish off those last few laps is really cool.
“Hopefully, we can do it again in the Truck race.”
Tanner Gray won the ARCA Menards Series General Tire 150 at Charlotte Motor Speedway Friday evening after rebounding from a flat tire and going a lap down.
He started strong, earning his second career pole and his second at Charlotte, in his No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. However, on Lap 34 he had to make an unscheduled pit stop due to a flat right-rear tire and went a lap down.
With 20 laps to go, Carson Kvapil had a two-second lead while Gray had methodically made his way back to the lead lap. Gray caught a break after a crash involving Con Nicolopoulos and Mitch Gibson as most of the lead-lap cars pit with 15 laps remaining in the race.
When the race resumed, Gray, who had stayed on the track during the caution and was now in the lead, held off Kvapil and won by a margin of 0.939 seconds.
Andres Perez finished third followed by Will Kimmel in fourth and Lavar Scott in fifth.
“To be able to come here and rebound the way we did is really cool,” Gray said. “We fought a little adversity in the beginning, cutting the right-rear (tire) down and going a lap down. To be able to execute a solid race and finish off those last few laps is really cool.
*Note: Gray finished 18th in Friday night’s Truck Series North Carolina Education Lottery 200.
Race results:
Pos.
Car No.
Driver
Sponsor, OEM
Laps
Diff.
1
18
Tanner Gray
JGR Toyota
100
–
2
82
Carson Kvapil*
Chevrolet Performace Chevrolet
100
0.939
3
2
Andres Perez
Max Siegal Inc Chevrolet
100
2.355
4
69
Will Kimmel
Weddington Custom Homes-Accel Hydraulics
100
5.192
5
6
Lavar Scott*
Max Siegel Inc Chevrolet
100
5.343
6
55
Gus Dean
DRIVEN Trackside
100
7.275
7
20
Dean Thompson
Thompson Pipe Group Toyota
100
7.423
8
33
Lawless Alan*
Auto Parkit Ford
100
7.817
9
97
Jason Kitzmiller
A.L.L Construction Chevrolet
100
8.342
10
9
Sebastian Arias
Brady IFS Chevrolet
100
11.265
11
35
Greg Van Alst
CB Fabricating Ford
100
11.273
12
25
Toni Breidinger
Celsius Toyota
100
12.836
13
10
Cody Dennison*
Timcast.com Toyota
100
16.986
14
73
Andy Jankowiak
Acacia Energy Toyota
100
27.118
15
22
Amber Balcaen
ICON Toyota
99
1 Lap
16
12
Ryan Roulette*
Bellator Recruiting Academy/VFW Ford
98
2 Laps
17
27
Tim Richmond
Immigration Law Center Toyota
98
2 Laps
18
15
Kris Wright
FNB Corporation Toyota
97
3 Laps
19
88
A.J. Moyer
Rivers’s Edge Cottages & RV Park/Ampere EV Chevrolet
96
4 Laps
20
99
Michael Maples*
Don Ray Petroleum LLC/Maples Motorsports Chevrolet
Ty Gibbs will lead the field to the green flag in Saturday’s Xfinity Series BetMGM 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway after winning the pole Friday with a lap of 177.194 mph in his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
“I’m very thankful to run two races and I really have a good time out here,” Gibbs said. “Doing another race this weekend is fun. I always love racing so I always look forward to doing stuff like this.”
Kyle Busch (176.482 mph) will join Gibbs on the front row as Chandler Smith (176.246), Jesse Love (175.873) and Jeb Burton (175.496) rounded out the top five in the qualifying session.
Cole Custer will start sixth (175.433), followed by Sheldon Creed (175.433), Austin Hill (175.365 mph), Justin Allgaier (175.160) and Brandon Jones (176.103) to complete the top-10.
The BetMGM 300 will be broadcast on FOX Saturday afternoon with the green flag set for 1:19 p.m. ET with radio coverage provided by PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Tanner Gray won Friday night’s North Carolina Education Lottery 200 pole at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He topped NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series qualifying with a 178.241 mph lap in the No. 15 Toyota for TRICON Garage to earn his first pole this season and his second consecutive Truck Series pole at Charlotte.
Gray’s teammate, Corey Heim, will start beside him on the front row. Ty Majeski qualified third followed by Rajah Caruth and Layne Riggs to complete the top five.
Chase Purdy, Connor Mosack, Jack Wood, Kaden Honeycutt and Bayley Currey rounded out the top 10 in qualifying.
Truck Series points leader, Christian Eckes, will start at the rear of the field after damage during practice.
Justin Carroll and Jennifer Jo Cobb did not qualify for the race.
The North Carolina Education Lottery 200 is scheduled for Friday at 8:30 p.m. on FS1 with radio coverage provided by MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
NASCAR CUP SERIES CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT MAY 25, 2024
Chase Elliott, Driver of the No. 9 NAPA Patriotic Camaro ZL1 and the No. 17 HENDRICKCARS.COM Camaro SS, met with the media in advance of racing double duty in the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Media Availability Quotes:
Talk about running double duty… not the same extent of Kyle Larson, but in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Cup Series. Hope helpful is it or are you just doing it for the fun of it?
“Yeah, basically it was as simple as – Chad (Knaus) came to us over the winter last year and said that they were going to likely be keeping the No. 17 Xfinity car going for another handful of races this year, and we’re probably going to start incorporating some more ovals into that, so that was appealing to me. They just kind of sent out – hey, these are the races we’re thinking.. what do you guys have interest in? And if any of our interested races clashed, then we would figure out how to sort them out. We were all pretty laid back about it. It wasn’t a huge thing. so just the way it worked out.
Charlotte (Motor Speedway) fit my schedule and it fit their schedule. I wanted to get some more laps here, and I felt like it would be a good weekend to do that. It was on the calendar, so it worked out really well. I’m excited about it.”
Greg Ives, putting him in a position where he can build that team, but also mentor people who come in different areas of the team and try to get them Cup ready for Hendrick Motorsports. How important is it to have somebody like Greg in that role?
“Yeah, I think it’s extremely important. You touched on it, but that’s the biggest piece of doing the No. 17 car in-house.. it is challenging to make sure that our team members have the proper amount of reps at the racetrack. During a practice environment, it goes by really quick; performing to the expectation and to the level of what a Cup crew chief expects of their guys. It’s just hard to get those guys reps if they’re new, or if we have someone come off the road or any personnel change. So it’s a really good opportunity for Hendrick Motorsports to kind of groom their own people in their own way; have people ready in case maybe a guy misses a weekend. Then you have somebody that can jump in that has a little bit of experience; know what to expect and just how to execute a proper practice and things like that. So that’s really been the biggest reason why I think it’s continued, and ultimately I think is a really good decision for the company to make sure – not just the drivers getting some extra reps here and there, but it’s also important for the crew members to, as well.”
NASCAR fined Ricky Stenhouse Jr. $75,000 for the fight, the most they’ve ever fined a driver…
“$75,000? Wow.. I heard he got fined, but I didn’t know it was $75,000.
Yeah, $75,000.. I was going to ask if you thought it was appropriate. I don’t know if you’ve thought about it much, but do you think that’s a lot?
“Yeah, that’s a lot.. that’s a lot of money. That seems wild to me.
Yeah, that seems like a lot for that situation. You’re going to fine him, but you’re going to promote with it.. like what are we doing? That’s a little strange to me. That’s just the first thought that comes to my mind, is that’s a lot of money to fine a guy. It’s not OK, but we’re going to blast it all over everything to get more clicks. I don’t really agree with that.”
You haven’t been able to do much Xfinity Series racing over the last couple of years. What do you enjoy about being able to take a step back into the series that kind of launched you and your career into the Cup level?
“Yeah, for sure. Those two years, 2014 and 2015.. particularly 2014, was a really big year for me. Just the way the timing all worked out and whatnot. It was really last minute that we even raced full-time that year. There was a really good shot that we were just going to run five or six (races), and I would have been thrilled with that. All the pieces of the puzzle fit together at the right time with NAPA and everything else. To your point, yes – two extremely important years for my career, particularly 2014. I kind of felt like that was my opportunity to either do something or not, especially when it became a full-time season versus five or six races that we had talked about doing.”
Denny Hamlin recently said that he’d rather win a lot of races and no championships, rather than a few races and championships. You’ve done both – you’ve won a lot of races and you’ve won a championship. Which of those two elements of the sport are you most proud of – the wins or the championship?
“That’s a good question. I think it depends on where you’re at in your life, honestly. Like when I get done racing and I look back, I’m going to be proud that we won a championship. I’m also proud of the wins, for sure. But I think having a lot of wins means that you’ve had a lot of good days spread out through a long period of time. So I just think that general satisfaction that you get from a race win or a day going your way – if those wins are in large quantities like that, I think ultimately that means that you’ve had a lot of good days leaving the racetrack and a lot of satisfaction in performance, in yourself and your team.
I can understand his argument on that, for sure, because races happen weekly. A championship only happens one time a year. I think the championship thing is something that probably sticks with you more after you get done and that type of gratification. But certainly, being in the moment and being in the heat of the battle, I think winning a lot can certainly make your overall satisfaction of how you’re doing with your job more enjoyable and happier.”
With Kyle Larson’s experience in Indy, how closely have you been following what he’s been doing and how the No. 5 team has been reacting to it, as well? How tuned-in will you be on Sunday as that race is going on?
“Yeah, I’ve tried to keep up, for sure. It’s been fun to watch, what I have been able to keep up with. It seems like they’ve been doing a great job at Indy. Obviously I work closely with Cliff (Daniels) – I hear a lot from him and whatnot, way more than the INDYCAR side, so I’m hearing most of it from him. He’s an extremely well-prepared guy. I know he’s going to do his part to make sure his side of the picture goes really well. So I wouldn’t be concerned about that at all, if I was Kyle (Larson) or anybody else.
But yeah, I think they seem to be handling it all extremely well. It seems like just the logistics, the plans and the backup plans and all that stuff with the aviation group and everything else; they’re all just top-notch people. At Hendrick Motorsports, Rick (Hendrick) does a really good job of choosing the people that work in different departments. Everyone is excited about it, and I think it’s really cool for everyone involved. Everyone is playing a role in making it happen. It’s such a team effort to make sure he can get back and forth and do all the right things. I think any time that you have an opportunity like that to tie-in more people that already work at the company, I think is super healthy because it gives people the opportunity to be a part of something that they might not normally be on a given weekend, which is fun.”
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.
Indianapolis, IN - during the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (Photo by Joe Skibinski | IMS Photo)
Newgarden, Team Penske Win Pit Stop Challenge
INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, May 24, 2024) – Scott Dixon led the Miller Lite Carb Day final practice for the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Friday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, as Honda-powered drivers turned the qualifying form chart upside-down with two days remaining before “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
Six-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Dixon, who won this race in 2008, was fastest at 227.206 mph in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. It was the ninth time in the last 10 years Dixon ended up in the top four on the speed chart in the final practice.
Dixon will start a career-low 21st in the race Sunday (11 a.m. ET, NBC, Universo, Peacock, INDYCAR Radio Network) but is confident he can climb through the field to contend for a long-awaited second “500” victory.
“We rolled off pretty good,” Dixon said. “It was a good day. The car seems pretty fast, pulls up well, pretty consistent.
“I think you have to take the moment as it is. You don’t want to rush it too much (with early-race passes). We’ve got some positions to make up. Hopefully move up as quick as possible. I’d like to pass all 20 cars (in front of me) on the first lap, but that’s probably not going to happen.”
Chevrolet-powered drivers captured the top eight spots on the starting grid last Sunday during PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying, including the Team Penske trio of Scott McLaughlin, Will Power and Josef Newgarden sweeping the front row, respectively. But Honda-powered drivers rebounded during the two-hour practice Friday on the 2.5-mile oval, taking seven of the top 10 spots on the speed chart.
Four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves raised expectations for a record-breaking fifth victory Sunday after ending up second at 226.939 in the No. 06 Cliffs Honda fielded by Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian. Castroneves, at 49 the oldest driver in the field, is starting 20th Sunday in his only race of the season.
“These boys are doing a phenomenal job,” Castroneves said. “They don’t look a bit like one-offs (one start this season). It’s just like me: As you get older, you get better – just like fine wine. Great job.
“We’re going to have some work to do in the race, but the whole vibe is incredible.”
Pato O’Ward, who qualified eighth, was the top Chevy driver in final practice at 226.666 in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. Colton Herta continued his strong performance in traffic during practice at this event by ending up fourth at 226.220 in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda of Andretti Global with Curb-Agajanian.
Rookie Tom Blomqvist, who starts 25th, rounded out the top five at 225.450 in the No. 66 AutoNation/Arctic Wolf Honda fielded by Meyer Shank Racing, as the team put all three of its cars in the top eight in the session. Felix Rosenqvist, starting ninth, was eighth at 225.310 in the No. 60 AutoNation/SiriusXM Honda.
Pole sitter McLaughlin was 20th at 224.264 in the No. 3 Pennzoil Team Penske Chevrolet. Power, starting second, was 21st at 224.253 in the No. 12 Verizon Business Team Penske Chevrolet. Reigning race winner Newgarden, starting third, was 32nd in the 33-car field at 222.847 in the No. 2 Shell Powering Progress Team Penske Chevrolet.
All 33 cars were on track during a practice filled with passing and thick traffic, turning a combined 2,721 laps in the busiest session of the month despite lasting only two hours.
The session was slowed by just two cautions, one for debris and one for a tow-in for heralded rookie Kyle Larson, whose No. 17 Hendrickcars.com Arrow McLaren Chevrolet ran out of fuel. 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion Larson, the highest-starting rookie in fifth, is attempting to complete the “double” of racing in the “500” and the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday.
“My car handling was good,” Larson said. “I didn’t suck up (aerodynamic tow) as good as I thought I did on Monday. The pit stop stuff, just kind of getting familiar with that. It’s obviously a little different than a NASCAR pit stop.
“I felt comfortable with all that. I feel like we checked off a lot of boxes before the race.”
The Public Drivers’ Meeting, at 10:30 a.m. ET Saturday, is the only official function remaining at IMS for the field of 33 drivers before the race.
Penske Extends Pit Stop Challenge Record
Team Penske won its record-extending 19th One Stop to Start Pit Stop Challenge, as driver Josef Newgarden earned his second win in the prestigious annual contest between the best Indianapolis 500 pit crews. It was the first win for Team Penske and Newgarden since 2022.
Newgarden and Team Penske earned the victory by beating Arrow McLaren and driver Pato O’Ward in the best-of-three final round, sweeping the first two rounds.
Reigning Indianapolis 500 winner Newgarden entered the pit box in the No. 2 Shell Powering Progress Team Penske Chevrolet and Team Penske’s crew changed four tires and simulated fueling in 11.333 seconds in the first round, edging O’Ward and the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet crew’s time of 12.121 for service.
In the second round, Team Penske and Newgarden completed its stop in 10.792, the quickest of the entire contest. Arrow McLaren and O’Ward trailed at 12.647.
Newgarden’s crew earned a $50,000 prize for the victory, while O’Ward’s Arrow McLaren crew earned $25,000 for its runner-up finish.
Members of the winning team: Chad Gordon, chief mechanic/outside front tire changer; Caitlyn Brown, inside front tire changer; Kyle Lapier, inside rear tire changer; Keenan Watson, outside rear tire changer; Derrick Ruppert, fueler; Tom Jones, air jack. Brown is believed to be the first female crew member to be a part of the winning team.
The last time a driver swept the Pit Stop Challenge and Indianapolis 500 in the same year was 2009, when Helio Castroneves of Team Penske achieved the feat.
